Uranium One Announces 23% Increase in Q3 2012 Production to 3.1 Million Pounds; Average Total Cash Costs of $16 per Pound Sold and Attributable Sales of 2.9 Million Pounds

TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2012 /CNW/ - Uranium One Inc. ("Uranium One") today reported quarterly revenue of $142.6 million for Q3 2012 at an average total cash cost per pound sold of $16 based on sales of 2.9 million pounds at an average realized sales price of $49 per pound. Attributable production for the quarter was 3.1 million pounds.

Q3 2012 Highlights

Operational

• Total attributable production during Q3 2012 was 3.1 million pounds, 23% higher than total attributable production of 2.5 million pounds during Q3 2011.
• The average total cash cost per pound sold was $16 per pound during Q3 2012 compared to $14 per pound during Q3 2011.
• The Kharasan Mine was successfully commissioned and reached commercial production during Q3 2012.
• Production of sulphuric acid commenced in July 2012 at the Corporation's SKZ-U joint venture.

Financial

• Attributable sales volumes for Q3 2012 were 2.9 million pounds, compared to 3.1 million pounds sold during Q3 2011.
• Revenue was $142.6 million in Q3 2012, compared to $157.7 million in Q3 2011. The average realized sales price during Q3 2012 was $49 per pound compared to $51 per pound in Q3 2011. The average spot price in Q3 2012 was $49 per pound.
• Earnings from mine operations were $58.8 million during Q3 2012, compared to earnings from mine operations of $73.7 million in Q3 2011.
• The net loss for Q3 2012 was $61.6 million or $0.06 per share, compared to net earnings of $45.8 million or $0.05 per share for Q3 2011.
• The adjusted net earnings for Q3 2012 were $7.6 million or $0.01 per share, compared to adjusted net earnings of $46.4 million or $0.05 per share for Q3 2011.
• The Company determined that it would not be economical to mine the South Zarechnoye deposit due to the decrease in uranium prices since the Fukushima incident, together with a decrease in the South Zarechnoye resource base resulting from recent exploration results and the completion of an economic assessment. The carrying value of the Zarechnoye Mine was therefore written down by $79.1 million, net of deferred taxes of $11.1 million.

Corporate

• The Corporation now owns 100% of the Honeymoon project after receiving all regulatory approvals for the withdrawal of Mitsui from the joint venture. The Corporation recognized a gain of $17.2 million as a result of the transaction.
• The United Arab Emirates announced the award of $3 billion worth of fuel supply contracts to six global suppliers, including Uranium One. This long term contract will meet a portion of the uranium requirements of the Barakah Nuclear Power Station scheduled to start up by 2017.
• Uranium One also concluded its first Chinese contract during Q3 2012, which calls for the supply of uranium to China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation in 2012 and 2013. 
• On October 15, 2012, the Tanzanian government issued an environmental impact assessment certificate to Mantra Tanzania in respect of the Mkuju River Project.  Issuance of the certificate completes Mantra's application for a Special Mining License for the Project and represents a significant permitting milestone.

Chris Sattler, Chief Executive Officer of Uranium One, commented:

"Despite volatility in the uranium price over the last several weeks, our view of the positive long-term fundamentals for our industry has not changed.  We remain focused on achieving our production, cost and sales targets for our operations.  We are well-positioned to take advantage of projected higher uranium prices with our diversified and low cost production portfolio and our strategy of remaining an unhedged producer."

Outlook

Market prices for Q3 2012 ranged between $46.50 and $49.50 per pound U₃O₈ (month-end UxC spot). After trading at or above $50 per pound for the better part of one year, the uranium market broke through that level as a result of ample spot supplies meeting demand of a more discretionary nature. This became even more pronounced in the early part of Q4 2012 with the price currently residing at around $41. Selling activity has been dominated by producers closing sales for year-end cash flow, and by traders unwinding long positions or engaged in short-selling. Fundamentals for the medium and long term, however, remain positive, especially following the announced deferrals of a number of large, high profile uranium mining projects.

The Corporation's total attributable production guidance for 2012 remains at 11.6 million pounds. Total attributable production for 2013 is estimated to be 12.5 million pounds as shown below.

Attributable production for 2014 is estimated to be 13.0 million pounds.

During 2013, the average cash cost per pound sold is expected to be approximately $19 per pound, in line with our guidance of $19 per pound for 2012.

Sales volumes for 2012 are heavily weighted towards the last quarter of the year, and the Corporation expects to achieve guidance for sales of 11 million pounds in 2012. The Corporation expects attributable sales to be approximately 12.5 million and 13.0 million pounds in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

The Corporation expects to incur attributable capital expenditures in 2013 of $107 million for wellfield development and $66 million for plant and equipment, totalling $173 million for its assets in Kazakhstan, the United States and Australia.

In 2013, general and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash items, are expected to be approximately $40 million and exploration expenses are expected to be $8 million.

Q3 2012 Operations and Projects

During Q3 2012, Uranium One achieved attributable production of 3.1 million pounds, an increase of 23% over attributable production of 2.5 million pounds for the comparable period in 2011.

Operational results for Uranium One's assets during Q3 2012 were:

Q3 2012 Financial Review

Revenue was $142.6 million in Q3 2012, compared to $157.7 million in Q3 2011. The average realized sales price during Q3 2012 was $49 per pound compared to $51 per pound in Q3 2011. The average spot price in Q3 2012 was $49 per pound.

Operating expenses per pound sold were $16 for Q3 2012 compared to $14 in Q3 2011.

Earnings from mine operations were $58.8 million during Q3 2012, compared to earnings from mine operations of $73.7 million in Q3 2011.

Attributable inventory as at September 30, 2012 was 5.6 million pounds, which includes work in progress as well as finished product. Finished product at conversion facilities awaiting pre-scheduled deliveries into sales contracts was 0.9 million pounds at September 30, 2012.

The net loss for Q3 2012 was $61.6 million or $0.06 per share, compared to net earnings of $45.8 million or $0.05 per share for Q3 2011.

The adjusted net earnings for Q3 2012 were $7.6 million or $0.01 per share, compared to adjusted net earnings of $46.4 million or $0.05 per share for Q3 2011.

Consolidated cash and cash equivalents were $442.3 million as at September 30, 2012 compared to $619.0 million at December 31, 2011.  Working capital was $628.7 million at September 30, 2012.

The following table provides a summary of key financial results:

The following table provides a reconciliation of adjusted net earnings / (loss) to the consolidated financial statements:

The financial statements, as well as the accompanying management's discussion and analysis, are available for review at www.uranium1.com and should be read in conjunction with this news release.  All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.  All references to pounds sold or pounds produced are to pounds of U₃O₈.

Conference Call Details

Uranium One will be hosting a conference call and webcast to discuss the third quarter 2012 results on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 starting at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).  Participants may join the call by dialing toll free 1-888-231-8191 or 1-647-427-7450 for local calls or calls from outside Canada and the United States.  A live webcast of the call will be available through CNW Group's website at www.newswire.ca or at Uranium One's website at www.uranium1.com.

A recording of the conference call will be available for replay for a two week period beginning at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 6, 2012 by dialing toll free 1-855-859-2056 or 1-416-849-0833 for local calls or calls from outside Canada and the United States.  The pass code for the replay is 55321879.  A replay of the webcast will be available through a link on our website at www.uranium1.com

About Uranium One

Uranium One is one of the world's largest publicly traded uranium producers with a globally diversified portfolio of assets located in Kazakhstan, the United States, Australia and Tanzania.

Cautionary Statement

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Investors are advised to refer to independent technical reports containing detailed information with respect to the material properties of Uranium One. These technical reports are available under the profile of Uranium One Inc. at www.sedar.com. Those technical reports provide the date of each resource or reserve estimate, details of the key assumptions, methods and parameters used in the estimates, details of quantity and grade or quality of each resource or reserve and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimate may be materially affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The technical reports also provide information with respect to data verification in the estimation.

Forward-looking statements: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to those with respect to the price of uranium, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the timing of uranium processing facilities being fully operational, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, currency fluctuations, market conditions, corporate plans, objectives and goals, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, the timing and potential effects of proposed acquisitions, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Uranium One to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the completion of the projects described in this press release, the future steady state production and cash costs of Uranium One, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, possible variations in grade and ore densities or recovery rates, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, possible shortages of sulphuric acid in Kazakhstan, possible changes to the tax code in Kazakhstan, accidents, labour disputes or other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining government approvals or financing or in completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to the integration of acquisitions and the realization of synergies relating thereto, to international operations, to prices of uranium, as well as those factors referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Uranium One's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2011, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and which should be reviewed in conjunction with this document. Although Uranium One has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Uranium One expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

For further information about Uranium One, please visit www.uranium1.com.

SOURCE Uranium One Inc.