Imperial Reports 2014 First Quarter Financial Results
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 13, 2014) -
Imperial Metals Corporation (TSX:III) reports comparative financial
results for the 2014 first quarter period ending March 31,
2014.
Revenues were $51.3 million in the March 2014 quarter compared
to $50.9 million in the comparative 2013 quarter. Variations in
revenue are impacted by the timing and quantity of concentrate
shipments, metal prices and exchange rate, and period end
revaluations of revenue attributed to concentrate shipments where
copper price will settle at a future date. The increase in revenue
in the March 2014 quarter over the comparative 2013 quarter is due
to larger quantity of copper shipped and slightly lower gold
shipped, offset by lower copper and gold prices. The lower metal
prices were offset by a weaker Canadian dollar. There were two
concentrate shipments in the March 2014 quarter compared to two
shipments in the March 2013 quarter.
The London Metals Exchange cash settlement copper price per
pound averaged US$3.19 in the March 2014 quarter compared to
US$3.60 in the March 2013 quarter. The London Metals Exchange cash
settlement gold price per troy ounce averaged US$1,294 in the March
2014 quarter compared to US$1,630 in the March 2013 quarter. The
CDN Dollar compared to the US Dollar averaged about 9.4% lower in
the March 2014 quarter than in the March 2013 quarter. In CDN
Dollar terms the average copper price in the March 2014 quarter was
CDN$3.52 per pound compared to CDN$3.63 per pound in the March 2013
quarter and the average gold price in the March 2014 quarter was
CDN$1,428 per ounce compared to CDN$1,645 per ounce in the March
2013 quarter.
Revenue in the March 2014 quarter was reduced by a $1.1 million
negative revenue revaluation compared to a negative revenue
revaluation of $3.2 million in the March 2013 quarter. Negative
revenue revaluations are the result of the copper price on the
settlement date and/or the current period balance sheet date being
lower than when the revenue was initially recorded or the copper
price at the last balance sheet date. The copper price started the
quarter at US$3.38 per pound and ended the quarter at US$3.01 per
pound.
Income from mine operations increased to $15.9 million from
$13.6 million in the March 2013 quarter as a result of improved
contribution margins from mine operations.
Net income for the March 2014 quarter was $5.9 million ($0.08
per share) compared to net income of $10.6 million ($0.14 per
share) in the comparative March 2013 quarter. In addition to
variances in revenues and income from mine operations described
above, variations in net income period over period are
predominately attributable to movements in foreign exchange,
realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments
and taxes.
In the March 2014 quarter net income was negatively impacted by
net foreign exchange losses of $0.5 million compared to foreign
exchange losses of $0.4 million in the comparative 2013 quarter.
The current quarterly net foreign exchange loss is primarily
attributable to US denominated short and long term debt reflecting
the foreign currency movements in the quarter compared to the
foreign exchange rate when the debt was entered incurred. The $0.5
million foreign exchange loss is comprised of a $0.3 million loss
on short term debt, a $1.9 million loss on long term equipment
loans, a $2.5 million gain on the senior notes and losses of $0.8
million on operational items. The average CDN/US Dollar exchange
rate in the March 2014 quarter was 1.103 compared to an average of
1.009 in the March 2013 quarter.
In the March 2014 quarter the Company recorded losses on
derivative instruments of $2.1 million compared to gains of $0.5
million in the March 2013 quarter. In the March 2014 quarter the
Company recorded an unrealized loss of $2.8 million on the foreign
currency swap entered into during the March 2014 quarter due to a
decrease in the CDN/US Dollar exchange rate compared to the price
in the derivative contract. The decrease in the copper and gold
price compared to the price in the derivative contracts resulted in
a $0.7 million gain for copper and gold derivative instruments in
the March 2014 quarter compared to a $0.5 million gain in the March
2013 quarter.
The Company recorded $1.3 million as its equity share of
Huckleberry's net loss during the March 2014 quarter as a result of
the temporary shutdown of the milling facility due to a bull gear
failure compared to $1.9 million equity income in the March 2013
quarter.
Income and mining tax expense increased by $1.5 million in 2014
from 2013. The income and mining tax expense in the March 2013
quarter was reduced by a non-recurring adjustment that reduced BC
Mineral taxes during that quarter.
Cash flow increased to $20.3 million in the March 2014 quarter
from $16.5 million in the March 2013 quarter. Cash flow is a
measure used by the Company to evaluate its performance, however,
it is not a term recognized under IFRS in Canada. Cash flow is
defined as cash flow from operations before the net change in
non-cash working capital balances, income and mining taxes, and
interest paid. The Company believes cash flow is useful to
investors and it is one of the measures used by management to
assess the financial performance of the Company.
Capital expenditures, inclusive of capitalized interest, were
$96.9 million in the March 2014 quarter, up from $59.4 million in
the March 2013 quarter. The expenditures in the March 2014 quarter
were financed by cash flow from the Mount Polley mine and from long
term debt. At March 31, 2014 the Company had $1.5 million in cash
(December 31, 2013-$3.1 million). The Company had no short term
debt at March 31, 2014 (December 31, 2013-$132.4 million) as this
was all repaid from the long term financing arrangements for the
Red Chris project. Refer to Note 10 of the March 31, 2014 condensed
consolidated interim financial statements for details of the
Company's long term financings.
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
[expressed in thousands, except share amounts] |
Three Months Ended March 31 |
|
2014 |
2013 |
Total Revenues |
$51,335 |
$50,866 |
Net Income |
$5,857 |
$10,621 |
Net Income per share |
$0.08 |
$0.14 |
Diluted Income per share |
$0.08 |
$0.14 |
Adjusted Net Income (1) |
$6,899 |
$10,217 |
Adjusted Net Income per share (1) |
$0.09 |
$0.14 |
Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
$19,684 |
$18,502 |
Working Capital Deficiency (2) |
($21,748) |
($162,758) |
Total Assets |
$1,082,783 |
$975,451 |
Total Long Term Debt (including current portion) |
$463,922 |
$244,382 |
Cash dividends declared per common share |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
Cash Flow (1) |
$20,317 |
$16,451 |
Cash Flow per share (1) |
$0.27 |
$0.22 |
(1) Refer to heading Non-IFRS Measures below for
further details. |
(2) Defined as current assets less current liabilities.
The working capital deficiency at March 31, 2014 includes $44,664
of Red Chris capital expenditures which will be financed by long
term debt. |
NON-IFRS MEASURES
The Company reports four non-IFRS financial measures: Adjusted
net income, Adjusted EBITDA, cash flow and cash cost per pound of
copper produced which are described in detail under the heading
Non-IFRS measures in the MD&A for the year ended December 31,
2013. The Company believes these measures are useful to investors
because they are included in the measures that are used by
management in assessing the financial performance of the
Company.
Adjusted Net Income
Adjusted net income in the March 2014 quarter was $6.9 million
($0.09 per share) compared to $10.2 million ($0.14 per share) in
the March 2013 quarter. Adjusted net income shows the financial
results excluding the effect of items not settling in the current
period. Adjusted net income is calculated by removing the gains or
losses, net of related income taxes, resulting from mark to market
revaluation of derivative instruments not related to the current
period, net of taxes, and unrealized foreign exchange gains or
losses on non-current debt, net of tax, as further detailed
below.
Calculation of Adjusted Net Income |
[expressed in thousands, except share amounts] |
Three Months Ended March 31 |
|
2014 |
2013 |
Net income as reported |
$5,857 |
$10,621 |
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments, net of tax
(a) |
1,545 |
(404) |
Unrealized foreign exchange gain on non-current debt, net of tax
(b) |
(503) |
- |
Adjusted Net Income |
$6,899 |
$10,217 |
Adjusted Net Income Per Share |
$0.09 |
$0.14 |
(a) Derivative financial instruments are recorded at
fair value on the Company's Statement of Financial Position, with
changes in the fair value, net of taxes, including the Company`s
50% share of derivative instruments of Huckleberry flowing through
net income. The amounts ultimately realized may be materially
different than reflected in the financial statements due to changes
in prices of the underlying copper, gold and foreign currency
hedged. |
(b) Non-current debt is recorded on the Company's
Statement of Financial Position at the foreign exchange rate in
effect on that date, with changes in foreign exchange rates, net of
taxes, flowing through net income. The amounts of non-current debt
ultimately payable may be materially different than reflected in
the financial statements due to foreign currency movements. |
Adjusted EBITDA
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest
expense, taxes and depletion and depreciation and as adjusted for
the items described in the reconciliation table below.
Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to similarly
titled measures used by other companies. We believe that the
presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate to provide
additional information to investors about certain non-cash or
unusual items that we do not expect to continue at the same level
in the future, or other items that we do not believe to be
reflective of our ongoing operating performance. We further believe
that our presentation of this non-IFRS financial measure provides
information that is useful to investors because it is an important
indicator of the strength of our operations and the performance of
our core business.
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of operating performance or
liquidity under IFRS and should not be considered as a substitute
for earnings from operations, net income or cash generated by
operating activities computed in accordance with IFRS. Adjusted
EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and therefore Adjusted
EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash
available to us to invest in the growth of our business.
A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA is as
follows:
Adjusted EBITDA |
[expressed in thousands] |
Three Months Ended March 31 |
|
2014 |
2013 |
Net Income (a) |
$5,857 |
$10,621 |
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
Income and mining tax expense |
4,214 |
2,868 |
|
Interest expense |
- |
11 |
|
Depletion and depreciation |
6,497 |
4,359 |
|
Accretion of future site reclamation provisions |
157 |
69 |
|
Unrealized losses (gains) on derivative instruments |
2,101 |
(490) |
|
Share based compensation |
222 |
501 |
|
Foreign exchange losses |
538 |
345 |
|
Revaluation losses on marketable securities |
87 |
249 |
|
Loss (gain) on sale of mineral properties |
11 |
(31) |
Adjusted EBITDA(a) |
$19,684 |
$18,502 |
(a) Net income and Adjusted EBITDA includes our 50%
portion of the net income from Huckleberry to reflect our adoption
of IFRS11. However, we are not able to control the timing and
amount, if any, of cash distributions that Huckleberry may make to
Imperial. |
Cash Flow and Cash Flow per Share
Cash flow and cash flow per share are measures used by the
Company to evaluate its performance however they are not terms
recognized under IFRS. Cash flow is defined as cash flow from
operations before the net change in non-cash working capital
balances, income and mining taxes, and interest paid and cash flow
per share is the same measure divided by the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Cash Cost Per Pound of Copper Produced
The cash cost per pound of copper produced is a non-IFRS
financial measure that does not have a standardized meaning under
IFRS, and as a result may not be comparable to similar measures
presented by other companies. Management uses this non-IFRS
financial measure to monitor operating costs and profitability. The
Company is primarily a copper producer and therefore calculates
this non-IFRS financial measure individually for its two copper
producing mines, Mount Polley and Huckleberry, and on a composite
basis for these two mines.
The method of calculating the cash cost per pound of copper
produced are described in detail under the heading Non-IFRS
measures in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2013. For
a reconciliation of the costs of sales, as shown on the
consolidated statement of comprehensive income to the cash cost per
pound of copper produced in US Dollars, refer to the heading
non-IFRS Measures in the MD&A for the three months ended March
31, 2014.
The following is a summary of the cash cost per pound of copper
produced in US Dollars:
Estimated Cash Cost per Pound of Copper
Produced |
[expressed in thousands] |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 |
|
Huckleberry 100% |
Mount Polley |
Composite* |
Cash cost of copper produced in US$ |
14,722 |
11,620 |
18,981 |
Copper produced - lbs |
5,503 |
8,216 |
10,968 |
Cash cost per pound of copper produced in US$ |
$2.68 |
$1.41 |
$1.73 |
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 |
|
Huckleberry 100% |
Mount Polley |
Composite* |
Cash cost of copper produced in US$ |
22,347 |
10,806 |
21,981 |
Copper produced - lbs |
9,680 |
8,207 |
13,047 |
Cash cost per pound of copper produced in US$ |
$2.31 |
$1.32 |
$1.68 |
*Mount Polley plus 50% of Huckleberry |
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
In the three month period ending March 31, 2014 the Company
recorded losses of $2.1 million on derivative instruments,
comprised of a $2.8 million loss related to the CDN/US currency
swap and a net $0.7 million gain on copper and gold derivatives.
This compared to gains of $0.5 million in the March 2013 quarter
related to only to copper derivatives. These gains and losses
result from the mark to market valuation of the derivative
instruments based on changes in the price of copper and gold and
movements in the CDN/US exchange rate. These amounts include
realized gains of under $0.1 million in the March 2014 quarter and
no realized gains or losses in the March 2013 quarter. The Company
has not applied hedge accounting for it derivative instruments and
therefore records changes in the unrealized gains or losses on
these contracts at fair value on each statement of financial
position date, with the adjustment resulting from the revaluation
being charged to the statement of income as a gain or loss.
The Company utilizes a variety of derivative instruments
including the purchase of puts, forward sales and the use of
min/max zero cost collars. The Company's income or loss from
derivative instruments may be very volatile from period to period
as a result of changes in the copper and gold prices and CDN/US
exchange rated compared to the copper and gold prices and CDN/US
exchange rate at the time when these contracts were entered into
and the type and length of time to maturity of the contracts.
Unrealized derivative instruments for Mount Polley cover about
67% of the estimated copper settlements via min/max zero cost
collars through December 2014 and 59% of the estimated gold
settlements via min/max zero cost collars through December
2015.
In the March 2014 quarter the Company entered into a cross
currency swap to lock in the foreign exchange rate on US$110.0
million of the US$325.0 million senior unsecured notes (the
"Notes") principal amount and related interest over the five year
term of the Notes. The foreign exchange rate was fixed at 1.1113
CDN for each US Dollar. Based on the March 31, 2014 CDN/US Dollar
exchange rate the Company had an unrealized loss of $2.8 million on
the derivative instruments related to the swap. This loss was
offset by an unrealized foreign exchange gain of $2.5 million on
the revaluation of the US$325.0 million principal amount of the
Notes.
Future changes in the CDN/US Dollar exchange rate could have a
material impact on the derivative instruments related to the swap
however a significant portion of this gain or loss will be offset
by the foreign exchange gain or loss on the Notes.
DEVELOPMENT DURING THE 2014 FIRST QUARTER
MOUNT POLLEY MINE OPERATIONS
PRODUCTION |
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 |
|
2014 |
2013 |
Ore milled - tonnes |
1,707,371 |
1,969,909 |
Ore milled per calendar day - tonnes |
18,971 |
21,888 |
Grade % - copper |
0.294 |
0.267 |
Grade g/t - gold |
0.258 |
0.255 |
Recovery % - copper |
74.4 |
70.8 |
Recovery % - gold |
67.4 |
63.7 |
Copper - lbs |
8,216,443 |
8,207,487 |
Gold - oz |
9,532 |
10,311 |
Silver - oz |
25,068 |
28,703 |
Mount Polley 2014 first quarter production totalled 8.2 million
pounds copper and 9,532 ounces gold, compared to 8.2 million pounds
copper and 10,311 ounces gold produced in the comparative 2013
quarter. The annual average mill throughput for the 2014 first
quarter was 18,791 tonnes per day compared to 21,888 tonnes per day
in the comparative 2013 quarter. Record snowfall and mechanical
issues in January posed challenges for the crushing circuit, which
resulted in lower than budgeted first quarter throughput. By March
the mill throughput returned to budgeted levels, and by April mill
throughput averaged 23,930 tonnes per day, significantly over the
budgeted throughput rate.
Open pit mining activity in the 2014 first quarter included
mining of ore in the Springer Phase 3 pit, and stripping in the
Cariboo pit. Springer Phase 3 pit is projected to be completed by
year end; next year mill feed will be provided by the Cariboo pit.
Mine productivity in the 2014 first quarter was also slightly lower
than planned due to the heavy snowfall in January. Recent upgrades
to the mining fleet, including the replacement of an ageing P&H
2100 shovel with a Hitachi 3600 excavator, and the installation of
a fleet management system, are expected to improve productivity
levels and lower costs.
In the second quarter of 2014, the Company expects to commence
stoping from the Boundary zone. Two stopes containing over 50,000
tonnes have been drilled, and blasting in these stopes is
anticipated to begin before the end of May. Production is expected
to ramp up to approximately 1,000 tonnes per day during the 2014
second quarter, and milled grades and thus copper production for
the remainder of the year should increase with this higher grade
ore from the Boundary underground being delivered to the mill.
HUCKLEBERRY MINE OPERATIONS
PRODUCTION* |
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 |
|
2014 |
2013 |
Ore milled - tonnes |
897,065 |
1,480,669 |
Ore milled per calendar day - tonnes |
9,967 |
16,452 |
Grade % - copper |
0.307 |
0.326 |
Recovery % - copper |
90.5 |
90.9 |
Copper - lbs |
5,502,884 |
9,679,968 |
Gold - oz |
452 |
710 |
Silver - oz |
30,435 |
57,872 |
*production stated 100% - Imperial's allocation is
50% |
Throughput for the 2014 first quarter averaged 9,967 tonnes per
calendar day down from the 16,452 tonnes achieved in the
comparative 2013 quarter due to the temporary suspension of
operations on February 26, 2014 when a tooth failed on the
semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill bull gear, damaging this gear
and one of the pinion gears on the dual drive mill.
Huckleberry mill operations resumed April 5, 2014. To enable the
SAG mill to be restarted, the damaged teeth on the bull gear were
re-profiled to reduce the load on these damaged teeth, the north
pinion gear was replaced with a spare, and the rotation of the mill
motors was reversed. A replacement bull gear and two pinion gears
for the SAG mill have been ordered and are expected to be on site
by September 2014.
Forecast production for 2014 from Huckleberry was previously
estimated to be 42.0 million pounds copper and 200,000 ounces
silver. As a result of the milling time lost, the revised
production estimate is approximately 36.0 million pounds copper and
175,000 ounces silver.
HUCKLEBERRY EXPLORATION
No diamond drilling is planned for the Huckleberry Mine site or
adjacent claims for the year. A limited grassroots exploration
program for Huckleberry's claims is planned for 2014.
RED CHRIS CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Construction by BC Hydro of the 287kv Northwest Transmission
Line (NTL) from Skeena substation to Bob Quinn continues, with the
targeted completion date now the end of June 2014, a month later
than the end of May 2014, as previously scheduled. Construction by
the Company of the 93 kilometre Iskut extension of the NTL from Bob
Quinn to Tatogga is now expected to be completed by the end of July
2014, also one month later than the end of June 2014, as previously
scheduled.
By the end of the March 2014 quarter, work on the Iskut
extension to the NTL had progressed, with 63% of the foundations
installed and 93% of the structures assembled (of which 17% have
been erected). The remaining foundations and structures, hardware
and conductor will be installed in the coming months. There have
been 125 towers assembled and stored at various locations along the
route for erection by helicopter. The remaining towers will be
erected using cranes. Stringing of the conductor for this line is
expected to begin at the end of May.
Based on a review in late April and early May of where the
project was at the end of March and forecasted costs, going forward
the projected overall capital cost of the project has increased by
approximately $30.0 million. The majority of the cost increase can
be attributed to additional costs incurred in the construction of
the Iskut extension power line. The crews worked diligently through
cold temperatures and at times heavy snowfall, and the crews are
now dealing with spring breakup. In addition to the cost increase,
the winter conditions have delayed the schedule by about one month
for getting grid power to the site.
At the plant site, interior steel, mechanical installation and
the tailings and reclaim water system are all about 70% complete.
Piping and electrical work in the plant are about 20% complete.
Based on the current status of this work and based on the current
construction schedule for the power line, we are now targeting
starting commissioning of the Red Chris mill in the third quarter
of 2014.
To March 31, 2014 the Company had incurred expenditures of
$512.5 million (out of current estimated financial budget of $622.0
million, which includes $52.0 million to be repaid by BC Hydro for
the construction of the Iskut extension) on the construction of Red
Chris, of which $44.7 million was in accounts payable and accruals
at that date. The forecast net construction cost of the Red Chris
mine is now estimated to be $570.0 million versus the previous
estimate of $540.0 million.
The Corporation's current committed credit facilities provide
more than sufficient liquidity to finance completion of
construction. Until closing of the long term financing arrangements
for the Red Chris project March 12, 2014, the expenditures on Red
Chris had been financed from cash flow from operations, a line of
credit facility from the Company's bankers, equipment loans and a
$250.0 million line of credit facility from Edco Capital
Corporation. Concurrent with the closing of the long term financing
arrangements, the existing bank line of credit and the line of
credit facility from Edco Capital Corporation were repaid in full
and cancelled.
The long term financing arrangements for the Company, which are
being utilized primarily for the construction of Red Chris, consist
of US$325.0 million 7% five year senior unsecured notes, a senior
secured revolving credit facility of $200.0 million, and a $75.0
million junior unsecured credit facility with Edco Capital
Corporation.
STERLING MINE OPERATIONS
PRODUCTION |
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 |
|
2014 |
2013 |
Ore Stacked - tons |
17,001 |
29,688 |
Gold Grade - oz/ton |
0.140 |
0.072 |
Gold ounces - added to heap |
2,373 |
2,138 |
Gold shipped - ounces |
2,104 |
769 |
Mining in the 2014 first quarter focused on the north limb of
the 144 zone. Stoping occurred on three different levels; 3320,
3285 and 3275. A total of 389 feet of drifting on the 3320 and 3180
levels was completed. Certain operations subject to air quality
regulations have been temporarily suspended pending upgrade of
Sterling's air emissions permit. It is expected these operations
will recommence within approximately 30 days and should not have an
impact on Sterling's forecast production for 2014.
RUDDOCK CREEK
The Ruddock Creek Joint Venture [Imperial (50%), Mitsui Mining
and Smelting Co. Ltd. (30%) and Itochu Corporation (20%)] reviewed
the 2013 field program which included site infrastructure studies,
metallurgical testing including dense media separation, spiral,
flotation, mineralogical, acid base accounting, and humidity cell
testing. The 2014 program is currently being finalized but will
include additional metallurgical testing on a new sample which will
be collected from the Upper E zone, additional geotechnical
drilling and groundwater well installations, and ongoing baseline
data collection for future permitting requirements. Surface
exploration in the 2014 field season will include detailed
geological and structural mapping in a number of areas. Ongoing
consultations continued with area First Nations.
In addition to ongoing engineering and technical studies related
to permitting, the Ruddock Creek Joint Venture continued to work on
drafting the final form of the project description that will serve
to initiate the Environmental Assessment process. The project
description, which is expected to be accepted for filing in late
May, contemplates a 3,000 tonne per day underground zine/lead mine
with an initial design life of at least eight years.
The Company also acquired from Jasper Mining Corporation a 100%
interest in the adjacent Irony Property, 16 mineral tenures
covering 6,028.84 hectares. These claims are subject to a net
smelter return royalty of 1.5% in favour of Jasper, however, the
royalty may be reduced to 0.5% by the payment to Jasper of $1.0
million. A pro-rata interest in the Irony Property is being offered
to the Joint Venture participants.
OUTLOOK
Mount Polley mine mill throughput has been excellent since
weather conditions improved this spring, with an average daily
throughput of 23,930 tonnes per day being achieved in April. In the
mine a new hydraulic excavator was commissioned and a fleet
management system was installed to increase productivity and reduce
costs. The Springer Phase 3 pit is expected to be completed by year
end and mill feed will then be provided by the Cariboo pit.
Underground production from the Boundary zone is expected to ramp
up to approximately 1,000 tonnes per day during the 2014 second
quarter.
With the milling restarted at Huckleberry mine, the staff are
looking at opportunities to catch up the copper production, lost
during the suspension, by optimizing the mine plan.
At Sterling mine, work on permitting for an open pit mine and
expanded leach pad continues.
The Ruddock Creek Joint Venture expects the final project
description to be accepted for filing in late May 2014 by both the
Federal and Provincial Environmental Assessment offices. While some
exploration will be conducted this summer, most field work will
continue to focus on technical and environmental studies.
Construction of the three power lines required to deliver power
to Red Chris are all proceeding on expedited schedules; the NTL
(Skeena to Bob Quinn) is now scheduled to be completed by the end
of June 2014, the NTL extension (Bob Quinn to Tatogga) now
scheduled to be completed by the end of July 2014 and the 17
kilometre line from Tatogga to the mine site by June 2014. The
installation work on all the NTL extension and the 17 kilometre
line to the mine site both still have some ground work to be
completed. Crews are working hard to battle through the breakup
conditions, and erection of the remaining 125 towers is now planned
to be completed with helicopters to enable crews to complete the
work by the end of July.
Construction work continues at Red Chris and work in the process
plant is progressing well. Interior steel, mechanical installation
and the tailings and reclaim water systems are all about 70%
complete. Piping and electrical work in the plant are about 20%
complete. All mills, including the SAG mill, ball mill and both
regrind mills are now assembled and on their pedestals, and
installation of all the equipment at the primary crusher has been
completed.
The Company is targeting to commence commissioning of the Red
Chris mine in August 2014 as soon as the site is connected to the
BC Hydro grid, and is still planning to achieve full operations in
the fourth quarter of 2014.
Information Related to this Press Release: detailed financial
information is provided in the Company's report for the three
months ended March 31, 2014 which is available on
www.imperialmetals.com and on www.sedar.com.
|
Earnings Announcement Conference Call |
Scheduled for May 14, 2014 10:00am PDT / 11:00am MDT / 1:00pm
EDT |
|
Management will discuss the First Quarter Financial Results
provided in this press release. |
Following are call-in numbers to participate in the earnings
announcement conference call: |
|
778.383.7413 local Vancouver |
416.764.8688 local Toronto |
587.880.2171 local Calgary / Edmonton |
888.390.0605 toll free North America |
|
The conference call will be available for replay until May 21, 2014
by dialing |
888.390.0541 or 416.764.8677 / replay PIN #419630 |
|
About Imperial
Imperial is an exploration, mine development and operating
company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company operates
the Mount Polley copper/gold mine in British Columbia and the
Sterling gold mine in Nevada. Imperial has 50% interest in the
Huckleberry copper mine and 50% interest in the Ruddock Creek
lead/zinc property, both in British Columbia. The Company's Red
Chris copper/gold property in British Columbia is anticipated to
begin commissioning activities August 2014 and full operations in
4Q2014.
Cautionary Note Regarding "Forward-Looking Information"
The information in this press release is a review of the
Company's operations and financial position as at and for the
period ended March 31, 2014, and plans for the future based on
facts and circumstances as of May 8, 2014. Except for statements of
historical fact relating to the Company, including our 50% interest
in Huckleberry, certain information contained herein constitutes
forward-looking information. When we discuss mine plans;
costs and timing of current and proposed exploration or
development; development; production and marketing; capital
expenditures; construction of transmission lines; construction of
the Red Chris mine; cash flow; working capital requirements and the
requirement for additional capital; operations; revenue; margins
and earnings; future prices of copper and gold; future foreign
currency exchange rates; future accounting changes; future prices
for marketable securities; future resolution of contingent
liabilities; receipt of permits; or other matters that have not yet
occurred, we are making statements considered to be
forward-looking information or forward-looking
statements under Canadian and United States securities laws.
We refer to them in this press release as forward-looking
information. The forward-looking information in this press
release may include words and phrases about the future, such as:
plan, expect, forecast, intend, anticipate, estimate, budget,
scheduled, targeted, believe, may, could, would, might or
will. Forward-looking information includes disclosure relating
to project development plans, costs and timing.
We can give no assurance the forward-looking information will
prove to be accurate. It is based on a number of assumptions
management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to:
the continued operation of the Company's mining operations, no
material adverse change in the market price of commodities or
exchange rates, that the mining operations will operate and the
mining projects will be completed in accordance with their
estimates and achieve stated production outcomes, volatility in the
Company's share price and such other assumptions and factors as set
out herein.
It is also subject to risks associated with our business,
including but not limited to: the risk that further advances may
not be available under credit facilities; risks associated with
maintaining substantial levels of indebtedness including potential
financial constraints on operations; risks inherent in the mining
and metals business; commodity price fluctuations and hedging;
competition for mining properties; sale of products and future
market access; mineral reserves and recovery estimates; currency
fluctuations; interest rate risks; financing risks; regulatory and
permitting risks; environmental risks; joint venture risks; foreign
activity risks; legal proceedings; and other risks that are set out
in the Company's Management's Discussion & Analysis in
its 2013 Annual Report.
If our assumptions prove to be incorrect or risks materialize,
our actual results and events may vary materially from what we
currently expect as provided in this press release. We recommend
you review the Company's most recent Annual Information
Form and Management's Discussion & Analysis in
its 2013 Annual Report, which includes discussion of material risks
that could cause actual results to differ materially from our
current expectations. Forward-looking information is designed to
help you understand management's current views of our near and
longer term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other
purposes. We will not necessarily update this information unless we
are required to by securities laws.
Imperial Metals CorporationBrian
KynochPresident604.669.8959Imperial Metals CorporationAndre
DeepwellChief Financial Officer604.488.2666Imperial Metals
CorporationGordon KeevilVice President Corporate
Development604.488.2677Imperial Metals CorporationSabine
GoetzShareholder
Communications604.488.2657investor@imperialmetals.comwww.imperialmetals.com
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