Katanga Mining Announces 2018 Second Quarter Financial Results

ZUG, Switzerland, Aug. 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Katanga Mining Limited (TSX: KAT) ("Katanga" or the "Company") today announces its 2018 second quarter financial results. Katanga's interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis will be available on SEDAR, www.sedar.com.

Financial performance highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018

		Three months ended			Six months ended
		Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Jun 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2017
Sales	$'000	345,527	146,743	11,723	492,270	11,721
Mining, processing and other costs (net of changes in metal stocks)*	$'000	(130,372)	(101,951)	(24,519)	(232,323)	(24,519)
Royalties and transportation costs*	$'000	(51,865)	(21,787)	-	(73,652)	-
Depreciation and amortization*	$'000	(61,352)	(54,610)	-	(115,962)	-
Gross profit (loss)	$'000	101,938	(31,605)	(12,796)	70,333	(12,798)
Net (loss) attributable to equity holders	$'000	(324,548)	(77,924)	(126,555)	(402,472)	(227,478)
Adjusted EBITDA**	$'000	151,008	16,359	(73,604)	167,367	(126,070)
Basic and diluted loss per common share	$/share	(0.17)	(0.04)	(0.07)	(0.21)	(0.12)
C1 cash cost***	$/lb	1.08	2.54	nm	1.72	nm

*Since the resumption of production, expenses previously disclosed in operating expenses have been reclassified to cost of sales.

** The aggregation of sales, cost of sales (less depreciation), operating expenses, general and administrative expenses, loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and foreign exchange gains and losses are included within adjusted EBITDA (Refer to item 22 Non-IFRS financial measures).

***Refer to item 22 Non – IFRS financial measures of the MD&A.

		Three months ended			Six months ended
		Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Jun 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2017
Copper revenue	$'000	204,383	146,480	5	350,863	3
Cobalt revenue	$'000	141,144	-	-	141,144	-
Concentrate revenue	$'000	-	263	11,718	263	11,718
Total revenue	$'000	345,527	146,743	11,723	492,270	11,721
Including net provisional pricing adjustment		(1,188)	1,297**	5	109	3
Copper cathode sold	tonnes	30,825	22,636	-	53,461	-
Cobalt contained in hydroxide sold	tonnes	2,176	-	-	2,176	-
Copper contained in concentrate sold	tonnes	-	74	4,778	-	4,778
LME average copper price	$/lb	3.12	3.16	2.62	3.14	2.65
Realized copper price*	$/lb	2.49	2.48	-	2.50	-
LMB average cobalt price	$/lb	42.45	38.37	26.06	40.41	22.90

*Realized copper prices are based on gross copper revenue (above) after deducting realization charges, royalties and other selling expenses.

** Amount has been updated to reflect only the mark to market adjustment amount in Q1 2018.

The movement in revenue is due to the following price and volume factors:

• Copper revenue increased to $204.4 million in Q2 2018 from $146.5 million in Q1 2018. Copper revenue increased to $350.9 million in H1 2018 from $0.03 million in H1 2017. Cobalt revenue increased to $141.1 million in Q2 2018 from $nil million in Q1 2018. Cobalt revenue increased to $141.1 million in H1 2018 from $nil million in H1 2017. The increase in copper and cobalt revenue for both periods relates to an increase in sales of copper cathode and cobalt contained in hydroxide due to the resumption of production in December 2017 following the completion of phase 1 of the WOL Project and the ongoing ramp-up of production in 2018;
  
  
• Concentrate revenue decreased to $nil million in Q2 2018 from $0.3 million in Q1 2018. Concentrate revenue decreased to $nil revenue in H1 2018 from $2.0 million in H1 2017. The decrease in concentrate revenue for both periods relates to a decrease in KITD oxide concentrate sales, driven by the utilization of concentrate in the leaching process following the completion of phase 1 of the WOL Project in December 2017 to produce copper cathode; and
  
  
• Included in sales is a net provisional pricing adjustment resulting from movements in the commodity price between the date of sale and the final pricing based on average prices for a specified period thereafter. At each reporting date, provisionally priced sales that have not been finalized retain an exposure to future changes in prices and are marked-to-market based on London Metal Exchange ("LME") forward prices. These adjustments were recorded in sales in the statement of loss and within receivables on the statement of financial position.

About Katanga Mining Limited
Katanga Mining Limited operates a major mine complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo producing refined copper and cobalt. The Company has the potential to become Africa's largest copper producer and the world's largest cobalt producer. Katanga is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KAT.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, 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 describes a "goal", or variation 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. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, 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 describes a "goal", or variation 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.

All forward-looking statements reflect the Company's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made. Actual results or events may differ from those predicted in these forward-looking statements. All of the Company's forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions listed below. Although the Company believes that these assumptions are reasonable, this list is not exhaustive of factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements. The key assumptions that have been made in connection with the forward-looking statements include the    following: there being no significant disruptions affecting the operations of the Company whether due to legal disputes, judicial action, labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, rollout of new equipment, damage to equipment or otherwise; permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at KCC being consistent with the Company's current expectations; continued recognition of the Company's mining concessions and other assets, rights, titles and interests in the DRC; political and legal developments in the DRC being consistent with its current expectations; the continued provision or procurement of additional funding from Glencore for operations, the completion of the T17 Underground Mine, Phase 2 of the WOL Project and the Power Project (as defined in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2017 dated March 31, 2018); new equipment performs to expectations; the exchange rate between the US dollar, South African rand, British pounds, Canadian dollar, Swiss franc, Congolese franc and Euro being approximately consistent with current levels; certain price assumptions for copper and cobalt; prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; production, operating expenses and cost of sales forecasts for the Company meeting expectations; the accuracy of the current ore reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Company (including but not limited to ore tonnage and ore grade estimates); and labour and material costs increasing on a basis consistent with the Company's current expectations.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Although Katanga 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.

The Company 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.

SOURCE Katanga Mining Limited

Longview Communications Inc.: Joel Shaffer (Toronto), [phone], [email protected]; Alan Bayless (Vancouver), [phone], [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.katangamining.com/