Royal Nickel Announces Third Quarter 2013 Results

TORONTO, Nov. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Royal Nickel Corporation (TSX: RNX) ("RNC") is pleased to report its review of activities and financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2013. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted, and are based on the unaudited condensed interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Tyler Mitchelson, President and CEO, commented, "Having completed a positive feasibility study, our main focus is on putting together a financing package that will allow our Dumont Nickel Project to continue to move forward once we complete the permitting process. I am encouraged by the level of engagement from interested parties and I am also pleased that many of these parties share our positive view on the nickel market during the second half of the decade, which we expect will result in an attractive pricing environment once Dumont enters production."

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• On July 25, 2013, the Corporation announced that the Dumont Nickel Project NI 43-101 compliant technical report had been filed on SEDAR.
  
  
• On September 26, 2013, the Corporation announced that it had entered into an agreement with Hydro-Québec for the construction of a high voltage power transmission line to connect RNC's planned Dumont Nickel project to Hydro-Québec's existing electricity distribution network. The connection of the Dumont site to the existing network will require the installation of approximately 10 km of 120 kV power lines.
  
  
• The Corporation incurred a net loss of $1.4 million ($0.02 per share) for the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to a net loss of $2.9 million ($0.03 per share) for the same period in 2012.

For the three months ended September 30, 2013, RNC incurred a net loss of $1.4 million compared to a net loss of $2.9 million in the same period last year. The net loss decrease of $1.5 million is due primarily to lower general and administrative expenses of $0.8 million and a lower deferred tax expense of $0.7 million. The decrease in general and administrative expenses is due primarily to a net decrease in the non-cash share-based payments expense of $0.6 million and lower consulting fees of $0.3 million.

Targeted Future Milestones

Royal Nickel has the following targeted key milestones to achieve the development of the Dumont Nickel Project:

• Completion of partnership and financing arrangements in advance of the receipt of permits;
  
  
• Receipt of main permit by mid-2014;
  
  
• Estimated construction schedule of 22 months post successful permitting and securing financing;
  
  
• Assuming permits and financing in place by mid-2014, project commissioning is targeted to occur in the first half of 2016 followed by production ramp-up throughout 2016.

The milestones reflect the best estimate of permitting timelines based on government review of the ESIA and public hearings and assume successful financing efforts by the time the permits are received. The actual commissioning date and production ramp-up would be approximately 22 months after these items are secured.

Highlights of RNC's financial position are as follows (in millions of dollars):

		September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
Cash position^1		14.9		10.8
Working capital^2		16.6		15.4
Tax credits receivable^3		3.9		9.7
Total assets		77.0		79.0
Shareholder's equity		64.1		68.0

1	Includes Cash and Cash equivalents.
2	Working capital is a measure of current assets less current liabilities and includes a $1.25 million deposit receivable from Hydro-Québec that was received on October 7, 2013
3	Current portion of tax credits receivable is $3.5 million (2012: $7.3 million) and non-current portion is $0.4 million (2012: $2.4 million)

About Royal Nickel Corporation

Royal Nickel Corporation is a mineral resource company focused primarily on the acquisition, exploration, evaluation and development of base metal and platinum group metal properties. RNC's principal asset is the Dumont Nickel Project strategically located in the established Abitibi mining camp, in the municipalities of Launay and Trécesson, 25 kilometres northwest of Amos, Quebec. RNC has a strong management team and Board with over 100 years of mining experience in the nickel business at Inco and Falconbridge. RNC's common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol RNX.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" including without limitation statements relating to obtaining financing for Dumont, engaging a project partner, completion of permitting, the future price of nickel, advancing Dumont into construction and other targeted milestones.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of RNC to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The feasibility study results are estimates only and are based on a number of assumptions, any of which, if incorrect, could materially change the projected outcome. Even with the completion of the feasibility study, there are no assurances that Dumont will be placed into production. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: the actual results of development activities; project delays; inability to raise the funds necessary to achieve the milestones or complete development; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of metals; availability of alternative nickel sources or substitutes; actual nickel recovery; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, necessary permitting or in the completion of development or construction activities. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to RNC's filings with Canadian securities regulators available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although RNC 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and RNC disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

 

SOURCE: Royal Nickel Corporation

Rob Buchanan
Director, Investor Relations
T: [phone]
www.royalnickel.com 

Mélanie Corriveau (French contact)
Community Relations Coordinator
T: [phone]