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Minto Metals Reports Financial and Production Results for 2022, Revenue Increased by $14.7 Million

WHITEHORSE, YT, April 6, 2023 /CNW/ - Minto Metals Corp. ("Minto" or the "Company") today announced the Company's financial and operating results for the fourth quarter ("Q4 2022") and the Full Year results of 2022 ("YTD 2022").

Minto Metals Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Minto Metals Corp.)
Minto Metals Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Minto Metals Corp.)

For complete details of the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") please refer to the Company's filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or the Company's website (www.mintometals.com).

All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Year End December 31, 2022:

  • Minto completed 2022 with consolidated production totaling 28.9 million pounds of copper, a 12.6% increase over 2021, despite record snow measuring 417% above normal resulting in a record spring freshet event;

  • Multiple, new high-grade mineralized lenses were discovered through 28,438 metres of diamond drilling and two substantial, high-priority drill targets were identified through geophysics below and within 1 km of the mine infrastructure;

  • Increase in revenue by $14.9 million due to higher sales volumes and higher average realized prices for copper, which were mostly driven by the strong first quarter in 2022;

  • Production costs increased by 17.9% to $133.8 million compared to 2021 or 12.8% increase on a per unit basis due to the higher ore output from the mine in 2022;

  • Royalty expenses increased by $4.3 million compared to the same period in 2021 due to the increased revenue and a re-assessment of 2021's royalties owing;

  • Depletion and amortization was $2.7 million higher than 2021 and this was due to the Company's adding capital and leased assets to get production levels to 3,200 tonnes per day of mined ore to the surface;

  • Finance costs were $2.5 million higher compared to the same period in 2021 as a result of lease additions and finance costs on higher provisionally settled amounts;

  • Mark-to-market revenue loss of $3.0 million worsened from a loss of $0.3 million in 2021 as the value of the unsettled copper payable to the Company decreased due to decline in market prices compared to provisionally settled prices;

  • All in sustaining costs ("AISC")1 per pound sold averaged USD$3.88/lb. It is estimated that without the 5 week mill closure due to weather, AISC would have been approximately USD$3.55/lb; and

  • $3.7 million was invested in the water treatment plant to begin the process of doubling its capacity to ensure future mill suspensions will not occur in 2023 due to water.

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2022 Fourth Quarter Highlights:

  • Copper sales decreased 22.6% to 6.46 million pounds for Q4 2022 compared to 8.35 million pounds for the same period in 2021 due to a mill shutdown in December as a result of extremely cold weather, contractor equipment reliability issues as well as decreases in market average copper prices;

  • Revenue declined by $14.7 million to $32.6 million for Q4 2022 compared to the same period in 2021;

  • Operating results:

  • Adjusted EBITDA2 for Q4 2022 totaled ($7.0) million, a decrease of $20.0 million compared to $13.1 million for the same period in 2021.

1.

Refers to Cash Costs & All-In Sustaining Costs "Non-IFRS Measures" on page 23 of the Company's MD&A for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021Year End 2022.

2.

Refers to Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization "Alternative Performance Measures" on page 23 of the Company's MD&A for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021Year End 2022.


"On February 23 we announced our production results for 2022. While we completed 2022 meeting our safety and production targets, we experienced challenges at the operations throughout the year such as volatility of the copper price, ongoing supply chain impacts of COVID-19 and a record snow survey measuring 417% above normal coming out of the 2021/2022 winter which resulted in a record spring freshet event. We are pleased that total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by 10.7% to $153.2 million compared to the same period in 2021 however at the same time, the challenges we faced throughout the year increased our cost of production. Q4 was negatively impacted by a two week mill shutdown in December due to extremely cold weather which resulted in mechanical/reliability issues with our surface crushing plant for the Mill. On a positive note, we discovered multiple, new high-grade mineralized lenses through our 28,438 metres of diamond drilling and two substantial, high-priority drill targets were identified through geophysics below and within 1 km of the mine infrastructure. We look forward to following up on these results in the second half of 2023," commented Chris Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"We continue to implement changes within the operation to mitigate the risks to our 2023 production plans. The company has improved its mobile equipment maintenance and reliability within its underground fleet and is investing in the water treatment plant which will result in a doubling of its output capacity. Despite the challenging times we are experiencing, we are aggressively managing our costs and continuously working towards improving our relationships with our suppliers and other stakeholders. I would like to thank our employees, contractors and suppliers for their continuous hard work and commitment, especially when we have faced some setbacks on various fronts. I remain confident that there is more value to be unlocked at the Minto mine through exploration and increasing production to 40 million pounds of copper per year." concluded Mr. Stewart.

EBITDA1 and Adjusted EBITDA (stated in thousands of CAD dollars)



Three months ended

Year ended



December 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

Net (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income


$                      (3,840)

$                      4,080

$                    (11,057)

$                     (1,970)

Finance costs


2,713

1,338

7,478

4,973

Depletion and amortization


3,623

3,559

13,973

11,240

Income tax expense


(1,495)

295

(406)

439

EBITDA


$                       1,001

$                      9,272

$                       9,988

$                    14,682

Share-based compensation expense


407

3,110

492

3,110

Unrealized foregin exchange loss (gain)


338

(128)

1,624

(144)

Mark-to-market revenue adjustments


(7,461)

(2,421)

2,966

288

Amortization of flow-through shares benefit


(1,242)

-

(1,727)

-

Loss on lease termination


-

9

-

201

Impairment of equipment


-

1,213

-

1,213

RTO Financing expenses


-

1,065

-

1,948

Listing expense


-

948

-

948

Adjusted EBITDA


$                      (6,957)

$                    13,068

$                     13,343

$                    22,246







1.

Refers to Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization "Alternative Performance Measures" on page 24 of the Company's MD&A for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021Year End 2022.


2022 Annual Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss
(stated in thousands of CAD dollars)



Year ended


Note

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

Revenue

17

$                   153,159

$                  138,297

Production costs


(133,783)

(113,510)

Royalty expense


(5,803)

(1,496)

Depletion and amortization

8, 10

(13,973)

(11,240)

(Loss) income from mine operations


(400)

12,051

Expenses




Related party management fees

23

-

(888)

Stock-based compensation expense

16

(492)

(3,110)

Other expenses


-

(2,896)

(Loss) income from operations


(892)

5,157

Other income (loss), net

18

(3,093)

(1,715)

Finance items




Finance costs

19

(7,478)

(4,973)

Loss before income taxes


(11,463)

(1,531)

Income tax recovery (expense)


406

(439)

Net loss and comprehensive loss


$                    (11,057)

$                     (1,970)





Per share amounts




Basic and diluted

16

$                        (0.15)

$                       (0.03)





Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding


72,864,762

61,539,216


2022 Annual Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(stated in thousands of CAD dollars)

As at

Note


December 31, 2022


December 31, 2021

Assets






Current assets






Cash


$

860

$

9,979

Restricted Cash

5


770


-

Accounts Receivable

6


15,835


20,762

Inventories

7


9,821


6,212

Prepaid expenses



4,954


2,855




32,240


39,808

Non-current assets






Mineral properties, plant and equipment

8


67,833


53,702

Right-of-use assets

10


8,247


9,245

Long-term deposits

9, 25


16,545


13,399

Total assets


$

124,865

$

116,154

Liabilities






Current liabilities






Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

11

$

57,953

$

36,370

Derivative Liabilities

22


650


-

Current portion of Sumitomo loan

12


2,182


10,221

Current portion of Note payable to Pembridge

12


6,773


-

Current portion of Due to Pembridge

12


2,433


4,000

Current portion of lease liability

10


5,155


5,436




75,146


56,027

Non-current liabilities






Lease liabilities

10


2,620


3,895

Due to Pembridge

12


-


1,174

Note payable to Pembridge

12


-


6,368

Due to Sumitomo

12


9,112


-

Long-term debt

12


12,931


11,702

Deferred revenue

14


13,153


14,463

Deferred income tax liabilities



2,703


3,109

Asset retirement obligation

15


34,326


35,288

Total liabilities



149,991


132,026

Shareholders' equity (deficiency)






Share capital

16


223,643


221,840

Deficit



(248,769)


(237,712)

Total shareholders' deficiency



(25,126)


(15,872)

Total liabilities and shareholders' deficiency


$

124,865

$

116,154







Subsequent events

26





Going concern

2






2022 Annual Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(stated in thousands of CAD dollars)



Year ended


Note

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

Operating activities




Net loss for the period


$                    (11,057)

$                     (1,970)

Adjustments for the following items:




Depletion, depreciation and accretion


13,973

11,240

Finance costs


7,478

4,973

Other income (loss), net


3,093

1,715

Stock-based compensation expense

16

492

3,110

Listing expense


-

948

Amortization of deferred revenue


(2,276)

(1,548)

Income tax (recovery) expense


(406)

439

Reclamation payments


(207)

(86)

Change in non-cash working capital

20

18,522

(4,989)



29,612

13,832

Interest paid


(1,687)

(1,642)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities


27,925

12,190





Investing activities




Additions to mineral properties, plant and equipment

8

(23,224)

(6,302)

Right-of-use asset additions

10

(770)

(1,343)

Net cash used in investing activities


(23,994)

(7,645)





Financing activities




Advances from Sumitomo

12

5,194

11,958

Repayments on Sumitomo loan

12

(4,677)

(5,501)

Principal payments under finance lease obligation

10

(7,434)

(7,426)

Repayment of Pembridge loan


(3,000)

-

Share issuance 

16

-

31,033

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

16

-

(1,674)

Cash restricted by lenders

5

(770)

-

Return of capital

16

-

(6,306)

Payment of Note Payable


-

(12,796)

Long-term deposits

9

(2,360)

(4,362)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities


(13,047)

4,926

Impact of foreign exchange on cash balances


(3)

1

Change in cash and cash equivalent


(9,119)

9,472

Cash and cash equivalent beginning of year


9,979

507

Cash and cash equivalent end of year


$                          860

$                      9,979

"Note" Refers to accompanying notes in the Annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2021 beginning on page 6 filed on SEDAR


About Minto Metals Corp.

Minto operates the producing Minto mine located within the traditional territory of the Selkirk First Nation in the Minto Copper Belt of the Yukon. The Minto mine has been in operation since 2007 with underground mining commencing in 2014. Since 2007, approximately 500Mlbs of copper have been produced from the Minto mine. The current mine operations are based on underground mining, a process plant to produce high-grade copper, gold, and silver concentrate, and all supporting infrastructure associated with a remote location in Yukon. The Minto property is located west of the Yukon River, about 20 km WNW of Minto Landing, the latter on the east side of the river, and approximately 250 road-km north of the City of Whitehorse, the capital city of Yukon.

Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as of the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "anticipated" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might " or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: statements of anticipated production volume, cash costs, capital expenditures, mill production and the potential investment and development of the Water Treatment Plant.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social and international conflict uncertainties; the delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions; risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk, social unrest or international conflict; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws; risks related to the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, and the ability to obtain financing as required; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time, including those risk factors set out in the Company's MD&A and annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022. There can be no assurance that such 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 the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact Information:

Tania Barreto, CPIR
Director, Investor Relations
info@mintometals.com
604 759 4666

SOURCE Minto Metals Corp.

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