AuRico Gold Updates Guidance
TORONTO, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Update Follows Recently Announced Divestitures of Non-Core Assets
AuRico Gold Inc. (TSX: AUQ) (NYSE: AUQ), ("AuRico" or "AuRico Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update to its operational guidance for the next three years. While guidance on production, cash costs, and capital expenditures at AuRico's core operations has not changed, the Company wishes to highlight updated consolidated guidance that reflects the recently announced divestitures of its non-core mines. On March 27, AuRico announced the execution of a definitive agreement regarding the divestiture of its Australian mines, and on April 15, AuRico announced the execution of a definitive agreement regarding the sale of the El Cubo mine and the Guadalupe y Calvo project in Mexico.
The divestitures are consistent with AuRico Gold's strategy of focusing on its large, low cost, core assets in North America. AuRico Gold is now directing all of its attention to delivering value for shareholders from its three core operating mines, including Young-Davidson where first production is imminent, and its development pipeline in Mexico and Canada.
2012 Quarterly Operational Guidance
For 2012, the Company's quarter by quarter guidance on estimated production and cash costs are summarized in the table below.
Q1 2012 Q2 2012 Q3 2012 Q4 2012 Total 2012
Production Gold eq. oz. Gold eq. oz. Gold eq. oz. Gold eq. oz. Gold eq. oz.
Ocampo 36,000-38,000 50,000-56,000 47,000-53,000 47,000-53,000 180,000-200,000
El Chanate 18,000-20,000 20,000-22,000 20,000-23,000 20,000-23,000 78,000-88,000
Young-Davidson - 15,000-17,000 23,000-27,000 27,000-31,000 65,000-75,000
Total 54,000-58,000 85,000-95,000 90,000-103,000 94,000-107,000 323,000-363,000
Q1 2012 Q2 2012 Q3 2012 Q4 2012 Total 2012
Cash Costs Per Gold eq. Per Gold eq. Per Gold eq. Per Gold eq. Per Gold eq.
oz. oz. oz. oz. oz.
Ocampo $510-$540 $425-$455 $440-$470 $500-$530 $465-$495
El Chanate $410-$440 $475-$505 $455-$485 $455-$485 $450-$480
Young-Davidson - - $450-$550 $450-$550 $450-$550
Total $480-$505 $445-$470 $455-$480 $490-$515 $465-$490
1. Production and cash costs for the Ocampo mine and on a consolidated
basis are calculated on a per gold equivalent ounce basis. Gold
equivalent production and cash costs are based on a gold equivalency
ratio of 55:1 unless otherwise indicated.
2. Cash costs for the Young-Davidson and El Chanate mines are calculated
on a per gold ounce basis, using by-product revenues as a cost credit.
Production includes gold ounces only.
3. Anticipated cash costs at the Young-Davidson mine do not include
pre-production ounces reported prior to the declaration of commercial
production.
4. The following currency assumptions were used to forecast 2012
estimates:
- 12:1 Mexican pesos to the US dollar
- 1:1 Canadian dollars to the US dollar
5. See the Non-GAAP Measures section on page 26 of the Management's
Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Three Year Guidance
For 2012, 2013, and 2014, AuRico's estimated production, cash cost, and capital expenditure guidance is summarized in the table below.
2012 2013 2014
Production Gold eq. Oz. Gold eq. Oz. Gold eq. Oz.
Ocampo 180,000-200,000 180,000-205,000 210,000-245,000
El Chanate 78,000-88,000 75,000-85,000 75,000-95,000
Young-Davidson 65,000-75,000 135,000-155,000 165,000-190,000
Total 323,000-363,000 390,000-445,000 450,000-530,000
2012 2013 2014
Cash Costs Per Gold eq. oz. Per Gold eq. oz. Per Gold eq. oz.
Ocampo $465-$495 $550-$600 $500-$550
El Chanate $450-$480 $455-$485 $480-$510
Young-Davidson $450-$550 $500-$550 $460-$510
Total $465-$490 $515-$565 $480-$530
2012 2013 2014
Capex (excluding
exploration) US$ (millions) US$ (millions) US$ (millions)
Ocampo $36-$50 $60-$70 $45-$60
El Chanate $45-$49 $30-$40 $35-$45
Young-Davidson $173-$187 $100-$130 $50-$65
Total $254-$286 $190-$240 $130-$170
1. Production and cash costs for the Ocampo mine and on a consolidated
basis are calculated on a per gold equivalent ounce basis. Gold
equivalent production and cash costs are based on a gold equivalency
ratio of 55:1 unless otherwise indicated.
2. Cash costs for the Young-Davidson and El Chanate mines are calculated
on a per gold ounce basis, using by-product revenues as a cost credit.
Production includes gold ounces only.
3. Forecasted cash costs at the Young-Davidson mine do not include
pre-production ounces reported prior to the declaration of commercial
production.
4. The following currency assumptions were used to forecast 2012
estimates:
- 12:1 Mexican pesos to the US dollar
- 1:1 Canadian dollars to the US dollar
5. See the Non-GAAP Measures section on page 26 of the Management's
Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2011.
2012 Exploration Program
For 2012 the Company is providing guidance on exploration expenditures as summarized in the table below.
2012 2012
Budget (US$ millions) Drilling (metres)
Young-Davidson $4-$6 35,000-43,000
Ocampo $7-$14 60,000-100,000
El Chanate $4 27,600
Kemess UG $7 -
Other $6-$9 6,000
Total $28-$40 128,600-176,600
About AuRico Gold
AuRico Gold is a leading Canadian gold producer with a diversified portfolio of high quality mines and projects in North America. Following the recently announced divestitures of AuRico's Australian mines and El Cubo, and the imminent achievement of first production at Young-Davidson, the Company will be focussed on 3 core operations including the Ocampo mine in Chihuahua State and the El Chanate mine in Sonora State. The exciting Young-Davidson gold mine in northern Ontario is expected to reach commercial production by the third quarter of this year and ramp-up to over 200,000 ounces of annual production by 2015. AuRico's strong project pipeline includes advanced development opportunities in Mexico and British Columbia as well as a number of highly prospective exploration properties. AuRico's head office is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Cautionary Statement
Certain statements included herein, including information as to the future financial or operating performance of the Company, its subsidiaries and its projects, constitute forward-looking statements. The words " believe " , " expect " , " anticipate " , " target " , " continue " , " estimate " , " may " , and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding anticipated future financial and operational performance, the ability of the Company to achieve its guidance for production, cash costs, capex for 2012, 2013 and 2014 and its exploration expenditures for 2012, the ability to continue to fund expansion and exploration operations through cash flows, the ability of the Company to optimize and expand its operations and development projects through capital expenditure, the ability of the Company to complete its expansion studies in a timely manner and to achieve positive results therefrom, the ability to realize the perceived benefits of the acquisition of Capital Gold and Northgate, the ability of Young-Davidson to commence production by the end of Q1 2012 and to achieve over 200,000 ounces of annual production by 2015 and to meet the timelines for the commencement of mill processing, the ability to accelerate underground production at Young-Davidson, the ability to increase mining rates at Young-Davidson, the ability of the Company to achieve its targets for the continued expansion and development of Ocampo and El Chanate, the ability to improve infrastructure and productivity at El Cubo, the future price of gold and silver and the ratio of their prices, the de-risking of operations, future exploration results of the Company's exploration and development programs and the success of the Company's exploration approaches, the Company's ability to delineate additional resources and reserves as a result of such programs, statements regarding the Company's financial exposure to litigation, targets, estimates and assumptions in respect of gold and silver production and prices, operating costs, results and capital expenditures, mineral reserves and mineral resources and anticipated grades, recovery rates, future financial or operating performance, margins, operating and exploration expenditures, costs and timing of completion of the Ocampo expansion program and improvements to the heap leach pad, costs and timing of the development and commencement of production of new deposits, costs and timing of construction, costs and timing of future exploration and reclamation expenses including, anticipated results for the periods set out within, operating performance projections for the periods set out within, the Company's ability to fully fund its business model internally, gold and silver production for the periods set out within and the cash and operating costs associated therewith, the ability to achieve productivity and operational efficiencies, and the timing of each thereof. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. The operating and financial performance of the Company will be affected by changes in the actual gold equivalency ratio realized for the periods set out within. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Such factors include, among others, known and unknown uncertainties and risks relating to additional funding requirements, reserve and resource estimates, commodity prices, hedging activities, exploration, development and operating risks, illegal miners, political and foreign risk, uninsurable risks, competition, limited mining operations, production risks, environmental regulation and liability, government regulation, currency fluctuations, recent losses and write-downs, restrictions in the Company's loan facility, dependence on key employees, possible variations of ore grade or recovery rates, failure of plant, equipment or process to operate as anticipated, accidents and labour disputes. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
For further information:
For further information please visit the AuRico Gold website at http://www.auricogold.com or contact:
Scott Perry
Chief Financial Officer
AuRico Gold Inc.
+1.647.260.8880
Anne Day
Director of Investor Relations
AuRico Gold Inc.
+1.647.260.8880
(AUQ AUQ.)
SOURCE AuRico Gold Inc.
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