ARIS MINING REPORTS 2023 RESULTS WITH GUIDANCE ACHIEVED, NET EARNINGS OF $11.4M, ADJUSTED EARNINGS OF $52.2M ($0.38/SHARE), ADJUSTED EBITDA OF $159M
VANCOUVER, BC, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Aris Mining Corporation (Aris Mining or the Company) (TSX: ARIS) (NYSE-A: ARMN) announces financial and operating results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 (Q4 2023 and FY 2023, respectively). All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Q4 2023
FY 2023
Gold Production
61,052 ounces
226,151 ounces
Segovia Operations AISC/oz1
$1,264
$1,173
EBITDA1
$19.7M
$112.1M
Adjusted EBITDA1
$39.7M
$159.4M
Net earnings (loss)
($5.9M) or ($0.04)/share
$11.4M or $0.08/share
Adjusted earnings1
$11.8M or $0.09/share
$52.2M or $0.38/share
Aris Mining CEO Neil Woodyer stated: "In 2023, we restructured the operations team and introduced new operating procedures following the combination of GCM Mining and Aris Gold in September 2022. The new team achieved consistent quarter-over-quarter increases in gold production during 2023, significantly enhancing our position in 2024 and the future. We have achieved the initial phase of our vision to create an attractive gold mining company for investors by integrating profitable operations with exploration potential and growth projects.
During 2023, our high-grade Segovia Operations produced 202,940 ounces of gold at a processed grade of 10.4 g/t with all-in sustaining costs per ounce of $1,173, achieving production and AISC guidance. For the full year 2023, our mines generated $75.4 million in free cash flow from operations1 which largely funded $84.2 million in growth and expansion investments, and we ended the year with a cash position of $195 million.
With strong gold production results and substantial growth in mineral reserves and resources at our Segovia Operations, we have started construction to increase its processing capacity by 50% to 3,000 tonnes per day with completion expected in early 2025. As the new capacity is used, we expect to increase annual gold production at Segovia to over 300,000 ounces. Construction at our Marmato Lower Mine project has ramped up with initial access roads completed, the lead contractor for portal and decline development selected, and tenders for key items for the new processing plant underway. We are on pace to reach 500,000 ounces of gold production in Colombia in 2026."
Total cash costs1, royalties & social contributions
(75.5)
(67.3)
(62.5)
(51.1)
(256.4)
Sustaining capital1 - Segovia infill exploration program
(1.3)
(1.3)
(0.3)
(0.8)
(4.6)
Sustaining capital1 - other
(10.0)
(7.4)
(4.1)
(7.7)
(28.3)
All in sustaining margin
36.1
37.0
39.3
32.2
144.7
Taxes paid
-
-
(52.4)
-
(52.4)
General and administration expenses
(7.5)
(3.9)
(4.1)
(2.2)
(17.8)
Change in working capital, impact of foreign exchange
(8.0)
3.2
22.9
(17.0)
1.0
Free cash flow from operations
20.6
36.3
5.7
12.9
75.4
Expansion and growth capital1 at:
Marmato Upper Mine & Lower Mine
(10.6)
(14.2)
(6.8)
(4.6)
(36.1)
Segovia Operations - regional exploration program
(6.0)
(2.6)
(2.9)
(2.5)
(14.0)
Segovia Operations - other
(10.3)
(4.0)
(4.7)
(0.1)
(19.1)
Toroparu Project
(1.7)
(3.9)
(4.6)
(4.7)
(14.9)
Total expansion and growth capital
(28.6)
(24.6)
(19.0)
(11.9)
(84.2)
Free cashflow from operations after expansion capital
(8.1)
11.7
(13.4)
1.0
(8.7)
Proceeds from warrant/option exercises
0.6
0.3
1.6
0.4
3.0
Soto Norte, deferred payment to Mubadala
-
-
-
(50.0)
(50.0)
Repayment of Gold-linked Notes
(1.8)
(1.8)
(1.8)
(1.8)
(7.4)
Contributions to investments in associates
(1.4)
(1.4)
(1.2)
(1.1)
(5.1)
Purchase of Denarius debentures and shares
(3.6)
-
-
(1.1)
(4.7)
Interest (paid), net of interest income
(2.0)
(12.3)
(0.2)
(17.5)
(31.9)
Net change in cash
(16.2)
(3.5)
(15.0)
(70.1)
(104.8)
Opening balance at the beginning of the period
210.8
214.3
229.3
299.5
299.5
Closing balance at the end of the period
$ 194.6
$ 210.8
$ 214.3
$ 229.3
$ 194.6
_____________________________________
1
AISC ($ per oz sold), EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earning, free cash flow, cash costs and sustaining capital are non-IFRS financial measures in this document. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the Non-IFRS Measures section and the table titled "Quarterly and YTD Cashflow generation" below for a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial measure disclosed in the Company's interim and audited financial statements.
2
Partner-operating mining encompasses contractor workforce as well as the acquisition of mill-feed from artisanal and small-scale miner units.
Aris Mining's audited consolidated financial statements for three month and years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and related MD&A (together, the Annual Filings) are available on SEDAR+, and the Annual Filings and Aris Mining's annual report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 are available in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and in the Financials section of Aris Mining's website here. Hard copies of the audited financial statements are available free of charge by written request to info@aris-mining.com.
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Aris Mining is a gold producer in the Americas with an attractive blend of current production, exploration, and growth projects. The Company operates two mines in Colombia, the Segovia Operations and Marmato Upper Mine, known for their high-grade deposits, which produced 226,000 ounces of gold in 2023. With expansion projects in progress, Segovia and Marmato aim to produce a combined 500,000 ounces of gold in 2026. Aris Mining also operates and is 20% owner of the Soto Norte Project joint venture, where environmental licensing is advancing to develop a new underground gold, silver and copper mine. In Guyana, Aris Mining is advancing the Toroparu Project, a gold/copper project. Aris Mining is committed to pursuing acquisitions and other growth opportunities to unlock value through scale and diversification.
Free cash flow, cash costs ($ per oz sold), AISC ($ per oz sold), EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted (loss)/earning, sustaining capital and expenditures on growth capital are non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. For full details on these measures and ratios refer to the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months and years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (MD&A). The MD&A is incorporated by reference into this news release and is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and in its filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
The tables below reconcile the non-IFRS financial measures contained in this news release for the current and comparative periods to the most directly comparable financial measure disclosed in the Company's 2023 audited consolidated financial statements.
Total cash costs
Segovia Operations
Total Operations
Quarter ended,
Year ended,
Quarter ended,
Year ended,
($000s except per ounce amounts)
Dec 31, 2023
Sept 30, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Sept 30, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Total gold sold (ounces)
55,736
52,627
201,652
62,083
59,040
224,509
Cost of sales1
61,993
56,543
213,649
76,580
68,534
261,766
Less: materials and supplies provision
(715)
-
(715)
(1,211)
(190)
(1,401)
Less: royalties1
(3,434)
(3,202)
(12,784)
(4,531)
(4,189)
(16,745)
Add: by-product revenue1
(2,297)
(3,153)
(13,081)
(2,565)
(3,514)
(14,199)
Less: other adjustments
-
-
-
-
-
77
Total cash costs
55,547
50,188
187,069
68,273
60,641
229,498
Total cash costs ($ per oz gold sold)
997
954
928
1,100
1,027
1,022
1.
As presented in the interim and audited consolidated financial statements and notes for the respective periods.
All-in sustaining costs (AISC)
Segovia Operations
Total Operations
Quarter ended,
Year ended,
Quarter ended,
Year ended,
($000s except per ounce amounts)
Dec 31, 2023
Sept 30, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Sept 30, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Total gold sold (ounces)
55,736
52,627
201,652
62,083
59,040
224,509
Total cash costs
55,547
50,188
187,069
68,273
60,641
229,498
Add: royalties1
3,434
3,202
12,784
4,531
4,189
16,745
Add: social programs1
2,501
2,249
9,573
2,653
2,434
10,157
Add: sustaining capital expenditures
8,669
6,685
25,136
11,020
8,143
30,842
Add: lease payments on sustaining capital
324
507
2,073
324
507
2,073
Total AISC
70,475
62,831
236,635
86,801
75,914
289,315
Total AISC ($ per oz gold sold)
1,264
1,194
1,173
1,398
1,286
1,289
1.
As presented in the interim and audited consolidated financial statements and notes for the respective periods.
The table below reconciles the cash cost per ounce sold and the AISC per ounce sold for ore sourced from owner-operated mines and other partner-operated mines to the totals for the consolidated Segovia Operations:
Quarter ended December 31, 2023
Year ended December 31, 2023
Owner Operated
mining1
Partner
Total
Owner Operated
mining1
Partner
Total
Operated mining2
Segovia
Operated mining2
Segovia
Attributable gold sold (ounces)
31,396
24,340
55,736
113,560
88,092
201,652
Total cash costs ($'000)3
27,632
27,915
55,547
88,069
99,002
187,071
Cash cost per ounce sold ($/ounce)3
$880
$1,147
$997
$776
$1,124
$928
All-in sustaining costs ($'000)3
39,781
30,694
70,475
127,232
109,405
236,637
AISC cost per ounce sold ($/ounce)3
$1,267
$1,261
$1,264
$1,120
$1,242
$1,173
Quarter ended September 30, 2023
Owner Operated
mining1
Partner
Operated mining2
Total
Segovia
Attributable gold sold (ounces)
30,030
22,597
52,627
Total cash costs ($'000)3
23,602
26,586
50,188
Cash cost per ounce sold ($/ounce)3
$786
$1,177
$954
All-in sustaining costs ($'000)3
33,279
29,553
62,831
AISC cost per ounce sold ($/ounce)3
$1,108
$1,308
$1,194
1.
Includes Company-operated areas within the mines, utilizing owner-managed labour.
2.
Comprises contractor-operated and other small-scale mining operations within and outside of the Company's mining title that are operated by miners under contract to deliver the mill feed mined to the Company's Maria Dama plant for processing.
3.
Refer to the Non-IFRS Measures section for full details on cash costs ($ per oz sold) and AISC ($ per oz sold).
Additions to mineral interests, plant and equipment
Quarter ended,
Year ended,
($'000)
Dec 31, 2023
Sept 30, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Sustaining capital
Segovia Operations
8,669
6,685
25,136
Marmato Upper Mine
2,351
1,457
5,706
Total
11,020
8,143
30,842
Non-sustaining growth capital
Segovia Operations
16,308
6,569
33,157
Toroparu Project
1,740
3,874
14,929
Marmato Lower Mine
9,394
8,413
27,814
Marmato Upper Mine
1,181
5,737
8,244
Juby Project
7
-
40
Total
28,630
24,594
84,184
Total Additions1
39,650
32,736
115,026
1. As presented in the interim and audited consolidated financial statements and notes for the respective periods.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and adjusted EBITDA
Quarter ended,
Year ended,
($000s)
Dec 31, 2023
Sept 30, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Earnings (loss) before tax1
7,963
26,156
58,826
Add back:
Depreciation and depletion1
7,535
10,938
34,944
Finance income1
(2,580)
(3,672)
(10,783)
Interest and accretion1
6,772
6,757
29,156
EBITDA
19,690
40,179
112,143
Add back:
Share-based compensation1
2,977
528
5,111
Revaluation of investments (Denarius) 1
536
-
10,559
Loss from equity accounting in investee1
(3,667)
(1,062)
(59)
(Gain) loss on financial instruments1
13,429
(374)
13,078
Foreign exchange (gain) loss1
6,685
2,285
18,550
Adjusted EBITDA
39,650
41,555
159,382
1.
As presented in the interim and audited consolidated financial statements and notes for the respective periods.
Adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share
Quarter ended,
Year ended,
($000s except shares amount)
Dec 31, 2023
Sept 30, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
137,313,095
137,192,545
136,735,317
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
137,313,095
137,484,041
137,062,505
Net earnings (loss)1
(5,944)
13,833
11,419
Add back:
Share-based compensation1
2,977
528
5,111
Revaluation of investments (Aris Gold/Denarius) 1
536
-
10,559
(Income) loss from equity accounting in investee1
(3,667)
(1,062)
(59)
(Gain) loss on financial instruments1
13,429
(374)
13,078
Foreign exchange (gain) loss1
6,685
2,285
18,550
Income tax effect on adjustments
(2,221)
(796)
(6,434)
Adjusted net (loss) / earnings
11,795
14,414
52,224
Per share - basic ($/share)
0.09
0.11
0.38
1.
As presented in the interim and audited consolidated financial statements and notes for the respective periods.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" or forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's belief that it has significantly enhanced its position in 2024 and the future, the Company's plans to increase the processing capacity at the Segovia Operations and the timing thereof, the expected increase in annual gold production at the Segovia Operations, the Company's goal of producing 500,000 ounces of gold in Colombia in 2026 and the Company's plans and strategies are forward-looking. Generally, the forward-looking information and forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "will continue" or "believes", or variations 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". The material factors or assumptions used to develop forward looking information or statements are disclosed throughout this news release.
Forward looking information and forward looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Aris Mining to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or forward looking statements, including but not limited to those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Aris Mining's annual information form dated March 6, 2024 which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and in the Company's filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
Although Aris Mining has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information or statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information or statements. The Company has and continues to disclose in its Management's Discussion and Analysis and other publicly filed documents, changes to material factors or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements and to the validity of the information, in the period the changes occur. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and Aris Mining disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.