Stillwater Mining Provides Company Update, Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2015 Results Conference Call and Webcast
January 19 2016 - 8:00AM
STILLWATER MINING COMPANY (NYSE:SWC) announced
today full-year 2015 mined production of 520,800 ounces of
palladium and platinum including fourth quarter production of
132,400 ounces. At December 31, 2015, the Company had $463.8
million in cash, cash equivalents and highly liquid investments.
Mine Production
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
(Produced
ounces) |
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
Palladium |
|
63,400 |
|
69,500 |
|
246,400 |
|
262,500 |
Platinum |
|
18,900 |
|
20,700 |
|
73,400 |
|
78,300 |
Stillwater Mine
Total |
|
82,300 |
|
90,200 |
|
319,800 |
|
340,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Palladium |
|
39,000 |
|
37,000 |
|
156,500 |
|
137,700 |
Platinum |
|
11,100 |
|
10,400 |
|
44,500 |
|
39,200 |
East Boulder Mine
Total |
|
50,100 |
|
47,400 |
|
201,000 |
|
176,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Palladium |
|
102,400 |
|
106,500 |
|
402,900 |
|
|
400,200 |
|
Platinum |
|
30,000 |
|
31,100 |
|
117,900 |
|
|
117,500 |
|
Total |
|
132,400 |
|
137,600 |
|
520,800 |
|
|
517,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commenting on the preliminary 2015 results, Mick McMullen, the
Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer stated,
“Operationally, Stillwater performed well during 2015. Mined
production was ahead of guidance and we made notable strides in
expanding the recycling business. This, combined with concerted
efforts to conserve capital and reduce costs, resulted in the
Company generating positive free cash flow for the quarter. While
not yet finalized, All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC)* are expected to
range from $603 to $623 per mined ounce for the fourth quarter and
from $705 to $715 for the full-year 2015, a sharp improvement over
the prior year periods and below the low end of our guidance range.
We have seen a strong cost reduction trajectory during the last
quarter, achieved through productivity gains and a focus on better
mining practices. During the quarter, the Company continued to
invest in sustaining capital and growth projects while still
generating free cash flow.
“Even as the PGM pricing environment has continued to decline,
we have delivered on our stated goals. We are confident in our
ability to withstand this PGM pricing trough with a very strong
balance sheet, building on our successes and focusing on additional
business improvements to drive costs lower. These efforts will
ensure Stillwater maintains its leading position and is positioned
for growth when price recovery occurs.”
Cash Generation
At December 31, 2015, the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and
highly liquid investments balance was $463.8 million (including
$18.5 million of investments which have been reserved as
collateral on letters of credit). On a sequential basis, this
balance represents an increase of $3.5 million from the total
reported at the end of the third quarter of 2015. The 2015 year-end
cash balance reflects a payment of $5.2 million related to the
purchase of 25% interest in the Marathon PGM-copper project made
during the fourth quarter. The total cash consideration was
comprised of $1.0 million in cash and the equivalent of 25% of the
total cash and cash equivalents held by the project.
Recycling
During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company processed 129,800
ounces of palladium, platinum and rhodium from recycled material.
Recycling volumes for the full-year 2015 totaled 551,100 ounces, an
increase of 17.4% from the 469,400 processed during 2014.
Blitz Project
The Company continued to make progress on its Blitz development
project during 2015. Project highlights include:
- Surface drilling program successfully demonstrated J-M Reef
existence over the length of the project
- Grades are consistent with historical off-shaft mineralization
(0.6 to 0.7 ounce/ton)
- Benbow portal permit was approved and surface construction is
underway
- Tunnel boring machine drive progressed 9,500 feet out of total
planned 23,000 feet
- Parallel conventional drive resulted in 14,700 feet of ramp and
infrastructure development
- First production expected in 2018 with total infrastructure
completion in 2019
- Project expected to provide primarily growth in production
until gradual off-set of depletion from the Stillwater Mine in
approximately 10 years
- Production of 150,000 to 200,000 PGM ounces/year anticipated
upon full ramp up
- Production from the Blitz area expected to be Company’s lowest
cost mined production
- Total spend through 2015 of approximately $80 million out of
total anticipated project cost of $205 million
Safety
The safety results for 2015 were the best in the Company’s
history. The Company’s reportable incidence rate declined 8.5% in
2015 from 2014 and demonstrates the success of changes implemented
by the Company during 2015.
Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2015 Results Webcast and Conference
Call
Complete fourth quarter and full-year 2015 results will be
released on Monday, February 22, 2016. The Company will conduct a
conference call to discuss results the same day at approximately
12:00 noon Eastern Standard Time.
|
|
Dial-In Numbers: |
United States: (877) 407-8037 |
|
International: (201)
689-8037 |
|
|
A simultaneous webcast and presentation to accompany the
conference call will be available in the Investor Relations section
of the Company’s website at: www.stillwatermining.com.
A telephone replay of the call will be available for one week
following the event. The replay dial-in numbers are (877) 660-6853
(U.S.) and (201) 612-7415 (International), access code: 13624356.
In addition, the call transcript will be archived in the Investor
Relations section of the Company’s website.
*Non-GAAP financial measure. For a full
description and reconciliation of this and other non-GAAP financial
measures to GAAP financial measures, see the Company’s latest
quarterly results release and quarterly filings with the SEC.
About Stillwater Mining Company
Stillwater Mining Company is the only U.S. miner of platinum
group metals (PGMs) and the largest primary producer of PGMs
outside of South Africa and the Russian Federation. PGMs are rare
precious metals used in a wide variety of applications, including
automobile catalysts, fuel cells, hydrogen purification,
electronics, jewelry, dentistry, medicine and coinage. The Company
is engaged in the development, extraction and processing of PGMs
from a geological formation in south-central Montana known as the
J-M Reef. The J-M Reef is the only known significant source of PGMs
in the U.S. and the highest-grade PGM resource known in the world.
The Company also recycles PGMs from spent catalytic converters and
other industrial sources. The Company owns the Marathon PGM-copper
deposit in Ontario, Canada, and the Altar porphyry copper-gold
deposit located in the San Juan province of Argentina. The
Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol SWC. Information about the Company can be found at its
website: www.stillwatermining.com.
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
Some statements contained in this press release are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, therefore,
involve uncertainties or risks that could cause actual results to
differ materially from management's expectations. These statements
may contain words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,”
“expects,” “intends,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “should,” “will,”
“may” or similar expressions. Such statements also include, but are
not limited to, comments regarding anticipated AISC results for the
fourth quarter and full-year 2015, Stillwater’s ability to
withstand current PGM pricing environment, ability to drive costs
lower, Stillwater maintaining a leading position for growth when
pricing recovery occurs, grades at the Company’s Blitz project,
Blitz production and infrastructure completion, future annual
production from the Blitz project and Blitz providing the
Company’s lowest cost mined production. The forward-looking
statements in this release are based on assumptions and analyses
made by management in light of experience and perception of
historical trends, current conditions, expected future
developments, and other factors that are deemed appropriate. These
statements are not guarantees of the Company’s future performance
and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors
that could cause its actual performance or achievements to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. Additional information regarding factors that could
cause results to differ materially from management's expectations
is found in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company intends that the
forward-looking statements contained herein be subject to the
above-mentioned statutory safe harbors. Investors are cautioned not
to rely on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking
statements herein speak only as of the date of this release. The
Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking
statements.
CONTACT:
Mike Beckstead
(702) 502-7671
investor-relations@stillwatermining.com
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