FIRST QUANTUM MINERALS REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2018 RESULTS (In United States dollars, except where noted otherwise)
NEWS RELEASE
18-15
April 26, 2018
www.first-quantum.com
FIRST QUANTUM MINERALS REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2018 RESULTS
(In United States dollars, except where noted otherwise)
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (“First Quantum” or the “Company”, TSX Symbol “FM”) today reported comparative
earnings1 of $49 million ($0.07 per share1), net earnings attributable to shareholders of the Company1 of $47 million ($0.07
per share) and cash flows from operating activities of $796 million ($1.16 per share1) for the three months ended March 31,
2018. The results include a $121 million loss realized under the copper sales hedge program for which no tax credit is
available.
SUMMARY:
• Solid Operations; 145,358 Tonnes of Copper2 Produced; Low Unit Cost of Production Maintained
- 39% increase in production year-over-year at the Sentinel mine.
- 350,591 tonnes of concentrate processed by the Kansanshi smelter; exceeded the annualized design rate of
1.2 million tonnes.
- Unit cost of copper production3: All-in sustaining cost (“AISC”) = $1.72 per pound; Cash cost (“C1”) = $1.27
per pound; Total cost (“C3”) = $2.16 per pound.
• Executed Several Proactive Measures to Strengthen the Balance Sheet and Improve Liquidity
- Completed a $1.85 billion senior notes offering comprised of $850 million due 2024 and
$1 billion due 2026 bearing interest of 6.50% and 6.875%, respectively. Proceeds were used to repay in full
and cancel the Term Loan component of the senior debt facility, repay the outstanding balance of the senior
revolving credit debt facility, which remains available to be drawn, pay transactions fees associated with the
offering and for general corporate purpos es. Following the completion of this transaction, the process to
secure project financing for the Cobre Panama project was discontinued.
- Put in place a new $400 million five-year term facility agreement in the subsidiary that owns the Sentinel
mine. Repayments are scheduled to start in December 2019.
- Repaid and cancelled the $175 million outstanding balance on the Kansanshi senior term loan.
- As a result of these and previous measures, management believes there is sufficient liquidity through the next
year to carry out its operating and capital expenditure plans and remain in full compliance with financial
covenants.
- Ended the quarter with $ 810 million in net unrestricted cash and cash equivalents , $1,670 million of
committed undrawn facilities and in full compliance with all financial covenants.
- The copper sales hedge program continued to unwind and the C ompany will now receive revenue more
closely aligned with the prevailing spot price of copper.
• Achieved Key Milestones at the Cobre Panama Project Towards Phased Commissioning in 2018
- Successful steam blows of the set 1 generating boiler and started commissioning on set 2.
- Started mechanical installation for the primary crusher units in the mine.
- First operations of the ultra-class mining fleet.
- Mobilized key commissioning personnel for the process plant.
- Development activities in some areas were affected for about six weeks by industrial action which has been
resolved.
First Quantum Minerals Q1 2018 Financial and Operating Results 18-15
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• Other
- ZCCM International Holdings Plc (“ZCCM”) was denied permission to proceed with an Arbitration, filed in
October 2016, against the Company. As a result, ZCCM is liable for all costs incurred relating to the
proceeding.
- In a related Statement of Claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, all parties have mutually consented to a stay
of proceedings pending resolution of an appeal of the Court’s decision to reserve judgment on the point that
the claims were filed beyond the statute of limitations.
- An assessment was received from the Zambia Revenue Authority (“ZRA”) for 76.5 billion Zambian kwacha
(approximately $8 billion) for import duties of $150 million and associated interest and penalties of $8 billion.
The assessment is in regard to the import of capital items, consumables, and spare parts for use at the Sentinel
mine from January 2013 to December 2017. The Company , an external international accounting firm and
shipping agent are working to provide to the ZRA all relevant documentation in its rebuttal of the assessment.
The process is approximately two -thirds complete by value and has not identified any material errors. The
Company unequivocally refutes the assessment, is committed to transparency and continued engagement
with the ZRA on the issue.
- Finalized the previously reported additional precious metals stream agreement with a subsidiary of Franco -
Nevada Corporation and proceeds of $356 million were received.
1 Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders of the Company has been adjusted to exclude items which are not reflective of
underlying performance to arrive at comparative earnings (loss). C omparative earnings (loss), comparative earnings (loss) per share,
comparative EBITDA and cash flows per share are not measures re cognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning
prescribed by IFRS. The Company has disclosed these measures to assist with the understanding of results and to provide further
financial information about the results to investors. Refer to the “R egulatory Disclosures” section in the MD&A for the quarter ended
March 31, 2018 for further information.
2 Production is presented on a copper contained basis, and is presented prior to processing through the Kansanshi smelter.
3 AISC, C1 and C3 costs per pound are not recognized under IFRS. Refer to the “Regulatory Disclosures” section in the MD&A for the
quarter ended March 31, 2018 for further information.
CEO’S COMMENTS
“We are pleased with the quarter’s results in all aspects of the Company. The solid performances at our Zambian operations
are of particular note considering the severity of the seasonal rains,” noted Philip Pascall, Chairman and CEO.
“With the reduction in our copper forward sales contracts, the value of maintaining our capital investment program through
a challenging economic environment is becoming more visible. The significant turnaround in our financial results from a
year ago is in dicative of First Quantum’s enhanced earnings and cash generating capability. This is expected to grow
substantially when Cobre Panama begins commercial operations.
“While we had several successes in the quarter, we also had a few challenges. Such occurrences are not unexpected in the
resource industry with the onset of improved commodity prices and sentiment. While this can be momentarily distracting,
these matters do get resolved through open discussion and transparency which we are committed to,” Mr. Pascall concluded.
First Quantum Minerals Q1 2018 Financial and Operating Results 18-15
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OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
Three months ended
March 31
(U.S. dollars where applicable) 2018 2017
COPPER
- Production (tonnes) 145,358 132,356
- Sales (tonnes) 138,021 139,810
- Cost of production:
o AISC (per lb) $1.72 $1.59
o C1 (per lb) $1.27 $1.26
o C3 (per lb) $2.16 $2.05
- Realized price (per lb) $2.74 $2.20
GOLD
- Production (ounces) 45,929 50,579
- Sales (ounces) 48,815 46,904
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Three months ended
March 31
(U.S. dollars millions, except where noted otherwise)
2018
2017
Sales revenues
Gross profit
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders of the Company
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share
Comparative EBITDA
Comparative earnings (loss)
Comparative earnings (loss) per share
Cash flow from operating activities
885
181
47
$0.07
363
49
$0.07
796
766
69
(114)
($0.17)
265
(29)
($0.04)
239
CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST
Conference call and webcast details are as follows:
Date: April 27, 2018
Time: 9:00 am (EDT); 2:00 pm (BST); 6:00 am (PDT)
Webcast: www.first-quantum.com
Dial in: North America: (toll free) (877) 291-4570
North America and international: 1 (647) 788-4919
United Kingdom: (toll free) 0-800-051-7107
Replay: Available from noon (Eastern) on April 27, 2018 until 11:59 pm (Eastern) on May 11, 2018
North America: (toll free) (800) 585-8367
North America and international: 1 (416) 621-4642
Passcode: 1286336
First Quantum Minerals Q1 2018 Financial and Operating Results 18-15
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COMPLETE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The complete consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended
March 31, 2018 are available at www.first-quantum.com and should be read in conjunction with this news release.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
G. Clive Newall
President
For further information visit our website at www.first-quantum.com
North American contact: Sharon Loung, Director, Investor Relations
Tel: (647) 346-3934 Fax: (604) 688-3818 Toll Free: 1 (888) 688-6577 E-Mail: [email protected]
United Kingdom contact: Clive Newall, President
Tel: +44 140 327 3484 Fax: +44 140 327 3494 E-Mail: [email protected]
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking
statements and forward -looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward -looking
statements include estimates, forecasts and statements as to the Company’s expectations of production and sales volumes,
and expected timing of completion of project development at Cobre Panama and Enterprise and are subject to the impact
of ore grades on future production, the potential of production disruptions, capital expenditure and mine production costs,
the outcome of mine permitting, other required permitting, the outcome of legal proceedings which involve the Company,
information with respect to the future price of copper, gold, nickel, zinc, pyrite, cobalt, iron and sulphuric acid, estimated
mineral reserves and m ineral resources, First Quantum’s exploration and development program, estimated future
expenses, exploration and development capital requirements, the Company’s hedging policy, and goals and strategies.
Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”,
“expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”
or “does not anticipate” or “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events
or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.
With respect to forward- looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous
assumptions including among other things, assumptions about continuing production at all operating facilities, the price
of copper, gold, nickel, zinc, pyrite, cobalt, iron and sulphuric acid, anticipated costs and expenditures and the ability to
achieve the Company’s goals. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or
achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to,
future production volumes and costs, the temporary or permanent closure of uneconomic operations, costs for inputs such
as oil, power and sulphur, political stability in Zambia, Peru, Mauritania, Finland, Spain, Turkey, Panama, Argentina, the
United States and Australia, adverse weather conditions in Zambia, Finland, Spain, Turkey, Mauritania and Panama,
labour disruptions, potential social and environmental challenges, power supply, mechanical failures, water supply,
procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations, and the production of off-spec material.
See the Company’s Annual Information Form for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to
the forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause
actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements or information,
there may be other factors that cause actual results, performances, achievements or events not to be anticipated, estimated
or intended. Also, many of these factors are beyond First Quantum’s control. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-
looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required
by law. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.