Asanko GOLD Reports Q2 2019 Results
PRESS RELEASE
ASANKO GOLD REPORTS Q2 2019 RESULTS
Vancouver, British Columbia, August 1, 2019 – Asanko Gold Inc. (“Asanko” or the “Company”) (TSX, NYSE
American: AKG) reports second quarter (“Q2”) 2019 operating and financial results for the Asanko Gold Mine
(“AGM”), located in Ghana, West Africa. The AGM is a 50:50 joint venture (“JV”) with Gold Fields Ltd (JSE,
NYSE: GFI), which is managed and operated by Asanko. All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise stated.
Q2 2019 Asanko Gold Mine Highlights (100% basis)
• Record proceeds of $85.6 million generated from record gold sales of 66,337 ounces at an average
realized price of $1,290 per ounce
• Record gold production of 62,067 ounces, on track to meet 2019 production guidance
• All-in sustaining cost1 (“AISC”) of $1,180/oz, with 2019 guidance of $1,040 – $1,060/oz maintained as
AISC are expected to drop in Q4 2019 when the Nkran Cut 2 pushback has been substantially completed
• Generated EBITDA1 of $35.2 million and operating cash flows before working capital changes of
$35.3 million
• Net income after tax of $13.6 million
Q2 2019 Quarterly Highlights for Asanko Gold Inc.
• Net income of $6.1 million, including the Company’s 45% proportionate share of the net earnings of the
JV of $6.1 million
• Adjusted EBITDA1 of $12.4 million
• Lynette Gould appointed Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
Commenting on the Q2 2019 performance, Greg McCunn, Chief Executive Officer, said: “This quarter has
been the best performance for the Asanko Gold Mine to date, with record production, record sales and record
gold proceeds which enabled the mine to generate EBITDA1 of $35.2 million and net income after tax of $13.6
million, up from a loss of $14.1 million in Q1 2019.
We are well positioned to meet 2019 production and cost guidance as we enter the second half of the year
and focus on maximizing cash flow from the operations. With limited capital expenditure planned in the near
term, we expect to see the benefits of the Cut 2 pushback at Nkran positively impact all-in sustaining costs
during the last quarter in the year.
Looking forward, we have now aligned our development philosophy for the Asanko Gold Mine with our focus
on near term free cash flow generation. We are collaborating with our joint venture partner on an updated
Mineral Reserve Estimate which we expect to publish in Q1 2020. At this stage, we do not anticipate that the
updated Mineral Reserve Estimate will be based on any major capital investments such as further processing
plant expansions or Esaase ore transportation infrastructure. Future capital investments will be measured
against their return on invested capital based on this updated plan.”
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Summary of Q2 2019 Asanko Gold Mine Operational and Financial Results
AGM (100% Basis) Q2 2019 Q1 2019 Q2 2018
Waste mined (‘000t) 7,808 6,584 9,814
Ore mined (‘000t) 1,056 1,505 945
Strip ratio (W:O) 7.4 4.4 10.4
Average gold grade mined (g/t) 1.6 1.4 1.4
Mining costs ($/t mined) 4.36 4.48 3.65
Ore treated (‘000t) 1,375 1,224 1,374
Gold feed grade (g/t) 1.5 1.6 1.4
Gold recovery (%) 93 93 94
Processing costs ($/t treated) 10.60 11.93 9.95
Gold production (oz) 62,067 60,425 53,501
Gold sales (oz) 66,337 53,421 51,785
Average realized gold price ($/oz) 1,290 1,292 1,286
Operating cash costs1 ($/oz) 660 878 582
Total cash costs1 ($/oz) 724 943 646
All-in sustaining costs1 ($/oz) 1,180 1,123 1,068
All-in sustaining margin1 ($/oz) 110 169 218
All-in sustaining margin1 ($m) 7.3 9.0 11.3
Revenue ($m) 85.7 67.0 66.8
Income (loss) from mine operations ($m) 20.8 (11.9) 16.1
Net income (loss) after tax ($m) 13.6 (14.1) 2.7
EBITDA1 35.2 10.1 27.5
Cash provided by operating activities 20.5 8.8 18.4
Key Operational Highlights of the AGM (on a 100% basis)
• No lost time injuries (“LTI”) or recordable injuries were reported during the quarter. The AGM has now
achieved over 27 months and more than 13.9 million employee hours worked without a single LTI.
• Record gold production of 62,067 and 122,492 ounces during the three and six months ended June 30,
2019, on track to meet the JV’s 2019 production guidance of 225,000-245,000 ounces.
• Ore mined during Q2 2019 was 1.06 million tonnes (“Mt”), including 0.53Mt of ore from the Esaase pit,
at an average mining grade of 1.6 g/t and a strip ratio of 7.4:1. The increase in strip ratio from Q1 2019
was due to the final stages of waste mining the Cut 2 pushback at Nkran, which is expected to be
substantially complete in Q3 2019.
• The processing plant delivered a record quarterly milling performance of 1.38Mt, at an average plant
feed grade of 1.5 g/t.
JV Financial Performance
• The AGM incurred operating cash costs per ounce1 of $660 and total cash costs per ounce1 of $724 for
the quarter. Relative to Q1 2019, total cash costs per ounce1 decreased by 23% in Q2 2019 as a result of
the impact of higher gold sales volumes, which had the effect of decreasing cash production cost on a
per-unit basis. total cash costs per ounce1 also benefitted from an increase in the amount of stripping
costs that was deferred and thus excluded from total cash costs per ounce1. Additionally, in Q1 2019,
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the AGM recorded an adjustment to the carrying value of stockpile inventory in order to reflect the net
realizable value of stockpiled ore ($149/oz increase); whereas, in Q2 2019, the AGM recognized a $0.6
million reversal of the previously recorded net realizable value adjustments on its stockpile inventory
($9/oz decrease).
• AISC1 for Q2 2019 were $1,180, although higher than 2019 annual cost guidance of $1,040 - $1,060/oz,
AISC1 for the quarter correlates closely with the plan for Q2 2019 and the Company reaffirms the 2019
cost guidance for the AGM.
• Q2 2019 gold sales of 66,337 ounces generated a record $85.6 million of gold sales proceeds at an
average realized gold price of $1,290 per ounce, an increase of $19.0 million from Q2 2018. Revenue for
Q2 2019 amounted to $85.7 million and includes by-product sales of $0.2 million.
• Total cost of sales (including depreciation and depletion and royalties) amounted to $64.9 million in Q2
2019, an increase of $14.2 million from Q2 2018. The increase in production costs was primarily due to
a negative volume variance associated with the record quarterly gold sales, which also caused royalties
to increase.
• The AGM generated EBITDA1 of $35.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA1 of $31.2 million for the quarter.
• The AGM’s net income after tax for the quarter amounted to $13.6 million, compared to net income
after tax of $2.7 million in Q2 2018. The increase in net income was due mainly to higher mine operating
earnings in Q2 2019 as a result of higher gold ounces sold, lower general and administrative expenses,
a reduction in interest expense resulting from the settlement of the Red Kite debt in July 2018, and lower
deferred income tax expense. These factors were partly offset by a $2.5 million unrealized mark-to-
market loss on gold hedging instruments.
• During the quarter, the AGM entered into a zero cost collar gold hedging program with a group of leading
commercial banks to manage the AGM’s exposure to gold price risk. The hedging instruments cover
90,000 ounces of gold production, maturing at 15,000 gold ounces per month over a period of six
months from July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.
• As at June 30, 2019, the JV had unaudited cash of $22.7 million o n hand ($3.0 million of which was
restricted and held as collateral in respect of the gold collars), $7.1 million in receivables from gold sales
and $2.4 million in gold on hand (with a market value of $3.7 million).
Asanko Gold Inc. – Summary Q2 2019 Financial Results
Consolidated Q2 2019 Q1 2019 Q2 2018
Net income (loss) attributable to
common shareholders ($m)
6.1 (5.3) (142.3)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to
common shareholders
$0.03 ($0.02) ($0.63)
Adjusted EBITDA1 ($m) 12.4 3.1 28.6
• The Company reported net income of $6.1 million in Q2 2019 compared to a net loss attributable to
common shareholders of $142.3 million in Q2 2018. The net loss during Q2 2018 was solely attributable
to the recognition of a $144.6 million loss due to the reclassification of the Company’s then Ghanaian
subsidiaries to assets and associated liabilities held for sale, in anticipation of the JV Transaction.
Notwithstanding the loss associated with the JV Transaction, the increase in net income for Q2 2019 was
predominantly the result of the improved financial performance of the AGM, resulting in the JV
reporting net income after tax of $13.6 million, of which the Company recognized its 45% share of $6.1
million. Additionally, Asanko recognized $1.1 million in service fees (net of withholding tax) earned as
operator of the JV during the quarter and $2.2 million of finance income relating to the fair value
adjustment and accretion of the Company’s preferred share investments in the JV.
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• Cash used in operating activities in Q2 2019 was $2.1 million, compared to cash provided by operating
activities of $13.4 million in Q2 2018. The decrease in cash flows from operating activities reflects the
fact that 2019 does not include the operating results of the AGM, which was deconsolidated effective
July 31, 2018.
• Reported Adjusted EBITDA1 of $12.4 million for Q2 2019 compared to $28.6 million in Q2 2018. The
decrease in adjusted EBITDA was primarily a result of the reduction in the Company’s interest in the
AGM from 100% to 45%. This was partly offset by an increase in the AGM’s mine operating earnings
resulting from higher gold sales during the quarter, partially offset by higher cash costs.
• Held $6.8 million in cash and $1.5 million in receivables as of June 30, 2019, with the final $20 million
cash payment related to the Gold Field’s transaction expected no later than December 31, 2019.
2019 Outlook
The Asanko Gold Mine is on track to meet 2019 guidance of 225,000 – 245,000 ounces at AISC of $1,040 –
$1,060/oz.
Guidance Q2 2019 (Actual) YTD 2019 (Actual) FY 2019 (Forecast)
Gold Production (oz) 62,067 122,492 225,000 – 245,000
AISC ($/oz) 1,180 1,155 1,040 – 1,060
Further to the agreed development philosophy for the Asanko Gold Mine, which is to focus on near term free
cash flow generation and minimize capital investments, the JV partners are working on an updated Mineral
Reserve Estimate, which is expected to be published in Q1 2020. At this stage, it is anticipated that the
updated Mineral Reserve Estimate will not be based on any major capital investments such as further
processing plant expansions or Esaase ore transportation infrastructure in the near term.
Appointment of Lynette Gould as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
The Company is pleased to announce that Lynette Gould has been appointed Senior Vice President of
Investor Relations, effective immediately. Lynette was most recently Vice President of Investor Relations at
Alio Gold and before that, Director of Investor Relations at Goldcorp. During her eight years at Goldcorp,
she played a critical role in positioning Goldcorp’s new business strategy under its new leadership. Lynette
has built robust IR strategies and developed deep relationships within the investment community. She brings
a wealth of experience in interpreting financial and investment information, understanding the operations
and delivering this information in a consistent message to external stakeholders. Lynette holds a Chartered
Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and has a Bachelor of Business degree.
This news release should be read in conjunction with Asanko’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis
and the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three and six months ended
June 30, 2019, which are available at www.asanko.com and filed on SEDAR.
Notes:
1 Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The Company has included certain non -GAAP performance measures in this press release. These non-GAAP
performance measures do not have any standardized meaning. Accordingly, these performance measures are intended
to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of Asanko’s Management
Discussion and Analysis for an explanation of these measures and reconciliations to the Company’s reported financial
results in accordance with IFRS.
• Operating Cash Costs per ounce and Total Cash Costs per ounce
Operating cash costs are reflective of the cost of production, adjusted for share-based payments and by-product
revenue per ounce of gold sold. Total cash costs include production royalties of 5%.
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• All-in Sustaining Costs Per Gold Ounce
The Company has adopted the reporting of “all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce” (“AISC”) as per the World Gold
Council’s guidance. AISC include total cash costs, corporate overhead expenses, sustaining capital expenditure,
capitalized stripping costs and reclamation cost accretion per ounce of gold sold.
• Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders
The Company has included the non-GAAP performance measures of adjusted net income (loss) attributable to
common shareholders and adjusted net income (loss) per common share. Neither adjusted net income nor adjusted
net income per share have any standardized meaning and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to other measures
presented by other issuers. Adjusted net income excludes certain non-cash items from net income or net loss to
provide a measure which helps the Company and investors to evaluate the results of the underlying core operations
of the Company and its ability to generate cash flows and is an important indicator of the strength of our operations
and the performance of our core business.
• Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA provides an indication of the Company’s continuing capacity to generate income from operations before
taking into account the Company’s financing decisions and costs of amortizing capital assets. Accordingly, EBITDA
comprises net income (loss) excluding interest expense, interest income, amortization and depletion, and income
taxes. Adjusted EBITDA adjusts EBITDA to exclude non-recurring items and to include the Company’s interest in the
adjusted EBITDA of the JV. Other companies and JV partners may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently.
Qualified Person Statement
Frederik Fourie (Pr.Eng), Asanko Senior Mining Engineer, is the Asanko Qualified Person, as defined by
Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Mineral Disclosure), who has approved the preparation
of the technical contents of this news release.
Enquiries:
Lynette Gould – SVP Investor Relations
Toll-Free (N.America): 1-855-246-7341
Telephone: +1 778 729 0608
Email: [email protected]
About Asanko Gold Inc.
Asanko’s flagship project, located in Ghana, West Africa, is the jointly owned Asanko Gold Mine with Gold
Fields Ltd, which Asanko manages and operates. The Company is strongly committed to the highest standards
for environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and
neighbouring communities. For more information, please visit www.asanko.com.
Forward-Looking and other Cautionary Information
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this
release, other than statements of historical facts, that address estimated resource quantities, grades and contained
metals, possible future mining, exploration and development activities, are forward-looking statements. Although the
Company believes the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not
be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements include market prices for metals, the conclu sions of detailed feasibility and technical
analyses, the timely renewal of key permits, lower than expected grades and quantities of resources, mining rates and
recovery rates and the lack of availability of necessary capital, which may not be available to the Company on terms
acceptable to it or at all. The Company is subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general
economic and business conditions. For more information, investors should review the Company's Annual Form 40-F filing
with the United States Securities Commission and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.
Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.