Company Website:
http://www.polymetmining.com/
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- (Business Wire)
PolyMet Mining Corp. (“PolyMet” or the “Company”) TSX: POM; NYSE MKT:
PLM – today reported that it has filed its financial results for the
year ended January 31, 2017. PolyMet controls 100 percent of the
development-stage NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore-body and
the nearby Erie Plant, located near Hoyt Lakes in the established mining
district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota.
The financial statements have been filed at www.polymetmining.com
and on SEDAR and EDGAR and have been prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards. All amounts are in U.S.
funds. Copies can be obtained free of charge by contacting the Corporate
Secretary at First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West, Suite 5700,
Toronto, Ontario M5X 1C7 or by e-mail at info@polymetmining.com.
“PolyMet has made significant progress during the past year including
the state’s adequacy decision for the NorthMet Final Environmental
Impact Statement, submission of formal permit applications that are
being reviewed by the state, and issuance of the United States Forest
Service’s Final Record of Decision on the land exchange. We also
completed a private placement with institutional investors, and we
appreciate that Glencore demonstrated its continued support by
exercising its right to maintain its pro rata ownership,” said Jon
Cherry, president and CEO. “From our perspective, the permit application
review process is proceeding well.”
More detail on the status of permit review can be found at: http://polymet.mn.gov/news.html.
HIGHLIGHTS OF FISCAL 2017 AND FISCAL 2018
TO-DATE
-
On March 3, 2016, the state determined that the Final EIS addresses
the objectives defined in the EIS scoping review, meets procedural
requirements and responds appropriately to public comments. The 30-day
period allowed by law to challenge the state’s decision passed without
any legal challenge being filed. The Final EIS demonstrates that the
NorthMet Project can be constructed and operated in compliance with
environmental and human health standards.
-
On June 2, 2016, the Company agreed to issue up to an additional $14.0
million secured non-convertible debentures to Glencore AG, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Glencore plc (together “Glencore”), to fund
permitting and general corporate purposes. The debentures are on
similar terms as the existing non-convertible senior secured
debentures.
-
On July 1, 2016, the Company repaid the $4.0 million initial principal
loan from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board.
-
On July 11, 2016, the Company submitted applications for water-related
permits required to construct and operate NorthMet.
-
On July 12, 2016, the Eastern Region Regional Office of the USFS
issued its response to comments on the Draft ROD for the land exchange
and instructed the Superior National Forest to proceed with completing
the Final ROD.
-
On August 2, 2016, the Company renewed its request for Water Quality
Certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
-
On August 24, 2016, the Company submitted the air quality permit
application required to construct and operate NorthMet.
-
On September 14, 2016, the Company and Glencore agreed to extend the
maturity date of outstanding secured convertible debentures and
outstanding secured non-convertible debentures to the earlier of March
31, 2018, availability of $100 million of debt or equity financing, or
when it is prudent for the Company to repay the debt.
-
On October 18, 2016, the Company closed the initial tranche of a
private placement for gross proceeds of $19.472 million.
-
On October 28, 2016, the Company closed the second tranche of a
private placement for gross proceeds of $10.583 million pursuant to
Glencore’s right to maintain its pro rata ownership.
-
On November 3, 2016, the Company submitted the Permit to Mine
application required to construct and operate NorthMet.
-
On December 15, 2016, the Company received the American Exploration
and Mining Association’s Environmental Excellence Award for its
responsible development of the NorthMet Project.
-
On December 20, 2016, the Memorandum of Agreement of the Section 106
Consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act was signed
by the statutory parties.
-
On January 9, 2017, the USFS issued its Final ROD authorizing the land
exchange.
-
Loss for the twelve months ended January 31, 2017, was $9.229 million
compared with $9.346 million for the prior year period. Excluding
non-cash compensation and amortization, general and administrative
expenses for the twelve months ended January 31, 2017, were $4.786
million compared with $5.051 million for the prior year period.
-
At January 31, 2017, PolyMet had cash of $18.674 million compared with
$10.256 million at January 31, 2016.
-
PolyMet invested $23.445 million cash into its NorthMet Project during
the twelve months ended January 31, 2017, compared with $27.378
million in the prior year period.
-
As of January 31, 2017, PolyMet had spent $117.872 million on
environmental review and permitting, of which $111.421 million has
been spent since the NorthMet Project moved from exploration to
development stage.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS
The environmental review and permitting process is managed by the
regulatory agencies and, therefore, timelines are not within PolyMet’s
control. Given these circumstances, PolyMet’s objectives include:
-
Completing the approved land exchange with the USFS and transferring
of title to the surface rights over and around the NorthMet mineral
rights to PolyMet.
-
Obtaining a decision by the state on 401 Water Quality Certification
and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Final ROD and 404 wetlands permit
under the Clean Water Act.
-
Publication of draft state permits (Permit to Mine, air, water, dam
safety and water appropriation permits) for public comment.
-
Decisions on state permit issuances.
-
Completion of definitive cost estimate and project update following
permits.
-
Completion of project implementation plan.
-
Repayment, restructuring, and/or conversion of Glencore loans.
-
Completion of construction finance plan including commitment of debt
prior to the issuance of permits, subject to typical conditions
precedent such as receipt of key permits.
| |
|
Key Statistics | |
(in ‘000 US dollars, except per share amounts) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance Sheet |
|
| January 31, 2017 |
|
|
| January 31, 2016 |
|
|
|
| | |
|
| | |
Cash & equivalents
| | |
$
|
18,674
| | | |
$
|
10,256
| |
Working capital
| | | |
16,267
| | | | |
2,162
| |
Total assets
| | | |
389,049
| | | | |
337,660
| |
Total liabilities
| | | |
181,720
| | | | |
153,003
| |
Shareholders’ equity
|
|
|
$
|
207,329
|
|
|
|
$
|
184,657
|
|
| | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | |
|
|
|
| Year ended January 31, |
|
Income Statement |
|
| 2017 |
|
|
| 2016 |
|
| | | | | | | |
|
General & administrative expense
| | |
$
|
6,594
| | | |
$
|
5,508
| |
Other Expenses:
| | | | | | | | |
Finance & Other
| | | |
2,635
| | | | |
1,986
| |
Disposal of Intangibles
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
1,852
|
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Loss before tax:
| | | |
9,229
| | | | |
9,346
| |
Other Comprehensive (Income)
|
|
|
|
(213
|
)
|
|
|
|
(199
|
)
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Loss per share
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
Investing Activities
| | | | | | | | |
NorthMet Property
|
|
|
$
|
23,445
|
|
|
|
$
|
27,378
|
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding
| | | |
288,998,010
| | | | |
276,812,978
| |
| | | | | | | | | |
|
About PolyMet
PolyMet Mining Corp. (www.polymetmining.com)
is a publicly traded mine development company that owns 100 percent of
Poly Met Mining, Inc., a Minnesota corporation that controls 100 percent
of the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore body through a
long-term lease and owns 100 percent of the Erie Plant, a large
processing facility located approximately six miles from the ore body in
the established mining district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern
Minnesota. Poly Met Mining, Inc. has completed its Definitive
Feasibility Study. The NorthMet Final EIS was published in November
2015, preparing the way for decisions on permit applications. NorthMet
is expected to require approximately two million hours of construction
labor, create approximately 360 long-term jobs directly, and generate a
level of activity that will have a significant multiplier effect in the
local economy.
PolyMet Disclosures
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements
concerning anticipated developments in PolyMet’s operations in the
future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always,
identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,”
“intends,” “estimates,” “potential,” “possible,” “projects,” “plans,”
and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or
results “will,” “may,” “could,” or “should” occur or be achieved or
their negatives or other comparable words. These forward-looking
statements may include statements regarding the ability to receive
environmental and operating permits, job creation, and the effect on the
local economy, or other statements that are not a statement of fact.
Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and
therefore involve inherent known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements due to risks facing PolyMet or due to actual facts differing
from the assumptions underlying its predictions.
PolyMet’s forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs,
expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are
made, and PolyMet does not assume any obligation to update
forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s beliefs,
expectations and opinions should change.
Specific reference is made to PolyMet’s most recent Annual
Information Form for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017 and in our
other filings with Canadian securities authorities and the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Form 40-F,
for a discussion of some of the risk factors and other considerations
underlying forward-looking statements.The Annual Information
Form contains the Company’s mineral resource and other data as required
under National Instrument 43-101.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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Contacts:
PolyMet Mining Corp.
Media
Bruce Richardson, +1
651-389-4111
Corporate Communications
brichardson@polymetmining.com
or
Investor
Relations
Jenny Knudson, +1 651-389-4110
Investor Relations
jknudson@polymetmining.com
Source: PolyMet Mining Corp.
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