TORONTO, ONTARIO
-- (MARKET WIRE)
-- 02/24/11
Breakwater Resources Ltd. (TSX: BWR)(TSX: BWR.WT.A) realized net earnings of $18.2 million or $0.25 per share in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with $5.4 million or $0.08 per share in the fourth quarter of 2009.
The Company realized net earnings of $87.2 million or $1.23 per share during 2010 compared with $0.8 million or $0.01 per share in 2009.
David M. Petroff, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated that, "We are pleased to have posted another solid quarter. 2010 was a successful and eventful year as the Company undertook to implement its strategic plan. In so doing, and buoyed by healthy commodity prices, financial strength was improved through the generation of $45 million free cash flow and $46 million net new equity."
Revenues Higher, Costs Higher
Gross sales revenue was 62% higher in the fourth quarter of 2010 at $80.5 million primarily due to higher metal prices and 52% more concentrate sold partially offset by a stronger C$ and no copper revenue being recognized in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Gross sales revenue in 2010 was 64% higher at $371.3 million primarily due to significantly higher metal prices and more concentrate sold partially offset by a stronger C$. Concentrate produced during 2010 increased 3% to 221,738 tonnes compared with 2009 due to a 13% increase at Myra Falls partially offset by a 5% decrease at Toqui.
Realized prices denominated in US$ increased for all metals in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with the fourth quarter of 2009. The Company periodically hedges against fluctuations in metal prices and foreign exchange rates using forward sales or put contracts. Additionally, certain of the Company's contracts with customers allow it to lock-in the price received for contained metals payable.
Direct operating costs were 91% higher in the fourth quarter of 2010 at $33.1 million compared with $17.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. The increased direct operating costs were primarily due to 52% more concentrate sold and higher costs at Mochito and Toqui. On a cost per tonne of concentrate sold basis, direct operating costs increased to $569 in the fourth quarter of 2010 from $451 in 2009.
At Mochito, direct operating costs increased $8.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 primarily due to 62% higher concentrate sales, higher costs for power, diesel, rehabilitation, contractors, haulage, materials and supplies as well as a contract signing bonus of US$0.8 million. Direct operating cost per tonne of concentrate sold was $534 in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with $327 in 2009 primarily due to the factors noted above. A rain event in the third quarter of 2010 disrupted mill and certain mine operations with a return to normal operations after approximately one month of emergency repairs to roads, bridges, slopes and general cleanup. Underground operations were not affected by the rain event.
At Toqui, direct operating costs in the fourth quarter of 2010 were $7.9 million higher than in the same period of 2009 primarily due to: 140% higher tonnes of concentrate sold; the mix of concentrates sold; a US$1.5 million signing bonus on contract renewal, a US$1.0 million inventory obsolescence provision, US$0.5 million for repairs and maintenance consultants; US$0.5 million for increased wages; US$0.2 million for increased maintenance and repairs; US$0.1 million for increased fuel; and, US$0.1 million higher royalties partially offset by a stronger C$. Direct operating costs per tonne of concentrate sold increased in 2010 to $760 compared with $600 in 2009 primarily due to the factors noted above.
At Myra Falls direct operating costs in the fourth quarter of 2010 were 1% lower than in the same period of 2009 primarily due to lower operating costs partially offset by 9% higher quantities of concentrate sold and an increase of $0.6 million to the tailings dam liability.
For the year, direct operating costs were 38% higher at $143.3 million compared with $103.7 million in 2009. The increased costs were primarily due to 24% higher quantity of concentrate sold and higher costs at Toqui and Mochito. On a cost per tonne of concentrate sold basis, direct operating costs increased to $569 in 2010 from $512 in 2009 primarily due to the factors noted above.
Cash
Cash and cash equivalents increased to $133.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 from $88.5 million at September 30, 2010.
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $33.1 million for the three month period ended December 31, 2010 compared with $22.5 million in the same period in 2009.
Capital Expenditures
The Company invested $74.0 million in mineral properties and fixed assets during 2010. At mining operations, $19.9 million, $37.7 million, $9.2 million and $6.9 million were spent at Mochito, Toqui, Myra Falls and Langlois respectively.
Operations
Mochito
-- Rehabilitation of the 2100 level is largely complete with the exception
of the warehouse area where additional ground support remains to be
installed. A trial operation of the rail transport facility was carried
out during the second week of January 2011 prior to commissioning the
changeover to transport men and materials on the 2350 level.
-- A new labour agreement was entered into and expires October 1, 2013
Toqui
-- The paste backfill facility, which will allow for paste tailings
deposition and enhanced ore extraction through greater recovery of
current and future pillars, was under commissioning at the end of the
fourth quarter 2010. Delays in commissioning resulted from corrective
work carried out on mechanical components. The paste backfill facility
commenced delivery of cemented paste tails to the mine for deposition in
designated areas during January 2011.
-- As planned, the installation of a primary ball mill was completed during
the fourth quarter of 2010, and is operational. The anticipated 15%
increase in annual mill throughput has been realized and commissioning
is continuing in order to optimize grinding performance.
-- Over the first two quarters of 2010, Toqui constructed a 1.5 megawatt
wind farm which was placed in operation by July 2010 and subsequently,
as a safety precaution, taken out of service in late October 2010 due to
a blade design error. It is expected that the construction, delivery and
installation of the new blades will be completed early in the second
quarter of 2011 at a negligible cost to the Company. Toqui's hydro power
and diesel generators are sufficient to replace the approximate 10% of
Toqui power needs which are generated when the wind farm is operational.
-- A new labour agreement was entered into and expires October 1, 2013
Myra Falls
-- Work to improve metallurgical recoveries continued with favourable
results
-- Production of a saleable lead concentrate was achieved
-- Marshall drift development for the year was 243 metres. Drifting was
slower than planned due to ground conditions.
-- Development and rehabilitation required to drill test the Price - South
Flank connection have been completed with initial diamond drilling
resulting in encouraging intersections
-- Tailings disposal facility seismic outer berm upgrade was completed,
with the exception of a till cap which will be placed in 2011
Langlois
-- Development continued at Langlois during the fourth quarter of 2010
including completion of ramps from surface to the top of Zone 4 and a
ramp internal to Zone 3 and development of selective production
headings.
-- The rate of mine development was increased during the fourth quarter of
2010 with commencement of preparation work to develop Zone 97.
Development will be ongoing throughout 2011 and into 2012
-- The current plan is to restart production during the first quarter of
2012
-- Additional work was conducted during the fourth quarter of 2010. As a
result, the Company exceeded its 2010 guidance for capital expenditures
by approximately $0.6 million
GROSS SALES REVENUE - FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010 AND
2009
A breakdown of gross sales revenue for the three and twelve month periods
ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 is set forth in the following tables.
Fourth Quarter 2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concentrate Realized Gross sales
sold Payable price(1) revenue
(tonnes) metal(1) (US$) ($000's)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zinc 52,003 22,834 2,289 $ 52,267
Copper (2) 129 7,066 908
Lead 4,823 2,810 2,425 6,812
Gold(2) 1,382 8,830 1,318 11,637
Silver n.a. 318,551 28.17 8,972
Price protection
loss (3) n.a. (904)
-------------- ----------------
58,206
--------------
Gross sales revenue in US$ 79,692
Exchange rate 1.0106
----------------
Gross sales revenue in C$ $ 80,540
----------------
Fourth Quarter 2009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concentrate Realized Gross sales
sold Payable price(1) revenue
(tonnes) metal(1) (US$) ($000's)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zinc 32,618 14,564 2,119 $ 30,861
Copper 1,943 488 6,249 3,050
Lead 2,387 1,385 2,313 3,204
Gold(2) 1,453 6,964 1,094 7,622
Silver n.a. 216,068 17.75 3,836
Price protection
loss (3) n.a. (1,497)
--------------- ----------------
38,401
--------------
Gross sales revenue in US$ 47,076
Exchange rate 1.0567
----------------
Gross sales revenue in C$ $ 49,744
----------------
(1) Payable metal and realized prices for zinc, copper and lead are per
tonne and for gold and silver are per ounce.
(2) Gold concentrate sales are principally from Toqui while payable gold is
from all operations except Mochito.
(3) Price protection gains (losses) for zinc, copper, gold and silver were:
US$238,000; (US$488,000); (US$148,000); and, (US$506,000) respectively
in the fourth quarter of 2010.
2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concentrate Realized Gross sales
sold Payable price(1) revenue
(tonnes) metal(1) (US$) ($000's)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zinc 192,545 83,549 2,180 $ 182,176
Copper 19,035 4,395 7,157 31,456
Lead 31,488 19,234 2,186 42,052
Gold(2) 8,736 52,916 1,195 63,209
Silver n.a. 2,241,601 19.64 44,014
Price protection
loss (3) n.a. (2,000)
Other(4) n.a. (437)
------------ ---------------
251,804
------------
------------
Gross sales revenue in US$ 360,470
Exchange rate 1.0301
---------------
Gross sales revenue in C$ $ 371,338
---------------
---------------
2009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concentrate Realized Gross sales
sold Payable price(1) revenue
(tonnes) metal(1) (US$) ($000's)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zinc 159,286 70,152 1,545 $ 108,358
Copper 16,640 3,653 4,475 16,348
Lead 20,017 12,183 1,654 20,147
Gold(2) 6,771 35,959 956 34,368
Silver n.a. 1,729,954 14.09 24,367
Price protection
loss (3) (4,034)
Other(4) n.a. (441)
------------ ---------------
202,714
------------
------------
Gross sales revenue in US$ 199,113
Exchange rate 1.1372
---------------
Gross sales revenue in C$ $ 226,438
---------------
---------------
(1) Payable metal and realized prices for zinc, copper and lead are per
tonne and for gold and silver are per ounce.
(2) Gold concentrate sales are principally from Toqui while payable gold is
from all operations except Mochito.
(3) Price protection (gains) losses for zinc, copper, lead, gold and silver
were: (US$1,654,000); US$1,658,000; US$252,000; US$553,000; and,
US$1,191,000 respectively in 2010.
(4) Other gross sales revenue represents revaluations of prior period
concentrate receivables.
PRICE PROTECTION STRATEGY
As at February 24, 2011, the Company's hedge position consisted of:
Swaps/Forwards:
Metal Quantity(1) Price(US$)(1) 2011 Period
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Zinc 16,850 $2,464 May to December
Lead 2,500 $2,670 February
Silver 233,000 $29 February to May
Gold 210 $1,368 May
Puts and Calls:
Puts Calls Calls
Bought Sold Bought
Price Price Price
Metal Quantity(1) (US$)(1) (US$)(1) (US$)(1) 2011 Period
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zinc 10,000 $ 2,040 n.a. n.a. February to June
Copper 1,400 $ 7,716 n.a. n.a. April to July
Copper 800 $ 8,269 $ 9,665 $ 12,000 April to July
Lead 1,100 $ 2,315 $ 2,565 n.a. May
Silver 885,000 $ 25 n.a. n.a. February to December
Silver 170,000 $ 26 $ 31 n.a. October to November
Gold 16,000 $ 1,256 n.a. n.a. March to December
(1) Quantities and prices for zinc, copper and lead are per tonne and for
gold and silver are per ounce.
PRODUCTION RESULTS
The table below summarizes, on a production basis, the Company's metal
contained in concentrate, before smelting deductions, for the periods
presented.
Metal in Concentrate Fourth Quarter Year
2010 2009 % 2010 2009 %
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zinc (tonnes)
Mochito 8,255 10,683 -23 33,839 36,370 -7
Toqui 4,254 4,815 -12 20,014 19,635 2
Myra Falls 6,843 9,113 -25 32,686 30,900 6
-------------------- --------------------
19,352 24,611 -21 86,539 86,905 -
-------------------- --------------------
Copper (tonnes)
Myra Falls 822 893 -8 4,769 3,349 42
-------------------- --------------------
822 893 -8 4,769 3,349 42
-------------------- --------------------
Lead (tonnes)
Mochito 3,580 4,798 -25 16,954 14,471 17
Toqui - 172 - 415 1,025 -60
Myra Falls 248 - - 511 - -
-------------------- --------------------
3,828 4,970 -23 17,880 15,496 15
-------------------- --------------------
Gold (ounces)
Toqui 9,339 13,102 -29 36,581 44,079 -17
Myra Falls 4,365 5,873 -26 20,003 15,526 29
-------------------- --------------------
13,704 18,975 -28 56,584 59,605 -5
-------------------- --------------------
Silver (ounces)
Mochito 441,737 540,972 -18 1,869,833 1,855,018 1
Toqui 24,481 51,470 -52 118,754 233,382 -49
Myra Falls 183,922 222,309 -17 732,796 578,008 27
-------------------- --------------------
650,140 814,751 -20 2,721,383 2,666,408 2
-------------------- --------------------
The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for the periods ended December 31, 2010, with the comparative figures for the periods ended December 31, 2009 and the related segmented information have been posted on our website. Additionally, the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 and management's discussion and analysis of the annual financial and operating results have been filed on www.sedar.com. Additionally, the documents are available on our website at http://www.breakwater.ca/Investors/AnnualandQuarterlyReports/default.aspx.
Contacts:
Breakwater Resources Ltd.
Ann Wilkinson
Vice-President, Investor Relations
(416) 363-4798 Ext. 277
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