Mr. Gerard Bond reports

OCEANAGOLD REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2023 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

Oceanagold Corp. has released its operational and financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The consolidated financial statements and the management discussion and analysis (MD&A) are available on the company website. (All financial figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated.)

Gerard Bond, president and chief executive officer of Oceanagold, said: "Oceanagold safely and responsibly delivered strong production outcomes at lower costs during the second quarter, generating strong free cash flow. Both New Zealand sites bounced back strongly, Didipio continued its steady performance and we remain on schedule for first ore delivery from the Haile underground in the fourth quarter this year.

"As we look ahead to the remainder of 2023, we are on track to deliver on our consolidated full-year production, cost and capital guidance, and have a strong balance sheet enabling us to continue investing in the exciting organic growth and near-mine exploration projects we have throughout our portfolio, as well as pay a dividend in line with our policy."

Second quarter highlights

• On track to meet full-year 2023 consolidated production, cost and capital guidance;
• 12 MMA total recordable injury frequency rate of 3.5 per million hours worked;
• Consolidated production of 130,055 ounces of gold and 3,400 tonnes of copper;
• All-in sustaining costs (AISC) of $1,318 per ounce on gold sales of 139,071 ounces;
• Free cash flow of $72.3-million;
• Revenue of $301-million, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $153-million and NPAT (net profit after tax) of $69-million;
• Adjusted earnings of 10 cents per share and operating cash flow of 21 cents per share;
• Record first half revenue of $545-million and EBITDA of $253-million;
• First half 2023 NPAT of $108-million;
• Net debt of $136-million as at June 30, 2023, at a leverage ratio of 0.34 times;
• Haile underground on track, with first ore to the mill expected in the fourth quarter of 2023;
• Obtained regulatory approval for a third drill rig at Wharekirauponga, drilling began in July;
• Semi-annual dividend of one cent approved by the board, to be paid Oct. 6, 2023.

Operations

The company produced 130,055 ounces of gold and 3,400 tonnes of copper in the second quarter of 2023. Second quarter gold production was 10 per cent higher than the previous quarter and 16 per cent higher than the corresponding quarter in 2022. The quarter on quarter increase was mainly driven by 48 per cent higher gold production at Macraes as mill feed increased by 42 per cent following the completion of repairs to the inlet trunnion of Mill No. 2 (ML-02) in late March. Waihi's second quarter gold production was also 44 per cent higher, driven by increased ore production, as expected given the disruption to mining in the prior quarter due to record rainfall. The increase in production from the New Zealand operations was partially offset by 9 per cent lower gold production at Haile related to lower mill feed grades, while Didipio was broadly flat quarter on quarter. The company has produced 248,179 ounces of gold and 6,911 tonnes of copper year to date (YTD) representing a 1-per-cent increase in gold production compared with the corresponding period in 2022.

On a consolidated basis, the company recorded a second quarter AISC (all-in sustaining cost) of $1,318 per ounce on gold sales of 139,071 ounces and copper sales of 3,490 tonnes. This was a 16-per-cent reduction in AISC compared with the previous quarter and an 8-per-cent reduction compared with the corresponding period in 2022. The quarter-on-quarter reduction was mainly driven by higher comparative gold sales, which included delayed sales from the first quarter. The company recorded an AISC of $1,429 on sales of 251,153 ounces of gold and 6,744 tonnes of copper in the first half of 2023.

Haile produced 43,567 ounces of gold in the second quarter, a 9-per-cent reduction compared with the previous quarter. The quarter-on-quarter reduction was due to a lower average feed grade, which was partially offset by higher total mill feed. Haile's second quarter AISC was $1,351 per ounce, a 12-per-cent reduction compared with the previous quarter. The quarter on quarter reduction was driven by higher gold sales, which included 8,000 ounces of delayed sales from the first quarter. Haile produced 91,679 ounces of gold in the first half at an AISC of $1,434 per ounce.

During the second quarter progress continued on the Haile expansion, including expanded tailings and waste containment facilities plus development of the Haile underground mine, where development rates are progressing to plan with first ore still on track for delivery to the mill in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Didipio produced 32,207 ounces of gold and 3,400 tonnes of copper in the second quarter, a 2-per-cent reduction in gold production compared with the previous quarter, while copper production was largely flat quarter on quarter. The slight quarter-on-quarter reduction in gold production was due to lower mill feed as a result of a planned shutdown in April. Didipio's second quarter AISC was $741 per ounce on gold sales of 32,676 ounces and 3,490 tonnes of copper, a 27-per-cent increase on the previous quarter mainly due to lower byproduct credits, reflecting a lower average copper price and higher sustaining capital investment. Didipio produced 65,241 ounces of gold and 6,911 tonnes of copper in the first half of 2023 at an AISC of $662 per ounce.

Macraes produced 39,494 ounces of gold in the second quarter, a 48-per-cent increase compared with the previous quarter. The higher quarter-on-quarter production was mainly driven by improved mill performance following completion of the repairs to ML-02 at the end of the first quarter. Macraes's second quarter AISC was $1,287 per ounce, a 41-per-cent decrease compared with the previous quarter mainly due to the higher gold sales combined with lower sustaining capital investments. Macraes produced 66,176 ounces of gold in the first half at an AISC of $1,642 per ounce.

Waihi produced 14,787 ounces of gold for the second quarter, a 44-per-cent increase compared with the previous quarter. The higher quarter-on-quarter production was driven by a 21-per-cent increase in ore mined and a 23-per-cent increase in feed grade as mining productivity improved following the significant rainfall driven impacts seen in the first quarter. Waihi's second quarter AISC was $1,614 per ounce, a 26-per-cent reduction compared with the previous quarter mainly driven by higher gold sales, which offset higher cash costs and higher sustaining capital. Waihi produced 25,083 ounces of gold in the first half at an AISC of $1,836 per ounce.

Financial

The company recorded second quarter consolidated revenue of $301.0-million, a 23-per-cent increase compared with the previous quarter. The quarter-on-quarter increase was driven by 24 per cent higher gold sales combined with 2 per cent higher average realized gold prices. The increase in gold sales coming from Haile, Macraes and Waihi, while Didipio was relatively flat. Compared with the corresponding period in 2022, second quarter revenue was 31 per cent higher, also driven by increased gold sales combined with higher average gold prices. The company reported a record first half consolidated revenue of $544.9-million, a 6-per-cent increase relative to the first half of 2022, driven by increased period-on-period gold sales combined with higher average gold prices received.

Second quarter EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $152.5-million, a 53-per-cent increase relative to the previous quarter. The quarter on quarter increase was mainly due to the higher revenue. Consolidated EBITDA for the first half was $252.5-million, reflecting a 9-per-cent increase compared with the first half of 2022 with higher revenue and lower foreign currency exchange losses, partially offset by higher indirect taxes and general and administration costs.

Second quarter net profit after tax was $68.6-million or nine cents per share fully diluted compared with a net profit after tax of $38.9-million and five cents per share fully diluted in the previous quarter. The quarter-on-quarter increase reflected the higher EBITDA, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization consistent with the higher sales volume.

Second quarter adjusted net profit after tax, excluding non-cash unrealized foreign exchange translation gains/losses, was $70.4-million or 10 cents per share fully diluted compared with an adjusted net profit after tax of $40.1-million or six cents per share in the previous quarter. Net profit after tax for the first half was $107.5-million, a 5-per-cent increase compared with the first half of 2022.

Second quarter cash flows from operating activities were $161.7-million, which was 148 per cent above the previous quarter reflecting both the higher revenue and EBITDA plus favourable working capital movements in the second quarter. Cash flows from operating activities for the first half totalled $226.9-million, which was 2 per cent above the first half of 2022.

Second quarter cash flows used in investing activities totalled $89.4-million, which was 10 per cent above the prior quarter, due primarily to higher quarter on quarter growth capital and exploration expenditure mainly in New Zealand.

Second quarter cash flow per share, before working capital movements, was 21 cents per share fully diluted, a 49-per-cent increase on the previous quarter.

As at June 30, 2023, the company's available revolving credit facilities remained at $250-million, with $100-million undrawn. The company had immediately available liquidity of $215-million including $115-million in cash. The company's free cash flow for the second quarter was $72.3-million.

The company's net debt position, inclusive of equipment leases, decreased to $136.3-million from $191.1-million in the previous quarter. The company's leverage ratio was at 0.34 times as of June 30, 2023.

Consolidated capital and exploration expenditure for the second quarter of 2023 totalled $91.8-million, a 10-per-cent increase quarter on quarter primarily related to general operations capital, growth capital and exploration expenditure, mainly in New Zealand, partially offset by a decrease in capitalized prestrip at Haile consistent with the mine plan. Relative to the corresponding prior period in 2022, second quarter capital and exploration expenditure was 41 per cent higher, largely related to increased prestripping and capitalized mining costs and general operations sustaining capital at Haile and Macraes.

During the quarter, general operations capital expenditure mainly related to the expansion of waste management infrastructure (TSF stage 4 and West PAG) and completion of the water treatment plant upgrade at Haile, plus capitalized major equipment rebuilds and conversion drilling at Macraes. Growth capital expenditure mainly related to development of the Haile underground mine.

Exploration expenditure of $6.4-million for the second quarter continued to focus primarily on conversion drilling at Martha underground and Wharekirauponga (Waihi), Palomino (Haile), Golden Point (Macraes), and definition and concept validation drilling at Didipio.

Outlook

The company's 2023 full year guidance remains unchanged and is presented in the attached tables.

The company maintains its 2023 consolidated guidance and still expects to produce between 460,000 and 510,000 ounces of gold and 12,000 to 14,000 tonnes of copper, with cash costs ranging between $800 and $900 per ounce and AISC ranging between $1,425 and $1,525 per ounce. The third quarter is expected to be the lowest production and the highest AISC quarter of the year.

At Haile, full year production is now expected to be toward the lower end of guidance of between 170,000 and 185,000 ounces of gold based on lower-than-expected ore grade in the lower levels of the Mill zone pit mined during the quarter. Consequently AISC is expected to be toward the higher end of guidance of $1,500 to $1,600 per ounce. As previously noted, the production profile at Haile is first half weighted, with the third quarter expected to be the lowest production quarter of the year based on the mine plan. The fourth quarter will also benefit from the introduction of higher grade underground ore feed.

Didipio full year production, after a strong first half performance, is expected to be toward the high end of guidance of 120,000 to 130,000 ounces of gold and 12,000 to 14,000 tonnes of copper. As a result of the higher production, AISC expected to be toward the low end of guidance of between $750 and $850 per ounce. Gold and copper production is still expected to be relatively evenly weighted throughout the year and across the quarters with the AISC increasing in the second half as planned sustaining capital investments increase.

The outlook for Macraes is unchanged and it is expected to produce 120,000 to 135,000 ounces with an AISC of between $1,625 to $1,725 per ounce. As previously reported, Macraes 2023 production plan was impacted by approximately 15,000 ounces due to the discovery of a crack in the feed end trunnion in one of two ball mills (ML-02) identified in mid-February, 2023, during a planned plant shutdown. A repair to the trunnion crack was completed at the end of March, 2023, and the mill operated at full-capacity in the second quarter. However, further lengthening of the cracking was identified during a planned inspection of the repair in early July, 2023, which necessitated stoppage of ML-02. An engineering assessment and review concluded that ML-02 should remain down until a replacement bolt on trunnion can be installed which is expected to be completed in Q3. A number of broader mill throughput improvement projects implemented over the last four months, in combination with higher feed grade expected in the third quarter, means that despite the temporary idling of ML-02 Macraes remains on-track to deliver its full year gold production guidance.

Waihi is expected to produce between 50,000 and 60,000 ounces of gold at an AISC between $1,400 to $1,500 per ounce. Waihi experienced abnormally high rainfall in the beginning of 2023 which impacted productivity in the underground mine, especially in the remnant mining areas of Edward and Empire. Based on improved mining conditions across the second quarter, combined with mining progressively transitioning to higher-grade material and an expected increase in ore tonnes mined, the company still expects Waihi to meet full year gold production guidance with production expected to be second half weighted.

The company also maintains its consolidated capital and exploration expenditure guidance of between $330-million and $385-million. However based on the latest timing of planned general operations capital (sustaining) expenditure programs, mainly at Didipio and Haile, full year general operations capital expenditure is expected to be toward the lower end of the guidance range of between $95-million and $110-million.

Dividend

The company is pleased to declare a semi-annual dividend payment of one cent per common share. Shareholders of record at the close of business in each jurisdiction on Aug. 24, 2023, will be entitled to receive payment of the dividend on Oct. 6, 2023. The dividend payment applies to holders of record of the company's common shares traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Dividends are payable in United States dollars, with the exception of Canadian residents who will be paid in Canadian dollars. Shareholders in other jurisdictions can elect to participate in Computershare's international payments service if they want to receive dividends in an alternative currency.

Conference call

Senior management will host a conference call/webcast to discuss the results on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

Webcast details

Conference call details:

Toll-free participant dial-in North America:  1-888-390-0546

Participant dial-in North America:  1-416-764-8688

Participant dial-in Australia:  1800076068

If you are unable to attend the call, a recording will be made available on the company's website.

About Oceanagold Corp.

Oceanagold is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of free cash flow from its operations and delivering strong returns for its shareholders. The company has a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile gold mine in the United States; Didipio mine in the Philippines; and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand.

We seek Safe Harbor.