Results for the Quarter ended March 31, 2024
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St Helier, May 13, 2024: Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc ("Caledonia" or "the Company") announces its operating and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (the "Quarter"). Further information on the financial and operating results for the Quarter can be found in the Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") and the unaudited interim financial statements which are available on the Company's website and which are being filed on SEDAR today.
Financial Highlights
- Gross profit of $13.8 million (Q1 2023: $5.8 million). Gross profit for the Quarter increased from Q1 2023, due to higher gold revenue of $38.5 million and lower production costs.
- EBITDA in the period of $9.9 million (Q1 2023: $2.3 million). Blanket Mine ("Blanket") contributed EBITDA of $17.5 million (Q1 2023: $11.3 million).
- On-mine cost[1] per ounce of $993 at Blanket in the Quarter was virtually unchanged from Q1 2023's amount of $991.
- All-in sustaining cost ("AISC") [1] was $1,296 per ounce (Q1 2023: $1,412 per ounce). The AISC per ounce in the Quarter decreased by 8.2% predominantly due to the lower production costs incurred at Bilboes and the non-recurrence of advisory costs for the Bilboes acquisition in 2023. AISC includes the benefit of the solar plant electricity saving of $51 per ounce for the Quarter. Although lower than Q1 2023, AISC is expected to be higher for the full year than in previous years due to the classification of certain items of ongoing capital expenditure on projects that are now treated as "sustaining" investment rather than "expansion" investment.
- The accelerated devaluation of the Zimbabwe currency, during the Quarter, resulted in a foreign exchange loss of $4.1 million (Q1 2023: $1.5 million gain).
- Adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") [1] amounted to 26.9 cents (Q1 2023: loss of 29.1 cents).
- Net cash from operating activities amounted to $4.9 million (Q1 2023: net cash outflow of $0.9 million). The higher operating profit increased the net cash from operating activities, partly offset by $4.1 million of short-term working capital movements at the end of the Quarter.
- Net cash and cash equivalents of -$14.2 million (Dec 31, 2023: -$11 million). Net cash decreased by $2.3 million due to short-term working capital movements at the end of the Quarter and $3.6 million of foreign exchange losses.
- Quarterly dividends of 14 cents per share were paid in January and April of 2024.
Operating Highlights
- 17,476 ounces of gold produced in the Quarter (Q1 2023: 16,141 ounces) of which 17,050 ounces were produced at Blanket and 426 ounces were produced at the Bilboes oxide mine.
- Gold produced at Blanket was a 6% increase from Q1 2023 due to higher tonnage and grade and improved gold recovery.
- 7,956 ounces of gold were produced at Blanket in April 2024 (April 2023: 5,194).
- Encouraging results from the deep-level drilling programme at Blanket, as announced in January 2024, which is currently evaluating the continuity of the mineralised zones on the Blanket and Eroica ore bodies. Total drilling for 2023 was 13,280 metres and the results will be reflected in a revised mineral resource statement and expected increase in life of mine to be announced shortly.
Outlook
- Production guidance for Blanket for the year to December 31, 2024 of 74,000 to 78,000 ounces of gold is maintained.
- On mine cost guidance for Blanket for the year to December 31, 2024 is maintained at $870/oz to $970/oz and AISC guidance is maintained at 1,370/oz to 1470/oz.
Mark Learmonth, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"The first quarter of 2024 got off to a strong start with an increase in production and profit, supported by a favourable gold price. This has continued through April and into May.
"We were highly encouraged by the results from the underground exploration programme which has yielded excellent results indicating that the Blanket, Eroica and AR South ore bodies have better than expected grades and widths at depth. The results of this drilling programme are being incorporated into a new technical report summary for Blanket Mine which we will announce shortly; it will show a meaningful increase in the life of the mine at Blanket.
"Work to refresh the existing study for the large-scale sulphide project at Bilboes is well-advanced. Management is considering various options for developing Bilboes, with a view to optimising capital allocation and maximising the uplift in value for Caledonia shareholders. I look forward to updating investors with these results in the next few weeks. Thereafter, the work on the selected development route will be upgraded to a feasibility study. This activity will take place in parallel with a process to secure debt finance for the project."
Conference Call Details
A presentation of the results for the Quarter and outlook for Caledonia will be available on Caledonia's website (www.caledoniamining.com). Management will host a conference call / webinar at 2pm London time on May 13, 2024.
When: May 13, 2024 02:00 PM London
Topic: Q1 2024 Results Call for Shareholders
Register in advance for this webinar:
($'000's)
3 Months ended Mar 31
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 38,528 | 29,435 |
| Royalty | (1,934) | (1,480) |
| Production costs | (18,960) | (19,850) |
| Depreciation | (3,819) | (2,255) |
| Gross profit | 13,815 | 5,850 |
| Net foreign exchange (loss) gain | (4,139) | 1,533 |
| Administrative expenses | (2,611) | (5,938) |
| Net derivative financial instrument expenses | (302) | (434) |
| Equity-settled share-based expense | (201) | (110) |
| Cash-settled share-based expense | (53) | (280) |
| Other expenses | (600) | (640) |
| Other income | 164 | 18 |
| Operating profit (loss) | 6,073 | (1) |
| Net finance costs | (726) | (767) |
| Profit (loss) before tax | 5 347 | (768) |
| Tax expense | (2,530) | (3,502) |
| Profit (loss) for the period | 2,817 | (4,270) |
Other comprehensive income
Items that are or may be reclassified to profit or loss
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations | (144) | (369) | |
| Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period | 2,673 | (4,639) | |
| Profit (loss) attributable to: | |||
| Owners of the Company | 2,131 | (5,030) | |
| Non-controlling interests | 686 | 760 | |
| Profit (loss) for the period | 2,817 | (4,270) | |
| Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to: | |||
| Owners of the Company | 1 987 | (5,399) | |
| Non-controlling interests | 686 | 760 | |
| Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period | 2 673 | (4,639) | |
| Earnings (loss) per share (cents) | |||
| Basic earnings (loss) per share | 10.6 | (30.3) | |
| Diluted earnings (loss) per share | 10.6 | (30.2) | |
| Adjusted earnings (loss) per share (cents) | |||
| Basic | 26.9 | (29.1) | |
| Dividends paid per share (cents) | 14.0 | 14.0 | |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | |||
| ($'000's) | |||
| 3 months ended Mar 31 | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Cash inflow from operations | 6,535 | 664 | |
| Interest received | 6 | 5 | |
| Finance costs paid | (573) | (200) | |
| Tax paid | (1,081) | (1,345) | |
| Net cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities | 4,887 | (876) | |
| Cash flows used in investing activities | |||
| Acquisition of property, plant and equipment | (3,741) | (4,593) | |
| Acquisition of exploration and evaluation assets | (430) | (144) | |
| Acquisition of put options | (240) | - | |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (4,411) | (4,737) | |
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||
| Dividends paid | (2,720) | (2,424) | |
| Payment of lease liabilities | (37) | (37) | |
| Shares issued - equity raise (net of transaction cost) | - | 10,823 | |
| Loan note instrument - Motapa payment | - | (5,399) | |
| Loan note instrument - solar bond issue receipts (net of transaction cost) | - | 4,500 | |
| Net cash (used in) from financing activities | (2,757) | 7,463 | |
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (2,281) | 1,850 | |
| Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents | (847) | (157) | |
| Net cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period | (11,032) | 1,496 | |
| Net cash and cash equivalents at end of the period | (14,160) | 3,189 | |
| Summarised Consolidated Statements of Financial Position | |||
| ($'000's) | As at | Mar 31 2024 | Dec 31 2023 |
| Total non-current assets | 274,307 | 274,074 | |
| Income tax receivable | 80 | 1,120 | |
| Inventories | 20,542 | 20,304 | |
| Derivative financial assets | 26 | 88 | |
| Trade and other receivables | 7,558 | 9,952 | |
| Prepayments | 3,947 | 2,538 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,831 | 6,708 | |
| Assets held for sale | 13,486 | 13,519 | |
| Total assets | 321,777 | 328,303 | |
| Total non-current liabilities | 22,611 | 23,978 | |
| Cash-settled share-based payments - short term portion | 313 | 920 | |
| Income tax payable | 102 | 10 | |
| Lease liabilities - short term portion | 141 | 167 | |
| Loan note instruments - short term portion | 665 | 665 | |
| Trade and other payables | 20,842 | 20,503 | |
| Overdraft and term loans | 15,991 | 17,740 | |
| Liabilities associated with assets held for sale | 96 | 128 | |
| Total liabilities | 60,761 | 64,111 | |
| Total equity | 261,016 | 264,192 | |
| Total equity and liabilities | 321,777 | 328,303 | |
[1] Non-IFRS measures such as "On-mine cost per ounce", "AISC", "average realised gold price" and "adjusted EPS" are used throughout this document. Refer to section 10 of the MD&A for a discussion of non-IFRS measures.
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