Newmont Delivers Solid Second Quarter Results; Clear Strategy to Deliver Value From Our World-Class Portfolio of Long-Life, Responsibly Managed Assets

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM, TSX: NGT) (Newmont or the Company) today announced second quarter 2021 results.

SECOND QUARTER 2021 HIGHLIGHTS

• Produced 1.4 million attributable ounces of gold and 303 thousand attributable gold equivalent ounces from co-products
• Reported gold CAS^* of $755 per ounce and AISC^* of $1,035 per ounce
• Full-year results continue to be back-half weighted, in line with guidance ranges^**
• Generated $993 million of cash from continuing operations and $578 million of Free Cash Flow (97 percent attributable to Newmont)^*
• Declared second quarter dividend of $0.55 per share, consistent with the previous quarter^***
• Completed $149 million of share repurchases from $1 billion buyback program^***
• Ended the quarter with $4.6 billion of consolidated cash and $7.6 billion of liquidity with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA^* ratio of 0.2x
• Reduced $550 million of debt outstanding with available cash in April 2021
• Completed acquisition of GT Gold in May 2021, increasing our interest in the prospective Golden Triangle
• Approved full funding for Ahafo North in July 2021, meeting Newmont’s internal hurdle rate at the base assumption of $1,200 per ounce gold price; expecting to deliver an internal rate of return of over 30 percent at current prices
• Published 2020 Annual Sustainability Report, a transparent review of our Environmental, Social and Governance performance
• Launched first Climate Strategy Report, including pathways to achieve our climate targets

“Throughout our history Newmont has taken an industry-leading approach to environmental, social and governance practices. We published our sustainability and climate-focused reports in the second quarter, demonstrating our commitment to responsible mining and doing our part in addressing climate change,” said Tom Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Capitalizing on the strength of our assets and integrated operating model, Newmont delivered a solid second quarter performance with $1.6 billion in adjusted EBITDA and $578 million in free cash flow. Our performance and disciplined approach to capital allocation allowed Newmont to declare a second quarter dividend of $0.55 per share, whilst we continue to reinvest in our business through our most profitable projects. As we move into our next 100 years of mining, we remain focused on delivering value to all of our stakeholders from our world-class portfolio of long-life, responsibly managed assets located in top-tier jurisdictions.”

– Tom Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer

_______________________________________________

*Non-GAAP metrics; see footnotes at the end of this release.
**See discussion of outlook and cautionary statement at end of release regarding forward-looking statements.
***See cautionary statement and endnotes at the end of this release, including with respect to future dividends and share buybacks. Note that the buyback figure above includes $15 million settled after June 30, 2021.

Attributable gold production¹ increased 15 percent to 1,449 thousand ounces from the prior year quarter primarily due to higher production from sites that were placed into care and maintenance or experienced reduced operations in response to Covid during 2020, and higher ore grade milled and higher mill throughput at Boddington. These increases were partially offset by lower mill availability and lower tons and grades mined at Nevada Gold Mines, the ramp down of the mill at Yanacocha during the first quarter of 2021 and a build-up of in-circuit inventory at Tanami as the mine was placed under care and maintenance in late-June as a result of Covid restrictions.

Gold CAS increased 16 percent to $1,091 million from the prior year quarter primarily due to higher gold ounces sold. Gold CAS per ounce² remained flat compared to the prior year quarter at $755 per ounce as higher maintenance costs and unfavorable Australian dollar foreign currency exchange rate were largely offset by higher ounces sold and higher by-product credits.

Gold AISC³ improved 6 percent to $1,035 per ounce from the prior year quarter primarily due to care and maintenance costs in the prior year, partially offset by higher sustaining capital spend.

Attributable gold equivalent ounce (GEO) production from other metals increased 120 percent to 303 thousand ounces primarily due to higher production at Peñasquito as the site was placed into care and maintenance in the prior year and higher ore grade milled, mill throughput and recoveries at Boddington.

CAS from other metals totaled $190 million for the quarter. CAS per GEO² increased 13 percent to $629 per ounce from the prior year quarter primarily due to higher maintenance costs at Peñasquito, unfavorable foreign currency impacts from the strengthening of the Australian dollar, higher allocation of costs to other metals and higher copper-price driven royalties, partially offset by higher other metal sales. AISC per GEO³ improved 9 percent to $886 per ounce primarily due to lower treatment and refining costs and higher care and maintenance costs in the prior year, partially offset by higher CAS per GEO.

Net income from continuing operations attributable to Newmont stockholders was $640 million or $0.80 per diluted share, an increase of $228 million from the prior year quarter primarily due to higher sales volumes and higher average realized prices in the current year. These increases were partially offset by higher income tax expense in the current year.

Adjusted net income⁴ was $670 million or $0.83 per diluted share,compared to $261 million or $0.32 per diluted share in the prior year quarter. Primary adjustments to second quarter net income include changes in the fair value of investments, reclamation and remediation charges, asset impairment and valuation allowance and other tax adjustments.

Adjusted EBITDA⁵ improved 62 percent to $1,591 million for the quarter, compared to $984 million for the prior year quarter.

Revenue increased30 percent from the prior year quarter to $3,065 million primarily due to higher average realized metal prices and higher sales volumes.

Average realized price⁶ for gold was $1,823, an increase of $99 per ounce over the prior year quarter. Average realized gold price includes $1,819 per ounce of gross price received, the favorable impact of $9 per ounce mark-to-market on provisionally-priced sales and reductions of $5 per ounce for treatment and refining charges.

Capital expenditures⁷ increased 48 percent from the prior year quarter to $415 million primarily due to higher sustaining capital spend from sites that were placed into care and maintenance in response to Covid during 2020 and higher development capital spend. Development capital expenditures in 2021 primarily include advancing Tanami Expansion 2, Yanacocha Sulfides, Ahafo North, the Subika Mining Method Change, Cerro Negro expansion projects, Quecher Main and projects associated with the Company’s ownership interest in Nevada Gold Mines.

Consolidated operating cash flow from continuing operations increased 49 percent from the prior year quarter to $993 million primarily due to higher average realized metal prices, partially offset by an increase in tax payments and an increase in receivables related to timing. Free Cash Flow⁸ alsoincreased to $578 million primarily due to higher operating cash flow, partially offset by higher capital expenditures as described above.

Balance sheet and liquidity ended the quarter with $4.6 billion of consolidated cash and approximately $7.6 billion of liquidity; reported net debt to adjusted EBITDA of 0.2x⁹.

Nevada Gold Mines (NGM) attributable gold production was 284 thousand ounces with CAS of $753 per ounce and AISC of $985 per ounce for the second quarter. EBITDA¹⁰ for NGM was $298 million.

Pueblo Viejo (PV) attributable gold production was 78 thousand ounces for the quarter. Pueblo Viejo EBITDA¹⁰ was $111 million and cash distributions received for the Company’s equity method investment totaled $23 million in the second quarter.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Newmont continues to maintain wide-ranging protective measures for its workforce and neighboring communities, including screening, physical distancing, deep cleaning and avoiding exposure for at-risk individuals. The Company incurred incremental Covid specific costs of $20 million during the quarter for activities such as additional health and safety procedures, increased transportation and community fund contributions. During the second quarter of 2020, the Newmont Global Community Support Fund was established to help host communities, governments and employees combat the Covid pandemic. Amounts distributed from this fund were $1 million during the quarter and have been adjusted from certain non-GAAP metrics. The remaining $19 million is not adjusted from our non-GAAP metrics.

We have mobilized a Covid vaccine working group with representatives from across the globe. Newmont views vaccination as critical in the fight against Covid-19 and actively encourages our workforce to get vaccinated as they become eligible. We are working to support authorities, through our Global Community Support Fund, to improve the availability and deployment of vaccines to our workforce and host communities.

PROJECTS UPDATE

Newmont’s capital-efficient project pipeline supports improving production, lowering costs and extending mine life. Funding for the current development capital projects Tanami Expansion 2 and Ahafo North has been approved and these projects are in the execution stage. The Company has included the Yanacocha Sulfides project in its long-term outlook as the project is currently scheduled to be approved for full funding in December 2021. Additional sustaining and development projects, not listed below, represent incremental improvements to the Company’s outlook.

• Tanami Expansion 2 (Australia) secures Tanami’s future as a long-life, low-cost producer with potential to extend mine life beyond 2040 through the addition of a 1,460 meter hoisting shaft and supporting infrastructure to achieve 3.5 million tonnes per year of production and provide a platform for future growth. The expansion is expected to increase average annual gold production by approximately 150,000 to 200,000 ounces per year for the first five years and is expected to reduce operating costs by approximately 10 percent. Capital costs for the project are estimated to be between $850 million and $950 million with a commercial production date in the first half of 2024.
• Ahafo North (Africa) expands our existing footprint in Ghana with four open pit mines and a stand-alone mill located approximately 30 kilometers from the Company’s Ahafo South operations. The project is expected to add between 275,000 and 325,000 ounces per year with all-in sustaining costs between $600 to $700 per ounce for the first five full years of production (2024-2028). Capital costs for the project are estimated to be between $750 and $850 million with a construction completion date in the second half of 2023 and commercial production in early-2024. Ahafo North is the best unmined gold deposit in West Africa with approximately 3.5 million ounces of Reserves and more than 1 million ounces of Measured and Indicated and Inferred Resource¹¹ and significant upside potential to extend beyond Ahafo North’s current 13-year mine life.
• Yanacocha Sulfides (South America)¹² will develop the first phase of sulfide deposits and an integrated processing circuit, including an autoclave to process gold, copper and silver feedstock. The project is expected to add 500,000 gold equivalent ounces per year with all-in sustaining costs between $700 to $800 per ounce for the first five full years of production (2026-2030). An investment decision is expected in December 2021 with a three year development period and estimated capital costs of approximately $2 billion. The first phase focuses on developing the Yanacocha Verde and Chaquicocha deposits to extend Yanacocha’s operations beyond 2040 with second and third phases having the potential to extend life for multiple decades.

________________________________________________

¹ Attributable gold production for the second quarter 2021 includes 78 thousand ounces from the Company’s equity method investment in Pueblo Viejo (40%).
² Non-GAAP measure. See end of this release for reconciliation to Costs applicable to sales.
³ Non-GAAP measure. See end of this release for reconciliation to Costs applicable to sales.
⁴ Non-GAAP measure. See end of this release for reconciliation to Net income (loss) attributable to Newmont stockholders.
⁵ Non-GAAP measure. See end of this release for reconciliation to Net income (loss) attributable to Newmont stockholders.
⁶ Non-GAAP measure. See end of this release for reconciliation to Sales.
⁷ Capital expenditures refers to Additions to property plant and mine development from the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
⁸ Non-GAAP measure. See end of this release for reconciliation to Net cash provided by operating activities.
⁹ Non-GAAP measure. See end of this release for reconciliation.
¹⁰ Non-GAAP measure. See end of this release for reconciliation.
¹¹ See note to U.S. Investors at the end of this release; such resource estimate for Ahafo North is comprised of 610,000 ounces of Measured and Indicated Resource and 410,000 ounces of Inferred Resource as at December 31, 2020.
¹² Consolidated basis.

OUTLOOK

Newmont’s outlook reflects increasing gold production and ongoing investment in its operating assets and most promising growth prospects. The Company has included Yanacocha Sulfides in its outlook as the development project is expected to reach execution stage in December 2021. Additional development projects that have not reached execution stage represent upside to guidance. All production, cost and capital figures assume a $1,200/oz gold price.

Newmont’s 2021 and longer-term outlook assumes operations continue without major Covid-related interruptions. If at any point the Company determines that continuing operations poses an increased risk to our workforce or host communities, it will reduce operational activities up to, and including, care and maintenance and management of critical environmental systems. Please see cautionary statement in the end notes for additional information.

Please see cautionary statement in the end notes for additional information. Investors are reminded that outlook is a range of plus or minus 5 percent of the midpoints noted below. For further discussion, investors are encouraged to attend Newmont’s Second Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call.

Original Article: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210722005299/en/