TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Nov. 10, 2006) - Metallica Resources Inc. (TSX:MR)(AMEX:MRB) is pleased to report its third quarter financial results. All figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise noted. Complete quarterly results are available on SEDAR, EDGAR and on the Company's website at www.metal-res.com.
Selected Financial Data (unaudited)
Three Three
Months Months Nine Months Nine Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
September September September September
30, 2006 30, 2005 30, 2006 30, 2005
Net income (loss) $ (604,777) $ 9,663,769 $ (962,583) $ 7,943,596
Basic and diluted
net income (loss)
per share (0.01) 0.12 (0.01) 0.10
Cash flows (used
for) provided
from operating
activities (1,102,568) 7,774,733 (2,068,403) 7,335,403
Cash flows used
for investing
activities (9,036,320) (974,486) (18,899,564) (4,191,193)
Cash flows provided
from financing
activities 95,213 210,562 916,762 347,318
Effect of exchange
rate changes on
cash and cash
equivalents (149,979) 1,575,491 557,507 892,471
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Increase (decrease)
in cash and cash
equivalents $ (10,193,654) $ 8,586,300 $ (19,493,698) $ 4,383,999
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
September December
30, 2006 31, 2005
Current assets:
Cash and cash
equivalents $ 23,176,132 $ 42,669,830
Value-added tax
and other
current assets 2,891,684 969,947
------------- -------------
Total current
assets 26,067,816 43,639,777
Mineral properties,
plant and equipment 76,596,641 56,033,836
Other assets 283,091 246,271
------------- -------------
Total assets $ 102,947,548 $ 99,919,884
------------- -------------
------------- -------------
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
and accrued
liabilities $ 3,075,776 $ 1,323,571
Restricted stock
units 317,491 59,435
Asset retirement
obligation 388,755 343,164
------------- -------------
Total liabilities 3,782,022 1,726,170
Shareholders'
equity:
Share capital 109,415,323 108,158,077
Contributed
surplus 1,484,554 1,484,554
Warrants 5,883,108 5,889,285
Stock options 2,114,340 1,431,014
Deficit (19,731,799) (18,769,216)
------------- -------------
Total
shareholders'
equity 99,165,526 98,193,714
------------- -------------
Total liabilities
and shareholders'
equity $ 102,947,548 $ 99,919,884
------------- -------------
------------- -------------
The Company is in the development stage with the majority of its expenditures being made on the Cerro San Pedro gold and silver project, all of which have been capitalized. The Company does not have any revenue from operations. Financial results of operations primarily consist of interest income, general and administrative expenses, exploration expenses, foreign exchange gains and losses, and other non-cash expenses.
The Company reported a loss of $0.60 million ($0.01 per share) for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to net income of $9.66 million ($0.12 per share) for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease in net income of $10.26 million in the current period was primarily due to a onetime $10 million earn-in payment from Xstrata Plc ("Xstrata", formerly Falconbridge Limited) in 2005 as part of its earn-in requirement for the El Morro project, which resulted in $8.35 million of income, and a $1.40 million decrease in foreign exchange gains on cash balances held in Canadian dollars.
The Company reported a loss of $0.96 million ($0.01 per share) for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to net income of $7.94 million ($0.10 per share) for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease in net income of $8.90 million in the current period principally resulted from the one-time $10 million earn-in payment from Xstrata in 2005 for the El Morro project.
The Company's cash and cash equivalents decreased by $10.19 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $8.59 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The $18.78 million increase in 2006 cash outflows is primarily due to an increase in cash expenditures for construction activities at the Cerro San Pedro project in the current period totaling $6.41 million, and no property earn-in payments in the current period versus a $10 million earn-in payment from Xstrata in the preceding period. Project development activities at the Cerro San Pedro project during the current period include construction of the leach pad, solution ponds, haul road tunnel, laboratory and process plant.
The Company's cash and cash equivalents decreased by $19.49 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $4.38 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The $23.87 million increase in 2006 cash outflows principally results from an increase in payments for construction activities at the Cerro San Pedro project totaling $13.06 million due to commencement of project construction in February 2006. In addition, there were no property earn-in payments in the current period versus a $10 million earn-in payment from Xstrata in the preceding period.
The Company had working capital of $22.99 million at September 30, 2006 as compared to working capital of $42.32 million at December 31, 2005. The $19.33 million decrease in working capital primarily results from additions totaling $20.56 million to mineral properties, plant and equipment on the Company's exploration and development projects, principally the Cerro San Pedro project.
On October 31, 2006, the Company received notice from SEDENA that it had removed the suspension on the 2006 explosives permit for its Cerro San Pedro project in Mexico. On November 3, 2006, the Company commenced blasting in the haul road and pit area. Although the Company could not use explosives in the haul road and pit areas during the period when the explosives permit was suspended, we continued with construction of the process plant and related facilities. It is anticipated that construction of the process plant and related facilities will be completed in December 2006. Washington Group International, the company's contract miner, has mining equipment and personnel on site to complete construction of the haul road and commence mining operations. It is anticipated that a steady supply of ore grade material can be delivered to the processing site within the next several months.
The initial capital cost to build the mine is projected to be $29.1 million, with a total capital cost of $34.3 million over the life of the mine. Although construction costs incurred to date associated with the process plant and related facilities are close to budgeted amounts, the explosives permit suspension has delayed construction of the haul road, pre-stripping in the pit area and the placement of ore on the leach pads. This will delay the Company's ability to produce and sell gold and silver from the mine, and will require the Company to obtain working capital financing until the mine generates sufficient cash flow from operations. Management is evaluating various financing alternatives and requirements for the project.
At the La Fortuna deposit area of the 30%-owned El Morro project, Xstrata has recently completed a 75-hole, 27,691 meter drilling program and continues to work on a 1,150 meter decline tunnel. Xstrata has informed the Company that it intends to complete a prefeasibility study for the La Fortuna deposit in late 2006 or early 2007. The estimated cost of the prefeasibility study, including the drilling programs and decline tunnel, is estimated by Xstrata to be $40 million. The entire cost of the prefeasibility study will be borne by Xstrata.
Metallica Resources is a Canadian precious and base metal exploration and development company focused on the Americas with approximately 84.2 million shares outstanding. For further details on Metallica Resources, please visit the Company's website at www.metal-res.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Richard J. Hall , President and CEO
INFORMATION IN THIS NEWS RELEASE THAT IS NOT CURRENT OR HISTORICAL FACTUAL INFORMATION MAY CONSTITUTE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION OR STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE UNITED STATES PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND APPLICABLE CANADIAN SECURITIES LEGISLATION. IMPLICIT IN THIS INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF STATEMENTS AS TO FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY, AND RESOURCES AND RESERVES AT THE COMPANY'S MINERAL PROJECTS, ARE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING PROJECTED REVENUE AND EXPENSE, GOLD, SILVER AND COPPER PRICES, AND MINING COSTS. THESE ASSUMPTIONS, ALTHOUGH CONSIDERED REASONABLE BY THE COMPANY AT THE TIME OF PREPARATION, MAY PROVE TO BE INCORRECT. READERS ARE CAUTIONED THAT ACTUAL RESULTS ARE SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, INCLUDING RISKS RELATING TO GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND MINING OPERATIONS, AND COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM WHAT IS CURRENTLY EXPECTED. THE COMPANY DISCLAIMS ANY INTENTION OR OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Metallica Resources Inc.
Richard J. Hall
President and CEO
(303) 796-0229, Ext. 304
Website: www.metal-res.com
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