Molycorp Reports Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results

Greenwood Village, CO (November 5, 2014) - Molycorp, Inc. (NYSE: MCP) ("Molycorp" or the "Company") today announced financial and operating results for the third quarter 2014.

The Company reported consolidated net revenues in the third quarter of 2014 of $123.9 million, a 6% increase over the preceding quarter. Product sales volume in the quarter was 3,356 metric tons (mt), a 12% sequential increase, at an average selling price ("ASP") of $36.93/kg, a 5% decrease over the preceding quarter's ASP of $39.02/kg. 

The Company reported a net loss of $0.47 per share for the quarter, and a net loss of $0.40 per share for the quarter on an adjusted non-GAAP basis.

Molycorp's Resources segment, comprised of its Mountain Pass, California rare earth mine and processing facility, sold 1,085 mt of rare earth oxide ("REO") equivalent products for $13.9 million in revenues, a 39% increase over the second quarter of 2014. ASP for the quarter was $12.84/kg, which was 25% higher than the preceding quarter due to a more favorable product mix. Production volume for the quarter was 691 mt, a 58% decrease over second quarter production of 1,639 mt. Cash cost for production increased to $33.80/kg, a 104% increase over production cash costs of $16.54/kg in the previous quarter, largely due to the limited availability of hydrochloric acid needed for production. 

The Company's Chemicals and Oxides segment sold 1,651 mt and reported $43.5 million in revenues. The slight sequential increase in volume was offset by lower ASP of $26.33/kg. due to a less favorable product mix.

Its Magnetic Materials and Alloys segment sold 1,516 mt of magnetic powders and reported third quarter revenues of $62.7 million on ASP of $40.42/kg. This compares to second quarter revenues of $54.4 million on an ASP of $39.31/kg. for the segment.     

Finally, Molycorp's Rare Metals segment reported sales volume of 104 mt on revenues of $21.3 million. ASP for the segment was $204.51/kg. Second quarter revenues were $15.9 million on ASP of $201.81/kg.
 

THIRD QUARTER 2014 RESULTS

During the third quarter, the Company sold 3,356 mt of product at an ASP of $36.93/kg, and generated a gross loss of $15.1 million. This compares to sales volumes of 2,996 mt at an ASP of $39.02/kg and a gross loss of $16.6 million during the second quarter of 2014.

Molycorp reported a loss attributable to common stockholders of $105.2 million, or $0.47 per share. Adjusted loss per share of $0.40 in the third quarter does not reflect out-of-ordinary business expenses, and certain other non-cash items.

The Company reported negative cash flows from operating activities of $28.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, and had $313.5 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2014.

During the three months ended September 30, 2014, Molycorp's capital expenditures were $18.2 million on a cash basis.

CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW AT 9:00 A.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME

Molycorp will conduct a conference call on Thursday, November 6, 2014 to discuss these results at 9:00 a.m. EST, hosted by Geoff Bedford, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Michael Doolan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Investors interested in participating in the live call from the U.S. should dial +1 (877) 474-9501 and reference passcode number 59522823. Those calling from outside the U.S. should dial +1 (857) 244-7554 and reference the same passcode as above.

There will also be a simultaneous live audio webcast available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.molycorp.com/investors. The webcast will be archived on the website. A PowerPoint presentation that will be broadcast live via webcast during the conference call will be made available on the website immediately prior to the call.

NON-GAAP ADJUSTED NET LOSS, OIBDA and ADJUSTED OIBDA

Adjusted Net Loss excludes certain non-cash items and other out-of-ordinary business expense and operational expansion items. The Company defines OIBDA as operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion. Adjusted OIBDA consists of OIBDA excluding certain non-cash items and other out-of-ordinary business expense and operational expansion items. Adjusted Net Loss, OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA are all non-GAAP financial measures. There have been no changes in the calculation method of previously disclosed non-GAAP financial measures. The Company's management believes adjusting out these items from Net Loss and OIBDA, including but not limited to purchase accounting adjustments, stock-based compensation, out-of-ordinary expenses/income, asset impairment charges and other miscellaneous charges, is useful to investors because it provides an overall understanding of the Company's historical financial performance and future prospects. Management believes that Adjusted Net Loss, OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA are an indication of the Company's base-line performance. Exclusion of these items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company's core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company's performance.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Company Contacts:

Jim Sims, +1 (303) 843-8062
Vice President Corporate Communications
jim.sims@molycorp.com

Brian Blackman, +1 (303) 843-8067
Vice President Investor Relations
brian.blackman@molycorp.com

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES

TABLE 1: BALANCE SHEETS

MOLYCORP, INC.
 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except shares and per share amounts)

TABLE 2: INCOME STATEMENTS AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

MOLYCORP, INC.
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except shares and per share amounts)

TABLE 3: STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

MOLYCORP, INC
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(In thousands)

 
 
TABLE 4: SEGMENT INFORMATION

1. Includes business development costs, personnel costs, stock-based compensation, accounting and legal fees, occupancy expense, information technology costs and interest expense. 
2. Consist of inter-segment sales and gross profits elimination as well as eliminations of lower of cost or market adjustments related to inter-segment inventory.

TABLE 5: PRODUCT REVENUES, SALES VOLUME, ASP 

TABLE 6: NON-GAAP ADJUSTED NET LOSS, OIBDA and ADJUSTED OIBDA RECONCILIATION

(In thousands, except shares and per share data)

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ABOUT MOLYCORP

Molycorp is the only advanced material manufacturer in the world that both controls a world-class rare earth resource and can produce high-purity, custom engineered rare earth products to meet increasingly demanding customer specifications. A globally integrated manufacturer, the Company produces a wide variety of specialized products from 13 different rare earths (lights, mids and heavies), the transition metal yttrium, and five rare metals (gallium, indium, rhenium, tantalum and niobium). With 26 locations across 11 countries, Molycorp also produces rare earth magnetic materials through its Molycorp Magnequench subsidiary, including neodymium-iron-boron ("NdFeB") magnet powders, used to manufacture bonded NdFeB permanent rare earth magnets. Through its joint venture with Daido Steel and the Mitsubishi Corporation, Molycorp manufactures next-generation, sintered NdFeB permanent rare earth magnets. The Company also markets and sells a line of rare earth-based water treatment products. For more information please visit http://www.molycorp.com.

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SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements that represent Molycorp's beliefs, projections and predictions about future events or Molycorp's future performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions or phrases. These forward-looking statements are necessarily subjective and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause Molycorp's actual results, performance or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievement described in or implied by such statements.

Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:  the need to secure additional capital to implement Molycorp's business plans, and Molycorp's ability to successfully secure any such capital, including the ability to successfully complete the Financings; Molycorp's ability to optimize production at its Mountain Pass rare earth mine and processing facility, which we refer to as the Molycorp Mountain Pass facility, and the ability to develop internal and external demand for REO and other downstream products, including the ability to operate at commercial production rates and competitive cash production costs, in each case within the projected time frame; the success of Molycorp's cost mitigation efforts in connection with the optimization of the Molycorp Mountain Pass facility, which, if unsuccessful, might cause its costs to exceed budget; the final costs of Molycorp's planned capital projects, which may differ from estimated costs; Molycorp's ability to achieve fully the strategic and financial objectives related to the acquisition of Molycorp Canada, including the acquisition's impact on Molycorp's financial condition and results of operations; unexpected costs or liabilities that may arise from the acquisition, ownership or operation of Molycorp Canada; risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including any future goodwill impairment charges; market conditions, including prices and demand for Molycorp's products; Molycorp's ability to control its working capital needs; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; the development and commercialization of new products; unexpected actions of domestic and foreign governments; various events which could disrupt operations, including natural events and other risks; uncertainties associated with Molycorp's reserve estimates and non-reserve deposit information, including estimated mine life and annual production; uncertainties related to feasibility studies that provide estimates of expected or anticipated costs, expenditures and economic returns, REO prices, production costs and other expenses for operations, which are subject to fluctuation; uncertainties regarding global supply and demand for rare earths materials; uncertainties regarding the results of Molycorp's exploratory drilling programs; Molycorp's ability to enter into additional definitive agreements with its customers and its ability to maintain customer relationships; Molycorp's sintered neodymium-iron-boron rare earth magnet joint venture's ability to successfully manufacture magnets within its expected timeframe; Molycorp's ability to successfully integrate other acquired businesses; Molycorp's ability to maintain appropriate relations with unions and employees; Molycorp's ability to successfully implement its vertical integration strategy; environmental laws, regulations and permits affecting Molycorp's business, directly and indirectly, including, among others, those relating to mine reclamation and restoration, climate change, emissions to the air and water and human exposure to hazardous substances used, released or disposed of by Molycorp; and uncertainties associated with unanticipated geological conditions related to mining; and the outcome of the current stockholder class action litigation and derivative litigation, including any actions taken by government agencies in connection therewith.

For more information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties that Molycorp may face, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement contained in this release or the Annual Report on Form 10-K or the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q reflects Molycorp's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to Molycorp's operations, operating results, growth strategy and liquidity. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as to the date when made. Molycorp assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as otherwise required by applicable law.