Newmont Announces Second Quarter Operating and Financial Results

Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE:NEM) (Newmont or the Company) announced second quarter results.

• Net income: Reported GAAP net income attributable to shareholders from continuing operations of $50 million, or $0.09 per share, compared to $63 million, or $0.13 per share in the prior year quarter; achieved adjusted net income¹ of $231 million, or $0.44 per basic share, compared to $131 million or $0.26 per share in the prior year quarter
• EBITDA: Achieved adjusted EBITDA² of $804 million in the second quarter, compared to $692 million in the prior year quarter
• Cash flow: Generated net cash from continuing operating activities of $780 million and free cash flow³ of $486 million, compared to $441 million and $119 million in the prior year quarter
• Attributable production: Produced 1.3 million ounces and 38,000 tonnes of attributable gold and copper, respectively, compared to 1.2 million ounces and 42,000 tonnes in the prior year quarter
• Costs applicable to sales (CAS): Improved gold CAS to $637 per ounce⁴ compared to $642 per ounce in the prior year quarter, and reported copper CAS of $1.21 per pound unchanged from the prior year quarter
• All-in sustaining costs (AISC)⁵: Improved gold AISC to $876 per ounce compared to $909 per ounce in the prior year quarter, and improved copper AISC to $1.53 per pound compared to $1.61 per pound in the prior year quarter
• Outlook: Improved 2016 outlook and long term cost outlook; updated outlook excludes Batu Hijau
• Portfolio: Merian, Long Canyon, Cripple Creek & Victor (CC&V) and Tanami projects progressing on schedule and at or below budget. Northwest Exodus has been approved and is expected to reach first gold production in Q3 2016; announced agreement to sell Newmont’s ownership stake in PTNNT
• Shareholder returns: Maintained second quarter dividend of $0.025 per share⁶

“Newmont’s strong second quarter results included delivering adjusted EBITDA of more than $800 million, free cash flow of $486 million, and announcing the sale of our 48.5 percent stake in PTNNT for total consideration of $1.3 billion including $920 million cash at close.” said Gary Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Consistently strong operational performance has given us the means to strengthen our portfolio and balance sheet, and position Newmont to continue outperforming. We progressed construction of two new mines, and are now building three higher margin expansion projects including Northwest Exodus – on time and at or below budget. We have also been able to reduce our net debt by nearly 50% since 2013.”

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¹ Non-GAAP measure. See end of release for reconciliation to net income attributable to Newmont stockholders.
² Non-GAAP measure. See end of release for reconciliation to net income attributable to Newmont stockholders.
³ Non-GAAP measure. See end of release for reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities.
⁴ Non-GAAP measure. See end of release for reconciliation to costs applicable to sales.
⁵ Non-GAAP measure. See end of release for reconciliation to cost applicable to sales.
⁶ Such policy is non-binding; declaration of future dividends remains subject to approval and discretion of the Board of Directors.

Second Quarter Summary Results

GAAP Net income attributable to Newmont stockholders from continuing operations was $50 million, or $0.09 per share, compared to $63 million or $0.13 per share in the prior year quarter. Adjusted Net Income was $231 million or $0.44 per share, compared to $131 million or $0.26 per share in the prior year quarter. The primary adjustment to net income in the second quarter is a $174 million movement in tax valuation allowances and tax adjustments related to prior period earnings.

Revenue totaled $2.0 billion in the quarter, in line with $1.9 billion in the second quarter of 2015 as higher gold volumes and pricing offset lower copper volumes and pricing.

Average net realized gold and copper price⁷ was $1,260 per ounce and $1.94 per pound, respectively, compared with $1,179 per ounce and $2.41 per pound in the prior year quarter.

Attributable production totaled 1.3 million ounces, compared to 1.2 million ounces in the second quarter of 2015. During the quarter, new production from CC&V and higher production at Tanami, Kalgoorlie and Ahafo more than offset declining production at Yanacocha and the sale of Waihi. Attributable copper production totaled 38,000 tonnes compared to 42,000 tonnes in the prior year period due to slightly lower grade and throughput at Batu Hijau.

CAS Total costs applicable to sales of $1,059 million and $637 per ounce in the second quarter compared to $1,027 million and $642 per ounce in the prior year quarter. Second quarter CAS per ounce improvements were led by Kalgoorlie and the inclusion of CC&V. Higher production offset processing lower grade and deep transitional ore at Yanacocha. Copper CAS was $1.21 per pound in the second quarter, no change from the prior year quarter.

AISC was $876 per ounce and $1.53 per pound, respectively, compared to $909 per ounce and $1.61 per pound in the prior year quarter. AISC benefitted from production and CAS improvements detailed above and further improved due to timing-related reductions in sustaining capital. Full year sustaining capital is expected to be slightly lower due to ongoing cost and efficiency improvements.

Capital expenditures⁸ for the second quarter were $294 million, including $155 million of sustaining capital, compared to $322 million in the prior year quarter, including $170 million sustaining capital. Sustaining capital for the quarter declined slightly due to timing of spend. Development capital was used to construct projects, including new mines at Merian and Long Canyon, and expansions at CC&V and Tanami.

Net cash provided by continuing operating activities was $780 million in the second quarter, compared to $441 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to increased gold pricing and volumes, assisted by lower costs. Free cash flow was $486 million in the second quarter, compared to $119 million in the prior year quarter. The company held $2,902 million of consolidated cash on its balance sheet at the end of the second quarter.

Newmont has also generated approximately $1.9 billion in asset sales since 2013 while maintaining steady attributable gold production. Gross proceeds from asset sales would increase further with the expected sale of Batu Hijau.

On June 30, Newmont announced an agreement to sell its interests in PTNNT, which operates the Batu Hijau copper and gold mine in Indonesia. The total consideration of $1.3 billion for Newmont’s 48.5 percent economic interest includes cash proceeds of $920 million expected to be paid at closing and contingent payments of $403 million tied to metal price upside and development of the Elang deposit.

⁷ Non-GAAP measure. See end of release for reconciliation to sales.
⁸ Capital expenditures refers to Additions to property plant and mine development from the statements of consolidated cash flows.

Projects Update

Cripple Creek & Victor (CC&V) expansion includes a new leach pad, recovery plant and mill. Leach pad construction finished ahead of schedule with first production in March 2016. The recovery plant remains on schedule to be completed later this year. Gold production for 2016 is expected to be between 350,000 and 400,000 ounces at CAS of between $500 and $550 per ounce and AISC of between $600 and $650 per ounce, with production weighted toward the latter part of the year. CC&V development capital is forecasted at approximately $185 million, with $70 million to be spent in 2016.

Merian is a new mine in Suriname expected to deliver more than a decade of profitable production and accretive returns. Construction is approximately 90% complete. The project remains $100 million below initial budget and is on track to reach commercial production in the second half of 2016. Merian will produce between 400,000 and 500,000 ounces (on a 100% basis) of gold annually during its first five years at CAS of between $575 and $675 per ounce and AISC of between $650 and $750 per ounce. Newmont’s 75% share of development capital is estimated at between $575 million and $625 million, with an expenditure of between $170 million and $210 million in 2016.

Long Canyon is an oxide ore body that provides significant exploration upside potential in an emerging district. The Phase 1 project is approximately 80% complete and remains on budget and on schedule to reach commercial production in the first quarter of 2017. This first phase of development includes an open pit mine and heap leach operation. Production is expected to average between 100,000 and 150,000 ounces per year at CAS of between $400 and $500 per ounce and AISC of between $500 and $600 per ounce over an eight year mine life. Approximately half of the total capital costs of between $250 million and $300 million will be spent in 2016 with minimal spending in 2017.

Tanami Expansion Project includes constructing a second decline in the mine and building incremental capacity in the plant to increase profitable production and serve as a platform for future expansion. The project is on budget and on schedule to deliver additional production beginning in 2017. The expansion expects to maintain annual gold production of between 425,000 and 475,000 ounces per year at CAS of between $550 and $600 per ounce and AISC of between $700 and $750 per ounce for the first five years. The expansion will also increase mine life by three years. Capital costs for the project are estimated at between $100 million and $120 million with approximately half of that amount spent in 2016.

Northwest Exodus is a sustaining capital underground extension in the Carlin North Area that is expected to extend mine life by seven years, to produce incremental gold production between 50,000 and 75,000 ounces per year in the first five years, and to improve Carlin’s CAS by an average of $20 per ounce and AISC by an average of $25 per ounce. The project will produce first gold in Q3 2016.

Ahafo Mill Expansion and Subika Underground represent opportunities not currently included in Newmont’s outlook. The two projects would increase profitable production at Ahafo while lowering costs and offsetting the impacts of lower grades and harder ore. Both projects will be reviewed in the second half of 2016.

Outlook

Outlook excludes Batu Hijau for all periods for illustrative purposes. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter following receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other conditions precedent.

Attributable gold production is expected to increase from between 4.7 and 5.0 million ounces in 2016 to between 4.9 and 5.4 million ounces in 2017, and remain stable at between 4.5 and 5.0 million ounces through 2020. New production at CC&V, Long Canyon Phase 1, Northwest Exodus, Tanami and Merian is expected to offset the impacts of maturing operations at Yanacocha and the sale of Batu Hijau. Projects that are not yet approved, including Ahafo Mill Expansion and Subika Underground, represent production upside of between 200,000 and 300,000 ounces of gold beginning in 2018.

Attributable copper production is expected to be between 40,000 and 60,000 tonnes in 2016 and between 40,000 and 65,000 tonnes in 2017 and 2018, with stable production expected at Phoenix Copper Leach and Boddington.

Gold cost outlook – CAS is expected to be between $630 and $680 per ounce in 2016, and remain stable at between $650 and $750 per ounce in 2017 and 2018. Costs benefit from higher grades at Carlin underground mines through 2017, and from lower cost production at Tanami and Merian through 2018. Ongoing cost and efficiency improvements are expected to offset lower grades and throughput at Ahafo and maturing operations at Yanacocha. Full Potential savings and lower cost ounces from projects that have yet to be approved could further improve costs in 2017 and beyond.

AISC is expected to improve to between $870 and $930 per ounce in 2016, holding relatively steady at between $850 and $950 per ounce in 2017. Long term AISC guidance is improved to between $880 and $980 per ounce based on inclusion of Northwest Exodus and improved oil price assumptions.

Copper cost outlook – Copper CAS is expected to be between $1.80 and $2.00 per pound in 2016 and 2017 rising temporarily to between $2.30 and $2.50 per pound in 2018 due to stripping at Boddington. Copper AISC is expected to average between $2.20 and $2.40 per pound in 2016 increasing to between $2.30 and $2.60 in 2017 due to timing on sustaining capital spend. Copper AISC is expected to increase to between $2.75 and $2.95 per pound in 2018 due to stripping at Boddington.

Capital – 2016 capital is expected to be between $1.1 and $1.3 billion including between $650 and $700 million of sustaining capital. Sustaining capital is expected to increase to between $800 and $900 million in 2017 to cover equipment rebuilds, water treatment and tailings storage facilities. Technical and operational cost and efficiency improvements represent further upside. Long-term sustaining capital is expected to remain stable at between $700 and $800 million to cover infrastructure, equipment and ongoing mine development.

Debt – The company expects approximately $260 to $280 million of interest expense in 2016. Year-to-date, Newmont has reduced debt by more than $600 million in 2016. The Company remains on track to repay $800 million to $1.3 billion of debt between 2016 and 2018, targeting the highest rates and nearest-term maturities first.

2016 Outlook^a

^a2016 Outlook in the table above are considered “forward-looking statements” and are based upon certain assumptions, including, but not limited to, metal prices, oil prices, certain exchange rates and other assumptions. For example, 2016 Outlook assumes $1,300/oz Au, $2.00/lb Cu, $0.75 USD/AUD exchange rate and $50/barrel WTI; AISC and CAS cost estimates do not include inflation, for the remainder of the year. Production, AISC and capital estimates exclude projects that have not yet been approved, (Twin Underground, Batu Phase 7, Ahafo Mill Expansion and Subika Underground). The potential impact on inventory valuation as a result of lower prices, input costs, and project decisions are not included as part of this Outlook. Such assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. See cautionary note at the end of the release.
^bAll-in sustaining costs as used in the Company’s Outlook is a non-GAAP metric defined as the sum of cost applicable to sales (including all direct and indirect costs related to current gold production incurred to execute on the current mine plan), remediation costs (including operating accretion and amortization of asset retirement costs), G&A, exploration expense, advanced projects and R&D, treatment and refining costs, other expense, net of one-time adjustments and sustaining capital. See reconciliation at end of release.
^cIncludes Lone Tree operations.
^dIncludes TRJV operations.
^eConsolidated production for Yanacocha is presented on a total production basis for the mine site; attributable production represents a 51.35% interest.
^fBoth consolidated and attributable production are shown on a pro-rata basis with a 50% ownership for Kalgoorlie.
^gProduction outlook does not include equity production from stakes in TMAC (29.4%) or La Zanja (46.94%).
^hConsolidated production for Batu Hijau is presented on a total production basis for the mine site; whereas attributable production represents a 48.5% ownership interest in 2016 outlook. Outlook for Batu Hijau remains subject to various factors, including, without limitation, renegotiation of the CoW, issuance of future export approvals, negotiations with the labor union, future in-country smelting availability and regulations relating to export quotas, and certain other factors.
ⁱConsolidated expense outlook is adjusted to exclude extraordinary items. For example, the tax rate outlook above is a consolidated adjusted rate, which assumes the exclusion of certain tax valuation allowance adjustments. Beginning in 2016, regional general and administrative expense is included in total general and administrative expense (G&A) and community development cost is included in CAS.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP financial measures are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standard meaning prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted net income (loss)

Management uses Adjusted net income (loss) to evaluate the Company’s operating performance, and for planning and forecasting future business operations. The Company believes the use of Adjusted net income (loss) allows investors and analysts to understand the results of the continuing operations of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries relating to the production and sale of minerals, by excluding certain items that have a disproportionate impact on our results for a particular period. The net income (loss) adjustments are presented net of tax generally at the Company’s statutory effective tax rate of 35% and net of our partners’ noncontrolling interests when applicable. The impact of the adjustments through the Company’s Valuation allowance is shown separately. The tax adjustment includes items such as foreign tax credits, alternative minimum tax credits, capital losses and disallowed foreign losses. Management’s determination of the components of Adjusted net income (loss) are evaluated periodically and based, in part, on a review of non-GAAP financial measures used by mining industry analysts. Net income (loss) attributable to Newmont stockholders is reconciled to Adjusted net income (loss) as follows:

Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA)

Management uses Earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and EBITDA adjusted for non-core or certain items that have a disproportionate impact on our results for a particular period (“Adjusted EBITDA”) as non-GAAP measures to evaluate the Company’s operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not represent, and should not be considered an alternative to, net earnings (loss), operating earnings (loss), or cash flow from operations as those terms are defined by GAAP, and does not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. Although Adjusted EBITDA and similar measures are frequently used as measures of operations and the ability to meet debt service requirements by other companies, our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to such other similarly titled captions of other companies. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors. Management’s determination of the components of Adjusted EBITDA are evaluated periodically and based, in part, on a review of non-GAAP financial measures used by mining industry analysts. Net income (loss) attributable to Newmont stockholders is reconciled to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as follows:

Free Cash Flow

Management uses Free Cash Flow as a non-GAAP measure to analyze cash flows generated from operations. Free Cash Flow is Net cash provided by operating activities plus Net cash used in discontinued operations less Additions to property, plant and mine development as presented on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow. The Company believes Free Cash Flow is also useful as one of the bases for comparing the Company’s performance with its competitors. Although Free Cash Flow and similar measures are frequently used as measures of cash flows generated from operations by other companies, the Company’s calculation of Free Cash Flow is not necessarily comparable to such other similarly titled captions of other companies.

The presentation of non-GAAP Free Cash Flow is not meant to be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Company’s performance, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity as those terms are defined by GAAP, and does not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. The Company’s definition of Free Cash Flow is limited in that it does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures due to the fact that the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt service and other contractual obligations or payments made for business acquisitions. Therefore, the Company believes it is important to view Free Cash Flow as a measure that provides supplemental information to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, to Net cash provided by operating activities, which the Company believes to be the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to Free Cash Flow, as well as information regarding net cash used in investing activities and net cash used in financing activities.

Costs applicable to sales per ounce/pound

Costs applicable to sales per ounce/pound are non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are calculated by dividing the costs applicable to sales of gold and copper by gold ounces or copper pounds sold, respectively. These measures are calculated on a consistent basis for the periods presented on a consolidated basis. Costs applicable to sales per ounce/pound statistics are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under GAAP. Other companies may calculate these measures differently.

The following tables reconcile these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

Costs applicable to sales per ounce

Costs applicable to sales per pound

All-In Sustaining Costs

Newmont has worked to develop a metric that expands on GAAP measures such as cost of goods sold and non-GAAP measures, such as Costs applicable to sales per ounce, to provide visibility into the economics of our mining operations related to expenditures, operating performance and the ability to generate cash flow from operations.

Current GAAP-measures used in the mining industry, such as cost of goods sold, do not capture all of the expenditures incurred to discover, develop, and sustain gold production. Therefore, we believe that all-in sustaining costs is a non-GAAP measure that provides additional information to management, investors, and analysts that aid in the understanding of the economics of our operations and performance compared to other producers and in the investor’s visibility by better defining the total costs associated with production.

All-in sustaining cost (“AISC”) amounts are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under GAAP. Other companies may calculate these measures differently as a result of differences in the underlying accounting principles, policies applied and in accounting frameworks such as in International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), or by reflecting the benefit from selling non-gold metals as a reduction to AISC. Differences may also arise related to definitional differences of sustaining versus development capital activities based upon each company’s internal policies.

The following disclosure provides information regarding the adjustments made in determining the all-in sustaining costs measure:

Cost Applicable to Sales - Includes all direct and indirect costs related to current gold production incurred to execute the current mine plan. Costs Applicable to Sales (“CAS”) includes by-product credits from certain metals obtained during the process of extracting and processing the primary ore-body. CAS is accounted for on an accrual basis and excludes Amortization and Reclamation and remediation, which is consistent with our presentation of CAS on the Statement of Consolidated Income. In determining AISC, only the CAS associated with producing and selling an ounce of gold is included in the measure. Therefore, the amount of gold CAS included in AISC is derived from the CAS presented in the Company’s Statement of Consolidated Income less the amount of CAS attributable to the production of copper at our Phoenix, Boddington and Batu Hijau mines. The copper CAS at those mine sites is disclosed in Note 4 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Phoenix, Boddington and Batu Hijau mines is based upon the relative sales percentage of copper and gold sold during the period.

Remediation Costs - Includes accretion expense related to asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) and the amortization of the related Asset Retirement Cost (“ARC”) for the Company’s operating properties recorded as an ARC asset. Accretion related to ARO and the amortization of the ARC assets for reclamation and remediation do not reflect annual cash outflows but are calculated in accordance with GAAP. The accretion and amortization reflect the periodic costs of reclamation and remediation associated with current gold production and are therefore included in the measure. The allocation of these costs to gold and copper is determined using the same allocation used in the allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Phoenix, Boddington and Batu Hijau mines.

Advanced Projects and Exploration - Includes incurred expenses related to projects that are designed to increase or enhance current gold production and gold exploration. We note that as current resources are depleted, exploration and advanced projects are necessary for us to replace the depleting reserves or enhance the recovery and processing of the current reserves. As this relates to sustaining our gold production, and is considered a continuing cost of a mining company, these costs are included in the AISC measure. These costs are derived from the Advanced projects, research and development and Exploration amounts presented in the Company’s Statement of Consolidated Income less the amount attributable to the production of copper at our Phoenix, Boddington and Batu Hijau mines. The allocation of these costs to gold and copper is determined using the same allocation used in the allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Batu Hijau, Boddington and Phoenix mines.

General and Administrative - Includes cost related to administrative tasks not directly related to current gold production, but rather related to support our corporate structure and fulfilling our obligations to operate as a public company. Including these expenses in the AISC metric provides visibility of the impact that general and administrative activities have on current operations and profitability on a per ounce basis.

Other expense, net - Includes administrative costs to support current gold production. We exclude certain exceptional or unusual expenses from Other expense, net, such as restructuring, as these are not indicative to sustaining our current gold operations. Furthermore, this adjustment to Other expense, net is also consistent with the nature of the adjustments made to Net income (loss) as disclosed in the Company’s non-GAAP financial measure Adjusted net income (loss). The allocation of these costs to gold and copper is determined using the same allocation used in the allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Phoenix, Boddington and Batu Hijau mines.

Treatment and Refining Costs - Includes costs paid to smelters for treatment and refining of our concentrates to produce the salable metal. These costs are presented net as a reduction of Sales.

Sustaining Capital - We determined sustaining capital as those capital expenditures that are necessary to maintain current gold production and execute the current mine plan. Capital expenditures to develop new operations, or related to projects at existing operations where these projects will enhance gold production or reserves, are considered development. We determined the breakout of sustaining and development capital costs based on a systematic review of our project portfolio in light of the nature of each project. Sustaining capital costs are relevant to the AISC metric as these are needed to maintain the Company’s current gold operations and provide improved transparency related to our ability to finance these expenditures from current operations. The allocation of these costs to gold and copper is determined using the same allocation used in the allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Batu Hijau, Boddington and Phoenix mines.