Thompson Creek Reports Third Quarter and Nine Month 2012 Financial Results

NYSE: TC
TSX: TCM

DENVER, CO, Nov. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. (the "Company"), a growing, diversified North American mining company, today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP"). All dollar amounts are in United States ("US") dollars unless otherwise indicated.

The Company reported for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012, a net loss of $48.2 million, or $0.29 per basic and diluted share, which included a goodwill impairment loss of $47.0 million, or $0.28 per basic and diluted share, and an adjusted net loss of $1.2 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share (excluding the goodwill impairment for 2012), on consolidated revenue of $74.9 million. This compares to net income of $45.6 million, or $0.27 per basic and diluted share, and adjusted net income of $3.6 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, on consolidated revenue of $154.8 million for the prior year period.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company reported a net loss of $61.9 million, or $0.37 per basic and diluted share, which included a goodwill impairment loss of $47.0 million, or $0.28 per basic and diluted share and a non-cash unrealized gain on common stock purchase warrants of $1.8 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss for the first nine months of 2012 was $16.7 million, or $0.10 per basic and diluted share (excluding the goodwill impairment and the unrealized gain on common stock purchase warrants for 2012), on consolidated revenue of $302.0 million. This compares to net income of $291.3 million, or $1.75 per basic share and $1.67 per diluted share, and adjusted net income of $122.9 million, or $0.74 per basic share and $0.70 per diluted share, on consolidated revenue of $552.4 million for the prior year period.

For the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, the Company realized operating losses of $37.4 million and $72.3 million, respectively. The operating losses were primarily the result of declining molybdenum market prices, lower production and higher unit costs from our mines, which resulted in lower-of-cost-or-market product inventory write-downs of $29.5 million and $57.2 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, respectively. Combined with this were significantly lower sales volumes from our mines in the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 due to lower production volumes.

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company suspended waste stripping activity associated with the next phase of production at the Thompson Creek Mine. As a result of this decision and the recent decline in molybdenum prices, the Company was required to evaluate its goodwill for impairment on an enterprise-wide basis at September 30, 2012. As a result of this evaluation, an impairment charge of $47.0 million was recorded.

Production and costs during the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 were negatively impacted by lower-than-anticipated ore grades and mill recoveries at the Endako Mine, planned mine pit sequencing and waste stripping activities at the Thompson Creek Mine, and the May 2012 pit wall slough at the Thompson Creek Mine.  Although the pit wall slough at the Thompson Creek Mine had a negative impact on production from the mine during the second quarter of 2012, the Company believes that the impact of the slough on total production from the Thompson Creek Mine for 2012 will not be material, as we are currently mining higher-grade ore at the Thompson Creek Mine and plan to continue doing so throughout the fourth quarter of 2012. A planned third quarter shut-down of the Langeloth Facility for scheduled repairs and maintenance activities also resulted in higher inventory levels in the third quarter of 2012.  The average realized molybdenum sales price for the third quarter and nine months of 2012 was $12.85 and $14.15 per pound, respectively, compared to $15.64 and $16.83 per pound for the same periods in 2011.

Kevin Loughrey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thompson Creek, said, "Although our financial results continued to be negatively impacted in the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 for the reasons discussed above, I am pleased to report that we have achieved higher production and lower costs for the third quarter of 2012, as compared to the second quarter of 2012.  Total production for the third quarter of 2012 was 6.1 million pounds of molybdenum, compared to 4.1 million pounds in the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 49%.  Weighted-average cash costs for the third quarter of 2012 were $9.46 per pound, compared to $14.57 per pound in the second quarter of 2012, a decrease of 35%.  We anticipate that the previously announced revised mine plans for the Endako and Thompson Creek Mines, as well as our other ongoing initiatives will continue to increase production and lower costs and enable us to meet our 2012 updated production and cash cost guidance."

"In the third quarter, we continued to make significant progress in the construction and development of our Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine," said Mr. Loughrey.  "The total capital expenditure since inception of the project on a cash basis is approximately C$935 million and overall project completion is estimated to be at 75%.  The project remains on budget and on schedule, with completion expected in the third quarter of 2013 and commercial production of copper and gold expected in the fourth quarter of 2013.  As we look forward, we are on track to diversifying our portfolio of assets and strengthening the Company's longer-term financial profile," added Mr. Loughrey.

Selected Consolidated Financial and Operational Information
(US$ in millions, except per share and per pound amounts)

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Mt. Milligan Copper-Gold Mine

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company made cash capital expenditures of C$187.0 ($186.5) million and C$492.2 ($490.6) million, respectively, for the Mt. Milligan project. Including accruals and capitalized depreciation, the Company incurred C$161.5 ($162.2) million and C$511.6 ($510.3) million of capital expenditures, respectively, for Mt. Milligan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, excluding capitalized interest and debt issuance costs of $15.1 million and C$32.4 ($32.3) million, respectively. Capital expenditures were primarily related to the ongoing construction of the tailing storage facility, buildings and facilities (concentrator, truck shop, administration building, and primary and pebble crushers), plant site earthworks, cement works, steel erection, construction camp costs, mine development, mining equipment and engineering design costs.  Since inception of the project, C$934.6 million has been spent on a cash basis through September 30, 2012, including approximately C$40.9 million spent prior to the acquisition of Terrane Metals Corp. ("Terrane"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

The Mt. Milligan copper-gold project remains on schedule, with commissioning and start-up expected to commence in the third quarter of 2013, and commercial production of copper and gold expected in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Overall project completion is estimated to be at 75%.  The Company currently estimates an aggregate of approximately C$1.5 billion to construct and develop Mt. Milligan, of which approximately C$515 to C$585 million of cash expenditures remain to be spent as of September 30, 2012.

Updated 2012 and 2013 Guidance

As a result of lower than expected production through the third quarter of 2012, the Company's share of 2012 production guidance for Endako is expected to be at the low end of previous guidance with revised guidance for Endako cash costs per pound produced for 2012 of $13.50 - $14.50.  The Thompson Creek Mine is expected to meet the previous guidance for 2012.  The Company's revised total 2012 estimated production guidance is currently approximately 22.5 to 24.5 million pounds of molybdenum at an average cash cost of approximately $9.25 to $10.25 per pound as set forth in the table below.

The Thompson Creek Mine is now mining in the higher grade ore in Phase 7 and, given that increased production from the Thompson Creek Mine is back-end loaded in the last half of 2012, we expect to increase inventory in the fourth quarter of 2012 as the production volume will exceed our sales contract volumes.  This excess production is expected to be sold over the course of 2013.

The Company anticipates that the completion and start up of Mt. Milligan will take place in the third quarter of 2013, with commercial production of copper and gold occurring in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Average annual production will be higher during the first full six years of production (approximately 89 million pounds of copper and 262,000 ounces of gold), compared to annual life-of-mine production.  The Company will provide formal production and cash cost guidance for 2014 once Mt. Milligan is operational.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with US GAAP, the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures of its financial performance for the reasons described further below. The presentation of these measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with US GAAP, and the presentation of these measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with the results of operations as determined in accordance with US GAAP.

Adjusted Net (Loss) Income, Adjusted Net (Loss) Income Per Share — Basic and Diluted

Adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted net (loss) income per share—basic and diluted are key measures used by Company management in evaluating operating performance on a quarterly and annual basis. Management uses these measures in evaluating the Company's performance as they represent profitability measures that are not impacted by changes in the market price of the Company's previously outstanding common stock purchase warrants. These measures do not have standard meanings prescribed by US GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management believes these measures provide useful supplemental information to investors in order for them to evaluate the Company's financial performance using the same measures as management.

Adjusted net (loss) income represents the net (loss) income prepared in accordance with US GAAP, adjusted for significant non-cash items.  For the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, there were no significant non-cash items.  For the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, the significant non-cash items were the non-cash gains on the fair value adjustment related to the Company's previously outstanding common stock purchase warrants.

Adjusted net (loss) income per share (basic and diluted) is calculated using adjusted earnings, as defined above, divided by the weighted-average basic and weighted-average diluted shares outstanding during the period, as determined in accordance with US GAAP.

The following tables reconcile net (loss) income presented in accordance with US GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted net (loss) income per share (basic and diluted), for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited — US$ in millions, except shares and per share amounts)

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 (unaudited — US$ in millions, except shares and per share amounts)

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 (unaudited — US$ in millions, except shares and per share amounts)

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 (unaudited — US$ in millions, except shares and per share amounts)

Cash Cost per Pound Produced, Weighted-Average Cash Cost per Pound Produced, and Average Realized Sales Price per Pound Sold

Cash cost per pound produced, weighted-average cash cost per pound produced and average realized sales price per pound sold are considered key measures in evaluating the Company's operating performance.  Cash cost per pound produced, weighted-average cash cost per pound produced and average realized sales price per pound sold are not measures of financial performance, nor do they have standardized meanings prescribed by US GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.  Management uses these measures to evaluate the operating performance at each of its mines, as well as on a consolidated basis, as measures of profitability and efficiency.  The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful supplemental information to investors enabling them to evaluate our performance using the same measures as management.  The Company believes these measures afford investors greater transparency in assessing our financial performance.  Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with US GAAP.

Cash cost per pound produced represents the mining (including all stripping costs), milling, mine site administration, roasting and packaging costs for molybdenum oxide and HPM produced by each mine in the period.  Stripping costs represent the costs associated with the activity of removing overburden in the production phase of a mining operation.  Stripping costs that provide access to mineral reserves that are expected to be produced in future periods are expensed under US GAAP as incurred.  Cash cost per pound produced excludes the effect of purchase price adjustments; the effects of changes in inventory; corporate allocations; stock-based compensation; other non-cash employee benefits; depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion; and commissioning and start-up costs for the Endako mill.  Cash cost for the Thompson Creek Mine, which only produces molybdenum sulfide and HPM on site, includes an estimated molybdenum loss (sulfide to oxide), an allocation of roasting and packaging costs from the Langeloth Facility, and transportation costs from the Thompson Creek Mine to the Langeloth Facility. The weighted-average cash cost per pound produced represents the cumulative total of the cash costs for the Thompson Creek Mine and the Endako Mine divided by the cumulative total production from the Thompson Creek Mine and the Endako Mine.

The average realized sales price per pound sold represents molybdenum sales revenue divided by the pounds sold.

The following tables provide reconciliations of cash costs and cash costs per pound produced, by mine, and operating expenses included in the Company's consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income in the determination of net (loss) income:

(US$ in millions, except per pound amounts — Unaudited)

(US$ in millions, except per pound amounts — Unaudited)

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Additional information on the Company's financial position is available in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2012, which will be filed on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) and SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and posted on the Company's website (www.thompsoncreekmetals.com).

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will hold a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its 2012 third quarter and year-to-date financial results on Friday, November 9, 2012 at 8:30 am ET.  Kevin Loughrey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Pamela Saxton, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will be available to answer questions during the call.

To participate in the call, please dial 1 (647) 427-7450 or 1 (888) 231-8191 about five minutes prior to the start of the call.  A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available at www.newswire.ca/en/webcast and www.thompsoncreekmetals.com.

An archived recording of the conference call will be available at 1 (416) 849-0833 or 1 (855) 859-2056 (access code 47002572#) from 10:30 a.m. ET on November 9 to 11:59 p.m. ET on November 16  An archived recording of the webcast will also be available at the Company's website.

About Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.

Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. is a growing, diversified North American mining company.   The Company produces molybdenum at its 100%-owned Thompson Creek Mine in Idaho and Langeloth Metallurgical Facility in Pennsylvania and its 75%-owned Endako Mine in northern British Columbia.  The Company is also in the process of constructing the Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine in northern British Columbia, which is expected to commence production in 2013.  The Company's development projects include the Berg copper-molybdenum-silver property and the Davidson molybdenum property, both located in central British Columbia.  Its principal executive office is in Denver, Colorado and its Canadian administrative office is in Vancouver, British Columbia.  More information is available at www.thompsoncreekmetals.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 , Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and applicable Canadian securities legislation.  These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "future," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions.   Our forward-looking statements include statements with respect to: future financial or operating performance of the Company or its subsidiaries and its projects; future inventory, production, sales, cash costs, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures; future earnings and operating results; expected concentrate and recovery grades; statements as to the projected development of Mt. Milligan and other projects, including expected production commencement dates; Mt. Milligan development costs; future operating plans and goals; and future molybdenum prices.

Where we express an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, our forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by those forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results and events to differ from those described in such forward-looking statements can be found in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Thompson Creek's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although we have attempted to identify those material factors that could cause actual results or events to differ from those described in such forward-looking statements, there may be other factors, currently unknown to us or deemed immaterial at the present time, that could cause results or events to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.