Agnico Eagle reports first quarter 2018 results; Nunavut development projects progressing as planned

11 May 2018

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited today reported quarterly net income of $44.9 million, or $0.19 per share, for the first quarter of 2018. This result includes non-cash foreign currency translation gains on deferred tax liabilities of $6.7 million ($0.03 per share), mark-to-market adjustments and derivative gains on financial instruments of $0.5 million (nil per share) and non-cash foreign currency translation gains of $3.5 million ($0.01 per share). Excluding these items would result in adjusted net income1 of $34.2 million or $0.15 per share for the first quarter of 2018. In the first quarter of 2017, the Company reported net income of $76.0 million or $0.33 per share. Included in the first quarter of 2018 net income and not adjusted above is non-cash stock option expense of $7.8 million ($0.03 per share).
In the first quarter of 2018, cash provided by operating activities decreased by 7% to $207.7 million ($180.5 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital), compared with cash provided by operating activities of $222.6 million in the first quarter of 2017 ($224.7 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital). The decrease in cash provided by operating activities before changes in non-cash components of working capital during the current period was mainly due to lower gold sales volumes and higher costs, partially offset by higher realized gold prices. The higher costs were primarily a result of the strengthening of local currencies against the U.S. dollar and higher costs at several operations, principally at Meadowbank.
"Our operations continued to deliver strong cash flow in the first quarter with unit production costs on the lower end of full year guidance and gold production tracking slightly above full year guidance. We remain focused on optimizing unit costs and increasing production as we transition through 2018 and begin to see the positive results of our growth phase in 2019", said Sean Boyd, Agnico Eagle's Chief Executive Officer. "During the first quarter, we continued to make very good progress at our Nunavut growth projects, with Amaruq permitting activities advancing as expected and development of the underground exploration ramp proceeding as planned. Construction activities and underground development remain on schedule and on budget at Meliadine", added Mr. Boyd.
First quarter 2018 highlights include:

  • Solid operational performance  – Payable gold production2 in the first quarter of 2018 was 389,278 ounces at production costs per ounce of $759, total cash costs3 per ounce of $648 and all-in sustaining costs per ounce4 ("AISC") of $889
  • Production and cost guidance reiterated for 2018 – Full year production guidance is unchanged at 1.53 million ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce of $625 to $675 and AISC of $890 to $940 per ounce.
  • Nunavut development projects progressing on schedule and on budget – Amaruq permitting is on track for approval in the second quarter of 2018 and the underground exploration ramp is proceeding as planned. Meliadine construction and development is progressing well and procurement activities for the 2018 barge season are now complete
  • Infill drilling at the East Malartic property yields favourable results, potential development options under review – Recent drilling at East Malartic has returned significant intersections of 2.5 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold over 37.7 metres at 238 metres depth, including 3.6 g/t gold over 10.6 metres. Studies are underway to evaluate potential mining scenarios at both East Malartic and the neighbouring Odyssey project. Permitting activities to provide ramp access to both projects are currently underway
  • Acquisition of Yamana Gold Inc.'s ("Yamana") 50% interest in the Canadian exploration assets of Canadian Malartic Corporation ("CMC") completed in late March 2018 – Agnico Eagle now owns the exploration assets of CMC, which include the Kirkland Lake and Hammond Reef projects. At Kirkland Lake, a 25,700 metre drill program will be carried out in 2018 to further evaluate known deposits and test new target areas
  • Monetization of non-core assets – The Company is assessing opportunities to monetize non-core assets, including the West Pequop Joint Venture, Summit and PQX properties in Nevada, the Cobalt mining properties in the historic Cobalt silver district in Ontario, and its equity investment in Belo Sun Mining Corp. ("Belo Sun") which it disposed of this month as previously announced
  • A quarterly dividend of $0.11 per share was declared

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