UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
| x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
OR
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Commission File Number 1-33119
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| DELAWARE | 20-5597115 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) | |
| 9790 Gateway Drive, Suite 200 Reno, NV |
89521 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
(775) 358-4455
(Registrants telephone no., including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | x | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ¨ | Smaller reporting company | ¨ | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
89,894,852 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding at May 3, 2012
FORM 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2012
INDEX
| ITEM 1. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) | 1 | ||||
| ITEM 2. |
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS | 16 | ||||
| ITEM 3. |
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK | 24 | ||||
| ITEM 4. |
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | 24 | ||||
| ITEM 1. |
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS | 25 | ||||
| ITEM 1A. |
RISK FACTORS | 25 | ||||
| ITEM 2. |
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS | 25 | ||||
| ITEM 3. |
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES | 25 | ||||
| ITEM 4. |
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE | 25 | ||||
| ITEM 5. |
OTHER INFORMATION | 26 | ||||
| ITEM 6. |
EXHIBITS | 26 | ||||
| SIGNATURES | 27 | |||||
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(US dollars in thousands, except shares)
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
| Assets: |
||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 240,123 | $ | 275,002 | ||||
| InventoriesNote 3 |
42,047 | 28,305 | ||||||
| Ore on leach pads, currentNote 4 |
72,976 | 64,230 | ||||||
| Prepaids and otherNote 5 |
4,432 | 6,687 | ||||||
| Deferred tax asset, current |
1,511 | 1,795 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Current assets |
361,089 | 376,019 | ||||||
| Restricted cashNote 6 |
21,896 | 18,798 | ||||||
| Ore on leach pads, non-currentNote 4 |
12,878 | 11,320 | ||||||
| Plant and equipment, netNote 7 |
139,392 | 135,244 | ||||||
| Mine developmentNote 8 |
62,709 | 55,450 | ||||||
| Other assets, non-currentNote 5 |
17,128 | 2,196 | ||||||
| Mineral propertiesNote 9 |
44,614 | 44,706 | ||||||
| Deferred tax asset, non-current |
11,343 | 13,473 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total assets |
$ | 671,049 | $ | 657,206 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Liabilities: |
||||||||
| Accounts payable |
$ | 18,134 | $ | 26,283 | ||||
| Amounts due to related partiesNote 18 |
23 | 31 | ||||||
| Other liabilities, currentNote 10 |
3,236 | 3,166 | ||||||
| Capital lease obligations, currentNote 11 |
12,274 | 10,306 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligation, currentNote 12 |
339 | 339 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Current liabilities |
34,006 | 40,125 | ||||||
| Capital lease obligations, non-currentNote 11 |
39,535 | 34,245 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligation, non-currentNote 12 |
8,387 | 8,387 | ||||||
| Other liabilities, non-currentNote 13 |
10,212 | 9,327 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total liabilities |
92,140 | 92,084 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Commitments and ContingenciesNote 21 |
||||||||
| Shareholders Equity: |
||||||||
| Common stock, $0.001 par valueNote 14 |
||||||||
| 200,000,000 shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding: 89,399,055 at March 31, 2012 and 89,646,988 at December 31, 2011 |
89 | 90 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in-capital |
590,732 | 589,012 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit |
(11,912 | ) | (23,980 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total shareholders equity |
578,909 | 565,122 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 671,049 | $ | 657,206 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
1
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(US dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
| Three months ended March 31, |
||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| RevenueNote 15 |
$ | 39,225 | $ | 31,926 | ||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||
| Production costs |
15,139 | 13,137 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
2,000 | 1,558 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total cost of sales |
17,139 | 14,695 | ||||||
| Exploration, development, and land holding costs |
1,018 | 9,164 | ||||||
| Accretion |
144 | 112 | ||||||
| Corporate general and administrative |
5,017 | 7,597 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Income from operations |
15,907 | 358 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Interest income |
126 | 15 | ||||||
| Interest expense |
(605 | ) | (156 | ) | ||||
| Other incomeNote 20 |
663 | 40 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Income before income taxes |
16,091 | 257 | ||||||
| Income tax expenseNote 16 |
(4,023 | ) | (76 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income |
$ | 12,068 | $ | 181 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Earnings per share: |
||||||||
| BasicNote 17 |
$ | 0.13 | $ | | ||||
| DilutedNote 17 |
$ | 0.13 | $ | | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
2
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(US dollars in thousands)
| Three months ended March 31, |
||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||
| Net income |
$ | 12,068 | $ | 181 | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income for the period to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
2,000 | 1,558 | ||||||
| Accretion |
144 | 112 | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
2,472 | 4,084 | ||||||
| Deferred taxes |
2,414 | 46 | ||||||
| Other non-cash items |
(655 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||
| Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
| Inventories |
(12,083 | ) | (849 | ) | ||||
| Ore on leach pads |
(8,060 | ) | (4,739 | ) | ||||
| Prepaids and other |
2,255 | (759 | ) | |||||
| Accounts payable |
1,898 | 194 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligation |
(144 | ) | (160 | ) | ||||
| Other liabilities |
60 | 784 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
2,369 | 446 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||
| Additions to plant and equipment |
(8,346 | ) | (5,487 | ) | ||||
| Additions to mine development |
(8,865 | ) | (7,196 | ) | ||||
| Deposits for plant and mobile equipment |
(14,317 | ) | | |||||
| Increase in restricted cash |
(3,098 | ) | (3,914 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from other investing activities |
38 | 40 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net cash used in investing activities |
(34,588 | ) | (16,557 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||
| Proceeds on issuance of common stock |
129 | 272 | ||||||
| Repayments of principal on capital lease agreements |
(2,789 | ) | (910 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net cash used in financing activities |
(2,660 | ) | (638 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(34,879 | ) | (16,749 | ) | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
275,002 | 337,829 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$ | 240,123 | $ | 321,080 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Supplemental cash flow disclosures: |
||||||||
| Cash paid for interest |
$ | 777 | $ | 244 | ||||
| Cash paid for taxes |
800 | | ||||||
| Non-cash financing and investing activities: |
||||||||
| Mining equipment acquired by capital lease |
| 11,267 | ||||||
| Accounts payable reduction through capital lease |
$ | 10,047 | $ | | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
3
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY (Unaudited)
(US dollars in thousands, except share amounts)
| Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Additional Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
Total Shareholders Equity |
||||||||||||||||
| Balance, January 1, 2011 |
88,958,989 | $ | 89 | $ | 583,354 | $ | (60,689 | ) | $ | 522,754 | ||||||||||
| Shares issued under stock option plans |
56,064 | | 272 | | 272 | |||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation and |
4,000 | | 1,155 | | 1,155 | |||||||||||||||
| RSU plan share issuances |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income |
| | | 181 | 181 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2011 |
89,019,053 | $ | 89 | $ | 584,781 | $ | (60,508 | ) | $ | 524,362 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Balance, January 1, 2012 |
89,646,988 | $ | 90 | $ | 589,012 | $ | (23,980 | ) | $ | 565,122 | ||||||||||
| Shares issued under stock option plans |
28,067 | | 129 | | 129 | |||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation and |
4,000 | | 1,590 | | 1,590 | |||||||||||||||
| RSU plan share issuances |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Correction of reporting of issuance by |
(280,000 | ) | (1 | ) | 1 | | | |||||||||||||
| RSU stock plan administrator |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income |
| | | 12,068 | 12,068 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2012 |
89,399,055 | $ | 89 | $ | 590,732 | $ | (11,912 | ) | $ | 578,909 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
4
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all of the normal and recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the interim financial information set forth herein have been included. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results of a full year or of future years.
The preparation of the Companys Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to mineral reserves that are the basis for future cash flow estimates utilized in impairment calculations and units of production amortization calculations; estimates of recoverable gold and silver in leach pad inventories; the classification of current and long-term leach pad inventories; net realizable value of ore on leach pads; environmental, reclamation and closure obligations; and estimates of fair value for asset impairments. The Company bases its estimates on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
These interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and, with the exception of the new accounting pronouncements described in Note 2, follow the same accounting policies and methods of their application as the most recent annual financial statements. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related footnotes included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Allied Nevada for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements to conform to the current period presentation. The Company reclassified project development expenses from Corporate general and administrative to Exploration, development, and land holding costs in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The Company included its Foreign exchange gain with Other income in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The Company reclassified its asset retirement cost asset from Other assets, non-current to Mineral properties in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported total assets, cash flows, or net income.
2. Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted
In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This pronouncement was issued to provide a consistent definition of fair value and ensure that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are similar between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles and changes the disclosure requirements to include quantitative information about unobservable inputs used for level 3 fair value measurements. This pronouncement was effective for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011 (early adoption was prohibited). The adoption of this guidance had no effect on the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows, and disclosures.
In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. ASU 2011-12 indefinitely defers certain provisions of ASU 2011-05 relating to the presentation of reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. This pronouncement was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance had no effect on the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows, and disclosures.
5
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
3. Inventories
The following table provides the components of inventories (in thousands):
| March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
| In-process |
$ | 31,202 | $ | 19,114 | ||||
| Precious metals |
474 | 97 | ||||||
| Materials and supplies |
10,371 | 9,094 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 42,047 | $ | 28,305 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The following table provides the estimated recoverable gold ounces in in-process inventory and precious metals inventory:
| March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
| In-process |
37,990 | 26,330 | ||||||
| Precious metals |
580 | 130 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 38,570 | 26,460 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
In-process inventory and precious metals are carried at the lower of average cost or market. Cost includes mining and process costs including mine site overhead, production phase stripping, and depreciation and amortization relating to mining and process operations.
Materials and supplies inventory are carried at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Cost includes applicable taxes and freight.
4. Ore on Leach Pads
The following table summarizes ore on leach pads and estimated recoverable gold ounces:
| March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
| Current: |
||||||||
| Ore on leach pads (in thousands) |
$ | 72,976 | $ | 64,230 | ||||
| Estimated recoverable ounces |
77,160 | 77,880 | ||||||
| Non-current: |
||||||||
| Ore on leach pads (in thousands) |
$ | 12,878 | $ | 11,320 | ||||
| Estimated recoverable ounces |
13,620 | 13,745 | ||||||
Ore on leach pads is carried at the lower of average cost or market. Cost includes mining and process costs including mine site overhead, production phase stripping costs, and depreciation and amortization relating to mining and process operations. Costs are removed from ore on leach pads as ounces are transferred to subsequent stages of in-process inventories based on the average cost per estimated recoverable ounce of gold on the leach pad. Non-current ore on leach pads represents our estimate of ounces that the Company does not expect to recover within the next year.
6
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
5. Prepaids and Other Assets
The following table summarizes the components of prepaids and other and other assets, non-current (in thousands):
| March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
| Prepaids and other |
||||||||
| Prepaids |
$ | 3,211 | $ | 3,755 | ||||
| State claim fee receivable |
| 1,262 | ||||||
| Deposits |
748 | 838 | ||||||
| Other |
473 | 832 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total |
$ | 4,432 | $ | 6,687 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Other assets, non-current |
||||||||
| Deposits |
$ | 14,317 | $ | | ||||
| Marketable equity securities |
2,129 | 1,484 | ||||||
| Reclamation policy premium |
682 | 712 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total |
$ | 17,128 | $ | 2,196 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
6. Restricted Cash
The Companys restricted cash serves as collateral for surety bonds issued in connection with its reclamation liabilities (Note 12). Restricted cash balances and changes during the periods are summarized below (in thousands):
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Balance, beginning of year |
$ | 18,798 | $ | 15,020 | ||||
| Additions |
3,097 | 3,909 | ||||||
| Interest |
1 | 6 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Balance, end of period |
$ | 21,896 | $ | 18,935 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
In February 2012, we received a decision from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) authorizing our revised total reclamation cost estimate to expand mining operations and address disturbances at the Hycroft Mine. This decision resulted in the Company increasing its surety bonds for the benefit of the BLM by $3.1 million, which is collateralized by restricted cash in the same amount.
7. Plant and Equipment, Net
The following table provides the components of plant and equipment (in thousands):
| Depreciable life or method | March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
||||||||
| Mine equipment |
3 -10 years | $ | 114,484 | $ | 114,239 | |||||
| Buildings and leasehold improvements |
3 - 10 years | 16,832 | 16,611 | |||||||
| Leach pads |
Units of Production | 20,815 | 20,622 | |||||||
| Furniture, fixtures, and office equipment |
2 - 3 years | 1,630 | 1,476 | |||||||
| Vehicles |
3 - 5 years | 1,948 | 1,835 | |||||||
| Construction in progress and other |
23,685 | 16,105 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| 179,394 | 170,888 | |||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization |
(40,002 | ) | (35,644 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| $ | 139,392 | $ | 135,244 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Construction in progress consists of capital items which are not yet completed and placed in service, which as of March 31, 2012, consisted primarily of $15.1 million in expenditures for leach pad expansion, $2.2 million in expenditures for power and electrical equipment, $1.4 million in expenditures for an enterprise resource planning system, $1.0 million in expenditures for processing improvements, and $4.0 million in expenditures for other capital items.
7
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
Allied Nevada primarily depreciates its assets using a straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets ranging from two to ten years. The leach pads are depreciated on a units-of-production method based upon estimated recoverable gold ounces from proven and probable reserves.
8. Mine Development
The following table reflects the changes in mine development costs (in thousands):
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Balance, beginning of year |
$ | 55,450 | $ | 18,874 | ||||
| Additions: |
||||||||
| Reserve verification drilling and assaying |
| 3,186 | ||||||
| Condemnation drilling and assaying |
5,037 | | ||||||
| Pre-production stripping costs |
| 3,080 | ||||||
| EIS and engineering costs |
3,828 | 930 | ||||||
| Amortization |
(1,606 | ) | (269 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Balance, end of period |
$ | 62,709 | $ | 25,801 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Mine development costs that benefit an entire ore body are amortized using the units-of-production method based upon estimated recoverable gold ounces from proven and probable reserves of the ore body. Estimated recoverable ounces are determined by the Company based upon its proven and probable reserves and estimated metal recovery associated with those reserves. When multiple pits exist at a mining complex utilizing common processing facilities, mine development costs are capitalized for each pit and amortized using the units-of-production method based upon estimated recoverable gold ounces from proven and probable reserves at each pit. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had two pits in the production phase.
9. Mineral Properties
The following table summarizes the Companys mineral properties and changes during the periods (in thousands):
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Balance, beginning of year |
$ | 44,706 | $ | 36,985 | ||||
| Amortizationroyalty rights |
(92 | ) | (69 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Balance, end of period |
$ | 44,614 | $ | 36,916 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
10. Other Liabilities, Current
The following table summarizes the components of other current liabilities (in thousands):
| March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
| Other liabilities, current |
||||||||
| Federal income taxes payable |
$ | 1,446 | $ | 637 | ||||
| Accrued compensation |
1,180 | 1,614 | ||||||
| Other |
610 | 915 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total |
$ | 3,236 | $ | 3,166 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
11. Revolving Credit Facility and Lease Obligations
Revolving Credit Facility
In May 2011, the Company entered into a three-year $30.0 million revolving credit agreement that matures in May 2014. The revolving credit facility is collateralized by substantially all the assets of the Company. The interest rate on drawdowns is at either an applicable rate plus a base rate or an applicable rate plus LIBOR with the applicable rate determined by financial ratios of the Company. The Company has the ability to repay any borrowings under the facility in part or entirety at any time without penalty. The Company is required to pay a standby fee, dependent on financial ratios, on undrawn amounts under the revolving credit facility. The
8
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
credit agreement contains various financial covenants related to net worth, interest coverage and leverage ratios, and contains limitations on dividends. In addition, the Company must satisfy certain affirmative and restrictive covenants. The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of March 31, 2012.
The Company incurred loan origination fees of $0.5 million during the origination of the revolving credit facility, which are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the credit agreement. At March 31, 2012, no amount was outstanding on the revolving credit facility.
Capital Lease Obligations
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company entered into two capital leases for the purchase of mining equipment and now has a total of 22 capital leases, most of which have 60-month terms. The weighted average implicit interest rate for these capital leases is approximately five percent. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company capitalized $0.2 million of interest expense from capital lease obligations. Three of the Companys capital leases contain financial covenants related to debt service coverage and leverage. The Company was in compliance with its capital lease covenants as of March 31, 2012.
Assets under capital leases are included in Plant and Equipment (Note 7) and are summarized in the table below (in thousands):
| March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
| Mine equipment |
$ | 64,363 | $ | 54,434 | ||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation |
(8,965 | ) | (6,975 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net assets under capital leases |
$ | 55,398 | $ | 47,459 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The following is a summary of the future minimum lease payments under capital leases, together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):
| Fiscal Year |
Minimum Lease Payments |
|||
| 2012 |
$ | 11,072 | ||
| 2013 |
14,371 | |||
| 2014 |
13,522 | |||
| 2015 |
11,974 | |||
| 2016 |
6,624 | |||
| 2017 |
215 | |||
| Less: interest |
(5,969 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Net minimum lease payments under capital leases |
51,809 | |||
| Less: current portion of net minimum lease payments |
(12,274 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Non-current portion of net minimum lease payments |
$ | 39,535 | ||
|
|
|
|||
12. Asset Retirement Obligation
Changes to the Companys asset retirement obligation are summarized below (in thousands):
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Balance, beginning of year |
$ | 8,726 | $ | 6,766 | ||||
| Accretion |
144 | 112 | ||||||
| Reclamation expenditures |
(144 | ) | (160 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Balance, end of period |
8,726 | 6,718 | ||||||
| Less: current portion |
(339 | ) | (463 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Non-current portion |
$ | 8,387 | $ | 6,255 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The Companys asset retirement obligation is secured by collateralized surety bonds and insurance supported surety bonds in amounts determined by applicable federal and state regulatory agencies. See Note 6 Restricted Cash for additional detail on the Companys collateralized surety bonds.
9
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
13. Other Liabilities, Non-Current
As of March 31, 2012, other accrued liabilities totaled $10.2 million, of which $9.4 million was for the Companys Deferred Phantom Unit Plan (the DPU Plan).
The DPU Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors in April 2009. Under the DPU Plan, non-employee directors receive a portion of their annual compensation in DPUs quarterly. Each DPU has the same value as one Allied Nevada common share. DPUs must be retained until the director leaves the Board, at which time the value of the DPU will be paid out in cash. In the event dividends are declared and paid, additional DPUs would be credited to reflect dividends paid on Allied Nevadas common shares. Currently, the DPU Plan does not contain a maximum amount of DPUs available for grant.
The following table summarizes the Companys DPUs and changes during the periods:
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Outstanding, beginning of year |
281,869 | 238,000 | ||||||
| Granted |
| 21,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Outstanding, end of period |
281,869 | 259,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
DPUs are recorded at fair value on the quarterly award date and are adjusted for changes in fair value. The fair value of amounts granted each period, together with the change in fair value, is expensed. DPU expense recognized during the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $0.9 and $2.9 million, respectively.
An amendment to the DPU Plan was approved by the Companys shareholders in October 2011 to permit accrued DPUs to continue to be paid out in cash, or at the sole discretion of the Board, shares of the Companys common stock. The Board of Directors has determined that adoption of the amended DPU Plan is contingent upon a favorable regulatory ruling. If adopted, the amended DPU Plan permits a maximum of 300,000 shares of common stock for issuance.
14. Shareholders Equity
Common Stock
As of March 31, 2012, the authorized share capital of the Company consisted of 200,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001 per share. There were 89,399,055 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012.
Preferred Stock
The authorized share capital of Allied Nevada includes 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with a par value of $0.001 per share. As of March 31, 2012, no shares of preferred stock have been issued.
Allied Nevada 2007 Stock Option Plan
The table below is a summary of changes to the 2007 Stock Option Plan for the periods indicated:
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Stock Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) |
Number of Stock Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding on January 1, |
775,776 | $ | 4.79 | 931,930 | $ | 4.71 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Canceled/expired |
| | (2,000 | ) | 2.43 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised |
(28,067 | ) | 4.70 | (47,500 | ) | 4.39 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, end of period |
747,709 | 4.79 | 4.4 | 882,430 | 4.76 | 5.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Exercisable, end of period |
747,709 | $ | 4.79 | 4.4 | 858,430 | $ | 4.76 | 5.0 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
There was no stock-based compensation expense recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2012 as all options granted under the 2007 Stock Option Plan were fully vested as of December 31, 2011. During the three months ended March 31, 2011 35,001 options vested and the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $24,000. At March 31, 2011 there was approximately $19,000 of unrecognized stock-based compensation cost relating to outstanding unvested options.
10
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
Restricted Share Unit Plan
The table below is a summary of changes to the Restricted Share Unit Plan (the RSU Plan) for the periods indicated:
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
| Number of RSUs |
Weighted Average Remaining Restricted Period (years) |
Number of RSUs |
Weighted Average Remaining Restricted Period (years) |
|||||||||||||
| Outstanding on January 1, |
568,787 | 957,901 | ||||||||||||||
| Correction of reporting of issuance by RSU stock plan administrator |
280,000 | | ||||||||||||||
| Granted |
222,181 | 239,562 | ||||||||||||||
| Vested |
(220,488 | ) | (196,459 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Canceled/forfeited |
(19,069 | ) | (6,000 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Outstanding, end of period |
831,411 | 1.3 | 995,004 | 2.2 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Vested and unissued, end of period |
546,488 | | 492,459 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Restricted share unit (RSU) values are based upon the fair value of the Companys stock on the date of grant, less estimated forfeitures. The RSUs are expensed over the requisite service periods. The total stock-based compensation expense recognized under the RSU Plan totaled $1.6 million and $1.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. At March 31, 2012 and 2011, there was approximately $13.4 million and $12.8 million, respectively, of unrecognized stock-based compensation cost relating to outstanding RSUs.
RSUs
RSUs vest annually over three years, until fully vested on the third anniversary of the grant date. RSUs granted totaled 82,016 and 43,300 RSUs for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Performance RSUs
Performance RSUs generally vest over three years and are subject to performance based vesting criteria determined in advance for each year by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Performance RSUs granted totaled 140,165 and 196,262 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Special Stock Option Plan
At July 31, 2011, all options issued under the Special Stock Option Plan had been exercised or expired. Accordingly, there was no activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012.
11
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
The table below is a summary of changes in the Special Stock Option Plan for the three month period ended March 31, 2011:
| Three months ended March 31, 2011 | ||||||||||||
| Number of Special Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) |
||||||||||
| Outstanding on January 1, |
26,728 | $ | 5.28 | |||||||||
| Canceled |
| | ||||||||||
| Exercised |
(11,564 | ) | 5.52 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Outstanding, end of period |
15,164 | 5.13 | 0.3 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Exercisable, end of period |
15,164 | $ | 5.13 | 0.3 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Deferred Phantom Unit Plan
As discussed in Other Liabilities, Non-Current (Note 13) if adopted, the amended Deferred Phantom Unit Plan would make available a maximum of 300,000 shares of common stock for issuance to the Companys non-employee directors.
Deferred Share Unit Plan
The Deferred Share Plan (the DSU Plan) was approved by the Companys shareholders in October 2011. The Board of Directors has determined that adoption of the DSU Plan is contingent upon a favorable regulatory ruling. When the DSU Plan is adopted, it is expected non-employee directors will receive a portion of their annual retainer in DSUs. Each DSU will have the same value as one Allied Nevada common share. DSUs must be retained until the director leaves the Board, at which time the DSUs will be settled in shares of the Companys common stock unless minimum share requirements are satisfied in which case the Board or Committee thereof can authorize a cash payment. In the event dividends are declared and paid, additional DSUs would be credited to reflect dividends paid on Allied Nevadas common shares. The DSU Plan would permit 500,000 shares of common stock to be issued under the Plan.
15. Revenue
The Company recognizes revenue on gold and silver sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the metal is delivered, the title has transferred to the customer, and collectability is reasonably assured.
The table below is a summary of the Companys gold and silver sales for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands).
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
| Amount | Ounces | Amount | Ounces | |||||||||||||
| Gold Sales |
$ | 34,891 | 20,347 | $ | 29,907 | 21,341 | ||||||||||
| Silver Sales |
4,334 | 128,306 | 2,019 | 59,566 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Total |
$ | 39,225 | $ | 31,926 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
16. Income Tax Expense
For the three months ended March 31, 2012, Allied Nevada incurred tax expense of approximately $4.0 million based on an estimated effective rate of 25.0%. Tax expense during the same period of 2011 was $0.1 million based on an estimated effective rate of 29.4%. The estimated effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are different from the United States statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the percentage depletion deduction, which is a permanent difference between income tax and financial reporting treatment of the Companys utilization of the above deduction.
12
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
17. Earnings Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Net income available to common shareholders: |
$ | 12,068 | $ | 181 | ||||
| Weighted average common shares: |
||||||||
| Basic |
89,708 | 89,297 | ||||||
| Effect of stock options granted under the 2007 Stock Option Plan |
641 | 739 | ||||||
| Effect of stock options granted under the Special Stock Option Plan |
| 13 | ||||||
| Effect of RSUs |
718 | 739 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Diluted |
91,067 | 90,788 | ||||||
| Earnings per share: |
||||||||
| Basic |
$ | 0.13 | $ | 0.00 | ||||
| Diluted |
$ | 0.13 | $ | 0.00 | ||||
Note 14 Shareholders Equity contains additional information regarding the Companys stock-based plans.
18. Related Party Transactions
Provision of Legal Services
Cameron Mingay, an Allied Nevada director who was appointed as an Allied Nevada Director in March 2007, is a partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP (Cassels Brock) of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which since June 2007 has served as outside counsel to Allied Nevada in connection with Canadian corporate and securities law matters. Allied Nevada has paid Cassels Brock an aggregate of approximately $34,400 and $9,000 for legal services rendered during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Amounts due to related parties included approximately $23,200 due to Cassels Brock at March 31, 2012.
19. Segment Information
Allied Nevada is currently engaged in the operation of the Hycroft Mine and the evaluation, acquisition, exploration, and advancement of gold exploration and development projects in Nevada. The Company identifies its reportable segments as those consolidated mining operations or functional groups that represent more than 10% of the combined revenue, profit or loss or total assets of all reported operating segments. Consolidated mining operations or functional groups not meeting this threshold are aggregated at the corporate level for segment reporting purposes. Intercompany revenue and expense amounts have been eliminated within each segment in order to report on the basis that management uses internally for evaluating segment performance. Segment information as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
13
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
| Hycroft | Corporate | |||||||||||||||
| As of and for the three months ended March 31, |
Mine | Exploration | and Other | Total | ||||||||||||
| 2012 |
||||||||||||||||
| Revenue |
$ | 39,225 | $ | | $ | | $ | 39,225 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
1,950 | | 50 | 2,000 | ||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations |
21,992 | (1,019 | ) | (5,066 | ) | 15,907 | ||||||||||
| Interest income |
1 | | 125 | 126 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense |
(492 | ) | | (113 | ) | (605 | ) | |||||||||
| Other income |
10 | | 653 | 663 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Income (loss) before taxes |
21,511 | (1,019 | ) | (4,401 | ) | 16,091 | ||||||||||
| Total assets |
389,810 | 39,382 | 241,857 | 671,049 | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures |
30,538 | 2 | 988 | 31,528 | ||||||||||||
| 2011 |
||||||||||||||||
| Revenue |
$ | 31,926 | $ | | $ | | $ | 31,926 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
1,505 | | 53 | 1,558 | ||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations |
17,172 | (9,163 | ) | (7,651 | ) | 358 | ||||||||||
| Interest income |
6 | | 9 | 15 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense |
(156 | ) | | | (156 | ) | ||||||||||
| Other income |
6 | | 34 | 40 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Income (loss) before taxes |
17,028 | (9,163 | ) | (7,608 | ) | 257 | ||||||||||
| Total assets |
214,194 | 33,711 | 334,476 | 582,381 | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures |
23,867 | 46 | 37 | 23,950 | ||||||||||||
20. Fair Value Measurements
The Companys financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents and accounts payable are carried at cost, which approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.
Fair value accounting establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2 Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability;
Level 3 Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).
As required by accounting guidance, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. There were no changes to the Companys valuation techniques during the three months ended March 31, 2012. The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Companys financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands).
| Fair value at March 31, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||
| Assets |
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
| Available-for-sale securities: |
||||||||||||||||
| Marketable equity securities |
$ | 2,129 | $ | | $ | | $ | 2,129 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Balance, end of period |
$ | 2,129 | $ | | $ | | $ | 2,129 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The Company did not have any financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2011.
The Companys marketable equity securities are valued using quoted market prices in active markets and as such are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the marketable equity securities is calculated as the quoted price of the marketable equity security multiplied by the quantity of shares held by the Company. The Company has elected to account for its available-for-sale securities using the fair value option in accordance with ASC 825 Financial Instruments. Available-for-sale equity securities are classified as other assets, non-current in the consolidated balance sheet with related changes in the fair value included in current period earnings. Included in other income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is a $0.7 million unrealized holding gain to record the change in fair value of the Companys available-for-sale securities.
14
ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
21. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is from time to time involved in various legal proceedings related to its business. Management does not believe that adverse decisions are likely in any pending or threatened proceeding, or that amounts that may be required to be paid by reason thereof will have a material adverse effect on the Companys financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Net Profit Royalty
A portion of the Hycroft Mine is subject to a mining lease requiring a 4% net profit royalty payable to the owner of certain patented and unpatented mining claims. The mining lease agreement requires payment of $120,000 in any year when mining occurs on the leased claims. All advance royalty payments are credited against the future payments under the 4% net profits royalty. The total payments under the above mining lease are subject to a maximum $7.6 million in royalty payments, of which the Company has paid approximately $1.3 million as of March 31, 2012.
Purchase obligations
At March 31, 2012, the Company had purchase obligations totaling $360.3 million for the purchase of capital items associated with ongoing expansion projects at Hycroft, which included, haul trucks, drills, crushers, shovels, engineering, and other capital items. The Company has the ability to cancel certain purchase obligations subject to the terms of the individual vendor agreements, which may include penalties. It is expected that a portion of the capital items associated with the purchase obligations will be acquired under capital lease.
15
| ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
The following managements discussion and analysis of the consolidated operating results and financial condition of Allied Nevada Gold Corp. (Allied Nevada) for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 has been prepared based on information available to us as of May 4, 2012. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included herewith and the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the related notes thereto filed with the Companys annual report on Form 10-K, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States. All amounts stated herein are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.
Operations
Key operating statistics for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with the same periods in 2011, are as follows:
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Total material mined (thousands of tons) |
11,458 | 7,780 | ||||||
| Ore gradegold (oz/ton) |
0.016 | 0.014 | ||||||
| Ore gradesilver (oz/ton) |
0.524 | 0.197 | ||||||
| Ounces producedgold |
32,473 | 20,718 | ||||||
| Ounces producedsilver |
166,156 | 61,751 | ||||||
| Ounces soldgold |
20,347 | 21,341 | ||||||
| Ounces soldsilver |
128,306 | 59,566 | ||||||
| Average realized pricegold ($/oz) |
$ | 1,715 | $ | 1,401 | ||||
| Average realized pricesilver ($/oz) |
$ | 34 | $ | 34 | ||||
| Average spot pricegold ($/oz) |
$ | 1,691 | $ | 1,386 | ||||
| Average spot pricesilver ($/oz) |
$ | 33 | $ | 32 | ||||
| Total adjusted cash costs 1 (thousands) |
$ | 10,805 | $ | 11,118 | ||||
| Adjusted cash costs per ounce1 |
$ | 531 | $ | 521 | ||||
Hycroft mined 11.5 million tons of material including 4.0 million tons of ore grading 0.016 opt gold and 0.524 opt silver. Gold and silver grades exceeded expectation for the quarter by 11% and 74%, respectively. Better than planned grades offset lower than expected tons placed, resulting in production of 32,473 ounces of gold and 166,156 ounces of silver being produced as expected in the first quarter of 2012. The variance of gold and silver produced compared with sales is due to the timing difference in ounces placed on carbon and sales of that inventory as well as an increase in other in-process inventories. The Company received notification in the fourth quarter of 2011 that the third party refiner that processes the gold and silver laden carbon would no longer accept additional shipments for processing. Allied Nevada is working to develop a strategy to process the gold in carbon in order to improve the timing of sales for those ounces in carbon including entering into an agreement with off-site processing facilities to process the carbon and permitting an on-site carbon stripping plant.
The majority of construction and development efforts in the first quarter were directed towards completion of the 3.0 million square foot Lewis leach pad expansion. Ore is currently being stacked on the new areas of leach pad. The Company received the permits to begin construction of the crushing plant ahead of schedule. Excavation and ground work preparation for the crushing plant began during the first quarter of 2012.
Two of the nine Komatsu 930E haul trucks slated for delivery throughout 2012 arrived on site slightly ahead of schedule.
Exploration
Drilling activities at Hycroft in the first quarter of 2012 totaled 39,628 feet in 46 holes and were for engineering in support of the expansion projects at Hycroft. The drill fleet has been reduced to one core rig and one rotary rig in the second quarter, and drilling activities will be primarily directed towards facility and infrastructure condemnation work and in-pit inferred resource conversion drilling.
| 1 | The term adjusted cash costs is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the section on Non-GAAP measures in this MD&A. |
16
Financial Results of Operations
Revenue
Revenue from gold sales increased $5.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 due to a $314 per ounce increase in the average realized price of gold, which was offset by 994 fewer ounces sold. The decrease in gold ounces sold was primarily attributable to a notification the Company received from its processor of carbon in the fourth quarter of 2011 that it would no longer accept additional shipments for processing. In the three month period ending March 31, 2012, 2,768 gold ounces in carbon were processed compared to 5,310 gold ounces in carbon in the same period of 2011. In the event an agreement with an off-site carbon processor cannot be negotiated the Company would work to obtain all necessary permits and build an on-site processing facility to enable the sale of the ounces in carbon. Due to the timing of permitting, construction of an on-site processing facility cannot be completed in 2012.
The table below summarizes changes in gold revenue, ounces sold, and average realized prices for the following periods:
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| Gold sales |
2012 | 2011 | ||||||
| Total gold revenue (thousands) |
$ | 34,891 | $ | 29,907 | ||||
| Gold ounces sold |
20,347 | 21,341 | ||||||
| Average realized price (per ounce) |
$ | 1,715 | $ | 1,401 | ||||
| The change in gold revenue was attributable to: | 2012 vs. 2011 | |||||||
| Decrease in ounces sold (thousands) |
$ | (1,393 | ) | |||||
| Increase in average realized price per ounce (thousands) |
6,689 | |||||||
| Effect of average realized price per ounce increase on ounces sold decrease (thousands) |
(312 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| $ | 4,984 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
Revenue from silver sales increased $2.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 as an additional 68,740 ounces were sold at a generally consistent price. The number of silver ounces sold in 2012 increased as a result of mining ore with higher silver grades and improved silver recoveries from the Merrill-Crowe process due to the utilization of additional sodium cyanide on the leach pads.
The table below summarizes changes in silver revenue, ounces sold, and average realized prices for the following periods:
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| Silver sales |
2012 | 2011 | ||||||
| Total silver revenue (thousands) |
$ | 4,334 | $ | 2,019 | ||||
| Silver ounces sold |
128,306 | 59,566 | ||||||
| Average realized price (per ounce) |
$ | 34 | $ | 34 | ||||
| The change in silver revenue was attributable to: | 2012 vs. 2011 | |||||||
| Increase in ounces sold (thousands) |
$ | 2,330 | ||||||
| Decrease in average realized price per ounce (thousands) |
(7 | ) | ||||||
| Effect of average realized price per ounce decrease on ounces sold increase (thousands) |
(8 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| $ | 2,315 | |||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
Total cost of sales
Total cost of sales consists of production costs and depreciation and amortization. The table below summarizes changes in total cost of sales for the following periods (in thousands):
17
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Production costs |
$ | 15,139 | $ | 13,137 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
2,000 | 1,558 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total cost of sales |
$ | 17,139 | $ | 14,695 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 2012 vs. 2011 | ||||
| Decrease in ounces sold |
$ | (684 | ) | |
| Increase in average cost of sales per ounce |
3,281 | |||
| Effect of average cost per ounce increase on ounces sold decrease |
(153 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| $ | 2,444 | |||
|
|
|
|||
Total cost of sales increased $2.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 due to a $123 increase in the average total cost of sales per gold ounce sold offset by 994 fewer ounces sold. The increase in the average total cost of sales per gold ounce sold was primarily attributable to the following. In the three months ended March 31, 2012, approximately 40% of the ore tons mined were from the Cut 5 pit with the remaining ore tons being mined from the Brimstone pit, compared to 100% of the ore tons mined from the Brimstone pit in the same period of 2011. The difference in the estimated recoverable gold ounces and amortization of deferred stripping costs between the pits resulted in the mining costs in the Cut 5 pit being approximately $160 per ounce more than the Brimstone pit on a per ore ton basis. Production phase stripping costs increased $8.5 million to $14.1 million in the three month period ended March 31, 2012 compared to $5.6 million in the 2011 period. The increase in production phase stripping costs was primarily the result of an increase of 4.2 million production phase strip tons to 7.4 million production phase strip tons for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to 3.2 million production phase strip tons in the 2011 period. Additionally, processing costs in the 2012 period were $4.5 million higher than the 2011 period due to higher use of lime and cyanide. The full amount of the increase in production costs was not reflected on the income statement, but increased the weighted average cost in inventory, which will be expensed in future periods.
Exploration, development, and land holding costs
Exploration, development, and land holding costs decreased $8.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 to $1.0 million compared to $9.2 million in the same period of 2011.
The Company decreased the 2012 exploration program at Hasbrouck to focus on expansion projects and related drilling at Hycroft. As a result, Hasbrouck exploration, development, and land holding costs totaled $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the 2011 period, which consisted of approximately 135 drill holes (125,300 feet drilled) at a cost of $3.1 million.
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, all drilling costs at Hycroft were capitalized as the activities related to the ongoing expansion projects and metallurgical optimization work compared to the same period in 2011, in which $4.1 million of drilling related costs at Hycroft for an initial feasibility study were expensed.
Other development costs totaled $0.2 million in 2012 compared to $1.1 million in the same period of 2011, a decrease of $0.9 million. Development costs in the 2011 period were attributable to engineering and consulting work to convert the sulfide mineralized material to proven and probable reserves.
Corporate general and administrative costs
Corporate general and administrative costs decreased $2.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 to $5.0 million compared to $7.6 million in the same period of 2011. The decrease in the 2012 period was largely due to a $2.0 million reduction in stock-based compensation costs for directors. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded $0.9 million of stock-based compensation for director DPUs compared to $2.9 million in the same period of 2011 which was the result of a decrease in the change of the Companys share price from the previous year-end in the 2012 period compared to the same period of 2011.
Accretion
Accretion expense related to the Companys asset retirement obligation totaled $0.1 million in each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Accretion expense in both periods was based upon a credit adjusted risk-free rate of approximately 6%.
18
Interest income and expense
Allied Nevada earned $126,000 and $15,000 in interest income from both our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash accounts during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Additional interest income was recorded in the 2012 period due to increased interest rates received on our cash equivalent deposits as a result of changing financial institutions.
The Company recorded $0.6 million and $0.2 million of interest expense during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Interest expense in both periods was primarily attributable to interest on capital lease obligations, net of capitalized interest of $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the 2012 and 2011 periods, respectively. Additionally, interest expense in the 2012 period included $0.1 million of standby fees associated with the revolving credit facility entered into in May of 2011.
Other income
The Company recognized $0.7 million of other income during the three months ended March 31, 2012 which primarily consisted of a $0.6 million unrealized gain to record the change in fair value of marketable equity securities received in a 2011 mineral property sale. A nominal amount of other income was recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2011.
Income tax expense
Income tax expense increased $3.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 to $4.0 million compared to $0.1 million in the same period of 2011 primarily as a result of a $15.8 million increase in income before taxes. Income tax expense was based upon estimated interim effective tax rates of 25.0% and 29.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Net income
For the reasons described above, we reported net income of $12.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Financial Position, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash provided by operating activities
Net income was $12.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, for the reasons discussed in the Operations and Financial Results of Operations sections above.
Depreciation and amortization increased $0.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 to $2.0 million compared to $1.6 million for the same period of 2011 due primarily to an approximate $30 per ounce increase in depreciation and amortization expense per ounce of gold sold. During the 2012 period, the Company had an additional $75.4 million of mine development costs, leach pads, and mining equipment in service which increased depreciation and amortization.
Stock-based compensation recorded for equity based awards granted to the Companys employees and directors was $2.5 million and $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Stock-based compensation recorded for DPUs decreased $2.0 million in the 2012 period as discussed in the Financial Results of Operations section above. Stock-based compensation recorded for employees of the Company increased by $0.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 due to additional grants for increased staffing.
Deferred taxes resulted in $2.4 million and $46,000 of cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, as in both periods, the Companys estimated tax expense included non-cash changes in its deferred tax assets.
Other non-cash items resulted in $0.7 million of cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2012 primarily due to a $0.6 million non-cash unrealized gain to record the change in fair value of shares received in a 2011 mineral property sale. There were no comparable transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2011.
Cash used in producing precious metals and acquiring supplies inventories was $12.1 million and $0.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Cash used in the 2012 period increased due to an approximate 12,100 ounce increase in in-process inventory and a $1.3 million increase in supplies inventory whereas cash used in the 2011 period was primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in supplies inventory.
Cash used in placing ore on leach pads was $8.1 million and $4.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Cash used in the 2012 period was attributable to an approximate $117 increase in the weighted average cost per ounce during the period. Cash used in the 2011 period was attributable to an approximate 2,900 ounce increase in the number of ounces on the leach pad.
The change in prepaids and other resulted in $2.3 million of cash provided by operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to $0.8 million of cash used in operating activities in the 2011 period. Cash provided in the 2012 period was largely attributable to our collection of $1.3 million of state mining claim fees and a $0.3 million miscellaneous receivable. Cash used in the 2011 period was due to increases in general prepaids of the Company.
19
Cash provided by increases in accounts payable was $1.9 million and $0.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Cash provided in the 2012 period was primarily due to an increase in trade payables.
Cash provided by operating activities was $2.4 million and $0.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, for the reasons described above.
Cash used in investing activities
Additions to plant and equipment were $8.3 million and $5.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. During the 2012 period, additions included $3.9 million for leach pad expansions, $1.1 million for the mill construction, $0.8 million for an ERP system, and $2.5 million for other additions. During the 2011 period, additions to plant and equipment included $1.5 million for leach pad expansion, $1.5 million for truck shop construction, $1.0 million for mobile mine equipment, and $1.5 million of other additions.
Additions to mine development were $8.9 million and $7.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. During the 2012 period, these additions primarily included $5.0 million for drilling and assaying related to mine planning associated with Hycroft expansion projects and $3.8 million for engineering and professional services related to permitting actions at Hycroft. During the 2011 period, these additions included $3.2 million for development drilling and assaying to delineate and develop ore bodies within existing proven and probable reserve regions of the Brimstone pit and $3.8 million for pre-production phase stripping costs to prepare a new pit (Cut-5) to be mined.
Deposits for plant and mobile equipment additions totaled $14.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 as a result of advance payments made for mobile equipment and the crusher and mill projects at Hycroft. There were no comparable items in the same period of 2011.
Increases in restricted cash were $3.1 million and $3.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Companys restricted cash was increased to collateralize surety bonds in an amount approved by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as required for operations at the Hycroft Mine.
Cash used in investing activities was $34.6 million and $16.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, for the reasons described above.
Cash used in financing activities
Proceeds on issuance of common stock were $0.1 million and $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, due to exercises of stock options.
Repayments of principal on capital lease obligations were $2.8 million and $0.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Repayments of principal on capital lease obligations increased in the 2012 period as the Company had an additional nine capital leases for mining equipment at period end compared to the same period of 2011.
Cash used in financing activities was $2.7 million and $0.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, for the reasons described above.
Liquidity and capital resources
At March 31, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents totaling $240.1 million. All cash equivalents were invested in high quality short-term money market instruments, including government securities and certificates of deposit. At March 31, 2012, we had no funds invested in asset-backed commercial paper.
In May 2011, the Company entered into a three-year $30.0 million revolving credit agreement that matures in May 2014. The revolving credit facility is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the Company. The interest rate on drawdowns is at either an applicable rate plus a base rate or an applicable rate plus LIBOR with the applicable rate determined by financial ratios of the Company. The Company has the ability to repay any borrowings under the facility in part or entirety at any time without penalty. The Company is required to pay a standby fee, dependent on financial ratios, on undrawn amounts under the revolving credit facility. The credit agreement contains various covenants related to net worth, interest coverage and leverage ratios, and contains limitations on dividends. In addition, the Company must satisfy certain affirmative and restrictive covenants. The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of March 31, 2012. At March 31, 2012, no amount was outstanding on the revolving credit facility.
Our operating cash flows vary with prices realized from gold and silver sales, our sales volumes, production costs, the timing of inventory processing, income taxes, and other working capital changes. Based on current mine plans and subject to future gold and silver prices, we expect our operating cash flows for the next twelve months, together with our existing cash and cash equivalent balances, equipment financing commitments, and amounts available under the revolving line of credit, will be sufficient to meet our
20
liquidity needs and planned capital expenditures. The Company is working to locate an off-site carbon processer to improve the timing of gold sales from ounces in carbon. In the event an agreement with an off-site carbon processor cannot be negotiated the Company would work to permit and build an on-site carbon processing facility to enable the sale of the ounces in carbon. Due to the timing of permitting, management believes construction of an on-site processing facility cannot be completed in 2012.
Ongoing expansion projects at Hycroft include 1) increasing the mining rate through larger capacity haul trucks, shovels, and production drills, 2) expanding leach pad operations through increased pad size, additional solution processing capacity, and the addition of a gyratory crusher to enhance the exposure of ore to the leach process, 3) constructing a mill to process transitional and sulfide mineralization, and 4) upgrading infrastructure items to handle the milling demands, including power transmission and distribution and the construction of a railroad spur. At March 31, 2012, the Company had purchase obligations totaling $360.3 million for the purchase of capital items associated with the ongoing expansion projects at Hycroft. The Company anticipates that additional debt financing, in addition to future operating cash flows, existing cash and equivalents, and capital lease commitments, will be required to meet the capital needs of the ongoing Hycroft expansion projects.
Off-balance sheet arrangements
As of March 31, 2012, Allied Nevada had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Outlook
Hycroft Operations
The success of Hycroft in achieving production and cost guidance for 2012 is highly sensitive to a number of events taking place as scheduled, including delivery of major mining equipment. The Hitachi EX5500 shovel, which was expected to depart Japan in late March, shipped about a month late due to logistical issues at the port stemming from damage created by the March 2011 tsunami. The 2012 mine plan assumed the shovel would be in operation in the beginning of June, 2012. The Company will make every effort to construct and place the shovel into operation upon its arrival at site, but expects that it will be at least a month behind schedule. As a result, it is anticipated that the mid to lower end of previously stated production guidance range of 180,000 to 220,000 ounces of gold will be achieved in 2012, assuming all other equipment deliveries are on time through the remainder of the year. In addition, mining unit costs may be slightly higher for a few months as the Company utilizes higher cost loading units and with the utilization of a contractor to haul crushed ore to the leach pads to free up Hycroft equipment to focus on mining operations. Unit costs are expected to decline as the new equipment becomes operational.
Non-GAAP Measures
Adjusted Cash Costs
Adjusted cash costs is a non-GAAP measure, calculated on a per ounce of gold sold basis, and includes all direct and indirect operating cash costs related to the physical activities of producing gold, including mining, processing, third party refining expenses, on-site administrative and support costs, royalties, and mining production taxes, net of by-product revenue earned from silver sales. Adjusted cash costs provides management and investors with a further measure, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, to assess the Companys performance of the mining operations and ability to generate cash flows over multiple periods. Non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Accordingly, the above measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The table below presents a reconciliation between non-GAAP adjusted cash costs to cost of sales (GAAP) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands, except ounces sold):
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| Total cost of sales |
$ | 17,139 | $ | 14,695 | ||||
| Less: |
||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
(2,000 | ) | (1,558 | ) | ||||
| Silver revenues |
(4,334 | ) | (2,019 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total adjusted cash costs |
$ | 10,805 | $ | 11,118 | ||||
| Gold ounces sold |
20,347 | 21,341 | ||||||
| Adjusted cash costs |
$ | 531 | $ | 521 | ||||
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
These interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP in the United States and follow the same accounting policies and methods of their application as the most recent annual financial statements. See Managements Discussion and Analysis and the financial statements and related footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a description of our critical accounting policies and estimates.
21
Ore on leach pads, in-process inventory and precious metals inventory
The recovery of gold from the Hycroft Mines oxide ore is accomplished through a heap leaching process that utilizes a Merrill-Crowe and a Carbon in column process method to recover precious metals from the leach pads pregnant solution. The Company maintains four categories of metals inventories: ore on leach pads; in-process inventory for the Merrill-Crowe plant; in-process inventory for the Carbon in column process; and precious metals inventory. Because the value of our crusher stockpiles are immaterial, these values are included in ore on leach pads. The Company does not currently maintain separate stockpiles of low grade, mineralized material. The recovery of precious metals using the Merrill-Crowe method is completed at the Hycroft mine and the end product is a doré containing precious metals. The recovery of precious metals utilizing the Carbon in column process method is accomplished through on-site carbon columns and the shipping of loaded carbon offsite to be processed, resulting in the production of doré containing precious metals. The doré from both process methods is classified as precious metals inventory until sold.
Ore on leach pads
Oxide ore is placed on leach pads where it is treated with a chemical solution throughout the production phase of the mine, which dissolves the gold contained in the ore over time. The heap leach process ends with the production of a pregnant solution which contains the dissolved precious metals. The pregnant solution is further processed through conventional methods, including the Merrill-Crowe and Carbon in column process methods, which are treated as separate stages of work-in-process inventories. Costs are added to ore on leach pads based on current mining and processing costs, including applicable depreciation and amortization relating to mining and processing operations. Costs are transferred from ore on leach pads to subsequent stages of work-in-process inventories as the pregnant solution is treated by the conventional processing methods.
As described below, costs that are incurred in or benefit the production process are accumulated as ore on leach pads. Ore on leach pads are carried at the lower of average cost or market. Accounting for ore on leach pads represents a critical accounting estimate because of the inherent difficulty in estimating the amount of the gold placed, the amount that will be recovered and the timing of that recovery. The Company employs standard industry estimating methodologies in the determination of the amount and timing of gold production. The recoverable gold that is placed on the leach pad requires the estimate of the quantity of contained gold in the ore mined, and the ultimate expected recovery for that ore. The quantity of contained gold ounces in the ore is based upon surveyed volumes of mined material, daily production records, calculated densities of the ore, and assaying of blast-hole cuttings to determine the estimated gold grade contained in the ore. Expected gold recovery rates for ore placed on leach pads are developed based upon standard industry practices using small-scale laboratory tests, small to large scale column testing (which simulates the production scale processing), historical trends and other factors, including mineralogy of the ore and ore size (e.g., run of mine or crushed ore).
For distinct mining areas, the ultimate recovery of gold contained in ore on leach pad can vary significantly from 30% to more than 70% depending upon ore particle size, ore mineralogy and ore grades. Ore particle size is most commonly affected by the rock type, blasting methods, and whether a crusher is used to reduce the particle size. During each accounting period, the amount of recoverable gold for each discreet mining area is used to determine the estimated aggregate quantity of recoverable gold that was placed.
During normal operating conditions as much as 85% of the estimated recoverable gold on an active leach pad may be extracted during the first year and the remaining gold may be extracted over a three year period. The timing of gold recovery is affected by the stacking sequence on the leach pad, the time to achieve solution saturation of the leach pad material, the solution flow rate through the placed ore, the volume of solution placed on the leach pad, and the processing capacity of the Merrill-Crowe and Carbon in Column circuits.
Based on current life of mine production plans, residual heap leach activities are expected to continue through 2025. Accordingly, the ultimate gold recovery will not be known until leaching operations cease. Should the Companys estimate of ultimate recovery require adjustment, the impact upon its income statement would depend upon whether the change involved a negative or positive change in gold recovery. If the Company determined the gold recovery decreased by 1 or 2 percent at March 31, 2012, its estimate of recoverable ounces would decrease by approximately 6,800 and 13,600 ounces, respectively, which would have resulted in a write down of approximately $6.4 million and $12.8 million, respectively. Whereas if the Company determined the gold recovery increased by 1 or 2 percent at March 31, 2012, its estimate of recoverable ounces would have increased by 6,800 and 13,600 ounces, respectively, and would result in a decrease to the weighted average cost per ounce in inventory to approximately $876 and $819 per ounce, respectively. This decrease in the weighted average cost would be recognized prospectively through cost of sales as a change in estimate.
In-process Inventory
In-process inventories represent materials that are currently in the process of being converted to a saleable product. Conversion processes currently being used by the Company include a Merrill-Crowe zinc-precipitation process (Merrill-Crowe process) and a Carbon in column solution recovery process (CIC process). In-process material is measured based on assays of the material fed into
22
the process and the projected recoveries of the respective plants. In-process inventories are valued at the average cost of the material fed into the process attributable to the source material coming from the leach pads plus the in-process conversion costs, including applicable depreciation relating to the process facilities incurred to that point in the process.
Precious Metals Inventory
Precious metals inventories include doré and both gold and silver bullion. Precious metals that result from the Companys mining and processing activities are valued at the average cost of the respective in-process inventories incurred prior to the refining process.
Revenue
All doré produced to date from the Hycroft Mine has been transported to independent refineries. The doré and contained precious metals remain the property of the Company until it is sold to a buyer. The sales process commences when a sales order is placed with a buyer pursuant to a written agreement. Physical transfer of doré to the independent refiner precedes the transfer of title and risk of loss, which is accomplished by an irrevocable pledge of the precious metals to the buyer. Historically cash for the sale of precious metals has been received in the same accounting period as revenue is recognized assuring collectability of the amount of the underlying sales agreement. The Company recognizes revenue on gold and silver sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the metal is delivered, the title has transferred to the customer, and collectability is reasonably assured.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of recently issued and recently adopted accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the PSLRA) or in releases made by SEC, all as may be amended from time to time. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein or incorporated by reference, that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to such things as:
| | our future business strategy, plans and goals; |
| | our estimated future capital expenditures, construction, and other cash needs and expectations as to the funding or timing thereof; |
| | our expansion expectations, including with respect to the Hycroft Mine and Hasbrouck property; |
| | our expectations regarding the growth of our business, our estimates of reserves and other mineralized material; |
| | the economic potential of the sulfide mineralization and milling project at the Hycroft property; |
| | the preliminary economic assessment at the Hasbrouck property; |
| | the anticipated results of the exploration drilling programs at our properties; |
| | future gold and silver prices; |
| | our production estimates; |
| | our expectations regarding gold and silver recovery; |
| | our estimated future sales and cost of sales; |
| | our anticipated cash flows and cash operating costs; and |
| | statements regarding the availability, terms and costs related to future borrowing, debt repayment, and equity funding. |
The words estimate, plan, anticipate, expect, intend, believe, project, target, budget, may, will, would, could, seeks, or scheduled to, or other similar words, or negatives of these terms or other variations of these terms or comparable language or by discussion of strategy or intentions identify forward-looking statements. These cautionary statements are being made pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PSLRA with the intention of obtaining the benefit of the safe harbor provisions of such laws. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
23
| | volatile market prices of gold and silver; |
| | risks related to the heap leaching process at the Hycroft Mine, including but not limited to gold recovery rates, gold extraction rates, and the grades of ore placed on our leach pads; |
| | uncertainties concerning estimates of mineral reserves, mineralized materials, and grading; |
| | cost of compliance with current and future government regulations, including those related to environmental protection, mining, health and safety, corporate governance and public disclosure; |
| | uncertainties relating to obtaining or retaining approvals and permits from governmental regulatory authorities; |
| | our ability to achieve our estimated production rates and stay within our estimated operating costs; |
| | the commercial success of our exploration and development activities; |
| | an increase in the cost or timing of new projects; |
| | our current intention not to use forward sale arrangements; |
| | the inherently hazardous nature of mining activities, including operational, geotechnical and environmental risks; |
| | our ability to raise additional capital on favorable terms or at all; |
| | intense competition within the mining industry; |
| | uncertainties related to our ability to find and acquire new mineral properties; |
| | potential operational and financial effects of current and proposed federal and state regulations related to environmental protection and mining, and the exposure to potential liability created by such regulations; |
| | availability of equipment or supplies; |
| | our ability to attract and retain personnel; |
| | our ability to manage our growth; |
| | potential challenges to title in our mineral properties; |
| | risks associated with the expansion of our operations, including those associated with any future acquisitions or joint ventures; |
| | risks that our principal stockholders will be able to exert significant influence over matters submitted to stockholders for approval; |
| | potential conflicts of interests that may arise through some of our directors involvement with other natural resources companies; |
| | the market price and future sales of our common stock; and |
| | our decision not to pay dividends. |
For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements, please see those factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A in our annual report on Form 10-K and in our other filings with the SEC. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that our forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in the statements. The forward looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
| ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
There has been no material change in the market risks discussed in Item 7A of Allied Nevadas Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
| ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Allied Nevada management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of Allied Nevadas disclosure controls and procedures, as required by Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act as of March 31, 2012. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to reasonably assure that information
24
required to be disclosed by us, including our consolidated subsidiaries, in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms.
Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2012 to provide such reasonable assurance.
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, believes that any disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must consider the benefits of controls relative to their costs. Inherent limitations within a control system include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by unauthorized override of the control. While the design of any system of controls is to provide reasonable assurance of the effectiveness of disclosure controls, such design is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and such assumptions, while reasonable, may not take into account all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in a cost effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be prevented or detected.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has not been any change in Allied Nevadas internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Allied Nevadas internal control over financial reporting.
| ITEM 1. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
From time to time, the Company is a party to routine litigation and proceedings that are considered part of the ordinary course of its business. The Company is not aware of any material current, pending, or threatened litigation.
| ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS |
Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
We may be unable to replace our third party carbon strip processor in a timely manner which could delay our processing and sale of gold.
We recover gold from a leach pads pregnant solution by use of two different methods, one of which is the Carbon in Column process (CIC process) in which gold and silver is recovered through on-site carbon columns. Because the Hycroft Mine does not have on-site processing facilities to strip and regenerate carbon, approximately 25% of the mines total production is sent to off-site processing facilities to produce a doré containing gold and silver which is then sent to the refiner. We recently received notification from the primary offsite company that processes carbon indicating that they would no longer be able to process the carbon from Hycroft. As a result, we are unable to recover gold and silver from our carbon columns at this time. Our inventory of gold and silver will continue to increase until we engage a replacement processor or complete construction of our own processing facility. At the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we estimate that there is approximately 13,000 ounces of gold on carbon awaiting processing. We can provide no assurance that a new carbon processing agreement will be on terms that are similar to or more favorable than the agreement that was recently terminated, if at all. Any delay in our ability to process gold and silver on carbon has a negative effect on our working capital, which will become more pronounced the longer the delay.
| ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
None.
| ITEM 3. | DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES |
None.
| ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
Allied Nevada considers health, safety and environmental stewardship to be a core value for the Company and received a Sentinels of Safety award at Hycroft for 2008 in 2009. Allied Nevada has a mandatory safety and health program including
25
employee training, risk management, workplace inspection, emergency response, accident investigation and program auditing. The Company considers this program to be essential at all levels to ensure that employees and the Company conduct themselves in an environment of exemplary health, safety and environmental governance.
The information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K is included in Exhibit 95.1 to this Form 10-Q.
| ITEM 5. | OTHER INFORMATION |
None.
| ITEM 6. | EXHIBITS |
(a) Exhibits
| Exhibit Number |
Description of Document | |
| 10.1 |
Employment Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2012, between Allied Nevada Gold Corp and Gary Banbury | |
| 10.2 | Credit Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2011, between Allied Nevada Gold Corp., The Bank of Nova Scotia and the lending institutions from time to time made parties thereto (fully executed) | |
| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | |
| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | |
| 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 32.2 |
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 95.1 | Mine Safety Disclosures | |
| 101 | The following materials are filed herewith: (i) XBRL Instance, (ii) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema, (iii) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation, (iv) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels, (v) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation, and (vi) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition. In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the information in these exhibits is furnished and deemed not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by the specific reference in such filing. | |
26
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| ALLIED NEVADA GOLD CORP. (Registrant) | ||||||
| Date: May 4, 2012 | By: | /s/ Scott A. Caldwell | ||||
| Scott A. Caldwell | ||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
| Date: May 4, 2012 | By: | /s/ Stephen M. Jones | ||||
| Stephen M. Jones | ||||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
27