TRX Gold Corporation (TSX: TNX) (NYSE American: TRX) (the “Company”
or “TRX Gold”) today reported its results for the third quarter of
2023 (“Q3 2023”) for the three months ended May 31, 2023. Financial
results are available on the Company’s website.
Key highlights for Q3 2023
include:
- 1,000
tonne per day (“tpd”) mill running efficiently: In Q3
2023, Buckreef Gold poured 4,764 ounces of gold and sold 4,810
ounces of gold, resulting in positive operating cash flow for the
Company of $3.2 million. Year to date, Buckreef Gold poured and
sold 15,794 and 16,068 ounces of gold respectively; both nine-month
production records for the Company, resulting in positive operating
cash flow of $14.6 million.
-
Maintaining strong profit margins: In Q3 2023,
Buckreef Gold recognized revenue of $9.3 million and cost of sales
of $5.4 million, generating gross profit of $3.9 million, gross
profit margin of 42% and Adjusted EBITDA1 of $3.3 million. Year to
date, Buckreef Gold recognized revenue of $29.1 million and cost of
sales of $15.0 million, generating gross profit of $14.1 million,
gross profit margin of 48% and Adjusted EBITDA1 of $11.6
million.
- Sulphide
bulk sample test proves future potential: During the
quarter, the Company pivoted its mining plan to include a test bulk
sample of sulphide ore which was subsequently processed through
Buckreef Gold’s existing processing plant. Over 6,500 tonnes of
sulphide ore were successfully processed, achieving an indicative
gold recovery of 88.7%. This was a significant achievement as
approximately 90% of Buckreef Gold’s gold mineral resource is held
in sulphide material, thus unlocking the significant economic
potential of the project. The bulk sample test indicates that the
Company can likely process sulphide ore through its existing
processing plant, thus potentially minimizing capex for future
plant expansions.
-
Reinvesting cash flow to grow operations: The
Company used cash flow from operations to invest in the further
growth of Buckreef Gold, including procurement of an additional
1,000 tpd ball mill to increase annual throughput by 75-100%
through the addition of this new mill, and advanced construction of
a significantly expanded tailings storage facility to accommodate
higher production volumes.
-
Exploration results from high-priority gold zones:
During the quarter, the Company drilled 839 meters at Buckreef Gold
and announced near surface drill results at the Anfield and Eastern
Porphyry Zones, with highlights of 14 meters @ 3.5 g/t including
3.0 meters @ 10.9 g/t from a downhole depth of 47 meters from the
Eastern Porphyry zone, and 2.94 meters grading 13.74 g/t, from a
downhole depth of 43 meters in the Anfield Zone. Year to date, the
Company drilled 11,171 meters of exploration, infill and
sterilization drilling.
TRX Gold’s CEO, Stephen Mullowney comments:
“These positive results continue to demonstrate the immense
opportunity at Buckreef Gold and reflect successful execution of
the Company’s sustainable business plan where cash flow from
operations funds value creating activities.”
Figure 1. The Buckreef Gold Mine oxide starter
pit during Q3 2023
Figure 2. The Buckreef Gold Tailings Storage
Facility expansion; liner installation at TSF 2.2 during Q3
2023
Outlook for the Remainder of Fiscal
2023
-
Maintaining market guidance: The Company continues
to expect gold production from the 1,000+ tpd processing plant for
fiscal 2023 to be between 20,000 - 25,000 ounces and expects total
average cash cost2 to be at the upper end of the originally
estimated range of between $750 - $850 per ounce.
-
Near-term production growth on target: The Company
continues to advance a project aimed at increasing the average
annual throughput by 75-100% with an expansion of the existing
carbon-in-leach plant. Construction will seamlessly integrate into
the existing operating plant, with the addition of a new 1,000 tpd
ball mill and construction of an extended foundation and bund wall
to support the additional leach tanks, as well as all ancillary
work. The capital cost of the expanded plant is expected to be
approximately US$6 million and will be funded using operating cash
flow from Buckreef Gold. Construction of the expanded milling
circuit is expected to start in Q4 2023 and potentially benefit
production in early calendar 2024.
- Larger
development project advancement: The Company continues to
work with our principal consultants on advancing the larger
development project that will target a large-scale gold mine
operation, including advanced metallurgical testing across the
deposit and geotechnical studies for a deeper pit. Concurrent with
this work, the Company has started assessing a significantly larger
processing facility.
Webcast Details
When: Wednesday, July 19 at 11:00 AM ESTWebcast
URL: Click here or copy paste into web browserA replay will be made
available for 30 days following the call on the Company’s
website.
Qualified Person
Mr. Andrew Mark Cheatle, P.Geo., MBA, ARSM, is
the Company’s Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101
“Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects” (“NI 43-101”) and
has reviewed and assumes responsibility for the scientific and
technical content in this press release.
Non-IFRS Performance
Measures
The company has included certain non-IFRS
measures in this news release. The following non-IFRS measures
should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited interim
consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months
ended May 31, 2023 filed on Sedar and Form 6-K with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as the Company’s audited
consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 40-F and Annual Information Form for the year ended
August 31, 2022. The financial statements and related notes of TRX
Gold have been prepared in accordance with International Financial
Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Additional information has been filed
electronically on SEDAR and with the SEC and is available online
under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com and the Company’s
filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov and on our website at
www.TRXGold.com.
Cash cost per ounce of gold
sold
Cash cost per ounce of gold sold is a non-IFRS
performance measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by
IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS. Cash
cost per ounce may not be comparable to information in other gold
producers’ reports and filings. As the Company uses this measure to
monitor the performance of our gold mining operations and its
ability to generate positive cash flow, beginning in Q1 2023, total
cash cost per ounce of gold sold starts with cost of sales related
to gold production and removes depreciation.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS performance
measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS and
does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS. Adjusted
EBITDA may not be comparable to information in other gold
producers’ reports and filings. Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a
supplemental measure of the Company’s performance and ability to
service its obligations. Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by
securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the
evaluation of companies in the industry, many of which present
Adjusted EBITDA when reporting their results. Issuers present
Adjusted EBITDA because investors, analysts and rating agencies
consider it useful in measuring the ability of those issuers to
meet their obligations. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income
(loss) before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and also
eliminates the impact of a number of items that are not considered
indicative of ongoing operating performance.
Certain items of expense are added, and certain
items of income are deducted from net income that are not likely to
recur or are not indicative of the Company’s underlying operating
results for the reporting periods presented or for future operating
performance and consist of:
• Change in fair value of derivative financial
instruments; • Accretion related to the provision for reclamation;
and • Share-based compensation expense; and• Tax adjustments
related to a prior period tax assessment (2012-2020).
The following table provides a reconciliation of
net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) to Adjusted
EBITDA per the financial statements for the three and nine months
ended May 31, 2023.
|
Three Months Ended |
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
|
May 31, 2023 |
May 31, 2022 |
May 31, 2023 |
May 31, 2022 |
Net (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income per financial
statements |
(374) |
|
3,188 |
|
4,736 |
|
28 |
|
Add: |
|
|
|
|
Depreciation |
376 |
|
47 |
|
863 |
|
172 |
|
Interest
and other expenses |
327 |
|
54 |
|
1,368 |
|
434 |
|
Income
tax expense |
1,719 |
|
108 |
|
4,383 |
|
259 |
|
Change in
fair value of derivative financial instruments |
730 |
|
(1,345) |
|
(1,670) |
|
(1,408) |
|
Share-based payment expense |
541 |
|
612 |
|
1,939 |
|
2,125 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
3,319 |
|
2,664 |
|
11,619 |
|
1,610 |
|
The Company has included “cash costs per ounce
of gold sold” and “Adjusted EBITDA” as non-IFRS performance
measures throughout this news release as TRX Gold believes that
these generally accepted industry performance measures provide a
useful indication of the Company’s operational performance. The
Company believes that certain investors use this information to
evaluate the Company’s performance and ability to generate cash
flow. Accordingly, they 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
IFRS.
About TRX Gold Corporation
TRX Gold is rapidly advancing the Buckreef Gold
Project. Anchored by a Mineral Resource published in May 2020, the
project currently hosts an NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated Mineral
Resource of 35.88 MT at 1.77 g/t gold containing 2,036,280 ounces
of gold and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 17.8 MT at 1.11 g/t
gold for 635,540 ounces of gold. The leadership team is focused on
creating both near-term and long-term shareholder value by
increasing gold production to generate positive cash flow. The
positive cash flow will be utilized for exploratory drilling with
the goal of increasing the current gold Resource base and advancing
the Sulphide Ore Project which represents 90% of current gold
Resources. TRX Gold’s actions are led by the highest ESG standards,
evidenced by the relationships and programs that the Company has
developed during its nearly two decades of presence in Geita
Region, Tanzania.
For investor or shareholder inquiries,
please contact:Investors
RelationsChristina Lalli Vice President, Investor
RelationsTRX Gold Corporation+1-438-399-8665
c.lalli@TRXgold.comwww.TRXgold.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain
forward-looking statements as defined in the applicable securities
laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”,
“anticipates”, “believes”, “hopes”, “intends”, “estimated”,
“potential”, “possible” and similar expressions, or statements that
events, conditions or results “will”, “may”, “could” or “should”
occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements relate to future
events or future performance and reflect TRX Gold management’s
expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but
are not limited to, statements with respect to continued operating
cash flow, expansion of its process plant, estimation of mineral
resources, ability to develop value creating activities,
recoveries, subsequent project testing, success, scope and
viability of mining operations, the timing and amount of estimated
future production, and capital expenditure.
Although TRX Gold believes the expectations
expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of
future performance. The actual achievements of TRX Gold or other
future events or conditions may differ materially from those
reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of
risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks, uncertainties
and factors include general business, legal, economic, competitive,
political, regulatory and social uncertainties; actual results of
exploration activities and economic evaluations; fluctuations in
currency exchange rates; changes in costs; future prices of gold
and other minerals; mining method, production profile and mine
plan; delays in exploration, development and construction
activities; changes in government legislation and regulation; the
ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms and in a timely
manner or at all; contests over title to properties; employee
relations and shortages of skilled personnel and contractors; the
speculative nature of, and the risks involved in, the exploration,
development and mining business. These risks are set forth in
reports that TRX Gold files with the SEC and the various Canadian
securities authorities. You can review and obtain copies of these
filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
and the Company’s profile on the System for Electronic Document
Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) at www.sedar.com.
The information contained in this press release
is as of the date of the press release and TRX Gold assumes no duty
to update such information.
The TSX and NYSE America have not reviewed and
do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the
contents of this press release, which has been prepared by the
management of TRX Gold.
1 Refer to “Non-IFRS Performance Measures” section.2 Refer to
“Non-IFRS Performance Measures” section.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0cea5cd6-8933-4b97-a787-0da4bf2bc720
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2cf72546-bc0c-4624-aed7-eb0036d572fd
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