TIDMYAU
Yamana Gold Reports Record 2008 Revenue, Net Earnings and Cash Flow
FOR: YAMANA GOLD INC.
TSX SYMBOL: YRI
NYSE SYMBOL: AUY
LSE SYMBOL: YAU
March 4, 2009
Yamana Gold Reports Record 2008 Revenue, Net Earnings and Cash Flow
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 4, 2009) - YAMANA GOLD INC. (TSX:YRI)(NYSE:AUY)(LSE:YAU) today
announced its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008.
All dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise specified.
2008 FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
Financial and Operating
Highlights for the three-and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2008 include:
- Revenues of $1.1 billion for the year.
- Net earnings of $179.4 million, or $0.25 per share, and $434.8 million or $0.63 per share,
respectively.
- Total production from all mines of 254,774 gold equivalent ounces (GEO) and 982,897 GEO,
respectively, in line with previously announced guidance.
- Average co-product cash cost of $383 per GEO and $384 per GEO, respectively, in line with previously
announced guidance. By-product cash costs for the year were $136 per GEO.
Development and Exploration
Operational highlights for the period ended December 31, 2008 include:
- Commenced operations at Gualcamayo and Sao Vicente during the fourth quarter.
- Began commissioning the expansion at Minera Florida in the fourth quarter resulting in a throughput
increase to 2,000 tonnes per day.
- Completed updated feasibility study for the expansion at Chapada and commenced the first phase of
expansion to 20 million tonnes per year with completion expected mid-2009.
- Increased proven and probable gold reserves by 1.5 million ounces over mined ounces in 2008 to a
record level of 19.4 million ounces.
Highlights subsequent to the fourth quarter include:
- Provided positive Mercedes pre-feasibility and Ernesto/Pau-a-Pique scoping study results with
resource estimate update.
- Announced results to QDD Lower West feasibility level study update providing positive economic
results and demonstrating an increase in gold resources.
Corporate Activities
Corporate highlights for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008 include:
- Completed C$135 million equity financing.
- Secured additional $200 million revolving credit facility.
- Monetized a portion of its longer-term copper hedge contracts mitigating provisional price
adjustment relating to previously sold concentrate.
- Further mitigated currency risk in Brazil.
- Sold Yamana's 40 per cent joint venture interest in the Rossi Mine in Nevada for total consideration
of $29.2 million. The interest was non-core and sold to Barrick Gold which was the majority owner and
operator of the mine.
"In 2008, we continued our efforts to build a solid foundation for our growth," commented Peter
Marrone, Yamana's chairman and CEO. "Our technical teams substantially completed the construction of
two new gold mines, which will be the key drivers of production growth in 2009. We expect to increase
production by approximately 35% in 2009 to more than 1.35 million gold equivalent ounces from mines
already in production, and our growth is 100% precious metals. With seven operating mines, the two
mines I just referred to in commissioning and four advanced development opportunities, Yamana has a
unique offering of growth, sustainability and value. We have grown ten-fold in terms of production
since we began in 2003 and we intend to double that production into 2012."
"We began to experience declining costs during the fourth quarter, confirming the expected downward
trend and further increasing our margin to the gold price," continued Mr. Marrone. "In 2009, we will
continue to focus on our core and principal mines which comprise the majority of our value and also
intend to maintain our low cost advantage and maximize our cash position and cash flow. After
consolidating our operations and efforts in 2008, we are now better positioned to meet expectations
for production and costs in 2009. Increasing precious metals production in an environment of
comparatively lower costs with increasing precious metal prices should place us in an enviable
position as one of the best cash flow generating companies in the industry, all of which is the result
of those significant efforts in 2008."
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING SUMMARY
Revenues, net earnings and cash flow from operations were impacted by a significant non-recurring
pricing adjustment driven by a significant change in copper prices on sales of copper concentrate.
Negative pricing adjustments for the fourth quarter were $74.1 million on revenues and $80.7 million
on cash flows. The extent of these adjustments is considered to be non-recurring and unprecedented due
to the magnitude of the change in the copper prices during the quarter. The growth in contribution to
revenue, earnings and cash flow subsequent to the fourth quarter is almost entirely from precious
metals and will continue to increase as gold production increases.
Revenues for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008 were $114.1 million and for the year was
$1.1 billion, representing a 41 per cent increase from the previous year. Excluding the non-recurring
pricing adjustment, fourth quarter revenues were $188.2 million.
Net earnings for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008 were $179.4 million, or $0.25 per
share, and for the year were $434.8 million, or $0.63 per share, representing a 176 per cent increase
from the prior year. Excluding the non-recurring pricing adjustment, fourth quarter earnings were
$228.3 million after income tax.
Cash flow from operations, after changes in non-cash working capital items, for the three-month period
ended December 31, 2008 was $103.4 million and for the year was $328.7 million, representing a 17%
increase from the prior year. Excluding pricing adjustments, fourth quarter cash flow from operation
after changes in non-cash working capital was $184.1 million.
Total production for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008 was 254,774 GEO, representing an
22 per cent increase from the fourth quarter last year. Total production for the year was 982,897 GEO,
representing a 65 per cent increase from the prior year. In 2008, production at El Penon increased to
more than 400,000 GEO and production at Jacobina increased 35% from the prior year.
Co-product cash costs for the three month-period ended December 31, 2008 were $383 per GEO, 16% lower
than third quarter 2008 co-product cash costs which were $454 per GEO, confirming the expected
downward trend. The Company believes that further improvements in costs are expected to be realized
over time. Co-product cash costs for the year were $384 per GEO, compared to $330 per GEO for the
prior year. By-product cash costs for the year were $136 per GEO, compared to $(182) per GEO for the
prior year.
Overview of Financial Results
The following table presents a summary of financial information for the three and twelve months ended
December 31, 2008:
/T/
--------------------------
(in thousands of dollars) Q4 2008 Full Year 2008
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues $ 188,282 $1,037,238
Pricing adjustments related to prior
period revenues (74,138) 17,369
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues 114,144 $1,054,607
Cost of sales (117,131) (496,766)
Depreciation, amortization and depletion (48,185) (190,893)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations (615) (4,175)
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mine operating earnings (51,787) 362,773
Pricing adjustments related to prior
period revenues 74,138 (17,369)
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mine operating earnings excluding
pricing adjustments 22,351 345,404
Expenses
General and administrative (12,924) (70,643)
Exploration and other expense (8,317) (26,188)
Write-off of mineral interests (58,993) (58,993)
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings (loss) (132,021) 206,949
Other business income 173,101 47,758
Unrealized gain on derivatives 137,534 173,985
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings (loss) before income taxes 178,614 428,692
Income tax (expense) recovery 6,744 (19,683)
Non-controlling interest (5,993) 25,763
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings $ 179,365 $ 434,772
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.25 $ 0.63
Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.25 $ 0.62
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow from operating activities (after
changes in non-cash working capital items) $ 103,371 $ 328,675
Capital expenditures $ 170,181 $ 586,920
Cash and cash equivalents (end of period) $ 170,137 $ 170,137
Average realized gold price per ounce $789 $871
Average realized silver price per ounce $10.20 $15.18
Chapada average realized copper price per lb $1.59 $3.17
Gold sales (ounces) (excluding Alumbrera) 166,009 719,701
Silver sales (millions of ounces) 2.2 9.8
Chapada payable copper contained in
concentrate sales (millions of lbs) 30.1 131.9
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
/T/
Further details of the 2008 fourth quarter and year-end results can be found in the Company's
unaudited Management's Discussion and Analysis and unaudited Financial Statements at www.yamana.com,
in the "Investors" section under "Financial and Corporate Reports".
/T/
OPERATIONS REVIEW
Three months ended December 31, 2008
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Total Co-product
Production Sales Cash Costs
(GEO)(a) (GEO)(a) (US$ per GEO)(a)
Q4 Q4 Q4
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapada 35,263 24,621 293
El Penon 97,944 88,723 332
Jacobina 23,439 20,510 573
Minera Florida 16,366 15,668 463
Fazenda Brasileiro 24,143 21,683 360
Sao Francisco 21,569 20,028 544
San Andres 15,136 13,990 429
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total before equity interest 233,860 205,223 388
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alumbrera (12.5% interest) 20,914 20,643 323
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 254,774 225,866 383
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Twelve months ended December 31, 2008
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Total Co-product
Production Sales Cash Costs
(GEO)(a) (GEO)(a) (US$ per GEO)(a)
2008 2008 2008
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapada 150,037 149,549 337
El Penon 407,944 386,182 308
Jacobina 73,240 69,792 411
Minera Florida 64,615 67,281 398
Fazenda Brasileiro 96,092 95,461 423
Sao Francisco 75,936 78,401 629
San Andres 47,760 45,141 584
Rossi (40%) 4,222 5,913 661
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total before equity interest 919,846 897,720 382
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alumbrera (12.5% interest) 63,050 61,319 431
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 982,897 959,039 384
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) GEO calculations for production are based on an assumed gold to silver
ratio of 55:1 which is a longer-term historical average.
/T/
OUTLOOK
The Company remains focused on its core mines, generating cash flow, preserving capital, maximizing
cash balances and maintaining maximum flexibility across its various interests including its
development stage and near development stage projects. The Company continues to focus on containing
costs and ensuring effective management of capital expenditures. It will also continue to be committed
to prudent and disciplined growth and will continue to improve the value and returns of its various
projects. In 2009, the focus will be to increase mineral resources and mineral reserves and refine
cost analyses for four of the Company's principal development or near development stage projects with
the intention of making construction decisions subsequently.
With total cash and available credit at approximately $420 million, supplemented by robust cash flow
in addition to assets with additional cash value, Yamana is well positioned financially to fund its
strategic growth plans. Yamana continues with its plan to increase annual production to 2.0 million
gold equivalent ounces in 2012. The advancement of certain development stage projects once
construction decisions are made would advance Yamana toward that target.
QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
Shareholders of record at the close of business on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 will be entitled to receive
payment of the first quarter dividend of $0.01 per share on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. The dividend is
an "eligible dividend" for Canadian tax purposes.
CONFERENCE CALL
A conference call and audio webcast is scheduled for March 5, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. E.T. to discuss the
2008 fourth quarter and year end results.
/T/
Conference Call Information:
=---------------------------
Local and Toll Free (North America): 1-877-874-1570
International: 719-325-4757
Participant Audio Webcast: www.yamana.com
Conference Call REPLAY:
=----------------------
Toll Free Replay Call (North America): 1-888-203-1112, Passcode: 9741441#
Replay Call: 719-457-0820, Passcode: 9741441#
/T/
The conference call replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. EST on March 5, 2009 until 11:59 p.m. EST
on March 12, 2009.
For further information on the conference call or audio webcast, please contact the Investor Relations
Department or visit our website, www.yamana.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Update to Pilar resource estimate: Q2 2009
- Update to C1 Santa Luz economic analysis: Q2 2009
- Pilar initial feasibility study: H2 2009
- C1 Santa Luz construction decision: H2 2009
- Ernesto/Pau-a-Pique feasibility study and construction decision: by end of 2009
- Mercedes feasibility study and construction decision: Q1 2010
- Pilar construction decision: Q1 2010
About Yamana
Yamana is a Canadian-based gold producer with significant gold production, gold development stage
properties, exploration properties, and land positions in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Central
America. Yamana is producing gold and other precious metals at intermediate company production levels.
The Company plans to continue to build on this base through existing operating mine expansions and
throughput increases, the advancement of its exploration properties and by targeting other gold
consolidation opportunities in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and elsewhere in the Americas.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains or incorporates by
reference "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Except for statements of
historical fact relating to the Company, information contained herein constitutes forward-looking
statements, including any information as to the Company's strategy, plans or future financial or
operating performance. Forward-looking statements are characterized by words such as "plan," "expect",
"budget", "target", "project", "intend," "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words,
or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are
based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the
statements are made, and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other
known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the impact of general business and
economic conditions, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the
values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, fluctuating metal prices (such
as gold, copper, silver and zinc), currency exchange rates (such as the Brazilian Real and the Chilean
Peso versus the United States Dollar), possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in
the Company's hedging program, changes in accounting policies, changes in the Company's corporate
resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, changes in project
development and production time frames, risk related to joint venture operations, the possibility of
project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, higher prices for fuel, steel, power,
labour and other consumables contributing to higher costs and general risks of the mining industry,
failure of plant,equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, unexpected changes in mine life,
final pricing for concentrate sales, unanticipated results of future studies, seasonality and
unanticipated weather changes, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of
exploration activities, permitting time lines, government regulation of mining operations,
environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, limitations on
insurance coverage and timing and possible outcome of pending litigation and labour disputes, as
well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's annual Management's Discussion
and Analysis and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the securities
regulatory authorities in all provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com, and the Company's
Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Although
the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other
factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can
be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates, assumptions
or opinions should change, except as required by applicable law. The reader is cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained herein is
presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's expected financial and
operational performance and results as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented in the
Company's plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
NON-GAAP MEASURES
The Company has included certain non-GAAP measures including cash cost per gold equivalent ounce
("GEO") data, adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted net earnings (loss) per share to supplement
its financial statements, which are presented in accordance with Canadian GAAP. Non-GAAP measures do
not have any standardized meaning prescribed under Canadian GAAP, and therefore they may not be
comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data is intended to provide additional
information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance
prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP.
The Company has included cash cost per ounce information data because it understands that certain
investors use this information to determine the Company's ability to generate earnings and cash flow
for use in investing and other activities. The Company believes that conventional measures of
performance prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP do not fully illustrate the ability of its
operating mines to generate cash flow. The measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit
or cash flow from operations as determined under Canadian GAAP. Cash costs are calculated on a by-
product and co-product basis. Cash costs are determined in accordance with the Gold Institute's
Production Cost Standard. By-product cash costs are computed by deducting by-product copper and zinc
revenues from operating cash costs. Cash costs on a co-product basis are computed by allocating
operating cash costs separately to metals based on an estimated or assumed ratio. Where cost per ounce
data is computed by dividing GAAP operating cost components by ounces sold, the Company has provided a
formal reconciliation of these statistics in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for
the quarter ended September 30, 2008 available at www.sedar.com or on the Company's website at
www.yamana.com.
-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Mansfield Communications Inc.
Hugh Mansfield
(416) 599-0024
OR
Yamana Gold Inc.
Jodi Peake - Vice President, Corporate Communications
& Investor Relations
(416) 815-0220
Email: investor@yamana.com
OR
Yamana Gold Inc.
Letitia Wong
Director, Investor Relations
(416) 815-0220
Email: investor@yamana.com
Website: www.yamana.com
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