Newmont Increases First Quarter Net Income

 

DENVER, CO - Newmont Mining Corporation President and CEO, Richard O'Brien said, "We are pleased to announce another quarterly increase in our net income from continuing operations, up 9% over the prior year quarter to $561 million, or $1.13 per share. We also saw gold operating margin expansion of 29%, which outpaced the 22% increase in the average realized gold price from the prior year. "During the first quarter, we continued to invest in the development of our Akyem project in Ghana, which remains on schedule for initial production in 2014. Regarding Conga in Peru, the project continues to be suspended pending further analysis of the economic and technical impacts from the recently released report from the independent panel," added O'Brien.

Newmont is maintaining its previously announced 2012 outlook for attributable gold and copper production of 5.0 to 5.2 million ounces and 150 to 170 million pounds at CAS of between $625 and $675 per ounce (on a co-product basis) and $1.80 and $2.20 per pound, respectively.

Newmont is also maintaining its 2012 attributable capital expenditure outlook of $3.0 to $3.3 billion, or $4.0 to $4.3 billion on a consolidated basis. However, this estimate assumes the development of the Conga project in Peru proceeds as anticipated in connection with our original 2012 outlook provided in January 2012. As previously disclosed, development of the Conga project was temporarily suspended in November 2011 and recommencement and future development remains subject to certain risks, including political and social risks, and uncertainties, including those relating to the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") review. The Conga project's EIA, which was previously approved by the central government of Peru in October 2010 after an extensive public engagement process, was subject to a review by independent experts during the first quarter at the request of the central government. The results of the independent review confirm that the reviewed sections of the EIA met Peruvian and international standards. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the recommendations contained in the independent report, and additional recommendations from the central government related to the report, to assess the impact on the project economics. The Company will reevaluate its capital expenditure outlook after completing that evaluation process and when the development schedule of Conga is more clearly defined. Should the Company be unable to continue with the development of Conga, the Company may reprioritize and reallocate capital to other development alternatives in Nevada, Australia, Ghana and Indonesia.

First Quarter Highlights: Average realized gold and copper price of $1,684 per ounce and $4.01 per pound, up 22% and no change, respectively, from the prior year quarter; Attributable gold and copper production of 1.3 million ounces and 35 million pounds, down 2% and 35%, respectively, from the prior year quarter; Gold and copper costs applicable to sales ("CAS") of $620 per ounce and $1.98 per pound, up 11% and up 78%, respectively, from the prior year quarter; Cash flow from continuing operations of $613 million, down 38% from the prior year quarter.

Attributable gold production in Nevada was 435,000 ounces at CAS of $617 per ounce during the first quarter. Gold production was consistent with the prior year quarter due to higher grade ore mined as Gold Quarry resumed production, offset by lower underground ore grade mined at Leeville and Midas. Costs applicable to sales per ounce decreased 4% as higher underground mining and milling costs were more than offset by an inventory build in 2012 compared to a drawdown of inventory in 2011. The Company continues to expect 2012 attributable gold production from Nevada of approximately 1.725 to 1.8 million ounces at CAS of between $575 and $625 per ounce.

Attributable gold production at La Herradura in Mexico was 54,000 ounces at CAS of $581 per ounce during the first quarter. Gold production increased 10% due to higher leach placement at Soledad-Dipolos and first production from the Noche Buena pit. CAS increased 49% from the prior year quarter due to higher employee profit sharing costs and Noche Buena commencing production. Newmont continues to expect 2012 attributable gold production from La Herradura of approximately 200,000 to 240,000 ounces at CAS of between $460 and $510 per ounce.

Attributable gold production at Yanacocha in Peru was 188,000 ounces at CAS of $458 per ounce during the first quarter. Gold production increased 27% from the prior year quarter due to higher mill throughput, recovery and grade, partly offset by lower leach production from La Quinua, Carachugo and Yanacocha. CAS per ounce decreased 21% from the prior year quarter due to higher production, partially offset by higher labor, diesel, and workers' participation and lower by-product credits.

Newmont continues to expect 2012 attributable gold production from Yanacocha of approximately 650,000 to 700,000 ounces at CAS of between $480 and $530 per ounce. Attributable gold production during the first quarter at La Zanja in Peru was approximately 13,000 ounces. The Company continues to expect 2012 attributable gold production from La Zanja of approximately 40,000 to 50,000 ounces.

Attributable gold and copper production during the first quarter at Boddington in Australia was 162,000 ounces and 14 million pounds, respectively, at CAS of $782 per ounce and $1.94 per pound, respectively. Gold ounces and copper pounds produced were consistent with the prior year quarter as 17% higher throughput was offset by 15% lower grade and 2% lower recovery. Gold CAS increased 31% due to processing lower grade ore, higher milling and mining costs, a higher proportion of costs allocated to gold, and a stronger Australian dollar. Costs applicable to sales per pound decreased 11% mainly due to lower costs allocated to copper. Newmont continues to expect 2012 attributable gold production of approximately 750,000 to 800,000 ounces at CAS of between $800 and $850 per ounce and attributable copper production of 70 to 80 million pounds at CAS of between $2.00 and $2.25 per pound.

Attributable gold ounces and copper pounds produced during the first quarter at Batu Hijau in Indonesia were 11,000 ounces and 21 million pounds, respectively, at costs applicable to sales of $913 per ounce and $2.00 per pound, respectively. Gold and copper production decreased 76% and 49%, respectively, due to lower throughput, grade and recovery as a result of processing lower grade stockpiled material as Phase 6 waste stripping continues. Costs applicable to sales per ounce and per pound increased 184% and 108%, respectively, due to lower production, higher labor and diesel costs, and increased waste stripping costs. The company continues to expect 2012 attributable gold production of approximately 45,000 to 55,000 ounces at CAS of between $800 and $850 per ounce and attributable copper production to be approximately 80 to 90 million pounds at CAS of between $1.80 and $2.20 per pound.

Attributable gold production during the first quarter was 265,000 ounces at costs applicable to sales of $757 per ounce. Attributable gold ounces produced decreased 11% due to a planned mill shutdown at Waihi, mill maintenance at Kalgoorlie and a build-up of in-process inventory at Jundee and Kalgoorlie, partly offset by higher grade at Tanami. Costs applicable to sales per ounce increased 35% primarily due to lower production, a stronger Australian dollar, lower by-product credits, and higher diesel and royalty costs. Newmont continues to expect 2012 attributable gold production of approximately 980 to 1.03 million ounces at CAS of between $810 and $860 per ounce.

Attributable gold production during the first quarter at Ahafo in Ghana was 175,000 ounces at CAS of $568 per ounce. Gold production decreased 6% from the prior year quarter due to lower mill throughput and grade, partially offset by a reduction of in-process inventory and higher recovery. CAS per ounce increased 26% from the prior year quarter due to lower production and higher labor, diesel, and royalty costs. The company continues to expect 2012 attributable gold production of approximately 570,000 to 600,000 ounces at CAS of between $500 and $550 per ounce.

The company's address is 6363 South Fiddler's Green Circle, Suite 800, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, 303.863.7414, fax: 303.837.5837.