Fortuna reports record earnings for the third quarter of 2024

(All amounts are expressed in US dollars, tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortuna Mining Corp. (NYSE: FSM | TSX: FVI) ("Fortuna” or the "Company”) today reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2024.

"In the third quarter, a focus on cost discipline and safe operations allowed Fortuna to capture the benefit of rising metal prices and achieve record attributable earnings of $50.5 million and record operating cash flow before working capital changes of $119.3 million.” said Jorge Ganoza, Fortuna's President and CEO. Mr. Ganoza continued, "Our mines delivered 110,820 ounces of gold equivalent production at a cash cost per ounce of $1,059 as we remain well positioned to finish the year within our cost and production guidance.” Mr. Ganoza added, "The Company also achieved a key milestone with a positive net cash position at the end of the quarter and we recently renegotiated our credit facility reducing financial costs and providing additional financial flexibility.”

Third Quarter 2024 highlights

Financial

• Attributable net income of $50.5 million or $0.16 per share, compared to $40.6 million or $0.13 per share in Q2 2024
• Adjusted attributable net income¹ of $49.9 million or $0.16 per share, compared to $30.4 million or $0.10 per share in Q2 2024
• Generated $119.3 million (or $0.38 per share) of cash flow from operations before working capital changes, and free cash flow from ongoing operations¹ of $56.6 million, compared to $93.0 million (or $0.30 per share) and $38.6 million, respectively, in Q2 2024
• As at the end of the quarter, the Company had a cash position of $180.6 million and achieved a positive net cash¹ position of $8.0 million. Liquidity increased to $430.6 million from $355.6 million at the end of Q2 2024
• Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company resized its revolving credit facility from $250.0 million to $150.0 million and increased the uncommitted accordion to $75.0 million from $50.0 million reducing its reliance on bank debt. The revolving debt facility remains fully undrawn²

² Excluding letters of credit

³ Au Eq includes gold, silver, lead and zinc and is calculated using the following metal prices: $2,490/oz Au, $29.4/oz Ag, $2,040/t Pb, and $2,782/t Zn for Q3 2024; $2,334/oz Au, $29.1/oz Ag, $2,157/t Pb and $2,835/t Zn or Au:Ag = 1:80.19, Au:Pb = 1:1.08, Au:Zn = 1:0.82 for Q2 2024. And the following metal prices for YTD Q3-2024  $2,307/oz Au, $27.1/oz Ag, $2,091/t Pb, and $2,692/t Zn

Operational        

• Gold equivalent³ production of 110,820 ounces, compared to 116,570 ounces in Q2 2024. Nine month gold equivalent production of 339,933 ounces, aligned to meet annual guidance of 457 to 497 koz. For full details refer to our News Release titled "Fortuna reports solid production of 110,820 gold equivalent ounces for the third quarter of 2024” dated October 10, 2024
• Consolidated cash costs¹ per ounce of gold equivalent sold of $1,059 for the quarter and $977 year to date remain largely aligned with annual guidance of $935 to $1,055; adjusting for San Jose, which is mining its last year of Mineral Reserves, consolidated cash costs were $935 for the quarter
• Consolidated all-in sustaining cash costs (AISC)¹ per ounce of gold equivalent sold of $1,696 for the quarter and $1,618 year to date, are tracking at the upper end of annual guidance of $1,485 to $1,640; adjusting for San Jose, consolidated AISC was $1,594. The leach-pad expansion for Lindero is a one-time $42 million capital project in 2024 set for completion in Q4 and weighs approximately $90 per ounce on our annual consolidated AISC
• The Company recorded one lost time injury in the quarter and a year-to-date total recordable injury frequency rate of 1.37

• At the newly discovered Kingfisher prospect at the Séguéla Mine the Company intersected 14.2 g/t gold over 16.8 meters. For full details refer to our News Release titled "Fortuna intersects 14.2g/t Au over 16.8 meter at the Kingfisher prospects, Séguéla Mine, Côte d'Ivoire” dated September 10, 2024
• Exploration continued at the Diamba Sud exploration project with an intersect of 6.9 g/t gold over 33.3 meters at the Western Splay prospect. For full details refer to our News Release titled "Fortuna intersects 6.9g/t Au over 33.3. meters at the Diamba Sud Project, Senegal” dated September 12, 2024

Cash Costs and AISC

Consolidated cash cost per equivalent gold ounce was $1,059, compared to $814 in the third quarter of 2023. The increase in cash cost is explained mainly by lower stripping and mining costs during Séguéla's first quarter of operations in Q3 2023; lower head grades and throughput at San Jose in its last year of Mineral Reserves; higher cash costs per ounce at Yaramoko related to lower head grades and higher mining and indirect costs. Cash cost per ounce for the quarter and for the year remain largely aligned with annual guidance.

All-in sustaining costs per gold equivalent ounce was $1,696 for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $1,313 for the third quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily the result of higher sustaining capital at Lindero related to the expansion of the leach-pad, and higher cash cost per ounce as described above.

AISC Performance vs 2024 Guidance

All-in sustaining costs per gold equivalent ounce sold for the nine months ending September 30, 2024 was $1,618 and is expected to be at the higher end of guidance for the year as a result of the following:

• Real currency appreciation of the Argentine Peso increasing Lindero's cash costs by 9%
• Increased sustaining capital costs to accelerate 2025 development at Yaramoko to access newly identified mineral resources
• Lower production compared to plan at San Jose due to operational challenges in its last year of reserves

• Séguéla process optimization: In Q3 2024 Séguéla achieved 35% higher throughput than nameplate capacity, and 20% higher than our 2024 mine plan. This increase already exceeds the capacity expansion scheduled in the technical report for 2026. The expansion has been achieved with minimal capex.
• Lindero: Several productivity and cost reduction projects representing annual incremental profit of $16 million (pre-tax) consisting mainly of the following: increased gold recovery from grind size optimization, ADR plant incremental flow, haulage fleet optimization, and conversion from diesel power generation to solar.

Net income attributable to Fortuna for the quarter was $50.5 million compared to $27.5 million in Q3 2023. After adjusting for non-cash and non-recurring items, adjusted attributable net income for the quarter was $49.9 million compared to $29.6 million in Q3 2023.

The increase in net income and adjusted net income was explained mainly by higher realized gold and silver prices partially offset by lower gold sales volume and higher costs per ounce. The realized gold and silver prices were $2,490 and $29.4 per ounce respectively compared to $1,925 and $23.7 per ounce, respectively, for the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease in gold sales volume was primarily due to lower production at Yaramoko and San Jose as per the mine plans. The higher cost per ounce was primarily at Séguéla, San Jose and Yaramoko as described above.

Adjusted net income for the quarter also benefited from $3.4 million of foreign exchange gains related to the appreciation of the Euro during the quarter, $3.2 million of investment income related to cross-border, Argentine pesos denominated bond trades, and lower interest expenses.

Depreciation and Depletion

Depreciation and depletion for the third quarter of 2024 was $59.3 million compared to $63.4 million in the comparable period. The decrease in depreciation and depletion was primarily the result of lower depreciation and depletion at San Jose due to an impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2023 and lower depletion per ounce in the 55 Zone at Yaramoko, partially offset by higher depletion at Séguéla. Depletion at Séguéla in the quarter includes $16.8 million of the purchase price related to the acquisition of Roxgold Inc in 2021.

Cash Flow

Net cash generated by operations for the quarter was $92.9 million compared to $106.5 million in Q3 2023. Excluding changes in working capital, net cash from operations was $119.3 million compared to $106.2 million in the comparative period. The increase of $13.1 million reflects higher adjusted EBITDA of $25.8 million offset mainly by higher taxes paid of $8.9 million mostly at Séguéla.

Negative working capital for the quarter of $26.4 million was due to an increase of $24.5 million in receivables primarily due to the timing of trade receivables and VAT collection. At the end of the quarter the balance of VAT receivables at Yaramoko was $45.0 million.

In the third quarter of 2024 capital expenditures on a cash basis amounted to $50.2 million consisting of $37.9 million of sustaining capital, including brownfields exploration, and $12.3 million of non-sustaining capital. Year to date capital expenditures were $141.9 million consisting of $103.1 million of sustaining capital and $38.8 million non-sustaining capital.

Free cash flow from ongoing operations for the quarter was $56.6 million, compared to $70.0 million in the comparable period. The decrease in free cash flow, despite higher metal prices in the quarter, is explained mainly by negative working capital of $26.4 million compared to $nil in the third quarter of 2023, capital expenditures for the Lindero leach pad expansion and higher taxes paid due to the third and final tax installment at Séguéla for 2023 taxes. The comparable period also had a number of one-time benefits that lowered the cost of production at Séguéla.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses for the current quarter of $16.0 million were 10% higher than the same period in 2023 due mainly to higher share-based compensation expenses. G&A comprises the following items:

The Company's total liquidity available as of September 30, 2024 was $430.6 million comprised of $180.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, and the fully undrawn $250.0 million revolving credit facility (excluding letters of credit). Effective October 31, 2024, the Company amended its credit facility reducing the amount of the facility to $150 million from $250 million (the facility would have stepped down to $175 million in November 2024), and increased the uncommitted accordion option from $50 million to $75 million. An improved pricing grid and covenant flexibility was negotiated under the amended facility.

Séguéla Mine, Côte d'Ivoire