Stillwater Mining Company Reports Third Quarter Results

BILLINGS, MT--(Marketwired - Nov 12, 2013) - Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE: SWC) (TSX: SWC.U)

• Consolidated net loss attributable to common stockholders of $201.5 million or $1.69 per diluted share, including a $290.4 million (before-tax) impairment charge taken against the carrying value of the Company's Altar mineral property in Argentina
• Third quarter mine production of 124,200 PGM ounces, 2013 full-year mine production guidance increased to a range of 505,000 to 515,000 ounces of PGMs
• 167,500 ounces of PGMs processed from recycled material during the third quarter, a 74.1% increase over the third quarter of 2012
• Third quarter total cash costs of $427 per mined ounce - 2013 total cash costs guidance reduced to a range of $530 to $540 per ounce
• Capital expenditure guidance for 2013 reduced further to a range of $125 to $135 million
• Cash and highly liquid investments totaling $464.2 million at September 30, 2013
  
  

Stillwater Mining Company today reported a consolidated net loss attributable to common stockholders for the 2013 third quarter of $201.5 million, or $1.69 per diluted share. The third quarter result includes a $290.4 million (before-tax) impairment charge reducing the carrying value of the Altar mineral property in Argentina to its estimated fair value of $102.0 million. Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders reported for the 2012 third quarter was $13.1 million, or $0.11 per diluted share. Total revenues for the 2013 third quarter were $280.0 million, an increase of 54.7% compared to revenues of $181.0 million for the third quarter of 2012. The increase in revenue was driven by higher average palladium prices during the third quarter of 2013 and by strong results from the PGM Recycling business segment.

The third-quarter impairment charge at Altar also resulted in a reduction in the deferred tax liability associated with the Altar property. Consequently, the net after-tax effect of the Altar impairment was a $226.5 million reduction in third-quarter 2013 income. Before reflecting the impairment, third-quarter 2013 after-tax consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders would have been $25.0 million.

For the first nine months of 2013, the Company reported a consolidated net loss attributable to common stockholders of $192.2 million, or $1.62 per diluted share, on revenues of $797.1 million, compared to net income of $38.2 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, on revenues of $596.9 million, for the same period in 2012.

The Company's Montana mines produced a total of 124,200 ounces of palladium and platinum during the third quarter of 2013 compared to production of 127,000 ounces in the third quarter of 2012. Production for the first nine months of 2013 was 382,800 ounces compared to 381,200 ounces in the first nine months of 2012. The fluctuation in ounces produced is driven primarily by the normal result of changes in mining conditions and the array of stopes available for mining in any period.

Revenue from the Mine Production segment for the third quarter of 2013 (including proceeds from the sale of by-products) totaled $123.2 million, a 15.0% increase from $107.1 million in the same period last year. Combined sales realizations increased during the third quarter of 2013 for mined palladium and platinum ounces, averaging $887 per ounce, a 10.5% increase from the $803 per ounce realized in the third quarter of 2012. The total quantity of mined palladium and platinum sold increased by 5.7% to 131,400 ounces in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the 124,300 ounces sold during the same period in 2012.

The Company processed recycling material containing 167,500 ounces of palladium, platinum and rhodium through its smelter and refinery during the third quarter of 2013. This represents an increase of 74.1% over the total of 96,200 ounces processed during the third quarter of 2012. During the first nine months of 2013, the Company processed a record 496,700 ounces of PGMs from recycled material, a 52.1% increase from approximately 326,600 ounces processed during the same period of 2012. The increased volumes were primarily attributable to the addition of several new suppliers of recycling material and the reprocessing of furnace brick from the Company's own smelting facility. The PGM Recycling segment ounces recovered from the reprocessed furnace brick were sold during the third quarter of 2013, generating approximately $16.4 million of incremental revenue in the third quarter of 2013.

Recycling sales volumes increased 104.6%, to 152,600 ounces in the third quarter of 2013, from 74,600 ounces in the third quarter of 2012. PGM Recycling revenues totaled $156.8 million for the 2013 third quarter, more than double the $74.0 million in the same period of 2012. The Company's combined average realized price for sales of recycled palladium, platinum and rhodium increased to $1,026 per ounce in the third quarter of 2013 from $985 per ounce in the third quarter of 2012.

Total recycled ounces processed in the third quarter of 2013 included approximately 4,200 PGM ounces from reprocessed furnace brick. During the second quarter of 2013, approximately 8,000 PGM ounces reprocessed from furnace brick were attributed to recycling.

The ounces processed during the second and third quarters of 2013 from furnace brick were recovered as saleable ounces during the third quarter. As a result, the ounces recovered from reprocessed furnace brick, which were allocated to the PGM Recycling segment were sold and the associated revenues were recognized in the third quarter of 2013.

During the third quarter of 2013, approximately 7,700 PGM ounces recovered from reprocessed furnace brick were allocated to the Mine Production segment. While these ounces are blended with mine concentrates and are difficult to track, the Company estimates that these recovered PGM ounces will generate approximately $7.1 million of incremental revenue, to be realized mainly in the third and fourth quarters of 2013.

Total cash costs per mined ounce (a non-GAAP measure defined below) averaged $427 in the third quarter of 2013, compared to total cash costs of $496 per mined ounce for the third quarter of 2012, a decrease of 13.9%. The Company's measurement of total cash costs per mined ounce includes the benefit of credits for by-product sales and PGM Recycling segment earnings and as discussed above, during the third quarter of 2013, the Company's PGM Recycling segment received significant revenue allocated from the sale of PGM ounces recycled from furnace brick. These larger than normal PGM Recycling segment credits are the primary cause of the significant decrease in total cash costs per mined ounce in the third quarter of 2013. The table below illustrates the effect of applying these credits to the average cash costs per mined ounce for the combined Montana mining operations.

Guidance

Based on results for the first nine months and projections for the remainder of the year, the Company has reviewed its mined production, cash cost per mined ounce and capital expenditure guidance. As a result of this review, the Company has increased its previous 2013 production guidance of 500,000 ounces to a range of 505,000 to 515,000 ounces of mined palladium and platinum. The Company has reduced its full-year 2013 guidance for total cash costs from $560 to a range of $530 to $540 per mined ounce. In addition, the Company has concluded to reduce its most recent capital expenditure guidance for 2013 by approximately 13% to a range of $125 to $135 million from the previous range of $145 to $155 million.

Cash Flow and Liquidity

At September 30, 2013, the Company's available cash was $235.1 million, compared to $379.7 million at December 31, 2012. If highly liquid investments are included with available cash, the Company's balance sheet liquidity totaled $464.2 million at September 30, 2013, a decrease from $641.7 million at December 31, 2012. Most of this decrease was related to debt redemption during the first quarter of 2013. Of the Company's current cash balance, $28.6 million is dedicated to the Marathon project (and other related properties) and is unavailable for other corporate purposes. Net working capital -- comprised of total current assets (including available cash and investments), less current liabilities -- increased to $619.3 million at September 30, 2013, from $606.0 million at 2012 year end.

Net cash provided by operating activities (which includes changes in working capital) totaled $81.7 million for the first nine months of 2013, compared to $100.4 million of cash provided in the first nine months of 2012. The lower cash generation in the first nine months of 2013 largely reflected growth in recycling working capital attributable to the greater volumes being processed this year. Capital expenditures were $91.2 million in the first nine months of 2013 compared to $84.7 million in the first nine months of 2012. Of the capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2013, $81.9 million was attributable to ongoing investments in the Montana mines and processing facility. Year-to-date capital expenditures include $17.1 million attributable to the major developments underway on the J-M Reef in Montana.

Outstanding balance sheet debt at September 30, 2013 was $307.1 million, down from $461.1 million at December 31, 2012. In March 2013, the Company repaid $164.3 million of its 1.875% convertible debentures. The Company's debt balance currently includes $269.9 million of 1.75% convertible debentures and $2.2 million of 1.875% convertible debentures, $29.6 million of exempt facility revenue bonds, a capital lease of $5.1 million and $0.3 million of financing for a small installment land purchase.

Other Matters

Notwithstanding the accounting impairment charge recorded in the third quarter of 2013, the Company is reviewing alternatives to optimize its investment in the Altar project in Argentina. Some minimum level of annual expenditures will be required in order to maintain the Company's good standing and preserve its asset position at Altar. Future levels of exploration spending at Altar are discretionary and will be evaluated year by year.

The Company is engaged in preparing the final feasibility study and an updated economic assessment of the Marathon project. The feasibility study will include final project design, updated ore reserves, mining rates and costs, and overall project economics. A decision to proceed with project construction requires receipt of a positive Environmental Assessment finding by the joint review panel, receipt of other necessary permits and government approvals, a determination that the economics of the project are acceptable to each of the partners and receipt of firm financing commitments.

Third Quarter Results - Details

For the third quarter of 2013, the Company's Stillwater Mine produced 83,800 ounces of palladium and platinum, a decrease of 10.9% from the 94,100 ounces produced in the third quarter of 2012. Production at the Company's East Boulder Mine of 40,400 ounces in the third quarter of 2013 reflected an increase of 22.8% over the 32,900 ounces produced in the same quarter of 2012. The Stillwater Mine continued to experience variations in ore grade delivered to the mill during the 2013 third quarter, resulting in an overall reduction in the reported mill head grade. The loss of a muck pass at the Stillwater Mine earlier in the year has resulted in higher grade variability than planned and lower than forecasted ore grades. This issue is being addressed but has not been completely remedied to date. The current advanced developed state of the Montana mines is providing the operational flexibility to work through this issue without having to modify the Company's development and production goals.

Costs of metals sold (before depletion, depreciation and amortization expense) increased to $220.8 million in the third quarter of 2013 from $142.0 million in the third quarter of 2012. Mine Production costs included in costs of metals sold increased to $83.9 million in the 2013 third quarter from $69.9 million in the 2012 third quarter. PGM Recycling costs, which primarily reflect the cost of acquiring spent catalytic materials for processing, totaled $136.8 million in the third quarter of 2013, significantly more than the $72.1 million reported in the third quarter of 2012. The increase was due to higher volumes sold and the associated higher total market value of the materials acquired for processing.

General and administrative costs were $9.3 million in the third quarter of 2013, down from the $9.9 million incurred during the same period of 2012. The decrease was due to lower share-based compensation costs following vesting associated with the second quarter's technical change in control, offset in part by an increase in legal and consulting costs. Exploration expenses were $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2013 compared to $1.7 million, in the same period of 2012. The majority of the increase was due to exploration efforts on property holdings adjacent to the Marathon project in Canada. Marketing expenses declined to $0.2 million in the 2013 third quarter compared to $1.9 million in the same quarter of 2012, reflecting the curtailment of palladium marketing efforts in 2013.

Interest expense reported for the third quarter of 2013 and 2012 was $5.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively. This increase is principally the result of the interest expense related to the 1.75% convertible debentures, including the accretion of the debt discount that is charged to earnings over the expected life of the convertible debentures and offset by capitalized interest recognized as a cost of the Company's ongoing projects. The non-cash accretion of the debt discount and non-cash capitalized interest in the third quarter of 2013 were $4.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

During the third quarter of 2013, the Company recorded a net foreign currency transaction gain of $6.2 million, primarily related to the deferred tax liability recorded in association with the acquisition of Peregrine Metals Ltd. The net foreign currency transaction gain recorded for the third quarter of 2012 was $6.4 million.

First Nine Months' Results - Details

For the first nine months of 2013, the Company's Stillwater Mine produced 267,400 ounces, a decrease of 4.5% from the 279,900 ounces produced in the first nine months of 2012. Production at the Company's East Boulder Mine of 115,400 ounces in the first nine months of 2013 reflected a 13.9% increase from the 101,300 ounces produced in the same period of 2012.

Costs of metals sold (before depletion, depreciation and amortization expense) increased to $639.9 million in the first nine months of 2013 from $468.3 million in the first nine months of 2012. Mine Production costs included in costs of metals sold increased to $237.0 million in the first nine months of 2013 from $218.9 million in the same period of 2012. PGM Recycling costs, which primarily reflect the cost of acquiring spent catalytic materials for processing, totaled $402.9 million in the first nine months of 2013, more than the $249.4 million reported in the first nine months of 2012. The increase was due to higher volumes sold and the related higher total cost to acquire materials for processing.

General and administrative costs were $35.8 million in the first nine months of 2013, up from the $32.5 million incurred during the same period of 2012. The Company recognized $10.2 million in total exploration expenses related to its mineral properties in both Canada and South America in the first nine months of 2013 and $13.8 million in the first nine months of 2012. Marketing expenses declined to $4.2 million in the first nine months of 2013 compared to $7.9 million in the same time period of 2012, reflecting the curtailment of palladium marketing in the second half of 2013. As a result of the recent proxy contest and the change in control provisions in the Company's employee and director equity incentive plans, the Company recognized costs of $4.3 million and $9.1 million, (non-cash charge) respectively, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013. These costs were incurred during the first and second quarters of the year.

Interest expense reported for the first nine months of 2013 and 2012 was $17.6 million and $4.4 million, respectively. This increase is principally the result of the interest expense related to the 1.75% convertible debentures, including the accretion of the debt discount that is charged to earnings over the expected life of the convertible debentures and offset by capitalized interest recognized as a cost of the Company's ongoing projects. The non-cash accretion of the debt discount and the non-cash capitalized interest in the first nine months of 2013 were $11.7 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

During the first nine months of 2013, the Company recorded a net foreign currency transaction gain of $15.7 million, primarily related to the deferred tax liability recorded in association with the acquisition of Peregrine Metals Ltd. The foreign currency transaction gain recorded for the first nine months of 2012 was $13.0 million. Approximately $17.4 million and $12.7 million of the 2013 and 2012 net gain, respectively, related to the remeasurement into U.S. dollars of the deferred taxes recorded in association with the acquisition of Peregrine Metals Ltd. The gain reflects the result of the high inflation rate in Argentina as the obligation is remeasured from pesos into U.S. dollars.

Third Quarter Results Webcast and Conference Call

Stillwater Mining Company will conduct a conference call to discuss third quarter results at approximately 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, November 13, 2013.

Dial-In Numbers:
United States: (800) 611-1148
International: (612) 332-0342

The conference call will be simultaneously webcast through the Company's website at

A telephone replay of the call will be available for one week following the event. The replay dial-in numbers are (800) 475-6701 (U.S.) and (320) 365-3844 (International), access code 306549. In addition, the call transcript will be archived in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.

Stillwater Mining Company is the only U.S. producer of palladium and platinum and is the largest primary producer of platinum group metals outside of South Africa and the Russian Federation. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWC and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SWC.U. Information on Stillwater Mining Company can be found at its website: Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, therefore, involve uncertainties or risks that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements may contain words such as "desires," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates" or similar expressions. Such statements also include, but are not limited to, comments regarding expansion plans, costs, grade, production and recovery rates; permitting; financing needs and the terms of future credit facilities; exchange rates; capital expenditures; increases in processing capacity; cost reduction measures; safety; timing for engineering studies; environmental permitting and compliance; litigating; labor matters; and the palladium, platinum, copper and gold market. These statements are not guarantees of the Company's future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause its actual performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding factors that could cause results to differ materially from management's expectations is found in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K, in its quarterly Form 10-Q filings, and in corresponding filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities.