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THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR
DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED
STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise
noted.
First Uranium Corporation
(TSX:FIU)(JSE:FUM)(ISIN:CA33744R1029) ("First Uranium" or the
"Company") reported today that in connection with its previously announced
financing by way of short form prospectus, the prospectus will include a
projection in respect of the future financial condition of the Company
including the information below. All information included below is based
on the Company's current expectations.
The following forecast of consolidated earnings (the
"Forecast") contains forward-looking information and was prepared
by management. The Forecast is based on assumptions that reflect management's
best judgment of the most probable set of economic conditions and the
Corporation's planned course of action as of February 17, 2011. Actual
results may vary from the forward-looking information provided. Any
Management Discussion & Analysis issued by the Corporation to its
shareholders during the forecast period will contain a revised forecast
accompanied by explanations if actual results differ significantly from the
Forecast.
FIU CONSOLIDATED
(000's)
|
end
Mar '11
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end
June '11
|
end
Sept '11
|
end
Dec '11
|
end
Mar '12
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MWS: Cash
generated from operations
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12,032
|
16,295
|
7,444
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8,619
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13,873
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MWS capital expenditures
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(17,816)
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(12,649)
|
(7,093)
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(337)
|
(143)
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Ezulwini: Cash (utilized in) generated from
operations(1)
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(9,449)
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(3,823)
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(411)
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4,964
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10,098
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Ezulwini
capital expenditures
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(5,236)
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(6,580)
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(6,677)
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(5,938)
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(4,927)
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FIU corporate expenditures
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(2,875)
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(2,726)
|
(3,726)
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(2,726)
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(2,726)
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Interest on
convertible debentures
|
(7,301)
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(3,156)
|
(7,301)
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(3,156)
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(7,147)
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Cash movement for
the quarter
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(30,646)
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(12,639)
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(17,765)
|
1,427
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9,027
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Minimum proceeds
from financing raise(2)
|
46,000
|
|
|
|
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Less: estimated
financing transaction costs
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(2,675)
|
|
|
|
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Opening
balance
|
29,979
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42,658
|
30,019
|
12,254
|
13,681
|
Closing
Balance
|
42,658
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30,019
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12,254
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13,681
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22,708
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|
|
|
|
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COMMODITY
AND EXCHANGE RATE ASSUMPTIONS
|
|
|
|
|
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Gold price US$/oz
|
1380
|
1390
|
1390
|
1390
|
1390
|
Uranium price US$/lb
|
65
|
65
|
65
|
65
|
65
|
Gold price ZAR/kg
|
301,703
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303,889
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303,889
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303,889
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303,889
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ZAR/US$ exchange rate
|
6.80
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6.80
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6.80
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6.80
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6.80
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Notes:
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(1) assuming
90% of Ezulwini's planned gold production is
achieved.
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(2) assuming US$1 = Cdn$1
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ASSUMPTIONS:
In addition to assumptions with respect to commodity
and exchange rates set out above, specific assumptions have been made in
connection with the financial forecast disclosed above, including:
(1) MWS –
- The hydraulic mining, milling throughput and
recoveries will meet planned levels.
-
- Tonnage and grade will be consistent with
published mineral reserve and resource estimates.
-
- Successful construction and commissioning of
the Phase 2 gold plant and new tailings storage facility.
-
- With major capital items procured, the cost
budget estimates for the remaining capital program for the Phase 2 gold
plant and tailings storage facility are accurate.
-
- Satisfaction of the Gold Wheaton Construction
and Technical Completion Test.
-
- Results are sensitive to capital and operating
costs and fluctuations in such costs.
-
- Detailed information in respect of the
production amounts, operating expenditures and capital expenditures in
connection with the MWS Project can be found at the following pages of
the MWS Technical Report: 96 - 110, 125 - 130 and 131 - 132 and at pages
5, 6 and 14 of the Interim MD&A.
-
(2) Ezulwini
–
- The production figure assumes 90% of planned
production is achieved.
-
- Ezulwini mining and milling production will meet planned levels.
-
- Tonnage and grade will be consistent with
published mineral resource estimates.
-
- With the bulk of the construction expenditures
now complete, the capital expenditure estimates for the ongoing mine
development and sustaining capital costs are accurate. Results are
sensitive to capital and operating costs and fluctuations in such costs.
-
- Results are sensitive to capital and operating
costs and fluctuations in such costs.
-
- Results assume that Ezulwini's
ramp up progresses as planned.
-
- Detailed information in respect of the
production amounts, operating expenditures and capital expenditures in
connection with the Ezulwini Mine can be found
at the following pages of the Ezulwini
Technical Report: 18-16 – 18-17, 18-20, 18-26, 18-34 – 18-36
and 18-38 to 18-47.
-
(3) General –
- Commodity and exchange rate price assumptions
are as set out above.
-
- Applicable taxes due are assumed to be
consistent with current tax levels.
-
- Transaction costs have been assumed for the
size of the Offering.
-
- The corporate expenditures of the Corporation
are comprised of the estimated quarterly general, administrative and
consulting costs incurred by the corporate offices in Canada and South
Africa over the respective periods. The interest on convertible
debentures relates to the interest payable of 4.25% on the senior
unsecured convertible debentures (the "Debentures") issued in
May 2007, 7% on the secured Canadian Notes and 11% on the Rand Notes
issued in April 2010. The interest on the Debentures is payable
semi-annually at the end of June and December. The interest on the Notes
is payable semi-annually at the end of March and September.
-
- The US$61.6 million contractual obligations
payable over the next twelve months as disclosed under the Commitments
and Contingencies section of the MD&A for the three months ended
December 31, 2010 have been incorporated into the cash forecast table as
follows:
-
- The interest on the
Debentures of US$6.4 million and interest on Notes of $14.8million. totalling US$21.2 million.
-
- The derivative liability of
US$19.6 million relates to the calendar 2011 guaranteed ounces that Ezulwini is obliged to deliver to Gold Wheaton
pursuant to the Ezulwini Gold Stream
Agreement. Ezulwini receives US$400/oz for
the guaranteed ounces. The revenue from Ezulwini
in the cash flow forecast incorporates the revenue from gold delivered
to Gold Wheaton at US$400 per ounce.
-
- The purchase obligations of
US$20.5 million relate to capital commitments at Ezulwini
and MWS respectively and have been factored into the capital
expenditures of Ezulwini and MWS in the cash
flow forecast.
-
- Capital lease obligations
amounting to US$0.38 million have been incorporated in the FIU
corporate expenditures in the cash flow forecast.
-
About First Uranium Corporation
First Uranium Corporation (TSX:FIU)(JSE:FUM)
is focused on its goal of becoming a low-cost producer of gold and uranium through
the expansion of the underground development to feed the new gold and uranium
plants at the Ezulwini Mine and through the
expansion of the plant capacity of the Mine Waste Solutions (MWS) tailings
recovery facility, both operations situated in South Africa. First
Uranium also plans to grow production by pursuing value-enhancing acquisition
and joint venture opportunities in South Africa and elsewhere.
Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking
Information
This news release contains and refers to forward-looking
information based on current expectations. All other statements other than
statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking
statements (or forward-looking information). The Company's plans involve
various estimates and assumptions and its business and operations are subject
to various risks and uncertainties. For more details on these estimates,
assumptions, risks and uncertainties, see the Company's most recent Annual
Information Form and most recent Management Discussion and Analysis on file
with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of
the date hereof and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove
to be accurate, such statements are subject to significant risks and
uncertainties, and actual results and future events could differ materially
from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements that are included herein,
except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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