ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aura Minerals Inc. (TSX: ORA) (B3: AURA33) (OTCQX: ORAAF) (“Aura” or the “Company”) announces that it has filed its audited consolidated financial statements and management discussion and analysis (together, “Financial and Operational Results”) for the period ended December 31, 2024. The full version of the Financial and Operational Results can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.auraminerals.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise.
Rodrigo Barbosa, President, and CEO of Aura, commented: “In 2024, we doubled our EBITDA to US$267 million, with average gold prices of nearly US$2,400 / Oz—well below current levels—while keeping costs firmly under control with our all-in sustaining costs (AISC) at US$1,320/Oz, below the industry average. Almas operation overcame a challenging first half to deliver an outstanding full-year performance, producing 54,129 Oz at an AISC of US$1,139/Oz. This success sets a strong foundation for Borborema, which remains on track and on budget for its 2025 startup, promising higher average production and costs below our average AISC.
Additionally, we bolstered our portfolio with the acquisition of a world-class deposit and achieved significant exploration progress. In all, 2024 marked another year of production growth, up 18% at constant metal prices, and advancement of new projects with US$159 million invested in growth for future years, all while delivering returns to shareholders through dividends and ongoing share buybacks, yielding 9.2% in the LTM. Remarkably, while expanding operations, ramping up new mines, and building another mine, our safety record remains among the best in the industry, with only one non-severe lost-time incident (LTI) in two years”
Q4 2024 and 2024 Financial and Operational Highlights:
(US$ thousand):
For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 | For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 | |||||
Total Production1 (GEO) | 66,473 | 69,194 | 267,232 | 235,856 | ||||
Sales2 (GEO) | 69,341 | 68,571 | 269,833 | 233,923 | ||||
Net Revenue | 171,517 | 124,322 | 594,163 | 416,894 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA | 79,319 | 40,893 | 266,768 | 134,107 | ||||
AISC per GEO sold | 1,373 | 1,311 | 1,320 | 1,325 | ||||
Ending Cash balance | 270,189 | 237,295 | 270,189 | 237,295 | ||||
Net Debt | 188,079 | 85,165 | 188,079 | 85,165 | ||||
Income/(Loss) for the period | 16,644 | (5,908 | ) | (30,271 | ) | 31,880 | ||
Adjusted Net Income | 24,636 | 19,926 | 81,547 | 58,602 |
(1) Considers capitalized production
(2) Does not consider capitalized production
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1 AISC is a non-GAAP financial measure with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and detailed reconciliations to the most directly comparable IFRS measures, see Section 17: Non-GAAP Performance Measures in this MD&A.
Dividends and Buybacks
In March, Aura announced simultaneous buyback programs for Ordinary Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and Brazilian Depositary Receipts (BDRs) on B3. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had repurchased 1,082,497 common shares of its Brazilian Depositary Receipts2 and 183,710 under the Normal Course Issuer Bidder program and canceled 116,948 shares from the total repurchased. To date, US$13,576 were invested in shares and BDRs buybacks.
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2 Each common share is equivalent to 3 Brazilian Depositary Receipts.
Safety
Borborema construction
As of the date of this MD&A, the Borborema Project construction is on track to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. Construction capex is 100% committed. Significant developments include the conclusion of the Main Substation, Power Line, Mechanical assembly of the Crushing Area and the CIL area. The mine pre-stripping is ongoing according to the plan and moved a total of 5.7Mt. The project currently employs 2,184 direct and indirect personnel.
Bluestone Acquisition Closing
On January 13, 2025, Aura completed the previously announced plan of arrangement with Bluestone Resources (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition includes a high-grade gold deposit with approximately2.4 million ounces of gold and 10.4 ounces of silver (41 Mt at average grade 1.8 g/t Au and 7.9 g/t Ag) in Measured category and approximately 700 thousand ounces of gold and 3.0 million ounces of silver (22.6 Mt at average grade of 1.0 g/t Au and 4.2 g/t silver) in Indicated category of mineral resources and an advanced renewable energy project. In the coming months, the Company will conduct a review of the feasibility study and evaluate alternatives to optimize scale, risk, and return profile of the project. Concurrently, Aura will implement Aura 360 concept, adhering to the highest environmental and social standards, in preparation to begin construction. Additionally, the geothermal energy project at Cerro Blanco, which has the potential to generate up to 50MW, offers a distinctive opportunity to utilize renewable energy and possibly sell any excess to Guatemala.
Guidance 2024 Achievement:
The Company achieved its guidance for 2024, including production, cash cost, All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC), and capital expenditures, as demonstrated by the results of the year.
Gold equivalent thousand ounces ('000 GEO) production - 2024 | |||||||
Low - 2024 | High - 2024 | 2024 A | % | 2024 A at Guidance Prices | % | ||
Minosa (San Andrés) | 60 | 75 | 78 | 104% - 130% | 78 | 104% - 130% | |
Apoena (EPP) | 46 | 56 | 37 | 66% - 81% | 37 | 66% - 81% | |
Aranzazu | 94 | 108 | 98 | 90% - 104% | 107 | 98% - 114% | |
Almas | 45 | 53 | 54 | 103% - 121% | 54 | 103% - 121% | |
Total | 244 | 292 | 267 | 91% - 109% | 276 | 94% - 113% |
Cash Cost per equivalent ounce of gold produced - 2024 | ||||||||
Low - 2024 | High - 2024 | 2024 A | Δ Low | Δ High | 2024 A at Guidance Prices | Δ Low | Δ High | |
Minosa (San Andrés) | 1,120 | 1,288 | 1,126 | 0% | -13% | 1,126 | 0% | -13% |
Apoena (EPP) | 1,182 | 1,300 | 1,189 | 1% | -9% | 1,189 | 1% | -9% |
Aranzazu | 826 | 1,009 | 965 | 17% | -4% | 886 | 7% | -12% |
Almas | 932 | 1,025 | 950 | 2% | -7% | 950 | 2% | -7% |
Total | 984 | 1,140 | 1,041 | 6% | -9% | 1,009 | 3% | -11% |
AISC per equivalent ounce of gold produced - 2024 | ||||||||
Low - 2024 | High - 2024 | 2024 A | Δ Low | Δ High | 2024 A at Guidance Prices | Δ Low | Δ High | |
Minosa (San Andrés) | 1,216 | 1,398 | 1,205 | -1% | -14% | 1,205 | -1% | -14% |
Apoena (EPP) | 1,588 | 1,747 | 1,833 | 15% | 5% | 1,833 | 15% | 5% |
Aranzazu | 1,089 | 1,331 | 1,308 | 20% | -2% | 1,201 | 10% | -10% |
Almas | 1,179 | 1,297 | 1,139 | -3% | -12% | 1,139 | -3% | -12% |
Total | 1,290 | 1,459 | 1,320 | 2% | -10% | 1,279 | -1% | -12% |
Capex (US$ million) - 2024 | ||||
Low - 2024 | High - 2024 | 2024 A | % | |
Sustaining | 37 | 43 | 36 | 83% - 96% |
Exploration | 7 | 8 | 8 | 102% - 119% |
New projects + expansion | 144 | 169 | 137 | 81% - 95% |
Total | 188 | 219 | 181 | 82% - 96% |
Guidance 2025
The Company’s updated gold equivalent production, AISC and cash operating cost per gold equivalent ounce sold, and CAPEX guidance for 2025 are detailed below.
Production
The table below details the Company’s updated GEO production guidance for 2025 by business unit:
Gold equivalent thousand ounces ('000 GEO) production - 2025 | ||||
Low - 2025 | High - 2025 | |||
Minosa (San Andrés) | 64 | 73 | ||
Apoena (EPP) | 29 | 32 | ||
Aranzazu | 88 | 97 | ||
Almas | 51 | 58 | ||
Borborema | 33 | 40 | ||
Total | 266 | 300 |
For current guidance, the Company considered: Copper price = $4.29/lb; Gold Price = $2,634,41/oz; Silver Price = $31.66/oz
2025 Production Guidance:
All in all, the 2025 production guidance expects production of 266-300 kGEO, represents an increase of up to 33k GEO when compared to 2024 at current prices and up to 37k GEO at constant metal prices.
Cash Costs
The table below shows the Company’s cash operating costs per GEO sold guidance for 2025 by Business Unit:
Cash Cost per equivalent ounce of gold produced - 2025 | ||||
Low - 2025 | High - 2025 | |||
Minosa (San Andrés) | 1,108 | 1,219 | ||
Apoena (EPP) | 1,258 | 1,384 | ||
Aranzazu | 1,029 | 1,132 | ||
Almas | 1,013 | 1,114 | ||
Borborema | 1,084 | 1,232 | ||
Total | 1,078 | 1,191 | ||
Total ex-Apoena | 1,055 | 1,167 | ||
2025 Cash Cost Guidance:
All In Sustaining costs
The table below shows the Company’s all-in sustaining costs per GEO sold guidance for 2025 by Business Unit:
AISC per equivalent ounce of gold produced - 2025 | ||||
Low - 2025 | High - 2025 | |||
Minosa (San Andrés) | 1,263 | 1,364 | ||
Apoena (EPP) | 2,425 | 2,619 | ||
Aranzazu | 1,348 | 1,455 | ||
Almas | 1,113 | 1,202 | ||
Borborema | 1,113 | 1,304 | ||
Total | 1,374 | 1,492 | ||
Total ex-Apoena | 1,241 | 1,353 | ||
2025 All-In Sustaining Cost Guidance:
Capex:
The table below shows the breakdown of estimated capital expenditures by type of investment:
Capex (US$ million) - 2025 | ||||
Low - 2025 | High - 2025 | |||
Sustaining | 40 | 47 | ||
Exploration | 10 | 13 | ||
New projects + Expansion | 99 | 106 | ||
Total | 149 | 167 | ||
2024 and Q4 2024 Earnings Call
The Company will hold an earnings conference call on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 8:00 AM (Eastern Time). To register and participate, please click the link below.
Date: February 27, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM (New York and Toronto) | 10:00 AM (Brasília)
Access Link: Click here.
Key Factors
The Company’s future profitability, operating cash flows, and financial position will be closely related to the prevailing prices of gold and copper. Key factors influencing the price of gold and copper include, but are not limited to, the supply of and demand for gold and copper, the relative strength of currencies (particularly the United States dollar), and macroeconomic factors such as current and future expectations for inflation and interest rates. Management believes that the short-to-medium term economic environment is likely to remain relatively supportive for commodity prices but with continued volatility.
To decrease risks associated with commodity prices and currency volatility, the Company will continue to evaluate and implement available protection programs. For additional information on this, please refer to the AIF.
Other key factors influencing profitability and operating cash flows are production levels (impacted by grades, ore quantities, process recoveries, labor, country stability, plant, and equipment availabilities), production and processing costs (impacted by production levels, prices, and usage of key consumables, labor, inflation, and exchange rates), among other factors.
Non-GAAP Measures
In this press release, the Company has included Adjusted EBITDA, cash operating costs per gold equivalent ounce sold, AISC and net debt which are non-GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning within IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company believes that these measures provide investors with additional information which is useful in evaluating the Company’s performance and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The below tables provide a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures presented:
Reconciliation from Income for the Quarter for EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (US$ thousand): | ||||||||
For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 | For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 | |||||
Profit (loss) from continued and discontinued operation | 16,644 | (5,908 | ) | (30,271 | ) | 31,880 | ||
Income tax (expense) recovery | 16,383 | 1,598 | 52,971 | 18,798 | ||||
Deferred income tax (expense) recovery | 23,982 | (6,049 | ) | 29,720 | (12,372 | ) | ||
Finance costs | 9,791 | 36,874 | 151,679 | 49,379 | ||||
Other gains (losses) | 315 | 5,077 | 1,267 | (659 | ) | |||
Depreciation | 13,534 | 9,301 | 62,732 | 47,082 | ||||
EBITDA | 80,649 | 40,893 | 268,098 | 134,107 | ||||
Impairment | - | - | - | - | ||||
ARO Change | (1,330 | ) | - | (1,330 | ) | - | ||
Adjusted EBITDA | 79,319 | 40,893 | 266,768 | 134,107 | ||||
Reconciliation from the consolidated financial statements to cash operating costs per gold equivalent ounce sold (US$ thousand): | ||||||||
For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 | For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 | |||||
Cost of goods sold | (90,418 | ) | (84,186 | ) | (342,893 | ) | (290,877 | ) |
Depreciation | 14,270 | 9,844 | 61,847 | 46,816 | ||||
COGS w/o Depreciation | (76,148 | ) | (74,342 | ) | (281,046 | ) | (244,061 | ) |
Gold Equivalent Ounces sold | 69,341 | 68,571 | 269,833 | 233,923 | ||||
Cash costs per gold equivalent ounce sold | 1,098 | 1,084 | 1,042 | 1,043 | ||||
Reconciliation from the consolidated financial statements to all in sustaining costs per gold equivalent ounce sold (US$ thousand): | ||||||||
For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 | For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 | |||||
Cost of goods sold | (90,418 | ) | (84,186 | ) | (342,893 | ) | (290,877 | ) |
Depreciation | 14,270 | 9,844 | 61,847 | 46,816 | ||||
COGS w/o Depreciation | (76,148 | ) | (74,342 | ) | (281,046 | ) | (244,061 | ) |
Capex w/o Expansion | 9,212 | 10,378 | 43,937 | 44,481 | ||||
Site G&A | 6,124 | 1,687 | 14,024 | 8,217 | ||||
Lease Payments | 3,712 | 3,473 | 17,202 | 13,109 | ||||
Sub-Total | ||||||||
Gold Equivalent Ounces sold | 69,341 | 68,571 | 269,833 | 233,923 | ||||
All In Sustaining costs per ounce sold | 1,373 | 1,311 | 1,320 | 1,325 |
Reconciliation Net Debt (US$ thousand): | ||||
For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | |||
Short Term Loans | 82,007 | 82,865 | ||
Long-Term Loans | 361,097 | 250,724 | ||
Plus / (Less): Derivative Financial Instrument for Debentures | 15,164 | (11,129 | ) | |
Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents | (270,189 | ) | (237,295 | ) |
Less: Restricted cash | - | - | ||
Less: Short term investments | - | - | ||
Net Debt | 188,079 | 85,165 | ||
About Aura 360° Mining
Aura is focused on mining in complete terms – thinking holistically about how its business impacts and benefits every one of our stakeholders: our company, our shareholders, our employees, and the countries and communities we serve. We call this 360° Mining.
Aura is a mid-tier gold and copper production company focused on operating and developing gold and base metal projects in the Americas. The Company has 4 operating mines including the Aranzazu copper-gold-silver mine in Mexico, the Apoena (EPP) and Almas gold mines in Brazil, and the Minosa (San Andres) gold mine in Honduras. The Company’s development projects include Borborema and Matupá both in Brazil. Aura has unmatched exploration potential owning over 630,000 hectares of mineral rights and is currently advancing multiple near-mine and regional targets along with the Aura Carajas copper project in the prolific Carajás region of Brazil.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements”, as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans,” “expects,” “is expected,” “budget,” “scheduled,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “anticipates,” or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.
Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to predict or control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Annual Information Form on file with certain Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements, which include, without limitation, volatility in the prices of gold, copper and certain other commodities, changes in debt and equity markets, the uncertainties involved in interpreting geological data, increases in costs, environmental compliance and changes in environmental legislation and regulation, interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations, general economic conditions and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
Financial Outlook and Future-Oriented Financial Information
To the extent any forward-looking statements in this press release constitute “financial outlooks” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, such information is being provided as certain estimated financial metrics and the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such financial outlooks. Such information was approved by the company’s Board of Directors on February 26, 2025. Financial outlooks, as with forward-looking statements generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to various risks as set out herein. The Company’s actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from management’s current expectations and, as a result, may differ materially from values provided in this press release.
CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Investor Relations ri@auraminerals.com www.auraminerals.com