ST HELIER, Jersey, Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc ("Caledonia" or the "Company") announces its operating and financial results for the quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2022 (the "Quarter" and "Nine Months" respectively).  Further information on the financial and operating results for the Quarter and Nine Months can be found in the management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") and the unaudited financial statements, which are available on the Company's website and which have been filed on SEDAR. 

Financial Highlights

• Gross revenues in the Nine Months of $107.9 million, a 21.0 per cent increase on the $89.2 million achieved in the first nine months of 2021.
• Gross profit in the Nine Months of $50.5 million, a 26.1 per cent increase on the $40.0 million achieved in the first nine months of 2021.
• EBITDA in the Quarter (excluding asset impairments, depreciation, and net foreign exchange gains) of $16.9 million, an 11.8 per cent increase on the $15.1 million in the third quarter of 2021 ("Q3 2021"). This represents EBITDA (excluding asset impairments, depreciation, and net foreign exchange gains) for the Nine Months of $52.9 million (nine months to September 30, 2021: $35.0 million).
• On-mine cost per ounce for the Quarter of $734 (Q3 2021: $695 per ounce).
• All-in sustaining cost ("AISC") per ounce for the Quarter of $944 (Q3 2021: $870 per ounce). The 8.5 per cent increase compared to Q3 2021 is due to higher on-mine cost per ounce and higher administrative costs.
• Basic IFRS earnings per share ("EPS") for the Quarter of 66.2 cents (Q3 2021: 57.1 cents).
• Adjusted EPS for the Quarter of 60.7 cents (Q3 2021: 68.9 cents).
• Net cash from operating activities in the Quarter of $8.9 million (Q3 2021: $7.1 million).
• Net cash and cash equivalents at the end of the Quarter of $6.2 million (Q3 2021: $13.0 million).
• Total dividend paid in the Quarter of 14 cents per share paid in July 2022; a further dividend at the same rate of 14 cents per share was paid in October 2022. 

 Operating Highlights

• 21,120 ounces of gold were produced in the Quarter, 11.4 per cent higher than the 18,965 ounces produced in Q3 2021 and a new quarterly production record.
• 59,726 ounces were produced in the Nine Months, 22.2 per cent higher than the 48,872 ounces produced in the first nine months of 2021.

Other highlights

Transaction to acquire the Bilboes gold project

• On July 21, 2022, Caledonia announced that it had signed an agreement to purchase Bilboes Gold Limited, the parent company which owns, through its Zimbabwe subsidiary, the Bilboes gold project in Zimbabwe ("Bilboes" or the "Project"). Subject to satisfaction of the conditions to completion and to customary adjustments to the purchase price to account for any extraordinary liabilities incurred before completion, the total consideration for the acquisition will be 5,123,044 Caledonia shares, representing approximately 28.5 per cent of Caledonia's fully diluted equity, and a 1 per cent net smelter royalty ("NSR") on the Project's revenues.
• The Project has NI43-101 compliant measured and indicated mineral resources of 2.56 million ounces of gold at a grade of 2.26 g/t and inferred mineral resources of 576,672 ounces of gold at a grade of 1.89 g/t¹. This includes proven and probable mineral reserves of 1.96 million ounces of gold at a grade of 2.29 g/t. 
• The feasibility study which has been prepared by the vendors indicates the potential for an open-pit gold mine producing an average of 168,000 ounces per year over a 10-year life of mine. Caledonia will prepare a feasibility study to identify the most judicious way to commercialise the Project (with regard to the availability of funding on acceptable terms).  
• Caledonia is making progress towards satisfying the outstanding conditions to complete the transaction: it has received certain approvals from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, and continues to engage with the Competition and Tariff Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Energy and Fidelity Printers and Refiners (Private) Limited regarding further outstanding approvals.

Acquisition of the Motapa gold exploration project in Zimbabwe

• On November 2, 2022, Caledonia announced that it has purchased Motapa Mining Company UK Limited, the parent company of a Zimbabwe subsidiary which holds a registered mining lease over the Motapa gold exploration property in Southern Zimbabwe ("Motapa"). The Company made the purchase from Bulawayo Mining Company Limited, a privately owned UK company.

Updated Mineral Resources and Technical Report for Maligreen

• On November 7, 2022, Caledonia announced an update to the NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resources statement at the Company’s 100% owned Maligreen project in the Zimbabwe Midlands (“Maligreen”) and the publishing of an updated technical report with an effective date of September 30, 2022 (the “2022 Technical Report”)². The 2022 Technical Report replaces the previous technical report filed on SEDAR in November 2021 as the current technical report for the Maligreen project. Since Caledonia acquired the Maligreen claims in November 2021 it has been focused on reviewing the geological work conducted at the property with a view to upgrading the Mineral Resources in 2022. In summary, the 2022 Technical Report states Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 442 thousand ounces of gold in 8.03 million tonnes at a grade of 1.71 g/t and Inferred Mineral Resources of 420 thousand ounces of gold in 6.17 million tonnes at a grade of 2.12 g/t.

Outlook

• Increase production at Blanket Mine ("Blanket") to the target of 80,000 ounces of gold per year³, reduce operating costs and increase the flexibility to undertake further development and exploration, thereby safeguarding and enhancing Blanket's long-term future.
• Satisfy the conditions to enable the completion of the acquisition of Bilboes and, thereafter, prepare a feasibility study to identify the most judicious way to commercialise the Project with regard to the availability of funding on acceptable terms.
• Restart the oxides operation at Bilboes under the terms of a tribute arrangement with a view to creating a cash-generative operation within approximately six months of the re-commencement of activities.
• Commission the 12MWac solar plant, which is expected to provide 27 per cent of Blanket's total electricity demand.

Commenting on the announcement, Mark Learmonth, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"This has been another terrific quarter: production of just over 21,000 ounces set a new quarterly production record. In both of the last two quarters we have exceeded our quarterly production target of 20,000 ounces and we are on-track to achieve the top end of our annual production target of between 73,000 and 80,000 ounces of gold.

“The benefit of higher production was diluted by a lower gold price and a modest increase in costs as, in common with other mining companies, we experience inflation on consumables and diesel. Costs were also adversely affected by the increased use of diesel generators due to a further deterioration in the grid supply. However, we are now within a few weeks of seeing the benefit of the new solar plant which is currently being commissioned. This, along with other initiatives to reduce our diesel consumption, should curb the inflationary pressure on our costs.

"We have made good progress on implementing our strategy to acquire a portfolio of high-quality exploration and development assets in the Zimbabwe gold sector.

“In July, Caledonia announced that it had signed an agreement to purchase Bilboes Gold Limited, which is the holding company for a large, high-grade, open-pitable gold resource.  Completion of the transaction is subject to several conditions, and we are making progress towards satisfying them. Once the transaction has completed, we intend to prepare a feasibility study to identify the most judicious way to commercialise the Project with regards to the availability of funding on acceptable terms.  Caledonia also intends to re-start the oxides operation at Bilboes, under a tribute arrangement before completion of the transaction, with a view to creating a cash-generative operation within approximately six months of the commencement of activity.

"The proposed acquisition of Bilboes also builds on the acquisition of the Maligreen claims in November 2021. We have evaluated the existing geological information which allowed us to improve the geological confidence of approximately half the Mineral Resources from Inferred to Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources. This supports our confidence in the project and its geological continuity.

“Last week we also announced the acquisition of Motapa, a large exploration property which is contiguous to the Bilboes gold project. Motapa was formerly owned and explored by Anglo American Zimbabwe prior to its exit from the Zimbabwean gold sector in the late 1990s. The project has a mining lease covering approximately 2,200 hectares. Motapa has been mined throughout most of the second half of the 20th century. Caledonia understands that during this period the region produced as much as 300,000 ounces of gold.

"2022 has been an outstanding year so far and I would like to thank the team for their continued hard work."

Caledonia will host an online presentation and Q&A session open to all investors on 11 November at 14.00 London Time
The zoom details are set out below

When: Nov 11, 2022 14.00 London Time
Topic: Q3 2022 Results Shareholder Call

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://caledoniamining.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_odZTjNcNRyme5BI1HGiW7w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Note: The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (“MAR”) as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR. 

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Information
Information and statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation that involve risks and uncertainties relating, but not limited, to Caledonia’s current expectations, intentions, plans, and beliefs. Forward-looking information can often be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “goal”, “plan”, “target”, “intend”, “estimate”, “could”, “should”, “may” and “will” or the negative of these terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include: production guidance, estimates of future/targeted production rates, the satisfaction of all conditions precedent in connection with the acquisition of Bilboes, the completion of the acquisition and the issuance of the acquisition consideration, our plans regarding a new feasibility study for Bilboes, the restarting of the Bilboes oxides operation, our plans and timing regarding further exploration and development and the commissioning of the solar plant. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based, in part, on assumptions and factors that may change or prove to be incorrect, thus causing actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking information. Such factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the establishment of estimated resources and reserves, the grade and recovery of minerals which are mined varying from estimates, success of future exploration and drilling programs, reliability of drilling, sampling and assay data, the representativeness of mineralization being accurate, success of planned metallurgical test-work, capital availability and accuracy of estimated operating costs, obtaining required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects and Caledonia’s experience of project development in Zimbabwe and other factors.

To the extent any forward-looking information herein constitutes a financial outlook or future oriented financial information,
any such statement is made as of the date hereof and included herein to provide prospective investors with an understanding of the Company's plans and assumptions. Security holders, potential security holders and other prospective investors should be aware that these statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to the completion of the acquisition of Bilboes, risks relating to estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources proving to be inaccurate, fluctuations in gold price, risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, risks relating to the credit worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other parties with whom the Company does business; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards, employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; political risk; risks related to natural disasters, terrorism, civil unrest, public health concerns (including health epidemics or outbreaks of communicable diseases such as the coronavirus (COVID-19)); availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining or maintaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves as mining occurs; global financial condition, the actual results of current exploration activities, changes to conclusions of economic evaluations, and changes in project parameters to deal with unanticipated economic or other factors, risks of increased capital and operating costs, environmental, safety or regulatory risks, expropriation, the Company’s title to properties including ownership thereof, increased competition in the mining industry for properties, equipment, qualified personnel and their costs, risks relating to the uncertainty of timing of events including targeted production rate increase and currency fluctuations. Security holders, potential security holders and other prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. By its nature, forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and various future events will not occur. Caledonia undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless otherwise indicated, all reserves and resource estimates contained in this press release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and reserve and resource information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of reserves and resources are also not the same as those of the SEC, and any reserves or resources reported in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as “reserves” or “resources” under SEC standards. Accordingly, the mineral reserve and resource information set forth herein may not be comparable to information made public by companies that report in accordance with United States standards.

This news release is not an offer of the shares of Caledonia for sale in the United States or elsewhere. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the shares of Caledonia, in any province, state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such province, state or jurisdiction.

¹ Refer to the technical report entitled "BILBOES GOLD PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY" with effective date 15 December 2021 prepared by DRA Projects (Pty) Ltd filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on 21 July 2022.
² Refer to technical report entitled “Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc Updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Report on the Maligreen Gold Project, Zimbabwe dated November 3, 2022 prepared by Minxcon (Pty) Ltd and filed on SEDAR on November 7, 2022.
³ Refer to the technical report entitled "Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Blanket Gold Mine, Zimbabwe" dated May 17, 2021 prepared by Minxcon (Pty) Ltd and filed by the Company on SEDAR on May 26, 2021.