TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Largo Inc. ("Largo" or the "Company") (TSX: LGO) (NASDAQ: LGO) today announces its third quarter 2021 financial results highlighted by revenues of $53.9 million and net income of $9.2 million. The Company recently announced results of a pre-feasibility study which forecasts materially increased profitability through enhanced access to vanadium and achieved important milestones in the development of its vanadium-based energy storage business.
Ian Robertson, Co-Chair of Largo, commented: “We believe that our two distinct, but related value propositions are clear – our shareholders own both an experienced new-economy vanadium production business demonstrating clear value upside, together with an emerging energy transition business, which provides the opportunity for incremental earnings from the manufacture and sale of vanadium-based energy storage systems. Our recently announced pre-feasibility study results support both businesses through materially enhanced forecast profitability from our vanadium and TiO2 production business and improved market share for our energy storage products. We believe the updated Largo brand embodies our commitment to deliver shareholder value accretion through the vertical integration of our two business propositions.”
Paulo Misk, President and CEO of Largo, stated: “The expansion of V2O5 production and incremental cash flows generated by the production and sale of TiO2 pigment provide clear upside to our shareholders. We were very pleased to report a 305%7 increase in Proven and Probable reserve tonnage and a 128%7 increase in Measured and Indicated resource tonnage for the Maracás Menchen Mine. We believe TiO2 production from the Company’s existing non-magnetic concentrate will enable Largo to enhance its operational competitiveness and together with its energy storage business transition, should lead to increased shareholder value for the Company. Strong vanadium prices in the third quarter resulted in the Company’s revenue and revenues per pound sold1 increasing 96% and 69%, respectively, over the same quarter in 2020. Despite lower sales results during Q3 2021 mainly due to global logistical delays, our operational results improved significantly over the prior quarter driven by improved recoveries and increased throughput.”
Financial Results
|
Three months ended |
Nine months ended |
||||||||||
|
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
53,861 |
|
$ |
27,474 |
|
$ |
147,954 |
|
77,733 |
|
|
Operating costs |
(32,126) |
|
(20,977) |
|
(95,264) |
|
(56,786) |
|
||||
Direct mine and production costs |
(18,613) |
|
(11,354) |
|
(53,756) |
|
(31,028) |
|
||||
Net income before tax |
13,469 |
|
3,352 |
|
32,096 |
|
1,700 |
|
||||
Income tax expense |
(2,569) |
|
(421) |
|
(5,028) |
|
(421) |
|
||||
Deferred income tax expense |
(1,707) |
|
(382) |
|
(5,286) |
|
(1,399) |
|
||||
Net income (loss) |
9,193 |
|
2,549 |
|
21,782 |
|
(120) |
|
||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share |
$ |
0.14 |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
$ |
0.00 |
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share |
$ |
0.14 |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
$ |
0.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Cash provided before non-cash working capital items |
$ |
20,314 |
|
$ |
4,820 |
|
$ |
49,260 |
|
$ |
4,526 |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
15,512 |
|
382 |
|
36,350 |
|
(64,249) |
|
||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
78 |
|
126 |
|
(6,900) |
|
27,643 |
|
||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(6,145) |
|
(4,435) |
|
(20,414) |
|
(13,036) |
|
||||
Net change in cash |
6,898 |
|
(3,320) |
|
8,422 |
|
(52,604) |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
As at |
|||||||||
|
|
|
September 30, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
||||||||
Cash |
|
|
$ |
87,567 |
|
$ |
79,145 |
|
||||
Working capital3 |
|
|
121,710 |
|
92,950 |
|
||||||
Maracás Menchen Mine Operational and Sales Results
Q3 2021 |
Q3 2020 |
|
|
|
|
Total Ore Mined (tonnes) |
366,484 |
287,969 |
Ore Grade Mined - Effective Grade (%)4 |
1.10 |
1.28 |
|
|
|
Concentrate Produced (tonnes) |
113,879 |
104,921 |
Grade of Concentrate (%) |
3.32 |
3.32 |
Global Recovery (%)5 |
83.7 |
84.2 |
|
|
|
V2O5 produced (Flake + Powder) (tonnes) |
3,260 |
3,092 |
V2O5 produced (equivalent pounds) 1 |
7,187,061 |
6,816,685 |
Total V2O5 equivalent sold (tonnes) |
2,685 |
|
Produced V2O5 equivalent sold (tonnes) |
2,549 |
2,320 |
Purchased V2O5 equivalent sold (tonnes) |
136 |
|
|
|
|
Cash operating costs excluding royalties1 ($/lb) |
3.53 |
3.14 |
Revenues per pound1 ($/lb) |
9.10 |
5.37 |
Q3 2021 Financial Highlights
- During Q3 2021, the Company recognized revenues of $53.9 million from sales of 2,685 tonnes of V2O5 equivalent (Q3 2020 - 2,320 tonnes). This represents a 96% increase in revenues over Q3 2020 ($27.5 million) due to higher vanadium prices during the quarter.
- Revenues per pound sold1 were $9.10 in Q3 2021 compared to $5.37 per pound sold in Q3 2020, representing an increase of 69%.
- Operating costs of $32.1 million in Q3 2021 (Q3 2020 – $21.0 million) include direct mine and production costs of $18.6 million (Q3 2020 – $11.3 million). The increase in direct mine and production costs is primarily attributable to the increase in sales as well as the impact of cost increases for critical consumables.
- Cash operating costs excluding royalties1 were $3.53 per lb in Q3 2021, compared with $3.14 for Q3 2020. The increase seen in Q3 2021 compared with Q3 2020 is largely due to the impact of cost increases for critical consumables and a slight decrease in global recoveries5, with 83.7% achieved in Q3 2021, compared with 84.2% achieved in Q3 2020.
- The Company recorded net income of $9.2 million in Q3 2021, representing an 261% increase over net income of $2.5 million in Q3 2020.
- Professional, consulting and management fees were $4.9 million in Q3 2021, compared with $2.1 million in Q3 2020. The increase is primarily attributable to costs incurred during the quarter in connection with LCE that was not operational in Q3 2020. In addition, the Company incurred increased legal and regulatory costs in Q3 2021 in relation to the Nasdaq listing process and U.S. regulatory requirements.
- Cash provided before working capital items of $20.3 million for Q3 2021 increased 321% compared to $4.8 million in Q3 2020. The increase resulted largely from higher revenue during the quarter resulting from higher realized vanadium prices.
- Cash of $87.6 million and working capital of $121.7 million as of September 30, 2021, compared to $79.1 million and $92.9 million, respectively, as of December 30, 2020.
Additional Corporate Highlights
- Developing Largo’s Vertically Integrated Energy Storage Business: On July 22, 2021, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. Ian Robertson as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Largo and as Interim President of LCE. Since then, LCE has passed all tests required for Underwriters Laboratory certification of the VCHARGE energy storage system, substantially completed Phase I of Largo’s Massachusetts manufacturing facility, was selected for $4.2 million in DOE funding for further development of manufacturing capabilities and continued to develop its sales pipeline with active customer discussions representing storage requirements of over 6,000 MWh.
- Solid Q3 2021 Production Results; Strong Finish to the Year Expected: Production from the Maracás Menchen Mine was 3,260 tonnes of V2O5 in Q3 2021, representing a 5% increase over Q3 2020 and the second-best quarter of production since commencement of operations. The Company achieved an excellent global recovery3 of 83.7% in Q3 2021, being 1% lower than Q3 2020 but 5% higher than the 79.9% achieved in Q2 2021. Lower V2O5 production in October 2021 of 874 tonnes was due to an unplanned mill shutdown and power outages caused by heavy rains which fell over the region during the month.
- Vanadium Sales Impacted by Global Logistical Delays: Increased delays and global logistical challenges have impacted all aspects of the Company’s supply chain resulting in lower V2O5 equivalent sales of 2,685 tonnes in Q3 2021. Diligent planning and a comprehensive sales strategy have allowed the Company to deliver on all its commercial commitments up to this point. The Company expects to exit the year with a solid quarter of production and sales results in Q4 2021.
Updated Q3 2021 Webcast and Conference Call Information
The Company will host a webcast and conference call on Thursday, November 11th at 10:00 a.m. ET, to discuss its third quarter 2021 results and progress.
Webcast and Conference Call Details:
Date: |
Thursday, November 11, 2021 |
Time: |
10:00 a.m. ET |
Webcast Registration Link: |
https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1510027&tp_key=8437e02a6 |
Dial-in Number: |
Local / International: +1 (647) 792-1241 |
North American Toll Free: +1 (866) 269-4261 |
|
Conference ID: |
6358846 |
Replay Number: |
Local / International: + 1 (647) 436-0148 |
North American Toll Free: +1 (888) 203-1112 |
|
Replay Passcode: 6358846 |
A playback recording will be available on the Company's website for a period of 60-days following the conference call.
The information provided within this release should be read in conjunction with Largo's unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and its management's discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 which are available on our website at www.largoresources.com or on the Company’s respective profiles at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.
Technical Information
The technical and scientific information contained in this press release has been reviewed by, and was prepared under the supervision of, Porfrio Cabaleiro Rodriguez, Mining Engineer, BSc (Mine Eng), FAIG, GE21 director, who is an independent Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The scientific and technical information contained in this press release was previously disclosed by the Company on Thursday, November 4, 2021, in the press release entitled “Enhanced Access to Vanadium and Profitability Indicated by Pre-Feasibility Study Strengthens Foundation for Strategic Commitment to Energy Storage Business”.
About Largo
Largo is a Canadian-based company that has historically been solely committed to the production and supply of high-quality vanadium products. The Company believes that the development and sale of vanadium-based utility scale electrical energy storage systems to support the planet's on-going transition to renewable energy presents both an attractive economic opportunity for the use of the Company's vanadium products and an opportunity to enhance the Company's sustainability. The Company is confident that using its VPURETM and VPURE+TM products, which are sourced from one of the world's highest-grade vanadium deposits at the Company's Maracás Menchen Mine in Brazil, in its VCHARGE vanadium redox flow battery technology results in a competitive and practical long duration energy storage product. Consequently, the Company is undergoing a strategic transformation through the creation of energy storage business operations to be vertically integrated with its highly efficient vanadium production mining operations, to create a unique competitive advantage in the rapidly growing long duration energy storage market.
Largo’s common shares trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "LGO". For more information on the Company, please visit www.largoinc.com.
Forward-looking Information:
This press release contains forward-looking information under Canadian securities legislation, some of which may be considered "financial outlook" for the purposes of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking statements"). Forward‐looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and amount of estimated future production and sales; costs of future activities and operations; the ability to increase shareholder value through the vertical integration of the Company; the extent of capital and operating expenditures; the impact of global delays and related price increases on the Company’s global supply chain and future V2O5 equivalent sales and the filing of a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Maracás Menchen Mine within 45 days of the announcement of the Technical Report results. Forward‐looking information in this press release also includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to our ability to build, finance and operate a VRFB business, our ability to protect and develop our technology, our ability to maintain our IP, our ability to market, sell and deliver our VCHARGE± battery system on specification and at a competitive price, our ability to secure the required production resources to build our VCHARGE± battery system, the ability to successfully conclude award negotiations with the DOE, the timing of completion of the product development and stack manufacturing facility in Massachusetts and the adoption of VRFB technology generally in the market. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". All information contained in this news release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward looking information. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Largo or Largo Clean Energy to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks described in the annual information form of Largo and in its public documents filed on www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although management of Largo has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as 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. Largo does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Readers should also review the risks and uncertainties sections of Largo's annual and interim MD&As which also apply.
Trademarks are owned by Largo Inc.
Non-GAAP6 Measures
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial performance measures in its press release and MD&A, which are described in the following section.
Revenues Per Pound
The Company’s press release refers to revenues per pound sold, a non-GAAP performance measure that is used to provide investors with information about a key measure used by management to monitor performance of the Company.
This measure, along with cash operating costs and total cash costs, is considered to be one of the key indicators of the Company’s ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its Maracás Menchen Mine and sales activities. This revenues per pound measure does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and differs from measures determined in accordance with IFRS. This measure is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. This measure is not necessarily indicative of net earnings or cash flow from operating activities as determined under IFRS.
The following table provides a reconciliation of this measure per pound sold to revenues as per the Q3 2021 unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements.
|
Three months ended |
Nine months ended |
||||||||||
|
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
||||||||
Revenues - V2O5 produced1 |
$ |
28,627 |
|
|
$ |
76,381 |
|
|
||||
V2O5 sold - produced (000s lb) |
3,308 |
|
|
10,265 |
|
|
||||||
V2O5 revenues per pound of V2O5 sold - produced ($/lb) |
$ |
8.65 |
|
|
$ |
7.44 |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenues - V2O5 purchased2 |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
455 |
|
|
||||
V2O5 sold - purchased (000s lb) |
— |
|
|
55 |
|
|
||||||
V2O5 revenues per pound of V2O5 sold - purchased ($/lb) |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
8.27 |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenues - V2O52 |
$ |
28,627 |
|
|
$ |
76,836 |
|
|
||||
V2O5 sold (000s lb) |
3,308 |
|
|
10,320 |
|
|
||||||
V2O5 revenues per pound of V2O5 sold ($/lb) |
$ |
8.65 |
|
|
$ |
7.45 |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenues - FeV produced1 |
$ |
22,621 |
|
|
$ |
63,908 |
|
|
||||
FeV sold - produced (000s kg) |
716 |
|
|
2,321 |
|
|
||||||
FeV revenues per kg of FeV sold - produced ($/lb) |
$ |
31.59 |
|
|
$ |
27.53 |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenues - FeV purchased2 |
$ |
2,613 |
|
|
$ |
7,210 |
|
|
||||
FeV sold - purchased (000s kg) |
88 |
|
|
265 |
|
|
||||||
FeV revenues per kg of FeV sold - purchased ($/lb) |
$ |
29.69 |
|
|
$ |
27.21 |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenues - FeV2 |
$ |
25,234 |
|
|
$ |
71,118 |
|
|
||||
FeV sold (000s kg) |
804 |
|
|
2,586 |
|
|
||||||
FeV revenues per kg of FeV sold ($/lb) |
$ |
31.39 |
|
|
$ |
27.50 |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenues2 |
$ |
53,861 |
|
$ |
27,474 |
|
$ |
147,954 |
|
$ |
77,733 |
|
V2O5 equivalent sold (000s lb) |
5,919 |
|
5,115 |
|
18,727 |
|
14,348 |
|
||||
Revenues per pound sold ($/lb) |
$ |
9.10 |
|
$ |
5.37 |
|
$ |
7.90 |
|
$ |
5.42 |
|
i. |
Calculated from note 16 from the Company’s unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020: V2O5 revenues of $28,627 less revenues from purchased products of $nil gives revenues from produced products of $28,627. FeV revenues of $25,234 less revenues from purchased products of $2,613 gives revenues from produced products of $22,621. |
|
ii. |
As per note 16. |
Cash Operating Costs Per Pound
The Company’s press release refers to cash operating costs per pound, a non-GAAP performance measure, in order to provide investors with information about a key measure used by management to monitor performance. This information is used to assess how well the Maracás Menchen Mine is performing compared to plan and prior periods, and also to assess its overall effectiveness and efficiency.
Cash operating costs includes mine site operating costs such as mining costs, plant and maintenance costs, sustainability costs, mine and plant administration costs, royalties and sales, general and administrative costs (all for the Mine properties segment), but excludes depreciation and amortization, share-based payments, foreign exchange gains or losses, commissions, reclamation, capital expenditures and exploration and evaluation costs. Operating costs not attributable to the Mine properties segment are also excluded, including conversion costs, product acquisition costs, distribution costs and inventory write-downs. These costs are then divided by the pounds of vanadium sold that were produced by the Maracás Menchen Mine to arrive at the cash operating costs per pound. This measure differs to the new total cash costs non-GAAP measure the Company uses to measure its overall performance (see later in this section).
These measures, along with revenues, are considered to be one of the key indicators of the Company’s ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its Maracás Menchen Mine. These cash operating costs measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and differ from measures determined in accordance with IFRS. These measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures are not necessarily indicative of net earnings or cash flow from operating activities as determined under IFRS.
In addition, the Company’s MD&A refers to cash operating costs excluding royalties. This is a non-GAAP performance measure and is calculated as cash operating costs less royalties, as disclosed in the following table.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash operating costs per pound for the Maracás Menchen Mine to operating costs as per the Q3 2021 unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements.
|
Three months ended |
Nine months ended |
||||||||||
|
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
||||||||
Operating costs1 |
$ |
32,126 |
|
$ |
20,977 |
|
$ |
95,264 |
|
$ |
56,786 |
|
Professional, consulting and management fees2 |
1,007 |
|
853 |
|
2,986 |
|
2,123 |
|
||||
Other general and administrative expenses2 |
236 |
|
390 |
|
1,003 |
|
1,155 |
|
||||
Less: loss on iron ore sales1 |
(134) |
|
— |
|
(50) |
|
— |
|
||||
Less: conversion costs1 |
(2,037) |
|
— |
|
(6,660) |
|
— |
|
||||
Less: product acquisition costs1 |
(2,479) |
|
(3,877) |
|
(8,656) |
|
(7,180) |
|
||||
Less: distribution costs1 |
(1,331) |
|
— |
|
(3,839) |
|
— |
|
||||
Less: inventory write-down3 |
— |
|
— |
|
(2) |
|
(317) |
|
||||
Less: depreciation and amortization expense1 |
(4,825) |
|
(3,264) |
|
(15,713) |
|
(11,745) |
|
||||
Cash operating costs |
22,563 |
|
15,079 |
|
64,333 |
|
40,822 |
|
||||
Less: royalties1 |
(2,707) |
|
(1,552) |
|
(6,588) |
|
(5,149) |
|
||||
Cash operating costs excluding royalties |
19,856 |
|
13,527 |
|
57,745 |
|
35,673 |
|
||||
Produced V2O5 sold (000s lb) |
5,621 |
|
4,310 |
|
17,686 |
|
13,195 |
|
||||
Cash operating costs per pound ($/lb) |
$ |
4.01 |
|
$ |
3.50 |
|
$ |
3.64 |
|
$ |
3.09 |
|
Cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound ($/lb) |
$ |
3.53 |
|
$ |
3.14 |
|
$ |
3.27 |
|
$ |
2.70 |
|
i. |
As per note 20 from the Company’s unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. |
|
ii. |
As per the Mine properties segment in note 16 from the Company’s unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. |
|
iii. |
As per note 5 from the Company’s unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. |
| ___________________________________ |
1 The cash operating costs excluding royalties and revenues per pound per pound sold are reported on a non-GAAP basis. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Measures” section of this press release. Revenues per pound sold are calculated based on the quantity of V2O5 sold during the stated period. |
2 Conversion of tonnes to pounds, 1 tonne = 2,204.62 pounds or lbs. |
3 Defined as current assets less current liabilities per the consolidated statements of financial position. |
4 Effective grade represents the percentage of magnetic material mined multiplied by the percentage of V2O5 in the magnetic concentrate. |
5 Global recovery is the product of crushing recovery, milling recovery, kiln recovery, leaching recovery and chemical plant recovery. |
6 GAAP – Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
7 Drilling and engineering work performed on the Campbell Pit, and NAN and GAN deposits, in addition to the inclusion of titanium dioxide (“TiO2”) has resulted in a significant increase in reserves and resources |
