Franco-Nevada Reports Q1 2014 Results and Declares Increased Quarterly Dividend

TORONTO, May 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Franco-Nevada Corporation (TSX: FNV; NYSE: FNV) today reported first quarter 2014 results realizing 65,836 Gold Equivalent Ounces⁽¹⁾ and $18.7 million in revenue for its oil & gas assets. Net income and Adjusted Net Income⁽²⁾ were both $35.4 million, or $0.24 per share and Adjusted EBITDA⁽³⁾ was $84.8 million, or $0.58 per share.

"Franco-Nevada's diversified portfolio continues to deliver dependable top and bottom line results," said David Harquail, President & CEO. "Our revenue, cash flow and net income have held up well despite significantly lower gold prices. This has allowed us to continue the tradition of increasing dividends each year with our previously announced 11% increase being formally declared effective this quarter. On the business development front, we closed a number of previously announced deals during the quarter and another small deal so far in the second quarter. We were particularly pleased that our Sabodala investment was able to contribute in the same quarter it was acquired. Franco-Nevada remains financially strong and debt-free and we expect to continue to grow with further investments."

Financial Results

For the first quarter of 2014, Gold Equivalent Ounces⁽¹⁾ ("GEOs") were 65,836 representing an 11.8% increase over the same period of 2013. Despite a 20.6% lower average gold price and a 12.6% lower average platinum price for the quarter compared to last year, the Company saw growth in its GEOs from recent acquisitions and higher production levels from international and Canadian gold assets and other minerals, partially offset by lower production from U.S. gold assets and PGM assets. In addition, our oil & gas assets generated $18.7 million in revenues during the quarter. Revenue was earned 79% from precious metals (67% gold and 12% PGMs) and 78% from North America and Australia (35% Canada, 21% U.S., 17% Mexico and 5% Australia).

The breakdown of revenue and GEOs for the quarter is as follows:

Corporate & Portfolio Updates

• Business Development: During the quarter, Franco-Nevada closed the transactions with Teranga Gold Corporation (Sabodala) and Klondex Mines Ltd. (Fire Creek/Midas) for $135.0 million and $35.0 million, respectively. Subsequent to the quarter, the acquisition of an existing 2.0% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on Yamana Gold Inc.'s ("Yamana") Cerro Moro project located in Argentina closed for $19.6 million. On April 29, 2014, Yamana released details of its updated feasibility study on Cerro Moro which included annual production of 150,000 gold equivalent ounces over a ten-year mine life. If Yamana makes a positive construction decision later this year, production is expected to begin in the first half of 2016.
  
  
• Credit Facility: On March 19, 2014, Franco-Nevada's existing credit facility was extended by two years to March 19, 2019. The facility is currently undrawn and Franco-Nevada remains debt-free.
  
  
• Gold - U.S.: GEOs from Barrick Gold Corporation's ("Barrick") Goldstrike mine increased by 25.3% in the period due to lower capital being allocated to the Company's net profits interest ("NPI") royalty and higher production levels with associated revenue being lower due to the decrease in the average gold price. GEOs from Gold Quarry, Marigold and Bald Mountain were lower in the quarter. The newly acquired Fire Creek/Midas royalty is expected to start generating GEOs and revenue late in the second quarter of 2014. Augusta Resource Corporation released an update on the permitting progress at its Rosemont project in Arizona where Franco-Nevada holds a 1.5% NSR on all minerals.
  
  
• Gold - Canada: Overall GEOs from Canadian gold assets increased by 20.8% with the largest increases coming from Detour, an asset that began generating GEOs in February 2013 and achieved commercial production in August 2013, and Kirkland Lake, a recent addition to the Canadian portfolio. The increases were partially offset by lower production from the Hemlo NPI, due to capital spending and a lower gold price, and the Sudbury assets, due to lower production. Pretium Resources Inc., the developer of the Brucejack project, announced plans to file an environmental assessment application and produce an updated feasibility study expected later this year.
  
  
• Gold - Australia: Regis Resources Ltd. reported strong production at its Moolart Well operation and the restart of mining activities at the end of March 2014 at both Garden Well and Rosemont following the previously announced flooding.
  
  
• Gold - Rest of World: GEOs from international gold assets saw the highest growth with the addition of the Sabodala gold stream in the quarter which immediately contributed to GEOs and revenue. Higher production from Mine Waste Solutions, Tasiast and Palmarejo offset lower production at other assets. Franco-Nevada expects to fund approximately $200.0 million later in 2014 under its precious metals stream agreement on the Cobre Panama project. On March 31, 2014, Kinross Gold Corporation released a feasibility study on its Tasiast expansion project which included an increase in estimated mineral reserves by nearly 50% and projected an expanded mill capacity to 38,000 tonnes per day from the current 8,000 tonnes per day. A final decision to proceed is not expected until 2015 at the earliest.
  
  
• PGM Assets: PGM assets saw a 13.6% decline in GEOs in the quarter due to lower production from the Sudbury assets partially offset by higher production from Stillwater.
  
  
• Oil & Gas: Revenue from oil & gas assets for the quarter was $18.7 million, an increase of 34.5% over 2013. The increase is due to higher realized oil and gas prices. Price and quality differentials were comparable to last year with production constrained due to cold weather.

Dividend Information

The Board of Directors of Franco-Nevada is pleased to announce that today it has declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share. The dividend is an 11.1% increase from the previous $0.06 per share monthly dividend. The dividend will be paid on June 26, 2014 to shareholders of record on June 12, 2014. The Canadian dollar equivalent is determined based on the noon rate posted by the Bank of Canada on May 6, 2014.  Under Canadian tax legislation, Canadian resident individuals who receive "eligible dividends" are entitled to an enhanced gross-up and dividend tax credit on such dividends.

The Company adopted a Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP") commencing with the October 2013 dividend. Participation in the DRIP is optional. The Company will issue the additional common shares through treasury at a 3% discount to the Average Market Price, as defined in the DRIP.  However, the Company may, from time to time, in its discretion, change or eliminate the discount applicable to treasury acquisitions or direct that such common shares be purchased in market acquisitions at the prevailing market price, any of which would be publicly announced. The DRIP and enrollment forms are available on the Company's website at www.franco-nevada.com. Registered shareholders may also enroll in the DRIP online through the plan agent's self-service web portal at www.investorcentre.com/franco-nevada.  Beneficial shareholders should contact their financial intermediary to arrange enrollment.

This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer of securities. A registration statement relating to the DRIP has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and may be obtained under the Company's profile on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov.

Shareholder Information

The complete Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis can be found today on Franco-Nevada's website at www.franco-nevada.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Management will host a conference call tomorrow, Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to review the results.  Interested investors are invited to participate as follows:

• Via Conference Call:  Toll-Free: (888) 231-8191; International: (647) 427-7450; Title: Franco-Nevada Q1 2014 Results.
  
  
• Webcast: A live audio webcast will be accessible at www.franco-nevada.com.

Conference call replay: A recording will be available until May 15, 2014 at the following numbers: Toll-Free (855) 859-2056; International (416) 849-0833; Pass code 31908888.

Corporate Summary  

Franco-Nevada is a gold-focused royalty and stream company.  The Company has a diversified portfolio of cash-flow producing assets and interests in some of the largest development projects in the world.  Its business model provides investors with exploration optionality while limiting exposure to operating and capital cost risks.  Franco-Nevada has substantial cash with no debt and is generating cash flow from its portfolio that is being used to expand its portfolio and pay dividends. Franco-Nevada's common shares trade under the symbol FNV on both the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.

Prepared in accordance with IFRS and presented in U.S. dollars (unless otherwise noted).

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, respectively, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance, management's expectations regarding Franco-Nevada's growth, results of operations, estimated future revenues, requirements for additional capital, mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, production estimates, production costs and revenue, future demand for and prices of commodities, expected mining sequences, business prospects and opportunities. In addition, statements (including data in tables) relating to reserves and resources and gold equivalent ounces are forward looking statements, as they involve implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, and no assurance can be given that the estimates will be realized. Such forward looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Franco-Nevada to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements. A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any forward looking statement, including, without limitation: fluctuations in the prices of the primary commodities that drive royalty and stream revenue (gold, platinum group metals, copper, nickel, uranium, silver, iron-ore and oil and gas); fluctuations in the value of the Canadian and Australian dollar, Mexican peso and any other currency in which revenue is generated, relative to the U.S. dollar; changes in national and local government legislation, including permitting and licensing regimes and taxation policies; regulations and political or economic developments in any of the countries where properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest are located or through which they are held; risks related to the operators of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, including changes in the ownership and control of such operators; influence of macroeconomic developments; business opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by Franco-Nevada; reduced access to debt and equity capital; litigation; title, permit or license disputes related to interests on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest; whether or not the Corporation is determined to have PFIC status; excessive cost escalation as well as development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical difficulties on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest; rate and timing of production differences from resource estimates; risks and hazards associated with the business of development and mining on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, including, but not limited to unusual or unexpected geological and metallurgical conditions, slope failures or cave-ins, flooding and other natural disasters or civil unrest; and the integration of acquired assets.  The forward looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including, without limitation: the ongoing operation of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest by the owners or operators of such properties in a manner consistent with past practice; the accuracy of public statements and disclosures made by the owners or operators of such underlying properties; no material adverse change in the market price of the commodities that underlie the asset portfolio; the Corporation's ongoing income and assets relating to determination of its PFIC status; no adverse development in respect of any significant property in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest; the accuracy of publicly disclosed expectations for the development of underlying properties that are not yet in production; integration of acquired assets; and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. However, there can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and investors are cautioned that forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Franco-Nevada cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward looking statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.  For additional information with respect to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of Franco-Nevada's most recent Annual Information Form as well as Franco-Nevada's most recent annual Management's Discussion and Analysis filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on www.sedar.com and Franco-Nevada's most recent Annual Report filed on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on www.sec.gov.  The forward looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only and Franco-Nevada does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

NON-IFRS MEASURES:  Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS 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 operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS.  Other companies may calculate these measures differently. For a reconciliation of these measures to various IFRS measures, please see below or the Company's current MD&A disclosure found on the Company's website, on SEDAR and on EDGAR.

Reconciliation to IFRS measures:

SOURCE Franco-Nevada Corporation