TSX and NASDAQ: MPVD
TORONTO and NEW YORK, May 24,
2018 /CNW/ - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX and NASDAQ: MPVD) today announces
the results of its recently completed fourth diamond tender sale of 2018. Total proceeds from the sale were US$28.3 million (CDN$36.2 million), the highest total for any tender result
to date.
The results of the fourth tender sale, with preceding sale results for comparative context, are summarized as follows:
|
2017-H1
Sales 1-5
|
2017-Q3
Sales 6-7
|
2017-Q4
Sales 8-10
|
2018-Q1
Sales 1-2
|
2018
Apr
Sale 3
|
2018
May
Sale 4
|
Tender Sale Proceeds (USD million)
|
71.5
|
48.0
|
59.3
|
52.4
|
26.4
|
28.3
|
Carats Sold ('000s)
|
892
|
753
|
1,005
|
527
|
451
|
350
|
Value per Carat (USD)1
|
80
|
64
|
59
|
99
|
59
|
81
|
Normalized Value per Carat (USD)2
|
75
|
78
|
66
|
83
|
80
|
79
|
|
|
1
|
Diamonds sold at individual sale events will not directly reflect
run-of-mine production from specific processing periods. The timing of the sale of some goods may be accelerated or
deferred for tactical marketing purposes. Realized average value per carat is also impacted by the binary nature of
the fancies and specials bidding process within each production split, conducted approximately every five weeks with the
Company's joint venture partner, De Beers Canada Inc. The winning party of each fancies and specials bid then
markets 100% of those diamonds.
|
2
|
Normalized to adjust for goods accelerated or deferred, and to include
fancies and specials acquired through bid by De Beers Canada Inc.
|
Market sentiment remained positive coming out of the April holidays and into the fourth selling cycle. Customer
participation was healthy with 191 companies attending the tender and an average of 12.4 bids received per lot.
Said Reid Mackie, the Company's Vice President Diamond Marketing, "Our fourth sale results
reflect the overall positive sentiment in the rough diamond market, driven by the strong fundamentals of stable rough supply and
positive news from the major retail markets. Larger size gem categories again attracted high interest levels from
customers, delivering record prices for some on a per carat basis. Prices for the remaining categories of goods generally
remained stable, with a marginal market price increase for these goods over our third sale results."
To more meaningfully relate prices realized at sale events to production results, the Company also provides the following
table:
Production Period3
|
H1
2017
|
Q3
2017
|
Q4
2017
|
Jan
2018
|
Feb
2018
|
Mar
2018
|
Apr
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sale in Which Goods Were Primarily Sold
|
3 to 7 &
Partial 8
|
Partial 8
to 10
|
1, 2
& 3
|
2 & 3
|
4
|
n/a2
|
n/a2
|
Tonnes Processed (100%) ('000s)
|
1,259
|
823
|
693
|
327
|
217
|
242
|
275
|
Recovered Grade (carats per tonne)
|
1.97
|
2.22
|
2.35
|
1.89
|
2.05
|
2.40
|
2.31
|
Carats Recovered (100%) ('000s)
|
2,481
|
1,825
|
1,627
|
618
|
444
|
579
|
634
|
Carats Recovered (49% share) ('000s)
|
1,216
|
894
|
797
|
303
|
218
|
284
|
311
|
Attributed Value per Tonne in CAD1
|
183
|
172
|
208
|
167
|
185
|
n/a2
|
n/a2
|
|
|
1
|
Attributed Value per Tonne has been determined based on realized sale
results, with any accelerated or deferred goods adjusted to their period of production, reflecting only the Company's 49%
share of all diamonds including fancies and specials.
|
2
|
Not applicable as goods from this production period have not yet been
sold.
|
3
|
Total figures may differ slightly from the sum of monthly figures due to
the effects of rounding.
|
Said David Whittle, the Company's Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, "The results
of this fourth sale exceeded our target expectations. Our experience in recent sales confirms rough diamond prices are
holding stable, supported by strength in the largest retail diamond jewellery markets in the world, the US and China. Mine
and plant operations continue to perform solidly, with production remaining comfortably on track compared to plan due to good
production rates and continued strong grade".
Additionally, as previously announced Stuart Brown will assume the role of President and Chief
Executive Officer effective July 1. David Whittle, currently in the interim position, will
resume his prior role as an independent director. To preserve his independent status in accordance with applicable
securities regulation, Mr. Whittle will step down as Interim President and CEO at the end of May. Jonathan Comerford, current Chair of the Board, will be appointed to the interim position for the month of
June until the transition to Mr. Brown is completed.
Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kué diamond mine located in
Canada's Northwest Territories. Gahcho Kué is the world's largest new diamond mine,
consisting of a cluster of four diamondiferous kimberlites, three of which are being developed and mined under the initial 12
year mine plan.
Qualified Person
The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding Mountain Province's mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Keyvan
Salehi, P.Eng., MBA, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects.
Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable
Canadian and United States securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial
performance and condition of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information
include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimated production and mine life of the project of Mountain Province; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future
production; costs of production; the future price of diamonds; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the ability to
manage debt; capital expenditures; the ability to obtain permits for operations; liquidity; tax rates; and currency exchange rate
fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Mountain Province,
certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently
characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets,"
"intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or
conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of
management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of
Mountain Province and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.
Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements
include variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, changes in project parameters, mine sequencing;
production rates; cash flow; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; supply
of, and demand for, diamonds; fluctuating commodity prices and currency exchange rates, the possibility of project cost overruns
or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or
processes to operate as anticipated.
These factors are discussed in greater detail in Mountain Province's most recent Annual
Information Form and in the most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection
with these statements. Mountain Province cautions that the foregoing list of important
factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider
the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Mountain
Province believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can
be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release
should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.
Although Mountain Province has attempted to identify important factors that could cause
actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other
factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. 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. Mountain Province undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable
securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements
concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they
involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed.
Further, Mountain Province may make changes to its business plans that could affect its
results. The principal assets of Mountain Province are administered pursuant to a joint
venture under which Mountain Province is not the operator. Mountain Province is exposed to actions taken or omissions made by the operator within its prerogative
and/or determinations made by the joint venture under its terms. Such actions or omissions may impact the future
performance of Mountain Province. Under its current note and revolving credit facilities Mountain
Province is subject to certain limitations on its ability to pay dividends on common stock. The declaration of
dividends is at the discretion of Mountain Province's Board of Directors, subject to the
limitations under the Company's debt facilities, and will depend on Mountain Province's
financial results, cash requirements, future prospects, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.
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SOURCE Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.
View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2018/24/c6716.html