(IDEX Online) – Petra Diamonds Limited said its production rose 15% in 2018, while revenue soared 21%.

 

Full details include the following:

 

FY 2018 Highlights

• Production up 15% to 4.6 Mcts (FY 2017: 4.0 Mcts), in line with guidance of 4.6 to 4.7 Mcts.

 

• Revenue up 21% to US$576.4 million (FY 2017: US$477.0 million).

 

• Adjusted for the sale of KEM JV: revenue up 25% to US$494.6 million (FY 2017: US$394.8 million).

 

• The diamond market remained stable throughout FY 2018, with rough diamond prices on a like for like basis up ca. 2% for the Year, compared to FY 2017.

 

• Net debt as at 30 June 2018 reduced to US$436.1 million (US$518.8 million net of diamond debtors of US$82.7 million) (30 June 2017: US$513.9 million (US$555.3 million net of diamond debtors of US$41.5 million)) further to the completion of the 5 for 8 Rights Issue and the receipt of the net proceeds of ca. US$170 million.
• Post Year End

 

• Binding Heads of Agreement reached with regards to the disposal of the Company’s interest in the KEM JV to Petra’s joint venture partner Ekapa Mining (Pty) Ltd for ca. ZAR300 million.

 

• The KEM JV asset will be accounted for as an asset held for sale as at 30 June 2018 in the Company’s Prelim Results and it is expected that a non-cash impairment charge will be recorded in the region of US$35 – 45 million.

 

FY 2019 Guidance Highlights

 

As outlined in the recent Rights Issue Prospectus (published 24 May 2018), FY 2019 and FY 2020 production guidance was stated to be at the lower end of the guidance issued in July 2017. This will be accompanied by an ongoing focus on delivering the most effective capital and operational cost profiles for its portfolio in order to protect overall profit margins.

 

This is in line with the Board’s strategic focus on driving operational efficiency with emphasis on value-over-volumes, as well as a close focus on operational costs, productivity and ongoing optimization of the portfolio (as demonstrated by the proposed disposal of the company’s interest in KEM JV).

 

• FY 2019 production is expected to be 4.6 to 4.8 Mcts.

 

• Excluding KEM JV, FY 2019 production is expected to be 3.8 to 4.0 Mcts.

 

• Total FY 2019 absolute on-mine cash costs are expected to remain largely flat compared to FY 2018 expected costs in ZAR local currency, with the decrease in overall tonnage throughput offset by inflationary increases. As the Company transitions from its capital-intensive phase to steady state operations, it will have a core focus on further streamlining operations and re-setting the cost base across its portfolio.

 

• FY 2019 Capex (excluding capitalised borrowing costs) is guided at ca. US$100 million (excluding KEM JV: ca. US$93 million), continuing the declining trend since peak Capex was reached in FY 2016. All future Capex figures guided in this announcement are in FY 2019 money terms, converted at an exchange rate of ZAR12.75:US$1.

 

• Total Capex for FY 2020 is expected to be ca. US$72 million (excluding KEM JV), mostly relating to Cullinan and Finsch. Sustaining Capex post FY 2020 is expected to be ca. US$30 million per annum; planning on Expansion Capex post FY 2020 is ongoing.

 

Johan Dippenaar, Chief Executive of Petra Diamonds, commented: “FY 2018 represents a solid progression for the group after the challenges of FY 2017 and H1 FY 2018, and places our production on a firm footing, backed up by a strong safety performance. The future focus of the group will be on the continued optimization of production volumes and cost structures across our portfolio in order to maximize cash generation.”