UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
CIK # 878518
as at December 12, 2007
TASEKO MINES LIMITED
800 West Pender Street, Suite 1020
Vancouver , British Columbia
Canada V6C 2V6
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F...X.... Form 40-F.........
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of
a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security
holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in
this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes ..... No .....
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
By: /s/ Jeffrey R. Mason
Director and Chief Financial Officer
Date: December 12, 2007
Print the name and title of the signing officer under his signature.
1020
- 800 W Pender St.
Vancouver BC
Canada V6C 2V6
Tel 604 684 - 6365
Fax 604 684 - 8092
Toll Free 1 800 667- 2114
www.tasekomines.com
TASEKO ANNOUNCES YEAR END
& Q4 RESULTS
December 12, 2007, Vancouver, BC - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX:
TKO; AMEX: TGB) is pleased to announce its financial results. For the year
ended September 30, 2007, Taseko had an operating profit of $105.7 million,
earnings before income tax of $87.9 million and earnings after tax of $48.3
million or $0.37 per share ($0.36 per share fully diluted).
Cash flow from operating activities increased by 55% and earnings by 47% over
that achieved in 2006, as shown in the table below:
Year
Ended September 30, 20071 |
Year
Ended September 30, 20061 |
|
Revenue |
$218.4 million |
$161.9 million |
Copper2 |
$199.9 million |
$140.3 million |
Molybdenum |
$18.6 million |
$21.6 million |
Cash Flow 3 |
$ 86.0 million |
$55.4 million |
Cash Flow per Share (basic) |
$0.67 |
$0.49 |
Operating profit 4 |
$105.7 million |
$54.9 million |
Earnings before income tax |
$87.9 million |
$39.0 million |
Earnings after income tax |
$48.3 million |
$32.9 million |
Earnings per share (basic) |
$0.37 |
$0.29 |
1 All dollar amounts are stated in Canadian currency unless otherwise indicated.
2 Copper revenue in 2007 includes proceeds from sales of copper concentrate, copper cathode and silver concentrate.
3 Cash flow and cash flow per share are numbers used by the Company to assess its performance. They are not terms recognized under generally accepted accounting principles. Cash flow is defined as cash flow from operations including net change in working capital balances and cash flow per share is the same measure divided by the number of common shares outstanding during the period.
4 Operating profit comprises of revenues less cost of sales and depletion, depreciation and amortization.
-
The average realized price of copper for the year was US$3.30 per pound and
US$28.26 per pound of molybdenum.
- Copper in concentrate
sales for the year were 53.4 million pounds, copper in cathode sales were
2.1 million pounds.
- Molybdenum in concentrate sales during the year were 0.6 million pound
- Copper in concentrate inventory at September 30, 2007 was 4.64 million pounds,
and copper in cathode inventory was 0.33 million pound
- Molybdenum in concentrate inventory at September 30, 2007 was 18,100 pounds
Fiscal
2007 |
Fiscal
2006 |
|
Total tons mined (millions)1 |
35.4 |
38.4 |
Tons of ore milled (millions) |
9.5 |
10.9 |
Stripping ratio |
2.6 |
2.4 |
Copper grade (%) |
0.328 |
0.285 |
Molybdenum grade (%Mo) |
0.011 |
0.010 |
Copper recovery (%) |
77.5 |
79.1 |
Molybdenum recovery (%) |
29.6 |
41.2 |
Copper production (millions lb)2 |
51.8 |
49.1 |
Molybdenum production (thousands lb) |
580 |
821 |
Copper production costs, net of by product credits3, per lb of copper |
US$1.03 |
US$1.25 |
Off property costs for transport, treatment (smelting & refining) & sales per lb of copper |
US$0.35 |
US$0.25 |
Total cash costs of production per lb of copper |
US$1.38 |
US$1.50 |
1Total tons mined includes sulphide ore, oxide ore, low grade stockpile material, overburden, and waste rock which were moved from within pit limit to outside pit limit during the period.
2 2007 copper production included 49.4 million pounds in concentrate and 2.4 million pounds in cathode.
3 The by-product credit is based on pounds of molybdenum and ounces of silver sold.
Four Quarter Sales and Inventory
- Copper in concentrate sales for the quarter were 11.7 million pounds of
copper, an increase from the 5.0 million pounds of copper sold during the
same quarter in fiscal 2006
- Copper in cathode sales were 1.5 million pounds compared to none in the
same quarter of fiscal 2006.
- Molybdenum in concentrate sales in the quarter were 0.16 million pounds,
a decrease from the 0.17 million pounds sold in the same quarter in fiscal
2006.
- The average price realized for sales of copper in the quarter was US$3.63
per pound and for sales of molybdenum in the quarter was US$28.88 per pound.
Fourth Quarter Production
The following table is a summary of the operating statistics for the fourth
quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the same quarter in fiscal 2006.
Q4
2007 |
Q4
2006 |
|
Ore + Waste mined (millions tons) |
10.1 |
9.6 |
Ore milled (millions tons) |
2.6 |
2.8 |
Stripping ratio |
2.9 |
2.3 |
Copper grade (%) |
0.391 |
0.293 |
Molybdenum grade (%Mo) |
0.012 |
0.009 |
Copper recovery (%) |
78.2 |
79.3 |
Molybdenum recovery (%) |
22.5 |
40.3 |
Copper production (millions lb) |
16.81 |
12.7 |
Molybdenum production (thousands lb) |
148 |
197 |
Copper production costs, net of by product credits, per lb of copper 2 |
US$0.82 |
US$1.38 |
Off Property Costs for transport, treatment (smelting & refining) & sales per lb of copper |
US$0.39 |
US($1.35)3 |
Total cash costs of production per lb of copper |
US$1.21 |
US$0.03 |
1 2007 copper production includes 15.8 million pounds in concentrate and 1.0 million pounds in cathode.
2 The by-product credit is based on pounds of molybdenum and ounces of silver sold.
3 Off property costs in Q4 2006 included proceeds from an arbitration proceeding with Glencore Ltd., resulting in a credit for off property costs and a reduction to total cash costs.
Tons mined were higher in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007
compared to fiscal 2006. Ore milled was slightly lower in Q4 2007 compared
to the same quarter of the prior year as a result of low mill availability
in July; however, mill availability was over 90% for August and September.
Copper recovery was slightly lower in Q4 2007 compared with the same quarter
in fiscal 2006 as the flotation circuit was changed over to the new high volume
tank cells during the early part of the quarter. Recoveries in the second
half of the quarter were over 80% as the new circuit came on-line. Molybdenum
production was lower than fiscal 2006 as a result of mechanical issues in
the molybdenum circuit. These issues have now been addressed and molybdenum
production is back in line with expectations.
Copper in concentrate production during the quarter was 15.8 million pounds
of copper, compared to 12.7 million pounds produced in the last quarter of
fiscal 2006. Copper in cathode production during the quarter was 1.0 million
pounds, compared to none in the same quarter of fiscal 2006. Molybdenum in
concentrate production in the quarter was 0.15 million pounds, a 25% decrease
from 0.20 million pounds in the same quarter of fiscal 2006.
Costs per pound of copper produced in Q4 2007 were lower than Q4 2006 due
to increased metal production. This was partially offset by increased costs
for tires, fuel, and contracted maintenance labour.
Quarter to Quarter Production in Fiscal 2007
Copper production continued to improve from Q1 2007 to Q4 2007 as indicated
in the table below.
Metals produced (millions lb) |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Copper in Concentrate |
10.6 |
11.2 |
11.8 |
15.8 |
Cathode |
0 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
Total Copper |
10.6 |
11.8 |
12.6 |
16.8 |
Molybdenum in Concentrate |
0.12 |
0.16 |
0.15 |
0.15 |
Metal production in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 increased
by 44% over the average of the three previous quarters of the year, as a result
of operational improvement, implementation of new technologies and higher
copper grades.
Mill Expansion Project
All components for the SAG mill have been installed and testing of the individual
systems began in mid November. Commissioning of the SAG mill is on schedule
to begin in the middle of December 2007. The Phase One expansion also requires
the conversion of the three rod mills to ball mills which is planned to occur
during January and February 2008. Ramp up to the full 46,000 tpd rate will
take place over the following six months.
The Phase Two expansion consists of modernizing and increasing the capacity of the regrind, cleaner flotation, and concentrate circuits, installing a two stage tailings pumping system, and adding a pebble crusher to the SAG mill circuit. Phase Two is designed to increase concentrator capacity from 46,000 to 55,000 tpd. Work is proceeding on schedule for completion by late 2008.
Prosperity
Project
Taseko holds a 100% interest
in the Prosperity property, located 125 kilometers southwest of the City of
Williams Lake. The property hosts a large porphyry gold-copper deposit amenable
to open pit mining.
In September 2007, the Company announced the positive results of a feasibility study for the Project, which further validated the results of an earlier pre-feasibility study indicating the property hosts the following reserves:
Prosperity Mineral Reserves At $5.25 NSR/tonne Cut-Off |
|||
Category |
Tonnes (millions) |
Gold (g/t) |
Copper (%) |
Proven Probable |
286 201 |
0.47 0.37 |
0.25 0.18 |
Total |
487 |
0.43 |
0.22 |
|
$US1.40/lb Cu $US550/oz Au |
$US1.50/lb Cu $US575/oz Au |
$US1.75/lb Cu $US600/oz Au |
$US2.00/lb Cu $US650/oz Au |
Pre-tax NPV ($C millions) |
87 |
260 |
594 |
991 |
Internal Rate of Return (%) |
9 |
12 |
17 |
22 |
The feasibility study updated and expanded work done to 2000, and was
a combined effort by Hatch, Knight Piesold Engineering, and Taseko's
engineering team, completed under the supervision of Scott Jones, P. Eng.,
Vice President, Engineering, Taseko Mines Limited, a qualified person as
defined under NI 43-101. A technical report has been filed at www.sedar.com.
Harmony Project
In late 2007, after completion of the Queen Charlotte-Haida Gwaii Land and
Resource Management Plan designated the area in which the Harmony Project
is located as a mineral development zone, Taseko initiated a review of the
metallurgical flow sheet and prior mine development planning to establish
further work programs. Plans are being developed to move the Project forward
in 2008.
Aley Project
In June 2007, Taseko acquired 100% of the Aley niobium project in northern
British Columbia through the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding
shares in the capital of a private company, for a total cash consideration
to the acquired company's shareholders of $1,500,000 as well as a share
settlement to the value of $2,970,000 (consisting of 894,730 common shares).
Taseko purchased the residual net smelter royalty for a total cash consideration
of $300,000 and the issuance of units having a value of $835,200 (consisting
of 240,000 common shares and 120,000 warrants). Each warrant is exercisable
into one common share at $3.48 until June 4, 2009.
The Aley property hosts a niobium deposit. Niobium is a metal used in making
high strength steels required in the manufacture of automobiles, bridges,
pipes, jet turbines and other high technology applications. The metal is
currently selling for $30/kg and the market is growing at 5-8% per year.
Currently, the world supply dominated by only two producers: CBMM, a Brazilian
miner and Iamgold which operates the Niobec Mine in Quebec.
Taseko successfully completed an initial exploration program on the Aley
deposit in 2007, and plans to do an accelerated drilling and engineering
work program in the summer of 2008 to advance the Aley Project toward a
feasibility study.
Results
of Operations
The Company's pre-tax earnings for 2007 increased to $87.9 million, compared to $39.0 million in 2006 due mainly to higher volume of copper and molybdenum sold and higher realized metal prices for sales during the year. The Company's after-tax earnings for 2007 increased to $48.3 million, compared to $32.9 million in 2006.
The Company reported revenues of $218.4 million, compared to $161.9 million
in the previous year. Copper revenues of $199.9 million consist of copper
concentrate sales of $191.0 million (2006 - $139.1 million), silver
concentrate sales of $1.3 million (2006 - $1.2 million), and copper
cathode sales of $7.4 million (2006 - Nil). Molybdenum revenues consist
of molybdenum concentrate sales of $18.6 (2006 - $21.6 million). Revenues
increased due to significantly higher copper prices and a more pounds of
copper sold. The average price per pound of copper concentrate sold increased
to US$3.30 per pound, up from US$2.44 per pound in the previous year. The
Company also sold 53.4 million pounds of copper concentrate and 2.1 million
pounds of copper cathode in 2007 compared to 51.0 million pounds of copper
concentrate in 2006.
Cost of sales for 2007 was $109.5 million, compared to $103.6 million in
2006. Costs of sales for 2007 consist of total production cost of $79.3
million (2006 - $91.3 million) and a concentrate inventory adjustment
of $8.9 million (2006 - ($2.0 million)). Also included in cost of sales
is transportation and treatment costs, which were $21.3 million for 2007
(2006 - $14.3 million). The increase in cost of sales for the year was
due to higher transportation and treatment charges compared to the previous
year.
Amortization expense for 2007 was $3.2 million compared to $3.4 million
in 2006. During 2007, the Company increased its mineral reserves at the
Company's Gibraltar mine, thereby extending the life of the mine. Consequently,
the rates of amortization of the Company's property, plant and equipment,
the carrying values of the reclamation liability, and the Company's
future income taxes have been revised to reflect the extended mine life.
Exploration expenses increased to $9.0 million in 2007 compared to $3.5
million in 2006, due to a higher level of exploration activity at the Company's
Prosperity and Aley projects. The exploration expenditures were focused
mainly on the initial stages of preparing an environmental impact assessment
and updated feasibility study for the Prosperity project (completed). Exploration
expenses of $7.4 million at Gibraltar were capitalized as the exploration
expenditures resulted in the discovery of additional mineral reserves that
will allow for increases in future production at the Gibraltar mine.
General and administrative costs increased to $6.5 million in 2007 from
$5.3 million in 2006, mainly due to salaries and benefits (2007 - $4.3
million; 2006 - $1.9 million) resulting from higher staffing levels
to support the Company's exploration projects, expansion at Gibraltar
and general corporate activities. Conference and travel (2007 - $0.5
million; 2006 - $0.4 million); consulting (2007 - $0.6 million;
2006 - $0.3 million) and shareholder's communication (2007 -
$0.5 million; 2006 - $0.45 million) all increased in 2007 due to higher
staffing levels and an increase in corporate activities. This was offset
by reduced legal fees of $0.4 million in 2007 as legal fees in 2006 were
higher due to an arbitration proceeding.
Stock-based compensation increased to $6.8 million in the current year compared
to $3.2 million in 2006 as a result of share purchase options granted and
a higher fair value on the options granted during the year.
Interest and other income increased significantly to $11.0 million as compared
to $7.2 million in 2006. The increase was due to interest earned on the
Company's increasing average cash balances. Interest expense and interest
accretion also increased in 2007 due to the Company recognizing a complete
year of accretion and interest payments in 2007 on its convertible bonds,
compared to one month in 2006.
Current income tax of $4.0 million (2006 - $4.4 million) and future
income taxes of $35.6 million (2006 - $1.6 million) were recorded during
the year. The increase in income taxes is due mainly to the depletion of
tax pools as a result of the Company's continued profitability and changes
in timing differences on the Company's tax and accounting assets and
liabilities.
The Company will be filing its annual consolidated financial statements,
including notes thereto and auditor's report, management discussion
and analysis and annual information form on SEDAR in the normal course and
in accordance with its continuous disclosure requirements.
Taseko will host a conference call on Thursday, December 13 at 11:00 a.m.
Eastern Time (8:00 AM Pacific Time) to discuss these results. The conference
call may be accessed by dialing 888-239-5359 in Canada and the United States,
or 913-312-0387 internationally. A live and archived audio webcast will
also be available at www.tasekomines.com in the Corporate Events section
of the Investor Centre.
For further details on Taseko Mines Limited, please visit the Company's
website at www.tasekomines.com or contact Investor Services at (604) 684-6365
or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.
Russell Hallbauer
President and CEO
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained
in this news release.
Forward Looking Statements
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking
statements". All statements in this release, other than statements
of historical facts, that address estimated resource quantities, grades
and contained gold, possible future mining, exploration and development
activities, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes
the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based
on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed
as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking
statements include market prices for metals, the conclusions of detailed
feasibility and technical analyses, lower than expected grades and quantities
of reserves or resources, mining rates and recovery rates and the lack of
availability of necessary capital, which may not be available to the Company
on terms acceptable to it or at all. The Company is subject to the specific
risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business
conditions. For more information on the Company, Investors should review
the Company's annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission and its home jurisdiction filings that are available
at www.sedar.com.
The Prosperity Feasibility Study was prepared to quantify the Prosperity
project's capital and operating cost parameters and to determine the
project's likelihood of feasibility and optimal production rate. The
capital and operating cost estimates, which were used have been developed
based on detailed capital cost to production level relationships.
The following are the principal risk factors and uncertainties which, in
management's opinion, are likely to most directly affect the ultimate
feasibility of the Prosperity project. The mineralized material at the Prosperity
project is currently classified as a measured and indicated resources, and
a portion of it qualifies under Canadian mining disclosure standards as
a proven and probable reserve, but readers are cautioned that no part of
the Prosperity project's mineralization is yet considered to be a reserve
under US mining standards as all necessary mining permits would be required
in order to classify the project's mineralized material as an economically
exploitable reserve. Although final feasibility work has been done to confirm
the mine design, mining methods and processing methods assumed in the Feasibility
Study, construction and operation of the mine and processing facilities
depend on securing environmental and other permits on a timely basis. Additional
permits, when required, have yet to be applied for and there can be no assurance
that required permits can be secured or secured on a timely basis. Although
costs, including design, procurement, construction and on-going operating
costs and metal recoveries have been established at a level of detail required
for a feasibility study, these could be materially different from those
contained in the Feasibility Study. There can be no assurance that these
infrastructure facilities can be developed on a timely and cost-effective
basis. Energy risks include the potential for significant increases in the
cost of fuel and electricity. The Feasibility Study assumes specified, long-term
prices levels for gold and copper. The prices of these metals have historically
been volatile, and the Company has no control of or influence on the prices,
which are determined in international markets. There can be no assurance
that the price of gold and copper will continue at current levels or that
these prices will not decline below the prices assumed in the Feasibility
Study. Prices for gold and copper have been below the price ranges assumed
in Feasibility Study at times during the past ten years, and for extended
periods of time. The project will require major financing, probably a combination
of debt and equity financing. Although interest rates are at historically
low levels, there can be no assurance that debt and/or equity financing
will be available on acceptable terms. Other general risks include
those ordinary to very large construction projects, including the general
uncertainties inherent in engineering and construction cost, the need to
comply with generally increasing environmental obligations, and accommodation
of local and community concerns.