Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc: Results for the First Quarter of 2016

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CAL.TO)(CALVF)(CMCL.L) ("Caledonia" or the "Company") announces its operating and financial results for the first quarter of 2016 ("Q1" or the "Quarter"). Following the implementation of indigenisation in September 2012, Caledonia owns 49% of the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe. Caledonia continues to consolidate Blanket: the operational and the financial information set out below is on a consolidated basis and production information is expressed on a 100% basis. Financial information is expressed in thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Operating and Financial Review

Q1
2015

Q1
2016

Comment

Gold produced (oz)

9,960

10,822

8.7% increase in production due to higher ore production following the completion of the Tramming Loop in 2015and improved recovery, offset by a slightly lower grade.

On-mine cost ($/oz) 1

716

689

3.8% decrease as fixed costs are spread across higher production and sales ounces

All-in Sustaining Cost ($/oz) ("AISC")

985

950

3.6% decrease as fixed costs are spread across higher production and sales ounces

Average realised gold price ($/oz)

1,198

1,166

Lower realised gold price reflects the prevailing gold price in the Quarter

Gross profit 2

3,748

3,888

3.7% increase due to increased production and sales and a lower average cost per ounce, offset by the lower realised gold price

Net profit attributable to shareholders

1,256

543

Net profit is after a deferred tax charge of $909,000 at Blanket, which reflects the continued high level of capital investment

Adjusted basic earnings per share ("EPS") 3 (cents)

2.6

2.7

Adjusted EPS excludes non-cash items such as deferred taxation

Net cash and cash equivalents

20,640

8,841

Net cash at March 31, 2016 includes an overdraft of $4,673,000 held by Blanket in Zimbabwe. Lower net cash reflects the continued investment at Blanket in terms of the Revised Investment Plan.

Cash from operating activities

1,333

1,749

31% increase in cash from operating activities due to increased sales volumes, lower unit costs of production and lower tax payments

1 Non-IFRS measures such as "On-Mine Cost per ounce", "AISC" and "average realised gold price" are used throughout this document. Refer to Section 10 of this MD&A for a discussion of non-IFRS measures.

2 Gross profit is after deducting royalties, production costs and depreciation but before administrative expenses.

3 Adjusted EPS is a non-IFRS measure which aims to reflect Caledonia's ordinary trading performance. Refer to Section 10 of this MD&A for a discussion of non-IFRS measures.

Commenting on the results for the Quarter, Steve Curtis, Caledonia's President and Chief Executive officer said: