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Eldorado Gold Corporation (EGO)

Q2 2016 Earnings Call· Fri, Jul 29, 2016

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day. My name is Steve and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Eldorado Gold Corporation Second Quarter Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Thank you. Mr. Paul Wright, President and CEO, please go ahead.

Paul Wright

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Thank you, operator and good morning and thank you all for joining us and welcome to our second quarter 2016 financial and operating results call. I am here in Vancouver this morning with Paul Skayman, Chief Operating Officer and Krista Muhr, our Vice President of Investor Relations. As always, we have provided detailed financial and operational information in the press release from yesterday evening. Before I begin, I need to remind you that any projections and objectives included in our discussion today are likely to involve risks, which are detailed in our 2015 AIF and the forward-looking statement disclaimer at the end of the our news release. I am going to try to keep this call relatively brief recognizing that most of us here in Canada are eager to get out of the office and enjoy the long weekend. I will cover off the comments in regards to the financials sorry in Fabby’s absence and Paul will run through the operational results. During the quarter, we announced two transactions relating to the sale of our Chinese assets. The transaction with CNG for Jinfeng is progressing on schedule and we expect to close this within the third quarter. The timeline for the in-time transaction for White Mountain, TJS and Eastern Dragon is also progressing to schedule and we expect to close in the fourth quarter. When these transactions close, it will leave the company with an even stronger balance sheet as we are looking at netting just over $800 million from these two assets – sorry, these two sales. Add that to our current total liquidity and we are looking at having over $1 billion in total liquidity by year end on the balance sheet. Leading on to Greece, development at our Olympias Phase 2 is moving along and we remain…

Paul Skayman

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Thanks, Paul. Good morning, everyone. Overall, a somewhat tough quarter with Kişladağ and Tanjianshan both performing a little bit under our expectations. To start in Turkey, Kişladağ had a slow quarter with ounce production lower than anticipated. Tons of ore in White Mountain and ore placed on pad were above budget at a slightly lower grade. The year-to-date strip ratios are 0.92 to 1. With continued placing run of mine material on the lake spread given the higher gold prices we are now seeing compared to our budget at the beginning of the year. Ounce production is down year-to-date as we have been leaching the higher sections of the pad. Right now, we are placing material on new pad and expect ounce production to increase in the second half and we are still maintaining the initial guidance of the Kişladağ of 225,000 ounces to 240,000 ounces. At [indiscernible] project performed well during the quarter, reporting better tonnages at similar grades than expected. This led to a good quarter of ounce production with sales year-to-date slightly ahead of our budget. Cash costs have also been well contained in year-to-date are tracking under our guidance. In China for Q2, production totaled 50,800 ounces. Tanjianshan had another slow quarter, good tonnage rates mined and processed over the quarter albeit at lower grade than planned. The lower grade is a combination of narrower ore zones in the lower sections of the Jinfeng pit causing higher dilution and lower grades than calculated on ore stockpiles that are supplementing the mill feed. Cash costs were correspondingly high due to lower ounce production with similar spending. As we stated yesterday at Tanjianshan, we noticed the crack in the middle shale of the discharge and manhole and have had to shut it down for repair. This shale is…

Paul Wright

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Thanks Paul and operator, we will open up for questions now, please.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from Cosmos Chiu with CIBC. Your line is now open.

Cosmos Chiu

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Hi Paul, Paul and Krista and thanks for hosting the call. Just a few questions or maybe first off on the new guidance, the refined guidance, the 570,000 ounces, so I want to confirm, that includes the Chinese assets for the full year, right?

Paul Wright

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

That’s correct.

Cosmos Chiu

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Okay. And I guess from that perspective, the actual number of ounces produced will likely be different depending on the closing of the two Chinese transactions?

Paul Wright

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Absolutely, yes.

Cosmos Chiu

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

And then Paul on that, I see that there was a crack in the mill, the mill sell in the quarter, could that potentially have any kind of impact on the closing of any of the Chinese...?

Paul Wright

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

No, we don’t see that affecting us.

Cosmos Chiu

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Okay. And then Paul you kind of talked about Turkey and the political situation there, I am trying to approach it from a different perspective, in terms of the I will say weakening Turkish lira, could that have any kind of potential positive impact on your cost?

Paul Skayman

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Well, we have historically benefited from a weakening Turkish lira. Eventually inflation tends to claw this back, but I would say this year, in the countries that we operate where we have seen a devaluation of the local currency against the U.S. dollar, that devaluation is being in excess of inflation. So yes, there is some potential for incremental gain.

Cosmos Chiu

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Okay. And then maybe one last question for me. I noticed that the grade at Efemçukuru was off a bit during the quarter, could you comment maybe on what the grade could be – are we going to see an increase in grade in the second half, is that – is Q2 representative of the future?

Paul Wright

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

We do a little bit better. And in fact year-to-date, it’s fairly close to budget. So Q2 was a little bit lower than one. And year-to-date, we are sort of pretty where we want to be, I guess.

Cosmos Chiu

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Great, that’s all I have. Have a good long weekend.

Paul Wright

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Thanks Cosmos.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open.

Dan Rollins

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

Yes. Thanks very much. I was wondering if you guys could maybe just comment on the cost, obviously you have taken your production down to the low end guidance, but your costs are still remaining quite low and specifically excluding the Chinese assets divested, but both Kişladağ and Efemçukuru you are probably about $50 to $75 an ounce right now, below on your range for the full year on operating costs, is that a reflection of the currency which is down, I guess around 5% to 6% versus your guidance or is there some other aspects that work there that are allowing you to have lower cost than expected starting the year?

Paul Wright

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

I guess currency has helped a little. I am trying to recall what we sort of put the budget together at. I think we are still pretty close…

Paul Skayman

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

550 to 600, yes.

Paul Wright

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

In terms of [indiscernible] inventories increased slightly at Kişladağ and I think that’s probably had a positive effect on the cash cost in the short-term. And the guys, particularly at Efemçukuru continue to sort of grind way in terms of efficiencies. And I think we are seeing that too, so some kudos obviously to the guys operating those projects in Turkey.

Paul Skayman

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

As Paul alluded to, I don’t think there is anything other than currency that we can specifically point to, Dan, or it’s a combination or frankly working to make the operations better.

Dan Rollins

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

Okay. So on a local currency basis, you are pretty comfortable that the current rate is you hope excluding the impact on the strip ratio or moving or having flowing over the next…?

Paul Skayman

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

I am not sure I understood the question, Dan.

Dan Rollins

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

Well, your unit costs on a local basis, where you are today, do you believe those are sustainable, what you are paying in Turkish lira?

Paul Wright

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

Well, I think as I mentioned earlier, I would expect that in over time, historically, inflation tends to claw back most of currency gain. Live with us year-by-year on this, Dan.

Dan Rollins

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

Okay, that’s fine. And then just on the sustaining capital, any change with the $50 million plan at Kişladağ for the year and $20 million at Efemçukuru?

Paul Wright

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

No.

Dan Rollins

Analyst · Dan Rollins with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is now open

Perfect. I will look forward to September 7.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Thank you, Operator. Paul, I am not sure you can answer it or not, but there was a big year-over-year swing in the accounts payable in the non-cash working capital change, it was like $70 million, do you know exactly what that looks for?

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

So just say that again Kerry, I didn’t quite get that.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

There was $70 million swing year-over-year on the accounts payable and the non-cash working capital and I was just wondering what that was related to?

Krista Muhr

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Before I just thank Kerry, it was the reversal of the [indiscernible] put option that’s primarily related to that.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Sorry, the reversal of which?

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

CDH, the put option that we have with CDH who is our partner in Eastern Dragon.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Okay. I see. Okay. And just on the guide…

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

The put option expired Kerry, that’s why the change in the treatment.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Okay. And then just on the guidance, you said the production guidance hadn’t change for Kişladağ, Paul has mentioned that in his commentary, is the Efemçukuru guidance that you had initially earlier in the year unchanged as well, the 90 to 100 then?

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Yes. That’s pretty well where they still think will end up, Kerry.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Right. And then the cash cost guidance that you have given early on here in January, what is the cash cost guidance now for the two Turkey operations, is that actually the same as it was as well?

Paul Skayman

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

We haven’t provided that, have we?

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

No. But – so you are not going to provide.

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

No.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Okay. You have just given the kind of the overall. Okay.

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

That’s right.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

And you talked Paul in the opening remarks about the $800 million of net proceeds from – can you remind me what the debt is that will come out of the $900 million?

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Sorry, the what?

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Presumably it’s debt or what is the adjustment, like why is the 800 million and not 900 million, I am just trying to...

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

An allocation there is an assumption as it relates to withholding tax.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Okay, so that’s where you are working on, okay.

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

We don’t know the exact amount. We are giving you an approximate level based on withholding tax. I mean then there are the usual adjustments for working capital and we are obviously continuing to operate the operations. So we have given you the $800 million as an approximate number, making certain assumptions as it relates to withholding tax and there will be an additional adjustment related to working capital as well as frankly, monies in accounts that had been earned through the period.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Got it, okay. Perfect. Thank you.

Paul Wright

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

So that’s why we can’t give you a nice number, two decimal points. But those were the components that go into what we will end up occurring when the transaction is closed.

Kerry Smith

Analyst · Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities. Your line is now open

Okay, that’s good. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Your next question comes from the line of Anita Soni with Credit Suisse. Your line is now open.

Anita Soni

Analyst · Anita Soni with Credit Suisse. Your line is now open

Good morning guys. My question relates to Kişladağ, I was just wondering on the heap leach, you have maintained the production guidance for the year, that partly answers my question, but you are expecting to get those, that full leach out by the end of the year or will it sort of push into 2017?

Paul Wright

Analyst · Anita Soni with Credit Suisse. Your line is now open

Well, I think what we described to you is the fact that we have been – we have had delayed production coming off the heaps because of the higher lifts, alright. It’s not associated with lack of ounces being placed. It’s just the cycle that you are in terms of delayed leach-ins time to get on to the top of the heap to the bottom of the heap. Bigger scale, the ounces to the pad are essentially on track with where we expected them to be. The mine plan we will see as continuing to load at an appropriate rate and the daily ounce production has been rising to the extent that we can, projecting forward to year end. We are satisfied with our guidance in terms of the range that we provided. That’s what we said.

Anita Soni

Analyst · Anita Soni with Credit Suisse. Your line is now open

Alright. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Steve Butler with GMP Securities. Your line is now open.

Steve Butler

Analyst · Steve Butler with GMP Securities. Your line is now open

Good morning, guys to you out there. Paul, quick one just on the sale of the Chinese assets again, so let’s look at the $71 million in cash sitting in discontinued assets for sale. So cash, if there was any cash building as there has been a somewhat small amount, does that accrue to your account from negotiations for the Chinese point of view, cash in the assets or is it working capital adjustment that goes their way?

Paul Wright

Analyst · Steve Butler with GMP Securities. Your line is now open

Well, those are the two separate issues. There will be a working capital adjustment that you typically see at any type of transaction at close. And then there will be the fact that we have been accruing through operations cash that generally accrues comes to ourselves, because it’s been earned by the period of our ownership, right?

Steve Butler

Analyst · Steve Butler with GMP Securities. Your line is now open

Yes. Okay, that’s good. Just want to clarify that. See you guys in September.

Paul Wright

Analyst · Steve Butler with GMP Securities. Your line is now open

Likewise.

Steve Butler

Analyst · Steve Butler with GMP Securities. Your line is now open

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] There are no further questions at this time. Mr. Paul Wright, I turn the call back over to you.

Paul Wright

Analyst · CIBC. Your line is now open

Okay. Well, thank you operator and thank you everybody for joining us today. We hope everybody has a good weekend and we look forward to seeing many of you or hopefully most of you in September. Thanks, operator.

Operator

Operator

This concludes today’s conference call. You may now disconnect.