VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA and JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — (Marketwired) — 11/25/14 — Platinum Group Metals Ltd. (TSX: PTM)(NYSE MKT: PLG) („Platinum Group“ or the „Company“) reports the Company–s financial results for the year ended August 31, 2014. For details of the consolidated financial statements (the „Financial Statements“), Management–s Discussion and Analysis, Annual Information Form and Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended August 31, 2014, please see the Company–s filings on SEDAR () or on EDGAR (). Shareholders are encouraged to visit the Company–s website at . Shareholders may request a copy of the complete Financial Statements from the Company free of charge.
The Company–s cash position at August 31, 2014 was $108 million while at present the Company holds approximately $78 million in cash. The Company holds cash in Canadian dollars, United States dollars and South African Rand and changes in exchange rates may create variances in the cash holdings reported in Canadian dollars. All amounts herein are reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.
Platinum Group is focused on the construction of the Project 1 platinum mine („Project 1“) located near Rustenburg, South Africa and on further exploration and engineering on the newly discovered Waterberg platinum deposit located north of Mokopane, South Africa.
Phase 2 development at Project 1 began in January 2013 and will continue to utilize a majority of the Company–s cash on hand and planned financing proceeds until positive cash flow is achieved. First production at Project 1 is planned for Q4 of calendar 2015, subject to the Company raising sufficient capital to complete remaining Phase 2 construction. Project 1 is operated by subsidiary company Maseve Investments 11 (Pty) Ltd. („Maseve“). The Company–s owners– team oversees engineering, procurement, construction and management firm DRA Mineral Projects (Pty) Ltd. and underground mining contractor JIC Mining Services. Including subcontractors there were approximately 1,631 persons on site at October 31, 2014 involved in underground development, mining and surface construction activities at Project 1. Approximately 24% of the people working on site are from the local community. Project 1 is now approximately 64% complete.
At Waterberg the Company has substantially completed its 2014 drilling program and engineering is in progress for a pre-feasibility study on the Waterberg JV Project. The pre-feasibility study is expected to be complete in calendar Q1 or Q2 2015. No drill rigs are currently operating at Waterberg, but additional follow-up boreholes may be drilled before the end of the year. Assays for several holes completed in the 2014 program remain outstanding and these will be included in an updated mineral resource estimate for the Waterberg projects in early 2015.
Recent Highlights
Results For The Year Ended August 31, 2014
During the year ended August 31, 2014, the Company incurred a net loss of $10.5 million (August 31, 2013 – net loss of $12.1 million). General and administrative expenses during the year were $7.9 million (August 31, 2013 – $6.9 million), gains on foreign exchange were $1.0 million (August 31, 2013 – $8.2 million loss) while stock based compensation expense, a non-cash item, totalled $2.2 million (August 31, 2013 – $1.2 million). Finance income consisting of interest earned and property rental fees in the year amounted to $3.9 million (August 31, 2013- $5.0 million). Loss per share for the year amounted to $0.02 as compared to a loss of $0.04 per share for fiscal 2013.
Accounts receivable at August 31, 2014 totalled $13.8 million while accounts payable and accrued liabilities amounted to $28.6 million. Accounts receivable were comprised primarily of value added taxes repayable to the Company in South Africa and amounts receivable from partners. Accounts payable included contract construction fees, drilling expenses, engineering fees, accrued professional fees and regular trade payables for ongoing exploration, development and administration costs.
Total expenditures by the Company for development, construction, equipment and other costs for Project 1 during the year totaled approximately $161 million. Expenditures by the Company during the year for exploration on the Waterberg projects were approximately $15.7 million, and a further $2.7 million was funded by joint venture partner, the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation („JOGMEC“).
Earth works and laydown areas for mill and concentrator facilities at Project 1 are now complete. Foundations for major mill and concentrator components are complete and steel erection is now underway. Expected deliveries for all major components remain on schedule. Ancillary servicing for the north decline site, including buildings, piping, cabling, fencing and security, has been completed. Cleaner flotation cells have been delivered to site by Metso Mining and Construction (South Africa) Pty Ltd. Rougher cells and flotation units are being assembled and installed. Change houses, shops and stores facilities are substantially complete. The filter press building and infrastructure is nearing completion with the filter press having been tested in Finland and released for delivery to site before the end of 2014. The primary run of mine ball mill was delivered to site by Outotec RSA (Pty) Ltd. in June 2014. As of November 14, 2014 the primary mill shell and related ends, trunions and gears were substantially installed on their supports. Conveyors, crushers and an ore silo are well advanced.
Underground development at Project 1 has reached the Merensky Reef and initial mining blocks are in planning and early development. Stockpiling of development muck and early ore is underway. Underground mining of multiple declines and headings continues. Capital costs have generally been within the Company–s revised peak funding estimate published in April 2012. First concentrate production is planned for late calendar 2015, subject to the Company raising sufficient capital to complete remaining Phase 2 construction.
Technical Report Filed
The Company has today filed on SEDAR a National Instrument 43-101 technical report. The report, entitled „Technical Report for the Update on Exploration Drilling at the Waterberg Joint Venture and Waterberg Extension Projects, South Africa (Latitude 23 degrees 14– 00″S, Longitude 28 degrees 55– 00″E)“ is effective October 21, 2014 and was prepared by Kenneth Lomberg, B.Sc. (Hons) Geology, B. Com., M. Eng. Pr.Sci.Nat., MGSSA, and Alan Goldschmidt, B.Sc. (Hons) Geology, GDE, Pr.Sci.Nat., MGSSA of Coffey Mining (SA) Pty Ltd. A copy of the report can be found at and and on the Company–s website.
Outlook
The Company–s key business objectives for calendar 2015 will be to continue with underground development and mine construction at Project 1 and to advance both the Waterberg JV Project and the Waterberg Extension Project.
Development at Project 1 began in January 2013 and will continue to utilize a majority of the Company–s cash on hand until positive cash flow is achieved. First production at Project 1 is planned for Q4 of calendar 2015.
The Company plans to continue working on the Waterberg JV Project with its joint venture partners Mnombo Wethu Consultants (Pty) Ltd. („Mnombo“) and JOGMEC. A resource update is anticipated for the Waterberg JV in early 2015 and work is continuing at present toward the completion of a pre-feasibility study scheduled for Q1 or Q2 of calendar 2015.
Exploration on the Waterberg JV Project and the Waterberg Extension Project continues at present. An important objective for the Company is to determine the scale of the Waterberg deposit and to find the section of the Waterberg deposit with the greatest thickness near surface. The deposit remains open.
About Platinum Group Metals Ltd.
Platinum Group is based in Johannesburg, South Africa and Vancouver, Canada. The Company–s business is currently focused on the construction of the Project 1 platinum mine and the exploration and initial engineering on the newly discovered Waterberg platinum deposit, where the Company is the operator of the Waterberg JV Project with JOGMEC and Mnombo. The Company has also expanded its exploration northward on to the Waterberg Extension Project As a result of the resource scale and thickness of the Waterberg deposit, the Waterberg JV Project and the Waterberg Extension Project have increased in importance in the Company–s business over the past year.
Qualified Person
R. Michael Jones, P.Eng., the Company–s President, Chief Executive Officer and a significant shareholder of the Company, is a non-independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and is responsible for preparing the technical information contained in this news release.
On behalf of the Board of Platinum Group Metals Ltd.
Frank R. Hallam, CFO and Director
The Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE MKT LLC have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this news release, which has been prepared by management.
This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities laws (collectively „forward-looking statements“). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, plans, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the offering, including the terms, potential completion and the use of proceeds of such offering, plans and estimates regarding exploration, studies, development, construction and production on the Company–s properties, other economic projections and the Company–s outlook. Statements of resources and reserves also constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they represent estimates of mineralization that will be encountered on a property and/or estimates regarding future costs, revenues and other matters. Although the Company believes the forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, that the Company may be unsuccessful in negotiating with potential investors; that investors may require terms that differ from those set forth in this news release; that the offering may not be fully subscribed; variations in market conditions; the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located; metal prices; other prices and costs; currency exchange rates; the Company–s ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities; the Company–s ability to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risk factors described in the Company–s Form 40-F annual report, annual information form and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators, which may be viewed at and , respectively.
Contacts: Platinum Group Metals Ltd., Vancouver R. Michael Jones President (604) 899-5450 / Toll Free: (866) 899-5450
Platinum Group Metals Ltd., Vancouver Kris Begic VP, Corporate Development (604) 899-5450 / Toll Free: (866) 899-5450
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