Good morning and welcome to the presentation of our financial result of Mineros S.A. for the first quarter of 2025. My name is Karen, and I'll be your moderator for today's call. At this moment, all participants are in a listen-only mode. By the end of the presentation, there will be a Q&A session on our platform, on our website, exclusively. Please remember that this conference is being recorded. Please consider that today's conference is going to be performed in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation into English. Please remember that if you have any issues to see the slides on the website, you must maximize the slides on the website. From now on, we pass it over to Mr. Juan Camilo Obando, Chief of Relationships Division. Mr. Juan Camilo, the floor is yours.
Karen, thank you very much, and good morning, everybody.
Welcome to our presentation of the financial operational results of Mineros S.A. for the first quarter of 2025. My name is Juan Camilo Obando, and I am the Investor Relations Manager. The original language of this call will be Spanish. However, if you wish to listen to it in English, please follow these two steps. Before we begin, it is important to advise listeners that this call and presentation may contain forward-looking information about the company's future results that, for various reasons, including the very nature of mining activity, may or may not materialize. For this reason, we advise investors to exercise caution when making investment decisions and not to rely solely on the information presented here.
It should also be mentioned that this presentation contains non-IFRS financial measures, such as cash cost and all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold sold, the average price per ounce of gold sold, adjusted EBITDA, and net debt. Additional information about these measures can be found in Section 10 of our MD&A published in Canada, which is also available on our website under the Investors menu in the Financial Reports section. Today, joining me in this meeting, we have David Londoño, President and CEO of Mineros, Alan Wancier, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Ana Isabel Gaviria, Vice President, Legal and Sustainability, Santiago Cardona, Vice President of Colombia, and Ubaldo Díaz, Vice President, Technical Services. Additionally, joining us via telephone, we have Luis Fernando Villa, Vice President, Nicaragua, and Ann Wilkinson, Vice President, Investor Relations.
With that, I'd like to welcome and turn the call over to David Londoño, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mineros. Thank you very much.
Good morning, and thank you for joining us today for our first quarter of 2025 conference call covering the financial and operating results. As you know, my name is David Londoño, and I started as President and CEO of Mineros on April the 8th, exactly one month ago. I come from having served as a Chief Operating Officer of Americas of OceanaGold and previously as General Manager of Detour Gold Mine and Vice President of Projects for Kirkland Lake Gold and now part of Agnico Eagle. In today's conference call, we will present the highlights of the first quarter of 2025, followed by the financial results for the quarter, our operational results, a review of each operation, and finally, our challenges and opportunities.
Let us begin then with the key highlights. It is important to highlight, first of all, that on March 31st, 2025, we held the General Shareholders' Meeting, during which several important decisions were made for the company. First of all, an annual dividend of $0.10 USD per share was approved, payable quarterly. Additionally, we had the election of the new Board of Directors, in which five new members were elected, and four of the previous members were re-elected. Thus, the Board of Directors is now composed of Augusto López, who was later appointed as Chairman of the Board, Andrés Restrepo, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Mineros, Hernán Rodríguez, Natalia Correa, Philip J. Martin, Sofía Bianchi, Markus Gerdau, Michael Doyle, and Daniel Henao. We extend a warm welcome to our new board members. Furthermore, Deloitte was re-elected as our auditor for a period of two years.
Additionally, a resolution was approved authorizing the company, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, to repurchase its common shares through acquisitions in the Colombian Stock Exchange and/or the Toronto Stock Exchange up to a maximum of $12 million over a period of not exceeding two years. We are currently studying the most suitable mechanism to carry out this program, and we will communicate it to the market in due course. Now, moving on to the relevant aspects of 2025, we have more. Then we continue with the key highlights. During the first quarter of 2025, we produced just over 54,000 ounces of gold, representing a 5% increase compared with the same period in 2024. Regarding our silver production, we produced just over 77,000 ounces. We paid dividends to our shareholders in the amount of $7.5 million.
These operational results yielded a record net income of $38 million for the first quarter of the year. Our adjusted EBITDA was $71.3 million, and we had cash and cash equivalents of $81.3 million at the end of the quarter. During the first quarter of 2024, the price of gold performed positively and hit a new record high, trading upwards between $2,636 per ounce and a high of $3,123 per ounce. During the quarter, continuing the marked upward trend it has been showing since last year. The closing price of March 31st was $3,123 per ounce, representing a 17.52% increase compared with the closing price of the fourth quarter of 2024. The average price recorded during the quarter was $2,861. With this, I will now hand it over to Alan Wancier, who will explain our financial results.
Thank you, David. Good morning, everyone.
Let us begin with the income statement for the quarter. Please remember that the figures expressed here are expressed in US dollars, in millions of US dollars. During the first quarter of 2025, the company's revenues increased by 41%, reaching $160 million, mainly due to a 39% increase in the average selling price of gold, coupled with a 5% growth in ounces of gold sold, despite a 55% decrease in silver sales. The cost of sales increased by 19% because higher gold prices increased the cost of purchasing gold from artisanal miners, and due to higher depreciation and amortization and higher operating expenses driven by inflation, which increased maintenance and material costs, services, and labor costs. Gross profit and the Adjusted EBITDA increased by 92% and 75%, respectively, thanks to the increase in revenues.
The net income increased by 127%, reaching $38 million compared to $16.8 million in profit reported in the first quarter of 2024. The Net Free Cash Flow was negative and totaled $1.1 million compared with the negative Net Free Cash Flow of $1.9 million in the same period of 2024. This figure is our results after deducting the net cash flow generated by operations by the dividend payment of $7.5 million and sustaining capital expenditures of $4.4 million and interest payments of $0.75 million. Now, let's move on to the cash flow. The net cash flow from operations represents proceeds from the sale of gold, silver, and electricity amounting to $125.2 million less payments or deducting payments to suppliers of $80.2 million, payments for salaries and employee benefits of $16.9 million, and tax payments of $17.4 million.
The cash flow used in investing activities is due to purchases of property, plant equipment of $14.3 million, which notably includes $1.1 million invested in the expansion of San José Tailings Zone and $2.4 million of maintenance and sustaining expenditures in the Hemco, Nicaragua. We also have $1.9 million of maintenance and sustaining expenditures at the Nechí alluvial. It also includes the purchase of intangibles and exploration projects of that amount to $1.1 million. The cash flow used for financing activities was mainly composed of dividend payments of $7.5 million and payments of financial obligation amounting to $5.2 million. The cash balance at the end of the quarter amounted to $81.3 million, with a 16% decrease compared with the initial balance of the quarter, where it stood at $96.4 million. Now, let's move on to the Adjusted EBITDA.
This Adjusted EBITDA stood at $71.3 million at the end of the quarter compared with the $40.7 million recorded in the first quarter of 2024. This represents an increase of 75%. This change is mainly explained due to the increase in revenue because of the 39% rise in gold prices and the 5% increase in gold sales. To conclude this financial section, let us move on to the net debt. The decrease in net debt compared with the same period in 2024 is explained by a significantly higher cash balance. At the end of the quarter, loans and leases amounted to $28.1 million U.S. dollars, while the cash and cash equivalents balance amounted to $81.3 million. As we have mentioned before in previous meetings, as part of a financial strategy, we continuously monitor the market for opportunities to be prepared when cash needs arise.
This cash position meets our availability to cover our obligations and growth projects. With that, I'll pass it over back to David, who will talk about operational indicators.
Thank you very much, Alan. Let us talk about our results of our operations. This chart on this slide summarizes the operational performance of the last five quarters. As you can see, total production for the first quarter increased by 5% compared with the same quarter of 2024 due to a 21% increase in production in Colombia, slightly offset by a 5% decrease in production at our Nicaragua operation. On the other hand, the cash cost increased by 22% due to a 19% increase in the cost of sales, and the all-in sustaining cost increased by 18%, which is mainly explained by the increase in cash cost.
During the first quarter of 2025, the average selling price per ounce of gold reached $2,881, registering a 39% increase compared with the same period of the previous year. As you can see in the trend lines of the chart, we continue to maintain very attractive margins, and the upward trend in the price of gold has been reflected or has been translated in our average selling prices over the last five quarters. Let us now take a look at each operation. I will hand the floor over to Santiago Cardona, Vice President of Colombia, who will present the details of the Colombian operation, and subsequently to Luis Fernando Villa, Vice President of Nicaragua, who will present the details of the operation at HEMCO. Santiago, the floor is yours.
Thank you, David.
In Colombia, the production for the first quarter of the year amounted to 23,000 ounces, representing a 21% increase compared with the first quarter of 2024 due to higher grades and an improvement in recovery that we continue to have in this area. The all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold sold increased by 4% compared with the same period of the previous year, standing at $1,295 per ounce due to higher labor and service costs and higher maintenance and material costs, offset by a decrease in maintenance capital expenditures. Gross profit recorded an increase of 157%, up to $30 million as a result of higher gold production during the quarter, combined with the increase in gold prices. Here are some highlights regarding our Colombia operations. First of all, we have begun our collective bargaining negotiations with our union.
This is a process that takes place every two years and so far is progressing satisfactorily. We hope to reach an agreement that benefits both parties, as has been achieved in previous years. It is also very important that at the end of 2024, we have an additional suction dredge that is going to help us out with the stripping performance, combined with the improvements we are making to enhance availability, and with this, we expect to reduce operating costs and improve production performance. With this, I'd like to conclude the presentation on the operation in Colombia, and I will now hand it over to Luis Villa, Vice President of Hemco, Nicaragua.
Thank you, Santiago. In Nicaragua, the first quarter production at Hemco amounted to 31,000 ounces, a 5% reduction compared with the 33,000 ounces produced in the first quarter of 2024.
This was mainly due to a 13% decrease in processed grades, which was offset by processing 10% more tons during the quarter, thanks to better availability and an increase in tons per hour process compared with 2024. The All-in Sustaining Cost per ounce increased by 27% due to the higher gold price, which caused an increase in the cost of purchasing gold from artisanal miners. Regarding gross profit, it registered an increase of 57%, standing at $29 million compared with the $18 million recorded in the first quarter of 2024, mainly due to higher revenues from the higher gold price. It is also worth noting that at the beginning of April this year, the negotiation of labor agreement with the workers' unions was successfully concluded and we reached an arrangement beneficial to both parties. This agreement will be in effect for the next two years.
This concludes the results for Nicaragua and now I'll pass it back to David.
Thank you very much, Luis Fernando. Now, let us talk about our challenges and outlook in which we will review our growth and exploration programs. Regarding near mine exploration in Colombia in the first quarter of 2025, we completed 2,420 meters in exploration and 83 drill holes, which is approximately 25% of the company's original drilling plan. There is drilling focused on infill drilling within the current production area, with 566 meters completed. Now, moving on to Nicaragua, regarding the Porvenir project, we can report or we can tell you that we continue to progress as planned with the update of the mineral resources and reserves of the project.
Also, in relation to the Porvenir project, and as we reported in a press release issued a couple of days ago, we received the forestry permit for the Porvenir project. This concludes the permitting stage for the development of the mine. We will now submit the environmental impact assessment for the processing plant. Obtaining this permit means that we can begin development work at the mine while we continue our detailed engineering for the processing plant. It is worth noting that reserves of 572 kilo ounces of gold and of silver and 1,922 kilo ounces of gold and 379 thousand tonnes of zinc included in the Porvenir report. Regarding exploration, this includes the execution of 66,900 meters of diamond drilling in the strategic areas of our concession, including areas where artisanal miners work.
This is aimed at strengthening the operational continuity of our producing mines and significantly improving the classification of resources from inferred to indicated, as well as improving the quality of our reserves and reserve base. Of this plan, 49,300 meters will be brownfield areas of which we have already completed a big portion in the first quarter. In greenfield areas, we will drill 16,000 meters, and we estimate starting by the end of May. This concludes our presentation, and this time we would like to open up the floor for your questions.
Thank you very much. Well, we'll have an extra couple of minutes while we receive some questions by our audience. And then we can start with the first question that we have received so far. And the first question is, why did the effective cost decrease to $82.1 million in the first semester and the first quarter?
The second question has to do with the first quarter of 2025 of over $25 million.
With these two questions, let's say we do have the same question, the same answer for these two questions. The decreasing cash flow and the payables that we have continue to have the regular cycle of the company. We always have to have some variations between the close of the year, specifically with the payable accounts, the payable accounts and the start of the next year. In this case, we had that decrease because of some payable accounts that we always have at the beginning of the year and also the taxes that we need to pay during the first quarter. On top of that, this cash flow and having in mind the payable, we have an increase of $34 million.
It also has to do with the time that we're in because our clients will pay us in a range of 7 to 21 days. And these payable accounts are in due course of recovery. They have increased, of course, because of the 5% increase of ounces of gold sold. And thank you very much.
And now let us move on to the next question. Thank you very much for your presentation. I'd like to know what is the growth vision under the new administration and the new boards of the shareholders meeting. And on top of that, how can we expect this growth?
Thank you very much for your question. And the first thing we need to do is to internally assess the operations that we have in order to improve our operations costs. And that's the first thing that we need to do.
Second of all, as you all know, the near mine exploration is the one that has better yielding. And you know that the reports are always going to find better results for this sort of exploration. So that's the first thing that we're doing as of now. And we're trying to expand our explorations to some other countries in the area. And then, of course, anytime that we have any additional, let's say, opportunity for us to get into a new project that is close to start their operation. And if it successfully adds some value to Mineros, then we'll consider it. And then we'll, of course, let you know accordingly.
Thank you very much, David. Next question. The next question is about the percentage of the gold that is going to be paid for the artisanal mines in Nicaragua.
This broadly depends on the grades that we receive and also the plant that we're going to be working on. However, the average is of 40%-45% of the gold price.
Okay, thank you very much. Next question. The question is, as of now, you still have to have coverage of, or how are you working the gold availability? Now we continue to be exposed. We don't have any sort of coverages. Thank you very much. Next question. Congratulations for the presented results. At the beginning of your presentation, you mentioned the repurchasing program. Do you have any further plans on that aspect? We're still assessing the best way possible to do this repurchase process. Once we have this approved by the board, we'll let you know the dates. Thank you. Next question.
How do you see the initiative that is being led by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit in order to have 2.5% in these gold sales for the international trading? And how can you respond to this?
This is an effect. This is for the Colombian scenario only. It initially is going to impact our cash flow in an average of $3 million that will be later recovered. We also need to clarify that we are not traders. We are assessing the specific impacts. Let's say that this is still a bill. It hasn't been passed as a law yet. We are trying to assess what would be the impacts for our companies and the gold mine and the gold sector in Colombia.
Thank you very much. The next question has to do with the decrease in the total cash flow.
As we told you at the beginning of the presentation, given the close of a year, our payable accounts increased a bit. And then we have all this. And on top of that, we have to pay taxes. And then our payables increase. And that increase will be translated in the cash flow. And when we recover this, let's say that we are in due time to recover all this cash flow.
Thank you very much. Thank you for your presentation and thank you for the results. Do you think that are we working or that these dynamics will continue or will last in time for a longer time? Thank you very much.
To be honest, to be perfectly honest, here we are not analysts here, but we are just operators. And it is very hard to say whether this will last long.
That having in mind what's going on worldwide, it is foreseen that this may continue, that this increase may continue for the next two to three years.
Thank you very much, David. Next question has to do with the depreciation and amortization cost during the first quarter. If you could please provide us a bit more information on that.
Well, sure. The depreciation and amortization cost amounted to $11 million with some specific coverage of $3 million. Thank you very much, Alan. Next question. Thank you for your presentation. I'd like to know what sort of growth expectations do you have in regards to the exploration costs and how much do you think this is going to be presented in the upcoming quarters? Thank you.
As we said at the beginning, let's say that the near mine exploration is what has more yieldings because we're going to find some deposits where we have already found some other deposits, and according to our experience or the worldwide experience that we've reached, is that that's the best way to continue exploring, so if we continue exploring near mine, then the forecast or our outlook is that we're going to continue increasing our reserves and we're going to expand the life cycle of the mine, specifically in Nicaragua. We need to decide what are going to be our reserves for where our reserves are going to be for the future.
Thank you very much, David. Next question, so having in mind the extraordinary income that we could see throughout 2025, is there any extra dividend policy that is going to be, let's say, in place for this?
How do you see the market cap for this with these conditions?
Well, as you know, the dividends are approved in the General Assembly. These were already accepted or approved this year, which amounts to $0.10 by the extra dividend. And we'll have to see what happens next year with this extraordinary dividend next year.
Thank you very much, Alan. And here we have another congratulating message and the decrease on how you decrease from 1,700 to 1,600. And it shows the commitment of the organization.
And actually, that's our commitment. We're deeply committed to do so, to make sure and to ensure that we are industrious in our expenses and that the performance of our operations are better every day and how this is going to impact the all-in sustaining costs.
Thank you very much, David. Now I'll move on to the next question.
Could you please give us some insights into the Hemco exploration? Should we need to wait for this to continue for the rest of the year? Let's say this is linked to the gold prices.
As much as the gold price increased with the mineral of lower degree, we are going to have some specific results. For the artisanal miners, it is quite attractive to sell what they have as of now in their specific areas.
Thank you, David. Next question, and congratulations for the results. When do you think the financial statements are going to be released?
These financial statements were released yesterday afternoon. You can see them. You can just find them in our website. They were released yesterday afternoon.
Thank you very much. Once again, they are congratulating us for our good economic position right now.
What is the amount of free cash flow by the beginning of the year? And what was its variation in comparison to 2024?
Well, it was a negative $1.4 million last year. It was negative $1.9 million.
Thank you, Alan. Next question, and it is also joined by a congratulating message. They'd like to know what's expected with the contingency of taxes in Nicaragua and whether there's been an adjustment and what's the situation of illegal personnel in Colombia.
Well, we're going to pass it over to Ana Isabel. She's going to respond to this question. Well, it seems like Ana is having some issues with connectivity. But regarding the Ad Valorem in Nicaragua, we are following the different instances for the appeal in order to appeal the Nicaraguan government. So we are expecting the results, but we think that we're in the right way.
Now regarding the situation of illegal individuals in Colombia, let's say that in general terms, the illegal extractions issue in Colombia continues to be on an increase. This is, of course, assessed before the high price of gold. Because just as David said it in Nicaragua, for the Nicaraguan situation, when we see, for example, lower degrees, we can see how this artisanal illegal mining continues to be there. Let's say that in Colombia, the situation is no different. That's why we're completing some formalization activities and programs working with different gold companies in order to formalize more and more people and bring them over to the legal side of it.
Now they're asking us about the silver production. Are you expecting to find more mines of this metal?
We have always been a gold company and will continue to explore for gold.
And if we find deposits that are combined with gold or with coal, we will work with them, but we will continue to explore for gold. And they're asking us about the expectations on prices of gold. And they ask us again about the price of gold. And I think we have already responded to this question, but I think that this, as I said before, this is going to continue and increase for a period of two to three years. Thank you very much. We're going to have a couple of extra minutes for some additional or further questions. There seems to be no further questions at the time. Here we have an extra question about the life cycle of the mine in Colombia and whether there is a project or activity to increase the life cycle of this mine in Colombia.
I'm going to pass it over to Santiago so he can reply to this question.
We have resources and reserves for a time period of 10 years with the titles that we have as of now. We are exploring, just like David said before, we just want to verify the resources and reserves that we have here, but we also want to continue exploring. We continue to further with the near mine exploration in order to have new projects. Hopefully in the second quarter and hopefully next year, we'll continue to explore our titles in order to expand on the reserves. That means that the future explorations will be explored near mine. We have in Nechí and also in Caucasia.
We're also working there and we're trying to implement some specific exploration campaigns in those regions in order to continue increasing the life cycle of these mines. Thank you very much, Santiago.
And they say over here that it's very good to see very good results in such an important company. Now they have the following question. They'd like to know what's the projection regarding the exploration and exploitation of polymetals in Colombia.
Thank you very much for your question. And as I have said before, we have a gold mining exploration and here we will continue to explore specifically for gold, specifically in the near mine sites that we have, just like Santiago said. But as we all know and we know how to work it out or how to operate in Colombia, and we'll continue to explore again for gold in Colombia. We'll continue looking for gold.
Thank you very much. Next question regarding La Pepa Project. How is it working or what's the progress in Chile?
As you know, we own 20% of La Pepa Project in Chile, but the majority owner is Pan American Silver. And we are always in close contact with them as to get to know what's going on. If we have any further news, we'll let you know timely.
Thank you very much. Our next question is about the current status of the renewal of permits in Colombia.
As you know, or if you allow me to remind you, we have a PMA, an Environmental Management Plan for our mines, and the permit proceeding is always conducted in a dynamic and escalated way anytime that we will continue working with our projects, so that's why it is quite dynamic.
As of now, we have permits up to the beginning of 2027, which gives us enough room with our operation. But we have also been working with some projects with some other areas in the titles that we have, the permits that we already have, and with Corantioquia, the regional authority in Antioquia. And we are trying to find ways to start. We're starting to work with these feasibility projects in order to have new projects and new things that we'll let you know in time.
Thank you very much. Next question. They're asking us about the mining plan for Nicaragua and Colombia.
Well, as we all know, this is a document. This is a live document that is continuously changing. So in Colombia, we've been for 10 years working on this plan.
The same thing happens for Nicaragua, where we've been there for 10 years as well, having in mind these artisanal miners.
Thank you, David. Next question. First of all, they're congratulating you for the results. They're asking you, what's the optimum price of gold in order not to have any risks?
The optimum price is obviously the highest one. The higher, the better. Of course, now we need to focus on maintaining the costs that we have and the performance of the operations that we have.
Thank you. Here we have, they are congratulating us for the results over here. Okay, so this seems that was the last question or comment. Thank you very much for all your questions and thank you very much for your participation today. We hope to see you in our next meeting.
I hope you have a restful rest of the weekend and rest of the day. Thank you.
Thank you. With this concludes today's meeting. You may now disconnect.