Largo Resources Reports Record Production and Lowest Annual Cash Costs at the Maracás Menchen Mine with 2019 Financial Results

All financial figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Q4 2019 Highlights

• Production of 3,011 (6.6 million lbs¹) tonnes of V₂O₅ in Q4 2019, a 16% increase over Q4 2018
• Record monthly V₂O₅ production of 1,162 tonnes in December 2019
• Cash operating costs excluding royalties² of US$2.48($3.28) per lb V₂O₅, a decrease of 29% over Q4 2018
• Revenues of $34.1 million in Q4 2019 (net of the re-measurement of trade receivables / payables of $13.5 million on vanadium sales from a contract with a customer of $47.6 million)

Full Year 2019 Highlights

• Record FY 2019 production, achieving midpoint production guidance: 10,577 tonnes (23.3 million lbs¹) of V₂O₅ produced in 2019, an increase of 8% over FY 2018
• Cash operating costs excluding royalties² of US$2.95($3.92) per lb V₂O₅, 12% lower than 2019 cost guidance; 13% lower than 2018
• Revenues of $140.0 million in FY 2019 (net of the re-measurement of trade receivables / payables of $137.3 million on vanadium sales from a contract with a customer of $277.3 million)
• Net loss of $36.2 million and a loss per share of $0.07
• Cash balance of $166.1 million exiting 2019
• New safety record in 2019: 238 days (1.5 million man-hours worked) without a Lost Time Injury

Other Significant Updates

• Strategic sales and marketing transition proven successful: 90% committed on guided annual sales for 2020
• New 2020 total cash cost⁸ guidance of US$3.45 – 3.65/lb V₂O₅
• 2020 total cash cost⁸, cash operating costs excluding royalties², sales and production guidance maintained on a "business as usual" basis
• Board approval for the construction of a vanadium trioxide ("V₂O₃") processing plant in Maracás, Brazil
• Ilmenite flotation pilot plant proven successful; TiO₂ chemical pilot plant tests and study expected to commence in April 2020

TORONTO, March 20, 2020 /CNW/ - Largo Resources Ltd. ("Largo" or the "Company") (TSX: LGO) (OTCQX: LGORF) announces its 2019 financial results highlighted by record annual production of 10,577 tonnes of vanadium pentoxide ("V₂O₅") and the lowest annual cash operating costs excluding royalties² achieved to date of US$2.95 per pound of V₂O₅. The Company recorded a net loss of $36.2 million in 2019 largely due to lower vanadium prices and the re-measurement of trade receivables / payables as part of its offtake agreement which expires on April 30, 2020.

Paulo Misk, President and Chief Executive Officer for Largo, stated: "Profitability was impacted in Q4 2019 and in 2019 as a consequence of lower vanadium prices and largely due to a total re-measurement of trade receivables / payables during the year of $137.3 million as part of the Company's off-take agreement. Following the expiration of the off-take agreement next month, the Company remains focused on maximizing value through its sales and marketing business, which includes a focus on high purity vanadium sales with price premiums. I am very pleased to report that the Company is approximately 90% committed on its annual guided sales for 2020."

He continued: "On the operational front, the Company performed extremely well in 2019 achieving cash operating costs excluding royalties² of US$2.95 per pound of V₂O₅ in addition to setting a new V₂O₅ production record of 10,577 tonnes. I am very proud of the entire Largo team who have consistently demonstrated their ability to achieve new production records while maintaining cost discipline. In addition to the ferrovanadium conversion plant approval, the Board of Directors has also approved the construction of a V₂O₃ processing plant at the Maracás Menchen Mine. Once completed, the Company expects to increase its premium yielding high purity sales in the vanadium-titanium-aluminum alloying market which is required for aerospace manufacturing, chemical industry and vanadium electrolyte used for vanadium redox flow batteries."

He concluded: "The Company is continuing to monitor the rapidly developing impacts of the COVID-19 ("coronavirus") pandemic and will take all possible actions to help minimize the impact on the Company and its people. Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this virus. To date, there has been no impact on our production or on our shipment of product out of Maracás. At this time, there has been no significant disruption to the Company's supply chain for its operations and the level of critical consumables continues to be at normal levels. Additionally, not a single employee or contractor has tested positive for the virus and given its relative isolation, we believe that the risk to our operating team in Maracás remains relatively low. Largo continues to monitor and will, if and when required, implement business continuity measures to mitigate and minimize any potential impacts of the global pandemic on our operations, supply chain, and commercial and financial activities. The Company continues to follow best practices as provided by the World Health Organization and will provide additional updates as they are needed."

A summary of the operational and financial performance for the fourth quarter Q4 and full year 2019 is provided below:

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results

The Company recorded a net loss of $36.2 million in 2019 compared to net income of $316.0 million in 2018. This movement was primarily due to a decrease in revenues during the year and was partially offset by a decrease in operating costs of $11.9 million, a decrease in finance costs of $21.4 million and an increase in interest income of $5.7 million. In Q4 2019, the Company recorded a net loss of $5.0 million compared to net income of $108.0 million in Q4 2018.

The Company's total sales of V₂O₅ in 2019 were 10,160 tonnes which includes 1,640 tonnes of high purity V₂O₅. Total high purity sales in 2019 increased 14% over the 1,440 tonnes sold in 2018. Total sales of V₂O₅ in Q4 2019 were 2,860 tonnes which includes 480 tonnes of high purity V₂O₅.

Following the $137.3 million reduction in revenues as a result of the re-measurement of trade receivables / payables under the Glencore contract, the Company recognized revenues of $140.0 million in 2019 compared with revenues of $521.4 million in 2018. Revenues per pound sold⁴ in 2019 were $6.25(US$4.70) compared with $24.33(US$18.68) per pound in 2018. For Q4 2019, the Company recognized revenues of $34.1 million compared with revenues of $177.5 million in Q4 2018. Revenues per pound sold⁴ in Q4 2019 were $5.41(US$4.09) compared with $31.96(US$24.19) per pound in Q4 2018.

Vanadium sales from a contract with a customer was $277.3 million in 2019, compared with $455.4 million in 2018. Vanadium sales per pound sold⁴ in 2019 was $12.38(US$9.32) compared to $21.25(US$16.32) per pound in 2018. This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in the V₂O₅ price, with the average price per lb of V₂O₅ of approximately US$9.36 for 2019, compared with approximately US$18.30 for 2018. Vanadium sales from a contract with a customer was $47.6 million in Q4 2019, compared with $167.6 million in Q4 2018. Vanadium sales per pound sold⁴ in Q4 2019 was $7.54(US$5.70) compared to $30.17(US$22.84) per pound in Q4 2018. This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in the V₂O₅ price, with the average price per lb of V₂O₅ of approximately US$5.37 for Q4 2019, compared with approximately US$24.53 for 2018.

As a consequence of the negative revenue adjustment per pound⁵ realized in Q4 2019 and in 2019, the Company's trade payables balance at December 31, 2019 was $87.8 million and the revenue adjustment payable⁵ was $95.7 million (US$73.6 million). Assuming V₂O₅ prices remain the same as at December 31, 2019, the Company's estimated revenue adjustment payable⁵ for V₂O₅ sold to December 31, 2019 is $96.2 million (US$74.0 million). At the date of this press release, the Company's estimated revenue adjustment payable for V₂O₅ sold⁵ to February 29, 2019 is approximately $94.4 million (US$72.6 million).

The Company has forecast its expected cash balance and the estimated revenue adjustment payable⁵ at April 30, 2020 under three different vanadium price scenarios. Each scenario assumes that the vanadium price shown in the table below applies from January 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 and constant foreign exchange rates and cash operating costs per pound produced² consistent with the guidance released. The forecast balances, which constitute forward-looking information, are shown in the table below.

The Company is continuing to monitor the rapidly developing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and will take all possible actions to help minimize the impact on the Company and its people. Given these uncertainties, the Company is actively working to secure credit facilities to provide it with additional cash resources should the impacts be significant. In March 2020, the Company secured a US$13.0 million credit facility in Brazil. All amounts drawn under the facility are due to be repaid as a lump sum at maturity in 359 days.

Operating costs in 2019 were $123.8 million compared to $135.7 million in 2018 and include direct mine and mill costs of $84.3 million ($82.0 million in 2018), depreciation and amortization of $31.7 million ($31.0 million in 2018) and royalties of $7.9 million ($22.7 million in 2018). For Q4 2019, operating costs were $30.0 million compared to $37.6 million in Q4 2018 and include direct mine and mill costs of $20.0 million ($21.3 million in Q4 2018), depreciation and amortization of $8.0 million ($7.3 million in Q4 2018) and royalties of $2.0 million ($9.0 million in Q4 2018). The decrease in direct mine and mill costs in Q4 2019 is primarily attributable to the recovery of operating cost related tax credits totaling R$12.3 million. Additionally, the decrease in royalties in 2019 from 2018 is due to a decrease in V₂O₅ price.

Cash operating costs excluding royalties² in 2019 were $3.92(US$2.95) per pound compared to $4.41(US$3.38) in 2018, representing a decrease of 13%. Cash operating costs excluding royalties² in Q4 2019 were $3.28(US$2.48) per pound compared to $4.60(US$3.48) in Q4 2018 which represents the lowest unit costs achieved since commencement of operations in 2014. The decrease seen in Q4 2019 compared with Q4 2018 is largely due to the Q4 2019 production of 3,011 tonnes of V₂O₅ being 416 tonnes higher than the 2,595 tonnes produced in Q4 2018, as well as an improvement in the global recovery level and the recovery of tax credits.

Interest income in 2019 was $6.6 million representing an increase of $5.7 million over 2018. For Q4 2019, interest income was $1.1 million compared to $0.6 million in Q4 2018. This is due to the Company's increased cash position during Q4 2019 and in 2019 which has enabled it to benefit from greater deposit interest rates.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Operational Results

Total V₂O₅ production of 3,011 tonnes during Q4 2019 was 16% higher than Q4 2018. Production in December 2019 achieved a new monthly record with 1,162 tonnes of V₂O₅ produced, which contributed to the total V₂O₅ production in 2019 of 10,577 tonnes being 747 tonnes higher than in 2018. In October, 946 tonnes of V₂O₅ was produced, with 903 tonnes produced in November. Q4 2019 production was 2% higher than in Q3 2019, primarily due to the successful completion of the expansion in the milling and evaporation areas, which enabled the full plant to achieve its expanded design capacity.

In Q4 2019, 329,792 tonnes of ore were mined with an effective grade⁶ of 1.36% of V₂O₅. The Company produced 100,879 tonnes of concentrate ore with an effective V₂O₅ grade of 3.28%, compared with 92,190 tonnes produced in Q4 2018 with a grade of 3.27%. The Company uses production drilling prior to blasting to better define the ore and waste material being mined. This dilution control procedure has enabled the Company to avoid mining waste rock inside the ore block, resulting in less ore being mined, but with a higher grade than expected. The effective grade milled reports higher than the effective grade mined as a result of dry magnetic separation which occurs between the two processes. The Company's crushing and milling costs have benefited from the implementation of these procedures as a result of lower throughput of material in these sections of the plant.

The Q4 2019 global recovery⁷ of 77.3% was impacted by the lower global recovery⁷ achieved in October 2019 (72.9%) through the commissioning and ramp-up activities in the milling area. The 2019 global recovery⁷ of 78.5% is higher than the 77.0% achieved in 2018, primarily due to the improved performance of the kiln, which increased its recovery from 86.6% in 2018 to 89.1% in 2019.

V₂O₃ Processing Plant Approval  

In addition to the previously approved ferrovanadium conversion plant, the Company's Board of Directors has also approved the construction of a V₂O₃ processing plant at the Maracás Menchen Mine, which is expected to increase sales in the high purity aerospace market, chemical industry and vanadium electrolyte used for vanadium redox flow batteries. The Company expects the construction of the V₂O₃ plant to begin in Q1 2021 and subsequent ramp up and commissioning of the plant to conclude in Q3 2021. Total capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of approximately US$10 to 11 million.

Ilmenite Flotation Pilot Plant Study Proven Successful – Next Step: TiO₂ Chemical Pilot Plant Study

The Company continues to evaluate the economic feasibility of extracting ilmenite concentrate and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) from its non-magnetic tailings at the Maracás Menchen Mine. To date, the Company has successfully proven its ability to produce ilmenite concentrate using an ilmenite flotation pilot plant. The Company is expected to commence the next phase of testing in April 2020 to further upgrade its ilmenite concentrate into TiO₂ using an additional chemical pilot plant. The Company will continue to provide updates as these studies progress.

Q1 2020 Operational Update and Q2 2020 Financial Results Outlook

Subsequent to Q4 2019, production in January 2020 was 956 tonnes of V₂O₅, with 915 tonnes of V₂O₅ produced in February 2020. Production in January 2020 was impacted by shutdowns of the kiln and cooler to fix the refractory and maintenance to correct an instability in the kiln feed. February 2020 production was impacted by a kiln shutdown to fix a hot spot in the refractory. In April 2020 the Company is planning an upgrade to the kiln burner and improvements in the cooler with the aim of increasing kiln capacity by 10%. This will require the kiln and cooler to be shut down for approximately 15 days. During this period, the Company will replace approximately 15 to 20 metres of the cooler refractory. The Company estimates that production in April 2020 will be approximately 500 tonnes of V₂O₅.

In addition to the impact on production as a result of kiln upgrades and cooler maintenance in April 2020, the Company expects its Q2 2020 financial results to be impacted by lower sales realized in the quarter as a consequence of inventory working capital due to shipping and ferrovanadium conversion lead times. Assuming an increase or decrease in the V₂O₅ price of US$1.00/lb after April 1, 2020, the Company expects the revenue adjustment payable⁸ to impact future periods (positively or negatively) by approximately US$7.4 million ($10,730 using a foreign exchange rate of 1.45).

2020 Guidance Update

The Company's 2020 guidance presented in the following table is prepared on a "business as usual" basis.  Notwithstanding the Company's production, cost and sales guidance for 2020, Largo is conscious of the rapid expansion of the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolving measures being imposed by governments globally to reduce its spread and the impact that this may have on our guidance. To date, the restrictions imposed by the government in Brazil have not impacted our operations but the potential future impact of these restrictions and other restrictions globally on our operations, sales efforts and logistics is unknown but could be significant. The Company will continue to monitor the situation and will, if and when necessary, update the market.

In addition, the Company has introduced a new non-GAAP cost measure it will use to measure its cost performance. This decision was taken in light of the anticipated difference between production and sales volumes in 2020. Following the end of the Company's off-take agreement on April 30, 2020, the Company will incur its own sales and distribution costs, which will be included as a component of operating costs going forward. Costs associated with the off-take agreement were included in the commissions that were included in the measurement of revenues.

Total cash costs⁸ include direct mine and mill costs, sales and distribution costs and the Company's professional, consulting and management fees and other general and administrative expenses. Total cash costs⁸ exclude royalties, depreciation and amortization, share-based payments, foreign exchange gains or losses, reclamation costs, exploration and evaluation costs and capital expenditures. These costs are then divided by the pounds of V₂O₅ sold by the Company to arrive at total cash costs⁸. The Company has also adjusted its previously stated cash operating costs excluding royalties² guidance for 2020 as a result of movements in Brazilian foreign exchange rates.

The Company's 2020 guidance highlighted below:

Conference Call

Largo Resources management will host a conference call on Monday, March 23, at 10:00 a.m. EST, to discuss the Company's annual operational and financial results for 2019.

A playback recording will be available on the Company's website for a period of 60-days following the conference call.

The information provided within this release should be read in conjunction with Largo's annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and its management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 which are available on our website at www.largoresources.com and on SEDAR.

About Largo Resources

Largo Resources is an industry preferred producer and supplier of vanadium. Largo's VPURE™ and VPURE+™ products are sourced from one of the world's highest-grade vanadium deposits at the Maracás Menchen Mine located in Brazil. The Company's common shares are principally listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "LGO". For more information on Largo and VPURE™, please visit www.largoresources.com and www.largoVPURE.com.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange (nor its regulatory service provider) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information under Canadian securities legislation, some of which may be considered "financial outlook" for the purposes of application Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking statements"). Forward‐looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to timing for and completion of the Maracás Menchen Mine expansion project and the costs associated therewith; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of future activities and operations; and the extent of capital and operating. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". All information contained in this news release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward looking information. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Largo to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks described in the annual information form of Largo and in its public documents filed on SEDAR from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although management of Largo has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Largo does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Readers should also review the risks and uncertainties sections of Largo's annual and interim MD&As which also apply.

Non-GAAP⁹ Measures

The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial performance measures in its Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019, which are described in the following section.

Revenues Per Pound

The Company's press release refers to revenues per pound sold, including vanadium sales per pound sold and revenue adjustment per pound sold.  These are non-GAAP performance measures and are used to provide investors with information about key measures used by management to monitor performance of the Maracás Menchen Mine.

These measures, along with cash operating costs per pound produced, are considered to be one of the key indicators of the Company's ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its Maracás Menchen Mine. These revenues per pound measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and differ from measures determined in accordance with IFRS. These measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures are not necessarily indicative of net earnings or cash flow from operating activities as determined under IFRS.

The following tables provide a reconciliation of these measures per pound sold for the Maracás Menchen Mine to revenues as per the 2019 annual consolidated financial statements.

Cash Operating Costs Per Pound Produced

The Company's press release refers to cash operating costs per pound produced, a non-GAAP performance measure, in order to provide investors with information about a key measure used by management to monitor performance. This information is used to assess how well the Maracás Menchen Mine is performing compared to plan and prior periods, and also to assess its overall effectiveness and efficiency.

Cash operating costs includes mine site operating costs such as mining costs, plant and maintenance costs, sustainability costs, mine and plant administration costs, royalties and sales, general and administrative costs (all for the mine properties segment), but excludes depreciation and amortization, share-based payments, foreign exchange gains or losses, commissions, reclamation, capital expenditures and exploration and evaluation costs.  These costs are then divided by the pounds of production from the Maracás Menchen Mine to arrive at the cash operating costs per pound produced. This measure differs to the new cash cost non-GAAP measure the Company will use to measure its performance starting in 2020 – refer to the details on page 12 of this press release. 

These measures, along with revenues, is considered to be one of the key indicators of the Company's ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its Maracás Menchen Mine. These cash operating costs measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and differ from measures determined in accordance with IFRS. These measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures are not necessarily indicative of net earnings or cash flow from operating activities as determined under IFRS.

In addition, the Company's press release refers to cash operating costs excluding royalties. This is a non-GAAP performance measure and is calculated as cash operating costs less royalties, as disclosed in the following tables.

The following tables provide a reconciliation of cash operating costs per pound produced for the Maracás Menchen Mine to operating costs, excluding depreciation expense as per the 2019 annual consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Adjustment Payable

The Company's press release refers to revenue adjustment payable, a non-GAAP performance measure used to provide investors with information about a key measure used by management as part of its monitoring of the financial liquidity of the Company.

This measure is considered to be one of the key components monitored relating to the Company's projected financial liquidity and capital resources. This revenue adjustment payable does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and differs from measures determined in accordance with IFRS. This measure is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance, financial liquidity or capital resources prepared in accordance with IFRS. This measure is not necessarily indicative of cash flow from operating activities or disclosed commitments as determined and presented under IFRS.

The following table provides a reconciliation of this measure to trade receivables / payables as per the 2019 annual consolidated financial statements. At December 31, 2018, the Company had a trade receivable of $55,011, with a revenue adjustment payable of $nil.

Total Cash Costs

Total cash costs are on a non-GAAP performance measure that includes direct mine and mill costs, sales and distribution costs and the Company's professional, consulting and management fees and other general and administrative expenses. Total cash costs exclude royalties, depreciation and amortization, share-based payments, foreign exchange gains or losses, reclamation costs, exploration and evaluation costs and capital expenditures. These costs are then divided by the pounds of V2O5 sold by the Company to arrive at total cash costs.

This measure differs from cash operating costs per pound produced in that it includes all sales and distribution costs, professional, consulting and management fees and other general and administrative expenses, rather than just those from the Mine properties segment, and is calculated on pounds sold rather than pounds produced. The Company believes this will be a more accurate reflection of its unit costs given the anticipated difference between pounds produced and pounds sold after the end of the Company's off-take agreement on April 30, 2020.  

This total cash costs measure does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and differs from measures determined in accordance with IFRS. This measure is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. This measure is not necessarily indicative of net earnings or cash flow from operating activities as determined under IFRS.

SOURCE Largo Resources Ltd.