Feb 14, 2011 10:48 ETTalison Lithium Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter Ended December 31, 2011 and Commencement of Drilling at Salares Project
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 14, 2011) - Talison Lithium Limited ("Talison" or the "Company") (TSX:TLH) announces:
Financial results for the second quarter of the 2011 financial year; Commencement of drilling at the Salares 7 Project; and Details of a conference call to discuss the financial results. Financial results
Talison today released its financial results as at December 31, 2010 and for the three and six month interim periods ended December 31, 2010(1). For a detailed discussion of the Company's financial results, refer to Management's Discussion and Analysis which can be found on Talison's website and SEDAR profile.
Highlights from the results:
- Lithium concentrate production for the three month interim period ended December 31, 2010 ("Second Quarter") of 83,548 tonnes (approximately 12,400 tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent or "LCE"), representing a 40% increase over the corresponding period in the prior year.
- Lithium concentrate sales for the Second Quarter were a record 97,559 tonnes (14,500 tonnes LCE) representing a 54% increase over the corresponding period in the prior year.
- Lithium concentrate production and sales for the six months ended December 31, 2010 were 164,277 tonnes and 150,084 tonnes of lithium concentrates respectively (approximately 24,300 tonnes LCE and 22,200 tonnes LCE respectively), and represent, a 32% and 33% increase respectively over the corresponding period in the prior year.
- Sales revenue for Second Quarter of A$32.8 million, an increase of 79%, over the same prior year period, and for the six months ended December 31, 2010, sales revenue of A$53.9 million, a 53% increase over the corresponding period in the prior year. The increase in sales revenue resulted from increases in sales volumes and average sale prices, and the sale of crushed ore into the Chinese market.
- EBITDA(2) for the Second Quarter of A$7.2 million, an increase of 63% over the corresponding period in the prior year, due to the higher sales volumes and prices and a reduction in the unit cost of sales.
- For the six months ended December 31, 2010, EBITDA of A$12.0 million, a 26% increase over the same prior year period, including A$1.6 million in non-recurring reorganisation costs.
- Commissioning of the Stage 1 expansion at the Greenbushes Lithium Operations was completed during the Second Quarter ahead of schedule.
- Preparatory works for commencement of a drilling program at the Salares 7 Project in Chile were undertaken during the Second Quarter.
- In response to continued strong demand for lithium concentrate, Talison decided to revise the design of the Stage 2 expansion of the Greenbushes Lithium Operations to allow for further increases in production capacity.
- The outlook for Talison's annual production of lithium concentrate has improved due to a successful production process improvement program and early commissioning of the Stage 1 expansion. Lithium concentrate production for the financial year ending June 30, 2011, is expected to exceed 48,000 tonnes LCE.
Subsequent to the end of the Second Quarter, on February 10, 2011, Talison completed a bought deal equity financing (the "Offering") pursuant to which it issued 10,703,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of C$6.50 per Ordinary Share for total gross proceeds of approximately C$70 million. The Offering was made pursuant to an underwriting agreement between Talison and a syndicate of underwriters. Pursuant to the terms of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have been granted an option to purchase an additional 1,605,000 Ordinary Shares (representing 15% of the Offering) at a price of C$6.50 per Ordinary Share, which option is exercisable in whole or in part on or following the closing of the Offering and for a period of 30 days thereafter. If the option is exercised in full, Talison will receive additional gross proceeds from the Offering of approximately C$10 million.
Salares 7 Project
Talison is also pleased to announce the commencement of the first drilling program at the Salares 7 Project in the Atacama Province, Region III, Chile.
The first stage of the program involves reconnaissance drilling utilising a sonic drill rig at two of the seven salars, Salar de La Isla and Salar de Las Parinas. The pattern of holes for the drilling program is related to geophysical responses on Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) survey lines previously established on the salars.
Photos of the Salares 7 project, including the salars, drill rig and camp are available on the Company's website at www.talisonlithium.com.
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