OTTAWA – Primero Mining Corp. (TSX:P), which saw a deal to be acquired by Northgate Minerals (TSX:NGX) fall apart last week, cut its production guidance and raised its cost estimates for 2011 on Thursday.
Shares in Primero, which owns the San Dimas gold-silver mine in Mexico, closed down 49 cents, or about 14 per cent, at $3.07 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The Toronto-based company said a mill workers’ strike in April and lower than anticipated gold grades hurt production and increased costs.
“During the mill worker strike, we continued to mine ore and had hoped to meet original guidance by processing the stockpiled ore in addition to daily production,” president and chief executive Joseph Conway said in a statement.
“While the mill exceeded nameplate capacity during the second quarter, the stockpiled ore was not assayed due to the closure of the lab during the strike and was lower grade than anticipated. This and encountering lower gold grades since the end of the second quarter has required us to revise down gold production guidance for 2011.”
Primero said it expected to produce 80,000 to 85,000 ounces of gold and 4.5 to five million ounces of silver this year, down from its original guidance of 90,000 to 100,000 ounces of gold and 4.5 to five million ounces of silver.
Get weekly money news
Cash costs were expected to be in the range of $610 to $630 per gold equivalent ounce or between $340 and $360 per gold ounce on a by-product basis. That compared with earlier guidance of $550 to $570 per gold equivalent ounce or between $350 and $370 per gold ounce on a by-product basis.
UBS analyst Dan Rollins cut his price target on the stock to $5, down from $5.50, but maintained a “buy” rating on the company.
- IBC estimates $230M in insured damage claimed from Edmonton storms
- Alberta First Nation sues Ottawa over $5 treaty annuity, argues amount stuck in 1899
- Jobs hang in the balance as Ekati diamond mine in N.W.T. closing early
- WestJet flight attendants hold information pickets as strike vote takes place
“As a result of the company’s reduced guidance and our more conservative view regarding the expected improvement in the company’s gold grade profile, we have lowered our operational and earnings forecasts accordingly,” Rollins wrote in a note to clients.
“Primero is already struggling with investor unease regarding its negative leverage to silver and we believe investor unease is likely to be further compounded by today’s announcement.”
Primero had signed a deal to be bought by Northgate, but that fell apart after gold and silver producer AuRico Gold Inc. (TSX:AUQ) reached a friendly agreement to acquire Northgate in a stock swap valued at $1.46 billion.
Under the terms of its agreement, Primero will receive a $25-million break fee.
In addition to the San Dimas mine, Primero owns the Ventanas property in Mexico. Ventanas includes 28 mining concessions covering about 35 square kilometres and 17 old mines and workings.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.