TRX Gold

TRX & Preise

TRX Gold Corporation

TRX Gold Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

January 16, 2023

A Record-Breaking Quarter Sets the Tone for 2023

TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TRX Gold Corporation (TSX:TNX) (NYSE American:TRX) (the “Company” or “TRX Gold”) today reported its results for the first quarter of 2023 (“Q1 2023”) for the three months ended November 30, 2022. Financial results will be available on the Company’s website on January 16, 2023.

Key highlights for Q1 2023 include:

Delivering on commitments: In September 2022, TRX Gold announced successful commissioning of the expanded 1,000+ tonne per day (“tpd”) processing plant at Buckreef Gold, which was completed on time and on budget at a capital cost of $4.0 million. The plant ramped up throughput and reached nameplate capacity of 1,000+ tpd at the end of October 2022. Commercial production of the 1,000+ tpd processing plant was declared effective November 2022.
A third consecutive record-breaking quarter: During Q1 2023, the Company recorded its highest quarterly: (i) production, (ii) sales, (iii) gross profit, (iv) net income, (v) operating cash flow, and (vi) Adjusted EBITDA, at a low cash cost¹ of $732 per gold ounce, below previously announced guidance of $750 - $850 per ounce.
Production keeps growing: Buckreef Gold poured 5,395 ounces of gold and sold 5,754 ounces of gold, both quarterly records for the Company. The 49% increase in gold production in Q1 2023 compared to Q4 2022 is mainly attributable to an increase in ore tonnes milled following commissioning of the expanded 1,000+ tpd processing plant in Q1 2023.
Strong results contribute to a strong balance sheet: TRX Gold recorded revenue of $9.7 million in Q1 2023 and cost of sales of $4.4 million, generating gross profit of $5.3 million and a gross profit margin of 55%. Furthermore, the Company recorded quarterly net income of $5.2 million, operating cash flow of $6.6 million and adjusted EBITDA¹ of $4.4 million. At November 30, 2022, the Company had no debt, a cash position of $8.9 million and adjusted working capital of $4.8 million.
Cash flow supports value-accretive activities: The Company continues to reinvest cash flow into the drill bit and into advancement of a larger project. From an exploration standpoint, TRX drilled 21 holes representing 4,665 meters at Buckreef Gold, including infill drilling at the Buckreef Main Zone and exploration drilling at Anfield and Eastern Porphyry. Assay results from the latter two programs are pending. Since drilling recommenced in 2021, an additional 500 meters of gold mineralization has been added along strike, representing approximately a 30% increase in deposit strike length at Buckreef Gold. Subsequent to Q1 2023, TRX Gold announced progress towards a larger project by way of positive assay results from its 19-hole metallurgical variability sampling program on the Buckreef Gold Main Zone. Results were positive and significant as they continued to demonstrate: (i) continuity of mineralization down dip and along strike of the deposit; and (ii) excellent width and grade of mineralization. Using the core from the 19 drill holes, the Company will assess the amenability of the sulphide material to be processed through the existing processing plant and simple flow

sheet, which may have positive implications for potential near- to mid-term plant expansions.
Health & Safety always a top priority: The Company achieved zero lost time injuries (LTI) and had no confirmed COVID-19 cases at site. Furthermore, in Q1 2023, the Company achieved a significant safety milestone of 1.0 million operating hours with no LTI. There were also no reportable environmental or community related incidents during the quarter.

TRX Gold’s CEO, Stephen Mullowney comments: “Our fiscal year 2023 has started off at a great pace! After having commissioned the expanded mill at the onset of Q1, we are very pleased with the way in which the equipment is functioning and with the way our processing and mining crews have been working incredibly efficiently; allowing us to maintain great zone and grade control, throughput, plant availability and recovery rates. Through ongoing drilling, it becomes more evident with each batch of results that the Buckreef Gold deposit has the potential for a much larger footprint and therefore project. We expect the next three quarters of 2023 to be exciting as we continue to increase gold production, generate cash flow and invest in exploration and the larger project, ultimately creating shareholder value. Growth, growth and growth, in production, cash flow and resources, respectively, is our mantra.”

Figure 1. Buckreef Gold Expanded 1,000 tpd Processing Plant in Q1 2023, showing installation of two new 360 tpd ball mills.

2023 Outlook and Priorities

Increasing gold production: Mining, crushing, processing and gold production are all expected to operate at full capacity during fiscal 2023 (“F2023”) following initial ramp-up and commissioning of the 1,000+ tpd processing plant during Q1. Higher gold production is expected in Q2 2023 and for the second half (H2) of the year as the processing plant achieved steady state operation at nameplate capacity of 1,000+ tpd at the end of October 2022. For fiscal 2023, gold production is expected to be between 20,000 - 25,000 ounces at total average cash costs² of $750 - $850 per ounce.
Increasing gold production, again: The Company will continue to advance a project aimed at increasing the average annual throughput by 75-100% through the addition of a new ball mill. Detailed engineering and procurement of equipment has commenced. Construction is expected to start in F2023 and potentially benefit production in late calendar H2 2023.
More self-funded drilling: TRX Gold has a property wide drilling program consisting of 9,000 meters of diamond drilling, 13,000 meters of grade control drilling and 10,000 meters of reverse circulation ‘sterilization’ drilling for fiscal 2023, and will cover brownfields drilling at the Buckreef Main Zone (NE and SW), Buckreef West, Eastern Porphyry and greenfield drilling at Anfield. Sterilization drilling will commence at site expansion facilities, including tailings storage and waste rock facilities.
ESG framework and reporting: TRX Gold is committed to working toward the highest ESG standards and is implementing several programs, while continuing to develop a broader framework and policies. At the corporate level, TRX Gold intends to begin reporting on ESG metrics aligned with definitions from the World Economic Forum (WEF) and to identify its contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals over the course of fiscal 2023. At the project level, Buckreef Gold will continue to partner with the Geita District and District Commissioners on school, water and health projects. Buckreef will also work with local wards to collaboratively identify key programs that focus on short to long term educational needs, which in turn is aligned with Buckreef Gold’s local hiring practices and includes Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and gender goals.

Non-IFRS Performance Measures

The company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this news release. The following non-IFRS measures should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2022, as well as the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F and Annual Information Form for the year ended August 31, 2022. The financial statements and related notes of TRX Gold have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Additional information has been filed electronically on SEDAR and is available online under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com and on our website at www.TRXGold.com.

Average realized price per ounce of gold sold

Average realized price per ounce of gold sold is a non-IFRS measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS. Average realized price per ounce of gold sold is calculated by dividing revenue by ounces of gold sold. It may not be comparable to information in other gold producers’ reports and filings.