Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc – Results for the Quarter ended 30 June 2018

Gold production in the Quarter was 12,657 ounces, marginally higher than the first quarter of 2018 and in-line with expectations. Adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") of 35.2 cents were 86% higher than the corresponding amount in 2017, largely due to an increased export credit incentive and higher deferred tax adjustments. Cash generated by operating activities for the Quarter was lower than in previous periods due to substantial working capital movements.

Commenting on the results, Steve Curtis, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"The second quarter of 2018 was a difficult quarter for the business as production was adversely affected by lower than expected grade and tonnes mined.

"Production of 12,657 ounces was marginally higher than the second quarter of 2017 and in line with our expectations for our 2018 guidance range of 55,000 – 59,000 ounces.

"Grade for the quarter was 3.19g/t, this is below target due to difficulties in accessing broken ground at AR South and higher than expected dilution at the Blanket ore body due to the introduction of long-hole stopping on the grounds of safety. Corrective measures to improve grade have been taken and it is expected that the grade and production tonnages will increase over future quarters, particularly in the fourth quarter of 2018.

"We experienced significant negative working capital movements during the quarter which had an adverse effect on operating cash flow with a net operating cash burn of $1.2 million during the quarter. This, combined with capital investment of $5.6 million during the quarter, had a negative impact on the balance sheet with a net cash balance of $5.3 million at the end of the quarter.Underlying cash flows remained robust: pre-tax operating cashflows in the quarter before working capital movements were $6.3 million, compared to $7 million in the first quarter of 2018 and $4.9 million in the second quarter of 2017.

"Capital investment for the quarter was in line with our capex plan for 2018 at $5.6 million, most of which was incurred at Central Shaft, which has now reached a depth of 1,106 meters. We expect capex to decline substantially after 2019 after we commission the Central Shaft as planned in 2020. The Central Shaft project is the key enabler of longer term value for our shareholders as we progress towards our production and cost targets by 2021."

"Our cost performance for the quarter was satisfactory, with on-mine and all-in sustaining costs being well-contained; on-mine costs of $717 per ounce for the quarter were 3 per cent higher than the corresponding quarter of 2017 and the all-in sustaining costs of $856 per ounce was flat year on year. In the light of lower grade and tonnage for the quarter we are pleased to see this level of cost control in the business and remain confident in our longer-term cost guidance target of $700 – $800 per ounce as the business grows towards 80,000 ounces per year by 2021.

"Attributable profit for the quarter was substantially higher year on year at $2.6 million boosted mainly by the increase in the ECI when compared to the same period in 2017.

"Unfortunately, 2018 has been a time of disappointing safety performance for our business with two fatal accidents at Blanket, one in the first quarter and a second accident on the 12th of July 2018 after the second quarter’s close. My fellow directors and I express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. The Company has embarked upon renewed efforts in the business to improve our safety performance.

""We remain confident in the underlying health of the business and the long-term potential of the Blanket mine ore bodies. We expect that production in the second half of 2018 will increase and the negative movements in working capital in the second quarter will normalize in the third and fourth quarters of 2018.

Following the implementation of indigenisation in September 2012, Caledonia owns 49 per cent of the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe. Caledonia continues to consolidate Blanket and the operational and the financial information set out below is on a 100 per cent basis unless otherwise indicated.

Strategy and Outlook

Caledonia remains on track to achieve the production target of 80,000 ounces per year by 2021 at its Zimbabwean subsidiary, Blanket Mine. The Company’s strategic focus continues to be the implementation of the Investment Plan at Blanket, which was announced in November 2014 and revised in November 2017 and is expected to extend the life of mine by providing access to deeper levels for production and further exploration. Implementation of the Investment Plan remains on target in terms of timing and cost. Caledonia’s board and management believe the successful implementation of the Investment Plan is in the best interests of all stakeholders because it is expected to result in increased production, reduced operating costs and greater flexibility to undertake further exploration and development, thereby safeguarding and enhancing Blanket’s longterm future. Caledonia’s cash position is expected to improve as a result of the implementation of the Investment Plan; Caledonia will continue to assess new opportunities to invest surplus cash.

Dividend Policy

Caledonia pays a quarterly dividend of 6.875 US cents per share, the quarterly dividend is paid at the end of January, April, July and October respectively. It is envisaged that the current dividend policy will be maintained.

Note: This announcement contains inside information which is disclosed in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Information

Information and statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation that involve risks and uncertainties relating, but not limited to Caledonia’s current expectations, intentions, plans, and beliefs. Forward-looking information can often be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "goal", "plan", "target", "intend", "estimate", "could", "should", "may" and "will" or the negative of these terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include: production guidance, estimates of future/targeted production rates, and our plans and timing regarding further exploration and drilling and development. This forward looking information is based, in part, on assumptions and factors that may change or prove to be incorrect, thus causing actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forwardlooking information. Such factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: failure to establish estimated resources and reserves, the grade and recovery of ore which is mined varying from estimates, success of future exploration and drilling programs, reliability of drilling, sampling and assay data, assumptions regarding the representativeness of mineralization being inaccurate, success of planned metallurgical test-work, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects and other factors.

Security holders, potential security holders and other prospective investors should be aware that these statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources proving to be inaccurate, fluctuations in gold price, risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, risks relating to the credit worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other parties with whom the Company does business; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards, employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; political risk; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining or maintaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves as mining occurs; global financial condition, the actual results of current exploration activities, changes to conclusions of economic evaluations, and changes in project parameters to deal with unanticipated economic or other factors, risks of increased capital and operating costs, environmental, safety or regulatory risks, expropriation, the Company’s title to properties including ownership thereof, increased competition in the mining industry for properties, equipment, qualified personnel and their costs, risks relating to the uncertainty of timing of events including targeted production rate increase and currency fluctuations. Security holders, potential security holders and other prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. By its nature, forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and various future events will not occur. Caledonia undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.