Fortuna reports financial results for the second quarter of 2024

Second Quarter 2024 highlights

Financial

• Attributable net income of $40.6 million or $0.13 per share, compared to a $26.3 million or $0.09 per share in Q1 2024
• Adjusted attributable net income¹ of $30.4 million or $0.10 per share, compared to $26.7 million or $0.09 per share in Q1 2024
• Generated $93.0 million (or $0.30 per share) of cash flow from operations before working capital changes, and free cash flow from ongoing operations¹ of $38.6 million, compared to $84.3 million (or $0.28 per share) and $12.1 million, respectively, in Q1 2024
• The Company issued Convertible Notes (the “2024 Notes”) for gross proceeds of $172.5 million which were partially used to pay in full the outstanding $125.0 million under its revolving credit facility. As at the end of the quarter total net debt¹ was $66.5 million and the total net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio¹ was 0.2:1
• Liquidity as of June 30, 2024 was $355.6 million, compared to $212.7 million at the end of Q1 2024

Operational

• Gold equivalent³ production of 116,570 ounces, compared to 112,543 ounces in Q1 2024
• Gold production of 92,716 ounces, compared to 89,678 ounces in Q1 2024
• Silver production of 990,574 ounces, compared to 1,074,571 ounces in Q1 2024
• Consolidated cash costs¹ per ounce of gold equivalent sold of $988, compared to $879 in Q1 2024; adjusting for San Jose, which is mining its last year of Mineral Reserves, consolidated cash costs was $858
• Consolidated all-in sustaining cash costs (AISC)¹ per ounce of gold equivalent sold of $1,656, compared to $1,495 in Q1 2024; adjusting for San Jose, consolidated AISC was $1,584
• The Company recorded zero lost time injuries and zero total recordable injuries in the quarter

Growth and Development

• At the newly discovered Kingfisher prospect at the Séguéla Mine the Company intersected 23.7 g/t gold over 17.8 meters. For full details refer to the News Release “Fortuna intersects 23.7 g/t gold over 17.8 meters from the Kingfisher Prospect at the Séguéla Mine” dated June 20, 2024
• Exploration continued at the Diamba Sud exploration project with an intersect of 31.3 g/t gold over 12.0 meters at the Karakara prospect. For full details refer to the News Release “Fortuna intersects 31.3 g/t gold over 12.0 meters from the Karakara Prospect at the Diamba Sud Gold Project” dated June 25, 2024

"Our business performed well in the quarter, generating strong net cash flow from operations of $93.0 million before working capital changes and free cash flow after sustaining capital of $38.6 million.” said Jorge Ganoza, Fortuna’s President and CEO. Mr. Ganoza continued, “We anticipate our free cash flow to increase further in the second half of the year as we conclude a heavy sustaining capex phase in the third quarter with the completion of the Lindero leach pad expansion project.”  Mr. Ganoza added, “With the issue of $172.5 million of convertible notes we have significantly strengthened our balance sheet and liquidity while lowering our cost of capital. This added financial flexibility places the Company in an advantageous position to pursue strategic initiatives and emerging opportunities in our established regions.” Mr. Ganoza concluded “On the exploration front we continue creating value through discovery. At the recently identified Kingfisher prospect, at the Séguéla mine, we have drill defined gold mineralization over a strike length of two kilometers. Our drill program will continue non-stop with the aim of delivering a first resource for this exciting new discovery by year end.”

Further Information is attached.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "Forward-looking Statements"). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward-looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward-looking Statements. The Forward-looking Statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements about the Company’s plans for its mines and mineral properties; the Company’s anticipated financial and operational performance in 2024; estimated production and costs of production for 2024, including grade and volume of metal produced and sales, revenues and cashflows, and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining), and operating costs, including projected production cash costs and all-in sustaining costs; the Company’s expectations and proposed timing for the delivery of a first resource for the Kingfisher prospect; the ability of the Company to mitigate the inflationary pressures on supplies used in its operations; estimated capital expenditures and estimated exploration spending in 2024, including amounts for exploration activities at its properties; statements regarding the Company’s liquidity, access to capital; the impact of high inflation on the costs of production and the supply chain;  the Company’s expectation regarding the timing for the completion of  the leach pad expansion project at the Lindero Mine;  statements regarding the anticipated closure of the San Jose Mine and statements relating to exploration at the Yessi Vein; the Company’s plans regarding the mill at the Séguéla Mine; the Company’s expectations for its performance in the second half of 2024; the Company’s expectations regarding the power plant failures in Côte D’Ivoire and that Séguéla’s 2024 production guidance remains unchanged; the Company’s business strategy, plans and outlook; the merit of the Company’s mines and mineral properties; mineral resource and reserve estimates, metal recovery rates, concentrate grade and quality; changes in tax rates and tax laws, requirements for permits, anticipated approvals and other matters. Often, but not always, these Forward-looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as "estimated", “expected”, “anticipated”, "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "planned", "reflecting", "will", "containing", "remaining", "to be", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. 

Forward-looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; uncertainty relating to new mining operations such as the Séguéla Mine, including the possibility that actual capital and operating costs and economic returns will differ significantly from those estimated for such projects prior to production; risks associated with war or other geo-political hostilities, such as the Ukrainian – Russian and the Israel – Hamas conflicts, any of which could continue to cause a disruption in global economic activity; fluctuation in currencies and foreign exchange rates; increases in the rate of inflation; the imposition or any extension of capital controls in countries in which the Company operates; any changes in tax laws in Argentina and the other countries in which we operate; changes in the prices of key supplies; technological and operational hazards in Fortuna’s mining and mine development activities; risks related to water and power availability; risks inherent in mineral exploration; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, mineral resources, and metal recoveries; changes to current estimates of mineral reserves and resources; changes to production and cost estimates; the possibility that the appeal in respect of the ruling in favor of Compania Minera Cuzcatlan S.A. de C.V. reinstating the environmental impact authorization at the San Jose Mine (the “EIA”) will be successful; changes in the position of regulatory authorities with respect to the granting of approvals or permits; governmental and other approvals; changes in government, political unrest or instability in countries where Fortuna is active; labor relations issues; as well as those factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Information Form. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. 

Forward-looking Statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including, but not limited to, the accuracy of the Company’s current mineral resource and reserve estimates; that the Company’s activities will be conducted in accordance with the Company’s public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company, its properties or changes to production estimates (which assume accuracy of projected ore grade, mining rates, recovery timing, and recovery rate estimates and may be impacted by unscheduled maintenance, labor and contractor availability and other operating or technical difficulties); geo-political uncertainties that may affect the Company’s production, workforce, business, operations and financial condition; the expected trends in mineral prices and currency exchange rates; that the Company will be successful in mitigating the impact of inflation on its business and operations; that the appeal filed in the Mexican Collegiate Court challenging the reinstatement of the EIA will be unsuccessful;  that all required approvals and permits will be obtained for the Company’s business and operations on acceptable terms; that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company’s operations, the ability to meet current and future obligations and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking Statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that these Forward-looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on Forward-looking Statements. 

Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Reserves and Resources  

Reserve and resource estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for public disclosure by a Canadian company of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless otherwise indicated, all mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates contained in the technical disclosure have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and mineral reserve and resource information included in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies.