TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 07/29/15 -- Detour Gold Corporation (TSX: DGC) ("Detour Gold" or the "Company") reports its operational and financial results for the second quarter of 2015. This release should be read in conjunction with the Company's second quarter 2015 financial statements and MD&A on the Company's website or on SEDAR. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Q2 2015 Highlights
-- Record gold production of 125,348 ounces
-- Mill throughput rates averaged 57,015 tpd
-- Mining rates averaged 280,000 tpd
-- Total cash costs of $734 per ounce sold(1) and all-in sustaining costs
of $1,030 per ounce sold(1)
-- Revenues of $147.5 million on gold sales of 123,296 ounces at an average
realized price of $1,215 per ounce(1)
-- Amendment of Cdn$135 million Credit Facility
-- Net loss of $15.4 million ($0.09 per share) and adjusted net earnings of
$0.5 million ($nil per share)(1)
-- Cash and short-term investments balance of $133.2 million at June 30,
2015
-- Drilling program of 30,000 metres at Lower Detour started at end of June
"We are pleased to report a record quarter. Operationally, the mine and mill exceeded our expectations as reflected by the significantly higher production and lower costs reported this quarter," said Paul Martin, President and CEO. "We expect to continue on this trend and finish the year on a strong note with higher gold production and lower costs in the second half of the year aided by a weaker Canadian dollar."
Q2 2015 Summary Operational Results
-- Gold production totaled 125,348 ounces, approximately 9% above the mid-
point of the guidance range for the second quarter of 2015.
-- For the quarter, the mill facility processed a record 5.2 million tonnes
(Mt) of ore or an average of 57,015 tonnes per day (tpd) at recoveries
of 91%. Processed grade was 0.82 grams per tonne (g/t), slightly higher
than projections for the quarter.
-- Mill operating time at 88% was in line with projections with a four day
planned shutdown in June to replace SAG and ball mill liners on both
lines, complete further improvements on the 410 conveyor system, and
conduct a number of annual inspections which included the thickeners.
-- Milling rates attained 2,712 tonnes per operating hour (tpoh) for the
second quarter, exceeding the budget rate of 2,600 tpoh and the design
rate of 2,500 tpoh. The processing plant has now been operating at
design capacity of 55,000 tpd since March 2015.
-- A total of 25.5 Mt (ore and waste) was mined in the second quarter
(equivalent to mining rates of 280,000 tpd for Phase 1 and 2),
approximately 18% higher than the annual budgeted rate of 238,000 tpd
and above the fourth quarter target of 268,000 tpd.
-- Phase 2 pre-stripping totalled 1.4 Mt for the quarter.
-- At the end of the quarter, run-of-mine stockpiles had been successfully
re-built to 1.7 Mt grading 0.71 g/t, providing operational flexibility
for the second half of 2015.
-- Total cash costs for the second quarter of 2015 were $734 per ounce
sold(1) and all-in sustaining costs were $1,030 per ounce sold(1), lower
than plan due to higher production and a favorable exchange rate.
-- Lower unit costs were achieved in the second quarter, mainly due to more
tonnes mined and milled. In addition, plant operating costs benefited
from consumables (i.e. grinding media, cyanide, and SO2) declining to
their lowest levels since production commenced.
Detour Lake Mine Operation Statistics
Q2 2015 Q1 2015 Q4 2014 Q3 2014 Q2 2014
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Ore mined (Mt) 6.37 3.82 4.30 4.20 2.89
Waste mined (Mt) 19.08 15.97 15.39 14.71 16.11
Total mined (Mt)(1) 25.45 19.79 19.69 18.91 19.00
Strip ratio (waste: ore) 3.0 4.2 3.6 3.5 5.6
Mining rate (tpd)(1) 280,000 220,000 214,000 206,000 209,000
Ore milled (Mt) 5.19 4.30 4.71 4.53 4.42
Head grade (g/t Au) 0.82 0.84 0.85 0.88 0.91
Recovery (%) 91 91 91 90 91
Mill throughput (tpd) 57,015 47,797 51,142 49,186 48,569
Mill availability (%) 88 78 83 81 83
Ounces produced (oz) 125,348 105,572 116,770 115,344 117,366
Ounces sold (oz) 123,296 104,497 124,913 106,334 107,206
Average realized price(2), (3)
($/oz) $ 1,215 $ 1,232 $ 1,240 $ 1,275 $ 1,294
Total cash cost per oz sold(2),
(4) ($/oz) $ 734 $ 939 $ 886 $ 955 $ 954
AISC per oz sold(2), (4), (5)
($/oz) $ 1,030 $ 1,321 - - -
Mining (Cdn$/t mined) $ 2.42 $ 3.16 $ 3.22 $ 2.98 $ 2.87
Milling (Cdn$/t milled) $ 8.81 $ 11.78 $ 10.17 $ 10.09 $ 11.67
G&A (Cdn$/t milled)(6) $ 2.72 $ 3.89 $ 3.30 $ 3.25 $ 3.46
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Note: mill availability is defined as mill operating time.
(1) For 2015, total mined and mining rate include both Phase 1 and 2.
(2) Refer to the section on Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures at end
of the news release. Reconciliation of these measures is described at
end of the news release and in the MD&A for the relevant periods.
(3) Commencing in 2015, the Company has adjusted the definition of realized
gold price to include the impacts of realized gains and losses on gold
derivative instruments. Prior periods have been adjusted.
(4) The calculation of this non-IFRS measure, including prior periods, was
adjusted to allocate the electricity adjustment into the appropriate
historical period to which the cost applied. Refer to the Non-IFRS
Financial Performance Measures in the MD&A for Q2 2015.
(5) For AISC, the Company adopted this measure effective January 1, 2015.
(6) G&A costs include site G&A, infrastructure, environmental and
Aboriginal costs.
-- For the remainder of 2015, the Company is targeting mining rates ranging
between 250,000 and 290,000 tpd. Mine development will be focusing on
opening the eastern part of the pit, delivering material to the tailings
area using the mine haulage fleet, and maximizing feed grade by further
reducing mining dilution. Access to the higher grade ore is now
anticipated to start in the third quarter versus the fourth quarter and
as a result approximately 10,000 to 15,000 ounces from the fourth
quarter production is targeted to be processed in the third quarter.
-- A second test of processing fines (enriched portion of the low-grade
stockpile, referred to as mineralized waste grading an average of 0.44
g/t gold in the February 2014 life of mine plan) started on July 1 at a
rate of up to 4,000 tpd. The test is scheduled to continue throughout
the third quarter.
Q2 2015 Selected Financial Information
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Summary Financial Data
(in $ millions unless specified) Q2 2015 Q1 2015 Q4 2014 Q3 2014 Q2 2014
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Metal sales 147.5 127.4 150.6 136.2 139.0
Production costs 100.2 97.7 110.3 100.6 98.1
Depreciation and depletion 39.8 36.9 43.1 37.3 38.3
Cost of sales 140.0 134.6 153.4 137.8 136.4
Earnings (loss) from mine operations 7.5 (7.2) (2.8) (1.7) 2.6
Net loss (15.4) (63.1) (58.7) (0.8) (35.0)
Net loss per share (0.09) (0.38) (0.37) (0.00) (0.22)
Adjusted net earnings (loss)(1), (2) 0.5 (24.9) (17.1) (17.9) (18.9)
Adjusted net earnings (loss) per
share(1), (2) 0.00 (0.15) (0.11) (0.11) (0.12)
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Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding.
(1) Refer to the section on Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures at end
of the news release. Reconciliation of these measures is described at
end of the news release and in the MD&A for the relevant periods.
(2) The calculation of this non-IFRS measure, including prior periods, was
adjusted to allocate the electricity adjustment into the appropriate
historical period to which the cost applied. Refer to the Non-IFRS
Financial Performance Measures in the MD&A for Q2 2015.
Q2 2015 Financial Performance
-- Metal sales for the second quarter were $147.5 million. The Company sold
123,296 ounces of gold at an average realized price of $1,215 per
ounce(1), higher than the average London PM fix gold price of $1,192 per
ounce due to the Company's gold hedging program.
-- Cost of sales for the first quarter was $140.0 million, including $39.8
million of depreciation and depletion expense, or $323 per ounce sold.
-- The Company recorded a net loss of $15.4 million ($0.09 per share) in
the second quarter. Adjusted net earnings(1) in the second quarter
amounted to $0.5 million ($nil per share) and excludes non-cash items
such as the impact of foreign exchange resulting in a deferred tax
recovery and change in the fair value of the Company's convertible
notes.
Q2 2015 Liquidity and Capital Resources
-- Operating cash flow for the quarter was $52 million.
-- During the quarter, sustaining capital expenditures were $25.8 million
and included $7.5 for the mine, $5.2 million for the plant, $6.5 million
for the tailings facility, and $6.6 million for others. There were no
cash deferred stripping costs for the period.
-- On June 25, 2015, the Company reported an amendment to its Cdn$135
million senior credit facility, which eliminated the Completion Test and
provided more flexible financial covenants. The Company has no amount
drawn under the revolving facility of Cdn$85 million and Cdn$42.6
million drawn under the Cdn$50 million letter of credit facility.
-- Production costs in the second quarter of 2015 include an unfavourable
adjustment to the Company's electricity rebate related to electricity
usage from January 2013 to April 2015. The adjustment resulted in an
additional cost of $12.5 million, of which $9.7 million was recorded in
current period production costs, and $2.8 million related to pre-
commercial production period and charged to property, plant and
equipment. The portion of the adjustment relating to 2015 usage amounted
to $2.0 million. The balance is payable in 20 equal monthly instalments
commencing in the third quarter of 2015.
-- Cash and short term investments increased to $133.2 million at June 30,
2015.
Financial Risk Management
-- As at June 30, 2015, the Company had a total of 35,000 ounces of
outstanding gold hedges at an average price of $1,276 per ounce to be
settled before the end of the third quarter.
-- The Company has entered into a commodity swap to economically hedge
approximately 50% of its diesel consumption for the next three months,
representing approximately 6 million litres. The Company will purchase a
diesel product at a fixed price of $0.46 per litre, and sell at the
average monthly rate.
-- As at June 30, 2015, the Company has zero-cost collars to hedge a total
of $40 million, guaranteeing it will purchase Canadian dollars at a rate
of no worse than 1.11 and can participate at a rate of up to 1.21. In
addition, the Company has $40 million of forward contracts at an average
exchange rate of 1.26.
Outlook
-- Detour Gold reaffirms its 2015 guidance of between 475,000 and 525,000
ounces of gold at total cash costs(1) of $780 to $850 per ounce sold.
All-in sustaining costs(1) are expected to be between $1,050 and $1,150
per ounce sold.
-- Expected sustaining capital expenditures and capitalized stripping costs
for 2015 remain as previously stated at approximately $90 to $100
million and $20 to $25 million, respectively.
-- Exploration expenditures for 2015 have increased to approximately $8
million with this summer 30,000 metre drilling program at Lower Detour.
-- The LOM plan update is expected to be completed at the end of 2015 and
will be released along with the 2016 guidance.
Lower Detour Drilling Program
The Company started its 30,000 metre drilling program at the end of June. To date, 7,200 metres in 20 holes have been completed on the Lower Detour target, located 6 to 7 kilometres south of the Detour Lake processing plant. The majority of the holes have encountered visible gold in the targeted mineralized zones. Assay results are pending.
Technical Information
The scientific and technical content of this news release was reviewed, verified and approved by Drew Anwyll, P.Eng., Senior Vice President, Technical Services, a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, July 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM E.T. where senior management will discuss the second quarter operational and financial results. Access the conference call as follows:
-- Via webcast, go to www.detourgold.com and click on the "Q2 2015 Results
Conference Call and Webcast" link on home page
-- By phone toll free in Canada and the United States 1-800-319-4610
-- By phone internationally 416-915-3239
The conference call will be recorded and playback of the call will be available after the event by dialing toll free in Canada and the United States 1-800-319-6413, or internationally 604-638-9010, pass code 1532 (available up to August 31, 2015).
About Detour Gold
Detour Gold is an intermediate gold producer in Canada that holds a 100% interest in the Detour Lake mine, a long life large-scale open pit operation.
Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures
The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this news release. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.
To improve comparability, total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs, average realized margin, adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted net earnings (loss) per share were revised, based on allocating the electricity adjustment into the appropriate historical period to which the cost applied (refer to the Second Quarter 2015 MD&A under the section "Revised non-IFRS measures: Electricity adjustment". The Company believes this adjustment will result in a more meaningful trend analysis for investors and analysts to evaluate the Company's performance. Additional details on the adjustment are included in the Second Quarter 2015 MD&A under "Cost of Sales".
The non-IFRS measures are defined below and are reconciled with the reported IFRS measures. Refer to the Company's Second Quarter 2015 MD&A for full details. The tables below are in thousands of dollars, except where noted.
Total cash costs
Detour Gold reports total cash costs on a sales basis. Total cash costs include production costs such as mining, processing, refining and site administration, agreements with Aboriginal communities, less non-cash share-based compensation and net of silver sales divided by gold ounces sold to arrive at total cash costs per gold ounce sold. The measure also includes other mine related costs incurred such as mine standby costs and current inventory write downs. Production costs are exclusive of depreciation and depletion. Production costs include the costs associated with providing the royalty in kind ounces.
All-in sustaining costs
Commencing in 2015, the Company adopted all-in sustaining costs on a prospective basis.
The Company believes this measure more fully defines the total costs associated with producing gold. The Company calculates all-in sustaining costs as the sum of total cash costs (as described above), share-based compensation, corporate general and administrative expense, exploration and evaluation expenses that are sustaining in nature, reclamation cost accretion (also known as unwinding of the discount on decommissioning and restoration provisions), sustaining capital including deferred stripping, and realized gains and losses on hedges due to operating and capital costs, all divided by the total gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure.
Other companies may calculate this measure differently as a result of differences in underlying principles and policies applied. Differences may also arise to a different definition of sustaining versus non-sustaining capital.
Three-months ended Six-months ended
June 30 June 30
--------------------------------------------
In thousands of dollars, except
where noted 2015 2014 2015 2014
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Gold ounces sold 123,296 107,206 227,793 191,766
Total Cash Costs Reconciliation
Production costs $ 100,162 $ 98,141 $ 197,883 $ 181,273
Less: Electricity adjustment(1) (9,198) 5,411 (7,732) 6,969
Less: Share-based compensation (240) (862) (998) (1,489)
Less: Silver sales (230) (370) (493) (376)
--------------------------------------------
Total cash costs $ 90,494 $ 102,320 $ 188,660 $ 186,377
Total cash costs per ounce sold $ 734 $ 954 $ 828 $ 972
============================================
All-in Sustaining Costs
Reconciliation
Total cash costs $ 90,494 $ - $ 188,660 $ -
Property, plant and equipment(2) 25,825 - 55,586 -
Unwinding of discount on
decommissioning and restoration
provisions 16 - 80 -
Site share-based compensation 240 - 998 -
Realized gains and losses on
operating hedges(3) 795 - 2,151 -
Corporate administration
expense(4) 8,686 - 15,883 -
Exploration and evaluation
expense(5) 910 - 1,605 -
--------------------------------------------
Total all-in sustaining costs $ 126,966 $ - $ 264,963 $ -
All-in sustaining costs per
ounce sold $ 1,030 $ - $ 1,163 $ -
--------------------------------------------
(1) Reflects adjustment related to electricity consumption in prior years;
refer to MD&A for Q2 2015 "Revised non-IFRS measures: Electricity
adjustment" for additional details.
(2) Represents property, plant and equipment additions per the cash flow
statement, which include deferred stripping. All property, plant and
equipment additions are considered sustaining capital.
(3) Includes realized gains and losses on derivative instruments related to
operating hedges (foreign exchange and diesel hedges only) as disclosed
in the MD&A for Q2 2015 "Derivative instruments" section. These
balances are included in the statement of comprehensive income (loss),
within caption "net finance income and costs".
(4) Includes sum of corporate administration expense, which includes share-
based compensation, per the statement of comprehensive income (loss),
excluding non-cash depreciation within those figures.
(5) Includes sum of exploration and evaluation expense, which includes
share-based compensation, per the statement of comprehensive income
(loss), excluding non-cash depreciation within those figures.
Average realized price and Average realized margin
Average realized price is calculated as metal sales per the statement of comprehensive loss and includes realized gains and losses on gold forwards, less silver sales. Average realized margin represents average realized price per gold ounce sold less total cash costs per ounce sold.
Three-months ended Six-months ended
June 30 June 30
--------------------------------------------
In thousands of dollars, except
where noted 2015 2014 2015 2014
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Metal sales $ 147,526 $ 139,009 $ 274,901 $ 249,024
Realized gain (loss) on gold
forwards 2,508 72 4,183 (5,491)
Silver sales (230) (370) (493) (376)
--------------------------------------------
Revenues from gold sales $ 149,804 $ 138,711 $ 278,591 $ 243,157
Gold ounces sold 123,296 107,206 227,793 191,766
--------------------------------------------
Average realized price $ 1,215 $ 1,294 $ 1,223 $ 1,268
Less: Total cash costs per gold
ounce sold (734) (954) (828) (972)
--------------------------------------------
Average realized margin per gold
ounce sold $ 481 $ 340 $ 395 $ 296
Adjusted net earnings (loss) and Adjusted basic net earnings (loss) per share
Adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted basic earnings (loss) per share are used by management and investors to measure the underlying operating performance of the Company. Presenting these measures from period to period helps management and investors evaluate earnings trends more readily in comparison with results from prior periods.
Adjusted net earnings (loss) is defined as net earnings (loss) adjusted to exclude specific items that are significant, but not reflective of the underlying operations of the Company, including: fair value change of the convertible notes, the impact of foreign exchange gains and losses, including the foreign exchange on deferred income and mining taxes, non-cash unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments, accretion on convertible notes, unwinding of discount on decommissioning and restoration provisions, impairment provisions and reversals thereof, and other non-recurring items. In addition, adjusted net earnings (loss) excludes the impact of the electricity rebate related to prior periods electricity usage as described in MD&A for Q2 2015 "Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results - Cost of Sales" section. Adjusted basic net earnings (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding under the basic method of loss per share as determined under IFRS.
Three-months ended Six-months ended
June 30 June 30
----------------------------------------------------
In thousands of dollars,
except where noted 2015 2014 2015 2014
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Basic weighted average
shares outstanding 170,585,329 157,517,434 167,772,151 150,490,783
Adjusted net earnings (loss) and Adjusted basic net earnings
(loss) per share Reconciliation
Net loss $ (15,401) $ (35,037) $ (78,462) $ (89,980)
Adjusted for:
Fair value (gain) loss
of the convertible
notes(1) 6,581 15,103 10,685 31,582
Foreign exchange
(gain) loss(1) (1,542) (989) (342) (916)
Foreign exchange on
deferred income taxes (2,536) - 24,764 -
Non-cash unrealized
(gain) loss on
derivative
instruments(2) (2,951) 1,228 (2,923) 5,480
Accretion on
convertible notes(1) 7,179 6,181 14,093 12,134
Unwinding of discount
on decommissioning
and restoration
provisions(1) 16 74 80 168
Electricity
adjustment(3) 9,198 (5,411) 7,732 (6,969)
----------------------------------------------------
Adjusted net earnings
(loss) $ 544 $ (18,851) $ (24,373) $ (48,501)
Adjusted basic net
earnings (loss) per
share $ 0.00 $ (0.12) $ (0.15) $ (0.32)
----------------------------------------------------
(1) Balance included in the statement of comprehensive income (loss)
caption "Net finance income and costs". The related financial
statements include a detailed breakdown of "Net finance income and
costs".
(2) Includes unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments as
disclosed in the "Derivative Instruments" note in the related financial
statements. The balance is grouped with "Net finance income and costs"
on the statement of comprehensive income (loss).
(3) Reflects adjustment related to electricity consumption in prior years;
refer to MD&A for Q2 2015 "Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results - Cost
of Sales" section for additional information.
The Company has included the additional IFRS measure "Earnings (loss) from mine operations" in this press release. Management noted that "Earnings (loss) from mine operations" provides useful information to investors as an indication of the Company's principal business activities before consideration of how those activities are financed, sustaining capital expenditures, corporate administration expense, exploration and evaluation expenses, loss on disposal of assets, finance income and costs, and taxation.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains certain forward-looking information as defined in applicable securities laws (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Specifically, this news release contains forward-looking statements regarding production of between 475,000 and 525,000 ounces of gold in 2015 at estimated total cash costs of $780 to $850 per ounce of gold sold and all-in sustaining costs of between $1,050 and $1,150 per ounce sold; 2015 sustaining capital expenditures of between $90 and $100 million; 2015 capitalized stripping costs of between $20 and $25 million; mining rates of between 250,000 and 290,000 tpd for the remainder of 2015; mine development in the second half of 2015 to focus on opening the eastern part of the pit, delivering material to the tailings area using the mine haulage fleet, and maximizing feed grade by further reducing mining dilution; access to higher grade ore anticipated to start in the third quarter versus the fourth quarter, resulting in approximately 10,000 to 15,000 ounces from the fourth quarter production targeted to be processed in the third quarter; and completion of the LOM plan update at the end of 2015 to be released along with the 2016 guidance.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are beyond Detour Gold's ability to predict or control and may cause Detour Gold's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any of its future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, gold price volatility, changes in debt and equity markets, the uncertainties involved in interpreting geological data, increases in costs, environmental compliance and changes in environmental legislation and regulation, interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations, general economic conditions and other risks involved in the gold exploration and development industry, as well as those risk factors discussed in the section entitled "Description of Business - Risk Factors" in Detour Gold's 2014 AIF and in the continuous disclosure documents filed by Detour Gold on and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such forward-looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about the following: the availability of financing for exploration and development activities; operating and capital costs; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; the mine development schedule; sensitivity to metal prices and other sensitivities; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; timing of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals for development projects and other operations; the supply and availability of consumables and services; the exchange rates of the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar; energy and fuel costs; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities and general business and economic conditions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof, or such other date or dates specified in such statements. Detour Gold undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
(1) Refer to the section on Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures at end
of the news release. Reconciliation of these measures is described at
end of the news release and in the MD&A for the relevant periods.
Contacts:
Detour Gold Corporation
Paul Martin
President and CEO
(416) 304.0800
Detour Gold Corporation
Laurie Gaborit
Director Investor Relations
(416) 304.0581
www.detourgold.com
