Venture Block 103 / Iron Bear Metallurgical Take a look at Work Produces DR Grade Magnetite Focus with 70.6% Fe

The Administrators of Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Company (“LIORC” or the “Company”) current the third quarter report for the interval ended September 30, 2023 .

Monetary Efficiency

Within the third quarter of 2023, LIORC’s monetary outcomes have been negatively affected by decrease pellet costs and decrease gross sales volumes of pellets and focus on the market (“CFS”). Royalty income for the third quarter of 2023 amounted to $47.0 million in comparison with $63.5 million for the third quarter of 2022. Fairness earnings from Iron Ore Firm of Canada (“IOC”) have been $23.1 million within the third quarter of 2023 in comparison with $46.8 million within the third quarter of 2022, because of decrease income and better unit working prices at IOC. Web earnings per share for the third quarter of 2023 was $0.77 per share, which was a 38% lower over the identical interval in 2022. LIORC acquired a dividend from IOC within the quantity of $30.6 million within the third quarter of 2023, in comparison with a dividend from IOC within the quantity of $34.2 million within the third quarter of 2022. The adjusted money move per share for the third quarter of 2023 was $0.89 per share, which was 18% decrease than in the identical interval in 2022, because of decrease royalty revenues. Whereas adjusted money move just isn’t a acknowledged measure below Worldwide Monetary Reporting Requirements (“IFRS”), the Administrators consider that it’s a helpful analytical measure because it higher displays money out there for dividends to shareholders.

Within the third quarter of 2023, iron ore costs for focus and fines have been typically in step with the prior quarter and better than the degrees skilled within the third quarter of 2022, predominantly because of marginally greater international metal manufacturing and growing expectations that authorities stimulus will reduce issues over China’s economic system and its property sector. In keeping with The World Metal Affiliation, international crude metal manufacturing elevated 2.4% within the third quarter of 2023 over the third quarter of 2022. In China , which accounts for over 70% of all seaborne iron ore demand, crude metal manufacturing elevated 2.9% within the third quarter of 2023 over the third quarter of 2022. Total, within the first 9 months of 2023 international crude metal manufacturing has been flat in comparison with the primary 9 months of 2022. Conversely, pellet costs, whereas in step with the prior quarter have been considerably decrease than the degrees skilled within the second quarter of 2022, as international financial pressures on European metal producers continued to negatively influence the demand for iron ore pellets.

IOC sells CFS primarily based on the Platts index for 65% Fe, CFR China (“65% Fe index”). All references to tonnes and per tonne costs on this report discuss with moist metric tonnes, aside from references to Platts quoted pricing, which discuss with dry metric tonnes. Traditionally, IOC’s moist ore comprises roughly 3% much less ore per equal quantity than dry ore. Within the third quarter of 2023, the 65% Fe index averaged US$125 per tonne, an 8% improve over the common of US$115 per tonne within the third quarter of 2022, and a 1% improve over the common of US$124 within the second quarter of 2023. Nevertheless, low metal manufacturing margins in China induced metal mills to proceed to favor medium-grade fines over high-grade fines. In consequence, the unfold of the 65% Fe index over the Platts index for 62% Fe, CFR China (“62% Fe index”) narrowed additional within the third quarter of 2023 to $11 per tonne from $12 per tonne within the third quarter of 2022.  The month-to-month Atlantic Blast Furnace 65% Fe pellet premium index as quoted by Platts (the “pellet premium”) averaged US$49 per tonne within the third quarter of 2023, down 39% from a mean of US$80 per tonne in the identical quarter of 2022.

Primarily based on gross sales as reported for the LIORC Royalty, the general common worth realized by IOC for CFS and pellets, FOB Sept-Îles, was roughly US$127 per tonne within the third quarter of 2023, in comparison with roughly US$146 per tonne within the third quarter of 2022 and US$125 per tonne within the second quarter of 2023. The lower within the common realized worth FOB Sept-Îles in 2023 was a results of decrease pellet costs and to a lesser extent a change in product combine, as pellets represented 46% of gross sales within the third quarter of 2023, in comparison with 52% of gross sales in the identical quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023.

Iron Ore Firm of Canada Operations

Operations

IOC focus manufacturing of 4.3 million tonnes within the third quarter of 2023 was 13% decrease than the identical quarter of 2022, primarily as a result of (i) an surprising gear failure with the thickener rake drive which is used within the dewatering course of within the concentrator, and (ii) conveyor belt failures on the overland supply system between the mine and the concentrator. Focus manufacturing within the quarter was 11% greater than within the second quarter of 2023, because the second quarter was negatively impacted by the forest fires affecting the rail line.

The IOC saleable manufacturing (CFS plus pellets) of 4.1 million tonnes within the third quarter of 2023 was 14% decrease than the identical interval in 2022, as operations have been impacted by prolonged plant downtime ensuing from the gear and conveyor belt failures, referred to above. The IOC saleable manufacturing within the third quarter of 2023 was 16% greater than the second quarter of 2023, because of the wildfires within the second quarter.

Pellet manufacturing within the third quarter of 2023 of two.1 million tonnes was 19% decrease than the corresponding quarter in 2022 and 32% greater than the second quarter of 2023.  Pellet manufacturing within the third quarter of 2023 was negatively impacted by a rise within the machine 3 rebuild period and plant reliability points. Within the third quarter of 2023, CFS manufacturing of 1.9 million tonnes was 8% decrease than the identical quarter final yr and in step with the second quarter of 2023, as a result of discount of focus manufacturing for the explanations referred to above.

Gross sales as Reported for the LIORC Royalty

Whole iron ore gross sales tonnage by IOC (CFS plus pellets) of three.9 million tonnes within the third quarter of 2023 was 14% decrease than the overall gross sales tonnage for a similar interval in 2022 and 11% decrease than the second quarter of 2023, primarily as a result of stock availability and cargo timing. Pellet gross sales tonnage within the third quarter of 2023 was 22% decrease than the identical interval in 2022 and 21% decrease than the second quarter of 2023. CFS gross sales tonnage was 5% decrease than the identical quarter final yr and in step with the second quarter of 2023.

Outlook

Given the third quarter manufacturing efficiency, Rio Tinto’s full yr 2023 steerage for IOC’s saleable manufacturing (CFS plus pellets) has been lowered to fifteen.8 million to 16.7 million tonnes (earlier steerage was 17.0 million to 18.7 million tonnes). This revised steerage compares to 17.6 million tonnes of saleable manufacturing in 2022, and 16.6 million tonnes of saleable manufacturing in 2021.

Inflation and the ensuing financial tightening around the globe have slowed international funding and consumption. This in flip has put strain on metal demand and manufacturing.  Moreover, China’s property sector, and the potential results from the monetary difficulties that main actual property builders are experiencing, continues to create important issues for China’s economic system. That being stated, The World Metal Affiliation is forecasting that China’s property market will stabilise within the latter a part of the yr and that China’s metal demand will report slight optimistic development due to authorities measures.  Globally, it’s forecasting that metal demand will develop by 1.8% in 2023 and 1.9% in 2024 (after falling 3.3% in 2022).

Within the close to time period, regardless of the worldwide financial challenges, iron ore costs have thus far remained comparatively constant. In October 2023 the common worth of the 65% Fe index was US$128 per tonne, roughly equal to the common of the 65% Fe index for the second and third quarter of 2023. Nevertheless, the pellet premiums have come below additional strain as metal producers in Europe (important customers of pellets) proceed to face strain. The pellet premium for October was US$38 per tonne in comparison with the common of US$49 per tonne within the third quarter of 2023.

Long term, IOC stays effectively positioned to learn from the motion to supply low emission inexperienced metal. The manufacturing of metal, a key materials for infrastructure and net-zero vitality transition, presently contributes round 7-9% of world carbon emissions. IOC’s high-quality merchandise, together with direct discount pellets, are a part of the answer to lowering GHG emissions within the metal making course of, as demonstrated by IOC’s current multi-year settlement to provide excessive grade direct discount pellets to H2 Inexperienced Metal (“H2GS”).  H2GS will course of IOC’s direct discount pellets into low-carbon sizzling briquetted iron after which make metal by way of electrical arc furnaces utilizing inexperienced hydrogen at its flagship plant in Boden, Sweden . The Boden facility, which is able to maintain one of many world’s largest electrolysis vegetation for the manufacturing of inexperienced hydrogen, shall be one of many world’s first large-scale producers of low carbon iron and metal. Through the use of inexperienced hydrogen in electrical arc furnaces as a substitute of coal in conventional steelmaking with a blast furnace, CO2 emissions could be lowered by as much as 95 %.

LIORC has no debt and at September 30, 2023 had optimistic web working capital (present property much less present liabilities) of $25.8 million , which included the third quarter web royalty fee acquired from IOC on October 25, 2023 and the LIORC dividend within the quantity of $0.95 per share paid to shareholders on the following day.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Administrators of the Company,

John F. Tuer
President and Chief Govt Officer
November 2, 2023

Administration’s Dialogue and Evaluation

The next dialogue and evaluation ought to be learn at the side of the Administration’s Dialogue and Evaluation part of Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Company’s (“LIORC” or the “Company”) 2022 Annual Report, and the monetary statements and notes contained therein and the September 30, 2023 interim condensed consolidated monetary statements.

Overview of the Enterprise

The Company’s revenues are totally depending on the operations of IOC as its principal property relate to the operations of IOC and its principal income is the 7% royalty it receives on all gross sales of iron ore merchandise by IOC. Along with the amount of iron ore bought, the Company’s royalty income is affected by the value of iron ore and the Canadian – U.S. greenback alternate charge. The primary quarter gross sales of IOC are historically adversely affected by the overall winter working situations and are normally 15% – 20% of the annual quantity, with the steadiness unfold pretty evenly all through the opposite three quarters. Due to the dimensions of particular person shipments, some quarters could also be affected by the timing of the loading of ships that may be delayed from one quarter to the following.

Monetary Highlights

The decrease income, web earnings and fairness earnings achieved within the third quarter of 2023 as in comparison with 2022 have been primarily as a result of decrease pellet costs and decrease gross sales volumes of pellets and focus on the market (“CFS”). The third quarter of 2023 gross sales tonnage (pellets and CFS) was decrease by 14% than the third quarter of 2022 primarily as a result of stock availability and cargo timing. CFS gross sales tonnage was 5% decrease than the identical quarter final yr and pellet gross sales tonnage was 22% decrease than the identical interval in 2022.

The decrease gross sales tonnage, along with a lower within the realized gross sales worth of pellets, resulted in royalty earnings of $47.0 million for the quarter as in comparison with $63.5 million for a similar interval in 2022. Third quarter 2023 money move from operations was $65.7 million or $1.03 per share in comparison with $78.5 million or $1.23 per share for a similar interval in 2022. LIORC acquired an IOC dividend within the second quarter of 2023 within the quantity of $30.6 million or $0.49 per share in comparison with $34.2 million or $0.53 per share for a similar interval in 2022. Fairness earnings from IOC amounted to $23.1 million or $0.36 per share within the third quarter of 2023 in comparison with $46.8 million or $0.73 per share for a similar interval in 2022.

Working Highlights

IOC sells CFS primarily based on the 65% Fe index. Within the third quarter of 2023, the 65% Fe index averaged US$125 per tonne, an 8% improve over the common of US$115 per tonne within the third quarter of 2022. Iron ore costs, which have been in step with the prior quarter, elevated over the third quarter of 2022 predominantly because of marginally greater international metal manufacturing and growing expectations that authorities stimulus will reduce issues over China’s economic system and its property sector. The month-to-month pellet premium averaged US$49 per tonne within the third quarter of 2023, down 39% from a mean of US$80 per tonne in the identical quarter of 2022, as international financial pressures on metal manufacturing outdoors of China continued to negatively influence the demand for iron ore pellets.

Primarily based on gross sales as reported for the LIORC Royalty, the general common worth realized by IOC for CFS and pellets, FOB Sept-Îles, was roughly US$127 per tonne within the third quarter of 2023, in comparison with roughly US$146 per tonne within the third quarter of 2022 and US$125 per tonne within the second quarter of 2023. The lower within the common realized worth FOB Sept-Îles in 2023 was a results of decrease pellet costs and to a lesser extent a change in product combine, as pellets represented 46% of gross sales within the third quarter of 2023, in comparison with 52% of gross sales in the identical quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023.

Standardized Money Circulate and Adjusted Money Circulate

For the Company, standardized money move is identical as money move from working actions as recorded within the Company’s money move statements because the Company doesn’t incur capital expenditures or have any restrictions on dividends. Standardized money move per share was $1.03 for the quarter (2022 – $1.23 ).

The Company additionally stories “Adjusted money move” which is outlined as money move from working actions after changes for modifications in quantities receivable, accounts payable and earnings taxes recoverable and payable. It isn’t a acknowledged measure below IFRS. The Administrators consider that adjusted money move is a helpful analytical measure because it higher displays money out there for dividends to shareholders.

The next reconciles standardized money move from working actions to adjusted money move.

Liquidity and Capital Assets

The Company had $47.6 million in money as at September 30, 2023 ( December 31, 2022 – $39.9 million ) with complete present property of $95.7 million ( December 31, 2022 – $83.0 million ). The Company had working capital of $25.8 million as at September 30, 2023 ( December 31, 2022 – $28.9 million ). The Company’s working money move was $65.7 million and the dividend paid throughout the quarter was $41.6 million , leading to money balances growing by $24.1 million throughout the third quarter of 2023. In September the Administrators of the Company declared the third quarter dividend of $60.8 million that was paid on October 26, 2023 .

Money balances include deposits in Canadian {dollars} with a Canadian chartered financial institution. Quantities receivable primarily include royalty funds from IOC. Royalty funds are acquired in U.S. {dollars} and transformed to Canadian {dollars} on receipt, normally 25 days after the quarter finish. The Company doesn’t usually try to hedge this short-term international forex publicity.

Working money move of the Company is sourced totally from IOC by way of the Company’s 7% royalty, 10 cents fee per tonne and dividends from its 15.10% fairness curiosity in IOC. The Company usually pays money dividends from the free money move generated from IOC to the utmost extent attainable, topic to the upkeep of acceptable ranges of working capital.

The Company has a $30 million revolving credit score facility with a time period ending September 18, 2025 with provision for annual one-year extensions. No quantity is presently drawn below this facility (2022 – nil) leaving $30.0 million out there to offer for any capital required by IOC or necessities of the Company.

John F. Tuer
President and Chief Govt Officer
Toronto, Ontario
November 2, 2023

Ahead-Trying Statements

This report might include “forward-looking” statements that contain dangers, uncertainties and different components that will trigger the precise outcomes, efficiency or achievements to be materially completely different from any future outcomes, efficiency or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Phrases comparable to “might”, “will”, “anticipate”, “consider”, “plan”, “intend”, “ought to”, “would”, “anticipate” and different related terminology are meant to establish forward-looking statements. These statements mirror present assumptions and expectations relating to future occasions and working efficiency as of the date of this report. Ahead-looking statements contain important dangers and uncertainties, shouldn’t be learn as ensures of future efficiency or outcomes, and won’t essentially be correct indications of whether or not or not such outcomes shall be achieved. Various components might trigger precise outcomes to fluctuate considerably, together with iron ore worth and quantity volatility; the efficiency of IOC; market situations within the metal business; fluctuations within the worth of the Canadian and U.S. greenback; mining dangers that trigger a disruption in operations and availability of insurance coverage; disruption in IOC’s operations attributable to pure disasters, extreme climate situations and public well being crises, together with the COVID-19 outbreak; failure of knowledge techniques or injury from cyber safety assaults; adversarial modifications in home and international financial and political situations; modifications in authorities regulation and taxation; nationwide, provincial and worldwide legal guidelines, rules and insurance policies relating to local weather change that additional restrict the emissions of greenhouse gases or improve the prices of operations for IOC or its prospects; modifications affecting IOC’s prospects; competitors from different iron ore producers; renewal of mining licenses and leases; relationships with indigenous teams; litigation; and uncertainty within the estimates of reserves and assets. A dialogue of those components is contained in LIORC’s annual data kind dated March 7, 2023 below the heading, “Threat Components”. Though the forward-looking statements contained on this report are primarily based upon what administration of LIORC believes are cheap assumptions, LIORC can not guarantee buyers that precise outcomes shall be in step with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this report and LIORC assumes no obligation, besides as required by regulation, to replace any forward-looking statements to mirror new occasions or circumstances. This report ought to be seen at the side of LIORC’s different publicly out there filings, copies of which could be obtained electronically on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca .

Discover:
The next unaudited interim condensed consolidated monetary statements of the Company have been ready by and are the accountability of the Company’s administration. The Company’s impartial auditor has not reviewed these interim monetary statements.

The whole consolidated monetary statements for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023 , together with the notes thereto, are posted on sedar.com and labradorironore.com .

SOURCE Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Company

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