Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

 

x        QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2012

 

or

 

o        TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from             to             

 

Commission File Number: 001-13357

 


 

Royal Gold, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

84-0835164

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Incorporation)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

1660 Wynkoop Street, Suite 1000

 

 

Denver, Colorado

 

80202

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (303) 573-1660

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer x

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

 

There were 58,835,885 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding as of April 25, 2012.  In addition, as of such date, there were 813,826 exchangeable shares of RG Exchangeco Inc. outstanding which are exchangeable at any time into shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis and entitle their holders to voting, dividend and other rights economically equivalent to those of the Company’s common stock.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

INDEX

 

 

 

PAGE

 

 

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

3

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

4

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

6

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

19

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

31

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

32

 

 

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

32

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

32

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

33

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

33

 

 

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosure

33

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

33

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

33

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

33

 



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited, in thousands except share data)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents

 

$

183,338

 

$

114,155

 

Royalty receivables

 

62,086

 

48,828

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

6,089

 

6,290

 

Total current assets

 

251,513

 

169,273

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty interests in mineral properties, net (Note 3)

 

1,824,565

 

1,690,439

 

Available for sale securities (Note 4)

 

20,474

 

28,876

 

Other assets

 

12,404

 

14,114

 

Total assets

 

$

2,108,956

 

$

1,902,702

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)

 

$

15,600

 

$

15,600

 

Accounts payable

 

2,180

 

2,499

 

Dividends payable

 

8,947

 

6,093

 

Income tax payable

 

520

 

676

 

Other current liabilities

 

3,938

 

3,993

 

Total current liabilities

 

31,185

 

28,861

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (Note 5)

 

98,800

 

210,500

 

Net deferred tax liabilities

 

151,806

 

152,564

 

Uncertain tax positions

 

17,653

 

18,836

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

3,836

 

4,246

 

Total liabilities

 

303,280

 

415,007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; and 0 shares issued

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; and 58,596,101 and 54,231,787 shares outstanding, respectively

 

586

 

543

 

Exchangeable shares, no par value, 1,806,649 shares issued, less 992,823 and 900,854 redeemed shares, respectively

 

35,816

 

39,864

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

1,604,019

 

1,319,697

 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

 

(8,303

)

54

 

Accumulated earnings

 

148,500

 

100,004

 

Total Royal Gold stockholders’ equity

 

1,780,618

 

1,460,162

 

Non-controlling interests

 

25,058

 

27,533

 

Total equity

 

1,805,676

 

1,487,695

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

2,108,956

 

$

1,902,702

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

3



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ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited, in thousands except share data)

 

 

 

For The Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Royalty revenues

 

$

69,638

 

$

55,546

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative

 

4,431

 

5,230

 

Production taxes

 

2,593

 

2,601

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

19,721

 

15,838

 

Total costs and expenses

 

26,745

 

23,669

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

42,893

 

31,877

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other income

 

476

 

756

 

Interest and other expense

 

(1,552

)

(1,986

)

Income before income taxes

 

41,817

 

30,647

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

(14,864

)

(10,339

)

Net income

 

26,953

 

20,308

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(954

)

(743

)

Net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders

 

$

25,999

 

$

19,565

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

26,953

 

$

20,308

 

Adjustments to comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized change in market value of available for sale securities

 

3,904

 

(44

)

Comprehensive income

 

30,857

 

20,264

 

Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(954

)

(743

)

Comprehensive income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders

 

$

29,903

 

$

19,521

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share available to Royal Gold common stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.44

 

$

0.36

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

58,953,216

 

55,076,556

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.44

 

$

0.35

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

59,169,314

 

55,337,201

 

Cash dividends declared per common share

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.11

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited, in thousands except share data)

 

 

 

For The Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Royalty revenues

 

$

202,944

 

$

157,199

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative

 

15,786

 

15,849

 

Production taxes

 

7,690

 

6,290

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

58,360

 

50,768

 

Restructuring on royalty interests in mineral properties

 

1,328

 

 

Total costs and expenses

 

83,164

 

72,907

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

119,780

 

84,292

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other income

 

3,798

 

4,464

 

Interest and other expense

 

(4,939

)

(6,088

)

Income before income taxes

 

118,639

 

82,668

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

(41,297

)

(28,641

)

Net income

 

77,342

 

54,027

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(5,438

)

(4,320

)

Net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders

 

$

71,904

 

$

49,707

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

77,342

 

$

54,027

 

Adjustments to comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized change in market value of available for sale securities

 

(8,357

)

107

 

Comprehensive income

 

68,985

 

54,134

 

Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(5,438

)

(4,320

)

Comprehensive income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders

 

$

63,547

 

$

49,814

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share available to Royal Gold common stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

1.27

 

$

0.90

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

56,486,455

 

55,035,172

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

1.26

 

$

0.90

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

56,738,805

 

55,301,023

 

Cash dividends declared per common share

 

$

0.41

 

$

0.31

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited, in thousands)

 

 

 

For The Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

77,342

 

$

54,027

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

58,360

 

50,768

 

Gain on distribution to non-controlling interest

 

(3,725

)

(2,798

)

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense

 

5,560

 

5,010

 

Tax benefit of stock-based compensation exercises

 

(3,317

)

(1,031

)

Restructuring on royalty interests in mineral properties

 

1,328

 

 

Deferred tax benefit

 

(714

)

(1,680

)

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty receivables

 

(13,258

)

(6,139

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

128

 

(223

)

Accounts payable

 

(316

)

(201

)

Income taxes payable (receivable)

 

3,161

 

(901

)

Other liabilities

 

(1,647

)

5,519

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

122,902

 

$

102,351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of royalty interests in mineral properties

 

(193,662

)

(279,500

)

Proceeds on sale of Inventory - restricted

 

5,514

 

4,396

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

 

(2,083

)

Other

 

(157

)

1,348

 

Net cash (used in) investing activities

 

$

(188,305

)

$

(275,839

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowing from credit facility

 

100,000

 

19,500

 

Repayment of debt

 

(211,700

)

(23,000

)

Common stock dividends

 

(20,554

)

(16,042

)

Distribution to non-controlling interests

 

(7,917

)

(6,068

)

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

 

271,440

 

 

Tax benefit of stock-based compensation exercises

 

3,317

 

1,031

 

Other

 

 

(1,008

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

$

134,586

 

$

(25,587

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents

 

69,183

 

(199,075

)

Cash and equivalents at beginning of period

 

114,155

 

324,846

 

Cash and equivalents at end of period

 

$

183,338

 

$

125,771

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1.                                      OPERATIONS, SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

Operations

 

Royal Gold, Inc. (“Royal Gold”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), together with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of acquiring and managing precious metals royalties and similar interests.  Royalties are passive (non-operating) interests in mining projects that provide the right to revenue or production from the project after deducting specified costs, if any, and we use the terms “royalties” in these notes to the consolidated financial statements to refer to royalties, gold or silver stream interests, and other similar interests.

 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation of our interim financial statements have been included in this Form 10-Q.  Operating results for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.  These interim unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 18, 2011 (“Fiscal 2011 10-K”).

 

Reclassification

 

Costs and expenses previously classified as Exploration and business development are now included within the General and administrative caption.  Further, certain amounts previously classified as Costs of Operations are now included within the General and administrative caption or the Production taxes caption in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.  The following table reflects these reclassifications for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2011:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

 

Nine Months Ended March 31, 2011

 

 

 

Previously

 

 

 

 

 

Previously

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported

 

Reclass

 

Adjusted

 

Reported

 

Reclass

 

Adjusted

 

 

 

Balance

 

Adjustment

 

Balance

 

Balance

 

Adjustment

 

Balance

 

Costs and expenses (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of operations

 

$

3,544

 

$

(3,544

)

$

 

$

8,684

 

$

(8,684

)

$

 

General and administrative

 

3,182

 

2,048

 

5,230

 

10,836

 

5,013

 

15,849

 

Production taxes

 

 

2,601

 

2,601

 

 

6,290

 

6,290

 

Exploration and business development

 

1,105

 

(1,105

)

 

2,619

 

(2,619

)

 

 

These reclassifications had no effect on reported operating income or net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders for the prior period presented.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”)ASU 2011-05 addresses the presentation of comprehensive income and provides entities with the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.  The provisions of ASU 2011-05 are effective for the Company’s quarter beginning July 1, 2012.  Since ASU 2011-05 addresses financial presentation only, its adoption will not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) — Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassification of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting for Standards Update No. 2011-05 (“ASU 2011-12”).  ASU 2011-12 defers changes in ASU 2011-05 that relate to the presentation of reclassification adjustments.  ASU 2011-12 is effective for the Company’s quarter beginning July 1, 2012.  We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2011-12 to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

2.             ROYALTY ACQUISITIONS

 

Mt. Milligan II Gold Stream Acquisition

 

On December 14, 2011, Royal Gold and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into an Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Milligan II Agreement”) with Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. (“Thompson Creek”) and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.  Among other things, Royal Gold agreed to purchase an additional 15% of the payable ounces of gold from the Mt. Milligan copper-gold project in exchange for payment advances totaling $270 million, of which $112 million was paid on December 19, 2011, and, when production is reached, cash payments for each payable ounce of gold delivered to Royal Gold, as discussed further below (the “Milligan II Acquisition”).  Thompson Creek intends to use the proceeds from the Milligan II Acquisition to finance a portion of the construction of the Mt. Milligan project and related costs.

 

In the original Mt. Milligan gold stream transaction (the “Milligan I Acquisition”), which Royal Gold completed in October 2010, Royal Gold agreed to purchase 25% of the payable ounces of gold produced from the Mt. Milligan project in exchange for a total of $311.5 million, $226.5 million of which was paid at closing.  In addition and also part of the Milligan I Acquisition, Royal Gold was to pay Thompson Creek a cash payment equal to the lesser of $400 or the prevailing market price for each payable ounce of gold until 550,000 ounces have been delivered to Royal Gold and the lesser of $450 or the prevailing market price for each additional ounce thereafter.  Under the Milligan II Agreement, Royal Gold increased its aggregate investment (including amounts previously funded pursuant to the Milligan I Acquisition and commitments for future funding) from $311.5 million to $581.5 million, and agreed to purchase a total of 40% of the payable ounces of gold produced from the Mt. Milligan project at a cash purchase price equal to the lesser of $435, with no inflation adjustment, or the prevailing market price for each payable ounce of gold (regardless of the number of payable ounces delivered to Royal Gold).

 

In addition to the $112 million payment made on December 19, 2011 and the payments totaling $252.6 million made by Royal Gold pursuant to the Milligan I Acquisition, the Milligan II Agreement requires Royal Gold to make scheduled payments to Thompson Creek in the aggregate amount of $216.9 million, which are to be paid on a quarterly basis and commenced on March 6, 2012, with a payment of $45

 

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Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

million.  The amount of each quarterly payment to be made in calendar year 2012 is $45 million (representing an aggregate of $180 million in calendar year 2012), and the amount of each quarterly payment to be made in calendar year 2013 is $12 million for each of the first two quarters of calendar year 2013 and $12.9 million in the third quarter of calendar year 2013 (representing an aggregate of $36.9 million in calendar year 2013).  Following the scheduled payment in the third calendar quarter of 2013, Royal Gold will have satisfied its obligations to make quarterly payments to Thompson Creek.  Royal Gold’s obligation to make these quarterly payments is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions included in the Milligan II Agreement (including that the aggregate amount of historical payments made by Royal Gold plus the applicable quarterly payment is less than the aggregate costs of developing the Mt. Milligan project incurred or accrued by Thompson Creek as of the date of the applicable quarterly payment).  In the event that a quarterly payment is postponed as a result of the failure by Thompson Creek to satisfy a condition precedent, all subsequent quarterly payments will be adjusted forward one full calendar quarter until such time as all conditions precedent have been satisfied for the next scheduled quarterly payment.  As of March 31, 2012, Royal Gold has a remaining commitment of $171.9 million to Thompson Creek.

 

The Milligan II Acquisition has been accounted for as an asset acquisition.  The $112 million paid at closing and the $45 million paid on March 6, 2012, as part of the Milligan II Agreement, plus direct transaction costs, has been recorded as a development stage royalty interest within Royalty interests in mineral properties, net on our consolidated balance sheets.

 

Tulsequah Chief Gold and Silver Stream Acquisition

 

On December 22, 2011, Royal Gold, through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Tulsequah Agreement”) with Chieftain Metals, Inc. (“Chieftain”) whereby Royal Gold, among other things, agreed to purchase specified percentages of the payable gold and the payable silver produced from the Tulsequah Chief project in British Columbia from Chieftain.  Consideration for the transaction is comprised of payment advances totaling $60 million, of which $10 million was paid on December 28, 2011, and, when production is reached, cash payments for each gold and silver ounce delivered to Royal Gold, as discussed further below.

 

Following the initial $10 million payment advance, upon satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the Tulsequah Agreement, Royal Gold will make additional payments (each, an “Additional Payment”) to Chieftain in an amount not to exceed $50 million in the aggregate.  Chieftain will use these payment advances to fund a portion of the development costs of the Tulsequah Chief project.  Upon commencement of production at the Tulsequah Chief project, Royal Gold will purchase (i) 12.50% of the payable gold with a cash payment equal to the lesser of $450 or the prevailing market price for each payable ounce of gold until 48,000 ounces have been delivered to Royal Gold and 7.50% of the payable gold with a cash payment equal to the lesser of $500 or the prevailing market price for each additional ounce of payable gold thereafter, and (ii) 22.50% of the payable silver with a cash payment equal to the lesser of $5.00 or the prevailing market price for each payable ounce of silver until 2,775,000 ounces have been delivered to Royal Gold and 9.75% of the payable silver with a cash payment equal to the lesser of $7.50 or the prevailing market price for each additional ounce of payable silver thereafter.

 

Under the circumstances described in the Tulsequah Agreement, Royal Gold has the right to suspend its obligations to make all Additional Payments.  Upon such a suspension, the streaming percentages for payable gold and payable silver described above will each be reduced to 6.50% for all payable gold and payable silver from the Tulsequah Chief project, although the per ounce cash payment prices will remain the same.

 

9



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The Tulsequah Chief acquisition has been accounted for as an asset acquisition.  The $10 million paid at closing, plus direct transaction costs, has been recorded as a development stage royalty interest within Royalty interests in mineral properties, net on our consolidated balance sheets.  As of March 31, 2012, Royal Gold has $50 million remaining in Additional Payments to Chieftain.

 

3.             ROYALTY INTERESTS IN MINERAL PROPERTIES

 

The following summarizes the Company’s royalty interests in mineral properties as of March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011.

 

As of March 31, 2012
(Amounts in thousands):

 

Cost

 

Restructuring

 

Accumulated
Depletion

 

Net

 

Production stage royalty interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andacollo

 

$

272,998

 

$

 

$

(24,327

)

$

248,671

 

Voisey’s Bay

 

150,138

 

 

(30,155

)

119,983

 

Peñasquito

 

99,172

 

 

(8,142

)

91,030

 

Las Cruces

 

57,230

 

 

(5,194

)

52,036

 

Mulatos

 

48,092

 

 

(17,490

)

30,602

 

Wolverine

 

45,158

 

 

(897

)

44,261

 

Dolores

 

44,878

 

 

(5,651

)

39,227

 

Canadian Malartic

 

38,800

 

 

(2,505

)

36,295

 

Gwalia Deeps

 

28,119

 

 

(3,587

)

24,532

 

Holt

 

25,428

 

 

(2,275

)

23,153

 

Inata

 

24,871

 

 

(6,942

)

17,929

 

Leeville

 

18,322

 

 

(14,216

)

4,106

 

Robinson

 

17,825

 

 

(9,579

)

8,246

 

Cortez

 

10,630

 

 

(9,659

)

971

 

Other

 

183,999

 

 

(109,336

)

74,663

 

 

 

1,065,660

 

 

(249,955

)

815,705

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development stage royalty interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mt. Milligan

 

410,943

 

 

 

410,943

 

Pascua-Lama

 

372,105

 

 

 

372,105

 

Other (Note 8)

 

35,947

 

(1,328

)

 

34,619

 

 

 

818,995

 

(1,328

)

 

817,667

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration stage royalty interests

 

191,193

 

 

 

191,193

 

Total royalty interests in mineral properties

 

$

2,075,848

 

$

(1,328

)

$

(249,955

)

$

1,824,565

 

 

10



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

As of June 30, 2011
(Amounts in thousands):

 

Cost

 

Accumulated
Depletion

 

Net

 

Production stage royalty interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andacollo

 

$

272,998

 

$

(13,076

)

$

259,922

 

Voisey’s Bay

 

150,138

 

(15,526

)

134,612

 

Peñasquito

 

99,172

 

(5,457

)

93,715

 

Las Cruces

 

57,230

 

(2,615

)

54,615

 

Mulatos

 

48,092

 

(14,199

)

33,893

 

Dolores

 

44,878

 

(4,005

)

40,873

 

Wolverine

 

45,158

 

(257

)

44,901

 

Canadian Malartic

 

38,800

 

(367

)

38,433

 

Holt

 

25,428

 

(620

)

24,808

 

Inata

 

24,871

 

(5,158

)

19,713

 

Gwalia Deeps

 

22,854

 

(1,715

)

21,139

 

Leeville

 

18,322

 

(12,920

)

5,402

 

Robinson

 

17,825

 

(8,827

)

8,998

 

Cortez

 

10,630

 

(9,619

)

1,011

 

Other

 

178,143

 

(97,386

)

80,757

 

 

 

1,054,539

 

(191,747

)

862,792

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development stage royalty interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pascua-Lama

 

372,105

 

 

372,105

 

Mt. Milligan

 

227,596

 

 

227,596

 

Other

 

26,250

 

 

26,250

 

 

 

625,951

 

 

625,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration stage royalty interests

 

201,696

 

 

201,696

 

Total royalty interests in mineral properties

 

$

1,882,186

 

$

(191,747

)

$

1,690,439

 

 

11



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

4.             AVAILABLE FOR SALE SECURITIES

 

The Company’s available for sale securities as of March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011 consists of the following:

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

 

Cost Basis

 

Gain

 

Loss

 

Fair Value

 

Non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seabridge Gold, Inc.

 

$

28,574

 

 

(8,248

)

$

20,326

 

Other

 

203

 

 

(55

)

148

 

 

 

$

28,777

 

$

 

$

(8,303

)

$

20,474

 

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

 

 

Cost Basis

 

Gain

 

Loss

 

Fair Value

 

Non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seabridge Gold, Inc.

 

$

28,574

 

 

(28

)

$

28,546

 

Other

 

203

 

127

 

 

$

330

 

 

 

$

28,777

 

$

127

 

$

(28

)

$

28,876

 

 

The Company’s policy for determining whether declines in fair value of available-for-sale securities are other than temporary includes a quarterly analysis of the investments and a review by management of all investments for which the cost exceeds the fair value.  Any temporary declines in fair value are recorded as a charge to other comprehensive income.  If such impairment is determined by the Company to be other than temporary, the investment’s cost basis is written down to fair value and recorded in net income during the period the Company determines such impairment to be other than temporary.  Based on the Company’s analysis of its investments and our ability and intent to hold these investments for a reasonable period of time, there were no write downs on our available-for-sale securities during the three or nine months ended March 31, 2012.  The most significant available-for-sale security is the investment in Seabridge Gold, Inc. (“Seabridge”) common stock, acquired in June 2011 and discussed in greater detail within our Fiscal 2011 10-K.  The Company will continue to evaluate this investment considering additional facts and circumstances as they arise, including, but not limited to, the progress of development of Seabridge’s Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell project.

 

5.             DEBT

 

The Company’s current and non-current debt as of March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011 consists of the following:

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2012
(Amounts in thousands)

 

As of June 30, 2011
(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

Current

 

Non-current

 

Current

 

Non-current

 

Credit facility

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

100,000

 

Term loan

 

15,600

 

98,800

 

15,600

 

110,500

 

Total debt

 

$

15,600

 

$

98,800

 

$

15,600

 

$

210,500

 

 

12



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

During the quarter ended December 31, 2011, the Company borrowed $100 million under its revolving credit facility to help fund the Milligan II Acquisition, which is discussed in Note 2, and had $170 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility.  On February 2, 2012, the Company repaid the $170 million outstanding under its revolving credit facility.  As of March 31, 2012, the Company has $225 million available under its revolving credit facility.

 

As discussed in the Company’s Fiscal 2011 10-K, the Company has financial covenants associated with its revolving credit facility and term loan.  At March 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with each financial covenant.

 

6.             STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense as follows:

 

 

 

For The Three Months Ended

 

For The Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

Stock options

 

$

111

 

$

81

 

$

349

 

$

325

 

Stock appreciation rights

 

297

 

220

 

921

 

588

 

Restricted stock

 

572

 

389

 

2,223

 

1,659

 

Performance stock

 

514

 

1,113

 

2,067

 

2,438

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

 

$

1,494

 

$

1,803

 

$

5,560

 

$

5,010

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense is included within general and administrative in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

 

There were no options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  There were 18,796 and 24,800 stock options granted during the nine months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  As of March 31, 2012, there was $0.6 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.89 years.

 

There were no stock-settled appreciated rights (“SSARs”) granted during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  There were 42,804 and 51,500 SSARs granted during the nine months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  As of March 31, 2012, there was $1.5 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested SSARs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.79 years.

 

There were no shares of restricted stock granted during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  There were 44,950 and 53,100 shares of restricted stock granted during the nine months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  As of March 31, 2012, there was $6.0 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.83 years.

 

There were no shares of performance stock granted during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  There were 49,600 and 60,500 shares of performance stock granted during the nine months ended March 31, 2012 and 2010, respectively.  During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, 12,400 and 11,500 shares of performance stock, respectively, vested at a weighted-average

 

13



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

grant date fair value of $68.18 and $29.75.  During the nine months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, 26,775 and 86,000 shares of performance stock, respectively, vested at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $58.24 and $29.75.  As of March 31, 2012, there was $2.2 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested performance stock, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.64 years.

 

7.             STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Common Stock Offering

 

In January 2012, we sold 4,000,000 shares of our common stock, at a price of $67.10 per share, resulting in proceeds of approximately $268.4 million.  In February 2012, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds to repay the outstanding amounts under its revolving credit facility (see Note 5).  The Company intends to use the remaining net proceeds of the offering to fund acquisitions of additional royalty interests and to fund near-term commitments resulting from the Milligan II Acquisition (see Note 2).

 

8.             RESTRUCTURING ON ROYALTY INTERESTS IN MINERAL PROPERTIES

 

The Company owns a net smelter return royalty on the Relief Canyon property located in Nevada.  From November 2010 to October 2011, the Company was involved in managing this interest in bankruptcy proceedings of the former owner of the Relief Canyon project.  On August 24, 2011, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Net Smelter Return Royalty Agreement with the former property owner, pursuant to which the royalty rate was reduced from 4% to 2%, and the ten mile area of interest was eliminated.  The Company elected to amend the royalty agreement in order to enhance project economics and the probability of recognizing royalty revenue.  As a result of the amendment to the Relief Canyon royalty agreement, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of approximately $1.3 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2011, which was based on the Company’s estimate of fair value.  The Company’s carrying value for the Relief Canyon royalty interest was approximately $1.2 million as of March 31, 2012.

 

9.             EARNINGS PER SHARE (“EPS”)

 

Basic earnings per common share were computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, considering the effect of participating securities.  Unvested stock-based compensation awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are considered participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method.  The Company’s unvested restricted stock awards contain non-forfeitable dividend rights and participate equally with common stock with respect to dividends issued or declared.  The Company’s unexercised stock options, unexercised SSARs and unvested performance stock do not contain rights to dividends.  Under the two-class method, the earnings used to determine basic earnings per common share are reduced by an amount allocated to participating securities.  Use of the two-class method has an immaterial impact on the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share.

 

The following tables summarize the effects of dilutive securities on diluted EPS for the period:

 

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Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

For The Three Months Ended

 

For The Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(in thousands, except share data)

 

(in thousands, except share data)

 

Net income available to Royal Gold common stockholders

 

$

25,999

 

$

19,565

 

$

71,904

 

$

49,707

 

Weighted-average shares for basic EPS

 

58,953,216

 

55,076,556

 

56,486,455

 

55,035,172

 

Effect of other dilutive securities

 

216,098

 

260,645

 

252,350

 

265,851

 

Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS

 

59,169,314

 

55,337,201

 

56,738,805

 

55,301,023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.44

 

$

0.36

 

$

1.27

 

$

0.90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.44

 

$

0.35

 

$

1.26

 

$

0.90

 

 

Our calculation of weighted average shares includes all of our outstanding stock: common stock and exchangeable shares.  Exchangeable shares are the equivalent of common shares in that they have the same dividend rights and share equitably in undistributed earnings and are exchangeable on a one-for-one basis for shares of our common stock.

 

10.          INCOME TAXES

 

 

 

For The Three Months Ended

 

For The Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands, except rate)

 

(Amounts in thousands, except rate)

 

Income tax expense

 

$

14,864

 

$

10,339

 

$

41,297

 

$

28,641

 

Effective tax rate

 

35.6

%

33.7

%

34.8

%

34.7

%

 

The increase in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is primarily related to (i) an increase in tax expense related to earnings from non-U.S. subsidiaries, and (ii) an increase in tax expense related to changes in estimates for uncertain tax positions.  The increase in tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is partially offset by a decrease in tax expense relating to a decrease in foreign currency exchange gains.

 

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal, state and local, and non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for fiscal years before 2007.

 

As of March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011, the Company had $17.7 million and $18.8 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits, respectively.  The decrease in gross unrecognized tax benefits was primarily a result of statute of limitations expiring during the period.  In addition, there was additional tax recorded during the period primarily relating to tax positions of International Royalty Corporation entities taken prior to or upon the acquisition by the Company during fiscal year 2010 that is partially offset by tax credits.  If recognized, these unrecognized tax benefits would impact the Company’s effective income tax rate.

 

The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize potential interest and/or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as part of its income tax expense. At March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011, the amount of accrued income-tax-related interest and penalties was $2.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

 

15



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

11.          SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The Company manages its business under a single operating segment, consisting of royalty acquisition and management activities.  Royal Gold’s royalty revenue and long-lived assets (royalty interests in mineral properties, net) are geographically distributed as shown in the following table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty Interests in

 

 

 

Royalty Revenue

 

Mineral Property, net

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

As of

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Canada

 

25

%

 

23

%

 

24

%

 

16

%

 

43

%

 

36

%

 

Chile

 

25

%

 

22

%

 

25

%

 

21

%

 

36

%

 

40

%

 

Mexico

 

23

%

 

19

%

 

20

%

 

17

%

 

10

%

 

11

%

 

United States

 

15

%

 

22

%

 

18

%

 

26

%

 

3

%

 

3

%

 

Australia

 

5

%

 

6

%

 

5

%

 

6

%

 

4

%

 

5

%

 

Africa

 

4

%

 

5

%

 

4

%

 

10

%

 

1

%

 

2

%

 

Other

 

3

%

 

3

%

 

4

%

 

4

%

 

3

%

 

3

%

 

 

12.          FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under FASB ASC 820 are described below:

 

Level 1:     Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;

 

Level 2:     Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and

 

Level 3:     Prices or valuation techniques requiring inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) by level within the fair value hierarchy.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Fair Value at March 31, 2012

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market investments(1)

 

$

50,280

 

$

50,280

 

$

 

$

 

Marketable equity securities(2)

 

20,474

 

20,474

 

 

 

 

 

$

70,754

 

$

70,754

 

$

 

$

 

 


(1)  Included in Cash and equivalents in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

(2)  Included in Available for sale securities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

The carrying amount of our long-term debt (including the current portion) approximates fair value as of March 31, 2012.

 

The Company invests in money market funds, which are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets.  The Company’s money market funds, which are invested in United States treasury bills or United States treasury backed securities, are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

The Company’s marketable equity securities classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy are valued using quoted market prices in active markets.  The fair value of the Level 1 marketable equity securities is calculated as the quoted market price of the marketable equity security multiplied by the quantity of shares held by the Company.

 

As of March 31, 2012, the Company also had assets that, under certain conditions, are subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis like those associated with royalty interests in mineral properties, intangible assets and other long-lived assets.  For these assets, measurement at fair value in periods subsequent to their initial recognition are applicable if any of these assets are determined to be impaired; however, no triggering events have occurred relative to any of these assets during the nine months ended March 31, 2012, except as discussed in Note 8.  If recognition of these assets at their fair value becomes necessary, such measurements will be determined utilizing Level 3 inputs.

 

13.          COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Mt. Milligan Gold Stream Acquisition

 

Refer to Note 2 for discussion on the Company’s commitment to Thompson Creek as part of the Mt. Milligan gold stream acquisitions.

 

Tulsequah Chief Gold and Silver Stream Acquisition

 

Refer to Note 2 for discussion on the Company’s commitment to Chieftain as part of the Tulsequah Chief gold and silver stream acquisition.

 

Voisey’s Bay

 

The Company owns a royalty on the Voisey’s Bay mine in Newfoundland and Labrador owned by Vale Newfoundland & Labrador Limited (“VNL”).  The royalty is owned by the Labrador Nickel Royalty Limited Partnership (“LNRLP”), in which the Company’s wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Canadian Minerals Partnership, is the general partner and 89.99% owner.  The remaining interests in LNRLP are

 

17



Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

owned by Altius Investments Ltd. (10%), a company unrelated to Royal Gold, and the Company’s wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Voisey’s Bay Holding Corporation (0.01%).

 

On October 16, 2009, LNRLP filed a claim in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador Trial Division against Vale Inco Limited, now known as Vale Canada Limited (“Vale Canada”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Vale Inco Atlantic Sales Limited and VNL, related to the calculation of the NSR on the sale of concentrates, including nickel concentrates, from the Voisey’s Bay mine to Vale Canada.  The claim asserts that Vale Canada is incorrectly calculating the NSR and requests an order in respect of the correct calculation of future payments.  The claim also requests specific damages for underpayment of past royalties to the date of the claim in an amount not less than $29 million, together with additional damages until the date of trial, interest, costs and other damages.  The litigation is in the discovery phase.

 

14.          RELATED PARTY

 

Crescent Valley Partners, L.P. (“CVP”) was formed as a limited partnership in April 1992.  It owns a 1.25% net value royalty on production of minerals from a portion of Cortez.  Denver Mining Finance Company, our wholly-owned subsidiary, is the general partner and holds a 2.0% interest in CVP.  In addition, Royal Gold holds a 29.6% limited partner interest in the partnership, while our Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of our Audit Committee and one other member of our board of directors hold an aggregate 35.56% limited partner interest.  The general partner performs administrative services for CVP in receiving and processing the royalty payments from the operator, including the disbursement of royalty payments and record keeping for in-kind distributions to the limited partners.

 

CVP receives its royalty from the Cortez Joint Venture in-kind.  The Company, as well as certain other limited partners, sell their pro-rata shares of such gold immediately and receive distributions in cash, while CVP holds gold for certain other limited partners.  Such gold inventories, which totaled 12,491 and 15,255 ounces of gold as of March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively, are held by a third party refinery in Utah for the account of the limited partners of CVP.  The inventories are carried at historical cost and are classified within Other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.  The carrying value of the gold in inventory was approximately $7.2 million and $8.1 million as of March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively, while the fair value of such ounces was approximately $20.8 million and $23.0 million as of March 31, 2012 and June 30 2011, respectively.  None of the gold currently held in inventory as of March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011, is attributed to Royal Gold, as the gold allocated to Royal Gold’s CVP partnership interest is typically sold within five days of receipt.

 

18



Table of Contents

 

ITEM 2.                                                MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

General

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to provide information to assist you in better understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations.  Royal Gold, Inc. (“Royal Gold”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), recommends that you read this MD&A in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 18, 2011 (the “Fiscal 2011 10-K”).

 

This MD&A contains forward-looking information.  You should review our important note about forward-looking statements following this MD&A.

 

We refer to “GSR,” “NSR,” and other types of royalty interests throughout this MD&A.  These terms are defined in our Fiscal 2011 10-K.

 

Overview

 

Royal Gold, together with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of acquiring and managing precious metals royalties and similar interests.  Royalties are passive (non-operating) interests in mining projects that provide the right to revenue or production from the project after deducting specified costs, if any, and we use the term “royalties” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to refer to royalties, gold or silver stream interests, and other similar interests.  We seek to acquire existing royalties or to finance projects that are in production or in development stage in exchange for royalties.  We are engaged in a continual review of opportunities to acquire existing royalties, to create new royalties through the financing of mine development or exploration, or to acquire companies that hold royalties. We currently, and generally at any time, have acquisition opportunities in various stages of active review, including, for example, our engagement of consultants and advisors to analyze particular opportunities, analysis of technical, financial and other confidential information, submission of indications of interest, participation in preliminary discussions and involvement as a bidder in competitive divestitures.

 

As of March 31, 2012, the Company owned royalties on 38 producing properties, 26 development stage properties and 127 exploration stage properties, of which the Company considers 39 to be evaluation stage projects.  The Company uses “evaluation stage” to describe exploration stage properties that contain mineralized material and on which operators are engaged in the search for reserves.  We do not conduct mining operations nor are we required to contribute to capital costs, exploration costs, environmental costs or other mining, processing or other operating costs on the properties in which we hold royalty interests.  During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we focused on the management of our existing royalty interests and the acquisition of royalty interests.

 

Our financial results are primarily tied to the price of gold and, to a lesser extent, the price of silver, copper and nickel, together with the amounts of production from our producing stage royalty interests.  The price of gold, silver, copper, nickel and other metals have fluctuated widely in recent years.  The marketability and the price of metals are influenced by numerous factors beyond the control of the Company and declines in the price of gold, silver, copper or nickel could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

For the three and nine months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, gold, silver, copper and nickel price averages and percentage of royalty revenues by metal were as follows:

 

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Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

March 31, 2011

 

March 31, 2012

 

March 31, 2011

 

Metal

 

Average
Price

 

Percentage
of Royalty
Revenue

 

Average
Price

 

Percentage
of Royalty
Revenue

 

Average
Price

 

Percentage
of Royalty
Revenue

 

Average
Price

 

Percentage
of Royalty
Revenue

 

Gold ($/ounce)

 

$

1,691

 

64%

 

$

1,386

 

61%

 

$

1,694

 

67%

 

$

1,325

 

66%

 

Silver ($/ounce)

 

$

32.63

 

8%

 

$

31.86

 

6%

 

$

34.47

 

7%

 

$

25.69

 

5%

 

Copper ($/pound)

 

$

3.77

 

8%

 

$

4.38

 

10%

 

$

3.75

 

11%

 

$

3.85

 

10%

 

Nickel ($/pound)

 

$

8.91

 

14%

 

$

12.20

 

17%

 

$

9.08

 

11%

 

$

10.83

 

13%

 

Other

 

N/A

 

6%

 

N/A

 

6%

 

N/A

 

4%

 

N/A

 

6%

 

 

Recent Developments

 

Common Stock Offering

 

In January 2012, we sold 4,000,000 shares of our common stock, at a price of $67.10 per share, resulting in proceeds of approximately $268.4 million.  Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as the sole underwriter for the offering.  In February 2012, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds to repay the outstanding amounts under its revolving credit facility (see Note 5 of our notes to consolidated financial statements).  The Company intends to use the remaining net proceeds of the offering to fund acquisitions of additional royalty interests and to fund near-term commitments resulting from the Milligan II Acquisition (see Note 2 of our notes to consolidated financial statements).

 

Principal Royalties

 

Our principal producing and development royalty interests are shown in the following tables (listed alphabetically).  The Company considers both historical and future potential revenues in determining which royalties in our portfolio are principal to our business.  Estimated future potential revenues from both producing and development properties are based on a number of factors, including reserves subject to our royalty interests, production estimates, feasibility studies, metal price assumptions, mine life, legal status and other factors and assumptions, any of which could change and could cause Royal Gold to conclude that one or more of such royalties is no longer principal to our business.

 

Please refer to our Fiscal 2011 10-K for further discussion of our principal producing and development royalty interests.

 

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Producing Royalties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty

Mine

 

Location

 

Operator

 

(Gold unless otherwise stated)

Andacollo(1)

 

Region IV, Chile

 

Compañía Minera Teck Carmen de Andacollo (“Teck”)

 

75% of gold produced (until 910,000 payable ounces; 50% thereafter)

Canadian Malartic

 

Quebec, Canada

 

Osisko Mining Corporation (“Osisko”)

 

1.0% to 1.5% sliding-scale NSR

Cortez

 

Nevada, USA

 

Barrick Gold Corporation (“Barrick”)

 

GSR1: 0.40% to 5.0% sliding-scale GSR

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSR2: 0.40% to 5.0% sliding-scale GSR

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSR3: 0.71% GSR

 

 

 

 

 

 

NVR1: 0.39% NVR

Dolores

 

Chihuahua, Mexico

 

Pan American Silver Corp. (“Pan American”)

 

3.25% NSR; 2.0% NSR (silver)

Holt

 

Ontario, Canada

 

St Andrew Goldfields Ltd. (“St Andrew”)

 

0.00013 x quarterly average gold price NSR

Las Cruces

 

Andalucía, Spain

 

Inmet Mining Corporation (“Inmet”)

 

1.5% NSR (copper)

Leeville

 

Nevada, USA

 

Newmont Mining Corporation (“Newmont”)

 

1.8% NSR

Mulatos(2)

 

Sonora, Mexico

 

Alamos Gold, Inc. (“Alamos”)

 

1.0% to 5.0% sliding-scale NSR

Peñasquito

 

Zacatecas, Mexico

 

Goldcorp Inc. (“Goldcorp”)

 

2.0% NSR (gold, silver, lead, zinc)

Robinson

 

Nevada, USA

 

KGHM International Ltd. (“KGHM”)

 

3.0% NSR (copper, gold, silver, molybdenum)

Voisey’s Bay

 

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

 

Vale Newfoundland & Labrador Limited (“Vale”)

 

2.7% NSR (nickel, copper, cobalt)

 


(1)             There have been approximately 86,000 cumulative payable ounces produced as of March 31, 2012.

 

(2)             The Mulatos royalty is capped at 2.0 million gold ounces of production.  Approximately 855,000 cumulative ounces of gold have been produced as of March 31, 2012.

 

Development Royalties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty or similar interests

Mine

 

Location

 

Operator

 

(Gold unless otherwise stated)

Mt. Milligan

 

British Columbia, Canada

 

Thompson Creek Metals Inc. (“Thompson Creek”)

 

40% of the payable gold

Pascua-Lama

 

Region III, Chile

 

Barrick

 

0.78% to 5.23% sliding-scale NSR; 1.05% fixed rate royalty (copper)

 

Operators’ Production Estimates by Royalty for Calendar 2012

 

We received annual production estimates from many of the operators of our producing mines during the first calendar quarter of 2012.  The following table shows such production estimates for our principal producing properties for calendar 2012 as well as the actual production reported to us by the various operators through March 31, 2012.  The estimates and production reports are prepared by the operators of the mining properties.  We do not participate in the preparation or calculation of the operators’ estimates or production reports and have not independently assessed or verified the accuracy of such information.  Please refer to “Recent Developments, Property Developments” below within this MD&A for further discussion on any updates at our cornerstone and principal producing or development properties.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Operators’ Production Estimate by Royalty for Calendar 2012 and Reported Production

Principal Producing Properties

For the period January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Reported Production through

 

 

 

Calendar 2012 Operator’s Production Estimate(1)

 

March 31, 2012(2)

 

 

 

Gold

 

Silver

 

Base Metals

 

Gold

 

Silver

 

Base Metals

 

Royalty

 

(oz.)

 

(oz.)

 

(lbs.)

 

(oz.)

 

(oz.)

 

(lbs.)

 

Andacollo

 

60,000

 

 

 

13,174

 

 

 

Canadian Malartic

 

565,000

 

 

 

90,845

 

 

 

Cortez GSR1

 

94,000

 

 

 

23,302

 

 

 

Cortez GSR2

 

12,000

 

 

 

60

 

 

 

Cortez GSR3

 

106,000

 

 

 

23,362

 

 

 

Cortez NVR1

 

83,000

 

 

 

16,695

 

 

 

Dolores

 

75,000-80,000

 

3.5-4.5 million

 

 

14,510

 

0.9 million

 

 

Holt

 

45,000-50,000

 

 

 

8,839

 

 

 

Las Cruces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

 

 

 

 

 

136.0-151.2 million

 

 

 

 

 

29.9 million

 

Leeville

 

254,000

 

 

 

64,291

 

 

 

Mulatos(3)

 

200,000-220,000

 

 

 

50,493

 

 

 

Peñasquito

 

425,000

 

26 million

 

 

87,517

 

6.6 million

 

 

Lead

 

 

 

 

 

180 million

 

 

 

 

 

52.4 million

 

Zinc

 

 

 

 

 

400 million

 

 

 

 

 

75.9 million

 

Robinson(4)

 

N/A

 

 

 

5,673

 

 

 

Copper

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

23.8 million

 

Voisey’s Bay(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

9.7 million

 

Nickel

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

50.9 million

 

 


(1)             There can be no assurance that production estimates received from our operators will be achieved.  Please refer to our cautionary language regarding forward-looking statements following this MD&A, as well as the Risk Factors identified in Part I, Item 1A, of our Fiscal 2011 10-K for information regarding factors that could affect actual results.

 

(2)             Reported production relates to the amount of metal sales, subject to our royalty interests, for the period January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012, as reported to us by the operators of the mines.

 

(3)    Reported production for the three months ended March 31, 2012, was estimated based on annual guidance provided by the operator.

 

(4)             The Company did not receive calendar 2012 production guidance from the operator.

 

Property Developments

 

The following information is provided by the operators of the property, either to Royal Gold or in various documents made publicly available.

 

Andacollo

 

At Andacollo, current throughput is averaging 45,000 tonnes per day.  Teck is in the process of installing a two-stage crushing circuit to increase throughput to 55,000 tonnes per day.  Further circuit configuration and economic evaluation for the expansion will be undertaken based on the performance of the new crushing circuit during the second and third quarters of calendar 2012.

 

Canadian Malartic

 

Osisko continues to advance the installation of two cone crushers to achieve mill throughput of 50,000 tonnes per day.  Osisko reported that construction and installation of the first crusher is complete and commissioning is underway.  The second cone crusher is expected to arrive on-site in June 2012.

 

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Cortez

 

Reported production at Cortez decreased during the period as Barrick continues to prioritize production from their higher grade Cortez Hills operations that is not covered by our royalty interest.  The Company expects production to remain at these lower levels until Barrick returns to steady state mining at the Pipeline Complex.

 

Dolores

 

On March 30, 2012, Pan American and Minefinders Corporation Ltd. (“Minefinders”) announced they completed the plan of arrangement whereby Pan American acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Minefinders and now operates the Dolores mine.  Pan American stated that they plan to stabilize mine production at Dolores and that further work is needed to define the optimum size and cost for the proposed high grade mill.

 

Holt

 

St Andrew reported that their first quarter calendar 2012 production was in-line with their expectations.  Development of the project has progressed to enable an average mine production rate of 1,000 tonnes per day in the second quarter of calendar 2012.  With the expected ramp-up, St Andrew is projecting higher levels of production in the latter half of calendar 2012.

 

Leeville

 

A portion of the mine production at Leeville was derived from an area outside of our royalty area of interest.  As a result, our royalty revenue decreased over the prior period.

 

Mt. Milligan

 

Thompson Creek reported that as of December 31, 2011, project construction is 33% complete and that overall engineering, procurement, construction and management progress is 53% complete.  Thompson Creek announced during the quarter that capital costs at Mt. Milligan may be 10% to 20% higher than the previous estimate and is currently estimating approximately C$1.4 to C$1.5 billion to construct and develop the project. They have stated that the project remains on schedule with production expected to begin in the fourth quarter of calendar 2013.

 

Mulatos

 

Alamos expects to produce 200,000 to 220,000 ounces of gold, representing an increase of approximately 37% over calendar 2011 production.  This increase is due to the addition of a gravity mill that was commissioned in March 2012, which Alamos expects will significantly add to production throughout the remainder of calendar 2012.

 

Pascua-Lama

 

Barrick reported that approximately 70% of the previously announced mine construction capital of $4.7 to $5.0 billion has been committed as of March 31, 2012.  Barrick also reiterated that they expect gold production to commence in mid-calendar 2013 with an expected annual production of 800,000 to 850,000 ounces in the first full five years of operation.  Barrick noted that the project was being impacted by increased labor and commodity cost pressures and that they intend to complete a detailed capital cost and schedule review during the second quarter of calendar 2012.

 

Peñasquito

 

Goldcorp reported that the high pressure grinding roll supplemental ore feed system was successfully commissioned, positioning the mine to achieve its design processing capacity.  With this increased

 

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throughput, Goldcorp expects to produce 425,000 ounces of gold in calendar 2012, an increase of 67% over the prior period, with associated increases in silver, lead and zinc.

 

Robinson

 

A subsidiary of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. completed the acquisition of Quadra FNX Mining during the quarter and now operates the Robinson mine.  KGHM is evaluating opportunities to increase production and extend the mine life at Robinson.

 

Voisey’s Bay

 

Reported nickel production at Voisey’s Bay increased during the period due to an increase in nickel concentrate shipments.  Variability in Vale’s shipping schedule will continue to be reflected in uneven metal sales quarter over quarter.

 

Results of Operations

 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2012, Compared to Quarter Ended March 31, 2011

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we recorded net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders of $26.0 million, or $0.44 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders of $19.6 million, or $0.36 per basic share and $0.35 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  The increase in our earnings per share was primarily attributable to an increase in royalty revenue, as discussed further below.  This increase was partially offset by an increase in depletion expense and income tax expense during the period, which are also discussed further below.

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we recognized total royalty revenue of $69.6 million, compared to royalty revenue of $55.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  Royalty revenue and the corresponding production, attributable to our royalty interests, for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2011 is as follows:

 

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Table of Contents

 

Royalty Revenue and Production Subject to Our Royalty Interests

Quarter Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(In thousands, except reported production ozs. and lbs.)

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

March 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty

 

Reported

 

Royalty

 

Reported

 

Royalty

 

Metal(s)

 

Revenue

 

Production(1)

 

Revenue

 

Production(1)

 

Andacollo

 

Gold

 

$

16,782

 

13,174

 

oz.

 

$

11,941

 

11,519

 

oz.

 

Voisey’s Bay

 

 

 

$

10,726

 

 

 

 

 

$

10,119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nickel

 

 

 

50.9 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

32.3 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

Copper

 

 

 

9.7 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

19.0 million

 

lbs.

 

Peñasquito

 

 

 

$

9,156

 

 

 

 

 

$

5,640

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold

 

 

 

87,517

 

oz.

 

 

 

51,460

 

oz.

 

 

 

Silver

 

 

 

6.6 million

 

oz.

 

 

 

4.1 million

 

oz.

 

 

 

Lead

 

 

 

52.4 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

31.4 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

Zinc

 

 

 

75.9 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

59.5 million

 

lbs.

 

Mulatos(2)

 

Gold

 

$

4,230

 

50,493

 

oz.

 

$

2,600

 

36,200

 

oz.

 

Holt

 

Gold

 

$

3,281

 

8,839

 

oz.

 

$

1,591

 

6,412

 

oz.

 

Robinson

 

 

 

$

2,607

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold

 

 

 

5,673

 

oz.

 

 

 

9,832

 

oz.

 

 

 

Copper

 

 

 

23.8 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

18.2 million

 

lbs.

 

Cortez

 

Gold

 

$

2,595

 

23,362

 

oz.

 

$

3,066

 

33,950

 

oz.

 

Canadian Malartic

 

Gold

 

$

2,352

 

90,845

 

oz.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

Leeville

 

Gold

 

$

1,956

 

64,291

 

oz.

 

$

3,464

 

139,214

 

oz.

 

Las Cruces

 

Copper

 

$

1,706

 

29.9 million

 

lbs.

 

$

1,362

 

21.3 million

 

lbs.

 

Dolores

 

 

 

$

1,352

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,365

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold

 

 

 

14,510

 

oz.

 

 

 

16,991

 

oz.

 

 

 

Silver

 

 

 

0.9 million

 

oz.

 

 

 

0.9 million

 

oz.

 

Other(3)

 

Various

 

$

12,895

 

N/A

 

 

 

$

11,556

 

N/A

 

 

 

Total Royalty Revenue

 

$

69,638

 

 

 

 

 

$

55,546

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)             Reported production relates to the amount of metal sales, subject to our royalty interests, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, as reported to us by the operators of the mines.

 

(2)             Reported production for the three months ended March 31,2012, was estimated based on annual guidance provided by the operator.

 

(3)             “Other” includes all of the Company’s non-principal producing royalties as of March 31, 2012.  Individually, no royalty included within the “Other” category contributed greater than 5% of our total royalty revenue for either period.

 

The increase in royalty revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared with the quarter ended March 31, 2011, resulted primarily from an increase in the average gold and silver prices, increased production at Andacollo, Voisey’s Bay (nickel) and Mulatos, the continued ramp-up at Peñasquito and Holt, and the start of production at Canadian Malartic.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in production at Leeville during the period.  Please refer to “Recent Developments, Property Developments” earlier within this MD&A for further discussion on recent developments regarding properties covered by certain of our royalty interests.

 

General and administrative expenses decreased to $4.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, from $5.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in non-cash compensation expense and a decrease in fees associated with tax consulting and tax preparation services during the period.

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased to $19.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, from $15.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  The increase was primarily attributable to increases in production at Andacollo and Voisey’s Bay, which resulted in additional depletion expense of approximately $2.0 million during the period.  The increase was also attributable to the new production

 

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from Holt and Canadian Malartic, which resulted in additional depletion expense of approximately $1.2 million during the period.

 

Interest and other expense decreased to $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, from $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in interest expense, which was associated with lower outstanding balances on the Company’s debt facilities during the period.

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we recognized income tax expense totaling $14.9 million compared with $10.3 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  This resulted in an effective tax rate of 35.6% in the current period, compared with 33.7% in the quarter ended March 31, 2011.   The increase in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is primarily related to (i) an increase in tax expense related to earnings from non-U.S. subsidiaries, and (ii) an increase in tax expense related to changes in estimates for uncertain tax positions.  The increase in tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is partially offset by a decrease in tax expense relating to a decrease in foreign currency exchange gains.

 

Nine Months Ended March 31, 2012, Compared to Nine Months Ended March 31, 2011

 

For the nine months ended March 31, 2012, we recorded net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders of $71.9 million, or $1.27 per basic share and $1.26 per diluted share, as compared to net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders of $49.7 million, or $0.90 per basic and diluted share, for the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  The increase in our earnings per share was primarily attributable to an increase in royalty revenue, as discussed further below.  This increase was partially offset by an increase in production taxes, depletion expense, income tax expense and the royalty restructuring charge during the period, each of which are discussed further below.

 

For the nine months ended March 31, 2012, we recognized total royalty revenue of $202.9 million, compared to total royalty revenue of $157.2 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  Royalty revenue and the corresponding production, attributable to our royalty interests, for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2011 is as follows:

 

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Table of Contents

 

Royalty Revenue and Production Subject to Our Royalty Interests

Nine Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(In thousands, except reported production ozs. and lbs.)

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

March 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty

 

Reported

 

Royalty

 

Reported

 

Royalty

 

Metal(s)

 

Revenue

 

Production(1)

 

Revenue

 

Production(1)

 

Andacollo

 

Gold

 

$

49,800

 

39,530

 

oz.

 

$

31,446

 

31,511

 

oz.

 

Voisey’s Bay

 

 

 

$

29,999

 

 

 

 

 

$

21,683

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nickel

 

 

 

101.0 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

72.9 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

Copper

 

 

 

104.3 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

62.5 million

 

lbs.

 

Peñasquito

 

 

 

$

21,289

 

 

 

 

 

$

14,495

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold

 

 

 

203,964

 

oz.

 

 

 

141,859

 

oz.

 

 

 

Silver

 

 

 

15.5 million

 

oz.

 

 

 

12.4 million

 

oz.

 

 

 

Lead

 

 

 

121.8 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

91.7 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

Zinc

 

 

 

221.8 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

156.6 million

 

lbs.

 

Holt

 

Gold

 

$

11,108

 

29,697

 

oz.

 

$

1,591

 

6,412

 

oz.

 

Cortez

 

Gold

 

$

10,358

 

89,827

 

oz.

 

$

13,192

 

156,529

 

oz.

 

Mulatos(2)

 

Gold

 

$

10,199

 

123,192

 

oz.

 

$

7,361

 

113,058

 

oz.

 

Robinson

 

 

 

$

8,240

 

 

 

 

 

$

9,431

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold

 

 

 

21,838

 

oz.

 

 

 

41,499

 

oz.

 

 

 

Copper

 

 

 

72.8 million

 

lbs.

 

 

 

71.4 million

 

lbs.

 

Leeville

 

Gold

 

$

8,127

 

268,477

 

oz.

 

$

8,687

 

368,046

 

oz.

 

Canadian Malartic

 

Gold

 

$

5,196

 

205,812

 

oz.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

Las Cruces

 

Copper

 

$

4,494

 

81.8 million

 

lbs.

 

$

3,228

 

55.5 million

 

lbs.

 

Dolores

 

 

 

$

4,447

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,636

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold

 

 

 

51,118

 

oz.

 

 

 

39,211

 

oz.

 

 

 

Silver

 

 

 

2.4 million

 

oz.

 

 

 

1.5 million

 

oz.

 

Other(3)

 

Various

 

$

39,687

 

N/A

 

 

 

$

43,449

 

N/A

 

 

 

Total Royalty Revenue

 

$

202,944

 

 

 

 

 

$

157,199

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)             Reported production relates to the amount of metal sales, subject to our royalty interests, for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, as reported to us by the operators of the mines.

 

(2)             Reported production for the three months ended March 31, 2012, was estimated based on annual guidance provided by the operator.

 

(3)             “Other” includes all of the Company’s non-principal producing royalties as of March 31, 2012.  Individually, no royalty included within the “Other” category contributed greater than 5% of our total royalty revenue for either period, with the exception of Taparko during the nine months ended March 31, 2011, which totaled royalty revenue of approximately $9.6 million.

 

The increase in royalty revenue for the nine months ended March 31, 2012, compared with the nine months ended March 31, 2011, resulted primarily from an increase in the average gold and silver prices, increased production at Andacollo, Voisey’s Bay, Mulatos, Las Cruces and Dolores, the continued ramp-up at Peñasquito and Holt, and the start of production at Canadian Malartic.  These increases were partially offset during the period due to decreases in production at Cortez and Robinson and lower revenue from Taparko, which was due to the dollar cap being met during the prior period.  Please refer to “Recent Developments, Property Developments” earlier within this MD&A for a further discussion on recent developments regarding properties covered by certain of our royalty interests.

 

Production taxes increased to $7.7 million for the nine month ended March 31, 2012, from $6.3 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  The increase was primarily due to an increase in the mining proceeds tax expense associated with our Voisey’s Bay royalty, which was due to increased royalty revenue from the Voisey’s Bay royalty during the period.

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased to $58.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2012, from $50.8 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in production at Andacollo and Voisey’s Bay, which resulted in

 

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additional depletion expense of approximately $7.9 million during the period.  The increase was also attributable to the start of production at Holt and Canadian Malartic, which resulted in additional depletion expense of approximately $3.5 million during the period.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in depletion at Taparko of approximately $4.3 million, which was due to the dollar cap being met during the prior period.

 

During the quarter ended September 30, 2011, the Company incurred a restructuring charge of approximately $1.3 million related to its royalty interest at Relief Canyon.  Refer to Note 8 of our notes to consolidated financial statements for further discussion on the restructuring charge.

 

Interest and other expense decreased to $4.9 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2012, from $6.1 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in interest expense, which was associated with lower outstanding balances on the Company’s debt facilities during the period.

 

During the nine months ended March 31, 2012, we recognized income tax expense totaling $41.3 million compared with $28.6 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  This resulted in an effective tax rate of 34.8% in the current period, compared with 34.7% during the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  The slight increase in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 is primarily related to an increase in tax expense related to earnings from non-U.S. subsidiaries that is almost fully offset by a decrease in tax expense relating to a decrease in foreign currency exchange gains.  For a complete discussion of the factors that influence our effective tax rate, refer to Note 13 to the notes to consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Fiscal 2011 10-K.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Overview

 

At March 31, 2012, we had current assets of $251.5 million compared to current liabilities of $31.2 million for a current ratio of approximately 8 to 1.  This compares to current assets of $169.3 million and current liabilities of $28.9 million at June 30, 2011, for a current ratio of approximately 6 to 1.

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, liquidity needs were met from $69.6 million in royalty revenues, our available cash resources, including proceeds of $268.4 million from our recent common stock offering, as discussed below.  As of March 31, 2012, the Company had $225 million available under its revolving credit facility.  In addition, as of March 31, 2012, the Company had no debt outstanding under its revolving credit facility and $114.4 million outstanding under its term loan facility.  Refer to Note 5 of our notes to consolidated financial statements for further discussion on our debt.

 

We believe that our current financial resources and funds generated from operations will be adequate to cover anticipated expenditures for debt service (current and long-term), general and administrative expense costs, exploration costs and capital expenditures for the foreseeable future.  Our current financial resources are also available to fund dividends and for royalty acquisitions, including the remaining commitments incurred in connection with the Mt. Milligan and Tulsequah Chief acquisitions, as discussed in Note 2 of our notes to consolidated financial statements.  Our long-term capital requirements are primarily affected by our ongoing acquisition activities.  The Company currently, and generally at any time, has acquisition opportunities in various stages of active review.  In the event of a substantial royalty or other acquisition, we would seek additional debt or equity financing opportunities as necessary.

 

Please refer to our risk factors included in Part 1, Item 1A of our Fiscal 2011 10-K for a discussion of certain risks that may impact the Company’s liquidity and capital resources.

 

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Summary of Cash Flows

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $122.9 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $102.3 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  The increase in net cash provided by operating activities is primarily due to (i) an increase in net income, which primarily was due to an increase in royalty revenue, and (ii) an increase in depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, each of which are discussed in further detail earlier within this MD&A.  These increases were offset by an increase in our royalty receivables, which is attributable to an increase in royalty revenue during the third quarter of fiscal year 2012 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2011.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $188.3 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $275.8 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  The decrease in cash used in investing activities is primarily due to a decrease in cash used for acquisitions of royalty interests in mineral properties compared to the same period of the prior year.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $134.6 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2012, compared to cash used in financing activities of $25.6 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2011.  The increase in net cash provided by financing activities is primarily due to the sale by the Company in January 2012 of 4,000,000 shares of its common stock, at a price of $67.10 per share, resulting in proceeds of approximately $268.4 million.  In December 2011, the Company borrowed $100 million under its revolving credit facility to help fund the Mt. Milligan II acquisition (see Note 2 of our notes to consolidated financial statements).  In February 2012, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds of the sale of its securities to repay the outstanding amounts under its revolving credit facility (see Note 5 of our notes to consolidated financial statements).  During the nine months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company made debt repayments of $211.7 and $23.0 million, respectively, and paid common stock dividends of $20.6 million and $16.0 million, respectively.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

Please refer to Note 1 of the notes to consolidated financial statements for a discussion on recently issued accounting standards.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Available-for-Sale-Securities

 

The Company’s policy for determining whether declines in fair value of available-for-sale securities are other than temporary includes a quarterly analysis of the investments and a review by management of all investments for which the cost exceeds the fair value.  Any temporary declines in fair value are recorded as a charge to other comprehensive income.  If such impairment is determined by the Company to be other than temporary, the investment’s cost basis is written down to fair value and recorded in net income during the period the Company determines such impairment to be other than temporary.  Based on the Company’s analysis of its investments and our ability and intent to hold these investments for a reasonable period of time, there were no write downs on our available-for-sale securities during the three or nine months ended March 31, 2012.  The most significant available-for-sale security is the investment in Seabridge Gold, Inc. (“Seabridge”) common stock, acquired in June 2011 and discussed in greater detail within our Fiscal 2011 10-K.  The Company will continue to evaluate this investment considering additional facts and circumstances as they arise, including, but not limited to, the progress of development of Seabridge’s Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell project.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

 

Cautionary “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed in this report are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projections or estimates contained herein.  Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding projected production estimates and estimates pertaining to timing and commencement of production from the operators of our royalty properties; the adequacy of financial resources and funds to cover anticipated expenditures for general and administrative expenses as well as costs associated with exploration and business development and capital expenditures, and our expectation that substantially all our revenues will be derived from royalty interests.  Words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “forecast,” “potential,” “intend,” “continue,” “project” and variations of these words, comparable words and similar expressions generally indicate forward-looking statements.  Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, among others:

 

·                  changes in gold and other metals prices on which our royalties are paid or prices associated with the primary metals mined at properties where we hold interests;

 

·                  the production at or performance of properties where we hold interests;

 

·                  decisions and activities of the operators of properties where we hold interests;

 

·                  the ability of operators to bring projects into production and operate in accordance with feasibility studies;

 

·                  liquidity or other problems our operators may encounter;

 

·                  unanticipated grade and geological, metallurgical, processing or other problems at the properties where we hold interests;

 

·                  mine operating and ore processing facility problems, pit wall or tailings dam failures, environmental matters, natural catastrophes such as floods or earthquakes and access to raw materials, water and power;

 

·                  changes in project parameters as plans of the operators of properties where we hold interests are refined;

 

·                  changes in estimates of reserves and mineralization by the operators of properties where we hold interests;

 

·                  contests to our royalties and title and other defects to the properties where we hold interests;

 

·                  economic and market conditions;

 

·                  future financial needs;

 

·                  federal, state and foreign legislation governing us or the operators of properties where we hold interests;

 

·                  the availability of royalties for acquisition or other acquisition opportunities and the availability of debt or equity financing necessary to complete such acquisitions;

 

·                  our ability to make accurate assumptions regarding the valuation, timing and amount of royalty payments when making acquisitions;

 

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·                  risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries, including application of foreign laws to contract and other disputes, environmental and permitting laws, community unrest and labor disputes, enforcement and uncertain political and economic environments;

 

·                  risks associated with issuances of additional common stock or incurrence of indebtedness in connection with acquisitions or otherwise;

 

·                  acquisition and maintenance of permits and authorizations, completion of construction and commencement and continuation of production at the properties where we hold interests;

 

·                  changes in management and key employees; and

 

·                  failure to complete future acquisitions;

 

as well as other factors described elsewhere in this report, our Fiscal 2011 10-K and our other reports filed with the SEC.  Most of these factors are beyond our ability to predict or control.  Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by or underlying the forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made.  We disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements made herein, except as required by law.  Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

 

ITEM 3.                                                QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Our earnings and cash flow are significantly impacted by changes in the market price of gold and, to a lesser extent, silver, copper, nickel and other metals.  Gold, silver, copper, nickel and other metal prices can fluctuate significantly and are affected by numerous factors, such as demand, production levels, economic policies of central banks, producer hedging, world political and economic events, and the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.  Please see “Volatility in gold, silver, copper, nickel and other metal prices may have an adverse impact on the value of our royalty interests and reduce our royalty revenues.  Certain of our royalty contracts have feature that may amplify the negative effects of a drop in commodity prices,” under Part I, Item 1A of our Fiscal 2011 10-K, for more information that can affect gold and other prices as well as historical gold, silver, nickel and copper prices.

 

During the nine month period ended March 31, 2012, we reported royalty revenues of $202.9 million, with an average gold price for the period of $1,694 per ounce, an average copper price of $3.75 per pound and an average nickel price of $9.08 per pound.  Approximately 67% of our total recognized revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 were attributable to gold sales from our gold producing royalty interests, as shown within the MD&A.  For the nine months ended March 31, 2012, if the price of gold had averaged 10% higher or lower per ounce, we would have recorded an increase or decrease in revenue of approximately $14.4 million and $14.2 million, respectively.

 

Approximately 11% of our total recognized revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 were attributable to copper sales from our copper producing royalty interests.  For the nine months ended March 31, 2012, if the price of copper had averaged 10% higher or lower per pound, we would have recorded an increase or decrease in revenues of approximately $2.7 million.

 

Approximately 11% of our total recognized revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 were attributable to nickel sales from our nickel producing royalty interests.  For the nine months ended March 31, 2012, if the price of nickel had averaged 10% higher or lower per pound, we would have recorded an increase or decrease in revenues of approximately $3.6 million.

 

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ITEM 4.                CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of March 31, 2012, the Company’s management, with the participation of the President and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).  Based on such evaluation, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2012, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Disclosure controls and procedures involve human diligence and compliance and are subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures.  As a result, a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs.  Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.

 

Changes in Internal Controls

 

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2012, that has materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.                                             OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.                                                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Voisey’s Bay

 

Refer to Note 13 of our notes to consolidated financial statements for a discussion on litigation associated with our Voisey’s royalty.  There was no material development to this litigation during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

ITEM 1A.                                       RISK FACTORS

 

Information regarding risk factors appears in Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations— Forward-Looking Statements,” and various risks faced by us are also discussed elsewhere in Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  In addition, risk factors are included in Part I, Item 1A of our Fiscal 2011 10-K.

 

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ITEM 2.                                                UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 3.                                                DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 4.                                                MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 5.                                                OTHER INFORMATION

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 6.                                                EXHIBITS

 

The exhibits to this report are listed in the Exhibit Index.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date:  May 3, 2012

 

 

By:

/s/ Tony Jensen

 

 

Tony Jensen

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date:  May 3, 2012

 

 

By:

/s/ Stefan Wenger

 

 

Stefan Wenger

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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Table of Contents

 

ROYAL GOLD, INC.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

101.INS*

 

XBRL Instance Document.

 

 

 

101.SCH*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

 

 

 

101.CAL*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

101.DEF*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

101.LAB*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

101.PRE*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 


*

Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

34