Key Highlights
-
Revenue was $319.6 million in the second quarter 2012, a 13% decrease from the same period in 2011
-
EBITDA(1) was $23.6 million in the second quarter 2012, a 25% decrease from the same period in 2011
-
EPS on a fully diluted basis was ($0.10) in the second quarter 2012, a $0.22 decrease from $0.12 in same period in 2011
-
The Advanced Materials Division generated revenue of $211.7 million and EBITDA of $14.5 million in the second quarter 2012
-
The Engineering Systems Division generated revenue of $65.4 million and EBITDA of $3.7 million in the second quarter 2012
-
Graphit Kropfmühl generated revenue of $42.5 million and EBITDA of $5.4 million in the second quarter 2012
-
As of June 30, 2012, cash on the balance sheet was $93.6 million; net debt was $212.3 million
Amsterdam, 9 August 2012 (Regulated Information) — AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (« AMG », EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: « AMG ») reported second quarter 2012 revenue of $319.6 million, a 13% decrease from $368.3 million in the second quarter 2011.
EBITDA decreased 25% to $23.6 million in the second quarter 2012 from $31.4 million in the second quarter 2011. Net loss attributable to shareholders for the second quarter 2012 was $2.6 million, or ($0.10) per fully diluted share, down from a net profit attributable to shareholders of $3.4 million, or $0.12 per fully diluted share, in the second quarter 2011.
Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, « Demand and pricing for Advanced Materials products, particularly in critical materials for the aerospace and energy markets, remained stable in the second quarter. Delayed order intake and increased pricing pressure in the Engineering Systems Division resulted in lower profitability in the quarter. Unfavorable product mix in natural graphite and lower than expected silicon metal production marginally reduced Graphit Kropfmühl’s second quarter earnings. Following the completion of the squeeze out, AMG intends to fully integrate GK and address cost savings opportunities. Given the challenging markets, AMG’s number one priority is increasing its operational efficiency across all of AMG’s units, under the leadership of Eric Jackson, AMG’s recently appointed COO. »
(1) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization and excludes nonrecurring items
Key Figures
| In 000’s US Dollar | |||
| Q2’12 | Q2’11 | Change | |
| Revenue | $319,591 | $368,318 | (13%) |
| Gross profit | 53,996 | 68,993 | (22%) |
| Gross margin | 16.9% | 18.7% | |
| Operating profit | 7,827 | 22,787 | (66%) |
| Operating margin | 2.4% | 6.2% | |
| Net (loss) profit attributable to shareholders | (2,647) | 3,351 | N/A |
| EPS- Fully diluted | (0.10) | 0.12 | N/A |
| EBIT (1) | 16,603 | 24,592 | (32%) |
| EBITDA (2) | 23,639 | 31,447 | (25%) |
| EBITDA margin | 7.4% | 8.5% |
Note:
(1) EBIT is defined as earnings before interest, tax and excludes non-recurring items
(2) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization and excludes non-recurring items
Operational Review
Advanced Materials Division
| Q2’12 | Q2’11 | Change | |||
| Revenue | $211,656 | $235,580 | (10%) | ||
| Gross profit | 31,435 | 37,747 | (17%) | ||
| Operating profit | 9,725 | 12,865 | (24%) | ||
| EBITDA | 14,549 | 17,534 | (17%) | ||
| Capital expenditures | 6,225 | 6,194 | 1% | ||
The Advanced Materials Division’s second quarter 2012 revenue decreased $23.9 million, or 10%, to $211.7 million. The decrease in revenue was primarily the result of 18% and 16% decreases in aluminum products and antimony revenue, respectively, slightly offset by 12% and 10% increases in titanium master alloys and chrome products revenue, respectively, compared to the second quarter 2011.
The second quarter 2012 gross margin declined to 15% from 16% in the second quarter 2011. Higher operating and raw material costs, particularly in antimony and chrome products, more than offset higher gross margins in aluminum products, which were the result of operational improvements.
The second quarter 2012 EBITDA decreased $3.0 million to 7% of revenue, which was consistent with the 7% of revenue level achieved in the second quarter 2011. The EBITDA decrease was the result of the $6.3 million decrease in gross profit slightly offset by a $3.3 million, or 14% decrease in SG&A. The SG&A decline was the result of a reduction in personnel expenses, primarily long-term incentive costs.
Capital expenditures were $6.2 million for the second quarter 2012, essentially flat compared to the second quarter 2011. Significant growth capital investments made in the second quarter included a $1.4 million investment in the expansion of the spent catalyst recycling facility for ferrovanadium production, $1.3 million related to expansion of the Brazilian tantalum mine, and maintenance expenditures of $1.4 million.
Engineering Systems Division
| Q2’12 | Q2’11 | Change | |
| Revenue | $65,400 | $89,812 | (27%) |
| Gross profit | 14,929 | 22,661 | (34%) |
| Operating (loss) profit | (5,387) | 5,047 | N/A |
| EBITDA | 3,725 | 7,671 | (51%) |
| Capital expenditures | 2,911 | 2,984 | (2%) |
The Engineering Systems Division’s second quarter 2012 revenue decreased $24.4 million, or 27%, to $65.4 million. Revenue from Heat Treatment Services for the production of automotive components for fuel-efficient vehicles increased 16% to $12.5 million and revenue from heat treatment furnaces, primarily for the transportation industry, increased 3% to $18.0 million. These increases were more than offset by 71% and 38% decreases in solar silicon and sintering furnace revenue, respectively, compared to the second quarter 2011.
Order backlog decreased 15% to $150.0 million as of June 30, 2012, from $176.2 million as of March 31, 2012. The division generated order intake of $36.4 million in the second quarter 2012, which represents a 59% decrease compared to the second quarter 2011 and a 0.56x book to bill ratio. Order intake for heat treatment systems accounted for 29% of total order intake.
The second quarter 2012 gross margin of 23% decreased from 25% achieved in the second quarter 2011. Favorable product mix was more than offset by increased end market pricing pressure and a decline in the economies of scale, resulting in decreased gross margins.
The second quarter 2012 EBITDA decreased $3.9 million, to 6% of revenue. EBITDA declined from 9% of revenue in the second quarter 2011. The EBITDA decrease was the result of the $7.7 million decrease in gross profit slightly offset by a $3.2 million, or 19% decrease in SG&A. The SG&A decline was the result of a reduction in personnel costs, primarily long-term incentive costs.
Capital expenditures were $2.9 million, 2% less than the second quarter of 2011. Capital investments in the second quarter were primarily maintenance and expansion capital expenditures for the Heat Treatment Services business.
Graphit Kropfmühl
| Q2’12 | Q2’11 | Change | |
| Revenue | $42,535 | $42,926 | (1%) |
| Gross profit Operating profit |
7,632 3,489 |
8,585 4,875 |
(11%) (28%) |
| EBITDA | 5,365 | 6,242 | (14%) |
| Capital expenditures | 2,781 | 2,486 | 12% |
Graphit Kropfmühl’s second quarter 2012 revenue decreased $0.4 million, or 1%, to $42.5 million. Natural graphite revenue decreased $0.7 million, or 5%, primarily caused by a 6% decrease in average pricing. Silicon metal revenue increased $0.3 million, or 1%, as an unfavorable product mix offset a 7% increase in volumes.
The second quarter 2012 gross margin decreased to 18% from 20% in the second quarter of 2011. The decrease in gross margin was primarily the result of unfavorable product mix for silicon metal and natural graphite products.
The second quarter 2012 EBITDA declined $0.9 million to 13% of revenue. This was a decrease from 15% of revenue in the second quarter 2011. The lower EBITDA was attributable to the decreased gross profit for both silicon metal and natural graphite, slightly offset by a 7% decline in SG&A due to a decline in personnel costs.
Capital expenditures were $2.8 million in the second quarter 2012, 12% more than the second quarter 2011, primarily because of upgrading the electric arc furnaces and storage facilities at the silicon metal operation.
Financial Review
Tax
AMG recorded a tax expense of $5.5 million in the second quarter 2012 as compared to a tax expense of $7.8 million in the second quarter 2011. The second quarter 2012 effective tax rate was adversely impacted by the reversal of previously recognized deferred tax assets in several jurisdictions, including Brazil. In addition, a significant portion of the restructuring and asset impairment expense in the quarter relates to entities for which a tax benefit cannot be booked. For the first half of 2012 AMG’s effective tax rate is 103%. The expected full year effective tax rate is expected to be approximately 65% which is higher than the normalized statutory rate due to the items noted above.
SG&A
AMG’s second quarter 2012 SG&A expenses were $38.0 million, a 15% decrease from $44.8 million in the second quarter 2011. The $6.7 million decrease in SG&A expenses was due to a reduction in long-term incentive expenses and external consulting costs.
Non-Recurring Items
AMG’s second quarter 2012 operating profit of $7.8 million includes non-recurring items, which are not included in the calculation of EBITDA. These items are comprised of income and expense items that, in the view of management, do not arise in the normal course of business and items that, because of their nature and/or size, should be presented separately to enable more accurate analysis of the results. AMG incurred $8.4 million of non-recurring items in the second quarter 2012, consisting of $6.8 million write down and restructuring of AMG Idealcast assets, $0.6 million in environmental costs, $0.5 million restructuring charge related to the closure of a UK entity and $0.5 million management restructuring in the Advanced Materials Division. AMG incurred $2.3 million of non-recurring items in the second quarter 2011, related to the closure of Silmag joint venture.
Currency Fluctuations
AMG transacts business in many currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the Company’s reporting currency. AMG’s financial statements are prepared in U.S. dollars, so fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies have an effect both on the results of operations and on the reported value of assets and liabilities as measured in U.S. dollars. The appreciation in the value of the U.S. dollar as of June 30, 2012 compared to March 31, 2012, resulted in a decrease in the assets and liabilities on the balance sheet of $40.5 million and $29.3 million, respectively. The net result of the appreciation in the value of the U.S. dollar in the second quarter 2012 compared to the second quarter 2011, resulted in a decrease in revenue and EBITDA of $21.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively.
Liquidity
| June 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | Change | |
| Total debt | $305,906 | $268,621 | 14% |
| Cash & short-term investments | 93,624 | 79,571 | 18% |
| Net debt | 212,282 | 189,050 | 12% |
AMG had a net debt position of $212.3 million as of June 30, 2012. AMG’s net debt position increased $23.2 million since December 31, 2011 primarily due to $22.4 million increase in working capital, $23.4 million in capital investments, $9.3 million of cash tax payments, $9.0 million of cash interest payments and $6.6 million in Graphit Kropfmühl share purchases, reduced by EBITDA of $45.5 million. Including the $93.6 million of cash, AMG had $156.2 million of total liquidity as of June 30, 2012.
Cash Flow
| H1’12 | H1’11 | |
| Net cash flows from (used in) operations | $3,134 | $(12,080) |
| Capital expenditures | (23,443) | (19,913) |
| Acquisitions, net of cash | (1,920) | (26,816) |
| Cash flows from other investing activities | 534 | 2,844 |
| Net cash flows used in investing activities | (24,829) | (43,885) |
| Cash flows from financing activities | 36,091 | 23,899 |
Cash flows from operations were $3.1 million in the first half of 2012 compared to cash flows used in operations of $12.1 million in the first half of 2011. Cash flows from operations in the first half of 2012 are primarily the result of $45.5 million in EBITDA less $22.4 million increase in working capital, $9.3 million in cash tax payments and $9.0 million in cash interest payments.
Cash used in investing activities was $24.8 million in the first half of 2012. The $19.1 million decrease compared to the first half 2011 is composed of a $24.9 million decrease in cash used in acquisitions, slightly offset by a $3.5 million increase in capital investments and a $2.3 million increase in cash flows from other investing activities due to a decrease in restricted cash for project work in the Engineering Systems Division. In the first half of 2012, AMG acquired 5.5% of Graphit Kropfmühl’s outstanding common shares for $6.6 million, for which $1.9 million is shown as a cash flow used in investing activities while $4.7 million is shown as a cash flow used in financing activities.
Cash from financing activities was $36.1 million in the first half 2012, a $12.2 million increase from the first half 2011. This increase was primarily attributable to a net increase of $40.7 million in existing credit facilities, compared to $34.4 million in net draws in new and existing lines of credit offset by $10.5 million in transaction costs related to debt issuance in the first half of 2011. The increase in the credit facility during the first half of 2012 was used to fund the Brazilian mine expansion and the acquisition of Graphit Kropfmühl shares as well as to retire Graphit Kropfmühl’s external debt.
Outlook
The slowdown in Europe is impacting AMG. In the Advanced Materials Division, its European centric businesses, particularly antimony and other non-aerospace businesses, are being affected. The Engineering Systems Division is responding to the deterioration in demand for capital goods across most end markets through operational improvements. Higher input prices and moderating demand are affecting Graphit Kropfmühl’s ability to maintain current profitability levels. While AMG cannot affect the direction of the markets, it is addressing profitability issues through companywide improvement initiatives, specifically focused on AMG Mining and the Engineering Systems Division to reduce costs. AMG is also working to improve cash flow and reduce indebtedness through working capital and capital expenditure reductions. Despite these changes, achieving the prior year’s revenue and earnings levels will be difficult, as the growth previously anticipated in the second half of 2012 is not expected to materialize.
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed interim consolidated income statement
| For the three months ended June 30 | |||||||
| In thousands of US Dollars | 2012 | 2011 | |||||
| Unaudited | Unaudited | ||||||
| Continuing operations | |||||||
| Revenue | 319,591 | 368,318 | |||||
| Cost of sales | 265,595 | 299,325 | |||||
| Gross profit | 53,996 | 68,993 | |||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 38,022 | 44,765 | |||||
| Restructuring and asset impairment expense | 7,821 | 2,174 | |||||
| Environmental expense | 560 | 141 | |||||
| Other income, net | (234) | (874) | |||||
| Operating profit | 7,827 | 22,787 | |||||
| Finance expense | 6,250 | 8,915 | |||||
| Finance income | (457) | (1,158) | |||||
| Foreign exchange loss | 100 | 1,302 | |||||
| Net finance costs | 5,893 | 9,059 | |||||
| Share of profit (loss) of associates | 83 | (1,694) | |||||
| Profit before income tax | 2,017 | 12,034 | |||||
| Income tax expense | 5,452 | 7,828 | |||||
| (Loss) profit for the period | (3,435) | 4,206 | |||||
| Attributable to: | |||||||
| Shareholders of the Company | (2,647) | 3,351 | |||||
| Non-controlling interests | (788) | 855 | |||||
| (3,435) | 4,206 | ||||||
| (Loss) earnings per share | |||||||
| Basic earnings per share | (0.10) | 0.12 | |||||
| Diluted earnings per share | (0.10) | 0.12 | |||||
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed interim consolidated income statement
| For the six months ended June 30 | |||||||
| In thousands of US Dollars | 2012 | 2011 | |||||
| Unaudited | Unaudited | ||||||
| Continuing operations | |||||||
| Revenue | 643,575 | 686,317 | |||||
| Cost of sales | 536,168 | 557,544 | |||||
| Gross profit | 107,407 | 128,773 | |||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 77,096 | 87,702 | |||||
| Restructuring and asset impairment expense | 10,664 | 2,459 | |||||
| Environmental expense | 1,288 | 246 | |||||
| Other income, net | (702) | (1,827) | |||||
| Operating profit | 19,061 | 40,193 | |||||
| Finance expense | 12,941 | 10,920 | |||||
| Finance income | (612) | (2,658) | |||||
| Foreign exchange loss | 509 | 1,285 | |||||
| Net finance costs | 12,838 | 9,547 | |||||
| Share of profit (loss) of associates | 249 | (6,071) | |||||
| Profit before income tax | 6,472 | 24,575 | |||||
| Income tax expense | 6,696 | 12,792 | |||||
| (Loss) profit for the period | (224) | 11,783 | |||||
| Attributable to: | |||||||
| Shareholders of the Company | 856 | 10,323 | |||||
| Non-controlling interests | (1,080) | 1,460 | |||||
| (224) | 11,783 | ||||||
| Earnings per share | |||||||
| Basic earnings per share | 0.03 | 0.37 | |||||
| Diluted earnings per share | 0.03 | 0.37 | |||||
| AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. | ||||||||||
| Condensed interim consolidated statement of financial position In thousands of US Dollars |
||||||||||
| June 30, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||||
| Unaudited | Audited | |||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | 261,427 | 263,586 | ||||||||
| Goodwill | 22,750 | 23,535 | ||||||||
| Intangible assets | 14,666 | 14,557 | ||||||||
| Investments in associates and joint ventures | 5,188 | 5,085 | ||||||||
| Derivative financial instruments | – | 1 | ||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | 22,781 | 29,142 | ||||||||
| Restricted cash | 10,692 | 11,074 | ||||||||
| Notes receivable | 264 | 250 | ||||||||
| Other assets | 18,250 | 17,866 | ||||||||
| Total non-current assets | 356,018 | 365,096 | ||||||||
| Inventories | 223,665 | 228,887 | ||||||||
| Trade and other receivables | 201,092 | 188,103 | ||||||||
| Derivative financial instruments | 3,573 | 3,956 | ||||||||
| Other assets | 43,286 | 35,184 | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 93,624 | 79,571 | ||||||||
| Total current assets | 565,240 | 535,701 | ||||||||
| Total assets | 921,258 | 900,797 | ||||||||
| AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. | |||
| Condensed interim consolidated statement of financial position (continued) In thousands of US Dollars |
|||
| June 30, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
||||
| Unaudited | Audited | ||||
| Equity | |||||
| Issued capital | 742 | 742 | |||
| Share premium | 377,245 | 381,921 | |||
| Other reserves | 10,311 | 14,157 | |||
| Retained earnings (deficit) | (190,506) | (191,362) | |||
| Equity attributable to shareholders of the Company | 197,792 | 205,458 | |||
| Non-controlling interests | 11,411 | 15,160 | |||
| Total equity | 209,203 | 220,618 | |||
| Liabilities | |||||
| Loans and borrowings | 259,462 | 210,448 | |||
| Employee benefits | 88,360 | 90,078 | |||
| Provisions | 27,304 | 27,019 | |||
| Government grants | 479 | 732 | |||
| Other liabilities | 8,545 | 9,276 | |||
| Derivative financial instruments | 9,821 | 8,122 | |||
| Deferred tax liabilities | 27,424 | 26,434 | |||
| Total non-current liabilities | 421,395 | 372,109 | |||
| Loans and borrowings | 14,144 | 17,436 | |||
| Short term bank debt | 32,300 | 40,737 | |||
| Government grants | 53 | 34 | |||
| Other liabilities | 48,873 | 51,673 | |||
| Trade and other payables | 136,084 | 128,493 | |||
| Derivative financial instruments | 8,208 | 10,661 | |||
| Advance payments | 32,110 | 30,204 | |||
| Current taxes payable | 5,443 | 14,468 | |||
| Provisions | 13,445 | 14,364 | |||
| Total current liabilities | 290,660 | 308,070 | |||
| Total liabilities | 712,055 | 680,179 | |||
| Total equity and liabilities | 921,258 | 900,797 | |||
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed interim consolidated statement of cash flows
| For the six months ended June 30 | |||||
| In thousands of US Dollars | 2012 | 2011 | |||
| Unaudited | Unaudited | ||||
| Cash flows from (used in) operating activities | |||||
| (Loss) profit for the period | (224) | 11,783 | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile (loss) profit to net cash flows: | |||||
| Non-cash: | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 14,152 | 14,169 | |||
| Restructuring expense | 4,331 | 2,459 | |||
| Asset impairment expense | 6,333 | – | |||
| Environmental expense | 1,288 | 246 | |||
| Net finance costs | 12,838 | 9,547 | |||
| Share of (profit) loss of associates | (249) | 6,071 | |||
| Equity-settled share-based payment transactions | 856 | 1,833 | |||
| Income tax expense | 6,696 | 12,792 | |||
| Change in working capital and provisions | (22,413) | (46,736) | |||
| Other | (2,113) | 2,528 | |||
| Finance costs paid, net | (9,017) | (5,136) | |||
| Income tax paid, net | (9,344) | (21,636) | |||
| Net cash flows from (used in) operating activities | 3,134 | (12,080) | |||
| Cash flows used in investing activities | |||||
| Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment | 147 | 49 | |||
| Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangibles | (23,443) | (19,913) | |||
| Acquisition of non-controlling interests and subsidiaries (net of cash acquired of nil and $690, respectively) | (1,920) | (26,816) | |||
| Change in restricted cash | 388 | 1,839 | |||
| Other | (1) | 956 | |||
| Net cash flows used in investing activities | (24,829) | (43,885) | |||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||
| Proceeds from the issuance of debt | 59,981 | 221,626 | |||
| Payment of transaction costs related to debt issuance | – | (10,457) | |||
| Repayment of borrowings | (19,248) | (187,276) | |||
| Premium paid for non-controlling interests | (4,673) | – | |||
| Other | 31 | 6 | |||
| Net cash flows from financing activities | 36,091 | 23,899 | |||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 14,396 | (32,066) | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 | 79,571 | 89,311 | |||
| Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash | (343) | 3,891 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents at June 30 | 93,624 | 61,136 | |||
About AMG
AMG creates and applies innovative metallurgical solutions to the global trend of sustainable development of natural resources and CO2 reduction. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metal products and advanced vacuum furnace systems for the Energy, Aerospace, Infrastructure and Specialty Metals and Chemicals end markets. AMG consists of two operating divisions, Advanced Materials and Engineering Systems, and owns interests in publicly-listed companies Graphit Kropfmühl AG (Deutsche Börse: GKR.DE) and Timminco Limited (TSX: « TIM »).
The Advanced Materials Division develops and produces specialty metals, alloys and high performance materials. AMG is a significant producer of specialty metals, such as ferrovanadium, ferronickel-molybdenum, aluminum master alloys and additives, chromium metal and ferrotitanium, for Energy, Aerospace, Infrastructure and Specialty Metal and Chemicals applications. Other key products include specialty alloys for titanium and superalloys, coating materials, tantalum and niobium oxides, vanadium chemicals and antimony trioxide.
The Engineering Systems Division designs, engineers and produces advanced vacuum furnace systems and operates vacuum heat treatment facilities, primarily for the Aerospace and Energy (including solar and nuclear) industries. Furnace systems produced by AMG include vacuum remelting, solar silicon melting and crystallization, vacuum induction melting, vacuum heat treatment and high pressure gas quenching, turbine blade coating and sintering. AMG also provides vacuum case-hardening heat treatment services on a tolling basis.
Graphit Kropfmühl AG is a majority controlled, publicly listed subsidiary of AMG. Based on its secure raw material sources in Africa, Asia and Europe, Graphit Kropfmühl is a specialist in the production of silicon metal and the extraction, processing and refining of natural crystalline graphite for a wide range of energy saving industrial applications.
Timminco Limited is a publicly listed affiliate of AMG. Timminco produces silicon metal for the chemical, aluminum, electronic and solar industries. Timminco also produces solar grade silicon, using its proprietary technology for purifying silicon metal, for the solar energy industry.
With over 3,000 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Czech Republic, United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Poland, India and Sri Lanka and also has sales and customer service offices in Belgium, Russia and Japan (www.amg-nv.com).
For further information please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. +1 610 975 4901
Jonathan Costello
Vice President of Corporate Communications
jcostello@amg-nv.com
Disclaimer
Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are « forward looking. » Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words « expects, » « believes, » « anticipates, » « plans, » « may, » « will, » « should, » and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward looking statements will not be achieved. These forward looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward looking statement is based.