Repayment and Amendment of Revolving Credit Facility
On April 1, 2021, Royal Gold repaid the then-remaining $150 million outstanding balance under the revolving credit facility, reducing the amount outstanding to $0 for the remainder of the fourth quarter.
On July 7, 2021, Royal Gold entered into a fourth amendment to the revolving credit facility dated as of June 2, 2017. The amendment extends the maturity date from June 3, 2024, to July 7, 2026, provides for the eventual replacement of LIBOR and makes certain changes to the lenders under the agreement.
In August 2021, the Company drew $100 million on the revolving credit facility for business development activities, leaving $900 million available under the credit facility.
Change to Fiscal Year End and Provision of Full Year Guidance
On August 9, 2021, the Royal Gold Board of Directors approved a change to Royal Gold’s fiscal year end from June 30 to December 31, effective as of December 31, 2021. To complete the change, Royal Gold will use a six-month transition period from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021. As part of this change, Royal Gold will hold its 2022 annual stockholders’ meeting on May 25, 2022.
Additionally, Royal Gold expects to issue one-year guidance for total GEO sales, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, and effective tax rate during the second calendar quarter of 2022. With this change, Royal Gold will no longer provide guidance for stream sales on a quarterly basis.
These changes are intended to more closely align Royal Gold’s reporting and disclosure with that of the majority of its counterparties and the precious metals sector, which will allow market participants to more closely evaluate and compare Royal Gold’s performance.
Fiscal 2021 Overview
For fiscal 2021, the Company recorded net income of $302.5 million, or $4.61 per basic share and $4.60 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $199.3 million, or $3.04 per basic share and $3.03 per diluted share, for fiscal 2020. The increase in earnings was primarily attributable to (i) an increase in revenue, (ii) a one-time gain attributable to the sale of the Peak Gold JV interest during the September 2020 quarter and (iii) various discrete income tax benefits recognized during the September 2020 and June 2021 quarters. These increases were partially offset by increases in the cost of sales and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, each discussed further below.
For fiscal 2021, the Company recognized total revenue of $615.9 million, which is comprised of stream revenue of $424.0 million and royalty revenue of $191.9 million, at an average gold price of $1,849 per ounce, an average silver price of $25.38 per ounce and an average copper price of $3.60 per pound, compared to total revenue of $498.8 million, which is comprised of stream revenue of $359.9 million and royalty revenue of $138.9 million, at an average gold price of $1,560 per ounce, an average silver price of $16.90 per ounce and an average copper price of $2.57 per pound, for fiscal 2020. The increase in total revenue for fiscal 2021 compared with fiscal 2020 resulted primarily from an increase in the average gold, silver and copper prices compared to the prior period and an increase in production within the royalty segment.
Cost of sales increased to $92.9 million for fiscal 2021 from $83.9 million for fiscal 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the gold, silver and copper prices and an increase in copper sales at Mount Milligan when compared to the prior period. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in gold sales at Mount Milligan and Andacollo when compared to the prior period. Cost of sales, which excludes depreciation, depletion and amortization, is specific to the Company’s stream agreements and is the result of the purchase of gold, silver and copper for a cash payment. The cash payment for gold from Mount Milligan is the lesser of $435 per ounce or the prevailing market price of gold when purchased, while the cash payment for all other streams is a set contractual percentage of the gold, silver or copper spot price, as applicable, near the date of metal delivery.
General and administrative costs decreased to $28.4 million for fiscal 2021 from $30.2 million for fiscal 2020. The decrease was primarily due to additional non-cash stock compensation expense of approximately $3.3 million recognized in the prior year period due to the accelerated vesting of certain equity awards in connection with the retirement of the Company’s former President and Chief Executive Officer and former Vice President and General Counsel in January 2020.
Exploration costs decreased to $0.6 million for fiscal 2021 from $5.2 million for fiscal 2020. Exploration costs were specific to the exploration and advancement of the Peak Gold JV. On September 30, 2020, the Company sold the Peak Gold JV interest for cash consideration of $61.3 million and certain incremental net smelter return royalties.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased to $183.6 million for fiscal 2021 from $175.4 million for fiscal 2020. The increase was primarily due to higher copper sales at Mount Milligan and an increase in depletion rates at Mount Milligan through the six months ended December 31, 2020, as previously discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2020. The increase in depreciation, depletion and amortization was offset by a decrease in gold sales at Mount Milligan and Andacollo.