FIRST PACIFIC COMPANY LIMITED

第一太平有限公司

(Incorporated with limited liability under the laws of Bermuda)

Press Release

Wednesday, 26 October 2016 Philex's 9M2016 core net income up 64%; Reported net income up 76% for the period

The attached press release was released today in Manila by Philex Mining Corporation ("Philex") (PSE: PX), in which First Pacific Group holds an economic interest of approximately 31.2%*.

Philex is a Philippine-listed company engaged in the exploration and mining of mineral resources and, through a listed investment PXP Energy Corporation (PSE: PXP), in oil and gas exploration.

Further information on Philex can be found at www.philexmining.com.ph

* Two Rivers Pacific Holdings Corporation, a Philippine affiliate of First Pacific, holds an additional 15.0% economic interest in Philex.

* * *

For further information, please contact:

John Ryan Tel: +852 2842 4355

Head of Investor Relations Mobile: +852 6336 1411 Executive Vice President

Group Corporate Communications

Sara Cheung Tel: +852 2842 4336 Vice President

Group Corporate Communications

October 26, 2016

PRESS RELEASE 9M2016 CORE NET INCOME UP 64%; REPORTED NET INCOME UP 76% FOR THE PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
  • 9M2016 CORE NET INCOME UP 64% TO P1.332 BILLION (9M2015: P811 MILLION)

  • REPORTED NET INCOME 76% HIGHER AT P1.333 BILLION (9M2015: P756 MILLION)

  • CONSOLIDATED REVENUES IMPROVED 7% TO P7.704 BILLION (9M2015: P7.173 BILLION)

  • CONSOLIDATED COSTS AND EXPENSES LOWER BY 5% TO P5.048 BILLION (9M2015: P5.339 BILLION) DESPITE THE 5% INCREASE IN TONNAGE

  • PARENT COMPANY DEBT REPAYMENT TOTALLED US$7.5 MILLION; TOTAL BANK DEBTS DOWN TO US$63 MILLION

Manila, Philippines - The Board of Directors of Philex Mining Corporation (PSE:PX) (the "Company" or "PX") today announced that operations in the first nine (9) months of 2016 yielded a Core Net Income of P1.332 billion, 64 percent higher than the previous year's P811 million. Similarly, Reported Net Income increased 76 percent to P1.333 billion (9M2015: P756 million) with Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Parent Company rising 59 percent to P1.355 billion (9M2015: P851 million).

Production

The 9M2016 performance was attributed to improved tonnage, complemented by higher copper output and favorable average gold prices.

Padcal mine operated for 271 days in the period (9M2015: 269 days) and milled 7.2 million tonnes of ore (9M2015: 6.9 million tonnes). The tonnage translated to 27.1 million pounds of copper produced, which was 6 percent more than the previous year's 25.7 million pounds as copper grades improved to 0.209% (9M2015: 0.205%) and offset the slight drop in recovery at 81.7 percent (9M2015: 82.5 percent).

Meanwhile, gold production reached 79,845 ounces (9M2015: 81,599 ounces) due to lower gold grades of 0.419 grams/tonne (g/t) (9M2015: 0.440 g/t) and metal recovery of 82.1 percent (9M2015:

83.6 percent).

The July 2016 tonnage of 861,000 was the highest year-to-date production and a record over the last five (5) years. In addition, gold production for July of 11,332 ounces was the highest since January 2011 while copper output of 3.53 million pounds was the most since May 2013. The strong performance was generally attributed to operational enhancements, higher equipment efficiency, and fully depreciated draw points still yielding good grades of copper and gold.

Revenues

Revenues for the first nine (9) months of 2016 increased 7 percent to P7.705 billion (9M2015: P7.173 billion), with gold contributing P4.797 billion (9M2015: 4.366 billion) and copper accounting for P2.841 billion (9M2015: P2.752 billion) - both higher than the previous year's levels by 10

percent and 3 percent, respectively. Revenues from silver amounted to P66.4 million (9M2015: P55.4 million).

The higher average realized prices for gold at US$1,273 per ounce (9M2015: US$1,171 per ounce) more than offset the lower gold output while the increase in copper output more than compensated for the 11 percent drop in average copper prices to US$2.19 per pound (9M2015: US$2.45 per pound).

Costs and Expenses

Despite the 5 percent increase in tonnage, the Company continued to proactively manage its costs and expenses, resulting in a 5 percent reduction in consolidated costs and expenses to P5.048 billion (9M2015: P5.339 billion), with general and administrative expenses (GAE) declining 17 percent to P282.3 million (9M2015: P341.3 million). From 2013-2015, GAE declined by an average of 26 percent annually as a result of the Company's relentless efforts to continuously enhance efficiencies and improve productivity through cost rationalization and spend management.

Meanwhile, the Company repaid a total of US$7.5 million in debt during the period, which brought total short-term debt to US$63.0 million (P3.055 billion) as of end-September 2016, from US$70.5 million (P3.317 billion) as of end-December 2015.

Outlook

Over and above its financial performance, the Company takes pride that its efforts over the last three (3) years to manage its costs and expenses by improving business processes through periodic operational reviews, policy changes and organizational streamlining have enhanced its Core Profitability and strengthened its Balance Sheet. The foregoing has allowed the Company to sustain its corporate social responsibility and environmental protection programs as well, even under difficult circumstances.

"Our corporate initiatives have provided us with an optimal organizational structure and operational framework that will allow us to sustain the long-term viability of operations and continuously and consistently perform our mandate as a responsible and conscientious mineral resource development company," said Eulalio B. Austin, Jr. President and CEO of Philex Mining Corporation.

"We are glad that the Government, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other bodies, has taken note of our efforts to practice and continuously undertake responsible mining during the recent audit conducted at our Padcal Mine. In addition, we also appreciate the business community's recognition of our strong governance practices by being chosen as one of the recipients of the first-ever Institutional Investors' Governance Award during the recently held Investor Forum sponsored by the Institute of Corporate Directors, the Fund Managers Association of the Philippines and the Trust Officers Association of the Philippines. We take all these as a source of encouragement and inspiration as we continue to move forward to promoting inclusive business," Austin added.

"On the Silangan Project, the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study's (DFS) third party review is on track and expected to be completed by early next year. An extensive review is being conducted to generate the best return from the project," Austin further said.

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For further information, please contact:

Danny Y. Yu Rolli S. Bondoy

Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations

631-1381 loc 8883 631-1381 loc 8885

dyyu@philexmining.com.ph rsbondoy@philexmining.com.ph

PHILEX MINING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 AND 2015

(Amounts in Peso Thousands, except Earnings Per Share)

REVENUE

2016 2015

Gold

4,797,124 4,366,199

Copper

2,841,185 2,751,563

Silver

66,390 55,422

7,704,699 7,173,184

Less: Smelting charges

677,874 626,760

COSTS AND EXPENSES

7,026,825 6,546,424

Mining and milling costs ( including depletion

and depreciation)

4,370,502 4,598,200

General and administrative expenses

282,266 341,292

Excise taxes & royalties

348,435 344,532

Handling, hauling and storage

46,442 54,494

5,047,645 5,338,518

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

1,979,180 1,207,906

OTHER INCOME(CHARGES)

Interest income

1,425 2,800

Foreign exchange losses - net

(60,830) (123,431)

Gain on disposal of AFS financial assets

- 107,088

Others - net

(37,019) 29,911

(96,424) 16,368

INCOME BEFORE PROVISIONS FOR IMPAIRMENT

Provisions for impairment on investment in an associate and deferred exploration costs

1,882,756 1,224,274

(920,577) -

INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAX

962,179 1,224,274

Provision for Income Tax

(570,694) (350,197)

391,485 874,077

Gain (Loss) of a deconsolidated subsidiary group - net

941,975 (118,047)

NET INCOME

1,333,460 756,030

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO:

Equity Holders of the Parent Company

1,355,119 851,324

Non-controlling interests

(21,659) (95,294)

1,333,460 756,030

CORE NET INCOME

1,331,765 811,470

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE

0.2743 0.1723

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

0.2743 0.1723

CORE NET INCOME PER SHARE

0.2696 0.1643

First Pacific Company Limited published this content on 26 October 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 26 October 2016 09:31:05 UTC.

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