ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Aug. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aura Minerals Inc. (TSX:ORA) (B3: AURA33) (OTCQX:ORAAF) ("Aura" or the "Company") announces that it has filed its unaudited consolidated financial statements and management discussion and analysis (together, "Financial and Operational Results") for the period ended June 30, 2024 ("Q2 2024"). The full version of the Financial and Operational Results can be viewed on the Company's website at www.auraminerals.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise. Rodrigo Barbosa, President, and CEO of Aura, commented, "In Q2, Aura's EBITDA increased 6% from Q1, even with reduced production due to mine sequencing. With stable operations and rising gold and copper prices, our EBITDA hit US$109 million in H1 2024, a 111% increase from H1 2023 with an average gold price of only US$2,173/Oz. Our robust cash flows enabled us to distribute US$25 million in dividends and invest US$4 million in share buybacks, resulting in an 8.8% yield on LTM. Looking ahead to H2, we anticipate another robust production, and we are set to meet our yearly guidance. Moreover, the construction of project Borborema is on track and within budget, with a ramp-up planned for Q1 next year, promising further growth in production and results in 2025. All of this is achieved while maintaining the highest standards of management and safety." Q2 2024 Financial and Operational Highlights: (US$ thousand):                   For the three months ended June 30, 2024   For the three months ended June 30, 2023   For the six months ended June 30, 2024   For the six months ended June 30, 2023   Total Production1 (GEO) 64,327   48,522   132,514   102,890   Sales2 (GEO) 63,258   47,950   132,344   101,836   Net Revenue 134,411   84,950   266,489   181,937   Adjusted EBITDA 56,172   26,596   109,376   63,194   AISC per GEO sold 1,328   1,385   1,307   1,264   Ending Cash balance 191,963   217,938   191,963   217,938   Net Debt 142,409   (10,318)   142,409   (10,318)   (1) Considers capitalized production (2) Does not consider capitalized production   In Q2 2024, production reached 64,327 GEO, a notable increase of 33% in comparison to Q2 2023 at current prices. The increase was a result of improved performance in Minosa, which achieved stable production at approximately 19k GEO per quarter after 5 consecutive quarterly production increases as result of operational improvements in 2023. In the first semester of 2024, Aura`s total production was 132,513 GEO, 30% above H1 2023. Aranzazu: Production was 24,692 GEO, 4% lower than Q1 2024 and 1% below Q2 2023 at constant metal prices, and slightly below at current prices due to mine sequencing, reflecting stable performance. H1 2024 production was 50,295 GEO at constant prices, up 2% from H1 2023, but 49,693 GEO at current prices, down 4% from H1 2023. Apoena (EPP): Production was 9,912 GEO, a decrease of 18% compared to 1Q24, due to an increase in strip ratio (+35%) and a lower grade (-14%), but up 43% from Q2 2023 due to increased ore mining and higher grades, aligning with expectations for Q3 and Q4 2024. H1 2024 production was 22,017 GEO, up 12% from H1 2023. Minosa (San Andres): Production was 19,142 GEO, stable compared to the previous quarter and 17% higher than Q2 2023, driven by a higher volume of stacked ore from 2023 investments. H1 2024 production was 38,328 GEO, up 26% from H1 2023. Almas: Production reached 10,580 GEO, 11% lower than the previous quarter due to a change in the mine contractor during the period. The new contractor is already operating at the expected level, achieving 4,850 GEO in June, versus 2,220 GEO in May and 3,510 GEO in April, reinforcing the Company's confidence in meeting the 2024 production guidance. In H1 2024, production was 22,475 GEO, 26% above H2 2023, when the mine began operations. Sales volumes decreased by 8% from Q1 2024, mainly driven by the change in the contractor at Almas during Q2 2024, and mine sequencing at Apoena. Compared to the same period in 2023, sales volumes increased by 32%, mainly due to an increase in production at Minosa, commercial production at Almas in 2023 and increase in sales volumes at Apoena, partially offset by lower sales volumes at Aranzazu. In H1 2024, sales volume increased by 30%, mainly due to increase in production at Minosa and Apoena, and commercial production in Almas. Revenues reached $134,411 in Q2 2024, representing an increase of 2% compared to Q1 2024 and 58% compared to the same period in 2023. In H1 2024, revenues reached $266,489, a 46% increase in comparison to H1 2023. Average realized gold sale prices increased 11% compared to Q1 2024, with an average of $2,291/oz in the quarter. Compared to the same period in 2023, average gold sale prices increased 17% in Q2 2024. In H1 2024, average gold sale prices reached $2,173, a 13% increase when compared to H1 2023. Average realized copper sales prices increased 16% when compared to Q1 2024, with an average of $4.48/lb in the quarter. Compared to the same period in 2023, average copper prices increased by 17% in Q2 2024. In H1 2024, average copper prices reached $4.17/lb, a 5% increase when compared to H1 2023. Adjusted EBITDA1 reached $56,172 in Q2 2024, an improvement of 6% compared to $53,208 in Q1 2024, as a result of increases in gold and copper prices during the quarter when compared to Q1 2024. This is the result of Aura's sustained commitment to enhancing efficiency and reducing expenses throughout its operations. Compared to Q2 2023, Adjusted EBITDA showed an improvement of 111%, mainly due to higher gold and copper prices and higher sales volumes. In H1 2024, Adjusted EBITDA reached $109,376, a 73% increase when compared to H1 2023. AISC2 during Q2 2024 were $1,328/GEO, representing an increase of $41/GEO when compared to Q1 2024 ($1,287/GEO) mainly due to higher strip ratio and a quarterly decrease in ore grade in Apoena (EPP), impacting costs and productivity. These impacts were partially offset by a quarterly decrease in AISC at Aranzazu and Minosa. In H1 2024, AISCs were $1,307/GEO, a $44/GEO increase when compared to H1 2023 ($1,263/GEO). By the end of Q2 2024, the Company's Net Debt3 position was $142,409, an increase compared to $105,361 reported in the previous quarter, mainly due to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents, most of it related to the Borborema project construction which consumed US$ 14,641 in cash in the quarter and $25,400 payment in dividends in June. Guidance: The Company is on track to meet its guidance for the current fiscal year, including production, cash cost, All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC), and capital expenditures, as demonstrated by the results of the first semester. Gold equivalent thousand ounces ('000 GEO) production - 2024       Low - 2024 High - 2024 H1 2024 A %     Minosa (San Andrés) 60 75 38 51% - 64%     Apoena (EPP) 46 56 22 39% - 48%     Aranzazu 94 108 50 46% - 53%     Almas 45 53 22 43% - 50%     Total 244 292 133 45% - 54%                 Cash Cost per equivalent ounce of gold produced - 2024       Low - 2024 High - 2024 H1 2024 A %     Minosa (San Andrés) 1120 1288 1140 88% - 102%