General Moly Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

General Moly Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

LAKEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- General Moly, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE MKT:GMO) (TSX:GMO), a U.S.-based molybdenum mineral development, exploration and mining company, announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012. Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2012 was $2.0 million ($0.03 per share), compared to a loss of $2.9 million ($0.03 per share) for the year ago period. Net loss for the full year ended December 31, 2012 was $9.9 million ($0.11 per share), compared to a loss of $14.8 million ($0.16 per share) for the year ago period.

The Company's cash balance at December 31, 2012 was $68.3 million not including restricted cash compared to $22.4 million at September 30, 2012. During the fourth quarter, cash use of $22 million was the result of $18 million in Mt. Hope Project development, engineering and procurement costs and $4 million in General and Administrative expenses. This cash use was more than offset by the receipt of $104 million in contribution payments from POS-Minerals Corporation, a 20% joint venture partner on the Mt. Hope Project. The members of Eureka Moly, General Moly and POS-Minerals, agreed that $36 million of the contribution be held in a reserve account to maintain additional liquidity pending confirmation of a previously announced $665 million Chinese sourced Term Loan that is being negotiated with China Development Bank ("CDB").

Bruce D. Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of General Moly, said "We achieved a number of significant milestones in 2012, including receipt of all major federal and state operating permits for the Mt. Hope Project and the initiation of preliminary construction activities at the site. We also received more than $100 million in additional financing from POS-Minerals. Looking into 2013, we are moving aggressively to conclude our financing and start heavy construction at Mt. Hope in the spring. We will also push forward with feasibility work and permitting on Liberty, our second world-class molybdenum project, after Mt. Hope has commenced heavy construction."

MT. HOPE PROJECT PERMITTING UPDATE

As announced on October 12, 2012, the Mt. Hope Final Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register. The public review period for the Final EIS ended on November 13, 2012. On November 16, 2012 the U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a Record of Decision ("ROD") authorizing development of the Mt. Hope Project.

In addition to the ROD, three Nevada state-issued permits, the Air Quality Permit, the Reclamation Permit and the Water Pollution Control Permit were viewed as major environmental permits for the Mt. Hope Project. The Air Quality Permit was received on May 30, 2012, the Reclamation Permit was received on November 20, 2012 and the Water Pollution Control Permit was received on November 21, 2012.

Additionally, the State Archeologist at the Nevada State Office of the Bureau of Land Management issued an Archaeological Resource Protection Act Permit for the Mt. Hope Project treatment plan on November 29, 2012. On December 26, 2012, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada granted a permit to construct a 230 kV power line that interconnects with Nevada Energy's transmission system at the existing Machacek Substation located near the town of Eureka, NV and extend it approximately 25 miles to the planned Mt. Hope Substation.

MT. HOPE PROJECT FINANCING UPDATE

After the ROD and three major Nevada state-issued permits were received, POS-Minerals Corporation pursuant to the terms of the LLC agreement for the development and operation of the Mt. Hope Project funded its final $56 million initial contribution, plus 20% of all costs the Company has spent on the Mt. Hope Project to date for a combined total payment of approximately $104 million. Hereafter, the Mt. Hope Project will be funded 80% by the Company and 20% by POS-Minerals Corporation. The members of Eureka Moly, General Moly and POS-Minerals, agreed that $36 million of the contribution be held in a reserve account to maintain additional liquidity pending confirmation of a previously announced $665 million Chinese sourced Term Loan that is being negotiated with China Development Bank.

As previously announced, the Company and Hanlong (USA) Mining ("Hanlong") on October 26, 2012, signed a Subordinated Loan Agreement ("Sub Debt Facility") under which Hanlong agreed to provide up to $125 million subject to certain conditions to assist the Company in financing capital cost increases. The Sub Debt Facility supplements a previously announced $665 million Chinese sourced Term Loan that is being negotiated with China Development Bank. The Company had previously announced a letter of intent related to this facility with Hanlong on August 1, 2012. Under the Sub Debt Facility, Hanlong will lend in two tranches. Tranche A in the amount of $75 million will be available to the Company during the Mt. Hope Project's construction period. Tranche B, in the amount of $50 million, will be available during the six-month period following the commencement of commercial production. Tranche A of the Sub Debt Facility can be reduced to the extent equipment is leased for the Mt. Hope Project by Eureka Moly, LLC. Both tranches of the Sub Debt Facility will mature 5 years after the achievement of commercial production at the Mt. Hope Project and will have mandatory payments of 50% of the Company's semi-annual net free cash flow after debt service payments on the CDB term loan and any other Mt. Hope Project funding requirements. The Sub Debt Facility will be subordinated to the CDB term loan, with covenants to follow the Term Loan, and will bear interest at 6-month LIBOR plus 4%, with interest paid semi-annually.

MT. HOPE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Early construction activities are progressing as planned at the Mt. Hope Project site including cultural clearance, clearing and grubbing, wood harvesting, and the development of wells and water pipelines. Kautz Environmental Consultants has completed field mitigation activities for all 32 cultural sites identified in the Phase I Cultural Mitigation of the initial construction program. Official releases from the Bureau of Land Management and the State Historical Preservation Office have been obtained for 27 of the 32 cultural sites. Ames Construction mobilized in early January and has since cleared and grubbed approximately 1,000 acres in preparation for starting major earthworks. The mine, process plant, and tailings dam areas and associated roads have been substantially cleared. Ames has also commenced work on eight miles of water pipeline to supply construction water from the permitted well field to the plant site and will next establish site construction offices and communication systems. Additionally, TIC will soon begin the installation of seven miles of electrical power lines and will install the pumping stations to support the approximately 2,000 gallons per minute of construction water in preparation for heavy earthworks in the spring.

MT. HOPE PROJECT ENGINEERING AND EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT UPDATE

Engineering efforts, which were paused in March 2009, were restarted in 2012 by M3 Engineering & Technology. Through December 31, 2012, Eureka Moly LLC has made deposits of $69.7 million on equipment orders and has paid $12.0 million into an escrow arrangement for electricity transmission services.

The Company has now ordered or purchased most of the long-lead milling equipment, haul trucks, mine production drills, and has entered into a non-firm agreement for the purchase of electric shovels. While equipment procurement has restarted, firm orders for some loading equipment and other process equipment will be placed shortly after completion of project financing expected before mid year 2013.

MOLYBDENUM MARKET UPDATE

During 2012, molybdenum prices traded in a relatively narrow dollar range between $10.83 and $14.95 per pound, according to Ryan's Notes, a ferro-alloy industry news and pricing publication. Prices are currently trading at $11.25 per pound.

Additional information on the Company's fourth quarter 2012 results will be available in General Moly's 2012 Form 10-K, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and posted on the Company's website.