[Ferro-Alloys.com] Largo Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results; Highlights Recent Strength in the Vanadium Market and Progress on its Two-Pillar Strategy as a Tier 1 Vanadium Supplier and Emerging Clean Energy Battery Producer

Full Year 2022 Highlights

Revenues of $47.5 million in Q4 2022, 6% below Q4 2021; Revenues per pound sold1 of $7.77 in Q4 2022, largely in line with $7.88 recognized in Q4 2021

Operating costs of $44.5 million in Q4 2022 vs. $37.7 million in Q4 2021, and cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound1 of V2O5 equivalent sold of $5.15 in Q4 2022 vs. $3.68 in Q4 2021

Net loss of $15.6 million in Q4 2022 vs. net income of $1.0 million in Q4 2021; Basic loss per share of $0.24 in Q4 2022 vs. basic earnings per share of $0.01 in Q4 2021

In Q4 2022, the Company’s net loss included approximately $6.3 million of non-recurring expenditures

Revenues of $229.3 million in 2022, a 16% increase over 2021; Revenues per pound sold1 of $9.38 in 2022, a 19% increase over 2021

Operating costs of $169.7 million in 2022 vs. $133.0 million in 2021, and cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound1 of V2O5 equivalent sold of $4.57 in 2022 vs. $3.37 in 2021; 2% above upper range of revised 2022 guidance for cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound1

Net loss of $2.2 million in 2022 vs. net income of $22.6 million in 2021; Basic loss per share of $0.03 in 2022 vs. basic earnings per share of $0.35 in 2021

In 2022, the Company's net loss included approximately $15.0 million of non-recurring expenditures

V2O5 production of 2,004 tonnes in Q4 2022 vs. 2,003 tonnes in Q4 2021; Annual V2O5 production of 10,436 tonnes in 2022 vs. 10,319 tonnes in 2021 and 6% below lower range of revised production guidance

Quarterly sales of 2,772 tonnes of V2O5 equivalent (inclusive of 118 tonnes of purchased material) in Q4 2022 vs. 2,899 tonnes in Q4 2021; Annual V2O5 equivalent sales of 11,091 (inclusive of 1,057 tonnes of purchased material) tonnes in 2022 vs. 11,393 tonnes in 2021 and within revised sales guidance of 11,000 – 12,000 tonnes

Vanadium Price Update2

The average benchmark price per pound of V2O5 in Europe was $8.25 in Q4 2022, being largely in line with the average of $8.23 seen in Q3 2022 and $8.30 in Q4 2021; The average benchmark price as of March 3, 2023 was $10.78, a 44% increase from the lows of 2022

The average benchmark price per kg of ferrovanadium (“FeV”) in Europe was $33.35 in Q4 2022, a 3% decrease from the average of $32.29 seen in Q4 2021; The average FeV benchmark price as of March 3, 2023 was $40.88, a 30% increase from the lows of 2022

Largo Inc. today released financial and operating results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The Company reported annual vanadium pentoxide (“V2O5”) equivalent sales of 11,091 tonnes at a cash operating cost excluding royalties per pound1 sold of $4.58. Revenues in 2022 increased 16% over 2021 to $229.3 million mainly due to a strengthening of vanadium prices in the year. Daniel Tellechea, Interim CEO and Director of Largo, stated: “For Largo, 2022 was a challenging year, which led to an underperformance on both production and cost metrics, particularly in Q4 2023 with the mining disruption caused by record rainfall at our mine, cost inflation of key raw materials and sizeable non-recurring expenditures. Although we continue to navigate an inflationary environment, we anticipate delivering and capitalizing on a 10% increase in production for 2023 over 2022, particularly with the recent strengthening of vanadium prices.” He continued: “This recent increase is due in part to increased demand from the energy storage sector, especially in China, where new vanadium redox flow battery (“VRFB”) deployments totaling around 2 GWh or approximately 10% of global vanadium output are planned for the next 12-24 months.Importantly, the VRFB sector accounted for the second largest source of vanadium demand outside of the steel sector in Q3 2022, according to Vanitec, a global vanadium organization. Other key markets including steel, aerospace, and chemical have also shown considerable demand growth in recent months.”

He continued: “As for growth plans this year, Largo’s ilmenite project remains on track and is expected to generate a new source of revenue for the Company. We anticipate providing guidance on ilmenite production for 2023 once commissioning of the plant has been completed. We continue to make progress on the installation of our first VRFB in Spain and our negotiations toward the formation of a joint venture with Ansaldo Green Tech (“Ansaldo”) for the deployment of VRFBs in the Europe, Middle East and Africa power generation markets. Lastly, safety and sustainability remain key priorities for Largo and we are pleased to be recently ranked in the top quartile of our peer group as measured by certain ESG rating agencies for 2022.”

Q4 & Full Year 2022 Financial Results Overview

• During 2022, the Company recognized revenues of $229.3 million from sales of 11,091 tonnes of V₂O₅ equivalent (2021 – 11,393 tonnes). This represents a 16% increase in revenues over 2021 ($198.3 million) mainly due to higher vanadium prices in the year, particularly with revenues recognized in Q2 2022. During Q4 2022, the Company recognized revenues of $47.5 million (Q4 2021 – $50.3 million) from sales of 2,772 tonnes of V₂O₅ equivalent (Q4 2021 - 2,899 tonnes).
• Operating costs of $169.7 million in 2022 (2021 – $133.0 million) include direct mine and production costs of $94.5 million (2021 – $75.1 million), conversion costs of $8.1 million (2021 – $9.3 million), product acquisition costs of $24.4 million (2021 –$9.7 million), royalties of $10.4 million (2021 – $8.9 million), distribution costs of $9.2 million (2021 – $5.3 million), inventory write-down of $2.3 million (2021 – $3.2 million), depreciation and amortization of $20.9 million (2021 – $21.5 million) and iron ore costs of $1.0 million (2021 – $0.05 million), partially offset by insurance proceeds of $1.0 million (2021 – $nil).
• Operating costs of $44.5 million in Q4 2022 (Q4 2021 – $37.7) include direct mine and production costs of $28.4 million (Q4 2021 – $21.4 million), conversion costs of $2.2 million (Q4 2021 – $2.6 million), product acquisition costs of $3.8 million (Q4 2021 – $1.0 million), royalties of $2.1 million (Q4 2021 – $2.3 million), distribution costs of $2.3 million (Q4 2021 – $1.5 million), inventory write-down of $0.4 million (Q4 2021 – $3.2 million), depreciation and amortization of $6.0 million (Q4 2021 – $5.8 million) and iron ore costs of $0.02 million (Q4 2021 – $nil), partially offset by insurance proceeds of $1.0 million (Q4 2021 – $nil).
  • The increases in direct mine and production costs are attributable to a decrease in the global recovery⁵, cost increases in critical consumables, including heavy fuel oil ("HFO") and ammonium sulfate, as well as increased consumption of these critical consumables and sodium carbonate. Costs were further impacted by the Company's mining contractor transition in Q3 2022 and corrective maintenance in the plant throughout the year. Higher costs of production in the current and previous periods in the year related to shutdowns caused by abnormally high rainfall during Q4 2022, while corrective maintenance continued to impact operating costs as a result of the time between production and sales.
• Cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound¹ of V₂O₅ equivalent soldwere $4.57 in 2022, compared with $3.37 in 2021. Cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound¹ sold were $5.15 in Q4 2022, compared with $3.68 in Q4 2021. The increase seen in Q4 2022 and 2022 compared with Q4 2021 and 2021 is largely due to the impacts noted previously, in addition to produced V₂O₅ equivalent sold having decreased in 2022 as compared with 2021, with 10,034 tonnes sold versus 10,864 tonnes.
• Professional, consulting and management fees were $25.3 million in 2022, compared with $17.9 million in 2021. Professional, consulting and management fees were $5.7 million in Q4 2022, compared with $5.6 million in Q4 2021. For 2022, the increase is primarily attributable to costs incurred earlier in the year in connection with LCE, which was not fully operational earlier in 2021 and transaction and listing related costs incurred by Largo Physical Vanadium Corp. (“LPV”) in connection with the completion of its qualifying transaction.
• Other general and administrative expenses were $14.3 million in 2022, compared with $6.4 million in 2021. Other general and administrative expenses were $3.5 million in Q4 2022, compared with $2.3 million in Q4 2021. For 2022, the increase is primarily due to an increase in provisions as well as costs incurred in Q4 2022 in connection with LPV, and in Largo Clean Energy Corp. (“LCE”) which has scaled up activities throughout 2022. The increase in provisions relates to a supply agreement for the Maracás Menchen Mine which was filed with Brazilian courts in October 2014. The ruling requires the Company to pay amounts due, plus interest and legal fees.
• Technology start-up costs were $12.7 million in 2022 (2021 – $3.8 million) and $8.2 million in Q4 2022 (Q4 2021 – 3.1 million). This includes a full write-down of battery components inventory at LCE of $6.4 million (Q4 2022 and 2022) (Q4 2021 and 2021 – $nil) to their expected net realizable value. Technology start-up costs relate to LCE's activities related to ramping up its operations for the deployment of the VCHARGE VRFB system and the titanium project in Brazil.
• Finance costs in Q4 2022 increased from Q4 2021 by 118% (or $0.4 million), which is attributable to increased debt, as well as the initial financing fees on the Company's new debt facilities.
• For 2022, cash provided by financing activities increased from cash used in financing activities in 2021 by $33.3 million. The movement is primarily attributable to the receipt of debt of $55.0 million and cash received from the sale of non-controlling interest of $7.3 million (2021 - $nil), partially offset by the repayment of debt of $30.0 million (2021 - $24.8 million) and share repurchases of $6.0 million. Cash provided by financing activities in Q4 2022 increased from cash used in financing activities in Q4 2021 by $24.1 million. This movement was primarily due to the receipt of new debt of $40.0 million, partially offset by a repayment of debt of $15.0 million.
• Cash used in investing activities in Q4 2022 of $26.8 million is an increase of $19.8 million from the $7.0 million seen in Q4 2021. This movement was primarily driven by the purchase of vanadium assets and continued work on the ilmenite project. For 2022, the increase from 2021 was $32.7 million. Expenditures in 2022 primarily relate to the ilmenite project, mining equipment, costs relating to a software implementation and cash outflows for purchased product vanadium assets.

• [Editor:tianyawei]