TKO ANNOUNCES TK0 ANNOUNCES TKO |
Taseko Mines Limited
1020 - 800 W Pender St.
Vancouver BC
Canada V6C 2V6
Tel 604 684 - 6365
Fax 604 684 - 8092
Toll Free 1 800 667 - 2114
www.tasekomines.com
TASEKO WINS ARBITRATION AWARD
August
15, 2006 - Vancouver, BC - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO; AMEX:
TGB) is pleased to announce that its 100% controlled subsidiary Gibraltar
Mines Ltd. has been advised that it has won a previously disclosed binding
arbitration dispute with an international copper concentrate purchaser.
The result is, in effect, a determination that the purchaser has to date
improperly withheld approximately US$8.5 million in concentrate sales proceeds.
The withheld funds, together with interest, should be received in the near
future and will booked as income in the quarter in which they are received.
The disputed amount has had a significant impact on earnings over the past
number of quarters. In Taseko's third quarter results, released last
week, a total of C$3.8 million was withheld by the purchaser (effectively
adding US$0.21 per pound of copper sold to Gibraltar's Off Property
Costs) for an approximate C$0.02/share impact on net earnings. Future copper
concentrate sales under the contract, which is about 40% complete as to
quantities shipped, will also benefit from the decision in that Gibraltar's
future sales will not be subject to the disputed expense.
Taseko CEO Russ Hallbauer commented "Although we were confident in
our position, Taseko took a conservative approach and booked the disputed
amount as an expense. The reversal of this expense will now be recognized
as an addition to bottom line earnings and will help to demonstrate the
cash flow power of the Gibraltar mine."
For further details on Taseko and its properties, please visit the Company's
website at www.tasekomines.com or contact Investor Services at (604) 684-6365
or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.
Russell Hallbauer
President and CEO
The TSX Exchange and the American Stock Exchange have neither approved nor
disapproved of the contents of this press release.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that
are based on current expectations and which involve risks and uncertainties,
including those referred to in Taseko's Annual Information Form ("AIF")
filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, or Taseko's annual
Form on 20F ("20F") filed with United States securities regulatory
authorities, that could cause actual events or results to differ materially
from estimated or anticipated events or results reflected in the forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding
financial results and expectations for 2006 and include, among other things,
statements regarding targets, estimates and/or assumptions in respect of
copper production and/or copper prices, cash operating costs, expenditures
on property, plant and equipment, increases and decreases in production,
reserves and/or resources and anticipated grades and recovery rates and
are or may be based on assumptions and/or estimates related to future economic,
market and other conditions. Factors that could cause actual results, developments
or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, among others,
the factors described or referred to elsewhere herein and/or in the AIF
and 20F, and include unanticipated and/or unusual events. Many of such factors
are beyond Taseko's ability to control or predict. Actual results may
differ materially from those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to put
undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty
therein. Taseko disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or results or otherwise.
For further information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's
Canadian public filings at www.sedar.com or its US public filings at www.sec.gov.