TORONTO, ONTARIO, Nov 11 (MARKET WIRE) --
Pinetree Capital Ltd. ("Pinetree") (TSX: PNP) today announces its
unaudited financial results for the three and nine months ended September
30, 2009.
During the third quarter, Pinetree generated net income of $63.8 million,
as compared to a net loss of $210.9 million for the same quarter last
year. The net income was primarily from net investment gains of $69.5
million in the quarter, comprised mainly of $74.2 million in unrealized
gains on investments partially offset by realized losses on dispositions
of investments of $5.4 million. Earnings per share were $0.48, as
compared to loss per share of $1.63 in the three months ended September
30, 2008.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, Pinetree generated net
income of $137.1 million, as compared to a net loss of $262.5 million in
the same period last year. The net income in the nine month period was
primarily from net investment gains of $169.5 million, comprised mainly
of $201.2 million in unrealized gains on investments partially offset by
realized losses on dispositions of investments of $32.1 million. Earnings
per share were $1.04 in the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as
compared to a loss per share of $2.21 in the nine months ended September
30, 2008.
The composition of Pinetree's investment portfolio (accounted for at fair
value) by sector as at September 30, 2009, as compared to December 31,
2008, is outlined in the following table:
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September 30, 2009 December 31, 2008
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% of
Sector ($'000) Total ($'000) % of Total
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Resources:
Precious Metals 136,943 45.6 50,540 37.7
Uranium 50,126 16.6 26,953 20.1
Base Metals 48,663 16.1 26,688 20.0
Oil & Gas 22,391 7.4 10,066 7.5
Potash, Lithium and Rare Earths 25,522 8.5 3,658 2.7
Total Resources 283,645 94.2 117,905 88.0
Technology/Other 7,509 2.5 8,205 6.1
Biotechnology 4,851 1.6 5,493 4.1
Energy Related Technology 5,248 1.7 2,366 1.8
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As at September 30, 2009, total investments at fair value stood at
$301.3 million, as compared to $134.0 million as at December 31, 2008,
while the total number of investments decreased to 408 from 427 as at the
end of the last year. Three hundred and sixty-three of the investments or
88.9% (December 31, 2008 - 87.5%), were in the resource sector,
consistent with Pinetree's primary investment strategy.
Net asset value per share increased to $2.39 as at September 30, 2009,
from $1.33 as at December 31, 2008.
"The third quarter was a very strong one for Pinetree, continuing the
performance of our portfolio in the first half of our fiscal year, said
Sheldon Inwentash, Chairman and CEO of Pinetree. "The previous market
decline has provided us with many excellent investment opportunities, and
we are generally very excited about the medium and long term prospects
for the resource sectors in which we focus."
About Pinetree
Pinetree Capital Ltd. ("Pinetree") was incorporated under the laws of the
Province of Ontario and its shares are publicly-traded on the Toronto
Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the symbol "PNP". Pinetree is a diversified
investment and merchant banking firm focused on the small cap market.
Pinetree's investments are primarily in the resources sector: Uranium,
Oil & Gas, Precious Metals, Base Metals and Potash, Lithium and Rare
Earths. Pinetree's investment approach is to develop a macro view of a
sector, build a position consistent with the view by identifying
micro-cap opportunities within that sector, and devise an exit strategy
designed to maximize our relative return in light of changing
fundamentals and opportunities.
For more details about Pinetree and its investments, please visit our
website at www.pinetreecapital.com
Use of Non-GAAP Measures
"Net asset value per share" is a non-GAAP measure defined as
shareholders' equity divided by the total number of common shares of
Pinetree outstanding. The term net asset value per share does not have
any standardized meaning according to GAAP and therefore may not be
comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We believe
that the measure provides information useful to our shareholders in
understanding our performance, facilitates the comparison of the
quarterly and year-end results of our ongoing operations and provides a
meaningful measure to evaluate our business relative to that of our
peers.
Contacts:
Investor Relations: Pinetree Capital Ltd.
Larry Goldberg, C.A.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
416-941-9600
Email: ir@pinetreecapital.com
Website: www.pinetreecapital.com
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