Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Ramaco Resources Inc. Fourth Quarter 2019 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Later, we will conduct a question-and-answer session and instructions will follow at that time. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference call may be recorded. I would now like to turn the call over to your host Jeremy Sussman, Chief Financial Officer.

Thank you. On behalf of Ramaco Resources, I'd like to welcome all of you to our fourth quarter 2019 earnings conference call. With me this morning is Randy Atkins, our Executive Chairman; Mike Bauersachs, our President and CEO; and Chris Blanchard, our Chief Operating Officer. Before we start, I'd like to share our normal cautionary statement. Certain items discussed on today's call constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent Ramaco's expectations or beliefs concerning future events and it is possible that the results discussed will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks uncertainties and other factors many of which are outside of Ramaco's control which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and except as required by law, Ramaco does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time-to-time and it is not possible for Ramaco to predict all such factors. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements found in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission included in our Annual Report and Form 10-K. These risk factors and other factors noted in the company's SEC filings could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Lastly, I'd encourage everyone on this call to go on to our website, ramacoresources.com and download today's investor presentation under the Events Calendar. With that said, let me introduce our Executive Chairman, Randy Atkins.

Thank you, Jeremy. As always I want to thank everyone for joining us today to discuss our fourth quarter and 2019 year-end results. So, as not to bury the lede, we had a very good year in 2019. Indeed, it was our strongest year since we went public. We reached over $55 million in EBITDA on coal sales of roughly $230 million. We sold 1.9 million tons that were priced at an average of about $109 a ton. More importantly, we have equally maintained a strong cost discipline at our main operating asset at the Elk Creek complex which averaged annual mine cost of $67 per ton. And indeed over the last two months costs have been at $60 or below. We managed that performance bookended by physical headwinds in the early part of 2019 created by our 2018 silo failure at Elk Creek and ended 2020 [ph] in one of the more trying marketing environments the industry has faced in several years. The sales and marketing landscape as we speak is at best tenuous. We have seen some bounce back in benchmark pricing over the last few weeks with Australian low-vol prices bumping near $160, Atlantic seaborne high-vol prices, however, are still hovering in the $130 range. With most domestic business for 2020 already contracted, we look at the state of export steel markets around the world and see some cause for a modest medium-term optimism. But we think any real market resilience will probably be back-ended into the second half of 2020. At this point, we have placed roughly 1.5 million tons for 2020 with about 1.4 million tons of that sold domestically at around $93 a ton and about 100,000 of export tons priced at index. At the midpoint of our production guidance, that would put us…

Thank you, Randy. In terms of our fourth quarter financial highlights, you hit on a number of the key points, but I want to dig into the details a bit more. Fourth quarter 2019 adjusted EBITDA was $9.0 million, which was a 28% increase from the $7.0 million in the same period of last year. Fourth quarter 2019 adjusted EBITDA would have been $2.7 million higher were it not for some volume carrying over into the first part of 2020. Full year 2019 adjusted EBITDA was $55.4 million, which was 35% above that for 2018 and of course a new annual record for the company. Fourth quarter 2019 revenue was $46 million, which compared to $44 million in the same prior -- in the same period in the prior year. Full year 2019 revenue was $230 million, which compared to $228 million in 2018. Fourth quarter net income was $2 million versus $3 million in the same period of 2018. Fourth quarter earnings per share was $0.05 which compared to the prior year of $0.08. Lastly, full year 2019 diluted EPS was $0.61 versus $0.62 in 2018. In 2019, the company recorded income tax expense of $5 million for an effective annual tax rate of 17%. However, actual cash taxes paid in 2019 were less than $3,000 i.e. next to nothing. Ramaco expects to continue to pay minimal taxes for the foreseeable future though our effective tax rate is likely to remain in the 13% to 18% range. As of December 31, 2019, I would remind everyone that we have federal net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes totaling about $81 million. Fourth quarter 2019 price per ton on company produced coal was $104, which compared to the prior period in 2018 of $96. Full year 2019 price per…

Thank you, Jeremy. 2019 was truly a benchmark-type year for Ramaco Resources. This occurred despite some of the headwinds previously mentioned. Our 2019 performance demonstrates that Ramaco Resources has the ability to perform even better when we can run our operations without restrictions. As we sit here today, we can point to a number of game-changing events that have both happened and some that are close to completion in 2020. In each case, they have both near-term and strategic importance to the company. The first that, I will discuss is the execution of a coal lease, which we have referred to in public filings as the McDonald property. Ramaco Resources leased the McDonald tracts on January 3, 2020. The two newly leased tracts are immediately adjacent to our Elk Creek mining complex and were included in mine plans of existing and planned mines at the time of the company's public offering. After operating adjacent to these tracts for the past few years and being able to review additional geologic information. The company now projects to mine approximately 10 million McDonald tons in conjunction with our most recent long-term mine plans. Our recent SEC compliant reserve study of the McDonald tracts added over 21 million proven and probable reserves to our Elk Creek reserve base. These reserves occur in approximately 20 different coal seams. This is a traditional lease, and there was no additional consideration paid or liabilities assumed in conjunction with the lease. The lease property became available in 2019, after the former base lease was terminated. The prior lessee who controlled the property since 1978 did not produce commercial amounts of coal from the property during their possession of the lease. In fact, the last commercial mining on these tracts was in the 1960s. The configuration and location of…

Thanks, Mike. Before delving into some of the operational details and updates, I do want to commend and to recognize the employees of Ramaco for their commitment and performance in 2019 on both the human safety and environmental fronts. In fact, the fourth quarter of last year was the company's best quarter of what was by far our best year-to-date in these two arenas. At the end of each day providing a safe workplace for our miners and being good stewards in the communities in which we operate are the foundation upon which our production and cost profile can be built. It's truly a team effort and it is reflected throughout the organization at all levels. Shifting to an operations update, I'll start with our primary 2020 growth project which is the Berwind development. As we speak today, we have essentially reached the end of our mainline development at the Berwind mine in the thin Pocahontas Number 3 Seam. Midway through the fourth quarter of 2019, we extended our main line in the lower seam by approximately 1,500 feet, so that our interseam slope could be positioned to emerge in some of the most advantaged Pocahontas Number 4 Seam conditions above and with a slightly shorter slope development distance. Advanced mining in domains will be completed in early March with slope mobilization to commence immediately thereafter. I expect slope excavations to begin by the end of the month. Our slope project will be managed by third-party company who specializes in these projects with support from Ramaco mine personnel. We anticipate eight months of slope development work and we'll, of course, update this performance at our next quarterly call. While slope operations are underway, the Berwind mine will continue to produce low volatile coal to fill existing commitments and to fill…

[Operator Instructions] We have your first question comes from the line of Mark Levin from The Benchmark Company. Your line is now open.

Great. Thanks very much. First question has to do with cash costs. I think you referenced at Elk Creek you are around $60 the last couple of months. So I was just curious what's behind that? And how sustainable you think that is?

Mark, this is Chris. Primarily what's behind that is we have been running all of our underground mines that are fully -- full schedule of slated production days not being restricted by inventory levels at our mines, where we've had to limit production. It's more production across the same fixed cost bringing those costs down.

Got it. And then just as you kind of think about the pricing environment, I realize most of what you guys are selling is under domestic fixed-price contracts, but in terms of what you're actually seeing in the export market, can you talk about what kind of discounts you're seeing to U.S. index prices out in the market? How competitive it is? I know Asian prices have ramped. But I'm just curious what kind of discounting if there is in the -- amongst the sort of -- versus the U.S. indices?

I think Mark there are clearly customers overseas that are asking for discounts. They're bearing by quality grade. Obviously, different discounts requested for different types of coals. We have basically been looking at the export markets, but we haven't executed anything recently simply, because we're not prepared to put really what we have is we think higher quality blends into a market that really hasn't firmed yet. Our view on the market in general is, obviously, we're trying to get -- the market is trying to get sort of back on its knees a little bit and we expect that's going to take probably several months, but we think that probably by the second half of the year from a combination of strengthening steel utilization as well as hopefully perhaps some stimulus coming out of Asia from the Chinese that we look forward to sort of a second half, which will have perhaps pricing being closer to the benchmarks as opposed to discounts.

Yes. That makes a lot of sense. Yeah I'm sorry.

But Mark, I'd like to just add, I mean, yeah, indeed I think we've seen double-digit type discount asks. You can tell by our contracting position that we've been a bit resistant to that. I think it is a wait-and-see kind of thing, because volumes do need to move. We have more options and lots of competition. But hopefully, things will improve so.

That makes sense.

Okay. Yeah.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Let me ask you a little bit about the quarterly cadence of volume this year in terms of how to think about modeling the quarters? Maybe Jeremy can provide some color in terms of how to think about waiting each quarter as the year progresses?

Sure Mark. So what I would say is 2019 is probably not a good guide, because if you recall we had the silo issue in the first half of the year. And we -- in the second half of the year things picked up nicely in Q3 and then of course the market fell, so in Q4 that affected our production. I'd say the only real variability at this point that we see is we do have a bit more of a mix business than normal, which you would -- as you would expect would mean our Q1 volume will be a bit lighter than the rest of the year. So I'd say right now other than sort of your normal minor vacations typical seasonality that's really the only thing that we could -- that we would highlight as a modeling point for you.

The only thing I would add is we do like some of the permits that we've acquired at Knox Creek. And I think you could see us do something in the second half there that would add another 75,000 or so tons to our production. Just because the mid-wall quality is something that if we had we could move that at good numbers today so.

That makes sense. And then you referenced I think rail rates that your primary rail provider has been accommodative to some degree. Can you maybe talk about just directionally like what type of rates you were getting in 2019? And then what's kind of a reasonable expectation for 2020?

Yeah, rates have been volatile. What's been a pleasant surprise is that we do have -- we've been having good discussions. I mean, I think you could see rate fluctuations. So if you look at export business that could be $10 to $15 different in a bad market versus a good market. And that's a lot of variability. But when you look at the end pricing, participating together in that and trying to continue to build market is important, both to the railroads and to us. And so that's kind of the range that you're seeing depending on what type of business it is. So, for example, new business might have a better pricing than some of the existing business, but that's kind of the range of stuff that we've seen, Jeremy -- sorry, Mark.

On average who would you kind of build into your model? Like, if you're trying to arrive at a net back price for 2020, what do you think is a reasonable is it $25 is it $30?

It's been so -- in all of our discussions have been different, for example, on Asia, on Europe, on Brazil, pretty hard to pick one. I think, if we look at the year and look at recovery, I think, you picked something in the mid-to-high 20s, is the target and we go from -- we sort of go from there. So --

Okay. No, that's very helpful. And then last question for Jeremy and then I'll get out and let other people ask questions. Minimum liquidity like what's the bottom sort of liquidity number you're willing -- you guys are willing to run with?

I mean, Mark, I don't know if we have necessarily a number in mind. What I will say is, we're very comfortable with our liquidity, especially with a heavier mix of domestic, as opposed to export business than our customers -- excuse me, than our peer group, which generally has more favorable payment terms. I would just say, we feel confident in where we are and I don't want to necessarily put a number on it. But hopefully you can kind of see where we are with our guidance, where we are with CapEx and kind of back into a level that you think so. I'll leave it at that.

And, Mark, I'll add, I think I alluded to it in my remarks, that we've recently tweaked our revolver with our main lender, which is going to provide us a great deal of more liquidity through our revolver mechanism, by changing around some definitions and, obviously, some seasoning from our relationship with them. So to echo Jeremy, we're in a good spot.

Great. Super. Thanks guys.

Thanks, Mark

Next question comes from the line of Daniel Scott from Clarksons. Your line is now open.

Yes. Thanks guys. Mark asked almost every conceivable question. But you maybe could comment on your comment -- on your committed tonnage and pricing. You went from 1.3 million tons at $91 to 1.4 million tons at $93. That implies a pretty good uptick in pricing. Am I reading too much into that? Was it a pretty nice add to the contract to book this quarter?

Yes, it was. I think we would have probably rather added some more tons, maybe, even than some of the higher numbers, but it exhibits kind of what Randy alluded to, some higher quality coals that are available. And so, that's worked out well to change the book. That being said, we're continually focused on additional volumes. And we've allowed ourselves to remain opportunistic there. That being said, we still have coal to move. And a lot of our competitors still have a big chunk of coal to move, if you look at the numbers. But I like our cost structure compared with the other guys.

Yes. And I think, Dan, to echo again what we've said before, we've got a pretty good situation, because we've got a strong balance sheet, we've got a lot of liquidity. We're not going to try and chase deals down, when we think that there is a reasonable prospect that the market will improve. So we're, obviously, going to do everything we can to move tons as we feel appropriate, but we're not going to just chase tons for the sake of moving them.

Good. I wouldn't expect it too. And then, when I think about your cost guidance, it continues to be just for Elk Creek. As Berwind ramps up to full capacity, I guess, by the end of the year, will you transition that guidance into being something that's more of the whole portfolio?

Yes. As we get the mine into full production and out of development mode we will certainly transition the guidance that way as well.

Okay. And can you give us any feel on what that magnitude or what that range might look like, or is it too early to tell?

I mean, Dan, I don't think you're going to get enough production from the Pocahontas number 4 seam, where it's going to really meaningfully affect 2020. I think, as Randy alluded to in his comments, it's really -- Berwind's really more of a transition from 2020 into 2021. So that's really when you'll see the bigger change in guidance and would be reflected more in our 2021 numbers, than anything we really could do in 2020.

From an overall, just, perspective, we will begin to see clean ton per foot, which is the largest impactful thing in the Poca 4 looking more like our Elk Creek coal mines. The conditions in the mine will probably be a little bit more adverse from a methane standpoint and things. One of the other of course impactful things is, we do truck this coal on the road. And so, if you sort of look at the Elk Creek costs and add a little bit of it, then add maybe $15 I don't know personally you like $12, $15 it depends on recoveries of course, but it's still going to be a very competitive coal mine from a cost perspective.

Yes. Sort of an FOB underground mine produced price should match or possibly even be Elk Creek before the logistics -- the extra logistics that we have at Berwind compared to Elk Creek. So, we are really optimistic about it and looking forward to it and frankly, wish we would have more meaningful line this year as opposed to '21, but we're well on the way.

All right. Thanks for the color guys. Appreciate it.

Thanks, Dan.

Next question comes from the line of David Gagliano from BMO Capital Markets. Your line is now open.

Hi, thanks for taking my questions. Also, I'll try and keep it tight. I did just want to ask a question on slide 7. Obviously, we've got the 2020 numbers and the 2023 numbers. And I've asked this question previously, but if you can just give us a sense as to how you build that gap between 2020 and 2023 i.e. what should we be assuming for 2021 and 2022 volumes? Thanks.

So David, I think without going in through mine-by-mine and year-by-year, which is going to be more granular detail than we can roll here out on a call basically by '23 just to kind of get you comfortable with the end numbers here, we've got about 2.5 million tons from Elk; we've got about 750,000 tons out of Berwind; our Jawbone mine, which we anticipate putting in somewhere in that time period would be about 0.5 million tons; we've got our RAM Mine up in Pennsylvania, it's about another 0.5 million tons. And Mike has referenced that we've now brought on potentially -- probably add some tons around the Knox for about another 300,000 tons. And frankly, between now and '23, which is four years, the way we operate is we tend to hit a lot of singles and doubles. We don't try to hit as many grand slams and homers. And so therefore, count on probably incrementally being able to add around those numbers, several hundred thousand more tons that we will pick up, given the normal sort of development approach that we take to building our overall portfolio.

Okay. That's helpful. Thank you. I think for 2021 for example, Randy, so you gave me the 2.5 million at Elk Creek by 2023. We know in 2021 Berwind is going to 500 -- I think that was a number I heard on the call 500,000 tons roughly, we think for 2021, so 500,000 tons from Berwind. Is two million tons reasonable at Elk Creek? And is it reasonable to expect some production out of the RAM Mine in 2021 as well?

I think probably missing from your equation is, we're waiting on a permit from RAM, so I'm not going to count that right down until we've got it in the hand. But the Jawbone mine is certainly something that we've already done work on in '19, pretty significant work we practically right to the face. So, I think we would probably look at probably at least 0.25 million tons of more coming out of Jawbone by '21. I think the numbers at Elk will probably be closer to two million tons numbers at Berwind will probably be a little bit north of 500,000 tons maybe 600,000 tons as we ramp up to that 750,000 tons as a sort of normalized full production at Berwind. So, that gets you probably about two way, give or take for '21.

All right. Perfect. Thank you, very much. Very helpful. Thanks.

There are no further questions. I'll turn the call back over to the management.

All right. Well once again, we appreciate everybody being on the call this time. We look forward to catching up in another few months and hopefully we'll have a much stronger market we'll be talking about at that time. Take care and thanks very much.

Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's conference. Thank you for your participation and have a wonderful day. You may now disconnect.