Wesdome Announces 2020 Third Quarter Financial Results

TORONTO, Nov. 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX: WDO) (“Wesdome” or the “Company”) today announces third quarter (“Q3 2020”) financial results. All figures are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Mr. Duncan Middlemiss, President and CEO commented, “During Q3, Wesdome generated operating cash flow of $25.5 million or $0.18 per share and free cash flow of $3.2 million, (net of an investment of $13.9 million in Kiena), or $0.02 per share, ending the quarter with a cash position of $73.5 million (Q2 2020: $66.7 million). Cash costs for the quarter were $1,052 per ounce (US: $790) and All-in sustaining costs were $1,395 per ounce (US $1,047). Both of these unit costs are currently above the high end of our full year guidance, however we believe the AISC will decrease to the upper end of full year guidance ($1350/ounce). Free cash flow was impacted by investments in the tailings, hoist and ventilation upgrades at Eagle River. A total of $2.8 million was spent on these projects during the quarter in order to advance future underground production to over 600 tonnes per day. In particular the hoist upgrade was longer in duration than originally planned thereby causing significant hoisting delays within the quarter. The upgraded hoist has since been successfully commissioned and is performing well. The ventilation upgrade construction work will continue into Q4 with the installation of a second fresh air fan on surface that will provide additional haulage capacity underground. The fan will be commissioned early in Q1 2021. During Q3 the company was able to significantly invest in Eagle upgrades and the advancement of Kiena, compared to Q2 which was much more affected by the pandemic.

With YTD 2020 total gold production of 70,272 ounces at an average grade of 15.1 grams per tonne (“g/t Au”) at the Eagle River Underground Mine, the Company is well-positioned to achieve its full year guidance range of 90,000 – 100,000 ounces at an average grade of 15 – 16.7 g/t Au.

At Kiena, full drilling and development capacity resumed in June. We are now currently operating seven underground drills, with the focus on converting inferred resources to the indicated category. We expect to publish an updated resource estimate in Q4 2020. We are also advancing development on the 111 metre level in order to position the Company to take a bulk sample. Future bulk sampling on the A Zone will provide an opportunity to assess the geological block model and rock quality characteristics and will provide additional information to complete the ongoing Prefeasibility Study ("PFS"), expected to be completed by H1 2021.”

Key operating and financial highlights of the Q3 2020 results include:

• Gold production of 20,008 ounces from the Eagle River Complex, a 30.8% decrease over the same period in the previous year (Q3 2019: 28,910 ounces) due to lower grades and the impact of COVID-19:
  • Eagle River Underground 44,667 tonnes at a head grade of 13.8 g/t Au for 19,319 ounces produced, 33.1% decrease over the previous year (Q3 2019: 28,894 ounces).
  • Mishi Open Pit 11,533 tonnes at a head grade of 2.5 g/t Au for 689 ounces produced (Q3 2019: 15 ounces).
• Revenue of $55.0 million, a 19.7% increase over Q3 2019 (Q3 2019: $45.9 million).
• Ounces sold 21,700 at an average sales price of $2,532/oz (Q3 2019: 23,450 ounces at an average price of $1,957/oz).
• Earned mine profit¹ of $32.1 million, a 20.0% increase over Q3 2019 (Q3 2019 - $26.8 million).
• Cash costs ¹ of $1,052 (US$790) per ounce of gold sold (Q3 2019 of $815 (US$618) due to less ounces sold and the impact of COVID-19.
• All-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) ¹ of $1,395/oz or US$1,047/oz, a 3.8% increase over the same period in 2019 (Q3 2019: $1,344/oz or US$1,018/oz), due to lower ounces sold; partially offset by lower sustaining capital expenditures.
• Operating cash flow of $25.5 million or $0.18 per share¹ as compared to $27.3 million or $0.20 per share for the same period in 2019.
• Free cash flow of $3.2 million, net of an investment of $13.9 million in Kiena, or $0.02 per share¹ (Q3 2019: free cash flow of $9.2 million or $0.07 per share.
• Net income of $14.6 million or $0.10 per share (Q3 2019: $12.4 million or $0.09 per share) and Net income (adjusted)¹ of $15.5 million or $0.11 per share (Q3 2019: $12.4 million or $0.09 per share).
• Cash position increased to $73.5 million compared to $66.7 million in the previous quarter.

1. Refer to the Company’s 2020 Third Quarter Management Discussion and Analysis, section entitled “Non-IFRS Performance Measures” for the reconciliation of these non-IFRS measurements to the financial statements.
   
   

Production and Exploration Highlights	Achievements
Eagle River	Although exploration drilling is currently operating at a reduced capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions, three underground drills and one surface drill are in operation. One drill continues to better define and extend the down plunge extension of the Falcon 7 Zone, which now extends from surface to the 1,000 m elevation.   Recent drilling returned 314 g/t Au over 6.0 m. This drilling was completed from the 772 m elevation that was established to test the down plunge extension of the Falcon Zone. Since that time, additional mine development has been completed on 622 m elevation to allow for drilling, and is now within 50 m in the footwall of the Falcon 7 Zone. With nearby development already established on the 772 and 622 m elevations, the Falcon zones have the potential to be included in future mine production and ultimately augmenting production rates in the medium term. A surface fly drilling program has commenced with one drill to test regional exploration targets.”
Kiena	The ongoing drilling program continues to focus on definition drilling of the high grade A Zone, in order to convert inferred resources to indicated resources, in advance of an updated resource estimate later in the year and subsequent incorporation into the PFS. Seven underground drills are in operation. This drilling has continued to confirm the overall continuity of the geometry and the high-grade gold mineralization of the A Zone and identified additional mineralization down plunge of the most recent resource estimate. The A Zone now extends down plunge in excess of 880 m. In addition to the ongoing drilling, access development is currently being completed towards the A Zone on 111 Level so as to position the Company to take a bulk sample. Future bulk sampling on the A Zone will provide an opportunity to assess the geological block model and rock quality characteristics and will provide the necessary information to complete the ongoing Prefeasibility Study ("PFS"), expected to be completed by H1 2021. Recent drilling completed from the 79 level exploration ramp has focussed on the down dip extensions of the VC zones, namely the VC1 zone. The mineralization of the VC1 zone has transitioned from a more sulphide rich mineralization found in the upper extents of the mine, to a quartz rich environment with visible gold present at depth. Drilling has extended the VC1 zone 475 m down plunge from 67 Level to 107 Level, where development and drilling are presently being completed. A 10,000 m surface drilling program has commenced to test several targets located along the Marbenite Fault (within 1.5 km from Kiena Mine Complex).

Technical Disclosure

The technical content of this release has been compiled, reviewed and approved by Marc-Andre Pelletier, P. Eng, Chief Operating Officer, and Michael Michaud, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of the Company and each a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 -Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Reserves and Resources

The mineral reserve and resource estimates reported in this news release were prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applies different standards in order to classify and report mineralization. This news release uses the terms “measured”, “indicated” and “inferred” mineral resources, as required by NI 43-101. Readers are advised that although such terms are recognized and required by Canadian securities regulations, the SEC does not recognize such terms. Canadian standards differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories constitute or will ever be converted into mineral reserves. In addition, “inferred” mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists, is economically or legally mineable or will ever be upgraded to a higher category of mineral resource.

Wesdome Gold Mines 2020 Third Quarter Financial Results Conference Call:
November 4, 10:00 am ET. Participants are encouraged to dial in 15 minutes in advance.

North American Toll Free: + 1 [phone]
International Dial-In Number: [phone]
Conference ID: 3377048
Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/yxzv5em9

Webcast can also be accessed under the News and Events section of the Company’s website (www.wesdome.com) in listen mode only.

ABOUT WESDOME
Wesdome Gold Mines has had over 30 years of continuous gold mining operations in Canada.  The Company is 100% Canadian focused with a pipeline of projects in various stages of development.  The Company’s strategy is to build Canada’s next intermediate gold producer, producing 200,000+ ounces from two mines in Ontario and Quebec. The Eagle River Complex in Wawa, Ontario is currently producing gold from two mines, the Eagle River Underground Mine and the Mishi Open pit, from a central mill.  Wesdome is actively exploring its brownfields asset, the Kiena Complex in Val d’Or, Quebec.  The Kiena Complex is a fully permitted former mine with a 930-metre shaft and 2,000 tonne-per-day mill.  The Company has further upside at its Moss Lake gold deposit, located 100 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario.  The Company has approximately 138.9 million shares issued and outstanding and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “WDO”.

For further information, please contact:

Duncan Middlemiss       
President and CEO               
416-360-3743 ext. 2029              
[e-mail]                

or

Lindsay Carpenter Dunlop
VP Investor Relations
416-360-3743   ext. 2025
[e-mail]

220 Bay St, Suite 1200
Toronto, ON, M5J 2W4
Toll Free: 1-866-4-WDO-TSX
Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
Website: www.wesdome.com

This news release contains “forward-looking information” which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management’s estimates or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company has included in this news release certain non-IFRS performance measures, including, but not limited to, mine operating profit, mining and processing costs and cash costs. Cash costs per ounce reflect actual mine operating costs incurred during the fiscal period divided by the number of ounces produced. These measures are not defined under IFRS and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to or more meaningful than, net income (loss) or cash flow from operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of our financial performance or liquidity. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow.

 

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Summarized Operating and Financial Data
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share and per unit amounts and otherwise indicated)

		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30					September 30
		2020		2019			2020		2019
Operating data
Milling (tonnes)
Eagle River		44,667		39,453			142,890		99,148
Mishi		11,533		204			36,301		37,297
Throughput 2		56,200		39,657			179,191		136,445
Head grades (g/t)
Eagle River		13.8		23.4			15.1		21.9
Mishi		2.5		2.8			2.7		2.6
Recovery (%)
Eagle River		97.7		97.6			97.6		97.2
Mishi		74.7		85.5			77.8		83.3
Production (ounces)
Eagle River		19,319		28,894			67,893		67,723
Mishi		689		15			2,379		2,633
Total gold produced 2		20,008		28,910			70,272		70,356
Total gold sales (ounces)		21,700		23,450			71,340		66,323
Eagle River Complex (per ounce of gold sold) 1
Average realized price	$	2,532	$	1,957		$	2,341	$	1,819
Cash costs		1,052		815			1,022		838
Cash margin	$	1,480	$	1,142		$	1,318	$	981
All-in Sustaining Costs 1	$	1,395	$	1,344		$	1,348	$	1,290
Average 1 USD → CAD exchange rate		1.3321		1.3204			1.3541		1.3292
Cash costs per ounce of gold sold (US$) 1	$	790	$	618		$	755	$	630
All-in Sustaining Costs (US$) 1	$	1,047	$	1,018		$	995	$	970
Financial Data
Mine profit 1	$	32,116	$	26,770		$	94,039	$	65,084
Net income	$	14,614	$	12,449		$	42,224	$	28,868
Net income adjusted 1	$	15,484	$	12,449		$	43,470	$	26,499
Operating cash flow	$	25,465	$	27,275		$	89,140	$	55,256
Free cash flow (outflow) 1	$	3,200	$	9,199		$	37,563	$	9,925
Per share data
Net income	$	0.10	$	0.09		$	0.30	$	0.21
Adjusted net earnings 1	$	0.11	$	0.09		$	0.31	$	0.19
Operating cash flow 1	$	0.18	$	0.20		$	0.64	$	0.40
Free cash flow 1	$	0.02	$	0.07		$	0.27	$	0.08

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

	September 30, 2020			December 31, 2019
Assets
Current
Cash and cash equivalents	$	73,513		$	35,657
Receivables and prepaids		2,993			1,996
Sales tax receivable		5,467			3,344
Inventories		9,280			19,667
Total current assets		91,253			60,664
Restricted cash		657			657
Deferred financing cost		926			988
Mineral properties, plant and equipment		123,845			116,765
Exploration properties		135,718			106,644
Total assets	$	352,399		$	285,718
Liabilities
Current
Borrowings	$	-		$	3,636
Payables and accruals		23,646			19,219
Income and mining tax payable		2,763			1,419
Current portion of lease liabilities		5,607			3,781
Total current liabilities		32,016			28,055
Lease liabilities		5,916			5,889
Deferred income and mining tax liabilities		38,893			23,829
Decommissioning provisions		22,181			21,443
Total liabilities		99,006			79,216
Equity
Equity attributable to owners of the Company
Capital stock		178,874			174,789
Contributed surplus		6,172			5,590
Retained earnings		68,347			26,123
Total equity attributable to owners of the Company		253,393			206,502
	$	352,399		$	285,718

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except for per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	September 30,								September 30,
		2020				2019				2020				2019
Revenues	$	55,000			$	45,940			$	167,104			$	120,751
Cost of sales		(29,206	)			(25,246	)			(93,066	)			(72,002	)
Gross profit		25,794				20,694				74,038				48,749
Other expenses
Corporate and general		1,371				1,417				5,147				4,923
Stock-based compensation		518				486				2,262				2,641
COVID-19 costs		1,281				-				1,837				-
		3,170				1,903				9,246				7,564
Operating income		22,624				18,791				64,792				41,185
Quebec exploration credits refund		-				-				-				2,867
Interest expense		(263	)			(138	)			(802	)			(364	)
Accretion of decommissioning provisions		(88	)			(64	)			(265	)			(301	)
Interest and other income		(294	)			157				(203	)			482
Income before income and mining taxes		21,979				18,746				63,522				43,869
Income and mining tax expense
Current		2,195				1,335				6,234				3,478
Deferred		5,170				4,962				15,064				11,523
		7,365				6,297				21,298				15,001
Net income and total
comprehensive income	$	14,614			$	12,449			$	42,224			$	28,868
Earnings per share
Basic	$	0.10			$	0.09			$	0.30			$	0.21
Diluted	$	0.10			$	0.09			$	0.30			$	0.21
Weighted average number of common
shares (000s)
Basic		139,308				137,302				138,898				136,615
Diluted		142,969				140,989				142,478				140,119

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

								Retained
	Capital				Contributed				Earnings/		Total
	Stock			Surplus				(Deficit)			Equity
Balance, December 31, 2018	$	166,387		$	5,777			$	(14,955	)	$	157,209
Net income for the period ended
September 30, 2019		-			-				28,868			28,868
Exercise of options		3,645			-				-			3,645
Value attributed to options exercised		1,724			(1,724	)			-			-
Value attributed to options expired		-			(133	)			133			-
Value attributed to RSUs exercised		253			(253	)			-			-
Value attributed to DSUs exercised		175			(175	)			-			-
Stock-based compensation		-			2,641				-			2,641
Balance, September 30, 2019	$	172,184		$	6,133			$	14,046		$	192,363
Balance, December 31, 2019	$	174,789		$	5,590			$	26,123		$	206,502
Net income for the period ended
June 30, 2020		-			-				42,224			42,224
Exercise of options		2,405			-				-			2,405
Value attributed to options exercised		1,103			(1,103	)			-			-
Value attributed to options expired		-			-				-			-
Value attributed to DSUs redeemed		0			-				-			-
Value attributed to RSUs exercised		577			(577	)			-			-
Stock-based compensation		-			2,262				-			2,262
Balance, September 30, 2020	$	178,874		$	6,172			$	68,347		$	253,393

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	September 30,								September 30,
		2020				2019				2020				2019
Operating Activities
Net income	$	14,614			$	12,449			$	42,224			$	28,868
Depreciation and depletion		6,322				6,076				20,001				16,335
Stock-based compensation		518				486				2,262				2,641
Accretion of decommissioning provisions		88				64				265				301
Deferred income and mining tax expense		5,170				4,962				15,064				11,523
Interest expense		263				143				802				378
Write-down of mining equipment		-				-				-				-
Foreign exchange loss on lease financing		(80	)			-				104				-
		26,895				24,180				80,722				60,046
Net changes in non-cash working capital		2,139				4,225				13,307				(2,580	)
Mining tax paid		(3,569	)			(1,130	)			(4,889	)			(2,210	)
Net cash from operating activities		25,465				27,275				89,140				55,256
Financing Activities
Exercise of options		623				954				2,405				3,645
Amortization of deferred financing cost		95				-				61				-
Debt issue less deferred cost		-				3,304				-				3,304
Repayment of borrowings		-				-				(3,636	)			-
Repayment of lease liabilities		(1,322	)			(1,558	)			(3,531	)			(4,129	)
Termination of lease arrangements		-				(3,952	)			-				(3,952	)
Interest paid		(263	)			(138	)			(802	)			(364	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(867	)			(1,390	)			(5,503	)			(1,496	)
Investing Activities
Additions to mining properties		(6,981	)			(10,616	)			(18,972	)			(23,637	)
Additions to exploration properties		(13,962	)			(5,872	)			(29,074	)			(16,908	)
Funds held against standby letter of credit		-				(30	)			-				(657	)
Net changes in non-cash working capital		3,125				1,849				2,265				(1,325	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(17,818	)			(14,669	)			(45,781	)			(42,527	)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		6,780				11,216				37,856				11,233
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period		66,733				27,395				35,657				27,378
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	73,513			$	38,611			$	73,513			$	38,611
Cash and cash equivalents consist of:
Cash	$	73,513			$	38,611			$	73,513			$	38,611
	$	73,513			$	38,611			$	73,513			$	38,611

 

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