Wheaton Precious Metals Announces Record Revenue and Sales Volumes in the First Half of 2020

TSX: WPM
NYSE: WPM

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Designated News Release - "Wheaton's high-quality portfolio of assets delivered solid results in the first half of 2020 generating over $500 million in revenue and nearly $330 million in operating cash flow. While production in the second quarter was impacted by temporary shutdowns of some operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, sales volumes remained strong, resulting in a record 322,000 gold equivalent ounces sold in the first half of 2020," said Randy Smallwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wheaton Precious Metals. "At Wheaton, our success is not only measured in terms of financial results, but also in our ability to make a difference. In that regard, during the quarter we established a dedicated fund to help address the impacts of COVID-19, which to date has helped to provide food security, medical services and supplies, and economic opportunities to those in need.  The majority of these funds are dedicated to the communities around our partners' operations, and not only help to alleviate the near-term impacts of the pandemic, but also leave positive, sustainable benefits."

Second Quarter Highlights:

• Over $151 million in operating cash flow in the quarter, an increase of nearly 40%.
• Net debt¹ reduced by $80 million resulting in a net debt position of $509 million.
• Attributable gold equivalent² production was 140,000 ounces in the second quarter, with the reduction being due to the temporary shutdown of various mines resulting from COVID-19.
• Signed a non-binding term sheet on the Marmato Project with Caldas Gold Corp.
• Declared quarterly dividend¹ of $0.10 per common share.
• Donated $2 million of the previously announced $5 million Community Support and Response Fund dedicated to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operational Overview

Revised Production Guidance
Wheaton is providing a revised 2020 production forecast as all mining partners have now resumed operations that were previously suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the second quarter of 2020, six of our mining partners' operations located in Mexico and Peru on which the Company has precious metal purchase agreements ("PMPA"s) were temporarily suspended due to government restrictions focused on reducing the spread of COVID-19, consisting of the Constancia, Yauliyacu, San Dimas, Los Filos, Peñasquito and Antamina mines. The revised 2020 and long-term forecasts assume that operations will continue throughout the remainder of the year without major interruptions. Wheaton's long-term production forecast remains unchanged at 750,000 gold equivalent ounces ("GEO"s) per year on average between 2020 and 2024.

Corporate Development – Marmato Project
On June 22, 2020, the Company announced that it had signed a non-binding term sheet with Caldas Gold Corp. ("Caldas Gold") to enter into a PMPA for the Marmato Project located in Colombia. Under the terms of the proposed PMPA, the Company will acquire 6.5% of the gold production and 100% of the silver production until 190,000 ounces of gold and 2.15 million ounces of silver have been delivered, after which the stream drops to 3.25% of the gold production and 50% of the silver production for the life of mine. Under the proposed PMPA, the Company will pay a total cash consideration of $110 million, $38 million of which is payable upon closing and the remaining portion of which is payable during the construction of the Marmato Deep Zone project, subject to receipt of required permits and licenses, sufficient financing having been obtained to cover total expected capital expenditures, and other customary conditions. In addition, the Company will make ongoing delivery payments equal to approximately 20% of the spot prices over the life of the mine. The entering into of the PMPA is subject to, among other matters, the negotiation and completion of definitive documentation.

Community Support and Response Fund to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the quarter, Wheaton announced the launch of a $5 million Community Support and Response Fund (the "CSR Fund") to support the global efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on our communities. The CSR Fund is designed to meet the immediate needs of the communities in which Wheaton operates and around the mines from which Wheaton receives precious metals. This fund is incremental to Wheaton's already active Community Investment Program that currently provides support to over 50 programs in multiple communities around the world. As of June 30, 2020, the Company has made donations totalling $2 million under this program.

Financial Review

Revenues
Revenue was $248 million in the second quarter of 2020 representing a 31% increase from the second quarter of 2019 due primarily to a 24% increase in the average realized gold equivalent² price; and a 6% increase in the number of gold equivalent² ounces sold.

Costs and Expenses
Average cash costs¹ in the second quarter of 2020 were $418 per gold equivalent² ounce as compared to $412 in Q2 2019. This resulted in a cash operating margin¹ of $1,170 per gold equivalent² ounce sold, an increase of 35% as compared with Q2 2019.

Balance Sheet (at June 30, 2020)

• Approximately $132 million of cash on hand.
• $641 million outstanding under the Company's $2 billion revolving term loan (the "Revolving Facility").
• During Q2 2020, the Company has repaid $75 million under the Revolving Facility.
• During Q2 2020, the net debt¹ was reduced by $80 million to $509 million.
• The average effective interest rate for Q2 2020 was 1.97%.

Second Quarter Asset Highlights

Salobo: In the second quarter of 2020, Salobo produced 59,100 ounces of attributable gold, a decrease of approximately 12% relative to the second quarter of 2019 due to lower throughput as operations were impacted as a result of increased absenteeism during the quarter resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Vale S.A.'s ("Vale") Second Quarter 2020 Performance Report, physical completion of the Salobo III mine expansion was 54% at the end of the second quarter. As a preventive measure related to the COVID-19 pandemic, non-critical works at the expansion were suspended in late March 2020, with their gradual resumption starting in May 2020. Vale reports that the expansion remains on track to start up in the first half of 2022.

Peñasquito: In the second quarter of 2020, Peñasquito produced 1.0 million ounces of attributable silver, an increase of approximately 39% relative to the second quarter of 2019 when production was impacted by an illegal blockade of the mine. Operations at the Peñasquito mine were temporarily suspended during the quarter as a result of the Mexican government regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Newmont Corporation's Second Quarter MD&A, both mill and mining activities at Peñasquito began ramping back up at the beginning of June and reached pre-COVID-19 record levels in the plant by mid-June.

San Dimas: In the second quarter of 2020, San Dimas produced 6,100 ounces of attributable gold, a decrease of approximately 47% relative to the second quarter of 2019 primarily due to lower throughput coupled with the impact of revising the silver to gold conversion ratio from 70:1 to 90:1 effective April 1, 2020, as per the PMPA. Operations at the San Dimas mine were temporarily suspended during the quarter resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, with operations resuming after the Mexican government's decision to allow mining to restart on May 23, 2020. In addition, First Majestic Silver ("First Majestic") reports that mill modernization and optimization programs have resumed at San Dimas, including the mid-May delivery of the 3,000 tonnes per day high intensity grinding mill ("HIG") and several components. As a result of the temporary suspension during the quarter, First Majestic expects the assembly and installation of the new HIG mill to be completed in the second quarter of 2021. 

Antamina: In the second quarter of 2020, Antamina produced 0.6 million ounces of attributable silver, a decrease of approximately 54% relative to the second quarter of 2019, primarily due to lower throughput as operations at the mine were temporarily suspended during the quarter as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Antamina mine reportedly resumed operations on May 26, 2020, and ramped to full production in June.

Constancia: In the second quarter of 2020, Constancia produced 0.3 million ounces of attributable silver and 3,500 ounces of attributable gold, a decrease of approximately 54% and 23%, respectively, relative to the second quarter of 2019, primarily due to lower throughput as operations at the mine were temporarily suspended during the quarter as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Wheaton's PMPA with Hudbay Minerals Inc., the failure to achieve a minimum level of throughput at the Pampacancha deposit during 2019 entitles Wheaton to an additional 8,020 ounces of gold in 2020 (received in quarterly installments), of which 2,005 ounces of gold was received during the second quarter of 2020 and included as production.

Other Gold: In the second quarter of 2020, total Other Gold attributable production was 7,700 ounces, an increase of approximately 60% relative to the second quarter of 2019, primarily due to the resumption of mining at the Minto mine.

Other Silver: In the second quarter of 2020, total Other Silver attributable production was 1.8 million ounces, a decrease of approximately 19% relative to the second quarter of 2019, primarily due to the temporary suspension of operations at the Yauliyacu mine as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keno Hill Restart: In addition, Alexco Resource Corp ("Alexco") reported on June 24, 2020, its intent to recommence mining operations in the Keno Hill Silver District ("Keno Hill") with ore production, mill commissioning, and concentrate sales planned for Q4 2020. Subsequent to the quarter, Alexco announced that it had received the final amended and renewed Water Use License for Keno Hill. Wheaton is entitled to 25% of the payable silver production from Keno Hill. In order to help facilitate the resumption of mining, Wheaton agreed to modify the PMPA as it relates to the delivery payment per ounce of silver in exchange for 2 million common share purchase warrants from Alexco.

Produced But Not Yet Delivered ⁴

As at June 30, 2020, payable ounces attributable to the Company produced but not yet delivered amounted to:

• 79,500 payable gold ounces, a decrease of 8,900 ounces during Q2 2020, primarily due to a draw down during the period relative to the Salobo mine.
• 3.1 million payable silver ounces, a decrease of 1.8 million ounces during Q2 2020, primarily due to decreases during the period relative to the Peñasquito, Antamina and Yauliyacu mines, all of which had their operations temporarily suspended during the quarter.
• 4,900 payable palladium ounces, virtually unchanged from the balance at Q1 2020.

Detailed mine-by-mine production and sales figures can be found in the Appendix to this press release and in Wheaton's consolidated MD&A in the 'Results of Operations and Operational Review' section.

Webcast and Conference Call Details

A conference call and webcast will be held Thursday, August 13, 2020, starting at 11:00 am (Eastern Time) to discuss these results. To participate in the live call, please use one of the following methods:

Participants should dial in five to ten minutes before the call.

The conference call will be recorded and available until August 20, 2020 at 11:59 pm (Eastern Time). The webcast will be available for one year. You can listen to an archive of the call by one of the following methods:

This earnings release should be read in conjunction with Wheaton Precious Metals' MD&A and Financial Statements, which are available on the Company's website at www.wheatonpm.com and have been posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Mr. Wes Carson, P. Eng., Vice President, Mining Operations is a "qualified person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release.

Wheaton Precious Metals believes that there are no significant differences between its corporate governance practices and those required to be followed by United States domestic issuers under the NYSE listing standards. This confirmation is located on the Wheaton Precious Metals website at http://www.wheatonpm.com/Company/corporate-governance/default.aspx. 

About Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

Wheaton is the world's premier precious metals streaming company with the highest-quality portfolio of long-life, low-cost assets. Its business model offers investors commodity price leverage and exploration upside but with a much lower risk profile than a traditional mining company. Wheaton delivers amongst the highest cash operating margins in the mining industry, allowing it to pay a competitive dividend and continue to grow through accretive acquisitions. As a result, Wheaton has consistently outperformed gold and silver, as well as other mining investments. Wheaton creates sustainable value through streaming.

In accordance with Wheaton Precious Metals™ Corp.'s ("Wheaton Precious Metals ", "Wheaton" or the "Company") MD&A and financial statements, reference to the Company includes the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries.

End Notes

Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss)

Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets

Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Summary of Ounces Produced

Summary of Ounces Sold

Results of Operations 

The operating results of the Company's reportable operating segments are summarized in the tables and commentary below.

On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were as follows:

On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2019 were as follows:

Non-IFRS Measures

Wheaton has included, throughout this document, certain non-IFRS performance measures, including (i) adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share; (ii) operating cash flow per share (basic and diluted); (iii) average cash costs of gold, silver and palladium on a per ounce basis; (iv) cash operating margin; and (v) net debt.

i. Adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share are calculated by removing the effects of the non-cash impairment charges, non-cash fair value (gains) losses, non-cash share of losses of associates and other one-time (income) expenses as well as the reversal of non-cash income tax expense (recovery) which is offset by income tax expense (recovery) recognized in the Statements of Shareholders' Equity and OCI, respectively. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, management and certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance. 

The following table provides a reconciliation of adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share (basic and diluted).

ii. Operating cash flow per share (basic and diluted) is calculated by dividing cash generated by operating activities by the weighted average number of shares outstanding (basic and diluted). The Company presents operating cash flow per share as management and certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance in comparison to other companies in the precious metal mining industry who present results on a similar basis.

The following table provides a reconciliation of operating cash flow per share (basic and diluted).

iii. Average cash cost of gold, silver and palladium on a per ounce basis is calculated by dividing the total cost of sales, less depletion, by the ounces sold. In the precious metal mining industry, this is a common performance measure but does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. In addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, management and certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow.

The following table provides a reconciliation of average cash cost of gold, silver and palladium on a per ounce basis.

iv. Cash operating margin is calculated by subtracting the average cash cost of gold, silver and palladium on a per ounce basis from the average realized selling price of gold, silver and palladium on a per ounce basis. The Company presents cash operating margin as management and certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance in comparison to other companies in the precious metal mining industry who present results on a similar basis as well as to evaluate the Company's ability to generate cash flow. 

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash operating margin.

v. Net debt is calculated by subtracting cash and cash equivalents from the outstanding bank debt under the Revolving Facility. The Company presents net debt as management and certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's liquidity and financial position.

The following table provides a calculation of the Company's net debt.

These non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and other companies may calculate these measures differently.  The presentation of these non-IFRS measures is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. For more detailed information, please refer to Wheaton's MD&A available on the Company's website at www.wheatonpm.com and posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance of Wheaton and, in some instances, the business, mining operations and performance of Wheaton's precious metals purchase agreement ("PMPA") counterparties. Forward-looking statements, which are all statements other than statements of historical fact, include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the successful negotiation and entering into of a definitive documentation with Caldas Gold, payment of US$110 million to Caldas Gold and the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the PMPA, the receipt by the Company of silver and gold production in respect of the Marmato Project, statements with respect to the future price of commodities, the impact of epidemics (including the COVID-19 virus pandemic), the estimation of future production from Mining Operations (including in the estimation of production, mill throughput, grades, recoveries and exploration potential), the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources (including the estimation of reserve conversion rates) and the realization of such estimations, the commencement, timing and achievement of construction, expansion or improvement projects by Wheaton's PMPA counterparties at mineral stream interests owned by Wheaton (the "Mining Operations"), the ability of Wheaton's PMPA counterparties to comply with the terms of a PMPA (including as a result of the business, mining operations and performance of Wheaton's PMPA counterparties) and the potential impacts of such on Wheaton, the costs of future production, the estimation of produced but not yet delivered ounces, any statements as to future dividends, the ability to fund outstanding commitments and the ability to continue to acquire accretive PMPAs, future payments by the Company in accordance with PMPAs, including any acceleration of payments, projected increases to Wheaton's production and cash flow profile, projected changes to Wheaton's production mix, the ability of Wheaton's PMPA counterparties to comply with the terms of any other obligations under agreements with the Company, the ability to sell precious metals and cobalt production, confidence in the Company's business structure, the Company's assessment of taxes payable and the impact of the CRA Settlement for years subsequent to 2010, possible audits for taxation years subsequent to 2015, the Company's intention to file future tax returns in a manner consistent with the CRA Settlement, and assessments of the impact and resolution of various legal and tax matters, including but not limited to outstanding class actions and audits. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "projects", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", "potential", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Wheaton to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to risks associated with any specific risks relating to the completion of documentation and diligence for the PMPA with Caldas Gold, the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the terms of the PMPA with Caldas Gold, risks associated with any specific risks relating to the completion of documentation and diligence for the Precious Metals Stream agreement, the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the terms of the Precious Metals Stream agreement, risks associated with fluctuations in the price of commodities (including Wheaton's ability to sell its precious metals or cobalt production at acceptable prices or at all), risks of significant impacts on Wheaton or the Mining Operations as a result of an epidemic (including the COVID-19 virus pandemic), risks related to the Mining Operations (including fluctuations in the price of the primary or other commodities mined at such operations, regulatory, political and other risks of the jurisdictions in which the Mining Operations are located, actual results of mining, risks associated with the exploration, development, operating, expansion and improvement of the Mining Operations, environmental and economic risks of the Mining Operations, and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined), the absence of control over the Mining Operations and relying on the accuracy of the public disclosure and other information Wheaton receives from the Mining Operations, uncertainty in the estimation of production from Mining Operations, uncertainty in the accuracy of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimation, the ability of each party to satisfy their obligations in accordance with the terms of the PMPAs, the estimation of future production from Mining Operations, Wheaton's interpretation of, compliance with or application of, tax laws and regulations or accounting policies and rules being found to be incorrect, any challenge or reassessment by the CRA of the Company's tax filings being successful and the potential negative impact to the Company's previous and future tax filings, assessing the impact of the CRA Settlement for years subsequent to 2010 (including whether there will be any material change in the Company's facts or change in law or jurisprudence), credit and liquidity, indebtedness and guarantees, mine operator concentration, hedging, competition, claims and legal proceedings against Wheaton or the Mining Operations, security over underlying assets, governmental regulations, international operations of Wheaton and the Mining Operations, exploration, development, operations, expansions and improvements at the Mining Operations, environmental regulations and climate change, Wheaton and the Mining Operations ability to obtain and maintain necessary licenses, permits, approvals and rulings, Wheaton and the Mining Operations ability to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements, lack of suitable infrastructure and employees to support the Mining Operations, inability to replace and expand mineral reserves, including anticipated timing of the commencement of production by certain Mining Operations (including increases in production, estimated grades and recoveries), uncertainties of title and indigenous rights with respect to the Mining Operations, Wheaton and the Mining Operations ability to obtain adequate financing, the Mining Operations ability to complete permitting, construction, development and expansion, global financial conditions, and other risks discussed in the section entitled "Description of the Business – Risk Factors" in Wheaton's Annual Information Form available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, Wheaton's Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Form 6-K filed March 11, 2020 both on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. and Wheaton's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2020 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and Form 6-K filed May 7, 2020 (the "Disclosure"). Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management currently believes to be reasonable, including (without limitation): that the completion of documentation and diligence in respect of the PMPA with Caldas Gold, the payment of US$110 million to Caldas Gold and the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the terms of the PMPA with Caldas Gold, that there will be no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, that neither Wheaton nor the Mining Operations will suffer significant impacts as a result of an epidemic (including the COVID-19 virus pandemic), that the Mining Operations will continue to operate and the mining projects will be completed in accordance with public statements and achieve their stated production estimates, that the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates from Mining Operations (including reserve conversion rates) are accurate, that each party will satisfy their obligations in accordance with the PMPAs, that Wheaton will continue to be able to fund or obtain funding for outstanding commitments, that Wheaton will be able to source and obtain accretive PMPAs, that any outbreak or threat of an outbreak of a virus or other contagions or epidemic disease will be adequately responded to locally, nationally, regionally and internationally, without such response requiring any prolonged closure of the Mining Operations or having other material adverse effects on the Company and counterparties to its PMPAs, that expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters will be achieved (including ongoing class action litigation and CRA audits involving the Company), that Wheaton has properly considered the interpretation and application of Canadian tax law to its structure and operations, that Wheaton has filed its tax returns and paid applicable taxes in compliance with Canadian tax law, that Wheaton's application of the CRA Settlement for years subsequent to 2010 is accurate (including the Company's assessment that there will be no material change in the Company's facts or change in law or jurisprudence for years subsequent to 2010), and such other assumptions and factors as set out in the Disclosure. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Wheaton. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary. The forward-looking statements included herein are for the purpose of providing readers with information to assist them in understanding Wheaton's expected financial and operational performance and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, reflects Wheaton's management's current beliefs based on current information and will not be updated except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Although Wheaton has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward–looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

In accordance with the Company's MD&A and financial statements, reference to the Company includes the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries.

SOURCE Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

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