MAG Silver Corp. (TSX / NYSE American: MAG)
(“
MAG”
, or the
“
Company”) announces the Company’s audited
consolidated financial results for the year ended December 31,
2022. For details of the audited consolidated financial statements,
Management's Discussion and Analysis, Annual Information Form and
Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2022,
please see the Company’s filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or on
EDGAR (www.sec.gov).
All amounts herein are reported in $000s
of United States dollars (“US$”) unless otherwise
specified.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS (on a 100% basis unless
otherwise noted)
- The Juanicipio Project was
connected to the national power grid on December 28, 2022. With the
entire system energized, commissioning of the plant commenced in
early January 2023 with full load commissioning now underway.
- Juanicipio produced its first lead
concentrate during March 2023 and expects its first commercial
shipment of concentrate in the coming weeks.
- MAG reported net income of $17,644
or $0.18 per share for the year ended December 31, 2022 ($6,025 or
$0.06 per share for the year ended December 31, 2021).
- MAG reported net loss of $825 or
$(0.01) per share for the fourth quarter (“Q4”) of 2022 ($8,662 net
income or $0.09 per share for Q4 2021).
- Discovery of the Carissa zone found
in aggressive step-outs drilled 1 km to the southwest of the Deer
Trail mine corridor.
- Closed a $42,558 bought deal public
offering of common shares on February 7, 2023.
- Closed a $17,333 (C$23,024) bought
deal private placement of common shares on February 16, 2023 on a
“flow-through basis”.
-
The Sustainalytics Environmental Social Governance (ESG) risk
rating for MAG improved 27% to 33.5 from 46.0, over the last twelve
months. Since the initiation of Sustainalytics coverage of MAG in
April 2019 the overall score has improved by 46%.
OPERATIONAL (on a 100% basis unless
otherwise noted)
-
The beneficiation plant at the Juanicipio Project, which was
recently energized following connection to the national power grid
has commenced commissioning and full-scale ramp-up of milling
activities. As reported by the operator, Fresnillo, the operation
remains on track to reach nameplate production mid-to-late 2023.
During this ramp-up period, excess mineralized material from the
Juanicipio Project continues to be processed through the nearby
Saucito and Fresnillo beneficiation plants (100% owned by
Fresnillo) on available capacity basis.
-
For the year ended December 31, 2022:
-
646,148 tonnes of mineralized development and stope material were
campaign processed through the Fresnillo and Saucito plants, with
8,697,372 payable silver ounces, 20,268 payable gold ounces, 4,487
payable lead tonnes and 6,758 payable zinc tonnes produced and
sold;
-
average silver head grade for the year was 520 grams per tonne
(“g/t”); and
-
pre-commercial production revenue (net of treatment and processing
costs) totaled $215,736, less $61,985 in mining and transportation
costs, and $20,913 in depreciation and amortization, netting
$132,838 in gross profit by Juanicipio.
-
For the three months ended December 31, 2022:
-
165,786 tonnes of mineralized development and stope material were
campaign processed through the Fresnillo and Saucito plants, with
1,825,680 payable silver ounces, 4,903 payable gold ounces, 1,058
payable lead tonnes and 1,673 payable zinc tonnes produced and
sold;
-
average silver head grade for the quarter was 415 g/t; and
-
pre-commercial production revenue (net of treatment and processing
costs) totaled $45,881 for the quarter, less $15,877 in mining and
transportation costs and $5,861 in depreciation and amortization
charges, netting $24,143 in gross profit by Juanicipio.
- At the end of
the year, Juanicipio held cash balances of $1,102, down from
$18,972 at the end of 2021, mainly as a result of continued capital
expenditures, offset by higher margins. At the end of the quarter,
Juanicipio held cash balances of $1,102, down from $18,176 at the
end of Q3, impacted by continued capital expenditures, lower
margins as a result of fewer milled tonnes, lower milled grades,
additional working capital in preparation of operations startup and
ongoing underground development expenditures, which were partially
offset by higher metal prices.
- In the
expectation of Juanicipio’s connection to the electrical grid in
Q4, available plant capacity at the nearby Saucito and Fresnillo
processing facilities was reduced impacting milling performance by
8% in comparison to the previous quarter.
-
Metal recovery and concentrate grades remain in line with
expectations from the initial metallurgical test work conducted on
Valdecañas.
CORPORATE
- On October 5, 2022, MAG published
its inaugural Sustainability Report underscoring MAG’s fundamental
commitment to transparency with its stakeholders while providing a
comprehensive overview of the Company's Environmental, Social and
Governance (ESG) commitments, practices, and performance for the
2021 year. A full copy of the report is available on the Company’s
website at https://magsilver.com/esg/reports/. MAG has submitted
its Sustainability Report as its Communication on Progress (“CoP”)
to the United Nations Global Compact (“UN Global Compact”) and the
CoP is published on the UN Global Compact website at
https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/participants.
- In December 2022, the Company
received a cash call amounting to $8,140 from Juanicipio.
- During the year ended December 31,
2022, $3,564 (net of tax) of interest payments were received from
Juanicipio (December 31, 2021: nil).
- The Company closed a $42,558 bought
deal public offering on February 7, 2023 and issued 2,905,000
common shares, including 170,000 common shares issued upon the
partial exercise of the over-allotment option, at a price of $14.65
per common share. Additionally, the Company closed a $17,333
(C$23,024) bought deal private placement on February 16, 2023 and
issued 969,450 common shares on a “flow-through basis” (as defined
in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the “Flow-Through Shares”),
including 126,450 Flow-Through Shares issued upon the full exercise
of a 15% over-allotment option at a price of $17.67 (C$23.75) per
Flow-Through Share.
EXPLORATION
- Juanicipio Project, Mexico:
- The Juanicipio 2022 exploration
program completed in Q4 (expended $7,824 on a 100% basis for the
year ended December 31, 2022) totaling 25,858 metres and results of
this drilling are pending.
- Four holes were drilled at the new
“Los Tajos” target (formerly: Cesantoni) (as defined herein) in the
northwest part of the Juanicipio concession.
- Deer Trail Project, Utah:
-
Results from six of eight completed holes (10,973 metres total) in
surface-based Phase 2 drilling on the Deer Trail Carbonate
Replacement Deposit (“CRD”) project were reported on January 17,
2023 with the most notable highlight being the discovery of the
Carissa Zone
-
The overall results of Phase 2 continue to reinforce MAG’s CRD
exploration model and suggest multiple mineralization channel-ways
extend from the inferred Deer Trail Mountain porphyry center.
Multiple fluid channel-ways are a characteristic of many major CRD
systems.
-
Assays are pending for completed holes DT22-11 & 12 and a large
step out hole (DT22-13) has been completed 1.7 km southeast of the
Carissa zone testing a strong geophysical anomaly coincident with
the intersection of two major structures.
-
Larder Project, Ontario:
-
In 2022 MAG initiated a comprehensive data review and drilling
campaign on the recently acquired Larder Project. The drilling
program focused below and lateral to potential mineralization
shoots.
-
In total, 10 holes were drilled (10,413 metres) for which assays
are pending.
-
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded a
write down of $10,471 on its option earn-in project on a
prospective land claim package in the Black Hills of South
Dakota.
JUANICIPIO PROJECT UPDATE
Underground Mine Production
With the Juanicipio plant now in the
commissioning and ramp-up phase, excess mineralized material from
the Juanicipio Project continues to be campaign processed, subject
to capacity availability, at the nearby Saucito and Fresnillo
plants (both 100% owned by Fresnillo). Metals are refined and sold
on commercial terms under long-term off-take agreements with an
affiliate of Fresnillo. During the year and quarter ended December
31, 2022, approximately 63% and 70% respectively, of the total
tonnage processed was through the Saucito plant. The Saucito plant
flowsheet better resembles that of the Juanicipio flowsheet and
will provide valuable metallurgical information as production ramps
up at Juanicipio.
In the year ended December 31, 2022, a total of
646,148 tonnes of mineralized development and stope material were
processed through the Fresnillo plants. The resulting payable
metals sold and processing details are summarized in Table
1 below.
Table 1: Mineralized Material Processed
at Fresnillo’s Processing Plants (100% basis)
Year Ended December 31, 2022 (646,148 tonnes
processed) |
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Amount$ |
Payable Metals |
Quantity |
Average Per Unit$ |
Amount$ |
Silver |
8,697,372 ounces |
21.70 per oz |
188,722 |
71,369 |
Gold |
20,268 ounces |
1,823 per oz |
36,958 |
10,702 |
Lead |
4,487 tonnes |
0.95 per lb. |
9,380 |
2,387 |
Zinc |
6,758 tonnes |
1.57 per lb. |
23,398 |
4,849 |
TCRCs and other processing costs |
(42,722) |
(12,768) |
Provisional revenue adjustment related to 2020 sales (1) |
- |
(1,146) |
Net Revenue |
215,736 |
75,393 |
Mining and transportation costs |
(61,985) |
(15,329) |
Depreciation and amortization |
(20,913) (2) |
- |
Gross Profit |
132,838 |
60,064 |
(1) Provisional revenues for 2020
were finalized in Q1 2021 resulting in negative adjustment to net
revenue of $1,146.
(2) The underground
mine is now in stopes with mineralized development and stope
material being processed through Fresnillo’s plants and refined and
sold. The mine was considered readied for its intended use on
January 1, 2022.
In the three months ended December 31, 2022, a
total of 165,786 tonnes of mineralized development and stope
material were processed through the Fresnillo plants. The resulting
payable metals sold and associated processing details are
summarized in Table 2 below. The sales and
treatment charges for tonnes processed in Q4 2022 were recorded on
a provisional basis and will be adjusted in the first quarter of
2023 based on final assay and pricing adjustments in accordance
with the offtake contracts.
Table 2: Mineralized Material Processed
at Fresnillo’s Processing Plants (100% basis)
Three Months Ended December 31, 2022 (165,786 tonnes
processed) |
Q4 2021 Amount$ |
Payable Metals |
Quantity |
Average Per Unit$ |
Amount$ |
Silver |
1,825,680 ounces |
22.59 per oz |
41,235 |
34,877 |
Gold |
4,903 ounces |
1,848 per oz |
9,061 |
6,531 |
Lead |
1,058 tonnes |
0.94 per lb. |
2,184 |
1,300 |
Zinc |
1,673 tonnes |
1.35 per lb. |
4,975 |
2,729 |
TCRCs and other processing costs |
(11,574) |
(6,069) |
Net Revenue |
45,881 |
39,368 |
Mining and transportation costs |
(15,877) |
(7,593) |
Depreciation and amortization |
(5,861) (1) |
- |
Gross Profit |
24,143 |
31,775 |
(1) The underground
mine is now in stopes with mineralized development and stope
material being processed through Fresnillo’s plants and refined and
sold. The mine was considered readied for its intended use on
January 1, 2022.
The average silver head grade for the
mineralized development and initial stope material processed in the
year and three months ended December 31, 2022 was 520 g/t and 415
g/t, respectively (year and three months ended December 31, 2021
was 470 g/t and 542 g/t, respectively). As per plan, and mine
ramp-up, this increased grade for year 2022 reflects more stoped
vein material being processed. Metal recovery and concentrate
grades are in line with expectations from the initial metallurgical
test work conducted on Valdecañas mineralized material.
Processing Plant Construction &
Outlook
The Juanicipio Project team delivered the 4,000
tpd processing plant for commissioning in the fourth quarter of
2021. However, as previously reported, in late 2021, the Comisión
Federal de Electricidad (“CFE”), a state-owned electrical company,
notified Fresnillo that approval to complete the tie-in to the
national power grid could not yet be granted and the mill
commissioning timeline would therefore be extended. This delay
primarily related to staffing effects related to the COVID-19
pandemic on the state-owned electrical company. To mitigate the
effect on cash flow generation from the Juanicipio Project while
CFE approvals were pending, Fresnillo made available unused plant
capacity at its Saucito and Fresnillo operations to process
mineralized material produced at the Juanicipio Project during this
period, matching commissioning and ramp up tonnages that were
previously expected, where possible. On December 28, 2022 the
Company announced its receipt of CFE approval, the completion of
the electrical tie-in to the national power grid and the envisioned
commissioning of the 4,000 tpd processing facility. Commissioning
commenced in early January 2023 with feed of lower grade
mineralized material to the grinding mills. Mineralized material
has been conveyed to the fine ore bin and stockpiled for
commissioning and ramp-up operations. Processing of higher grade
material is envisioned once the plant is fully commissioned and
operating at steady state levels.
With the plant now in the commissioning and
ramp-up phase, final project capital costs are expected to wind
down as Juanicipio approaches full commercial production and
associated free cash flow generation. Additional funding
requirements related to market conditions, delayed ramp up to
nameplate capacity, tax payments or additional sustaining capital
in excess of the operating cash flow generated is expected to be
funded by further cash calls required from Fresnillo and MAG.
FINANCIAL RESULTS – YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31, 2022
As at December 31, 2022, MAG had working capital
of $29,232 (December 31, 2021: $57,761) including cash of $29,955
(December 31, 2021: $56,748) and no long-term debt. As well, as at
December 31, 2022, Juanicipio had a negative working capital of
$1,395 including cash of $1,102 (MAG’s attributable share is
44%).
The Company’s net income for the year ended
December 31, 2022 amounted to $17,644 (December 31, 2021: $6,025)
or $0.18/share (December 31, 2021: ($0.06)/share). MAG recorded its
44% income from equity accounted investment in Juanicipio of
$40,767 (December 31, 2021: $15,686) which included MAG’s 44% share
of net income from the sale of pre-production development and stope
material as well as loan interest earned on mining assets brought
into use (see Table 3 below).
Table 3: MAG’s share of income from its
equity accounted Investment in Juanicipio
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
Gross profit from processing mineralized development
material (see Underground Mine Production — Juanicipio
Project above) |
$132,838 |
$60,064 |
Consulting and administrative expenses |
|
(8,436) |
|
(1,929) |
Extraordinary mining duty |
|
(349) |
|
(337) |
Exchange losses and other |
|
(7,458) |
|
(1,363) |
Net income before tax |
|
116,595 |
|
56,435 |
Income tax expense |
|
(26,348) |
|
(20,784) |
Net income for the year (100% basis) |
|
90,247 |
|
35,651 |
MAG's 44% share of income |
|
39,709 |
|
15,686 |
Loan interest on mining assets - MAG 44% |
|
1,058 |
|
- |
MAG's 44% share of income from equity
accounted Investment in Juanicipio |
$40,767 |
$15,686 |
Qualified Person: All
scientific or technical information in this press release including
assay results referred to, and Mineral Resource estimates, if
applicable, is based upon information prepared by or under the
supervision of, or has been approved by Dr. Peter Megaw, Ph.D.,
C.P.G., a Certified Professional Geologist who is a “Qualified
Person” for purposes of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“National Instrument 43-101” or
“NI 43-101”). Dr. Megaw is not independent as he is an officer and
a paid consultant of MAG.
About MAG Silver Corp.
(www.magsilver.com)
MAG Silver Corp. is a growth-oriented Canadian
development and exploration company focused on becoming a top-tier
primary silver mining company by exploring and advancing
high-grade, district scale, precious metals projects in the
Americas. Its principal focus and asset is the Juanicipio Project
(44%), being developed with Fresnillo Plc (56%), the operator. The
project is located in the Fresnillo Silver Trend in Mexico, the
world's premier silver mining camp, where the operator is currently
advancing underground mine development and commissioning a 4,000
tonnes per day processing plant. Underground mine production of
mineralized development material commenced in Q3 2020, and an
expanded exploration program is in place targeting multiple highly
prospective targets at Juanicipio. MAG is also executing
multi-phase exploration programs at the Deer Trail 100% earn-in
Project in Utah and the recently acquired Larder Lake Project,
located in the historically prolific Abitibi region of Canada.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the NYSE
American has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the accuracy
or adequacy of this press release, which has been prepared by
management.
Certain information contained in this release,
including any information relating to MAG’s future oriented
financial information, are “forward-looking information” and
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable
Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively
herein referred as “forward-looking statements”), including the
“safe harbour” provisions of provincial securities legislation, the
U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 21E
of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and Section
27A of the U.S. Securities Act. Such forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to:
-
the expected timing for first commercial shipment of
concentrates;
-
statements regarding the anticipated time and capital schedule to
nameplate production capacity at the Juanicipio Project;
-
statements that address our expectations with respect to the timing
and success of plant commissioning activities, including the
anticipated ramp-up of the processing plant at the Juanicipio
Project;
-
estimated future exploration and development expenditures and other
expenses for specific operations;
-
the potential for additional capital, sustaining capital and
working capital requirements to achieve commercial production at
the Juanicipio Project in excess of cashflow generated, including
the potential for additional cash calls;
-
expected upside from additional exploration; and
-
other future events or developments.
When used in this release, any statements that
express or involve discussions with respect to predictions,
beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future
events of performance (often but not always using words or phrases
such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”,
“plan”, “strategy”, “goals”, “objectives”, “project”, “potential”
or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, or
results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur
or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar
expressions), as they relate to the Company or management, are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements
reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events
and are subject to certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and assumptions.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based
upon estimates and assumptions, which are inherently subject to
significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control and
many of which, regarding future business decisions, are subject to
change. Assumptions underlying the Company’s expectations regarding
forward-looking statements contained in this release include, among
others: MAG’s ability to carry on its various exploration and
development activities including project development timelines, the
timely receipt of required approvals and permits, the price of the
minerals produced, the costs of operating, exploration and
development expenditures, the impact on operations of the Mexican
tax regime, MAG’s ability to obtain adequate financing, outbreaks
or threat of an outbreak of a virus or other contagions or epidemic
disease will be adequately responded to locally, nationally,
regionally and internationally.
Although MAG believes the expectations expressed
in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable
assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future
performance and actual results or developments may differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and many factors could cause actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements including amongst
other: commodities prices; changes in expected mineral production
performance; unexpected increases in capital costs or cost
overruns; exploitation and exploration results; continued
availability of capital and financing; general economic, market or
business conditions; risks relating to the Company’s business
operations; risks relating to the financing of the Company’s
business operations; risks relating to the development of the
Juanicipio Project and the minority interest investment in the
same; risks relating to the Company’s property titles; risks
related to receipt of required regulatory approvals; pandemic risks
(and COVID-19); supply chain constraints and general costs
escalation in the current inflationary environment heightened by
the invasion of Ukraine by Russia; risks relating to the Company’s
financial and other instruments; operational risk; environmental
risk; political risk; currency risk; market risk; capital cost
inflation risk; risk relating to construction delays; the risk that
data is incomplete or inaccurate; the risks relating to the
limitations and assumptions within drilling, engineering and
socio-economic studies relied upon in preparing economic
assessments and estimates, including the 2017 PEA; as well as those
risks more particularly described under the heading “Risk Factors”
in the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form dated March
27, 2023 available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described
herein. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect
any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. The Company’s
forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations
and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and,
other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company
does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements
if circumstances or management’s beliefs, expectations or opinions
should change. For the reasons set forth above, investors should
not attribute undue certainty to or place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.
Please Note: Investors are urged to consider
closely the disclosures in MAG's annual and
quarterly reports and other public filings, accessible through
the Internet at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.
LEI: 254900LGL904N7F3EL14
For further information on behalf of MAG Silver Corp.
Contact Michael J. Curlook, Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications
Phone: (604) 630-1399
Website: www.magsilver.com
Toll Free: (866) 630-1399
Email: info@magsilver.com
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