Americas Gold and Silver Reports Q3‐2023 Results
TORONTO, ONTARIO – November 15, 2023 – Americas Gold and Silver Corpora�on (TSX: USA) (NYSE American: USAS) (“Americas” or the “Company”), a growing North American precious metals producer, reports consolidated financial and opera�onal results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
This earnings release should be read in conjunc�on with the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis, Financial Statements and Notes to Financial Statements for the corresponding period, which have been posted on the Americas Gold and Silver Corpora�on SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and on its EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov, and which are also available on the Company’s website at www.americas‐ gold.com. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
Highlights
- Revenue of $18.3 million for Q3‐2023 compared to revenue of $18.3 million for Q3‐2022, resul�ng from higher silver produc�on and silver price from the Galena Complex, offset by slightly lower base metal produc�on and much lower zinc prices from the Cosalá Opera�ons during the most recent period.
- A net loss of $10.5 million for Q3‐2023, or an a�ributable loss of $0.04 per share represen�ng a decrease in net loss of $14.1 million compared to Q3‐2022.
- As previously reported, Q3‐2023 consolidated a�ributable silver produc�on rose 17% totalling approximately 0.39 million ounces compared with approximately 0.33 million ounces in Q3‐2022.
- Produc�on was nega�vely impacted early in the quarter by a planned five‐day electrical shutdown at the Galena Complex, as well as mobile equipment availability. The Cosalá Opera�ons had various mill outages totalling 14 days due to heavy rain and tailings work during the Q3‐2023 period.
- Q4‐2023 produc�on has been strong to date with over 190,000 ounces of a�ributable silver ounces produced in October. A�ributable silver produc�on in November and December are expected to exceed October actuals.
- A�ributable cash costs of $19.01/oz silver produced1 and all‐in sustaining costs of $29.55/oz silver produced2 during the quarter. Cash costs were nega�vely impacted in the quarter by losing 19 days of combined produc�on, lower zinc prices and the apprecia�on in the Mexican peso.
- Following the end of the quarter, the Company commenced discussions with interested metal traders to provide concentrate prepayment financing for the capital requirements at its 100%‐ owned El Cajón and Zone 120 silver‐copper project (“EC120 Project”) at the Cosalá Opera�ons. The Company expects this financing to close before the end of 2023.
- The Company has selected Moran Mining and Tunnelling Limited to finish the Galena Sha� repair work. Moran will begin fabrica�ng the necessary work pla�orms in their shop and expects to commission to site in early to mid January 2024. The repair work is expected to be completed by the end of Q1‐2024.
- Produc�on guidance for 2023 remains unchanged but the Company expects to be at lower end of both the consolidated a�ributable silver produc�on range of 2.2 and 2.6 million ounces and consolidated a�ributable silver equivalent2 produc�on range of 5.5 and 6.0 million ounces at budgeted prices.
- Darren Dell resigned from his role as COO with the Company during Q4‐2023 to pursue a technical role in corporate banking. Mr. Dell was instrumental in the ini�al construc�on and the re‐opening of the San Rafael mine, and the driving force behind the re‐capitaliza�on of the Galena Complex Joint Venture. The Company is expected to announce Daren’s successor prior to year end.
“The opera�ons had strong silver produc�on in October which is expected to con�nue for the balance of the year, posi�oning the Company to meet the lower end of its full year silver produc�on targets following a difficult Q3‐2023,” stated Americas President and CEO Darren Blasu�. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Daren Dell for his leadership, hard work, and dedica�on at the Company over the previous decade. Daren posi�oned the Company’s opera�ons to significantly increase its silver produc�on over the next several years in an�cipa�on of much stronger silver prices.”
Galena Complex
A�ributable produc�on from the 60% owned Galena Complex was approximately 209,000 ounces of silver and 1.8 million pounds of lead in Q3‐2023, compared to approximately 145,000 ounces of silver and 2.1 million pounds of lead in Q3‐2022, represen�ng a 44% increase in silver produc�on and a 13% decrease in lead produc�on. Produc�on was nega�vely impacted early in the quarter by a planned five‐day electrical shutdown at the Galena Complex to allow necessary hoist switchgear upgrades. Towards the end of Q3‐2023, the Galana Complex was unable to maintain targeted ore produc�on due to unavailability of certain mine mobile equipment. The availability issue has been largely resolved and has led to a strong start in Q4‐2023 though improvements were late to posi�vely impact Q3‐2023 results.
Cash costs decreased to $22.91 per silver ounce from $28.51 per silver ounce in Q3‐2022 with similar decrease to all‐in sustaining costs per silver ounce due to the increase in silver produc�on. All‐in sustaining costs per silver ounce at the Galena Complex is an�cipated to con�nue to decrease with the comple�on of the Galena Hoist project as the benefits of economies of scale on the exis�ng cost base are realized.
The Company selected Moran Mining and Tunnelling Limited to finish the Galena Sha� repair work. Moran will begin fabrica�ng the necessary work pla�orms in their shop and expects to mobilize to site in early to mid January 2024. The repair work is expected to be completed at the end of Q1‐2024.
Cosalá Opera�ons
The Cosalá Opera�ons produced approximately 178,000 ounces of silver, 2.8 million pounds of lead and 9.0 million pounds of zinc in Q3‐2023, compared to approximately 186,000 ounces of silver, 3.8 million pounds of lead and 9.4 million pounds of zinc in Q3‐2022. Produc�on during the quarter was nega�vely impacted by a cumula�ve 14 days of lost mill opera�ng �me due to heavy rainfall and tailings maintenance. Cash costs per silver ounce increased significantly in the quarter to $14.42 per ounce from $(4.43) per ounce in Q3‐2022 due to the lower price of zinc combined with lower base metal produc�on, and the devalua�on of the USD rela�ve to the Mexican peso.
With the current higher silver price and lower zinc price, the Company decided to expedite the development of its 100%‐owned EC120 Project at the Cosalá Opera�ons. Ini�al access to the Zone 120 deposit occurred in Q3‐2023 from the San Rafael Upper Zone development and approximately 10,000 tonnes of high‐grade material was stockpiled from the transi�on area between the deposits.
The Company has commenced discussions in Q4‐2023 with interested metal traders to provide concentrate prepayment financing op�ons for the capital requirements at the EC120 Project. The 2019 Preliminary Feasibility Study en�tled “Americas Silver Corpora�on Technical Report on the San Rafael Mine and the EC120 Preliminary Feasibility Study, Sinaloa, Mexico” dated May 17, 2019 (with an effec�ve date of April 3, 2019) capital es�mate assumed a standalone project. The current EC120 Project will take advantage of exis�ng infrastructure, facili�es, and equipment currently in use at the Cosalá Opera�on’s San Rafael Mine. Assuming the Company’s ability to bring to expected produc�on, the EC120 Project is expected to provide significantly improved cash flow to the Company given the shared infrastructure, capital reduc�ons, and the higher silver and copper prices which have improved since the date of the study.
About Americas Gold and Silver Corpora�on
Americas Gold and Silver Corpora�on is a high‐growth precious metals mining company with mul�ple assets in North America. The Company owns and operates the Cosalá Opera�ons in Sinaloa, Mexico, manages the 60%‐owned Galena Complex in Idaho, USA, and is re‐evalua�ng the Relief Canyon mine in Nevada, USA. The Company also owns the San Felipe development project in Sonora, Mexico. For further informa�on, please see SEDAR or www.americas‐gold.com.
For more informa�on:
Stefan Axell Darren Blasu� VP, Corporate Development & Communica�ons President and CEO Americas Gold and Silver Corpora�on Americas Gold and Silver Corpora�on 416‐874‐1708 416‐848‐9503
Technical Informa�on and Qualified Persons
The scien�fic and technical informa�on rela�ng to the Company’s material mining proper�es contained herein has been reviewed and approved by Chris McCann, P.Eng., Vice President, Technical Services of the Company. The Company’s current Annual Informa�on Form and the NI 43‐101 Technical Reports for its mineral proper�es, all of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and EDGAR at www.sec.gov, contain further details regarding mineral reserve and mineral resource es�mates, classifica�on and repor�ng parameters, key assump�ons and associated risks for each of the Company’s material mineral proper�es, including a breakdown by category.
All mining terms used herein have the meanings set forth in Na�onal Instrument 43‐101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43‐101”), as required by Canadian securi�es regulatory authori�es. These standards differ from the requirements of the SEC that are applicable to domes�c United States repor�ng companies. Any mineral reserves and mineral resources reported by the Company in accordance with NI 43‐101 may not qualify as such under SEC standards. Accordingly, informa�on contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar informa�on made public by companies subject to the SEC’s repor�ng and disclosure requirements.
Cau�onary Statement on Forward‐Looking Informa�on:
This news release contains “forward‐looking informa�on” within the meaning of applicable securi�es laws. Forward‐looking informa�on includes, but is not limited to, Americas expecta�ons, inten�ons, plans, assump�ons and beliefs with respect to, among other things, es�mated and targeted produc�on rates and results for gold, silver and other metals, the expected prices of gold, silver and other metals, as well as the related costs, expenses and capital expenditures; produc�on from the Galena Complex, including the expected produc�on levels and poten�al addi�onal mineral resources thereat; the expected �ming and comple�on of the Galena sha� repair following comple�on of the Galena Hoist installa�on and the expected opera�onal and produc�on results therefrom, including the an�cipated improvements to the cash costs per silver ounce and all‐in sustaining costs per silver ounce at the Galena Complex following comple�on; and mining and processing opera�ons at the Cosalá Opera�ons con�nuing, including expected produc�on levels and the con�nuity of legal access for employees and contractors; and statements rela�ng to the Company’s EC120 Project, including expected approvals, financing availability and capital expenditures required to develop such project and reach produc�on thereat, expecta�ons regarding the ability to rely in exis�ng infrastructure, facili�es, and equipment. Guidance and outlook references contained in this press release were prepared based on current mine plan assump�ons with respect to produc�on, development, costs and capital expenditures, the metal price assump�ons disclosed herein, and assumes no adverse impacts to opera�ons from the COVID 19 pandemic, no further adverse impacts to the Cosalá Opera�ons from blockades or work stoppages, and comple�on of the Galena Hoist project (including current sha� repair) on its expected schedule and budget, and the realiza�on of the an�cipated benefits therefrom, and is subject to the risks and uncertain�es outlined below. The ability to maintain cash flow posi�ve produc�on at the Cosalá Opera�ons through mee�ng produc�on targets and at the Galena Complex through implemen�ng the Galena Recapitaliza�on Plan, including the comple�on of the Galena Hoist project and related sha� repairs on its expected schedule and budget, allowing the Company to generate sufficient opera�ng cash flows while facing market fluctua�ons in commodity prices and infla�onary pressures, are significant judgments in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the Company’s liquidity. Should the Company experience nega�ve opera�ng cash flows in future periods, the Company may need to raise addi�onal funds through the issuance of equity or debt securi�es. O�en, but not always, forward‐looking informa�on can be iden�fied by forward‐looking words such as “an�cipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “goal”, “plan”, “intend”, “poten�al’, “es�mate”, “may”, “assume” and “will” or similar words sugges�ng future outcomes, or other expecta�ons, beliefs, plans, objec�ves, assump�ons, inten�ons, or statements about future events or performance. Forward‐looking informa�on is based on the opinions and es�mates of Americas as of the date such informa�on is provided and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertain�es, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of ac�vity, performance, or achievements of Americas to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward‐looking informa�on. With respect to the business of Americas , these risks and uncertain�es include risks rela�ng to widespread epidemics or pandemic outbreak including the COVID‐19 pandemic, including the emergence of new strains and/or the resurgence of COVID‐19, ac�ons that have been and may be taken by governmental authori�es to contain the COVID‐19 pandemic or to treat its impact and/or the availability, effec�veness and use of treatments and vaccines (including the effec�veness of boosters); the impact of COVID‐19 on our workforce, suppliers and other essen�al resources and what effect those impacts, if they occur, would have on our business, including our ability to access goods and supplies, the ability to transport our products and impacts on employee produc�vity, the risks in connec�on with the opera�ons, cash flow and results of the Company rela�ng to the unknown dura�on and impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic; interpreta�ons or reinterpreta�ons of geologic informa�on; unfavorable explora�on results; inability to obtain permits required for future explora�on, development or produc�on; general economic condi�ons and condi�ons affec�ng the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; poten�al li�ga�on; fluctua�ng mineral and commodity prices; the ability to obtain necessary future financing on acceptable terms or at all; the ability to operate the Company’s projects; and risks associated with the mining industry such as economic factors (including future commodity prices, currency fluctua�ons and energy prices), ground condi�ons, illegal blockades and other factors limi�ng mine access or regular opera�ons without interrup�on, failure of plant, equipment, processes and transporta�on services to operate as an�cipated, environmental risks, government regula�on, actual results of current explora�on and produc�on ac�vi�es, possible varia�ons in ore grade or recovery rates, permi�ng �melines, capital and construc�on expenditures, reclama�on ac�vi�es, labor rela�ons or disrup�ons, social and poli�cal developments, risks associated with generally elevated infla�on and infla�onary pressures, risks related to changing global economic condi�ons, and market vola�lity, risks rela�ng to geopoli�cal instability, poli�cal unrest, war, and other global conflicts may result in adverse effects on macroeconomic condi�ons including vola�lity in financial markets, adverse changes in trade policies, infla�on, supply chain disrup�ons and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has a�empted to iden�fy important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward‐looking informa�on, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as an�cipated, es�mated, or intended. Readers are cau�oned not to place undue reliance on such informa�on. Addi�onal informa�on regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from this forward‐looking informa�on is available in Americas filings with the Canadian Securi�es Administrators on SEDAR and with the SEC. Americas does not undertake any obliga�on to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward‐looking informa�on whether as a result of new informa�on, future events or other such factors which affect this informa�on, except as required by law. Americas does not give any assurance (1) that Americas will achieve its expecta�ons, or (2) concerning the result or �ming thereof. All subsequent wri�en and oral forward‐looking informa�on concerning Americas are expressly qualified in their en�rety by the cau�onary statements above.
1 This metric is a non‐GAAP financial measure or ra�o. The Company uses the financial measures “Cash Cost”, “Cash Cost/Ag Oz Produced”, “All‐In Sustaining Cost”, and “All‐In Sustaining Cost/Ag Oz Produced” in accordance with measures widely reported in the silver mining industry as a benchmark for performance measurement and because it understands that, in addi�on to conven�onal measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors and analysts use this informa�on to evaluate the Company’s underlying cash costs and total costs of opera�ons. Cash costs are determined on a mine‐by‐ mine basis and include mine site opera�ng costs such as mining, processing, administra�on, produc�on taxes and royal�es which are not based on sales or taxable income calcula�ons, while all‐in sustaining costs is the cash costs plus all development, capital expenditures, and explora�on spending.
Reconciliation of Consolidated Cash Costs/Ag Oz Produced(a)
Q3‐2023 Q3‐2022 Cost of sales ('000) $17,984 $17,434
| Less non‐controlling interests portion ('000) | (3,614) | (3,599) |
| Attributable cost of sales ('000) | 14,370 | 13,835 |
| Non‐cash costs ('000) | 16 | (18) |
Direct mining costs ('000) $14,386 $13,817
| Smelting, refining and royalty expenses ('000) | 5,549 | 5,687 |
| Less by‐product credits ('000) | (12,583) | (16,187) |
| Cash costs ('000) | $7,352 | $3,317 |
Divided by silver produced (oz) 386,615 331,304 Cash costs/Ag oz produced ($/oz) $19.01 $10.01
Reconciliation of Cosalá Operations Cash Costs/Ag Oz Produced Q3‐2023 Q3‐2022
| Cost of sales ('000) | $8,949 | $8,435 |
| Non‐cash costs ('000) | 11 | 231 |
| Direct mining costs ('000) | $8,960 | $8,666 |
| Smelting, refining and royalty expenses ('000) | 4,420 | 4,929 |
| Less by‐product credits ('000) | (10,820) | (14,419) |
| Cash costs ('000) | $2,560 | $(824) |
Divided by silver produced (oz) 177,503 186,062 Cash costs/Ag oz produced ($/oz) $14.42 $(4.43)
Reconciliation of Galena Complex Cash Costs/Ag Oz Produced Q3‐2023 Q3‐2022
| Cost of sales ('000) | $9,035 | $8,999 |
| Non‐cash costs ('000) | 8 | (415) |
| Direct mining costs ('000) | $9,043 | $8,584 |
| Smelting, refining and royalty expenses ('000) | 1,882 | 1,264 |
| Less by‐product credits ('000) | (2,939) | (2,947) |
| Cash costs ('000) | $7,986 | $6,901 |
Divided by silver produced (oz) 348,521 242,070 Cash costs/Ag oz produced ($/oz) $22.91 $28.51
Reconciliation of Consolidated All‐In Sustaining Costs/Ag Oz Produced (a)
Q3‐2023 Q3‐2022
| Cash costs ('000) | $7,352 | $3,317 |
| Capital expenditures ('000) | 3,434 | 2,340 |
| Exploration costs ('000) | 640 | 526 |
| All‐in sustaining costs ('000) | $11,426 | $6,183 |
Divided by silver produced (oz) 386,615 331,304 All‐in sustaining costs/Ag oz produced ($/oz) $29.55 $18.66
Reconciliation of Cosalá Operations All‐In Sustaining Costs/Ag Oz Produced Q2‐2023 Q3‐2022
| Cash costs ('000) | $2,560 | $(824) |
| Capital expenditures ('000) | 2,077 | 1,153 |
| Exploration costs ('000) | 198 | 479 |
| All‐in sustaining costs ('000) | $4,835 | $808 |
Divided by silver produced (oz) 177,503 186,062 All‐in sustaining costs/Ag oz produced ($/oz) $27.24 $4.35
Reconciliation of Galena Complex All‐In Sustaining Costs/Ag Oz Produced Q3‐2023 Q3‐2022
| Cash costs ('000) | $7,986 | $6,901 |
| Capital expenditures ('000) | 2,263 | 1,979 |
| Exploration costs ('000) | 737 | 78 |
| All‐in sustaining costs ('000) | $10,986 | $8,958 |
| Galena Complex Recapitalization Plan costs ('000) | 275 | 2,858 |
All‐in sustaining costs with Galena Recapitalization Plan ('000) $11,261 $11,816 Divided by silver produced (oz) 348,521 242,070 All‐in sustaining costs/Ag oz produced ($/oz) $31.52 $37.00 All‐in sustaining costs with Galena Recapitalization/Ag oz produced ($/oz) $32.31 $48.81
(a) Throughout this press release, consolidated produc�on results and consolidated opera�ng metrics are based on the a�ributable ownership percentage of each opera�ng segment (100% Cosalá Opera�ons and 60% Galena Complex).
2 Silver equivalent ounces for Q3‐2023 and Q3‐2022 were calculated based on all metals produc�on at average realized silver, zinc, and lead prices during each respec�ve period throughout this press release. Silver equivalent ounces for the 2023 guidance and 2024 outlook references were calculated based on $22.00/oz silver, $1.45/lb zinc, $1.00 /lb lead, and $3.75/lb copper throughout this press release.