Resilient in the face of unprecedented challenges; Globally, net-zero carbon targets support nuclear growth story
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TSX: CCO website: cameco.com
NYSE: CCJ currency: Cdn (unless noted)
2121 – 11th Street West, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7M 1J3 Canada
Tel: 306-956-6200 Fax: 306-956-6201
Resilient in the face of unprecedented challenges; Globally, net-zero carbon targets support nuclear
growth story
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, February 10, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cameco (TSX: CCO; NYSE: CCJ) today reported its consolidated financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and
year ended December 31, 2020 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
“As we head into 2021, we remain positive about the long-term fundamentals for the uranium market,” said Tim Gitzel,
Cameco’s president and CEO. “Around the globe, we are seeing an increasing focus on electrification for various reasons.
There are those that are installing baseload power, those who are looking for a reliable replacement to fossil fuel sources, and
finally, there is new demand for things like the electrification of transportation. This is occurring precisely at the same time
countries and companies around the world are making net-zero commitments, including in the US where the new
administration has expressed support for maintaining the existing domestic nuclear power fleet and the construction of
advanced reactors, it has recommitted the US to the global Paris Agreement and has ambitions to re-establish the country’s
position as a global leader in the development of commercial nuclear technologies. From a policy point of view, there is
recognition that nuclear will be needed in the toolbox to sustainably achieve both electrification and decarbonization.
“So, demand for nuclear power is growing and not just the traditional uses of nuclear power. There is a real focus on, and
significant investments being made in the development of non-traditional uses, like small modular reactors. Growing demand
for nuclear power means growing demand for uranium. However, on the supply side there are some big question marks about
where uranium will come from to fuel the world’s growing demand for nuclear power due to years of persistently low prices that
have led to planned production curtailments, lack of investment, the end of reserve life for some mines, shrinking secondary
supplies, and trade policy issues, which are currently being amplified by unplanned disruptions due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
“These are the fundamentals that give us growing confidence the uranium market will undergo a transition similar to the
conversion and enrichment markets. It is why we remain committed to our vision of energizing a clean air world, which
recognizes that we have an important role to play in enabling the vast reductions in greenhouse gas emissions required to
achieve a resilient, net-zero carbon economy. As we seek to achieve our vision, we are committed to doing it in a manner that
reflects our values. Those values have not changed, they have always guided our actions.
“We believe that our tier-one strategy that includes production discipline, marketing discipline and conservative balance sheet
management, is the right strategy to achieve our vision. You can see the resiliency our conservative financial management
provides us in our balance sheet. Despite the unprecedentedly challenging year globally, and the significant costs we incurred
as a result of the disruptions to our business caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we finished the year with more than $940
million in cash and a $1 billion undrawn credit facility.
“As a pure-play supplier of the uranium fuel needed to produce clean, carbon-free, baseload electricity, we are excited about
the future for our industry and our company as we execute on our strategy and pursue our role in supporting the transition to a
net-zero carbon economy through both traditional and non-traditional uses of nuclear power.”
Summary of Q4 and 2020 results and developments:
Fourth quarter net earnings of $80 million; adjusted net earnings of $48 million: Fourth quarter results demonstrated
the positive financial impact of the return of low-cost tier-one production from Cigar Lake after the first production
suspension and the elimination of care and maintenance costs associated with that suspension.
Annual net loss of $53 million; adjusted net loss of $66 million: Annual results were driven by the continued execution
of our strategy and the proactive measures taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusted net earnings is a non-IFRS
measure, see page 3.
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Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic: The health and safety of our workers, their families and communities is our top
priority. We proactively temporarily suspended production at several of our operations, both uranium and fuel services;
withdrew our 2020 outlook; introduced additional safety protocols; and provided well-paying jobs and financial support
during a time of significant economic uncertainty for many. See Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic in our 2020
annual MD&A for more details.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business: As a result of the precautionary production suspensions at our
operations, in our uranium segment we produced only 5 million pounds in 2020. To manage risk, we purchased 11.5 million
pounds more than the top end of the 2020 outlook disclosed in our 2019 annual MD&A at an average annual cost of about
$40.41 per pound, totaling about $465 million, compared to the Cigar Lake expected life-of mine cash operating costs of
between $15 to $16 per pound. Additionally, we incurred $55 million more in care and maintenance costs than those we
had planned for. Even while production was suspended, we kept and continued to pay all our employees. Partially offsetting
these costs was the receipt of about $37 million under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program and volatility in
foreign exchange rates that resulted in foreign exchange gains.
Cigar Lake production remains suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic: In December 2020, production at the Cigar
Lake mine was temporarily suspended for a second time as a precautionary measure due to the increased uncertainty
about access to qualified operational personnel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Production at the Cigar Lake mine
remains suspended and, as a result, our production plan for 2021 is uncertain. A restart of the operation will be dependent
on our ability to maintain safe and stable operating protocols along with a number of other factors, including how the
COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the availability of the required workforce, how cases are trending in Saskatchewan, in
particular in northern communities, and the views of the public health authorities. While production is suspended, we expect
to incur $8 million to $10 million per month in care and maintenance costs.
Robust fuel services contracting: In our fuel services segment, we replaced the UF6 volumes delivered under contract
and added another 17.1 million kilograms to our long-term contract portfolio that reflect the price transition that began in
2017 in the conversion market, and that we expect will allow us to continue to profitably operate and consistently support
the long-term fuel services needs of our customers.
Strategic patience in our uranium marketing activity: Long-term uranium contracting was delayed in 2020 due to
ongoing market-access and trade policy issues and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers’ operations.
We added 12.5 million pounds to our portolio of long-term uranium contracts. Market signals will take time to impact
contracting in our business as we have seen with the transition in our fuel services segment. With our pipeline of uranium
business continuing to grow and being larger than we have seen since 2011, we are being patient to capture as much value
as possible in our contract portfolio.
Strengthened balance sheet: Consistent with our conservative financial management, and to take advantage of the low
interest rate environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we issued debentures in the amount of $400 million,
bearing interest of 2.95% per annum and maturing in 2027, and used the proceeds to redeem our outstanding $400 million
debenture bearing interest of 3.75% maturing in 2022, which resulted in an early redemption fee of $24 million. Our next
maturity is in 2024. As of December 31, 2020, we had $943 million in cash and short-term investments and $1.0 billion in
long-term debt. In addition, we have a $1 billion undrawn credit facility.
Received dividends totaling $40.6 million (US) from JV Inkai: In 2020, we received dividend payments from JV Inkai
totaling $40.6 million (US). JV Inkai distributes excess cash, net of working capital requirements, to the partners as
dividends. Our share of dividends follows our production purchase entitlements. See Uranium – Tier-one operations – Inkai
in our 2020 annual MD&A.
Greater focus on technology and its applications: We are implementing an initiative intended to improve efficiency and
reduce costs across the organization, with a particular focus on innovation and accelerating the adoption of advanced
digital and automation technologies. In 2020, we began a program to advance the assessment of innovation opportunities
at the McArthur River mine and Key Lake mill. We established a team of internal experts who have been tasked with
assessing, designing and implementing opportunities to improve operating efficiency. During the year, the team advanced a
portfolio of 43 projects focused on improvement of the mine and mill through application of automation, digitization and
optimization. The initial assessment of the majority of the projects was completed, which will allow us to complete the pre-
feasibility work and to define the business case. We expect projects that meet our investment criteria will be advanced to
implementation in 2021.
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Increased ownership in Global Laser Enrichment LLC (GLE): Ownership restructuring has been approved and
completed. With the restructuring, our interest in GLE increases from 24% to 49%, with Silex acquiring the remaining 51%.
GLE is the exclusive licensee of the proprietary SILEX laser enrichment technology, third-generation uranium enrichment
technology that is in the development phase. Having operational control of uranium production, conversion, and enrichment
facilities would offer operational synergies that could enhance future profit margins, especially with the world’s increased
focus on decarbonization.
Consolidated financial results
THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED
CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS DECEMBER 31 DECEMBER 31
($ MILLIONS EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED) 2020 2019 2020 2019
Revenue 550 874 1,800 1,863
Gross profit 109 184 106 242
Net earnings (loss) attributable to equity holders 80 128 (53) 74
$ per common share (basic) 0.20 0.32 (0.13) 0.19
$ per common share (diluted) 0.20 0.32 (0.13) 0.19
Adjusted net earnings (loss) (non-IFRS, see page 4) 48 94 (66) 41
$ per common share (adjusted and diluted) 0.12 0.24 (0.17) 0.10
Cash provided by operations (after working capital changes) 257 274 57 527
The 2020 annual financial statements have been audited; however, the 2019 fourth quarter and 2020 fourth quarter financial
information presented is unaudited. You can find a copy of our 2020 annual MD&A and our 2020 audited financial statements
on our website at cameco.com.
NET EARNINGS
The following table shows what contributed to the change in net earnings and adjusted net earnings (non-IFRS measure, see
page 3) in the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.
CHANGES IN EARNINGS THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED
($ MILLIONS) DECEMBER 31 DECEMBER 31
IFRS ADJUSTED IFRS ADJUSTED
Net earnings - 2019 128 94 74 41
Change in gross profit by segment
(we calculate gross profit by deducting from revenue the cost of products and services sold, and depreciation and amortization (D&A), net of hedging benefits)
Uranium Lower sales volume (52) (52) (4) (4)
Higher realized prices ($US) 29 29 25 25
Foreign exchange impact on realized prices (4) (4) 14 14
Higher costs (33) (33) (175) (175)
change – uranium (60) (60) (140) (140)
Fuel services Lower sales volume (14) (14) (4) (4)
Higher realized prices ($Cdn) 7 7 21 21
Higher costs (8) (8) (11) (11)
change – fuel services (15) (15) 6 6
Other changes
Higher administration expenditures (11) (11) (20) (20)
Lower (higher) exploration expenditures (1) (1) 3 3
Change in reclamation provisions (26) - (21) -
Change in gains or losses on derivatives 28 3 5 9
Change in foreign exchange gains or losses 6 6 33 33
Change in earnings from equity-accounted investments - - (9) (9)
Redemption of Series E debentures in 2020 (24) (24) (24) (24)
Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy in 2020 37 37 37 37
Arbitration award in 2019 related to TEPCO contract - - (52) (52)
Change in income tax recovery or expense 22 23 47 42
Other (4) (4) 8 8
Net earnings (losses) - 2020 80 48 (53) (66)
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Non-IFRS measures
ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS
Adjusted net earnings is a measure that does not have a standardized meaning or a consistent basis of calculation under IFRS
(non-IFRS measure). We use this measure as a more meaningful way to compare our financial performance from period to
period. We believe that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this
information to evaluate our performance. Adjusted net earnings is our net earnings attributable to equity holders, adjusted to
better reflect the underlying financial performance for the reporting period. The adjusted earnings measure reflects the
matching of the net benefits of our hedging program with the inflows of foreign currencies in the applicable reporting period,
and is adjusted for reclamation provisions for our Rabbit Lake and US operations, which have been impaired, and income
taxes on adjustments.
Adjusted net earnings is non-standard supplemental information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute
for financial information prepared according to accounting standards. Other companies may calculate this measure differently,
so you may not be able to make a direct comparison to similar measures presented by other companies.
The following table reconciles adjusted net earnings with our net earnings for the three months and years ended December 31,
2020 and 2019.
THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31 DECEMBER 31
($ MILLIONS) 2020 2019 2020 2019
Net earnings (loss) attributable to equity holders 80 128 (53) 74
Adjustments
Adjustments on derivatives (43) (18) (45) (49)
Reclamation provision adjustments - (26) 24 3
Income taxes on adjustments 11 10 8 13
Adjusted net earnings (loss) 48 94 (66) 41
Every quarter we are required to update the reclamation provisions for all operations based on new cash flow estimates,
discount and inflation rates. This normally results in an adjustment to an asset retirement obligation asset in addition to the
provision balance. When the assets of an operation have been written off due to an impairment, as is the case with our Rabbit
Lake and US ISR operations, the adjustment is recorded directly to the statement of earnings as “other operating expense
(income)”. See note 15 of our annual financial statements for more information. This amount has been excluded from our
adjusted net earnings measure.
Selected segmented highlights
THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31 DECEMBER 31
HIGHLIGHTS 2020 2019 CHANGE 2020 2019 CHANGE
Uranium Production volume (million lbs) 2.8 2.7 4% 5.0 9.0 (44)%
Sales volume (million lbs) 8.6 14.0 (39)% 30.6 31.5 (3)%
Average realized price ($US/lb) 38.43 35.92 7% 34.39 33.77 2%
($Cdn/lb) 50.40 47.50 6% 46.14 44.85 3%
Revenue ($ millions) 436 666 (35)% 1,412 1,414 -
Gross profit ($ millions) 76 136 (44)% 13 153 (92)%
Fuel services Production volume (million kgU) 3.3 4.0 (18)% 11.7 13.3 (12)%
Sales volume (million kgU) 4.4 6.2 (29)% 13.5 14.1 (4)%
Average realized price ($Cdn/kgU) 26.29 24.61 7% 27.89 26.21 6%
Revenue ($ millions) 115 152 (24)% 377 370 2%
Gross profit ($ millions) 32 47 (32)% 96 90 7%
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Management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) and financial statements
The 2020 annual MD&A and consolidated financial statements provide a detailed explanation of our operating results for the
three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same periods last year, and our outlook for 2021.
This news release should be read in conjunction with these documents, as well as our most recent annual information form, all
of which are available on our website at cameco.com, on SEDAR at sedar.com, and on EDGAR at sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Qualified persons
The technical and scientific information discussed in this news release for our material properties (McArthur River/Key Lake,
Cigar Lake) was approved by the following individuals who are qualified persons for the purposes of NI 43-101:
MCARTHUR RIVER/KEY LAKE
Greg Murdock, general manager, McArthur River/Key
Lake, Cameco
CIGAR LAKE
Lloyd Rowson, general manager, Cigar Lake, Cameco
Caution about forward-looking information
This news release includes statements and information about our expectations for the future, which we refer to as forward-
looking information. Forward-looking information is based on our current views, which can change significantly, and actual
results and events may be significantly different from what we currently expect.
Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include: our views of the future growth in demand for nuclear
power and the resulting strength of the uranium market, including as a result of net-zero carbon emission targets and the use
of nuclear energy in achieving both electrification and decarbonization; our belief that the uranium market will undergo a
transition similar to that of the conversion and enrichment markets; our intention to pursue our business objectives in a manner
that reflects our values; our belief that our strategy of production discipline, marketing discipline and conservative balance
sheet management is the right strategy to achieve our business objectives; the factors that will determine our ability to restart
operation and production at Cigar Lake and the monthly care and maintenance costs we expect to incur for Cigar Lake while
production is suspended; the delay we expect between changing market signals and their impact on contracting in our
business; our expectations regarding the profitable operation of our fuel services segment; our expectations regarding our
innovation opportunities program and that projects meeting our investment criteria will be advanced to implementation in 2021;
our view that having operational control of uranium production, conversion and enrichment facilities of GLE as a result of
ownership restructuring could enhance our future profit margins; and the expected date for announcement of our 2021 first
quarter results.
Material risks that could lead to different results include: unexpected changes in uranium supply, demand, long-term
contracting, and prices; changes in consumer demand for nuclear power and uranium as a result of changing societal views
and objectives regarding nuclear power, electrification and decarbonization; the risk that the uranium market will not undergo a
transition similar to that of the conversion and enrichment markets; the risk that we may not be able to implement our business
objectives in a manner consistent with our values; the risk that the strategy we are pursuing may prove unsuccessful, or that
we may not be able to execute it successfully; the risk of unforeseen delays in restarting operation and production at Cigar
Lake, and the risk of incurring higher monthly care and maintenance costs than expected; the risk that we may not be able to
fully interpret or respond to changing market signals in a timely manner; the risk that our fuel services segment may not
operate as profitably and consistently with the needs of our customers as we expect; the risk that projects under consideration
in our innovation opportunities program may not be advanced to implementation in 2021, or at all; the risk that the GLE
ownership restructuring will not provide the expected profit margin enhancements for us; and the risk that we may be delayed
in announcing our future financial results.
In presenting the forward-looking information, we have made material assumptions which may prove incorrect about: uranium
demand, supply, consumption, long-term contracting, growth in the demand for and global public acceptance of nuclear
energy, and prices; societal objectives for electrification and decarbonization; our production, purchases, sales, deliveries and
costs; the market conditions and other factors upon which we have based our future plans and forecasts; the success of our
plans and strategies; the absence of new and adverse government regulations, policies or decisions; and our ability to
announce future financial results when expected.
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Please also review the discussion in our 2020 annual MD&A and most recent annual information form for other material risks
that could cause actual results to differ significantly from our current expectations, and other material assumptions we have
made. Forward-looking information is designed to help you understand management’s current views of our near-term and
longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. We will not necessarily update this information unless
we are required to by securities laws.
Conference call
We invite you to join our fourth quarter conference call on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern.
The call will be open to all investors and the media. To join the call, please dial (800) 319-4610 (Canada and US) or (604) 638-
5340. An operator will put your call through. The slides and a live webcast of the conference call will be available from a link at
cameco.com. See the link on our home page on the day of the call.
A recorded version of the proceedings will be available:
on our website, cameco.com, shortly after the call
on post view until midnight, Eastern, March 10, 2021, by calling (800) 319-6413 (Canada and US) or (604) 638-9010
(Passcode 5895)
2021 first quarter report release date
We plan to announce our 2021 first quarter results before markets open on May 7, 2021.
Profile
Cameco is one of the largest global providers of the uranium fuel needed to energize a clean-air world. Our competitive
position is based on our controlling ownership of the world’s largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations. Utilities
around the world rely on our nuclear fuel products to generate power in safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear reactors. Our shares
trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Our head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
As used in this news release, the terms we, us, our, the Company and Cameco mean Cameco Corporation and its
subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated.
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Investor inquiries:
Rachelle Girard
306-956-6403
Media inquiries:
Jeff Hryhoriw
306-385-5221