Wheaton Precious Metals Exceeds 2018 Production Forecast and Provides 2019 and 5-YEAR Guidance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TSX: WPM
February 21, 2019 NYSE: WPM
WHEATON PRECIOUS METALS EXCEEDS 2018 PRODUCTION FORECAST
AND PROVIDES 2019 AND 5-YEAR GUIDANCE
Vancouver, British Columbia – Wheaton Precious Metals™ Corp. (“Wheaton” or the
“Company”) is pleased to announce that 2018 estimated production exceeded guidance as
detailed in the table below and provide production guidance for 2019 and the estimated
average annual attributable production over the five year period ending with 2023. Wheaton
will provide full production and financial details with the release of its 2018 fourth quarter and
full year results on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
Attributable Production and Forecast
Metal 2018
Forecast
2018
Actual1
2019
Forecast
Forecast
annual average
(2019-2023)
Gold Ounces 355,000 373,239 365,000
Silver Ounces (‘000s) 22,500 24,474 24,500
Palladium Ounces 10,400 14,686 22,000
Gold Equivalent Ounces2 645,000 688,120 690,000 750,000
Sales
Metal 2018 Actual
Gold Ounces 349,168
Silver Ounces (‘000s) 21,733
Palladium Ounces 8,717
Gold Equivalent Ounces 2 625,271
“Our portfolio once again delivered a very strong performance in 2018 with p roduction
significantly exceeding our expectations for all precious metals ,” said Randy Smallwood,
Wheaton’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The strong operational results cap a n
exceptionally successful year in which Wheaton strengthened its existing portfolio, added two
new streams from top-tier mines and settled our longstanding tax dispute , creating a
foundation for future growth. With the tax dispute behind us, we look forward to our company
once again being valued solely based on the virtues of our diverse portfolio of high-quality
assets which continue to deliver strong margins and the highest operating cash flow amongst
our peers.”
2018 Production Results
In 2018, production exceeded guidance primarily as a result of stronger than expected
production from the Salobo and Stillwater mines partially offset by weaker than expected
production from Peñasquito.
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2019 and Long-Term Production Forecast
Wheaton’s estimated attributable precious metals production in 201 9 is forecast to be
approximately 365,000 ounces of gold, 24.5 million ounces of silver and 22,000 ounces of
palladium, resulting in gold equivalent production2 of approximately 690,000 ounces. For the
five year period ending in 2023, the Company estimates that average, annual gold equivalent
production will amount to 750,000 ounces.
In 2019, forecast silver production growth from Peñasquito is expected to be partially offset
by the change in the San Dimas stream from silver to gold as well as the cessation, in 2018,
of production from assets with fixed terms. Gold production in 2019 is expected to be slightly
below 2018 as a result of lower grades at Salobo due to mine sequencing (most pronounced
in the first quarter of 2019) being partially offset by increased attributable gold production
from the San Dimas mine. At Constancia, Hudbay Minerals Inc. (“Hudbay”) expects to begin
mining the Pampacancha satellite deposit later in 2019 , which has significantly higher
precious metals grades than what is currently being mined ; however, given the lack of a
definitive schedule at this point, f orecast gold production in 2019 does not include any
contribution from the Pampacancha deposit 3. Palladium production is expected to increase
in 2019 as the Company has its first full year of production from the Stillwater stream, which
was acquired in July of 2018.
Average production over the next five years is expected to increase primarily due to continued
production growth from Peñasquito, Constancia and Stillwater as well as the commencement
of the Voisey’s Bay stream in 2021. At Peñasquito, grades are expected to increase and the
addition of the pyrite leach plant should improve recoveries. At Constancia, production from
the Pampacancha deposit is included in Wheaton’s five year production average. Palladium
and gold production from Stillwater is expected to increase with the continued ramp up of the
Blitz project which is expected to reach full capacity in 2021. In addition, effective January 1,
2021, Wheaton will be entitled to receive from Vale an amount of cobalt equal to 42.4% of
the Voisey's Bay mine cobalt production . And lastly, Wheaton does not include any
production from Barrick Gold Corp.’s Pascua-Lama project or Hudbay’s Rosemont project in
its estimated average five-year production guidance4.
Tax Dispute Settlement impact on Fourth Quarter and Year End 2018 Results
As a reminder, on December 13, 2018, Wheaton announced that it had reached a settlement
with the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) which provides for a final resolution of Wheaton’s
tax appeal in connection with the reassessment of the 2005 to 2010 taxation years. The terms
of the settlement provide that foreign income on earnings generated by Wheaton’s wholly-
owned foreign subsidiaries will not be subject to tax in Canada 5. In addition, the settlement
provided for Wheaton to increase fees for the services rendered to its foreign subsidiaries by,
first, including the third -party costs incurred by Wheaton directly associated with raising
capital that was used to fund investments made by its foreign subsidiaries in precious metals
purchase agreements and secondly, increasing the markup on costs incurred by the parent
company that are charged to the foreign subsidiaries, including attributable capital -raising
costs, from 20% to 30%.
The application of the settlement, after applying non-capital losses otherwise available, will
result in no additional cash taxes for the 2005 to 2010 taxation years. The application of the
principles of the settlement to the 2011 to 2017 taxation years is expected to result in cash
taxes payable of approximately $5 million. The net result is a cash outlay for all past taxation
years of approximately $10 million, including ancillary interest.
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From an accounting perspective, share issue costs reduce share capital rather than being
deducted as an expense in the Statement of Earnings. Accordingly, the tax benefit related to
these costs, which are deducted for tax purposes over a 5-year period, is also recognized in
share capital. As a result, in recognizing the tax benefit of the non -capital losses utilized to
offset the additional taxable income arising from the settlement, a significant component of
which relate to share issue costs, we anticipate recording a deferred tax expense of
approximately $15 million in the Statement of Earnings with an offsetting deferred tax
recovery reflected directly in the Statement of Shareholders' Equity.
As we've previously indicated, the impact of the settlement will be reflected in the company's
financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018. The total impact
of the settlement on Wheaton’s fourth quarter 2018 after-tax earnings, including current and
deferred taxes, ancillary interest and associated legal expenses is esti mated to be $30
million, of which approximately $15 million would relate to a deferred tax expense.
For further information, please contact:
Patrick Drouin
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.
Tel: 1-844-288-9878
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wheatonpm.com
End Notes
1 Ounces produced represent the quantity of silver, gold and palladium contained in concentrate or
doré prior to smelting or refining deductions. Production figures and average payable rates are
based on information provided by the operators of the mining operations to which the silver, gold or
palladium interests relate or management estimates in those situations where other information is
not available. Certain production figures may be updated in future periods as additional information
is received.
2 Gold equivalent ounces for 2018 actual production and sales are calculated by converting silver to
a gold equivalent by using the ratio of the average price of silver to the average price of gold and by
converting palladium to a gold equivalent by using the average price of palladium to the average
price of gold, with all figures being as per the London Bullion Metal Exchange during 2018. Gold
equivalent production forecasts for 2018, 2019 and the five-year average are based on the following
commodity price assumptions: $1,300 / ounce gold, $16 / ounce silver, $1,350 / ounce palladium,
and $21 / pound of cobalt.
3 As per Wheaton’s precious metals purchase agreement with Hudbay, Wheaton is entitled to a
delay payment payable in gold ounces from Hudbay as a result of the delay in mining the
Pampacancha zone. The gold ounces delivered to Wheaton are included in the Co mpany’s
production guidance.
4 In preparing the long-term production forecast, Wheaton has considered the impact of Vale’s
recently announced approval of the Salobo III copper project, a brownfield expansion, which if
completed as proposed, would increase processing throughput capacity from 24 Mtpa to 36 Mtpa
once fully ramped up (the “Salobo Expansion”). However, readers are cautioned that Vale has not
finalized its mine plan and as such, Wheaton has not included any production growth as a result of
the Salobo Expansion.
5 The application of the settlement to years after 2010 (including the 2011 to 2015 taxation years
which are currently under audit) is limited to transfer pricing and will be subject to there being no
material change in facts or change in law or jurisprudence.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING-STATEMENTS
The information contained herein 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. Forward-
looking statements, which are all statements other than statements of historical fact,
include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:
• anticipated increases in total throughput;
• the estimated future production, including projected increases to Wheaton’s
production;
• the future price of commodities;
• the timing and amount of estimated future production (including 2019 and average
attributable annual production over the next five years);
• the costs of future production;
• any statements as to future dividends, the ability to fund outstanding commitments
and the ability to continue to acquire accretive precious metal stream interests;
• confidence in the Company’s business structure;
• the Company’s estimation of the cash taxes payable in respect of the 2005 to 2010
taxation years as a result of the settlement of the CRA dispute; the Company’s
assessment of the impact of the settlement of the CRA dispute for years subsequent
to 2010; possible audits for taxation years subsequent to 2015; and assessments of
the impact and resolution of various tax matters, including outstanding audits; and
• assessments of the impact and resolution of various legal and tax matters, including
but not limited to outstanding class actions.
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:
• fluctuations in the price of commodities;
• risks related to the mining operations from which Wheaton purchases precious
metals or cobalt (the “Mining Operations”) including risks related to fluctuations in
the price of the primary commodities mined at such operations, actual results of
mining and exploration activities, environmental, economic and political risks of the
jurisdictions in which the Mining Operations are located, and changes in project
parameters as plans continue to be refined;
• absence of control over the Mining Operations and having to rely on the accuracy of
the public disclosure and other information Wheaton receives from the owners and
operators of the Mining Operations as the basis for its analyses, forecasts and
assessments relating to its own business;
• credit and liquidity risks;
• indebtedness and guarantees risks;
• mine operator concentration risks;
• hedging risk;
• competition in the mining industry;
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• risks related to Wheaton’s acquisition strategy;
• risks in estimating cash taxes payable in respect of the 2005 to 2010 taxation years
and assessing the impact of the settlement with the CRA for years subsequent to
2010, including whether there will be any material change in the Company’s facts or
change in law or jurisprudence;
• differences in the interpretation or application of tax laws and regulations or
accounting policies and rules;
• Wheaton’s interpretation of, or compliance with, tax laws and regulations or
accounting policies and rules, being found to be incorrect or the tax impact to the
Company’s business operations being materially different than currently
contemplated;
• litigation risk associated with a challenge to the Company’s tax filings;
• litigation risk associated with outstanding legal matters;
• risks related to claims and legal proceedings against Wheaton or Mining Operations;
• risks relating to unknown defects and impairments;
• risks relating to security over underlying assets;
• risks related to ensuring the security and safety of information systems, including
cyber security risks;
• risks related to the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting;
• risks related to governmental regulations;
• risks related to international operations of Wheaton and the Mining Operations;
• risks relating to exploration, development and operations at the Mining Operations;
• risks related to the ability of the companies with which Wheaton has precious metal
purchase agreements to perform their obligations under those precious metal
purchase agreements in the event of a material adverse effect on the results of
operations, financial condition, cash flows or business of such companies;
• risks related to environmental regulations and climate change;
• the ability of Wheaton and the Mining Operations to obtain and maintain necessary
licenses, permits, approvals and rulings;
• the ability of Wheaton and the Mining Operations to comply with applicable laws,
regulations and permitting requirements;
• lack of suitable infrastructure and employees to support the Mining Operations;
• uncertainty in the accuracy of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates;
• inability to replace and expand mineral reserves;
• risks relating to production estimates from Mining Operations, including anticipated
timing of the commencement of production by certain Mining Operations; 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, and in Wheaton’s Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2017
and Form 6-K filed March 21, 2018 both on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission in Washington, D.C. , together with Wheaton’s subsequent financial
statements and related management’s discussion and analysis available on SEDAR
and filed on Form 6-K (the “Disclosure”).
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management currently believes to be
reasonable, including but not limited to:
• that each party will satisfy their obligations in accordance with the precious metal
purchase agreements;
• that there will be no material adverse change in the market price of commodities;
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• 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 Wheaton will continue to be able to fund or obtain funding for outstanding
commitments;
• that Wheaton will be able to source and obtain accretive precious metal stream
interests;
• that Wheaton’s estimation of cash taxes payable in respect of the 2005 to 2010
taxation years as a result of the settlement of the CRA dispute and the Company’s
assessment of the impact of the settlement of the CRA dispute for years subsequent
to 2010 are 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;
• expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters, including the ongoing
class action litigation; and
• such other assumptions and factors as set out in the Disclosure.
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. 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. Accordingly, 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
investors 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. Wheaton does not
undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included or incorporated by
reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.