McEwen Mining Inc. - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023
☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-33190
MCEWEN MINING INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Colorado | 84-0796160 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
150 King Street West, Suite 2800, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 1J9
(Address of principal executive offices) (ZIP code)
(866) 441-0690
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common stock, no par value | MUX | New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☒ | |
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |
Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 47,427,584 shares outstanding as of May 8, 2023.
MCEWEN MINING INC.
FORM 10-Q
Index
2
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MCEWEN MINING INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share)
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2023 |
| 2022 |
|
| |||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 34,752 | $ | 25,542 | |||
Production costs applicable to sales |
| (23,413) |
| (27,824) | |||
Depreciation and depletion | (6,896) | (3,712) | |||||
Gross profit (loss) | 4,443 | (5,994) | |||||
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES: | |||||||
Advanced projects - Los Azules |
| (31,880) |
| (9,756) | |||
Advanced projects - Other | (1,680) | (1,379) | |||||
Exploration |
| (5,900) |
| (3,210) | |||
General and administrative |
| (3,441) |
| (1,981) | |||
Loss from investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (Note 9) |
| (3,461) |
| (1,120) | |||
Depreciation |
| (282) |
| (142) | |||
Reclamation and remediation (Note 11) |
| (630) |
| (527) | |||
| (47,274) |
| (18,115) | ||||
Operating loss |
| (42,831) |
| (24,109) | |||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): | |||||||
Interest and other finance income (expenses), net |
| 8,464 |
| (1,640) | |||
Other (expense) income (Note 3) | (2,579) |
| 3,871 | ||||
Total other income |
| 5,885 |
| 2,231 | |||
Loss before income and mining taxes | (36,946) | (21,878) | |||||
Income and mining tax recovery | 536 | 814 | |||||
Net loss after income and mining taxes | (36,410) | (21,064) | |||||
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests (Note 17) | (6,666) | 334 | |||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss attributable to McEwen shareholders | $ | (43,076) | $ | (20,730) | |||
Net loss per share (Note 13): | |||||||
Basic and diluted | $ | (0.91) | $ | (0.45) | |||
Weighted average common shares outstanding (thousands) (Note 13): | |||||||
Basic and diluted |
| 47,428 |
| 46,402 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3
MCEWEN MINING INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
March 31, | December 31, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| |||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 4) | $ | 190,776 | $ | 39,782 | |||
Investments (Note 5) |
| 1,591 |
| 1,295 | |||
Receivables, prepaids and other assets (Note 6) |
| 7,543 |
| 8,840 | |||
Inventories (Note 7) |
| 23,560 |
| 31,735 | |||
Total current assets |
| 223,470 |
| 81,652 | |||
Mineral property interests and plant and equipment, net (Note 8) |
| 342,516 |
| 346,281 | |||
Investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (Note 9) |
| 89,990 |
| 93,451 | |||
Inventories (Note 7) | 16,773 | 2,432 | |||||
Restricted cash (Note 16) | 4,227 | 3,797 | |||||
Other assets |
| 703 |
| 1,106 | |||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 677,679 | $ | 528,719 | |||
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 46,155 | $ | 42,521 | |||
Contract liability (Note 16) | 2,335 | 6,155 | |||||
Flow-through share premium (Note 12) | 2,703 | 4,056 | |||||
Debt, current portion (Note 10) | 16,000 | 10,000 | |||||
Lease liabilities | 1,167 | 1,215 | |||||
Reclamation and remediation liabilities (Note 11) |
| 12,797 |
| 12,576 | |||
Tax liabilities | 8,231 | 7,663 | |||||
Total current liabilities |
| 89,388 |
| 84,186 | |||
Lease liabilities | 968 | 1,191 | |||||
Debt (Note 10) | 48,124 | 53,979 | |||||
Reclamation and remediation liabilities (Note 11) |
| 29,410 |
| 29,270 | |||
Other liabilities | 4,507 | 3,819 | |||||
Total liabilities | $ | 172,397 | $ | 172,445 | |||
Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||
Common shares: 47,428 as of March 31, 2023 issued and (in thousands) (Note 12) | $ | 1,754,086 | $ | 1,644,145 | |||
Non-controlling interests (Note 17) | 115,608 | 33,465 | |||||
Accumulated deficit |
| (1,364,412) |
| (1,321,336) | |||
Total shareholders’ equity |
| 505,282 |
| 356,274 | |||
TOTAL LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | 677,679 | $ | 528,719 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Commitments and contingencies: Note 16
4
MCEWEN MINING INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars and shares)
Common Stock |
| ||||||||||||||
and Additional |
| ||||||||||||||
Paid-in Capital | Accumulated | Non-controlling |
| ||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount | Deficit | Interests | Total |
| ||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2021 |
| 459,188 | $ | 1,615,596 | $ | (1,240,432) | $ | 14,777 | $ | 389,941 | |||||
Stock-based compensation |
| — | 183 | — | — | 183 | |||||||||
Sale of flow-through common stock | 14,500 | 10,320 | — | — | 10,320 | ||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | (20,730) | (334) | (21,064) | ||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2022 |
| 473,688 | $ | 1,626,099 | $ | (1,261,162) | $ | 14,443 | $ | 379,380 | |||||
Balance, December 31, 2022 | 47,428 | $ | 1,644,145 | $ | (1,321,336) | $ | 33,465 | $ | 356,274 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| — | 28 | — | — | 28 | |||||||||
Proceeds from McEwen Copper financing (Note 17) | — | 109,913 | — | 75,477 | 185,390 | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
| — | — | (43,076) | 6,666 | (36,410) | |||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2023 |
| 47,428 | $ | 1,754,086 | $ | (1,364,412) | $ | 115,608 | $ | 505,282 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
5
MCEWEN MINING INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
2023 |
| 2022 | ||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||
Net loss | $ | (36,410) | $ | (21,064) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from operating activities: | ||||||
Loss from investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (Note 9) |
| 3,461 |
| 1,120 | ||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 7,263 |
| 3,606 | ||
Unrealized gain on investments (Note 5) | (296) | (618) | ||||
Reclamation accretion and adjustments to estimate (Note 11) |
| 631 |
| 722 | ||
Income and mining tax recovery |
| (536) |
| (814) | ||
Stock-based compensation |
| 28 |
| 183 | ||
Change in other assets related to operations |
| (2,732) |
| (763) | ||
Change in liabilities related to operations | (17) | 2,008 | ||||
Cash used in operating activities | $ | (28,608) | $ | (15,620) | ||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||
Net additions to mineral property interests and plant and equipment | $ | (4,950) | $ | (4,045) | ||
Cash used in investing activities | $ | (4,950) | $ | (4,045) | ||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||
Proceeds from McEwen Copper financing (Note 17) | $ | 185,390 | $ | — | ||
Issuance of flow-through common shares, net of issuance costs (Note 12) | — | 14,376 | ||||
Proceeds from promissory note (Note 10 and Note 14) | — | 15,000 | ||||
Subscription proceeds received in advance | — | 300 | ||||
Payment of finance lease obligations | (408) | (215) | ||||
Cash provided by financing activities | $ | 184,982 | $ | 29,461 | ||
Increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| 151,424 |
| 9,796 | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period |
| 43,579 |
| 60,634 | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period | $ | 195,003 | $ | 70,430 | ||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||
Cash received (paid) during period for: | ||||||
Interest paid | $ | (1,253) | $ | (1,202) | ||
Interest received | 9,044 | 6 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
6
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
NOTE 1 NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
McEwen Mining Inc. (the “Company”) was organized under the laws of the State of Colorado on July 24, 1979. The Company produces and sells gold and silver from its operations in Canada, the United States and Argentina, and has a pipeline of exploration assets in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Argentina.
The Company owns a 100% interest in the Gold Bar mine in Nevada, United States, the Fox Complex in Ontario, Canada, the Fenix Project in Sinaloa, Mexico and a portfolio of exploration properties in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. As of March 31, 2023, the Company also owns a 51.9% interest in McEwen Copper Inc. (“McEwen Copper”), which holds the Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina and the Elder Creek exploration project in Nevada, United States. It also owns a 49% interest in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (“MSC”), owner of the producing San José silver-gold mine in Santa Cruz, Argentina, which is operated by the joint venture majority owner Hochschild Mining plc. The Company reports its investment in McEwen Copper as a controlling interest and its investment in MSC as an equity investment.
The interim consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and are unaudited. While information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements and prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, the Company believes that the information and disclosures included in the interim consolidated financial statements are adequate and not misleading. Therefore, these interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and the summary of significant accounting policies included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Except as noted below, there have been no material changes in the footnotes from those accompanying the audited consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
In management’s opinion, the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (“Statement of Operations”) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2023 and the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet as at December 31, 2022, the unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, and the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, contained herein, reflect all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring items, which are necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows on a basis consistent with that of the Company’s prior audited consolidated financial statements. However, the results of operations for the interim periods may not be indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Investments over which the Company exerts significant influence but does not control through majority ownership are accounted for using the equity method.
One-For-Ten Share Consolidation and Articles of Amendment
Effective after the close of trading on July 27, 2022, the Company filed Articles of Amendment to its Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with the Colorado Secretary of State to, among other items, effect a
-for-ten reverse split of its outstanding common stock. This reverse split, or consolidation, resulted in every 10 shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective date being converted into share of common stock after the effective date. The consolidation was effected following approval by the shareholders in order for the Company to regain compliance with the NYSE listing requirements, specifically those requiring a minimum share trading price of $1 per share. The consolidation was effective for trading purposes on July 28, 2022. Following the consolidation, the Company purchased fractional shares resulting from the split. All share and per share amounts in the consolidated financial statements have been retroactively restated to reflect the consolidation.The Articles of Amendment also served to reduce the Company’s authorized capital from 675,000,002 shares to 200,000,002 shares, with 200,000,000 shares being common stock and 2 shares being a special preferred stock.
7
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
NOTE 2 OPERATING SEGMENT REPORTING
The Company is a mining and minerals production and exploration company focused on precious and base metals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) reviews the operating results, assesses performance and makes decisions about the allocation of resources to these segments at the geographic region level or major mine/project level where the economic characteristics of the individual mines or projects within a geographic region are not alike. As a result, these operating segments also represent the Company’s reportable segments for accounting purposes. The Company’s business activities that are not considered operating segments are included in General and Administrative and Other Income or Expense line item in the below table, and are provided for reconciliation purposes.
The CODM reviews segment income or loss, defined as gold and silver sales less production costs applicable to sales, depreciation and depletion, advanced projects and exploration costs, for all segments except for the MSC segment, which is evaluated based on the attributable equity income or loss. Gold and silver sales and production costs applicable to sales for the reportable segments are reported net of intercompany transactions.
Capital expenditures include costs capitalized in mineral property interests and plant and equipment in the respective periods.
Significant information relating to the Company’s reportable operating segments for the periods presented is summarized in the tables below:
Three months ended March 31, 2023 |
| USA |
| Canada |
| Mexico |
| MSC |
| McEwen Copper |
| Total | ||||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 11,587 | $ | 23,165 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 34,752 | ||||||
Production costs applicable to sales | (9,341) | (14,072) | — | — | — |
| (23,413) | |||||||||||
Depreciation and depletion | (1,260) | (5,636) | — | — | — | (6,896) | ||||||||||||
Gross profit | 986 | 3,457 | — | — | — | 4,443 | ||||||||||||
Advanced projects | (289) | — | (1,391) | — | (31,880) |
| (33,560) | |||||||||||
Exploration | (773) | (4,740) | — | — | (387) | (5,900) | ||||||||||||
Loss from investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. | — | — | — | (3,461) | — |
| (3,461) | |||||||||||
Segment loss | $ | (76) | $ | (1,283) | $ | (1,391) | $ | (3,461) | $ | (32,267) | $ | (38,478) | ||||||
General and administrative and other | 1,532 | |||||||||||||||||
Loss before income and mining taxes | $ | (36,946) | ||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | $ | 2,991 | $ | 2,773 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 954 | $ | 6,718 |
8
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
Three months ended March 31, 2022 |
| USA |
| Canada |
| Mexico |
| MSC |
| McEwen Copper |
| Total | ||||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 11,742 | $ | 12,896 | $ | 904 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 25,542 | ||||||
Production costs applicable to sales | (14,172) | (8,647) | (5,005) | — | — | (27,824) | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and depletion | (818) | (2,894) | — | — | — | (3,712) | ||||||||||||
Gross profit (loss) | (3,248) | 1,355 | (4,101) | — | — | (5,994) | ||||||||||||
Advanced projects | (45) | (91) | (1,243) | — | $ | (9,756) | (11,135) | |||||||||||
Exploration | (1,449) | (1,700) | (1) | — | $ | (60) | (3,210) | |||||||||||
Loss from investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. | — | — | — | (1,120) | $ | — | (1,120) | |||||||||||
Segment loss | $ | (4,742) | $ | (436) | $ | (5,345) | $ | (1,120) | $ | (9,816) | $ | (21,459) | ||||||
General and administrative and other | (419) | |||||||||||||||||
Loss before income and mining taxes | $ | (21,878) | ||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | $ | 277 | $ | 3,546 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 234 | $ | 4,057 |
Geographic Information
Geographic information includes the long-lived asset balances and revenues presented for the Company’s operating segments, as follows:
Long-lived Assets | Revenue (1) | |||||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
USA (2) | $ | 75,957 | $ | 70,577 | $ | 11,587 | $ | 11,742 | ||||
Canada | 95,326 | 91,552 | 23,165 | 12,896 | ||||||||
Mexico | 29,218 | 29,219 | — | 904 | ||||||||
Argentina (3) | 253,707 | 255,718 | — | — | ||||||||
Total consolidated | $ | 454,208 | $ | 447,066 | $ | 34,752 | $ | 25,542 |
(1) | Presented based on the location from which the precious metals originated. |
(2) | Includes Elder Creek exploration property of $0.8 million as of March 31, 2023 (December 31, 2022 - $0.8 million). |
(3) | Includes Investment in MSC of $90.0 million as of March 31, 2023 (December 31, 2022 – $93.5 million) |
NOTE 3 OTHER INCOME
The following is a summary of other income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
Three months ended March 31, | |||||
2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Unrealized and realized gain on investments (Note 5) | $ | 296 | $ | 445 | |
Foreign currency gain on Blue Chip Swap | 7,993 | 2,189 | |||
Foreign currency (loss) gain, other | (10,641) | 798 | |||
Other (expense) income, net | (227) | 439 | |||
Total other (expense) income | $ | (2,579) | $ | 3,871 |
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company completed two Blue Chip Swap transactions to transfer funds from its Canadian USD bank account to Argentina. These funds were used for the continued development of the Los Azules Copper project. The Company realized a net gain of $7.5 million comprised of a foreign currency gain of $7.9 million and a realized loss on investments of $0.4 million, including the impact of fees and commissions. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company completed three Blue Chip Swap transactions and realized a net gain of $2.1 million comprised of a foreign currency gain of $2.2 million and a realized loss on investments of $0.1 million.
9
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
NOTE 4 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents held in USD | $ | 45,697 | $ | 36,305 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents held in ARS¹ | 143,796 | 2,144 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents held in other currencies | 1,283 | 1,333 | ||||
Total cash and cash equivalents | $ | 190,776 | $ | 39,782 |
(1) | Argentine Peso (“ARS”) |
As of March 31, 2023, the cash balance of ARS $29.5 billion was converted to the USD using the official exchange rate of 209.0:1. As of December 31, 2022, the cash balance of ARS $0.4 billion was converted to the USD using the official exchange rate of 177.2:1.
As of March 31, 2023, of $190.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, $149.1 million in cash and $9.7 million in bankers’ acceptance notes with maturity dates between
to 81 days were held by McEwen Copper.NOTE 5 INVESTMENTS
The following is a summary of the activity in investments for the three months ended March 31, 2023:
As at | Additions/ | Net gain | Disposals/ | Unrealized | As at | |||||||||||||
December 31, | transfers during | (loss) on | transfers during | gain on | March 31, | |||||||||||||
| 2022 |
| period |
| securities sold |
| period |
| securities held |
| 2023 | |||||||
Marketable equity securities – fair value | 1,133 | — | — | — | 296 | 1,429 | ||||||||||||
Warrants | 162 | — | — | — | — | 162 | ||||||||||||
Total Investments | $ | 1,295 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 296 | $ | 1,591 |
On June 23, 2021, the Company closed the sale of two projects in Nevada, Limousine Butte and Cedar Wash, with Nevgold Corp. (“Nevgold”). In addition to $0.5 million cash received as part of the consideration, the Company received 4,963,455 common shares and 2,481,727 warrants of Nevgold. Upon issuance, the common shares received by the Company represented 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of Nevgold. The warrants have an exercise price of C$0.60 per share and are exercisable until June 23, 2023. The common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange.
NOTE 6 RECEIVABLES, PREPAIDS AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
The following is a breakdown of balances in receivables, prepaids and other assets as at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
| March 31, 2023 |
| December 31, 2022 | |||
Government sales tax receivable | $ | 2,467 | $ | 2,868 | ||
Prepaids and other assets | 5,076 | 5,972 | ||||
Receivables, prepaid and other current assets | $ | 7,543 | $ | 8,840 |
10
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
NOTE 7 INVENTORIES
Inventories at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 consisted of the following:
| March 31, 2023 |
| December 31, 2022 | |||
Material on leach pads | $ | 16,564 | $ | 7,571 | ||
In-process inventory |
| 3,797 |
| 3,674 | ||
Stockpiles |
| 11,275 |
| 15,392 | ||
Precious metals |
| 1,896 |
| 2,119 | ||
Materials and supplies |
| 6,801 |
| 5,411 | ||
$ | 40,333 | $ | 34,167 | |||
Less long-term portion | (16,773) | (2,432) | ||||
$ | 23,560 | $ | 31,735 |
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, inventory at the Fox Complex, El Gallo and Gold Bar operations were written down to their estimated net realizable value by $0.8 million, $3.4 million and $nil respectively. Of these write-downs, a total of $4.2 million was included in production costs applicable to sales and $nil was included in depreciation and depletion in the Statement of Operations.
NOTE 8 MINERAL PROPERTY INTERESTS AND PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
The applicable definition of proven and probable reserves is set forth in the new Regulation S-K 1300 requirements of the SEC. If proven and probable reserves exist at the Company’s properties, the relevant capitalized mineral property interests and asset retirement costs are charged to expense based on the units of production method upon commencement of production. The Company’s Gold Bar Mine and San José properties have proven and probable reserves estimated in accordance with S-K 1300. The Fox Complex is depleted and depreciated using the units-of-production method over the stated mine life, as the project does not have proven and probable reserves compliant with S-K 1300.
The Company reviews and evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment on a quarterly basis or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Once it is determined that impairment exists, an impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the asset carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, no indicators of impairment have been noted for any of the Company’s mineral property interests.
NOTE 9 INVESTMENT IN MINERA SANTA CRUZ S.A. (“MSC”) – SAN JOSÉ MINE
The Company accounts for investments over which it exerts significant influence but does not control through majority ownership using the equity method of accounting. MSC is operated by the Company’s joint venture partner, Hochschild Mining PLC.
In applying the equity method of accounting, MSC’s financial statements, which are originally prepared by MSC in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, have been adjusted to conform with U.S. GAAP. As such, the summarized financial data presented under this heading is presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
11
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
A summary of the operating results for MSC for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (100%) | ||||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 45,740 | $ | 39,207 | ||
Production costs applicable to sales | (41,124) | (31,789) | ||||
Depreciation and depletion | (8,230) | (6,896) | ||||
Gross (loss) profit | (3,614) | 522 | ||||
Exploration | (1,952) | (1,735) | ||||
Other expenses(1) | (3,234) | (3,880) | ||||
Net loss before tax | $ | (8,800) | $ | (5,093) | ||
Current and deferred tax expense | 3,315 | 3,807 | ||||
Net loss | $ | (5,485) | $ | (1,286) | ||
Portion attributable to McEwen Mining Inc. (49%) | ||||||
Net loss | $ | (2,687) | $ | (630) | ||
Amortization of fair value increments |
| (884) |
| (613) | ||
Income tax recovery | 110 | 123 | ||||
Loss from investment in MSC, net of amortization | $ | (3,461) | $ | (1,120) |
(1) Other expenses include foreign exchange, accretion of asset retirement obligations and other finance-related expenses.
The income or loss from the investment in MSC attributable to the Company includes amortization of the fair value increments arising from the initial purchase price allocation and related income tax recovery. The income tax recovery reflects the impact of the devaluation of the Argentine peso against the U.S. dollar on the peso-denominated deferred tax liability recognized at the time of acquisition, as well as income tax rate changes over the periods.
Changes in the Company’s investment in MSC for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and year ended December 31, 2022 are as follows:
Three months ended March 31, 2023 |
| Year ended | |||
Investment in MSC, beginning of period | $ | 93,451 | $ | 90,961 | |
Attributable net (loss) income from MSC | (2,687) | 6,303 | |||
Amortization of fair value increments |
| (884) |
| (4,155) | |
Income tax recovery | 110 | 628 | |||
Dividend distribution received |
| — |
| (286) | |
Investment in MSC, end of period | $ | 89,990 | $ | 93,451 |
A summary of the key assets and liabilities of MSC as at March 31, 2023, before and after adjustments for fair value increments arising from the purchase price allocation, are as follows:
As at March 31, 2023 | Balance excluding FV increments | Adjustments | Balance including FV increments | ||||||
Current assets | $ | 81,676 | $ | 705 | $ | 82,381 | |||
Total assets | $ | 188,078 | $ | 79,484 | $ | 267,562 | |||
Current liabilities | $ | (52,936) | $ | — | $ | (52,936) | |||
Total liabilities | $ | (82,855) | $ | (1,071) | $ | (83,926) |
12
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
NOTE 10 DEBT
A reconciliation of the Company’s debt for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 is as follows:
| Three months ended March 31, 2023 |
| Year ended | |||
Balance, beginning of year | $ | 63,979 | $ | 48,866 | ||
Promissory notes - initial recognition | — | 15,000 | ||||
Interest expense |
| 1,347 |
| 5,488 | ||
Interest payments |
| (1,202) |
| (4,875) | ||
Financing fee | - | (500) | ||||
Balance, end of period | $ | 64,124 | $ | 63,979 | ||
Less: current portion | 16,000 | 10,000 | ||||
Long-term portion | $ | 48,124 | 53,979 |
NOTE 11 ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The Company is responsible for the reclamation of certain past and future disturbances at its properties. The most significant properties subject to these obligations are the Gold Bar and Tonkin properties in Nevada, the Fox Complex properties in Canada and the El Gallo Project in Mexico.
A reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement obligations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 are as follows:
Three months ended March 31, 2023 |
| Year ended | |||
Asset retirement obligation liability, beginning balance | $ | 41,846 | $ | 35,452 | |
Settlements |
| (270) |
| (774) | |
Accretion of liability |
| 610 |
| 2,354 | |
Revisions to estimates and discount rate |
| 20 |
| 5,664 | |
Foreign exchange revaluation | 1 | (850) | |||
Asset retirement obligation liability, ending balance | $ | 42,207 | $ | 41,846 | |
Less current portion | 12,797 | 12,576 | |||
Long-term portion | $ | 29,410 | $ | 29,270 |
Reclamation expense in the Statement of Operations includes adjustments for updates in the reclamation liability for properties that do not have reserves in compliance with S-K 1300. Reclamation accretion for all properties is as follows:
Three months ended March 31, | |||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||
Reclamation adjustment reflecting updated estimates | $ | 20 | $ | — | |
Reclamation accretion | 610 | 527 | |||
Total | $ | 630 | 527 |
13
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
NOTE 12 SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Equity Issuances
Flow-Through Shares Issuance – Canadian Exploration Expenditures (“CEE”)
The Company is required to spend the flow-through share proceeds from the 2022 issuance on flow-through eligible CEE as defined by subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). As of March 31, 2023, the Company had incurred a total of $5.6 million in eligible CEE (as of December 31, 2022 – $1.0 million). The Company expects to fulfill its remaining CEE commitments of $9.5 million by the end of 2023.
Shareholders’ Distributions
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Company is prevented from paying any dividends on its common stock, so long as the loan is outstanding.
NOTE 13 NET LOSS PER SHARE
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to the Company’s common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive instruments are not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, as they would be anti-dilutive.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, all the outstanding stock options (409,470) and all of the outstanding warrants (2,976,816) were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share. Similarly, for the three months ended March 31, 2022, the outstanding stock options (599,110) and the outstanding warrants (2,977,077) were excluded.
NOTE 14 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company recorded the following expense in respect to the related parties outlined below during the periods presented:
Three months ended March 31, | |||||
2023 |
| 2022 | |||
REVlaw | $ | 48 | 214 |
The Company has the following outstanding accounts payable balances in respect to the related parties outlined below:
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||
REVlaw | $ | 160 | 112 |
REVlaw is a company owned by Carmen Diges, General Counsel & Secretary of the Company. The legal services of Ms. Diges as General Counsel & Secretary and other support staff, as needed, are provided by REVlaw in the normal course of business and have been recorded at their exchange amount.
An affiliate of Robert R. McEwen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer participated as a lender in the $50.0 million term loan to which the Company is borrower by providing $25.0 million of the total $50.0 million funding and continued as such under the ARCA. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company paid $0.6 million, (three months ended March 31, 2022 – $0.6 million) in interest to this affiliate. The payments to the affiliate of Mr. McEwen are on the same terms as the non-affiliated lender. Interest is payable monthly at a rate of 9.75% per annum.
14
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
On March 31, 2022, the Company issued a $15.0 million unsecured subordinated promissory note to a company controlled by Mr. McEwen. The Promissory Note is payable in full on or before September 25, 2025, interest is payable monthly at a rate of 8% per annum and is subordinated to the ARCA loan facility. The amount of interest paid for the period ended March 31, 2023 was $0.3 million (March 31, 2022 – $nil).
NOTE 15 FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING
As required by accounting guidance, certain assets and liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Warrants
Upon initial recognition, the warrants received as part of the asset sale to Nevgold (Note 5) were valued using the Black-Scholes valuation model as they are not quoted in an active market. The warrants have been accounted for as equity investment at cost. Average volatility of 94.6% was determined based on a selection of similar junior mining companies. The warrants are exercisable upon receipt and have an exercise price of $0.60 per share and expire June 23, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, no warrants related to the Nevgold transaction have been exercised.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
The following table identifies certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Fair value as at March 31, 2023 |
| Fair value as at December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Total |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Total | |||||||
Marketable equity securities | $ | 1,429 | $ | — | $ | 1,429 | $ | 1,133 | $ | — | $ | 1,133 | ||||||
Total investments | $ | 1,429 | $ | — | $ | 1,429 | $ | 1,133 | $ | — | $ | 1,133 |
Marketable equity securities that the Company holds are exchange-traded and are valued using quoted market prices in active markets and as such are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the investment is calculated as the quoted market price of the marketable equity security multiplied by the number of shares held by the Company.
The fair value of financial assets and liabilities held at March 31, 2023 were assumed to approximate their carrying values due to their historically negligible credit losses.
Debt is recorded at a carrying value of $64.1 million (December 31, 2022 – $64.0 million). The debt is not traded on quoted markets and approximates its fair value based on recent refinancing.
NOTE 16 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In addition to the commitments for payments on operating and finance leases and the repayment of long-term debt (Note 10), as at March 31, 2023, the Company has the following commitments and contingencies:
Reclamation Obligations
As part of its ongoing business and operations, the Company is required to provide bonding for its environmental reclamation obligations. As at March 31, 2023, the Company had a surety facility in place to cover all its bonding obligations, which include $27.8 million of bonding in Nevada and $11.5 million (C$15.6 million) of bonding in Canada.
15
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
The terms of the facility carry an average annual financing fee of 2.3% and require a deposit of 10%. The surety bonds are available for draw-down by the beneficiary in the event the Company does not perform its reclamation obligations. If the specific reclamation requirements are met, the beneficiary of the surety bonds will release the instrument to the issuing entity. The Company believes it is in compliance with all applicable bonding obligations and will be able to satisfy future bonding requirements, through existing or alternative means, as they arise. As at March 31, 2023, the Company recorded $4.2 million in restricted cash in non-current assets as a deposit against the surety facility.
Streaming Agreement
As part of the acquisition of the Black Fox Complex in 2017, the Company assumed a gold purchase agreement (streaming contract) related to production from certain land claims. The Company is obligated to sell 8% of gold production from the Black Fox mine and 6.3% from the adjoining Pike River property (Black Fox extension) to Sandstorm Gold Ltd. at the lesser of market price or $561 per ounce (with inflation adjustments of up to 2% per year) until 2090.
The Company records the revenue from these shipments based on the contract price at the time of delivery to the customer. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded revenue of $0.4 million (2022 - $0.4 million) related to the gold stream sales.
Flow-through Eligible Expenses
On March 2, 2022, the Company completed a flow-through share issuance for gross proceeds of $15.1 million. The proceeds of this offering are required to be used for the continued exploration of the Company’s properties in the Timmins region of Canada. As at March 31, 2023, the Company has incurred $5.6 million of the required CEE spend and expects to fulfill the remaining $9.5 million of the CEE commitments by the end of 2023.
Prepayment Agreement
On July 27, 2022, the Company entered into a precious metals purchase agreement with Auramet International LLC (“Auramet”). Under this agreement, the Company may sell the gold on a Spot Basis, on a Forward Basis and on a Supplier Advance basis, i.e. the gold is priced and paid for while the gold is:
(i) | at a mine for a maximum of 15 business days before shipment; or |
(ii) | in-transit to a refinery; or |
(iii) | while being refined at a refinery. |
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company received the combined net proceeds of $22.8 million from the sales on a Supplier Advance Basis. The Company recorded revenue of $26.7 million related to the gold sales, with the remaining $2.3 million representing 1,200 ounces pledged but not yet delivered to Auramet, recorded as a contract liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Other potential contingencies
The Company’s mining and exploration activities are subject to various laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations are continually changing and generally becoming more restrictive. The Company conducts its operations so as to protect public health and the environment, and believes its operations are materially in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Company has made, and expects to make in the future, expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations.
16
MCEWEN MINING INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023
(tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)
The Company and its predecessors have transferred their interest in several mining properties to third parties throughout its history. The Company could remain potentially liable for environmental enforcement actions related to its prior ownership of such properties. However, the Company has no reasonable belief that any violation of relevant environmental laws or regulations has occurred regarding these transferred properties.
NOTE 17 NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS
On February 23, 2023, the Company and its subsidiary, McEwen Copper, closed the equity financing with a single investor, FCA Argentina S.A., an Argentinian subsidiary of Stellantis N.V (“Stellantis”), which consisted of a private placement of 2,850,000 additional common shares issued by McEwen Copper for gross proceeds of ARS $20.9 billion ($108.8 million) and a secondary sale of an additional 1,250,000 shares of McEwen Copper common stock indirectly owned by the Company for aggregate proceeds of ARS $9.1 billion ($46.6 million).
On March 15, 2023, Nuton LLC, a current shareholder of McEwen Copper and subsidiary of Rio Tinto (“Nuton”), exercised its preemptive rights under an existing shareholder agreement to purchase 350,000 shares of McEwen Copper common stock directly from McEwen Copper for aggregate proceeds of $6.6 million. On the same date, the Company and Nuton closed a secondary sale of an additional 1,250,000 shares of McEwen Copper common stock indirectly owned by the Company for aggregate proceeds of $23.4 million.
As a result of the transactions, the Company’s 68.1% ownership in McEwen Copper was reduced by 16.2% to 51.9%. The Company determined that it still controlled McEwen Copper and, consequently, the Company recorded $72.1 million as non-controlling interests and $113.3 million as additional paid-in-capital in 2023.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company recorded $6.7 million net income attributed to non-controlling interests of 48.1% (March 31, 2022 - $0.3 million net loss attributed to non-controlling interests of 18.6%).
17
Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
In the following discussion, “McEwen Mining,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refers to McEwen Mining Inc. and as the context requires, its consolidated subsidiaries.
The following discussion analyzes our financial condition at March 31, 2023 and compares it to our financial condition at December 31, 2022. The discussion also analyzes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and compares those to the results for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Regarding properties or projects that are not in production, we provide some details of our plan of operation. We suggest that you read this discussion in conjunction with MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS and our audited consolidated financial statements contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The discussion contains financial performance measures that are not prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“US GAAP” or “GAAP”). Each of the following is a non-GAAP measure: adjusted net income or loss, adjusted net income or loss per share, cash gross profit, cash costs, cash cost per ounce, all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”), all-in sustaining cost per ounce, average realized price per ounce, and liquid assets. These non-GAAP measures are used by management in running the business and we believe they provide useful information that can be used by investors to evaluate our performance and our ability to generate cash flows. These measures do not have standardized definitions and should not be relied upon in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Cash Costs equals Production Costs Applicable to Sales and is used interchangeably throughout the document.
For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the amounts included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 and to our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and certain limitations inherent in such measures, please see the discussion under “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures,” beginning on page 30.
This discussion also includes references to “advanced-stage properties,” which are defined as properties for which advanced studies and reports have been completed indicating the presence of mineralized material or proven and probable reserves, or that have obtained or are in the process of obtaining the required permitting. Our designation of certain properties as “advanced-stage properties” should not suggest that we have or ever will have proven or probable reserves at those properties as defined by S-K 1300.
Throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MDA”), the reporting periods for the three months ended on March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 are abbreviated as Q1/23 and Q1/22, the reporting for the year ended December 31, 2022 is abbreviated as the full year 2022. All quarterly and other interim results are unaudited.
In addition, in this report, gold equivalent ounces (“GEO”) includes gold and silver ounces calculated based on a silver to gold ratio of 84:1 for Q1/23, and 78:1 for Q1/22. Beginning with Q2/19, we adopted a variable silver to gold ratio for reporting that approximates the average price during each fiscal quarter.
OVERVIEW
The Company was organized under the laws of the State of Colorado on July 24, 1979. We produce and sell gold and silver from our operations in Canada, the United States and Argentina, and have a pipeline of exploration assets in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Argentina.
The Company owns a 100% interest in the Gold Bar mine in Nevada, United States, the Fox Complex in Ontario, Canada, the Fenix Project in Sinaloa, Mexico and a portfolio of exploration properties in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. As of March 31, 2023, the Company also owns a 51.9% interest in McEwen Copper Inc. (“McEwen Copper”), which holds the Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina and the Elder Creek exploration project in Nevada, United States. It also owns a 49% interest in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (“MSC”), which owns the producing San José silver-gold mine in Santa Cruz, Argentina and is operated by MSC’s majority owner, Hochschild Mining plc. The Company reports its investment in McEwen Copper as a controlling interest and its investment in MSC as an equity investment.
18
In this report, “Au” represents gold; “Ag” represents silver; “oz” represents troy ounce; “t” represents metric tonne; “g/t” represents grams per metric tonne; “ft” represents feet; “m” represents meter; “sq” represents square; C$ refers to Canadian dollars; and ARS refers to Argentine pesos. All of our financial information is reported in United States (U.S.) dollars unless otherwise noted.
Index to Management’s Discussion and Analysis:
20 | |
21 | |
22 | |
23 | |
23 | |
24 | |
24 | |
24 | |
25 | |
25 | |
25 | |
26 | |
26 | |
26 | |
27 | |
27 | |
28 | |
28 | |
30 | |
35 | |
35 | |
35 |
19
Q1/23 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 are summarized below and discussed further under “Consolidated Performance”:
Corporate Developments
● | We closed significant financings during Q1/23, primarily to advance our Los Azules copper project. On February 23, 2023, we closed an ARS $30 billion investment by FCA Argentina S.A., a subsidiary of Stellantis N.V. (“Stellantis”) to acquire shares of McEwen Copper in a two-part transaction. The transaction consisted of a private placement of 2,850,000 common shares of McEwen Copper, and the purchase of 1,250,000 common shares indirectly owned by McEwen Mining in a secondary sale. Additionally, on March 15, 2023, we closed a $30 million investment by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture and existing McEwen Copper shareholder to acquire shares of McEwen Copper in a two-part transaction. The transaction consisted of a private placement of 350,000 common shares of McEwen Copper, and the purchase of 1,250,000 common shares indirectly owned by McEwen Mining in a secondary sale. Proceeds of these transactions will be used to advance development of the Los Azules copper project, as well as for general corporate purposes at both McEwen Mining and McEwen Copper. A portion of the proceeds is also expected to be used to repay debt at McEwen Mining. |
Operational Highlights
● | GEO production improved during Q1/23 compared to Q1/22. We produced 30,397 GEOs in Q1/23 which included 11,241 attributable GEOs from the San José mine(1) and reiterate our consolidated production guidance of 150,000 to 170,000 GEOs for full year 2023. Q1/23 GEOs produced increased by 21% compared to Q1/22. |
● | Mill throughput increased by 25% at our Fox Complex operations. Crushing at the Stock Mill was replaced with remote crushing at Froome mine, which resulted in an increase in average tonnes per day (“tpd”) from 955 tpd in Q4/22 to 1,195 tpd in Q1/23. This sustained throughput improvement directly impacted our Q1/23 production of 12,700 GEOs, which places Fox Complex on track to meet guidance of 42,000 to 48,000 GEOs for full year 2023. |
● | At the Gold Bar Mine, we placed 15,036 contained gold ounces on our leach pad during Q1/23 from material mined from Gold Bar South, which represents a significant increase from Q4/22 of 12,495 ounces. As a result, increases in gold ounce production compared to Q1/23 are expected to be realized during the remainder of full year 2023 to meet production guidance of 42,000 to 48,000 GEOs at the Gold Bar mine. |
● | At the San José Mine, Q1/23 production was impacted by seasonal labor impacts and weaker than expected gold and silver mined grade against original forecast. MSC is executing on an infill drilling campaign to derisk its 2023 revised mine plan in order to meet its production guidance of 68,600 to 71,800 GEOs for full year 2023. |
● | Progress at Los Azules: Including April, we have now drilled over 105,000 feet (32,000 meters) this drilling season, exceeding the original target of 80,000 feet (25,000 meters). On April 14, 2023 McEwen Copper submitted its Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) for the future exploitation phase of the Los Azules project to authorities in San Juan, Argentina. |
● | We continue to meet safety expectations. Our 100% owned operations continued to experience zero lost-time incidents (“LTIs”) during Q1/23. |
Financial Highlights
● | We reported consolidated cash and cash equivalents of $190.8 million, of which $158.8 is to be used towards advancing the Los Azules copper project, and consolidated working capital of $134.7 million as at March 31, 2023. |
● | Revenues of $34.8 million were reported in Q1/23 from the sale of 19,193 GEOs from our 100% owned operations at an average realized price(2) of $1,856 per GEO. This compares to Q1/22 revenues of $25.5 million from the sale of 13,931 GEOs from our 100% owned operations at a realized price of $1,895 per GEO. |
20
● | We reported a gross profit of $4.4 million and cash gross profit(2) of $11.3 million in Q1/23, compared to gross loss of $6.0 million and cash gross loss(2) of $2.3 million in Q1/22. The increase in gross profit and cash gross profit directly resulted from improvements in productivity across our Fox Complex and Gold Bar mine operations. |
● | Net loss for Q1/23 was $43.1 million, or $0.91 per share, compared to Q1/22 of $20.7 million, or $0.45 per share. Compared to our gross profit, our net loss in Q1/23 was impacted by higher year-over-year exploration and advanced project expenditures, particularly at our Los Azules copper project. |
● | We reported adjusted net loss of $6.4 million in Q1/23 compared to $13.0 million in Q1/22. Adjusted net loss excludes the impact of the results of McEwen Copper and MSC, and we believe this metric best represents the results of our 100% owned precious metal operations. For Q1/23, adjusted net loss includes $7.2 million in exploration and advanced project expenditures at our Fox Complex, Gold Bar mine and Fenix Project operations. |
● | Cash costs per GEO sold for the Fox Complex in Q1/23 was $1,088, slightly above full year 2023 guidance of $1,000. At our Gold Bar mine, our cash costs per GEO sold in Q1/23 was $1,491, slightly above full year 2023 guidance of $1,400. At MSC, Q1/23 cash costs per GEO sold was $1,800, above full year 2023 guidance of $1,250. |
● | AISC per GEO sold for the Fox Complex in Q1/23 was $1,311, or slightly below full year 2023 guidance of $1,320. At our Gold Bar mine, our AISC per GEO sold in Q1/23 was $1,725 was slightly above full year 2023 guidance of $1,680. At MSC, Q1/23 AISC per GEO sold was $2,234, above full year 2023 guidance of $1,550. |
Exploration and Mineral Resources and Reserves
● | We spent $31.9 million on our Los Azules copper project in Argentina during Q1/23 to advance our multiple drill programs, the EIR, and our updated preliminary economic assessment, which we expect to release in Q2/23. |
● | We also incurred $5.9 million in exploration expenses, primarily in respect of defining our resource at our Stock West advanced project in the Fox Complex and de-risking our mine plan at the Gold Bar mine through additional drilling in our Pick pits. |
(1) | At our 49% attributable interest. |
(2) | As used here and elsewhere in this report, this is a Non-GAAP financial performance measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures” beginning on page 30. |
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS
The following tables present select financial and operating results of our company for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||
| | 2023 |
| 2022 | ||
| | (in thousands, except per share) | ||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales(1) | $ | 34,752 | $ | 25,542 | ||
Production costs applicable to sales(1) | $ | (23,413) | $ | (27,824) | ||
Gross profit (loss)(1) | $ | 4,443 | $ | (5,994) | ||
Adjusted net loss | $ | (6,403) | $ | (13,015) | ||
Adjusted net loss per share | $ | (0.14) | $ | (0.28) | ||
Net loss | $ | (43,076) | $ | (19,327) | ||
Net loss per share | $ | (0.91) | $ | (0.45) | ||
Cash gross profit (loss)(1) | $ | 11,339 | $ | (2,282) | ||
Cash used in operating activities | $ | (28,608) | $ | (15,620) | ||
Cash additions to mineral property interests and plant and equipment | $ | (4,950) | $ | (4,045) | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 190,776 | | $ | 63,783 | |
Working capital | | $ | 134,082 | | $ | 36,190 |
(1) | Excludes results from the San José mine, which is accounted for under the equity method. |
21
| | Three months ended March 31, | ||||
| | 2023 |
| 2022 | ||
| | (in thousands, except per ounce) | ||||
GEOs produced(1) | 30.4 | 25.1 | ||||
100% owned operations | 19.2 | 14.4 | ||||
San José mine (49% attributable) | 11.2 | 10.7 | ||||
GEOs sold(1) | 30.4 | 23.6 | ||||
100% owned operations | 19.2 | 13.9 | ||||
San José mine (49% attributable) | 11.2 | 9.8 | ||||
Average realized price ($/GEO)(2)(3) | $ | 1,856 | $ | 1,895 | ||
P.M. Fix Gold ($/oz) | $ | 1,890 | $ | 1,877 | ||
Cash costs per ounce sold ($/GEO):(2) | ||||||
100% owned operations | $ | 1,220 | $ | 1,696 | ||
San José mine (49% attributable) | $ | 1,800 | $ | 1,589 | ||
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO):(2) |
| |||||
100% owned operations | $ | 1,446 | $ | 2,146 | ||
San José mine (49% attributable) | $ | 2,234 | $ | 2,103 | ||
Cash gross profit (loss)(2) | $ | 11,339 | $ | (2,282) | ||
Silver:gold ratio(1) | 84:1 | 78:1 |
(1) | Silver production is presented as a gold equivalent with a silver: gold ratio of 84:1 for Q1/23 and 78:1 for Q1/22. |
(2) | As used here and elsewhere in this report, this is a Non-GAAP financial performance measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures” beginning on page 30. |
(3) | On sales from 100% owned operations only, excluding sales from our stream. |
CONSOLIDATED PERFORMANCE
During Q1/23, we reported cash gross profit of $11.3 million for Q1/23, which represents an improvement of $13.6 million from a $2.3 million cash gross loss in Q1/22. The increase in cash gross profit is attributed to increased revenue of $9.3 million as compared to Q1/22, driven by increased GEO production, and lower production costs of $4.4 million as compared to Q1/22 as a result of productivity improvements at the Fox Complex and Gold Bar Mine. See “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures” for a reconciliation to gross (loss) profit, which we consider to be the nearest GAAP measure.
During Q1/23, we reported a net loss of $43.1 million (or $0.91 per share) compared to $20.7 million (or $0.45 per share) in Q1/22. Our Q1/23 gross profit of $4.4 million from our operations was offset by $39.5 million of advanced project and exploration expenditures, the majority of which were in respect of the Los Azules copper project.
We reported adjusted net loss of $6.4 million (or $0.14 per share) in Q1/23 compared to $13.0 million (or $0.28 per share) in Q1/22. Our adjusted net loss excludes the impact of McEwen Copper and MSC’s results on our net loss. We believe this metric best represents the results of our 100% owned precious metal operations For Q1/23, our adjusted net loss of $6.4 million includes $7.2 million of exploration and advanced project expenditures primarily at our Fox Complex operations to advance our Stock West property.
Production from our 100% owned mines of 19,193 GEOs in Q1/23 increased by 5,262 GEOs as compared to 14,412 GEOs produced in Q1/22. At our Fox Complex operations, we increased production by 5,030 GEOs in Q1/23 as compared to Q1/22 as a result of mill throughput improvements and higher gold head grades, while at Gold Bar our production remained relatively constant year over year.
Our attributable share of the San José mine production was 11,241 GEOs in Q1/23, which was 5% higher than 10,731 GEOs produced in Q1/22. This increase was primarily driven by an increase in tonnes processed, partially offset by lower gold and silver head grades.
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CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS REVIEW
Revenue from gold and silver sales in Q1/23 of $34.8 million increased by 36% or $9.2 million compared to Q1/22 of $25.5 million. Higher revenues in Q1/23 compared to Q1/22 were primarily attributable to improved GEOs produced and sold at our Fox Complex, while Gold Bar production and sales remained relatively consistent. Realized gold prices decreased slightly in Q1/23 by $39 per gold ounce as compared to Q1/22, slightly offsetting our improved sales volumes.
Production costs applicable to sales in Q1/23 decreased by 16% or $4.4 million compared to Q1/22. We realized significant productivity improvements at Fox Complex in respect of increased mill throughput and at Gold Bar Mine in respect of a change in mining contractor.
Advanced project costs in Q1/23 of $33.6 million increased from $11.1 million in Q1/22. We spent $31.9 million during Q1/23 to advance multiple drilling campaigns and our updated preliminary economic assessment at the Los Azules copper project, and spent $1.4 million on the Fenix project for mobilization of the mill and rentals for the advancement of the project. We also spent $0.3 at Gold Bar mine towards sage grouse credits.
Exploration costs of $5.9 million for Q1/23 increased from $3.2 million in Q1/22. Exploration expenditures were primarily incurred at our Stock West advanced project, located within our Fox Complex operations in Canada, as we advance towards our goal of reopening the Stock mine. At our Gold Bar mine, we incurred $0.8 million of exploration costs primarily in respect of de-risking our mine plan for carbonaceous ore.
Loss from investment in MSC of $3.5 million in Q1/23 increased by $2.3 million from a $1.1 million loss in Q1/22. Seasonal labor impacts and weaker than expected mined grades against model negatively impacted MSC’s Q1/23 results. Details of MSC’s operating results are presented in the “Operations Review” section of this MDA and Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Reclamation and remediation expenses of $0.6 million for Q1/23 was consistent with $0.5 million for Q1/22.
Interest and other finance income net, of $8.5 million in Q1/23 increased by $10.1 million compared to to $1.6 million expense in Q1/22 driven by interest earned on cash holdings denominated in Argentine pesos. The Company invested its Argentine pesos in money market funds to mitigate devaluation risks of the Argentine peso against the US Dollar.
Other expense of $2.6 million in Q1/23 increased from the $3.9 million income recognized in Q1/22 as a result of an increase in foreign exchange losses driven by cash holdings denominated in ARS. This is discussed further in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Income and mining tax recovery of $0.5 million for Q1/23 increased compared to $0.8 million in Q1/22. The increase in the tax recovery for Q1/23 is primarily due to the flow-through share premium amortization.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our cash and cash equivalents balance as at March 31, 2023 of $190.8 million increased by $147.2 million, from $39.8 million as at December 31, 2022. The increase in cash and cash equivalents in Q1/23 was primarily driven by the closing of private placements and secondary sales for McEwen Copper, and offset by $39.5 in advanced projects and exploration expenses incurred. Of our cash balance as at March 31, 2023, a total of $158.8 million is allocated for advancing the Los Azules copper project.
Cash used in investing activities of $5.0 million in Q1/23 was driven primarily by capital development at our Froome mine in Canada.
Cash from financing activities of $185.0 million in Q1/23, were due to the private placement and secondary sale transactions for McEwen Copper discussed above. Further details are provided in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Working capital as at March 31, 2023 was $134.1 million, and increased by $136.6 million from negative working capital of $2.5 million as at December 31, 2022. The change is primarily attributable to an increase in our cash and cash equivalents as described above, offset by an increase in current debt of $16.0 million as a result of the timing of our required payments under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.
The Company believes that it has sufficient liquidity along with funds generated from ongoing operations to fund anticipated cash requirements for operations, capital expenditures and working capital purposes for the next 12 months.
OPERATIONS REVIEW
United States Segment
The United States segment is comprised of the Gold Bar mine and our exploration properties in the State of Nevada.
Gold Bar Mine
The following table summarizes certain operating results for the Gold Bar mine for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
Three months ended March 31, | |||||
2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Operating Results | |||||
Mined mineralized material (t) | 563 |
| 280 | ||
Average grade (g/t Au) | 0.84 |
| 0.81 | ||
Processed mineralized material (t) | 579 |
| 337 | ||
Average grade (g/t Au) | 0.83 |
| 0.62 | ||
Gold ounces: | |||||
Produced | 6.5 |
| 6.3 | ||
Sold | 6.3 |
| 6.2 | ||
Silver ounces: | |||||
Produced | 0.2 |
| 0.2 | ||
Sold | 0.4 |
| — | ||
GEOs: | |||||
Produced | 6.5 |
| 6.3 | ||
Sold | 6.3 |
| 6.2 | ||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 11,587 | $ | 11,742 | |
Cash costs(1) | $ | 9,341 | $ | 14,172 | |
Cash costs per ounce sold ($/GEO)(1) | $ | 1,491 | $ | 2,284 | |
All‑in sustaining costs(1) | $ | 10,805 | $ | 16,336 | |
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO)(1) | $ | 1,725 | $ | 2,633 | |
Silver : gold ratio |
| 84:1 |
| 78:1 |
(1) | As used here and elsewhere in this report, this is a Non-GAAP financial performance measure. Cash costs for the Company’s 100% owned operations equal Production costs applicable to sales. See “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures” beginning on page 30 for additional information. |
Q1/23 compared to Q1/22
The Gold Bar mine produced 6,453 GEOs in Q1/23, slightly higher than 6,270 GEOs produced in Q1/22.
Revenue from gold and silver sales of $11.6 million in Q1/23 declined slightly from $11.7 million in Q1/22 as a result of a decrease in average realized gold price from $1,892 per ounce in Q1/22 to $1,814 per ounce in Q1/23 offsetting the increase in GEOs sold. Sales of 6,265 GEOs in Q1/23 were slightly higher than in Q1/22 of 6,205 GEOs.
Production costs applicable to sales of $9.3 million in Q1/23 decreased by $4.8 million from the $14.2 million in Q1/22 primarily as a result of operational improvements to productivity. Our mining strip ratio declined year-over-year as a result of an updated mine plan avoiding carbonaceous ore, decreasing the amount of waste tonnes mined as well as increasing ore tonnes mined.
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Cash cost and AISC per GEO sold in Q1/23 were $1,491 and $1,725, respectively, and $2,284 and $2,633 in Q1/22, respectively. The decrease in unit costs realized were driven by productivity improvements as described above as we increased our mined and stacked tonnage while maintaining a similar cost base.
Exploration Activities – Nevada
During Q1/23, exploration activities were focused on de-risking the Pick Pit and defining the boundaries of our oxide resource to the west and southwest. Reverse circulation (“RC”) drilling was initiated at the beginning of March, targeting a total of 2,180 feet completed over 6 holes. The program will continue into Q2/23 for another 6 holes.
We also began RC drilling at our Benmark target, which tests the favorable Horse Canyon – Devil’s Gate contact zone near the Ridge fault projection. The Benmark target is immediately southwest of our leach pad, and if results are positive, may be accretive to our mine plan going forward. Results of our drilling, along with surface sample geochemistry results will be analyzed during Q2/23.
At Cabin South, an 18-hole phase I drill program was staked and snow clearing is complete. Drill pads were completed in April 2023 and drilling is expected to be underway shortly.
Canada Segment
The Canada segment is comprised of the Fox Complex gold properties, which includes our Froome underground mine; the Grey Fox and Stock West advanced-stage projects; the Stock mill; a number of exploration properties located near the city of Timmins, Ontario, Canada; and the Black Fox mine, currently on care and maintenance.
Fox Complex
The following table summarizes the operating results for the Fox Complex for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022:
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Operating Results | (in thousands, unless otherwise indicated) | |||||
Mined mineralized material (t) |
| 91 |
| 103 | ||
Average grade (g/t Au) |
| 4.19 |
| 3.51 | ||
Processed mineralized material (t) |
| 108 |
| 68 | ||
Average grade (g/t Au) |
| 4.11 |
| 3.86 | ||
Gold ounces: | ||||||
Produced |
| 12.7 |
| 7.0 | ||
Sold, excluding stream | 12.2 | 6.6 | ||||
Sold, stream |
| 0.7 |
| 0.6 | ||
Sold, including stream | 12.9 | 7.2 | ||||
Silver ounces: | ||||||
Produced |
| 1.4 |
| 0.7 | ||
Sold |
| 2.5 |
| — | ||
GEOs: | ||||||
Produced |
| 12.7 |
| 7.7 | ||
Sold | 12.9 | 7.2 | ||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 23,165 | $ | 12,896 | ||
Cash costs(1) | $ | 14,072 | $ | 8,647 | ||
Cash costs per ounce sold ($/GEO)(1) | $ | 1,088 | $ | 1,193 | ||
All‑in sustaining costs(1) | $ | 16,949 | $ | 12,531 | ||
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO)(1) | $ | 1,311 | $ | 1,729 | ||
Silver:gold ratio |
| 84:1 |
| 78:1 |
(1) As used here and elsewhere in this report, this is a Non-GAAP financial performance measure. Cash costs for the Company’s 100% owned operations equal Production costs applicable to sales. See “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures” beginning on page 30 for additional information.
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Q1/23 compared to Q1/22
The Froome mine produced 12,700 GEOs in Q1/23, which reflects a 66% increase from the 7,670 GEOs produced in Q1/22 and was driven by a 59% increase in processed mineralized material. We restructured our crushing operations at the Fox Complex and achieved a 25% increase in mill throughput compared to Q4/22.
Revenue from gold sales of $23.2 million increased in Q1/23 by $10.3 million compared to Q1/22, driven by an increase in GEOs sold by 78% and a slight increase in average realized gold price from $1,780 per ounce in Q1/22 to $1,792 per ounce in Q1/23. Average realized gold prices at the Fox Complex are impacted by our historic streaming arrangements.
Production costs applicable to sales were $14.1 million in Q1/23 compared to $8.6 million in Q1/22, reflecting the increase in GEOs produced and sold, as described above.
Cash cost and AISC per GEO sold were $1,088/oz and $1,311/oz in Q1/23, respectively, and $1,193 and $1,729 in Q1/22, respectively. The decrease in unit costs were driven by production improvements at the Froome mine, particularly in respect of a sustained increase in mill throughput from a restructuring of crushing activities. Additionally, mined gold grades were higher in Q1/23 which drove an increase in GEO production and sales.
Exploration Activities
In Q1/23, we incurred $4.7 million for exploration at Stock West. We drilled 96,870 feet over 92 holes completed, using seven surface diamond drill rigs. In addition, a follow up mineralogical study was initiated to help optimize remaining drill targets for the Stock West project as well as provide insights into planning Stock West production in respect of grade control and mill recovery.
Mexico Segment
The Mexico segment includes the El Gallo mine and the related advanced-stage Fenix Project, both located in Sinaloa state.
Advanced-Stage Properties – Fenix Project
We announced on December 31, 2020 the results of a feasibility study for the development of our 100%-owned Fenix Project, which includes existing heap leach material at the El Gallo mine and the El Gallo Silver deposit.
Key environmental permits for Phase 1 were received in 2019, including the approval for an in-pit tailings storage facility and process plant construction.
An agreement to purchase a second-hand gold processing plant and associated equipment was executed in September 2022 for a purchase price of $2.8 million. This package includes substantially all the major components required for Phase 1 of the anticipated Fenix Project as well as surplus items that can be sold or used at our other operations. This equipment purchase materially reduces the Phase 1 capital investment required which, for the process plant, was $25.3 million out of the $41.6 million total estimate in our Fenix Project feasibility study. During Q1/23, the plant was fully moved from Los Mochis to the Fenix Project site. A final processing flowsheet is being developed and a third-party engineering firm has been engaged to scope a startup plan for the Fenix Project.
Multiple strategic alternatives continue to be evaluated for the project including financing options, lowering capital costs, potential base metal evaluation and the possible divestiture of our Mexican business unit.
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MSC Segment, Argentina
The MSC Segment is comprised of a 49% interest in the San José mine, located in Santa Cruz, Argentina.
The following table sets out certain operating results for the San José mine for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 on a 100% basis:
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Operating Results | (in thousands, except otherwise indicated) | |||||
San José Mine—100% basis | ||||||
Mined mineralized material (t) |
| 108 |
| 103 | ||
Average grade mined (g/t) | ||||||
Gold |
| 4.3 |
| 5.5 | ||
Silver |
| 237 |
| 300 | ||
Processed mineralized material (t) |
| 128 |
| 74 | ||
Average grade processed (g/t) | ||||||
Gold |
| 3.9 |
| 6.4 | ||
Silver |
| 215 |
| 331 | ||
Average recovery (%): | ||||||
Gold |
| 85% |
| 87% | ||
Silver |
| 88% |
| 87% | ||
Gold ounces: | ||||||
Produced |
| 13.7 |
| 13.2 | ||
Sold |
| 13.5 |
| 11.8 | ||
Silver ounces: | ||||||
Produced |
| 778 |
| 685 | ||
Sold |
| 783 |
| 640 | ||
GEOs: | ||||||
Produced |
| 22.9 |
| 21.9 | ||
Sold |
| 22.8 |
| 20.0 | ||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 45,740 | $ | 39,207 | ||
Average realized price: | ||||||
Gold ($/Au oz) | $ | 2,002 | $ | 1,961 | ||
Silver ($/Ag oz) | $ | 23.84 | $ | 25.14 | ||
Cash costs(1) | $ | 41,124 | $ | 31,789 | ||
Cash costs per ounce sold ($/GEO)(1) | $ | 1,800 | $ | 1,589 | ||
All‑in sustaining costs(1) | $ | 51,036 | $ | 42,068 | ||
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO)(1) | $ | 2,234 | $ | 2,103 | ||
Silver : gold ratio | 84:1 |
| 78:1 |
(1) As used here and elsewhere in this report, this is a Non-GAAP financial performance measure. Cash costs for the Company’s 100% owned operations equal Production costs applicable to sales. See “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures” beginning on page 30 for additional information.
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The analysis below compares the operating and financial results of MSC on a 100% basis.
Q1/23 compared to Q1/22
GEOs produced increased by 5% to 22,941 in Q1/23 from 21,900 in Q1/22. A 73% increase in ore tonnes processed was largely offset by declines in average gold and silver head grades processed. MSC has planned a drill program in Q2/23 to de-risk its full year 2023 mine plan and improve mined metal grades through the remainder of the year.
Revenue from gold and silver sales increased by 17% in Q1/23 to $45.7 million, compared to $39.2 million in Q1/22. Revenue increased both due to higher GEOs sold and a higher realized gold price per ounce in Q1/23.
Production costs applicable to sales were $41.1 million in Q1/23 compared to $31.8 million in Q1/22, primarily driven by higher tonnes processed during Q1/23 as inventory stockpiles were drawn down.
Cash costs and AISC per GEO sold were $1,800 and $2,234 in Q1/23, respectively, and $1,589 and $2,103 in Q1/22, respectively. The increase in unit costs were driven by lower head grades processed, resulting in lower sold ounces relative to production costs, which increased due to higher tonnes processed during Q1/23.
Investment in MSC
Our 49% attributable share of operations from our investment in MSC in Q1/23 resulted in a loss of $3.5 million , compared to a loss of $1.1 million in Q1/22.
McEwen Copper Inc.
We own a 51.9% interest in McEwen Copper Inc., which owns a 100% interest in the Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina, and the Elder Creek exploration project in Nevada, USA.
On February 23, 2023, we closed an ARS $30 billion investment by FCA Argentina S.A., a subsidiary of Stellantis N.V. (“Stellantis”) to acquire shares of McEwen Copper in a two-part transaction. The transaction consisted of a private placement of 2,850,000 common shares of McEwen Copper, and the purchase of 1,250,000 common shares indirectly owned by McEwen Mining in a secondary sale. Additionally, on March 15, 2023, we closed a $30 million investment by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture and existing McEwen Copper shareholder to acquire shares of McEwen Copper in a two-part transaction. The transaction consisted of a private placement of 350,000 common shares of McEwen Copper, and the purchase of 1,250,000 common shares indirectly owned by McEwen Mining in a secondary sale. Proceeds of these transactions will be used to advance development of the Los Azules copper project and for general corporate purposes at McEwen Copper and McEwen Mining, including the repayment of debt at McEwen Mining.
Los Azules, San Juan, Argentina
The Los Azules project is one of the world’s largest undeveloped open-pit copper porphyry deposits and is located in the Province of San Juan, Argentina. The total indicated and inferred resources were estimated at 10.2 and 19.3 billion lbs of copper, respectively, as determined in our 2017 PEA. Since that time, extensive enterprise optimization work has been completed on potential larger scale, lower cost and lower carbon footprint options compared with the 2017 PEA.
McEwen Copper spent $31.9 million dollars in Q1/23 on the activities below:
Drilling Program
Four drilling contractors operating a total of 15 drill rigs have been engaged for the 2022-2023 drilling season, which is expected to end by mid-Q2/23 as winter begins in San Juan. Included in this drill rig inventory are four Boart Longyear LF160 diamond drill rigs owned by Andes Corporacion Minera S.A., McEwen Copper’s wholly-owned Argentinean subsidiary, as well as the support of the only sonic drill rig in operation in Argentina. Over 105,000 feet (32,000 meters) of drilling has been completed to date in this drilling season, the majority of which are in respect of infill, geotechnical,
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and hydrological drilling to support our updated preliminary economic assessment, expected to be published in Q2/23. We also completed additional step-out exploration drilling to test further extension of the mineralization.
The drilling program aims to:
1. Increase drill hole density in an effort to upgrade our copper mineral resource classification and better understand our payback pit design;
2. Provide metallurgical, hydrological and geotechnical data to facilitate mine design;
3. Test for potential extensions of the resource to the north, south and at depth to determine how much larger the identified deposit could be; and
4. Gather other technical information to support our future feasibility study.
Road Construction
A new low altitude access road (max. 11,155 feet above sea level) was completed in 2022, which has only one high mountain pass, which we share with other mining projects, including El Pachón (Glencore) and Altar (Stillwater-Sibanye and Aldebaran Resources). We expect the new road will be further upgraded and adapted for winter operating conditions. It was successfully used for demobilization and allowed the drilling season to be extended until May 2022. In addition, work is being done on the initial exploration access road to extend road widths and improve berms. We also successfully improved switchbacks to allow for the passage of semi-trailer transports. As we advance, this will allow for safer operation and more cost and logistics efficiencies. It is anticipated that the two existing roads to the site will provide almost year-round access to adequately support the current phase of work.
Technical Studies
Our study teams continue to work on an updated PEA to include all available drill information, assay information and metallurgical testing of core obtained during the 2017, 2018 and 2022 exploration seasons. Work on trade-off studies related to power supply and the potential for renewables, mining methods and processing options, an updated glacier study, and initial geotechnical fieldwork for the design of the heap leach, a potential future tailings as well as waste storage facilities were continued during the quarter. Hydro-geological holes are underway as discussed above, and complement the work on the assessments of historical information and the re-establishment of existing water monitoring locations.
Hyperspectral scanning has been completed all historic core, and new core is scanned when obtained. Data from this initiative will ensure a refined and improved geological and resource model. Hyperspectral data is expected to be used for geotechnical, metallurgical and resource modelling.
A preliminary optimization study completed by Whittle Consulting in Q1/22 using existing information was further refined during the remainder of the year. The study focused on the following objectives: value improvement, scale and capital requirement optimization, reduction in complexity, risk minimization and to enable fast trade-off analysis of environmentally friendly and regenerative solutions. Currently, we are developing a scenario for Los Azules as an open pit mine that initially processes leachable copper content in a heap leach, with a solvent extraction and electrowinning (“SX/EW”) facility to produce LME Grade A copper cathodes for consumption in Argentina or export. This scenario will greatly reduce capital expenditures, as compared to using a flotation concentrator, and would be more environmentally friendly due to a lower carbon footprint and usage of significantly less water.
Metallurgical studies continue, utilizing international certified laboratories as well as additional confirmation work with the Institute of Mining Investigations, part of the engineering faculty of the University of San Juan and our partners from Nuton, the Rio Tinto venture specialized in heap leaching of copper ore. Initial results show promising recoveries and reduced acid consumption for the scenario described above.
An Environmental Impact Report on the Los Azules project was submitted to the Ministry of Mining in Argentina on April, 14, 2023. The 6th EIR Update for Exploration phase is under review by regulatory authorities.
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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES
We have included in this report certain non-GAAP financial performance measures as detailed below. In the gold mining industry, these are common performance measures but do not have any standardized meaning and are considered non-GAAP measures. We use these measures in evaluating our business and believe that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, certain investors use such non-GAAP measures to evaluate our performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, they are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations associated with the use of such non-GAAP measures. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our U.S. GAAP results and using the non-GAAP measures supplementally.
The non-GAAP measures are presented for our wholly owned mines and the San José mine. The GAAP information used for the reconciliation to the non-GAAP measures for the San José mine may be found in Note 9, Investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (“MSC”) – San José Mine. The amounts in the tables labeled “49% basis” were derived by applying to each financial statement line item the ownership percentage interest used to arrive at our share of net income or loss during the period when applying the equity method of accounting. We do not control the interest in or operations of MSC and the presentations of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses of MSC do not represent our legal claim to such items. The amount of cash we receive is based upon specific provisions of the Option and Joint Venture Agreement (“OJVA”) and varies depending on factors including the profitability of the operations.
The presentation of these measures, including those for MSC, has limitations as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations include:
● | The amounts shown on MSC’s individual line items do not represent our legal claim to its assets and liabilities, or the revenues and expenses; and |
● | Other companies in our industry may calculate their cash gross profit, cash costs, cash cost per ounce, all-in sustaining costs, all-in sustaining cost per ounce, average realized price per ounce, and liquid assets differently than we do, limiting the usefulness as a comparative measure. |
Adjusted Net Income or Loss and Adjusted Net Income or Loss Per Share
Adjusted net income or loss is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not have any standardized meaning. We use adjusted net income to evaluate our operating performance and ability to generate cash flow from our wholly-owned operations in production; we disclose this metric as we believe this measure provides valuable assistance to investors and analysts in evaluating our ability to finance our precious metal operations and capital activities separately from our copper operations. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with GAAP is net loss. Adjusted net income is calculated by adding back McEwen Copper and MSC’s income or loss impacts to our consolidated net income or loss.
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The following tables present a reconciliation of adjusted net income to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net income:
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||
| | 2023 |
| 2022 | ||
Adjusted net income or loss | | (in thousands) | ||||
Net loss after income and mining taxes | $ | (36,410) | $ | (21,064) | ||
Adjusted for: | ||||||
Advanced Projects – McEwen Copper (Note 2) | 31,880 | 9,756 | ||||
Exploration – McEwen Copper (Note 2) | 387 | 60 | ||||
General and administrative – McEwen Copper | 773 | 104 | ||||
Interest and other finance income – McEwen Copper | (9,198) | (467) | ||||
Foreign currency gain – McEwen Copper | 2,112 | (2,523) | ||||
Income tax expense – McEwen Copper | 592 | — | ||||
Loss from investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (Note 9) | 3,461 | 1,120 | ||||
Adjusted net loss | $ | (6,403) | $ | (13,015) | ||
Weighted average shares outstanding (thousands) | 47,428 | 46,402 | ||||
Adjusted net loss per share | (0.14) | (0.28) |
Cash Gross Profit or Loss
Cash gross profit or loss is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not have any standardized meaning. We use cash gross profit to evaluate our operating performance and ability to generate cash flow; we disclose cash gross profit as we believe this measure provides valuable assistance to investors and analysts in evaluating our ability to finance our ongoing business and capital activities. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with GAAP is gross profit or loss. Cash gross profit is calculated by adding back the depreciation and depletion expense to gross profit or loss.
The following tables present a reconciliation of cash gross profit or loss to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, gross profit or loss:
Three months ended March 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
Gold Bar | Fox Complex | | El Gallo | | Total (100% owned) | |||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Gross profit | $ | 986 | $ | 3,457 | $ | — | $ | 4,443 | ||||
Add: Depreciation and depletion | 1,260 | 5,636 | — | 6,896 | ||||||||
Cash gross profit | $ | 2,246 | $ | 9,093 | $ | — | $ | 11,339 |
Three months ended March 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||
Gold Bar | Fox Complex | | El Gallo | | Total (100% owned) | |||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Gross profit (loss) | $ | (3,248) | $ | 1,355 | $ | (4,101) | $ | (5,994) | ||||
Add: Depreciation and depletion | 818 | 2,894 | — | 3,712 | ||||||||
Cash gross profit (loss) | $ | (2,430) | $ | 4,249 | $ | (4,101) | $ | (2,282) |
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||
San José mine cash gross profit (100% basis) | (in thousands) | |||||
Gross profit (loss) | $ | (3,614) | $ | 522 | ||
Add: Depreciation and depletion | 8,230 | 6,896 | ||||
Cash gross profit | $ | 4,616 | $ | 7,418 |
Cash Costs and All-In Sustaining Costs
The terms cash costs, cash cost per ounce, all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”), and all-in sustaining cost per ounce used in this report are non-GAAP financial measures. We report these measures to provide additional information regarding operational efficiencies on an individual mine basis, and believe these measures used by the mining industry provide investors and analysts with useful information about our underlying costs of operations.
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Cash costs consist of mining, processing, on-site general and administrative expenses, community and permitting costs related to current operations, royalty costs, refining and treatment charges (for both doré and concentrate products), sales costs, export taxes and operational stripping costs, but exclude depreciation and amortization (non-cash items). The sum of these costs is divided by the corresponding gold equivalent ounces sold to determine a per ounce amount.
All-in sustaining costs consist of cash costs (as described above), plus accretion of retirement obligations and amortization of the asset retirement costs related to operating sites, environmental rehabilitation costs for mines with no reserves, sustaining exploration and development costs, sustaining capital expenditures and sustaining lease payments. Our all-in sustaining costs exclude the allocation of corporate general and administrative costs. The following is additional information regarding our all-in sustaining costs:
● | Sustaining operating costs represent expenditures incurred at current operations that are considered necessary to maintain current annual production at the mine site and include mine development costs and ongoing replacement of mine equipment and other capital facilities. Sustaining capital costs do not include the costs of expanding the project that would result in improved productivity of the existing asset, increased existing capacity or extended useful life. |
● | Sustaining exploration and development costs include expenditures incurred to sustain current operations and to replace reserves and/or resources extracted as part of the ongoing production. Exploration activity performed near-mine (brownfield) or new exploration projects (greenfield) are classified as non-sustaining. |
The sum of all-in sustaining costs is divided by the corresponding gold equivalent ounces sold to determine a per ounce amount.
Costs excluded from cash costs and all-in sustaining costs, in addition to depreciation and depletion, are income and mining tax expense, all corporate financing charges, costs related to business combinations, asset acquisitions and asset disposals, impairment charges and any items that are deducted for the purpose of normalizing items.
The following tables reconcile these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, production costs applicable to sales:
Three months ended March 31, 2023 | |||||||||
Gold Bar | Fox Complex | | Total | ||||||
(in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||
Production costs applicable to sales - Cash costs (100% owned) |
| $ | 9,341 | $ | 14,072 | $ | 23,413 | ||
Mine site reclamation, accretion and amortization | — | — | — | ||||||
In‑mine exploration | 482 | — | 482 | ||||||
Capitalized underground mine development (sustaining) | — | 2,655 | 2,655 | ||||||
Capital expenditures on plant and equipment (sustaining) | 693 | — | 693 | ||||||
Sustaining leases | 289 | 222 | 511 | ||||||
All‑in sustaining costs | $ | 10,805 | $ | 16,949 | $ | 27,754 | |||
Ounces sold, including stream (GEO) | | | 6.3 | | | 12.9 | | | 19.2 |
Cash costs per ounce sold ($/GEO) | | $ | 1,491 | | $ | 1,088 | | $ | 1,220 |
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO) | | $ | 1,725 | | $ | 1,311 | | $ | 1,446 |
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Three months ended March 31, 2022 | |||||||||
Gold Bar | Fox Complex | | Total | ||||||
(in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||
Production costs applicable to sales - Cash costs (100% owned) | | $ | 14,172 | $ | 8,647 | $ | 22,819 | ||
Mine site reclamation, accretion and amortization | 179 | — | 179 | ||||||
In‑mine exploration | 1,131 | — | 1,131 | ||||||
Capitalized underground mine development (sustaining) | — | 3,687 | 3,687 | ||||||
Capital expenditures on plant and equipment (sustaining) | 277 | — | 277 | ||||||
Sustaining leases | 577 | 197 | 774 | ||||||
All‑in sustaining costs | $ | 16,336 | $ | 12,531 | $ | 28,867 | |||
Ounces sold, including stream (GEO) | | | 6.2 | | | 7.2 | | | 13.5 |
Cash costs per ounce sold ($/GEO) | | $ | 2,284 | | $ | 1,193 | | $ | 1,696 |
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO) | | $ | 2,633 | | $ | 1,729 | | $ | 2,146 |
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
San José mine cash costs (100% basis) | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||
Production costs applicable to sales - Cash costs | $ | 41,124 | $ | 31,789 | ||
Mine site reclamation, accretion and amortization | 292 | 85 | ||||
Site exploration expenses |
| 1,952 | 1,735 | |||
Capitalized underground mine development (sustaining) |
| 7,130 | 7,520 | |||
Less: Depreciation | (550) | (578) | ||||
Capital expenditures (sustaining) |
| 1,089 | 1,517 | |||
All‑in sustaining costs | $ | 51,036 | $ | 42,068 | ||
Ounces sold (GEO) | 22.8 | 20.0 | ||||
Cash costs per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,800 | | $ | 1,589 | |
AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO) | | $ | 2,234 | | $ | 2,103 |
Average realized price
The term average realized price per ounce used in this report is also a non-GAAP financial measure. We prepare this measure to evaluate our performance against the market (London P.M. Fix). The average realized price for our 100% owned properties is calculated as gross sales of gold and silver, less streaming revenue, divided by the number of net ounces sold in the period, less ounces sold under the streaming agreement.
The following table reconciles the average realized prices to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, revenue from gold and silver sales. Ounces of gold and silver sold for the San José mine are provided to us by MSC.
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
2023 |
| 2022 | ||||
Average realized price - 100% owned | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 34,752 | $ | 25,542 | ||
Less: revenue from gold sales, stream | 402 | 368 | ||||
Revenue from gold and silver sales, excluding stream | $ | 34,350 | $ | 25,174 | ||
GEOs sold | 19.2 | 13.9 | ||||
Less: gold ounces sold, stream | 0.7 | 0.6 | ||||
GEOs sold, excluding stream | 18.5 | 13.3 | ||||
Average realized price per GEO sold, excluding stream | $ | 1,856 | $ | 1,895 |
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Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Average realized price - San José mine (100% basis) | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||
Gold sales | $ | 27,065 | $ | 23,114 | ||
Silver sales | 18,675 |
| 16,093 | |||
Gold and silver sales | $ | 45,740 | $ | 39,207 | ||
Gold ounces sold |
| 13.5 |
| 11.8 | ||
Silver ounces sold |
| 783 |
| 640 | ||
GEOs sold |
| 22.8 |
| 20.0 | ||
Average realized price per gold ounce sold | $ | 2,002 | $ | 1,961 | ||
Average realized price per silver ounce sold | $ | 23.84 | $ | 25.14 | ||
Average realized price per GEO sold | $ | 2,002 | $ | 1,960 |
Liquid assets
The term liquid assets is also a non-GAAP financial measure. We report this measure to better understand our liquidity in each reporting period.
Liquid assets are calculated as the sum of the Balance Sheet line items of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, current investments, and trade receivables plus ounces of doré held in precious metals inventories valued at the London PM Fix spot price at the corresponding period. The following table summarizes the calculation of liquid assets as at March 31, 2023 and 2022:
March 31, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 190,776 | $ | 63,783 | ||
Restricted cash | 4,227 | 6,647 | ||||
Investments | 1,591 | 2,424 | ||||
Precious metals(1) | 1,896 | 1,783 | ||||
Total liquid assets | $ | 198,490 | $ | 74,637 |
(1) | Please see Note 7 of the Consolidated Financial Statements |
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Critical accounting policies and estimates used to prepare our financial statements are discussed with our Audit Committee as they are implemented on an annual basis.
The were no significant changes in our Critical Accounting Policies since December 31, 2022. For further details on the Company’s accounting policies, refer to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains or incorporates by reference “forward-looking statements”, as that term is used in federal securities laws, about our financial condition, results of operations and business. These statements include, among others:
● | statements about our anticipated exploration results, costs and feasibility of production, production estimates, receipt of permits or other regulatory or governmental approvals and plans for the development of our properties; |
● | statements regarding the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, government responses to the continuing pandemic, and our response to those issues; |
● | statements regarding strategic alternatives that we are, or may in the future, evaluate in connection with our business; |
● | statements concerning the benefits or outcomes that we expect will result from our business activities and certain transactions that we contemplate or have completed, such as receipt of proceeds, increased revenues, decreased expenses and avoided expenses and expenditures; and |
● | statements of our expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated developments and other matters that are not historical facts. |
These statements may be made expressly in this document or may be incorporated by reference to other documents that we will file with the SEC. Many of these statements can be found by looking for words such as “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “estimates” or similar expressions used in this report or incorporated by reference in this report.
Forward-looking statements and information are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information.
We caution you not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Further, the forward-looking information contained in this document or incorporated herein by reference is a statement of our present intention and is based on present facts and assumptions, and may change at any time and without notice, based on changes in such facts or assumptions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Risk Factors Impacting Forward-looking Statements
Important factors that could prevent us from achieving our stated goals and objectives include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section in our report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,2022 and other reports filed with the SEC, and the following:
● | our ability to raise funds required for the execution of our business strategy; |
● | the effects of pandemics such as COVID-19 on health in our operating jurisdictions and the worldwide, national, state and local responses to such pandemics, and direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 or other pandemics on our business plans and operations; |
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● | our ability to secure permits or other regulatory and government approvals needed to operate, develop or explore our mineral properties and projects; |
● | our ability to maintain an on-going listing of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange in the United States; |
● | decisions of foreign countries, banks and courts within those countries; |
● | national and international geopolitical events and conflicts, and unexpected changes in business, economic, and political conditions; |
● | operating results of MSC; |
● | fluctuations in interest rates, inflation rates, currency exchange rates, or commodity prices; |
● | timing and amount of mine production; |
● | our ability to retain and attract key personnel; |
● | technological changes in the mining industry; |
● | changes in operating, exploration or overhead costs; |
● | access and availability of materials, equipment, supplies, labor and supervision, power and water; |
● | results of current and future exploration activities; |
● | results of pending and future feasibility studies or the expansion or commencement of mining operations without feasibility studies having been completed; |
● | changes in our business strategy; |
● | interpretation of drill hole results and the geology, grade and continuity of mineralization; |
● | the uncertainty of reserve estimates and timing of development expenditures; |
● | litigation or regulatory investigations and procedures affecting us; |
● | changes in federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations; |
● | local and community impacts and issues including criminal activity and violent crimes; |
● | accidents, public health issues, and labor disputes; |
● | uncertainty relating to title to mineral properties; |
● | changes in relationships with the local communities in the areas in which we operate; and |
● | decisions by third parties over which we have no control. |
We undertake no responsibility or obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements, except as required by law and may update these statements in the future in written or oral statements. Investors should take note of any future statements made by or on our behalf.
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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our exposure to market risks includes, but is not limited to, the following risks: changes in foreign currency exchange rates, equity price risks, commodity price fluctuations, credit risk, interest rate risk and inflationary risk. We do not use derivative financial instruments as part of an overall strategy to manage market risk.
Further, our participation in the joint venture with Hochschild for the 49% interest held at MSC creates additional risks because, among other things, we do not exercise decision-making power over the day-to-day activities at MSC; however, implications from our partner’s decisions may result in us having to provide additional funding to MSC or result in a decrease in our percentage of ownership.
Foreign Currency Risk
In general, the devaluation of non-U.S. dollar currencies with respect to the U.S. dollar has a positive effect on our costs and liabilities which are incurred outside the U.S. while it has a negative effect on our non-U.S. dollar denominated assets. Although we transact most of our business in U.S. dollars, some expenses, labor, operating supplies and property and equipment are denominated in Canadian dollars, Mexican pesos or Argentine pesos.
Since 2008, the Argentine peso has been steadily devaluing against the U.S. dollar by 10% to 88% on an annual basis. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Argentine peso devalued 17.3% compared to a devaluation of 7.7% in the same period of 2022.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Mexican peso appreciated 7.2% against the U.S dollar compared to a 1% increase during in the same period in 2022.
The Canadian dollar experienced a 1.7% appreciation against the U.S. dollar for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to a 1% appreciation in the comparable period of 2022.
The value of cash and cash equivalents denominated in foreign currencies also fluctuates with changes in currency exchange rates. Appreciation of non-U.S. dollar currencies results in a foreign currency gain on such investments and a depreciation in non-U.S. dollar currencies results in a loss. We hold portions of our cash reserves in non-U.S. dollar currencies.
Our Canadian dollar and Mexican peso cash balance was $0.86 million (C$1.12 million) and $0.2 million (MXN3.62 million), respectively, at March 31, 2023. The effect that a 1% change in these respective currencies would result in gains/losses that are immaterial for disclosure. We have not utilized material market risk-sensitive instruments to manage our exposure to the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso exchange rates but may do so in the future. For the period ending March 31, 2023, our Argentine peso holdings were $140.9 million (ARS 29.5 billion). A 1% change in the value of the Argentine peso relative to the U.S. dollar would impact our results of operations by $1.4 million. We are using market risk-sensitive investments to manage our exposure to the Argentine peso relative to the U.S. dollar. During Q1/23, we earned interest of $9.0 million on our Argentine peso cash holdings against a foreign exchange loss of $6.9 million related to foreign exchange devaluation.
Further, we are also subject to foreign currency risk on the fluctuation of the Mexican peso on our VAT receivable balance. As of March 31, 2023, our VAT receivable balance was 14.6 million Mexican pesos, equivalent to approximately $0.8 million, for which a 1% change in the Mexican peso would have resulted in a immaterial gain/loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Equity Price Risk
We have invested and may continue to invest in shares of common stock of other entities in the mining sector. Some of our investments may be highly volatile and lack liquidity caused by lower trading volumes. As a result, we are inherently exposed to fluctuations in the fair value of our investments, which may result in gains or losses upon their valuation.
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We have in the past sought and will likely in the future seek to acquire additional funding by sale of common stock or other equity securities. Movements in the price of our common stock have been volatile in the past and may also be volatile in the future. As a result, there is a risk that we may not be able to sell equity securities at an acceptable price to meet future funding requirements.
Commodity Price Risk
We produce and sell gold and silver. Changes in the market price of gold and silver have and could in the future significantly affect our results of operations and cash flows. Change in the price of gold and silver could materially affect our revenues. Based on our revenues from gold and silver sales of $34.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, a 10% change in the price of gold and silver would have had an impact of approximately $3.5 million on our revenues. Changes in the price of gold and silver can also affect the provisionally priced sales that we make under agreements with refiners and other purchasers of our products. At March 31, 2023, we had no gold or silver sales subject to final pricing at our 100% owned operations.
We have in the past and may in the future hold a portion of our treasury in gold and silver bullion, where the value is recorded at the lower of cost or market. Gold and silver prices may affect the value of any bullion that we hold in treasury.
We do not hedge any of our sales and are therefore subject to all changes in commodity prices.
Credit Risk
We may be exposed to credit loss through our precious metals and doré sales agreements with Canadian financial institutions and refineries if these customers are unable to make payment in accordance with the terms of the agreements. However, based on the history and the financial condition of our counterparties, we do not anticipate that any of our customers will default on their obligations. As of March 31, 2023, we do not believe we have any significant credit exposure associated with precious metals and our doré sales agreements.
In Mexico, we are exposed to credit loss regarding our VAT receivable if the Mexican tax authorities are unable or unwilling to make payments in accordance with our monthly filings. Timing of collection on VAT receivables is uncertain as VAT refund procedures require a significant amount of information and follow-up. The risk is mitigated to the extent that the VAT receivable balance can be applied against future income taxes payable. However, at this time we are uncertain when, if ever, our Mexican operations will generate sufficient taxable operating profits to offset this receivable against taxes payable. We continue to face risks on the collection of our VAT receivables, which amount to $0.8 million as at March 31, 2023.
In Nevada and Ontario, Canada we are required to provide security to cover our projected reclamation costs. As at March 31, 2023, we have surety bonds of $39.4 million in place to satisfy bonding requirements for this purpose. The bonds have an annual fee of 2.3% of their value and require a deposit of 11% of the amount of the bond. Although we do not believe we have any significant credit exposure associated with these bonds or the deposit, we are exposed to the risk that the surety may default in returning our deposit or that the surety bonds may no longer be accepted by the governmental agencies as satisfactory reclamation coverage, in which case we would be required to replace the surety bonding with cash.
Interest rate risk
Our outstanding debt consists of various equipment leases and the senior secured credit facility. As the debt is at fixed rates, we consider our interest rate risk exposure to be insignificant at this time.
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Inflationary Risk
Argentina has experienced a significant amount of inflation over the last ten years and has been classified as a highly inflationary economy. ASC 830 defines a hyperinflationary economy as one where the cumulative inflation rate exceeds 100% over the last three years preceding the reporting period. In this scenario, ASC 830 requires companies to change the functional currency of their foreign subsidiaries operating in a highly inflationary economy to match the Company’s reporting currency. In our case, the functional currency of all our Argentine subsidiaries has always been our reporting currency, the U.S. dollar. As such, we do not expect the classification of Argentina’s economy as a highly inflationary economy to change our financial reporting methodology.
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) | We maintain a system of controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of March 31, 2023, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, management has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. |
(b) | There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal controls over financial reporting. |
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PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS.
There were no material changes from the risk factors set forth under Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The risks described in our Annual Report and herein are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows and/or future results.
Item 2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
Item 3.DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
None.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
At McEwen Mining, safety is a core value, and we strive for superior performance. Our health and safety management system, which includes detailed standards and procedures for safe production, addresses topics such as employee training, risk management, workplace inspection, emergency response, accident investigation and program auditing. In addition to strong leadership and involvement from all levels of the organization, these programs and procedures form the cornerstone of safety at McEwen Mining, ensuring that employees are provided a safe and healthy environment and are intended to reduce workplace accidents, incidents and losses, comply with all mining-related regulations and provide support for both regulators and the industry to improve mine safety.
The operation of our Gold Bar mine is subject to regulation by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”). MSHA inspects our Gold Bar mine on a regular basis and may issue citations and orders when it believes a violation has occurred under the Mine Act. While we contract a majority of the mining operations at Gold Bar to an independent contractor, we may be considered an “operator” for purposes of the Mine Act and may be issued notices or citations if MSHA believes that we are responsible for violations.
We are required to report certain mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K, and that required information is included in Exhibit 95 filed with this report.
Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
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Item 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference with this report:
3.1.1 | ||
3.1.2 | ||
3.1.3 | ||
3.2 | ||
10.1 |
| |
10.2 | ||
10.3 | ||
10.4 | ||
10.5 | ||
10.6+ | ||
10.7+ | ||
10.8+ | ||
31.1 | ||
31.2 | ||
32 | ||
95 | ||
101 | The following materials from McEwen Mining Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 are filed herewith, formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 202w, (ii) the Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2023 and Audited Consolidated Balance Sheet as at December 31, 2022, (iii) the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, (iv) the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, and (v) the Unaudited Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. | |
104 | The cover page from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101. | |
+ Filed or furnished with this report. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
MCEWEN MINING INC. | |
/s/ Robert R. McEwen | |
Date: May 8, 2023 | By: Robert R. McEwen, |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |
/s/ Perry Ing | |
Date: May 8, 2023 | By: Perry Ing, |
Interim Chief Financial Officer |
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