Wesdome Announces 2019 Third Quarter Financial Results

TORONTO, Nov. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX: WDO) (“Wesdome” or the “Company”) today announces third quarter (“Q3 2019”) financial results. All figures are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Mr. Duncan Middlemiss, President and CEO commented, “In Q3, cash costs of $815 (US$618) per ounce were relatively flat over the previous quarter ($837 of US$626 per ounce). All-in sustaining costs of $1,344 (US$1,018) per ounce were higher than those incurred in Q2 ($1,220 or US$912 per ounce) due to a $4 million investment, or $168 (US$128) per ounce into the tailings management facility. This project will provide for an additional 4 years capacity at current mill feed. Despite our higher sustaining, project, and exploration expenditures during the quarter, the company was able to generate $9.2 million in free cash flow, thereby resulting in a cash position at the end of the quarter of $38.6 million.”

“Due to continued superb performance of the 303 Lens, we have increased 2019 guidance from 72,000 – 80,000 ounces to 88,000 to 93,000 ounces, with 70,356 ounces produced to the third quarter. Recent exploration results have extended the 303 Lens 300 metres down plunge where it remains open. Year to date cost of $838 (US$630) per ounce cash costs and $1,290 ($US970 per ounce AISC are both at the low end of cost guidance of $830 - $900 (US$640 - $US690) an ounce on cash costs per ounce and $1,280 - $1,350 (US$985 – 1,040) an ounce on AISC. We expect ounce production in the fourth quarter to be in the 19,000 – 22,000 range as we plan to process some of the Mishi stockpile.”

“At Kiena, we released an updated Resource Estimate in September which substantially increased the Kiena Deep A Zone grade, and indicated and inferred resource ounces. The Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) is well underway and we expect to complete the study in Q1 2020. We are half way completed on the 790 metre level drift to further test the up plunge of the A Zone. Once completed, we will have one drill stationed there and expect to release results in the first half of 2020.”

Key operating and financial highlights of the Q3 2019 results include:

• Gold production of 28,910 ounces from the Eagle River Complex, a 46% increase over the same period in the previous year (Q3 2018: 19,795 ounces):
  • Eagle River Underground 39,453 tonnes at a head grade of 23.4 grams per tonne (“g/t Au”) for 28,894 ounces produced, 49% increase over the previous year (Q3 2018: 19,437 ounces).
  • Mishi Open Pit 204 tonnes at a head grade of 2.8 g/t Au for 15 ounces produced (Q3 2018: 358 ounces).
• Revenue of $45.9 million, a 59% increase over the previous year (Q3 2018: $28.9 million).
• Ounces sold 23,450 at an average sales price of $1,957/oz (Q3 2018: 18,401 ounces at an average price of $1,571/oz).
• Cash costs¹ of $815/oz or US$618/oz, neutral over the same period in 2018 (Q3 2018: $815/oz or US$624/oz). 
• All-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) ¹ of $1,344/oz or US$1,018/oz, a 16% increase over the same period in 2018 (Q3 2018: $1,160/oz or US$888/oz), due to the investment in the tailings management facility at the Eagle River Mine in 2019.
• Earned mine profit¹ of $26.8 million, a 93% increase over Q3 2018 (Q3 2018 - $13.9 million).
• Operating cash flow of $27.3 million or $0.20 per share¹ as compared to $12.8 million or $0.10 per share for the same period in 2018.
• Free cash flow of $9.2 million, net of an investment of $5.9 million in Kiena, or $0.07 per share¹ (Q3 2018: free cash flow of $2.1 million or $0.02 per share). 
• Net income and Net income (adjusted)¹ of $12.4 million or $0.09 per share (Q3 2018: $3.6 million or $0.03 per share). 
• Cash position increased to $38.6 million compared to $27.4 million in the previous quarter.

1. Refer to the Company’s 2019 Second Quarter Management Discussion and Analysis, section entitled “Non-IFRS Performance Measures” for the reconciliation of these non-IFRS measurements to the financial statements.

Q3 2019 HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Refer to the section entitled “Non-IFRS Performance Measures” for the reconciliation of these non-IFRS measurements to the Financial Statements.

Technical Disclosure

The technical content of this release has been compiled, reviewed and approved by Marc-Andre Pelletier, P. Eng, Chief Operating Officer, and Michael Michaud, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of the Company and each a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 -Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Reserves and Resources

The mineral reserve and resource estimates reported in this news release were prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applies different standards in order to classify and report mineralization. This news release uses the terms “measured”, “indicated” and “inferred” mineral resources, as required by NI 43-101. Readers are advised that although such terms are recognized and required by Canadian securities regulations, the SEC does not recognize such terms. Canadian standards differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories constitute or will ever be converted into mineral reserves. In addition, “inferred” mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists, is economically or legally mineable or will ever be upgraded to a higher category of mineral resource.

Wesdome Gold Mines 2019 Third Quarter Financial Results Conference Call:

North American Toll Free: + 1 (844) 202-7109
International Dial-In Number: +1 (703) 639-1272
Conference ID:  8286736
Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/pfmyey7t

Webcast can also be accessed under the News and Events section of the Company’s website (www.wesdome.com) 

ABOUT WESDOME

Wesdome Gold Mines has had over 30 years of continuous gold mining operations in Canada.  The Company is 100% Canadian focused with a pipeline of projects in various stages of development.  The Company’s strategy is to build Canada’s next mid-tier gold producer, producing 200,000+ ounces from two mines in Ontario and Quebec.  The Eagle River Complex in Wawa, Ontario is currently producing gold from two mines, the Eagle River Underground Mine and the Mishi Open pit, from a central mill.  Wesdome is actively exploring its brownfields asset, the Kiena Complex in Val d’Or, Quebec.  The Kiena Complex is a fully permitted former mine with a 930-metre shaft and 2,000 tonne-per-day mill.  The Company has further upside at its Moss Lake gold deposit, located 100 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario.  The Company has approximately 137.2 million shares issued and outstanding and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “WDO”.

This news release contains “forward-looking information” which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management’s estimates or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company has included in this news release certain non-IFRS performance measures, including, but not limited to, mine operating profit, mining and processing costs and cash costs. Cash costs per ounce reflect actual mine operating costs incurred during the fiscal period divided by the number of ounces produced.  These measures are not defined under IFRS and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to or more meaningful than, net income (loss) or cash flow from operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of our financial performance or liquidity. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow.

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Summarized Operating and Financial Data
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share and per unit amounts and otherwise indicated)

Notes

1. Refer to the Company’s 2019 Third Quarter Management Discussion and Analysis, section entitled “Non-IFRS Performance Measures” for the reconciliation of these non-IFRS measurements to the financial statements.
2. Totals for tonnage and gold ounces information may not add due to rounding.

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except for per share amounts)

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

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