McEwen Mining: 2023 Year End and Q4 Results
- Net income for 2023 was $54.7 million or $1.15 per share, a substantial improvement from a net loss of $81.1 million in 2022.
- Gold production at the Fox Complex and Gold Bar mine slightly exceeded guidance, while San José fell below expectations.
- Cash costs and AISC per ounce remained 12-18% higher than guided, requiring attention.
- McEwen Copper, the company's key asset, aims to increase share value with a bankable Feasibility Study in Q1 2025.
- Los Azules, a sustainable copper mine, shows promising environmental benefits and growth potential.
- Exploration activities at the Canadian and Mexican mines aim to extend mine lives by over 9 years.
- In Q4 2023, McEwen Copper secured financing with global giants Rio Tinto and Stellantis, raising significant funds.
- Despite challenges in gold production, operational improvements and cost savings are evident at various mines.
- Financially, the company recognized a gain of $224 million from the deconsolidation of McEwen Copper.
- The company's liquidity and capital resources reflect a consolidated cash balance of $23.0 million and working capital of $22.7 million.
- Exploration activities yielded positive results, particularly at the Stock deposits and Los Azules copper project.
- Management will discuss Q4 financial results and project developments in a conference call on March 1, 2024.
- None.
Insights
The reported shift from a net loss in 2022 to a net income in 2023 for McEwen Mining Inc. is a significant turnaround, indicating a positive trajectory in the company's profitability. The increase in net income to $54.7 million, or $1.15 per share, from a net loss of $81.1 million, or $1.71 per share, is a robust indicator of financial health and operational efficiency. This turnaround is especially noteworthy for investors as it reflects the company's ability to navigate operational challenges and market conditions.
Moreover, the deconsolidation of McEwen Copper and the recognition of a $224 million gain contribute to a one-time boost in reported net income. This accounting gain, while beneficial to the reported figures, should be considered separately from ongoing operational performance when evaluating the company's financial stability. The gain from deconsolidation suggests a strategic shift in the company's investment portfolio, which could have implications for future revenue streams and investment focus.
From a liquidity perspective, the decrease in total debt by 38% enhances the company's financial flexibility. However, the decline in consolidated cash and cash equivalents from $39.8 million to $23.0 million raises questions about the company's cash flow management and capital allocation strategies. Shareholders and potential investors should closely monitor subsequent financial disclosures to gauge the sustainability of the company's financial position.
The reported operational results, including record mill throughput at the Fox Complex and the achievement of production guidance despite weather challenges at the Gold Bar mine, demonstrate McEwen Mining's ability to optimize operations and adapt to unforeseen events. This operational resilience is a positive signal to the market as it indicates the company's capability to maintain production targets even under adverse conditions.
However, the higher-than-guided cash costs and all-in sustaining costs (AISC) per ounce across the company's operations may be of concern to stakeholders. These increased costs could pressure the company's margins and profitability if not addressed. The commitment to focus on cost control and the implementation of operational improvements will be critical to maintaining investor confidence and ensuring competitive unit costs in the future.
Additionally, the growth plans for 2024, including the development of the Stock West deposit and the Fenix project, suggest a strategic investment in long-term production sustainability. The extension of mine lives by over 9 years at these projects could provide a stable production outlook, which is likely to be well-received by the market. The progress on these development projects will be a key area of focus for stakeholders as they evaluate the company's growth potential and ability to deliver on its strategic objectives.
The environmental design of the Los Azules project, with its reduced CO2-e emissions and water usage, aligns with the growing emphasis on sustainable mining practices within the industry. This approach not only mitigates environmental impact but also aligns with investor preferences towards environmentally responsible mining operations. The move towards net-zero carbon by 2038 and the use of 100% renewable electricity could provide McEwen Mining with a competitive advantage as regulations and investor expectations around sustainability continue to tighten.
The exploration successes at the Fox Complex and Los Azules, indicated by the increase in the resource base and high-grade intersections, are promising for the company's long-term growth prospects. Exploration is a critical component of value creation in the mining sector and these results could lead to increased reserves and extended mine life, enhancing the company's asset portfolio.
It is important to note that while the company's 47.7% ownership in McEwen Copper Inc. represents a significant investment, the valuation of this stake is based on recent financings and may not reflect market conditions or liquidity constraints. As such, the implied market value of $800 million for McEwen Copper and by extension, the $384 million value for McEwen Mining's ownership, should be considered with caution by investors.
2023 Net income
TORONTO, Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) today reported its fourth quarter (“Q4”) and full year 2023 financial and operational results. Net income for the year was
Growth Plans for 2024
“Our biggest single asset with the greatest near-term potential to increase our share value is our
“Compared to conventional copper mines, Los Azules is designed with a much lighter impact on the environment, initially emitting one third (1/3) of the CO2-e emissions and progressing to net-zero carbon by 2038, utilizing one quarter (1/4) the water, powered by
“At our Canadian and Mexican mines we are advancing two important development projects. At the Fox Complex, the construction of the underground ramp access to the Stock orebodies will start in Q1. The Stock West deposit will become the primary source of production following the completion of mining at the Froome deposit in 2026. At the Fenix project, construction is expected to start in H2. Both of these projects are designed to extend the mine lives by over 9 years,” said Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner.
Individual Mine Performance and Growth (see Table 1 and 2)
Fox Complex, Timmins, Canada
Fox performed well in 2023, achieving its annual production guidance. Mill throughput achieved a record average of 1,300 tonnes per day in Q4, the highest since our acquisition in 2017. As a result, mill throughput in Q4 was
Gold Bar, Nevada, USA
Despite weather conditions in early 2023 that led to flooding and a slowdown of production at Gold Bar, our team ramped up gold production significantly through Q4, as planned, and achieved its annual production guidance. Cash costs(1) of
San José, Santa Cruz, Argentina(4)
San José had a difficult start to 2023 as seen in our Q1 results. The team at San José was quick to respond by implementing operational changes that resulted in consistent quarterly improvements to production and unit costs. This was achieved through mining and processing more tonnes containing higher average gold and silver grades compared to Q1. As a result, San José achieved annual production of 65,800 GEOs(2) in 2023, slightly under the production guidance range of 66,000 to 74,000 GEOs(2). Annual cash costs(1) of
Table 1: Comparative production and cost per oz results for Q4 and full year 2023 and 2022, and 2023 guidance:
| Q4 | Full year | Full Year 2023 Guidance Range | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | |||||||
| Consolidated Production | ||||||||||
| Gold (oz) | 28,970 | 42,400 | 102,680 | 128,650 | 123,000-139,000 | |||||
| Silver (oz) | 702,000 | 635,650 | 2,598,230 | 2,166,850 | 2,300,000-2,600,000 | |||||
| GEOs(2) | 37,280 | 49,850 | 133,300 | 154,600 | 150,000-170,000 | |||||
| Gold Bar Mine, Nevada | ||||||||||
| GEOs(2) | 7,940 | 19,800 | 26,620 | 43,700 | 42,000-48,000 | |||||
| Cash Costs/GEO(1) | 1,083 | 1,345 | 1,622 | 1,565 | ||||||
| AISC/GEO(1) | 1,395 | 1,506 | 1,989 | 1,891 | ||||||
| Fox Complex, Canada | ||||||||||
| GEOs(2) | 9,870 | 10,200 | 36,650 | 44,450 | 42,000-48,000 | |||||
| Cash Costs/GEO(1) | 1,137 | 1,253 | 1,020 | 1,157 | ||||||
| AISC/GEO(1) | 1,606 | 1,467 | 1,465 | 1,351 | ||||||
| San José Mine, Argentina ( | ||||||||||
| Gold production (oz) | 11,170 | 11,700 | 38,610 | 39,700 | 39,000-43,000 | |||||
| Silver production (oz) | 700,850 | 635,650 | 2,593,300 | 2,166,850 | 2,300,000-2,600,000 | |||||
| GEOs(2) | 19,420 | 19,150 | 69,130 | 65,650 | 66,000-74,000 | |||||
| Cash Costs/GEO(1) | $1,228 | $1,413 | ||||||||
| AISC/GEO(1) | $1,573 | $1,840 | ||||||||
Table 2: 2024 Production & Costs per GEO Guidance
| 2024 Guidance | |
| GEOs(2) | 80,000-85,000 |
| Cash Costs/GEO(1) | |
| AISC/GEO(1) | |
| Gold Bar Mine, Nevada | |
| GEOs(2) | 40,000-43,000 |
| Cash Costs/GEO(1) | |
| AISC/GEO(1) | |
| Fox Complex, Canada | |
| GEOs(2) | 40,000-42,000 |
| Cash Costs/GEO(1) | |
| AISC/GEO(1) | |
| San José Mine, Argentina ( | |
| GEOs(2) | 50,000-60,000 |
| Cash Costs/GEO(1) | |
| AISC/GEO(1) |
Advances in Q4 2023
- McEwen Copper: Financings with Stellantis and Nuton (Rio Tinto) were closed in Q4, raising ARS
$42 billion and$10.0 million , respectively, at a value of$26.00 per share, implying a market value of$800 million for McEwen Copper. Concurrently with these transactions, McEwen Mining sold 232,000 common shares of McEwen Copper in return for$6.0 million . After the closing of these transactions, Stellantis and Nuton own19.4% and14.5% , respectively, of McEwen Copper, while the Company’s ownership decreased to47.7% . - Safety at all of our operations was excellent with no lost-time incidents.
- Gold Bar: During Q4, we achieved new daily, monthly, and quarterly production records as a result of the improvements in mining productivity, the addition of crushing crews and the completion of the heap leach pad expansion.
- Fox Complex: We achieved the highest average daily mill throughput on record since acquisition in 2017, reaching 1,300 tonnes per day during Q4, and are currently reviewing improvements in 2024 to mining productivity and processing flowsheets to continue to increase throughput levels.
- In December, the Company completed a private placement offering of 1,903,000 flow-through common shares for gross proceeds of
$16.1 million (CAD$22.0 million ) to be used exclusively to support exploration and development work at the Fox Complex, which includes the development of the Stock ramp. - We continue to invest heavily in exploration and the results have been most encouraging, particularly at Los Azules, where the resource base increased by
27% , and at the Fox Complex, where the results allow us to see the potential for significant increase in mine life at Stock and Grey Fox.
Financial Results
McEwen Mining ceased being the majority owner of McEwen Copper after the October 2023 financing (moving from
Notice to reader: Under US GAAP, McEwen Mining consolidates
Net income for full year 2023 was
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We reported consolidated cash and cash equivalents of
During 2023, we decreased our total debt by
The Company also holds a portfolio of royalties including a
Exploration
Exploration results from the Stock deposits at the Fox Complex were published in a separate press release on February 28th. Highlights include a
Gold Bar exploration activities are currently focused on discovering near mine resources. Additional drilling targets have been identified at our Pick and Cabin pits to expand upon results from our 2023 drilling.
McEwen Copper
New metallurgical and exploration results from Los Azules were published in news releases dated February 22nd and 26th. Metallurgical highlights include a
Confirmatory metallurgical testing and a large drilling campaign to upgrade resources, as well as geotechnical, hydrological, and geohydrological works are well underway to support the delivery of the feasibility study by early 2025.
We own a
Management Conference Call
Management will discuss our Q4 financial results and project developments and follow with a question-and-answer session. Questions can be asked directly by participants over the phone during the webcast.
| Friday Mar 1, 2024 at 10:00 AM EST | Toll Free (US & Canada): | (888) 210-3454 |
| Toll Free Dial-In Other Countries: | https://events.q4irportal.com/custom/access/2324/ | |
| Toll Dial In: | (646) 960-0130 | |
| Conference ID Number: | 3232920 | |
| Event Registration Link: | https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/876515509 |
An archived replay of the webcast will be available approximately 2 hours following the conclusion of the live event. Access the replay on the Company’s media page at https://www.mcewenmining.com/media.
Notes:
- Cash gross profit, cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs (AISC) per ounce, adjusted net income or loss and adjusted net income or loss per share are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standardized definition under U.S. GAAP. For definition and reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section in this press release and the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income below.
- 'Gold Equivalent Ounces' are calculated based on a gold to silver price ratio of 85:1 for Q4 2023, 83:1 for 2023, 85:1 for Q4 2022 and 84:1 for 2022. 2023 and 2024 production guidance is calculated based on 85:1 gold to silver price ratio.
- This disclosure should not be taken to modify or update the conclusions of the PEA.
- Please refer to the “Reliability of Information Regarding San José” section in this press release.
| MCEWEN MINING INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, (unaudited, in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Revenue from gold and silver sales | $ | 166,231 | $ | 110,417 | $ | 136,541 | ||||||
| Production costs applicable to sales | (119,230 | ) | (91,260 | ) | (119,223 | ) | ||||||
| Depreciation and depletion | (29,221 | ) | (19,701 | ) | (23,798 | ) | ||||||
| Gross profit (loss) | 17,780 | (544 | ) | (6,480 | ) | |||||||
| OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||
| Advanced projects - Los Azules | (80,038 | ) | (61,148 | ) | (5,019 | ) | ||||||
| Advanced projects - Other | (6,292 | ) | (5,580 | ) | (7,420 | ) | ||||||
| Exploration | (20,167 | ) | (14,973 | ) | (22,604 | ) | ||||||
| General and administrative | (15,449 | ) | (11,890 | ) | (11,435 | ) | ||||||
| Loss from investment in McEwen Copper Inc. | (60,084 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Loss (income) from investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A.(4) | (281 | ) | 2,776 | (7,533 | ) | |||||||
| Depreciation | (1,086 | ) | (733 | ) | (339 | ) | ||||||
| Reclamation and remediation | (2,693 | ) | (3,345 | ) | (3,450 | ) | ||||||
| (186,090 | ) | (94,893 | ) | (57,800 | ) | |||||||
| Operating loss | (168,310 | ) | (95,437 | ) | (64,280 | ) | ||||||
| OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): | ||||||||||||
| Interest and other finance income (expenses), net | 36,918 | (7,789 | ) | (6,200 | ) | |||||||
| Other (expense) income | (29,925 | ) | 22,938 | 6,281 | ||||||||
| Gain on deconsolidation of McEwen Copper Inc. | 224,048 | — | — | |||||||||
| Total other income | 231,041 | 15,149 | 81 | |||||||||
| Income (loss) before income and mining taxes | 62,731 | (80,288 | ) | (64,199 | ) | |||||||
| Income and mining tax recovery (expense) | (31,873 | ) | (5,806 | ) | 7,315 | |||||||
| Net income (loss) after income and mining taxes | 62,731 | (86,094 | ) | (56,884 | ) | |||||||
| Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests | 23,872 | 5,019 | 172 | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) attributable to McEwen shareholders | $ | 54,730 | $ | (81,075 | ) | $ | (56,712 | ) | ||||
| Net income (loss) per share: | ||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | 1.15 | $ | (1.71 | ) | $ | (1.25 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding (thousands): | ||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 47,544 | 47,427 | 45,490 | |||||||||
| MCEWEN MINING INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS AT DECEMBER 31, (unaudited, in thousands of U.S. dollars and shares) | ||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 23,020 | $ | 39,782 | ||||
| Investments | 1,743 | 1,295 | ||||||
| Receivables, prepaids and other current assets | 5,578 | 8,840 | ||||||
| Due from McEwen Copper Inc. | 2,376 | — | ||||||
| Inventories, current portion | 19,944 | 31,735 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 52,661 | 81,652 | ||||||
| Mineral property interests and plant and equipment, net | 170,000 | 346,281 | ||||||
| Investment in McEwen Copper Inc. | 323,884 | — | ||||||
| Investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A.(4) | 92,875 | 93,451 | ||||||
| Inventories | 10,100 | 2,432 | ||||||
| Restricted cash | 4,490 | 3,797 | ||||||
| Other assets | 674 | 1,106 | ||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 654,684 | $ | 528,719 | ||||
| LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 22,656 | $ | 42,521 | ||||
| Flow-through share premium | 1,661 | 4,056 | ||||||
| Reclamation and remediation liabilities, current portion | 3,105 | 12,576 | ||||||
| Tax liabilities | 1,603 | 7,663 | ||||||
| Lease liabilities, current portion | 978 | 1,215 | ||||||
| Long-term debt, current portion | — | 10,000 | ||||||
| Contract liability | — | 6,155 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 30,003 | 84,186 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 40,000 | 53,979 | ||||||
| Reclamation and remediation liabilities | 39,916 | 29,270 | ||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | 38,586 | — | ||||||
| Lease liabilities | 488 | 1,191 | ||||||
| Other liabilities | 3,840 | 3,819 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | 152,833 | $ | 172,445 | ||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Common shares | $ | 1,768,456 | $ | 1,644,144 | ||||
| Non-controlling interests | — | 33,465 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (1,266,605 | ) | (1,321,335 | ) | ||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | 501,851 | 356,274 | ||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | 654,684 | $ | 528,719 | ||||
| MCEWEN MINING INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, (unaudited, in thousands of U.S. dollars and shares) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Common Shares | ||||||||||||||||||
| and Additional | ||||||||||||||||||
| Paid-in Capital | Accumulated | Non-controlling | ||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Deficit | Interests | Total | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2020 | 41,659 | $ | 1,548,876 | $ | (1,183,548 | ) | $ | — | $ | 365,328 | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | 837 | — | — | 837 | |||||||||||||
| Sale of flow-through shares | 1,260 | 10,785 | — | — | 10,785 | |||||||||||||
| Sale of shares for cash | 3,000 | 29,875 | — | — | 29,875 | |||||||||||||
| Issuance of equity by subsidiary | — | 25,051 | — | 14,949 | 40,000 | |||||||||||||
| Net loss and comprehensive loss | — | — | (56,712 | ) | (172 | ) | (56,884 | ) | ||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | 45,919 | $ | 1,615,424 | $ | (1,240,260 | ) | $ | 14,777 | $ | 389,941 | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | 340 | — | — | 340 | |||||||||||||
| Sale of flow-through shares | 1,450 | 10,320 | — | — | 10,320 | |||||||||||||
| Shares issued for debt refinancing | 59 | 500 | — | — | 500 | |||||||||||||
| Issuance of equity by subsidiary | — | 17,643 | — | 23,707 | 41,350 | |||||||||||||
| Share repurchase | — | (87 | ) | — | — | (87 | ) | |||||||||||
| Exercise of warrants | — | 4 | — | — | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Net loss and comprehensive loss | — | — | (81,075 | ) | (5,019 | ) | (86,094 | ) | ||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 47,428 | $ | 1,644,144 | $ | (1,321,335 | ) | $ | 33,465 | $ | 356,274 | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 66 | 605 | — | — | 605 | |||||||||||||
| Restricted shares issued | 43 | 366 | — | — | 366 | |||||||||||||
| Proceeds from McEwen Copper financing | — | 109,913 | — | 75,477 | 185,390 | |||||||||||||
| Sale of flow-through shares | 1,903 | 13,428 | — | — | 13,428 | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) | — | — | 54,730 | (23,872 | ) | 30,858 | ||||||||||||
| McEwen Copper Inc. deconsolidation | — | — | — | (85,070 | ) | (85,070 | ) | |||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | 49,440 | $ | 1,768,456 | $ | (1,266,605 | ) | $ | — | $ | 501,851 | ||||||||
| MCEWEN MINING INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, (unaudited, in thousands of U.S. dollars) | ||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 30,858 | $ | (86,094 | ) | $ | (56,884 | ) | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss from operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Loss from investment in McEwen Copper Inc. | 60,084 | — | — | |||||||||
| Loss (income) from investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A.(4) | 281 | (2,776 | ) | 7,533 | ||||||||
| Gain on sale of mineral property interests | — | — | (2,271 | ) | ||||||||
| Depreciation, amortization and depletion | 30,307 | 19,532 | 25,338 | |||||||||
| Unrealized (gain) loss on investments | (20,542 | ) | 511 | (28 | ) | |||||||
| Foreign exchange loss on investments | 9,858 | — | — | |||||||||
| Foreign exchange loss | 48,977 | 2,029 | 160 | |||||||||
| Reclamation accretion and adjustments to estimate | 2,693 | 7,168 | 3,677 | |||||||||
| Income and mining tax recovery | 35,033 | (1,856 | ) | (7,315 | ) | |||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 971 | 340 | 837 | |||||||||
| Gain on deconsolidation of McEwen Copper Inc. | (224,048 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Change in non-cash working capital items: | ||||||||||||
| Change in other assets related to operations | 7,113 | (12,873 | ) | 7,887 | ||||||||
| Change in liabilities related to operations | (24,298 | ) | 17,439 | 1,003 | ||||||||
| Cash used in operating activities | $ | (42,713 | ) | $ | (56,580 | ) | $ | (20,063 | ) | |||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Additions to mineral property interests and plant and equipment | $ | (23,021 | ) | $ | (24,187 | ) | $ | (34,888 | ) | |||
| Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment | — | — | 492 | |||||||||
| Investment in marketable equity securities | (34,157 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Dividends received from Minera Santa Cruz S.A. | 295 | 286 | 9,832 | |||||||||
| Cash outflow on McEwen Copper Inc. deconsolidation | (45,708 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Cash used in investing activities | $ | (101,591 | ) | $ | (23,901 | ) | $ | (24,564 | ) | |||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from McEwen Copper Inc. financing | 185,390 | 41,263 | 29,875 | |||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of investment in McEwen Copper Inc. | 6,032 | — | — | |||||||||
| Issuance of flow-through common shares, net of issuance costs | 13,428 | 14,376 | 11,966 | |||||||||
| Proceeds from promissory note | — | 15,000 | 40,000 | |||||||||
| Principal repayment on long-term debt | (25,000 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Subscription proceeds received in advance | — | (2,850 | ) | 2,550 | ||||||||
| Proceeds from exercise of warrants | — | 4 | — | |||||||||
| Payment of finance lease obligations | (1,637 | ) | (2,338 | ) | (3,408 | ) | ||||||
| Cash provided by financing activities | $ | 178,213 | $ | 65,455 | $ | 80,983 | ||||||
| Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents | (48,977 | ) | (2,029 | ) | (160 | ) | ||||||
| (Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (16,068 | ) | (17,055 | ) | 36,196 | |||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year | 43,579 | 60,634 | 24,438 | |||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year | $ | 27,511 | $ | 43,579 | $ | 60,634 | ||||||
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES
We have included in this report certain non-GAAP 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 to evaluate our business on an ongoing basis 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. We also report these measures to provide investors and analysts with useful information about our underlying costs of operations and clarity over our ability to finance operations. 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 US GAAP results and using the non-GAAP measures supplementally.
The non-GAAP measures are presented for our wholly owned mines and our interest in the San José mine. The amounts in the reconciliation tables labeled “
The presentation of these measures, including the minority interest in the San José, has limitations as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations include:
- The amounts shown on the individual line items were derived by applying our overall economic ownership interest percentage determined when applying the equity method of accounting and do not represent our legal claim to the assets and liabilities, or the revenues and expenses; and
- Other companies in our industry may calculate their cash cost per ounce and all-in sustaining costs differently than we do, limiting the usefulness as a comparative measure.
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 provide investors and analysts with useful information about our underlying costs of operations.
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 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 expenses, all corporate financing charges, costs related to business combinations, asset acquisitions and asset disposal, 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. The El Gallo mine results are excluded from this reconciliation for 2023, 2022 and 2021 as the economics of residual leaching operations are measured by incremental revenue exceeding incremental costs. Residual leaching costs for the year ended December 31, 2023, were $nil million compared to
| Three months ended December 31, 2023 | Year ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| Gold Bar | Fox Complex | Total | Gold Bar | Fox Complex | Total | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per ounce) | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||||||||||
| Production costs applicable to sales - Cash costs ( | $ | 25,889 | $ | 13,298 | $ | 39,187 | $ | 67,335 | $ | 51,895 | $ | 119,230 | ||||||
| In‑mine exploration | 1,705 | — | 1,705 | 4,759 | — | 4,759 | ||||||||||||
| Capitalized underground mine development (sustaining) | — | 2,119 | 2,119 | — | 8,046 | 8,046 | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures on plant and equipment (sustaining) | 1,374 | — | 1,374 | 9,028 | — | 9,028 | ||||||||||||
| Sustaining leases | 11 | 153 | 164 | 248 | 676 | 924 | ||||||||||||
| All‑in sustaining costs | $ | 28,979 | $ | 15,570 | $ | 44,549 | $ | 81,370 | $ | 60,617 | $ | 141,987 | ||||||
| Ounces sold, including stream (GEO) | 19.2 | 10.6 | 29.9 | 43.0 | 44.9 | 87.9 | ||||||||||||
| Cash cost per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,345 | $ | 1,253 | $ | 1,313 | $ | 1,565 | $ | 1,157 | $ | 1,356 | ||||||
| AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,506 | $ | 1,467 | $ | 1,492 | $ | 1,891 | $ | 1,351 | $ | 1,615 | ||||||
| Three months ended December 31, 2022 | Year ended December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| Gold Bar | Fox Complex | Total | Gold Bar | Fox Complex | Total | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per ounce) | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||||||||||
| Production costs applicable to sales - Cash costs ( | $ | 8,666 | $ | 10,742 | $ | 19,408 | $ | 43,500 | $ | 36,845 | $ | 80,345 | ||||||
| Mine site reclamation, accretion and amortization | 218 | — | 218 | 1,654 | — | 1,654 | ||||||||||||
| In‑mine exploration | 505 | — | 505 | 3,335 | — | 3,335 | ||||||||||||
| Capitalized underground mine development (sustaining) | — | 4,317 | 4,317 | — | 15,448 | 15,448 | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures on plant and equipment (sustaining) | 1,576 | — | 1,576 | 3,084 | — | 3,084 | ||||||||||||
| Sustaining leases | 191 | 110 | 301 | 1,754 | 619 | 2,373 | ||||||||||||
| All‑in sustaining costs | $ | 11,156 | $ | 15,169 | $ | 26,325 | $ | 53,327 | $ | 52,912 | $ | 106,239 | ||||||
| Ounces sold, including stream (GEO)(1) | 8.0 | 9.4 | 17.4 | 26.8 | 36.1 | 62.9 | ||||||||||||
| Cash cost per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,083 | $ | 1,137 | $ | 1,112 | $ | 1,622 | $ | 1,020 | $ | 1,276 | ||||||
| AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,395 | $ | 1,606 | $ | 1,509 | $ | 1,989 | $ | 1,465 | $ | 1,688 | ||||||
| Three months ended December 31, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| San José mine cash costs ( | (in thousands, except per ounce) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Production costs applicable to sales - Cash costs | $ | 48,680 | $ | 51,963 | $ | 180,115 | $ | 182,195 | $ | 196,032 | ||||||||||
| Mine site reclamation, accretion and amortization | 93 | 111 | 535 | 400 | 451 | |||||||||||||||
| Site exploration expenses | 1,831 | 2,158 | 9,167 | 8,946 | 11,207 | |||||||||||||||
| Capitalized underground mine development (sustaining) | 10,407 | 10,201 | 38,346 | 37,959 | 27,548 | |||||||||||||||
| Less: Depreciation | (768 | ) | (499 | ) | (2,930 | ) | (1,990 | ) | (1,971 | ) | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures (sustaining) | 2,106 | 3,006 | 9,224 | 11,636 | 15,751 | |||||||||||||||
| All‑in sustaining costs | $ | 62,349 | $ | 66,940 | $ | 234,457 | $ | 239,146 | $ | 249,018 | ||||||||||
| Ounces sold (GEO) | 39.6 | 39.3 | 127.5 | 139.5 | 155.3 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash cost per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,228 | $ | 1,321 | $ | 1,413 | $ | 1,306 | 1,262 | |||||||||||
| AISC per ounce sold ($/GEO) | $ | 1,573 | $ | 1,701 | $ | 1,840 | $ | 1,714 | 1,603 | |||||||||||
Technical Information
The technical content of this news release related to financial results, mining and development projects has been reviewed and approved by William (Bill) Shaver, P.Eng., COO of McEwen Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by SEC S-K 1300 and the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."
Reliability of Information Regarding San José
The Company accounts for its investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A., the owner of the San José Mine, using the equity method. The Company relies on the management of MSC to provide accurate financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. While the Company is not aware of any errors or possible misstatements of the financial information provided by MSC, MSC is responsible for and has supplied to the Company all reported results from the San José Mine, and such results are unaudited as of the date of this release. McEwen Mining’s joint venture partner, a subsidiary of Hochschild Mining plc, and its affiliates other than MSC do not accept responsibility for the use of project data or the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, including "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements and information expressed, as at the date of this news release, McEwen Mining Inc.'s (the "Company") estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily 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. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, political, economic, social and security risks associated with foreign operations, the ability of the Company to receive or receive in a timely manner permits or other approvals required in connection with operations, risks associated with the construction of mining operations and commencement of production and the projected costs thereof, risks related to litigation, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral resources and reserves, foreign exchange volatility, foreign exchange controls, foreign currency risk, and other risks. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. See McEwen Mining's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption "Risk Factors", for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information regarding the Company. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.
The NYSE and TSX have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by the management of McEwen Mining Inc.
ABOUT MCEWEN MINING
McEwen Mining is a gold and silver producer with operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. In addition, it owns approximately
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