Wheaton Precious Metals Announces Second Quarter Results for 2022

SECOND QUARTER 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 11, 2022 /CNW/ – “Throughout the first half of 2022, we have focused on optimizing our portfolio and further enhancing our financial flexibility in order to ensure that we are well positioned to respond to accretive growth opportunities and continue creating value for our shareholders,” said Randy Smallwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wheaton Precious Metals. “While not without its challenges, our diverse portfolio once again delivered strong operating cash flow and an attractive dividend yield, highlighting the resiliency of the streaming model to the inflationary pressures currently being felt across the global economy. Furthermore, we are pleased with our continued progress and leadership on sustainability initiatives as highlighted in our third annual Sustainability Report.”

Second Quarter 2022 Highlights:

• Over $300 million in revenue and $206 million in operating cash flow, resulting in a cash balance of $449 million and no debt as at June 30, 2022.
• $149 million in adjusted net earnings¹.
• Announced the proposed termination of the Keno Hill precious metal purchase agreement (“PMPA”) for $135 million.
• Subsequent to the quarter, Wheaton added a sustainability-linked element in connection with the extension to its existing undrawn US$2 billion revolving credit facility.
• Recognized as one of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights.
• Declared quarterly dividend¹ of $0.15 per common share, consistent with the comparable period in 2021.

Operational Overview

Revised Annual and Long-Term Production Guidance

Given the proposed termination of the Keno Hill PMPA, lower production from Stillwater due to severe weather and flooding in the state of Montana in June as well as lower than expected production at Salobo, Wheaton is lowering production guidance. Wheaton’s estimated attributable production for 2022 is now forecast to be approximately 640,000 to 680,000 gold equivalent ounces² (“GEOs”). For the five-year period ending December 31, 2026, average annual production is expected to increase to 820,000 GEO’s², primarily due to anticipated continued production growth from Salobo, Stillwater, Constancia, and Voisey’s Bay as well as incremental production ounces from Marmato, Blackwater, Toroparu, Marathon, the Copper World Complex (formerly referred to as Rosemont) and Santo Domingo towards the latter end of the forecast period. Average forecast production for the ten-year period ending December 31, 2031, is expected to now be 870,000 GEO’s² and includes incremental production from the Kutcho project and the Victor mine in Sudbury. Vale S.A. has indicated the potential for an additional expansion after the completion of the current Salobo III expansion, but Wheaton does not currently include this in its forecast.

2022 Production Guidance Forecast

Financial Review

Revenues
Revenue was $303 million in the second quarter of 2022 representing an 8% decrease from the second quarter of 2021 due primarily to a 5% decrease in the average realized gold equivalent² price; and a 3% decrease in the number of GEOs² sold.

Revenue was $610 million in the six months ended June 30, 2022, representing a 7% decrease from the comparable period of the previous year due primarily to a 4% decrease in the number of gold equivalent² ounces sold; and a 3% decrease in the average realized gold equivalent² price.

Cash Costs and Margin
Average cash costs¹ in the second quarter of 2022 were $440 per GEO² as compared to $444 in the second quarter of 2021. This resulted in a cash operating margin¹ of $1,338 per GEO² sold, a decrease of 6% as compared with the second quarter of 2021.

Average cash costs¹ for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were $431 per GEO² as compared to $451 in the comparable period of the previous year. This resulted in a cash operating margin¹ of $1,383 per GEO² sold, a decrease of 3% as compared with the comparable period of the previous year.

Balance Sheet (at June 30, 2022)

• Approximately $449 million of cash on hand.
• Subsequent to the quarter, the Company extended its existing undrawn $2 billion revolving term loan (the “Revolving Facility”) with its maturity date now July 18, 2027. As part of the extension, Wheaton added a sustainability-linked element which impacts the interest rate paid on drawn amounts and standby fees.
• The Company is well positioned to fund all outstanding commitments and known contingencies as well as providing flexibility to acquire additional accretive mineral stream interests.

Second Quarter Asset Highlights

Salobo: In the second quarter of 2022, Salobo produced 34,100 ounces of attributable gold, a decrease of approximately 39% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to lower throughput and grades. According to Vale S.A.’s Production and Sales  2Q22 report (“Vale”), mine movement saw continued improvement throughout the quarter, but concentrate production was negatively impacted by plant performance due to delays in ramp-up after planned and corrective maintenance. Vale expects further maintenance work to continue in the second half of 2022. 

As per Vale’s Second Quarter 2022 Performance Report, Vale outlines the Salobo lll Project progress including the start of commissioning activities at the primary crushing and stockpile areas. In addition, Vale notes that the remediation work for the January 2022 landslide has been completed. Vale reports that physical completion of the Salobo III mine expansion was 95% at the end of the second quarter.

Antamina: In the second quarter of 2022, Antamina produced 1.4 million ounces of attributable silver, a decrease of approximately 11% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to lower grades as per the mine plan.

Constancia: In the second quarter of 2022, Constancia produced 600,000 ounces of attributable silver and 8,000 ounces of attributable gold, an increase of approximately 25% and 46%, respectively, relative to the second quarter of 2021, with the increases being primarily due to the mining of higher-grade material associated with the Pampacancha deposit.

Sudbury: In the second quarter of 2022, Vale’s Sudbury mines produced 7,200 ounces of attributable gold, an increase of approximately 58% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to higher throughput as during 2021, operations at the mine were suspended due to a labour dispute which lasted from June 1to August 9, 2021.  

Stillwater: In the second quarter of 2022, the Stillwater mines produced 2,200 ounces of attributable gold and 3,900 ounces of attributable palladium, a decrease of approximately 27% for gold and 26% for palladium relative to the second quarter of 2021. As per Sibanye-Stillwater Limited’s news release dated August 11, 2022, regional floods impacted the Stillwater operations on June 13, 2022, including damage to bridges and the access road to the Stillwater mine. Operations at the Stillwater mine, which accounts for 60% of the mined production from the Stillwater operations, were suspended for seven weeks, but resumed on July 29, 2022.  Access to the East Boulder mine and the Columbus metallurgical facilities remains intact and both facilities continued operating during the flooding events.

San Dimas: In the second quarter of 2022, San Dimas produced 10,000 ounces of attributable gold, a decrease of approximately 12% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily the result of mining lower grade material. According to First Majestic Silver Corp.’s (“First Majestic”) Q2 production report, underground development for stope preparation and ventilation within the Perez vein is progressing and forecast to be ready for initial production in August. Furthermore, First Majestic reports that improving dilution controls at San Dimas and prioritizing long-hole stoping of the Jessica and Regina veins is anticipated to improve ore grade and overall production in the second half of 2022.

Other Gold: In the second quarter of 2022, total Other Gold attributable production was 6,800 ounces, a decrease of approximately 32% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to the lower throughput and grades at 777, which closed as of June 2022.

Voisey’s Bay: In the second quarter of 2022, the Voisey’s Bay mine produced 136,000pounds of attributable cobalt, a decrease of approximately 64% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to lower throughput resulting from a scheduled maintenance shut down coupled with lower grades during the ongoing transitional period between the depletion of the Ovoid open-pit mine and ramp-up to full production of the Voisey’s Bay underground project. As per Vale’s Second Quarter 2022 Performance Report, physical completion of the Voisey’s Bay underground mine extension was 74% at the end of the second quarter. Civil works continue for the balance of facilities, with civil completion planned by the end of 2022.

Development Assets

Copper World Complex (formerly referred to as Rosemont): On June 8, 2022, Hudbay Minerals Inc. (“Hudbay”) announced the results of the preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”) of its 100%-owned Copper World Complex in Arizona, which includes the recently discovered Copper World deposits along with the Rosemont deposit. The PEA highlights a two-phase mine plan, with Phase I reflecting a standalone operation on private land and patented mining claims over a 16-year mine life. Phase II expands mining activities onto federal land and extends the mine life to 44 years. In addition, Hudbay is evaluating several opportunities to optimize the project, including the potential to expand Phase I beyond 16 years with additions to the company’s private land package for tailings and waste rock storage and the potential to accelerate Phase II if federal permits are received earlier than as outlined in the PEA. As per the PEA, Hudbay anticipates the Phase 1 feasibility study and permits should be completed by the end of 2023, with a sanctioning decision by Hudbay in 2024, and construction expected to take three years.

Fenix: On June 28, 2022, Rio2 Limited (“Rio2”) provided an update on the Fenix Gold environmental assessment process. The Environmental Assessment Service (“SEA”) published the Consolidation Evaluation Report with the recommendation to reject the Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) as it has been alleged that Fenix Gold has not provided enough information during the evaluation process to eliminate adverse impacts over the chinchilla, guanaco, and vicuña. On July 5, 2022, Rio2 announced that the Regional Evaluation Commission has voted for not approving the EIA for its Fenix Gold project in Chile. Following this decision, Rio2 provided a further update on July 11, 2022, stating that Rio2 along with its Chilean environmental and legal advisor, are currently evaluating options to continue to advance the project.

Portfolio Optimization

Keno Hill: On July 5, 2022, Hecla Mining Company (“Hecla”) announced a definitive agreement for Hecla to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Alexco Resource Corp. (“Alexco”). In conjunction with this agreement, the Company has entered into an agreement with Hecla to terminate the Keno Hill PMPA in exchange for $135 million of Hecla common stock, conditional upon the completion of Hecla’s acquisition of Alexco and other customary approvals.

Produced But Not Yet Delivered³ and Inventory

As at June 30, 2022, payable ounces and pounds attributable to the Company produced but not yet delivered amounted to:

• 61,200 payable gold ounces, a decrease of 20,200 ounces during Q2 2022, primarily due to decreases at the Salobo and Sudbury mines.
• 3.7 million payable silver ounces, a decrease of 0.2 million ounces during Q2 2022 primarily due to decreases at the Peñasquito and Yauliyacu mines.
• 6,300 payable palladium ounces, an increase of 700 ounces during Q2 2022.
• 280,000 payable cobalt pounds, a decrease of 270 thousand pounds during Q2 2022.

As of June 30, 2022, approximately 582,000 pounds of cobalt were held in inventory by Wheaton, an increase of 172,000 pounds during Q2 2022.

Detailed mine-by-mine production and sales figures can be found in the Appendix to this press release and in Wheaton’s consolidated MD&A in the ‘Results of Operations and Operational Review’ section.

Sustainability

Recognized as One of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada: Wheaton was named to the Corporate Knights’ 2022 list of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. Corporate Knights has been producing global corporate and fund rankings for 20 years. Wheaton was selected from a pool of 332 Canadian companies – each evaluated on a set of 24 environmental, social and governance indicators, relative to their industry peers and using publicly available information. The Best 50 Corporate Citizens sets the standard for sustainability leadership in Canada.

Sustainability-Linked Revolving Credit Facility: Wheaton has added a sustainability-linked element in connection with the extension to its existing undrawn US$2 billion revolving credit facility, underscoring Wheaton’s commitment to sustainability initiatives. Under the renewed revolving credit facility, the interest rate paid on drawn amounts and standby fees will be adjusted based upon Wheaton’s performance in three sustainability-related areas including climate change, diversity and overall sustainability performance.

Published third Annual Sustainability Report: On May 24, 2022, Wheaton published its third annual Sustainability Report. Highlights of the report include establishment of a formal ESG strategy with targets and commitments across several material ESG topics and significant enhancement of disclosure around climate change (including inaugural reporting of our Scope 3 financed emissions associated with our Mining Partners).

Webcast and Conference Call Details

A conference call and webcast will be held on Friday, August 12, 2022 starting at 8:00am PT / 11:00 am ET to discuss these results. To participate in the live call please use one of the following methods:

Dial toll free from Canada or the US:             1-888-664-6383
Dial from outside Canada or the US:             1-416-764-8650
Pass code:                                                      06939369
Live webcast:                                                  Webcast URL

The accompanying slideshow will also be available in PDF format on the ‘Events’ page of the Wheaton Precious Metals website before the conference call.

The conference call will be recorded and available until August 19, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET. The webcast will be available for one year. You can listen to an archive of the call by one of the following methods:

Dial toll free from Canada or the US:             1-888-390-0541
Dial from outside Canada or the US:             1-416-764-8677
Pass code:                                                      939369 #
Archived webcast:                                          Webcast URL 

This earnings release should be read in conjunction with Wheaton Precious Metals’ MD&A and Financial Statements, which are available on the Company’s website at www.wheatonpm.com and have been posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Mr. Wes Carson, P.Eng., Vice President, Mining Operations is a “qualified person” as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, and have reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release.

Wheaton Precious Metals believes that there are no significant differences between its corporate governance practices and those required to be followed by United States domestic issuers under the NYSE listing standards. This confirmation is located on the Wheaton Precious Metals website at http://www.wheatonpm.com/Company/corporate-governance/default.aspxhttp://www.silverwheaton.com/company/corporate-governance/default.aspx.  

About Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. and Outlook

Wheaton is the world’s premier precious metals streaming company with the highest-quality portfolio of long-life, low-cost assets. Its business model offers investors commodity price leverage and exploration upside but with a much lower risk profile than a traditional mining company. Wheaton delivers amongst the highest cash operating margins in the mining industry, allowing it to pay a competitive dividend and continue to grow through accretive acquisitions. As a result, Wheaton has consistently outperformed gold and silver, as well as other mining investments. Wheaton is committed to strong ESG practices and giving back to the communities where Wheaton and its mining partners operate. Wheaton creates sustainable value through streaming for all of its stakeholders.

In accordance with Wheaton Precious Metals™ Corp.’s (“Wheaton Precious Metals”, “Wheaton” or the “Company”) MD&A and financial statements, reference to the Company and Wheaton includes the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries.

End Notes

Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Earnings

Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets

Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Summary of Units Produced

Summary of Units Sold

Results of Operations 

The operating results of the Company’s reportable operating segments are summarized in the tables and commentary below.

On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were as follows:

On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows:

On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2021 were as follows:

Non-IFRS Measures

Wheaton has included, throughout this document, certain non-IFRS performance measures, including (i) adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share; (ii) operating cash flow per share (basic and diluted); (iii) average cash costs of gold, silver and palladium on a per ounce basis and cobalt on a per pound basis; and (iv) cash operating margin.

     The following table provides a reconciliation of adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share (basic and diluted).

     The following table provides a reconciliation of operating cash flow per share (basic and diluted).

     The following table provides a calculation of average cash cost of gold, silver and palladium on a per ounce basis and cobalt on a per pound basis.

     

     The following table provides a reconciliation of cash operating margin.

These non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and other companies may calculate these measures differently.  The presentation of these non-IFRS measures is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. For more detailed information, please refer to Wheaton’s MD&A available on the Company’s website at www.wheatonpm.com and posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance of Wheaton and, in some instances, the business, mining operations and performance of Wheaton’s PMPA counterparties. Forward-looking statements, which are all statements other than statements of historical fact, include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future price of commodities, the estimation of future production from Mining Operations (including in the estimation of production, mill throughput, grades, recoveries and exploration potential), the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources (including the estimation of reserve conversion rates) and the realization of such estimations, the commencement, timing and achievement of construction, expansion or improvement projects by Wheaton’s PMPA counterparties at mineral stream interests owned by Wheaton (the “Mining Operations”), the payment of upfront cash consideration to counterparties under PMPAs, the satisfaction of each party’s obligations in accordance with PMPAs and royalty arrangements and the receipt by the Company of precious metals and cobalt production in respect of the applicable Mining Operations under PMPAs or other payments under royalty arrangements, the ability of Wheaton’s PMPA counterparties to comply with the terms of a PMPA (including as a result of the business, mining operations and performance of Wheaton’s PMPA counterparties) and the potential impacts of such on Wheaton, future payments by the Company in accordance with PMPAs, the costs of future production, the estimation of produced but not yet delivered ounces, the impact of epidemics (including the COVID-19 virus pandemic), including the potential heightening of other risks, future sales of common shares under the ATM program, continued listing of the Company’s common shares, any statements as to future dividends, the ability to fund outstanding commitments and the ability to continue to acquire accretive PMPAs, including any acceleration of payments, projected increases to Wheaton’s production and cash flow profile, projected changes to Wheaton’s production mix, the ability of Wheaton’s PMPA counterparties to comply with the terms of any other obligations under agreements with the Company, the ability to sell precious metals and cobalt production, confidence in the Company’s business structure, the Company’s assessment of taxes payable and the impact of the CRA Settlement for years subsequent to 2010, possible domestic audits for taxation years subsequent to 2016 and international audits, the Company’s assessment of the impact of any tax reassessments, the Company’s intention to file future tax returns in a manner consistent with the CRA Settlement, the Company’s climate change and environmental commitments, and assessments of the impact and resolution of various legal and tax matters, including but not limited to audits. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “projects”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, “potential”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Wheaton to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the satisfaction of each party’s obligations in accordance with the terms of the Company’s PMPAs or royalty arrangements, risks associated with fluctuations in the price of commodities (including Wheaton’s ability to sell its precious metals or cobalt production at acceptable prices or at all), risks of significant impacts on Wheaton or the Mining Operations as a result of an epidemic (including the COVID-19 virus pandemic), risks related to the Mining Operations (including fluctuations in the price of the primary or other commodities mined at such operations, regulatory, political and other risks of the jurisdictions in which the Mining Operations are located, actual results of mining, risks associated with the exploration, development, operating, expansion and improvement of the Mining Operations, environmental and economic risks of the Mining Operations, and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined), the absence of control over the Mining Operations and having to rely on the accuracy of the public disclosure and other information Wheaton receives from the Mining Operations, uncertainty in the estimation of production from Mining Operations, uncertainty in the accuracy of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimation, the ability of each party to satisfy their obligations in accordance with the terms of the PMPAs, the estimation of future production from Mining Operations, Wheaton’s interpretation of, compliance with or application of, tax laws and regulations or accounting policies and rules being found to be incorrect, any challenge or reassessment by the CRA of the Company’s tax filings being successful and the potential negative impact to the Company’s previous and future tax filings, assessing the impact of the CRA Settlement (including whether there will be any material change in the Company’s facts or change in law or jurisprudence), potential implementation of a 15% global minimum tax, counterparty credit and liquidity, mine operator concentration, indebtedness and guarantees, hedging, competition, claims and legal proceedings against Wheaton or the Mining Operations, security over underlying assets, governmental regulations, international operations of Wheaton and the Mining Operations, exploration, development, operations, expansions and improvements at the Mining Operations, environmental regulations, climate change, Wheaton and the Mining Operations ability to obtain and maintain necessary licenses, permits, approvals and rulings, Wheaton and the Mining Operations ability to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements, lack of suitable supplies, infrastructure and employees to support the Mining Operations, inability to replace and expand mineral reserves, including anticipated timing of the commencement of production by certain Mining Operations (including increases in production, estimated grades and recoveries), uncertainties of title and indigenous rights with respect to the Mining Operations, environmental, social and governance matters, Wheaton and the Mining Operations ability to obtain adequate financing, the Mining Operations ability to complete permitting, construction, development and expansion, global financial conditions, Wheaton’s acquisition strategy and other risks discussed in the section entitled “Description of the Business – Risk Factors” in Wheaton’s Annual Information Form available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, Wheaton’s Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 and Form 6-K filed March 31, 2022 both on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR (the “Disclosure”). Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management currently believes to be reasonable, including (without limitation): that there will be no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, that the Mining Operations will continue to operate and the mining projects will be completed in accordance with public statements and achieve their stated production estimates, that the mineral reserves and mineral resource estimates from Mining Operations (including reserve conversion rates) are accurate, that each party will satisfy their obligations in accordance with the PMPAs, that Wheaton will continue to be able to fund or obtain funding for outstanding commitments, that Wheaton will be able to source and obtain accretive PMPAs, that neither Wheaton nor the Mining Operations will suffer significant impacts as a result of an epidemic (including the COVID-19 virus pandemic), that any outbreak or threat of an outbreak of a virus or other contagions or epidemic disease will be adequately responded to locally, nationally, regionally and internationally, without such response requiring any prolonged closure of the Mining Operations or having other material adverse effects on the Company and counterparties to its PMPAs, that the trading of the Company’s common shares will not be adversely affected by the differences in liquidity, settlement and clearing systems as a result of multiple listings of the Common Shares on the LSE, the TSX and the NYSE, that the trading of the Company’s common shares will not be suspended, and that the net proceeds of sales of common shares, if any, will be used as anticipated, that expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters will be achieved (including ongoing CRA audits involving the Company), that Wheaton has properly considered the interpretation and application of Canadian tax law to its structure and operations, that Wheaton has filed its tax returns and paid applicable taxes in compliance with Canadian tax law, that Wheaton’s application of the CRA Settlement is accurate (including the Company’s assessment that there will be no material change in the Company’s facts or change in law or jurisprudence), and such other assumptions and factors as set out in the Disclosure. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Wheaton. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary. The forward-looking statements included herein are for the purpose of providing readers with information to assist them in understanding Wheaton’s expected financial and operational performance and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, reflects Wheaton’s management’s current beliefs based on current information and will not be updated except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Although Wheaton has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward‑looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.