Trading Symbol: TSX: SVM
NYSE AMERICAN: SVM
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 8, 2024 /CNW/ – Silvercorp Metals Inc. (“Silvercorp” or the “Company”) (NYSE:SVM) reports its financial and operating results for the three months ended December 31, 2023 (“Q3 Fiscal 2024”). All amounts are expressed in US dollars, and figures may not add due to rounding.
HIGHLIGHTS FOR Q3 FISCAL 2024
Mined 345,273 tonnes of ore, milled 312,500 tonnes of ore, and produced approximately 1,342 ounces of gold, 1.7 million ounces of silver, or approximately 1.8 million ounces of silver equivalent, plus 16.8 million pounds of lead and 7.4 million pounds of zinc;
Sold approximately 1,342 ounces of gold, 1.7 million ounces of silver, 16.2 million pounds of lead, and 7.3 million pounds of zinc, for revenue of $58.5 million;
Reported net income attributable to equity shareholders of $10.5 million, or $0.06 per share;
Realized adjusted earnings attributable to equity shareholders of $11.5 million, or $0.06 per share;
Generated cash flow from operating activities of $23.6 million;
Cash costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, of negative $0.96;
All-in sustaining costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, of $11.33;
Spent and capitalized $1.6 million on exploration drilling, $14.1 million on underground development, and $3.9 million on equipment and facilities, including $1.3 million on construction of the new tailings storage facility;
Entered into a Bid Implementation Deed (“BID”) with OreCorp Limited (ASX: ORR) (“OreCorp”) to launch an off-market takeover to acquire all OreCorp Shares not already owned by Silvercorp for A$0.19 cash plus 0.0967 common shares of Silvercorp per OreCorp Share; and
Strong balance sheet with $198.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. The Company holds a further equity investment portfolio in associates and other companies with a total market value of $139.5 million as at December 31, 2023.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS
Three months ended December 31,
Nine months ended December 31,
2023
2022
Changes
2023
2022
Changes
Financial Results
Revenue (in thousands of $)
$ 58,508
$ 58,651
0 %
$ 172,506
$ 173,982
-1 %
Mine operating earnings (in thousands of $)
23,307
21,744
7 %
67,551
61,007
11 %
Net income (loss) attributable to equity holders (in thousands of $)
10,510
11,916
-12 %
30,777
20,373
51 %
Earnings (loss) per share – basic ($/share)
0.06
0.07
-14 %
0.17
0.12
42 %
Adjusted earnings attributable to equity holders (in thousands of $)
11,452
11,775
-3 %
35,498
32,056
11 %
Adjusted earning per share – basic ($/share)
0.06
0.07
-14 %
0.20
0.18
11 %
Net cash generated from operating activities (in thousands of $)
23,607
25,661
-8 %
81,332
79,901
2 %
Capitalized expenditures (in thousands of $)
19,635
15,484
27 %
50,609
48,366
5 %
Metals sold
Gold (ounces)
1,342
1,100
22 %
5,352
3,400
57 %
Silver (in thousands of ounces)
1,703
1,860
-8 %
5,096
5,564
-8 %
Lead (in thousands of pounds)
16,248
19,273
-16 %
48,753
55,666
-12 %
Zinc (in thousands of pounds)
7,320
7,119
3 %
18,818
19,987
-6 %
Average Selling Price, Net of Value Added Tax and Smelter Charges
Gold ($/ounce)
1,718
1,541
11 %
1,754
1,479
19 %
Silver ($/ounce)
20.14
17.17
17 %
19.74
16.91
17 %
Lead ($/pound)
0.87
0.85
2 %
0.86
0.87
-1 %
Zinc ($/pound)
0.82
0.96
-15 %
0.81
1.09
-26 %
Financial Position as at
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2023
March 31, 2023
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments (in thousands of $)
198,295
189,091
5 %
198,295
203,323
-2 %
Working capital (in thousands of $)
159,555
154,330
3 %
159,555
177,808
-10 %
Revenue in Q3 Fiscal 2024 was $58.5 million, a slight decrease compared to $58.7 million in Q3 Fiscal 2023. The decrease is mainly due to the decrease in silver and lead sold and a lower zinc price, offset by the increase in the net realized selling prices for gold, silver, and lead.
Income from mine operations in Q3 Fiscal 2024 was $23.3 million, up 7% compared to $21.7 million in Q3 Fiscal 2023. Income from mine operations at the Ying Mining District was $21.5 million, compared to $19.0 million in Q3 Fiscal 2023. Income from mine operations at the GC Mine was $1.9 million, compared to income of $2.9 million in Q3 Fiscal 2023.
Net income attributable to equity shareholders of the Company in Q3 Fiscal 2024 was $10.5 million or $0.06 per share, compared to net income of $11.9 million or $0.07 per share in Q3 Fiscal 2023.
Compared to Q3 Fiscal 2023, the Company’s consolidated financial results in the current quarter were mainly impacted by i) increases of 11%, 17%, and 2%, respectively, in the realized selling prices for gold, silver, and lead, and a decrease of 15% in the realized selling price for zinc; ii) increases of 22% and 3%, respectively in gold and zinc sold and decreases of 8% and 16%, respectively, in silver and lead sold; iii) a decrease of 4% in per tonne production costs; iv) an improvement of $4.4 million in mark-to-market investments; and v) an increase of $5.0 million in the share of loss in associates.
Cash flow provided by operating activities in Q3 Fiscal 2024 was $23.6 million, down $2.1 million, compared to $25.7 million in Q3 Fiscal 2023. The Company ended the quarter with $198.3 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, up 5% compared to $189.1 million as at September 30, 2023.
Working capital as at December 31, 2023 was $159.6 million, up 3% compared to $154.3 million as at September 30, 2023.
CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONAL RESULTS
Three months ended December 31,
Nine months ended December 31,
2023
2022
Changes
2023
2022
Changes
Ore Production (tonne)
Ore mined
345,273
296,050
17 %
921,958
887,135
4 %
Ore milled
Gold ore
12,726
–
100 %
36,419
–
100 %
Silver ore
299,774
303,442
-1 %
832,283
893,261
-7 %
312,500
303,442
3 %
868,702
893,261
-3 %
Metal Production
Gold (ounces)
1,342
1,100
22 %
5,352
3,400
57 %
Silver (in thousands of ounces)
1,684
1,853
-9 %
5,054
5,511
-8 %
Silver equivalent (in thousands of ounces)
1,795
1,949
-8 %