News Details

TORONTO, May 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX: WDO) (“Wesdome” or the “Company”) today announces first quarter (“Q1 2019”) financial results. All figures are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

“Mr. Duncan Middlemiss, President and CEO commented, “In Q1 2019, the Eagle River underground mine delivered a head grade of 18.5 grams per tonne, versus guidance of 15.5 – 16.5 grams per tonne, primarily due to higher grades than anticipated within the 303 lens. As a result, both cash and all-in sustaining costs per ounce were at the lower end of guidance ranges. A number of other accomplishments were completed in Q1 including increased mine development rates, a build of up a surface stockpile for both Eagle and Mishi ore for next quarter’s production, and the early completion of mill improvements originally scheduled for Q2. Free cash flow for the quarter was neutral, which was within expectations. We expect to return to positive free cash flow generation in the second half of the year when production increases and underground development rates decrease slightly. The Eagle River operation continues to fund the company’s major exploration and development programs at both Eagle River and Kiena mines.”

Key operating and financial highlights of the Q1 2019 results include:

• Gold production of 19,010 ounces from the Eagle River Complex, a 6% increase over the same period in the previous year (Q1 2018: 17,948 ounces):
  • Eagle River Underground 30,941 tonnes at a head grade of 18.5 grams per tonne (“g/t Au”) for 17,955 ounces produced, 9% increase over the previous year (Q1 2018: 16,398 ounces).
  • Mishi Open Pit 18,470 tonnes at a head grade of 2.2 g/t Au for 1,055 ounces produced (Q1 2018: 1,550 ounces).
• Revenue of $32.5 million, a 24% increase over the previous year (Q1 2018: $26.2 million).
• Ounces sold 18,760 at an average sales price of $1,733/oz (Q1 2018: 15,430 ounces at an average price of $1,698/oz).
• Cash costs¹ of $866/oz or US$651/oz, a 13% decrease over the same period in 2018 (Q1 2018: $999/oz or US$790/oz).
• All-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) ¹ of $1,311/oz or US$986/oz, a 2% decrease over the same period in 2018 (Q1 2018: $1,342/oz or US$1,061/oz).
• Earned mine profit¹ of $16.3 million, a 51% increase over Q1 2018 (Q1 2018 - $10.8 million).
• Operating cash flow of $12.6 million or $0.09 per share¹ as compared to $12.4 million or $0.09 per share for the same period in 2018.
• Invested $6.6 million in exploration expenditures at Eagle River and Kiena Complexes during the quarter (Q1 2018 - $5.0 million)
• Free cash outflow of $0.4 million or nil, on a per share¹ basis (Q1 2018: free cash flow of $3.2 million or $0.02 per share).
• Net income of $8.1 million or $0.06 per share (Q1 2018: $2.9 million or $0.02 per share).  Net income (adjusted) ¹ was $5.7 million or $0.04 per share (Q1 2018: $2.9 million or $0.02 per share).
• Cash position of $27.8 million.

^{1  Refer to the Company’s 2019 First Quarter Management Discussion and Analysis, 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 First Quarter Financial Results Conference Call:

May 9, 2019 at 10:00 am ET:

North American Toll Free: + 1 (844) 202-7109
International Dial-In Number: +1 (703) 639-1272
Conference ID:   9496715
Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/evgw6ovv

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

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 First 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)

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 intermediate 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 136.4 million shares issued and outstanding and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “WDO”.

For further information, please contact:

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.