The Company posted strong quarterly production and free cash flow while further reducing net debt.
The Company has updated its 2020 guidance a separate announcement relating to which will follow.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Strong Net Earnings and Cash Flow, Further Reduction in Net Debt
Net earnings of
Adjusted net earnings(1) of
Strong quarterly cash flows from operating activities of
Cash flows were all in line with or exceeded the average of the past four quarters, and exceeded all comparable cash flows in the first quarter of 2019.
Net free cash flow(2) of
Net debt(3) decreased by
Considering the receipt of funds from the completion of the
Production Exceeds Targets at Jacobina,
Gold production of 192,238 ounces was in line with plan, highlighted by exceptional performances from Jacobina,
Silver production of 2,730,851 ounces was in line with plan, following a strong performance from
Gold equivalent ounce ('GEO')(4) production of 221,746 ounces was in line with plan despite the GEO ratio being higher at 94.23 than that originally guided at 86.10.
Costs Better Than Plan
Unitary costs were better than plan during the first quarter, and comparable to the same period in 2019 despite lower production, with total cost of sales and cash costs(3) of
All-in sustaining costs ('AISC')(3) for the quarter were
Annual Dividend Increased by a Further 25%
Subsequent to quarter end, the Company increased its annual dividend by a further 25% to
This represents the third dividend increase announced by the Company in the past year, for a cumulative total increase of 213%.
Jacobina Optimization Project Highlights
Plant throughput exceeded 6,500 tonnes per day ('tpd') during the first quarter, achieving the Phase 1 expansion objective a full quarter ahead of schedule.
Evaluating whether Phase 1 can be further optimized to increase throughput beyond 6,500 tpd.
Phase 2 pre-feasibility study ('PFS') is complete, with preliminary results pointing to total capital costs of
During the period of the aforementioned Phase 1 optimization, the Company is advancing studies to further enhance and optimize Phase 2 as part of the feasibility study with results expected by mid-2021.
If implemented, the Phase 2 expansion is expected to increase annual gold production to 230,000 ounces and reduce operating costs with a positive impact on cash flow at Jacobina.
A more complete disclosure on the project and PFS will follow in May, along with the publishing of a 43-101 report.
MANAGING COVID-19
Yamana continues to take every precaution to ensure the health and safety of its employees, families, and communities, and it is working closely with its host communities to support their needs through this difficult period. The Company formed a crisis response group in the early phases of the COVID-19 outbreak consisting of its entire senior executive group and operational leaders to ensure it was in a position to take quick and decisive action in what was and remains a fluid and fast-moving environment. It is taking both an immediate and long-term approach to managing its business that is respectful and mindful of what is happening in local communities.
For additional information on Yamana's COVID-19 response please refer to Section 1 of the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis, which is available on the Company's website at www.yamana.com, and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
CASH FLOW CONTINUES TO RISE
The Company reported strong quarterly cash flows from operating activities of
The latest quarterly results reflect the impact of strong production, strong commodity prices, and the positive impact of foreign exchange on the cost structure of the Company. Cash flows were all in line or better than the average of the past four quarters, and better than all comparable cash flows in the first quarter of 2019.
During the first quarter, the Company incurred
Net change in working capital movement was a cash outflow of
COSTS POSITIVELY IMPACTED BY FOREIGN EXCHANGE MOVEMENTS
Unitary costs were better than plan in the first quarter of 2020 and comparable to the same period in 2019 despite lower production, with total cost of sales and cash costs(3) of
AISC(3) during the first quarter were
Costs were positively impacted by foreign exchange movements as a result of the Canadian Dollar, Brazilian Real, Argentine Peso and the Chilean Peso all weakening against the US Dollar.
CONTINUING IMPROVEMENTS TO BALANCE SHEET; STRONG LIQUIDITY POSITION
Net debt(3) decreased by
Given the expected lower production in the second quarter, and depending on metal prices, net debt(3) may increase in the second quarter. Any increase is expected to be modest, and at current metal prices, is considered unlikely. Furthermore, the Company expects to generate more significant net free cash flow(2) in the second half of the year, sequentially increasing over the third and fourth quarters.
The Company drew down
The Company has no pending scheduled debt repayments or significant capital commitments, with its next scheduled debt repayment due in
Despite the challenging environment, the Company remains well positioned to achieve its target of a net debt(3)/EBITDA ratio below 1.0x. The continued potential monetization of various non-producing assets provide further opportunities to reduce debt levels and leverage. The Company recognizes that there is significant value in such assets which would be more than the total amount of outstanding debt, and along with cash flows, the Company has more than sufficient resources to further reduce outstanding debt, thereby further improving financial flexibility and providing more opportunity for enhanced value and returns for shareholders. The Company has recently accomplished the negotiation of the royalty portfolio and the sale of Equinox shares, with the above objectives in mind.
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENTS, CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENTS, AND ADVANCE STAGE PROJECTS
In 2019, Jacobina commenced a project to optimize the processing plant and stabilize throughput at a sustainable 6,500 tpd. Yamana refers to this optimization as Phase 1. The first step of the optimization was the installation of an Advanced Process Control system installed in early 2019. Other components of the optimization include additional gravity concentrators, a new induction kiln, replacement of screens, and new CIP tanks. The project is scheduled for completion in mid-2020, at a total capital cost of
The Phase 1 objective of stabilizing process plant throughput of 6,500 tpd was achieved in the first quarter, a full quarter ahead of schedule. This was accomplished without the benefits from the installation of further plant modifications still to be completed in mid-2020, which are expected to add consistency and stability to the plant process. Given that Phase 1 progress has gone better than plan, the Company is assessing whether the results of Phase 1 can be further optimized to result in sustainable throughput in excess of 6,500 tpd. It is the Company's intention to stabilize the operation at the new milling rate resulting from the optimization of Phase 1 before proceeding to Phase 2.
For Phase 2, Jacobina would increase in throughput to between 7,500 and 8,500 tpd. The Company has completed the Phase 2 PFS, with preliminary results pointing to a total capital cost of
A more complete disclosure on the project and PFS will follow in May, along with the publishing of a 43-101 report.
During the Phase 1 optimization, the Company will advance studies to further enhance and optimize Phase 2, as part of the feasibility study with results expected by mid-2021.
Separately, Jacobina is studying the installation of a backfill plant to allow up to 2,000 tpd of tailings to be deposited in underground voids. Preliminary results indicate that the project has the potential to reduce environmental footprint, extend the life of the existing Tailings Storage Facility, and improve mining recovery, resulting in an increased conversion of mineral resources to mineral reserves.
Leagold-Equinox Merger and Subsequent Partial Disposal
On
On
Considering the receipt of the Equinox transaction proceeds, first quarter ending net debt(3) was reduced to approximately
Sale of Royalty Portfolio Assets
On
The consideration is comprised of a minimum of
Suyai,
On
An initial amount of
In the event the project receives approval to proceed, Yamana would oversee its development, applying best industry practices and its experience in project development and operations in southern
The Company previously completed studies that in addition to redesigning Suyai as a small scale high-grade underground project, evaluated different options for ore processing, which provided favourable project economics.
The preferred option calls for the construction of a processing facility for on-site production of gold and silver contained in a high-grade flotation concentrate, which would be transported by land and by sea to one or more gold smelters world-wide. As only a flotation concentrate would be produced at Suyai, no cyanide or other deleterious chemicals would be used at site. Gold production is expected to reach up to 250,000 ounces annually for an initial eight years.
Canadian Malartic (50% interest),
The ramp-up of the Barnat deposit is expected to continue throughout 2020, with meaningful contributions to begin in 2021. On a 50% basis, expansionary capital expenditures related to the
The Partnership continues to advance and evaluate several deposits and prospective exploration areas to the east of the Canadian Malartic open pit, including the new mineralized zone discovery of East Gouldie as well as the Odyssey, East Malartic, Sladen, Sheehan, and Rand zones. These discoveries have the potential to provide new, mostly underground sources of mineralization for the Canadian Malartic mill, replacing a portion of the lower grade open pit mineralization, which would increase production and extend mine life.
Exploration programs are ongoing to evaluate several deposits and prospective exploration areas. Work in the first quarter of 2020 focused on delineation of the new East Gouldie zone, as well as testing targets along strike and developing targets in the recently acquired Rand property. Drilling on the Rand property has located several near surface porphyry bodies with some significant mineralization. The East Gouldie zone has rapidly advanced since its discovery in November, 2018. The zone remains open and represents an excellent opportunity for potential underground mining in the future and significant new underground inferred mineral resources are expected from the current drill program.
The Company intends to continue to advance studies related to the underground mineral resources at Canadian Malartic, and to continue exploration to define and expand those underground resources. In 2020, the Partnership is planning the development of an exploration ramp into Odyssey and East Malartic, with the purpose of eventually mining their respective upper zones and provide further exploration access to allow resource drilling at tighter spacing.
Agua Rica Feasibility Study
During 2019, the Company announced that it had entered into an integration agreement with
Subsequently, the Company announced positive PFS study results, which underscored Agua Rica as a long life, low-cost project with robust economics and opportunities to realize further value, including converting economic-grade inferred mineral resources and expanding throughput scenarios to increase metal production and returns, among other opportunities.
The PFS highlights include a long mine life of 28 years, annual production for the first 10 full years increased to 533 million pounds of copper equivalent production, cash costs decreased to
The Technical Committee is now advancing towards a full feasibility study of the
EXPLORATION
Generative Exploration Program
During the first quarter, drilling was initiated on several projects in
Exploration at
Exploration at the
A higher grade underground mining scenario, possibly combined with shallow open pits, may provide an alternative option to the large open pit scenario that has been considered in the past. While this option provides resources below current levels, it provides an economically attractive alternative with lower capital investment, reduced environmental footprint, and clear upside exploration potential. To support the evaluation of the underground mining scenario, a new high-grade geological model is currently been developed, with preliminary underground mining studies identifying several well-defined high-grade zones along the 4 kilometer strike of the deposit. This year, the Company plans to continue to evaluate the underground potential by drilling the well-defined higher grade zones at depth to determine the extent of down plunge mineralization and in surrounding areas. Diamond drilling during the first quarter of 2020 focused on shallow infill testing of higher grade zones projected to surface, with several good intercepts reported, confirming the orientation of higher grade mineralization and providing additional targets for drilling in the second half of 2020.
Evaluation of the remainder of the project, which has historically seen little exploration attention, continued during the quarter with additional RC grid drilling coverage. This newly applied exploration method opens up the remainder of the
About Yamana
Yamana is a Canadian-based precious metals producer with significant gold and silver production, development stage properties, exploration properties, and land positions throughout the
Contact:
Tel: 416-815-0220
Email: investor@yamana.com
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains or incorporates by reference 'forward-looking statements' and 'forward-looking information' under applicable Canadian securities legislation and within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to information with respect to the Company's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, results of feasibility studies, repayment of debt or updates regarding mineral reserves and mineral resources. Forward-looking statements are characterized by words such as 'plan', 'expect', 'budget', 'target', 'project', 'intend', 'believe', 'anticipate', 'estimate' and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions 'may' or 'will' occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made, and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the outcome of various planned technical studies, production and exploration, development and expansion plans at the Company's projects discussed herein being met, the impact of proposed optimizations at the Company's projects, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or change in the administration of laws, policies and practices, and the impact of general business and economic conditions, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, fluctuating metal prices (such as gold, copper, silver and zinc), currency exchange rates (such as the Brazilian Real, the Chilean Peso and the Argentine Peso versus the United States Dollar), the impact of inflation, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in the Company's hedging program, changes in accounting policies, changes in mineral resources and mineral reserves, risks related to asset dispositions, risks related to metal purchase agreements, risks related to acquisitions, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, changes in project development, construction, production and commissioning time frames, unanticipated costs and expenses, higher prices for fuel, steel, power, labour and other consumables contributing to higher costs and general risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, unexpected changes in mine life, final pricing for concentrate sales, unanticipated results of future studies, seasonality and unanticipated weather changes, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting timelines, government regulation and the risk of government expropriation or nationalization of mining operations, risks related to relying on local advisors and consultants in foreign jurisdictions, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, risks relating to joint venture operations, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage, timing and possible outcome of pending and outstanding litigation and labour disputes, risks related to enforcing legal rights in foreign jurisdictions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to herein and in the Company's Annual Information Form filed with the securities regulatory authorities in all provinces of
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO
This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in
In addition, the terms 'mineral resource', 'measured mineral resource', 'indicated mineral resource' and 'inferred mineral resource' are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101. However, these terms are not defined terms under Industry Guide 7. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. '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 will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of 'contained ounces' in a mineral resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations. In contrast, issuers reporting pursuant to Industry Guide 7 report mineralization that does not constitute 'mineral reserves' by Commission standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
Accordingly, information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information made public by
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND ADDITIONAL LINE ITEMS AND SUBTOTALS IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company has included certain non-GAAP performance measures to supplement its Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements, which are presented in accordance with IFRS, including the following: Cash costs per GEO sold; All-in sustaining costs per GEO sold; Net debt; Net free cash flow; Free cash flow available for dividends and debt repayment; Average realized price per ounce of gold/silver sold and Adjusted earnings.
The Company believes that these measures, together with measures determined in accordance with IFRS, provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data 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. Management's determination of the components of non-GAAP and additional measures are evaluated on a periodic basis influenced by new items and transactions, a review of investor uses and new regulations as applicable. Any changes to the measures are duly noted and retrospectively applied as applicable.
For definitions and descriptions of the non-GAAP measures, other than those noted and reconciled below and additional subtotals in financial statements, refer to Section 10: Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Additional Line Items or Subtotals in Financial Statements of the Company's MD&A for the three months ended
GEO PRODUCTION AND SALES
Production and sales of silver are treated as a gold equivalent in determining a combined precious metal production or sales unit, commonly referred to as gold equivalent ounces ('GEO'). Specifically, guidance GEO produced are calculated by converting silver production to its gold equivalent using relative gold/silver metal prices at an assumed ratio and adding the converted silver production expressed in gold ounces to the ounces of gold production. Actual GEO production and sales calculations are based on an average realized gold to silver price ratio for the relevant period.
CASH COSTS AND ALL-IN SUSTAINING COSTS
The Company discloses 'Cash Costs' because it understands that certain investors use this information to determine the Company's ability to generate earnings and cash flows for use in investing and other activities. The Company believes that conventional measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS do not fully illustrate the ability of its operating mines to generate cash flows. The measures, as determined under IFRS, are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flows from operating activities.
The measure of Cash Costs and All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC), along with revenue from sales, is considered to be a key indicator of a company's ability to generate operating earnings and cash flows from its mining operations. This data is furnished to provide additional information and is a non-GAAP financial measure. The terms Cash Costs per GEO sold, Cash Costs per pound of copper sold, AISC per GEO sold and AISC per pound of copper sold do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and are not necessarily indicative of operating costs, operating profit or cash flows presented under IFRS.
Cash Costs include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing, administration, production taxes and royalties which are not based on sales or taxable income calculations, but are exclusive of amortization, reclamation, capital, development and exploration costs. The Company believes that such measure provides useful information about its underlying Cash Costs of operations. Cash Costs are computed on a weighted average basis as follows:
Cash Costs per GEO sold - The total costs used as the numerator of the unitary calculation represent Cost of Sales excluding DDA, net of treatment and refining charges. These costs are then divided by GEO sold. In the case of Chapada, costs directly attributable to GEO and copper will be allocated on that attributable basis. Non-attributable costs will be allocated based on the relative value of revenues for each metal, which will be determined annually at the beginning of each year.
Cash Costs of copper - Attributable copper sales costs, divided by commercial copper pounds sold.
AISC per sold seeks to represent total sustaining expenditures of producing and selling GEO from current operations. The total costs used as the numerator of the unitary calculation represent Cash Costs (defined above) and includes cost components of mine sustaining capital expenditures including stripping and underground mine development, corporate and mine-site general and administrative expense, sustaining mine-site exploration and evaluation expensed and capitalized and accretion and amortization of reclamation and remediation. AISC do not include capital expenditures attributable to projects or mine expansions, exploration and evaluation costs attributable to growth projects, income tax payments, borrowing costs and dividend payments. Consequently, this measure is not representative of all of the Company's cash expenditures. In addition, the calculation of AISC does not include depletion, depreciation and amortization expense as it does not reflect the impact of expenditures incurred in prior periods.
AISC per GEO sold - reflect allocations of the aforementioned cost components on the basis that is consistent with the nature of each of the cost component to the GEO production and sales activities.
AISC per pound of copper - reflect allocations of the aforementioned cost components on the basis that is consistent with the nature of each of the cost component to GEO or copper production activities.
NET DEBT
The Company uses the financial measure 'Net Debt', which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to supplement information in its Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company believes that in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, the Company and certain investors and analysts use this information to evaluate the Company's performance. The non-GAAP financial measure of net debt does not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore it may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data 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.
Net Debt is calculated as the sum of the current and non-current portions of long-term debt net of the cash and cash equivalent balance as at the balance sheet date. A reconciliation of Net Debt at
NET FREE CASH FLOW AND FREE CASH FLOW BEFORE DIVIDENDS AND DEBT REPAYMENT
The Company uses the financial measure 'Net Free Cash Flow' and 'Free Cash Flow before Dividends and Debt Repayments', which are non-GAAP financial measures, to supplement information in its Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net free cash flow is calculated as cash flows from operating activities adjusted for advance payments received pursuant to metal purchase agreements and other cash flows not related to current period production, less non-discretionary items such as sustaining capital expenditures, interest paid, payment of lease liabilities, cash used in other financing activities. A reconciliation of
Free Cash Flow before Dividends and Debt Repayment begins with
AVERAGE REALIZED METAL PRICES
The Company uses the financial measures 'average realized gold price' and 'average realized silver price' which are non-GAAP financial measures, to supplement in its Consolidated Financial Statements. Average realized price does not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The Company believes that in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, the Company and certain investors and analysts use this information to evaluate the Company's performance vis-a-vis average market prices of metals for the period. The presentation of average realized metal prices is not meant to be a substitute for the revenue information presented in accordance with IFRS, but rather should be evaluated in conjunction with such IFRS measure.
Average realized metal price represents the sale price of the underlying metal before deducting sales taxes, treatment and refining charges, and other quotational and pricing adjustments. Average realized prices are calculated as the revenue related to each of the metals sold, i.e. gold and silver divided by the quantity of the respective units of metals sold, i.e. gold ounce and silver ounce. Reconciliations of average realized metal prices to revenue are provided in Section 10: of the MD&A for the three months ended
ADJUSTED EARNINGS OR LOSS AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS OR LOSS PER SHARE
The Company uses the financial measures 'Adjusted Earnings or Loss' and 'Adjusted Earnings or Loss per share' to supplement information in its Consolidated Annual Financial Statements. The Company believes that in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, the Company and certain investors and analysts use this information to evaluate the Company's performance. The presentation of adjusted measures are not meant to be a substitute for Net Earnings or Loss or Net Earnings or Loss per share presented in accordance with IFRS, but rather should be evaluated in conjunction with such IFRS measures. Adjusted Earnings or Loss and Adjusted Earnings or Loss per share are calculated as net earnings excluding non-recurring items, items not related to or having a disproportionate effect on results for a particular periods and/or not directly related to the core mining business such as (a) share-based payments and other compensation, (b) unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses related to revaluation of deferred income tax asset and liability on non-monetary items, (c) unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses related to other items, (d) unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives, (e) impairment losses and reversals on mineral interests and other assets, (f) deferred income tax expense (recovery) on the translation of foreign currency inter-corporate debt, (g) mark-to-market (gains)/ losses on available-for-sale securities and other assets, (h) one-time tax adjustments to historical deferred income tax balances relating to changes in enacted tax rates, (i) reorganization costs, (j) non-recurring provisions, (k) (gains) losses on sale of assets, (l) any other non-recurring adjustments and the tax impact of any of these adjustments calculated at the statutory effective rate for the same jurisdiction as the adjustment. Non-recurring adjustments from unusual events or circumstances are reviewed from time to time based on materiality and the nature of the event or circumstance. Earnings adjustments for the comparative period reflect both continuing and discontinued operations.
The terms 'Adjusted Earnings or Loss' and 'Adjusted Earnings or Loss per share' do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and therefore the Company's definitions are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management uses these measures for internal valuation of the core mining performance for the period and to assist with planning and forecasting of future operations. Management believes that the presentation of Adjusted Earnings or Loss and Adjusted Earnings or Loss per share provide useful information to investors because they exclude non-recurring items, items not related to or not indicative of current or future period's results and/or not directly related to the core mining business and are a better indication of the Company's profitability from operations as evaluated by internal management and the board of directors. The items excluded from the computation of Adjusted Earnings or Loss and Adjusted Earnings or Loss per share, which are otherwise included in the determination of Net Earnings or Loss and Net Earnings or Loss per share prepared in accordance with IFRS, are items that the Company does not consider to be meaningful in evaluating the Company's past financial performance or the future prospects and may hinder a comparison of its period-to-period profitability.
ADDITIONAL LINE ITEMS OR SUBTOTALS IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company uses the following additional line items and subtotals in the Consolidated Financial Statements as contemplated in IAS 1: Presentation of Financial Statements:
Gross margin excluding depletion, depreciation and amortization - represents the amount of revenue in excess of cost of sales excluding depletion, depreciation and amortization. This additional measure represents the cash contribution from the sales of metals before all other operating expenses and DDA, in the reporting period.
Mine operating earnings - represents the amount of revenue in excess of cost of sales excluding depletion, depreciation and amortization and depletion, depreciation and amortization.
Operating earnings - represents the amount of earnings before net finance income/expense and income tax recovery/expense. This measure represents the amount of financial contribution, net of all expenses directly attributable to mining operations and overheads. Finance income, finance expense and foreign exchange gains/losses are not classified as expenses directly attributable to mining operations.
Cash flows from operating activities before income taxes paid and net change in working capital - excludes the payments made during the period related to income taxes and tax related payments and the movement from period-to-period in working capital items including trade and other receivables, other assets, inventories, trade and other payables. Working capital and income taxes can be volatile due to numerous factors, such as the timing of payment and receipt. As the Company uses the indirect method prescribed by IFRS in preparing its statement of cash flows, this additional measure represents the cash flows generated by the mining business to complement the GAAP measure of cash flows from operating activities, which is adjusted for income taxes paid and tax related payments and the working capital change during the reporting period.
Cash flows from operating activities before net change in working capital - excludes the movement from period-to-period in working capital items including trade and other receivables, other assets, inventories, trade and other payables. Working capital can be volatile due to numerous factors, such as the timing of payment and receipt. As the Company uses the indirect method prescribed by IFRS in preparing its statement of cash flows, this additional measure represents the cash flows generated by the mining business to complement the GAAP measure of cash flows from operating activities, which is adjusted for the working capital change during the reporting period.
The Company's management believes that their presentation provides useful information to investors because gross margin excluding depletion, depreciation and amortization excludes the non-cash operating cost item (i.e. depreciation, depletion and amortization), cash flows from operating activities before net change in working capital excludes the movement in working capital items, mine operating earnings excludes expenses not directly associated with commercial production and operating earnings excludes finance and tax related expenses and income/recoveries. These, in management's view, provide useful information of the Company's cash flows from operating activities and are considered to be meaningful in evaluating the Company's past financial performance or the future prospects.
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