TORONTO - Americas Gold and Silver Corporation ('Americas' or the 'Company') (TSX: USA; NYSE American: USAS), a growing North American precious metals producer, today reported consolidated financial and operational results for the first quarter of 2020.
This earnings release should be read in conjunction with the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis, Financial Statements and Notes to Financial Statements for the corresponding period, which have been posted on the Americas Gold and Silver Corporation SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, on its EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov, and are also available on the Company's website at www.americas-gold.com.
Operational and First Quarter Financial Highlights
Relief Canyon continues to ramp-up following first gold pour in February and the Company is focused on achieving commercial production by late Q2-2020 or early Q3-2020.
Subsequent to Q1-2020, the Company closed a bought deal public offering for gross proceeds of approximately C$28.75 million which provides the Company with available capital to address working capital needs including bringing Relief Canyon into commercial production, particularly in the COVID-19 environment.
As a result of Relief Canyon being in pre-commercial production, the Cosala Operations producing for less than a month during the quarter, and the exclusion of operating metrics from the Galena Complex during the Galena recapitalization plan ('Recapitalization Plan'), Q1-2020 revenue was $7.3 million resulting in a net loss of $4.1 million or ($0.03) per share.
Cosala production for the first 26 days of Q1-2020 yielded 420 gold equivalent ounces[1] or 0.3 million silver equivalent ounces[2] at cost of sales of $7.19/oz equivalent silver, by-product cash cost[3] of negative ($11.32/oz) silver, and all-in sustaining cost3 of negative ($0.83/oz) silver.
The Galena Recapitalization Plan is proceeding better than expected with the Company seeing both increased production and encouraging exploration results.
Outlook for 2021 continues to be 90,000 to 110,000 gold equivalent ounces at expected all-in sustaining costs[4] of $900 to $1,100 per gold equivalent ounce.
At March 31, 2020, the Company had a cash balance of approximately $16.4 million.
'The Company is in a great position to benefit from the strong gold price environment moving forward as we addressed common start-up challenges at Relief Canyon and it continues to ramp-up' said Americas President & CEO Darren Blasutti. 'All operating aspects at Relief Canyon are trending positively, the Cosala Operations should be able to resume production early in the second half of 2020 as we have had several encouraging developments in Mexico and the Galena Recapitalization Plan is proceeding better than expected. The recently completed financing provides the Company with sufficient working capital to bring Relief Canyon to commercial production.'
Relief Canyon
The Company issued a press release on May 4, 2020 providing details of the Relief Canyon ramp-up. The Company continues to target commercial production by late Q2-2020 or early Q3-2020 and will be providing more regular updates regarding the operation between now and then.
Since the start of pre-production, approximately 5.2 million tonnes of material have been mined, including 4.2 million tonnes of waste and 1.0 million tonnes of ore. Waste movement is ahead of budget and the operation currently has an ore stockpile of approximately 0.2 million tonnes ahead of the crusher waiting to be placed on the leach pad.
Approximately 0.8 million tonnes of ore have been stacked on the leach pad. Solution flow rates from the pad have continued to increase since the update on May 4, 2020 as the surface area available for leach irrigation has increased.
Cosala Operations
The Cosala Operations operated for the first 26 days of the quarter as the operation was negatively impacted by the previously announced illegal blockade since the end of January 2020. As a result, operating results year-over-year were negatively impacted and not generally comparable.
On March 31, 2020, the Government of Mexico issued a national COVID-19 related decree for the temporary suspension of all non-essential businesses in the country, including all mining operations. This week the Government of Mexico issued a number of statements that are expected to allow for the re-opening of mining operations starting in June 2020. The Company believes this will provide a pathway for the Cosala Operations to resume production early in the second half of 2020, including a legal and legitimate labour representative for its workers, allowing for a resolution to the current illegal blockade. The Company's priority continues to be the safety of its workers and the community of Cosala that have been negatively impacted - first by the illegal blockade and now by COVID-19.
Galena Complex
In addition to providing an update regarding the ramp-up of Relief Canyon, the Company also provided an extensive update regarding the Galena Recapitalization Plan in the May 4, 2020 update, including information regarding the rehabilitation development , equipment purchases, and early drill results from the 39,000-meter drill program.
The Company has suspended disclosure of certain operating metrics such as cash costs, and all-in sustaining costs for the Galena Complex until the Recapitalization Plan is substantially completed; the Galena Complex results are not included in the Consolidated Results.
About Americas Gold and Silver Corporation
Americas Gold and Silver Corporation is a high-growth precious metals mining company with multiple assets in North America. The Company's newest asset, Relief Canyon in Nevada, USA, has poured first gold and is expected to ramp up to full production over the course of 2020. The Company also owns and operates the Cosala Operations in Sinaloa, Mexico and manages the 60%-owned Galena Complex in Idaho, USA. The Company also holds an option on the San Felipe development project in Sonora, Mexico.
Contact:
Stefan Axell
Tel: 416-874-1708
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, Americas Gold and Silver's expectations, intentions, plans, assumptions and beliefs with respect to, among other things, estimated production rates and results for gold, silver and other precious metals, as well as the related costs, expenses and capital expenditures, the Company's construction, production, development plans and performance expectations at the Relief Canyon Mine, , its ability to finance, develop and operate Relief Canyon, including the anticipated timing of commercial production at Relief Canyon, the resolution and removal of the illegal blockade at the Company's Cosala Operations and the resumption of mining and processing operations, the resolution, easing or removal of the temporary restrictions on all non-essential businesses in Mexico resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the Company's Cosala Operations, and the expected use of the net proceeds from the Company's bought deal equity financing. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by forward-looking words such as 'anticipate', 'believe', 'expect', 'goal', 'plan', 'intend', 'potential', 'estimate', 'may', 'assume' and 'will' or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions, or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of Americas Gold and Silver as of the date such information is provided and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Americas Gold and Silver to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. With respect to the business of Americas Gold and Silver, these risks and uncertainties include risks relating to widespread epidemics or pandemic outbreak including the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of COVID-19 on our workforce, suppliers and other essential resources and what effect those impacts, if they occur, would have on our business, including our ability to access goods and supplies, the ability to transport our products and impacts on employee productivity, the risks in connection with the operations, cash flow and results of the Company relating to the unknown duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information; unfavorable exploration results; inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production; general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices; the ability to obtain necessary future financing on acceptable terms or at all; the ability to develop, complete construction, bring to production and operate the Relief Canyon Project and risks associated with the mining industry such as economic factors (including future commodity prices, currency fluctuations and energy prices), ground conditions and other factors limiting mine access, failure of plant, equipment, processes and transportation services to operate as anticipated, environmental risks, government regulation, actual results of current exploration and production activities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, permitting timelines, capital and construction expenditures, reclamation activities, labor relations or disruptions, social and political developments and other risks of the mining industry. The potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations are unknown at this time, including the Company's ability to manage challenges and restrictions arising from COVID-19 in the communities in which the Company operates and our ability to continue to safely operate and to safely return our business to normal operations. The impact of COVID-19 on the Company is dependent on a number of factors outside of its control and knowledge, including the effectiveness of the measures taken by public health and governmental authorities to combat the spread of the disease, global economic uncertainties and outlook due to the disease, and the evolving restrictions relating to mining activities and to travel in certain jurisdictions in which it operate. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from this forward looking information is available in Americas filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators on SEDAR and with the SEC. Americas does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law. Americas does not give any assurance (1) that Americas will achieve its expectations, or (2) concerning the result or timing thereof. All subsequent written and oral forward looking information concerning Americas are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.
AMERICAS GOLD AND SILVER CORPORATION 
