Discovery Silver Corp. (TSX: DSV, OTCQX: DSVSF)
(“Discovery” or the “Company”) today announced financial results
for the three months (“Q3 2024”) and nine months (“YTD 2024”) ended
September 30, 2024. All figures are stated in Canadian dollars
unless otherwise noted.
Tony Makuch, CEO, commented: “As a precious
metals company focused on creating value, it is a great time to be
advancing one of the world’s largest silver development projects,
with market fundamentals pointing to continued deficits and
diminishing inventories. Our Cordero project (“Cordero” or the
“Project”) is a large-scale project that can help meet the growing
demand for silver in key areas like solar, battery electric and
other forms of green energy, medicine and pharmaceuticals given its
anti-bacterial qualities, food preservation, water purification, as
well as its traditional role as a store of value in uncertain
times.
“The Cordero Feasibility Study (the “Feasibility
Study”) was issued in February and clearly established Cordero as a
future industry leader. The Project has a reserve of 302 million
ounces of silver, expected annual silver equivalent (“AgEq”)1
production of 37 million ounces (“Moz”) over the first 12 years,
low unit costs, attractive economics and tremendous leverage to
higher silver prices. The robust economics included in the
Feasibility Study included a net present value (“NPV5%”) of US$1.2
billion using a silver price of US$22 per ounce. At current metals
prices, Cordero’s NPV5% increases to $2.1 billion, and grows to
US$3.2 billion in Year 4, when we complete the Project to its full
capacity.
“In Mexico, we have been encouraged by the
efforts of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government to emphasize
both the importance of foreign investment to Mexico’s economy and
the role that industry can play in supporting areas like advancing
energy transition and improving water treatment and availability.
In addition to creating thousands of jobs and committing billions
of dollars for investment, local procurement and tax payments in
Mexico, we are also evaluating investments that will support the
use of solar, battery electric, trolley assist, 5G wireless
networks and AI wherever practical. In terms of water, the
Feasibility Study includes investments to upgrade the local water
treatment plant, which will provide water for the mine and also
increase the amount of treated water in the community.
“A key highlight of the third quarter was the
release of our 2023 ESG Report, which documents an important year
of achievement in responsible mining. Our success last year was
recognized with a number of awards and distinctions, including
receiving the Quality Environmental Certification from the Mexican
Government’s Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection
(“PROFEPA”), the Socially Responsible Enterprise Distinction from
the Mexican Center for Philanthropy, and the Great Place to Work
Certification. As we continue to work through the permitting
process, we are proud of our many accomplishments and are looking
forward to advancing Cordero into development and operation for the
benefit of all our stakeholders.”
2023 ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE REPORT (“ESG
REPORT”)
On August 22, 2024, Discovery released its 2023
ESG Report, highlighting the Company’s current practices and
priorities going forward.
Among the achievements highlighted in the ESG
Report were the receipt of awards and distinctions as described
below.
- Quality
Environmental Certification: Awarded by PROFEPA, which
recognizes companies that achieve full compliance with all
environmental regulations. Discovery was the only mining company to
receive this certification in 2023.
- Socially
Responsible Enterprise (“ESR”) Distinction: Received for
the second consecutive year from the Mexican Center for
Philanthropy. The ESR honours companies for outstanding performance
in five key areas, business ethics, community engagement,
protection and preservation of the environment, quality of life for
employees and corporate social responsibility.
- Great Place to Work
Certification: Received for the second consecutive year,
which is an internationally recognized distinction for companies
creating an outstanding employee experience.
Other key highlights of the 2023 ESG Report
include:
- $19.2
million of goods and services purchased from local Mexican
businesses;
- $5.0
million in salaries and benefits paid to local
employees;
-
Workforce of 85, including 69 employees and 16
contractors;
- 88% of workforce
located in Mexico with almost all employees from Chihuahua
State
-
$193,000 invested directly in the communities
around Cordero;
- 26
hours of health, safety and emergency response training
provided on average per employee;
- Zero
reportable environmental incidents; and,
- 21.09 GJ of
renewable energy generated using solar panels.
FEASIBILITY STUDY HIGHLIGHTS:
-
Feasibility Study: Results of the Feasibility
Study for Cordero were released on February 20, 2024.
-
Large-scale, long-life, low-cost
production: 19-year life-of-mine (“LOM”) with
average annual production of 37 Moz AgEq in Years 1 – 12, and
average all-in sustaining costs2 under US$12.50 per AgEq ounce in
Years 1 – 8.
-
Attractive returns: NPV5% of US$1.2 billion at
US$22 per ounce silver, which increases to US$2.2 billion in Year 4
when the Project reaches final completion to 51,000 tonnes per
day.
-
Tremendous leverage to silver prices: NPV5%
increases 81%, to US$2.1 billion, using current metal prices as of
November 11, 20243 and grows to US$3.2 billion in Year 4 (5.2x
initial capital expenditures).
-
Substantial benefits for Mexico: Total investment
of US$1.4 billion (including a US$606 million initial investment),
2,500 direct jobs created during construction, peak employment of
over 1,000 direct jobs during operation, an estimated US$4.0
billion of goods and services purchased and expected tax payments
of approximately US$2.3 billion within Mexico (at current metal
prices as of November 11, 2024).
-
Industry-leading environmental standards:
Third-party reviews of proposed environmental practices completed
to ensure compliance with industry-leading standards; US$130
million budgeted for site restoration and rehabilitation; and
significant investment to promote green energy sources and to bring
infrastructure and technology to improve water treatment with
treated water to be the primary source of water for the
Project.
- Please see the Technical Disclosure section of this news
release for more information related to AgEq production.
- Non-GAAP Measure. Please see the Technical Disclosure and
Non-GAAP Measures sections of this news release.
- Current spot metal prices as at November 11, 2024 include
silver: US$30.64 per ounce; gold: US$2,619 per ounce, zinc: US$1.35
per pound and lead: US$0.92 per pound versus Feasibility Study
prices of silver: US$22.00 per ounce; gold: US$1,600 per ounce;
zinc: US$1.20 per pound; lead: US$1.00 per pound.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:The following selected
financial data is taken from the Company’s unaudited condensed
interim consolidated financial statements (the “Financial
Statements”) and the Management’s Discussion and Analysis
(“MD&A”) for the three and nine months ended September 30,
2024.
The Company’s Financial Statements and MD&A are available at
www.discoverysilver.com and on SEDAR+
at www.sedarplus.ca.
|
Q3 2024 |
|
Q3 2023 |
|
|
YTD 2024 |
|
|
YTD 2023 |
|
Net Loss |
$ |
(5,265,159 |
) |
$ |
(2,207,479 |
) |
$ |
(12,977,155 |
) |
$ |
(10,086,917 |
) |
Basic and diluted loss per share |
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
Total comprehensive loss |
$ |
(8,647,141 |
) |
$ |
(3,059,766 |
) |
$ |
(16,170,588 |
) |
$ |
(9,863,458 |
) |
Total weighted average shares outstanding |
|
397,696,018 |
|
|
395,720,230 |
|
|
399,537,915 |
|
|
391,708,180 |
|
|
September 30, 2024 |
December 31, 2023 |
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
33,442,223 |
$ |
58,944,459 |
Total assets |
$ |
125,095,052 |
$ |
146,065,998 |
Total current liabilities |
$ |
6,224,929 |
$ |
12,168,225 |
Working capital(1) |
$ |
30,899,454 |
$ |
49,691,371 |
Total shareholders’ equity |
$ |
117,607,412 |
$ |
129,421,106 |
(1) Defined as current assets less current
liabilities from the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
ABOUT DISCOVERY Discovery is a precious metals
company engaged in the acquisition, development and operation of
high-quality assets. The Company’s flagship asset is its 100%-owned
Cordero project, one of the world’s largest undeveloped silver
deposits, which is located close to infrastructure in a prolific
mining belt in Chihuahua State, Mexico. The Feasibility Study
completed in February 2024 demonstrates that Cordero has the
potential to be developed into a large-scale, long-life project
that generates attractive economic returns and delivers substantial
socio-economic benefits for local stakeholders. In developing and
operating Cordero, important priorities will be maximizing the use
of green energy sources, such as electric vehicles and solar power,
as well as contributing to improved water treatment infrastructure
in the area surrounding the Project.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Tony Makuch, P.EngPresident, CEO &
Director
For further information contact:
Mark
Utting, CFAVP Investor RelationsPhone: 416-806-6298Email:
mark.utting@discoverysilver.comWebsite: www.discoverysilver.com
Qualified Person Gernot Wober,
P.Geo, VP Exploration, Discovery Silver Corp. and Pierre Rocque,
P.Eng., an independent consultant to the Company, both “Qualified
Persons” as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), are the
Company's designated Qualified Persons for this news release within
the meaning of NI 43-101. Mr. Wober and Mr. Rocque have reviewed
and validated that the information contained in this news release
is accurate.
Technical Disclosure
- The Feasibility
Study project team was led by Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC
(“Ausenco”), with support from AGP Mining Consultants Inc. (“AGP”),
WSP USA Inc. (“WSP”) and RedDot3D Inc.
- Mineral
resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability.
- A full technical
report has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and was filed
on SEDAR on March 28, 2024.
- AgEq produced is
metal recovered in concentrate. AgEq payable is metal payable from
concentrate. AgEq produced and AgEq payable are calculated as Ag +
(Au x 72.7) + (Pb x 45.5) + (Zn x 54.6); these factors are based on
metal prices of Ag - $22/oz, Au - $1,600/oz, Pb - $1.00/lb and Zn -
$1.20/lb.
- AISC is
calculated as: [Operating costs (mining, processing and G&A) +
Royalties + Concentrate Transportation + Treatment & Refining
Charges + Concentrate Penalties + Sustaining Capital (excluding
$37M of capex for the initial purchase of mining fleet in Year 1)]
/ Payable AgEq ounces.
NON-GAAP MEASURES:The Company has included
certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios as detailed below.
In the mining industry, these are common performance measures and
ratios but may not be comparable to similar measures or ratios
presented by other issuers and the non-GAAP measures and ratios do
not have any standardized meaning. Accordingly, these measures and
ratios are included to provide additional information and should
not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
Total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs, and free cash
flow, are all forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures or
ratios. As the Cordero Project is not in production, these
prospective non-GAAP financial measures or ratios may not be
reconciled to the nearest comparable measure under IFRS and there
is no equivalent historical non-GAAP financial measure or ratio for
these prospective non-GAAP financial measures or ratios. Each
non-GAAP financial measure and ratio used herein is described in
more detail below.
TOTAL CASH COSTSThe Company calculated total
cash costs per ounce by dividing the sum of operating costs,
royalty costs, production taxes, refining and shipping costs, net
of by-product silver credits, by payable ounces. While there is no
standardized meaning of the measure across the industry, the
Company believes that this measure is useful to external users in
assessing operating performance.
ALL-IN SUSTAINING COSTSThe Company has provided
an all-in sustaining costs performance measure that reflects all
the expenditures that are required to produce an ounce of silver
from operations. While there is no standardized meaning of the
measure across the industry, the Company’s definition conforms to
the all-in sustaining cost definition as set out by the World Gold
Council in its updated Guidance Note issued in 2018. The Company
believes that this measure is useful to external users in assessing
operating performance and the Company’s ability to generate free
cash flow from current operations. Subsequent amendments to the
guidance have not materially affected the figures presented.
FREE CASH FLOWFree Cash Flow is a non-GAAP
performance measure that is calculated as cash flows from
operations net of cash flows invested in mineral property, plant,
and equipment and exploration and evaluation assets. The Company
believes that this measure is useful to the external users in
assessing the Company’s ability to generate cash flows from its
mineral projects.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:Neither TSX Exchange
nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release is not for
distribution to United States newswire services or for
dissemination in the United States. This news release does not
constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy
nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of
America. The securities have not been and will not be registered
under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“1933 Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or
sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of,
U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless
registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws,
or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news
release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to
inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news
release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be
considered forward looking. Although Discovery believes the
expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based
on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of
future performance and actual results or developments may differ
materially from those described in forward-looking statements.
Statements include but are not limited to the feasibility of the
Project and its attractive economics and significant exploration
upside; construction decision and development of the Project,
timing and results of the feasibility study and the anticipated
capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, net present value,
internal rate of return, the method of mining the Project, payback
period, process capacity, average annual metal production, average
process recoveries, concession renewal, permitting of the Project,
anticipated mining and processing methods, feasibility study
production schedule and metal production profile, anticipated
construction period, anticipated mine life, expected recoveries and
grades, anticipated production rates, infrastructure, social and
environmental impact studies, the completion of key de-risking
items, including the timing of receipt permits, availability of
water and power, availability of labour, job creation and other
local economic benefits, tax rates and commodity prices that would
support development of the Project, and other statements that
express management's expectations or estimates of future
performance, operational, geological or financial results
Information concerning mineral resource/reserve estimates and the
economic analysis thereof contained in the results of the
feasibility study are also forward-looking statements in that they
reflect a prediction of the mineralization that would be
encountered, and the results of mining, if a mineral deposit were
developed and mined. Forward-looking statements are statements that
are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes or
developments that the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking
statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the
Company’s management on the date the statements are made and they
involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in forward-looking statements include
fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued
availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market
or business conditions, the actual results of current and future
exploration activities; changes to current estimates of mineral
reserves and mineral resources; conclusions of economic and
geological evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans
continue to be refined; the speculative nature of mineral
exploration and development; risks in obtaining and maintaining
necessary licenses, permits and authorizations for the Company’s
development stage and operating assets; operations may be exposed
to new diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including any ongoing or
future effects of COVID-19 (and any related ongoing or future
regulatory or government responses) and its impact on the broader
market and the trading price of the Company’s shares; provincial
and federal orders or mandates (including with respect to mining
operations generally or auxiliary businesses or services required
for operations) in Mexico, all of which may affect many aspects of
the Company's operations including the ability to transport
personnel to and from site, contractor and supply availability and
the ability to sell or deliver mined silver; changes in national
and local government legislation, controls or regulations; failure
to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and
regulations; labour and contractor availability (and being able to
secure the same on favourable terms); disruptions in the
maintenance or provision of required infrastructure and information
technology systems; fluctuations in the price of gold or certain
other commodities such as, diesel fuel, natural gas, and
electricity; operating or technical difficulties in connection with
mining or development activities, including geotechnical challenges
and changes to production estimates (which assume accuracy of
projected ore grade, mining rates, recovery timing and recovery
rate estimates and may be impacted by unscheduled maintenance);
changes in foreign exchange rates (particularly the Canadian
dollar, U.S. dollar and Mexican peso); the impact of inflation;
geopolitical conflicts; employee and community relations; the
impact of litigation and administrative proceedings (including but
not limited to mining reform laws in Mexico) and any interim or
final court, arbitral and/or administrative decisions; disruptions
affecting operations; availability of and increased costs
associated with mining inputs and labour; delays in construction
decisions and any development of the Project; changes with respect
to the intended method of mining and processing ore from the
Project; inherent risks and hazards associated with mining and
mineral processing including environmental hazards, industrial
accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures and
cave-ins; the risk that the Company’s mines may not perform as
planned; uncertainty with the Company's ability to secure
additional capital to execute its business plans; contests over
title to properties; expropriation +or nationalization of property;
political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico and other
jurisdictions in which the Company may carry on business in the
future; increased costs and risks related to the potential impact
of climate change; the costs and timing of exploration,
construction and development of new deposits; risk of loss due to
sabotage, protests and other civil disturbances; the impact of
global liquidity and credit availability and the values of assets
and liabilities based on projected future cash flows; risks arising
from holding derivative instruments; and business opportunities
that may be pursued by the Company. There can be no assurances that
such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are
advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties.
Discovery does not assume any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements except as required under applicable
laws. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking
statements, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop
such forward-looking information, are described under the heading
"Risks Factors" in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated
March 28, 2024, which is available under the Company’s issuer
profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
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