Silver Wheaton Corp. ("Silver Wheaton" or the "Company") (TSX:SLW) (NYSE: SLW) is pleased to announce its unaudited results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012.
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Record attributable silver equivalent production of 7.7 million ounces compared to 6.1 million ounces in Q3 2011, representing an increase of 26%.
- While production was at record levels, silver equivalent sales amounted to 5.1 million ounces due to the timing of deliveries, with the difference attributable to an increase of 2.0 million payable silver equivalent ounces being produced in the quarter that will be recognized in future sales.
- Revenues were US$161.3 million compared to US$185.2 million in Q3 2011, representing a decrease of 13%, attributable to a 14% decrease in silver prices from a year earlier with silver equivalent sales being consistent year over year at 5.1 million ounces.
- Net earnings were US$119.7 million (US$0.34 per share) compared to US$135.0 million (US$0.38 per share) in Q3 2011, representing a decrease of 11%.
- Operating cash flows were US$128.7 million (US$0.36 per share1) compared to US$167.2 million (US$0.47 per share) in Q3 2011, representing a decrease of 23%.
- Cash operating margin1 was US$27.201 per silver equivalent ounce, compared to US$32.11 in Q3 2011, representing a decrease of 15%.
- Average cash costs1 rose slightly to US$4.161 per silver equivalent ounce, compared to US$4.12 in Q3 2011.
- As at September 30, 2012, approximately 5.2 million payable silver equivalent ounces attributable to the Company have been produced at the various mines and will be recognized in future sales as they are delivered to the Company under the terms of their contracts. This represented an increase of 2 million payable silver equivalent ounces during the three months ended September 30, 2012.
- At September 30, 2012, the Company had approximately $555 million of cash on hand and $400 million of available credit under its revolving bank debt facility. This cash and available credit, together with strong operating cash flows, positions the Company well to execute on its growth strategy of acquiring additional accretive silver and precious metal stream interests.
- Declared quarterly dividend of US$0.07 per common share, representing 20% of the cash generated by operating activities during the three months ended September 30, 2012.
- On September 28, 2012, the Company announced that it had closed the previously announced purchase from Hudbay Minerals Inc. ("Hudbay") of a precious metals stream from its currently producing flagship 777 mine ("777"), as well as a silver stream from their cornerstone development project, Constancia. Initial production covering the period August 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012, from 777 totaled 733,000 silver equivalent ounces (139,000 ounces of silver and 11,500 ounces of gold).
"With the addition of production from Hudbay's 777 mine in the quarter, we produced a record 7.7 million silver equivalent ounces, putting us on track to reach our 2012 annual production forecast of 28 million ounces," said Randy Smallwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Wheaton. "Our diversified asset base once again achieved strong production, with notable contributions from Yauliyacu, Zinkgruvan, and Minto. While overall production was strong, payable silver equivalent ounces produced but not shipped during the quarter increased by 2 million ounces due to the timing of concentrate shipments, negatively affecting silver equivalent sales volume. This increase included the new precious metals contained in base metal concentrates produced at the 777 mine as the concentrate storage and transportation system was being filled with materials mined after August 1st. It is very important to remember that these ounces will inevitably be sold, it is simply a matter of timing."
"During the quarter we paid out over $630 million dollars, including our first payment to Hudbay and our last payment to Barrick, and yet, we finished the quarter with $550 million of cash on hand. With this cash, a fully undrawn revolving credit facility of $US400 million, and strong forecast annual operating cash flow, we remain very focussed, capable and excited about our potential to continue adding additional accretive ounces to our portfolio."
Financial Review
Revenues
Revenue was US$161.3 million in the third quarter of 2012, on silver equivalent sales of 5.1 million ounces (4.8 million ounces of silver and 6,900 ounces of gold). This represents a 13% decrease from the US$185.2 million of revenue generated in the third quarter of 2011. This was due to a 13% decrease in the realized price per silver equivalent ounce, which was only slightly offset by a 1% increase in the number of silver equivalent ounces sold. The relatively small increase in ounces sold relative to those produced in the quarter was primarily related to the timing of shipments of stockpiled concentrate and doré at some of the mines underlying the Company's silver and precious metal purchase agreements.
Costs and Expenses
Average cash costs1 in the third quarter of 2012 were US$4.161 per silver equivalent ounce, compared with US$4.121 during the comparable period of 2011. This resulted in cash operating margins1 of US$27.201 per silver equivalent ounce, a 15% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2011, primarily a result of a 13% decrease in the realized price per silver equivalent ounce.
During the third quarter of 2012, the Company recorded an income tax expense of US$513,000, which includes a non-cash deferred income tax expense of US$361,000, attributable primarily to income from Canadian operations, partially offset by the recognition of deferred income tax assets relating to the increase in fair value of long-term investments in common shares. This compares to an income tax expense of US$8.6 million in the comparable period of the previous year, which included a non-cash deferred income tax expense of US$8.4 million which was primarily due to the reversal of previously recognized deferred income tax assets due to the decline in fair value of long-term investments in common shares held.
Earnings and Operating Cash Flows
Net earnings in the third quarter of 2012 were US$119.7 million (US$0.34 per share), compared with US$135.0 million (US$0.38 per share) for the same period in 2011, a decrease of 11%. Cash flow from operations in the third quarter of 2012 was US$128.7 million (US$0.36 per share1), compared with US$167.2 million (US$0.47 per share1) for the same period in 2011, a decrease of 23%. The change in net earnings and operating cash flows is primarily due to a 13% decrease in the realized price per silver equivalent ounce.
Balance Sheet
At September 30, 2012, the Company had approximately US$555 million of cash on hand. In addition, the Company had US$400 million of available credit under its revolving bank debt facility. The combination of cash, available credit, and strong operating cash flows, positions the Company well to execute on its growth strategy of acquiring additional accretive silver stream interests.
Operational Highlights
Attributable silver equivalent production was 7.7 million ounces (6.8 million ounces of silver and 18,000 ounces of gold) in the third quarter of 2012, representing an increase of 26% compared to the third quarter of 2011.
Operational highlights for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, are as follows:
1 Please refer to non-IFRS measures at the end of this press release.