VANCOUVER, BC, March 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX:
ASM) (NYSE American: ASM) (FSE: GV6) ("Avino" or "the
Company") released today its consolidated financial
results for the Company's fourth quarter and year end 2021. The
Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis
(MD&A) can be viewed on the Company's web site at
www.avino.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov.
"2021 was highlighted by many positive achievements for Avino,
with our fourth quarter results showcasing the progress made in the
restart of operations with meaningful earnings and free cash flow
generation. It was a pivotal year in many respects as we restarted
mining operations after an extended closure period, repaid our
$10 million term facility to Samsung
C&T UK, and announced the proposed acquisition of La Preciosa,"
said David Wolfin, President and
CEO. "Revenues, earnings and cash flow generation all increased
considerably compared to all preceding quarters in 2021 and 2020,
with cash costs and AISC costs showcasing these strong margins. We
look forward to further encouraging production numbers and
exploration drill results as we move through 2022."
4th Quarter and FY 2021 Highlights
Strong Q4 Financial Results Following Production
Restart
- Highest recorded revenues since Q4 2019, with revenues of
$9.3 million generating $4.4 million in mine operating income, earnings
per share of $0.03 and operating cash
flow generated (pre-working capital adjustments) per share of
$0.04.
Strategic Acquisition of La Preciosa Silver Project from
Coeur Mining Inc. ("Coeur")
- On October 27, 2021, the Company
announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the
"Agreement") with Coeur to acquire the La Preciosa silver project,
which is located adjacent to the Avino Mine in the state of
Durango, Mexico, for upfront
consideration of $29.7 million on
closing and $5 million due within 12
months of closing. Further contingent consideration including cash,
royalties and a mineral reserve discovery payment. The transaction
is expected to close during Q1 2022
Working Capital & Liquidity at December 31, 2021
- The Company's cash balance at December
31, 2021, totaled $24.8
million compared to $22.3
million at September 30, 2021
and $11.7 million at December 31, 2020. Working capital totaled
$31.6 million at December 31, 2020, compared to $28.9 million at September
30, 2021 and $14.7 million at
December 31, 2020.
Term Facility Repaid on Schedule
- As of September 30, 2021, the
Company has fully repaid its $10
million term facility with Samsung C&T U.K. Limited
("Samsung"). The Company remains committed to selling Avino Mine
concentrate to Samsung until December 31,
2024.
Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights
- Revenues of $9.3 million
- Mine operating income of $4.4
million, $5.1 million net of
non-cash depreciation and depletion
- Net income from continuing operations of $2.6 million, or $0.03 per share
- Cash costs per silver equivalent payable ounce sold1
- $9.57 per ounce
- All in sustaining cash cost per silver equivalent payable ounce
sold1 - $17.24 per
ounce
- Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
("EBITDA")1 of $4.8
million
- Adjusted earnings1 of $4.7
million
- Operating cash flows (before working capital changes) of
$4.0 million, or $0.04 per share1
Full Year 2021 Financial Highlights
- Cash balance of $24.8
million
- Working capital of $31.6
million
- Fully repaid $10 million term
facility to Samsung C&T U.K. Limited
- Revenues of $11.2 million
- Mine operating income of $3.5
million, $5.5 million net of
non-cash depreciation and depletion
- Net loss from continuing operations of $2.0 million, or $0.02 per share
- Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
("EBITDA")1 of $0.4
million
- Adjusted earnings1 of $2.3
million
- Cash costs per silver equivalent payable ounce sold1
- $9.09 per ounce
- All-in sustaining cash cost per silver equivalent payable ounce
sold1 - $24.51 per
ounce
- Operating cash flows (before working capital changes) of
$1.7 million, or $0.02 per share1
Financial Highlights
HIGHLIGHTS (Expressed in 000's of US$)
|
Fourth
Quarter 2021
|
Fourth
Quarter 2020
|
Change
|
Year 2021
|
Year 2020
|
Change
|
Financial Operating
Performance
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
$
|
9,318
|
$
|
1,407
|
562%
|
$
|
11,228
|
$
|
16,022
|
-30%
|
Mine operating income
(loss)
|
$
|
4,406
|
$
|
(1,251)
|
452%
|
$
|
3,547
|
$
|
190
|
1767%
|
Net income (loss) from
continuing operations
|
$
|
2,629
|
$
|
(1,553)
|
269%
|
$
|
(2,057)
|
$
|
(7,482)
|
73%
|
Net income
(loss)
|
$
|
2,629
|
$
|
(1,555)
|
269%
|
$
|
(2,057)
|
$
|
(7,651)
|
73%
|
Earnings (losses)
before interest, taxes and amortization
("EBITDA")1
|
$
|
4,821
|
$
|
(2,269)
|
312%
|
$
|
443
|
$
|
(6,945)
|
106%
|
Adjusted earnings
(losses)1
|
$
|
4,746
|
$
|
(182)
|
2708%
|
$
|
2,298
|
$
|
1,500
|
53%
|
Per Share
Amounts
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per
share – basic & diluted
|
$
|
0.03
|
$
|
(0.02)
|
250%
|
$
|
(0.02)
|
$
|
(0.09)
|
78%
|
Cash Flow
per share1 – basic
|
$
|
0.04
|
$
|
(0.03)
|
233%
|
$
|
0.02
|
$
|
(0.03)
|
167%
|
HIGHLIGHTS (Expressed in 000's of US$)
|
December 31,
2021
|
December 31,
2020
|
Change
|
December 31,
2021
|
December 31,
2020
|
Change
|
Liquidity &
Working Capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
$
|
24,675
|
$
|
11,713
|
111%
|
$
|
24,675
|
$
|
11,713
|
111%
|
Working
capital
|
$
|
31,635
|
$
|
14,680
|
115%
|
$
|
31,635
|
$
|
14,680
|
115%
|
|
1. The Company
reports non-IFRS measures which include cash cost per silver
equivalent payable ounce, all-in sustaining cash cost per payable
ounce, EBITDA, adjusted earnings, and cash flow per share. These
measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for
performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and the
calculation methods may differ from methods used by other companies
with similar reported measures. See Non-IFRS Measures section for
further information and detailed reconciliations.
|
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures company-wide for the full year 2021 were
$3.2 million compared to $2.2 million for 2020. Expenditures relate to
exploration drilling costs on the Avino property & on TSF #1,
which contains the Oxide Tailings Resource, costs related to the
construction of the dry-stack tailings storage facility, as well as
the purchase of a scoop tram.
Operational Highlights and Overview
HIGHLIGHTS (Expressed in US$)
|
Fourth Quarter
2021
|
Fourth Quarter
2020
|
Change1
|
Year 2021
|
Year 2020
|
Change1
|
Operating
|
|
|
|
Tonnes Milled
|
103,513
|
-
|
100%
|
165,304
|
204,286
|
-19%
|
Silver
Ounces Produced
|
163,933
|
-
|
100%
|
245,372
|
317,299
|
-23%
|
Gold Ounces
Produced
|
2,158
|
-
|
100%
|
3,386
|
1,935
|
75%
|
Copper Pounds
Produced
|
1,128,728
|
-
|
100%
|
1,869,306
|
2,267,939
|
-18%
|
Silver Equivalent
Ounces1 Produced
|
541,432
|
-
|
100%
|
842,373
|
842,230
|
0%
|
Concentrate
Sales and Cash Costs
|
|
|
|
Silver Equivalent
Payable Ounces Sold2
|
417,881
|
59,710
|
600%
|
524,993
|
1,071,367
|
-51%
|
Cash Cost
per Silver Equivalent Payable Ounce1,2,3
|
$
|
9.57
|
$
|
14.01
|
-32%
|
$
|
9.09
|
$
|
10.68
|
-15%
|
All-in Sustaining Cash
Cost per Silver Equivalent Payable Ounce1,2,3
|
$
|
17.24
|
$
|
73.08
|
-76%
|
$
|
24.51
|
$
|
20.35
|
20%
|
|
1. In Q4
2021, AgEq was calculated using metal prices of $23.33 oz Ag,
$1,795 oz Au, and $4.40 lb Cu. In Q4 2020, AgEq was calculated
using metals prices of $24.39 oz Ag, $1,867 oz Au and $2.67 lb
Cu
|
|
2. "Silver
equivalent payable ounces sold" for the purposes of cash costs and
all-in sustaining costs consists of the sum of payable silver
ounces, gold ounces and copper tonnes sold, before penalties,
treatment charges, and refining charges, multiplied by the ratio of
the average spot gold and copper prices to the average spot silver
price for the corresponding period.
|
|
3. The Company
reports non-IFRS measures which include cash cost per silver
equivalent payable ounce, all-in sustaining cash cost per payable
ounce, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and cash flow per share. These
measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for
performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and the
calculation methods may differ from methods used by other companies
with similar reported measures. See Non-IFRS Measures section for
further information and detailed reconciliations.
|
During Q4 2021, underground mining operations continued to ramp
up with consolidation production for the quarter of 541,342 silver
equivalent ounces consisting of 163,933 ounces of silver, 2,158
ounces of gold, and 1,128,728 pounds of copper.
Underground mining operations are now hauling between 1,400 and
1,900 tpd to surface on a daily basis, with the mill operating at a
similar capacity. The Company is working towards achieving
pre-shutdown levels of mine and mill production. Current plant
capacity remains at 2,500 tpd.
During Q4 2021 production came primarily from the Avino Mine.
The Company is currently mining and milling from the Avino Mine
only.
Exploration Update – 2021/2022 Drill Program
The Company completed just over 15,500 metres of drilling in
2021. The areas drilled include the existing Oxide Tailings
Resource, which is contained within the tailings storage facility
("TSF #1). 124 holes have been drilled on this program, with 110
having reported assays and currently under review by our technical
team. Additional areas for exploration include the main Avino vein
below current mining activities and at the La Potosina vein.
Turnaround times for assay results have been slow and results will
continue to be released throughout 2022.
La Preciosa Acquisition Update - Received Mexican
Anti-Trust Approval
Avino is pleased to announce the receipt of the clearance
decision from the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica
("COFECE") with respect to the pending acquisition of the La
Preciosa Property from Coeur Mining Inc. Inc. (NYSE: CDE)
("Coeur"). The COFECE approval was the final government agency
approval required before completing the acquisition, which is
anticipated to occur before the end of the first quarter, 2022.
Avino announced the transaction to acquire La Preciosa on
October 27, 2021, the full news
release which details the rationale and terms of the acquisition
can be found on Avino's website as well as its SEDAR and Edgar
profiles.
Non-IFRS Measures
The financial results in this news release include references to
cash flow per share, cash cost per silver equivalent ounce, and
all-in sustaining cash cost per silver equivalent ounce, EBITDA,
and adjusted earnings/losses, all of which are non-IFRS measures.
These measures are used by the Company to manage and evaluate
operating performance of the Company's mining operations, and are
widely reported in the silver and gold mining industry as
benchmarks for performance, but do not have standardized meanings
prescribed by IFRS, and are disclosed in addition to the prescribed
IFRS measures provided in the Company's financial statements and
MD&A.
Conference Call and Webcast
In addition, the Company will be holding a conference call and
webcast on Thursday, March 17, 2022,
at 8:00 am PDT (11:00 am EDT). Shareholders, analysts, investors
and media are invited to join the webcast and conference call by
logging in here Avino Fourth Quarter and Year End 2021 Financial
Results Conference Call and Webcast.
Toll Free Canada & USA:
1-800-319-4610
Outside of Canada &
USA: 1-604-638-5340
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"David Wolfin"
________________________________
David Wolfin
President & CEO
Avino Silver & Gold Mines
Ltd.
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and
"forward-looking statements" (together, the "forward looking
statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and
the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including the updated mineral resource estimate for the Company's
Avino Property located near Durango in west-central Mexico (the "Property") with an effective date
of October 31, 2020, prepared for the
Company, and La Preciosa's updated October
27, 2021 resource estimate and references to Measured,
Indicated, Inferred Resources referred to in this press release. La
Preciosa's updated October 27, 2021
resource estimate and references to Measured, Indicated, Inferred
Resources, and anticipated production and Capital Expenditures
referred to in this press release. These forward-looking statements
are made as of the date of this news release and the dates of
technical reports, as applicable. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be
no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results
anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will
occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the
forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have
based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about
future events as at the date that such statements were prepared,
the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will
occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and
other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. No assurance can be given that the Company's Property
nor the La Preciosa Property have the amount of the mineral
resources indicated in their reports or that such mineral resources
may be economically extracted.
Such factors and assumptions include, among others, the
effects of general economic conditions, the price of gold, silver
and copper, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by
government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal
proceedings and negotiations and misjudgments in the course of
preparing forward-looking information. In addition, there are known
and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results,
performance or achievements to differ materially from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Other risk factors include risks
associated with project development; the need for additional
financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral
processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters;
uncertainties and risks related to carrying on business in foreign
countries; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance
on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among
certain of our officers, directors or promoters with certain other
projects; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations;
competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price
and volume; tax consequences to U.S. investors; and other risks and
uncertainties Included in filings made from time to time with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Canadian
securities regulators, including, without limitation, our most
recent reports on Form 20-F and Form 6-K. Although we have
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
actions, events or results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors
that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. 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. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no
obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except
as required under applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Non-GAAP Measures
This news release includes certain terms or performance
measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined
under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"),
including silver equivalent ounces (AgEq oz) of production.
Non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed
under IFRS and, therefore, they may not be comparable to similar
measures reported by other companies. We believe that, in addition
to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain
investors use this information to evaluate our performance. The
data presented 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. Readers
should also refer to our management's discussion and analysis
available under our corporate profile at www.sedar.com or on our
website at www.avino.com.
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SOURCE Avino Silver & Gold
Mines Ltd.