Great Panther Silver Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

TSX: GPR
NYSE American: GPL

VANCOUVER, May 2, 2018 /CNW/ - GREAT PANTHER SILVER LIMITED (TSX: GPR) (NYSE American: GPL) ("Great Panther"; or the "Company") today reported financial results for the Company's three months ended March 31, 2018.  The full version of the Company's unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") can be viewed on the Company's website at www.greatpanther.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.  All financial information is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), except as noted in the Non-GAAP Measures section of the MD&A.  All dollar amounts are expressed in US dollars ("USD"), unless otherwise noted.

"Great Panther's revenues were up 38% reflecting the normal operation of the Topia processing plant compared to the first quarter of last year when it was suspended for planned upgrades", stated Jim Bannantine, President and CEO.  "We continue to focus our efforts on advancing the Coricancha project, and we expect to release an economic study before the end of this quarter.  Our balance sheet remains strong and our cash position increased to just over $60 million as we continue to fund Coricancha from the cash flows from our operations in Mexico." 

OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

REVIEW OF FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenue increased by $4.6 million or 38% compared to the first quarter of 2017.  This was primarily attributable to an increase in metal sales volumes ($5.6 million effect) as there were negligible metal sales for Topia during the first quarter of 2017 due to the suspension of milling operations for plant upgrades, and an increase in gold prices ($0.4 million effect).  This was partly offset by a decrease in silver prices ($1.4 million effect).  The Company's average realized silver price for the first quarter of 2018 was $16.36 per oz compared to $19.33 per oz during the first quarter of 2017. 

The increase in metal sales volume resulted in a corresponding increase in production costs for the first quarter of 2018, compared to the first quarter of 2017 (approximate $3.2 million increase).  Production costs also increased in MXN terms as a result of mining narrower veins at the GMC (which causes more waste material to be mined), along with rate increases for mining contractors ($0.4 million effect).  Another factor in the increase of production costs was the strengthening of the MXN against the USD which had the impact of increasing costs in USD terms by $0.8 million. 

Mine operating earnings before non-cash items decreased by $0.2 million relative to the first quarter of 2017 as the $4.9 million increase in production costs exceeded the $4.6 million increase in revenue.

Amortization and depletion increased compared to the first quarter of 2017 due to depreciation of the new tailings filtration and handling facilities at Topia that were commissioned in the second quarter of 2017. 

G&A expenses for the first quarter of 2018 increased 3% compared to the same period in 2017, primarily due to higher share-based compensation. 

Exploration, evaluation and development ("EE&D") expenses for the first quarter of 2018 increased $1.4 million or 70% compared to the same period in 2017, mainly due to $1.5 million of care and maintenance and project expenditures related to Coricancha, which was acquired on June 30, 2017.  The first quarter of 2017 included $0.3 million of Coricancha pre-acquisition EE&D costs related to technical evaluation, integration planning and pre-closing legal and professional fees.  The Company will continue to expense costs associated with the ongoing care and maintenance of Coricancha and any project costs associated with evaluating the return of Coricancha to production until such time as a positive decision is made to restart the mine.  EE&D expenditures for the first quarter of 2018 also included $0.6 million of additional corporate development costs, due to a higher level of activity associated with the evaluation of potential acquisitions.

Finance and other income (expense) primarily reflects interest income or expense and foreign exchange gains and losses.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company had foreign exchange gains of $0.7 million compared to $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2017.  The foreign exchange gains recorded in both periods were primarily as a result of the forward contracts to purchase MXN to fund operating expenditures in Mexico.

The first quarter of 2018 reflected a net loss of $0.1 million compared to net income of $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2017.  The change was largely accounted for by the $1.4 million increase in EE&D expenses, $1.1 million decrease in finance and other income, and $0.6 million decrease in mine operating earnings.

Adjusted EBITDA was $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2017.  The decrease largely reflects a $1.4 million increase in EE&D expenses and a $0.2 million decrease in mine operating earnings before non-cash items.

Refer to the Company's MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2018 for more details of the financial results. 

CASH COST AND ALL-IN SUSTAINING COSTS

Cash cost per silver payable ounce ("cash cost") for the first quarter of 2018 increased over the first quarter of 2017 primarily due to higher MXN production costs as discussed above which had the effect of increasing cash cost by $8.97 per payable silver ounce ("per oz").  In addition, the strengthening of the MXN against the USD accounted for a further $1.25 per oz increase.  These factors were partly offset by an increase in by-product credits associated with higher volumes sold for gold, lead and zinc and higher realized prices for gold (together, a $7.47 per oz).  Payable silver volumes were also higher in the first quarter of 2018 than in the first quarter of 2017, which reduced cash cost by a further $0.98 per oz.  The full operation of Topia accounted for an approximate net $2.60 per oz increase in consolidated cash cost.

All-in sustaining cost per silver payable ounce ("AISC") during the first quarter of 2018 decreased from the first quarter of 2017 primarily due to lower sustaining exploration, evaluation and development expenses ("EE&D") and lower capital expenditures ($4.66 per oz effect).  These were partly offset by the increase in cash cost ($1.85 per oz effect) as discussed above.  The increased number of payable silver ounces had the effect of decreasing AISC ($4.41 per oz effect).

Refer to the Company's MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2018, for further discussion of cash cost and AISC, and for a reconciliation to the Company's financial results as reported under IFRS. 

CASH, SHORT-TERM DEPOSITS AND WORKING CAPITAL AT MARCH 31, 2018

At March 31, 2018, the Company had cash and short-term deposits of $60.9 million, compared to $56.9 million at December 31, 2017.  The Company does not have any debt. 

Cash and short-term deposits increased by $4.0 million in the first three months of 2018 primarily due to $4.1 million of cash generated by operating activities, $0.1 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options and $0.1 million in foreign exchange gains on cash balances.  These factors were partly offset by $0.3 million in additions to plant and equipment.

Net working capital was $67.1 million as at March 31, 2018, an increase of $1.1 million from the start of the year.

OUTLOOK 

The Company's production and cost guidance for the year ending December 31, 2018 remains unchanged:

It is cautioned that cash cost and AISC are very sensitive to the Mexican peso foreign exchange rate and metal prices through the computation of by-product credits. 

The Company's guidance for capital expenditures and EE&D expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 also remains unchanged:  

The focus for 2018 is to maintain steady and efficient operations in Mexico, while advancing the Company's Coricancha Mine Complex in Peru to set a platform for production growth in 2019 and 2020.  While still in the early stage of evaluation, based upon historic production records, Coricancha has the potential to add 3 million Ag eq oz of annual production.

As noted, the Company is currently undertaking technical, economic and environmental evaluations to assess a restart of the mine, and plans to release the results of additional technical and economic studies for the project in the current quarter.  Depending on the outcome of these evaluations, investments in connection with a restart of the mine could commence in 2018.

The Company continues to seek and evaluate additional acquisition opportunities in the Americas to meet the Company's growth objectives.

WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS THE FIRST QUARTER 2018 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Great Panther will hold a live webcast and conference call to discuss the financial results on May 3, 2018, at 11:00 am Pacific Time.  Hosting the call will be Mr. James Bannantine, President and CEO, and Mr. Jim Zadra, CFO and Corporate Secretary. 

Shareholders, analysts, investors and media are invited to join the live webcast and conference call by logging in or calling in five minutes prior to the start time. 

Live webcast and registration: www.greatpanther.com
U.S. & Canada Toll-Free: 1 800 281 7973
International Toll: +1 323 794 2093
Conference ID: 4742165

A replay of the webcast will be available on the Webcasts section of the Company's website approximately one hour after the conference call. 

ABOUT GREAT PANTHER

Great Panther Silver Limited is a primary silver mining and exploration company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange trading under the symbol GPR, and on the NYSE American under the symbol GPL. Great Panther's current activities are focused on the mining of precious metals from its two wholly-owned operating mines in Mexico: the Guanajuato Mine Complex and the Topia Mine. The Company is also evaluating the restart of the Coricancha Mine in Peru, which it acquired in 2017, and continues to pursue the acquisition of additional mining operations or projects in the Americas.

James Bannantine
President & CEO

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (together, "forward-looking statements").  Such forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to the Company's plans for production at its Guanajuato Mine Complex and Topia Mines in Mexico, advancement of the Coricancha project, and the exploration of its other properties in Mexico and Peru.  Forward looking statements also include guidance included in the "Outlook" section of this document, including guidance on production, cash costs, AISC, and anticipated capital expenditures and exploration and development expenditures.  Forward looking statements also include discussions of the overall economic potential of the Company's properties, the availability of adequate financing, and those involving known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements to be materially different.  Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to potential political risks involving the Company's operations in a foreign jurisdiction, uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, uncertainty in mineral resource estimation, physical risks inherent in mining operations, currency fluctuations, fluctuations in the price of silver, gold and base metals, completion of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, permitting risks, the inability or failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis, and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's most recently filed Annual Information Form and Material Change Reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.com and reports on Form 40-F and Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. 

GREAT PANTHER SILVER LIMITED
CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT
(Expressed in thousands of US dollars - Unaudited)

GREAT PANTHER SILVER LIMITED
CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Expressed in thousands of US dollars, unless otherwise noted)

GREAT PANTHER SILVER LIMITED
CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Expressed in thousands of US dollars)

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SOURCE Great Panther Silver Limited