Maverix Metals Inc. Announces First Quarter 2021 Results and Increases Dividend by 25%
VANCOUVER, May 14, 2021 - Maverix Metals Inc. ("Maverix" or the "Company") (NYSE American: MMX) (TSX: MMX) is pleased to announce operating and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. First Quarter 2021 Highlights
- Revenue of $13.1 million;
- Cash flow from operating activities, excluding changes in non-cash working capital, of $9.0 million1;
- Gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs") sold of 7,3021;
- Average cash cost per GEO of $223, resulting in a cash operating margin of 88% or $1,568 per ounce1;
- Net income of $14.8 million, including one-time gains on a partial buy back of the Hope Bay royalty interest and conversion of a debenture;
- Adjusted net income of 5.0 million1;
- Received a cash payment of $50 million from Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. ("Agnico") for the partial buy back of 1.5% of Maverix's royalty on the Hope Bay mine;
- Fully repaid the outstanding amount on Maverix's revolving credit facility, leaving the Company debt free;
- Increased the silver stream on the El Mochito mine from 22.5% to 27.5%; and
- Added to the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF ("GDXJ") in March 2021.
Dan O'Flaherty, CEO of Maverix, commented, "The first quarter of 2021 marked another milestone as Maverix was included in the GDXJ and increased revenue significantly by 41% compared to the first quarter of 2020. We are well on track to achieve our previously announced guidance of 27,000 to 30,0001 GEOs for 2021 at approximately a 90% cash margin1, with approximately 99% of expected revenue derived from gold and silver. Maverix is also pleased to have Agnico as an operating partner, as it completed the acquisition of the Hope Bay mine, in Nunavut. We look forward to Agnico applying its operating expertise to maximize the long-term value of the mine and the highly prospective surrounding land package."
Summary of Quarterly Results
| Quarter Ended (in thousands of USD, except for GEOs and per share amounts) | March 31, 2021 | March 31, 2020 | ||
| Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income | ||||
| Royalty revenue | $ | 6,883 | $ | 6,076 |
| Sales | $ | 6,197 | $ | 3,214 |
| Total revenue | $ | 13,080 | $ | 9,290 |
| Cash flow from operating activities | $ | 13,479 | $ | 4,846 |
| Net income | $ | 14,769 | $ | 860 |
| Basic earnings per share | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.01 |
| Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.01 |
| Dividends declared per share | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 |
| Non-IFRS and Other Measures1 | ||||
| Adjusted net income | $ | 4,959 | $ | 996 |
| Adjusted basic earnings per share | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.01 |
| GEOs sold | 7,302 | 5,871 | ||
| Average realized gold price per GEO | $ | 1,791 | $ | 1,582 |
| Average cash cost per GEO | $ | 223 | $ | 167 |
| Cash flow from operating activities, excluding changes in non-cash working capital | $ | 8,998 | $ | 5,733 |
For complete details please refer to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), EDGAR (www.sec.gov) or on Maverix's website (www.maverixmetals.com).
To listen to Maverix's President, Ryan McIntyre, discuss the Q1 results please use this link: MMX Q1 2021 Results
Dividend Increase
Maverix is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.0125 per share to be paid on June 15, 2021, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 31, 2021. The amount of the dividend is a 25% increase from the previous dividend of $0.01 per share. Capital allocation is a critical component of being a good steward of investors' capital and while our focus continues to be on acquiring precious metals royalties and streams we also believe it is important to have a sustainable dividend that grows with the business.
This dividend is designated as an "eligible dividend" for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Dividends paid by Maverix to shareholders outside Canada (non-resident investors) will be subject to Canadian non-resident withholding taxes. The declaration, timing, amount and payment of future dividends remains at the discretion of Maverix's Board of Directors.
Asset Portfolio Updates
El Mochito
During the quarter, the Company increased its silver stream on the El Mochito mine from 22.5% to 27.5%. The Company acquired the increased silver stream as a result of the conversion of a convertible debenture that was issued to Maverix last year for consenting to the acquisition of the El Mochito mine by Kirungu Corporation and a $1.0 million investment.
Hope Bay
Since acquiring the Hope Bay mine in February 2021, Agnico has been focused on optimizing the underground mine and mill operations, with a longer-term view to developing a larger scale production centre. To that end, Agnico has launched a major delineation, conversion and exploration drilling program at the Hope Bay property, using three underground rigs and three surface rigs. Agnico expects to spend $16.2 million for 69,600 metres of diamond drilling at the Hope Bay property in 2021, including $5.5 million for 29,800 metres of delineation drilling to support production at the Doris mine and $10.7 million for 39,800 metres of drilling on exploration targets around the Doris, Madrid and Boston deposits and other regional targets along the 80-kilometre-long Hope Bay greenstone belt.
Maverix owns a 1% NSR royalty on the Hope Bay property. For more information, please refer to www.agnicoeagle.com and see the news release dated April 29, 2021.
| 1 Maverix has included certain performance measures in this news release that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") including adjusted net income, total GEOs sold, average realized gold price per GEO, average cash cost per GEO, cash operating margin and cash flow from operating activities, excluding changes in non-cash working capital. Adjusted net income is calculated by excluding the effects of other income/expenses, impairment charges, gains/(losses) on sale or amendments of royalty and streams and unusual non-recurring items. The Company believes that adjusted net income is a useful measure of the Company's performance because it adjusts for items which may not relate to or have a disproportionate effect on the period in which they are recognized, impact the comparability of our core operating results from period to period, are not always reflective of the underlying operating performance of our business and/or are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. The Company's royalty revenue and silver sales are converted to a GEO basis by dividing the royalty revenue and silver sales for a period by the average gold price based on the LBMA Gold Price PM Fix per ounce for the same respective period. These GEOs when combined with the gold ounces sold from the Company's gold streams equal total GEOs sold. Average realized gold price per GEO is calculated by dividing the total revenue by the GEOs sold. Average cash cost per GEO is calculated by dividing the total cost of sales, less depletion, by the GEOs sold. In the precious metals mining industry, these are common performance measures but do not have any standardized meaning. Cash operating margin is calculated by subtracting the average cash cost per GEO sold from the average realized gold price per GEO sold. The Company presents cash operating margin as it believes that certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance in comparison to other companies in the precious metal royalty and streaming sector who present results on a similar basis. The Company has also used the non-IFRS measure of operating cash flows excluding changes in non-cash working capital. This measure is calculated by adding back the decrease or subtracting the increase in changes in non-cash working capital to or from cash provided by (used in) operating activities. The presentation of these non-IFRS measures 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. Other companies may calculate these non-IFRS measures differently. The 2021 forecast herein assumes a gold price of $1,700 per ounce and a silver price of $21 per ounce. The forecast was derived using information that is available in the public domain as at the date hereof, which included guidance and estimates prepared and issued by management of the operators of the mining operations in which Maverix holds an interest. The forecast is sensitive to the performance and operating status of the underlying mines. None of the information has been independently verified by Maverix and may be subject to uncertainty. There can be no assurance that such information is complete or accurate. Maverix's business, operations, financial condition, and financial outlook could be materially adversely affected by the continued impact of the COVID-19 global health pandemic. At this time, Maverix cannot reasonably estimate the duration of any potential business disruptions, impact to underlying operations that Maverix holds an interest in or any related financial impact that is related to or caused by COVID-19. |
Qualified Person
Brendan Pidcock, P.Eng., is Vice President, Technical Services for Maverix, and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.
About Maverix
Maverix is a gold-focused royalty and streaming company with a globally diversified portfolio of over 100 assets. Maverix's mission is to increase per share value by acquiring precious metals royalties and streams. Its shares trade on both the NYSE American and the TSX under the symbol "MMX".
Cautionary statements to U.S. investors
Information contained or referenced in this press release or in the documents referenced herein concerning the properties, technical information and operations of Maverix has been prepared in accordance with requirements and standards under Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of US securities laws. The terms "mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used in this press release or in the documents incorporated by reference herein are mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under guidelines set out in the Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council. While the terms "mineral resource", and "inferred mineral resource" are recognized and required by Canadian securities laws, they are not recognized by SEC Industry Guide 7 and normally are not permitted to be used in reports filed with the SEC. The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "SEC Modernization Rules"). Under the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC will permit issuers to disclose estimates of mineral resources if certain conditions are met. Because the Company is eligible for the Multijurisdictional Disclosure System adopted by the SEC and Canadian Securities Administrators, the Company is not required to present disclosure regarding its mineral properties in compliance with the SEC Modernization Rules. Accordingly, certain information contained in this press release concerning descriptions of mineralization and mineral resources under these standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by US companies subject to reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC.
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's annual guidance, the payment of the declared dividend, and developments at certain of the mines, projects or properties that underlie the Company's interests. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual actions, events or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions; the absence of control over mining operations from which Maverix will purchase gold and other metals or from which it will receive royalty payments and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, delays in mine construction and operations, actual results of mining and current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents, equipment breakdowns, title matters, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions in operations; problems inherent to the marketability of gold and other metals; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; industry conditions, including fluctuations in the price of the primary commodities mined at such operations, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in interest rates; government entities interpreting existing tax legislation or enacting new tax legislation in a way which adversely affects Maverix; stock market volatility; regulatory restrictions; liability, competition, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 on Maverix's business, operations and financial condition, loss of key employees, as well as those risk factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Maverix's annual information form dated March 23, 2021 available at www.sedar.com. Maverix has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Maverix undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available.
Technical and third-party information
The disclosure herein and relating to properties and operations on the properties in which Maverix holds royalty, stream or other interests is based on information publicly disclosed by the owners or operators of these properties and information/data available in the public domain as at the date hereof, and none of this information has been independently verified by Maverix. Specifically, as a royalty or stream holder, Maverix has limited, if any, access to properties included in its asset portfolio. Additionally, Maverix may from time to time receive operating information from the owners and operators of the properties, which it is not permitted to disclose to the public. Maverix is dependent on, (i) the operators of the properties and their qualified persons to provide information to Maverix, or (ii) on publicly available information to prepare disclosure pertaining to properties and operations on the properties on which Maverix holds royalty, stream or other interests, and generally has limited or no ability to independently verify such information. Although Maverix does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such third-party information is complete or accurate. Some information publicly reported by operators may relate to a larger property than the area covered by Maverix's royalty, stream or other interest. Maverix's royalty, stream or other interests often cover less than 100% and sometimes only a portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources, and production of a property.
All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
SOURCE Maverix Metals Inc.
Contact
Maverix Metals Inc., Daniel O'Flaherty, CEO & Director; or Ryan McIntyre, President, (604) 343-6225, Email: info@maverixmetals.com, Website: www.maverixmetals.com