Aurcana Corporation
News and Blogs

Total : 7 View more »
Silver Wheaton Reports Third Quarter Earnings of US$20 Million and Operating Cash Flows of US$27 Million (Marketwire)
biz.yahoo.com | Nov 3, 2008
Silver Wheaton Reports Third Quarter Earnings of US$20 Million and Operating Cash Flows of US$27 Million. - VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(MARKET WIRE)--Nov 3, 2008 -- Silver Wheaton
Manufacturing Business Technology CommunityNewsLN 47314 8641
www.mbtmag.com
Manufacturing Business Technology is about the use of information technology and enterprise applications in plant operations, enterprise planning, and supply chain
http://www.mbtmag.com/CommunityNewsLN/47314.html?starting=8641
Bloomberg.com: Investment Tools
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 07/17/08 -- Silver Standard Resources Inc. (TSX: SSO)(NASDAQ: SSRI) is pleased to report the closing of the sale of the Shafter silver project in Presidio County, Texas, to Aurcana Corporation (TSX VENTURE: AUN).
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&refer=conews&tkr=SSO%3AUS&sid=anw_1EtS0FZ4
News Releases: November 28th, 2002
Almaden Minerals Ltd. (Almaden) has been informed by joint-venture partner Aurcana Corporation (Aurcana) that drilling on the San Carlos Project, northeastern Mexico has commenced. Aurcana can earn a 60% interest in the San Carlos property by spending $US 4 Million.
http://www.almadenminerals.com/News%20Releases/2002/nov28-02.html
Web Sites

Total : 2 View more »
Free Stock Profile: Aurcana Corp. - AUN
The acquisition of the La Negra mine is a major milestone in the companys history... as the La Negra mine moves Aurcana from being just another "exploration" company to a "producing" company...
Aurcana Corporation - AUN Vancouver BC CAN
Through an intelligent mapping environment, Intierra combines geotechnical and land tenure information with the Minmet Financial Markets service – a detailed, near real-time, company and project database, sourced from global stockmarket feeds.
http://www.intierra.com/html/companies/Aurcana%20Corporation.htm
News from Zibb.com
Total : 5 View more »
Aurcana Corporation: Shafter Silver Mine Timeline and Update - Zibb.com
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Nov 20, 2008 (Marketwire via COMTEX) --
Aurcana Corporation ("Aurcana" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AUN) is pleased to announce that the 100% owned Shafter silver mine, southern Texas is being advanced. The Company has appointed a project manager for Shafter and work is underway on an internal scoping study which is expected to be completed in January 2009. The results of the scoping study and tradeoffs will be used to guide a prefeasibility study which the Company expects to be finished in June 2009. Mr. Sandy McVey P.Eng., M.Sc., PMP. will oversee all aspects of Shafter including the scoping study and prefeasibility study. Mr. McVey has over 30 years experience working on mining operations and capital construction projects in North America, Africa and Europe, and has held positions of plant superintendent and mine manager for underground operations. Recently, Sandy was with a consulting engineering group based in Vancouver where he was involved in managing feasibility studies for two underground mines and one surface mine. One feature to be incorporated into the scoping study is the use of a decline to enhance access to the deposit. The proposed decline will allow the use of larger mining equipment while at the same time enabling the existing 1,050 foot shaft and head frame to be used exclusively to hoist ore. This combination is forecast to enable the Shafter mine to increase production up to 1,500 tons per day of ore. The decline also potentially allows early production and cash flow, as it will initially target resource blocks in the upper levels of the mine above the water table. With the dramatic fall in commodity prices Aurcana and its partner, Reyna Mining and Engineering, are optimizing the La Negra mine to ensure it can operate profitability on a continuous basis. The operation is under constant review to ensure "survivability" in these metal markets. The Company and Reyna have been implementing operational and cost cutting measures. Operationally, La Negra has the benefit of multiple zones that have existing development and are primarily copper-silver. As such, a new mine plan has been formulated in order to mine from areas that require minimal development but also have higher grades of silver and copper. In order to ensure that the value of the ore being sent to the mill is maximized the new mine plan will selectively produce from these higher grade sources. All exploration drilling and any mine development not directly associated with immediate production from the higher grade sources have been suspended in order to reduce costs. To improve the operating margins, La Negra will be implementing a reduction in wages of 20% for all salaried workers, is negotiating to gain concessions from the unionized workforce and has made reductions in the number of employees. The mine has already been successful in renegotiating some contracts; in particular it's concentrate off-take agreements and is working with suppliers and other third parties to receive more favourable terms in the current markets. La Negra is already purchasing supplies at deeply discounted rates from local mines that have suspended operations. La Negra recently reduced capital expenditures relating to its tailings facilities by working with outside consultants. Following the recommendation of the consultants the current tailings facility was upgraded at a cost of US$240,000 which has extended the life of the tailings facility for another ten years. In order to conserve capital, the Company will be reducing corporate overhead and putting its Rosario project on care and maintenance. A small workforce will be kept at Rosario to provide security and to maintain the camp. Aurcana has been approached by several parties regarding a transaction for the Rosario project and as proposals are received they will be reviewed to maximize the value of Rosario in the current market. The Company also announces that Mr. Brian Flower and Mr. Robert Fischer have resigned from the Board of Directors. Aurcana wishes to thank them for their services and support over the past four years. Aurcana will file its third quarter financial statements during the week of November 24.
About Aurcana Corporation:
Aurcana Corporation's strategy is Growth through Acquisition. The 100% owned Shafter silver mine in Presidio County, Texas, which was acquired in July 2008 represents the third acquisition in two years.
The Shafter silver mine has a NI 43-101 measured and indicated resource of 23.8 million ounces or silver and an inferred resource of 22.8 million ounces of silver, both using a 4.0 ounce per ton cut off. The 80% owned La Negra mine in Queretaro State, Mexico, is a copper-silver-lead-zinc mine and has operated at 1,000 tonnes per day since Q3, 2007. The 100% owned Rosario mine in Sinaloa State, Mexico, is an advanced stage lead-zinc-silver exploration project. Andy Nichols, P.Eng., Vice President of Operations for Aurcana, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this release. The reader should be cautioned the Company has not completed feasibility studies confirming the projected production capacity for La Negra, Shafter or Rosario and there is no certainty the Company's plans will be economically viable.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AURCANA CORPORATION
Ken Booth, President
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements - This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the business and anticipated financial performance of the Company. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include unsuccessful exploration results, changes in metal prices, changes in the availability of funding for mineral exploration and development, unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general economic conditions. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, oral or written, made by itself or on its behalf.
SOURCE: Aurcana Corporation
Aurcana Corporation Ken Booth President (604) 331-9333 or Toll Free: 1-866-532-9333 Aurcana Corporation Jack Barnes Investor Relations (604) 331-9333 or Toll Free: 1-866-532-9333 Email: jbarnes@aurcana.com Website: www.aurcana.com
Tags: acquisition africa commodity consulting copper corporate engineering europe exploration local market mining north america plant president prices rates security silver south carolina texas vancouver
Aurcana Corporation Reports Third Quarter Results - Zibb.com
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Dec 2, 2008 (Marketwire via COMTEX) --
Aurcana Corporation ("Aurcana" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AUN) is pleased to report its financial results for the period ended September 30, 2008. The summary of the selected financial information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and the related management's discussion and analysis dated November 27, 2008 together referred to as the "Financial Statements", which have been filed on Sedar (www.sedar.com) and the Company's website (www.aurcana.com). All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.
HIGHLIGHTS
La Negra
- 81,989 tonnes of ore processed during 3rd quarter September 30, 2008.
- 2,614 tonnes of copper concentrate containing 463 tonnes of payable copper, 993 tonnes of zinc concentrate containing 363 tonnes of payable zinc and 124,572 ounces of silver sold for the 3rd quarter.
- Revenues, net of adjustments, of $3,848,356 for the third quarter September 30, 2008.
- In July 2008 the Company received US$25 million from Silver Wheaton Corp. relating to a silver off-take agreement on the 80% owned, La Negra mine.
Shafter
- In July 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of the Shafter silver mine, from Silver Standard Resources Inc.
- The project has much of the infrastructure in place, such as 5,100 ft of underground development a 900 ft shaft and hoist, electrical substation. The Company is moving forward with engineering studies and permitting.
- In July 2008 the Company Tetra Tech Inc., of Golden Colorado completed a compliant NI 43-101 Report confirming a measured and indicated resource of 24.6 million ounces of silver and an inferred resource of 22.8 million ounces of silver using a four ounce per ton cut off.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company realized total revenues of $3.8 million from the sale of 463 tonnes of payable copper, 363 tonnes of payable zinc and 124,572 ounces of silver. The average price for sales of copper, zinc and silver during the period were Cu - $3.24, Ag - $14.38 and Zn - $0.82. An adjustment to the Company's second quarter June 30, 2008 revenue of $438,087 was made during the third quarter September 30, 2008 as a result of lower metal prices. Falling metal prices in the quarter, compared to earlier in the year and 2007, and the timing of the finalization of previous sales, where the concentrate buyer can choose the final metal prices over a four months, resulted in sales adjustments year to date totaling a deduction from sales of $542,313.
For the three months ended September 30, 2007 being the first quarter of production, revenues were $3.9 million from the sale of 392 tonnes of payable copper (463 tonnes in Q3/08), 143 tonnes of payable zinc (363 tonnes in Q3/08) and 96,065 ounces silver (124,572 ounces in Q3/08). Average prices for sales of copper, zinc and silver during the three month period ended September 30, 2007 were Cu - $3.40 ($3.24 in Q3/08), Ag - $18.53 ($14.38 in Q3/08) and Zn - $1.49 ($0.82 in Q3/08).
For the quarter ended September 30, 2008 the Company reported a net loss of $3,745,498 or $0.04 loss per share and an operating loss of $166,367 compared to net loss of $144,422 or $0.00 per share and an operating profit of $1,194,320 for the three months ended September 30, 2007. The operating loss combined with a one time corporate finance fee and foreign exchange losses of $932,313 contributed to the net loss. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 the Company recorded a net loss of $5,146,160 or $0.05 loss per share and operating income of $1,318,405 compared to a net loss of $3,373,795 or $0.04 loss per share and an operating income of $1,194,320 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
At the end of the third quarter September 30, 2008 the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $2.9 million.
LA NEGRA MINE
For the first nine months of 2008 the La Negra mine continued to achieve its budgeted daily throughput of 1,000 tonnes per day of ore processed and generated positive operating cashflow before adjustments related to finalization of previous concentrate sales which were impacted by falling metal prices. During the three months ended September 30, 2008 the La Negra mine produced operating cash flow of US$458,080 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 the operating cash flow was US$2.69 million. Negatively impacting the operating cashflow at the mine were labour, power and maintenance costs, with hourly workers and staff being 22% higher than in the same period in 2007. The Company and management at the mine are addressing the number of workers and the maintenance costs and are implementing plans to achieve savings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
3 months ended 9 months ended
La Negra Mine (100%)(i) Sept 30, 2008 Sept 30, 2008
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnes of ore Processed 81,989 227,631
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Grade
Zinc 1.04% 0.91%
Copper 0.74% 0.80%
Silver (g/t) 74 73
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnes of Zinc concentrate sold 993 2,056
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pounds of Zinc 800,415 1,651,545
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnes of Copper-Silver concentrate
sold 2,614 7,362
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pounds of Copper 1,020,915 2,890,755
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ounces of Silver 124,572 334,562
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues (US$) $ 3,442,393 $ 11,265,309
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Cash Cost per tonne (US$) $ 43.60 $ 41.71
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Cash Flow (US$) $ 458,080 $ 2,688,546
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) Aurcana owns 80% of La Negra
N.I. 43-101 reports were completed on two of the 23 known deposits. The Alacran chimney deposit N.I. 43-101 compliant reserve calculation doubled the historical reserve figure. The Alacran chimney is interpreted to continue to depth as a well mineralized breccia deposit. The Monica ore body is a manto structure which dips moderately to the northwest. The NI 43-101 compliant deposit resource was calculated over only a 200 metre vertical distance down to the 2,055 level which resulted in an eleven-fold increase in tonnage compared to the historical resource figure. Further work has confirmed the structure continues down to and below the 2,000 foot level where evidence of higher copper grades is starting to emerge.
During the 2008 third quarter a silver stream agreement with Silver Wheaton Corp. for 50% of the life-of-mine silver production at La Negra resulted in a $25 million cash payment being made to Aurcana. Additionally $3.90 for each ounce of silver will be paid to Aurcana by Silver Wheaton at time of delivery.
SHAFTER SILVER MINE
On July 17, 2008, Aurcana closed the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Shafter silver mine ("Shafter") located in southwest Texas from Silver Standard Resources Inc. ("Silver Standard"). Aurcana paid Silver Standard US $23 million in cash; issued 15 million Aurcana common shares and a $10 million convertible debenture paying a 3% coupon. The debenture has a three year term and is convertible into 6.62 million Aurcana common shares at $1.51 per share.
In July, Tetra Tech completed an independent NI 43-101 Report using an economic cut off of four ounces per tonne.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tetra Tech 43-101 Compliant Resource
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Silver Contained Silver
Resources Tonnes oz/tonne Ounces
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Measured 883,000 8.50 7,500,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated 2,017,000 8.48 17,100,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Measured and Indicated 2,900,000 8.48 24,600,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Inferred 2,167,000 10.52 22,800,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assumes a 4.0 opt silver cut-off
Silver was mined in the Shafter region from 1883 until 1942, when the mine was closed, not from lack of ore, but by the War Act. Historically reported total production during that period was 35 million ounces of silver from 2.3 million tonnes of ore, at an average grade of 15.24 ounces per tonne.
A timely start up is anticipated as significant infrastructure is already in place, including a major power line and paved highway crossing the property, an electrical sub-station and components on site for a 2,000 tonne per day mill, a 1,050 foot shaft serviced by a 80 tonne per hour hoist and 5,100 feet of completed underground development.
Recently the Company appointed a project manager for Shafter and work is underway on a scoping study which is expected to be completed in January 2009. The results of the scoping study and tradeoffs will be used to guide a prefeasibility study which the Company expects to be finished in June 2009. The pre-feasibility study will select the mining method that will be used to optimize production capacity and maximize the project's economic return. The study will investigate the use of a decline to access the deposit, and mechanized room and pillar extraction. The decline will facilitate the efficient movement of supplies and large equipment for production and will allow the existing shaft to be dedicated to hoisting ore for the nearby mill. Initial calculations indicate that daily production could be sustained at a rate of up to 1,500 tonnes per day. The decline also potentially allows for early production and cash flow, as it will initially target resource blocks in the upper levels of the mine which are located above the water table.
ROSARIO
During the quarter ended September 30, 2008 the Company completed 3,817 metres of diamond drilling at Rosario. The drill program commenced on April 1st, with the objective to confirm the extent of mineralization associated with the San Francisco and Yecora vein systems with surface diamond drill holes which occur adjacent to the high grade San Juan vein. The program consisted of drilling holes from 2 drill stations on the San Francisco vein and holes on the Yecora vein and 1 hole at San Juan. In addition 8 holes were drilled at the Plomosas mine, 4 from surface and 4 from underground. Assay results are pending from the drill program and are anticipated by mid December 2008. A summary report on all activities completed at Rosario will be available by early 2009. As the Company turns its focus on to its Shafter Project in Texas, and its La Negra mining operation, management has put its Rosario project on care and maintenance. A small workforce will be kept at Rosario to provide security and to maintain the camp. Aurcana has been approached by several parties regarding a transaction for the Rosario project and as proposals are received they will be reviewed to maximize the value of Rosario in the current market.
ABOUT AURCANA CORPORATION
Aurcana Corporation's strategy is "Growth through Acquisition".
The Shafter silver mine represented the third acquisition in two years.
The 100% owned Shafter silver mine in Presidio County, Texas, is planned to start up at 3.2 million ounces silver annually. The 80% owned La Negra silver-lead-zinc-copper mine in Queretaro State, Mexico, operates at 1,000 tonnes per day. The 100% owned Rosario lead-zinc-silver exploration project, located in the Sierra Madre precious metals belt, Sinaloa State, Mexico, is being held for future development.
The reader should be cautioned the Company has not completed feasibility studies confirming the projected production capacity for La Negra or Shafter and there is no certainty the Company's plans will be economically viable.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AURCANA CORPORATION
Ken Booth, President
For further information, please visit the website at www.aurcana.com.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements - This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the business and anticipated financial performance of the Company. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include unsuccessful exploration results, changes in metal prices, changes in the availability of funding for mineral exploration and development, unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general economic conditions. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, oral or written, made by itself or on its behalf.
SOURCE: Aurcana Corporation
Aurcana Corporation Ken Booth President (604) 331-9333 or Toll Free: 1-866-532-9333 Aurcana Corporation Jack Barnes Investor Relations (604) 331-9333 or Toll Free: 1-866-532-9333 (604) 633-9179 (FAX) Email: jbarnes@aurcana.com Website: www.aurcana.com
Tags: acquisition canada copper corporate diamond electrical engineering exploration finance financial results foreign exchange market mining precious metals president prices revenue sales security silver texas zinc
Silver Wheaton Reports Third Quarter Earnings of US$20 Million and Operating Cash Flows of US$27
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Nov 03, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) --
Silver Wheaton
Corp. (TSX: SLW)(NYSE: SLW) is pleased to announce net earnings of US$20.2
million (US$0.09 per share) and operating cash flows of US$26.7 million
(US$0.12 per share) for the third quarter of 2008.
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Net earnings of US$20.2 million (US$0.09 per share) from the sale of 2.7
million ounces of silver, compared to US$19.2 million (US$0.09 per share)
from the sale of 3.1 million ounces of silver in 2007.
- Operating cash flows of US$26.7 million (US$0.12 per share) compared with
US$27.1 million (US$0.12 per share) in 2007.
- On September 15, 2008, an early exercise of the Company's share purchase
and Series "A" publicly traded warrants was successfully completed. The
Company received gross cash proceeds in excess of C$120 million (US$113
million) which were used to pay down its bank debt.
- On October 2, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Alexco
Resource Corp. ("Alexco") to acquire 25% of the silver produced from
Alexco's Keno Hill project located in the Yukon Territory, Canada, for the
life of mine. Silver Wheaton will make upfront cash payments totalling US$50
million and, in addition, a per ounce cash payment of the lesser of US$3.90
and the prevailing market price is due (subject to an inflationary
adjustment), for silver delivered under the contract.
- On October 31, 2008, the Company announced that it had signed a letter of
intent with Augusta Resource Corporation ("Augusta") regarding a new silver
agreement superceding the December 19, 2007 letter of intent. An update of
Augusta's August 2007 bankable feasibility study, reflecting an increased
mineral resource, is expected to be completed by the end of December 2008,
following which Silver Wheaton and Augusta intend to discuss an efficient
structure for a transaction between them.
Operating results for the third quarter were negatively impacted by a 29%
decline in silver prices during the three month period, resulting largely
from difficult global economic conditions. Since the end of the third
quarter, these conditions have deteriorated further, resulting in a
continued weakening of silver prices.
"In September, we raised in excess of C$120 million of cash from the early
exercise of warrants which was applied against our debt facility. In a
challenging economic environment, our balance sheet remains strong and debt
repayment remains a priority," said Peter Barnes, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Silver Wheaton. "Although operating results for the
last several quarters have been disappointing, primarily as a result of
weaker than expected silver deliveries from the San Dimas mine in Mexico, I
am confident that the worst is now behind us. With production from
Penasquito now underway, we expect organic silver sales growth of
approximately 40% over the next year, and approximately 150% by 2013.
Despite these very challenging economic times, Silver Wheaton remains well
positioned for the future."
Silver Wheaton is the largest public mining company with 100% of its
operating revenue from silver production. The Company estimates, based upon
its current agreements, to have silver sales of three million ounces for the
fourth quarter of 2008, between 15 million and 17 million ounces in 2009,
and increasing to approximately 30 million ounces by 2013. The decrease in
forecasted sales volumes from previous estimates relates primarily to lower
projected silver flows from the San Dimas mine.
A conference call will be held Monday, November 3, 2008 at 11:00 am (Eastern
Time) to discuss these results. To participate in the live call use one of
the following methods:
Dial toll free from Canada or the US: 1-888-280-8771
Dial from outside Canada or the US: 1-416-641-6124
Dial toll free from parts of Europe: 800-6578-9898
Live audio webcast: www.silverwheaton.com
Participants should dial in five to ten minutes before the call.
The conference call will be recorded and you can listen to an archive of the
call by one of the following methods:
Dial toll free from Canada or the US: 1-800-408-3053
Dial from outside Canada or the US: 1-416-695-5800
Pass code: 3272822#
Archived audio webcast: www.silverwheaton.com
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING 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
applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future price
of silver, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the realization
of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future
production, costs of production, reserve determination and reserve
conversion rates. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans",
"expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled",
"estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate",
or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be
taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Silver
Wheaton to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to
the integration of acquisitions, the absence of control over mining
operations from which Silver Wheaton purchases silver and risks related to
these mining operations, including risks related to international
operations, actual results of current exploration activities, actual results
of current reclamation activities, conclusions of economic evaluations,
changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, as well as
those factors discussed in the section entitled "Description of the Business
- Risk Factors" in Silver Wheaton's annual information form for the year
ended December 31, 2007 incorporated by reference into Silver Wheaton's Form
40-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington,
D.C. Although Silver Wheaton 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 should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. Silver Wheaton does not undertake to update any forward-looking
statements that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance
with applicable securities laws.
Third Quarter Report 2008
Silver Wheaton
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL
CONDITION FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008
This Management's Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with
the Company's interim unaudited consolidated financial statements for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and related notes thereto
which have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted
accounting principles. In addition, the following should be read in
conjunction with the 2007 audited consolidated financial statements, the
related Management's Discussion and Analysis and the 2007 Annual Information
Form as well as other information relating to Silver Wheaton on file with
the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities and on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. This Management's Discussion and Analysis contains "forward
looking" statements that are subject to risk factors set out in the
cautionary note contained herein. All figures are in United States dollars
unless otherwise noted. This Management's Discussion and Analysis has been
prepared as of November 3, 2008.
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Net earnings of $20.2 million ($0.09 per share) from the sale of 2.7
million ounces of silver, compared to $19.2 million ($0.09 per share) from
the sale of 3.1 million ounces of silver in 2007.
- Operating cash flows of $26.7 million (2007 - $27.1 million).
- On September 15, 2008, an early exercise of the Company's share purchase
and series "A" publicly traded warrants was successfully completed. The
Company received gross cash proceeds in excess of C$120 million ($113
million) which were used to pay down its bank debt.
- On October 2, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Alexco
Resource Corp. ("Alexco") to acquire 25% of the silver produced from
Alexco's Keno Hill project located in the Yukon Territory, Canada, for the
life of mine. Silver Wheaton will make upfront cash payments totalling $50
million and, in addition, a per ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90
and the prevailing market price is due (subject to an inflationary adjustment), for silver delivered under the contract.
- On October 31, 2008, the Company announced that it had signed a letter of
intent with Augusta Resource Corporation ("Augusta") regarding a new silver
agreement superceding the December 19, 2007 letter of intent. An update of
Augusta's August 2007 bankable feasibility study, reflecting an increased
mineral resource, is expected to be completed by the end of December 2008,
following which Silver Wheaton and Augusta intend to discuss an efficient
structure for a transaction between them.
OVERVIEW
Silver Wheaton Corp. ("Silver Wheaton" or the "Company") is the largest
public mining company with 100% of its revenue generated from the sale of
silver.
The Company has entered into nine long-term silver agreements with Goldcorp
(Luismin mines and Penasquito project in Mexico), Lundin Mining (Zinkgruvan
mine in Sweden), Glencore (Yauliyacu mine in Peru), Hellas Gold (Stratoni
mine in Greece), Mercator (Mineral Park mine in Arizona), Farallon (Campo
Morado property in Mexico), Aurcana (La Negra mine in Mexico), and Alexco
(Keno Hill property in Canada) whereby Silver Wheaton acquires silver
production from the counterparties at a price of $3.90 per ounce, subject to
inflationary adjustments. As a result, the primary drivers of the Company's
financial results are the volume of silver production at the various mines
and the price of silver.
Silver Wheaton is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SLW) and
the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: SLW). In addition, the Company has share
purchase warrants that trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The Company estimates, based upon its current agreements, to have silver
sales of 3 million ounces for the fourth quarter of 2008, 15 to 17 million
ounces in 2009, and increasing to approximately 30 million ounces by 2013.
The decrease in forecasted sales volumes from previous estimates relates
primarily to lower projected silver flows from the San Dimas mine.
SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL RESULTS
2008
Q3 Q2 Q1
---------------------------------------------------------------
Silver sales ($000's) $ 39,371 $ 49,675 $ 48,948
Ounces (000's) 2,716 2,864 2,819
Average realized silver
price ($'s per ounce) $ 14.50 $ 17.35 $ 17.36
Total cash cost
($'s per ounce)(1) $ 3.93 $ 3.93 $ 3.94
Net earnings ($000's) $ 20,241 $ 23,276 $ 27,928
Earnings per share
Basic $ 0.09 $ 0.10 $ 0.13
Diluted $ 0.08 $ 0.09 $ 0.11
Cash flow from
operations ($000's) $ 26,725 $ 35,887 $ 33,084
Total assets ($000's) $ 1,284,312 $ 1,320,450 $ 1,205,704
Total liabilities ($000's) $ 385,977 $ 513,757 $ 391,475
Shareholders' equity
($000's) $ 898,335 $ 806,693 $ 814,229
2007 2006
Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Silver sales
($000's) $ 50,240 $ 39,598 $ 41,464 $ 44,132 $ 43,651
Ounces (000's) 3,543 3,129 3,053 3,343 3,534
Average realized
silver price
($'s per ounce) $ 14.18 $ 12.66 $ 13.58 $ 13.20 $ 12.35
Total cash cost
($'s per ounce)(1) $ 3.93 $ 3.90 $ 3.90 $ 3.90 $ 3.90
Net earnings
($000's) $ 24,886 $ 19,184 $ 22,855 $ 24,937 $ 23,762
Earnings per share
Basic $ 0.11 $ 0.09 $ 0.10 $ 0.11 $ 0.11
Diluted $ 0.10 $ 0.08 $ 0.09 $ 0.10 $ 0.10
Cash flow from
operations ($000's) $ 34,414 $ 27,102 $ 27,846 $ 29,899 $ 29,829
Total assets
($000's) $ 1,208,474 $ 1,200,304 $ 748,696 $ 700,893 $ 662,893
Total liabilities
($000's) $ 426,243 $ 440,514 $ 4,048 $ 2,787 $ 21,354
Shareholders' equity
($000's) $ 782,231 $ 759,790 $ 744,648 $ 698,106 $ 641,539
1) Refer to discussion on non-GAAP measures
Changes in sales, net earnings and cash flow from operations from quarter to
quarter are affected primarily by fluctuations in production at the mines
and timing of shipments that are in the normal course of operations, as well
as changes in the price of silver. Shareholders' equity increased during the
three month period ended September 30, 2008 as a result of net earnings and
cash inflows from the early exercise of warrants, partially offset by the
effect of a decline in the market value of available-for-sale securities,
which is reflected in the statement of comprehensive (loss) income for the
quarter.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND OPERATIONAL REVIEW
The Company currently has seven business segments: the silver produced by
the Luismin, Zinkgruvan, Yauliyacu, Stratoni, Penasquito and La Negra mines,
and corporate operations. The acquisition of silver from the Penasquito and
La Negra mines commenced effective July, 2008.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
realized Total
silver cash cost Net Cash flow
Silver price ($'s per earnings from
sales Ounces ($'s per ounce) (loss) operations
($000's) (000's) ounce) (1) ($000's) ($000's)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luismin $ 17,496 1,198 $ 14.61 $ 3.95 $ 12,265 $ 12,766
Zinkgruvan 5,436 418 13.01 3.96 3,127 4,525
Yauliyacu 10,712 691 15.50 3.90 5,616 8,017
Stratoni 3,498 253 13.85 3.90 1,582 2,592
Penasquito 1,451 98 14.74 3.90 830 1,067
La Negra 778 58 13.33 3.90 122 828
Corporate - - - - (3,301) (3,070)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 39,371 2,716 $ 14.50 $ 3.93 $ 20,241 $ 26,725
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Refer to discussion on non-GAAP measures
Three Months Ended September 30, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
realized Total
silver cash cost Net Cash flow
Silver price ($'s per earnings from
sales Ounces ($'s per ounce) (loss) operations
($000's) (000's) ounce) (1) ($000's) ($000's)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luismin $ 24,261 1,900 $ 12.77 $ 3.90 $ 16,105 $ 17,174
Zinkgruvan 2,949 247 11.94 3.90 1,585 2,241
Yauliyacu 9,971 792 12.59 3.90 3,995 6,882
Stratoni 2,417 190 12.77 3.90 927 1,967
Corporate - - - - (3,428) (1,162)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 39,598 3,129 $ 12.66 $ 3.90 $ 19,184 $ 27,102
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Refer to discussion on non-GAAP measures
For the three months ended September 30, 2008, net earnings increased by 5%
relative to 2007, driven primarily by increased earnings from operations.
Earnings from operations were higher due to a 14% increase in the average
realized selling price of silver, offset by a 13% decrease in sales volumes,
which resulted in revenue being relatively unchanged. The average selling
price for the Zinkgruvan and Stratoni silver sales reflect downward price
adjustments relating to provisional invoices outstanding at the end of the
quarter.
For Q3 2008, the number of ounces sold was approximately 200,000 lower than
expectations as a result of timing of shipments from Luismin and Stratoni.
Other factors contributing to the shortfall included the continued mining of
lower than reserve grade ore at Luismin and Yauliyacu, and a slower-than-
expected ramp-up of the Penasquito heap leach operations.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
realized Total
silver cash cost Net Cash flow
Silver price ($'s per earnings from
sales Ounces ($'s per ounce) (loss) operations
($000's) (000's) ounce) (1) ($000's) ($000's)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luismin $ 68,028 4,123 $ 16.50 $ 3.95 $ 50,023 $ 51,746
Zinkgruvan 20,523 1,260 16.29 3.96 13,563 16,249
Yauliyacu 36,346 2,175 16.71 3.90 20,310 27,866Stratoni 10,868 685 15.87 3.90 5,670 8,078
Penasquito 1,451 98 14.74 3.90 830 1,067
La Negra 778 58 13.33 3.90 122 828
Corporate - - - - (19,073) (10,138)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 137,994 8,399 $ 16.43 $ 3.93 $ 71,445 $ 95,696
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Refer to discussion on non-GAAP measures
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
realized Total
silver cash cost Net Cash flow
Silver price ($'s per earnings from
sales Ounces ($'s per ounce) (loss) operations
($000's) (000's) ounce) (1) ($000's) ($000's)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luismin $ 68,497 5,231 $ 13.09 $ 3.90 $ 46,046 $ 48,635
Zinkgruvan 17,594 1,305 13.48 3.90 10,384 12,701
Yauliyacu 32,973 2,523 13.07 3.90 13,938 23,133
Stratoni 6,130 466 13.15 3.90 2,463 4,338
Corporate - - - - (5,856) (3,959)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 125,194 9,525 $ 13.14 $ 3.90 $ 66,975 $ 84,848
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Refer to discussion on non-GAAP measures
Net earnings for the nine month period ended September 30, 2008 increased by
7% relative to the comparable period in 2007, driven primarily by a $17.7
million increase in earnings from operations, offset by a $13.2 million
increase in corporate costs. Earnings from operations increased due to a 25%
rise in the average realized selling price of silver, offset by a 12%
decrease in sales volumes, resulting in a 10% increase in sales revenues.
The higher costs associated with corporate operations was attributable
primarily to (i) a $7.0 million increase in general and administrative
expenses (of which $2.8 million was non-cash stock based compensation
expense), (ii) a $5.0 million increase in the non-cash future income tax
expense and (iii) a $1.2 million decrease in net interest income.
Over the past two years, the number of silver ounces sold under each
agreement was as follows:
2008 2007 2006
(Ounces 000'S) Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luismin 1,198 1,246 1,679 1,682 1,900 1,394 1,937 2,147
Zinkgruvan 418 524 318 540 247 539 519 415
Yauliyacu 691 750 734 919 792 844 887 972
Stratoni(1) 253 344 88 402 190 276 - -
Penasquito(1) 98 - - - - - - -
La Negra(1) 58 - - - - - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 2,716 2,864 2,819 3,543 3,129 3,053 3,343 3,534
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) the acquisition of silver from the Stratoni mine began in June 2007 and
from the Penasquito and La Negra mines in July 2008.
SILVER INTERESTS
LUISMIN
On October 15, 2004, the Company entered into an agreement (amended on March
30, 2006) with Goldcorp Inc. ("Goldcorp") to acquire 100% of the silver
produced by Goldcorp's Luismin mining operations in Mexico (owned at the
date of the transaction) for a period of 25 years.
As at December 31, 2007, the Luismin mines had proven and probable reserves
of 66.1 million ounces of silver, measured and indicated resources of 1.9
million ounces of silver and inferred resources of 183.2 million ounces of
silver (as described in the Reserves and Resources section of this
Management's Discussion and Analysis).
For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, silver sales
revenue decreased by 28% and 1%, respectively, relative to the comparable
periods of the prior year. This decrease in revenues was attributable to a
37% and 21% decrease in sales volumes for the three and nine month periods,
respectively, which were partially offset by an increase in the average
realized selling price of silver of 14% and 26%, respectively. The lower
sales volumes continue to be primarily attributable to current mining
operations being carried out in lower grade areas of the ore body, with a
return to higher grades expected in the future. This variability in ore
grade mined is normal for mining operations and it is expected that, over
the life of mine, the average ore grade mined will approximate the reserve
grade. During the 3 months ended September 30, 2008, approximately 100,000
ounces of silver was produced at the Luismin mines but not acquired by the
Company until subsequent to the quarter end. The Company's cash flows and
net earnings under the Luismin silver agreement for the three months ended
September 30, 2008 were $12.8 million (2007 - $17.2 million) and $12.3
million (2007 - $16.1 million), respectively, and for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 were $51.7 million (2007 - $48.6 million) and $50.0
million (2007 - $46.0 million), respectively.
ZINKGRUVAN
On December 8, 2004, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire 100%
of the silver produced by Lundin Mining's Zinkgruvan mining operations in
Sweden for the life of mine.
As at December 31, 2007, Zinkgruvan had proven and probable silver reserves
of 34.9 million ounces, measured and indicated silver resources of 16.5
million ounces and inferred silver resources of 9.8 million ounces (as
described in the Reserves and Resources section of this Management's
Discussion and Analysis).
For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, silver sales
revenue increased by 84% and 17%, respectively, relative to the comparable
periods of the prior year. The increase in revenue for the third quarter
reflects both a 69% increase in the sales volume and a 9% increase in the
realized silver price. The increase in revenue for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 reflects a 3% decrease in sales volumes, offset by a 21%
increase in the realized silver price. The Company's cash flows and net
earnings under the Zinkgruvan silver agreement for the three months ended
September 30, 2008 were $4.5 million (2007 - $2.2 million) and $3.1 million
(2007 - $1.6 million) respectively, and for the nine months ended September
30, 2008 were $16.2 million (2007 - $12.7 million) and $13.6 million (2007 -
$10.4 million), respectively.
YAULIYACU
On March 23, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with Glencore
International AG ("Glencore") to acquire up to 4.75 million ounces of silver
per year for a period of 20 years, based on the production from Glencore's
Yauliyacu mining operations in Peru. In the event that silver produced at
Yauliyacu in any year totals less than 4.75 million ounces, the amount sold
to Silver Wheaton in subsequent years will be increased to make up for the
shortfall, so long as production allows. During the term of the agreement,
Silver Wheaton has a right of first refusal on any future sales of silver
streams from the Yauliyacu mine and a right of first offer on future sales
of silver streams from any other mine owned by Glencore at the time of the
initial transaction. In addition, Silver Wheaton has an option to extend the
20 year term of the agreement in five year increments, on substantially the
same terms as the existing agreement, subject to an adjustment related to
silver price expectations at the time and other factors.
As at December 31, 2007, Yauliyacu had proven and probable silver reserves
of 14.1 million ounces, measured and indicated silver resources of 38.5
million ounces and inferred silver resources of 80.9 million ounces (as
described in the Reserves and Resources section of this Management's
Discussion and Analysis).
For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, silver sales
revenue increased by 7% and 10%, respectively, compared with 2007. The
increase in revenue in the third quarter reflects a 23% increase in realized
silver prices being partially offset by a 13% decrease in sales volumes. The
increase in revenue for the nine month period reflects a 28% increase in
realized silver prices being partially offset by a 14% decrease in sales
volumes. The lower sales volumes during 2008 were due to mining operations
being carried out in lower grade areas of the orebody, in order to take
advantage of historically high base metal prices. With the recent decline in
base metal prices, it is expected that mining operations will transition
back into higher grade areas of the orebody. The Company's cash flows and
net earnings under the Yauliyacu silver agreement for the three months ended September 30, 2008 were $8.0 million (2007 - $6.9 million) and $5.6 million
(2007 - $4.0 million) respectively, and for the nine months ended September
30, 2008 were $27.9 million (2007 - $23.1 million) and $20.3 million (2007 -
$13.9 million), respectively.
STRATONI
On April 23, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with Hellas Gold
S.A. ("Hellas Gold"), a subsidiary of European Goldfields Ltd. ("European
Goldfields"), to acquire 100% of the silver produced from Hellas Gold's
Stratoni mining operations in Greece for the life of mine.
As at December 31, 2007, Stratoni had proven and probable silver reserves of
13.7 million ounces and inferred silver resources of 4.2 million ounces (as
described in the Reserves and Resources section of this Management's
Discussion and Analysis).
For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, silver sales
revenue increased by 45% and 77% respectively, relative to the comparable
periods of the prior year. This increase in revenue reflects an increase in
both the volume and sales price of silver sold. The lower sales volume in
the third quarter reflects approximately 90,000 ounces of silver that was
produced in the current quarter, but for which shipment did not occur until
the fourth quarter. The Company's cash flows and net earnings under the
Stratoni silver agreement for the three months ended September 30, 2008 were
$2.6 million (2007 - $2.0 million) and $1.6 million (2007 - $0.9 million)
respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $8.1
million (2007 - $4.3 million) and $5.7 million (2007 - $2.5 million),
respectively.
PENASQUITO
On July 24, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire 25% of
the silver produced from Goldcorp's Penasquito project in Mexico for the
life of mine, for an upfront cash payment of $485 million. In addition, a
per ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90 and the prevailing market
price is due (subject to an inflationary adjustment commencing in 2011), for
silver delivered under the agreement. Silver Wheaton is not required to fund
any capital expenditures at Penasquito, including any expansion scenarios.
Goldcorp has provided a completion guarantee to Silver Wheaton that the
Penasquito mine will be constructed with certain minimum production criteria
by certain dates.
As at August 9, 2007, Penasquito had proven and probable silver reserves of
864 million ounces, measured and indicated silver resources of 413 million
ounces and inferred silver resources of 508 million ounces (as described in
the Reserves and Resources section of this Management's Discussion and
Analysis).
Management has determined that the heap leach component of the Penasquito
project achieved commercial production as at July 1, 2008 and, as such, has
reflected the related silver purchases and sales in the income statement for
the third quarter of 2008. It is anticipated that the mill operation will
achieve commercial production during 2009. Until that time, the interest
relating to the investment in the Penasquito project will continue to be
capitalized. During the three months ended September 30, 2008, Silver
Wheaton received 98,391 ounces of silver under the Penasquito agreement. The
Company's cash flows and net earnings under the Penasquito agreement for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $1.1 million and $0.8
million, respectively.
MINERAL PARK
On March 17, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Mercator
Minerals Ltd. ("Mercator"), to acquire 100% of the silver produced from
Mercator's Mineral Park mine in Arizona, USA for the life of mine. Silver
Wheaton made an upfront cash payment of $42 million and, in addition, a per
ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90 and the prevailing market price is
due (subject to an inflationary adjustment), for silver delivered under the
agreement. Mercator has provided a completion guarantee to Silver Wheaton,
specifying a minimum production level by a certain date.
The Mineral Park mine currently produces copper from SX/EW leach operations,
but construction is almost complete on a flotation operation that will
produce copper-silver and molybdenum concentrates. Mercator expects that
concentrate production will commence during the fourth quarter of 2008 from
a 25,000 tons per day operation, with production increasing to 50,000 tons
per day approximately nine months later. All permits for the expansion are
in place and the expected mine life is 25 years. Payable silver production
is expected to average approximately 600,000 ounces per annum and the ore
body is considered to have excellent exploration potential.
As at December 29, 2006, Mineral Park had proven and probable silver
reserves of 35 million ounces, measured and indicated silver resources of 13
million ounces and inferred silver resources of 15 million ounces (as
described in the Reserves and Resources section of this Management's
Discussion and Analysis).
CAMPO MORADO
On May 13, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Farallon
Resources Ltd. ("Farallon"), to acquire 75% of the silver produced from
Farallon's Campo Morado property in Guerrero State, Mexico for the life of
mine. Silver Wheaton made total upfront cash payments of $80 million and, in
addition, a per ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90 and the prevailing
market price is due (subject to an inflationary adjustment), for silver
delivered under the agreement.
Construction at the high-grade G-9 polymetallic deposit, the first deposit
on the Campo Morado property to be developed, is almost complete and
Farallon has recently announced that the first deliveries of concentrate
have been made to the port in Manzanillo, Mexico, from where they will be
shipped to a refinery. It is expected that the Company will receive its
first deliveries of silver under the silver purchase agreement in the fourth
quarter of 2008. The operations will involve an underground mine employing a
drift and fill mining method to feed a flotation mill with a throughput
capacity of 1,500 tonnes per day. According to a news release dated December
28, 2007, in addition to producing at least 1 million ounces of silver per
year, the G-9 Project is expected to produce 120 million pounds of zinc, 15
million pounds of copper, 9,000 ounces of gold and 6 million pounds of lead
per year. Discovered only in 2005, Farallon is still actively drilling the
G-9 deposit and expanding the resource base, as illustrated with recent
drill results.
As at February 29, 2008, Campo Morado had measured and indicated silver
resources of 56 million ounces and inferred silver resources of 11 million
ounces (as described in the Reserves and Resources section of this
Management's Discussion and Analysis).
LA NEGRA
On June 2, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Aurcana
Corporation ("Aurcana"), to acquire 50% of the silver produced from
Aurcana's La Negra mine in Queretaro State, Mexico for the life of mine. On
July 4, 2008, following the satisfaction of required conditions precedent,
Silver Wheaton made the upfront cash payment of $25 million. In addition, a
per ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90 and the prevailing market
price is due (subject to an inflationary adjustment), for silver delivered
under the agreement. Payment for the transaction was drawn from existing
credit facilities.
As part of this agreement, Aurcana has also agreed to provide Silver Wheaton
with a right to purchase silver produced from any future assets it may
acquire, including its recently acquired Shafter silver development project
located in Texas, USA.
The La Negra mine is a 1,000 tonne per day polymetallic mine originally
discovered, developed and operated for thirty years by Penoles S.A. de C.V.
("Penoles"). Aurcana has announced plans to increase production to 1,500
tonnes per day. The mine is currently in operation and silver deliveries to
the Company commenced in the third quarter of 2008.
As at February 15, 2008, La Negra had proven and probable silver reserves of
0.6 million ounces, measured and indicated silver resources of 1.2 million
ounces and inferred silver resources of 0.3 million ounces (as described in
the Reserves and Resources section of this Management's Discussion and
Analysis). Exploration potential at the La Negra mine is considered
excellent and Aurcana is currently completing a 15,000 metre underground
drill program, which has confirmed historical data and discovered new zones
of mineralization. Annual silver production is expected to be up to 1.5
million ounces.
During the three months ended September 30, 2008, Silver Wheaton received
its first delivery of silver under the La Negra agreement amounting to
58,360 ounces of silver. The Company's cash flows and net earnings under the
silver agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 were
$0.8 million and $0.1, million respectively.
CORPORATE
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30 September 30
(in thousands) 2008 2007 2008 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
General and administrative(1) $ 3,529 $ 2,112 $ 13,560 $ 6,580
Project evaluation - 43 128 214Interest expense - - 96 -
Interest income (136) (158) (312) (1,471)
Debt issue costs - - 782 -
Loss on mark-to-market of warrants
held 100 840 1,047 1,499
Other (192) (156) (86) 216
Future income tax expense (benefit) - 747 3,858 (1,182)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate net loss $ 3,301 $ 3,428 $ 19,073 $ 5,856
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Stock based compensation (a non-
cash item) included in General
and administrative $ 1,078 $ 601 $ 4,538 $ 1,701
General and administrative expenses totaled $3.5 million (nine months -
$13.6 million) during the three months ended September 30, 2008, compared
with $2.1 million (nine months - $6.6 million) in the comparable period of
2007. Of this, stock based compensation expense, a non-cash item, was $1.1
million (nine months - $4.5 million) compared with $0.6 million (nine months
- $1.7 million) during 2007. Other general and administrative costs
increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008,
compared with 2007, primarily due to higher salaries, insurance costs,
office rent and information technology support attributable to the reduced
reliance on Goldcorp administratively. In addition, the general and
administrative expenses for the three and nine month periods ending
September 30, 2008 include non-recurring expenses of $0.1 million and $0.9
million, respectively.
The Company incurred interest costs of $5.2 million (nine months - $15.8
million) during the three months ended September 30, 2008, of which $5.2
million (nine months - $15.7 million) related to the acquisitions of
Penasquito, Mineral Park and Campo Morado and was capitalized to the cost of
the agreements.
Interest income during the quarter of $0.1 million (nine months - $0.3
million) was the result of interest earned on cash balances held in short-
term money market instruments compared with $0.2 million (nine months - $1.5
million) during 2007. In addition to lower interest rates, the average cash
balance held by the Company was lower during the current year as the Company
generally applies surplus cash balances to pay down the outstanding debt.
The warrants held by the Company for long-term investment purposes are
marked-to-market each reporting period with any gain or loss reflected in
net earnings. The loss recorded for the three months ended September 30,
2008 from the mark-to-market of the warrants held was $0.1 million (nine
months - $1.0 million) compared with $0.8 million (nine months - $1.5
million) during 2007.
For the three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company has recorded a
future income tax expense of $Nil (nine months - $3.9 million) compared to
$0.7 million (nine months - future income tax benefit of $1.2 million) for
2007 with a non-cash benefit (expense for the nine months ending September
30, 2007) in the same amount being reflected in the statement of
comprehensive income. The Company's future income tax expense or recovery in
a given quarter is largely determined by changes in the unrealized gains or
losses recorded with respect to its long term investments. As a result of
the decrease in value of the long term investments during the quarter, a
future income tax benefit was recorded in other comprehensive income which
was fully offset by an increase in the valuation allowance. For the nine
month period ending September 30, 2008, the reversal of unrealized gains
from prior periods resulted in a reduction of future income tax liabilities
and the recording of a future income tax benefit in the statement of
comprehensive income for the period. This reduction in future income tax
liabilities resulted in the Company increasing the valuation allowance on
its future income tax assets to avoid reflecting a net future income tax
asset on the balance sheet, and resulting in a future income tax expense for
the period.
NON-GAAP MEASURES - TOTAL CASH COSTS PER OUNCE OF SILVER CALCULATION
Silver Wheaton has included, throughout this document, certain non-GAAP
performance measures, including total cash costs of silver on a sales basis.
These non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by
GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable with similar measures presented by
other companies. Cash costs are presented as they represent an industry
standard method of comparing certain costs on a per unit basis. The Company
believes that certain investors use this information to evaluate the
Company's performance. The data 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 GAAP. During the three
months ended September 30, 2008, the Company's total cash costs, which were
equivalent to the Company's Cost of Sales in accordance with GAAP, were
$3.93 per ounce of silver (2007 - $3.90 per ounce).
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At September 30, 2008, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $14.7
million (December 31, 2007 - $10.0 million) and a working capital deficiency
of $19.0 million (December 31, 2007 - $23.2 million). Included in the
working capital deficiency at September 30, 2008 is the current portion of
long-term bank debt of $28.6 million (December 31, 2007 - $28.6 million).
Generally, the Company applies surplus cash to pay down amounts outstanding
under the revolving bank debt facility, which is recorded as a long-term
liability.
On July 24, 2007, the Company entered into a syndicated credit agreement to
borrow $200 million under a non revolving term loan (the "Term Loan") and up
to $300 million under a revolving term loan (the "Revolving Loan"). The
Revolving Loan and the Term Loan have 7 year terms with the Term Loan
requiring equal quarterly principal repayments (together with accrued
interest). In addition, Silver Wheaton has committed to pay down the
Revolving Loan, within 61 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, by an
amount equal to 90% of the increase, if any, in cash balances reported for
the quarter. The Revolving Loan can be drawn down at any time to finance
acquisitions or investments with $10 million being available for general
corporate purposes.
On June 24, 2008 the Company announced that it had entered into an amending
agreement to increase the revolving bank debt available by $100 million to
$400 million. The Company paid upfront costs of $0.7 million in connection
with this increase.
During the three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company generated
operating cash flows of $26.7 million (nine months - $95.7 million) compared
with $27.1 million (nine months - $84.8 million) during 2007.
During the three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company had net cash
outflows from financing activities of $0.2 million (nine months - inflows of
$77.1 million). Additional borrowings under the revolving bank facilities
amounted to $18.0 million (nine months - $183.5 million) to fund the upfront
payments required for the transactions with Farallon, Mercator and Aurcana.
In addition, the Company repaid $7.1 million (nine months - $21.4 million)
and $123.9 million (nine months - $202.2 million) of the balances
outstanding on the Term Loan and Revolving Loan, respectively. The majority
of the cash used to pay down long term debt resulted from the Company early
calling two series of warrants, as described in the share capital section of
this MD&A, for gross proceeds of approximately $113 million. As at September
30, 2008, the Company had $191.7 million available under its revolving
credit facilities.
During the three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company had net cash
outflows relating to investing activities of $49.0 million including $15.0
million relating to Campo Morado, $25.0 million relating to La Negra, $3.9
million of additional equity investments in Bear Creek and $5.2 million of
capitalized interest.
In the opinion of management, cash flows, cash balances and available credit
facilities are sufficient to support the Company's normal operating
requirements on an ongoing basis.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND CONTINGENCIES
Silver Interests
In connection with the Luismin, Zinkgruvan and Stratoni silver agreements,
the Company has committed to purchase 100% of the silver produced by each
mine for a per ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.95, $3.96 and $3.90
respectively, and the then prevailing market price, subject to an annual
inflationary adjustment. This inflationary adjustment is subject to a
minimum of 0.4% and a maximum of 1.65% per annum for Luismin and Zinkgruvan,
and is fixed at 1.0% per annum for Stratoni. In connection with the
Yauliyacu silver agreement, the Company has committed to purchase up to 4.75
million ounces of silver per year, based on production at the Yauliyacu
mine, for a per ounce cash payment of $3.90, subject to an inflationary
adjustment. This inflationary adjustment, which will begin in 2009, is
subject to a minimum of 1.0% and a maximum of 1.65% per annum. In the event
that silver produced at Yauliyacu in any year totals less than 4.75 million ounces, the amount sold to Silver Wheaton in subsequent years will be
increased to make up for the shortfall, so long as production allows.
In connection with the Penasquito silver agreement, the Company has
committed to purchase 25% of the silver produced by the Penasquito mine for
a per ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90 and the then prevailing
market price, subject to an inflationary adjustment. This inflationary
adjustment, which will begin in 2011, is subject to a minimum of 0.4% and a
maximum of 1.65% per annum.
In connection with the Campo Morado silver agreement, the Company has
committed to purchase 75% of the silver produced by the Campo Morado
Property for a per ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90 and the
prevailing market price, subject to a one percent annual inflationary
adjustment starting in the fourth year after production commences.
In connection with the La Negra silver agreement, the Company has committed
to purchase 50% of the silver produced from the La Negra Mine for a per
ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90 and the prevailing market price,
subject to a one percent annual inflationary adjustment starting in the
fourth year after production commences.
In connection with the Mineral Park silver agreement, the Company has
committed to purchase 100% of the silver produced by the Mineral Park mine
for a per ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90 and the then prevailing
market price, subject to an annual inflationary adjustment of 1% beginning
in the fourth year after a minimum production level has been met.
In connection with the Keno Hill silver agreement, the Company has committed
to purchase 25% of the silver produced by the Keno Hill project for an
upfront cash payment of $50 million and an ongoing per ounce cash payment of
the lesser of $3.90 and the then prevailing market price, subject to an
annual inflationary adjustment of 1% beginning in the fourth year after a
minimum production level has been met.
Other Contractual Obligations
(in thousands) 2008 2009 - 2011 2012 - 2013 After 2013 Total -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bank debt(1) $ 7,140 $ 85,680 $ 57,120 $229,800 $379,740 Operating leases 113 1,386 962 1,585 4,046 Other 189 637 - - 826 Total contractual obligations $ 7,442 $ 87,703 $ 58,082 $231,385 $384,612 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Does not include payments of interest related to bank debt
Due to the size, complexity and nature of the Company's operations, various
legal and tax matters are outstanding from time to time. In the opinion of
management, these matters will not have a material effect on the Company's
consolidated financial position or results of operations.
SHARE CAPITAL
During the three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company received cash
proceeds of $0.6 million (2007 - $1.0 million) from the exercise of 152,500
share purchase options (2007 - 269,300) at a weighted average exercise price
of Cdn$3.98 per option (2007 - Cdn$3.70 per option). During the nine months
ended September 30, 2008, the Company received cash proceeds of $2.6 million
(2007 - $5.8 million) from the exercise of 551,200 share purchase options
(2007 - 1,921,633) at a weighted average exercise price of Cdn$4.80 per
option (2007 - Cdn$3.32 per option). As of November 3, 2008, there were
251,485,546 outstanding common shares, 3,459,502 share purchase options and
28,049,144 share purchase warrants, which are convertible into 14,009,161
common shares.
On June 24, 2008, the Company filed a preliminary prospectus in each of the
provinces of Canada and a registration statement in the United States of
America to qualify the distribution of approximately 3 million new common
share purchase warrants ("New Warrants") to holders of the share purchase
warrants and the series "A" warrants. The New Warrants were being offered as
an incentive to holders of the share purchase warrants and the series "A"
warrants to exercise their existing warrants during an early exercise period
(the "Early Exercise Period"), which commenced on August 7, 2008 and was
completed on September 15, 2008.
Silver Wheaton received gross proceeds in excess of Cdn$120 million ($113
million) from the early exercise of approximately 87.7% and 91.7% of the
issued and outstanding share purchase warrants and series "A" warrants,
respectively. The proceeds were used to pay down the revolving bank loan
facility.
In connection with the early exercises, Silver Wheaton issued approximately
2.7 million New Warrants, which were listed and posted for trading on the
Toronto Stock Exchange on September 18, 2008. Each New Warrant entitles the
holder to purchase one common share of Silver Wheaton at an exercise price
of $20.00 at any time before September 5, 2013. The New Warrants trade under
the symbol SLW.WT.U, in US funds. The share purchase warrants and the series
"A" warrants that were not exercised remain outstanding and continue to be
governed by their current terms. Both series of warrants continue to be
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols SLW.WT and SLW.WT.A,
respectively.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company has used a mixture
of cash, short-term debt and long-term debt to maintain an appropriate
capital structure, ensuring sufficient liquidity required to meet the needs
of the business and the flexibility to continue growing through acquisition.
The Company has not used interest rate contracts or other derivative
financial instruments to manage the risks associated with its operations and
therefore, in the normal course of business, it is inherently exposed to
currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.
The Company holds certain financial instruments as long-term investments and
therefore is inherently exposed to various risk factors including currency
risk, credit risk, market price risk and liquidity risk.
CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES
CAPITAL DISCLOSURES AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - DISCLOSURES AND PRESENTATION
During the year, the Company adopted three new presentation and disclosure
standards that were issued by the Canadian Institute of Chartered
Accountants: Handbook Section 1535, Capital Disclosures ("Section 1535"),
Handbook Section 3862, Financial Instruments - Disclosures ("Section 3862")
and Handbook Section 3863, Financial Instruments - Presentation ("Section
3863").
Section 1535 requires the disclosure of both qualitative and quantitative
information that enables users of financial statements to evaluate (i) an
entity's objectives, policies and processes for managing capital; (ii)
quantitative data about what the entity regards as capital; (iii) whether
the entity has complied with any capital requirements; and (iv) if it has
not complied, the consequences of such non-compliance.
Sections 3862 and 3863 replace Handbook Section 3861, Financial Instruments
- Disclosure and Presentation, revising and enhancing its disclosure
requirements and carrying forward unchanged its presentation requirements
for financial instruments. Sections 3862 and 3863 place increased emphasis
on disclosures about the nature and extent of risks arising from financial
instruments and how the entity manages those risks.
FUTURE CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS ("IFRS")
In February 2008, the Canadian Accounting Standards Board ("AcSB") confirmed
that publicly listed companies will be required to adopt IFRS for interim
and annual financial statements relating to fiscal years beginning on or
after January 1, 2011, and in April 2008, the AcSB issued for comment its
Omnibus Exposure Draft, Adopting IFRS in Canada. Early adoption may be
permitted, however it will require exemptive relief on a case by case basis
from the Canadian Securities Administrators.
In order to prepare for the changeover to IFRS, the Company has developed an
IFRS conversion plan comprised of 3 phases: 1) Preliminary Planning &
Scoping; 2) Detailed Impact Assessment; 3) Implementation. This plan
addresses key elements of the Company's conversion to IFRS including:
- Cost/benefit analysis of early adoption;
- Financial reporting and continuous disclosure requirements;
- A timeline with key milestones and deliverables;
- Level of impact of accounting policy changes;
- Business impact, including information technology and data system impacts,
consideration of foreign operations, compensation metrics, personnel and
training requirements, and calculation of debt covenants;
- Internal controls over financial reporting; and
- Process for monitoring IFRS changes going-forward.
The Company has completed the first phase of preliminary planning and
scoping and expects its first financial statements presented in accordance
with IFRS to be for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011. The next
phase around detailed impact assessment has commenced and is expected to be
completed in fiscal 2009. The IFRS changeover may impact the presentation
and valuations of balances and transactions in the Company's quarterly and
annual consolidated financial statements and related notes; however the Company is not able to provide a quantification of those effects until phase
2 of the IFRS conversion plan is complete.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On February 14, 2008, Goldcorp sold its entire 48% interest in Silver
Wheaton by way of a secondary offering.
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company purchased 1.7
million ounces (2007 - 1.9 million ounces) of silver from a subsidiary of
Goldcorp at an average price of $3.95 per ounce (2007 - $3.90 per ounce),
for total consideration of approximately $6.6 million (2007 - $7.6 million).
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company purchased 5.2
million ounces of silver from the subsidiary at a price of $3.90 per ounce,
for total consideration of approximately $20.4 million.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
KENO HILL
On October 2, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Alexco
Resource Corp. ("Alexco") to acquire 25% of the silver produced from
Alexco's Keno Hill project located in the Yukon Territory, Canada, for the
life of mine. Silver Wheaton will make upfront cash payments totaling $50
million and, in addition, a per ounce cash payment of the lesser of $3.90
and the prevailing market price is due (subject to a 1.0% annual adjustment
starting in year four after the achievement of specific operating targets)
for silver delivered under the agreement.
The upfront payment will be made in several tranches, with a total payment
of $15 million to fund ongoing underground development made upon the
satisfaction of certain conditions, and the remaining $35 million payment to
fund mill construction and mine development costs made on a drawdown basis,
upon the satisfaction of certain additional requirements, including the
receipt of operating permits. Silver Wheaton is not required to contribute
to further capital or exploration expenditures and Alexco has provided a
completion guarantee with certain minimum production criteria by specific
dates. Payment for the transaction will be drawn from Silver Wheaton's
existing credit facilities.
ROSEMONT
On October 31, 2008, the Company announced that it had signed a letter of
intent with Augusta Resource Corporation ("Augusta") regarding a new silver
agreement superceding the December 19, 2007 letter of intent. An update of
Augusta's August 2007 bankable feasibility study, reflecting an increased
mineral resource, is expected to be completed by the end of December 2008,
following which Silver Wheaton and Augusta intend to discuss an efficient
structure for a transaction between them.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Silver Wheaton's management, with the participation of its Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the design and
effectiveness of Silver Wheaton's disclosure controls and procedures, as
defined in the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and
Canadian Securities Administrators, as of September 30, 2008. Based on that
evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer have concluded that Silver Wheaton's disclosure controls and
procedures were effective as of September 30, 2008.
INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The Company's management, with the participation of its Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, are responsible for establishing and
maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting. Under the
supervision of the Chief Financial Officer, the Company's internal controls
over financial reporting are designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The Company's controls include
policies and procedures that:
- pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the
assets of the Company;
- provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and
that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in
accordance with authorizations of the Company's management and directors;
and
- provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company's assets that
could have a material effect on the annual financial statements or interim
financial statements.
The Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, believe that any disclosure controls and procedures or
internal controls over financial reporting, no matter how well conceived and
operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the
objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control
system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the
benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of
the inherent limitations in all control systems, they cannot provide
absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any,
within the Company have been prevented or detected. These inherent
limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be
faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.
Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some
persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by unauthorized override of
the controls. The design of any system of controls also is based in part
upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there
can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated
goals under all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because of the
inherent limitations in a cost effective control system, misstatements due
to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
There have been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls
over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial
reporting.
The Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's internal
controls over financial reporting using the framework and criteria
established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on
this evaluation, management has concluded that the internal controls over
financial reporting were effective as of September 30, 2008.
OUTLOOK
The Company estimates, based upon its current agreements, to have silver
sales of 3 million ounces for the fourth quarter of 2008, 15 to 17 million
ounces in 2009, and increasing to approximately 30 million ounces by 2013.
The decrease in forecasted sales volumes from previous estimates relates
primarily to lower projected silver flows from the San Dimas mine.
Operating results for the third quarter were negatively impacted by a 29%
decline in silver prices during the three month period, resulting largely
from difficult global economic conditions. Since the end of the third
quarter, these conditions have deteriorated further, resulting in a
continued weakening of silver prices. During these difficult and
unpredictable economic times, variability in future operating results may
occur. Management is committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet and
debt reduction from operating cash flows will continue to be a priority.
The Company is unhedged and actively pursuing further growth opportunities.
RESERVES AND RESOURCES(1)
Proven and Probable Reserves(1,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROVEN PROBABLE PROVEN & PROBABLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade Con- Grade Con- Grade Con-
Tonnes g tained Tonnes g tained Tonnes g tained
Silver Mt Ag/t M oz Mt Ag/t M oz Mt Ag/t M oz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luismin
San Dimas 1.60 387 19.9 3.08 378 37.5 4.68 381 57.3
Los Filos 33.71 3 3.7 55.31 3 5.2 89.02 3 8.8
San Martin 0.32 33 0.3 0.71 48 1.1 1.03 43 1.4
Zinkgruvan
(Zn) 8.31 114 30.4 2.25 62 4.5 10.56 103 34.9
Yauliyacu 1.41 89 4.0 2.30 136 10.0 3.72 118 14.1
Penasquito
(25%)
Mill 106.72 34 116.7 95.06 27 83.1 201.78 31 199.9
Heap Leach 10.53 21 7.1 17.08 16 9.0 27.61 18 16.1
Stratoni 1.90 193 11.8 0.31 190 1.9 2.22 193 13.7
Mineral
Park 315.88 3 29.0 81.33 2 6.4 397.21 3 35.4
La Negra
(50%) 0.14 77 0.3 0.10 70 0.2 0.24 74 0.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 223.3 158.9 382.3
Measured & Indicated Resources(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEASURED INDICATED MEASURED & INDICATED--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade Con- Grade Con- Grade Con-
Tonnes g tained Tonnes g tained Tonnes g tained
Silver Mt Ag/t M oz Mt Ag/t M oz Mt Ag/t M oz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luismin
Los Filos 6.25 3 0.7 12.66 3 1.2 18.92 3 1.9
Zinkgruvan
(Zn) 0.55 24 0.4 3.68 109 12.9 4.23 98 13.3
Zinkgruvan
(Cu) - - - 3.10 32 3.2 3.10 32 3.2
Yauliyacu 0.46 91 1.3 4.67 248 37.2 5.13 234 38.5
Penasquito
(25%)
Mill 24.78 22 17.8 134.19 19 19.3 158.97 20 100.9
Heap Leach 1.97 7 0.4 8.67 7 2.0 10.64 7 2.4
Mineral Park 54.33 1 1.5 126.71 3 11.6 181.04 2 13.1
Campo Morado
(75%) 0.37 258 3.1 9.67 170 52.8 10.04 173 55.9
La Negra
(50%) 0.20 127 0.8 0.09 128 0.4 0.29 127 1.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 26.1 204.4 230.4
Inferred Resources
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14)
---------------------------------------------
INFERRED
---------------------------------------------
Tonnes Grade Contained
Silver Mt g Ag/t M oz
---------------------------------------------
Luismin
San Dimas 17.55 324 183.0
Los Filos 2.39 3 0.2
San Martin 3.01 120 11.6
Zinkgruvan (Zn) 4.32 67 9.3
Zinkgruvan (Cu) 0.77 20 0.5
Yauliyacu 11.62 217 80.9
Penasquito (25%)
Mill 294.75 13 122.8
Heap Leach 10.25 13 4.3
Stratoni 0.64 203 4.2
Mineral Park 198.4 2 14.9
Campo Morado (75%) 2.33 149 11.2
La Negra (50%) 0.11 75 0.3
---------------------------------------------
Total 443.2
Notes:
1. All Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources have been calculated in
accordance with the standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining,
Metallurgy and Petroleum and National Instrument 43-101, or the AusIMM
JORC equivalent.
2. All Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves.
3. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
4. Reserves and Resources are reported as of December 31, 2007, with the
following conditions or exceptions:
a. Reserves and Resources for San Martin are reported as of December
31, 2006 with the exception of the San Pedrito project, which is
reported as of December 31, 2005.
b. Reserves and Resources for Penasquito are reported as of August 9,
2007.
c. Reserves and Resources for Mineral Park are reported as of
December 29, 2006.
d. Resources for Farallon are reported as of February 29, 2008 for
the G-9 deposit and October 13, 2005 for all other deposits on the
Campo Morado property.
e. Resources for Aurcana are reported as of February 15, 2008 for the
Alacran deposit and March 14, 2008 for the Monica deposit.
5. Qualified Persons for the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource
estimates as defined by the National Instrument 43-101 are as follows:
a. San Dimas, San Martin - Reynaldo Rivera, MAusIMM (Chief
Geologist), Luismin S.A. de C.V., the Mexican operating subsidiary
of Goldcorp Inc.
b. Los Filos - Reynaldo Rivera, MAusIMM (Chief Geologist), Luismin
S.A. de C.V., the Mexican operating subsidiary of Goldcorp Inc.
c. San Martin - Reynaldo Rivera, MAusIMM (Chief Geologist), Luismin
S.A. de C.V., the Mexican operating subsidiary of Goldcorp Inc.
d. Zinkgruvan - Per Hedstrom (Senior Geologist) and Lars Malmstrom
(Chief Geologist), both employees of Lundin Mining Corp.
e. Yauliyacu - Velasquez Spring, P.Eng. (Senior Geologist) Watts,
Griffis and McOuat Limited.
f. Penasquito - Bob Bryson, P.Eng. (Vice President, Engineering),
Goldcorp Inc.
g. Stratoni - Patrick Forward (General Manager, Exploration),
European
Goldfields Ltd.
h. Farallon G9 - Stephen J. Godden, F.I.M.M.M., C.Eng. (Director) S.
Godden & Associates Limited; P.Taggart, P.Eng (Principal)
P.Taggart
& Associates Ltd.; David Gaunt, P.Geo (Manager of Resources) and
Qingping
i. Aurcana - Thomas C.Stubens, MASc, P.Eng. (Senior Geologist)
Wardrop
Engineering Inc. and Ronald G. Simpson, P.Geo (President), GeoSIM.
j. Mineral Park - Jim Tompkins (Engineering Manager), Mercator
Minerals Inc.
k. Overall corporate review - Randy V.J. Smallwood, P.Eng. (Executive
Vice President of Corporate Development), Silver Wheaton Corp.
6. Mineral Reserves are estimated using appropriate recovery rates and
US$ commodity prices of $10 per ounce of silver unless otherwise noted
below:
a. San Martin Reserves - US$7.00 per ounce
b. Yauliyacu Reserves - US$13.00 per ounce
c. Aurcana (Alacran) Reserves - US$12.00 per ounce
d. Mineral Park Reserves - 0.237% Cu equivalent cut off grade
(hypogene), 0.283% Cu equivalent cut off grade (supergene), silver
was not included.
7. Mineral Resources are estimated using appropriate recovery rates and
US$ commodity prices of $13 per ounce of silver, unless otherwise
noted below:
a. San Martin Resources - US$8.00 per ounce
b. The San Pedrito project Resources at San Martin- US$5.50 per
ounce
c. Zinkgruvan Resources - US$10.00 per ounce
d. Stratoni Resources - US$12.00 per ounce
e. Farallon (G9) Resources - 5.0% Zinc only cut off grade, silver was
not included
f. Farallon (Other Resources) - US$5.50 per ounce
g. Aurcana (Alacran) Resources - US$12.00 per ounce
h. Aurcana (Monica) Resources - US$13.50 per ounce
i. Mineral Park Resources - 0.3% Cu Equivalent cut off grade, silver
was not included
8. Silver Wheaton's agreement with Glencore provides for the delivery of
up to 4.75 million ounces of silver per year for 20 years so long as
production allows. Silver production at Yauliyacu in excess of 4.75
million ounces per year is to the credit of Glencore; however, in the
event that silver produced at Yauliyacu in any year totals less than
4.75 million ounces, the amount sold to Silver Wheaton in subsequent
years will be increased to make up the shortfall.
9. Penasquito reserves and resources reported represent the 25% share
attributable to Silver Wheaton.
10. The Mineral Park Reserves do not include the Leach material.
11. Silver is produced as a by-product metal at all operations, therefore
the economic cut off applied to the reporting of silver reserves and
resources will be influenced by changes in the commodity prices of
other metals at the time.
12. The Company considers the San Dimas, Yauliyacu and Penasquito
operations to be Material Assets, and has technical reports filed and
available on www.sedar.com on each of these assets.
13. Los Filos reserves and resources are reported without the Bermejal
deposit, as Bermejal is not subject to the silver sales agreement.
14. The tables do not include reserves and resources for Keno Hill.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the
future price of silver, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources,
the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of
estimated future production, costs of production, reserve determination and
reserve conversion rates. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans",
"expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled",
"estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate",
or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be
taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Silver
Wheaton to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to
the integration of acquisitions, the absence of control over mining
operations from which Silver Wheaton purchases silver and risks related to
these mining operations, including risks related to international
operations, actual results of current exploration activities, actual results
of current reclamation activities, conclusions of economic evaluations,
changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, as well as
those factors discussed in the section entitled "Description of the Business
- Risk Factors" in Silver Wheaton's Annual Information Form for the year
ended December 31, 2007 incorporated by reference into Silver Wheaton's Form
40-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Silver Wheaton 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 should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Silver Wheaton does not
undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are incorporated by
reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE REGARDING RESERVES AND RESOURCES
Readers should refer to the Annual Information Form of Silver Wheaton for
the year ended December 31, 2007 and other continuous disclosure documents
filed by Silver Wheaton since January 1, 2008 available at www.sedar.com,
for further information on Mineral Reserves and Resources, which is subject
to the qualifications and notes set forth therein as well as for additional
information relating to the Company more generally. Mineral Resources which
are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured,
Indicated and Inferred Resources: These tables use the terms "Measured",
"Indicated" and "Inferred" Resources. United States investors are advised
that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations,
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize
them. "Inferred Mineral Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to
their existence, and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot
be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be
upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred
Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic
studies. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any
part of Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources will ever be converted into
Mineral Reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume
that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource exists, or is
economically or legally mineable.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(US dollars and shares in Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
thousands, except per share September 30 September 30
amounts - unaudited) Note 2008 2007 2008 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Silver sales $ 39,371 $ 39,598 $137,994 $125,194
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost of sales 10,677 12,201 33,033 37,146
Depreciation and amortization 5,152 4,785 14,443 15,217
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
15,829 16,986 47,476 52,363
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings from operations 23,542 22,612 90,518 72,831
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses and other income
General and administrative(1) 3,529 2,112 13,560 6,580
Project evaluation - 43 128 214
Interest expense - - 96 14
Interest income (136) (158) (312) (1,471)
Debt issue costs 6 - - 782 -
Loss on mark-to-market of
warrants held 4 100 840 1,047 1,499
Other (192) (156) (86) 202
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3,301 2,681 15,215 7,038
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax 20,241 19,931 75,303 65,793
Future income tax expense
(benefit) 4 - 747 3,858 (1,182)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings $ 20,241 $ 19,184 $ 71,445 $ 66,975
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Stock based compensation (a
non-cash item) included in
General and administrative $ 1,078 $ 601 $ 4,538 $ 1,701
Basic earnings per share $ 0.09 $ 0.09 $ 0.32 $ 0.30
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.08 $ 0.08 $ 0.29 $ 0.27
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding 7(e)
Basic 232,710 222,393 226,598 221,635
Diluted 249,010 247,250 249,833 245,705
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these interim unaudited
consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September December
(US dollars and shares in thousands 30 31
- unaudited) Note 2008 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets
Current
Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,662 $ 9,965
Accounts receivable 214 1,428
Other 480 303
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
15,356 11,696
Long-term investments 4 41,908 119,409
Silver interests 5 1,224,478 1,075,023
Other 2,570 2,346
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1,284,312 $ 1,208,474
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities
Current
Accounts payable $ 1,008 $ 1,021
Accrued liabilities 5,229 5,362
Current portion of bank debt 6 28,560 28,560
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
34,797 34,943
Bank debt 6 351,180 391,300
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
385,977 426,243
Shareholders' Equity
Share purchase options 7(c) 8,840 5,328
Restricted share units 7(d) 468 262
Warrants 7(b) 20,984 38,776
Share capital
Common shares
Authorized: unlimited shares, no par value;
Issued and outstanding: 251,484 (December
31, 2007: 222,934) 7(a) 630,946 495,695
Retained earnings 280,103 208,658
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)
income (43,006) 33,512
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
898,335 782,231
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1,284,312 $ 1,208,474
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitments and contingencies 6,10,12
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these interim unaudited
consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
(US dollars in thousands - September 30 September 30
unaudited) Note 2008 2007 2008 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Activities
Net earnings $ 20,241 $ 19,184 $ 71,445 $ 66,975
Items not affecting cash
Depreciation and amortization 5,152 4,785 14,443 15,217
Stock based compensation 1,078 601 4,538 1,701
Loss on mark-to-market of
warrants held 4 100 840 1,047 1,499
Future income taxes 4 - 747 3,858 (1,182)
Other (281) (24) (244) 18
Change in non-cash working
capital 8 435 969 609 620
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash generated by operating
activities 26,725 27,102 95,696 84,848
------------