CAPITAL MARKETS

Highly profitable year for Silver Lake after M&A and increased gold price

Production from Deflector and bullion strength underpin headline performance

 Profit headed strongly upwards at Silver Lake last financial year

Profit headed strongly upwards at Silver Lake last financial year

The headline number included "an income tax benefit of $123.7 million driven primarily by the recognition of carry forward tax losses that are available for offset against future taxable profits".

Earnings totalled $260 million versus $80 million a year earlier (on an EBITDA basis), with the averaged realised gold price rising from $1754 an ounce to $2132/oz over the same period.

The results were achieved on "gold equivalent" production sales of 273,071 ounces, comprising 255,533oz of gold and 2175t of copper - with all-in sustaining costs of $1295/oz - up from 171,322oz of gold a year earlier.

The main contributor to the increased production was the 2019-acquired Deflector operation that was only on Silver Lake's books for three months of the previous financial result.

Silver Lake's margin increased from 27% to 46% year-on-year, with the realised gold price increasing 21%.

Production sales are flagged to fall and costs increase in the current year to 240,000-250,000oz (and 1100t of copper), at AISC of $1400-1500/oz.

Silver Lake has current reserves of 1.2 million ounces.

Cash and bullion increased $138 million year on year to $269 million.

Dividends at the debt-free miner remain off the agenda. 

Shares in Silver Lake were up 2.5% to $2.41 in early trade, capitalising the company at $2.1 billion.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team.

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