EX-99.1 2 a1q18pre-releasexexhibit991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit
                                        
                                                    

NEWS RELEASE             image0a58.jpg
Coeur Reports First Quarter 2018 Production and Sales Results
Chicago, Illinois - April 9, 2018 - Coeur Mining, Inc. (the "Company" or "Coeur") (NYSE: CDE) today announced first quarter 2018 production of 3.2 million ounces of silver and 85,383 ounces of gold, or 8.3 million silver equivalent1 ounces. Metal sales for the quarter of 3.2 million ounces of silver and 87,153 ounces of gold, or 8.4 million silver equivalent1 ounces, were in-line with production.
During the quarter, the Company also announced it had commenced production at its high-grade Silvertip mine in British Columbia, Canada slightly ahead of schedule. Mill throughput continues to ramp-up according to plan with commercial production expected to be achieved by mid-year.
Coeur's full-year production guidance of 36.0 - 39.4 million silver equivalent1 ounces remains unchanged.

Quarterly Production Results
a20181qproductionchart.jpg

Note: On February 28, 2018, Coeur divested the San Bartolomé mine through the sale of its 100%-owned Bolivian subsidiary. As a result, San Bartolomé is excluded from consolidated operating statistics for all periods presented unless otherwise noted.

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Operations
First quarter 2018 production and sales highlights for each of Coeur's operations are provided below.
Palmarejo, Mexico
 
1Q 2018
4Q 2017
3Q 2017
2Q 2017
1Q 2017
Tons milled
359,893
389,524
413,086
335,428
360,383
Average silver grade (oz/t)
6.88
6.92
5.53
4.98
4.91
Average gold grade (oz/t)
0.10
0.10
0.08
0.08
0.09
Average recovery rate – Ag
81.4%
87.0%
83.6%
87.3%
86.5%
Average recovery rate – Au
80.4%
92.0%
83.1%
91.1%
93.7%
Ounces Produced
 
 
 
 
 
Silver (000's)
2,013
2,346
1,908
1,457
1,531
Gold
29,896
37,537
28,948
24,292
30,792
Silver equivalent1 (000's)
3,807
4,600
3,644
2,914
3,378
Ounces Sold
 
 
 
 
 
Silver (000's)
2,031
2,343
1,794
1,484
1,965
Gold
30,888
38,953
26,554
25,191
41,045
Silver equivalent1 (000's)
3,884
4,681
3,387
2,996
4,427
Silver equivalent1 (average spot) (000's)
4,479
5,331
3,809
3,324
4,837
•
Year-over-year quarterly silver production increased 31%, while quarterly gold production declined 3%. First quarter silver and gold production decreased 14% and 20% quarter-over-quarter, respectively, to 2.0 million and 29,896 ounces
•
Silver and gold grades were 40% and 11% higher, respectively, year-over-year and flat quarter-over-quarter. Palmarejo's production benefited from mining of higher grade material over the past two quarters in a faulted zone within Independencia, which the Company had conservatively modeled. This was offset by temporarily lower mining rates as additional ground support was installed along the fault. Grades are expected to gradually decrease in subsequent quarters, while mining rates are expected to return to 4,500 tons per day
•
At the end of the first quarter, Palmarejo began commissioning an on-site absorption, desorption, and recovery ("ADR") plant, which resulted in a temporary increase in in-process inventory and lower recovery rates, which are expected to normalize during the second quarter
•
During the quarter, 9,906 ounces, or approximately 32%, of Palmarejo's gold sales were to Franco-Nevada at a price of $800 per ounce. For the full year, the Company anticipates a similar percentage of Palmarejo's gold sales to be to Franco-Nevada
•
Full-year 2018 production guidance is unchanged at 6.5 - 7.1 million ounces of silver and 110,000 - 115,000 ounces of gold, or 13.1 - 14.0 million silver equivalent1 ounces


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Rochester, Nevada
 
1Q 2018
4Q 2017
3Q 2017
2Q 2017
1Q 2017
Tons placed
4,351,131
4,171,451
4,262,011
4,493,100
3,513,708
Average silver grade (oz/t)
0.54
0.50
0.53
0.53
0.58
Average gold grade (oz/t)
0.003
0.003
0.004
0.003
0.002
Ounces Produced
 
 
 
 
 
Silver (000's)
1,157
1,361
1,070
1,156
1,127
Gold
11,487
18,995
10,955
10,745
10,356
Silver equivalent1 (000's)
1,846
2,500
1,727
1,801
1,749
Ounces Sold
 
 
 
 
 
Silver (000's)
1,119
1,457
1,050
1,135
1,289
Gold
11,163
20,002
10,390
10,658
13,592
Silver equivalent1 (000's)
1,789
2,658
1,674
1,774
2,104
Silver equivalent1 (average spot) (000's)
2,004
2,969
1,839
1,913
2,240
•
Total tons placed increased 4% quarter-over-quarter and 24% year-over-year
•
Production returned to normalized levels during the first quarter, with silver equivalent1 production totaling 1.8 million ounces, which was 6% higher year-over-year. Compared to the prior quarter, production declined 26%. Fourth quarter 2017 production reflected accelerated recoveries from the newly-expanded Stage IV leach pad and from the placement of higher-grade gold ore during the second half of 2017
•
The Company is maintaining full-year 2018 production guidance of 4.2 - 4.7 million ounces of silver and 45,000 - 50,000 ounces of gold, or 6.9 - 7.7 million silver equivalent1 ounces

Wharf, South Dakota
 
1Q 2018
4Q 2017
3Q 2017
2Q 2017
1Q 2017
Tons placed
1,076,395
1,124,785
1,150,308
993,167
1,292,181
Average gold grade (oz/t)
0.022
0.029
0.029
0.024
0.027
Ounces produced
 
 
 
 
 
Gold
17,936
27,292
25,849
21,358
20,873
Silver (000's)
12
16
15
13
20
Gold equivalent1
18,133
27,560
26,096
21,568
21,207
Ounces sold
 
 
 
 
 
Gold
17,339
28,975
23,855
21,314
24,093
Silver (000's)
11
16
14
11
33
Gold equivalent1
17,522
29,256
24,085
21,495
24,636
•
As anticipated, first quarter gold production declined 34% quarter-over-quarter and 14% year-over-year to 17,936 ounces primarily due to lower grades
•
While production levels are anticipated to be higher throughout the remainder of the year, 2018 is expected to be a lower grade year as previously disclosed. Higher stripping rates during 2018 are expected to result in access to higher grade material in subsequent years
•
Full-year production guidance of 85,000 - 90,000 ounces of gold remains unchanged


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Kensington, Alaska
 
1Q 2018
4Q 2017
3Q 2017
2Q 2017
1Q 2017
Tons milled
158,706
167,631
172,038
163,163
165,895
Average gold grade (oz/t)
0.17
0.22
0.17
0.17
0.17
Average recovery rate
94.0%
92.8%
94.1%
93.2%
94.0%
Gold ounces produced
26,064
34,932
27,541
26,424
26,197
Gold ounces sold
27,763
35,634
29,173
29,031
32,144
•
First quarter gold production declined 25% quarter-over-quarter to 26,064 ounces due to lower planned grades related to mine sequencing as well as maintenance-related mill downtime. Production was flat compared to last year's first quarter
•
Development mining continued at Jualin during the quarter, where production is expected to increase in the second half of the year following completion of dewatering efforts. During the second quarter, production at Kensington is expected to remain consistent with first quarter production levels
•
2018 gold production guidance remains unchanged at 115,000 - 120,000 ounces


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2018 Production Guidance (Unchanged)
 
Silver
Gold
Zinc
Lead
Silver Equivalent1
 
(K oz)
(oz)
(K lbs)
(K lbs)
(K oz)
Palmarejo
6,500 - 7,100
110,000 - 115,000
—
—
13,100 - 14,000
Rochester
4,200 - 4,700
45,000 - 50,000
—
—
6,900 - 7,700
Kensington
—
115,000 - 120,000
—
—
6,900 - 7,200
Wharf
—
85,000 - 90,000
—
—
5,100 - 5,400
Silvertip
1,500 - 2,000
—
23,000 - 28,000
23,000 - 28,000
4,030 - 5,080
Total
12,600 - 13,800
355,000 - 375,000
23,000 - 28,000
23,000 - 28,000
36,030 - 39,380

Financial Results and Conference Call
Coeur will report its first quarter 2018 financial results on April 25, 2018 after the New York Stock Exchange closes for trading. There will be a conference call on April 26, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Dial-In Numbers:        (855) 560-2581 (U.S.)
(855) 669-9657 (Canada)
(412) 542-4166 (International)
Conference ID:        Coeur Mining

Hosting the call will be Mitchell J. Krebs, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur, who will be joined by Peter C. Mitchell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Frank L. Hanagarne, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Hans Rasmussen, Senior Vice President of Exploration, and other members of management. A replay of the call will be available through May 10, 2018.

Replay numbers:        (877) 344-7529 (U.S.)
(855) 669-9658 (Canada)
(412) 317-0088 (International)
Conference ID:        101 17 926

About Coeur
Coeur Mining, Inc. is a well-diversified, growing precious metals producer with five mines in North America. Coeur produces from its wholly-owned operations: the Palmarejo silver-gold complex in Mexico, the Silvertip silver-zinc-lead mine in British Columbia, the Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada, the Kensington gold mine in Alaska, and the Wharf gold mine in South Dakota. In addition, the Company has interests in several precious metals exploration projects throughout North America.

Cautionary Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada, including statements regarding anticipated production, grades, the timing of commercial production at Silvertip, inventory and recovery rates at Palmarejo, sales under Palmarejo's gold stream agreement, stripping rates at Wharf, and dewatering efforts at Kensington. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Coeur's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk that anticipated production levels are not attained, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including risks inherent in developing large-scale mining projects, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically related conditions), changes in the market prices of gold, silver, zinc, and lead and a sustained lower price environment, the uncertainties inherent in Coeur's production, exploratory and developmental activities, including risks relating to permitting and regulatory delays, ground conditions, grade

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variability, any future labor disputes or work stoppages, the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of gold and silver reserves, changes that could result from Coeur's future acquisition of new mining properties or businesses, the loss of any third-party smelter to which Coeur markets its production, the effects of environmental and other governmental regulations, the risks inherent in the ownership or operation of or investment in mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, Coeur's ability to raise additional financing necessary to conduct its business, make payments or refinance its debt, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Canadian securities regulators, including, without limitation, Coeur's most recent report on Form 10-K. Actual results, developments and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coeur disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Coeur undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Coeur, its financial or operating results or its securities.

Christopher Pascoe, Coeur's Director, Technical Services and a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101, approved the scientific and technical information concerning Coeur's mineral projects in this news release. For a description of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and resources, as well as data verification procedures and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimates may be affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant factors, Canadian investors should refer to the Technical Reports for each of Coeur's properties as filed on SEDAR at sedar.com.

Notes
1.
Silver and gold equivalence assumes a 60:1 silver-to-gold ratio, except where noted as average spot prices. Please see the table below for average applicable spot prices and corresponding ratios. Silver and zinc equivalence assumes a 0.06:1 silver-to-zinc ratio. Silver and lead equivalence assumes a 0.05:1 silver-to-lead ratio.

Average Spot Prices
 
1Q 2018
4Q 2017
3Q 2017
2Q 2017
1Q 2017
Average Silver Spot Price Per Ounce
$
16.77

$
16.73

$
16.84

$
17.21

$
17.42

Average Gold Spot Price Per Ounce
$
1,329

$
1,275

$
1,278

$
1,257

$
1,219

Average Silver to Gold Spot Equivalence
79:1

76:1

76:1

73:1

70:1


For Additional Information
Coeur Mining, Inc.
104 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60603
Attention: Courtney Lynn, Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer
Phone: (312) 489-5800
www.coeur.com

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