VANCOUVER, British Columbia – February 14, 2019 – Silvercorp Metals Inc. (“Silvercorp” or the “Company”) (TSX: SVM) (NYSE American: SVM) reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2018 (“Q3 Fiscal 2019”).  All amounts are expressed in US Dollars.

Q3 FISCAL YEAR 2019 HIGHLIGHTS

• Ore mined up 3% to 260,278 tonnes compared to the prior year quarter;
• Sold approximately 1.7 million ounces of silver, 1,100 ounces of gold, and 17.8 million pounds of lead, up 13%, 57%, and 13%, respectively, compared to the prior year quarter while zinc sold was 4.1 million pounds, down 36% compared to the prior year quarter.
• Ended the quarter with inventories of 4,211 tonnes of silver-lead concentrate (containing approximately 0.4 million ounces of silver and 4.4 million pounds of lead) and 3,079 tonnes of zinc concentrate (containing approximately 3.1 million pounds of zinc), up 13% and 415%, respectively, compared to September 30, 2018;
• Sales of $42.4 million, down 5% compared to $44.4 million in the prior year quarter;
• Paid $1.7 million withholding tax at a rate of 10% for dividends distributed out of China to the Company, compared to $nil in the prior year quarter;
• Gross profit margin of 46% compared to 52% in the prior year quarter, with the decrease mainly due to lower metal prices;
• Net income attributable to equity shareholders of $8.7 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to $12.7 million, or $0.08 per share, in the prior year quarter;
• Cash flow from operations of $19.5 million, compared to $27.5 million in the prior year quarter; 
• Cash cost per ounce of silver¹, net of by-product credits, of negative $2.77, compared to negative $5.92 in the prior year quarter; 
• All-in sustaining cost per ounce of silver¹, net of by-product credits, of $6.53, compared to $3.16 in the prior year quarter;
• Paid $2.1 million dividends to the Company’s shareholders; and,
• Ended the quarter with $125.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, an increase of $1.3 million or 1% compared to September 30, 2018.

FINANCIALS

Net income attributable to equity shareholders of the Company in Q3 Fiscal 2019 was $8.7 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to $12.7 million, or $0.07 per share in the three months ended December 31, 2017 (“Q3 Fiscal 2018”). 

Sales in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $42.4 million, down 5% compared to $44.4 million in Q3 Fiscal 2018. Silver and gold sales represented $20.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively, while base metals represented $20.5 million of the total sales, compared to silver, gold and base metals sales of $19.8 million, $0.6 million, and $23.9 million, respectively, in Q3 Fiscal 2018.

Compared to the same prior year quarter, the Company’s financial results in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were mainly impacted by i) a decrease of 8%, 9% and 29% in the realized selling prices for silver, lead and zinc, respectively, ii) a 36% decrease in zinc sold, iii) an increase of 13% each of silver and lead sold, and iv) a 3% decrease in total production costs.      

Cost of sales in Q3 Fiscal 2019 was $23.0 million compared to $21.2 million in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  The cost of sales included $16.9 million cash production costs (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – $15.6 million), $1.2 million mineral resources tax (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – $1.3 million), and $4.9 million depreciation and amortization charges (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – $4.4 million). The increase in cash production costs and depreciation and amortization charges was mainly due to more silver and lead sold while the decrease in mineral resources tax was due to lower revenue achieved in the current quarter. The cash production costs expensed in cost of sales represents approximately 254,000 tonnes of ore processed and expensed at costs of $66.62 per tonne (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – approximately 222,000 tonnes at $70.11 per tonne).

Gross profit margin in Q3 Fiscal 2019 was 46%, compared to 52% in Q3 Fiscal 2018, with the decrease mainly due to the decrease in the realized metal selling prices. Ying Mining District’s gross profit margin was 47% compared to 55% in Q3 Fiscal 2018. GC Mine’s gross profit margin was 38% compared to 41% in Q3 Fiscal 2018.

General and administrative expenses in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $5.3 million, an increase of $0.4 million compared to $4.9 million in Q3 Fiscal 2018. The increase was mainly due to a $0.5 million increase in labour costs offset by a decrease of $0.3 million in discretionary office and administrative expenses.

Income tax expenses in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $5.1 million compared to $4.3 million in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  The income tax expense recorded in Q3 Fiscal 2019 included current income tax expense of $4.4 million (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – $3.7 million) and deferred income tax expense of $0.7 million (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – $0.6 million). The current income tax expenses include $1.7 million withholding tax (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – $nil), being 10% of the dividends distributed out of China to the Company by the Company’s Chinese subsidiaries.

Cash flows provided by operating activities in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $19.5 million, a decrease of $8.0 million compared to $27.5 million in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  The decrease was mainly due to less operating income arising from lower metal prices and the increase of withholding tax paid.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018

Net income attributable to equity shareholders of the Company was $27.6 million or $0.16 per share, a decrease of $7.2 million, compared to $34.8 million or $0.20 per share in the same prior year period; sales were $135.6 million, up 3% from $131.6 million in the same prior year period; and cash flows from operating activities were $61.7 million, compared to $65.0 million in the same prior year period.

The Company ended the period with $125.2 million in cash and short-term investments, an increase of $1.3 million or 1% compared to $123.9 million as at September 30, 2018.

Working capital as at December 31, 2018 was $99.0 million, an increase of $0.3 million compared to $98.7 million working capital as at September 30, 2018.

OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

i) Q3 Fiscal 2019 vs. Q3 Fiscal 2018

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, on a consolidated basis, the Company mined 260,278 tonnes of ore, an increase of 3% or 7,994 tonnes, compared to 252,284 tonnes in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  Ore mined at the Ying Mining District increased by 5% or 7,533 tonnes, and ore mined at the GC Mine increased by 1% or 461 tonnes.  Ore milled was 271,476 tonnes, up 6% compared to 256,037 tonnes of ore milled in Q3 Fiscal 2018.

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, the Company sold approximately 1.7 million ounces of silver, 1,100 ounces of gold, and 17.8 million pounds of lead, up 13%, 57%, and 13%, respectively, compared to 1.5 million ounces of silver, 700 ounces of gold, and 15.8 million pounds of lead in Q3 Fiscal 2018 while zinc sold was 4.1 million pounds, down 36% compared to 6.4 million pounds in Q3 Fiscal 2018. As at December 31, 2018, the Company had inventories of 4,211 tonnes of silver-lead concentrate and 3,079 tonnes zinc concentrate, up 13% and 415%, respectively, compared to 3,732 tonnes of silver-lead concentrate and 598 tonnes of zinc concentrate as at September 30, 2018.

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, the consolidated total mining costs and cash mining costs were $71.76 and $53.49 per tonne, down 3% and 5%, respectively, compared to $74.16 and $56.11 per tonne in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  The decrease was mainly due to higher production output resulting in lower per tonne fixed costs allocation.  The consolidated total milling costs and cash milling costs in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $13.44 and $11.64 per tonne, compared to $13.45 and $11.31 per tonne in Q3 Fiscal 2018.

Correspondingly, the consolidated total production costs and cash production costs per tonne of ore processed in Q3 Fiscal 2019 decreased by 3% to $88.02 and $67.95, respectively, from $90.30 and $70.11 in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, the consolidated total production costs and cash costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, were $0.08 and negative $2.77, compared to negative $3.04 and negative $5.92, respectively, in the prior year quarter.  The increase in cash cost per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, was mainly due to a 22% decrease in by-product credits per ounce of silver, mainly arising from 9% and 29% decreases in the realized lead and zinc selling prices and a 36% decrease in zinc sold.  Sales from lead and zinc accounted for 48% of the total sales and amounted to $20.2 million, a decrease of $3.6 million, compared to $23.8 million in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  

The consolidated all-in sustaining cost per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits is $6.53 compared to $3.16 in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  The increase was mainly due to an increase of $2.0 million in sustaining capital and the increase in cash costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits as discussed above.

ii) Nine months ended December 31, 2018 vs. Nine months ended December 31, 2017

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, on a consolidated basis, the Company mined 745,395 tonnes of ore, an increase of 4% or 28,733 tonnes, compared to 716,662 tonnes mined in the same prior year period. Ore mined at the Ying Mining District increased by 2% or 11,224 tonnes to 511,545 tonnes from 500,321 tonnes, and ore mined at the GC Mine increased by 8% or 17,509 tonnes to 233,850 tonnes from 216,341 tonnes in the same prior year period. In the same comparative period, ore milled increased by 3% to 748,944 tonnes compared to 724,534 tonnes.

The Company sold approximately 5.1 million ounces of silver, 2,800 ounces of gold, 52.1 million pounds of lead, and 15.4 million pounds of zinc, compared to 4.7 million ounces of silver, 2,400 ounces of gold, 48.6 million of lead, and 17.0 million pounds of zinc sold in the same prior year period.

The consolidated total mining costs and cash mining costs were $73.85 and $54.88 per tonne, an increase of 4% and 3%, respectively, compared to $71.07 and $53.17 per tonne in the same prior year period. The consolidated total milling costs and cash milling costs were $13.22 and $11.08, an increase of 3% and 5%, respectively, compared to $12.81 and $10.55 per tonne in the same prior year period.

Correspondingly, the consolidated total production costs and cash production costs per tonne of ore processed for the nine months ended December 31, 2018 were $89.98 and $68.87, an increase of 4% and 4%, respectively, compared to $86.63 and $66.47 in the same prior year period, but the consolidated cash production costs was 2% lower than the annual guidance of $70.20.

The consolidated cash production costs and all-in sustaining costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, were negative $4.37 and $3.27 compared to negative $4.97 and $3.35, respectively, in the same prior year period.

i) Q3 Fiscal 2019 vs. Q3 Fiscal 2018

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, the total ore mined at the Ying Mining District was 174,152 tonnes, an increase of 5% or 7,533 tonnes, compared to 166,619 tonnes mined in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  Ore milled was 184,684 tonnes, an increase of 10% or 17,141 tonnes compared to 167,543 tonnes in Q3 Fiscal 2018.

Head grades of ore milled at the Ying Mining District in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were 296 grams per tonne (“g/t”) for silver, 4.1% for lead, and 0.8% for zinc, compared to 315 g/t for silver, 4.5% for lead and 1.0% for zinc in Q3 Fiscal 2018. The Company continues to achieve positive dilution control using its “Enterprise Blog” to assist and manage daily operations.    

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, the Ying Mining District sold approximately 1.5 million ounces silver, 15.2 million pounds lead, and 0.4 million pounds zinc, compared to 1.3 million ounces silver, 13.5 million pounds lead, and 2.0 million pounds of zinc in Q3 Fiscal 2018. As at December 31, 2018, the Ying Mining District had inventories of 3,750 tonnes of silver-lead concentrate and 1,350 tonnes of zinc concentrate , an increase of 9% and 486%, respectively, compared to 3,452 tonnes of silver-lead concentrate and 230 tonnes of zinc concentrate as at September 30, 2018.

Total and cash mining costs per tonne at the Ying Mining District in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $86.27 and $63.04 per tonne, respectively, compared to $90.12 and $66.71 per tonne in Q3 Fiscal 2018, and the improvement was mainly due to lower per tonne fixed costs allocation resulting from higher production output.  Total and cash milling costs per tonne at the Ying Mining District in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $12.24 and $10.49, respectively, compared to $11.87 and $9.84 in Q3 Fiscal 2018, and the increase was mainly due to an increase of $0.1 million in utility costs.

Correspondingly, the total production costs and cash production costs per tonne of ore processed at the Ying Mining District in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $102.78 and $77.80, respectively, compared to $106.04 and $80.60 in Q3 Fiscal 2018.

Cash costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits at the Ying Mining District in Q3 Fiscal 2019, was negative $1.74 compared to negative $4.53 in the prior year quarter. The increase in the cash costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, was mainly due to a 19% decrease in by-product credits per ounce of silver, mainly arising from 9% and 33% decreases in lead and zinc realized selling price and an 81% decrease in zinc sold.

All in sustaining costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, at the Ying Mining District in Q3 Fiscal 2019 was $5.80 compared to $2.13 in the prior year quarter. The increase was mainly due to an increase of $3.0 million in sustaining capital and the increase in cash cost per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits as discussed above.

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, approximately 20,351 metres or $0.4 million worth of underground diamond drilling (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – 25,109 metres or $0.4 million) and 4,678 metres or $1.4 million worth of preparation tunnelling (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – 5,187 metres or $1.6 million) were completed and expensed as mining preparation costs at the Ying Mining District. In addition, approximately 19,361 metres or $6.7 million worth of horizontal tunnels, raises, ramps and declines (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – 16,326 metres or $6.0 million) were completed and capitalized.  

ii) Nine months ended December 31, 2018 vs. Nine months ended December 31, 2017

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, a total of 511,545 tonnes of ore were mined at the Ying Mining District, an increase of 2% or 11,224 tonnes compared to 500,321 tonnes mined in the same prior year period. Ore milled was 512,813 tonnes, up 1% or 6,365 tonnes compared to 506,448 tonnes in the same prior year period. Average head grades of ore processed were 308 g/t for silver, 4.4% for lead, and 0.9% for zinc compared to 304 g/t for silver, 4.5% for lead, and 0.9% for zinc in the same prior year period.

During the same time periods, the Ying Mining District sold approximately 4.6 million ounces of silver, 2,800 ounces of gold, 45.8 million pounds of lead, and 4.2 million pounds of zinc, compared to 4.1 million ounces of silver, 2,400 ounces of gold, 42.5 million pounds of lead, and 5.0 million pounds of zinc in the same prior year period.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, the cash mining costs and cash milling costs at the Ying Mining District were $63.00 per tonne and $9.98 per tonne, an increase of 4% and 13%, respectively, compared to $60.45 and $8.80 in the same prior year period. The cash production cost was $77.26 per tonne, an increase of 6% compared to $73.18 in the same prior year period. 

Cash costs per ounce of silver and all in sustaining costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, at the Ying Mining District, for the nine months ended December 31, 2018, were negative $3.43 and $2.44 respectively, compared to negative $4.03 and $2.25 in the same prior year period.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, approximately 69,872 metres or $1.5 million worth of underground diamond drilling (same prior year period – 86,007 metres or $1.7 million) and 15,595 metres or $4.4 million worth of preparation tunnelling (same prior year period – 16,914 metres or $4.9 million) were completed and expensed as mining preparation costs at the Ying Mining District. In addition, approximately 54,923 metres or $19.2 million worth of horizontal tunnels, raises, and declines (same prior year period – 52,174 metres or $16.2 million) were completed and capitalized.

i) Q3 Fiscal 2019 vs. Q3 Fiscal 2018

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, the total ore mined at the GC Mine was 86,126 tonnes, an increase of 1% or 461 tonnes, compared to 85,665 tonnes mined in Q3 Fiscal 2018, while ore milled was 86,792 tonnes, a decrease of 2% or 1,720 tonnes compared to 88,494 tonnes in Q3 Fiscal 2018.  Average head grades of ore processed at the GC Mine were 84 g/t for silver, 1.6% for lead, and 3.1% for zinc compared to 97 g/t for silver, 1.4% for lead, and 2.8% for zinc in the prior year quarter.  Recovery rates of ore processed at the GC Mine were 80.5% for silver, 91.6% for lead, and 85.5% for zinc, significantly improved from 73.6% for silver, 83.9% for lead, and 81.3% for zinc in the prior year quarter.

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, the GC Mine sold 167,000 ounces of silver, 2.6 million pounds of lead, and 3.7 million pounds of zinc, compared to 196,000 ounces of silver, 2.3 million pounds of lead, and 4.4 million pounds of zinc sold in the prior year quarter.   Less zinc sold was mainly due to the built up of zinc concentrate inventory.  As at December 31, 2018, GC Mine had inventories of 461 tonnes of silver-lead zinc concentrate and 1,729 tonnes of zinc concentrate, compared to 280 tonnes of silver-lead concentrate and 368 tonnes of zinc concentrate as at September 30, 2018.

Total and cash mining costs per tonne at the GC Mine in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $42.40 and $34.17 per tonne, compared to $43.10 and $35.48 per tonne in Q3 Fiscal 2018. The decrease in cash mining costs was mainly due to a $0.3 million decrease in utility costs in the current quarter. Total and cash milling costs per tonne at the GC Mine in Q3 Fiscal 2019 were $15.98 and $14.08, compared to $16.45 and $14.09 in Q3 Fiscal 2018.

Correspondingly, the total production costs and cash production costs per tonne of ore processed in Q3 Fiscal 2019 at the GC Mine were $58.38 and $48.25, a decrease of 2% and 3%, respectively, compared to $59.55 and $49.57 in the prior year quarter.    

Cash costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, at the GC Mine, was negative $12.32 compared to negative $15.34 in the prior year quarter. The increase was mainly due to a $1.8 million or 25% decrease in by-product credits mainly resulting from a decrease of 9% and 29% in net realized lead and zinc selling prices and a 15% decrease in zinc sold at the GC Mine.

All in sustaining costs per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits, in Q3 Fiscal 2019 at the GC Mine was negative $6.54 compared to negative $4.52 in the prior year quarter, and the decrease was mainly due to a decrease of $0.7 million in sustaining capital expenditures. 

In Q3 Fiscal 2019, approximately 7,089 metres or $0.3 million worth of underground diamond drilling (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – 7,770 metres or $0.4 million) and 5,994 metres or $1.3 million worth of tunnelling (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – 5,053 metres or $1.2 million) were completed and expensed as mining preparation costs at the GC Mine. In addition, approximately 333 metres or $0.1 million of horizontal tunnels, raises and declines (Q3 Fiscal 2018 – 17 metres or $0.1 million) were completed and capitalized.  

ii) Nine months ended December 31, 2018 vs. Nine months ended December 31, 2017

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, a total of 233,850 tonnes of ore were mined and 236,131 tonnes were milled at the GC Mine compared to 216,341 tonnes mined and 218,086 tonnes milled in the same prior year period. Average head grades of ore milled were 83 g/t for silver, 1.4% for lead, and 2.9% for zinc compared to 99 g/t for silver, 1.5% for lead, and 2.8% for zinc, respectively, in the same prior year period.  

During the same time periods, the GC Mine sold approximately 453,000 ounces of silver, 6.3 million pounds of lead, and 11.2 million pounds of zinc, compared to 540,000 ounces of silver, 6.1 million pounds of lead, and 12.0 million pounds of zinc in the same prior year period.  

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, the cash mining costs at the GC Mine was $37.12 per tonne, an increase of 2% compared to $36.33 per tonne in the same prior year period. The increase in the cash mining costs was mainly due to a $0.6 million increase in mining preparation costs as more underground drilling and tunnelling were expensed in the current period. The cash milling costs was $13.46 per tonne, a decrease of 8% compared to $14.60 in the same prior year period.   Correspondingly, the total production costs and cash production costs per tonne at the GC Mine were $61.11 and $50.58, respectively, compared to $61.58 and $50.93 in the prior year period.

Cash costs per ounce of silver and all-in sustaining costs per ounce of silver, net of by‐product credits, at the GC Mine, for the nine months ended December 31, 2018, were negative $14.02 and negative $6.78 respectively, compared to negative $12.19 and negative $3.59 in the same prior year period. 

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, approximately 21,863 metres or $1.0 million worth of underground diamond drilling (same prior year period – 18,253 metres or $0.9 million) and 16,478 metres or $4.3 million of tunnelling (same prior year period – 14,285 metres or $3.8 million) were completed and expensed as mining preparation costs at the GC Mine. In addition, approximately 1,112 metres or $0.8 million of horizontal tunnels, raise, and declines (same prior year period – 280 metres or $0.2 million) were completed and capitalized.

FISCAL 2020 PRODUCTION AND CASH COSTS GUIDANCE

In Fiscal 2020, the Company expects to process approximately 900,000 tonnes of ore, yielding 6.1 million ounces of silver, 65.1 million pounds of lead, and 21.8 million pounds of zinc. Fiscal 2020 production guidance represents an increase of approximately 2% in silver production, 2% in lead production, and 10% in zinc production compared to the prior year’s guidance.

(a) Ying Mining District, Henan Province, China

In Fiscal 2020, Ying Mining District plans to mine and process 630,000 tonnes of ore averaging 290 g/t silver, 4.3% lead, and 0.9% zinc with expected metal production of 5.5 million ounces of silver, 56.2 million pounds of lead and 6.3 million pounds of zinc. Fiscal 2020 production guidance at the Ying Mining District represents an increase of approximately 2% in silver head grade, 2% in silver and zinc metal production. Lead head grade and metal production are comparable to prior year’s guidance.

The cash production costs is expected to be $78.20 per tonne of ore, and the all-in sustaining costs is estimated at $130.20 per tonne of ore processed.

Capital expenditures at the Ying Mining District in Fiscal 2020 are budgeted at $31.7 million, including $24.4 million for mine tunnelling and ramp development and $7.3 million for equipment and infrastructure. 

(b) GC Mine, Guangdong Province, China

In Fiscal 2020, GC Mine plans to mine and process 270,000 tonnes of ore averaging 96 g/t silver, 1.7% lead, and 3.1% zinc with expected metal production of 0.6 million ounces of silver, 8.9 million pounds of lead and 15.5 million pounds of zinc. Fiscal 2020 production guidance at the GC Mine represents an increase of approximately 8% in ore production, 19% in lead production, and 14% in zinc production compared to the prior year’s guidance.

The cash production costs is expected to be $56.70 per tonne of ore, and the all-in sustaining costs is estimated at $77.40 per tonne of ore processed.

Capital expenditures at the GC Mine in Fiscal 2020 are budgeted at $5.2 million, including $2.5 million for mine tunneling and ramp development, $1.4 million for a paste backfill plant, and $1.3 million for other equipment and infrastructure.

Mr. Guoliang Ma, P.Geo., Manager of Exploration and Resources of the Company, is the Qualified Person under the National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and has reviewed and given consent to the technical information contained in this news release.

This earnings release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Management Discussion & Analysis, Financial Statements and Notes to Financial Statements for the corresponding period, which have been posted on SEDAR under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com and are also available on the Company’s website at www.silvercorp.ca. All figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated.

About Silvercorp

Silvercorp is a low-cost silver-producing Canadian mining company with multiple mines in China. The Company’s vision is to deliver shareholder value by focusing on the acquisition of underdeveloped projects with resource potential and the ability to grow organically. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorp.ca.

For further information

Silvercorp Metals Inc.
Lon Shaver
Vice President
Phone: (604) 669-9397
Toll Free 1(888) 224-1881
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.silvercorp.ca

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER – FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”, “is expected”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “projects”, “estimates”, “assumes”, “intends”, “strategies”, “targets”, “goals”, “forecasts”, “objectives”, “budgets”, “schedules”, “potential” or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the price of silver and other metals; the accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates at the Company’s material properties; the sufficiency of the Company’s capital to finance the Company’s operations; estimates of the Company’s revenues and capital expenditures; estimated production from the Company’s mines in the Ying Mining District and the GC Mine; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; availability of funds from production to finance the Company’s operations; and access to and availability of funding for future construction, use of proceeds from any financing and development of the Company’s properties.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks relating to: fluctuating commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and mineralization and precious and base metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; feasibility and engineering reports; permits and licences; title to properties; property interests; joint venture partners; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; recent market events and conditions; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into the Company’s existing operations; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China and Canada; environmental risks; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; key personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management; internal control over financial reporting; and bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended March 31, 2018 under the heading “Risk Factors”.  Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  

The Company’s forward-looking statements are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this news release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.