Pan American Silver takes impairment charge on Dolores Mine, increases proven and probable reserves

In its 2013 full year financial results the company said that “Dolores was primarily driven by lower long-term precious metals price assumptions of $22 per ounce of silver and $1,300 per ounce of gold used in the impairment test.”

Today’s spot price for silver is $21.71 per ounce.

The company is also expecting a $86.8 million charge due to Mexican tax reforms that included new taxes and changes to income tax rates.

In a separate announcement, the company announced that it increased its silver mineral reserves by 2% to a 323.5 million ounces.

Pan American’s 2013 silver production was 26 million ounces and gold production was 149,800 ounces. The outlook for 2014 is near the same.

“In 2014, Pan American expects to produce 25.75 to 26.75 million ounces of silver and 155,000 to 165,000 ounces of gold at consolidated cash costs of between $11.70 and $12.70 per ounce of silver, net of by-product credits. The company also expects to produce 39,500 to 42,500 tonnes of zinc, 12,700 to 13,700 tonnes of lead and 5,200 to 5,700 tonnes of copper.”

Here are the company’s 2013 financial highlights.

• Consolidated cash costs(2) of $10.81 per silver ounce, net of by-product credits, down 10% year-on-year AISCSOS(3) of $18.33, net of by-product credits, down 18% year-on-year
• Revenue of $824.5 million
• Mine operating earnings(4) of $131.5 million
• Net loss(5) of $445.8 million, including non-cash impairment charges of $420.4 million for Dolores (net of taxes) and a non-cash $86.8 million deferred tax charge due to tax rate change in Mexico
• Net cash generated from operating activities of $119.6 million or $0.79 per share
• Completed construction and commissioned the phase 1 of the leach pad 3 at the Dolores mine
• Approved the La Colorada production expansion project
• Total dividends paid to common shareholders of $75.8 million, representing $0.50 per share annually
• Total share repurchases of $6.7 million