Imperial Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Metals Corporation (the "Company") (TSX:III) reports financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, as summarized in this release and discussed in detail in the Management's Discussion & Analysis. The Company's financial results are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The reporting currency of the Company is the Canadian ("CDN") Dollar.

QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

FINANCIAL

Total revenue decreased to $37.1 million in the September 2021 quarter compared to $38.2 million in the 2020 comparative quarter, a decrease of $1.1 million.

In the September 2021 quarter, the Red Chris mine (100% basis) had 4.0 concentrate shipments (2020-4.3 concentrate shipments). Variations in revenue are impacted by the timing and quantity of concentrate shipments, metal prices and exchange rates, and period end revaluations of revenue attributed to concentrate shipments where copper and gold prices will settle at a future date.

The London Metals Exchange cash settlement copper price per pound averaged US$4.25 in the September 2021 quarter compared to US$2.96 in the 2020 comparative quarter. London Bullion Market Association, London gold price per troy ounce averaged US$1,789 in the September 2021 quarter compared to US$1,911 in the 2020 comparative quarter. The average US/CDN Dollar exchange rate was 1.260 in the September 2021 quarter, 5.4% lower than the exchange rate of 1.332 in the 2020 comparative quarter. In CDN Dollar terms the average copper price in the September 2021 quarter was CDN$5.36 per pound compared to CDN$3.94 per pound in the 2020 comparative quarter, and the average gold price in the September 2021 quarter was CDN$2,254 per ounce compared to CDN$2,545 per ounce in the 2020 comparative quarter.

Revenue in the September 2021 quarter decreased by $0.8 million due to a negative revenue revaluation as compared to a $3.3 million positive revenue revaluation in the 2020 comparative quarter. Revenue revaluations are the result of the metal price on the settlement date and/or the current period balance sheet date being higher or lower than when the revenue was initially recorded or the metal price at the last balance sheet date and finalization of contained metal as a result of final assays.

Net loss for the September 2021 quarter was $3.8 million ($0.03 per share) compared to net income of $7.1 million ($0.05 per share) in the 2020 comparative quarter. The decrease in net income of $10.9 million was primarily due to the following factors:

   -- Income from mine operations went from $12.8 million in September 2020 to 
      $4.9 million in September 2021, decreasing net income by $7.9 million. 
   -- General and Administration expense went from $0.8 million in September 
      2020 to $1.3 million in September 2021, decreasing net income by $0.5 
      million. 
   -- Foreign exchange gain/loss went from a loss of $1.1 million in September 
      2020 to a gain of $0.3 million in September 2021, increasing net income 
      by $1.4 million. 

Cash flow was $7.8 million in the September 2021 quarter compared to $17.4 million in the 2020 comparative quarter. Cash flow is a measure used by the Company to evaluate its performance however, it is not a term recognized under IFRS. The Company believes cash flow is useful to investors and it is one of the measures used by management to assess the financial performance of the Company.

Capital expenditures including finance leases were $33.8 million in the September 2021 quarter, an increase from $25.4 million in the 2020 comparative quarter. The September 2021 expenditures included $12.8 million in exploration, $9.9 million for tailings dam construction and $11.1 million on stripping costs and other capital.

At September 30, 2021, the Company had not hedged any copper, gold or US/CDN Dollar exchange. Quarterly revenues will fluctuate depending on copper and gold prices, the US/CDN Dollar exchange rate, and the timing of concentrate sales, which is dependent on concentrate production and the availability and scheduling of transportation.

OPERATIONS

The current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business is described under Significant Events and Liquidity. The Company's plans for 2021 and beyond could be adversely impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The continuing impact of COVID-19 to travel and other operating restrictions established to curb the spread of COVID-19, could materially and adversely impact the Company's current plans by causing a temporary closure of the Red Chris mine, suspending planned exploration work, causing an economic slowdown resulting in a decrease in the demand for copper and gold, negatively impacting copper and gold prices, impacting the Company's ability to transport or market the Company's concentrate or causing disruptions in the Company's supply chains.

Red Chris Mine

Metal production for the third quarter of 2021 was 17.2 million pounds copper and 15,249 ounces gold, compared to 22.2 million pounds copper and 18,052 ounces gold produced in the 2020 third quarter.

Imperial's 30% portion of Red Chris mine third quarter production was 5.2 million pounds copper and 4,575 ounces gold.

                                   Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended 
                                      September 30*            September 30* 
                                    2021       2020       2021       2020 
Ore milled - tonnes               2,543,495  2,777,245  7,199,572  7,196,524 
Ore milled per calendar day - 
 tonnes                              27,647     30,187     26,372     26,265 
Grade % - copper                      0.389      0.460      0.407      0.553 
Grade g/t - gold                      0.336      0.398      0.365      0.462 
Recovery % - copper                    79.0       78.8       78.5       81.0 
Recovery % - gold                      55.6       50.8       55.1       53.9 
Copper -- 000's pounds               17,244     22,203     50,704     71,112 
Gold -- ounces                       15,249     18,052     46,550     57,536 
--------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 

* 100% Red Chris mine production

Metal production for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, decreased compared to the same periods in 2020. The decrease in metal production is largely due to lower metal grades, with copper grade 15.4 % lower and gold grade 15.6% lower compared to September 2020 quarter.

The copper and gold production levels (100% basis) in the September 2021 quarter were close to those in the June 2021 quarter, 17.2 million pounds of copper and 15,249 ounces of gold were produced in the September 2021 quarter compared to production of 17.6 million pounds of copper and 15,451 ounces of gold in the June 2021 quarter, with slightly lower gold and copper grades, being offset by higher through-put in the September 2021 quarter.

The results of the recently released Red Chris Block Cave Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), have confirmed Imperial's long held belief that Red Chris had the potential to become a long-life, low-cost block cave copper gold mine. The exploration decline for the proposed block cave development had progressed to 393 metres by October 20, 2021.

There are significant opportunities to enhance the results of the PFS including the 'early mining' of the highest-grade pods in the East Zone and the emerging opportunity associated with the discovery of new distinct higher-grade zones of mineralization such as East Ridge.

Drilling at the newly discovered East Ridge continues to expand the extent of mineralization in this zone and has demonstrated continuity of the copper gold mineralization over dimensions of about 400 metres high, 400 metres long and 125 metres wide. Contained within this zone of mineralization is a higher-grade portion with dimensions of approximately 300 metres high, 300 metres long and 100 metres wide. East Ridge remains open to the east and at depth. During the third quarter, there were up to eight diamond drill rigs in operation. A further 29,388 metres of drilling was completed in 24 drill holes, with all drill holes intersecting mineralization (except twelve drill holes which were dedicated geotechnical holes).

Jim Miller-Tait, P.Geo., Imperial Metals Vice President Exploration, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the Red Chris exploration program and has reviewed this information.

Imperial's 30% share of exploration, development, and capital expenditures were $28.2 million in the September 2021 quarter compared to $26.3 million in the 2020 comparative quarter.

Mount Polley Mine

Mount Polley operations ceased in May 2019 and the mine remains on care and maintenance status. The mine restart plan prepared in 2019, is being updated to include revised pit designs, results of recent drilling and current metal prices. The Company is actively seeking to secure financing to fund the restart of the mine. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the mine restart timeline.

Site personnel continue to maintain access, fire watch, manage collection, treatment and discharge of site contact water and actively monitor the tailings storage facility. In addition, work to facilitate the restart of operations at Mount Polley continued during the quarter. This work included:

   -- a small crew of mechanics continuing to prepare the mining fleet; 
   -- testing blasthole drills by starting a blasthole pattern on the 1120 
      metres bench in the Springer Pit Phase 4 pit; and 
   -- hiring mechanical and electrical contractors to inspect and repair as 
      required, equipment in the crusher and concentrator. 

For the September 2021 quarter, Mount Polley incurred idle mine costs comprised of $5.8 million in operating costs and $0.6 million in depreciation expense.