Preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2019

Polymetal International plc (together with its subsidiaries – “Polymetal”, the “Company”, or the “Group”) is pleased to announce the Group’s preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2019.

“We are pleased to report record earnings and solid free cash flow for the year underpinned by a robust operating performance and strong commodity prices”, said Vitaly Nesis, Group CEO of Polymetal, commenting on the results. “We have also advanced our key strategic projects, reduced net debt and paid substantial dividends”.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• In 2019, revenue increased by 19%, totalling US$ 2,246 million (2018: US$ 1,882 million). Average realised gold and silver prices followed market dynamics and increased by 13% and 11%, respectively. Gold sales were 1,366 Koz, up 14% year-on-year, while silver sales were down 14% to 22.1 Moz, in line with production volume trends and further supported by working capital release.

• Group Total cash costs¹ (TCC) for the full year were stable compared to 2018 at US$ 655/GE oz, 1% above the Group’s guidance of US$ 600-650/GE oz owing to higher domestic diesel prices and higher royalties. All-in sustaining cash costs¹ (AISC) were broadly unchanged from 2018 at US$ 866/GE oz, 2% above the Group’s guidance of US$ 800-850/GE oz, driven by the same factors.

• Polymetal posted record Adjusted EBITDA¹ of US$ 1,075 million, a 38% increase over 2018, against the backdrop of higher production volumes, higher commodity prices, and stable costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 48% (2018: 41%).

• Net earnings² were a record US$ 483 million (2018: US$ 355 million), with basic EPS of US$ 1.02 per share (2018: US$ 0.78 per share). Underlying net earnings¹ increased by 31% to US$ 586 million on the back of higher operating profit.

• Capital expenditure was US$ 436 million³, up 27% compared to US$ 344 million in 2018 and above the initial guidance of US$ 380 million, mostly due to accelerated pre-stripping and construction at Nezhda. Construction at Nezhda is around 45% complete as of year end.

• Net debt¹ decreased to US$ 1,479 million (31 December 2018: US$ 1,520 million), representing a Net debt/Adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.38x (2018: 1.95x), well below the Group’s target leverage ratio of 1.5x. The Company continued to generate significant free cash flow¹ which amounted to US$ 299⁴ million (2018: US$ 134 million), supported by a net cash operating inflow of US$ 696 million (2018: US$ 513 million).

• A final dividend of US$ 0.42 per share (approx. US$ 197 million) representing 50% of the Group’s underlying net earnings for 2H 2019 has been proposed by the Board in accordance with our dividend policy while remaining within the Net debt/Adjusted EBITDA target of 1.5x and comfortably below the hard ceiling ratio of 2.5x. In January 2020, the Board also announced a special dividend of US$ 0.20 per ordinary share (approx. US$ 94 million). This will bring the total dividend declared for FY 2019 to US$ 385 million (2018: US$ 223 million), or US$ 0.82 per share versus US$ 0.48 per share in 2018.

OPERATING AND ESG HIGHLIGHTS

• The Company’s FY2019 GE production amounted to 1,614 Koz, an increase of 3% over 2018 and 4% above the original production guidance of 1.55 Moz. A strong contribution from Kyzyl more than compensated for asset disposals while the rest of the portfolio continued to demonstrate stable results. Production from continuing operations grew by 14% year-on-year to 1,609 Koz GE.

• Full year gold production totalled 1,316 Koz, a 8% increase year-on-year, while silver output decreased by 15% on the back of asset disposals and planned grade decline at Dukat.

• Safety performance in 2019 deteriorated both in terms of frequency of lost-time injuries and the number of fatalities. The Board approved significant safety-related changes to the remuneration structure for all levels of the Company management together with a comprehensive action plan focused on impacting behaviors and attitudes of employees.

• Our operational achievements are underpinned by the value that we place on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and this has contributed to Polymetal’s international recognition as a leading ESG advocate within Russia and the CIS. In 2019, the Company was reaffirmed as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good indices, MSCI ESG Ratings score improved from BBB to A.

2020 OUTLOOK

• The Company reiterates its current production guidance of 1.6 Moz of GE for each of FY2020 and 2021. Traditionally, production in both years will be weighted towards 2H due to seasonality.

• TCC in 2020 is expected to be in the range of US$ 650-700/GE oz while AISC is expected at US$ 850-900/GE oz. The expected increase over 2019 cost levels is driven by the appreciation of the Russian rouble and increased domestic diesel fuel prices compared to 2019, as well as increased royalties on the back of continued strong gold and silver price performance. The guidance remains contingent on the Rouble/Dollar exchange rate and oil price.

(1)The financial performance reported by the Group contains certain Alternative Performance Measures (APMs) disclosed to compliment measures that are defined or specified under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). For more information on the APMs used by the Group, including justification for their use, please refer to the “Alternative performance measures” section below. The definition and calculation of non-IFRS APMs used in this report, including Adjusted EBITDA, Total cash costs, All-in sustaining cash costs, Underlying net earnings, Net debt and Free cash flow are explained in the “Financial Review” section below.
(2) Profit for the financial period.
(3) On a cash basis, representing cash outflow on purchases of property, plant and equipment in the consolidated statement of cash flows.
(4) After assets disposal and acquisition.

(1) Totals may not correspond to the sum of the separate figures due to rounding. % changes can be different from zero even when absolute amounts are unchanged because of rounding. Likewise, % changes can be equal to zero when absolute amounts differ due to the same reason. This note applies to all tables in this release.
(2) Restated in respect of Dukat’s TCC for 2018 to include the concentrate treatment charges by the third-party offtakers.
(3) Excluding effect of treatment charges deductions from revenue.
(4) Defined in the “Alternative performance measures” section below.
(5) FY 2019: final dividend for FY 2018 declared in May 2019 and interim dividend for the 1H 2019 declared in September 2019. FY 2018: final dividend for FY 2017 declared in May 2018 and interim dividend for the 1H 2018 declared in September 2018.
(6) FY 2019: interim, final and special dividend for FY2019. FY 2018: interim and final dividend for FY2018.
(7) Net cash generated by operating activities less net cash used in investing activities excluding acquisitions of joint venture and associate, loans forming part of net investment in joint ventures and proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries.
(8) Free cash flow including cash used in/received from acquisition/disposal of assets and joint ventures.

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CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

The company will hold a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, 4 March 2020 at 11:00 London time (14:00 Moscow time).

To participate in the call, please dial:

From the UK:
+44 208 089 2860 (local access)
0800 756 3333 (toll free)

From the US:
+1 334 777 6978 (local access)
800 367 2403 (toll free)

From Russia:
+7 499 609 1260 (local access)
8 800 100 3687 (toll free)

To participate from other countries, please dial any of the local access numbers listed above.

Conference code: 2522219

To participate in the webcast follow the link: https://webcasts.eqs.com/polymetal20200304. Please be prepared to introduce yourself to the moderator or register.

A recording of the call will be available immediately after the call at +44 207 660 0134 (from the UK), +1 719 457 0820 (from the USA) and 8 10 800 2702 1012 (from Russia), access code 2522219, from 17:30 Moscow time Wednesday, 04 March, till 17:30 Moscow time Wednesday, 11 March, 2020. Webcast replay will be available on Polymetal’s website (www.polymetalinternational.com) and at https://webcasts.eqs.com/polymetal20200304.