Half-year report for the six month ended 30 June 2023

“Despite external pressures, we made good progress in the first half of the year while adapting to the logistics constraints. High commodity prices against a weakening Rouble, combined with steady operating performance, drove a healthy growth in the Group’s earnings, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. We expect stronger production, stable cash costs within the original guidance, and significant free cash flow generation for the second half of the year, while remaining focused on progressing our development projects on schedule”, said Vitaly Nesis, Group CEO of Polymetal International plc, commenting on the results.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• In 1H 2023, revenue increased by 25% year-on-year (y-o-y), totalling US$ 1,315 million (1H 2022: US$ 1,048 million), of which US$ 393 million (30%) was generated from operations in Kazakhstan and US$ 922 million (70%) from operations in the Russia. Average realised gold and silver prices tracked market dynamics: gold price increased by 3% while silver price remained flat y-o-y. Gold equivalent (“GE”) production was 764 Koz, a 3% increase y-o-y. Gold sales increased by 25% y-o-y to 570 Koz, while silver sales increased by 19% to 10.4 Moz. The Company recorded a sales-production gap, notably for Kyzyl, as a result of persistent railway issues at the eastward direction. This gap is expected to be closed by the year end as the Company is gradually adjusting its transportation routes.

• Group Total Cash Costs (“TCC”)¹ for 1H 2023 were US$ 944/GE oz, below the lower end of the Group’s full-year guidance of US$ 950-1,000/GE oz, while being up 11% y-o-y, mostly due to a planned grade decline combined with domestic inflation, which was partially offset by weaker currency as well as increase in sales volumes resulting in spread of fixed costs over a larger amount of ounces sold.

• All-in Sustaining Cash Costs (“AISC”)¹ remained broadly unchanged at US$ 1,386/GE oz, up 1% y-o-y, and within the full-year guidance range of US$ 1,300-1,400/GE, reflecting the decrease in capitalised stripping on the back of completed stripping campaigns.

• Adjusted EBITDA¹ was US$ 559 million, an increase of 31% y-o-y, driven by higher sales volumes. Of this, US$ 200 million (36%) was earned from operations in Kazakhstan, achieving a margin of 51%, and US$ 359 million (64%), or a margin of 39%, earned from operations in the Russian Federation.The Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 2 percentage points to 43% (1H 2022: 41%).

• Underlying net earnings² increased by 28% to US$ 261 million (1H 2022: US$ 203 million). Net earnings³ were US$ 190 million (1H 2022: US$ 321 million loss due to one-off impairment charges).

• Capital expenditures were US$ 375 million⁴, largely unchanged compared with US$ 373 million in 1H 2022. The Company currently expects its FY2023 capex to be in the original guidance range of US$ 700-750 million.

• Net operating cash inflow was US$ 35 million (1H 2022: US$ 405 million outflow). This includes positive cash flow of US$ 140 million from operations in Kazakhstan and negative cash flow of US$ 105 million from operations in the Russian Federation. The Group reported negative free cash flow¹ of US$ 341 million, which is still a significant improvement over 1H 2022 negative FCF of US$ 630 million, that is made up of US$ 55 million inflow coming from Kazakhstan and US$ 396 million outflow attributable to Russian assets. As usual, free cash flow is expected to be stronger in the second half of the year due to seasonally higher production and working capital release.

• Net debt¹ increased to US$ 2,590 million during the period (31 December 2022: US$ 2,393 million), representing 2.25x of the LTM Adjusted EBITDA (2022: 2.35x). The increase in net debt was mainly driven by the working capital build-up.

• Polymetal is on track to meet its original 2023 production guidance of 1.7 Moz of gold equivalent. The company maintains its 2023 guidance range of US$ 950-1,000/GE oz and US$ 1,300-1,400/GE oz for TCC and AISC, respectively. This guidance remains contingent on the RUB/USD and KZT/USD exchange rates which have a significant effect on the Group’s local currency denominated operating costs.

Notes:
(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.
(2) Adjusted for the after-tax amount of impairment charges, write-downs of metal inventory, foreign exchange gains/losses and other change in fair value of contingent consideration.
(3) Profit for the period.
(4) On a cash basis, representing cash outflow on purchases of property, plant and equipment in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

Notes:
(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) Defined in the “Alternative performance measures” section below.
(3) In accordance with IFRS, revenue is presented net of treatment charges which are subtracted in calculating the amount to be invoiced. Average realised prices are calculated as revenue divided by gold and silver volumes sold, without effect of treatment charges deductions from revenue.
(4) As at 31 December 2022.
(5) On a last twelve months basis. Adjusted EBITDA for 2H 2022 was US$ 591 million.

OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

• No fatal accidents occurred among the Group’s workforce and contractors in H1 2023 (consistent with H1 2022). Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) among the Group’s employees stood at 0.11 (0.08 in H1 2022), as there were seven lost-time accidents, mostly related to falling or being hit by an object. None of the accidents were within Kazakhstan operations.

• GE output for H1 was up by 3% y-o-y to 764 Koz, including 213 Koz in Kazakhstan and 551 Koz in Russia. The Company reiterates its full-year production guidance of 1.7 Moz of GE (1.2 Moz in Russia and 500 Koz in Kazakhstan).

Notes:
(1) Based on 80:1 Au/Ag conversion ratio and excluding base metals. Discrepancies in calculations are due to rounding.
(2) Comparative information is presented for 31 December 2022.
(3) LTIFR = lost time injury frequency rate per 200,000 hours worked. Company employees only are taken into account.

UPDATE ON THE RE-DOMICILATION AND LISTING

On 7 August 2023, the Company successfully completed its re-domiciliation to the AIFC (Kazakhstan). On 10 August, trading resumed on Astana International Exchange, which is now the primary listing venue for Polymetal. Cancellation of the Company’s listing from the London Stock Exchange completed on 29 August 2023. On 19 September 2023, trading in Polymetal shares also resumed on the Moscow Exchange.

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CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

The Company will hold a webcast on Monday, 25 September 2023, at 9:00 London time (14:00 Astana time).

To participate in the webcast, please register using the following link: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4340529/E960C65B2522657D1D7187BD73EFDBF4.

Webcast details will be sent to you via email after registration.