Alexco Announces Second Quarter 2020 Results, Provides Interim Operations Update

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 12, 2020 /CNW/ – Alexco Resource Corp. (NYSE American: AXU) (TSX: AXU) (“Alexco” or the “Company”) today reports financial results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2020 (“Q2 2020” and “YTD 2020”) and provides interim comments on capital development progress at Keno Hill in anticipation of silver production in Q4 2020. For Q2 2020 Alexco reported a net loss of $12.2 million (“M”), or $0.10 per share related primarily to non-cash items and other adjustments. At June 30, 2020, the Company had $17.8 M in cash and cash equivalents, and net working capital of $24.4 M. Subsequent to quarter end the Company completed an equity financing with aggregate gross proceeds of $30 M.

Overall, Alexco reported net loss of $12.2 M or $0.10 per share for Q2 2020 compared to net loss of $1.5 M for Q2 2019. The net loss for Q2 2020 is primarily a result of a non-cash fair value loss of $11.6 M related to the embedded derivative associated with the Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (“Wheaton”) streaming agreement, as well as non-cash costs of $0.5 M related to share-based compensation and $0.4 M of depreciation expense.

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2020 totaled $17.8 M compared to $6.8 M as at December 31, 2019, while net working capital totaled $24.4 M compared to $10.1 M at December 31, 2019. The Corporation’s restricted cash and deposits at June 30, 2020 totaled $2.9 M compared to $2.8 M at December 31, 2019.

On July 7, 2020, subsequent to quarter end, the Corporation completed an equity financing and issued 10,994,000 common shares at a price of $2.73 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $30 M. In connection with this equity financing, the Corporation paid the Underwriters a cash commission equal to 4.5% of gross proceeds.

On June 24, 2020, in anticipation of receipt of the final water use license (“WUL”) and final amended and restated Wheaton streaming agreement, Alexco announced that it is moving forward to finalize development of its mining operations at the Keno Hill Silver District (“Keno Hill” or the “District”). Initial concentrate production and silver sales are expected to occur in Q4 2020.

On July 23, 2020, subsequent to quarter end, the Company received the final amended and renewed water use license (“WUL”) for Keno Hill from the Yukon Water Board. The WUL authorizes Alexco to source and use water, as well as deposit designated waste streams into approved facilities in and around planned production centers at the Bellekeno, Flame & Moth and Bermingham mines, and the mill facility.

On August 5, 2020, subsequent to quarter end, Alexco entered into an agreement with Wheaton to amend and restate its streaming agreement whereby the silver production payment made by Wheaton will continue to be based on 25% of the silver production but will be based on a new payment formula which is described in Note 20 of the Q2 2020 financial statements.

In Q2 Elsa Reclamation and Development Company (“ERDC”), continued to advance reclamation and engineering activities related to the historic liabilities in the Keno Hill Silver District. During the quarter ERDC completed the environmental assessment for the Reclamation Plan. A final Evaluation Report by YESAB was issued in February 2020 and a final Decision Document was issued on July 20, 2020.

With an increasing workforce and expanding capital development activity on site, Alexco’s primary focus continues to be the health and safety of our employees, contractors and the communities in which we operate. Our COVID-19 management plan continues with strict prevention measures in place, consistent with the guidelines of the Yukon Government and health officials.

June 24, 2020 the Company announced that it is moving forward to finalize development of its mines at Keno Hill, with a goal of mill commissioning and silver concentrate production in Q4 2020. Generally the Company is making steady progress towards its production goal with mine site development activities, recruitment of key personnel, securing and delivery of mine equipment and advancing capital infrastructure projects at the mill and across the surface operations footprint including camp expansion and mine surface support facilities – all proceeding as scheduled.

Underground activities are currently focused on rehabilitation of the primary access ramp and services installation at the Bellekeno mine, which will be the first mine to deliver ore to the mill in Q4 2020. Initial underground work at Flame & Moth also began in August with minor rehabilitation followed by resumption of ramp development, and similar work will begin at Bermingham later in September. Related to the underground work, new equipment comprising two 3.5 yard Load, Haul, Dump loaders (LHD’s), two 20 tonne haul trucks and two twin boom jumbos have arrived on site, and additional equipment will be delivered consistent with the underground development schedule.

Major mill modifications and improvements underway include the installation of a second ball mill (7′ x 10′), a second tailings filter press, two new concentrate regrind mills for both the lead and zinc concentrate, an improved fine ore feed system, and a crusher ventilation system including a new building enclosure around the existing crusher. All major process equipment has been delivered to site and completion of key mill improvement projects is anticipated with mill commissioning in Q4 2020.

The current focus of surface construction activities is the completion of camp expansion facilities including two new bunkhouse units, an upgraded administration complex, employee dry and wash facilities and maintenance and support facilities. Similar to the mill modification and construction activity, surface construction projects will be complete in Q4 2020.

Na-Cho Nyak Dun. Alexco’s recruiting efforts continue to prioritize residents of the Yukon first along with British Columbia. To date, over 90% of Keno Hill employees are from the Yukon and British Columbia.

July 17, 2020 and is expected to include a minimum of 4,200 meters (“m”) of surface drilling focused on the Bermingham “deep target”, where exploration drilling in 2019 successfully confirmed the presence of wide, high-grade mineralization at depth below the Bermingham high grade silver mineral resource. To date approximately 930 m of drilling is complete utilizing a single drill with a second drill to be added in the near future. Results from this drilling will be released when available.

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SOURCE Alexco Resource Corp.

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