VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
Endeavour Silver Corp. (“Endeavour” or the “Company”) (NYSE: EXK;
TSX: EDR) is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2022. All dollar amounts are in US dollars (US$).

“Our first quarter performance was strong, putting us on track to achieve our 2022 production guidance,” stated Dan Dickson, CEO of Endeavour Silver. “High-grade ore at Guanacevi was a driving force and is expected to continue throughout the balance of the year, while production at Bolanitos remains solid.  Industry-wide inflation is a growing challenge and we continue to look for ways to mitigate its negative impact.”

Added Mr. Dickson, “Looking ahead to the second quarter, we are targeting two major milestones:     securing debt financing for Terronera and closing the Pitarrilla transaction. This acquisition, which is fully financed, is expected to close this quarter following receipt of approval from the Mexican Federal Economics Competition Commission. After the deal closes, drilling will commence to verify Pitarrilla’s historical data and update the historical resource. This will become a key focus for us for the balance of 2022.”

Q1 2022 Highlights

• Strong Production: 1,314,955 ounces (oz) of silver and 8,695 oz of gold for 2.0 million oz silver equivalent (AgEq) ( 1) .
• Significant Growth in Net Revenue : Net revenue of $57.7 million from the sale of 1,717,768 oz of silver and 8,381 oz of gold at average realized prices of $24.38 per oz silver and $1,970 per oz gold.
• Slight Decline in Net Earnings : Net earnings of $11.7 million, or $0.07 per share, down from net earnings of $12.2 million, or $0.08 per share in Q1 2021. Mine operating earnings of $20.3 million, up from mine operating earnings of $5.7 million in Q1 2021.
• Improved Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &
  Amortization (EBITDA) ( 2) : $25.6 million, an increase of 7% from Q1 2021.
• Increased Cash Flow : $20.6 million in operating cash flow before working capital changes ( 2) , an increase of 293%. Mine operating cash flow before taxes ( 2) increased 101% to $26.7 million.
• Higher Costs Due to Industry-Wide Inflation: Cash costs ( 2) of $10.21 per oz payable silver and all-in sustaining costs ( 2 ) of $20.90 per oz payable silver, net of gold credits. Cash costs ( 2) were slightly above guidance due to increased labour, power and consumables costs.
• Healthy Balance Sheet: Cash position of $151.0 million and working capital ( 2) $168.4 million as at March 31, 2022.
• Guanacevi Continued to Outperform: Production exceeded plan driven by higher grades.
• Bolañitos Remained Steady: Strong silver production, higher silver grades and increased throughput were offset by lower than anticipated gold production and lower gold grades.
• Reduced Metal Inventories : Sold 1,717,768 oz silver and 8,381 oz gold during the quarter. Management significantly reduced silver inventory and slightly increased gold inventory during the quarter and carried metal inventory at quarter end totaling 608,788 oz silver and 1,911 oz gold of bullion inventory and 59,594 oz silver and 1,931 oz gold in concentrate inventory.
• Advanced the Terronera Project : The Terronera project continued to progress as work continued on final detailed engineering, early earth works, critical contracts and the procurement of long lead items. The Company intends to make a formal construction decision subject to completion of a financing package and receipt of additional amended permits in the coming months.
• Announced Definitive Agreement to Acquire the Pitarrilla
  Project: Endeavour’s acquisition of Pitarrilla, one of the largest undeveloped silver deposits in the world, is expected to close in Q2 2022.
• Completed $46.0 Million Bought Deal Financing: On March 22, 2022 Endeavour completed a prospectus offering for the issuance of 9,293,150 common shares at a price of $4.95 per common share for gross proceeds of $46.0 million. The Company plans to use the net proceeds to pay the $35 million cash consideration payable to SSR Mining Inc. on completion of the Company’s acquisition of the Pitarrilla project and for the Company’s general corporate purposes and working capital.

Financial Overview (see appendix for consolidated financial statements)

( 1 ) Silver equivalent (AgEq) is calculated using an 80:1 silver:gold ratio.

(2) These are non-IFRS financial measures and ratios. Further details on these non-IFRS financial measures and ratios are provided at the end of this press release and in the MD&A accompanying the Company’s financial statements, which can be viewed on the Company’s website, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov .

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net revenue, net of $0.7 million of smelting and refining costs, increased by 67% to $57.7 million (Q1 2021: $34.5 million).

Gross sales of $58.4 million in Q1 2022 represented a 66% increase over the $35.1 million in Q1 2021. Silver oz sold increased by 176%, due to both increased silver production and the sale of the larger finished goods inventory held at December 31, 2021. There was a 10% decrease in the realized silver price, resulting in a 148% increase in proceeds from silver sales. Gold oz sold decreased by 21% with a 16% increase in the realized gold price, resulting in a 9% decrease in proceeds from gold sales. During the period, the Company sold 1,717,768 oz silver and 8,381 oz gold for realized prices of $24.38 and $1,970 per oz, respectively, compared to Q1 2021 sales of 623,379 oz silver and 10,663 oz gold for realized prices of $27.17 and $1,703 per oz, respectively. In Q1 2022, London spot prices for silver and gold averaged $24.01 and $1,877, respectively.

The Company significantly decreased its finished goods silver inventory and slightly increased its finished goods gold inventory to 668,382 oz and 3,841 oz, respectively, at March 31, 2022 compared to 1,082,610 oz silver and 3,674 oz gold at December 31, 2021. The cost allocated to these finished goods was $13.5 million at March 31, 2022 compared to $15.6 million at December 31, 2021. At March 31, 2022, the finished goods inventory fair market value was $24.1 million, compared to $31.7 million at December 31, 2021. Earnings and other financial metrics, including mine operating cash flow ( 2) , operating cash flow (2) and EBITDA (2) were impacted by the sale during Q1 2022 of the increased bullion inventory held at year end.

After cost of sales of $37.4 million (Q1 2021 – $28.8 million), an increase of 30%, mine operating earnings were $20.3 million (Q1 2021 – $5.7 million). The increase in cost of sales was impacted by both an increase in the quantity of silver ounces sold during the period, increased production and increased labour, power and consumables costs with significantly higher royalty costs, partially offset by improved productivity at the Guanaceví and Bolañitos operations. Royalties increased 75% to $4.3 million primarily due to the increase in silver ounces sold during the period.

The Company had operating earnings of $12.6 million (Q1 2021: $14.3 million) after exploration and evaluation costs of $3.2 million (Q1 2021: $4.1 million), general and administrative costs of $4.3 million (Q1 2021: $3.5 million), and care and maintenance cost of $0.2 million (Q1 2021: $0.5 million). Operating earnings in Q1 2021 were also positively impacted by an impairment reversal of $16.8 million as a result of the valuation assessment done for El Cubo mine and related assets upon classification as held for sale.

Earnings before income taxes were $18.9 million (Q1 2021: $16.0 million) after finance costs of $0.3 million (Q1 2021: $0.3 million), a foreign exchange gain of $0.8 million (Q1 2021: loss of $0.7 million), and investment and other income of $5.8 million (Q1 2021: $2.7 million). The investment and other income during Q1 2022 primarily resulted from an unrealized gain on marketable securities and warrants of $5.4 million (Q1 2021: $2.5 million).

The Company realized net earnings for the period of $11.7 million (Q1 2021: $12.2 million) after an income tax expense of $7.2 million (Q1 2021: $3.8 million).   Current income tax expense increased to $1.0 million (Q1 2021 – $0.7 million) due to increased profitability impacting the special mining duty, while deferred income tax expense of $6.2 million is primarily due to the estimated use of loss carryforwards to reduce taxable income generated at both Guanacevi and Bolanitos (Q1 2021 – $3.1 million).

Direct operating costs ( 2) on a per tonne basis increased to $122.86, up 9% compared with Q1 2021 due to higher operating costs at Guanaceví and Bolañitos. Guanaceví and Bolañitos have seen increased labour, power and consumables costs and at Guanaceví, increased third party ore purchased and operating development have increased compared to the prior year.

Consolidated cash costs per oz, net of by-product credits, increased to $10.21 primarily due to the higher direct costs per tonne and lower gold credit driven by lower gold production compared to Q1 2021. AISC increased by 5% on a per oz basis compared to Q1 2021 as a result of higher cash costs, increased capital expenditures at Guanaceví, increased allocated general and administrative costs, offset by increased production.

The complete financial statements and management’s discussion & analysis can be viewed on the Company’s website, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov . All shareholders can receive a hard copy of the Company’s complete audited financial statements free of charge upon request. To receive this material in hard copy, please contact Investor Relations at 604-640-4804, toll free at 1-877-685-9775 or by email at info@edrsilver.com.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss the Company’s Q1 2022 financial results will be held today at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. To participate in the conference call, please dial the numbers below.

About Endeavour Silver – Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that operates two high-grade underground silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing the Terronera mine project towards a development decision, pending financing and final permits and exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico, Chile and the United States to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer.  Our philosophy of corporate social integrity creates value for all stakeholders.

SOURCE Endeavour Silver Corp.

Contact Information
Trish Moran
Interim Head of Investor Relations
Tel: (416) 564-4290
Email: pmoran@edrsilver.com

Website: 
www.edrsilver.com