Eldorado Gold Reports Q1 2020 Financial and Operational Results

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eldorado Gold Corporation ("Eldorado" or "the Company") today reports the Company's financial and operational results for the first quarter of 2020.

First Quarter 2020 and Subsequent Period Highlights

• Proactive steps taken to manage the impact of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic; operations maintained in Turkey and Greece: The Company's mines in Turkey and Greece remained operational throughout Q1. Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure safe working environments were implemented across Eldorado's global sites.
   
• Lamaque placed back into operations after temporary suspension, permit for increased underground production received: On March 25, 2020 in accordance with the Quebec government-mandated restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the province, the Company temporarily ceased mining and processing operations at Lamaque. Operations were restarted on April 15, 2020, however, exploration drilling activities continue to be curtailed in accordance with the mandated restrictions. The Company also received a Certificate of Authorization from the Quebec Ministry of Environment to allow for the expansion of Triangle underground mine production at Lamaque from 1,800 tonnes per day ("tpd") to 2,650 tpd.
   
• Supporting our communities in response to COVID-19 pandemic: The Company has allocated an initial $500,000 of financial and in-kind support to local communities in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania and Brazil so that they may better respond to impacts of the pandemic. Donations include: personal protective equipment and sanitizing products, medical equipment for local hospitals, and food and other supplies for vulnerable populations.
   
• Partial draw-down of credit facility as proactive measure: On March 30, 2020, the Company drew $150 million under its revolving credit facility as a proactive measure in light of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company has no immediate need for the funds, however proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, as required.
   
• Steady production and 2020 annual guidance maintained: Gold production totalled 115,950 ounces in Q1 2020, an increase of 40% from Q1 2019 production of 82,977 ounces. Eldorado is maintaining its 2020 annual guidance of 520,000 - 550,000 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $850 - 950 per ounce sold.
   
• All-in sustaining costs lower quarter-on-quarter: Q1 2020 all-in-sustaining costs of $952 per ounce sold were lower than Q1 2019 ($1,132 per ounce sold).  
   
• Strong financial liquidity: The Company currently has $363.6 million of cash, cash equivalents and term deposits and approximately $36 million available under the remaining $100 million of the revolving credit facility, with $64 million of capacity on the facility allocated to secure certain reclamation obligations in connection with its operations.
   
• Net loss and adjusted net earnings attributable to shareholders: Q1 2020 net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company was $4.9 million or $0.03 loss per share (Q1 2019: net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $27.0 million, or $0.17 loss per share). Adjusted net earnings attributable to shareholders of the Company in Q1 2020 was $12.5 million, or $0.08 per share (Q1 2019: adjusted net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $21.1 million, or $0.13 loss per share).
   
• Increased EBITDA: Q1 2020 EBITDA was $84.7 million ($4.9 million in Q1 2019) and Q1 2020 adjusted EBITDA was $90.0 million ($12.5 million in Q1 2019). Adjustments in both periods included, among other things, share based compensation and losses on asset disposals.

"Operational performance in the first quarter of 2020 was exceptional under extraordinary conditions as we effectively responded to the global COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to recognize the efforts of all of our employees who have worked tirelessly and implemented the necessary controls to minimize risks to our people, families, neighbouring communities and our business", said George Burns, President and CEO.

"The Company has been agile in its decision making, including implementing proactive measures to protect its balance sheet. With approximately $400 million in total liquidity at quarter end, Eldorado is well capitalized and positioned to maintain its strategic goals as we begin paying down our term loan in June of this year. "

"At this time, we are maintaining our guidance for 2020 and we will continue to evaluate capital allocation, operational profitability and monitor the potential impacts of COVID-19, including staffing levels. The sites are operating at approximately 75% of normal levels as staff considered to be high-risk have been asked to stay at home. We do not expect this to affect production in the near term but we are reviewing the potential longer term impact as certain discretionary activities such as waste stripping, underground development and drilling are temporarily reduced. We continue to track this situation closely and are actively working with sites to transition back to normal staffing levels."

Consolidated Financial and Operational Highlights

1. Excludes sales of inventory mined at Lamaque during the pre-commercial production period (Q1 2019).
2. Includes pre-commercial production at Lamaque (Q1 2019).
3. By-product revenues are off-set against cash operating costs.
4. Attributable to shareholders of the Company.
5. See reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to adjusted net earnings (loss) in the MD&A section 'Non-IFRS Measures'.      
6. These measures are non-IFRS measures. See the MD&A section 'Non-IFRS Measures' for explanations and discussion of these non-IFRS measures.     
7. Q1 2019 has been adjusted to conform with 2020 presentation. See the MD&A section 'Non-IFRS Measures' for detail.
8. Q1 2019 amount has been adjusted to reflect reclassifications in cash flow from operating activities in the current period.

Gold production of 115,950 ounces increased from 82,977 ounces in the first quarter of 2019. Gold sales in Q1 2020 totalled 116,219 ounces, compared with 43,074 ounces sold in Q1 2019. The higher sales volume compared with the prior year reflected increases at all mines, primarily 26,728 ounces sold from Lamaque following its commencement of commercial operations in April 2019, an additional 24,345 ounces sold from Kisladag following the resumption of mining activities in April 2019 and an additional 17,403 ounces sold from Efemcukuru due to delays in sales in Q1 2019.

Total revenue was $204.7 million in Q1 2020, an increase of 156% from total revenue of $80.0 million in Q1 2019. The increase was due to increased sales volumes combined with higher gold prices and included $42.8 million of revenue contributed by Lamaque following the commencement of commercial operations in April 2019.

Cash operating costs in Q1 2020 averaged $627 per ounce sold, a slight increase from $625 per ounce sold in Q1 2019. The increase was primarily due to cash operating costs per ounce sold at Efemcukuru and Lamaque being negatively impacted by mining and processing lower-grade ore in the quarter, resulting in fewer ounces produced. Cash operating costs per ounce sold at Olympias were also negatively impacted by lower silver and base metal prices, which reduce cash operating costs as by-product credits. These increases were almost fully offset by a decrease in cash operating costs per ounce sold at Kisladag in Q1 2020 as a result of the partial reallocation of processing costs to ounces in leach pad inventory following the resumption of mining in April 2019.

We reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of $4.9 million ($0.03 loss per share) in Q1 2020, compared to a net loss of $27.0 million ($0.17 loss per share) in Q1 2019. Net loss in Q1 2020 is primarily attributable to increased finance costs and increased tax expense in line with higher sales volumes and the weakening of local currencies in which income tax is determined.

Adjusted net earnings were $12.5 million ($0.08 per share) in Q1 2020, compared to adjusted net loss of $21.1 million ($0.13 loss per share) in Q1 2019. Adjusted net earnings in Q1 2020 removes, among other things, a $12.2 million loss on foreign exchange due to translation of deferred tax balances and the $4.4 million loss on the non-cash revaluation of the derivative related to redemption options in our debt.

Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. In response, governments in numerous jurisdictions, including those where we operate, implemented emergency measures including travel restrictions, suspension of non-essential operations and changes to behaviour intended to reduce the spread of the virus.

We have taken steps and implemented global preventative measures to ensure a safe working environment for our employees and contractors and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include:

• Task observations to ensure that workplace controls in place are effective in maintaining physical distance. Procedures will be modified where necessary to create safe distance. Tasks that cannot be effectively modified are discontinued until an appropriate change can be implemented.
• Pre-emptive measures such as temperature screening before accessing sites, encouraging increased hand-washing and physical-distancing and limiting all non-essential travel.
• Advising employees to stay at home if they are at risk or have family members at home at risk.
• Following recommendations of the World Health Organization, local health authorities and advice of jurisdictional governments. We have taken precautionary steps to educate our employees about the symptoms and transmission of the virus with clear instructions on what to do if they feel unwell.
• Isolation procedures, should an employee or contractor test positive for COVID-19.
• Limiting access to our offices and sites to essential people only to reduce unnecessary exposure. We have also implemented controls during delivery of supplies and materials to our offices and sites.
• Working with local communities to distribute hygiene supplies and to educate them on preventative measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

We have been prudent in preparing for the uncertainty around COVID-19 and how it will affect our business. We implemented a crisis management plan in early March and are continuing to optimize and improve our approach to this situation through observations and learning, sharing information across our sites and across our industry. We continue to monitor our operating environments closely and are continuing to take proactive steps to protect the health and safety of our workforce, their families and our neighbouring communities.

Operations Update

Gold Operations

1. Includes pre-commercial production at Lamaque (Q1 2019).
2. Excludes sales of inventory produced at Lamaque during the pre-commercial production period (Q1 2019).
3. Kisladag resumed mining, crushing and placing ore on the heap leach pad on April 1, 2019. This activity had been suspended since April 2018.
4. Efemcukuru unit costs in Q1 2019 were impacted by lower ounces sold resulting from delayed shipments in Q1 2019 that were completed in Q2 2019.
5. These measures are non-IFRS measures. See the MD&A section 'Non-IFRS Measures' for explanations and discussion of these non-IFRS measures.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss the details of the Company's Q1 2020 results will be held by senior management on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 8:30 AM PT (11:30 AM ET). The call will be webcast and can be accessed at Eldorado Gold's website: www.eldoradogold.com and via this link: http://services.choruscall.ca/links/eldoradogold20200501.html.

About Eldorado Gold

Eldorado is a gold and base metals producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania, and Brazil. The Company has a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, safe and responsible operations, a portfolio of high-quality assets, and long-term partnerships with local communities. Eldorado's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange ELD and the New York Stock Exchange EGO.

Contacts

Investor Relations

Peter Lekich, Manager Investor Relations
604.687.4018 or 1.888.353.8166   peter.lekich@eldoradogold.com

Media

Louise Burgess, Director Communications & Government Relations
604.687.4018 or 1.888.353.8166   louise.burgess@eldoradogold.com

Non-IFRS Measures

Certain non-IFRS measures are included in this press release, including average realized gold price per ounce sold, cash operating costs and cash operating costs per ounce sold, total cash costs and total cash costs per ounce sold, all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") and AISC per ounce sold, adjusted net earnings/(loss), adjusted net earnings/(loss) per share, working capital, cash flow from operations before changes in non-cash working capital, earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), free cash flow and sustaining capital. Please see the March 31, 2020 MD&A for explanations and discussion of these non-IFRS measures. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.

Cautionary Note about Forward-looking Statements and Information

Certain of the statements made and information provided in this press release are forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "continue", "projected", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements or information contained in this release include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to: the duration, extent and other implications of COVID-19 and any restrictions and suspensions with respect to our operations, our guidance and outlook, including expected production, cost guidance and recoveries of gold, favourable economics for our heap leaching plan and the ability to extend mine life at our projects, including at Kisladag through further metallurgical tests on deeper material, completion and results of waste stripping at Kisladag, improved production at Olympias, completion and results of construction and the PEA at Lamaque, completion of construction at Skouries, planned capital and exploration expenditures; our expectation as to our future financial and operating performance, expected metallurgical recoveries, gold price outlook and the global concentrate market; and our strategy, plans and goals, including our proposed exploration, development, construction, permitting and operating plans and priorities and related timelines and schedules and results of litigation and arbitration proceedings.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, market uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information.

We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information, including assumptions about how the world-wide economic and social impact of COVID-19 is managed and the duration and extent of the COVID 19 pandemic, geopolitical, economic, permitting and legal climate that we operate in; the future price of gold and other commodities; the global concentrate market; exchange rates; anticipated costs and expenses; production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries, the impact of acquisitions, dispositions, suspensions or delays on our business and the ability to achieve our goals. In particular, except where otherwise stated, we have assumed a continuation of existing business operations on substantially the same basis as exists at the time of this release.

Even though our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. Many assumptions may be difficult to predict and are beyond our control.

Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the following: global outbreaks of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, results of further testwork, recoveries of gold and other metals; geopolitical and economic climate (global and local), risks related to mineral tenure and permits; gold and other commodity price volatility; continued softening of the global concentrate market; risks regarding potential and pending litigation and arbitration proceedings relating to the Company's, business, properties and operations; expected impact on reserves and the carrying value; the updating of the reserve and resource models and life of mine plans; mining operational and development risk; financing risks, foreign country operational risks; risks of sovereign investment; regulatory risks and liabilities including, environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical testing and recoveries; additional funding requirements; currency fluctuations; community and non-governmental organization actions; speculative nature of gold exploration; dilution; share price volatility and the price of the common shares of the Company; competition; loss of key employees; and defective title to mineral claims or properties, as well as those risk factors discussed in the sections titled "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk factors in our business" in the Company's  most recent Annual Information Form & Form 40-F. The reader is directed to carefully review the detailed risk discussion in our most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR and EDGAR under our Company name, which discussion is incorporated by reference in this release, for a fuller understanding of the risks and uncertainties that affect the Company's business and operations.

Forward-looking statements and information is designed to help you understand management's current views of our near and longer term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change.

Financial Information and condensed statements contained herein or attached hereto may not be suitable for readers that are unfamiliar with the Company and is not a substitute for reading the Company's financial statements and related MD&A available on our website and on SEDAR and EDGAR under our Company name. The reader is directed to carefully review such document for a full understanding of the financial information summarized herein.

Except as otherwise noted, scientific and technical information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Paul Skayman, FAusIMM, Special Advisor to the Chief Operating Officer for Eldorado Gold Corporation, and a "qualified person" under NI 43-101.

Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors

(Signed) John Webster       Director                        (Signed) George Burns       Director
           
Date of approval:    April 30, 2020