Hudbay Minerals Reports Q1 2017 Results

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - May 03, 2017) - Hudbay Minerals Inc. ("Hudbay" or the "company") (TSX: HBM) (NYSE: HBM) today released its first quarter 2017 financial results. All amounts are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Summary:

• Operating cash flow per share¹ of $0.34 and loss per share of $0.01, impacted by lower sales volumes from timing of shipments in the first quarter of 2017
• Consolidated cash cost¹, net of by-product credits, of $0.88 per pound of copper and all-in sustaining cash cost¹, net of by-product credits, of $1.46 per pound of copper in the first quarter
• Reduced net debt¹ position by $50 million in the first quarter of 2017 and had total liquidity of $433 million as at March 31, 2017, up from $391 million at December 31, 2016
• Released an updated mine plan for Lalor and a feasibility study for Rosemont during the first quarter
• On track to meet production and cost guidance for 2017

In the first quarter of 2017, operating cash flow before change in non-cash working capital increased to $80.6 million from $71.9 million in the first quarter of 2016, mainly as a result of higher copper and zinc prices, partially offset by lower copper sales volumes.

"We had another quarter of positive free cash flow generation, allowing further debt repayment during the quarter, despite shipment timing and mill maintenance that negatively impacted our first quarter results," said Alan Hair, president and chief executive officer. "Our focus for 2017 remains on delivering on our operating targets, debt reduction and advancing the high-return, in-house brownfield opportunities at Lalor and Pampacancha, and we are well on-track to deliver on these objectives."

The net loss and loss per share in the first quarter of 2017 were $2.3 million and $0.01, respectively, compared to a net loss and loss per share of $15.8 million and $0.07, respectively, in the first quarter of 2016.

¹ Operating cash flow per share, cash cost and all-in sustaining cash cost per pound, net of by-product credits, and net debt are not recognized under IFRS. For a detailed description of each of these non-IFRS financial performance measures used in this news release, please see the discussion under "Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures" beginning on page 6 of this news release.

Net loss and loss per share in the first quarter of 2017 were affected by, among other things, the following items:

Sales of copper concentrate and zinc metal were lower than prior quarters due to several factors, including low Peru concentrate inventories at December 31, 2016 and sales near the end of the first quarter with delivery terms whereby revenue can only be recognized upon delivery in the subsequent quarter.

Copper-equivalent production² in the first quarter of 2017 was lower than the past several quarters due to reduced grades at Constancia in line with the mine plan and reduced mill throughput in both Peru and Manitoba due to planned and unplanned maintenance in the first quarter. In the first quarter of 2017, consolidated cash cost per pound of copper produced, net of by-product credits, was $0.88, a significant decrease compared to $1.15 in the same period last year as a result of higher by-product credits. Incorporating sustaining capital, capitalized exploration, royalties and corporate selling and administrative expenses, consolidated all-in sustaining cash cost per pound of copper produced, net of by-product credits, in the first quarter of 2017 declined to $1.46 from $1.80 in the first quarter of 2016. The decline was driven by higher by-product credits and lower sustaining capital expenditures.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $14.3 million in the first quarter to $132.6 million as at March 31, 2017. This decrease was mainly a result of principal repayments of $64.1 million to Hudbay's credit and equipment facilities, $40.6 million of capital investments primarily at the Peru and Manitoba operations and interest payments of $11.4 million, which were partially offset by cash generated from operating activities of $110.4 million. Working capital decreased by $34.6 million in the first quarter to $87.0 million as at March 31, 2017, primarily due to reduced receivables from the timing of sales and statutory payments from Peru, partially offset by increased inventories as a result of the timing of concentrate shipments.

Net debt declined by $49.8 million to $1,035.5 million during the first quarter of 2017, as Hudbay repaid $60.0 million in drawings under its revolving credit facilities. At March 31, 2017, Hudbay had total liquidity of $432.9 million, including cash and available credit facilities, up from $390.8 million at December 31, 2016.

² Production on a copper-equivalent basis is calculated by converting contained metal in concentrate produced at realized prices.

Peru Operations Review

During the first quarter of 2017, the Constancia mine produced 27,211 tonnes of copper, 3,935 ounces of gold and 539,534 ounces of silver, which was lower than prior quarters due to lower grades and throughput.

Ore mined at Constancia during the first quarter of 2017 increased by 6% compared to the same period in 2016 as the company wanted to increase stockpiles to improve the ability to blend ore at the processing plant. Mined and milled copper grades in the first quarter were approximately 5% lower than the same period in 2016 as the company entered lower grade phases of the mine. Mill throughput during the first quarter of 2017 was affected by scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.

Recoveries of copper and gold were lower in the first quarter of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, as a result of increased mixed and high zinc ore. Silver recoveries improved, also as a result of the ore feed.

Combined mine, mill, and general and administrative ("G&A") unit operating costs in the first quarter of 2017 were 19% higher than the same period in 2016 as a result of increased plant maintenance, costs of operating the molybdenum plant at significantly higher rates, and higher than usual community spending commitments.

Cash cost, net of by-product credits, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $1.30 per pound of copper produced, an increase of 13% from the same period in 2016 as a result of decreased copper production and increased plant maintenance, higher community spending and lower gold by-product credits.

Sustaining cash cost, net of by-product credits, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $1.61 per pound of copper produced, an increase of 8% from the same period in 2016 as a result of the factors noted above, partially offset by lower deferred stripping costs and royalties.

During the first quarter of 2017, an initial collective agreement was signed with the union at Constancia to cover a one year period from November 2016 to November 2017.

Hudbay expects to meet production and cost guidance at Constancia for the year.

Manitoba Operations Review

For the first quarter of 2017, the Manitoba operations produced 7,520 tonnes of copper, 30,570 tonnes of zinc, and 19,622 ounces of precious metals. Production of copper, gold and silver was lower than the first quarter of 2016 by 23%, 22% and 7%, respectively, mainly as a result of lower mill throughput as well as lower grades from the Lalor and Reed mines. Zinc production was 31% higher in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016 as a result of higher zinc grades at 777 and Lalor as well as higher zinc recoveries. Production is expected to be within guidance ranges as Lalor ore production increases and mill throughput improves.

Ore production at the Manitoba mines for the first quarter of 2017 decreased by 6% compared to the same period in 2016 as a result of lower production at the 777 mine, partially offset by higher production at the Lalor and Reed mines. Copper and gold grades in the first quarter of 2017 were lower than the first quarter of 2016 by 17% and 13%, respectively, while zinc and silver grades were higher than in 2016 by 39% and 7%, respectively. In support of the plan to grow Lalor's ore production rates to 4,500 tonnes per day, substantial operating and capital development work was undertaken at Lalor during the first quarter of 2017 and is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the year. With the production ramp up underway, waste development was accelerated to match the stope backfill requirements and will continue at higher rates until the commissioning of the paste backfill plant. The initial forecast for 2017 targeted mining of three high-grade stopes with plans to leave these stopes open and their mining sequence idle until filled with paste backfill in early 2018. A revised mine plan has accelerated the mining of 250,000 tonnes from the high-grade bulk mining areas and cemented rock filling has been implemented to alleviate ore losses to the associated pillars. The net effect of this revision is expected to increase cash flow for the year over the base plan and result in higher unit costs until the paste plant is commissioned, as described in the recently filed 43-101 technical report for Lalor.

Ore processed in Flin Flon in the first quarter of 2017 was 13% lower than the same period in 2016 as a result of unscheduled maintenance. Zinc recovery was 8% higher in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter in 2016 as a result of higher head grades. Unit operating costs at the Flin Flon concentrator were 34% higher in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 as a result of lower production and increased maintenance costs.

Ore processed and recoveries at the Stall concentrator in the first quarter of 2017 were fairly consistent compared to the same period in 2016. Unit operating costs at the Stall concentrator were 66% higher in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016 as a result of damage to the crusher in December 2016 which necessitated the use of higher-cost temporary crushing facilities during the first quarter. Repairs have been completed and the mill resumed the use of its permanent crushing circuit in April 2017.

Manitoba combined mine, mill and G&A unit operating costs in the first quarter of 2017 were 26% higher than in the same period in 2016 as a result of lower overall production, and higher costs at the mines and mills for the reasons outlined above. Combined unit costs are expected to be within the guidance range for 2017.

Cash cost, net of by-product credits, in the first quarter of 2017 was negative $0.66 per pound of copper produced, compared to $1.14 in the first quarter of 2016. The decrease is primarily a result of increased by-product credits. Sustaining cash cost, net of by-product credits, in the first quarter of 2017 was $0.28 per pound of copper produced, compared to $2.32 in 2016. The decrease resulted from the same factor described above as well as reduced capital expenditures.

Lalor and Rosemont 43-101 Technical Reports

On March 30, 2017, Hudbay published an updated mine plan for the Lalor base metal zone that enables cost-effective production growth by optimizing the use of existing infrastructure. With a modest capital investment, the optimized throughput rate for the Stall base metal mill is expected to be 4,500 tonnes per day on a sustainable basis starting in the third quarter of 2018. In addition, the 2015 acquisition of the New Britannia gold mill in Snow Lake is being evaluated as a potential low-cost solution to process the gold zone and copper-gold zone ore at optimal gold recovery rates, with the potential to augment the base metal production from the Stall mill and utilize the full 6,000 tonnes per day capacity of the Lalor shaft.

Also on March 30, 2017, Hudbay published a feasibility study for its Rosemont project. Since Rosemont's acquisition, Hudbay has completed an extensive work program, including in-fill drilling, detailed metallurgical test work, and a bottom-up approach to cost estimation, along with other feasibility-level work, as summarized in the Rosemont technical report. The Rosemont project will be a traditional open pit, shovel and truck operation with an expected 19-year mine life. Rosemont is expected to generate an after-tax, unlevered internal rate of return of 15.5%, using a long-term copper price of $3.00 per pound of copper. Development of Rosemont is conditional upon receipt of final permits and the approval of Hudbay's Board of Directors.

The permitting process for Rosemont is well advanced and continues to progress. The key federal permits outstanding are the Final Record of Decision from the U.S. Forest Service and the Section 404 Water Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These federal permits are currently advancing through the final stages of the review process. All State of Arizona permits and approvals have been issued for Rosemont and remain in force and are current. The project design included in the Rosemont technical report is specifically intended to meet the impacts analyzed and commitments outlined in the federal and state permits.

National Instrument 43-101 technical reports in respect of Lalor and Rosemont were filed on March 30, 2017 and are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures

Operating cash flow per share is included in this news release because the company believes it help investors and management evaluate changes in cash flow generated from the various operations while taking into account changes in shares outstanding. Net debt is shown because it is a performance measure used by the company to assess its financial position. Cash cost, sustaining and all-in sustaining cash cost per pound of copper produced are shown because the company believes they help investors and management assess the performance of its operations, including the margin generated by the operations and the company. These measures do not have a meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS and are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate these measures differently. For further details on these measures, including reconciliations to the most comparable IFRS measures, please refer to page 28 of Hudbay's management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2017 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Website Links

Hudbay:

www.hudbay.com

Management's Discussion and Analysis:

http://www.hudbayminerals.com/files/doc_financials/2017/Q1/17MDA1.pdf

Financial Statements:

http://www.hudbayminerals.com/files/doc_financials/2017/Q1/17FS1.pdf

Conference Call and Webcast

Qualified Person

The technical and scientific information in this news release related to the Constancia mine and Rosemont project has been approved by Cashel Meagher, P. Geo, Hudbay's Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The technical and scientific information related to the Manitoba sites and projects contained in this news release has been approved by Robert Carter, P. Eng, Hudbay's Lalor Mine Manager. Messrs. Meagher and Carter are qualified persons pursuant to NI 43-101. For a description of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and resources, as well as data verification procedures and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimates of scientific and technical information may be affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant factors, please see the Technical Reports for the company's material properties as filed by Hudbay on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Hudbay

Hudbay (TSX: HBM) (NYSE: HBM) is an integrated mining company producing copper concentrate (containing copper, gold and silver) and zinc metal. With assets in North and South America, the company is focused on the discovery, production and marketing of base and precious metals. Directly and through its subsidiaries, Hudbay owns four polymetallic mines, four ore concentrators and a zinc production facility in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan (Canada) and Cusco (Peru), and a copper project in Arizona (United States). The company's growth strategy is focused on the exploration and development of properties it already controls, as well as other mineral assets it may acquire that fit its strategic criteria. Hudbay's vision is to become a top-tier operator of long-life, low-cost mines in the Americas. Hudbay's mission is to create sustainable value through the acquisition, development and operation of high-quality and growing long-life deposits in mining-friendly jurisdictions. The company is governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act and its shares are listed under the symbol "HBM" on the Toronto Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange and Bolsa de Valores de Lima. Hudbay also has warrants listed under the symbol "HBM.WT" on the Toronto Stock Exchange and "HBM/WS" on the New York Stock Exchange.