Mr. Andre van Niekerk reports

GATOS SILVER REPORTS SELECT UNAUDITED FIRST QUARTER 2023 AND FOURTH QUARTER 2022 RESULTS AND PROVIDES UPDATE ON FINANCIAL RESTATEMENTS

Gatos Silver Inc. has released operating and select unaudited financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023, the three months ended Dec. 31, 2022, and the year ended Dec. 31, 2022. The company's reporting currency is the U.S. dollar.

Gatos Silver also provided a corporate update, including the status of its financial restatements for 2021 and the first three quarters of 2022. As previously disclosed, the report of full financial results for the first quarter of 2023 and audited financial results for 2022 has been delayed as the company works on the restatements.

The restatement work continues to progress, and the company continues to believe that required adjustments are non-cash and primarily relate to timing and recognition of net deferred tax assets and liabilities at the 70-per-cent-owned Los Gatos joint venture (LGJV) and the timing and recognition of the priority distribution obligation on the previously recognized income from affiliates for the company.

The company is hosting an analyst site visit at the Cerro Los Gatos (CLG) mine on June 7, 2023, and the site visit presentation will be posted on the company's website.

First quarter 2023 summary:

• LGJV revenue was $69.9-million, down 20 per cent from $87.6-million a year earlier, as lower realized metal prices more than offset mostly higher metal production.
• LGJV cost of sales was $26.0-million, only 4 per cent higher in Q1 2023 compared with Q1 2022, despite a 10-per-cent increase in mill throughput.
• Cash flow from operations for the LGJV was $44.5-million, up 6 per cent from $42.1-million a year earlier.
• As previously disclosed, CLG mine production in Q1 2023 was slightly higher for silver, zinc and gold, and slightly lower for lead.
• Cash balance at May 31, 2023, was $10.5-million for the company and $78.9-million for the LGJV.

Fourth quarter 2022 and full-year 2022 summary:

• LGJV revenue increased by 31 per cent in Q4 2022 and by 25 per cent for full-year 2022 compared with the year-earlier periods, attributable to higher metal prices and higher production.
• LGJV cost of sales declined by 7 per cent in Q4 2022 to $25.5-million but increased by 10 per cent to $107.1-million for full-year 2022 compared with the year-earlier periods.
• Cash flow from operations for the LGJV was $39.1-million in Q4 2022 and $157.4-million for full-year 2022, increases of 12 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively, compared with the year-earlier periods.
• A large zone of mineralization known as South-East Deeps was discovered that extends 415 metres below the reported reserve.

Gatos Silver is on track to achieve its previously stated production and cost guidance for 2023. As previously disclosed, silver production is expected to be higher in the first half of 2023 than in the second half of 2023 based on sequencing of the mine plan. Zinc and lead production is expected to be higher in the second half of the year than in the first half.

CLG achieved 2-per-cent-higher silver and zinc production and 8-per-cent-lower lead production during Q1 2023 compared with Q1 2022. Lower planned feed grades were offset by record mill throughput rates, averaging 2,894 tonnes per day. Construction of the new fluorine leach plant for zinc concentrate is substantially complete, and commissioning of the plant is expected this month.

Revenue decreased by 20 per cent in Q1 2023 compared with Q1 2022, primarily as a result of a decrease in realized metal prices in Q1 2023, including impacts from provisional revenue adjustments, which decreased revenue by $13.6-million in the quarter. Provisional revenue adjustments represent potential future settlement adjustments based on commodity price changes for concentrate sales volumes still subject to final settlement.

Cost of sales increased by 4 per cent primarily as a result of the increase in production, the strengthening of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar and higher input costs. Royalty expense decreased by $1.1-million in Q1 2023 compared with Q1 2022 due to a decrease in the royalty rate from 2 per cent to 0.5 per cent in second quarter 2022, upon reaching a payment threshold per the terms of the applicable royalty agreement.

Exploration expense decreased by $1.6-million in Q1 2023 mainly due to the capitalization of exploration costs related to the continuing resource expansion drilling of the South-East Deeps zone. General and administrative expense in Q1 2023 was 28 per cent higher than Q1 2022 primarily due to an increase in insurance expenses.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense increased by approximately 27 per cent quarter over quarter primarily as a result of an increase in tonnes mined, the completion of the third dam raise of the tailing storage facility in fourth quarter 2022 and the commissioning of the paste plant in Q1 2023.

CLG achieved 36-per-cent-, 22-per-cent- and 10-per-cent-higher silver, zinc and lead production during full-year 2022 compared with 2021, primarily a result of higher feed grades and mill throughput rates, which averaged 2,662 tonnes per day.

Revenue increased by 31 per cent in Q4 2022 and 25 per cent for full-year 2022, compared with the year-earlier periods, as a result of higher production and concentrate sales, which were partly offset by lower realized silver prices.

Cost of sales was 7 per cent lower in Q4 2022 and 10 per cent higher for full-year 2022, compared with Q4 2021 and full-year 2021. The reduction in Q4 2022 was primarily a result of lower electricity costs from the new renewable energy contract that came into effect late in third quarter 2022, the optimization of process plant reagents, lower COVID-19-related expenses and lower concentrate transportation costs. The increase in full-year costs for 2022 was primarily a result of increased mining and milling rates. Royalty expense decreased by $1.0-million in Q4 2022 and $1.7-million for full-year 2022 compared with the year-earlier periods due to the decrease in the royalty rate upon reaching a payment threshold per the terms of the royalty agreement.

Exploration expenditure increased by $1.7-million in Q4 2022 and by $4.4-million for full-year 2022 compared with the year-earlier periods as a result of increased surface drilling at CLG for resource conversion targeting higher-grade inferred resources, as well as for resource expansion, particularly in the recently discovered South-East Deeps zone. General and administrative expenses for Q4 2022 were 16 per cent higher than in Q4 2021, primarily due to increased consulting costs, as well as higher labour costs. General and administrative expenses for full-year 2022 were 7 per cent higher than in 2021, primarily due to inflationary pressures, which impacted specific labour, contractor and service costs.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense increased by 6 per cent in Q4 2022 compared with Q4 2021 primarily as a result of an increase in tonnes mined, and increased by 32 per cent for full-year 2022 compared with 2021 primarily as a result of an increase in tonnes mined, as well as the decrease in the mineral reserve and mine life based on the 2022 Los Gatos technical report, which reduced the basis for the depreciation.

Other income (expense) changed for full-year 2022 compared with 2021 primarily due to the retirement of the working capital facility and the term loan in March and July, 2021, respectively.

Sustaining capital expenditures were similar in Q4 2022 and for full-year 2022 compared with the same periods a year ago. During Q4 2022, sustaining capital expenditures of $19.5-million included expenditures related to the final construction and commissioning costs of the paste fill plant and the continued construction of the fluorine leach plant. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2022, sustaining capital expenditures of $76.5-million primarily consisted of $27.1-million of mine development, $19.5-million on the construction of the paste fill plant, $8.2-million on the construction of the tailings storage facility dam raise, $3.5-million for the purchase of mining equipment, $2.9-million on underground power distribution infrastructure and $2.6-million on the construction of a ventilation raise.

During Q1 2023, the company incurred general and administration expense of $5.5-million compared with $6.8-million for Q1 2022. The $1.3-million decrease in Q1 2023 compared with Q1 2022 is mainly due to lower compensation expenses of $1.4-million.

During Q4 2022, the company incurred general and administration expense of $8.5-million compared with $3.1-million in Q4 2021. The $5.4-million increase is primarily due to higher legal fees, consulting fees and severance payments. The company also incurs expenses related to providing management and administration services to the LGJV, for which it receives a management fee, included in other income ($1.25-million for each of Q4 2022 and Q4 2021).

During 2022, the company incurred general and administration expense of $25.5-million compared with $20.9-million in 2021. The $4.6-million increase is primarily due to higher consulting, legal and audit fees associated with the announcement of the 2020 technical report reserve errors, and subsequent change in auditors associated with a move in corporate offices. The management fee received from the LGJV was $5.0-million for each of the years ended Dec. 31, 2022, and 2021, which is included in other income.

Corporate update

The company continues to expect to announce an updated CLG mineral reserve estimate, mineral resource estimate and life-of-mine plan before the end of the third quarter of 2023. The update will include resource to reserve conversion drill results, as well as initial results from resource drilling in the South-East Deeps zone. The company continues to focus on mine life extension as a priority and currently has six drills active on the South-East Deeps zone drilling.

The company had a cash balance of $10.5-million and debt outstanding of $9-million related to its credit facility as of May 31, 2023. The LGJV continues to generate cash and had a cash balance of $78.9-million at May 31, 2023. Regular distributions to partners are expected to resume after audited financial statements are completed.

The company has entered into a waiver to its amended and restated revolving credit agreement, dated Dec. 20, 2022, among the company and certain Bank of Montreal entities. The waiver defers the company's obligation to deliver the 2021, 2022 and first quarter of 2023 financial statements, and corresponding compliance certificates until July 15, 2023.

Restatement update

The company announced on March 31, 2023, that it will restate previously issued financial statements of the company and of the LGJV for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, and the quarters ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2022. As previously disclosed, the required adjustments to the company's and the LGJV's financial statements are non-cash and primarily relate to timing and recognition of net deferred tax assets and liabilities at the LGJV and the timing and recognition of the priority distribution payment on the previously recognized income from affiliates for the company.

The company has completed a detailed analysis in conjunction with its tax consultants to determine the impact of the required tax adjustments. The results of this analysis are being reviewed to determine the impact on the restatements. The impact of the adjustment to the priority distribution payment recognition described above and the cumulative estimated impact of all adjustments for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, and for the first nine months of 2022 is being finalized.

The company is continuing to work expeditiously to complete the required adjustments for both 2021 and the first three quarters of 2022, and continues to believe that these adjustments are all non-cash items. Once the restatements are completed and filed, the company also intends to file its and the LGJV's financial results for full-year 2022. The financial statements are subject to completion of a review and audit, as applicable, by the company's independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, which are continuing. The company expects to file the first quarter 2023 10-Q concurrently with or shortly after making the 2021 and 2022 securities filings containing the 2021 and 2022 financial statements.

About Gatos Silver Inc.

Gatos Silver is a silver-dominant exploration, development and production company that discovered a new silver and zinc-rich mineral district in southern Chihuahua state, Mexico. As a 70-per-cent owner of the LGJV, the company is primarily focused on operating the mine and mineral processing plant at the LGJV's CLG deposit. The LGJV consists of approximately 103,087 hectares of mineral rights, representing a highly prospective and underexplored district with numerous silver-zinc-lead epithermal mineralized zones identified as priority targets.

Qualified person

Scientific and technical disclosure in this press release was approved by Tony Scott, senior vice-president of corporate development and technical services of Gatos Silver, who is a qualified person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

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