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Exhibit 99

 

LOGO  

NYSE Amex: GSS / TSX: GSC / GSE: GSR

www.gsr.com

 

10901 W Toller Drive, Suite 300

Littleton, CO 80127-6312 USA

Tel: 303-830-9000

 
 
 
 

GOLDEN STAR REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR-END 2010 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Denver, CO—February 23, 2011—Golden Star Resources Ltd. (NYSE Amex: GSS; TSX: GSC; GSE: GSR) (“Golden Star” or the “Company”) today announced its audited year-end results for 2010 and unaudited fourth quarter 2010 results. All currency in this news release is expressed in U.S. dollars. The Company will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss its quarterly results on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Mountain Time). To access the webcast and conference call, go to the home page of the Company’s website, www.gsr.com.

Tom Mair, President and CEO, said, “Production at Bogoso during the second half of the year was adversely constrained by the need to process transitional ores with lower recoveries. As mining progresses through the transition ore to access the fresh sulfide ores with higher recovery rates, we anticipate increased production and lower cash operating costs. We also expect to commission the Bogoso tailings retreatment facility during 2011 as a source of low-cost incremental gold production.”

2010 RESULTS

 

   

Gold sales of 354,904 ounces from Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa/HBB mines for 2010;

 

   

Average realized gold price of $1,219 per ounce during 2010;

 

   

Gold revenues of $432.7 million, up 8% over gold revenues for 2009;

 

   

Cash operating costs of $766 per ounce;

 

   

Year-end cash and cash equivalents balance of $178. 0 million versus $154.1 million at the end of 2009;

 

   

Net loss of $8.3 million or $0.032 per share; and

 

   

Net cash provided by operating activities of $115.2 million for 2010 or $0.447 per share, compared to $104.6 million or $0.441 per share for 2009;

 

 

Golden Star Resources Ltd. (www.gsr.com)

 

 

News Release 11-04 Page 1 of 8


FINANCIAL SUMMARY

 

SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS

   For the three months ended
December 31,
     For the twelve months ended
December 31,
 
     2010     2009      2010     2009  

Bogoso/Prestea gold sold (oz)

     28,021        46,679         170,973        186,054   

Wassa/HBB gold sold (oz)

     48,895        59,807         183,931        223,848   

Total gold sold (oz)

     76,916        106,486         354,904        409,902   

Average realized gold price ($/oz)

     1,371        1,103         1,219        978   

Cash operating cost—combined ($/oz)

     1,056        542         766        564   

Gold revenues ($000’s)

     105,471        117,422         432,693        400,739   

Cash flow provided by operations ($000’s)

     20,343        62,673         115,204        104,615   

Cash flow provided by operations per share ($)

     0.079        0.160         0.447        0.441   

Net income/(loss) ($000’s)

     (17,970     19,627         (8,281     16,519   

Net income/(loss) per share - basic ($)

     (0.070     0.083         (0.032     0.070   

BOGOSO/PRESTEA

Gold sales from Bogoso/Prestea totaled 170,973 ounces during 2010. Fourth quarter gold sales from Bogoso/Prestea were 28,021 ounces of gold. Factors that affected gold production during the second half of 2010 included lower recovery rates due to the mix of transitional ore being supplied to the sulfide processing plant and poor weather conditions. A limited volume of oxide ore was provided to the oxide processing plant during the fourth quarter of 2010. During 2011, we expect to commission the tailings retreatment facility and increase the utilization of the oxide processing plant.

As mining progresses deeper into Chujah and the Bogoso North pits, we anticipate increasing amounts of fresh sulfide ore, higher recovery rates and, consequently, higher gold production.

 

BOGOSO/PRESTEA OPERATING RESULTS    For the three months ended
December 31,
     For the twelve months ended
December 31,
 
     2010      2009      2010      2009  

Mining

           

Ore mined (000s t)—Refractory

     591         810         2,734         2,941   

Ore mined (000s t)—Non refractory

     85         —           115         —     
                                   

Total ore mined (000s t)

     676         810         2,849         2,941   

Waste mined (000s t)

     4,826         3,732         17,839         14,929   

Bogoso Sulfide Plant Results

           

Refractory ore processed (000s t)

     628         749         2,776         2,887   

Refractory grade—(g/t)

     2.07         2.77         2.81         2.78   

Recovery—Refractory (%)

     56.2         70.2         65.7         70.7   
                                   

Bogoso Oxide Plant Results

           

Non-refractory ore processed (000s t)

     146         —           146         —     

Non-refractory grade—(g/t)

     2.91         —           2.91         —     

Recovery—non-refractory (%)

     43.5         —           43.5         —     

Cash operating cost ($/oz)

     1,521         693         863         705   

Gold sold (oz)

     28,021         46,679         170,973         186,054   

WASSA/HBB

Wassa performed as expected in 2010 with fourth quarter gold sales of 48,895 ounces and 183,931 ounces for the full year. In 2011, we anticipate production of 170,000 – 180,000 ounces of gold at a cash operating cost range of $650 - $700 per ounce.

 

 

Golden Star Resources Ltd. (www.gsr.com)

 

 

News Release 11-04 Page 2 of 8


WASSA/HBB OPERATING RESULTS    For the three months ended
December 31,
     For the twelve months ended
December 31,
 
     2010      2009      2010      2009  

Ore mined (000s t)

     750         477         2,561         2,223   

Waste mined (000s t)

     4,364         4,494         19,172         16,708   

Ore processed (000s t)

     779         657         2,648         2,653   

Grade processed (g/t)

     2.12         2.74         2.29         2.76   

Recovery (%)

     94.2         95.0         94.7         95.3   

Cash operating cost ($/oz)

     789         424         677         447   

Gold sold (oz)

     48,895         59,807         183,931         223,848   

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our cash and cash equivalents at year-end 2010 were $178.0 million, up $23.9 million over the prior year. The increase in cash was related to $115.2 million of cash from operating activities offset by $83.8 million of capital investments and net reduction of $12.4 million of debt.

Capital spending amounted to $83.8 million for 2010. This included $20.9 million for mine development projects, $30.9 million for capital equipment purchases, $15.1 million for deferred stripping, and $16.9 million for mine site and exploration drilling.

Along with our cash position, we hold a $42 million revolving credit facility and have an additional $19 million of borrowing capacity under our equipment financing credit facility. We expect to use approximately $100 million for capital projects in 2011. This total includes $42 million for new equipment and facilities upgrades, $20 million for mine-site drilling, and $38 million for mine property development.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

The Bogoso Tailings Retreatment project is on track to be operational, subject to permitting, in the second half of 2011. The engineering has been completed and permitting and equipment procurement commenced in the fourth quarter of 2010 to build a hydraulic tailings recovery system to pump tailings to the oxide processing plant. This will be a low-cost incremental source of gold production for Bogoso/Prestea.

During 2011, we will continue working on permitting the Mampon and Prestea South deposits and will proceed with the Pampe pit layback. These deposits will provide additional sources of ore for the Bogoso oxide processing plant.

We are also completing our evaluation of the Prestea Underground Project. We have been refurbishing the Central and Bondaye shafts at Prestea, have dewatered the mine to 30 Level and have drilled more than 64,000 m of diamond core resulting in an Indicated Mineral resource of 1.1 million tonnes grading 15.80 g/t, with significant potential to expand along strike and at depth.

 

 

Golden Star Resources Ltd. (www.gsr.com)

 

 

News Release 11-04 Page 3 of 8


EXPLORATION

In 2010, a total of $20 million was spent on exploration projects of which 80% was spent on mine site drilling. This resulted in a 24% increase in Mineral Reserves and a 63% increase in Mineral Resources. These results are discussed in more detail in a separate press release dated February 23, 2011.

The exploration budget for 2011 is $30 million and these funds will also be focused on resource definition drilling surrounding our operating areas in Ghana as well as very selective exploration and drilling at our other West African projects, and an increased level of exploration activity in Brazil.

In Brazil, we signed a joint venture agreement with Votorantim Metais, a subsidiary of Votorantim Group, a large Brazilian conglomerate. The joint venture covers a 3,400 square kilometer land package in northern Mato Grosso state, Brazil. We will also be exploring on our other Brazilian projects in Mato Grosso, Goias and Minas Gerais states.

LOOKING AHEAD

Our objectives for 2011 include:

 

   

Continued reserve and resource definition drilling at Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa/HBB;

 

   

Optimize and stabilize ore feed at Bogoso/Prestea to improve metallurgical recoveries;

 

   

Permitting, development and operation of the Bogoso Tailings Retreatment Project;

 

   

Reopening the Pampe pit to provide oxide ore to the Bogoso oxide processing plant;

 

   

Finalization of permits and development for the Prestea South project; and

 

   

Advance the development of the Prestea Underground project.

Our 2011 guidance is:

 

     2010  
Guidance   

Gold Production

(oz)

    

Cash Operating Cost

($/oz)

 

Bogoso/Prestea

     160,000         -         180,000       $ 950         -       $ 1,050   

Wassa/HBB

     170,000         -         180,000       $ 650         -       $ 700   
                                         

Total

     330,000         -         360,000       $ 800         -       $ 870   

 

 

Golden Star Resources Ltd. (www.gsr.com)

 

 

News Release 11-04 Page 4 of 8


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: The following information is derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements contained in our Form 10-K, which we filed with the SEC. It is also available on our website at www.gsr.com.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Stated in thousands of US dollars except shares issued and outstanding)

 

     As of
December 31,
2010
    As of
December 31
2009
 

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 178,018      $ 154,088   

Accounts receivable

     11,885        7,021   

Inventories

     65,141        52,198   

Deposits

     5,865        4,774   

Prepaids and other

     1,522        1,415   
                

Total Current Assets

     262,431        219,496   

RESTRICTED CASH

     1,205        3,804   

DEFERRED EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS

     14,487        12,949   

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

     229,081        231,855   

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

     7,373        9,480   

MINING PROPERTIES

     283,711        276,114   

OTHER ASSETS

     3,167        181   
                

Total Assets

   $ 801,455      $ 753,879   
                

LIABILITIES

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES

    

Accounts payable

   $ 34,522      $ 28,234   

Accrued liabilities

     53,935        34,178   

Asset retirement obligations

     23,485        1,938   

Current tax liability

     1,128        616   

Current debt

     10,014        9,970   
                

Total Current Liabilities

     123,084        74,936   

LONG TERM DEBT

     117,289        114,595   

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

     21,467        30,031   

FUTURE TAX LIABILITY

     20,456        13,997   
                

Total Liabilities

   $ 282,296      $ 233,559   
                

MINORITY INTEREST

     1,278        —     

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

SHARE CAPITAL

    

First preferred shares, without par value, unlimited shares authorized. No shares issued and outstanding

     —          —     

Common shares, without par value, unlimited shares authorized. Shares issued and outstanding: 258,511,236 at December 31, 2010; 257,362,561 at December 31, 2009

     693,853        690,423   

CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS

     17,552        15,759   

EQUITY COMPONENT OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

     34,542        34,542   

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

     643        24   

DEFICIT

     (228,709     (220,428
                

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     517,881        520,320   
                

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 801,455      $ 753,879   
                

 

 

Golden Star Resources Ltd. (www.gsr.com)

 

 

News Release 11-04 Page 5 of 8


GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Stated in thousands of US dollars except share and per share data)

 

     For the years ended December 31,  
     2010     2009     2008  

REVENUE

      

Gold revenues

   $ 432,693      $ 400,739      $ 257,355   

Cost of sales

     388,391        363,030        298,930   
                        

Mine operating margin

     44,302        37,709        (41,575

OTHER EXPENSES, (GAINS) AND LOSSES

      

Exploration expense

     1,860        834        1,954   

General and administrative expense

     17,065        14,156        15,221   

Abandonment and impairment

     —          3,079        68,380   

Derivative mark-to-market losses

     850        3,538        980   

Property holding costs

     5,299        4,196        —     

Foreign exchange (gain)/loss

     872        (2,995     (2,587

Interest expense

     16,946        15,647        14,591   

Interest and other income

     (362     (197     (805

Loss on sale of assets

     829        304        575   

Gain on sale of investments

     —          —          (5,402
                        

Income/(loss) before minority interest

     943        (853     (134,482

Minority interest

     (1,278     —          6,150   
                        

Loss before income tax

     (355     (853     (128,332

Income tax (expense)/benefit

     (7,946     17,372        9,029   
                        

Net income/(loss)

   $ (8,281   $ 16,519      $ (119,303
                        

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

      

Unrealized (gain)/loss on available-for-sale investments

     619        113        (3,280
                        

Comprehensive income/(loss)

   $ (7,662   $ 16,632      $ (122,583
                        

Net income/(loss) per common share - basic

   $ (0.032   $ 0.070      $ (0.506

Net income/(loss) per common share - diluted

   $ (0.032   $ 0.069      $ (0.506

Weighted average shares outstanding (millions)

     258.0        237.2        235.7   

Weighted average number of diluted shares (millions)

     258.0        238.4        235.7   

 

 

Golden Star Resources Ltd. (www.gsr.com)

 

 

News Release 11-04 Page 6 of 8


GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Stated in thousands of US dollars)

 

     For the years ended December 31,  
     2010     2009     2008  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net income/(loss)

   $ (8,281   $ 16,519      $ (119,303

Reconciliation of net income/loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     100,762        113,977        60,583   

Amortization of loan acquisition cost

     1,888        1,201        732   

Abandonment and impairment

     —          3,079        68,380   

Gain on sale of equity investments

     —          —          (5,402

Loss on sale of assets

     829        304        575   

Non cash employee compensation

     2,975        2,033        2,088   

Future income tax expense/(benefit)

     6,459        (19,127     (9,029

Fair value of derivatives mark-to-market (gain/loss)

     (216     (1,838     2,076   

Accretion of convertible debt

     7,079        6,624        6,198   

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     2,802        2,165        778   

Minority interests

     1,279        —          (6,150

Reclamation expenditures

     (9,704     (1,985     (1,163
                        
     105,872        122,952        363   

Changes in non-cash working capital:

      

Accounts receivable

     (4,010     (2,702     4,060   

Inventories

     (14,351     (4,327     3,229   

Deposits

     235        (845     —     

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     26,978        (10,848     24,618   

Other

     480        385        (2,226
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     115,204        104,615        30,044   

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

      

Expenditures on deferred exploration and development

     (3,538     (3,460     (6,937

Expenditures on mining properties

     (49,390     (32,839     (42,830

Expenditures on property, plant and equipment

     (30,849     (12,468     (24,660

Proceeds from sale of equity investment

     1,467        —          7,104   

Proceeds from the sale of assets

     —          2        1,351   

Change in payable on capital expenditures

     901        (962     (5,235

Change in deposits on mine equipment & material

     (1,326     (54     2,881   

Other

     2,598        445        (2,740
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (80,137     (49,336     (71,066

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

      

Issuance of share capital, net of issue costs

     2,248        73,489        6,238   

Principal payments on debt

     (38,049     (28,856     (17,816

Proceeds from equipment financing facility & revolving debt facility

     25,674        22,837        11,456   

Other

     (1,010     (2,219     (1,051
                        

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

     (11,137     65,251        (1,173
                        

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     23,930        120,530        (42,196

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     154,088        33,558        75,754   
                        

Cash and cash equivalents end of period

   $ 178,018      $ 154,088      $ 33,558   
                        

 

 

Golden Star Resources Ltd. (www.gsr.com)

 

 

News Release 11-04 Page 7 of 8


COMPANY PROFILE

Golden Star holds a 90% equity interest in Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited and Golden Star (Wassa) Limited, which respectively own the Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa/HBB open-pit gold mines in Ghana. In addition, Golden Star has an 81% interest in the currently inactive Prestea Underground mine in Ghana, as well as gold exploration interests elsewhere in Ghana, in other parts of West Africa and in Brazil in South America. Golden Star has approximately 258 million shares outstanding.

Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such statements include comments regarding permitting and the mining at Prestea South; our 2011 exploration budget and planned exploration activities and drilling, including exploration at Bogoso/Prestea, and Wassa/HBB, and in West Africa and Brazil; the ability to fund cash needs including capital and operating expenditures; optimization of throughput and recovery rates at the Bogoso sulfide processing plant, including the nature of ore that is expected to be encountered at Bogoso/Prestea and its impact on recovery rates and production levels; our 2011 production and cash operating cost estimates, capital expenditure estimates, our objectives for 2011; the timing of a development decision in respect of Prestea Underground; sources of and adequacy of cash to meet capital and other needs in 2010; and the ability to convert Mineral Resources into Mineral Reserves. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include timing of and unexpected events at the Bogoso/Prestea oxide and sulfide processing plant; variations in ore grade, tonnes mined, crushed or milled; variations in relative amounts of refractory, non-refractory and transition ores; delay or failure to receive board or government approvals and permits; the availability and cost of electrical power, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; technical, permitting, mining or processing issues, changes in U.S. and Canadian securities markets, and fluctuations in gold price and costs and general economic conditions. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the discussion of these and other factors in our Form 10-K for 2010. The forecasts contained in this press release constitute management’s current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received and that actual results will vary from these estimates, possibly by material amounts. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event. Investors and others should not assume that any forecasts in this press release represent management’s estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures: in this news release, we use the terms “cash operating cost per ounce.” Cash operating cost per ounce is equal to total cash costs less production royalties and production taxes, divided by the number of ounces of gold sold during the period. We use cash operating cost per ounce as a key operating indicator. We monitor this measure monthly, comparing each month’s values to prior period’s values to detect trends that may indicate increases or decreases in operating efficiencies. This measure is also compared against budget to alert management to trends that may cause actual results to deviate from planned operational results. We provide this measure to our investors to allow them to also monitor operational efficiencies of our mines. We calculate this measure for both individual operating units and on a consolidated basis. Cash operating cost per ounce should be considered as Non-GAAP Financial Measures as defined in SEC Regulation S-K Item 10 and other applicable securities laws and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are material limitations associated with the use of such non-GAAP measures. Since this measure does not incorporate revenues, changes in working capital and non-operating cash costs, it is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under GAAP. Changes in numerous factors including, but not limited to, mining rates, milling rates, gold grade, gold recovery, and the costs of labor, consumables and mine site general and administrative activities can cause these measures to increase or decrease. We believe that these measures are the same or similar to the measures of other gold mining companies, but may not be comparable to similarly titled measures in every instance.

For further information, please contact:

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.    +1-800-553-8436

Bruce Higson-Smith, Vice President Corporate Development

Anne Hite, Investor Relations Manager

 

 

Golden Star Resources Ltd. (www.gsr.com)

 

 

News Release 11-04 Page 8 of 8