SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
Form 10-Q/A
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________ to ________.
Commission file number 1-12284
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Canada 98-0101955
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
10901 West Toller Drive, Suite 300
Littleton, Colorado 80127-6312
(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)
(303) 830-9000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
------- ------
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes X No
------- -------
Number of Common Shares outstanding as of May 2, 2005: 142,389,060
1
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Form 10-Q/A is being filed to amend Golden Star Resources Ltd.'s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005 in order to reflect the
restatement of our unaudited consolidated financial statements and amendments to
related disclosures as of March 31, 2005 and for the three months ended March
31, 2005 and 2004. The restatements arose from management's determination that
Golden Star's 53% owned consolidated subsidiary, EURO Ressources S.A.(previously
Guyanor Ressources S.A.), had incorrectly used hedge accounting for its
cash-settled forward gold pricing derivatives established in January and August
2005.
Generally, no attempt has been made in this Form 10-Q/A to modify or update
other disclosures presented in the original report on Form 10-Q except as
otherwise required to reflect the effects of the restatement. This Form 10-Q/A
does not reflect events occurring after the filing of the original Form 10-Q or
modify or update those disclosures. Information not affected by the restatement
is unchanged and reflects the disclosure made at the time of the original filing
of the Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2005.
INDEX
Part I Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Part II Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
Signatures
Exhibits
All amounts in this Report are expressed in United States ("US") dollars, unless
otherwise indicated. Canadian currency is denoted as "Cdn$" and the Euro is
denoted as "(euro)".
Financial information is presented in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in Canada ("Cdn GAAP"). Differences between accounting
principles generally accepted in the US ("US GAAP") and those applied in Canada,
as applicable to Golden Star Resources Ltd., are explained in Note 21 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.
References to "Golden Star", "we", "our", and "us" mean Golden Star Resources
Ltd., its predecessors and consolidated subsidiaries, or any one or more of
them, as the context requires.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
In this Form 10-Q/A, we use the terms "total cash cost per ounce" and "cash
operating cost per ounce" which are considered Non-GAAP financial measures as
defined in SEC Regulation S-K Item 10 and should not be considered in isolation
or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
See Item 2 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations for a definition of these measures as used in this Form
10-Q/A.
2
STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This Form 10-Q/A and the documents incorporated by reference in this Form 10-Q/A
contain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, with respect to our
financial condition, results of operations, business, prospects, plans,
objectives, goals, strategies, future events, capital expenditures, and
exploration and development efforts. Words such as "anticipates," "expects,"
"intends," "forecasts," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may,"
"will," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Although we
believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot be certain that these
plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Actual results, performance
or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference
in this Form 10-Q/A. These statements include comments regarding: the
establishment and estimates of mineral reserves and resources, recovery rates,
production, production commencement dates, production costs, cash operating
costs, total cash costs, grade, processing capacity, potential mine life,
feasibility studies, development costs, expenditures, exploration activities and
expenditures, funding for Guyanor Ressources S.A., stripping rates at
Bogoso/Prestea, equipment replacement at Wassa, completion of the Wassa power
line, our expansion plans for Bogoso/Prestea and related permitting and capital
costs, production capacity, operating costs and gold recoveries.
The following, in addition to the factors described under "Risk Factors" in our
Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2004, are among the
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements:
o unexpected changes in business and economic conditions;
o significant increases or decreases in gold prices;
o changes in interest and currency exchange rates;
o timing and amount of production;
o unanticipated grade changes;
o unanticipated recovery or production problems;
o effects of illegal miners on our properties;
o changes in mining and processing costs including changes to costs of
raw materials and personnel;
o changes in metallurgy and processing;
o availability of skilled personnel, materials, equipment, supplies and
water;
o changes in project parameters;
o costs and timing of development of new reserves;
o results of current and future exploration activities;
o results of pending and future feasibility studies;
o joint venture relationships;
o political or economic instability, either globally or in the countries
in which we operate;
o local and community impacts and issues;
o timing of receipt of and maintenance of government approvals and
permits;
o accidents and labor disputes;
o environmental costs and risks;
o competitive factors, including competition for property acquisitions;
and
o availability of capital at reasonable rates or at all.
These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the general or
specific factors that could affect us. Your attention is drawn to other risk
factors disclosed and discussed in Item 1 of our 2004 Form 10-K as amended. We
undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
3
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Stated in thousands of US dollars except shares issued and outstanding)
(Unaudited)
As of As of
March 31, December 31,
2005 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 17,019 $ 12,877
Short term investments (Note 2) 22,450 38,850
Accounts receivable 4,349 3,592
Inventories (Note 3) 13,615 15,366
Due from sale of property (Note 4) - 1,000
Future tax assets 1,596 1,542
Deposits (Note 5) 7,963 5,102
Prepaids and other 432 517
-------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Total Current Assets 67,424 78,846
RESTRICTED CASH (Note 15) 3,372 3,351
LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (Note 6) 5,524 5,528
DEFERRED EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS (Note 7) 7,057 7,452
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Note 8) 32,004 28,653
MINING PROPERTIES (Note 9) 79,077 74,197
DEFERRED STRIPPING (Note 11) 1,273 1,357
MINE CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS (Note 10) 61,766 51,159
LOAN ACQUISITION COSTS (Note 12) 174 -
OTHER ASSETS 1,483 1,617
-------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Total Assets $ 259,154 $ 252,160
-------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable $ 5,823 $ 7,010
Other accrued liabilities 10,298 9,203
Current debt (Note 13) 3,028 1,267
-------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Total current liabilities 19,149 17,480
LONG TERM DEBT (Note 13) 6,628 1,707
FAIR VALUE OF DERIVATIVES (Note 12) 1,280 -
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS (Note 14) 8,918 8,660
-------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Total Liabilities 35,975 27,847
MINORITY INTERESTS 6,533 6,353
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 15)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
SHARE CAPITAL
First preferred shares, without par value, unlimited
shares authorized. No shares issued - -
Common shares, without par value, unlimited shares
authorized. Shares issued and outstanding:
142,389,060 at March 31, 2005; 142,244,112 at
December 31, 2004 (Notes 16 and 17) 342,886 342,494
CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS 2,557 2,040
DEFICIT (128,797) (126,574)
-------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Total shareholders' equity 216,646 217,960
-------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 259,154 $ 252,160
======================================================== ========== ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
4
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Stated in thousands of US dollars except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended
March 31, March 31,
2005 2004
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVENUE
Gold sales $ 16,691 $ 19,265
Royalty income (Note 4) 1,050 -
Interest and other 310 592
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues 18,051 19,857
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSES
Mining operations 12,076 9,125
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 2,172 2,278
Accretion of asset retirement obligation (Note 14) 187 159
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total production costs 14,435 11,562
Exploration expense 167 234
General and administrative expense 2,303 1,762
Corporate development expense 96 49
Employee stock option expense 558 46
Loss on equity investments 40 -
Derivative mark-to-market loss 1,280 -
Abandonment and impairment of mineral properties 1,083 -
Interest expense 79 6
Foreign exchange loss 107 283
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total expenses 20,148 13,942
Income before minority interest (2,097) 5,915
Minority interest (180) (721)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) before income tax (2,277) 5,194
Provision for future income taxes 54 -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) $ (2,223) $ 5,194
=============================================================================================
Deficit, beginning of period (126,574) (129,216)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deficit, end of period $ (128,797) $ (124,022)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) per common share - basic (Note 19) $ (0.016) $ 0.039
Net income/(loss) per common share - diluted (Note 19) $ (0.016) $ 0.035
Weighted average shares outstanding (millions of shares) 142.3 133.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
5
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Stated in thousands of US dollars)
(Unaudited)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended
March 31, March 31,
2005 2004
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income/(loss) $ (2,223) $ 5,194
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 2,172 2,278
Deferred stripping 84 -
Loss on equity investment 40 -
Non-cash employee compensation 568 137
Abandonment and impairment of mineral properties 1,083 -
Provision for future income taxes (54) -
Reclamation expenditures (229) (167)
Fair value of derivatives 1,280 -
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 187 159
Minority interests 180 721
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
3,088 8,322
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (757) (877)
Inventories 1,751 (1,566)
Deposits (532) -
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (1) 530
Other 85 (404)
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
Net cash provided by operating activities 3,634 6,005
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Expenditures on deferred exploration and development (688) (1,624)
Expenditures on mining properties (6,362) (2,525)
Expenditures on property, plant and equipment (4,032) (1,006)
Expenditures on mine construction in progress (10,607) (5,612)
Asset retirement obligation assets 300 182
Redemption of short term investments 16,400 -
Sale of property 1,000 1,000
Deposits (2,329) -
Other 77 (819)
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
Net cash used in investing activities (6,241) (10,404)
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of share capital, net of issue costs (Note 16) 175 695
Debt repayments (Note 13) (477) (47)
Issuance of debt (Note 13) 7,159 -
Other (108) (202)
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
Net cash provided by financing activities 6,749 446
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 4,142 (3,953)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 12,877 89,970
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
Cash and cash equivalents end of period $ 17,019 $ 86,017
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -----------
See Note 20 for supplemental cash flow information
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
6
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars unless noted otherwise)
(Unaudited)
These consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes are unaudited
and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial
statements and related notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K,
as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2004, on file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and with the Canadian securities commissions. Financial
information is presented in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in Canada.
In management's opinion, the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the
three months ended March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2004 contained herein reflect
all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring items, which are
necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations
and cash flows on a basis consistent with that of our prior audited consolidated
financial statements.
In certain cases prior period amounts have been restated to reflect current
period presentation.
1. Description of Business
Through our subsidiaries and joint ventures we own a controlling interest in
three significant gold properties in southern Ghana in West Africa: the
Bogoso/Prestea property ("Bogoso/Prestea"), the Wassa property ("Wassa") and the
Prestea Underground property ("Prestea Underground"). Bogoso and Prestea are
adjoining properties, operating as a single operation.
Bogoso/Prestea and the Prestea Underground are owned by our 90% owned subsidiary
Bogoso Gold Limited ("BGL"). All of our gold production prior to 2005 came from
Bogoso/Prestea. The Prestea Underground is located on the Prestea property and
consists of a currently inactive underground gold mine and associated support
facilities. BGL owns a 90% operating interest in this mine. We are currently
conducting exploration and engineering studies to determine if the underground
mine can be reactivated on a profitable basis.
Through another 90% owned subsidiary, Wexford Goldfields Limited ("WGL"), we own
the Wassa gold property, located some 35 kilometers east of Bogoso/Prestea. A
newly constructed ore processing plant and open pit mine at Wassa was completed
and placed in service on April 1, 2005.
We hold interests in an exploration joint venture in Sierra Leone in West Africa
and hold active exploration properties in Ghana, Suriname and French Guiana. We
hold interests in gold exploration properties in Peru and Chile through our
affiliate Goldmin Holdings, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through
an investment in Moto Goldmines Limited.
Our corporate headquarters is located in Littleton, Colorado. Our accounting
records are kept in compliance with Canadian GAAP and all of our operations,
except for a French Guiana exploration office, transact business in US dollars
and keep financial records in US dollars.
2. Short Term Investments
Short term investments include funds invested in AA or AAA rated Auction Rate
Certificates. The certificates are short term investments in long term
securities. The interest rate received is reset every 7, 28 or 35 days, and the
certificates can be liquidated for cash at each interest reset date.
7
3. Inventories
As of As of
March 31, December 31,
2005 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockpiled ore $3,065 $3,659
In-process 1,606 2,858
Materials and supplies 8,944 8,849
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total inventories $13,615 $15,366
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Guiana Shield Transactions
In late 2001 we sold our interest in the Rosebel exploration property in South
America to Cambior Inc. ("Cambior"). In addition to a $5.0 million payment
received at closing in 2002, terms of the sale agreement provided that Cambior
would make three deferred payments of $1.0 million each plus royalty payments on
the first seven million ounces of gold production. The first and second deferred
payments were received in the first quarters of 2003 and 2004 respectively. The
third and final deferred payment was received in March 2005.
Cambior completed construction and initiated operation of the Rosebel mine in
February 2004 and we began receiving royalty payments which totaled $3.0 million
during 2004. The royalty during the first quarter of 2005 totaled $1.1 million.
On December 31, 2004 we sold the Rosebel royalty to Guyanor Ressources S.A., our
58.9% owned subsidiary, for $12.0 million, of which $6.0 million was paid to
Golden Star on January 8, 2005. A second installment of $6.0 million is due
prior to June 30, 2005. Additionally, we are entitled to receive a royalty of up
to $2.50 per ounce of Rosebel production for all production in excess of 2
million ounces but less than 4 million ounces and up to $5.00 per ounce when
production exceeds 4 million ounces up to 7 million ounces.
Guyanor borrowed $6.0 million from a commercial bank in early January 2005 and
used the loan proceeds to make the $6.0 million payment due to Golden Star at
that time. The debt is included as a liability on our consolidated balance
sheet. All other aspects of this transaction are eliminated upon consolidation
since we own a majority of Guyanor's common shares.
5. Deposits
Deposits represent advance payments for equipment and materials purchases by WGL
and BGL.
6. Long Term Investments
Long term investments represents a $1.4 million investment in Goldmin Holdings,
a privately held exploration company with a focus on South America and a $4.1
million investment in the common shares of Moto Goldmines Limited ("Moto"), a
publicly traded gold exploration and development company.
We own approximately 28% of Goldmin Holding's common shares and carry the
investment on an equity investment basis recognizing $(0.04) million of equity
losses in the first quarter of 2005. We own 9.5% of Moto's common shares and
hold warrants, which if exercised would raise our interest to 13.3%. The fair
value of our shares in Moto, based on the market price of their shares on March
31, 2005, was $5.2 million.
8
7. Deferred Exploration and Development Costs
Deferred Deferred
Exploration Capitalized Exploration
& Exploration Acquistions Transfers Impairments &
Development Expenditures Development
Costs as of Costs as of
12/31/04 3/31/05
AFRICA:
Akropong Trend & other
Ghana $ 2,443 $ 262 $ - $ (223) $ - $ 2,482
Prestea property
projects 2,067 - - - 2,067
Mininko - Mali 1,033 50 - (1,083) -
Mano River - Sierra
Leone 758 220 - - - 978
Afema - Ivory Coast - - 110 - - 110
SOUTH AMERICA PROJECTS
Saramacca - Suriname 394 82 - - - 476
Bon Espoir - French
Guiana 501 187 - - - 688
Paul Isnard - French
Guiana 256 - - - - 256
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $ 7,452 $ 801 $ 110 $ (223) $ (1,083) $ 7,057
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Property, Plant and Equipment
As of March 31, 2005 As of December 31, 2004
---------------------------------------------------------------
Property, Property,
Property, Plant and Property, Plant and
Plant and Equipment Plant and Equipment
Equipment Accumulated Net Book Equipment Accumulated Net Book
at Cost Depreciation Value at Cost Depreciation Value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoso/Prestea $ 31,771 $ 5,723 $ 26,048 $27,722 $ 5,057 $ 22,665
Prestea
Underground 238 - 238 238 - 238
Guyanor 1,969 1,954 15 1,969 1,951 18
Wassa 5,460 - 5,460 5,460 - 5,460
Corporate & Other 1,043 800 243 1,060 788 272
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $ 40,481 $ 8,477 $ 32,004 $36,449 $ 7,796 $ 28,653
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Mining Properties
As of March 31, 2005 As of December 31, 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------
Mine Mine
Mine Property, Mine Property,
Property Accumulated Net Book Property Accumulated Net Book
at Cost Amortization Value at Cost Amortization Value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoso/Prestea $ 44,188 $ 24,594 $ 19,594 $ 43,420 $ 23,113 $ 20,307
Prestea
Underground 14,913 - 14,913 12,984 - 12,984
Wassa 9,653 - 9,653 9,653 - 9,653
Bogoso Sulfide 16,095 - 16,095 13,065 - 13,065
Mampon 13,676 - 13,676 13,676 - 13,676
Other 5,146 - 5,146 4,512 - 4,512
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $ 103,671 $ 24,594 $ 79,077 $ 97,310 $ 23,113 $ 74,197
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9
10. Mine Construction in Progress
Mine construction in progress represents costs incurred at the Wassa project
subsequent to its acquisition. The balance includes feasibility study costs,
equipment purchases and construction costs, including interim payments to the
construction contractor and development costs. On April 1, 2005 the Wassa mine
was placed in service and at that time amounts in this account were reclassified
as Mining Properties and Property, Plant and Equipment.
11. Deferred Stripping
The amount of stripping costs to be capitalized is calculated each quarter by
determining the tonnes of waste moved in excess of the life-of-pit average strip
ratio and valuing the excess tonnage of removed waste at the average mining cost
per tonne during the period. Costs are recovered in periods when the actual
tonnes of waste moved are less than what would have been moved at the average
life-of-pit rate, such tonnes being valued at the rolling average cost of the
waste tonnage amounts capitalized.
The capitalized component of waste rock removal costs is shown on our
consolidated balance sheets on a line titled "Deferred Stripping". The cost
impact is included in the Statements of Operations in the line item titled
"Mining operations". In periods when the strip ratio exceeds the pit average,
the costs of the excess stripping are excluded from our cost per ounce
calculations. In periods when the strip ratio is less than the pit average,
capitalized waste costs are added back to operating costs and included in cost
per ounce calculations.
12. Loan acquisition costs, hedging and derivatives
In January 2005 Guyanor, our subsidiary, was required to enter in to a gold
derivative positions as part of a $6.0 million loan agreement (see Note 13(a)).
At that date Guyanor entered into a cash-settled forward gold pricing agreement
for 57,000 ounces at a fixed price of $421 over a period of ten quarters.
Mark-to-market pricing of these derivatives resulted in a $1.3 million liability
and a $1.3 million derivative mark-to-market loss at March 31, 2005.
As a result of Guyanor's transaction, Golden Star had the following derivative
contracts at March 31, 2005:
There- Total/
Gold Forward Contracts: 2005 2006 2007 after Average Fair Value
-------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ------ -------- --------------
Ounces (thousands) 17.1 22.8 11.4 - 51.3 $(1.3) million
-------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ------ -------- --------------
Average Price (US$) 421 421 421 - 421
-------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ------ -------- --------------
10
13. Debt
As of March As of
31, 2005 December,
31, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current debt:
Bank loan - Guyanor (Note a) $1,333 $ -
CAT equipment financing loans (Note b) 1,695 1,267
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current debt 3,028 1,267
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long term debt:
Bank loan - Guyanor (Note a) $4,667 $ -
CAT equipment financing loans (Note b) 1,961 1,707
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total long term debt $6,628 $1,707
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) In January 2005, Guyanor drew down $6.0 million under a credit facility from
a bank and paid the funds to Golden Star as the first installment on its
purchase of the Rosebel royalty. The loan is repayable in nine equal payments of
$666,667 beginning July 29, 2005 and every three months thereafter. The interest
rate is set at LIBOR plus 2.5%. Interest is payable at the end of each 1, 2 or 3
month period as Guyanor may choose. The loan is collateralized by Guyanor's
assets, including the Rosebel royalty. The lender has no recourse to Golden
Star.
(b) We have an equipment financing credit facility for up to $25 million between
Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, BGL and WGL, subsidiaries of Golden
Star, with Golden Star as the guarantor of all amounts borrowed. The facility
provides credit for a mixture of new and used mining equipment. This facility is
reviewed annually and was renewed in April 2005. Amounts drawn under this
facility are repayable over five years for new equipment and over two years for
used equipment. The interest rate is fixed using the Federal Reserve Bank 2-year
or 5-year swap rate plus 2.28% or a floating interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.28%.
As of March 31, 2005, $3.7 million was outstanding under this loan, of which
$1.9 million was for used equipment and $1.8 million was for new equipment. The
average interest rate is currently 5.6% on the used equipment loans and 6.2% for
the new equipment loans.
See Subsequent Events note below for additional debt incurred in April 2005.
14. Asset Retirement Obligations
Our Asset Retirement Obligations ("ARO") are estimated to be the present value
of the ultimate closure cost associated with reclamation, demolition and
stabilization of our Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa mining and ore processing
properties. Included in this liability are the costs of mine closure and
reclamation, processing plant and infrastructure demolition, tailings pond
stabilization and reclamation and environmental monitoring costs.
11
The changes in the carrying amount of the ARO during the first three months of
2005 are:
Three months ended
March 31, 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 2004 $ 8,660
Accretion expense 186
Reclamation work performed (228)
New AROs incurred during the period 300
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at March 31, 2005 $ 8,918
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended
March 31, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 2003 $ 7,745
Accretion expense 159
Reclamation work performed (167)
New AROs incurred during the period 182
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at March 31, 2004 $ 7,919
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Commitments and Contingencies
(a) Environmental Regulations and Asset Retirement Obligations - We are not
aware of any events of material non-compliance with environmental laws and
regulations in our operations which could have a material adverse effect on our
operations or financial condition. The exact nature of environmental control
problems, if any, which we may encounter in the future cannot be predicted,
primarily because of the changing character of environmental requirements that
may be enacted within various jurisdictions. Asset retirement obligations, which
include environmental rehabilitation liabilities for reclamation and for closure
costs, were $6.1 million at Bogoso/Prestea at March 31, 2005, up from $6.0
million at December 31, 2004. Asset retirement obligations at Wassa totaled $2.7
million at March 31, 2005, the same as at the end of 2004.
(b) Cash Restricted for Environmental Rehabilitation Liabilities - In 1999, we
were required, according to the acquisition agreement with the sellers of BGL,
to restrict $6.0 million of cash to be used for the ongoing and final
reclamation and closure costs at Bogoso. The withdrawal of these funds must be
agreed to by the sellers, who are ultimately responsible for the reclamation in
the event of our non-performance. Between 1999 and 2001 we were able to draw
$2.6 million to cover our out of pocket cash reclamation costs. There have been
no disbursements of the restricted cash since 2001. In May 2005, at the request
of the Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency, we expect to bond $9.0 million,
to cover future reclamation obligations at Bogoso/Prestea. When the bond is in
place, we will seek to amend the agreement with the original sellers of BGL to
allow us to withdraw the remaining $3.4 million of restricted cash.
(c) Environmental Bonding in Ghana - During 2004 the Ghana Environmental
Protection Agency requested that we provide environmental reclamation bonds for
both Bogoso/Prestea (as described above) and Wassa. In March 2005, we bonded
$3.0 million to cover future reclamation obligations at Wassa, with a $2.85
million letter of credit and $0.15 million of cash being deposited with the
Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency. In May 2005, we expect to bond $9.0
million, to cover future reclamation obligations at Bogoso/Prestea with a letter
of credit for $8.55 million and a deposit of $0.45 million with the Ghanaian
Environmental Protection Agency to complete our obligations for Bogoso/Prestea.
12
(d) Royalties -
(i) Dunkwa Properties: As part of the acquisition of the Dunkwa properties
in August 2003, we agreed to pay the seller a net smelter return royalty
on future gold production from the Mansiso and Asikuma properties,
excluding any royalty on the first 200,000 ounces produced from Mampon
which is located on the Asikuma property. The amount of the royalty is
based on a sliding scale which ranges from 2% of net smelter return at
gold prices of or below $300 per ounce up to 3.5% for gold prices in
excess of $400 per ounce.
(ii) Government of Ghana: Under the laws of Ghana, a holder of a mining
lease is required to pay an annual royalty of not less than 3% and not
more than 12% of the total revenues earned from the lease area. The
royalty is payable on a quarterly basis. We currently pay a 3% annual
royalty on gold production from Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa production. The
Government of Ghana retains the right to increase the amount of the
royalty to as much as 12% based upon a formula related to a company's
operating margin.
(iii) Afema: See item (f) below for a discussion of potential royalties
associated with the Afema project.
(e) Mano River Joint Venture - We entered into a joint venture agreement in late
2003 to invest up to $6 million over four years in the Mano River project in
Sierra Leone via an earn-in agreement with a junior exploration company which
holds a group of gold exploration properties in Sierra Leone. The initial $6
million, if fully funded would yield a 51% interest in the joint venture.
Further provisions of the joint venture agreement provide the opportunity to
acquire up to 85% of the joint venture by continued long term funding. The joint
venture agreement is subject to completion of documentation. Spending in 2004
totaled $0.8 million, leaving $0.2 million on our minimum commitment to the
project. We spent $0.2 million on the Mano River project during the first
quarter of 2005, thereby meeting the minimum commitment.
(f) On March 29, 2005 we entered into an agreement with Societe d'Etat pour le
Developpement Minier de la Cote d'Ivoire Mines ("SO.DE.MI."), the Cote d'Ivoire
state mining and exploration company, to acquire their 90% interest in the Afema
gold property in south-east Cote d'Ivoire.
A $100,000 initial payment was made to SO.DE.MI. which gave us the right to
carry out a six month detailed technical due diligence program, after which we
have the right to complete the transaction to acquire 100% of SO.DE.MI.'s rights
in the Afema property for an additional $1.5 million. In addition to the
acquisition payments, we agreed to pay SO.DE.MI. a royalty on any future gold
production from the Afema property. The royalty will be indexed to the gold
price. At current gold prices (in the range of $375 to $450 per ounce) the
royalty rate would be 2.5%.
We currently plan to spend about $0.5 million on exploration in the first six
months and may, subject to exploration success and in the event that we complete
the acquisition, spend a further spend $3.5 million exclusive of the $1.5
million acquisition costs, over the next three and a half years.
While we believe this action is without merit, we cannot reasonably predict the
outcome of this litigation. We filed a submission with the court asserting our
positions on April 8, 2005.
(g) As previously disclosed in 2004, due to financial difficulties experienced
by Prestea Gold Resources Limited. ("PGR"), our joint venture partner in the
Prestea Underground, PGR's interest in the joint venture became vested in our
subsidiary BGL under the terms of the original joint venture agreement. The
official liquidator has previously affirmed the vesting of this interest upon
request made by BGL. However, the vesting is currently being challenged in an
action brought before the High Court, Accra against the official liquidator by
Merchant Bank (Ghana) Ltd in its capacity as a judgment creditor of PGR. The
action was commenced on February 28, 2005 and seeks an order of the court to
compel the official liquidator to take control of PGR's residual interest in the
joint venture and to have the interest valued and the proceeds made available
for distribution among all the creditors of PGR. Had PGR's interest not vested
with BGL, spending by BGL in 2003, 2004 and 2005 would have diluted PGR's
interest to approximately 10% by March 31, 2005.
13
The judgment creditor's claim is based on the assertion that the vesting of the
residual interest in BGL under the joint venture agreement was either illegal
and void and/or that such vesting should necessarily go with the assumption by
BGL of all PGR's obligations owed to third parties, including those unrelated to
the joint venture.
The liquidator's position is that this action is without merit and has filed a
submission with the Court based on that position. We have volunteered to become
a co-respondent in the action and in that capacity, we have filed a submission
with the Court in support of the liquidator's position.
While we believe this action is without merit, we cannot reasonably predict the
outcome of this litigation. We filed a submission with the court asserting our
positions on April 8, 2005.
16. Share Capital
Changes in share capital during the three months ended March 31, 2005 were:
Shares Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning balance as of December 31, 2004 142,244,112 $ 342,494
Common shares issued:
Option exercises 99,606 175
Warrant exercises - -
Bonus shares and other 45,342 217
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending balance as of March 31, 2005 142,389,060 $ 342,886
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. Stock Based Compensation
(a) Stock Options - We have one stock option plan, the Second Amended and
Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "GSR Plan") and options are granted under
this plan from time to time at the discretion of the Compensation Committee,
except with respect to grants to non-employee directors, which are granted by
the Board of Directors as a whole. Options granted are non-assignable and are
exercisable for a period of ten years or such other period as stipulated in a
stock option agreement between Golden Star and the optionee. Under the GSR Plan,
we may grant options to employees, consultants and directors of the Company or
its subsidiaries for up to 15,000,000 shares of common stock. Options take the
form of non-qualified stock options, and the exercise price of each option is
not less than the market price of our stock on the date of grant. Options
typically vest over periods ranging from immediately to four years from the date
of grant. Vesting periods are determined at the discretion of the Compensation
Committee or the Board of Directors as the case may be.
A total of 514,000 new options were granted during the first quarter of 2005.
There were no options granted in the first quarter of 2004. The options granted
in the first quarter of 2005 are 10 year options with a strike price of Cdn$4.58
and vest either immediately (for director's options) or 1/4 immediately and 1/4
on each of the next three anniversary dates.
In the three months ended March 31, 2005, we recognized approximately $0.6
million of expense related to option issuances.
14
Weighted-Average
Options Exercise Price
(000's) (Cdn$)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding as of December 31, 2004 5,271 $3.17
Granted 514 4.58
Exercised (100) 2.15
Forfeited - -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding as of March 31, 2005 5,685 $3.32
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fair value of options granted during the first quarter of 2005 was estimated
at the grant dates using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following
assumptions:
Three months ended March 31,
----------------------------------
2005 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expected volatility 34.9% NA
Risk-free interest rate 3.15% to 3.52% NA
Expected lives 3.5 to 5 years NA
Dividend yield 0% NA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The expense of options issued prior to 2003 would have been fully vested by the
end of 2004. Therefore compensation costs for options granted prior to 2003 had
no impact on our net income and earnings per share as reported.
(b) Stock Bonus Plan - In December 1992, we established an Employees' Stock
Bonus Plan (the "Bonus Plan") for any full-time or part-time employee (whether
or not a director) of the Company or any of our subsidiaries who has rendered
meritorious services which contributed to the success of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries. The Bonus Plan provides that a specifically designated
committee of the Board of Directors may grant bonus common shares on terms that
it might determine, within the limitations of the Bonus Plan and subject to the
rules of applicable regulatory authorities. The Bonus Plan, as amended, provides
for the issuance of 900,000 common shares of bonus stock of which 491,162 common
shares have been issued as of March 31, 2005 including 41,758 shares issued at
Cdn$4.58 per share and 3,584 shares issued at $2.79 per share in the first
quarter of 2005. There were no bonus shares issued in the first quarter of 2004.
(c) Guyanor Option Grants - In March 2005 Guyanor granted 400,000 options to
purchase Guyanor shares. The options have a strike price of Cdn$0.36. Their fair
value was estimated, using a Black Scholes model, at Cdn$0.17 each. Compensation
expense of $0.06 million was recognized in the consolidated statement of
operations for this grant. The Black Scholes model assumed a 3.81% risk free
rate, a five year life, a 50% volatility and no dividends.
15
18. Operations by Geographic Area
The following geographic data includes revenues based on product shipment origin
and long-lived assets based on physical location:
Africa
-----------------------------
North
For and at the three Bogoso/ South America
months ended March 31, Prestea Wassa Other America Corporate Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005
Revenues $ 16,717 $ - $ - $ 1,072 $ 262 $ 18,051
Net Income/(Loss) 1,826 (49) - (62) (3,938) (2,223)
Total Assets 94,974 78,845 32,040 2,560 50,735 259,154
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004
Revenues $ 19,276 $ - $ - $ 29 $ 552 $ 19,857
Net Income/(Loss) 6,968 (45) - (367) (1,362) 5,194
Total Assets 89,737 49,485 1,295 444 88,633 229,594
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. Earnings per Common Share
The following table provides reconciliation between basic and diluted
earnings/(loss) per common share:
Three months ended March 31,
-----------------------------
2005 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) $ (2,223) $ 5,194
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of common shares (millions) 142.3 133.2
Diluted securities:
Options 1.9 3.4
Warrants 0.2 9.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of diluted shares 144.4 146.4
Basic earnings/(loss) per share $ (0.016) $ 0.039
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share $ (0.016) $ 0.035
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share on a US GAAP basis are found in Note 21 below.
20. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
There were no cash payments for income taxes in the first quarters of 2005 and
2004. Cash interest payments were $0.1 million and nil in the first quarters of
2005 and 2004 respectively.
21. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in Canada and the United States
The following Golden Star consolidated financial statements have been prepared
in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States.
16
BALANCE SHEETS - US GAAP As of As of
March 31, December 31,
2005 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 17,019 $ 12,877
Short term investments 22,450 38,850
Accounts receivable 4,349 3,592
Inventories (Note d1) 15,050 15,366
Due from sale of property - 1,000
Future tax assets 1,596 1,542
Deposits 7,963 5,102
Other current assets 432 517
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets 68,859 78,846
Restricted cash 3,372 3,351
Long term investments (Note d2) 5,217 4,132
Deferred exploration and development costs (Note d2) - -
Property, plant and equipment (Note d1) 59,533 28,653
Mining properties (Notes d1 and d3) 75,028 52,586
Deferred stripping 1,273 1,357
Mine construction in progress (Note d1) 4,971 49,430
Loan acquisition fees 174 -
Other assets 1,483 1,617
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $ 219,910 $ 219,972
==========================================================================================
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities $ 19,149 $ 17,480
Long term debt 6,628 1,707
Fair value of derivatives 1,280 -
Asset retirement obligations 8,918 8,660
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 35,975 27,847
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minority interest (notes d2 and d3) 4,076 3,899
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Share capital (Note d5) 339,916 339,524
Contributed surplus 2,557 2,040
Accumulated comprehensive income/(loss) and other (Note d4) 2,367 1,316
Deficit (164,981) (154,654)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total shareholders' equity 179,859 188,226
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 219,910 $ 219,972
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17
Three months ended March 31,
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS - US GAAP ----------------------------
2005 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) under Cdn GAAP $ (2,223) $ 5,194
Deferred exploration expenditures expensed per US
GAAP (note d2) (4,574) (2,085)
Loss at Wassa mine (note d1) (4,654) -
Write-off of deferred exploration projects (Note d2) 1,083 (1,074)
Other 40 -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) under US GAAP before minority
interest (10,328) 2,035
Minority interest, as adjusted (note d2 and d3) 2 1,361
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) under US GAAP $ (10,326) $ 3,396
Other comprehensive income -gain on marketable
securities (note d4) $ 1,049 $ -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive income/(loss) $ (9,277) $ 3,396
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic net income/(loss) per share under US GAAP $ (0.073) $ 0.026
Diluted net income/(loss) under US GAAP $ (0.073) $ 0.023
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues for the first quarter of 2005 were $23.5 million under US GAAP, or $6.7
million higher than under Cdn GAAP, the increase being attributed to sales at
Wassa which was recognized as in service for US GAAP but not for Cdn GAAP.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW - US GAAP Three months ended March 31,
----------------------------
2005 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash provided by/(used in):
Operating activities $(7,041) $2,845
Investing activities 4,434 (7,244)
Financing activities 6,749 446
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
for the period 4,142 (3,953)
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of the period 12,877 89,970
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents end of the period $17,019 $86,017
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(d) Notes
(1) Under US GAAP new production facilities are placed in service once the
facility has been constructed and fully tested to the point where it can be
shown that it is capable of producing its intended product. Under Cdn GAAP new
production facilities are placed in service when output reaches a significant
portion of the facility's design capacity. As such the new Wassa mine and
processing operation was placed in service on January 1, 2005 for US GAAP
purposes and was placed in service on April 1, 2005 for Cdn GAAP purposes. All
operating expenses, including ARO accretion, depreciation, depletion and
amortization and work in process inventory adjustments were recognized in the
statement of operations for US GAAP during the first quarter of 2005 while such
costs were capitalized net of revenues generated for Canadian GAAP.
(2) Under US GAAP, exploration, acquisition and general and administrative costs
related to exploration projects are charged to expense as incurred. Under Cdn
GAAP, exploration, acquisition and general and administrative costs related to
exploration projects are capitalized. In each subsequent period, the
exploration, engineering, financial and market information for each exploration
project is reviewed by management to determine if any of the capitalized costs
are impaired. If found impaired, the asset's cost basis is reduced in accordance
with Cdn GAAP provisions. In addition investments in companies whose major
business is mineral exploration are deemed for US GAAP to be equivalent to
exploration spending.
18
(3) Under US GAAP, the initial purchase cost of mining properties is
capitalized. Pre-acquisition costs and subsequent development costs incurred,
until such time as a final feasibility study is completed, are expensed in the
period incurred. Under Cdn GAAP, the purchase costs of new mining properties as
well as all development costs incurred after acquisition are capitalized and
subsequently reviewed each period for impairment. If found impaired, the asset's
cost basis is reduced in accordance with Cdn GAAP provisions.
(4) Under Cdn GAAP gains and losses on marketable equity securities are reported
in the foot notes. Under US GAAP gains and losses on marketable equity
securities are reported in the Other Comprehensive Income section of the
statement of operations.
(5) Numerous transactions since the Company's organization in 1992 have
contributed to the difference in share capital versus the Cdn GAAP balance,
including: (i) under US GAAP, compensation expense was recorded for the
difference between quoted market prices and the strike price of options granted
to employees and directors under stock option plans - under Cdn GAAP,
recognition of compensation expense was not required; (ii) in May 1992 our
accumulated deficit was eliminated through an amalgamation (defined as a
quasi-reorganization under US GAAP) - under US GAAP the cumulative deficit was
greater than the deficit under Cdn GAAP due to the past write-offs of certain
deferred exploration costs; and (iii) gains recognized in Cdn GAAP upon
issuances of subsidiaries' shares are not allowed under US GAAP.
In early March 2005, an Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board reached a consensus on EITF issue 04-06 "Accounting
for Stripping Costs in the Mining Industry". The consensus was that deferred
stripping costs should no longer be capitalized but rather should be considered
a variable production cost. Transition provisions provide that deferred
stripping during a pit's production phase will no longer be appropriate for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. On January 1, 2006 any remaining
deferred asset balance will be written off directly to retained earnings. We
currently expect the remaining balance at the end of 2005 to be less than $0.5
million.
22. Subsequent Events
On April 15, 2005 we sold $50 million of senior unsecured convertible notes (the
"Notes") maturing on April 15, 2009, to a private investment fund. The Notes
were issued at par and bear interest at 6.85% with a conversion price of $4.50,
a 48% premium to the closing price on April 5, 2005. Proceeds from the sale of
the Notes will be used for the sulfide expansion project at Bogoso and for
general corporate purposes. A registration statement for the shares issuable
upon conversion of the Notes is expected to be filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission within 30 days of closing.
In April 2005 we purchased put options on 30,000 ounces of gold, paying a total
of $0.3 million to lock in a gold floor price of $422 per ounce in the period
August 2005 to July 2006. We expect to purchase additional puts in the next few
months. The puts are expected to provide down-side price protection for
operational cash flows during Bogoso bio-oxidation expansion construction
period.
23. Restatement
Our March 31, 2005 Form 10-Q was originally filed in May 2005 under the
assumption that the Guyanor cash-settled forward gold price agreements qualified
for hedge accounting. As such, the original Form 10-Q deferred recognition of
mark-to-market losses under these agreements during the first quarter of 2005 as
gold prices increased. In early 2006 a review of our hedge accounting
assumptions determined that the Guyanor cash-settled forward gold price
agreements did not qualify for hedge accounting because i) it could not be
established that the fair value of the agreements was nil at inception and ii)
the documentation of the transaction and proposed accounting method was
insufficient to meet GAAP requirements.
19
In this Form 10-Q/A, Guyanor's cash-settled forward gold price agreements have
been treated as derivatives and marked-to-market at the end of the relevant
period. The fair value at the end of March 2005 has been determined to be a loss
of $1.3 million, and this amount was recognized as an expense, with a $1.3
million liability recognized for the potential future payments of this amount.
The losses provide future French tax benefits, and thus a tax asset and tax
provision have also been recognized which offset approximately 33% of the
increased expense.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the
accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes. The
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in Canada ("Cdn GAAP"). For a reconciliation to accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States ("US GAAP"), see Note 21 to
the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
In this Form 10-Q/A we use the terms "total production cost per ounce", "total
cash cost per ounce" and "cash operating cost per ounce".
Total production cost per ounce is equal to "total production costs" as found on
our consolidated statement of operations divided by the ounces of gold sold in
the period. Total production costs include all mine-site operating costs,
including the costs of mining, processing, maintenance, work in process
inventory changes, mine-site overhead, production taxes and royalties,
depreciation, depletion, amortization, asset retirement obligations and
by-product credits, but does not include exploration costs, corporate general
and administrative expenses, impairment charges, corporate business development
costs, gains and losses on asset sales, interest expense, foreign currency gains
and losses, gains and losses on investments and income tax.
Total cash cost per ounce is equal to "total production costs", as found on our
consolidated statement of operations less depreciation, depletion, amortization
and asset retirement obligation accretion ("total cash cost") divided by the
number of ounces of gold sold during the period.
Cash operating cost per ounce is equal to "total cash costs" for the period less
production royalties and production taxes, divided by the number of ounces of
gold sold during the period.
The following table shows the derivation of these measures and a reconciliation
of "total cash cost per ounce" and "cash operating cost per ounce".
20
Three months ended March 31,
Derivation of Total Production Cost ------------------------------
2005 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mining operation expense $ 12,076 $ 9,125
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation, depletion & amortization 2,172 2,278
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 187 159
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total production costs - GAAP $ 14,435 $ 11,562
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ounces sold 39,164 47,202
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derivation of Costs per Ounce
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total production cost per ounce - GAAP ($/oz) 369 245
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less depreciation, depletion & amortization
($/oz) 55 48
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less accretion of asset retirement obligation
($/oz) 4 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash cost ($/oz) 309 193
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less royalties and production taxes ($/oz) 12 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash operating cost ($/oz) 297 181
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
These calculations of cash operating cost per ounce and total cash cost per
ounce are in compliance with an industry standard for such measures as
established in 1996 by the Gold Institute, a non-profit industry group.
We use total cash cost per ounce and cash operating cost per ounce as key
operating indicators. We monitor these measures monthly, comparing each month's
values to prior period's values to detect trends that may indicate increases or
decreases in operating efficiencies. These measures are also compared against
budget to alert management to trends that may cause actual results to deviate
from planned operational results. We provide these measures to our investors to
allow them to also monitor operational efficiencies of our mines. We calculate
these measures for both individual operating units and on a consolidated basis.
Total cash cost per ounce and cash operating cost per ounce should be considered
as non-GAAP financial measures as defined in SEC Regulation S-K Item 10 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 these measures do not
incorporate revenues, changes in working capital and non-operating cash costs,
they are 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.
All figures and amounts in this Item 2 are shown on a 100% basis, which
represents our current beneficial interest in gold production and revenues. Once
all capital has been repaid, the Government of Ghana would receive 10% of the
dividends from the subsidiaries owning the Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa mines.
OUR BUSINESS
Through our subsidiaries and joint ventures we own a controlling interest in
three significant gold properties in southern Ghana in West Africa: the
Bogoso/Prestea property ("Bogoso/Prestea"), the Wassa property ("Wassa") and the
Prestea Underground property ("Prestea Underground"). Bogoso and Prestea are
adjoining properties, operating as a single operation.
21
Bogoso/Prestea and the Prestea Underground are owned by our 90% owned subsidiary
Bogoso Gold Limited ("BGL"). All of our gold production prior to 2005 came from
Bogoso/Prestea, and we anticipate production of approximately 140,000 to 170,000
ounces from this operation this year. The Prestea Underground is located on the
Prestea property and consists of a currently inactive underground gold mine and
associated support facilities. BGL owned a 90% operating interest in this mine.
We are currently conducting exploration and engineering studies to determine if
the underground mine can be reactivated on a profitable basis.
Through another 90% owned subsidiary, Wexford Goldfields Limited ("WGL"), we own
the Wassa gold property, located some 35 kilometers east of Bogoso/Prestea. A
newly constructed ore processing plant and open pit mine at Wassa was completed
and placed in service on April 1, 2005. We expect production of approximately
100,000 to 120,000 ounces from this operation during 2005.
We hold interests in an exploration joint venture in Sierra Leone in West Africa
and hold active exploration properties in Ghana, Suriname and French Guiana. We
hold interests in gold exploration properties in Peru and Chile through our
affiliate Goldmin Holdings, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through
an investment in Moto Goldmines Limited.
Our corporate headquarters is located in Littleton, Colorado. Our accounting
records are kept in compliance with Canadian GAAP and all of our operations,
except for a French Guiana exploration office, transact business in US dollars
and keep financial records in US dollars.
TRENDS AND EVENTS
Wassa Start-Up
Mill throughput at our new Wassa gold mine neared its design capacity of 10,000
tonnes per day during March 2005, averaging 9,300 tonnes per day. Based on
results of the start-up phase we placed Wassa in service on April 1, 2005. The
Wassa processing plant produced approximately 15,300 ounces in the first quarter
all of which were pre-production ounces. Revenues from these ounces were netted
against operating costs and capitalized during the first quarter and thus had no
impact on the statement of operations for the quarter. Completion of
construction of a power line connecting the property to the national power grid
is expected during the second quarter.
Bogoso/Prestea Operations
While Bogoso/Prestea continued to process hard transaction and non-refractory
sulfide ores during the first quarter, we expect to encounter more amendable
ores later in the year as mining progresses to deeper levels in the Plant North
pit.
Sale of Convertible Notes
On April 15, 2005 we sold $50 million of senior unsecured convertible notes
(the "Notes") maturing on April 15, 2009, to a private investment fund. The
Notes were issued at par and bear interest at 6.85% with a conversion price of
$4.50, a 48% premium to the closing price on April 5, 2005. Proceeds from the
sale of the Notes will be used for the sulfide expansion project at Bogoso and
for general corporate purposes. A registration statement for the shares issuable
upon conversion of the Notes is expected to be filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission within 30 days of closing.
22
Puts
In April 2005 we purchased put options on 30,000 ounces of gold, paying a total
of $0.3 million to lock in a gold floor price of $422 per ounce in the period
August 2005 to July 2006. We expect to purchase additional puts in the next few
months. The puts are expected to provide down-side price protection for
operational cash flows during the Bogoso sulfide expansion project construction
period.
Acquisition of Afema Property
On March 29, 2005 we entered into an agreement with Societe d'Etat pour le
Developpement Minier de la Cote d'Ivoire Mines ("SO.DE.MI."), the Cote d'Ivoire
state mining and exploration company, to acquire their 90% interest in the Afema
gold property in south-east Cote d'Ivoire. The Cote d'Ivoire government would
retain a 10% interest.
A $100,000 initial payment was made to SO.DE.MI. which gives us the right to
carry out a six month detailed technical due diligence program, after which we
have the right to acquire 100% of SO.DE.MI.'s rights in the Afema property for
an additional $1.5 million. In addition to the acquisition payments, we agreed
to pay SO.DE.MI. a royalty on any future gold production from the Afema
property. The royalty will be indexed to the gold price. At current gold prices
(in the range of $375 to $450 per ounce) the royalty rate would be 2.5%.
The Afema property covers an area of 2,012 square kilometers of the Sefwi Belt
meta-volcanics and the Kumasi Basin meta-sedimentary rocks which extend into the
Cote d'Ivoire. In Ghana, this `belt-basin' contact hosts the multi-million ounce
Chirano and Bibiani gold deposits. In the 1990s approximately 125,000 ounces of
gold were produced from oxide ores on the Afema property from several small open
pits along a 12 kilometer strike-length.
We currently plan to spend about $0.5 million on due diligence and exploration
in the next six months and may, subject to exploration success and in the event
that we complete the acquisition, spend a further spend $3.5 million exclusive
of the $1.5 million acquisition costs, over the next three and a half years.
Environmental Reclamation Bonds
During 2004 the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency requested that we provide
environmental reclamation bonds for both Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa. In March
2005, we bonded $3.0 million to cover future reclamation obligations at Wassa,
with a $2.85 million letter of credit and $0.15 million of cash being deposited
with the Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency. In May 2005, we expect to
complete our obligation for Bogoso/Prestea by bonding $9.0 million, to cover
future reclamation obligations at Bogoso/Prestea with a letter of credit for
$8.55 million and depositing $0.45 million with the Ghanaian Environmental
Protection Agency.
Guyanor Restructuring
Guyanor restructuring efforts initiated in 2004 continued in the first quarter
of 2005. On January 8, 2005 Guyanor borrowed $6.0 million from a commercial bank
and paid the full amount to Golden Star as the first installment for the Rosebel
royalty which Guyanor purchased from us in December 2004. Guyanor is seeking
additional funding to pay the second $6.0 million installment due Golden Star
by June 30, 2005. Covenants in the January 2005 loan agreement preclude Guyanor
from acquiring any additional debt without the bank's approval.
As required by the loan agreement, Guyanor entered into cash-settled forward
gold price agreements in January 2005 which obligates Guyanor to sell 5,700
ounces of gold to the financial institution at the end of each three month
period, beginning April 20, 2005 and every three months thereafter until July
20, 2007. When the average gold price for the prior three month period is less
than $421 per ounce, the financial institution will pay an amount to Guyanor
equal to the difference between the average price and $421 times 5,700 ounces.
If the prior three month average price exceeds $421 per ounce Guyanor will pay
the financial institution an amount equal to the difference between the average
price and $421 per ounce times 5,700 ounces. These agreements are structured to
offset the floating price nature of the Rosebel royalty by tying a portion of
23
the royalty payments to a gold price of $421 per ounce. Gold prices averaged
$427 per ounce during the first quarter of 2005 resulting in a payment to the
bank of $38,000 on the first 5,700 ounce tranche of the agreements. In addition
Guyanor recorded a $1.3 million loss at the end of the first quarter when the
cash-settled forward sales agreements were marked to market, the loss being a
factor of the increase in the price of gold since December 31, 2004.
We continued funding Guyanor's operating expenses through the end of April 2005
when Guyanor received its first royalty payment from Cambior Inc. We now expect
Guyanor to repay approximately $0.5 million to Golden Star to cover expenses
paid by Golden Star on Guyanor's behalf since September 2004. After April 2005,
we expect that Guyanor will be able to fund all of its future operational cash
needs from future royalty receipts.
Gold Prices
Gold prices have generally trended upward during most of the last four years,
from a low of just under $260 per ounce in early 2001 to a high of $454 in late
2004. During the first quarter of 2005 gold prices pulled back from the late
2004 highs averaging $427 per ounce. Much of the price increase has been
attributed to a decrease in the value of the US dollar versus other major
foreign currencies. Our realized gold price for shipments during the first
quarter of 2005 averaged $426 per ounce, above the $408 per ounce average price
received in the first quarter of 2004.
Deferred Stripping Policy
We initiated a deferred waste stripping policy at the Plant-North pit on the
Prestea property in the third quarter of 2004. In the past, as the Bogoso
processing plant could effectively process only near surface ores that had been
naturally oxidized by relatively shallow ground water, most of our pits have
been relatively shallow, short-lived and had relatively low stripping ratios.
Shallow pits typically have relatively low and fairly constant waste-to-ore
ratios over the life of the pit. As such we did not utilize deferred stripping
accounting prior to the third quarter of 2004. With recent Bogoso processing
plant modifications we are now able to process certain of the deeper ores found
at Prestea. As a result, we now anticipate deeper pits with longer lives and
higher and more variable stripping ratios than in the past.
Actual stripping ratios at the Plant-North pit were 2.3 to 1 during 2002, 3.4 to
1 during 2003, 5.5 to 1 for the first six months of 2004, 5.9 to 1 for the
second half of 2004 and 5.2 to 1 during the first quarter of 2005. The increases
in stripping ratio over the past three years were all related to deeper mining
at the Plant North pit at Prestea. A total of $1.4 million of Plant-North
deferred waste stripping cost, which would have been included in operating costs
under our previous policy, was capitalized in 2004. During the first quarter of
2005, $0.1 million of deferred stripping costs were recovered due to an
adjustment in the life of mine strip ratio from 4.4 to 1 to 4.8 to 1, the
adjustment being based upon the updated 2005 mine plan. Current engineering
forecasts indicate that the Plant-North pit should continue to strip waste in
excess of the average rate for approximately the first nine months of 2005
followed by approximately three to six months of stripping below the average
rate through the end of the pit's life. At July 1, 2004, the date of the
deferred stripping policy implementation, the average life-of-mine stripping
ratio of 4.4 to 1 was based on our estimate that there were 17.4 million tonnes
of waste remaining in the Plant-North pit and 3.9 million tonnes of ore. Based
on our actual results in 2004 and new January 1, 2005 mine plan we now expect to
move 3.7 million tonnes of ore and 18.0 million tonnes of waste during the
overall life of the Plant North pit and thus the revised expected strip ratio is
4.8 to 1.
The amount of stripping costs to be capitalized is calculated each quarter by
determining the tonnes of waste moved in excess of the life-of-pit average and
valuing the removed waste at the average mining cost per tonne during the
period. Costs are recovered in periods when the actual tonnes of waste moved are
less than what would have been moved at the average life-of-pit rate, such
tonnes being valued at the rolling average cost of the waste tonnage amounts
capitalized.
24
The capitalized component of waste rock removal costs is shown on our
consolidated balance sheets on a line titled "Deferred Stripping". The cost
impact is included in the Statements of Operations in the line item titled
"Mining operations". In periods when the strip ratio exceeds the pit average,
the costs of the excess stripping are excluded from our cost per ounce
calculations. In periods when the strip ratio is less than the pit average,
capitalized waste costs are added back to operating costs and included in cost
per ounce calculations.
Illegal Mining
In February 2005, Ghanaian Government authorities resolved formally, with the
support of the Chamber of Mines and other stakeholders, that illegal mining
would not be tolerated and accordingly notice was given by the Government to
illegal miners nationwide that they are to cease all illegal mining operations.
In particular, the Government singled out illegal miners who are operating on
our Bogoso/Prestea property and has undertaken to use Government security
agencies to remove them if they do not voluntarily depart. Although we have no
control over the timing, we expect this action to occur during the second
quarter. Separately, the Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines has commenced an
initiative to simplify the process for persons to become legitimate small scale
miners and to identify suitable areas for legitimate small scale mining.
The proposed action by the Government has caused unrest in the community around
Prestea resulting in a number of protests and demonstrations during which
violence has been threatened. The Company is working closely with the Ghana
Government security agencies to reduce tensions in the area, the risk of an
escalation of the situation and possible injury to people and damage to
property.
Due to security concerns we have had limited access to many of the areas where
the illegal mining is occurring. As a result we have not been able to update
the estimate of the amount of ore removed from our property from the 50,000
ounces that was estimated to the end of 2004 and deducted from our resources and
reserves. In addition, we have not been able to carry out a comprehensive survey
of the environmental degradation caused by the illegal miners.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
First Quarter of 2005 Compared to the First Quarter of 2004
Summary
During the first quarter of 2005, we incurred a net loss of $(2.2) million or
$(0.016) per share on revenues of $18.1 million, versus net income of $5.2
million or $0.039 per share on revenues of $19.9 million during the first
quarter of 2004. Several items contributed to the lower income in the current
quarter. Lower gold output at Bogoso resulted in $2.6 million less gold revenues
than a year earlier, but royalty revenues were $1.1 million for the first
quarter compared to nil in the first quarter of 2004. Bogoso operating costs
were also $3.0 million higher than in the same period of 2004 due to a change in
ore type since the first quarter of 2004. See below for additional details of
Bogoso operating costs. A $1.3 million loss on the mark-to-market value of
Guyanor's new gold price forward derivatives and a $1.1 million impairment
charge related to the Mininko exploration project also contributed to the loss
during the quarter. The increases in gold prices caused a mark-to-market loss on
the derivative as its theoretical buy-back cost increased during the quarter
(see "Guyanor Restructuring" above). Realized gold prices averaged $426 per
ounce for the quarter, a 4% increase from the $408 per ounce realized in the
same quarter of 2004.
Operating costs net of revenues continued to be capitalized at the Wassa mine
during the first quarter of 2005 and as such did not impact the reported
results. We placed the Wassa mine in service on April 1, 2005 and from that date
will recognize revenues and cost of sales in the statement of operations.
25
FINANCIAL RESULTS Three months ended March 31,
------------------------------
2005 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gold sold (oz) 39,164 47,202
Average price realized ($/oz) 426 408
Total revenues (in $ thousands) 18,051 19,857
Net income/(loss) (in $ thousands) (2,223) 5,194
Net income/(loss) per share - basic ($) (0.016) 0.039
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoso Operations
Bogoso produced 39,164 ounces of gold during the first quarter of 2005, down
from 47,202 ounces in the same period of 2004. The major factor contributing to
the lower gold output was a change in ore type from a year ago. The
non-refractory sulfide and transition ores processed in the first quarter of
2005 are significantly harder and more difficult and more costly to treat than
was the softer oxide ore treated in the first quarter of 2004. The increased
hardness resulted in lower mill throughput and the more complex metallurgy
resulted in lower gold recoveries than in the first quarter of 2004. As a result
we experienced a significant increase in electric power usage and in fuel and
electric power costs which added approximately $0.7 million to operating costs
during the quarter versus the same quarter of 2004. The harder ore increased
power needs in the grinding circuits and increases in fuel prices caused the
increase in fuel costs. Plant maintenance, explosives, liner costs and grinding
media costs all increased, again in response to the harder ore, by a total of
approximately $0.4 million as compared to the first quarter of 2004. In
addition, significant amounts of higher-cost ounces from the December
work-in-process inventory were sold in the first quarter and the higher December
costs were thus recognized in the first quarter.
Three months ended March 31,
BOGOSO/PRESTEA OPERATING RESULTS ------------------------------
2005 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore mined (t) 400,144 375,585
Waste mined (t) 2,091,253 2,026,960
Ore milled (t) 391,294 514,436
Grade milled (g/t) 4.56 3.76
Recovery (%) 61.5 81.0
Cash operating cost ($/oz) 296 181
Royalties ($/oz) 12 12
Total cash cost ($/oz) 308 193
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lower gold output and higher mine operating costs resulted in a significant
increase in unit costs versus the first quarter of 2005. Cash operating costs
averaged $296 per ounce, compared to $181 per ounce in the first quarter of
2004, and total cash costs averaged $308 per ounce, up from $193 per ounce in
the first quarter of 2004. Depreciation and amortization were essentially
unchanged from a year earlier.
The Bogoso processing plant processed an average of 4,348 tonnes per day at an
average grade of 4.56 grams per tonne during the first quarter of 2005, down
from 5,653 tonnes per day at 3.76 grams per tonne in the same period in 2004.
Gold recovery dropped to 62% from 81% in 2004. Lower recovery was directly
related to the non-refractory sulfide ores and to the transition ores which
typically have lower recoveries than the oxide ores milled in the first quarter
of 2004.
26
Wassa Operations
The Wassa mine completed its commissioning and testing phase in late 2004 and
ramped up its operating capacity to approximately 9,300 tonnes per day or
approximately 93% of design capacity by the end of March 2005. Wassa was placed
in service on April 1, 2005. A total of $4.7 million of operating costs, net of
revenues were capitalized during the first quarter.
During March the Wassa plant throughput averaged 9,326 tonne per day at an
average grade of 1.05 grams per tonne with a recovery of 94.7%. Feed to the
Wassa plant consisted of approximately 236,425 tonnes of pit ore averaging 1.11
gram per tonne and 52,860 tonnes of heap leach materials left on the site by a
former owner which averaged 0.77 grams per tonne. Approximately 167,094 tonnes
of ore were mined from the open pits at an average grade of 1.09 grams per
tonne.
Three months ended March 31,
WASSA OPERATING RESULTS ------------------------------
2005 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore mined (t) 430,731 -
Waste mined (t) 2,225,359 -
Heap leach material milled (t) 228,311 -
Pit ore milled (t) 448,915 -
Grade milled (g/t) 0.99 -
Recovery (%) 92.3 -
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the remainder of 2005 we plan to process a combination of new ore from
the pit and heap leach material left on the pads by a former owner. The heap
leach material provides a low-grade, low-cost ore feed to the new plant during
its first year of operations and its removal is required to clear the pad area
for use as a tailings disposal site. Mining is being performed initially using a
mixture of used equipment transferred from Bogoso/Prestea and contract
equipment. We plan to replace the used and contract equipment with a fleet of
larger new mining equipment in the second half of 2005. During 2005 we
anticipate feeding the Wassa plant with approximately 45% heap leach material
and 55% open pit ore. Based on the feasibility study, recoveries are expected to
average between 87% and 90% with recoveries from heap leach material and open
pit ore ranging from 80% to 90% and 83% to 95%, respectively. During 2005 we
expect to produce between 100,000 and 120,000 ounces of gold at Wassa at an
average cash operating cost between $280 and $300 per ounce. We expect
production costs to be higher than average in the first half of 2005 due to the
higher costs of operating the power house prior to connection to the national
power grid.
In the second half of 2005 costs are expected to fall by up to $80 per ounce
following completion of the power line and the acquisition and commissioning of
new mining equipment. The completion of the power line is expected during the
second quarter of 2005. After 2005 we expect annual gold production to exceed
140,000 ounces per year, at an average cash operating cost of between $200 and
$220 per ounce.
EXPANSION PROJECTS
Bogoso Sulfide Expansion Project
Permitting, planning, engineering and ordering of long lead time items continued
during the first quarter of 2005 for the proposed Bogoso sulfide expansion
project. The project, which was approved in principle by our Board of Directors
in January 2005, incorporates the expansion of the Bogoso processing plant to
treat 3.5 million tonnes per year of refractory sulfide and other ores from the
Bogoso/Prestea property and includes the addition of a BIOX(R) bio-oxidation
circuit. The project also includes the doubling of the existing mining fleet. We
estimate that the total capital cost of the Bogoso sulfide expansion project,
including expansion of the mining fleet, will be approximately $100 to $105
million and expect a 15 to 18 month construction period.
27
In February 2005 a letter of intent was issued to GRD Minproc for an
engineering, procurement and construction management contract for the design
and construction of the processing plant expansion, subject to permitting, and
to carry out the construction under a project management contract. Ordering of
long lead time items commenced during the first quarter and we expect that
detailed design will be completed in the third quarter of 2005.
In February 2005 an environmental impact study was submitted to the Ghana
Environmental Protection Agency for permitting of the project. Discussions with
the EPA are well advanced and permitting is expected in the second quarter.
Upon completion of the Bogoso sulfide expansion project, the Bogoso processing
plant is expected to have a nominal capacity of 3.5 million tonnes per annum to
process refractory sulfide ores. We currently have proven and probable
refractory reserves of approximately 20.5 million tonnes at an average grade of
2.81 grams per tonne. Gold production from the Bogoso processing plant,
following completion of the sulfide expansion project, is expected to average
approximately 270,000 ounces per annum and to vary between 260,000 to 290,000
ounces per annum at an average cash operating cost between $250 to $270 per
ounce assuming commercial production is achieved in 2006. Estimated gold
recoveries from the BIOX(R) process are expected to average 86% and vary between
78% and 88%.
Bogoso Oxide Processing Plant
Originally, we had planned to construct a second ore processing plant on the
southern end of the Prestea property at Bondaye where we had expected to see the
most significant growth in oxide ore reserves. However, ongoing exploration in
2004 and 2005 has indicated that this is not the case and more recent
investigations indicate that additional oxide reserves can be expected from a
number of sources on our concessions in the Bogoso/Prestea area. These include
the potential at the Dunkwa property(including Mampon), at the Akropong
properties and in the Bondaye area.
Consequently, the current location of the Bogoso processing plant, at the
mid-point of all of these areas, is considered the best location for an oxide
processing plant. We have therefore discontinued planning for a second
processing plant at Bondaye and now plan to modify the Bogoso sulfide expansion
project to incorporate the continued use of the nominal 1.5 million tonne per
annum oxide circuit at Bogoso. This will be done in parallel to the construction
work for the sulfide expansion project.
The incremental capital cost for a separate oxide processing plant at Bogoso is
estimated at $10 to $15 million compared with the $25 million cost for
development of a standalone facility. The second-hand processing plant equipment
that was purchased in 2003 for Bondaye, including the crusher, ball mill and CIL
tanks, will be utilized in the sulfide expansion project or continued oxide
processing plant operations at Bogoso.
The operation of two processing plants in one complex is expected to streamline
the management structure and result in reduced G&A costs. We expect that the
cost to haul ore from the Bondaye area would be offset by the reduced costs of
otherwise hauling ore from the Bogoso, Dunkwa and Akropong concessions to
Bondaye. Maintaining an oxide processing plant at Bogoso would also reduce the
risk of a period without operating cash flow during the commissioning of the
sulfide expansion project.
A large part of our remaining oxide and non-refractory ore is located south of
Prestea in the areas we refer to as Beta-Boundary or Bondaye. Permitting of
these areas commenced in mid-2004 but is still not complete largely due to the
socio-economic issues, mostly related to the need to relocate and resettle local
villages and create infrastructure in these areas. The expansion project at
Bogoso does not face similar socio-economic problems.
28
EXPLORATION
Ghana
We spent approximately $3.1 million on exploration activities in Ghana during
the first quarter of 2005 including $0.9 million at Wassa, $0.9 million at the
Prestea Underground, $1.1 million on sulfide targets at Bogoso and Prestea and
approximately $0.2 million on exploration projects outside the immediate
Bogoso/Prestea area. Overall we plan to spend a total of approximately $14.8
million on exploration activities in Ghana during 2005.
During the first quarter of 2005 surface exploration programs at Prestea/Bogoso
continued, with drilling on the Bogoso concession to test for sulfide
mineralization below the current mineral reserves. This work has confirmed that
mineralization at Bogoso North continues below the current optimized pits.
Drilling beneath the Chujah and Dumase pits continues to test the sulfide
resource contained in the $400 inferred optimized pit shells. Drill results thus
far have confirmed inferred grade estimates, upgrading a portion of these
resources to the indicated category.
Drilling continues to test mineralization along the Tuapim trend in the southern
portion of the Prestea concession, with infill drilling between sections and
down dip of existing drill intercepts to demonstrate continuity and add
confidence to the inferred resources. Results to date have been encouraging with
holes often intersecting mineralization 5 to 20 meters thick with grades in
excess of 3 grams per tonne.
Exploration on the two Dunkwa concessions this quarter concentrated on drilling
at Mampon, where core drilling was conducted to further test the resource
potential along strike of the known mineralization as well as collect samples
for metallurgical and geotechnical evaluation. The high grade intersections
previously drilled by Birim were confirmed by the metallurgical drilling
including intersections of up to 19 meters at 12 grams per tonne. Preparation
has commenced for RAB drilling in the southern part of the Asikuma license in
the second quarter.
Exploration continued on the Prestea Underground this quarter, with two
underground rigs operating on Levels 8N and 17S. The Level 8 drilling continued
to test the hanging wall zone below the Plant-North pit whilst the Level 17
drilling tested the West Reef to approximately Level 22. Results have been
variable, with the targeted structures being intersected in most holes but with
erratic grades. The West Reef target on Level 17 intersected grades in the range
of 3 to 11 gram per tonne gold over widths between 1 and 1.5 meters. The hanging
wall zone on Level 8 North is typically wider but lower grade and is more
associated with disseminated sulfides rather than discrete reefs. Channel
sampling at 5 meter spacings along the strike of the West Reef on the Level 17
reef drive has again returned some spectacular results with high grade portions
averaging 2.2 meters wide grading 80 grams per tonne gold over a strike length
of approximately 40 meters.
Despite continuing difficult drilling conditions, the Bondaye deep hole
progressed to a depth of 1,480 meters. We expect to intersect the Main Reef at a
drilled depth of between 1,500 and 1,550 meters.
RC drilling at the Pampe and Riyadh concessions west of Bogoso commenced this
quarter. Upon completion of this program we intend conducting an independent
pre-feasibility study to determine the economic viability of extracting these
deposits and treating them through the Bogoso processing plant. This will
determine whether we exercise our option to purchase the concessions from the
current owners.
29
Exploration at Wassa this quarter mainly involved RAB drilling to test
geophysical and geochemical anomalies along the two parallel trends extending
south into the forest reserve. Drilling to date has generally intersected
moderate grades between 0.5 to 1.5 grams per tonne with occasional higher grade
and wider zones. This initial phase of wide-spaced 200 meter by 50 meter RAB
drilling is approximately 75% complete and should be finished in the second half
of this year. Any attractive targets generated will then be followed up with RC
drilling. We have also had an RC drill rig testing zones along strike to the
north and south of the existing Wassa reserves. Drilling at the locations known
as SE, NSA and 419 has extended the zones to the south essentially linking SE
and NSA zones. Drilling around the South Akyempim zone has confirmed a weak zone
of near surface mineralization extending to the north, indicating that the zone
may be plunging off in a northerly direction. Drilling south of South Akyempim
has intersected higher grade mineralization which remains open to the south,
requiring further drilling.
The regional programs this quarter involved mostly follow up on the anomalies we
had defined by previous work, including regional laterite and soil auger
sampling around the Wassa mining lease and on the Akropong Prospecting and
Reconnaissance licenses. This quarter the Minerals Commission of Ghana approved
the Adubrim Reconnaissance License application, one of three such applications
Golden Star has lodged.
Other African Projects
In October 2004 we acquired a 9.5% equity interest in Moto Goldmines Limited
("Moto") for $4.1 million. Moto controls the approximate 4,700 square kilometer
Moto concessions located in the north east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Moto concessions form part of the Kilo-Moto gold belt which has historical
production in excess of 11 million ounces with over two million ounces mined
from ten small mines within the central 35 square kilometers on the Moto
concessions. After securing control of the property in 2003, Moto began a
drilling program in February 2004 to confirm and expand the gold resource around
the areas previously mined. Based upon this work Moto's independent resource
consultants have estimated indicated resources at Moto of 7 million tonnes
grading 2.7 grams per tonne and inferred resources of 36 million tonnes grading
3.2 grams per tonne. Drilling in the first quarter of 2005 has continued to
deliver encouraging results, especially from the Mengu Hill prospect.
We have continued funding the Mano River joint venture in Sierra Leone during
the first quarter of 2005 refocusing efforts on a regional soil sampling program
to identify new targets on the three project areas. This work has progressed
steadily with sampling completed on the Sonfon and Nimini permits and nearing
completion on the two Pampana permits. Results are pending. We have budgeted
approximately $0.7 million for this work.
In March 2005 we entered into an option to purchase the Afema project in Cote
d'Ivoire from the parastatal company Societe d'Etat pour le Developpement Minier
de la Cote d'Ivoire (`SO.DE.MI."). The Afema property covers an area of 2,012
square kilometers of prospective Birimian rocks in south east Cote d'Ivoire
which represent the extension of the Sefwi Belt meta-volcanics and the Kumasi
Basin meta-sedimentary rocks into Cote d'Ivoire. In Ghana this `belt-basin'
contact hosts the multi-million ounce Chirano and Bibiani Gold Deposits. Under
the terms of the acquisition agreement, we made an immediate payment of $100,000
to SO.DE.MI. which gives us the right to carry out a six month detailed
technical due diligence, after which we will have the right to complete the
transaction to acquire 100% of SO.DE.MI.'s rights in the Afema property for $1.5
million (subject to a statutory 10% Government of Cote d'Ivoire interest). In
addition to the acquisition payments, Golden Star will pay SO.DE.MI. a royalty
on gold production from the Afema property indexed to the gold price. At current
gold prices (in the range of $375 to $450 per ounce) the royalty rate would be
2.5%.
Golden Star has indicated to SO.DE.MI. that it intends to spend at least
$500,000 on exploration in the next six months and may, subject to exploration
success, spend a further spend $3.5 million over the next three and a half
years.
30
Based on disappointing results at the Mininko project during 2004 we opted to
withdraw from this exploration agreement and plan no further spending in Mali
during 2005. The $1.1 million of costs incurred on the project were written off
in the first quarter.
South American Projects
Two years of surface sampling has identified a fairly extensive gold-in-soil
anomaly at the Saramacca property in Suriname. A core drilling program was
initiated during the first quarter. We have budgeted approximately $0.75
million for the 2005 work program including the core drilling, camp costs and
local general and administrative costs.
In 2004 we acquired the 466 square kilometer Bon Espoir exploration property in
French Guiana for $0.4 million. Bon Espoir is located in French Guiana north of
our Paul Isnard Property in a geological setting interpreted by us as having
many similarities to the Ashanti Trend area of Ghana. Paul Isnard remained on
care and maintenance during the first quarter of 2005 with expenditures of less
than $0.1 million. We initiated an exploration program at Bon Espoir in the
first quarter of 2005 and have mobilized men and equipment to the site. We plan
to spend approximately $0.9 million at Bon Espoir and Paul Isnard in 2005
conducting a wide-area soil sampling programs and assessing past work.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our cash, cash equivalents and short term investments balance stood at $39.5
million at March 31, 2005, down from approximately $51.7 million at the end of
2004. Even though operations generated $3.6 million of cash during the first
quarter, capital spending at Wassa, at Bogoso for the sulfide expansion project
and for deferred exploration projects were the major factors contributing to the
lower cash balance versus the end of 2004.
The $3.6 million operating cash flow in the first quarter was down from $6.0
million in the first quarter of 2004. Lower gold output and higher operating
costs were the major factors contributing to the decrease. Quarterly gold sales
were down from a year earlier due to the change in ore type as explained in the
Bogoso Operation section above.
Capital projects consumed $24.0 million of cash during the first quarter of
2005, up from $11.4 million in the first quarter of 2004. Completion of the
Wassa plant and on-going power line construction at Wassa, additional mining
equipment and work on the Bogoso sulfide expansion and exploration spending were
the major areas consuming investment funds in the quarter. During the first
quarter we received $1.0 million of cash from Cambior Inc. as the third and
final installment on their 2001 purchase of our interest in the Rosebel
property.
Stock option exercises provided $0.2 million of cash during the quarter. New
debt contributed $7.2 million. At March 31, 2005, working capital was $47.9
million, versus $61.4 million at the end of 2004.
In January 2005, Guyanor drew down $6.0 million under a credit facility from a
bank and paid the funds to Golden Star as the first installment on its purchase
of the Rosebel royalty. The loan is repayable in nine equal payments of $666,667
beginning July 29, 2005 and every three months thereafter. The interest rate is
set at LIBOR plus 2.5%.
In April 2004 we renewed a $25 million equipment financing credit facility from
Caterpillar Financial Services. The facility provides credit for a mixture of
new and used mining equipment.
As described in Trends and Events, we sold $50 million of senior unsecured
convertible notes maturing on April 15, 2009, to a private investment fund.
We expect the funds will be used for the sulfide expansion project at Bogoso and
for general corporate purposes.
31
Outlook
We expect Bogoso/Prestea to continue generating positive operating cash flows in
2005, but additional cash will be needed for the capital projects budgeted for
the year as described below. It is anticipated that Wassa will also generate a
positive operational cash flow during 2005, but will need additional funds for
the purchase of a new mining fleet. We now expect that cash on hand at March 31,
2005 plus cash flow from operations and proceeds of the senior unsecured
convertible notes sold in April along with additional equipment financing, will
be sufficient to complete construction of the Bogoso sulfide expansion project
including the additional mining equipment planned for 2005 and 2006. None the
less, there is a risk that we may require additional cash to complete the
project. Inaccurate estimates of future capital needs, unfavorable currency
exchange rates, lower gold prices, and unanticipated declines in gold production
are among the factors that could lead to additional cash needs.
32
LOOKING AHEAD
Our main objectives for the remainder of 2005 are:
o Orderly and efficient mining of Prestea Plant-North ores to allow an
adequate flow of transition and non-refractory sulfide ores to the Bogoso
processing plant;
o Orderly and efficient mining and processing operations at our Wassa mine;
o Completion of permitting for mining at the Beta Boundary pits south of
Prestea and permitting of the Mampon pit on the Dunkwa property;
o Completion of permitting, planning, engineering and design work and
initiation of construction of the Bogoso sulfide expansion project;
o Continued evaluation of the Prestea Underground potential;
o A continued high level of exploration efforts; and
o Continuation of efforts to identify and pursue acquisition and growth
opportunities in Ghana and elsewhere.
We expect gold production at Bogoso/Prestea of approximately 140,000 to 170,000
ounces in 2005 at a projected cash operating cost of $190 to $210 per ounce and
production of approximately 100,000 to 120,000 ounces at Wassa at a cash
operating cost of $280 to $300 per ounce, bringing total 2005 production to
approximately 240,000 to 290,000 ounces at an average cash operating cost of
$230 to $250 per ounce.
As more fully disclosed in the Risk Factors in our 2004 Form 10-K, as amended,
numerous factors could cause our estimates and expectations to be wrong or could
lead to changes in our plans. Under any of these circumstances, the estimates
described above could change materially.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
Our financial statements reflect the application of Cdn GAAP, which is different
in certain material respects from US GAAP. The accounting policies reflected
therein are generally those applied by similarly situated mining companies in
Canada. Our accounting policies under Cdn GAAP are described in Note 1 of our
consolidated financial statements as found in our 2004 Form 10-K, as amended.
Preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires the use of
estimates and assumptions that can affect reported amounts of assets,
liabilities, revenues and expenses. Accounting policies relating to asset
impairments, depreciation and amortization of mining property, plant and
equipment, and site reclamation/closure accruals are subject to estimates and
assumptions regarding reserves, gold recoveries, future gold prices and future
mining activities.
Decisions to write off, or not to write off, all or a portion of our investment
in various properties, especially exploration properties, subject to impairment
analysis are based on our judgment as to the actual value of the properties and
are therefore subjective in most cases. We have written off substantially all of
our pre-1999 investments in exploration properties based upon our assessments of
the amounts recoverable from these properties. Additional exploration properties
and joint venture interests have been found to be impaired and were written off
in 2003 and 2004 and in the first quarter of 2005. We continue to retain title
to certain properties after impairment write-offs as future events and
discoveries may ultimately prove that they have significant value.
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Listed below are the accounting policies and estimates that we believe are
critical to our financial statements due to the degree of uncertainty regarding
the estimates or assumptions involved and the magnitude of the asset, liability,
revenue or expense being reported.
o Ore stockpiles: Stockpiles represent coarse ore that has been extracted
from the mine and is available for further processing. Stockpiles are
measured by estimating the number of tons added and removed from the
stockpile, the number of contained ounces based on assay data, and the
estimated recovery percentage based on the expected processing method.
Stockpiles are valued based on mining costs incurred up to the point of
stockpiling the ore including applicable depreciation, depletion and
amortization relating to mining operations. Costs are added to a stockpile
based on current mining costs and removed at the average cost per
recoverable ounce of gold in the stockpile. Stockpiles are reduced as
material is removed and fed to the mill. A 10% adjustment of the stockpile
value, based on stockpile levels in recent periods, would change the
carrying value of the stockpile inventory by approximately $0.3 million and
change operating costs by the same amount.
o Impairment charges: We periodically review and evaluate our long-lived
assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the
related carrying amounts may not be recoverable from continued operation of
the asset. An asset impairment is considered to exist if the sum of all
estimated future cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, are less than the
carrying value of the asset. The determination of expected future cash
flows requires numerous estimates about the future including gold prices,
operating costs, gold recovery, reclamation spending, ore reserves and
capital expenditures. A review of Bogoso/Prestea's expected future cash
flows as of December 31, 2004 indicated that there is no impairment at gold
prices in excess of $355 per ounce and at Wassa there is no impairment at
gold prices greater than $320 per ounce.
o Mining properties: Mine properties recorded on our financial records are
amortized using a units-of-production method over proven and probable
reserves. Reserve estimates, which serve as the denominator in units of
production amortization calculations, involve the exercise of subjective
judgment and are based on numerous assumptions about future operating
costs, future gold prices, continuity of mineralization, future gold
recovery rates, spatial configuration of gold deposits, and other factors
that may prove to be incorrect. A 10% adjustment in estimated reserves
could result in an approximately $0.75 million annual change in
amortization expense.
o Asset retirement obligation and reclamation expenditures: Accounting for
reclamation obligations requires management to make estimates at each
mining operation of reclamation and closure costs to be incurred in the
future as required to complete the reclamation and environmental
remediation work mandated by existing laws and regulations. Actual costs
incurred in future periods could differ from amounts estimated.
Additionally, future changes to environmental laws and regulations could
increase the extent of reclamation and remediation work required. Based
upon our current situation, we estimate that a 10% increase in total future
reclamation and closure costs would result in an approximately $1.4 million
increase in our asset retirement obligations.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We have no off balance sheet arrangements.
This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations includes information available to May 2, 2005. As of May 2, 2005 we
had 142,389,060 common shares outstanding.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our exposure to market risk includes, but is not limited to, the following
risks: changes in interest rates on our investment portfolio, changes in foreign
currency exchange rates, commodity price fluctuations and equity price risk.
Interest Rate Risk
From time to time we invest excess cash in high quality short-term debt
instruments. The rates received on such investments may fluctuate with changes
in economic conditions. As a result our investment income may fall short of
expectations during periods of lower interest rates. We estimate that given the
cash balances expected during 2005, a 1% change in interest rates would result
in a $0.5 to $0.8 million change in annual interest income.
We have both fixed rate and variable rate debt. At March 31, 2005 we had
approximately $3.7 million of fixed rate equipment financing debt at an average
interest rate of 6.0% and $6.0 million of variable rate debt which carries an
interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.5%. We estimate that a 1% increase in the interest
rate on the variable rate debt would result in a $0.06 million change in annual
interest expense. We have not entered into any agreements to hedge against
unfavorable changes in interest rates, but may in the future actively manage our
exposure to interest rate risk. In April 2005 we sold $50 million of senior
unsecured convertible notes which are fixed rate debt.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
While our major operating units transact most of their business in US dollars,
many purchases of labor, operating supplies and capital assets are denominated
in Euros, British pounds, Australian dollars, South African Rand and Ghanaian
Cedis. As a result, currency exchange fluctuations may impact the costs incurred
at our operations. Gold is sold throughout the world based principally on the US
dollar price, but significant portions of our operating expenses and some of our
capital purchases are incurred in currencies other than the US dollar. The
appreciation of non-US dollar currencies against the US dollar increases
production costs and the cost of capital assets in US dollar terms at mines
located outside the US, which would adversely impact our net income and cash
flows. Conversely, a depreciation of non-US dollar currencies usually decreases
production costs and capital asset purchases in US dollar terms.
The value of cash and cash equivalent investments denominated in foreign
currencies also fluctuate with changes in currency exchange rates. Appreciation
of non-US dollar currencies results in a foreign currency gain on such
investments and a decrease in non-US dollar currencies results in a loss.
While in the past we have not utilize market risk sensitive instruments to
manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates, we expect to purchase
South African Rand forward contracts in the near future to hedge expected future
purchases of capital assets in South Africa associated mostly with the Bogoso
sulfide expansion project.
Commodity Price Risk
We are engaged in gold mining and related activities, including exploration,
extraction, processing and reclamation. Gold is our primary product and, as a
result, changes in the price of gold could significantly affect our results of
operations and cash flows. According to current estimates, a $10 change in the
price of gold would result in a $2 million to $3 million change in pre-tax
earnings and cash flows during 2005. We have in the past purchased puts to lock
in minimum prices for portions of our annual gold sales. While we had no puts
outstanding at the end of March 2005, we anticipate purchasing puts to cover up
to 180,000 ounces over the next few quarters to stabilize a floor price for cash
flows during the Bogoso sulfide expansion project construction.
35
As required by its loan agreement, Guyanor entered into a cash-settled forward
gold price agreement in January 2005 which obligates Guyanor to sell 5,700
ounces of gold to the financial institution at the end of each three month
period, beginning on April 20, 2005 and every three months thereafter until July
20, 2007. When the average gold price for the prior three month period is less
than $421 per ounce, the financial institution will pay an amount to Guyanor
equal to the difference between the average price and $421 times 5,700 ounces.
If the prior three month average price exceeds $421 per ounce Guyanor will pay
the financial institution an amount equal to the difference between the average
price and $421 per ounce times 5,700 ounces. The agreement is structured to
offset the floating price nature of the Rosebel royalty by tying a portion of
the royalty payments to a gold price of $421 per ounce. We may in the future
more actively manage our exposure through hedging programs.
Equity Price Risk
We have in the past and may in the future seek to acquire additional funding by
sale of common shares. Movements in the price of our common shares have been
volatile in the past and may also be volatile in the future. As a result, there
is a risk that we may not be able to sell new common shares at an acceptable
price should the need for new equity funding arise.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:
As discussed in Note 23 to the consolidated financial statements, it was
determined that as of December 31, 2005 management did not maintain effective
controls over the presentation and documentation of certain derivatives.
Specifically, Golden Star did not prepare and maintain sufficient documentation
to support the designation and effectiveness of hedges of certain gold future
contracts entered into by its subsidiary, EURO Ressources S.A. (previously
Guyanor Ressources S.A.), during 2005. This control deficiency resulted in the
requirement for the restatement of our consolidated financial statements for the
quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2005 and an audit adjustment
to the 2005 annual consolidated financial statements. Because of the existence
of the deficiency in question at year-end, management concluded that the
Company's internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as of
December 31, 2005.
As of March 31, 2005, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and
with the participation of the Company's management, including the Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the
design and operation of Golden Star's disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934). Based on the evaluation and as a result of the material weakness
discussed above, management has concluded that as of March 31, 2005 our
disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.
Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Changes to our internal control over financial reporting to address the material
weakness described above were implemented subsequent to the quarter ended March
31, 2005. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting
that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2005 that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over
financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
36
32.1 Certificate of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
32.2 Certificate of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
37
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
Registrant
By: /s/ Peter J. Bradford
---------------------
Peter J. Bradford
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 14, 2006
By: /s/ Allan J. Marter
-------------------
Allan J. Marter
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: April 14, 2006
38
EXHIBITS INDEX
31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1 Certificate of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
32.2 Certificate of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
39