SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
--------------------
Form 10-Q
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 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 August 2, 2005: 142,887,394
1
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 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 2. Unregistered Sale of Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 5. 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$". All numeric amounts
are in thousands unless noted otherwise.
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, 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.
STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated by reference in this Form 10-Q
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.
2
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.
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 EURO Ressources S.A., stripping rates at Bogoso/Prestea, equipment
replacement at Wassa, 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, supplies, services 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
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
June 30, December 31,
2005 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 18,386 $ 12,877
Short term investments (Note 2) 42,500 38,850
Accounts receivable 6,480 3,592
Inventories (Note 3) 21,025 15,366
Due from sale of property (Note 4) - 1,000
Future tax assets 1,080 1,542
Deposits (Note 5) 8,313 5,102
Prepaids and other 429 517
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Current Assets 98,213 78,846
RESTRICTED CASH (Notes 4 and 15) 3,888 3,351
LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (Note 6) 6,790 5,528
DEFERRED EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS (Note 7) 8,432 7,452
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Note 8) 70,457 28,653
MINING PROPERTIES (Note 9) 110,072 74,197
CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS (Note 10) 7,217 51,159
DEFERRED STRIPPING (Note 11) 1,240 1,357
LOAN ACQUISITION COSTS (Note 12) 1,573 -
OTHER ASSETS 2,212 1,617
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Assets $ 310,094 $ 252,160
================================================================================
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable $ 5,272 $ 7,010
Other accrued liabilities 13,175 9,203
Current debt (Note 13) 4,422 1,267
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities 22,869 17,480
LONG TERM DEBT (Note 13) 53,172 1,707
FAIR VALUE OF DERIVATIVES (Note 12) 547 -
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS (Note 14) 9,792 8,660
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Liabilities 86,380 27,847
MINORITY INTERESTS 6,733 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:
142,442,060 at June 30, 2005; 142,244,112 at
December 31, 2004 (Note 16)
343,039 342,494
CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS (Note 16) 5,455 2,040
DEFICIT (131,513) (126,574)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total shareholders' equity 216,981 217,960
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 310,094 $ 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 Six months ended
June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,
2005 2004 2005 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVENUE
Gold sales $ 23,403 $ 15,515 $ 40,094 $ 34,780
Royalty income (Note 4) 1,107 670 2,194 965
Interest and other 451 309 761 606
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues 24,961 16,494 43,049 36,351
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSES
Mining operations 19,890 10,190 31,966 19,315
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 3,741 1,945 5,913 4,223
Accretion of asset retirement obligations (Note 14) 181 163 368 322
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total mine operating costs 23,812 12,298 38,247 23,860
Exploration expense 247 221 414 455
Corporate general and administrative expense 1,951 1,407 4,253 3,209
Corporate development expense 14 96 110 104
Employee stock option expense 136 693 694 739
Loss on equity investments 70 - 110 -
Abandonment and impairment of mineral properties - - 1,083 -
Loss on derivatives 502 - 540 -
Interest expense 773 6 852 12
Foreign exchange loss 736 343 843 626
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total expenses 28,241 15,064 47,146 29,005
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income/(loss) before minority interest (3,280) 1,430 (4,097) 7,346
Minority interest (200) (315) (380) (1,037)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) before income tax (3,480) 1,115 (4,477) 6,309
Provison for future income taxes (94) - (462) -
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) $ (3,574) $ 1,115 $ (4,939) $ 6,309
===========================================================================================================
Deficit, beginning of period (127,939) (124,022) (126,574) (129,216)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deficit, end of period $(131,513) $(122,907) $(131,513) $(122,907)
===========================================================================================================
Net income/(loss) per common share - basic (Note 19) $ (0.025) $ 0.008 $ (0.035) $ 0.047
Net income/(loss) per common share - diluted (Note 19) $ (0.025) $ 0.008 $ (0.035) $ 0.044
Weighted average shares outstanding (millions of shares) 142.4 136.7 142.4 134.9
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Six months ended
June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,
2005 2004 2005 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income/(loss) $ (3,574) $ 1,115 $ (4,939) $ 6,309
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 3,741 1,945 5,913 4,223
Amortization of loan acquistion costs 75 - 75 -
Stock based compensation 234 872 802 1,009
Deferred stripping 33 - 117 -
Loss on equity investment 70 - 110 -
Abandonment and impairment of mineral properties - - 1,083 -
Provision for future income taxes 94 - 462 -
Reclamation expenditures (63) (301) (292) (468)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 181 163 368 322
Minority interests 200 315 380 1,037
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
991 4,109 4,079 12,432
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (2,132) (2,259) (2,888) (3,136)
Inventories (7,410) (352) (5,659) (1,918)
Deposits (425) - (957) -
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 2,235 3,600 2,234 4,130
Other 9 577 93 173
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (6,732) 5,675 (3,098) 11,681
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Expenditures on deferred exploration and development (1,375) (2,067) (2,063) (3,691)
Expenditures on mining properties (8,158) (3,745) (14,520) (6,270)
Expenditures on property, plant and equipment (15,061) (2,431) (19,093) (3,437)
Expenditures on mine construction in progress 4,568 (4,729) (6,039) (10,341)
Asset retirement obligation assets 757 - 1,057 -
Increase in short term investments (20,050) - (3,650) -
Sale of property - - 1,000 1,000
Deposits 75 - (2,254) -
Other (2,583) (2,322) (2,506) (2,959)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities (41,827) (15,294) (48,068) (25,698)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of share capital, net of issue costs (Note 16) 125 8,555 300 9,250
Debt repayments (Note 13) (408) (34) (885) (81)
Issuance of debt (Note 13) 48,345 - 55,504 -
Other 1,864 916 1,756 713
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 49,926 9,437 56,675 9,882
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 1,367 (182) 5,509 (4,135)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 17,019 86,017 12,877 89,970
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents end of period $ 18,386 $ 85,835 $ 18,386 $ 85,835
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 and six months ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 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 instances 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 gold properties in southern Ghana in West Africa: the Bogoso/Prestea
property, which comprises the adjoining Bogoso and Prestea mining leases
("Bogoso/Prestea"), the Wassa property ("Wassa") and the Prestea Underground
property ("Prestea Underground").
Bogoso/Prestea and the Prestea Underground are owned by our 90% owned subsidiary
Bogoso Gold Limited ("BGL"). All of our gold production prior to April 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 the Prestea
Underground. 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 mine, located some 35 kilometers east of Bogoso/Prestea.
Construction of Wassa's new processing plant and open pit mine was completed at
the end of March 2005 and the project was 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, Cote d'Ivoire, Suriname and
French Guiana. We hold indirect interests in gold exploration properties in Peru
and Chile through an equity investment in Goldmin Consolidated Holdings, and in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo through a cost basis investment in Moto
Goldmines Limited. We also own 59% interest in EURO Ressources S.A., a French
registered, publicly traded royalty holding company (formerly know as Guyanor
Ressources S.A.) which owns a royalty interest in Cambior Inc.'s Rosebel gold
mine in Suriname.
Our corporate headquarters is located in Littleton, Colorado. All of our
operations, with the exception of various exploration projects, transact
business in US dollars and keep financial records in US dollars.
7
2. Short Term Investments
---------------------------
Short term investments are comprised of funds invested in AA or AAA rated
Auction Rate Certificates. The certificates are short term positions 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.
3. Inventories
----------------
As of As of
June 30, December 31,
2005 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockpiled ore $ 4,670 $ 3,659
In-process 3,240 2,858
Materials and supplies 13,115 8,849
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total inventories $ 21,025 $ 15,366
-------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Rosebel Royalty
--------------------
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 deferred payments were
received in the first quarters of 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively. Cambior
completed construction and initiated operation at the Rosebel mine in February
2004 and we began receiving royalty payments shortly thereafter which totaled
$3.0 million during 2004. The royalty for the three and six months ended June
30, 2005 totaled $1.1 million and $2.2 million respectively.
On December 31, 2004 we sold the Rosebel royalty to EURO Ressources S.A. ("EURO
Ressources"), a 58.9% owned subsidiary formerly known as Guyanor Ressources
S.A., 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 was due by June 30, 2005
but remains unpaid and, in accordance with our agreements with EURO Ressources,
the unpaid balance is now accruing interest at a rate of 12% per annum until
such time as the $6.0 million payment is made. In addition to the two $6.0
million payments, we are entitled to receive a royalty from EURO Ressources of
up to $2.50 per ounce on Rosebel production in excess of 2 million ounces but
less than 4 million ounces and up to $5.00 per ounce on production in excess of
4 million ounces but less than 7 million ounces.
The cash and the debt and its associated acquisition costs are included on our
consolidated balance sheet and royalty revenues are included in our consolidated
revenues since EURO Ressources is a majority subsidiary. All other aspects of
this transaction are eliminated upon consolidation since we own a majority of
EURO Ressources's common shares, and include it in our consolidated results.
As required by its loan agreement with the commercial bank which made the $6.0
million loan in January, all royalty proceeds are initially deposited with the
bank. Funds are subsequently disbursed to EURO Resources on an as-needed basis.
Excess funds retained by the bank are classified as restricted cash on the
Golden Star consolidated balance sheet.
5. Deposits
-------------
Deposits represent advance payments mostly for capital equipment purchases made
by WGL and BGL.
8
6. Long Term Investments
--------------------------
We hold a 22.3% interest in Goldmin Consolidated Holdings, a privately held
exploration company with a focus on South America. The investment is carried on
an equity investment basis at $1.4 million and we recognized $0.04 million and
$0.1 million of equity losses in the three and six months ended June 30, 2005
respectively.
We also hold a $5.5 million cost basis investment in the common shares of Moto
Goldmines Limited ("Moto"), a publicly traded gold exploration and development
company with a focus on gold exploration and development in the Democratic
Republic of Congo. Our investment in Moto increased by $1.4 million during the
second quarter upon the exercise of a portion of our Moto warrants. We hold
additional Moto warrants that if exercised would require the investment of an
additional 4.25 million Australian dollars. The fair value of our current
approximately 11.7% interest in Moto, based on the market price of their shares
on June 30, 2005, was $6.4 million, which exceeds our cost basis by $0.9
million.
7. Deferred Exploration and Development Costs
-----------------------------------------------
Deferred Deferred
Exploration & Exploration &
Development Development
Costs Capitalized Costs
as of Exploration Acquistions as of
12/31/04 Expenditures Costs Impairments 6/30/05
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFRICA
Akropong trend & other Ghana $ 2,443 $ 436 $ - $ - $ 2,879
Prestea property projects 2,067 116 - - 2,183
Mininko - Mali 1,033 50 - (1,083) -
Mano River - Sierra Leone 758 350 - - 1,108
Afema - Ivory Coast - 211 110 - 321
SOUTH AMERICA PROJECTS
Saramacca - Suriname 394 279 - - 673
Bon Espoir - French Guiana 501 511 - - 1,012
Paul Isnard - French Guiana 256 - - - 256
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $ 7,452 $ 1,953 $ 110 $ (1,083) $ 8,432
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Property, Plant and Equipment
----------------------------------
As of June 30, 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 $ 34,911 $ 6,515 $ 28,396 $ 27,722 $ 5,057 $ 22,665
Prestea Underground 1,733 - 1,733 238 - 238
EURO Ressources 1,457 1,444 13 1,969 1,951 18
Wassa 40,487 411 40,076 5,460 - 5,460
Corporate & Other 1,052 813 239 1,060 788 272
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $ 79,640 $ 9,183 $ 70,457 $ 36,449 $ 7,796 $ 28,653
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9
9. Mining Properties
----------------------
As of June 30, 2005 As of December 31, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mining Mining
Mining Properties, Mining Properties,
Properties Accumulated Net Book Properties Accumulated Net Book
at Cost Amortization Value at Cost Amortization Value
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoso/Prestea $ 44,735 $ 25,857 $ 18,878 $ 43,420 $ 23,113 $ 20,307
Prestea Underground 16,875 - 16,875 12,984 - 12,984
Wassa 42,878 1,276 41,602 9,653 9,653
Bogoso Sulfide 13,449 - 13,449 13,065 13,065
Mampon 14,150 - 14,150 13,676 13,676
Other 5,118 - 5,118 4,512 - 4,512
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $ 137,205 $ 27,133 $ 110,072 $ 97,310 $ 23,113 $ 74,197
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Construction in Progress
-----------------------------
Construction in Progress contains the development and construction costs of the
Bogoso sulfide expansion project incurred since the beginning of 2005. The
Bogoso sulfide acquisition and feasibility costs incurred prior to 2005 are
classified as Mining Properties on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
11. Deferred Stripping
-----------------------
We initiated a deferred waste stripping policy at the Plant-North pit on the
Prestea property in the third quarter of 2004 in response to the fact that
mining as Prestea has trended in recent years toward deeper pits with longer
lives and higher and more variable stripping ratios than in the past.
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 in the line item 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.
10
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 six months of 2005. 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 six months of 2005, $0.1 million of deferred stripping costs
were recovered due to an adjustment at the end of 2004 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 most of the
rest of 2005 followed by a few months of stripping below the average rate in
late 2005 and early 2006 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 our 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.
In March 2005 the Emerging Issues Task Force of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board issued statement 04-6 "Accounting for Stripping Costs Incurred
During Production in the Mining Industry" ("EITF 04-6") which precludes deferral
of stripping costs during a mine's production phase. EITF 04-6 requires that
deferred stripping costs be considered a variable production cost. The new
pronouncement is effective January 1, 2006 and transition provisions allow any
remaining balances in deferred stripping asset accounts to be closed directly to
retained earnings on January 1, 2006. Cdn GAAP has not yet addressed this new
development in US GAAP and it is currently not known if deferred stripping
accounting will be acceptable in Canada after 2005.
12. Loan Acquisition Costs, Hedging and Derivatives
-----------------------------------------------------
In the second quarter a total of $0.9 million of loan acquisition fees were
incurred in obtaining the $50 million of convertible notes. This amount was
capitalized and is being amortized over the life of the loan. In addition, as
described immediately below, we recorded additional loan acquisition costs at
EURO Ressources related to its January 2005 borrowing. As with the convertible
notes, the balance is being amortized to interest expenses over the life of the
loan.
In January 2005, EURO Ressources, a majority owned subsidiary, entered into a
gold derivative position as part of a $6.0 million loan agreement (see Debt note
below). At that date, EURO Ressources entered into forward gold sale derivative
contracts totaling 57,000 ounces at a fixed price of $421. The agreement
established 10 tranches of 5,700 ounces each which settle quarterly over ten
quarters beginning in the first quarter of 2005. In the first six months of 2005
we have recorded a $0.1 million derivative loss upon settlement of the first two
quarterly tranches. As of June 30, 2005, the remaining gold forward derivative
contracts had a negative mark-to-market fair value of $0.7 million. We have
designated this gold forward derivative as a hedge of the future cash flows on
the Rosebel royalty stream and since the hedging relationship has been
determined to be highly effective, the change in the fair value of this
derivative will be recognized in earnings when the hedged item is realized.
To provide gold price and foreign exchange price protection during the
construction phase of the Bogoso sulfide expansion project we purchased a series
of gold put options and foreign exchange forwards. We paid approximately $1.0
million for the gold put options, which is approximately equal to its fair value
at the end of the period. The foreign exchange forward contracts were
established without cost, and had a negative $0.4 million fair value at the end
of the period which made up $0.4 million of the Loss on Derivatives as found on
the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
11
The following table summarizes our derivative contracts at June 30, 2005:
At June 30, Total/
2005 2005 2006 2007 Average
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gold Forward Contracts
(EURO Ressources)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ounces (thousands) 11.4 22.8 11.4 45.6
Average price per ounce 421 421 421 421
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value ($ thousands) ($702)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gold Puts (Golden Star)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ounces (thousands) 27.5 90.0 22.5 140.0
Average price per ounce 413 409 407 410
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value ($ thousands) $962
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign Exchange Forwards (Golden Star)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South African Rand (millions) 71.7 54.7 - 126.4
Average rate (ZAR) 6.52 6.86 - 6.66
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value ($ thousands) ($294)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Euros (millions) 1.5 2.5 - 4.0
Average Rate (EUR) 1.24 1.25 - 1.25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value ($ thousands) ($126)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The puts and foreign exchange forward contracts are comprised of numerous
individual contracts each with a different settlement date.
13. Debt
---------
As of June 30, As of December 31,
DEBT 2005 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current debt:
Bank loan - at EURO Ressources (Note a) $ 2,667 $ -
CAT equipment financing loans (Note b) 1,755 1,267
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current debt $ 4,422 $ 1,267
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long term debt:
Bank loan - at EURO Ressources (Note a) $ 3,333 $ -
CAT equipment financing loans (Note b) 2,521 1,707
Convertible notes (Note c) 47,318 -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total long term debt $ 53,172 $ 1,707
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Bank debt - In January 2005, EURO Ressources 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 accrued interest is due on the same schedule. The interest rate for
each period is set at LIBOR plus 2.5% and EURO Ressources may choose a 1, 2 or 3
month interest period. The loan is collateralized by the assets of EURO
Ressources, including the Rosebel royalty. The lender has no recourse to Golden
Star.
12
(b) Equipment financing credit facility - We have established a $25 million
equipment financing facility between Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation,
BGL and WGL, 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 for each draw-down is fixed at the date of
the draw-down 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 June 30, 2005, $4.3
million had been drawn down under this facility. The average interest rate is
currently 5.9% on the used equipment loans and 6.2% for the new equipment loans.
(c) Convertible notes - We sold $50 million of senior unsecured convertible
notes to a private investment fund on April 15, 2005. These notes, maturing on
April 15, 2009, were issued at par and bear interest at 6.85% with a conversion
price of $4.50 per common share. At the maturity date, we have the option, at
our discretion, to liquidate the outstanding notes with cash or by issuing
common shares to the note holders. If the notes are paid in common shares the
number of shares will be determined by dividing the loan balance by an amount
equal to 95% of the average price of the 20 trading day period ended five days
before the notes are due. Due to the conversion feature, approximately $47.1
million of the note balance was initially classified as a liability and $2.9
million was classified as equity and credited to contributed surplus. Periodic
accretion will increase the liability to the full amount due (after adjustments
for converted notes) by the end of the note life. The periodic accretion is
classified as interest expense.
(d) A total of $0.4 million of interest on the convertible notes was capitalized
into the Bogoso sulfide expansion project costs.
14. Asset Retirement Obligations
---------------------------------
Our Asset Retirement Obligations ("ARO") are estimated to be equal to the
present value of all future 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.
The changes in the carrying amount of the ARO during the first six months of
2005 and 2004 were:
Six months ended
June 30, 2005
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 2004 $ 8,660
Accretion expense 368
Cost of reclamation work performed (292)
New AROs incurred during the period 1,056
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at June 30, 2005 $ 9,792
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six months ended
June 30, 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 2003 $ 7,745
Accretion expense 322
Cost of reclamation work performed (468)
New AROs incurred during the period 423
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at June 30, 2004 $ 8,022
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
13
15. Commitments and Contingencies
----------------------------------
(a) Environmental Regulations and Asset Retirement Obligations - We are not
aware of any events of 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. ARO's, which include environmental rehabilitation
liabilities for reclamation and for closure costs, were $6.6 million at
Bogoso/Prestea at June 30, 2005, up from $6.0 million at December 31, 2004.
ARO's at Wassa totaled $2.8 million at June 30, 2005, up $0.1 million from 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 of the restricted cash to cover our out-of-pocket cash reclamation
costs. There have been no disbursements of the restricted cash since 2001. In
the third quarter of 2005, at the request of the Ghana Environmental Protection
Agency, our subsidiary BGL expects to establish a $9.0 million reclamation bond,
to cover all known estimated future reclamation obligations at Bogoso/Prestea.
As soon as the bond is in place, we will seek to amend the agreement with the
original sellers of BGL and obtain their consent 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 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 the third quarter of 2005, our subsidiary BGL expects 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
Ghana Environmental Protection Agency to complete our obligations for
Bogoso/Prestea.
(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. There will be no
royalty due 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 operating margins.
(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 $0.35 million on the Mano River project during the first six
months of 2005, thereby meeting the minimum commitment.
14
(f) On March 29, 2005 we entered into an agreement with Societe d'Etat pour le
Developpement Minier de la Cote d'Ivoire ("SO.DE.MI."), the Cote d'Ivoire state
mining and exploration company, to acquire its 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 nine months of 2005 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.
(g) Due to financial difficulties experienced by Prestea Gold Resources Limited.
("PGR"), our joint venture partner in the Prestea Underground, PGR's remaining
interest in the joint venture became vested in our subsidiary BGL under the
terms of the original joint venture agreement. The official liquidator of PGR
has previously affirmed the vesting of this interest upon request made by BGL.
However, the vesting was successfully 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 court instructed 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. We plan to
appeal the ruling.
The joint venture agreement provided for dilution of joint venture interest if a
participant failed to match the cash contribution of the other participant.
Since the joint venture was initiated in March 2002, BGL has contributed
approximately $16 million to the joint venture and PGR has contributed nil. As a
result, PGR's ownership has been diluted from an initial 45% down to 10% as of
June 30, 2005. The joint venture agreement further provides that if either
participant's ownership is diluted below 10%, the remaining participant would
assume ownership and control of the joint venture and the non-controlling
participant's ownership position would convert to a net profit interest of 2.5%.
Consequently, even if the Court's ruling is not overturned on appeal, we believe
that we have assumed all of PGR's residual ownership and that their interest has
reverted to a 2.5% net profits interest.
15
16. Share Capital and Contributed Surplus
------------------------------------------
Changes in share capital during the six months ended June 30, 2005 were:
Shares Amount
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning balance as of December 31, 2004 142,244,112 $ 342,494
Common shares issued:
Option exercises 152,606 381
Warrant exercises - -
Bonus shares and other 45,342 164
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance as of June 30, 2005 142,442,060 $ 343,039
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in contributed surplus during the six months ended June 30, 2005 were:
Amount
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning balance as of December 31, 2004 $ 2,040
Option expense (net of forfeitures) 637
Reclass to share capital for fair value of options exercised (79)
Issuance of convertible note - equity component 2,857
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending balance as of June 30, 2005 $ 5,455
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 non qualified options to employees, consultants and directors of
the Company or its subsidiaries for up to 15,000,000 shares of common stock, at
our exercise price 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.
A total of 514,000 options were granted during the first six months of 2005
versus 855,000 in the same period of 2004. There were no options granted during
the second quarter of 2005.
In the six months ended June 30, 2005, we recognized approximately $0.7 million
of expense related to stock options.
Options Weighted-Average
(000's) Exercise Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding as of December 31, 2004 5,271 $ 3.17
Granted 514 4.58
Exercised (153) 2.44
Forfeited (52) 5.13
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding as of June 30, 2005 5,580 $ 3.30
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16
The fair value of options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2005 was
estimated at the grant date using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the
following assumptions:
Three months ended June 30, Three months ended June 30,
-------------------------------------------------------------
2005 2004 2005 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expected volatility - 36.4% to 36.5 34.9% 36.4% to 36.5
Risk-free interest
rate - 3.7% to 4.1% 3.1% to 3.52% 3.7% to 4.1%
Expected lives - 3.5 to 5 years 3.5 to 5 years 3.5 to 5 years
Dividend yield - NA 0% NA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Stock Bonus Plan - In December 1992, we established an Employees' Stock
Bonus Plan (the "Bonus Plan") for full-time and part-time employees (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 which 491,162 common shares have
been issued as of June 30, 2005 including 41,758 shares issued at Cdn$4.58 per
share and 3,584 shares issued at $2.79 per share during the first six months of
2005. No bonus shares were issued in the first six months of 2004.
(c) EURO Ressources Option Grants - In March 2005, EURO Ressources granted
400,000 options to purchase EURO Ressources 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, 50% volatility and no
dividends.
17
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
------------------------------------
For the three months ended Bogoso/ Wassa Other South North Total
and as at June 30, Prestea America America
Corporate
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005
Revenues $ 14,233 $ 9,190 $ - $ 1,086 $ 452 $ 24,961
Net Income/(Loss) 1,769 (2,627) - 590 (3,306) (3,574)
Total Assets 103,221 90,126 35,264 3,368 78,115 310,094
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004
Revenues $ 15,517 $ - $ - $ 22 $ 955 $ 16,494
Net Income/(Loss) 3,017 (47) - (348) (1,507) 1,115
Total Assets 94,658 55,491 1,287 653 90,546 242,635
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Africa
----------------------------------
For the six months ended Bogoso/ Wassa Other South North Total
and as at June 30, Prestea America America
Corporate
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005
Revenues $ 30,950 $ 9,190 $ - $ 2,194 $ 715 $ 43,049
Net Income/(Loss) 3,595 (2,676) - 1,386 (7,244) $ (4,939)
Total Assets 103,221 90,126 35,264 3,368 78,115 310,094
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004
Revenues $ 34,793 $ - $ - $ 51 $ 1,507 $ 36,351
Net Income/(Loss) 9,985 (92) - (715) (2,869) 6,309
Total Assets 94,658 55,491 1,287 653 90,546 242,635
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. Earnings per Common Share
The following table provides reconciliation between basic and diluted
earnings/(loss) per common share:
Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
---------------------------------------------------------
2005 2004 2005 2004
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) $ (3,574) $ 1,115 $ (4,939) $ 6,309
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of common shares
(millions) 142.4 136.7 142.4 134.9
Dilutive securities:
Options 1.7 3.1 1.9 3.2
Warrants 0.1 5.6 0.2 6.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of diluted shares 144.2 145.4 144.5 144.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic earnings/(loss) per share $ (0.025) $ 0.008 $ (0.035) $ 0.047
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share $ (0.025) $ 0.008 $ (0.035) $ 0.044
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share on a US GAAP basis are found in Note 21 below.
18
20. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Three months ended Six months ended
June 30, June 30
----------------------------------------
2005 2004 2005 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan acquition costs - - $1,070 -
Fair value of derivatives - - (1,070) -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There were no cash payments for income taxes in the first six months of 2005 and
2004. Cash payments for interest were $0.4 million and nil in the first six
months of 2005 and 2004 respectively. The increase over 2004 is principally
related to the convertible notes and Caterpillar equipment loans.
19
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.
BALANCE SHEETS - US GAAP As of As of
June 30, December 31,
2005 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 18,386 $ 12,877
Short term investments 42,500 38,850
Accounts receivable 6,480 3,592
Inventories 21,025 15,366
Due from sale of property - 1,000
Future tax assets 1,080 1,542
Deposits 8,313 5,102
Other current assets 429 517
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets 98,213 78,846
Restricted cash 3,888 3,351
Long term investments (Note d2) 6,397 4,132
Deferred exploration and development costs (Note d2) - -
Property, plant and equipment (Note d1) 69,764 28,653
Mining properties (Notes d1 and d3) 80,124 52,586
Deferred stripping 1,240 1,357
Mine construction in progress (Note d1) 7,217 49,430
Loan acquisition fees 1,573 -
Other assets 2,212 1,617
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $ 270,628 $ 219,972
==============================================================================================
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities 22,869 $ 17,480
Long term debt 55,855 1,707
Fair value of non-hedge derivatives (Note d4) 547 -
Fair value of hedge derivatives (Note d4) 702 -
Asset retirement obligations 9,792 8,660
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities $ 89,765 27,847
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minority interest (notes d2 and d3) 4,222 3,899
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Share capital (Note d5) 340,069 339,524
Contributed surplus 2,598 2,040
Accumulated comprehensive income and other (Note d4) 1,507 1,316
Deficit (167,533) (154,654)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total shareholders' equity 176,641 188,226
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 270,628 $ 219,972
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - US GAAP
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS - US GAAP Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
-------------------------------------------------------
2005 2004 2005 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) under Cdn GAAP $ (3,574) $ 1,115 $ (4,939) $ 6,309
Deferred exploration expenditures expensed per US GAAP
(note d2) 999 (3,394) (3,575) (6,553)
Loss at Wassa mine in the first quarter of 2005 (note
d1) (1,071) - (5,725) -
Write-off of deferred exploration projects (Note d2) - - 1,083 -
Other 180 - 220 -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net (loss) under US GAAP before minority interest (3,466) (2,279) (12,936) (244)
Minority interest, as adjusted (note d2 and d3) 54 (661) 56 700
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/(loss) under US GAAP $ (3,412) $ (2,940) $ (12,880) $ 456
Other comprehensive income -gain/(loss) on marketable
securities (156) - 893 -
Other comprehensive income - mark to market loss on
derviatives (note d4) (418) - (702) -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive income/(loss) $ (3,986) $ (2,940) $ (12,689) $ 456
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic net income/(loss) per share under US GAAP $ (0.024) $ (0.022) $ (0.090) $ 0.003
Diluted net income/(loss) under US GAAP $ (0.024) (0.022) $ (0.090) $ 0.003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues for the first six months of 2005 were $49.7 million under US GAAP, or
$6.7 million higher than under Cdn GAAP, the difference being attributed to
first quarter 2005 revenues at Wassa which was put in service in the first
quarter of 2005 for US GAAP but was not put in-service until the second quarter
for Cdn GAAP.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW - US GAAP
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW - US GAAP Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
---------------------------------------------------------
2005 2004 2005 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash provided by/(used in):
Operating activities $ (4,243) $ 2,284 $ (11,284) $ 5,129
Investing activities (44,146) (11,903) (39,712) (19,146)
Financing activities 49,756 9,437 56,505 9,882
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the
period 1,367 (182) 5,509 (4,135)
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of the period 17,019 86,017 12,877 89,970
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents end of the period $ 18,386 $ 85,835 $ 18,386 $ 85,835
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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 Cdn 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, minority investments in companies whose
major business is mineral exploration are deemed for US GAAP to be equivalent to
exploration spending.
21
(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) In January 2005 a subsidiary entered in to a gold derivative position
as part of a loan agreement. Under Cdn GAAP the mark to market gains and losses
on the hedge portion of the derivative are not recorded but are disclosed in the
foot notes. Under US GAAP the effective portion of the mark to market gains and
losses on the hedge portion of the derivative is recorded in Other Comprehensive
Income and an asset or liability. Any ineffective portion of the hedge is
recorded in the income statement. As of June 30, 2005 the derivative contract
had a negative mark-to-market value of $0.7 million.
(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 while 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.
(6) For US GAAP purposes, 100% of the $50.0 million of convertible notes issued
in the second quarter of 2005 was classified as a liability. Under Cdn GAAP, the
fair value of the conversion feature is classified as equity and the balance is
classified as a liability. Under Cdn GAAP, the liability portion is accreted
each period in amounts which will increase the liability to its full amount as
of the maturity date and the accretion is recorded as interest expense.
In March 2005 the Emerging Issues Task Force of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board issued statement 04-6 "Accounting for Stripping Costs Incurred
During Production in the Mining Industry" ("EITF 04-6") which precludes deferred
of stripping costs during a mine's production phase. EITF 04-6 requires that
deferred stripping costs be considered a variable production cost. The new
pronouncement is effective January 1, 2006 and transition provisions allow any
remaining balances in deferred stripping asset accounts to be closed directly to
retained earnings on January 1, 2006. Cdn GAAP has not yet addressed this new
development in US GAAP and it is currently not known if deferred stripping
accounting will be acceptable in Canada after 2005.
22
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"). See Note 21 to the accompanying
consolidated financial states for a reconciliation to accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States ("US GAAP"). This Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
includes information available to August 2, 2005.
In this Form 10-Q we use the terms "Total operating cost per ounce", "total cash
cost per ounce" and "cash operating cost per ounce".
Total operating cost per ounce is equal to "Mining operations" costs as found on
our consolidated statement of operations divided by the ounces of gold sold in
the period. Mining operations 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 do 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 "mining operations" costs, as found on our
consolidated statements of operations less depreciation, depletion, amortization
and asset retirement obligation accretion 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".
Derivation of Total Mine Operating Cost For the three months ended June 30, 2005 For the three
for the three months ended June 30, 2005 months ended
June 30, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoso
Wassa Prestea Total Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mining operations expense $ 10,105 $ 9,785 $ 19,890 $ 10,190
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation, depletion & amortization 1,699 2,042 3,741 1,945
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 95 86 181 163
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total mine operating costs - GAAP $ 11,899 $ 11,913 $ 23,812 $ 12,298
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ounces sold 20,739 33,199 53,938 38,805
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derivation of Costs per Ounce
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total mine operating cost per ounce - GAAP ($/oz) 574 359 441 317
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less depreciation, depletion & amortization ($/oz) 82 62 69 50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less accretion of asset retirement obligation ($/oz) 5 3 3 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash cost ($/oz) 487 295 369 263
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less royalties and production taxes ($/oz) 15 13 14 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash operating cost ($/oz) 472 282 355 251
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23
Derivation of Total Mine Operating Cost For the six months ended June 30, 2005 For the six
for the six months ended June 30, 2005 months ended
June 30, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoso
Wassa Prestea Total Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mining operations expense $ 10,105 $ 21,861 $ 31,966 $ 19,315
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation, depletion & amortization 1,699 4,214 5,913 4,223
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 95 273 368 322
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total mine operating costs - GAAP $ 11,899 $ 26,348 $ 38,247 $ 23,860
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ounces sold 20,739 72,364 93,103 86,007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derivation of Costs per Ounce
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating cost per ounce - GAAP ($/oz) 574 364 411 277
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less depreciation, depletion & amortization ($/oz) 82 58 64 49
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less accretion of asset retirement obligation ($/oz) 5 4 4 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash cost ($/oz) 487 302 343 225
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less royalties and production taxes ($/oz) 15 13 13 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash operating cost ($/oz) 472 289 330 213
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Wassa mine was placed in service on April 1, 2005. As such it was not in
operation in 2004 and was in operation only during the second quarter of 2005.
Thus its costs for the three months and six months of 2005 are the same.
These calculations of total cash cost per ounce and cash operating cost per
ounce are in compliance with an industry standard for such measures 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 as, 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
Description of Business
Through our subsidiaries and joint ventures we own a controlling interest in
three gold properties in southern Ghana in West Africa: the Bogoso/Prestea
property, which comprises the adjoining Bogoso and Prestea mining leases
("Bogoso/Prestea"), the Wassa property ("Wassa") and the Prestea Underground
property ("Prestea Underground").
24
Bogoso/Prestea and the Prestea Underground are owned by our 90% owned subsidiary
Bogoso Gold Limited ("BGL"). All of our gold production prior to April 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 the Prestea
Underground. 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 mine located some 35 kilometers east of Bogoso/Prestea.
Construction of Wassa's new processing plant and open pit mine was completed at
the end of March 2005 and the project was 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, Cote d'Ivoire Suriname and
French Guiana. We hold indirect interests in gold exploration properties in Peru
and Chile through an equity investment in Goldmin Consolidated Holdings, and in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo through a cost basis investment in Moto
Goldmines Limited. We also own 59% interest in EURO Ressources S.A., a French
registered, publicly traded royalty holding company (formerly known as Guyanor
Ressources S.A.) which owns a royalty interest in Cambior Inc.'s Rosebel gold
mine in Suriname.
Our corporate headquarters is located in Littleton, Colorado. All of our
operations, with the exception of various exploration projects, transact
business in US dollars and keep financial records in US dollars.
TRENDS AND EVENTS DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2005
Wassa Start-Up
Following the completion of construction and commissioning in the first quarter
of 2005, the Wassa mine was placed in service on April 1, 2005. The Wassa
processing plant processed 813,624 tonnes of ore in the second quarter or 8,941
tonnes per day and shipped and sold 20,739 ounces of gold. During June the
processing rate increased to an average of 10,386 tonnes per day and in July to
slightly over 12,000 tonnes per day. The design capacity is 10,000 tonnes per
day. Prior to the April 1 in service date, revenues were netted against
operating costs and resulting balance was capitalized.
Construction of a power line connecting the property to the national power grid
was completed in early June and the processing plant is now operating more
efficiently on the grid power than it did on Wassa's on-site diesel-fired
generating plant. Prior to early June, plant operations were impacted by the
continuity, availability and cost of power from our owner-operated powerhouse
which resulted in the plant operating at less than its designed capacity, which
in combination with the expected lower grade in the upper levels of the Wassa
open pit, contributed to lower overall production. The lower than expected gold
production and high power costs contributed to high cash operating costs during
the second quarter.
Bogoso/Prestea Operations
Operations at Bogoso/Prestea were profitable during the three months and six
months ended June 30, 2005, with operating earnings of $1.8 million and $3.6
million, respectively.
Bogoso/Prestea continued to process hard transition and non-refractory sulfide
ores during the first six months of 2005. During the first quarter of 2004 and
during portions of the second quarter of 2004, the Bogoso plant processed softer
oxide ores which had better gold recovery and higher processing rates than do
the harder and more refractory ores processed during the first half of 2005.
25
We expect that the Bogoso processing plant will continue to process transition
and non-refractory ores through the remainder of 2005 with recovery rates in the
third quarter similar to those experienced in the first half. We further
expect improvement in gold recovery rates in the fourth quarter as the
Plant-North pit begins to mine ores types more amenable to the Bogoso plant. The
anticipated improvement in gold recovery in the fourth quarter should raise gold
production and reduce cash operating costs per ounce from the levels of the
first half of 2005.
As mining progresses deeper and into the southern end of the Plant North ore
body at Bogoso/Prestea we expect to reach zones of more amenable ores which
should increase the plant processing rate and gold recovery rates during the
second half of 2005.
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%. The Notes are convertible to
common shares at a fixed conversion price of $4.50 per share, a 48% premium to
the closing price of the common shares on April 5, 2005. Proceeds from the sale
of the Notes are being 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 was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission in July.
Puts
In the second quarter of 2005 we purchased put options locking in an average
gold floor price of $409.75 per ounce for 140,000 ounces of gold spread 27,000
in 2005, 90,000 in 2006 and 22,500 in 2007. 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.
Rand and Euro Forwards
In the second quarter of 2005 we established forward contracts for 126
million South African Rand at an average exchange rate of 6.6647 Rand per the
dollar and 4.0 million Euros at an average exchange rate of 1.2458 dollars per
Euro. This action was undertaken to limit the potential impact of unfavorable
foreign currency fluctuations on the cost of equipment and services we expect to
acquire from South African and European vendors during the construction phase of
the Bogoso sulfide expansion project.
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 ("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. Under the terms of this agreement, the
Cote d'Ivoire government would retain a 10% interest in such property.
A $110,000 initial payment was made to SO.DE.MI. in the second quarter 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 and in the range of $375 to $450 per ounce the
royalty rate would be 2.5%.
26
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 which was
deposited with the Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency. In the third
quarter of 2005 we expect to complete our obligation for Bogoso/Prestea bonding,
with a letter of credit already lodged for $8.55 million and a deposit of $0.45
million with the Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency.
EURO Ressources Restructuring
On January 8, 2005 EURO Ressources S.A. ("EURO Ressources "), a 59% owed
subsidiary formerly called Guyanor Ressources S.A., 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 EURO Ressources purchased from us in December
2004. A second installment of $6.0 million was due by June 30, 2005 but remains
unpaid and, in accordance with our agreements with EURO Ressources, the unpaid
balance is now accruing interest at a rate of 12% per annum until such time as
the $6.0 million payment is made. EURO Ressources is now seeking additional
funding to pay the second $6.0 million installment due Golden Star. Covenants in
the January 2005 loan agreement preclude EURO Ressources from acquiring any
additional debt without the bank's approval.
As required by the loan agreement, EURO Ressources entered into a cash-settled
forward sales agreement in January 2005 which obligates EURO Ressources to sell
5,700 ounces of gold to the bank that provided the $6.0 million loan, 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 EURO Ressources equal to the
difference between the average price and $421 times 5,700 ounces. The hedge 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. 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 hedge. The
payment due the bank in the second quarter was approximately $36,000 based on
the average gold price of $427 during the second quarter multiplied by 5,700
ounces.
In April, EURO Ressources received its first royalty payment from Cambior Inc.
As required by its loan agreement with the commercial bank which made the $6.0
million loan in January, all royalty proceeds are initially deposited with the
bank. Funds are subsequently disbursed to EURO Resources on an as-needed basis.
Excess funds retained by the bank are classified as restricted cash on the
Golden Star consolidated balance sheet.
27
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 half of 2005 gold prices pulled back from the late 2004
highs averaging $427 per ounce for the first six months of 2005. 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 six months of 2005 averaged $426 per ounce compared to $404 per
ounce average price received in the first six months of 2004.
Illegal Mining
In February 2005, Ghana 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 Ghana Government
to illegal miners nationwide that they were to cease all illegal mining
operations. In particular, the Ghana Government singled out illegal miners who
are operating on our Bogoso/Prestea property and has undertaken to use Ghana
Government security agencies to remove them if they do not voluntarily depart.
The notice given by the Ghana Government to the illegal miners has expired and
therefore, in the near term, we expect Government security forces to commence
the process of removing the illegal miners.
Separately, the Ghanaian 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. Several
areas, which are outside the Company's property holdings, have been designated
by the Ghana Minerals Commission for such purposes. The Ghana Government and its
agencies have also carried out educational programs for the illegal miners and
the nearby communities relating to the negative social, health and environmental
impacts of illegal mining. The program also makes illegal miners aware of the
Ghana Government's small scale mining initiative and educates them on
environmental and safety issues.
We are working closely with the Ghana Government security agencies to reduce
tensions in the area and to reduce the risk of an escalation of the situation
and possible injury to people and damage to property. Unfortunately, the actions
proposed by the Ghana Government have caused unrest in the community at Prestea
resulting in a number of protests and demonstrations during which violence has
been threatened and during which illegal miners have entered our pits where they
damaged property and removed ore.
Due to security concerns and the Company's policy of avoiding unnecessary
confrontation, 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 fourth
quarter 2004 50,000-ounce estimate of gold illegally removed from our property.
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
Second Quarter of 2005 Compared to the Second Quarter of 2004
Summary - Second Quarter 2005
During the three months ended June 30, 2005, we incurred a net loss of
$(3.6) million or $(0.025) per share on revenues of $25.0 million, versus net
income of $1.1 million or $0.008 per share on revenues of $16.5 million during
the three months ended June 30, 2004. While gold revenues were $7.9 million
higher than in the same period of 2004, due mostly to production from our new
Wassa mine and from higher realized gold prices, mine operating costs were $11.5
million higher, due mostly to the Wassa mine coming on line in April. The major
factors contributing to the $4.7 million lower
28
quarterly net income from a year earlier include a $2.7 million operating
loss at Wassa, $0.5 million of EURO Ressources restructuring costs, a $0.5
million mark-to-market loss on derivatives, a $0.8 million increase in interest
expense primarily on the convertible notes and a $0.4 million increase in
foreign exchange mark-to-market losses. These higher costs and losses were
partly offset by $1.8 million of operating earnings at Bogoso/Prestea, a $0.5
million increase in royalty and interest income and a $0.6 million reduction in
option expense. Realized gold prices averaged $429 per ounce for the second
quarter of 2005, a 7.5% increase from the $399 per ounce realized in the same
quarter of 2004.
CONSOLIDATED Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
FINANCIAL RESULTS -------------------------------------------------------
2005 2004 2005 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gold sold (oz) 53,938 38,805 93,103 86,007
Average price realized ($/oz) 429 399 428 404
Cash flow from operations (in $
thousands) (6,732) 5,675 (3,098) 11,681
Total revenues (in $ thousands) 24,691 16,494 43,049 36,351
Net income/(loss) (in $ thousands) (3,574) 1,115 (4,939) 6,309
Net income/(loss) per share - basic ($) (0.025) 0.008 (0.035) 0.047
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoso/Prestea Operations - Second Quarter 2005
During the quarter ended June 30, 2005 Bogoso/Prestea generated operating
profits after-tax of $1.8 million.
The income was based on sales of 33,199 ounces of gold during the second
quarter of 2005, down from 38,805 ounces in the same period of 2004. The major
factor contributing to the lower gold output was a change in ore type from a
year ago. The non-refractory sulfide and transition ores processed in the second
quarter of 2005 are significantly harder and more difficult and costly to treat
than was the softer oxide ore treated in the second quarter of 2004. The
increased hardness resulted in lower mill throughput and the more complex
metallurgy resulted in lower gold recoveries than in the first quarter of 2004.
As a result of the harder ore we experienced increases in certain operating
costs including, electric power usage, explosives, drilling supplies, and
equipment maintenance. Rising costs of fuel and other consumables were also a
significant factor in the overall cost increase.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOGOSO/PRESTEA Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
OPERATING RESULTS ------------------------------------------------------
2005 2004 2005 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore mined (t) 508,685 311,714 908,829 687,300
Waste mined (t) 2,601,968 1,766,400 4,693,221 3,793,360
Ore milled (t) 378,259 421,289 769,553 935,725
Grade milled (g/t) 4.54 3.51 4.55 3.64
Recovery (%) 59.3 63.8 60.4 73.7
Gold sold (oz) 33,199 38,805 72,364 86,007
Cash operating cost ($/oz) 282 251 289 213
Royalties ($/oz) 13 12 13 12
Total cash cost ($/oz) 295 263 302 225
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lower gold output and higher mine operating costs in the second quarter of
2005 resulted in a significant increase in unit costs versus the second quarter
of 2004. Cash operating costs averaged $282 per ounce, compared to $251 per
ounce in the second quarter of 2004, and total cash costs averaged $295 per
ounce, up from $263 per ounce in the second quarter of 2004. Depreciation and
amortization were essentially unchanged from a year earlier.
29
The Bogoso processing plant processed an average of 4,156 tonnes per day at an
average grade of 4.54 grams per tonne, as compared to 4,630 tonnes per day at
3.51 grams per tonne in the same period in 2004. During the quarter gold
recovery dropped to 59% from 64% in the second quarter of 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
second quarter of 2004.
Wassa Operations - Second Quarter 2005
The Wassa mine was placed in service on April 1, 2005 after completing its
commissioning and testing phase in the first quarter. Wassa shipped and sold
20,739 ounces of gold during the second quarter, receiving an average price of
$429.81 per ounce. Plant throughput averaged 8,941 tonnes per day at an average
grade of 1.08 grams per tonne with a recovery of 86.8%. Feed to the Wassa plant
consisted of approximately 670,361 tonnes of pit ore averaging 1.14 grams per
tonne and 143,263 tonnes of heap leach materials which averaged 0.77 grams per
tonne. Approximately 688,243 tonnes of ore were mined from the open pits at an
average grade of 1.09 grams per tonne.
Prior to early June, plant operations were impacted by the continuity,
availability and cost of power from our owner-operated powerhouse which resulted
in the plant operating at less than its designed capacity, which in combination
with the expected lower grade in the upper levels of the Wassa open pit,
contributed to lower overall production. The lower than expected gold production
and high power costs contributed to high cash operating costs during the second
quarter which averaged $472 per ounce. Total cash costs averaged $487 per ounce.
In June, after the connection to the regional power grid, cash operating costs
per ounce fell to $333 per ounce. Further reductions in cost per ounce are
expected in the second half of 2005 from the lower-cost grid power, from the
arrival of new mining equipment, and from expected increases in head grades as
mining accesses higher grade ores deeper in the pit. We also anticipate higher
plant throughput rates in the second half in excess of 10,000 tonne per day
designed plant capacity. June's mill throughput rate increased to 10,386 tonnes
per day after connection to the power grid, up from a second quarter average
rate of 8,941 tonnes per day and throughput in July averaged just over 12,000
tonne per day.
WASSA OPERATING RESULTS Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
----------------------------------------------------------
(After April 1, 2005 start up) (1) 2005 2004 2005 2004
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore mined (t) 688,243 - 688,243 -
Waste mined (t) 1,985,833 - 1,985,833 -
Heap leach material milled (t) 143,263 - 143,263 -
Pit ore milled (t) 670,361 - 670,361 -
Grade milled (g/t) 1.08 - 1.08 -
Recovery (%) 86.8 - 86.8 -
Gold sold (oz) 20,739 - 20,739 -
Cash Operating Cost ($/oz) 472 - 472 -
Royalities ($/oz) 15 - 15 -
Total Cash Cost ($/oz) 487 - 487 -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Since the Wassa mine was not placed in service until April 1, 2005, the
production for the six months ended June 30, 2005 was the same as the production
for the three months ended June 30, 2005.
30
Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004
Summary - Six Months ended June 30, 2005
During the six months ended June 30, 2005, we incurred a net loss of $(4.9)
million or $(0.035) per share on revenues of $43.0 million, versus net income of
$6.3 million or $0.047 per share on revenues of $36.4 million during the first
six months of 2004. While gold revenues were $5.3 million higher than in the
same period of 2004, due mostly to production from our new Wassa mine and from
higher realized gold prices, operating costs were $14.6 million higher, also due
mostly to the Wassa start-up. The major factors contributing to the $11.2
million swing from a net income position in the first six months of 2004 to a
net loss in the first six months of 2005 include a $7.0 million reduction in
operating income at Bogoso/Prestea, a current year $2.7 million operating loss
at Wassa, a $1.1 million impairment write-off of an exploration project, $0.5
million of EURO Ressources restructuring costs, a $0.5 million mark-to-market
loss on derivatives and an $0.8 million increase in interest expense. These
higher costs were partly offset by $3.6 million of operating earnings at
Bogoso/Prestea and a $1.3 million increase in royalty and interest income.
Realized gold prices averaged $428 per ounce for the first six months of 2005, a
5.9% increase from the $404 per ounce realized in the same quarter of 2004.
Bogoso/Prestea Operations - Six Months ended June 30, 2005
Bogoso/Prestea generated $3.6 million of after-tax operating income on
sales of 72,364 ounces of gold during the first six months of 2005, down from
86,007 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 half of 2005 were
significantly harder and more difficult and costly to treat than was the softer
oxide ore treated in the first half of 2004. The increased hardness resulted in
lower mill throughput and the more complex metallurgy resulted in lower gold
recoveries. As a result of the harder ore we experienced increases in certain
operating costs including, electric power usage, explosives, drilling supplies,
and equipment maintenance. Rising fuel costs were also a significant factor in
the overall cost increase.
The lower gold output and higher mine operating costs resulted in a significant
increase in unit costs from the same period of 2004. Cash operating costs for
the six months averaged $289 per ounce, compared to $213 per ounce in the first
six months of 2004, and total cash costs averaged $302 per ounce, up from $225
per ounce in 2004. Depreciation and amortization were higher than a year earlier
due to the addition of new plant and equipment at Bogoso/Prestea in late 2004
and early 2005.
The Bogoso processing plant processed an average of 4,251 tonnes per day at an
average grade of 4.55 grams per tonne, as compared to 4,630 tonnes per day at
3.51 grams per tonne in the same period in 2004. Gold recovery dropped to 60%
from 64% 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 half of 2004.
Wassa Operations - Six Months ended June 30, 2005
Since the Wassa project was not in service in the first quarter of 2005,
operating results for the six months are the same as for the three months ended
June 30, 2005 as discussed above.
EXPANSION PROJECTS
Bogoso Sulfide Expansion Project
31
Planning, engineering and ordering of long lead time items for the Bogoso
sulfide expansion project proceeded during the first six months of 2005.
Environmental permits were received in the second quarter as was final approval
of the Board of Directors. The project is designed to expand the existing Bogoso
plant processing facility by adding a sulfide processing plant with a capacity
of up to 3.5 million tonnes per year of refractory sulfide utilizing a the
BIOX(R) bio-oxidation process. We estimate that the total capital cost of the
Bogoso sulfide expansion project, including the new oxide circuit and expansion
of the mining fleet, to be approximately $115 to $125 million, and we expect a
15 to 18 month construction period.
The existing 1.5 million tonne per year Bogoso oxide ore processing plant will
be unaffected by the expansion project. Maintaining an oxide ore processing
plant at Bogoso will reduce the risk of a period without operating cash flow
during the commissioning of the sulfide expansion project. As a result of the
continued availability of this oxide plant, a decision was made in early 2005 to
not proceed with development of a separate oxide ore processing facility at
Bondaye, south of Prestea. Instead we intend to transport oxide ore from
Bondaye, and other locations north and west of Bogoso, to the Bogoso oxide plant
for processing. Operation of the oxide and sulfide processing plants in a single
centralized complex is expected to streamline the management structure and
result in reduced general and administrative costs which should offset the cost
of transporting the ores.
The design and construction of the expansion project is being managed by GRD
Minproc on an engineering, procurement and construction management basis for the
design and construction of the processing plant expansion. Work is proceeding in
accordance with a letter of intent entered into in February 2005. A contract
with GRD Minproc is expected to be finalized in the third quarter. Ordering of
long lead time items continued during the first half of 2005 and we expect that
detailed design will be completed in the third quarter of 2005. A contract for
the concrete foundation work was awarded in May and the contractor mobilized to
site and is proceeding with the concrete work.
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 and it is assumed commercial production will
be achieved in 2006. Estimated gold recoveries from the BIOX(R) process are
expected to average 86% and vary between 78% and 88%.
We currently have proven and probable oxide reserves of approximately 1.26
million tonnes at an average grade of 2.5 grams per tonne. The oxide plant at
Bogoso is expected to continue to produce gold at its historical rate of between
100,000 and 150,000 ounces per annum at an average cash operating cost between
$200 and $250 per ounce.
EXPLORATION
Ghana
We spent approximately $7.3 million on exploration activities in Ghana during
the first six months of 2005 including $1.3 million at Wassa, $2.3 million at
the Prestea Underground, $2.5 million on sulfide targets at Bogoso/Prestea and
approximately $1.2 million on exploration projects outside the immediate
Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa areas. Overall we plan to spend a total of
approximately $13 million on exploration activities in Ghana during 2005.
We continued drilling on the Bogoso concession during the first six months of
2005 to identify and establish sulfide mineralization below the old oxide pits.
This work has confirmed that mineralization under the oxide pits immediately to
the north of Bogoso continues below the current optimized pits. Drilling beneath
the Chujah and Dumase pits continued to test the sulfide resource contained in
the $400 per ounce inferred optimized pit shells. Drill results thus far have
confirmed inferred resource estimates, upgrading a portion of these resources to
the indicated resource category.
32
Drilling along the Tuapim trend in the southern portion of the Prestea
concession has been suspended due to ongoing access problems related to illegal
miners. Previous drilling along this trend infill between sections and down dip
of earlier drill intercepts had demonstrated continuity and added confidence to
the inferred resources with many holes intersecting mineralization 5 to 20
meters thick with grades in excess of 3 grams per tonne. Further work in this
area will remain suspended pending the removal of the illegal miners.
Exploration on the Dunkwa concessions during the second 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,
although drill results to date have failed to identify any extensions to known
mineralization along strike to either the north or south. Preparation has
commenced for drilling in the southern part of the Asikuma license in the second
quarter. Metallurgical testing was initiated in the second quarter on Mampon
cores.
Exploration continued on the Prestea Underground during the second 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 while 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 grams 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 spacing along the strike of the West Reef on the Level 17
reef drive has again returned some encouraging results with high grade portions
averaging 2.2 meters wide grading 80 grams per tonne gold over a strike length
of approximately 40 meters.
Drilling from the 30 level is expected to commence late in 2005 once the mine
has been dewatered below this level.
The Bondaye deep hole and a daughter hole (a second hole wedged off from the
main hole at depth) were completed during the second quarter reaching the
graphitic shear zone target at a depth of 1,504 meters. While the shear zone was
identified in the core, gold grades and quartz veining were minimal. There is no
plan for additional deep drilling in this area.
A resource core drilling program commenced on the Pampe/Riyadh area in the
second quarter following drilling at these concessions west of Bogoso earlier in
the year. Drilling has so far identified a mineralized zone with approximately
one kilometer of strike length extending to depths of up to 175 meters.
Upon completion of this program we intend to conduct 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.
Exploration at Wassa during the second quarter mainly involved 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
drilling has been completed and follow-up drilling is underway on anomalies
identified in the earlier work.
The regional programs in the second 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. In the second quarter the Minerals Commission of Ghana
approved the Adubrim and Kibi Reconnaissance License applications, two of three
such applications Golden Star has lodged. Reconnaissance geochemical sampling
programs will commence early in the third quarter.
33
Other African Projects
In October 2004 we acquired a 9.5% 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 half of 2005 continued to deliver
encouraging results, especially from the Mengu Hill, Karagba, and Sessengi
prospects. On June 1, 2005 we increased our cost basis investment in Moto by
$1.4 million by exercising 1.0 million of our Moto warrants bringing our
investment to approximately 11.7%
At Mano River in Sierra Leone a regional soil sampling program designed to
identify new targets on three project areas was completed in the second quarter.
Results are pending. Any additional follow-up work on the Mano River project is
dependant upon the results of the sampling program during the past two quarters.
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 $110,000
to SO.DE.MI. which gives us access to past exploration and mining data and the
right to carry out a six month detailed technical due diligence, after which we
would 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 (subject to a
statutory requirement that 10% be retained by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire).
In addition to the acquisition payments, Golden Star would 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%.
Work conducted at Afema during the last quarter included establishing base
camps and line cutting. We plan to spend at least $500,000 on exploration in the
first six months and may, subject to exploration success, spend a further spend
$3.5 million over the next three and a half years.
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
A core drilling program was initiated in the first quarter on a gold-in-soil
anomaly at our Saramacca property in Suriname. The drilling program was finished
in the second quarter after completing 1,315 meters of core drilling. Drill
results indicated that although the gold mineralization is discontinuous and
narrower than expected, given the size of the soil anomaly there are several
open-ended intercepts of high grade mineralization that require follow-up.
Further analysis of the drilling data is underway and this will dictate the
direction of future work on the property.
34
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 of Ghana. A soil sampling program
initiated at Bon Espoir in the first quarter continued through the second
quarter and was approximately 70% complete as of June 30, 2005. Thus far, 11
kilometers of base line and 32 kilometers of cross lines have been sampled.
Assay results have identified zones of anomalous low-level gold and arsenic
along the main structural break that hosts the Wayamaga prospect drilled by
previous owners of the Bon Espoir permit.
Paul Isnard remained on care and maintenance during the second quarter of 2005
with expenditures of less than $0.1 million but a review of the exploration
potential and reactivation of field activities is planned pending a renewal of
the exploration permit currently being discussed with the relevant authorities.
We plan to spend approximately $0.9 million at the Bon Espoir and Paul Isnard
properties during the first nine months of 2005.
Other Exploration Areas
In addition to the project work discussed above we have initiated several
regional reconnaissance efforts using our staff and contract geologists in
Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia, budgeting
approximately $1.5 million for such activities during 2005. We have also held
discussions with other companies to identify opportunities for joint venture
exploration efforts in several areas, including the Guiana Shield.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our cash, cash equivalents and short term investments balance stood at
$60.9 million at June 30, 2005, up from approximately $51.7 million at the end
of 2004. Operating activities consumed approximately $3.1 million of cash during
the first six months of 2005, mostly related to start-up of the Wassa operation
where $6.2 million of cash was used to build operating inventories, accounts
receivable, other current assets and to reduce payables during Wassa's second
quarter start-up. Without the start-up related increases in working capital at
Wassa, consolidated operations would have generated approximately $3.1 million
of cash in the first six months of 2005.
The $3.1 million of cash used in operations in the first six months compares to
$11.7 million of operating cash flow provided by operations in the same period
of 2004. Lower gold output, higher operating costs and the cash used for working
capital at Wassa were the major factors contributing to the decrease. The lower
gold sales and higher operating costs versus a year earlier were mostly due to
the change in ore type as explained in the Bogoso/Prestea Operations section
above.
Capital projects consumed $48.1 million of cash during the first six months of
2005, up from $25.7 million in the same period of 2004. Completion of the Wassa
plant, power line construction at Wassa, additional mining equipment and work on
the Bogoso sulfide expansion project and exploration spending were the major
areas of capital investment in the quarter. During the first six months of 2005
we received $1.0 million of cash from Cambior Inc. as the third and final
installment on its 2001 purchase of our interest in the Rosebel property.
Stock option exercises provided $0.3 million of cash during the second
quarter, and new debt contributed $58.2 million. Debt repayments related to the
CAT loans consumed $0.9 million of cash. At June 30, 2005, working capital stood
at $75.3 million, versus $61.4 million at the end of 2004.
35
On April 15, 2005 we sold $50 million of senior unsecured convertible notes
maturing on April 15, 2009, to a private investment fund. The funds are now
being used for the sulfide expansion project at Bogoso and for general corporate
purposes.
In January 2005, EURO Ressources 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 by EURO Ressources
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 2005 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. A total of $2.2 million was drawn under this
facility in the first six months of 2005. We expect to draw additional funding
from this facility in the second half of 2005 as new mining equipment is
delivered.
Outlook
While we expect Bogoso/Prestea will generate positive operating cash flows in
2005, 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 during the second half of the year.
We continue to work with two financial institutions to establish a $30
million revolving line of credit to ensure sufficient funds to complete the
Bogoso sulfide expansion project. We expect that cash on hand at June 30, 2005,
plus cash flow from operations and proceeds of the senior unsecured convertible
notes sold in April along with additional equipment financing, and the revolving
line of credit will be sufficient to complete construction of the Bogoso sulfide
expansion project including the additional mining equipment planned for 2005 and
2006. We may require cash in addition to those sources listed above to complete
the project. Unanticipated increases in 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.
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 Establishment and continuation of orderly and efficient mining and
processing operations at Wassa;
o Continuation of planning, engineering and design, and construction
work on the Bogoso sulfide expansion project;
o Permitting of the Beta Boundary pits south of Prestea, the Pampe pit
on the Akropong Properties west of Bogoso, and the Mampon pit on the
Dunkwa property north of Bogoso;
o Continued evaluation of the Prestea Underground potential;
o A continued high level of exploration efforts; and
36
o Continuation of efforts to identify and pursue acquisition and growth
opportunities in Ghana and elsewhere.
We expect gold production at Bogoso/Prestea during 2005 to come in at the low
end of our previous guidance of approximately 140,000 ounces at an average cash
operating cost of $260 to $280 per ounce and production of approximately 80,000
ounces for the nine months at Wassa at a cash operating cost of approximately
$330 per ounce, bringing total 2005 production to approximately 220,000 ounces
at an average cash operating cost of $280 to $300 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.
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.
37
o Impairment Charges: We periodically review and evaluate our long-lived
assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate
that 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 in order 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 $1.4 million increase in our asset retirement
obligations.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We have no off balance sheet arrangements.
SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS
Summary of Quarterly Results
($ millions, execept per share data)
2005 Quarter ended 2004 Quarter ended 2003 Quarter ended
June 30 March 31 Dec. 31 Sept. 30 June 30 March 31 Dec. 31 Sept. 30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues 25.0 18.1 15.2 13.4 16.5 19.9 17.7 18.8
Net earnings/(losses) (3.6) (1.4) 0.6 (4.3) 1.1 5.2 7.9 6.1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings/(losses) attributable to common shareholders per share
Basic (0.025) (0.010) 0.004 (0.030) 0.008 0.039 0.063 0.053
Diluted (0.025) (0.010) 0.004 (0.030) 0.008 0.035 0.059 0.049
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA
As of August 2, 2005 we had outstanding 142,887,394 common shares, 5,519,701
options, 8,448,334 warrants and convertible notes which are convertible into a
total of 11,111,111 common shares.
38
TABLE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Payment due by period (thousands)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Contractual Obligations Total Less than 1 1 to 3 years 3 to 5 years More than
(as of June 30, 2005) year 5 years
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long term debt (a) $ 60,288 $ 4,385 $ 4,381 $ 51,522 $ -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest on long term debt 18,389 4,008 7,480 6,901 -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating lease obligations 570 162 329 79
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other long term liabilities reflected
on the balance sheet under GAAP (b) 15,653 4,170 2,974 2,088 6,421
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 94,900 $ 12,725 $ 15,164 $ 60,590 $ 6,421
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Includes $50.0 million of convertible notes maturing in 2009. Golden
Star has the right to repay the $50.0 million in cash or in common
shares. The presentation shown above assumes payment is made in cash
and also assumes no conversions of the debt to common stock by the
note holders prior to the maturity date.
(b) Other long term liabilities represent asset retirement obligations.
Asset retirement obligations include several estimates about future
reclamation costs, mining schedules, timing of the performance of
reclamation work and the quantity of ore reserves which in turn
determine the ultimate closure date, which in turn impacts the
discounted amounts of future asset retirement liabilities. The
discounted value of these projected cash flows is recorded as "Asset
retirement obligations" on the balance sheet of $9.8 million as of
June 30, 2005. The amounts shown above are undiscounted to show full
expected cash requirements.
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 $4.3 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 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 can 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.
39
The value of cash and cash equivalent investments denominated in foreign
currencies also fluctuates 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 utilized market risk sensitive instruments to
manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates, we entered into forward
purchase contracts for South African Rands and Euros in the second quarter of
2005 to hedge expected future purchases of capital assets in South Africa and
Europe 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 our
average realized price of gold would result in a $2 million to $3 million change
in pre-tax earnings and cash flows. We have in the past purchased puts to lock
in minimum prices for portions of our annual gold sales. As of June 30, 2005 we
have established puts covering 140,000 ounces of future gold production during
2005, 2006 and 2007 and over the next few quarters we anticipate purchasing puts
to cover an additional 40,000 ounces to stabilize a floor price for cash flows
during the Bogoso sulfide expansion project construction.
As required by its loan agreement, EURO Ressources entered into a
cash-settled forward sales agreement in January 2005, which obligates EURO
Ressources to sell 5,700 ounces of gold to the bank providing the loan 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 EURO Resources 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, EURO Ressources will pay the financial institution an
amount equal to the difference between the average price and $421 per ounce
times 5,700 ounces. The hedge 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. The net effect is that we have locked in a $12.10 per
ounce royalty on the 57,000 ounces of gold covered by agreement. We may in the
future more actively manage our exposure to gold price fluctuations through
hedging programs.
We are experiencing significant price increases in certain operating consumables
including cyanide and fuel. Fuel prices have risen from $0.58 per liter in June
2004 to $0.72 in June 2005 and cyanide cost is up approximately $220 per tonne
or 23% since June 2004.
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
We continue to carry out evaluations, under the supervision and with the
participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial
officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) during the period covered
by this report. Based on this evaluation, the principal executive officer and
principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and
procedures are effective.
40
We periodically conduct an evaluation, under the supervision and with the
participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer
as well as our Audit Committee, of our internal controls and procedures. There
has been no change in our internal controls over financial reporting in the most
recent quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Prestea Gold Resources Limited ("PGR"), our joint venture partner in the
Prestea Underground, entered receivership in March 2003. The joint venture
agreement between BGL and PGR specified that if either party to the joint
venture were to go into receivership any remaining interest held in the
partnership by the insolvent partner would immediately vest with the solvent
partner. While PGR's official liquidator affirmed that the vesting of this
interest in BGL was proper under the terms of the joint venture agreement, the
transfer and vesting of PGR's ownership was challenged in an action brought
before the High Court in Accra, Ghana 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 sought 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 with the ultimate goal of making
proceeds available for distribution among all the creditors of PGR.
The judgment creditor's claim was 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.
In June 2005, the High Court issued a preliminary finding in favor of the
Merchant Bank (Ghana) Ltd. which we plan to appeal. Nevertheless, in subsequent
periods following the vesting of PGR's ownership position in BGL, continued
project spending by BGL diluted PGR's original ownership position to
approximately 10% by June 30, 2005. The joint venture agreement specifies that
if either partner allowed itself to be diluted to 10% or less, the residual
value would immediately convert into a 2.5% net profit interest in potential
future earnings from the Prestea Underground mine.
We are also engaged in routine litigation incidental to our business. No
material legal proceedings, involving us or our business are pending, or, to our
knowledge, contemplated, by any governmental authority. We are not aware of any
material events of noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
41
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
The 2005 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 5, 2005 where
three matters were voted upon with the following results.
1. The following directors were elected to serve until the date of the 2006
annual meeting:
Number of Common Shares Voted
------------------------------------------------
Director Affirmative Withheld
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James E. Askew 101,836,644 1,152,750
Peter J. Bradford 101,848,514 1,140,900
David L. Bumstead 102,797,164 192,250
David K. Fagin 102,818,414 171,000
Ian MacGregor 101,154,369 1,835,045
Michael P. Martineau 102,798,314 191,100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. The special resolution to approve amending the articles of the Company to
change the place in Canada where the registered office of the Company is
situated from the Province of British Columbia to the Province of Ontario:
For: 102,748,996 Against: 344,830 Abstained: 322,288
3. The resolution to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the auditor of the
Company and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix the auditor's
remuneration:
For: 102,510,610 Against: 514,895 Abstained: 294,623
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
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.
32.1 Certificate of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
(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
42
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: August 3, 2005
By: /s/ Allan J. Marter
-------------------
Allan J. Marter
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: August 3, 2005
43
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.
(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
44