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Golden Star Reports Record Quarterly Gold Sales and Financial Results for Second Quarter 2009

DENVER, COLORADO -- (Marketwire) -- 08/10/09 -- Golden Star Resources Ltd. (TSX: GSC)(NYSE Amex: GSS)(GSE: GSR) today announced its unaudited second quarter results. All currency in this news release is expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted. The Company will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss its quarterly results on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. ET. To access the webcast and conference call, go to the home page of the Company's website, www.gsr.com.

Tom Mair, President and CEO, said, "Golden Star turned in another solid quarter in terms of production, cash operating costs and cash flow. We are on course to meet our guidance of 400,000 ounces of gold at a cash operating cost of approximately $545 per ounce."

RESULTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

- Quarterly gold sales of 99,011 ounces, a 26% increase over second quarter 2008 and a 2% increase over the first quarter of 2009;

- Gold revenues for the quarter of $91.9 million representing an increase of 30% over second quarter 2008 and a 5% increase over the first quarter 2009 revenues;

- Operating cash flow of $29.3 million for the second quarter of 2009, or $0.124 per share;

- Reduction in electrical power costs by approximately 55% as announced on June 26;

- Quarterly cash operating cost of $558 per ounce, a 23% improvement over second quarter 2008 and a 2% improvement over cash operating costs in the first quarter of 2009;

- Cash balance of $43.2 million up from $28.1 million at the end of the first quarter of 2009;


FINANCIAL SUMMARY

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SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED                         Second      First   Year To
FINANCIAL RESULTS                              Quarter    Quarter      Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  2009       2009      2009
                                               -------    -------   -------
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Bogoso/Prestea gold sold (oz)                   45,760     40,546    86,306
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Wassa gold sold (oz)                            53,251     56,426   109,677
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 Total gold sold (oz)                           99,011     96,972   195,983
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Average realized price ($/oz)                      928        904       916
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Cash operating cost--combined ($/oz)               558        571       564
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Gold revenues ($000's)                          91,868     87,645   179,513
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Cash flow provided by operations ($000's)       29,280     11,093    40,373
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Net income/(loss) ($000's)                         380     (1,146)     (766)
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Net income/(loss) per share - basic ($)          0.002     (0.005)   (0.003)
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BOGOSO/PRESTEA

Gold sales at Bogoso/Prestea in the second quarter were 45,760 ounces, an increase of almost 13% from the first quarter of 2009. Sulfide plant throughput rates improved significantly in the second quarter, as compared to the first quarter, and recovery improved to over 72%.

Cash costs at Bogoso/Prestea during the second quarter of 2009 were $624 per ounce, down 23% from the first quarter of this year. These improvements reflect lower power costs and increased gold sales.


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                                                Second      First   Year To
OPERATING RESULTS                              Quarter    Quarter      Date
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                                                  2009       2009      2009
                                               -------    -------   -------
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Mining
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore mined (000s t)-Refractory                      727        653     1,380
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Ore mined (000s t)-Non refractory                    -          -         -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total ore mined (000's t)                          727        653     1,380
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waste mined (000's t)                            3,921      3,352     7,273
--------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoso Sulfide Plant Results
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refractory ore processed (000's t)                 715        626     1,341
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refractory grade-(g/t)                            2.66       2.68      2.67
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Recovery-Refractory (%)                           72.2       71.5      71.9
--------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoso Oxide Plant Results
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Non refractory ore processed (000's t)               -          -         -
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Non refractory ore grade (g/t)                       -          -         -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recovery-Non refractory (%)                          -          -         -
--------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash operating cost ($/oz)                         624        813       713
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Gold sold (oz)                                  45,760     40,546    86,306
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WASSA

Wassa sold 53,251 ounces of gold in the second quarter of 2009 which was 70% above the second quarter of 2008 gold sales. Higher gold grades, as a result of the ore delivered from the HBB properties, and higher gold prices offset the lower ore tonnage processed in the second quarter.

Cash costs during the second quarter were $502 per ounce at Wassa with most of the increase over the first quarter due to increased haulage and stripping costs of the HB pits. Year-to-date cash operating costs are $448 per ounce which is in line with guidance.


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                                                Second      First   Year To
OPERATING RESULTS                              Quarter    Quarter      Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  2009       2009      2009
                                               -------    -------   -------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore mined (000's t)                                530        656     1,186
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Waste mined (000's t)                            4,396      3,569     7,965
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Ore processed (000's t)                            637        746     1,383
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Grade processed (g/t)                             2.62       2.55      2.58
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Recovery (%)                                      94.9       95.6      95.3
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Cash operating cost ($/oz)                         502        397       448
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Gold sold (oz)                                  53,251     56,425   109,677
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EXPLORATION

Our 2009 exploration budget has been increased from $7.5 million to $9.8 million in order to further expand reserves and resources surrounding our operating mines and to evaluate other areas of the HBB properties. At Wassa, further exploration of the SAK pits has been successful and, as a result, we have increased our resource base by an additional 3.13 million tonnes grading 1.56 g/t gold.

CASH AND CASH FLOW

Our cash and cash equivalents totaled $43.2 million at the end of the second quarter of 2009 compared to $28.1 million at the end of the first quarter. Cash flow from operations totaled $29.3 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $11.1 million for the first quarter of 2009.

A revolving credit facility was put in place during the quarter. This revolver initially gave us access to $15 million of credit and was increased to $30 million on July 30, 2009. We have drawn down $5.0 million of this facility which was partially used to purchase the 1.5% Benso royalty.

Liquidity Outlook

Our original capital budget for 2009 has been increased from $38 million to approximately $47 million. We will spend $2 million more on resource drilling with the balance of the increase being spent on sustaining capital at both mining operations.

We anticipate that all of our cash needs for the second half of 2009 will be met by the $43.2 million cash on hand, amounts available on the $30 million revolver facility, cash generated from current operations and amounts available on our equipment financing facility.

LOOKING AHEAD

Our objectives for 2009 include the following:

- Further optimization of the Bogoso sulfide processing plant to further improve throughput and recovery rates and reduce costs;

- Permitting and development of the Prestea South deposits to provide oxide ore in 2010 for the Bogoso oxide processing plant; and

- Continued exploration at Bogoso/Prestea, Wassa and the HBB properties.

Our updated guidance for 2009 is as follows:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   2009
                                  ------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guidance                           Gold Production      Cash Operating Cost
--------------------------        -----------------    ---------------------
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Bogoso/Prestea                             190,000                     $650
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Wassa                                      210,000                     $450
--------------------------        -----------------    ---------------------
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Total                                      400,000                     $545
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Effective August 5, 2009, Mr. Michael A. Terrell has resigned from the Board of Directors of Golden Star.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The following information is derived from the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in our Form 10-Q, which we filed with the SEC today and is available on our website.


                        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
  (Stated in thousands of US dollars except shares issued and outstanding)
                                (unaudited)


                                                    As of           As of
                                                  June 30,    December 31,
ASSETS                                               2009            2008(1)
CURRENT ASSETS
 Cash and cash equivalents                     $   43,173      $   33,558
 Accounts receivable                                4,682           4,306
 Inventories                                       47,101          49,134
 Deposits                                           4,502           3,875
 Prepaids and other                                 1,901           1,100
                                             -------------    --------------
  Total Current Assets                            101,359          91,973
RESTRICTED CASH                                     3,804           4,249
DEFERRED EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS         13,104          13,713
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT                     245,820         271,528
INTANGIBLE ASSETS                                  10,534               -
MINING PROPERTIES                                 301,131         312,029
OTHER ASSETS                                          109             807
                                             -------------    --------------
  Total Assets                                 $  675,861      $  694,299
                                             -------------    --------------
                                             -------------    --------------

LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
 Accounts payable                              $   29,315      $   43,355
 Accrued liabilities                               32,400          30,879
 Fair value of derivatives                              -           1,690
 Asset retirement obligations                       1,779           1,620
 Current debt                                      10,504          12,778
                                             -------------    --------------
  Total Current Liabilities                        73,998          90,322
LONG TERM DEBT                                    114,846         112,649
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS                       30,222          30,036
FUTURE TAX LIABILITY                               27,702          33,125
                                             -------------    --------------
  Total Liabilities                               246,768         266,132
MINORITY INTEREST                                       -               -
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
SHARE CAPITAL
 First preferred shares, without par value,
  unlimited shares authorized. No shares
  issued and outstanding.                               -               -
 Common shares, without par value, unlimited
  shares authorized. Shares issued and
  outstanding: 236,428,061 at June 30,
  2009, and 235,945,311 at December 31, 2008      616,050         615,463
CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS                                16,261          15,197
EQUITY COMPONENT OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES         34,542          34,542
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                (47)            (88)
DEFICIT                                          (237,713)       (236,947)
                                             -------------    --------------
  Total Shareholders' Equity                      429,093         428,167
                                             -------------    --------------
  Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity   $  675,861      $  694,299
                                             -------------    --------------
                                             -------------    --------------

(1) Some prior year period amounts in these financial statements have been
    adjusted to reflect retroactive adoption of new Canadian accounting
    rules.



        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
     (Stated in thousands of US dollars except share and per share data)
                               (unaudited)

                                Three months ended         Six months ended
                                           June 30,                 June 30,
                             ----------------------   ----------------------
REVENUE                           2009        2008         2009        2008
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
Gold revenues                $  91,868   $  70,431    $ 179,513   $ 123,614
Cost of sales                  (87,760)    (71,422)    (172,277)   (120,324)
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
  Mine operating margin          4,108        (991)       7,236       3,290
OTHER EXPENSES, (GAINS) AND
 LOSSES
Exploration expense                237         558          347         947
General and administrative
 expense                         3,745       3,870        7,159       8,209
Abandonment and impairment           -           -          290           -
Derivative mark-to-market
 (gain)/loss                       396        (199)          84         243
Property holding costs             660           -        2,002           -
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss    (2,542)        341       (4,213)        (21)
Interest expense                 3,824       3,719        7,534       7,412
Interest and other income          (43)       (255)         (83)       (635)
Loss on sale of assets             125           -          304           -
Gain on sale of investments          -      (1,505)           -      (1,505)
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
  Loss before minority
   interest                     (2,294)     (7,520)      (6,188)    (11,360)
Minority interest                    -         866            -       1,014
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
  Net loss before income
   tax                          (2,294)     (6,654)      (6,188)    (10,346)
Income tax benefit               2,674           -        5,422           -
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
Net income/(loss)            $     380   $  (6,654)   $    (766)  $ (10,346)
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/
 (LOSS)
Other comprehensive income
 - unrealized gain on
 investments                        14          31           41       2,605
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
Comprehensive income/(loss)  $     394   $  (6,623)   $    (725)  $  (7,741)
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------

Deficit, beginning of period  (238,093)   (121,336)    (236,947)   (117,644)
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
Deficit, end of period        (237,713)   (127,990)    (237,713)   (127,990)
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------

Net income/(loss) per common
 share - basic               $   0.002   $  (0.028)   $  (0.003)  $  (0.044)
Net income/(loss) per common
 share - diluted             $   0.002   $  (0.028)   $  (0.003)  $  (0.044)
Weighted average shares
 outstanding (millions)          236.2       235.9        236.0       235.4
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------



                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                    (Stated in thousands of US dollars)
                                (unaudited)

                                Three months ended         Six months ended
                                           June 30,                 June 30,
                             ----------------------   ----------------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:             2009        2008         2009        2008
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
Net income/(loss)            $     380   $  (6,654)   $    (766)  $ (10,346)
Reconciliation of net
 income/(loss) to net cash
 used in operating
 activities:
 Depreciation, depletion and
  amortization                  28,371      11,870       52,692      22,620
 Amortization of loan
  acquisition cost                 161         110          327         275
 Abandonment and impairment          -           -          290           -
 Gain on sale of equity
  investments                        -      (1,505)           -      (1,505)
 Loss on sale of assets            126           -          305           -
 Stock compensation                455         450        1,065       1,139
 Income tax benefit             (2,674)          -       (5,422)          -
 Reclamation expenditures         (490)       (259)        (731)       (322)
 Fair value of derivatives       1,611        (129)      (2,189)         35
 Accretion of convertible
  debt                           1,642       1,540        3,257       3,047
 Accretion of asset
  retirement obligations           539         146        1,077         363
 Minority interests                  -        (866)           -      (1,014)
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
                                30,121       4,703       49,905      14,292

Changes in assets and
 liabilities:
 Accounts receivable             4,889      (4,162)        (359)        188
 Inventories                      (669)      3,141          841     (12,344)
 Prepaids and other                615        (791)        (318)     (1,004)
 Deposits                         (150)      2,749       (1,101)        315
 Accounts payable and accrued
  liabilities                   (5,526)      4,051       (8,557)      3,206
 Other                               -           -          (38)          -
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
  Net cash provided by
   operating activities         29,280       9,691       40,373       4,653
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Expenditures on deferred
  exploration and development     (268)     (1,970)        (670)     (3,922)
 Expenditures on mining
  properties                    (9,854)    (13,231)     (19,894)    (20,946)
 Expenditures on property,
  plant and equipment           (3,984)     (3,164)      (4,852)     (5,417)
 Cash (used to)/refunded
  from secure letters of
  credit                           371          18          445      (3,642)
 Proceeds from sale of
  equity investment                  -         802            -         802
 Change in payable on
  capital expenditures          (2,472)     (6,314)      (3,962)     (8,346)
 Change in deposits on
  mine equipment and material        -           -          474           -
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
  Net cash used in investing
   activities                  (16,207)    (23,859)     (28,459)    (41,471)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 Issuance of share capital,
  net of issue costs               505           7          586       6,255
 Principal payments on debt     (2,783)     (4,542)      (7,192)     (8,885)
 Proceeds from debt
  agreements and equipment
  financing                      5,443       1,114        5,478       1,114
 Other                          (1,172)         59       (1,171)       (273)
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
  Net cash (used in)/
   provided by financing         1,993      (3,362)      (2,299)     (1,789)
Increase/(decrease) in cash
 and cash equivalents           15,066     (17,530)       9,615     (38,607)
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
Cash and cash equivalents,
 beginning of period            28,108      54,677       33,558      75,754
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
Cash and cash equivalents
 end of period               $  43,174   $  37,147    $  43,173   $  37,147
                             ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------

COMPANY PROFILE

Golden Star holds a 90% equity interest in Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited and Golden Star (Wassa) Limited, which respectively own the Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa open-pit gold mines through subsidiaries in Ghana. In addition, Golden Star has an 81% interest in the currently inactive Prestea Underground mine in Ghana, as well as gold exploration interests elsewhere in Ghana, in other parts of West Africa and in the Guiana Shield of South America. Golden Star has approximately 236 million shares outstanding.

Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such statements include comments regarding the; permitting and the mining at Prestea South; planned exploration activities and drilling, including exploration at Bogoso/Prestea, Wassa, and the HBB properties; the ability to fund sustaining capital requirements; optimization of throughput and recovery rates at the Bogoso sulfide processing plant; our 2009 production and cash operating cost estimates, capital expenditure estimates, sources of and adequacy of cash to meet capital and other needs in 2009;2009 planned capital budget spending; and our 2009 objectives. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include timing of and unexpected events at the Bogoso/Prestea oxide and sulfide processing plant; variations in ore grade, tonnes mined, crushed or milled; variations in relative amounts of refractory, non-refractory and transition ores; delay or failure to receive board or government approvals and permits; the availability and cost of electrical power, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; technical, permitting, mining or processing issues, changes in U.S. and Canadian securities markets, and fluctuations in gold price and costs and general economic conditions. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the discussion of these and other factors in our Form 10-K for 2008 and the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed in 2009. The forecasts contained in this press release constitute management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received and that actual results will vary from these estimates, possibly by material amounts. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event. Investors and others should not assume that any forecasts in this press release represent management's estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.

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

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