Form 10-Q

 

 

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 March 31, 2011

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

10901 West Toller Drive, Suite 300

Littleton, Colorado

  80127-6312
(Address of Principal Executive Office)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (303) 830-9000

 

 

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 (the “Act”) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such report) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer:   x    Accelerated filer:   ¨
Non-accelerated filer:   ¨    Smaller reporting company:   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Number of Common Shares outstanding as at May 8, 2011: 258,559,486

 

 

 


REPORTING CURRENCY, FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION

All amounts in this report are expressed in United States (“U.S.”) dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Canadian currency is denoted as “Cdn$.”

Financial information is presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). Differences between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as applicable to Golden Star Resources Ltd., are explained in Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

References to “Golden Star,” the “Company,” “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 applicable Canadian securities law and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with U.S. 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 contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law, 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 (including negative and grammatical variations) tend to identify forward-looking statements.

Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot be certain that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q.

These statements include comments regarding: anticipated attainment of gold production rates; production and cash operating cost estimates for 2011; production capacity, production rates, and production costs; cash operating costs generally; gold sales; mining operations and recovery rates; ore delivery; ore processing; permitting; geological, environmental, community and engineering studies; receipt of environmental management plan approvals by the EPA; exploration efforts and activities; ore grades; our anticipated investing and exploration spending during 2011; identification of acquisition and growth opportunities; power costs, the ability to meet total power requirements; retention of earnings from our operations; expected operational cash flow during the remainder of 2011; our objectives for 2011; expected debt payments during 2011; and sources of and adequacy of liquidity to meet capital and other needs in 2011 and beyond.

The following, in addition to the factors described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our December 31, 2010 Form 10-K, are among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements:

 

   

significant increases or decreases in gold prices;

 

   

losses or gains in Mineral Reserves from changes in operating costs and/or gold prices;

 

   

failure of exploration efforts to expand Mineral Reserves around our existing mines;

 

   

unexpected changes in business and economic conditions;

 

   

inaccuracies in Mineral Reserves and non-reserves estimates;

 

   

changes in interest and currency exchange rates;

 

   

timing and amount of gold production;

 

   

unanticipated variations in ore grade, tonnes mined and crushed or processed;

 

   

unanticipated recovery or production problems;

 

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effects of illegal mining on our properties;

 

   

changes in mining and processing costs, including changes to costs of raw materials, power, supplies, services and personnel;

 

   

changes in metallurgy and processing;

 

   

availability of skilled personnel, contractors, materials, equipment, supplies, power and water;

 

   

changes in project parameters or mine plans;

 

   

costs and timing of development of new Mineral Reserves;

 

   

weather, including drought or excessive rainfall in West Africa;

 

   

changes in regulatory frameworks based upon perceived climate trends;

 

   

results of current and future exploration activities;

 

   

results of pending and future feasibility studies;

 

   

acquisitions and joint venture relationships;

 

   

political or economic instability, either globally or in the countries in which we operate;

 

   

changes in regulations or in the interpretation of regulations by the regulatory authorities affecting our operations, particularly in Ghana, where our principal producing properties are located;

 

   

local and community impacts and issues;

 

   

timing of receipt and maintenance of government approvals and permits;

 

   

unanticipated transportation costs and shipping incidents and losses;

 

   

accidents, labor disputes and other operational hazards;

 

   

environmental costs and risks;

 

   

changes in tax laws;

 

   

unanticipated title issues;

 

   

competitive factors, including competition for property acquisitions;

 

   

possible litigation; and

 

   

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. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable laws.

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following financial statements and footnotes presented immediately below, are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP.

IFRS RECONCILIATIONS

To facilitate comparison of our U.S. GAAP financial statements to the financial statements of other mining companies which report their financial results in under IFRS, we have prepared a reconciliation showing our results on an IFRS basis. This reconciliation is presented below in footnote 22.

 

3


GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except shares issued and outstanding)

(unaudited)

 

      As of
March 31
2011
    As of
December 31
2010
 

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents (Note 5)

   $ 151,661      $ 178,018   

Accounts receivable (Note 5)

     12,713        11,885   

Inventories (Note 7)

     65,356        65,204   

Deposits

     7,182        5,865   

Prepaids and other

     2,896        1,522   
                

Total Current Assets

     239,808        262,494   

RESTRICTED CASH

     1,205        1,205   

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Note 9)

     232,450        228,367   

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

     6,846        7,373   

MINING PROPERTIES (Note 10)

     248,600        250,620   

OTHER ASSETS (Note 8)

     3,366        3,167   
                

Total Assets

   $ 732,275      $ 753,226   
                

LIABILITIES

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES

    

Accounts payable (Note 5)

   $ 30,369      $ 34,522   

Accrued liabilities (Note 5)

     42,541        53,935   

Derivatives (Note 6)

     4,523        —     

Asset retirement obligations (Note 11)

     23,220        23,485   

Current tax liability (Note 13)

     1,033        1,128   

Current debt (Notes 12)

     8,956        10,014   
                

Total Current Liabilities

     110,642        123,084   

LONG TERM DEBT (Notes 5 and 12)

     135,988        155,878   

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS (Note 11)

     22,530        21,467   

DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY (Note 13)

     18,984        15,678   
                

Total Liabilities

   $ 288,144      $ 316,107   
                

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 14)

     —          —     

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

SHARE CAPITAL

    

First preferred shares, without par value, unlimited shares authorized.

    

No shares issued and outstanding

     —          —     

Common shares, without par value, unlimited shares authorized. Shares issued and outstanding: 258,559,486 at March 31, 2011; 258,511,236 at December 31, 2010 (Note 15)

     693,665        693,487   

CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS

     17,855        16,560   

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

     2,044        1,959   

DEFICIT

     (268,108     (274,036
                

Total Golden Star Equity

     445,456        437,970   

NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

     (1,325     (851
                

Total Equity

     444,131        437,119   
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 732,275      $ 753,226   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements

 

4


GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except shares and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     For the three months ended
March 31
 
      2011     2010  

REVENUE

    

Gold revenues

   $ 116,506      $ 103,264   

Cost of sales (Note 16)

     107,751        89,638   
                

Mine operating margin

     8,755        13,626   

Exploration expense

     579        1,303   

General and administrative expense

     7,102        4,969   

Derivative and convertible debt mark-to-market (gain)/loss (Note 6)

     (13,936     12,920   

Property holding costs

     2,674        1,101   

Foreign exchange loss

     257        367   

Interest expense

     2,358        2,237   

Interest and other income

     (39     (197

Gain on sale of investments

     —          (1,724
                

Net income/(loss) before income tax

     9,760        (7,350

Income tax expense

     (4,305     (1,529
                

Net income/(loss)

   $ 5,455      $ (8,879
                

Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (473     371   

Net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders

     5,928        (9,250

Net income/(loss) per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders

    

Basic (Note 18)

   $ 0.023      $ (0.036

Diluted (Note 18)

   $ 0.023      $ (0.036

Weighted average shares outstanding (millions)

     258.6        257.4   

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

    

Net income/(loss)

   $ 5,455      $ (8,879

Other comprehensive income

     85        932   
                

Comprehensive income/(loss)

   $ 5,540      $ (7,947
                

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders

   $ 6,013      $ (8,318

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (473     371   
                

Comprehensive income/(loss)

   $ 5,540      $ (7,947
                

Deficit, beginning of period

   $ (274,036   $ (262,806
                

Deficit, end of period

   $ (268,108   $ (272,056
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements

 

5


GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars)

(unaudited)

 

     For the three months ended
March 31
 
     2011     2010  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net income/(loss)

   $ 5,455      $ (8,879

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

    

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     21,218        25,457   

Amortization of loan acquisition cost

     354        (36

Gain on sale of assets

     —          (1,724

Non cash employee compensation

     1,341        1,417   

Future income tax expense/(benefit)

     3,307        1,024   

Fair value of derivatives

     4,249        (1,131

Fair value (gains)/losses on convertible debt

     (18,185     14,053   

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     933        600   

Reclamation expenditures

     (3,883     (1,551
                
     14,789        29,230   

Changes in non-cash working capital:

    

Accounts receivable

     (1,025     (735

Inventories

     (406     (3,901

Deposits

     (945     84   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (16,614     (2,119

Other

     (1,664     (1,083
                

Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities

     (5,865     21,476   

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Expenditures on mining properties

     (8,840     (1,964

Expenditures on property, plant and equipment

     (9,912     (11,828

Proceeds from the sale of assets

     —          —     

Change in accounts payable and deposits on mine equipment and material

     893        (1,226

Other

     —          2,114   
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (17,859     (12,904

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Principal payments on debt

     (2,765     (8,213

Proceeds from debt agreements and equipment financing

     —          10,000   

Other

     132        405   
                

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

     (2,633     2,192   
                

Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (26,357     10,764   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     178,018        154,088   
                

Cash and cash equivalents end of period

   $ 151,661      $ 164,852   
                

(See Note 21 for supplemental cash flow information)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements

 

6


GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(All currency amounts in tables and text are in thousands of U.S. Dollars unless noted otherwise)

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Through our 90% owned subsidiary Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Ltd (“GSBPL”) we own and operate the Bogoso/Prestea gold mining and processing operation (“Bogoso/Prestea”) located near the town of Bogoso, Ghana. Through our 90% owned subsidiary Golden Star (Wassa) Ltd (“GSWL”) we also own and operate the Wassa gold mine (“Wassa”), located approximately 35 kilometers east of Bogoso/Prestea. Wassa mines ore from pits near the Wassa plant and also processes ore mined at our Hwini-Butre and Benso (“HBB”) mines located south of Wassa. We hold interests in several gold exploration projects in Ghana and elsewhere in West Africa including Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire, and in South America we hold and manage exploration properties in Brazil.

2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Golden Star Resources Ltd (“Golden Star” or “Company”) is a Canadian federally–incorporated, international gold mining and exploration company headquartered in the United States (“U.S.”). Golden Star has, since its inception, reported to security regulators in both Canada and the U.S. using Canadian GAAP financial statements with a footnote reconciliation to generally accepted accounting principles used in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”). However, a change in SEC position in late 2009 required Canadian companies such as Golden Star, that do not qualify as a foreign private issuer, to file their financial statements in the U.S. using U.S. GAAP after December 31, 2010. We therefore have adopted U.S. GAAP as of January 1, 2011 for all subsequent U.S. and Canadian filings. All comparative financial information is presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Since the U.S. GAAP financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q differ in certain respects from financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), Note 22 has been added to this Form 10-Q which presents our Consolidated Balance Sheets, Statements of Operations and Statements of Cash Flow as if we had adopted IFRS. This is done to facilitate comparison of our financial results to those of other mining companies that report in IFRS.

These unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods presented.

The results reported in these interim financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be reported for the entire year. Accordingly, these interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, including note 27, “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States”, filed on Form 10-K.

3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Since this is Golden Star’s first SEC filing since adopting U.S. GAAP on January 1, 2011, a discussion of all significant accounting policies under U.S. GAAP is presented here:

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries, whether owned directly or indirectly. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated. Subsidiaries are defined as entities in which the company holds a controlling interest, is the general partner or where it is subject to the majority of expected losses or gains. Our fiscal year-end is December 31.

USE OF ESTIMATES

Preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that can affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, deferred tax liabilities, and expenses. The more significant areas requiring the use of estimates include asset impairments, stock based compensation, depreciation and amortization of assets, and site reclamation and closure accruals. Accounting for these areas is subject to estimates and assumptions regarding, among other things, ore reserves, gold recoveries, future gold prices, future operating costs, asset usage rates, and future mining activities. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. However, actual results may differ from our estimates.

 

7


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash includes cash deposits in any currency residing in checking accounts, money market funds and sweep accounts. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments purchased with maturities of three months or less. Investments with maturities greater than three months and up to one year are classified as short-term investments, while those with maturities in excess of one year are classified as long-term investments. Cash equivalents and short-term investments are stated at cost, which typically approximates market value.

INVENTORIES

Inventory classifications include “stockpiled ore,” “in-process inventory,” “finished goods inventory” and “materials and supplies.” All of our inventories, except materials and supplies, are recorded at the lower of weighted average cost or market. The stated value of all production inventories include direct production costs and attributable overhead and depreciation incurred to bring the materials to their current point in the processing cycle, except for our materials and supplies inventories. General and administrative costs for corporate offices are not included in any inventories.

Stockpiled ore represents coarse ore that has been extracted from the mine and is waiting processing. Stockpiled ore is measured by estimating the number of tonnes (via truck counts or by physical surveys) added to, or removed from the stockpile, the number of contained ounces (based on assay data) and estimated gold recovery percentage. Stockpiled ore value is based on the costs incurred (including depreciation and amortization) in bringing the ore to the stockpile. Costs are added to the stockpiled ore based on current mining costs per tonne and are removed at the average cost per tonne of ore in the stockpile.

In-process inventory represents material that is currently being treated in the processing plants to extract the contained gold and to transform it into a saleable product. The amount of gold in the in-process inventory is determined by assay and by measure of the quantities of the various gold-bearing materials in the recovery process. The in-process gold is valued at the average of the beginning inventory and the cost of material fed into the processing stream plus in-process conversion costs including applicable mine-site overhead, depreciation and amortization related to the processing facilities.

Finished goods inventory is composed of saleable gold in the form of doré bars that have been poured but not yet shipped from the mine site. The bars are valued at the lower of total cost or net realizable value. Included in the total costs are the direct costs of the mining and processing operations as well as direct mine-site overhead, amortization and depreciation.

Materials and supplies inventories consist mostly of equipment parts, fuel, lubricants and reagents consumed in the mining and ore processing activities. Materials and supplies are valued at the lower of average cost or net realizable value.

ORE RESERVE QUANTITIES USED IN UNITS-OF-PRODUCTION AMORTIZATION

Gold ounces contained in stockpiled ore are excluded from total reserves when determining units-of-production amortization of mining property, asset retirement assets and other assets.

PROPERTY ACQUISITION, EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS

The initial acquisition costs of exploration and mining properties are capitalized. Subsequent exploration and development costs are expensed as incurred until such time as a feasibility study has been completed which establishes, in compliance with SEC Industry Standard Guide 7, that proven and probable reserves exist on the property. After proven and probable reserves have been established, subsequent exploration and development costs are capitalized until such time as a property is placed in-service. Following a property’s in-service date, accumulated capitalized acquisition, exploration and development costs are reclassified as Mining Property assets and are subject to amortization when metal production begins.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment assets, including machinery, processing equipment, mining equipment, mine site facilities, buildings, vehicles and expenditures that extend the life of such assets are recorded at cost including acquisition and installation costs. The costs of self-constructed assets include direct construction costs and allocated interest during the construction phase. Indirect overhead costs are not included in the cost of self-constructed assets. Depreciation for mobile equipment and other assets having estimated lives shorter than the estimated life of the ore reserves, is computed using the straight-line method at rates calculated to depreciate the cost of the assets, less their anticipated residual values, if any, over their estimated useful lives.

 

8


MINING PROPERTIES

Mining property assets, including property acquisition costs, tailings dams, mine-site drilling costs where proven and probable reserves have been established, pre-production waste stripping, condemnation drilling, roads, feasibility studies and wells are recorded at cost. The costs of self-constructed assets include direct construction costs, a share of direct mine-site overhead costs and allocated interest during the construction phase. Indirect overhead costs are not included in the cost of self-constructed assets. Drilling costs incurred during the production phase for operational ore control are allocated to inventory costs and then included in cost of sales.

Mineral property acquisition, exploration and development costs, buildings, processing plants and other long-lived assets which have an estimated life equal to or greater than the estimated life of the ore reserves, are amortized over the life of the proven and probable reserves of the associated mining property using a units-of-production amortization method. The net book value of property, plant and equipment assets at property locations is charged against income if the site is abandoned and it is determined that the assets cannot be economically transferred to another project or sold.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

We review and evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment at least annually and also when events or changes in circumstances indicate the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. An asset impairment is considered to exist if an asset’s recoverable value is less than its carrying value as recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. In most cases an asset’s recoverable value is assumed to be equal to the sum of the asset’s expected future cash flows on an undiscounted basis. If the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows does not exceed the asset’s carrying value, an impairment loss is measured and recorded based on discounted estimated future cash flows from the asset. Future cash flows are based on estimated quantities of gold and other recoverable metals, expected price of gold (considering current and historical prices, price trends and related factors), production levels and cash costs of production, capital and reclamation costs, all based on detailed engineering life-of-mine plans.

In estimating future cash flows, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of future cash flows from other asset groups. With the exception of mine-related exploration potential and exploration potential in areas outside of the immediate mine-site, all assets at a particular operation are considered together for purposes of estimating future cash flows. In the case of mineral interests associated with other mine-related exploration potential and exploration potential in areas outside of the immediate mine-site, cash flows and fair values are individually evaluated based primarily on recent exploration results.

Numerous factors including, but not limited to, unexpected grade changes, gold recovery problems, shortages of equipment and consumables, equipment failures, and collapse of pit walls could impact our ability to achieve forecasted production schedules from proven and probable reserves. Additionally, commodity prices, capital expenditure requirements and reclamation costs could differ from the assumptions used in the cash flow models used to assess impairment. The ability to achieve the estimated quantities of recoverable minerals from exploration stage mineral interests involves further risks in addition to those factors applicable to mineral interests where proven and probable reserves have been identified, due to the lower level of confidence that the identified mineralized material can ultimately be mined economically.

Material changes to any of these factors or assumptions discussed above could result in future impairment charges to operations.

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

Environmental reclamation and closure liabilities are recognized at the time of environmental disturbance, in amounts equal to the discounted value of expected future reclamation and closure costs. The discounted cost of future reclamation and closure activities is capitalized and amortized over the life of the property. The estimated future cash costs of such liabilities are based primarily upon environmental and regulatory requirements of the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Cash expenditures for environmental remediation and closure are charged as incurred against the accrual.

FOREIGN CURRENCIES AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar.

 

9


The carrying value of monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing when the assets were acquired or the liabilities assumed. Revenue and expense items are translated at the average rate of exchange during the period. Translation gains or losses are included in net earnings for the period.

Canadian currency in these financial statements is denoted as “Cdn$,” European Common Market currency is denoted as “Euro” or “€,” and Ghanaian currency is denoted as “Ghana Cedi” or “Ghana Cedis.”

INCOME TAXES

Income taxes comprise the provision for (or recovery of) taxes actually paid or payable and for deferred taxes. Deferred income taxes are computed using the asset and liability method whereby deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed using enacted income tax rates in effect when the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect on the deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period of enactment. The provision for or the recovery of deferred taxes is based on the changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the period. In estimating deferred tax assets, a valuation allowance is provided to reduce the deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized.

NET INCOME PER SHARE

Basic income per share of common stock is calculated by dividing income available to Golden Star’s common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. In periods with earnings, the calculation of diluted net income per common share uses the treasury stock method to compute the dilutive effects of stock options, and other dilutive instruments. In periods of loss, diluted net income per share is equal to basic income per share.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

Revenue from the sale of metal is recognized when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, the price is determinable, the metal has been delivered, title and risk of ownership has passed to the buyer and collection is reasonably assured. All of our gold is sent to a South African gold refiner who locates a buyer and arranges for the sale on the day of shipment from the mine site. The sales price is based on the London P.M. fix on the day of shipment. Title and risk of ownership pass to the buyer on the day doré is shipped from the mine sites.

STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

Under the company’s stock option plan (see note 17), common share options may be granted to executives, employees, consultants and non-employee directors. Compensation expense for such grants is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of general and administrative expense, with a corresponding increase recorded in the Contributed Surplus account in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The expense is based on the fair values of the option at the time of grant and is recognized over the vesting periods of the respective options. Consideration paid to the company on exercise of options is credited to share capital.

LEASES

Leases that transfer substantially all the benefits and risks of ownership to the company are recorded as capital leases and classified as property, plant and equipment with a corresponding amount recorded with current and long-term debt. All other leases are classified as operating leases under which leasing costs are expensed in the period incurred.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Our financial instruments include cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, available for sale investments, accounts receivable, derivative contracts, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and current and long term debts. Each financial asset and financial liability instrument is initially measured at fair value, as adjusted for any associated transaction costs. In subsequent periods, the estimated fair values of financial instruments are determined based on our assessment of available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies including reviews of current interest rates, related market values and current pricing of financial instruments with comparable terms; however, these estimates may not necessarily be indicative of the amounts that could be realized or settled in a current market transaction.

 

10


The carrying value of the convertible senior unsecured debentures is recorded at fair value as of the reporting date. Changes in fair value are recorded in the statement of operations.

Financing costs associated with the issuance of debt are deferred and amortized over the term of the related debt using the effective yield method. Financing costs related to the convertible debt have been written off and assumed to be a part of the current fair value.

Financial assets, financial liabilities and derivative financial instruments are classified into one of five categories: held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, loans and receivables, other financial liabilities and held-for-trading.

All financial instruments classified as available-for-sale or held-for-trading, and derivative financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value. Changes in the fair value of financial instruments designated as held-for-trading and recognized derivative financial instruments are charged or credited to the statement of operations for the relevant period, while changes in the fair value of financial instruments designated as available-for-sale, excluding impairments, are charged or credited to other comprehensive income until the instrument is realized. All other financial assets and liabilities are accounted for at cost or at amortized cost depending upon the nature of the instrument. After their initial fair value measurement, they are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (“OCI”)

Components of comprehensive income/loss consist of unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities and net income. Unrealized gains or losses on securities are net of any reclassification adjustments for realized gains or losses included in net income.

DERIVATIVES

At various times we utilize foreign exchange and commodity price derivatives to manage exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and gold prices, respectively. We do not employ derivative financial instruments for trading purposes or for speculative purposes. Our derivative instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in the statement of operations at the end of each period in an account titled “Derivative mark-to-market gain/(loss)”.

4. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

RECENTLY ADOPTED STANDARDS

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-06, “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements,” which amends Subtopic 820-10 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification to require new disclosures for fair value measurements and provides clarification for existing disclosures requirements. More specifically, this update required (a) an entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 fair value measurements and to describe the reasons for the transfers; and (b) information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements to be presented separately (i.e. present the activity on a gross basis rather than net) in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs). This update clarified existing disclosure requirements for the level of disaggregation used for classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value and requires disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements using Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. We adopted this new guidance in the first quarter of 2010 and it did not materially expand our consolidated financial statement footnote disclosures.

In April 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2101-12 which amends topic 718 “Compensation—Stock Compensation”. The amendment addresses the classification of an employee share-based payments awards with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which the underlying equity security trades, stating that a share-based award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity trades shall not be considered to contain a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, such an award is not to be classified as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. This new provision is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. While our stock option plan denominates option strike prices in Canadian dollars, a substantial portion of our common shares trade in Canada and thus this new guidance did not affect our consolidated financial position, cash flows, nor results of operations in 2011.

 

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5. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

FINANCIAL ASSETS

The carrying amounts and fair values of our financial assets are as follows:

 

            As of March 31, 2011      As of December 31, 2010  

Assets

   Category      Estimated
Fair Value
     Carrying
Value
     Estimated
Fair Value
     Carrying
Value
 

Cash and cash equivalents (1)

     Loans and receivables       $ 151,661       $ 151,661       $ 178,018       $ 178,018   

Restricted cash (1)

     Loans and receivables         1,205         1,205         1,205         1,205   

Accounts receivable (1)

     Loans and receivables         12,713         12,713         11,885         11,885   

Derivative instrument - Riverstone Warrants

     Held-for-trading         648         648         375         375   

Available for sale investments (3)

     Available-for-sale         1,482         1,482         928         928   
                                      

Total financial assets

      $ 167,709       $ 167,709       $ 192,411       $ 192,411   
                                      

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

The carrying amounts and fair values of financial liabilities are as follows:

 

            As of March 31, 2011      As of December 31, 2010  

Liabilities

   Category      Estimated
Fair Value
     Carrying
Value
     Estimated
Fair Value
     Carrying
Value
 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (1)

     Other financial liabilities       $ 72,910       $ 72,910       $ 88,457       $ 88,457   

Derivative instrument-Structured Gold Options

     Held-for-trading         4,523         4,523         —           —     

Convertible senior unsecured debentures (2)

     Other financial liabilities         129,169         129,169         147,779         147,353   

Equipment financing loans (2)

     Other financial liabilities         14,039         13,616         16,113         15,714   
                                      

Total financial liabilities

      $ 220,641       $ 220,218       $ 252,349       $ 251,524   
                                      

 

(1) Carrying amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value.
(2) The fair values of the debt portion of the convertible senior unsecured debentures, the equipment financing loans, and the revolving credit facility are determined by discounting the stream of future payments of interest and principal at the estimated prevailing market rates of comparable debt instruments. The carrying values of these liabilities are shown net of any capitalized loan fees.
(3) The fair value represents quoted market prices in an active market.

The following tables illustrate the classification of the Company’s financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy as at March 31, 2011. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:

 

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

 

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and

 

 

Level 3 – Inputs that are not based on observable market data.

 

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     Financial assets measured at fair value as at
March 31, 2011
 
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Available for sale investments

   $ 1,482       $ —         $ —         $ 1,482   

Warrants

     —           648         —           648   
                                   
   $ 1,482       $ 648       $ —         $ 2,130   
                                   
     Financial liabilities measured at fair value as at
March 31, 2011
 
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Convertible senior unsecured debentures

   $ —         $ —         $ 130,827       $ 130,827   

Gold price derivatives

     —           4,523         —           4,523   
                                   
   $ —         $ 4,523       $ 130,827       $ 135,350   
                                   

The convertible senior unsecured debentures are recorded at fair value for U.S. GAAP purposes. These debentures are valued based on discounted cash flows for the debt portion and based on a Black-Scholes model for the equity portion. Inputs used to determine these values were; discount rate 8.91%, Risk Free interest rate of 1.82%, volatility of 66.8%, and a remaining life of 1.7 years. Note 12 (Debt) has a more detailed discussion of the debentures.

Fair value measurements using Level 3 inputs

 

     Convertible senior
unsecured debentures
 

Balance of December 31, 2010

   $ 147,779   

Gain included in net income

     (16,952
        

Balance at March 31, 2011

   $ 130,827   
        

6. DERIVATIVES AND CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES FAIR VALUE

The derivative mark-to-market (gains)/losses recorded in the Statement of Operations are comprised of the following amounts:

 

     For the three months ended
March 31
 
     2011     2010  

Riverstone Resources, Inc. - warrants

   $ (274   $ (1,131

Gold forward price contracts

     4,523        —     

Convertible debentures

     (18,185     14,051   
                

Derivative (gain)/loss

   $ (13,936   $ 12,920   
                
     For the three months ended
March 31
 
     2011     2010  

Realized (gain)/loss

   $ —        $ —     

Unrealized (gain)/loss

     (13,936     12,920   
                

Derivative (gain)/loss

   $ (13,936   $ 12,920   
                

 

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RIVERSTONE RESOURCES INC. – WARRANTS

In the first quarter of 2008, we received 2 million warrants from Riverstone Resources Inc. (“Riverstone”) as partial payment for the right to earn an ownership interest in our exploration projects in Burkina Faso. These warrants are exercisable through January 2012 at Cdn$0.45.

GOLD PRICE DERIVATIVES

In January 2011, we entered into a series of put and call contracts covering 76,800 ounces of future gold production between February and December 2011. The contracts are spread evenly in each week over this period and are structured as cashless collars with a floor of $1,200 per ounce and a cap of $1,457 per ounce. In early February 2011 we entered into a second set of put and call contracts covering 75,200 ounces of future gold production between February and December 2011. The contacts are spread evenly in each week during this period and are structured as cashless collars with a floor of $1,200 per ounce and a cap of $1,503 per ounce.

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

The convertible senior unsecured debentures are recorded at fair market value for U.S. GAAP purposes. These debentures are valued based on discounted cash flows for the debt portion and based on a Black-Scholes model for the equity portion. Inputs used to determine these values were; discount rate 8.91%, Risk Free interest rate of 1.82%, volatility of 66.8%, and a remaining life of 1.7 years. Note 12 (Debt) has a more detailed discussion of the debentures.

7. INVENTORIES

 

     As of
March 31
     As of
December 31
 
     2011      2010  

Stockpiled ore

   $ 3,618       $ 2,551   

In-process

     15,208         13,839   

Materials and supplies

     46,530         48,814   

Finished goods

     —           —     
                 

Total

   $ 65,356       $ 65,204   
                 

There were approximately 30,000 and 20,000 recoverable ounces of gold in the ore stockpile inventories shown above at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Stockpile inventories are short-term surge piles expected to be processed within the next 12 months.

8. AVAILABLE FOR SALE INVESTMENTS

 

     March 31, 2011      December 31, 2010  
     Riverstone      Riverstone  
     Fair Value      Shares      Fair Value      Shares  

Balance beginning of period

   $ 928         1,300,000       $ 181         700,000   

Acquisitions

     469         700,000         128         600,000   

OCI - unrealized gain/(loss)

     85         —           619         —     
                                   

Balance end of period

   $ 1,482         2,000,000       $ 928         1,300,000   
                                   

 

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9. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

     As of March 31, 2011      As of December 31, 2010  
     Property,
Plant and
Equipment
at Cost
     Accumulated
Depreciation
    Property,
Plant and
Equipment
Net Book
Value
     Property,
Plant and
Equipment
at Cost
     Accumulated
Depreciation
    Property,
Plant and
Equipment
Net Book
Value
 

Bogoso/Prestea

   $ 159,621       $ (109,925   $ 49,696       $ 157,010       $ (107,132   $ 49,878   

Bogoso sulfide plant

     187,124         (52,071     135,053         184,641         (50,988     133,653   

Wassa/HBB

     98,018         (50,953     47,065         89,875         (45,607     44,268   

Corporate & other

     1,440         (804     636         1,343         (775     568   
                                                   

Total

   $ 446,203       $ (213,753   $ 232,450       $ 432,869       $ (204,502   $ 228,367   
                                                   

There was no interest capitalized in new additions to property, plant and equipment in the periods shown above.

10. MINING PROPERTIES

 

     As of March 31, 2011      As of December 31, 2010  
     Mining
Properties
At Cost
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Mining
Properties,
Net Book
Value
     Mining
Properties
At Cost
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Mining
Properties,
Net Book
Value
 

Bogoso/Prestea

   $ 106,237       $ (57,293   $ 48,944       $ 99,435       $ (56,488   $ 42,947   

Bogoso Sulfide

     56,702         (38,422     18,280         56,541         (37,101     19,440   

Mampon

     15,995         —          15,995         15,995         —          15,995   

Wassa / HBB

     307,653         (159,179     148,474         303,379         (147,558     155,821   

Other

     19,237         (2,330     16,907         18,747         (2,330     16,417   
                                                   

Total

   $ 505,824       $ (257,224   $ 248,600       $ 494,097       $ (243,477   $ 250,620   
                                                   

There was no interest capitalized in new additions to mining properties in the periods shown above.

11. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

At the end of each period, Asset Retirement Obligations (“ARO”) are equal to the present value of all estimated future costs required to remediate any environmental disturbances that exist as of the end of the period, using discount rates applicable at the time of initial recognition of each component of the liability. Included in this liability are the costs of closure, reclamation, demolition and stabilization of the mines, processing plants, infrastructure, tailings storage facilities, waste dumps and ongoing post-closure environmental monitoring and maintenance costs. While the majority of these costs will be incurred near the end of the mines’ lives, it is expected that certain on-going reclamation costs will be incurred prior to mine closure. These costs are recorded against the asset retirement obligation liability as incurred. At March 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, the total undiscounted amount of the estimated future cash needs was estimated to be $84.1 million and $84.3 million, respectively. Discount rates used to value the ARO range between 8% and 10%. The schedule of payments required to settle the March 31, 2011, ARO liability extends through 2029.

 

15


The changes in the carrying amount of the ARO during the first quarters of 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

 

     For the three months ended
March 31
 
     2011     2010  

Beginning balance

   $ 44,952      $ 31,969   

Accretion expense

     933        600   

Additions and change in estimates

     3,748        —     

Cost of reclamation work performed

     (3,883     (1,551
                

Balance at March 31

   $ 45,750      $ 31,018   
                

Current portion

   $ 23,220      $ 7,927   

Long term portion

   $ 22,530      $ 23,091   

12. DEBT

 

     As of  
     March 31
2011
     December 31
2010
 

Current debt:

     

Equipment financing credit facility

   $ 6,797       $ 7,189   

Capital lease

     2,159         2,825   

Revolving credit facility

     —           —     
                 

Total current debt

   $ 8,956       $ 10,014   
                 

Long term debt:

     

Equipment financing credit facility

   $ 6,819       $ 8,525   

Convertible debentures

     129,169         147,353   
                 

Total long term debt

   $ 135,988       $ 155,878   
                 

EQUIPMENT FINANCING CREDIT FACILITY

GSBPL and GSWL maintain a $35 million equipment financing facility with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, with Golden Star as the guarantor of all amounts borrowed. The facility provides credit for new and used mining equipment. 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 or London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 2.38%. At March 31, 2011, approximately $21.4 million was available to draw down. The average interest rate on the outstanding loans was approximately 7.3% at March 31, 2010. Each outstanding equipment loan is secured by the title of the specific equipment purchased with the loan until the loan has been repaid in full.

CAPITAL LEASE

In February 2010, GSBPL accepted delivery of a nominal 20 megawatt power plant. Upon acceptance, a $4.9 million liability was recognized which, at the time, was equal to the present value of future lease payments. The life of the lease is two years from the plant’s February 2010 in-service date. We are required to pay the owner/operator a minimum of $0.3 million per month on the lease, of which $0.23 million will be allocated to principal and interest on the recognized liability and the remainder of the monthly payments will be charged as operating costs.

 

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CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

Interest on the $125 million aggregate principal amount of 4.0% convertible senior unsecured debentures due November 30, 2012, (the “Debentures”) is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 31 and November 30 of each year. The Debentures are, subject to certain limitations, convertible into common shares at a conversion rate of 200 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the Debentures (equal to a conversion price of $5.00 per share) subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. The Debentures are not redeemable at our option. On maturity, we may, at our option, satisfy our repayment obligation by paying the principal amount of the Debentures in cash or, subject to certain limitations, by issuing that number of our common shares obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Debentures outstanding by 95% of the weighted average trading price of our common shares on the NYSE Amex stock exchange for the 20 consecutive trading days ending five trading days preceding the maturity date (the “Market Price”).

Upon the occurrence of certain change in control transactions, the holders of the Debentures may require us to purchase the Debentures for cash at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. If 10% or more of the fair market value of any such change in control consideration consists of cash, the holders may convert their Debentures and receive a number of additional common shares, determined as set forth in the Indenture.

The Debentures are direct senior unsecured indebtedness of Golden Star Resources Ltd., ranking equally and ratably with all our other senior unsecured indebtedness, and senior to all our subordinated indebtedness. None of our subsidiaries have guaranteed the Debentures, and the Debentures do not limit the amount of debt that we or our subsidiaries may incur.

These debentures are valued based on discounted cash flows for the debt portion and based on a Black-Scholes model for the equity portion. Inputs used to determine these values were: discount rate 8.91%, Risk Free interest rate of 1.82%, volatility of 66.8%, and a remaining life of 1.7 years.

REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

We have a revolving credit facility agreement (the “Facility Agreement”) with Standard Chartered Bank which extends through September 30, 2012. The Facility currently provides us with $40.5 million of borrowing capacity and bears interest at the higher of LIBOR or the applicable lenders’ cost of funds rate (which is capped at 1.25% per annum above LIBOR), plus a margin of 5% per annum. As of March 31, 2011, the outstanding balance was nil. The amount available under the Facility will be reduced, as scheduled in the agreement, by $9.0 million on December 31, 2011. Covenants require that we meet certain financial ratios at the end of each quarter, including that in excess of 90% of our assets are retained within a group of subsidiaries whose common shares are pledged as collateral for amounts drawn under the revolving credit facility. We were in compliance with all covenants at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

13. INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes includes the following components:

 

     For the three months ended
March 31
 
     2011     2010  

Current benefit/(expense)

    

Canada

   $ —        $ —     

Foreign

     (899     (518

Future benefit/(expense)

    

Canada

     —          —     

Foreign

     (3,406     (1,011
                

Total benefit / (expense)

   $ (4,305   $ (1,529
                

The future tax (expense)/benefit is related to the change in the temporary difference between book and tax basis at GSWL.

The current tax expense is related to the fact that at the end of July 2009, the Ghanaian government introduced a temporary levy on certain Ghanaian industries, including mining, brewing, banking, communications and insurance. The bill provides that companies subject to the levy will pay an amount equal to 5% of “profits before tax” as disclosed on their statements of operations. The effective period of this levy has extended into 2011.

 

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14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Our commitments and contingencies include the following items:

ENVIRONMENTAL BONDING IN GHANA

In 2005, pursuant to a reclamation bonding agreement between the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and GSWL, we bonded $3.0 million to cover future reclamation obligations at Wassa. To meet the bonding requirements, we established a $2.85 million letter of credit and deposited $0.15 million of cash with the EPA. Pursuant to a separate bonding agreement between the EPA and GSBPL, we bonded $9.5 million in early 2006 to cover our rehabilitation and closure obligations at Bogoso/Prestea. To meet these requirements, we deposited $0.9 million of cash with the EPA with the balance covered by a letter of credit. In 2008, the GSBPL letter of credit was increased by $0.5 million to cover the Pampe mining areas. The cash deposits are recorded as Restricted Cash on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In 2008, Bogoso/Prestea resubmitted an updated draft of the Environmental Management Plan (“EMP”) to the EPA that included an updated estimate of the reclamation and closure costs prepared by a third party consultant. A consultant was commissioned to prepare the reclamation and closure cost estimate and the final EMP was submitted to the EPA in February 2009. Bogoso/Prestea has completed all the legal requirements and is waiting for the environmental certificate. In 2009, Wassa submitted an updated draft EMP that covered Wassa operations, including the Benso and Hwini-Butre mines, to the EPA that included an updated estimate of the reclamation and closure costs. The EPA has reviewed the EMP and their comments were included in the resubmission. GSWL has paid the certificate fees and the EPA is expected to issue the certificate.

In March 2011, we provided $12 million of reclamation bonding to the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to cover backfilling of the Plant North pit at Prestea which we mined from 2003 to 2006. The bonding requirements were met by a $1.2 million cash deposit and a $10.8 million letter of credit from a commercial bank.

ROYALTIES

Dunkwa Properties

As part of the acquisition of the Dunkwa properties in 2003, we agreed to pay the seller a net smelter return royalty on future gold production from the Mansiso and Asikuma properties. As per the acquisition agreement, 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 at or below $300 per ounce and progressively increases to 3.5% for gold prices in excess of $400 per ounce.

Government of Ghana

During the first quarter of 2010, the Government of Ghana announced that it was amending its Mining Act of 2006 to change the method of calculating mineral royalties payable to the Government, effective March 2010. The prior rules established a royalty rate of no less than 3% and no more than 6% of a mine’s total revenues, the exact amount being determined by each mine’s margin as defined in the law. Under the new law, the royalty has been set at a flat rate of 5% of mineral revenues. The effective date for the revised royalty rate was the end of March 2011.

Benso

Benso pays a $1.00 per ounce gold production royalty to former owners.

Pampe

Certain areas of the Pampe property are subject to a 7.5% net smelter return royalty.

 

18


Hwini-Butre

As part of the agreement for the purchase of the Hwini-Butre properties, Golden Star agreed to pay B.D. Goldfields Ltd, Hwini-Butre’s former owner, $1.0 million if at least one million ounces of gold are produced and recovered in the first five years of production from the area covered by the Hwini-Butre prospecting license. Gold production was initiated at Hwini-Butre in May 2009. It is not possible at this time to know if future exploration work will increase Hwini-Butre’s reserves sufficiently to yield production of one million ounces prior to May 2014.

EXPLORATION AGREEMENTS

Obuom

In October 2007, we entered into an agreement with AMI Resources Inc. (“AMI”), which gives AMI the right to earn our 54% ownership position in the Obuom property in Ghana. Should AMI eventually obtain full rights to our position on the property and develop a gold mining operation at Obuom, we would receive from AMI a 2% net smelter return royalty on 54% of the property’s gold production.

Goulagou and Rounga

In October 2007, we entered into an option agreement with Riverstone Resources Inc. (“Riverstone”) whereby Riverstone has the right to acquire our 90% interest in the Goulagou and Rounga properties in Burkina Faso. To exercise the option, Riverstone is required to spend Cdn$4 million on exploration programs on the Goulagou and Rounga properties over a four-year period, and may then purchase our interest for $18.6 million in cash or Riverstone common shares. We are entitled to receive up to 2 million shares of Riverstone over the term of the option, all of which have been received as of March 31, 2011. In addition we received a one-time distribution of 2 million Riverstone common share purchase warrants during 2008. The Riverstone purchase warrants have remaining exercise prices that range from Cdn$0.40 to Cdn$0.45.

15. SHARE CAPITAL

Changes in share capital during the three months ended March 31, 2011 are as follows:

 

     Shares      Amount  

Balance beginning of period

     258,511,236       $ 693,487   

Common shares issued:

     

Equity offering (net)

     —           —     

Option exercises

     48,250         178   
                 

Balance end of period

     258,559,486       $ 693,665   
                 

We held no treasury shares as of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011.

 

19


16. COST OF SALES

 

     For the three months ended
March 31
 
     2011     2010  

Mining operations costs

   $ 88,479      $ 64,519   

Operations costs from/(to) metal inventory

     (2,690     (931

Mining related derpeciation and amortization

     21,029        25,450   

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     933        600   
                

Total Cost of Sales

   $ 107,751      $ 89,638   
                

17. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

STOCK OPTIONS

We have one stock option plan, the Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) approved by shareholders in May 2010, under which options are granted at the discretion of the Board of Directors. 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 Plan, we may grant options to employees, consultants and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries for up to 25,000,000 shares, of which 9,286,446 are available for grant as of March 31, 2011, and the exercise price of each option is not less than the closing price of our shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on the day prior to the date of grant. Options typically vest over periods ranging from immediately to three years from the date of grant. Vesting periods are determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Non-cash employee compensation expense recognized in general and administrative expense in the statements of operations with respect to the Plan are as follows:

 

     2011      2010  

Total stock compensation expense during the periods ended March 31

   $ 1,342       $ 1,417   
                 

We granted 1,718,000 and 1,278,500 options during the first quarters of 2011 and 2010, respectively. We do not receive a tax deduction for the issuance of options. As a result we do not recognize any income tax benefit related to the stock compensation expense.

The fair value of our options grants are estimated at the grant dates using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Fair values of options granted in the first three months of 2011 and 2010 were based on the assumptions noted in the following table:

 

     For the three months ended
March 31
     2011   2010

Expected volatility

   66.34 to 69.79%   67.95 to 77.37%

Risk-free interest rate

   2.26 to 2.26%   2.34 to 2.36%

Expected lives

   5.6 to 8.5 years   6.0 to 8.6 years

Dividend yield

   0%   0%

Expected volatilities are based on the mean reversion tendency of the volatility of Golden Star’s shares. Golden Star uses historical data to estimate share option exercise and employee departure behavior and this data is used in determining input data for the Black–Scholes model. Groups of employees that have dissimilar historical behavior are considered separately for valuation purposes. The expected term of the options granted represents the period of time that the options granted are expected to be outstanding; the range given above results from certain groups of employees exhibiting different post–vesting behaviors. The risk–free rate for periods within the contractual term of the option is based on the Canadian Chartered Bank administered interest rates in effect at the time of the grant.

 

20


A summary of option activity under the Plan during the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Options
(‘000)
    Weighted–
Average
Exercise
price
(Cdn$)
     Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)
     Aggregate
intrinsic value
Cdn($000)
 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2010

     6,724        3.35         7.0         9,001   

Granted

     1,718        2.83         10.0         —     

Exercised

     (48     2.73         7.0         132   

Forfeited, cancelled and expired

     —          —           —           —     
                                  

Outstanding as of March 30, 2011

     8,393        3.25         7.4         1,896   
                                  

Exercisable as of March 31, 2011

     5,765        3.36         6.6         1,386   
     Options
(‘000)
    Weighted–
Average
Exercise
price
(Cdn$)
     Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)
     Aggregate
intrinsic value
Cdn($000)
 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2009

     7,283        3.19         7.0         4,221   

Granted

     1,279        3.48         9.9         —     

Exercised

     (225     1.40         2.4         314   

Forfeited, cancelled and expired

     (794     4.37         5.6         —     
                                  

Outstanding as of March 30, 2010

     7,543        3.17         7.5         6,817   
                                  

Exercisable as of March 31, 2010

     5,172        3.32         6.8         4,270   

Stock Bonus Plan

In December 1992, we established an Employees’ Stock Bonus Plan (the “Bonus Plan”). The activity and status of the Bonus Plan is unchanged from what was disclosed in our December 31, 2010 annual report on Form 10-K.

Deferred Stock Units

On March 9, 2011 the Board adopted a Deferred Share Unit Plan (“DSU plan”) subject to stock exchange approval which has been given conditionally, and shareholder approval which will be sought on May 11, 2011. The DSU Plan, if implemented, will create Deferred Share Units (“DSUs”) representing the right to receive one share of Golden Star common stock upon redemption. DSUs may only be redeemed upon termination of the holder’s services to the Company, and may be subject to vesting provisions. DSU awards will be granted at the sole discretion of the Company’s compensation committee. The DSU Plan allows directors, at their option, to receive all or any portion of their retainer by accepting DSUs in lieu of cash. The compensation committee may also award DSUs to executive officers and/or directors in lieu of cash as a component of their long term performance compensation, the amount of such awards being in proportion to the officer’s/director’s achievement of pre-determined performance goals. As with DSU awards for directors’ retainers, DSUs received as performance compensation are redeemable only upon termination of the holder’s services to the Company. The Company may, at its option, provide cash in lieu of common shares upon a holder’s redemption, the cash value being established by the share price on the DSU original award date, less all applicable tax withholding.

 

21


18. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

The following table provides reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per common share:

 

      For the three months ended
March 31
 
     2011      2010  

Net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders

   $ 5,928       $ (9,250

Weighted average number of common shares (millions)

     258.6         257.4   

Dilutive securities:

     

Options

     1.2         1.2   

Convertible debentures

     —           —     
                 

Weighted average number of diluted shares

     259.8         258.6   
                 

Net income/(loss) per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:

     

Basic

   $ 0.023       $ (0.036

Diluted

   $ 0.023       $ (0.036

19. OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA

 

As of and for the three months ended March 31

   Bogoso/
Prestea
    Wassa/
HBB
    Other     South
America
    Corporate     Total  

2011

            

Revenues

   $ 42,488      $ 74,018      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 116,506   

Net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star

     (7,604     10,641        (705     (97     3,693        5,928   

Income tax (expense)/benefit

     —          (4,305     —          —          —          (4,305

Capital expenditure

     8,342        10,313        97        —          —          18,752   

Total assets

     359,528        239,022        2,323        68        131,334        732,275   

2010

            

Revenues

   $ 50,954      $ 52,310      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 103,264   

Net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star

     5,739        4,719        (316     153        (19,545     (9,250

Income tax (expense)/benefit

     —          (1,529     —          —          —          (1,529

Capital expenditure

     10,631        2,204        957        —          —          13,792   

Total assets

     347,647        226,992        4,723        —          152,731        732,093   

20. RELATED PARTIES

During the first quarter of 2011, we obtained legal services from a firm to which one of our board members is of counsel. The cost of services incurred from this firm during the first quarters of 2011 and 2010 was $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Our board member did not personally provide any legal services to the Company during these periods nor did he benefit directly or indirectly from payments for the services performed by the firm.

21. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

In the first quarter of 2011, $1.0 million was paid for income taxes. Cash paid for income taxes during the first quarter of 2010 was $0.6 million. Cash paid for interest was $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2011 and, $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2010.

 

22


In February 2010, the company recognized a non-cash $4.9 million liability and an offsetting $4.9 million asset related to delivery of a 10 megawatt power plant upon successful commissioning of the power plant by Genser. (See note 14 for further discussion of the power plant.)

22. INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP which differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. The effect of applying IFRS to our financial statements is shown below:

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS UNDER IFRS

     US GAAP                  IFRS     IFRS  
     As of                  As of     As of  
     March 31                  March 31     December 31  
     2011     Note      Adjustments     2011     2010  

ASSETS

           

CURRENT ASSETS

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 151,661           $ 151,661      $ 178,018   

Accounts receivable

     12,713             12,713        11,885   

Inventories

     65,356        1         —          65,356        65,204   

Deposits

     7,182             7,182        5,865   

Prepaids and other

     2,896             2,896        1,523   
                             

Total Current Assets

     239,808             239,808        262,495   

RESTRICTED CASH

     1,205             1,205        1,205   

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

     232,450             232,450        227,367   

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

     6,846             6,846        7,373   

MINING PROPERTIES

     248,600        2, 3         39,879        288,479        293,102   

DEFERRED EXPLORATION

     —          4         14,698        14,698        14,487   

OTHER ASSETS

     3,366             3,366        3,168   
                             

Total Assets

   $ 732,275           $ 786,852      $ 809,197   
                             

LIABILITIES

           

CURRENT LIABILITIES

           

Accounts payable

   $ 30,369           $ 30,369      $ 34,522   

Accrued liabilities

     42,541             42,541        53,935   

Derivatives

     4,523             4,523        —     

Asset retirement obligations

     23,220             23,220        23,485   

Current tax liability

     1,033             1,033        1,128   

Current debt

     8,956             8,956        10,014   
                             

Total Current Liabilities

     110,642             110,642        123,084   

LONG TERM DEBT

     135,988        6         (18,395     117,593        117,290   

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

     22,530        3         18,403        40,933        42,826   

NET DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY

     18,984        5         6,257        25,241        21,094   
                             

Total Liabilities

     288,144             294,409        304,294   
                             

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

     —               —          —     

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

           

SHARE CAPITAL

           

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

     —               —          —     

Common shares, without par value, unlimited shares authorized. Shares issued and outstanding: 258,559,486 at March 31, 2011; 258,511,236 at December 31, 2010

     693,665             693,665        693,487   

CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS

     17,855        7         927        18,782        17,433   

EQUITY COMPONENT OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

     —          6         34,542        34,542        34,542   

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

     2,044             2,044        1,959   

DEFICIT

     (268,108        10,385        (257,723     (243,930
                             

TOTAL GOLDEN STAR EQUITY

     445,456             491,310        503,491   

NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

     (1,325     8         2,458        1,133        1,412   
                             

TOTAL EQUITY

     444,131             492,443        504,903   
                             

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 732,275           $ 786,852      $ 809,197   
                             

 

23


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS UNDER IFRS

 

     US GAAP                  IFRS     IFRS  
     For the three
months ended
March 31
2011
    Note      Adjustments     For the three
months ended
March 31
2011
    For the three
months ended
March 31
2010
 

REVENUE

           

Gold revenues

   $ 116,506           $ 116,506      $ 103,264   

Cost of sales

     107,751        1,2,3         (689     107,062        88,475   
                             

Mine operating margin

     8,755             9,444        14,789   

Exploration expense

     579        4         (210     369        227   

General and administrative expense

     7,102        7         54        7,156        5,029   

Abandonment and impairment

     —               —          276   

Derivative mark-to-market (gain)/loss

     (13,936     6         18,185        4,249        (1,131

Property holding costs

     2,674             2,674        1,101   

Foreign exchange loss

     257             257        367   

Interest expense

     2,358        6         2,011        4,369        4,129   

Interest and other income

     (39          (39     (198
                             

Net income/(loss) before income tax

     9,760             (9,591     4,989   

Income tax expense

     (4,305     5         (229     (4,534     (2,371
                             

Net income/(loss)

   $ 5,455           $ (14,125   $ 2,618   
                             

Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (473     8         141        (332     511   

Net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders

   $ 5,928           $ (13,793   $ 2,107   

Net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders per share:

           

Basic

   $ 0.023           $ (0.053   $ 0.008   

Diluted

   $ 0.023           $ (0.053   $ 0.008   

Weighted average shares outstanding (millions)

     258.6             258.6        257.4   

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

           

Net income/(loss)

   $ 5,455           $ (14,125   $ 2,618   

Other comprehensive income

     85             85        932   
                             

Comprehensive income/(loss)

   $ 5,540           $ (14,040   $ 3,550   
                             

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders

   $ 6,013           $ (13,708   $ 3,039   

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (473          (332     511   
                             

Comprehensive income/(loss)

   $ 5,540           $ (14,040   $ 3,550   
                             

Deficit, beginning of period

   $ (274,036        $ (243,930   $ (240,543
                             

Deficit, end of period

   $ (268,108        $ (257,723   $ (238,436
                             

 

24


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS UNDER IFRS

 

     US GAAP                  IFRS     IFRS  
     For the three
months ended
March 31
2011
    Note      Adjustments     For the three
months ended
March 31
2011
    For the three
months ended
March 31
2010
 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

           

Net income/(loss)

   $ 5,455        —         $ (19,580   $ (14,125   $ 2,618   

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

           

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     21,218        2,4         (89     21,129        22,931   

Amortization of loan acquisition cost

     354             354        (36

Loss on sale of assets

     —               —          276   

Non cash employee compensation

     1,341        7         54        1,395        1,478   

Future income tax expense/(benefit)

     3,307        5         229        3,536        1,866   

Reclamation expenditures

     (3,883          (3,883     (1,551

Fair value of derivatives

     4,249             4,249        (1,131

Fair value gains/losses on convertible debt

     (18,185     6         18,185        —          —     

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     933        3         (600     333        1,963   
                             
     14,789             12,988        28,414   

Changes in non-cash working capital:

           

Accounts receivable

     (1,025          (1,025     (735

Inventories

     (406          (406     (3,901

Deposits

     (945          (945     84   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (16,614          (16,614     (2,119

Other

     (1,664     6         2,011        347        809   
                             

Net cash provided by/(used in ) operating activities

     (5,865          (5,655     22,552   

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

           

Expenditures on deferred exploration projects

     —          4         (210     (210     (1,076

Expenditures on mining properties

     (8,840          (8,840     (1,964

Expenditures on property, plant and equipment

     (9,912          (9,912     (11,828

Change in accounts payable and deposits on mine equipment and material

     893             893        (1,226

Other

     —               —          2,114   
                             

Net cash used in investing activities

     (17,859          (18,069     (13,980

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

           

Principal payments on debt

     (2,765          (2,765     (8,213

Proceeds from debt agreements and equipment financing

     —               —          10,000   

Other

     132             132        405   
                             

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

     (2,633          (2,633     2,192   
                             

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (26,357          (26,357     10,764   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     178,018             178,018        154,088   
                             

Cash and cash equivalents end of period

   $ 151,661           $ 151,661      $ 164,852   
                             

Notes to IFRS Financial Statements:

The Company adopted IFRS as of January 1, 2011 with a transition date of January 1, 2009.

The Company has taken certain elections under IFRS 1 (International Financial Reporting Standard 1 – First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards Summary) to allow departure from retrospective application in certain areas. The areas that the Company has applied IFRS 1 to include:

 

   

non-controlling interests;

 

   

business combinations;

 

   

share-based payment transactions;

 

   

asset retirement obligations;

   

borrowing costs.

 

  1. In-Process inventory – Costs that qualify as betterment stripping are capitalized within mining properties under IFRS, but included within inventory and expensed for U.S. GAAP. As a result the amount of waste mining costs expensed and included within in-process metal inventory is higher under U.S. GAAP than under IFRS. In the first three months of 2011 no waste mining costs were capitalized and no difference in inventory was recognized for the period. See note 2 below for additional details.

 

25


  2. Deferred Stripping - Under IFRS, expenditures for stripping costs (i.e., the costs of removing overburden and waste material to access mineral deposits) that can be shown to be a betterment of the mineral property are capitalized and subsequently amortized on a units-of-production basis over the mineral reserves that directly benefit from the specific waste stripping activity. U.S. GAAP has no provision for capitalization of betterment stripping costs. Thus in periods where betterment stripping occurs, operating costs are higher under U.S. GAAP since all waste costs are expensed. The amounts of capitalized betterment stripping are shown in the table immediately below and are included in the Mining Properties totals shown in the IFRS consolidated balance sheets.

Costs of betterment stripping capitalized under IFRS

 

     Wassa/HBB     Bogoso/Prestea      TOTAL  

Balance as of December 31, 2010

     12,935        5,558         18,493   

Additions in the three months ended March 31, 2011

     —          —           —     

Amortization of betterment stripping assets

     (1,646     —           (1,646
                         

Balance as of March 31, 2011

     11,289        5,558         16,847   
                         

It is expected that Wassa’s deferred betterment stripping costs will be amortized in 2011 and 2012. Bogoso’s deferred betterment stripping costs are expected to be amortized between 2012 and 2015.

 

  3. Forecasted amounts of required future environmental, reclamation and closure costs are the same under U.S. GAAP and IFRS. However, differences exist in determining the discount rate to be applied to the future costs. Under U.S. GAAP the estimated liability for future reclamation and closure costs of each period’s new environmental disturbances are discounted at the prevailing discount rates in effect during the period of the new disturbance and once the discount rate is applied, it is not revised in subsequent periods. This in effect creates layers of liability for new disturbances incurred in each time period. Under IFRS, at the end of each period the entire pool of all estimated future cash costs for existing disturbances are discounted using the discount rate existing at the end of each period.

 

  4. Under U.S. GAAP, exploration, general and administrative costs related to exploration projects, and incurred prior to completion of a viable feasibility study are charged to expense as incurred. Exploration property acquisition costs are capitalized. For IFRS purposes, exploration, acquisition and direct general and administrative costs related to exploration projects are capitalized into Deferred Exploration once sufficient work has been performed to demonstrate that an exploration asset exists. In each subsequent period, under IFRS, the exploration, engineering, financial and market information for each exploration project is reviewed by management to determine if capitalized exploration costs are impaired. If found impaired, the exploration asset’s cost basis is reduced in accordance with IFRS provisions. Amounts written off in the current year under IFRS, which have previously been expensed under U.S. GAAP, result in an adjustment when reconciling net income for the year.

Deferred Exploration - Consolidated capitalized expenditures on our exploration projects for the period ended March 31, 2011, were as follows:

 

     Deferred
Exploration &
Development
Costs as of
12/31/2010
     Capitalized
Exploration
Expenditures
     Transfer
to Mining
Properties
     Impairments      Other     Deferred
Exploration &
Development
Costs as of
3/31/2011
 

AFRICAN PROJECTS

                

Ghana

   $ 8,048       $ 946       $ —         $ —         $ —        $ 8,994   

Sonfon - Sierra Leone

     4,271         56         —           —           (792     3,535   

Other Africa

     1,018         —           —           —           —          1,018   

SOUTH AMERICAN PROJECTS

                

Saramacca - Suriname

     1,151         —           —           —           —          1,151   

Paul Isnard - French Guiana

     —           —           —           —           —          —     
                                                    

Total

   $ 14,488       $ 1,002       $ —         $ —         $ (792   $ 14,698   
                                                    

 

26


  5. Income tax - The application of U.S. GAAP and IFRS tax accounting is the same for the company. The difference in the tax liability and expense arise from the changes in reported pre-tax income or loss under the different GAAPs as well as the differing treatment of various assets and liabilities.

 

  6. Convertible debentures - Under U.S. GAAP convertible debt is measured at fair value at each reporting date with changes in fair value shown in the statement of operations. Fair value includes the value of the future stream of cash flows from the debt plus the fair value of the option component attached to the debenture. Fair value of the interest and principle is determined by discounting the cash flows at our external cost of funds. Fair value of the option component is determined using a Black-Scholes model. Under IFRS the convertible debentures are separated into a liability and equity component. The fair value of the liability was determined at the origination of the debentures based on discounted cash flows of the future interest and principle, with the residual allocated to the equity portion. The amount of the liability is subsequently accreted through interest expense up to the full $125 million face value over the life of the debentures.

 

  7. Shareholders’ Equity - Differences in Contributed Surplus reflect differences in stock option expense recognition. Under U.S. GAAP the expense for a grant is recognized evenly over the vesting period of the grant. Under IFRS we expense each tranche of a grant evenly over that tranches vesting period.

 

  8. Noncontrolling interest - The application of non-controlling interest accounting is the same under U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The difference in the recognized equity account and related expense arise from the changes in reported income or loss under the different GAAPs.

 

27


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 our Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2010, and with the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the period ended March 31, 2011. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations include information available to May 10, 2011.

OVERVIEW OF GOLDEN STAR

We are a Canadian federally–incorporated, international gold mining and exploration company producing gold in Ghana, West Africa. We also conduct gold exploration in other countries in West Africa and in South America. Golden Star Resources Ltd. was established under the Canada Business Corporations Act on May 15, 1992. Our principal office is located at 10901 West Toller Drive, Suite 300, Littleton, Colorado 80127, and our registered and records offices are located at 333 Bay Street, Bay Adelaide Centre, Box 20, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2T6.

We own controlling interests in several gold properties in southwest Ghana:

 

   

Through a 90% owned subsidiary, Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited (“GSBPL”), we own and operate the Bogoso/Prestea gold mining and processing operations (“Bogoso/Prestea”) located near the town of Bogoso, Ghana. GSBPL operates a gold ore processing facility at Bogoso/Prestea with a capacity of up to 3.5 million tonnes of ore per annum, which uses bio-oxidation technology to treat refractory sulfide ore (“Bogoso sulfide plant”). In addition, GSBPL has a carbon-in-leach (“CIL”) processing facility located next to the sulfide plant, which is suitable for treating oxide gold ores (“Bogoso oxide plant”) at a rate up to 1.5 million tonnes per annum. Bogoso/Prestea produced and sold 170,973 ounces of gold in 2010 and 186,054 ounces of gold in 2009.

 

   

Through another 90% owned subsidiary, Golden Star (Wassa) Limited (“GSWL”), we own and operate the Wassa open-pit gold mine and carbon-in-leach processing plant (“Wassa”), located approximately 35 km east of Bogoso/Prestea. The design capacity of the carbon-in-leach processing plant at Wassa (“Wassa processing plant”) is nominally 3.0 million tonnes per annum but varies depending on the ratio of hard to soft ore. GSWL also owns the Hwini-Butre and Benso concessions (the “HBB properties”) in southwest Ghana. Ore from the HBB mines is sent to Wassa for processing. The Hwini-Butre and Benso concessions are located approximately 80 km and 50 km, respectively, by road south of Wassa. Wassa/HBB produced and sold 183,931 ounces of gold in 2010 and 223,848 ounces of gold in 2009.

We also hold interests in several gold exploration projects in Ghana and elsewhere in West Africa including Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire, and in South America where we hold exploration properties in Brazil.

All our operations, with the exception of certain exploration projects, transact business in U.S. dollars and keep financial records in U.S. dollars. Our accounting records are kept in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our fiscal year ends December 31. We are a reporting issuer or the equivalent in all provinces of Canada, in Ghana and in the United States and file disclosure documents with securities regulatory authorities in Canada and Ghana, and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In this Form 10-Q, we use the terms “total cash cost per ounce” and “cash operating cost per ounce.”

“Cost of sales” as found in our statements of operations, includes all mine-site operating costs, including the costs of mining, processing, maintenance, work-in-process inventory changes, mine-site overhead as well as production taxes, royalties, mine site depreciation, depletion, amortization, asset retirement obligation accretion and by-product credits, but excludes exploration costs, property holding costs, corporate office general and administrative expenses, impairment charges, corporate business development costs, gains and losses on asset sales, interest expense, gains and losses on derivatives, gains and losses on investments and income tax expense/benefit.

“Total cash cost per ounce” for a period is equal to “Cost of sales” for the period less mining related depreciation and amortization costs, accretion of asset retirement obligation costs, costs that meet the definition of Betterment Stripping and operations-related foreign currency gains and losses for the period, divided by the number of ounces of gold sold during the period. “Cash operating cost per ounce” for a period is equal to “Total cash costs” for the period less royalties and production taxes, divided by the number of ounces of gold sold during the period.

 

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The following table shows the derivation of these non-GAAP measures:

 

     For the three months ended
March 31, 2011
 
     Wassa     Bogoso/Prestea     Combined  

Mining operations costs

   $ 40,462      $ 44,507      $ 84,969   

Royalties

     2,236        1,274        3,510   

Costs (to)/from metals inventory

     (139     (2,551     (2,690

Mining related depreciation and amortization

     14,996        6,033        21,029   

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     288        645        933   
                        

Cost of sales – GAAP

   $ 57,843      $ 49,908      $ 107,751   

Less royalties

     (2,236     (1,274     (3,510

Less betterment waste stripping costs

     —          —          —     

Less operations-related foreign exchange (gains)/losses

     35        (64     (29

Less mining related depreciation and amortization

     (14,996     (6,033     (21,029

Less accretion of asset retirement obligations

     (288     (645     (933
                        

Cash operating cost

   $ 40,358      $ 41,892      $ 82,250   
                        

Plus royalties

     2,236        1,274        3,510   
                        

Total cash costs

   $ 42,594      $ 43,166      $ 85,760   
                        

Ounces sold

     53,332        30,576        83,908   

Cost per ounce measures:

      

Cash operating cost per ounce

   $ 757      $ 1,370      $ 980   

Total cash cost per ounce

   $ 799      $ 1,412      $ 1,022   
     For the three months ended
March 31, 2010
 
     Wassa     Bogoso/Prestea     Combined  

Mining operations costs

   $ 27,664      $ 33,251        60,915   

Royalties

     1,795        1,809        3,604   

Costs (to)/from metals inventory

     (65     (847     (912

Mining related depreciation and amortization

     15,869        9,562        25,431   

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     236        364        600   
                        

Cost of sales – GAAP

   $ 45,499      $ 44,139        89,638   

Less royalties

     (1,795     (1,809     (3,604

Less betterment waste stripping costs

     (2,908     —          (2,908

Less operations-related foreign exchange (gains)/losses

     80        (288     (208

Less mining related depreciation and amortization

     (15,869     (9,562     (25,431

Less accretion of asset retirement obligations

     (236     (364     (600
                        

Cash operating cost

   $ 24,771      $ 32,116      $ 56,887   
                        

Plus royalties

     1,795        1,809        3,604   
                        

Total cash costs

   $ 26,566      $ 33,925      $ 60,491   
                        

Ounces sold

     47,029        45,909        92,938   

Cost per ounce measures:

      

Cash operating cost per ounce

   $ 526      $ 700      $ 612   

Total cash cost per ounce

   $ 564      $ 739      $ 651   

 

29


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 periods’ values to detect trends that may indicate increases or decreases in operating efficiencies. These measures are also compared against budget to alert management about 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 in applicable Canadian securities laws and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are material limitations associated with the use of such non-GAAP measures. Since 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, 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 similar to the measures of other gold mining companies, but may not be comparable to similarly titled measures in every instance.

BUSINESS STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT

Our business and development strategy has been focused primarily on the acquisition of producing and development-stage gold properties in Ghana and on the exploration, development and operation of these properties. We also pursue exploration activities in South America and other countries in West Africa.

We acquired the Bogoso property and began operating its mines and CIL processing facility in 1999. In 2001, we acquired the Prestea property located adjacent to the Bogoso property. In late 2002, we acquired Wassa, and constructed the Wassa processing plant, which began commercial operation in April 2005. In July 2007, we completed construction and development of the Bogoso sulfide plant. In late 2005, we acquired the HBB properties consisting of the Benso and Hwini-Butre properties. Benso began sending ore to the Wassa processing plant in 2008. And in 2009, following its development phase, Hwini-Butre began sending ore to the Wassa processing plant.

Our overall objective is to continue the growth of our mining business to become a mid-tier gold producer. We continue to evaluate potential acquisition and merger opportunities that could further increase our annual gold production. However, we presently have no agreement or understanding with respect to any specific potential transaction.

In addition to our gold mining and development activities, we actively explore for gold in West Africa and South America, investing approximately $20 million on such activities during 2010. We are conducting regional reconnaissance projects in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Brazil, and have drilled more advanced targets in Ghana, Niger, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Brazil. See Item 2 – “Description of Properties” of our Form 10-K dated December 31, 2010 for additional details on our assets.

TRENDS AND EVENTS IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011

GOLD PRICES

Gold prices have generally trended upward during the last ten years from a low of $260 per ounce in 2001 to a high of $1,546 per ounce in May 2011. Realized gold prices for our shipments averaged $1,389 per ounce during the first quarter of 2011, up from $1,111 per ounce during the first quarter of 2010.

ROYALTIES

Our minerals royalty rate rose to 5% of gold revenues effective March 31, 2011, in compliance with a change announced by the Government of Ghana. We previously paid a royalty of 3% of gold revenues.

 

30


ADOPTION OF U.S. GAAP IN 2011

Golden Star has, since its inception, reported to security regulators in both Canada and the U.S. using Canadian GAAP financial statements with a footnote reconciliation to U.S. GAAP. However, a change in SEC position in late 2009 required that Canadian companies such as Golden Star, which do not qualify as foreign private issuers, must file their financial statements in the U.S. using U.S. GAAP after 2010. In response we adopted U.S. GAAP as of January 1, 2011 for all subsequent reporting in the U.S., Canada, and Ghana and will also present, in a footnote to our U.S. GAAP financial statements, a reconciliation to international financial reporting standards (“IFRS”). This will be done to facilitate comparison of our financial results to those of other mining companies reporting in IFRS.

MANAGEMENT CHANGES

In early March 2011, Mr. D. Scott Barr, Golden Star’s Chief Operating Officer, resigned as an officer of the Company, but will remain with Golden Star as consulting technical advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

Also in early March 2011, Mr. Sam Coetzer was appointed as Golden Star’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Coetzer has over 24 years of mining management experience with senior international mining companies where much of his career has focused on integrating and streamlining of international mining operations, including large mining operations in Africa.

PURCHASE OF RESIDUAL INTEREST IN PRESTEA UNDERGOUND

During the first quarter of 2011, we paid $2.4 million to a former joint venture partner to purchase their remaining minority interest in the Prestea Underground mine.

STABILIZATION LEVY EXTENSION

In early 2011, the Ghanaian government announced that its stabilization levy, originally scheduled to expire at the end of 2010, would be extended for an additional year. The levy requires certain Ghanaian companies, including all mining companies, to pay a levy equal to 5% of “profits before tax” as disclosed on their statements of operations.

INCREASES IN OPERATING COSTS

The price of several of our operational inputs have increased by material amounts during the past year. Most notably the costs of labor, fuel, electric power, and cyanide have shown significant increases over the past year. These increases are raising cash costs per ounce of gold and have adversely impacted our operating margins.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     For the three months ended
March 31
 
     2011     2010  

SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL RESULTS

    

Gold sales (oz)

     83,908        92,938   

Average realized price ($/oz)

     1,389        1,111   

Gold revenues ($ in thousands)

     116,506        103,264   

Cash flow provided by/(used in) operations ($ in thousands)

     (5,865     21,476   

Net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders ($ in thousands)

     5,928        (9,250

Basic income/(loss) per share attributable to Golden Star Shareholders ($)

     0.023        (0.036

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010

Results for the three months ended March 31, 2011 included net income attributable to Golden Star shareholders (“net income”) of $5.9 million or $0.023 per share, compared with a net loss of $9.3 million or $.036 per share in the same period of 2010. First quarter 2011 gold sales totaled 83,908 ounces, down 10% from 92,938 ounces sold in the same quarter of 2010. The average realized gold price increased to $1,389 per ounce, up 25% from $1,111 in the first quarter of 2010. The gold price increase more than offset the revenue impact of lower ounces, resulting in a $13.2 million increase in sales revenues.

 

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While net income was higher than in the same period of 2010, mine operating margins were lower. Wassa’s ounces were up 13% versus the first quarter of 2010, but Bogoso’s ounces were lower and both mines saw significant increases in cash operating costs as compared to the first quarter of 2010 which contributed to lower operating margins.

An $18.2 million non-cash gain on fair value of debentures was the major factor responsible for the earnings improvement as compared to the first quarter of 2010. The gain was related to a decrease in the fair value of the debenture liability caused by decreases in Golden Star share prices during the first quarter which caused a decrease in the fair value of the debenture’s conversion feature.

While first quarter 2011 consolidated cash operating costs of $82.3 million were up only one percent from $81.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, they were significantly higher than the $56.9 million in the first quarter of 2010. The increase in cash operating costs since early 2010 reflects increasing prices of many of our key operating inputs. These increases include the price of electric power, labor, cyanide, fuel and other reagents used in processing plants. Electric power rates during the first quarter of 2011 are approximately double those of a year ago, and fuel prices are up approximately 34 percent from the first quarter of 2010. See operational discussions below for additional operational details.

Depreciation charges for the quarter were down $4.4 million from the same period in 2010 due to lower ounces sold at Bogoso and also due to the decrease in depreciation and amortization expense per ounce at Bogoso from the increase in gold reserves at the end of 2010.

General and administrative costs totaled $7.1 million for the first three months of 2011, up from $5.0 million in the first quarter 2010. Most of the increase in general and administrative costs was higher consulting fees. Interest expense totaled $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to $2.2 million in the same period of 2010. A $4.5 million unrealized loss was recognized on a fair value adjustment of the gold hedges outstanding at March 31, 2011. The loss was caused by increases in spot gold prices during the first quarter of 2011. There were no realized losses in the first quarter of 2011.

BOGOSO/PRESTEA OPERATIONS

 

     For the three months ended
March 31
 
     2011      2010  

BOGOSO/PRESTEA OPERATING RESULTS

     

Ore mined refractory (t)

     694,757         796,953   

Ore mined non-refractory

     187         —     
                 

Total ore mined (t)

     694,944         796,953   

Waste mined (t)

     4,089,219         3,964,648   

Refractory ore processed (t)

     721,228         680,910   

Refractory ore grade (g/t)

     2.46         2.98   

Gold recovery – refractory ore (%)

     61.0         72.1   

Non-refractory ore processed (t)

     —           —     

Non-refractory ore grade (g/t)

     —           —     

Gold recovery - non-refactory ore (%)

     —           —     

Gold sales (oz)

     30,576         45,909   

Total cash cost ($/oz)

     1,412         739   

Royalties ($/oz)

     42         39   
                 

Cash operating cost ($/oz)

     1,370         700   

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010

Bogoso/Prestea’s first quarter 2011 revenues totaled $42.5 million, down $8.5 million from $51.0 million in the first quarter of 2010. The decrease was based on a drop in the number of ounces sold, but this was partially offset by higher gold prices. First quarter realized average gold price rose to $1,390 per ounce, up from $1,111 per ounce a year earlier. Bogoso’s sales decreased to 30,576 ounces in the first quarter of 2011, a 33% drop from the 45,909 ounces in the first quarter of 2010. Decreases in tonnes processed, plant feed grade and gold recovery contributed to the drop in ounces sold.

 

32


The decrease in grade and recovery reflects a change in ore source. In the first quarter of 2010, Bogoso’s main feed source was fresh ore from deep in the Buesichem pit, but mining was completed at the Buesichem pit in mid-2010 and subsequently Bogoso moved its mining fleet to new pits where ore grades have been lower than at Buesichem. Furthermore, start-up of mining at the new pits requires mining through the partially oxidized caps found at shallow depths over the new ore bodies, which typically yield lower gold recoveries than found in fresher, deeper ore.

Geologic drill data indicates that fresher ore is expected at deeper levels in the new Bogoso pits and during 2011, as mining progresses deeper into the new pits, improvement in gold recovery rates is expected. As in the first quarter of 2010, there was no oxide ore processed at the Bogoso oxide plant in the first quarter of 2011.

While Bogoso’s first quarter 2011 cash operating costs of $41.9 million were down 2% from $42.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, they were higher than the $32.1 million in the first quarter of 2010. Increases in the price of electric power, fuel, cyanide and labor since the first quarter of 2010 were major factors in the increase. Bogoso also saw higher maintenance costs than a year earlier.

A decrease in ounces sold and higher cash operating costs resulted in cash operating costs per ounce of $1,370, up from $700 in the first quarter of 2010. Bogoso’s royalty costs were lower than a year earlier because less ounces were sold. The drop in ounces sold also contributed to lower units-of-production amortization expense, as did an increase in gold reserves at the end of 2010.

Management is actively working to improve mining efficiencies at Bogoso to achieve reductions in unit costs. Projects currently underway include employment of a team of mining efficiency consultants, re-evaluation of pit sequencing and evaluation of mine planning practices and execution.

Efforts are underway to restart mining ore at the Pampe oxide property near Bogoso by early 2012 and we are seeking permits to move forward with the Bogoso tailings recovery project which will also provide oxide ore to Bogoso. Historically Bogoso oxide ore

is less expensive to process and yield better gold recovery rates than the sulfide ore and is expected to contribute to lower average cash operating costs per ounce sold.

In March 2011, GSBPL provided $12 million of reclamation bonding to the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to cover backfilling of the Plant North pit at Prestea which we mined from 2003 to 2006. The bonding requirements were met by $1.2 million cash deposit and a $10.8 million letter of credit from a commercial bank. We expect that the backfilling will be completed prior to the end of 2011 and that the EPA will release the bonding requirement and cash collateral prior to the end of 2011.

WASSA OPERATIONS

 

     March 31  
     2011      2010  

WASSA/HBB OPERATING RESULTS

     

Ore mined (t)

     703,056         575,903   

Waste mined (t)

     4,114,991         5,200,872   

Ore and heap leach materials processed (t)

     723,770         630,755   

Grade processed (g/t)

     2.33         2.41   

Recovery (%)

     95.2         95.1   

Gold sales (oz)

     53,332         47,029   

Total cash cost ($/oz)

     799         564   

Royalties ($/oz)

     42         38   
                 

Cash operating cost ($/oz)

     757         526   

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010

Wassa sold 53,332 ounces in the first quarter of 2011, up 13% from 47,029 ounces in the first quarter of 2010. The increase in ounces sold combined with higher average gold prices yielded revenues of $74.0 million for the quarter, up 41% from $52.3 million in the same quarter of 2010. Wassa’s first quarter 2011 realized gold price averaged $1,388 per ounce, up from $1,112 per ounce a year earlier.

Wassa processed 15% more tonnes of ore during the first quarter of 2011 than it did in the same period of 2010, reflecting an expanded mining capacity as contract mining came on line in late 2010. While plant feed grades decreased from 2.41 g/t in the first quarter of 2010 to 2.33 g/t in the current quarter, higher processing rates at the Wassa plant more than offset this, resulting in the increase in gold output and sales as compared to the first quarter of 2010. Ore grades fell as mining proceeded into lower grade areas of the Wassa/HBB ore bodies.

Cash operating costs totaled $40.4 million in the first quarter of 2010, up from $38.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 and from $24.8 million in the first quarter of 2010. Increases in the price of electric power, fuel, cyanide, labor and maintenance contributed to higher operating costs. While ounces sold were higher than in the first quarter of 2010, higher cash operating costs resulted in a cash operating cost per ounce of $757, as compared to $526 per ounce in the same quarter of 2010.

 

33


As at Bogoso, Wassa is now re-evaluating its mining programs to identify and achieve cost reductions and efficiency improvements.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

PRESTEA SOUTH PROPERTIES

We received mining permits for Prestea South in 2008 and continue to work on the environmental permits. We expect to initiate development at Prestea South, including its 10 kilometer haul road extension, once the environmental permit is received. The Prestea South oxide ore will be transported to Bogoso and processed through the Bogoso oxide plant. The Prestea South sulfide ore will be processed through the Bogoso sulfide plant. The Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) requested an update to the Prestea South Project Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) and a draft EIS was submitted to the EPA in April 2011.

TAILINGS RECOVERY

In 2010, $8 million was approved for construction of a hydraulic tailings recovery system and associated piping that will feed tailings from a decommissioned tailings storage facility directly to the Bogoso oxide plant’s CIL circuit. The project is expected to come online in late 2011 or early 2012, subject to permitting. A draft EIS was submitted to the EPA in the first quarter of 2011 and we are waiting for the EPA’s comments before finalizing the EIS.

While the grade of the tailings material is lower than the ores typically treated in the Bogoso oxide plant, the operating costs are expected to be low since reclaimed tailings can be fed directly into the existing CIL circuit thereby resulting in lower overall processing costs. As a stand-alone feed source, the tailings recovery system is designed to move up to 2.4 million tonnes of tailings per annum over a five year life which would yield approximately 40,000 to 50,000 additional ounces per year, but it is expected that this material will be a supplemental feed blended with oxide ores mined from Pampe and Prestea South, once these mines are brought on line. Engineering and equipment procurement are now well underway and we expect construction to begin immediately upon receipt of permits.

EXPLORATION

We expect to spend approximately $20 to $25 million on exploration efforts in 2011. The expenditure forecast is down from the 2011 approved budget of $30 million due to the late arrival of additional drill rigs which are now expected in the second half of 2011.

During the first quarter we utilized seven drill rigs to drill in and around our active mine sites. Drilling near the Bogoso/Prestea processing plant concentrated on the Buesichem South and Bogoso North open pits. At Wassa our drilling efforts focused on new targets along the Wassa to Hwini-Butre haul road and will shift to the main pits at Wassa and to the Father Brown pit at Hwini-Butre during the second quarter of 2011.

Exploration efforts in Cote d’Ivoire have been put on hold following security issues resulting from a recent disputed national election.

Additional drilling is planned at the Sonfon project in Sierra Leone in the second half of 2011.

We plan to ramp up exploration activities at the Iriri joint venture with Votorantim Metals during the second quarter of 2011. Exploration efforts in Brazil have thus far included wide spaced soil sampling and regional stream sampling.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

During the first quarter of 2011 our cash and cash equivalents decreased by $26.4 million, to $151.7 million at March 31, 2011. Of the $26.4 million decrease, $17.9 million was used in investing activities, including $6.4 million on mining property development projects, $2.4 million to purchase a residual minority interest in the Prestea Underground and $9.1 million for the acquisition of new equipment and facilities at the mine sites.

Operations provided $14.8 million of cash flow before working capital changes in the first quarter of 2011. Lower gold sales at Bogoso and increases in the price of operational inputs at both mines contributed to the reduction as compared to the same period in 2010. In addition $3.2 million of cash was used during the quarter backfilling the old Plant North pit at Prestea which was mined between 2003 and 2006.

Debt and lease payments used $2.8 million during the first quarter of 2011. Payments on our equipment financing facility reduced the outstanding balance to $13.6 million at March 31, 2011, with available credit of $21.4 million. During the first quarter of 2011 all of our cash was held as cash or was invested in funds that held only U.S. treasury notes and bonds.

 

34


LIQUIDITY OUTLOOK

We expect that project development costs, equipment purchases and capital investments will continue to use cash during the remainder of 2011 in amounts that exceed 2010 levels. We plan to use approximately $100 million for capital projects during 2011. This total is expected to include $38 million of mine property development, $20 million of mine site drilling and approximately $42 million for equipment and facilities. In addition we expect to spend approximately $23 million on reclamation projects during the balance of 2011, most of which is related to the back filling and reclamation of the old plant North pit and associated dumps.

We maintain a $40.5 million revolving line of credit and have an additional $21.4 million of borrowing capacity under our equipment financing credit facility. During 2011, we expect to pay $8.2 million of principal and interest on our equipment financing facility, $5.0 million of interest payments on the convertible debentures and $2.8 million in interest and principal of our capital leases.

We expect that our operating cash flow in 2011, along with cash on hand, the revolving credit facility and equipment financing facility, will be sufficient to cover capital and operating needs during 2011.

Scheduled payments on outstanding debt as of March 31, 2011:

 

Liabilities

   Nine Months
2011
     2012      2013      2014      2015      Maturity  

Equipment financing loans

                 

principal

   $ 5,229       $ 4,914       $ 2,991       $ 697       $ —           2010 to 2014   

interest

     659         468         164         17         —        

Capital leases

                 

principal

     2,239         224         —           —           —           Feb 28, 2012   

interest

     105         2         —           —           —        

Revolving credit facility

                 

principal

     —           —           —           —           —           Sep 30, 2012   

interest

     —           —           —           —           —        

Convertible debentures

                 

principal

     —           125,000         —           —           —           Nov 30, 2012   

interest

     5,000         5,000         —           —           —        
                                               

Total

   $ 13,232       $ 135,608       $ 3,155       $ 714       $ —        
                                               

LOOKING AHEAD

Our main objectives for the remainder of 2011 are:

 

   

Reassessment and review of the Bogoso mine operations including review of capital expenditures;

 

   

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

 

   

Optimize and stabilize ore feed at Bogoso to improve throughput, metallurgical recoveries and resultant gold production;

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

Finalization of the permitting and development of the Prestea South project; and

 

   

Advance the development of the Prestea Underground Project.

The following guidance reflects current expectations of performance at the Bogoso and Wassa mines.

 

     Q2 2011      Q3 2011      Q4 2011      2011 Total  

Bogoso

           

Ounces

     38,000         45,000         47,000         160,576   

Average cash operating cost per ounce

   $ 1,000       $ 1,025       $ 1,025       $ 1,085   

Wassa

           

Ounces

     40,000         40,000         45,000         178,332   

Average cash operating cost per ounce

   $ 800       $ 730       $ 650       $ 735   

Consolidated

           

Ounces

     78,000         85,000         92,000         338,908   

Average cash operating cost per ounce

   $ 900       $ 885       $ 840       $ 900   

The guidance will be reviewed following completion of the Bogoso operational reassessment study to reflect the impact of any changes implemented as a result of the study.

Notes:

 

  1. Production guidance at Bogoso/Prestea only includes Bogoso sulfide mill.

 

  2. Compared to previous guidance this guidance is at the lower end of production guidance and cost guidance is an increase of $30 per ounce.

 

  3. Costs at Bogoso/Prestea include extra stripping required to recover the mining sequence.

 

  4. Power and fuel prices used in the forecast are unchanged from present at $0.15 per kilowatt-hour and $1.30 per liter, respectively.

 

  5. Costs at Bogoso include approximately $10 million of stripping, of which $7 million or $75 per ounce for the second half of the year, will be expensed. The remaining $3 million or $33 per ounce will be capitalized.

As more fully disclosed in the Risk Factors in Item 1A of this Form 10-Q, 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.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS

In the various jurisdictions where we operate, all phases of our exploration, project development, and operations are subject to environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations may define, among other things, air and water quality standards, waste management requirements, and closure and rehabilitation obligations. In general, environmental legislation is evolving to

 

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require more strict operating standards, more detailed socioeconomic and environmental impact assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors, and employees for corporate social responsibility, and health and safety. Changes in environmental regulations, and the way they are interpreted by the regulatory authorities, could affect the way we operate, resulting in higher environmental and social operating costs that may affect the viability of our operations.

We note a continuing trend toward substantially increasing environmental requirements and greater corporate social responsibility expectations in Ghana. This includes the need for more permits, analysis, data gathering, community hearings and negotiations than have been required in the past to resolve both routine operational needs and for new development projects. In Ghana, the trend to longer lead times in obtaining environmental permits has continued such that we are no longer able to estimate permitting times. These increases in permitting requirements could affect our environmental management activities including but not limited to tailings disposal facilities and water management projects at our mines.

Our mining, processing, development and mineral exploration activities are subject to various laws governing prospecting, development, production, taxes, labor standards, occupational health and safety, land claims of local people and other matters. New rules and regulations may be enacted or existing rules and regulations may be modified and applied in a manner that could have an adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We have no off balance sheet arrangements.

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA

This “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” includes information available to May 10, 2011. As of May 9, 2011, we had outstanding 258,559,486 common shares, options to acquire 8,355,772 common shares, and convertible debentures which are convertible into 25,000,000 common shares.

 

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 debt, changes in foreign currency exchange rates and commodity price fluctuations.

INTEREST RATE RISK

Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. Our convertible senior unsecured debentures and the outstanding loans under our equipment financing facility bear interest at a fixed rate and do not subject us to changes in future interest payments. Our revolving credit facility has a variable interest rate of the higher of the applicable lender’s cost of funds (capped at 1.25% per annum above LIBOR) and LIBOR plus a margin of 5%. As of March 31, 2011, we had a nil balance outstanding on this facility. 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.

FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE RISK

Currency risk is risk that the fair value of future cash flows will fluctuate because of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, the value of cash and cash equivalents and other financial assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies can fluctuate with changes in currency exchange rates.

Since our revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars and our operating units transact much of their business in U.S. dollars, we are typically not subject to significant impacts from currency fluctuations. Even thus, certain purchases of labor, operating supplies and capital assets are denominated in Ghana cedis, Euros, British pounds, Australian dollars and South African rand. To accommodate these purchases, we maintain operating cash accounts in non–U.S. dollar currencies and appreciation of these non–U.S. dollar currencies against the U.S. dollar results in a foreign currency gain and a decrease in non–U.S. dollar currencies results in a loss. In the past we have entered into forward purchase contracts for South African rand, Euros and other currencies to hedge expected purchase costs of capital assets. During 2010 and 2009 we had no currency related derivatives. At December 31, 2010, and March 31, 2011, we held $9.4 million and $10.2 million, respectively, of foreign currency.

 

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COMMODITY PRICE RISK

Gold is our primary product and changes in the price of gold can significantly affect our results of operations and cash flows. Based on our expected gold production in 2011, a $10 per ounce change in gold price would result in a $3 to $4 million change in our sales revenues and operating cash flows. To reduce gold price volatility, we have at various times used gold price derivatives. We do not perform the assessments required to achieve hedge accounting for commodity derivative positions. Accordingly, the changes in the values of these derivatives are recorded currently in cost of sales in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

We held no gold price derivatives as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. In January 2011, we entered into a series of put and call contracts covering 76,800 ounces of future gold production between February and December 2011. The contracts are spread evenly in each week over this period and are structured as cashless collars with a floor of $1,200 per ounce and a cap of $1,457 per ounce. As of March 31, 2011, contracts covering 64,000 ounces of gold were outstanding. In early February 2011, we entered into a second set of put and call contracts covering 75,200 ounces of future gold production between February and December 2011. The contacts are spread evenly in each week during this period and are structured as cashless collars with a floor of $1,200 per ounce and a cap of $1,503 per ounce. As of March 31, 2011, 64,000 of these were still outstanding. The puts were purchased to temporarily establish a fixed gold price for the output of one of our mines which is experiencing a period of higher than typical operating costs during the development phase of its new pit. The calls were sold to provide funding for purchase of the puts. Additional information about our gold price derivative activity can be found in Note 6 of our financial statements.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

During the fiscal period covered by this report, the Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

This Form 10-Q was prepared with the assistance of, and approval by our Disclosure Committee prior to its filing with securities regulators in the U.S., Canada and Ghana. Our Disclosure Committee includes a broad cross-section of Company employees who are closely associated with and knowledgeable about the Company’s operations and its engineering, exploration, legal, environmental, socio-economic and financial activities. Our Form 10-Qs and 10-Ks, are also reviewed by our Audit Committee which, prior to filing, meets with senior management to review the documents. Subsequent to its review, the Audit Committee forwards the documents to the Board of Directors with recommendation that the directors approve the document for filing with securities regulators and distribution to shareholders.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are engaged in routine litigation incidental to our business, none of which is deemed to be material. No material legal proceedings, involving us or our business are pending, or, to our knowledge, contemplated, by any governmental authority.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The risk factors for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 are substantially the same as those disclosed and discussed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None

 

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ITEM 4. [REMOVED AND RESERVED]

 

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. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
  32.2    Certificate of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
101    The following financial statements, formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010; and (iv) Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text. The information in Exhibit 101 is “furnished” and not “filed,” as provided in Rule 402 of Regulation S-T.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned.

 

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.

Registrant

By:   /s/    THOMAS G. MAIR        
  Thomas G. Mair
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  Date: May 10, 2011
By:   /s/    JOHN A. LABATE        
  John A. Labate
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  Date: May 10, 2011

 

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