27.03.2007 16:12:00
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Golden Star Accelerates Exercise of Paul Isnard Option
Golden Star Resources Ltd. (AMEX: GSS) (TSX: GSC) today announced it has
entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU”)
with EURO Ressources S.A. ("EURO”),
the main purpose of which is to restructure the 2004 Paul Isnard Option
Agreement and provide the framework for the repayment of the approximate
$3.5 million of debt and accrued interest owed to Golden Star.
Additionally, Golden Star has granted EURO an option to purchase the "Additional
Payment Rights” attached to the Rosebel
Participation Right which was sold to EURO in 2004.
The MOU is subject to the approval of the boards of directors of both
companies and, where required, to the completion of definitive
documentation.
Bruce Higson-Smith, Vice President Corporate Development, said, "We
are pleased to negotiate greater certainty for our rights in the Paul
Isnard properties, the divestment of non-core Rosebel Additional Payment
Rights, and the framework for the repayment by EURO of the outstanding
debt and accrued interest owed by it to Golden Star. The sale of
non-core assets and the debt and interest repayment could realize more
than $7.5 million to Golden Star over the next few months.” "In addition,”
continued Mr. Higson-Smith, "we are excited
to be moving forward with the advancement of the Paul Isnard properties
in French Guiana, the mineral potential of which is significant. Our
Board of Directors has approved approximately $2.0 million of work
including the commencement of a feasibility study in 2007 and we expect
to award this project in the next few weeks.” PAUL ISNARD
Under the terms of the 2004 Paul Isnard Option agreement, Golden Star
could acquire 100% of the Paul Isnard properties, which incorporates
eight mining leases and a number of exploration permits in French Guiana
by spending $2.0 million and delivering a feasibility study by September
2007. In addition, Golden Star had agreed to set off $8.5 million of
long term debt owed to Golden Star by EURO as a result of the
restructuring of EURO in 2004.
The MOU that the parties negotiated allows Golden Star to exercise the
option without first completing the feasibility study and reduces the
expenditure requirement to about $1.6 million. Golden Star has, however,
covenanted to do a feasibility study within 12 months of the signing of
the MOU, or by March 2008 and, if feasible, commence commercial
production within 30 months of the signing of the MOU, or about
September 2009. We have also modified the terms of the royalty so that
EURO will receive 10% of the incremental revenue from the project above
a $400 per ounce Gold price, for the first 2 million ounces of future
production, rather than the net smelter royalty of about 2% previously
agreed. For gold production in excess of 2 million ounces and up to a
cap of 5 million ounces, the royalty will reduce to 5% of the
incremental revenue above a $400 per ounce gold price.
Previous resource estimation work to NI 43-101 standards carried out by
RSG Global (now Coffey International) on the Paul Isnard properties in
2003 resulted in an unconstrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 43
million tonnes grading 1.7 grams per tonne (g/t), assuming a cut-off
grade of 1 g/t. In 2006, RSG Global updated the resource estimate for
one of the deposits on the Paul Isnard properties. This work estimated
an Inferred Mineral Resource of 10.2 million tonnes grading 1.7 g/t
constrained within a $560 per ounce of gold optimized pit, further
details of which are set out in our most recent Form 10-K filing.
ROSEBEL ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION RIGHTS
The MOU also gives EURO the option to purchase, for $4.15 million in
cash by June 30, 2007, certain Additional Payment Rights connected with
the Participation Right that EURO holds in IAMGold’s
Rosebel mine. The holder of the Additional Participation Rights is
entitled to payments of $2.50 per ounce of production from the Rosebel
mine for production between 2 million and 4 million ounces and $5.00 per
ounce from 4 million to 7 million ounces. The option granted to EURO can
be extended through to December 31, 2007 at a cost of $250,000 per
quarter.
DEBT REPAYMENT
In addition, the MOU sets out a framework and timeline for the repayment
by EURO of approximately $3.5 million of debt and accumulated interest
that EURO owes to Golden Star.
COMPANY PROFILE
Golden Star holds a 90% equity interest in the Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa
open-pit gold mines in Ghana. In addition, Golden Star has an 81%
interest in the currently inactive Prestea Underground mine in Ghana, as
well as gold exploration interests elsewhere in Ghana, in other parts of
West Africa and in the Guiana Shield of South America.
Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Some
statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are
inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially. Such statements include
comments regarding the $3.5 million receivable and the Additional
Payment Rights on Gross Rosebel gold production, both payable by EURO.
Factors that may cause future results or events to differ materially are
adverse changes to the financial condition of EURO, the inability or
failure of EURO to pay to Golden Star the receivable or the royalty, the
failure of the Rosebel mine to produce gold with respect to which a
royalty payment is due to EURO, the failure of IAMGold to pay
royalties on Gross Rosebel production to EURO, and the results of
exploration on the Paul Isnard properties. There can be no assurance
that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated
by management. Please refer to the discussion of risk factors in our
Form 10-K for 2006. Cautionary Note to US Investors Concerning Estimates of Inferred
Mineral Resources This press release uses the term "inferred
mineral resources.” We advise US
investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian
regulations, the US Securities and Exchange Commission does not
recognize it. "Inferred mineral
resources” have a great amount of uncertainty
as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and
legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of
an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral
resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. US investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of the
inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
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