Stock Symbol: SGF: TSX
SASKATOON, May 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Shore Gold Inc. ("Shore"
or the "Company") reports that the unaudited results of Shore's
operations for the quarter ended March 31,
2016 will be filed today on SEDAR and may be viewed at
www.sedar.com once posted. A summary of key financial and operating
results for the quarter is as follows:
Overview
The Company's Star – Orion South Diamond
Project ("Project") is situated in the Fort à la Corne kimberlite
field in central Saskatchewan. The
Project includes the 100 percent Shore owned Star Diamond Project,
as well as Star West and the Orion South Kimberlite, which fall
within the adjacent Fort à la Corne Joint
Venture ("FALC-JV"). Shore has a 69 percent interest in the
FALC-JV and Newmont Canada FN Holdings ULC ("Newmont") has a 31
percent interest.
During the first quarter of 2016, the Company announced the
commencement of the 2016 core drilling programs (See SGF News
Release dated February 23, 2016).
This core drilling is required to further expand the internal
stratigraphy of the Orion South and Star Kimberlites extending and
in-filling geological continuity from the 2015 drilling programs.
Shore recently announced that it has completed the NQ (48
millimetre) core drilling on the Star West potion of the Star
Kimberlite located within the claims of the FALC-JV (See SGF News
Release dated March 29, 2016). This
drilling on Star West aimed to delineate the extent of all
kimberlite units, particularly the lower unit, which is high value
Cantuar kimberlite. The Company will also carry out a 2016 drilling
program on Orion South. Concurrent with the drilling on Star West,
four core holes were completed in untested areas of the kimberlites
K606 (2 holes) and K614 (2 holes), located within the Snowden claims of the FALC-JV. This core
drilling will provide a better understanding of the internal
structure of these kimberlites.
Results
For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded a net loss
of $1.4 million or $0.01 per share compared to a net loss of
$1.2 million or $0.00 per share for the same period in 2015. The
losses during these quarters were due to operating costs and
exploration and evaluation expenditures incurred by the Company
exceeding interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents and
short-term investments. Losses during the three months ended
March 31, 2016 were higher than the
same period in the previous year primarily due to expenditures
incurred relating to the 2016 drilling program.
The Company issued flow-through shares during 2015 for a premium
over the market value of the shares. The premium over the market
value of the shares is recognized as a liability until such time as
the Company incurs qualifying exploration expenditures. As the
Company incurs qualifying expenditures, the liability to the
investor is satisfied and accordingly the premium received on the
initial issue of share capital is recognized in income. As at
March 31, 2016 this premium was
$0.3 million (December 31, 2015 - $0.5
million).
Selected financial highlights include:
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
|
As
at
March
31,
2016
|
As
at
December
31,
2015
|
Current
assets
|
$
3.1 M
|
$
4.3 M
|
Capital and other
assets
|
1.7
M
|
1.7
M
|
Current
liabilities
|
0.5
M
|
0.3
M
|
Premium on
flow-through shares
|
0.3
M
|
0.5
M
|
Long-term
liabilities
|
0.6
M
|
0.6
M
|
Shareholders'
equity
|
3.4
M
|
4.6
M
|
Consolidated
Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss
|
For
the
Quarter
Ended
March
31,
2016
|
For
the
Quarter
Ended
March
31,
2015
|
Interest and other
income
|
$
0.0 M
|
$
0.0 M
|
Expenses
|
1.6
M
|
1.2
M
|
Flow-through premium
recognized in income
|
0.2
M
|
0.0
M
|
Net and comprehensive
loss for the period
|
(1.4)
M
|
(1.2)
M
|
Net loss per share
for the period (basic and diluted)
|
(0.01)
|
(0.00)
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
|
For
the
Quarter
Ended
March
31,
2016
|
For
the
Quarter
Ended
March
31,
2015
|
Cash flows from
operating activities
|
$ (1.4)
M
|
$ (1.0)
M
|
Cash flows from
investing and financing activities
|
0.0
M
|
0.0
M
|
Net decrease in
cash
|
(1.4) M
|
(1.0) M
|
Cash – beginning of
period
|
4.0
M
|
5.6
M
|
Cash – end of
period
|
2.6
M
|
4.6
M
|
Outlook
The additional exploration and evaluation
carried out during 2015 were steps required for the recently
completed Revised Mineral Resource estimates on the Orion South and
Star Kimberlites. The 2016 core drilling programs are required to
further expand the internal stratigraphy of the Orion South and
Star Kimberlites extending and in-filling geological continuity
from the successful programs of 2015. The Company intends to update
the previous Feasibility Study with a revised mine plan, where new
technology is applied to more efficiently remove the sand and clay
of the overburden, in addition to the application of new technology
in the processing plant. Preliminary calculations suggest that such
an optimised Feasibility Study, with a new mine plan, can
positively change the economic model for the Project by increasing
the Mineral Resource estimate and reducing the pre-production
capital costs and schedule to diamond production.
In addition, the Company is proceeding with the environmental
assessment process and is continuing to seek opportunities for
development capital through participation in the Project by a third
party or a syndicate of investors.
As of May 3, 2016, the Company had
approximately $2.1 million in cash
and cash equivalents and short-term investments (excluding
$1.0 million in restricted cash). A
portion of the Company's cash and cash equivalents and short-term
investments will be used to complete the recently announced core
drilling programs as well as advance certain aspects of the
Project, including the environmental assessment process, as well as
for general corporate matters.
Caution Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour"
provisions of Canadian securities legislation and the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "may,"
"could," "should," "would," "suspect," "outlook," "believe,"
"plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," and words and
expressions of similar import are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, and, in particular, statements
regarding Shore's future operations, future exploration and
development activities or other development plans contain
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news
release include, but are not limited to, statements related to the
Feasibility Study; statements relating to mineral resources and/or
reserves; statements related to the approval of the development of
the Star - Orion South Diamond Project; statements relating to
future development of the Star - Orion South Diamond Project and
associated timelines; the environmental assessment and permitting
process; the Company's intention to seek developmental capital
though participation by a third party or syndicate of investors;
Shore's objectives for the ensuing year, including the drill
programs and the re-optimisation of the open pit, the optimisation
of the Feasibility Study and the anticipated positive change in the
economic model for the Project.
These forward-looking statements are based on Shore's current
beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently
available to it and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both
general and specific. Risks exist that forward-looking
statements will not be achieved due to a number of factors
including, but not limited to, developments in world diamond
markets, changes in diamond valuations, risks relating to
fluctuations in the Canadian dollar and other currencies relative
to the US dollar, changes in exploration, development or mining
plans due to exploration results and changing budget priorities of
Shore or its contractual partners, the effects of competition in
the markets in which Shore operates, the impact of changes in the
laws and regulations regulating mining exploration and development,
judicial or regulatory judgments and legal proceedings, operational
and infrastructure risks and the additional risks described in
Shore's most recently filed Annual Information Form, annual and
interim MD&A, news releases and technical reports.
Shore's anticipation of and success in managing the foregoing risks
could cause actual results to differ materially from what is
anticipated in such forward-looking statements.
Although management considers the assumptions contained in
forward-looking statements to be reasonable based on information
currently available to it, those assumptions may prove to be
incorrect. When making decisions with respect to Shore,
investors and others should not place undue reliance on these
statements and should carefully consider the foregoing factors and
other uncertainties and potential events. Unless required by
applicable securities law, Shore does not undertake to update any
forward-looking statement that may be made.
SOURCE Shore Gold Inc.