Shore Gold Inc. (TSX: SGF) ("Shore" or the "Company") reports that the unaudited results of Shore's operations for the quarter ended September 30, 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.
The Company performed a core drilling program, to further expand the internal stratigraphy of the Orion South and Star Kimberlites extending and in-filling geological continuity from the 2015 drilling programs. During the first quarter of 2016, Shore announced the completion of five holes, totaling 1,257.97 metres of drilling, on the Star West portion 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 also announced the completion of the core drilling on the western margin of Orion South, which consisted of eight holes and totaling 1,592.75 metres of drilling (See SGF News Release dated July 19, 2016). During the third quarter of 2016, Shore announced that it has successfully completed significant aspects of geotechnical investigations and other test work on the Project (See SGF News Release dated September 26, 2016).
Quarterly Results
For the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded a net loss of $1.1 million or $0.00 per share compared to a net loss of $2.0 million or $0.01 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 incurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2016 were lower than the same period in the previous year primarily due to lower exploration and evaluation expenditures incurred.
Year to Date Results
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded a net loss of $4.4 million or $0.02 per share compared to a net loss of $7.7 million or $0.03 per share for the same period in 2015. The losses were primarily due to ongoing 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 incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were lower than the same period in the previous year primarily as a result of lower exploration and evaluation expenditures incurred.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the Company completed a private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.0 million (see SGF News Release dated September 21, 2016). In addition, the Company recently completed a private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $2.5 million (see SGF News Release dated November 9, 2016).
Selected financial highlights include:
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position | As at September 30, 2016 | As at December 31, 2015 |
| Current assets | $ 1.8 M | $ 4.3 M |
| Capital and other assets | 1.5 M | 1.7 M |
| Current liabilities | 0.3 M | 0.3 M |
| Premium on flow-through shares | 0.1 M | 0.5 M |
| Long-term liabilities | 0.6 M | 0.6 M |
| Shareholders' equity | 2.3 M | 4.6 M |
| Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss | Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Interest and other income | $ 0.0 M | $ 0.0 M | $ 0.0 M | $ 0.0 M |
| Expenses | 1.2 M | 2.0 M | 4.8 M | 7.7 M |
| Flow-through premium recognized in income | 0.1 M | 0.0 M | 0.4 M | 0.0 M |
| Net and comprehensive loss for the period | (1.1) M | (2.0) M | (4.4) M | (7.7) M |
| Net loss per share for the period (basic and diluted) | (0.00) | (0.01) | (0.02) | (0.03) |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Cash flows from operating activities | $ (3.7) M | $ (6.9) M |
| Cash flows from investing activities | 0.1 M | 0.0 M |
| Cash flows from financing activities | 1.0 M | 2.1 M |
| Net decrease in cash | (2.6) M | (4.8) M |
| Cash – beginning of period | 4.0 M | 5.6 M |
| Cash – end of period | 1.4 M | 0.8 M |
Outlook
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 updated Feasibility Study can positively change the economic model for the Project by increasing the Mineral Reserve 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 November 10, 2016, the Company had approximately $3.6 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 2016 programs as well as advance certain aspects of the Project, including work required for an updated Feasibility Study, the environmental assessment process, as well as for general corporate matters.
Source: Shore Gold
