Shore GOLD Inc. Announces Second Quarter Results
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NEWS RELEASE August 10, 2017
Stock Symbol: SGF: TSX Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
SHORE GOLD INC. ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
Shore Gold Inc. (“Shore” or the “Company”) reports that the unaudited results of Shore’s operations for the quarter
ended June 30, 2017 will be filed today on SEDAR and may be viewed at www.sedar.com once post ed. A
summary of key financial and operating results for the quarter is as follows:
Highlights
- Announced the consolidation of the Fort à la Corne mineral properties (including the Star - Orion South
Diamond Project ), resulting in Shore holding a 100% interest with Newmont Canada FN Holdings ULC
(“Newmont”) increasing its interest to a 19.9% shareholder of the Company;
- Announced the concurrent Option to Joint Venture A greement with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc.
(“RTEC”) for the Fort à la Corne mineral properties (including the Star - Orion South Diamond Project);
- Announced the related closing of a subscription by RTEC for 5.6 million Common Shares and 5.6 million
Common Share purchase warrants for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.0 million;
- Working capital of $1.4 million at June 30, 2017;
- Issued and outstanding shares of 356,365,557 at June 30, 2017
Overview
Shore Gold Inc. is a Canadian natural resource company focused on exploring and developing Saskatchewan's
diamond resources. The Company, as a result of the recent mineral property consolidation and earn -in agreement
(as discussed below), is now in an enhanced position to advance its 100% held Star - Orion South Diamond Project
(“Project”), which is situated in the Fort à la Corne kimberlite field in central Saskatchewan. Indicated Mineral
Resources for the Project are 55.4 million carats (see SGF News Release dated November 9, 2015 and Technical
Report filed December 21, 2015). In addition to the Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate, the Star and Orion South
Kimberlites include Inferred Resources containing 11.5 million carats.
Consolidation of the Fort à la Corne mineral properties and Option to Joint Venture
During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, Shore Gold announced that it has acquired (the "Newmont Acquisition")
all of Newmont's participating interest in the Fort à la Corne joint venture (the "FalC JV"), resulting in Shore
owning 100% of the of the Fort à la Corne mineral properties (including the Project), and has concurrently entered
into an Option to Joint Venture Agreement (the "Option Agreement") with RTEC pursuant to which the Company
has granted RTEC an option to earn up to a 60% interest in the Fort à la Corne mineral properties (including the
Project) on the terms and conditions contained in the Option Agreement (see SGF News Release dated June 23,
2017). Immediately after the closing of the Newmont Acquisition and issuance of common shares, Newmont he ld
approximately 19.9% of the common shares issued and outstanding on a non-diluted basis.
Activities relating to the Star - Orion South Diamond Project
During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company performed geotechnical investigations, assessme nts and
test work required for an updated feasibility study on the Project. The work completed included: X -ray
Transmission (“XRT”) recovery of diamonds from Star pyroclastic kimberlite, ore processing data review,
diamond parcel characterization, kimberlite particle size analysis and overburden removal investigations (See SGF
News Release dated March 6, 2017). These programs investigate the use of new technology for the efficient
excavation of the open pit and improvements to the flow -sheet of the diamond processing plant, while
simultaneously reducing pre-production capital costs and the time to initial diamond production.
In January 2017, the Company was informed by the Saskatchewan Minister of Environment that additional
consultation is required betwee n the government and First Nation and Métis communities for the government to
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meet its legal obligation with respect to duty to consult and accommodate process (See SGF News Release dated
January 26, 2017). Since that time, the government proceeded with a work plan that they anticipate will enable
them to complete this required consultation process during the third quarter of 2017. The Ministry has indicated to
Shore that once consultations with potentially impacted First Nation and Métis communities are co mpleted, all
pertinent information will be reviewed before a decision is made under The Environmental Assessment Act.
Quarterly Results
For the quarter ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded net income of $43.0 million or $0.14 per share
compared to a net loss of $1.9 million or $0.01 per share for the same period in 2016. Net income during the
quarter ended June 30, 2017 was due to the partial reversal of previously recorded impairments relating to
exploration and evaluation assets ($44.5 million). As a result of the Newmont Acquisition, the Company performed
an assessment of the carrying value of exploration and evaluation assets at June 30, 2017. Based on this
assessment, the carrying value of exploration and evaluation assets (which include s the Fort à la Corne mineral
properties) was determined to be $66.3 million, resulting in a partial reversal of previously recorded impairments.
Exploration and evaluation expenditures incurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2017 were primarily related to
work relating to geotechnical in vestigations and test work for the Project. The loss during the quarter ended June
30, 2016 was 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.
Year to Date Results
For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded net income of $42.2 million or $0.14 per share
compared to a net loss of $3.3 million or $0.01 per share for the sam e period in 2016. Net income during the
quarter ended June 30, 2017 was due to the partial reversal of previously recorded impairments relating to
exploration and evaluation assets ($44.5 million). Exploration and evaluation expenditures incurred during the six
months ended June 30, 2017 primarily related to work relating to geotechnical investigations and test work for the
Project. The loss during the quarter ended June 30, 2016 was 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.
In connection with the Option Agreement, RTEC subscribed for 5.6 million units, for a gross subscription amount
of $1.0 million, with each unit consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrant . In
addition, options and broker warrants were also exercised during the quarter ended June 30, 2017 for total cash
proceeds of $0.4 million. In connection to the Newmont A cquisition, 53.8 million common shares and 1.1 million
common share purchase warrants were issued to Newmont. The Company also agreed that Newmont will receive a
contingent payment in the aggregate amount of $3.2 million if a positive decision is made to develop a mine on the
Project. Shore, in its sole discretion (subject to regulatory approvals), may satisfy the contingent payment due to
Newmont through a cash payment or the issuance of common shares. T he estimated discounted present value of
this contingent consideration at June 30, 2017 was determined to be $0.7 million.
Selected financial highlights include:
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
As at
June 30,
2017
As at
December 31,
2016
Current assets $ 3.2 M $ 1.7 M
Exploration and evaluation, capital and other assets 67.5 M 1.6 M
Current liabilities 1.8 M 0.3 M
Premium on flow-through shares 0.1 M 0.2 M
Long-term liabilities 1.3 M 0.6 M
Shareholders’ equity 67.5 M 2.2 M
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss
Three Months
Ended June 30,
2017
Three Months
Ended June 30,
2016
Six Months
Ended June 30,
2017
Six Months
Ended June 30,
2016
Interest and other income $ 0.0 M $ 0.0 M $ 0.0 M $ 0.0 M
Expenses 1.5 M 2.0 M 2.4 M 3.6 M
Flow-through premium recognized in income 0.0 M 0.1 M 0.1 M 0.3 M
Reversal of prior impairments to exploration and evaluation assets 44.5 M 0.0 M 44.5 M 0.0 M
Net and comprehensive income (loss) for the period 43.0 M (1.9) M 42.2 M (3.3) M
Net income (loss) per share for the period (basic and diluted) 0.14 (0.01) 0.14 (0.01)
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Six Months
Ended June 30,
2017
Six Months
Ended June 30,
2016
Cash flows from operating activities $ (0.4) M $ (2.7) M
Cash flows from investing activities (1.0) M 0.0 M
Cash flows from financing activities 1.3 M 0.0 M
Net decrease in cash (0.1) M (2.7) M
Cash – beginning of period 2.8 M 4.0 M
Cash – end of period 2.7 M 1.3 M
Outlook
The successful completion of the recently announced consolidation of the Company’s Fort à la Corne mineral
properties (including the Star - Orion South Project) and the concurrent earn -in arrangement with Rio Tinto
Exploration Canada sets the stage for a new phase for the Company. It is the Company’s view that Rio Tinto is one
of the few companies in the world with the resources and expertise to move forward with a project of the
magnitude of the Star - Orion South Diamond Project. The Company is also very pleased to have acquired the
remaining portion of the Project from Newmont and having Newmont as a significant shareholder.
As of August 1 0, 2017, the Company had approximately $2.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and short -term
investments (excluding $0.8 million in restricted cash). A portion of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and
short-term investments will be used to complete the 2017 programs as well as advance certain aspects of the
Project, including the environmental assessment process and assessment and test work programs required for an
updated feasibility study, as well as for general corporate matters.
Caution Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning o f 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," "pla n," "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 activi ties or other development plans contain forward-looking statements. Forward -looking statements in this
news release include, but are not limited to, 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; Shore's objectives for the ensuing year, incl uding the
drill and geotechnical 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 i ncluding, 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, devel opment or mining
plans due to exploration results and changing budget priorities of Shore or its contractual partners, the effects of competition in t he 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 consid er 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.
For further information: [email protected] or (306) 664-2202
www.shoregold.com
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