EX-99.2 3 ex99_2.htm INTERIM MD&A INTERIM MD&A


 
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS   
 
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2007

This Management Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2006 and the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine month period ended March 31, 2007. Except as discussed below, all other factors referred to and discussed at June 30, 2006 remain substantially unchanged. Financial data contained herein has been prepared by management in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. All amounts included in the MD&A are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified.

This report is dated as at May 2, 2007. Additional information related to the Company, including its most recent audited consolidated financial statements, is available for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
 
Company overview
 
Goldbelt Resources Ltd. (“Goldbelt” or the “Company”) is a Canadian based resource company with mineral properties in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The common shares of Goldbelt traded on the TSX Venture Exchange until April 9, 2007 after which the Company commenced trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”).

The Company’s mineral properties include 20 tenements covering a total area of 4,716 km² in the Belahouro, Houndé and Bougouriba regions of Burkina Faso.

Belahouro tenements and Inata Project

The Belahouro tenements are located approximately 220 km north of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. In March 2005, Goldbelt acquired Resolute (West Africa) Limited an operating company that owned an exploration permit within the Belahouro region in Burkina Faso, which covered an area of 1,187 km² and had an expiry date of April 3, 2006. In accordance with Burkina Faso mining laws the Company made an application for a mining permit for the Inata Gold Project in December 2005.

On April 11, 2007, the Company received the mining permit. The Inata Gold Project mining permit covers an area of 26 km² which overlies mineral resources within the western portion of the previously permitted Belahouro region. The Inata Gold Project is subject to a third party royalty of 2.5% and a government royalty of 3% on gross sales.

Goldbelt released a Prefeasibility Study for the Inata project on November 1, 2006 which outlined an average annual production of 106,500oz during the first five years of operation.  The Company completed a 33,500 meter drilling campaign over Inata and the other Belahouro resource projects in calendar 2006. The focus of this drilling campaign was the definition and expansion of the resources at Inata and developing further resources within the Belahouro tenements. The expanded Inata resource base will form the nucleus of the Inata final feasibility study, which is expected to be completed later in 2007. Ongoing work at Inata includes a recent re-design of the dam structure which will be providing process water to the mill; sterilisation drilling in the areas established for the project infrastructure; further metallurgical testwork to optimise gold recoveries; further resource definition and extension drilling; exploration and development of hydrogeological targets; exploration and development of other known resource targets within the Belahouro tenements.

The Prefeasibility Study was based on the resources published in April, 2006. The Study concludes that Inata will process 633,000 ounces of gold with an average annual gold production of 106,500 ounces of
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gold for the first five years. The average cash operating cost will be US$290 per ounce over a 6.1 year mine life. The Study is based on mineable reserves of 9.2 million tonnes of ore with an average grade of 2.15 grams per tonne calculated at an un-hedged gold price of US$550 per ounce. The Study proposes open pit mining with the ore to be processed through a conventional CIL plant with a design capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum. Oxide ore will be the main mill feed for the early part of the project life, and average gold recoveries are estimated at 95% for the first four years, and 93% thereafter. The Study reports a Net Present Value of US$44 million at 5% discount rate and an Internal Rate of Return of 28%. Total capital costs are estimated to be US$65.8 million.

The proven and probable resources are as follows:
 
Belahouro
Deposit
Proven
Probable
Proven and probable
Tonnage (Kt)
Au g/t
Ozs
Tonnage (Kt)
Au g/t
ozs
Tonnage (Kt)
Au g/t
Ozs
Inata Trend
Inata/Minfo
2,300
2.58
192,000
6,900
2.00
441,000
9,200
2.15
633,000

In March 2007 the Company updated its resources based on the results of the 2006 drilling campaign. The new resource is estimated at 21.6 MT @ 1.7 g/t gold for 1,204,300 ounces of measured and indicated resources and an additional 8.0MT @ 1.4 g/t gold for 355,900 ounces of inferred resources at Inata (the Inata resource estimate also includes both Sayouba and Minfo resources). This new estimation, calculated using a 0.5 g/t gold lower cut-off grade, represents a 50% increase in tonnes and a 37% increase in contained gold in all resource categories from the previous estimate completed in April 2006.

At a 0.8 g/t gold lower cut-off grade, there is a 46% increase in tonnage and a 29% increase in contained ounces reported from measured and indicated categories from the previous model to 18.5MT @ 1.9 g/t gold for 1,139,300 ounces (excluding an additional 6.4MT @ 1.6 g/t gold for 321,200 ounces in the inferred category at the same cut-off grade).

The mineral resource summary for the Inata, Sayouba and Minfo Deposits is as follows:
                   
 
 Measured
 Indicated
 Inferred
 
Tonnes
Au (g/t)
Au (oz)
Tonnes
Au (g/t)
Au (oz)
Tonnes
Au (g/t)
Au (oz)
                   
Inata
3,812,600
2.6
314,400
15,548,900
1.6
803,400
7,006,300
1.4
316,200
Sayouba
121,400
1.6
6,100
466,200
1.4
20,500
727,300
1.2
27,200
Minfo
     
1,605,900
1.2
59,900
325,800
1.2
12,500
Total
3,934,000
2.5
320,500
17,621,000
1.6
883,800
8,059,400
1.4
355,900

This new resource estimation was conducted by independent consultants, Ravensgate, based in Perth, Australia. The information relating to resource estimation is based on information compiled by John Haywood, who is a Principal Consultant of Ravensgate, and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy; and by Dr. Peter Turner, who is the Vice President of Exploration and Business Development of Goldbelt Resources Ltd, and a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. John Haywood and Dr. Peter Turner have sufficient experience relevant to the exploration data, style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as Qualified Persons as defined by the National Instrument 43-101.

At the time of application for the Inata Gold Project mining permit, the Company applied for and subsequently received (in July and August 2006) 10 new contiguous exploration tenements covering an area of 2,474 km² which includes the original area of the previous Belahouro permit. The Company has 2 additional tenements covering an area of 496 km² which are contiguous to these tenements and which were granted in August 2005 and April 2006. All of the exploration tenements are for a three year period with the ability for two further renewals of three years each. The Company is required under Burkina Faso Mining Laws to spend approximately $600/km2 annually in order to keep the Belahouro exploration tenements in good standing. There are a number of known gold occurrences over these tenements and drill data resulting from a drill program completed in 2006 is currently being compiled in preparation for a new drill program and eventually, revised resource estimation. These 12 exploration tenements and the Inata mining permit application together cover an area of 2,996 km² within the Belahouro region.
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In Q2 2007, the Company completed the purchase from Tanami Gold NL (Australia) (“Tanami”) of a used gold processing plant currently located near Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia for A$2,000,000. A refundable security deposit of A$200,000 was also paid to Tanami to meet potential removal expenditures that may be incurred by Tanami on behalf of the Company. The Company has incurred $270,819 in expenditures relating to the assessment of plant removal and refurbishment.

The Company is obligated to dismantle this process plant at an estimated cost of approximately $1.2 million.The process of determining the costs and timetables to refurbish the plant to bring the equipment to “as new” condition has been completed and preparations for the subsequent dismantling, relocation and refurbishment have begun.

All equipment on site at the plant has recently been subject to extensive review by GBM Metals Engineering Consultants, who have outlined a dismantling program scheduled to begin in early May 2007, to coincide with the end of the wet season. The engineers’ scope of work was to determine the work needed and costs associated with the refurbishment required to the plant. In line with the final recommendations from the engineers, it is now being determined which auxiliary parts of the structure will be re-used, and which will be sold.

Other exploration tenements
In addition to the Belahouro area exploration tenements, Goldbelt was issued 8 additional exploration tenements. Seven of these exploration tenements cover 1,655 km² in the Houndé and Bougouriba regions located in the southwest part of Burkina Faso and 1 permit covers 65 km² in the Koupela region, southeast part of Burkina Faso. The single permit located in Koupela has subsequently been relinquished.

Goldbelt’s geologists have been actively exploring the Houndé and Bougouriba tenements. To date approximately 17,000 soil and rock samples have been collected and assayed. These geochemical assay results and earlier geophysical survey results are currently being collated to provide an updated geological model of the tenements. The Company completed 6,000 meters of drilling on the Karba permit in Houndé which have shown promising results. Eleven of these holes indicated intervals of 4 meters of 1.67 g/t to 4.47 g/t close to surface.

The Company also completed 2,000 meters of reconnaissance drilling on the Mandiasso and Diosso contiguous tenements in Bougouriba and early drill results have been encouraging. At Mandiasso, 5 holes indicated between 1 g/t and 5.7 g/t over intervals of 2 to 10 meters. At Diosso, 5 holes indicated between 1 and 8 g/t over intervals of 2 to 6 meters, also close to surface. The details of the drill hole results have been previously disclosed on SEDAR. The Company plans to conduct a geophysical exploration program at Karba, Mandiasso and Diosso in order to identify drill targets in 2007. To date, the company has expended $1.3 million on exploration costs on these tenements. The Company is required under Burkina Faso Mining Laws to spend approximately $600/km2 annually in order to keep these exploration tenements in good standing.
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In February 2007, the Company entered into an exclusive option to acquire all of Barrick Exploration Africa Limited’s assets in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea.

Analysis of Exploration Properties
The following table details the expenditures on the Burkina Faso properties as at March 31, 2007:      
                   
 
Inata Project
 
Belahouro
 
 Other
     
   
Permit
 
Permits
 
Permits
 
Total
 
     $  
$
   $  
$
 
                           
Balance - June 30, 2005
   
9,741,320
   
-
   
499,883
   
10,241,203
 
Acquisition from Resolute
   
1,183,613
   
-
   
51,681
   
1,235,294
 
Assay and sampling
   
165,311
   
-
   
68,308
   
233,619
 
Drilling
   
382,266
   
-
   
-
   
382,266
 
Environmental studies
   
93,911
   
-
   
746
   
94,657
 
Geophysical
   
14,387
   
-
   
-
   
14,387
 
General and administrative
   
321,155
   
-
   
60,971
   
382,126
 
Hydrogeology
   
15,442
   
-
   
-
   
15,442
 
Project engineering
   
386,915
   
-
   
-
   
386,915
 
Resource and mine engineering
   
275,209
   
-
   
-
   
275,209
 
Salaries and benefits
   
418,044
   
4,968
   
114,924
   
537,936
 
Taxes
   
14,815
   
24,337
   
23,618
   
62,770
 
Travel and fuel
   
175,091
   
-
   
20,445
   
195,536
 
                           
Expenditures in fiscal 2006
   
3,446,159
   
29,305
   
340,693
   
3,816,157
 
                           
Balance - June 30, 2006
   
13,187,479
   
29,305
   
840,576
   
14,057,360
 
                           
Assay and sampling
   
279,632
   
91,329
   
76,155
   
447,116
 
Drilling
   
1,038,834
   
378,342
   
247,579
   
1,664,755
 
Environmental studies
   
454
   
-
   
-
   
454
 
Geophysical
   
152,452
   
10,245
   
-
   
162,697
 
General and administrative
   
312,591
   
186,472
   
51,423
   
550,486
 
Project engineering
   
111,759
   
-
   
-
   
111,759
 
Resource and mine engineering
   
384,496
   
13,788
   
16,763
   
415,047
 
Salaries and benefits
   
421,948
   
148,959
   
44,530
   
616,337
 
Taxes
   
14,206
   
16,449
   
5,996
   
36,651
 
Travel and fuel
   
118,464
   
98,171
   
6,881
   
223,516
 
                           
Expenditures in fiscal 2007
   
2,834,836
   
944,655
   
449,327
   
4,228,818
 
                           
Balance - March 31, 2007
   
16,022,315
   
973,960
   
1,289,903
   
18,286,178
 
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s main sources of financing are its current cash and short term investments, equity markets and outstanding warrants and options. As at March 31, 2007, the Company had cash and short term investments of $7,978,000 compared to the June 30, 2006 balance of $6,119,181. The overall net increase from June 30, 2006 is due primarily to proceeds obtained from a significant private placement and an exercise of warrants. The increase is net of expenditures incurred on the Inata Project, the Company’s drilling campaigns on Belahouro, Houndé and Bougouriba tenements, purchase of the used Brocks Creek gold processing plant in Australia, as well as general and administrative expenses.
 
In September 2006, the Company raised $7,980,000 though a private placement of 7,600,000 shares. In November 2006, the Company issued 4,714,932 common shares for proceeds of $2,944,118 pursuant to the exercise of all of the 4,714,932 warrants held by Resolute Limited of Perth, Australia.
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During the Quarter ended December 31, 2006, Company paid A$2 million under the terms of the agreement with Tanami to complete the purchase of the Brocks Creek plant located in Darwin, Australia. A refundable security deposit of A$200,000 was also paid to Tanami to cover any potential removal expenditures incurred by Tanami. The Company is obligated to dismantle this plant which is estimated to cost approximately $1.2 million.

The Company had working capital of $8,201,379 as at March 31, 2007. These funds will be used to complete its calendar 2nd quarter 2007 exploration drilling program at Inata, dismantle and commence refurbishment of the Brocks Creek process plant, prepare a bankable feasibility study on the Inata Project, conduct further exploration drilling on the Houndé and Bougouriba projects and administrative expenses. The Company anticipates that the development of the Inata mine will be funded principally through debt financing.

The Company continues to assess potential sources of financing to proceed towards developing the Inata Project and to further its exploration activities within the Belahouro and other license areas in Burkina Faso. While the Company has been successful in the past in raising financing, there is no guarantee that the Company will be as successful in the future.

Selected Quarterly Information
The results of operations and financial position are summarized in the following tables, which have been prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
 

   
Mar 31, 2007
 
Dec 31, 2006
 
Sep 30, 2006
 
Jun 30, 2006
 
$ Cdn
 
3rd Quarter
Fiscal 2007
 
2nd Quarter
Fiscal 2007
 
1st Quarter
Fiscal 2007
 
4th Quarter
 
Statement of operations
                         
Loss
   
(1,161,144
)
 
(837,977
)
 
(878,423
)
 
(900,440
)
Loss per share
   
(0.02
) 
 
(0.01
) 
 
(0.02
)
 
(0.03
)
Balance Sheet
                         
Working capital
   
8,201,379
   
9,677,785
   
9,185,080
   
5,866,202
 
Total assets
   
29,654,663
   
30,211,494
   
29,622,165
   
20,681,494
 
Shareholders’ equity
   
28,906,255
   
29,320,477
   
27,170,963
   
20,311,485
 
Statement of Cash Flows
                         
Investments in mineral properties
   
1,029,721
   
1,421,729
   
1,815,774
   
784,576
 
Purchase of plant and equipment
   
217,732
   
2,204,723
   
116,409
   
95,715
 
Cash flow from issue of shares
   
524,292
   
2,943,878
   
7,393,728
   
5,295,764
 
 
     
Mar 31, 2006
   
Dec 31, 2005
   
Sep 30, 2005
   
Jun 30, 2005
 
$ Cdn
   
3rd Quarter
Fiscal 2006
   
2nd Quarter
Fiscal 2006
   
1st Quarter
Fiscal 2006
   
4th Quarter
Fiscal 2005
 
                           
                           
Statement of operations
                         
Loss
   
(1,245,303
)
 
(820,338
)
 
(346,534
)
 
(386,375
)
Loss per share
   
(0.03
)
 
(0.02
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.01
)
Balance Sheet
                         
Working capital
   
292,222
   
(1,383,371
)
 
(472,826
)
 
745,129
 
Total assets
   
14,939,322
   
12,789,020
   
13,507,222
   
14,862,378
 
Shareholders’ equity
   
12,913,315
   
10,307,048
   
10,706,347
   
11,031,761
 
Statement of Cash Flows
                         
Investments in mineral properties
   
902,147
   
400,107
   
1,718,725
   
896,512
 
Purchase of equipment
   
13,027
   
56,002
   
17,420
   
28,644
 
Cash flow from issue of share
   
2,874,518
   
23,033
   
Nil
   
Nil
 
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Results of Operations

Nine Months Ended March 31, 2007
For the nine month period ended March 31, 2007, the Company incurred a loss of $2,877,544 (2006 - loss of $2,412,175). The loss was due mostly to salaries and benefits of $614,213 (2006 - $412,492), shareholder relations of $390,453 (2006 -$157,013), filing fees of $134,638 (2006 - $36,402), occupancy costs of $235,913 (2006 - $108,995) and stock-based compensation expense of $610,417 (2006 - $925,590). The Company incurred salaries and related search fees for five additional employees who were not employed for several months of the comparative period. Shareholder relations increased as the Company sought to establish a broader profile in the investment community. Office and occupancy costs increased as the Company established a branch office in the UK. Filing fees also increased as the Company paid for admission to the TSX. Stock compensation expense was lower as fewer options were granted and vested compared to the same period in 2006.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2007
For the three month period ended March 31, 2007, the Company incurred a loss of $1,161,144 compared to a loss of $837,978 for the three month period ended December 31, 2006. The most significant changes relate to stock compensation expense of $222,630 (2006 - $43,614), salaries of $287,549 (2006 - $177,154), filing fees of $116,265 (2006 - $6,353), occupancy costs of $147,168 (2006 - $39,512) and shareholder relations of $73,869 (2006 - $284,990). Stock-based compensation increased in the current quarter due to the granting of 750,000 options to employees. Salaries increased as the company paid for the search costs and salaries for new employees. Occupancy costs increased as the company established a new office in the UK. Filing fees also increased as the Company paid for admission to the TSX. Shareholder relations decreased from the previous quarter as the Company reviewed its efforts from the previous quarter.

The loss for the comparative three month period ended March 31, 2006 was $1,245,303. The most significant changes again relate to stock compensation expense of $222,630 (2006 - $506,464), salaries and benefits of $287,549 (2006 - $155,415), filing fees of $116,265 (2006 - $32,809) and occupancy costs of $147,168 (2006 - $39,502). Stock-based compensation decreased in 2007 since more options were vested in the previous quarter compared to the current quarter. Salaries increased as the company paid salaries and search fees for more personnel compared to the previous quarter. Filing fees increased as the company paid for admission to the TSX. Occupancy costs increased as the company established a new office in the UK.

Related Party Transactions

The following table discloses transactions with Directors of the Company, which were in the normal course of operations and were measured at the exchange amounts, for the financial periods as follows:

   
Type of
 
3 months ended March 31
 
9 months ended March 31
 
Related party
 
fees
 
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
   
 
   $  
$
   $  
$
 
Paul Morgan
   
Consulting
   
9,000
   
35,000
   
56,500
   
89,000
 
                                 
Brian Irwin
   
Consulting
   
15,000
   
12,000
   
42,000
   
36,000
 
           
24,000
   
47,000
   
98,500
   
125,000
 

Mr. Brian Irwin is currently compensated by a monthly retainer of $5,000.
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Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash, short term investments, receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Unless otherwise noted, it is management’s opinion that the Company is not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from these financial instruments. The Company is exposed to financial risk arising from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and the degree of volatility of these rates. The Company does not use derivative instruments to reduce its exposure to foreign currency risk. The fair value of these financial instruments approximates their carrying values, unless otherwise noted.

Critical accounting estimates

The recoverability of the carrying value of the Inata Gold Project is dependent upon the ability to economically mine the reserves, the ability of the Company to obtain necessary permits and financing to complete the development and future profitable production there from or alternatively upon the Company’s ability to dispose of its interests on an advantageous basis.

The Company has yet to determine mineable reserves on its other mineral properties. The recoverability of the carrying values of these mineral properties is dependent upon the discovery of reserves, the ability of the Company to obtain necessary permits and financing to complete the development and future profitable production there from or alternatively upon the Company’s ability to dispose of its interests on an advantageous basis.

Changes in future conditions could require material write-downs of the carrying values of mineral properties. Management conducts periodic reviews of its mineral properties to determine if write-downs are required. Management estimated that no write-downs were required in the quarter.

Significant estimates and assumptions also include those related to the estimated useful lives of equipment, determinations as to whether costs are expensed or deferred, and stock compensation valuation assumptions. Financial results as determined by actual events could differ from those estimates.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Company’s business is subject to a number of risks related to its exploration and development projects as well as risks related to the mining industry generally. These have been disclosed in the most recent fiscal 2006 MD&A.
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Outlook

Our plans are to complete a new drilling program at Belahouro with the intention of upgrading inferred resources and adding to the current resource base, both within and adjacent to the Inata deposit,

The Company will be negotiating a Mining Convention with the Government of Burkina Faso. The Company has experienced good relations with government officials of Burkina Faso in obtaining and renewing its exploration tenements, obtaining its Exploitation permit, and in the application process for the Inata Mining Convention and expects this relationship to continue in developing its mining projects in the country.

We have received promising results from our 2006 drill programs in our other exploration tenements at Houndé and Bougouriba in south-west Burkina Faso; we will accordingly focus our future exploration activities on recognized target areas. We remain open to the review of opportunities for possible merger or acquisition of mineral properties in Africa, particularly West Africa.

The Company is progressing with the plans for dismantling the Brocks Creek process plant in Australia and the associated refurbishment. This process plant will be incorporated into the Inata feasibility study.


SHARE CAPITAL INFORMATION AS AT May 2, 2007
 
Issued shares
64,816,648
Stock options
5,110,000
Bonus shares based on employment contracts
2,250,000
Warrants
532,000
Common shares on a fully diluted basis
72,708,648
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Cautionary Note

Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements which are not historical facts and are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this document, words like "anticipate", "believe", "estimate" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Information concerning exploration results and mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. These forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable at the time they are made, are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfil projections/expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company’s projects; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and other tests and the estimation of gold reserves and resources; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of environmental issues at the Company’s projects; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in work programs; the need to obtain permits and comply with environmental laws and regulations and other government requirements; fluctuations in the price of gold and other risks and uncertainties,

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits mining companies in their filings with the SEC to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We may use certain terms in our publications such as resources that are prescribed by Canadian regulatory policy and guidelines but are not provided for in the SEC guidelines on publications and filings.

Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management or its independent professional consultants on the date the statements are made. The reader is cautioned that actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those implied or expressed in such statements.

Disclaimer

The information contained herein is prepared by the Company and believed to be accurate but has not been independently audited or verified, and is provided for informational purposes. This information is not to be construed as an offer or as a recommendation to buy or sell securities of Goldbelt Resources Ltd. The Company’s officers and directors assume no responsibility for use of this information in any way whatsoever and do not guarantee its accuracy.

 
 
 
 -9-