EX-99.1 2 newsrelease.htm NEWS RELEASE DATED MAY 6, 2010 MD Filed by Filing Services Canada Inc.  (403) 717-3898

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NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ELD No. 10-08

TSX: ELD     NYSE: EGO     ASX: EAU                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            May 6, 2010

Q1, 2010 Financial and Operating Results

 Record Production, up 168%, Earnings per share $0.10 up 150%

(all figures in United States dollars, unless otherwise noted)



VANCOUVER, BC – Paul N. Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eldorado Gold Corporation, (“Eldorado” the “Company” or “we”)  is pleased to report on the Company's record financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.  Eldorado reported net income of $52.8 million or $0.10 per share for the period and the Company generated $80.8 million in cash from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital.


“We had record quarterly production of 164,928 ounces of gold at a cash operating cost of $371 per ounce with strong performances from all mines, whilst setting consecutive quarterly production records at Kisladag. Our revenues increased by 248% over the comparable period in 2009.   Net quarterly income increased by 304% to $52.8 million.  Cash generated from operating activities increased by 290% to $80.8 million.  With the strong performance of the quarter we are increasing our 2010 production guidance to 575,000 to 625,000 ounces of gold and slightly reducing cost guidance to cash operating costs of $375 - $395 per ounce.” said Paul Wright, President and CEO of Eldorado Gold.   “We are also extremely pleased that the development of our Company with its strong performance in 2009 and the positive outlook for 2010 and beyond has enabled at this time the adoption of a dividend policy.”


Q1 2010  Highlights

  • Produced 164,928 ounces of gold at an average cash operating cost of $371 per ounce (total cash cost $398 per ounce)

  • Sold 163,446 ounces of gold at a realized average price of $1,110 per ounce

  • Reported earnings of $0.10 per share

  • Generated $80.8 million  ($0.15 per share)  from operating activities before changes in  non-cash working capital  

  • Announced the adoption of a dividend policy


Financial Results


Eldorado’s consolidated net income for the first quarter of 2010 was $52.8 million or $0.10 per share, compared with $13.1 million or $0.04 per share in the first quarter of 2009. The increase in profit for the period resulted from significantly higher sales volumes from our Kisladag mine, as well as the contribution of our two new mines in China.


 


 

 

In the first quarter of the year, we sold 163,446 ounces of gold at an average price of $1,110 per ounce, a 184% increase over the first quarter of 2009, when we sold 57,459 ounces at an average price of $909 per ounce. Production from Jinfeng and White Mountain added 57,265 ounces as compared to the prior year, and increased production at both Kisladag and Tanjianshan added to our record production levels.


Operating Performance


Kisladag
During the quarter, we placed 2,898,199 tonnes of ore on the leach pad at an average grade of 1.12 grams of gold per tonne. We produced 82,240 ounces of gold at a cash operating cost of $305 per ounce, compared to production of 46,192 ounces of gold at a cash operating cost of $274 per ounce in the first quarter of 2009. This quarterly record for gold production at Kisladag resulted from improvements to the processing circuit with the introduction of intermediate leaching and larger carbon columns.


Tanjianshan
We produced 25,423 ounces of gold at a cash operating cost of $432 per ounce in Q1 2010, as compared to 15,234 ounces at a cash operating cost of $362 per ounce in Q1 2009.  Ongoing improvements to the processing circuit are continuing to increase flotation recoveries.


Jinfeng
We milled 390,000 tonnes of ore at a grade of 4.23 grams of gold per tonne and produced 45,615 ounces of gold at a cash operating cost of $411 per ounce.


White Mountain

At our White Mountain mine, we processed 131,000 tonnes of ore at a grade of 4.09 grams of gold per tonne and produced 11,650 ounces of gold at a cash operating cost of $545 per ounce. Gold production and cash costs for the quarter were negatively affected by poor metallurgical recoveries related to localized increased sulphide content in the ore. This effect is decreasing as additional stoping blocks are brought into production.


Development


Efemcukuru

Construction is proceeding on target. Major areas of focus over the quarter included closing in the concentrator building, setting in place the ball and SAG mills, and continuing the detailed engineering for the piping and mechanical installations in the concentrator as well as the tailings filtration and backfill plants. Underground development will start in the second quarter.


Vila Nova Iron Ore

We plan to start mining and processing operations at Vila Nova in the second quarter of the year, with iron ore sales, projected to begin in the third quarter.


Perama Hill

The Ministry of Environment is now reviewing our Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment which was submitted October 2009. We filed a NI 43-101 technical report on SEDAR and continue working with various levels of government and other stakeholders in regards to providing a full understanding of the project and its benefits for the local area.

 






Eastern Dragon

Over the quarter, we focused on permitting activities as well as collecting and evaluating regional geological data. We paid $11 million as part of our agreement to consolidate  the Eastern Dragon-EL53 exploration joint venture with the Lode 5 joint venture.


Exploration

 

Turkey

We continued our reconnaissance exploration programs at the MH, AS, and Sayacik properties, engaging in geological mapping, soil sampling, and magnetic geophysical surveys.  At Efemcukuru, we completed three drillholes on the Kokarpinar target, a relatively untested vein parallel to and located approximately 200 m east of the Kestane Beleni vein, which hosts the main Efemcukuru deposit.  At Kisladag, we completed 11 holes of the planned 42 holes for 2010.  This drilling intersected a previously unrecognized tabular zone containing higher gold grades, located along the southern margin of the known deposit, including 152.5 m grading 1.7 grams of gold per tonne.


Brazil

At Tocantinzinho, we completed nine diamond drillholes and seven reverse circulation drillholes testing geochemical and geophysical targets peripheral to the main deposit. Further activities on the project will be based on a review of the Company’s long-term objectives currently under way.


China

At Tanjianshan, we completed 13 infill diamond drillholes on the 323 Zone where we have now drilled a total of 45 holes on sections spaced at 50 metres over a 350-metre strike length.  High grade gold intersections within the zone occur in a similar structural and stratigraphic setting to the Qinlongtan deposit, located along strike 2 km to the north.  A preliminary resource estimate is planned for Q2 2010. Drilling has now shifted to testing geochemical anomalies in the ZXS prospect area, located between the 323 Zone and the Jinlonggou deposit.


Elsewhere in China, we revised the structural model for the Jinfeng deposit and are now defining drill targets based on the identification of several previously unrecognized mineralized faults.  We completed two diamond drillholes on the Lintan prospect, approximately 1000 metres north of the Jinfeng deposit, and have initiated a reconnaissance drilling program at the Bannian prospect, 20 km southwest of Jinfeng.  We have finalized plans for drilling in Q2 and Q3 at the White Mountain and Eastern Dragon deposits and nearby prospects, and are conducting permitting activities at Eastern Dragon.


Corporate

The Company announced today that it is initiating payment of an annual dividend.   Accordingly the Board of Directors declared today that the Company will pay an eligible dividend of $0.05 CDN June 18,  2010 to the holders of the Company’s outstanding Common Shares and Chess Depository Interests as of the record date of June 4, 2010.


Eldorado is a gold producing, exploration and development company actively growing businesses in Turkey, China, Greece, Brazil and surrounding areas. With our international expertise in mining, finance and project development, together with highly skilled and dedicated staff, we believe that our company is well positioned to grow in value as we create and pursue new opportunities.







 

 

ON BEHALF OF

ELDORADO GOLD CORPORATION


“Paul N. Wright”


Paul N. Wright

President and Chief Executive Officer


Eldorado will host a conference call Friday, May 7, 2010 to discuss the 2010 First Quarter Financial Results at 11:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. PDT).  You may participate in the conference call by dialling 416-695-6622 in Toronto or 1-800-355-4959 toll free in North America and asking for the Eldorado Conference Call with Chairperson: Paul Wright, President and CEO of Eldorado Gold.  The call will be available on Eldorado’s website. www.eldoradogold.com.  A replay of the call will be available until May 14, 2010 by dialling 416-695-5800 in Toronto or 1-800-408-3053 toll free in North America and entering the Pass code: 8574327.


Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information.  We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information and even though our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate.  Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information.  These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the following:  gold price volatility; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; mining operational and development risk; litigation risks; regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; risks of sovereign investment; currency fluctuations; speculative nature of gold exploration; global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; competition; loss of key employees; additional funding requirements; and defective title to mineral claims or property, as well as those factors discussed in the sections entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form & Form 40-F dated March 31, 2010. 


There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.  Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein.  Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the U.S.


Eldorado Gold Corporation’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: ELD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EGO). Our Chess Depositary Interests trade on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: EAU).


Contact:

Nancy Woo, VP Investor Relations

Eldorado Gold Corporation

Phone: 604.601-6650 or 1.888.353.8166

1188, 550 Burrard Street

Fax: 604.687.4026

Vancouver, BC V6C 2B5

Email: nancyw@eldoradogold.com

             

                      Web site: www.eldoradogold.com

Request for information packages:laurelw@eldoradogold.com










PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS


 

First

Quarter

2010

First

Quarter

2009

Second

Quarter

2009

Third

Quarter

2009

Fourth

Quarter

2009


Gold Production

 

 

 

 

 

  Ounces Produced

164,928

61,426

84,572

88,918

128,593

  Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)1, 4

371

296

300

297

329

  Total Cash Cost ($/oz)2,4

398

315

322

326

364

  Total Production Cost ($/oz)3,4

491

375

387

430

486

  Realized Price ($/oz - sold)

1,110

909

927

957

1,103


Kisladag Mine, Turkey

 

 

 

 

 

  Ounces Produced

82,240

46,192

62,985

57,902

70,131

  Tonnes to Pad

2,898,199

2,084,714

2,428,611

2,523,546

3,679,685

  Grade (grams / tonne)

1.12

1.34

1.18

1.22

0.86

  Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)4

305

274

269

276

296

  Total Cash Cost ($/oz)2,4

307

276

271

278

298

  Total Production Cost ($/oz)3,4

357

315

309

336

354


Tanjianshan Mine, China

 

 

 

 

 

  Ounces Produced

25,423

15,234

21,587

31,016

37,773

  Tonnes Milled

249,738

228,066

231,874

257,730

256,828

  Grade (grams / tonne)

4.01

3.97

5.63

5.73

5.81

  Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)4

432

362

390

338

330

  Total Cash Cost ($/oz)2,4

504

432

470

414

424

  Total Production Cost ($/oz)3,4

659

557

616

604

670


Jinfeng Mine, China5

 

 

 

 

 

  Ounces Produced

45,615

-

-

-

14,541

  Tonnes Milled

389,851

-

-

-

136,054

  Grade (grams / tonne)

4.23

-

-

-

3.97

  Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)4

411

-

-

-

472

  Total Cash Cost ($/oz)2,4

457

-

-

-

516

  Total Production Cost ($/oz)3,4

579

-

-

-

623


White Mountain Mine, China5

 

 

 

 

 

  Ounces Produced

11,650

-

-

-

6,148

  Tonnes Milled

130,643

-

-

-

58,074

  Grade (grams / tonne)

4.09

-

-

-

4.26

  Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)4

545

-

-

-

364

  Total Cash Cost ($/oz)2,4

582

-

-

-

400

  Total Production Cost ($/oz)3,4

733

-

-

-

535


1

Cost figures calculated in accordance with the Gold Institute Standard.

2

Cash Operating Costs, plus royalties and the cost of off-site administration.

3

Total Cash Costs, plus foreign exchange gain or loss, depreciation, amortization and reclamation expenses.

4

Cash operating, total cash and total production costs are non-GAAP measures.  See the section "Non-GAAP Measures" of this Review.

5

Jinfeng and White Mountain production for the period December 4 to December 31, 2009 only.




Eldorado Gold Corporation

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets


(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 


 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

2010

2009

$

$

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

  283,141 

 

  265,369 

Restricted cash (note 4)

 

  52,121 

 

  50,000 

Marketable securities

 

  15,559 

 

  13,951 

Accounts receivable and other

 

  26,174 

 

  26,434 

Inventories

 

  121,516 

 

  129,197 

 

 

  498,511 

 

  484,951 

Inventories

 

  38,567 

 

  31,534 

Restricted assets and other

 

  16,724 

 

  13,872 

Mining interests

 

  2,606,048 

 

  2,580,816 

Goodwill

 

  324,935 

 

  324,935 

 

 

  3,484,785 

 

  3,436,108 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

  140,191 

 

  157,250 

Debt - current

 

  61,626 

 

  56,499 

Future income taxes

 

  4,437 

 

  4,264 

 

 

  206,254 

 

  218,013 

Debt - long-term

 

  129,618 

 

  134,533 

Asset retirement obligations

 

  27,152 

 

  26,566 

Future income taxes

 

  386,643 

 

  390,242 

 

 

  749,667 

 

  769,354 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest

 

  27,663 

 

  26,144 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders* equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share capital (note 6(b))

 

  2,679,209 

 

  2,671,634 

Contributed surplus (note 6(c))

 

  22,831 

 

  17,865 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (note 6(d))

 

  3,686 

 

  2,227 

Retained earnings (deficit)

 

  1,729 

 

  (51,116)

 

 

  2,707,455 

 

  2,640,610 

 

 

  3,484,785 

 

  3,436,108 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                                                                      (Signed) Robert R. Gilmore         Director                                                          (Signed) Paul N. Wright        Director

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 



Eldorado Gold Corporation

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings (Deficit)

For the three months ended March 31,


(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars except per share amounts)



 

 

2010

 

2009

$

$

Revenue

 

 

 

 

Gold sales

 

  181,479 

 

  52,206 

Interest and other income

 

  671 

 

  196 

 

 

  182,150 

 

  52,402 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

Operating costs

 

  66,873 

 

  18,442 

Depletion, depreciation and amortization

 

  23,242 

 

  4,460 

General and administrative

 

  15,529 

 

  8,762 

Exploration

 

  3,602 

 

  2,062 

Mine standby costs

 

  706 

 

  - 

Asset retirement obligation costs

 

  513 

 

  53 

Foreign exchange gain

 

  (3,680)

 

  (3,089)

 

 

  106,785 

 

  30,690 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on disposal of assets

 

  (1,506)

 

  - 

(Gain) loss on marketable securities

 

  (1,112)

 

  964 

Interest and financing costs

 

  2,613 

 

  81 

 

 

  106,780 

 

  31,735 

Income before income taxes and non-controlling interest

 

  75,370 

 

  20,667 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (expense) recovery

 

 

 

 

Current

 

  (21,131)

 

  (6,017)

Future

 

  1,412 

 

  (1,227)

 

 

  (19,719)

 

  (7,244)

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest

 

  (2,806)

 

  (362)

 

 

 

 

 

Net income for the period

 

  52,845 

 

  13,061 

 

 

 

 

 

Deficit, beginning of period

 

  (51,116)

 

  (153,520)

 

 

 

 

 

Retained earnings (deficit), end of period

 

  1,729 

 

  (140,459)

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

  538,009 

 

  369,862 

Diluted

  540,911 

 

  371,833 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

Basic income per share - US$

 

  0.10 

 

  0.04 

Diluted income per share - US$

 

  0.10 

 

  0.04 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.




Eldorado Gold Corporation

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the three months ended March 31,


(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)



 

 

2010

 

2009

$

$

Cash flows generated from (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

 

 

 

Net income for the period

 

  52,845 

 

  13,061 

Items not affecting cash

 

 

 

 

Asset retirement obligations costs

 

  513 

 

  53 

Depletion, depreciation and amortization

 

  23,242 

 

  4,460 

Unrealized foreign exchange gain

 

  (2,121)

 

  (2,683)

Future income taxes (recovery) expense

 

  (1,412)

 

  1,227 

Gain on disposal of assets

 

  (1,506)

 

  - 

(Gain) loss on marketable securities

 

  (1,112)

 

  964 

Stock-based compensation (note 7 (b))

 

  6,947 

 

  3,080 

Pension expense (note 5)

 

  623 

 

  198 

Non-controlling interest

 

  2,806 

 

  362 

 

 

  80,825 

 

  20,722 

   Bonus cash award units payments (note 7 (c))

 

  - 

 

  (2,059)

Changes in non-cash working capital (note 8)

 

  (18,386)

 

  7,210 

 

 

  62,439 

 

  25,873 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

 

Mining interests

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

  (47,300)

 

  (19,029)

Sales and disposals

 

  2,266 

 

  - 

Marketable securities

 

 

 

 

Disposals

 

  692 

 

  30,457 

Pension plan contributions

 

  - 

 

  (1,759)

Restricted cash

 

  (2,121)

 

  (5,500)

Restricted assets and other

 

  (2,512)

 

  (25)

 

 

  (48,975)

 

  4,144 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

 

Capital stock

 

 

 

 

Issuance of common shares for cash (note 6 (b))

 

  5,594 

 

  11,110 

Dividend paid to non-controlling interest

 

  (1,286)

 

  - 

Long-term and bank debt proceeds

 

  - 

 

  4,976 

 

 

  4,308 

 

  16,086 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

  17,772 

 

  46,103 

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

 

  265,369 

 

  61,851 

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

 

  283,141 

 

  107,954 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplementary cash flow information (note 8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.





Eldorado Gold Corporation

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the three months ended March 31,


(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)





 

2010

2009

 

$

$

 

 

 

Net earnings for the period ended March 31,

52,845

13,061

 



Other comprehensive income



Unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments – net of taxes of $106 (2009 - nil) (note 6(d))

1,459

2,313

 



Comprehensive income for the period ended March 31,

54,304

15,374




See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.