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Golden Star Resources

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FY2014 Annual Report · Golden Star Resources
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GOLDEN
STAR
2014

gsr.com

D E L I V E R I N G   O N   O U R   S T R AT E GY

C O N T E N T S

HIGHLIGHTS

YEAR AT A GLANCE

CHAIRMAN AND CEO’S REVIEW

RESERVES AND RESOURCES

OPERATIONS IN GHANA

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR 
MANAGEMENT

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONTACT DETAILS

1

2

3

6

9

10

43

81

C O M PA N Y   P R O F I L E
Golden Star is an established gold mining 
company that holds a 90% interest in the Wassa, 
Prestea and Bogoso gold mines in Ghana. In 2014, 
Golden Star produced 261,000 ounces of gold 
and is expected to produce 250,000 – 275,000 
ounces in 2015.

The Company is pursuing brownfield 
development projects at its Wassa and Prestea 
mines that are expected to transform these mines 
into lower cost producers from 2016 onwards. 
As such, Golden Star offers investors leveraged 
exposure to the gold price in a stable African 
mining jurisdiction with significant development 
upside potential. 
Golden Star is listed on the Toronto Stock 
Exchange (TSX: GSC), the New York Stock 
Exchange MKT (NYSE MKT: GSS) and the 
Ghanaian Stock Exchange (GSE: GSR).  
For further information on the Company, 
please visit www.gsr.com.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

CORPORATE AND REGISTERED OFFICE 
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD. 
150 KING STREET WEST 
SUN LIFE FINANCIAL TOWER, SUITE 1200
TORONTO, ONTARIO
CANADA   M5H 1J9
T: +1 416 583 3800 

REGIONAL OFFICE
PLOT NO. 16 HOUSE NO. A
NORTEY ABABIO STREET 
ROMAN RIDGE, ACCRA
GHANA
P.O. BOX 16075, KIA 
ACCRA, GHANA   

REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT 
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CHANGE OF STOCK
OWNERSHIP, CONSOLIDATION OF ACCOUNTS, 
LOST CERTIFICATES, CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND
OTHER SUCH MATTERS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:

CANADIAN STOCK TRANSFER COMPANY 
ATTENTION: SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
P.O. BOX 1900 
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
CANADA V6C 3K9

ONLINE INQUIRY
WWW.CANSTOCKTA.COM/INVESTORINQUIRY

ONLINE ACCESS TO SHAREHOLDER DATA 
WWW.CANSTOCKTA.COM/ANSWERLINEREGISTRATION

INQUIRIES@CANSTOCKTA.COM 
TF  +1 800 387 0825 (CANADA AND U.S. ONLY) 
T  +1 416 682 3860 

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTINGS
TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE SYMBOL: GSC 
NYSE MKT STOCK EXCHANGE SYMBOL: GSS
GHANA STOCK EXCHANGE SYMBOL: GSR

GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK SHARE REGISTRY
GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK
THORPE ROAD/HIGH STREET
P.O. BOX 134
ACCRA, GHANA
T  +233 21 66 8712/ 8656

AUDITORS
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

MAIN HEADINGHIGHL IG HTS

WASSA PEA  

IRR 78%

NPV 5% $271M*

PRESTEA PEA  

IRR 72%  

NPV 5% $121M*

261,000 OUNCES OF 
GOLD SOLD IN 2014
(2013: 331,000 ounces)

COST OF SALES

4
8
$

8
7
$

1
7
$

1
7
$

$90

$80

$70

$60

$50

Q1
2014

Q2
2014

Q3
2014

Q4
2014

ANNUAL COST  
OF SALES BEFORE 
DEPRECIATION AND 
AMORTIZATION 
REDUCED 19% 
RESPECTIVELY FROM  
THE PRIOR YEAR

PROFITABILITY

IMPROVED 

as adjusted net  
loss attributable  
to shareholders 
reduced to  
$12.2 million1 from  
$21.5 million1 in 2013

G&A 
REDUCED BY

 23%

Mine operating expenses reduced by 12%, down 
$41.7 million from 2013 to $297.5 million

*  Based on a gold price of $1,200 per ounce
1  See non-GAAP financial measures

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

1

YE AR  AT A GLANCE

SUMMARY OF 
CONSOLIDATED 
FINANCIAL 
RESULTS

Years ended December 31

Wassa gold sold
Bogoso gold sold

Total gold sold

Average realized price
Cash operating cost per ounce1
All-in sustaining cost per ounce1
Gold revenues
Cost of sales excluding depreciation and 
amortization
Depreciation and amortization
Mine operating margin/(loss)
General and administrative expense
(Gain)/loss on fair value of 5% of  
Convertible Debentures
Impairment charges
Income tax recovery
Adjusted net loss attributable to Golden Star 
Shareholders1
Net loss attributable to Golden Star shareholders
Cash provided by operations before working 
capital changes
Cash provided by operations
Capital expenditures

1  See non-GAAP financial measures

2014

112,831
147,957

260,788

1,261
1,090
1,252
328,915

304,912
26,219
(2,216)
16,367

538
57,747
(254)

(12,234)
(73,079)

3,088
2,411
33,655

2013

185,807
144,999

330,806

1,414
1,049
1,326
467,796

377,140
59,966
30,690
21,515

(51,967)
355,624
(12,331)

(21,493)
(265,892)

30,328
59,246
102,867

2

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

CH AI RMAN AND CEO’S  REVIEW

TIM BAKER
CHAIRMAN

SAM COETZER 
PRESIDENT AND CEO

INTRODUCTION
The  focus  at  Golden  Star  for  2014  was,  and  continues  to  be  the 
implementation of the strategy we put in place in 2013 to transform 
the  Company  to  a  lower  cost  gold  producer  focused  on  non-
refractory  ore  sources.  We  intend  to  deliver  on  this  strategy  by 
leveraging  off  our  extensive  operating  infrastructure  and  our 
favourable position on the prolific Ashanti gold belt.

Production in 2014 was below what we initially anticipated due to 
lower than planned grades at Wassa, as well as power and rainfall 
issues impacting production at Bogoso; however, we delivered on a 
number of key objectives for the year. The push backs at the Bogoso 
and  Chujah  pits  were  completed,  operating  and  general  and 
administrative costs were dramatically reduced, capital expenditure 
was deferred where possible without impacting future production, 
and positive PEAs were delivered on both the Wassa Underground 
Project  and  the  Prestea  Underground  Project.  Thus  significant 
progress  has  been  made  on  advancing  the  strategic  plan 
announced mid 2013, and in 2015 we move into the execution phase 
and start realizing the benefits.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Golden Star prides itself on what we believe is a stellar health and 
safety record, however we were saddened by the drowning of one 
of  our  employees  in  the  Bogoso  pit  in  July  of  2014.  This  incident 

occurred during a heavy rainfall and although it was preventable 
we are reminded that our diligence toward creating a safe working 
environment can never be taken for granted.

Notwithstanding  this  tragedy,  the  safety  performance  at  both 
operations was very good during the year. At Bogoso the LTIFR was 
in line with 2013 at 0.27. Wassa recorded an exceptional performance 
with not one lost time injury in the year. Overall the Company’s LTIFR 
was 0.15. This rate has declined over the last five years.

No incident of Ebola has been reported in Ghana. However we took 
stringent  measures  to  prepare  our  operations  for  any  potential 
outbreak.  Appropriate  medical  facilities  have  been  installed  and 
staff and community awareness training is ongoing.

FINANCIAL REVIEW
We  produced  261,000  ounces  of  gold  in  2014  from  our  two 
operating mines at a cash operating cost of $1,090 per ounce. At 
Bogoso,  gold  sold  increased  from  145,000  ounces  in  2013  to 
148,000 ounces in 2014, after pushbacks were completed in May of 
2014. Gold sold at Wassa decreased from 186,000 ounces in 2013 to 
113,000 ounces in 2014 as mining in the high grade Father Brown pit 
ceased  in  May  2014.  Production  was  below  what  we  initially 
anticipated  due  to  lower  than  planned  ore  grades  achieved  at 
Wassa as well as power and rainfall issues.

LOST TIME INJURY 
FREQUENCY RATE

0,8
0,7
0,6
0,5
0,4
0,3
0,2
0,1
0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

—  GSR      —  GSBPL      —  GSWL

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

3

CH AI RMAN AND CEO’S REVIE W – CONT INUED

Revenue for the full year 2014 was $329 million, compared to revenue 
of  $468  million  in  2013.  This  was  as  a  result  of  fewer  ounces  sold 
but also due to average realized gold prices being 11% lower than the 
prior year.

As  a  result  of  the  elimination  of  higher  cost  contract  miners, 
reduction in head count, reduced mine site expenditure, material 
savings in reagent costs and lower administrative costs, 2014 cost 
of  sales  was  19%  lower  than  in  2013.  Mine  operating  expenditure 
also  declined  from  2013.  Despite  this,  mine  operating  margin 
decreased from $31 million in 2013 to negative $2 million for 2014, 
predominantly as a result of Wassa’s reduced operating margin. 
Consolidated  cash  operating  costs  per  ounce  totaled  $1,090  per 
ounce in 2014, up from $1,049 in 2013. However, fourth quarter cash 
operating  costs  were  $919  per  ounce,  the  lowest  cash  operating 
costs per ounce achieved since 2012. This bodes well for our ability 
to  deliver  on  our  guided  cash  operating  costs  of  $860-980  per 
ounce for 2015.

Cost cutting extended to the corporate office where general and 
administrative expenditures were reduced by 23%.

The adjusted net loss to shareholders was reduced from $22 million in 
2013 to $12 million in 2014. The improvement in profitability at Bogoso 
is  the  main  contributor  to  a  stronger  overall  performance.  In  the 
fourth quarter attributable income was $9 million which again bodes 
well for a solid financial performance in 2015.

Capital expenditures for the full year were $34 million, $16 million 
less than initially anticipated as capital savings were achieved and 
sustaining  expenditure  was  deferred  without  impacting  future 
production.  We  finished  the  year  with  $39  million  in  cash  and  a 
further  $25  million  available  for  drawdown  on  an  existing  debt 
facility.

WASSA
Gold produced and sold at Wassa totaled 113,000 ounces in 2014, 
a reduction from 186,000 ounces sold in 2013. Mining activities in 
2014 are not directly comparable with 2013, when ore was sourced 
from  both  the  Wassa  and  Father  Brown  pits.  Mining  at  Father 
Brown pit ceased in May 2014 after a strategic decision was made 
not  to  invest  an  estimated  $26  million  on  betterment  stripping 
necessary to continue mining this pit.

Grade at the Wassa Main pit was lower than forecast for the year 
and this was the primary driver of lower production as both mining 
and processing operations performed satisfactorily. Grade is forecast 
to increase steadily through 2015 and average 1.4-1.5 g/t Au for the 
year.  Wassa’s  2014  performance  was  also  impacted  by  power 

supply  related  issues  throughout  the  year.  However  by  year-end 
careful  planning  of  maintenance  and  scheduled  downtime  had 
mitigated this impact on our processing capacity. 

Mine  operating  expenses  for  Wassa  totaled  $115  million  for  2014, 
$31 million lower than those incurred during 2013. This reduction in 
expenses is largely due to the termination of higher cost contract 
mining and long haul distances from the Father Brown pit as well 
as cost savings in other parts of the operations.

Wassa’s cash operating cost per ounce for 2014 increased to $971 
from $805 in 2013. In 2015, Wassa is forecast to produce gold at 
a cash operating cost of between $850 and $990 per ounce.

The results of the Wassa Feasibility Study were released at the end of 
the  first  quarter  of  2015,  indicating  strong  economics.  This  study 
indicates  a  very  profitable  underground  mine  that  is  mined  in 
parallel  with  the  open  pit  mine.  Details  of  the  results  of  the 
Feasibility Study will be available on our website. 

This project is funded, in part with a loan of $25 million secured in 
late 2014, and in conjunction with internal cash flow. The equipment 
has been ordered, the exploration decline permit granted, and the 
first blast for the construction of the exploration decline is planned 
for June 2015. First production from stoping at Wassa Underground 
is  expected  in  the  first  half  of  2016  and  the  mine  life  is  currently 
estimated at ten years thereafter. 

We will continue to drill the southerly extension of the Wassa ore 
body which remains open in the future.

BOGOSO
Bogoso  gold  production  and  sales  totaled  148,000  ounces  for 
2014,  up  from  145,000  ounces  sold  in  2013.  In  2014,  Bogoso 
benefitted from the investment made in the betterment stripping 
campaign  that  took  place  from  2012  through  to  early  2014.  As  a 
result of this, access to ore was improved and ore tonnes mined in 
the  year  increased  53%  from  the  prior  year.  Bogoso  finished  the 
year with about 400,000 tonnes of ore on the stockpile allowing 
for stable processing to continue in 2015 and a reduction in costs 
going forward.

In  line  with  our  strategy,  we  are  shifting  away  from  refractory 
production.  The  refractory  pits  at  Bogoso  are  expected  to  be 
mined  out  by  the  third  quarter  of  2015  after  which  the  refectory 
processing plant will be placed on care and maintenance.

Retreatment  of  tailings  at  Bogoso  continued  during  the  year. 
Tailings retreatment is expected to continue at Bogoso until 2017.

4

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

Bogoso’s  mine  operating  expenses  reduced  by  5%  from  2013.  
These  savings  were  achieved  in  labour  cost  reductions,  lower 
waste  mining  costs,  improved  maintenance  practices  and  a 
reduction in reagent consumption.

For  the  year,  Bogoso’s  cash  costs  were  $1,180  per  ounce,  a  13% 
reduction from 2013. However in the fourth quarter cash operating 
cost per ounce were $926, the lowest costs achieved at Bogoso in 
the last four years. In 2015, Bogoso is expected to produce gold at 
a cash operating cost of between $870 and $960 per ounce.

PRESTEA
Prestea  was  historically  an  underground  mine  that  was  in 
existence for over 100 years and produced an estimated 9 million 
ounces  of  gold.  The  underground  mine  is  currently  on  care  and 
maintenance.  Adjacent  to  the  underground  mine  are  numerous 
surface  deposits  of  high  grade  oxide  material.  These  surface 
deposits have been mined by artisanal miners for some years.

In line with our strategy to pursue growth from low cost ounces, the 
decision  was  taken  to  review  the  optimal  mining  method  for 
Prestea Underground mine. In late 2014, a revised PEA for Prestea 
Underground was published that was based on the development 
of  a  non-mechanized  mining  operation.  The  associated  capital 
expenditure  for  such  an  operation  is  low  and  the  IRR  superior. 
Based on the assumption of a gold price of $1,200 per ounce, the 
results  indicate  an  IRR  of  72%,  NPV  at  a  5%  discount  rate  of  $121 
million  and  a  payback  period  of  2.5  years  from  the  start  of 
development. 

We are currently evaluating the optimal source of funding for the 
estimated $41 million of capital required to bring this underground 
mine back into production. At the same time we are improving our 
understanding of this mine’s potential by completing a Feasibility 
Study  that  should  be  released  in  mid  2015.  Assuming  we  are 
successful  in  securing  the  necessary  funding  for  this  project,  we 
expect to be in production from the underground mine in 2016.

In order to maximize the potential that Prestea can deliver to the 
Company,  we  are  reviewing  the  potential  of  bringing  these  non-
refractory reserves into production.

GOVERNANCE
At the Board level we advanced on the significant improvements 
made on corporate governance in 2013 with further refinements of 
risk  management,  our  compensation  and  diversity  policies  and 
term limits and retirement policy for directors.

Ian McGregor, a long serving director retired and was replaced by 
Ms. Anu Dhir. Anu has extensive corporate and business development 
experience in mining in Africa and is a great addition to the Board. 
Daniel  Owiredu,  who  is  Executive  Vice  President  and  Chief 
Operating Officer joined the board as an Executive Director in May 
2014.  His  local  expertise  and  extensive  network  of  in-country 
relationships  have  already  proven  invaluable  to  the  Board.  Chris 
Thompson,  Director  and  previous  Chairman  of  Golden  Star,  will 
not  be  standing  for  re-election  in  May.  Chris  initiated  significant 
changes to the Company during his term as Chairman, and has 
continued to be a very active contributor to the Board. We thank 
Chris  for  his  enthusiasm  and  insights  as  well  as  his  ongoing 
commitment to the Company’s success.

WAY FORWARD
The Company remains focused on the execution of its strategy of 
transforming  Golden  Star  to  a  low  cost  non-refractory  gold 
producer.  2015  will  be  the  last  year  that  we  deliver  meaningful 
production from refractory ore sources. We do not foresee a future 
in  refractory  production  and  for  this  reason  we  have  taken  these 
deposits out of our Mineral Reserve estimates.

Consolidated cash operating costs per ounce finished the year at 
their  lowest  point  in  over  three  years,  an  improvement  that  we 
estimate  will  continue  into  2015.  With  the  development  of  the 
underground mines at Wassa and Prestea, the average life of mine 
cash  operating  costs  for  the  Company  are  expected  to  decline. 
With these two projects expected to enter production in 2016, the 
construction  and  development  work  we  will  undertake  in  2015  is 
critical to our success.

We have entrenched our position as an established gold producer in 
Ghana by extending our life of mine plans to 2025. During 2015 we 
will continue to leverage off our favourable position as the largest 
holder of exploration permits on the Ashanti gold belt by developing 
the  Prestea  South  pits  and  assessing  further  exploration  potential 
around Wassa. 

The  Board  and  management  thank  you  for  your  continued 
confidence in Golden Star. We look forward to 2015 being the year 
during which we move Golden Star forward on the road to being a 
low-cost profitable producer of gold in Ghana.

Samuel T. Coetzer 
President and CEO 

Tim Baker
Chairman

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

5

 
RE SERV ES AND RESOURCES

PROVEN AND PROBABLE MINERAL RESERVES

December 31, 2014
PROVEN
MINERAL RESERVE

December 31, 2014
PROBABLE
MINERAL RESERVE

December 31, 2014
PROVEN + PROBABLE 
MINERAL RESERVE

December 31, 2013
PROVEN + PROBABLE 
MINERAL RESERVE

Tonnes
(000)

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

Tonnes
(000)

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

Tonnes
(000)

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

Tonnes
(000)

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

Wassa
Open Pit

Wassa 
Underground

–

–

–

–

Stockpiles

 820 

 0.73 

Wassa Other

–

–

–

–

 19 

–

 17,831 

 1.42 

 815 

 17,831 

 1.42 

 815 

 33,721 

 1.72 

 1,863 

 5,437 

 4.26 

 745 

 5,437 

–

–

–

–

–

–

 820 

–

 4.26 

 0.73 

–

 745 

 19 

–

–

 497 

 694 

–

 0.67 

 4.31 

–

 11 

 96 

Subtotal 
Wassa 

Bogoso 

Dumasi

Mampon

Prestea 
South

Prestea 
Underground

Stockpiles

Subtotal 
Bogoso

 820 

 0.73 

 19 

 23,268 

 2.09 

 1,560 

 24,089 

 2.04 

 1,579 

 34,911 

 1.75 

 1,970 

 1,251 

 2.51 

 101 

 703 

 2.54 

 57 

 1,954 

 2.52 

 158 

 4,662 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 320 

 4.43 

–

 46 

–

–

–

 8,941 

 320 

 4.43 

 46 

 1,133 

 2.63 

 2.37 

 5.24 

 394 

 682 

 191 

 315 

 2.00 

 20 

 1,381 

 2.30 

 102 

 1,697 

 2.24 

 122 

 3,139 

 2.59 

 261 

–

–

 405 

 1.82 

–

 24 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 1,434 

 405 

 1.82 

 24 

 106 

 9.61 

 1.79 

 443 

 6 

 1,971 

 2.29 

 145 

 2,405 

 2.65 

 205 

 4,376 

 2.49 

 350 

 19,415 

 3.17 

 1,977 

GSR Total

 2,791 

 1.83 

 164 

 25,673 

 2.14 

 1,765 

 28,465 

 2.11 

 1,929 

 54,327 

 2.26 

 3,947 

Notes to the Mineral Reserve Statement: 
(1) 

 The stated Mineral Reserves have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for 
Mineral Projects and are classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum’s “CIM Definition 
Standards – For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves”. Mineral Reserve estimates reflect the Company’s reasonable expectation 
that all necessary permits and approvals will be obtained and maintained. Mining dilution and mining recovery vary by deposit 
and have been applied in estimating the Mineral Reserves. 
 The 2014 Mineral Reserves were prepared under the supervision of Dr. Martin Raffield, Senior Vice President Project Development 
and Technical Services for the Company. Dr. Raffield is a “Qualified Person” as defined by Canada’s NI 43-101. 

(2) 

(3)  The Mineral Reserves at December 31, 2014 were estimated using a gold price assumption of $1,200 per ounce. 
(4) 

 The slope angles of all pit designs are based on geo-technical criteria as established by external consultants. The size and shape 
of the pit designs are guided by consideration of the results from a pit optimization program. 
 Cut-off grades have been estimated based on operating cost projections, mining dilution and recovery, royalty payment 
requirements and applicable metallurgical recovery estimates as follows: Wassa pit 0.77 g/t; Wassa underground 2.50 g/t; Bogoso 
refractory pits 1.60 g/t; Mampon and Prestea South oxide pits 1.00 g/t.

(5) 

(6)  Numbers may not add due to rounding. 

6

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

MEASURED AND INDICATED MINERAL RESOURCES

December 31, 2014
MEASURED
MINERAL RESOURCES

December 31, 2014
INDICATED
MINERAL RESOURCES

December 31, 2014
MEASURED + 
INDICATED 
MINERAL RESOURCES

December 31, 2013 
MEASURED + 
INDICATED   
MINERAL RESOURCES

Tonnes
(000)

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

Tonnes
(000)

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

Tonnes
(000)

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

Tonnes
(000)

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

Wassa
Open Pit

Wassa 
Underground

Wassa Other

Subtotal 
Wassa 

Bogoso 

Dumasi

Mampon

Prestea 
South

Prestea 
Underground

Bogoso Other

Subtotal 
Bogoso

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

33,039

1.37

1,458

33,039

1.37

1,458

45,082

1.78

2,580

11,248

5,199

4.07

3.53

1,471

11,248

590

5,199

4.07

3.53

1,471

590

2,446

3,807

3.67

3.74

289

458

49,486

2.21

3,519

49,486

2.21

3,519

51,336

2.02

3,327

1,975

3,505

–

2.56

2.49

–

163

281

2,022

10,685

–

1,859

2.67

2.39

4.37

173

820

261

3,997

14,190

1,859

2.62

2.41

4.37

336

4,553

1,102

13,123

261

1,553

2.94

2.45

4.79

431

1,032

239

1,292

2.59

108

4,430

2.43

346

5,722

2.47

454

4,304

2.67

370

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,322

14.82

4,153

2.63

630

351

1,322

14.82

4,153

2.63

630

351

1,356

14.50

3,835

2.64

632

325

6,772

2.53

551

24,471

3.28

2,583

31,243

3.12

3,134

28,724

3.28

3,029

GSR Total

6,772

2.53

551

73,957

2.57

6,101

80,730

2.56

6,653

80,060

2.47

6,356

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

7

 
RE SERV ES AND RESOURCES – CONTI NUED

 INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCES 

December 31, 2014
INFERRED
MINERAL RESOURCES

December 31, 2013
INFERRED
RESOURCES

Tonnes
(000)

137

10,331

1,127

11,596

1,293

–

344

843

3,253

908

6,642

18,238

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

Tonnes
(000)

Grade
g/t Au

Ounces
(000)

1.47

3.69

4.97

3.79

2.43

–

1.67

4.79

8.05

2.32

5.43

4.39

6

1,227

180

1,414

101

–

19

130

842

68

1,159

2,573

313

646

1,006

1,964

288

–

221

581

3,289

892

5,271

7,236

1.28

3.10

5.88

4.23

2.08

–

1.79

6.00

8.02

2.37

6.25

5.71

13

64

190

267

19

–

13

112

848

68

1,060

1,327

Wassa Open Pit

Wassa Underground

Wassa Other

Subtotal Wassa 

Bogoso 

Dumasi

Mampon

Prestea South

Prestea Underground

Bogosa Other

Subtotal Bogoso

GSR Total 

Notes to the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource and the Inferred Mineral Resources:
(1) 
The Mineral Resources were estimated in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. 
(2)  The Mineral Resources for Wassa Other include Father Brown, Benso and Chichiwilli. 
(3)  The Mineral Resources for Bogoso Other include Buesichem and Ablifa. 
(4) 

 The Wassa Underground Mineral Resource has been estimated below the $1,400 per ounce of gold pit shell using an economic gold 
grade cut-off of 2.08 g/t Au, which the Company believes would be the lower cut-off for underground. 
 The  Father  Brown  Underground  Mineral  Resource  has  been  estimated  below  the  $1,400  per  ounce  of  gold  pit  shell  using  an 
economic gold grade cut-off of 2.81 g/t Au, which the Company believes would be the lower cut-off for underground. 
 Prestea Underground Mineral Resource has been estimated below the $1,400 pit shell of Prestea South down to 3,800m elevation 
using a gold cut-off at 4.94 g/t Au.
 Mineral Resources were estimated using optimized pit shells at a gold price of $1,400 per ounce. Other than gold price, the same 
optimized  pit  shell  and  underground  parameters  and  modifying  factors  used  to  determine  the  Mineral  Reserves  were  used  to 
determine the Mineral Resources. 
 The Qualified Person reviewing and validating the estimation of the Mineral Resources is S. Mitchel Wasel, Golden Star Resources 
Vice President of Exploration.

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9)  Numbers may not add due to rounding. 

8

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

OPE R ATI ONS IN GHANA

SEFWI BELT
SEFWI BELT

KUMASI

KONONGO

ASI BASIN
ASI BASIN

M
M
KU
KU

BIBIANI

CHIRANO

EDIKAN

OBUASI

NTI BELT
NTI BELT

A
A
ASH
ASH

MAMPON
MAMPON

BOGOSO
NORTH

BUESICHEM
BUESICHEM

WASSA
WASSA

CHUJAH-DUMASI

PRESTEA UNDERGROUND

PRESTEA SOUTH

TARKWA

NZEMA

FATHER 
BROWN

TAKORADI

MINING LEASE

EXPLORATION LEASE

EXPLORATION JV

GOLD MINES / DEPOSITS

AKYEM

NEBA BELT

WIN

ACCRA

A
E

U LF O F GUIN

G

(cid:18)
(cid:18)

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

9

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR M ANAGEMENT

 DIRECTORS 

TIM BAKER
CHAIRMAN

Tim Baker was appointed Chairman of the Board in January 2013. Tim most recently served as 
the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Kinross Gold Corporation from June 
2006 to November 2010. He is a geologist with over 30 years of global project development 
and operational experience including in Chile and Tanzania where he was Executive General 
Manager for Placer Dome. Prior to this, Tim managed mining operations in the United States 
and Venezuela and held geological and production roles in Kenya and Liberia. Tim is also a 
Director of Antofagasta PLC and Sherritt International.

Tim holds a B.Sc. in Geology from Edinburgh University.

SAM COETZER
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Sam Coetzer was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Star in January 
2013  and  has  been  a  Director  of  Golden  Star  since  December  2012.  Sam  joined  Golden 
Star  in  March  2011  and  served  as  Executive  Vice  President  and  Chief  Operating  Officer  until  
December 2012. Sam is a mining engineer with over 26 years of international mining experience 
with Kinross, Xstrata, Xstrata Coal, and Placer Dome. Sam was the Senior Vice President of Red 
Back Integration at Kinross in 2010 prior to joining Golden Star.

ANU DHIR
DIRECTOR

Anu Dhir is the Managing Director of Miniqs Limited, a private group primarily interested in 
developing  resource  projects.  Anu  is  also  a  Director  of  Frontier  Rare  Earths  Limited  and  of 
Energulf Resources Inc. Prior to founding Miniqs Limited, Anu was Vice President, Corporate 
Development and Company Secretary at Katanga Mining Limited.

Anu holds a BA from the University of Toronto and a law degree (Juris Doctor) from Quinnipiac 
University, Connecticut, United States.

ROBERT DOYLE
DIRECTOR

Robert  Doyle  has  more  than  30  years  of  mining  experience;  from  international  resource 
exploration, development, and fundraising, to production. Most recently, Robert was Founder, 
and Chief Executive Officer of Medoro Resources, now known as Gran Colombia Gold Corp. 
Prior  to  this,  Robert  served  as  Executive  Vice  President  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  of  Pacific 
Rubiales  Energy,  Chief  Financial  Officer  of  Coalcorp  Mining,  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  of 
Bolivar Gold Corp. Currently, Robert serves as a Director and Chairman of the audit committee 
of  Mandalay  Resources  Corp.  and  Lead  Director  and  member  of  the  audit,  corporate 
governance and technical committees of Detour Gold Corporation.

Robert is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Director.

10

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

TONY JENSEN
DIRECTOR

Tony  Jensen  has  over  30  years  of  mining  industry  experience  and  is  President  and  Chief 
Executive Officer, and a Director of Royal Gold Inc. Prior to joining Royal Gold, Tony was the 
Mine  General  Manager  of  the  Cortez  Joint  Venture  and  spent  eighteen  years  with  Placer 
Dome. Tony has extensive experience in operations in the United States and Chile where he 
held several senior management positions. Tony serves on the World Gold Council Board of 
Directors, and is a member of the National Mining Association Board and Finance Committee, 
as well as the Advisory Board of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Tony holds a B.Sc. degree in Mining Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and also 
holds a Certificate in Finance from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

CRAIG NELSEN
DIRECTOR

Craig  Nelsen  is  a  geologist  with  over  35  years  of  experience  in  the  mining  business.  Craig 
was formerly Founder, CEO and Director of Avanti Mining. Formerly, Craig was Executive Vice 
President, Exploration of Gold Fields Limited; Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman 
of the former Metallica Resources (now New Gold), and has also held a variety of strategic 
positions at Lac Minerals Ltd.

Craig holds a M.S. degree in geology from the University of New Mexico and a B.A. in geology 
from the University of Montana.

DANIEL OWIREDU
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Daniel  joined  Golden  Star  in  September  2006  as  Vice  President,  Operations  and  was 
appointed Executive Vice President Operations and Chief Operating Officer in January 2013. He 
was subsequently appointed to the board in November 2014. Daniel has more than 30 years 
of experience in the mining sector in Ghana and West Africa. Most recently, Daniel was Deputy 
Chief  Operating  Officer  Africa  for  AngloGold  Ashanti  where  he  successfully  managed  the 
construction and operation of the Bibiani mine as well as the operation of the Siguiri, Obuasi 
and Freda Rebecca mines. Daniel has made a significant contribution to mining in Ghana as 
the country’s former President of the Chamber of Mines and more recently in his appointment 
as Chairman of the Board of the GCB Bank.

CHRIS THOMPSON
DIRECTOR

Chris  Thompson  has  40  years  of  experience  in  international  mining.  Formerly,  Chris  served 
as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields Limited; Chairman of the World Gold 
Council;  and  Founder,  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Castle  Group  Inc.  Chris  has 
served  as  Director  on  over  25  public  gold  mining  companies  including  Ram  Power  Corp., 
Teck Resources Limited, Jacobs Engineering Group, and Geosynfuels, a privately held energy 
company, and is a member of the advisory board of Pala Investments.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

11

 
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR M ANAGEMENT  – CONT INUED

BILL YEATES
DIRECTOR

Bill  Yeates  was  one  of  the  founding  partners  of  Hein  &  Associates  LLP  (Hein).  He  previously 
served  on  Hein’s  Executive  Committee  and  was  their  National  Director  of  Auditing  and 
Accounting for many years. Bill retired from Hein in 2013 and has over 40 years of auditing 
experience working with public companies specializing in extractive industries. From 2005 to 
2009, Bill served on the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council. He also has served 
on: the Professional Practice Executive Committee of the Center for Audit Quality; the Executive 
Committee of the Center for Public Company Audit Firms of the American Institute of Certified 
Public  Accountants  (“AICPA”);  the  SEC  Practice  Section  Executive  Committee  and  the  SEC 
Regulations Committee of the AICPA.

Bill  is  a  Chartered  Professional  Accountant.  He  holds  an  MBA  in  accounting  and  a  B.Sc.  in 
finance and marketing from the University of Colorado.

 SENIOR MANAGEMENT 

ANDRÉ VAN NIEKERK
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

André  van  Niekerk  joined  Golden  Star  in  2006.  André  spent  close  to  five  years  in  Ghana  as 
the  head  of  finance  and  business  operations,  after  which  he  was  transferred  back  to  the 
corporate office to take the role of Controller. André was appointed to the role of EVP & CFO 
in 2014. Whilst based in Ghana, André was Vice Chairman of the Ghanaian Chamber of Mines 
Energy  Committee  and  a  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Mines  Finance  Committee.  Prior  to 
joining Golden Star, André spent six years with KPMG serving clients in the mining and oil and 
gas industries.

BRUCE HIGSON-SMITH
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE STRATEGY

Bruce  Higson-Smith  joined  Golden  Star  in  September  2003  and  served  as  Vice  President, 
Corporate Development until his appointment as Senior Vice President Finance and Corporate 
Development in January 2012. Bruce is a mining engineer with over 30 years of experience in 
mining  and  underground  mining  operations  in  Africa.  Prior  to  joining  Golden  Star,  Bruce 
worked with Castle Group and Resource Capital Funds, where he was responsible for reviewing 
projects, conducting due diligence, negotiating and structuring mining transactions.

Bruce holds a B.Sc. in mining engineering and an ARSM from Imperial College. Bruce also holds 
an MBA in Finance.

12

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

 
 
MARTIN  RAFFIELD
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNICAL SERVICES

Martin Raffield was appointed Senior Vice President, Technical Services in August 2011. Prior to 
this, he worked from June 2007 as Principal Consultant and Practice Leader for SRK Consulting 
in Denver. Martin started his career in 1992 in South Africa working in geotechnical engineering 
at  a  number  of  deep  level  gold  mines  for  JCI.  In  2000,  he  relocated  to  Canada  with  Placer 
Dome and held the positions of Chief Engineer and Mine Superintendent at their Campbell 
Mine.  Martin  moved  to  Breakwater  Resources  in  2006  and  held  the  position  of  Manager  of 
Mining until moving to SRK in 2007.

Martin  holds  a  Ph.D.  in  geotechnical  engineering  from  the  University  of  Wales  and  is  a 
Professional Engineer registered in Ontario, Canada.

ANGELA PARR
VICE PRESIDENT INVESTOR RELATIONS AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS

Angela Parr joined Golden Star in September 2013. She is an investor relations professional with 
over eleven years of experience in the natural resources sector. Over this time, she has worked 
for companies with diamond, gemstone, iron ore and gold mining operations across most of 
sub-Saharan  Africa.  Angela  has  represented  companies  with  listings  on  the  Johannesburg, 
London,  Oslo  and  most  recently  New  York  stock  exchanges.  Angela  started  her  career  in 
investment banking in South Africa.

KAREN WALSH
VICE PRESIDENT PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Karen  Walsh  joined  Golden  Star  in  July  2012  as  Vice  President  People  and  Organizational 
Development. Prior to joining Golden Star, she spent six years consulting in the mining industry 
following her role as Vice President, Human Resources for Placer Dome Inc. Karen has a broad 
range of human resources expertise including recruiting, succession planning, cultural change 
initiatives, HR process optimization, project development feasibility studies, global leadership 
development and performance management.

MITCH WASEL
VICE PRESIDENT EXPLORATION

Mitch Wasel joined Golden Star in 1993 and initially spent six years involved in the Gross Rosebel 
project  in  Suriname.  In  1999,  Mitch  transferred  to  Ghana  where  he  has  been  involved  with 
many exploration projects, most recently the development at Wassa and Prestea. In 2005 he 
took  over  as  Exploration  Manager,  Africa  and  in  2007  Mitch  was  appointed  Vice  President 
Exploration. Prior to joining Golden Star, Mitch spent a decade working in gold and base metal 
exploration  in  north  western  Canada,  including  in  the  Northwest  Territories,  the  Yukon  and 
British Columbia.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

13

 
TA BL E  O F CONTENTS

C O N T E N T S

OVERVIEW OF GOLDEN STAR

SUMMARY OF OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

OUTLOOK FOR 2015

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS UPDATE

WASSA OPERATIONS

BOGOSO OPERATIONS

SUMMARIZED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS

SELECTED ANNUAL INFORMATION

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

LIQUIDITY OUTLOOK

TABLE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

DISCLOSURES ABOUT RISKS

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

RISK FACTORS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

15

18

21

21

23

24

27

30

30

30

31

32

32

32

32

36

37

37

37

37

38

39

40

41

14

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

OVE RV I EW OF GOLDEN STAR

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION 
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis provides information that management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding 
of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Golden Star Resources Ltd. and its subsidiaries (“Golden Star” or “the 
Company”  or  “we”  or  “our”).  This  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  (“MD&A”) 
should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 
2013,  which  are  prepared  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (“IFRS”)  as  issued  by  the  International 
Accounting  Standards  Board  (“IASB”).  This  MD&A  includes  information  available  to,  and  is  dated,  February  18,  2015.  Unless  noted 
otherwise, all amounts shown are in thousands of dollars, all currency amounts are stated in U.S. dollars and all information presented 
in this MD&A is prepared in accordance with IFRS.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This  report  contains  “forward-looking  information”  within  the  meaning  of  applicable  Canadian  securities  laws  and  “forward-looking 
statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning the business, operations 
and financial performance and condition of Golden Star. Forward-looking information and statements include, but are not limited to, 
information  or  statements  with  respect  to:  the  timing  and  amount  of  estimated  future  production  and  grades  and  associated  cash 
operating costs per ounce; the timing for transforming and the ability to transform Wassa and Prestea into lower cost producers; placing 
Bogoso on care and maintenance; the results of the Wassa preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”) for combined operations, including 
the post-tax internal rate of return and net present value (including assumed discount rates); the timing for first production from Wassa 
underground; the life of mine at Wassa and Wassa underground; pre-production capital costs, cash operating costs and all-in sustaining 
costs for Wassa underground, and future work to be completed at Wassa underground; the timing for completion of a feasibility study 
at  Wassa  underground;  the  timing  for  mining  equipment  to  be  delivered  and  construction  of  the  decline  to  commence  at  Wassa 
underground and for the Prestea Underground Mine; the results of the Prestea PEA, including initial capital expenditures, cash operating 
costs per ounce and all-in sustaining costs; Bogoso cash flows for 2015; capital spending at Wassa and Bogoso for 2015; working capital, 
debt repayments and requirements for additional capital and sources of funding for operations and capital projects.

Generally,  forward-looking  information  and  statements  can  be  identified  by  the  use  of  forward-looking  terminology  such  as  “plans”, 
“expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes” or variations of such words 
and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, 
“might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved” or the negative connotation thereof.

Forward-looking information and statements are made based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, 
could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Golden Star to be materially different from future results, performances 
or  achievements  expressed  or  implied  by  such  statements.  Such  statements  and  information  are  based  on  numerous  assumptions 
regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Golden Star will operate in the future, including the price 
of  gold,  anticipated  costs  and  ability  to  achieve  goals.  Certain  important  factors  that  could  cause  actual  results,  performances  or 
achievements to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking information and statements include, among others, gold 
price volatility, discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries, 
mining  operational  and  development  risks,  litigation  risks,  regulatory  restrictions  (including  environmental  regulatory  restrictions  and 
liability),  activities  by  governmental  authorities  (including  changes  in  taxation),  currency  fluctuations,  the  speculative  nature  of  gold 
exploration, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility, the availability of capital on reasonable terms or at all, local and 
community impacts and issues, results of pending or future feasibility studies, competition, loss of key employees, additional funding 
requirements and defective title to mineral claims or property. Although Golden Star has attempted to identify important factors that 
could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information and statements, 
there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

15

OVERVIEW OF GOLDEN STAR

SUMMARY OF OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

OUTLOOK FOR 2015

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS UPDATE

WASSA OPERATIONS

BOGOSO OPERATIONS

SUMMARIZED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS

SELECTED ANNUAL INFORMATION

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

LIQUIDITY OUTLOOK

TABLE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

DISCLOSURES ABOUT RISKS

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

RISK FACTORS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

15

18

21

21

23

24

27

30

30

30

31

32

32

32

32

36

37

37

37

37

38

39

40

41

OVE RV I EW OF GOLDEN STAR – CONT INUED

Forward-looking information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that 
may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Golden Star to be materially different from those expressed or implied by 
such  forward-looking  information  and  statements,  including  but  not  limited  to:  risks  related  to  international  operations,  including 
economic and political instability in foreign jurisdictions in which Golden Star operates; risks related to current global financial conditions; 
risks related to joint venture operations; actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; possible 
variations in mineral reserves and mineral resources, grade or recovery rates; mine development and operating risks; accidents, labor 
disputes  and  other  risks  of  the  mining  industry;  delays  in  obtaining  governmental  approvals  or  financing  or  in  the  completion  of 
development  or  construction  activities;  risks  related  to  indebtedness  and  the  service  of  such  indebtedness,  as  well  as  those  factors 
discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Golden Star’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2013. Additional 
risk factors, if applicable, will be included in our annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2014, which will be filed on 
SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Golden Star has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ 
materially from those contained in forward-looking information and statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be 
as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and 
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on 
forward-looking  information  and  statements.  Forward-looking  information  and  statements  are  made  as  of  the  date  hereof  and 
accordingly are subject to change after such date. Except as otherwise indicated by Golden Star, these statements do not reflect the 
potential impact of any non-recurring or other special items or of any dispositions, monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other business 
combinations or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur after the date hereof. Forward-looking information and 
statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans and allowing 
investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company’s operating environment. Golden Star does not undertake to update 
any forward-looking information and statements that are included in this MD&A, except as required by applicable securities laws.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING RESERVES AND RESOURCES
Scientific and technical information contained in this MD&A was reviewed and approved by Dr. Martin Raffield, Senior Vice-President, 
Technical  Services  for  Golden  Star  who  is  a  “qualified  person”  as  defined  by  National  Instrument  43-101  –  Standards  of  Disclosure  for 
Mineral  Projects  (“NI  43-101”)  and  by  S.  Mitchel  Wasel,  BSc  Geology  who  is  a  Qualified  Person  pursuant  to  National  Instrument  43-101. 
Mr. Wasel is Vice President Exploration for Golden Star and an active member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. All 
mineral reserves and mineral resources have been calculated in accordance with the standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining, 
Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) and NI 43-101. All mineral resources are reported inclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral resources which 
are not mineral reserves have not demonstrated economic viability. Information on data verification performed on the mineral properties 
mentioned in this MD&A that are considered to be material mineral properties to the Company are contained in Golden Star’s Annual 
Information  Form  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2013  and  the  following  current  technical  reports  for  those  properties  available  at 
www.sedar.com:  (i)  Wassa  –  “NI  43-101  Technical  Report  on  a  preliminary  economic  assessment  of  the  Wassa  open  pit  mine  and 
underground  project  in  Ghana”  effective  date  October  30,  2014;  (ii)  Bogoso  –  “NI  43-101  Technical  Report  on  Resources  and  Reserves 
Golden Star Resources Ltd., Bogoso Prestea Gold Mine, Ghana” effective date December 31, 2014; and (iii) Prestea Underground – “NI 43-101 
Technical Report on Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Shrinkage Mining of the West Reef Resource, Prestea Underground Mine, 
Ghana” effective date December 18, 2013.

16

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS
This MD&A has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ materially from 
the requirements of United States securities laws applicable to U.S. companies. Information concerning our mineral properties has been 
prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ in material respects from the requirements of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) set forth in Industry Guide 7. Under the SEC’s Industry Guide 7, mineralization may not 
be classified as a “reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced 
or extracted at the time of the reserve determination, and the SEC does not recognize the reporting of mineral deposits which do not meet 
the  SEC  Industry  Guide  7  definition  of  “Reserve”.  In  accordance  with  NI  43-101,  the  terms  “mineral  reserve”,  “proven  mineral  reserve”, 
“probable  mineral  reserve”,  “mineral  resource”,  “measured  mineral  resource”,  “indicated  mineral  resource”  and  “inferred  mineral 
resource” are defined in accordance with CIM standards. While the terms “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated 
mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are recognized and required by NI 43-101, the SEC does not recognize them. You are 
cautioned that, except for that portion of mineral resources classified as mineral reserves, mineral resources do not have demonstrated 
economic viability. Inferred mineral resources have a high degree of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be 
economically or legally mined. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher 
category. Therefore, you are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists, that it can be economically 
or legally mined, or that it will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Likewise, you are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of 
measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be upgraded into mineral reserves.

OVERVIEW OF GOLDEN STAR
Golden Star is an established gold mining company that holds a 90% interest in the Wassa, Prestea and Bogoso gold mines in Ghana. 
The Company is pursuing brownfield development projects at its Wassa and Prestea mines that are expected to transform these mines 
into lower cost producers from 2016 onwards. The Company is a reporting issuer or the equivalent in all provinces of Canada, in Ghana 
and in the United States, and files disclosure documents with securities regulatory authorities in Canada, Ghana and with the SEC in the 
United States.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

17

 
2 014 HI GHLIGHTS

SUMMARY OF OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

OPERATING SUMMARY
Wassa gold sold
Bogoso gold sold

TOTAL GOLD SOLD

Average realized gold price

Cash operating cost per ounce – Wassa1
Cash operating cost per ounce – Bogoso1
Cash operating cost per ounce1
All-in sustaining cost per ounce1

FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Gold revenues
Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization
Mine operating margin/(loss)
General and administrative expense
(Gain)/loss on fair value of 5% Convertible Debentures
Impairment charges
Income tax recovery
Net loss attributable to Golden Star shareholders
Adjusted net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star 
shareholders2

Net loss per share attributable to Golden Star 
shareholders – basic and diluted
Adjusted net income/(loss) per share attributable to 
Golden Star shareholders – basic and diluted2

Cash flow provided by/(used in) operations

Cash provided by operations before working 
capital changes3
Cash provided by/(used in) operations per share – 
basic and diluted
Cash provided by operations before working capital 
changes per share – basic and diluted3

Capital expenditures

For the three months ended 
December 31,

For the years ended 
December 31,

2014

2013

2014

2013

oz
oz

oz

$/oz

$/oz
$/oz
$/oz
$/oz

$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000

$’000

25,831
46,254

44,337
31,093

112,831
147,957

185,807
144,999

72,085

75,430

260,788

330,806

1,201

908
926
919
1,059

86,586
71,410
8,150
7,026
2,819
(1,501)
57,747
(254)
(48,155)

1,273

881
1,391
1,091
1,373

96,034
88,549
9,673
(2,188)
5,097
1,624
159,704
(1,518)
(148,576)

1,261

971
1,180
1,090
1,252

328,915
304,912
26,219
(2,216)
16,367
538
57,747
(254)
(73,079)

1,414

805
1,361
1,049
1,326

467,796
377,140
59,966
30,690
21,515
(51,967)
355,624
(12,331)
(265,892)

8,825

(6,466)

(12,234)

(21,493)

$/share

(0.19)

(0.57)

$/share

$’000

0.03

4,316

(0.02)

(2,463)

(0.28)

(0.05)

59,246

(1.03)

(0.08)

$’000

11,682

2,866

3,088

30,328

$/share

$/share

$’000

0.03

0.05

9,219

(0.01)

0.01

22,513

0.23

0.01

0.12

33,655

102,867

1 

2 

 See  “Non-GAAP  Financial  Measures”  below  for  a  reconciliation  of  cash  operating  cost  per  ounce  and  all-in  sustaining  cost  per  ounce  to  cost  of  sales  before  depreciation  and 
amortization.
 See  “Non-GAAP  Financial  Measures”  below  for  a  reconciliation  of  adjusted  net  income/(loss)  attributable  to  Golden  Star  shareholders  and  adjusted  net  income/(loss)  per  share 
attributable to Golden Star shareholders to net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders and net income/(loss) per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders.

3   See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for an explanation of the calculation of cash provided by/(used in) operations before working capital changes and cash provided by/(used 

in) operations before working capital changes per share.

18

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

•   Consolidated cash operating cost per ounce was $1,090 in 2014, 4% higher compared to $1,049 in 2013. Wassa’s cash operating 
cost per ounce was $971 in 2014 compared to $805 in 2013. Bogoso’s cash operating cost per ounce was $1,180 in 2014 compared to 
$1,361 in 2013. The decrease in cash operating cost per ounce at Bogoso was a result of lower strip ratio and lower mining costs at 
Chujah as the mine realized the benefits of the betterment stripping that was completed in May 2014. Although Bogoso achieved its 
lowest cash operating cost per ounce in four years, the reduction was more than offset by the increase in cash operating cost per 
ounce at Wassa. The higher cash operating cost per ounce at Wassa was due to the lower grades and lower throughput in 2014 as 
Father Brown mining was completed in May 2014. For the fourth quarter of 2014, consolidated cash operating cost per ounce totaled 
$919  compared  to  consolidated  cash  operating  cost  per  ounce  of  $1,091  for  the  same  period  in  2013.  Bogoso  achieved  its  lowest 
quarterly cash operating cost per ounce in four years, averaging $926 for the fourth quarter of 2014, down from $1,391 per ounce during 
the same period in 2013. Wassa’s cash operating cost per ounce totaled $908 in the fourth quarter of 2014, up from $881 in the same 
period in 2013 as a result of lower gold production due to lower grades and lower throughput. Mining at the Father Brown pit was 
completed in May 2014, and as a result, there was no higher grade ore processed from the Father Brown pit in the fourth quarter of 2014.

•   Gold sales of 260,788 ounces in 2014 were 21% lower than the 330,806 ounces sold in 2013. The decrease in gold sales were due 
mainly to the lower throughput, lower grades processed and lower recovery achieved at Wassa as a result of the completion of mining 
of the Father Brown pit in May 2014. Bogoso gold sales increased by 2% in 2014 compared to 2013 whereas Wassa gold sales decreased 
by 39%. For the fourth quarter of 2014, gold sold decreased marginally to 72,085 ounces, from 75,430 ounces sold during the same 
period in 2013 due mainly to the lower throughput and lower grades processed in Wassa. Throughput at Wassa was affected in the 
fourth quarter of 2014 by the load shedding plan adopted in support for the Ghanaian Ministry of Power’s effort to resolve the power 
supply deficit in Ghana. The completion of mining from the Father Brown pit in May 2014 also contributed to less ore processed and 
lower ore grades processed at Wassa. 

•   Gold revenues totaled $328.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with $467.8 million in 2013, due to a 
decline in realized gold prices and lower gold production. The average realized gold price decreased from $1,414 per ounce in 2013 
to $1,261 in 2014. Gold revenues for the fourth quarter of 2014 decreased to $86.6 million compared to $96.0 million in the same period 
in 2013, due to the decline in gold prices and fewer ounces sold. The average realized gold price decreased from $1,273 per ounce in the 
fourth quarter of 2013 to $1,201 in the fourth quarter of 2014. 

•   Mine operating expenses totaled $297.5 million, down $41.7 million from $339.0 million incurred in 2013. The decrease in mine 
operating expenses at Wassa was due to lower contract mining costs and lower haulage costs incurred in 2014 compared to 2013. The 
decrease in mine operating expenses at Bogoso was a result of 42% lower tonnage mined in 2014 compared to 2013. For the fourth 
quarter of 2014, mine operating expenses decreased to $70.9 million compared to $84.8 million in the same period in 2013, due to lower 
mining and haulage costs at Wassa and lower mining costs at Bogoso. The decrease in mine operating expenses at Wassa was due 
to lower contract mining costs and lower haulage costs incurred during the fourth quarter compared to the same prior year period as 
mining at the Father Brown pit was completed at the end of the second quarter of 2014. The decrease in mine operating expenses at 
Bogoso was a result of lower tonnage mined in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to same period in 2013. 

•   Depreciation and amortization expense for 2014 decreased to $26.2 million, from $60.0 million in 2013. For the fourth quarter of 
2014, depreciation and amortization expense decreased to $8.2 million, down from $9.7 million in the same period in 2013. The net book 
value of the Company’s mining property and plant and equipment decreased due to impairment charges recorded during 2013, and 
resulted in a decrease in depreciation and amortization expense in the full year and fourth quarter of 2014. 

•   General  and  administrative  costs  decreased  by  24%,  to  $16.4  million  in  2014  down  from  $21.5  million  in  2013. For the fourth 
quarter of 2014, general and administrative costs totaled $2.8 million, down from $5.1 million in the same period in 2013. The decrease 
in head office costs resulted in lower general and administrative costs for the fourth quarter and for the full year of 2014 compared to 
the same periods in 2013.

•   The Company recorded a non-cash fair value loss of $0.5 million on the 5% Convertible Debentures in 2014 compared to a 
non-cash fair value gain of $52.0 million in 2013. This was calculated based on the discounted cash flows of the debt component 
and a Black-Scholes valuation of the conversion feature. The non-cash fair value gain in the prior year was a result of a change in the 
risk  profile  of  the  5%  Convertible  Debentures  as  gold  prices  declined  significantly  during  2013.  For  the  fourth  quarter  of  2014,  the 
Company recorded a non-cash fair value gain of $1.5 million on the 5% Convertible Debentures compared to a non-cash fair value of 
$1.6 million recorded in 2013. 

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

19

2 014 HI GHLIGHTS – CONTI NUED

•   Income  tax  recovery  for  2014  totaled  $0.3  million  compared  to  $12.3  million  in  2013.  A  deferred  tax  recovery  of  $32.9  million 
relating to the impairment charges was recorded on the Wassa long term assets for 2013, partially offset by the Wassa current tax 
expense of $20.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Income tax recovery for the fourth quarter of 2014 totaled $0.3 million, 
as compared to $1.5 million income tax expense in the same period in 2013. The lower tax expense compared to the same prior year 
quarter was due to the lower net income generated by Wassa compared to 2013.

•   An Impairment charge of $57.7 million was recorded for 2014 compared to $355.6 million for 2013. The impairment charge for 
2014 was comprised of $30.0 million on Bogoso refractory assets, $18.0 million on materials and supplies inventory and $9.7 million on 
exploration and evaluation assets compared to the $355.6 million impairment of both Wassa and Bogoso assets in 2013. 

•   Net loss attributable to Golden Star shareholders for 2014 totaled $73.1 million or $0.28 loss per share, compared with a net 
loss of $265.9 million or $1.03 loss per share for 2013. An impairment charge of $57.7 million was recorded in 2014 compared to 
$355.6 million in 2013 and was partially offset by a $52.0 million gain on the fair value of the 5% Convertible Debentures in 2013. For the 
fourth quarter of 2014, net loss attributable to Golden Star shareholders totaled $48.2 million or $0.19 loss per share compared to a net 
loss of $148.6 million or $0.57 loss per share for the same period in 2013. The net loss was lower in the fourth quarter of 2014 as an 
impairment charge of $57.7 million was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to impairment charge of $159.7 million in 
the same period of 2013. 

•   Adjusted net loss attributable to Golden Star shareholders (see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section) was $12.2 million in 
2014, compared to $21.5 million for 2013. Adjusted net loss attributable to Golden Star shareholders for the fourth quarter totaled 
$8.8 million, compared to $6.5 million for the same period in 2013. 

•   Cash provided by operations before working capital changes was $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared 
to $30.3 million in 2013 primarily as a result of the lower gold production in 2014. Cash provided by operations decreased in 2014 
compared to 2013 due to lower gold revenues resulting from lower realized gold prices and less gold ounces sold compared to 2013. 
Cash  provided  by  operations  before  working  capital  changes  totaled  $11.7  million  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  2014,  compared  to 
$2.9 million for the same period in 2013. Cash provided by operations increased for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to the same 
prior year period due to lower mine operating expenses incurred. 

•   Capital expenditures for 2014 totaled $33.7 million compared to $102.9 million in 2013. During 2014, the major capital expenditures 
at Wassa included $7.9 million on development drilling below the Wassa Main pit. Capital expenditures at Bogoso in 2014 included 
$6.0 million on Prestea Underground and $5.9 million of capitalized betterment stripping costs at the Chujah pit. Capital expenditures 
at Wassa and Bogoso for the fourth quarter totaled $9.2 million compared to $22.5 million incurred in the same period in 2013. Capital 
expenditures were lower compared to 2013 as a result of the Company focusing 2014 capital spending on the development projects at 
Wassa and Prestea as well as the Chujah stripping that was completed in May 2014. 

20

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

OUTLOOK FOR 2015

PRODUCTION AND COST GUIDANCE

Wassa
Bogoso

CONSOLIDATED

Gold production
thousands of ounces

Cash operating costs
$ per ounce

Capital spending
$ millions

105 – 120
145 – 155

250 – 275

850 – 990
870 – 960

860 – 980

41
15

56

Production and cash operating costs
Wassa – Production is expected to be maintained at approximately the same level as 2014. Steady improvement in feed grade to the 
processing plant is expected as pit depth increases, which should result in improvement of cash operating costs per ounce.

Bogoso  –  Production  is  expected  to  be  similar  to  2014.  The  refractory  operation  is  expected  to  contribute  approximately  130,000  to 
135,000 ounces in 2015 prior to a planned suspension in late 2015 (See “Bogoso refractory operation” in Corporate Development section 
below). The remaining gold production at Bogoso is expected to be contributed by the tailings reclaim operation.

Capital expenditures
Wassa – The Company expects to spend $41 million in development capital expenditures, $27 million of which relates to development of 
the Wassa underground mine. The remaining amount is expected to be spent on sustaining capital expenditures such as plant upgrades 
and purchases of equipment.

Bogoso – The Company expects to spend $13 million in development capital expenditures and $2 million in sustaining capital expenditures. 
Capital expenditures of $13 million are expected to be incurred on development of the Prestea Underground Mine.

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS

GOLD PRICES
Spot  gold  prices  decreased  marginally  from  $1,202  per  ounce  at  the  beginning  of  2014  to  $1,199  per  ounce  at  the  end  of  year.  The 
Company  realized  an  average  gold  price  of  $1,261  per  ounce  for  gold  sales  during  2014,  11%  lower  than  the  average  realized  price  of 
$1,414 per ounce for 2013 due to the decline in average spot price of gold. The spot gold price on February 18, 2015 was $1,206 per ounce.

$25 MILLION MEDIUM TERM LOAN FACILITY FROM ECOBANK
During  the  third  quarter  of  2014,  the  Company  through  its  subsidiary  Golden  Star  (Wassa)  Limited  entered  into  an  agreement  with 
Ecobank Ghana Limited regarding a $25 million secured Medium Term Loan Facility (“Ecobank Loan II”) in addition to the $50 million 
facility entered into in July 2013 (“Ecobank Loan I”). The loan will be available to finance the development of an underground mine at 
Wassa. The loan has a repayment term of 60 months from the date of initial drawdown and is secured by, among other things, Wassa’s 
existing plant, machinery and equipment. The interest rate on the loan is three month LIBOR plus 11% per annum, payable monthly in 
arrears beginning a month following an initial drawdown. Payment of principal commences six months following the initial drawdown 
and is payable thereafter quarterly. The Company will be required to adhere to certain financial covenants from the end of 2016. The 
Company has twelve months to drawdown the loan. At December 31, 2014, the Company has not made any drawdown on this facility.

BOGOSO REFRACTORY OPERATION
The refractory operation at Bogoso will be suspended and placed on care and maintenance when the Bogoso North and Chujah pits 
are mined out in late 2015. This is in keeping with the Company’s strategy of lowering the cash operating cost per ounce by focusing future 
mining and processing on non-refractory ore types which require lower processing costs than refractory ores.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

21

CORP ORATE DEVELOPMENTS – CONT I NUED

The Company recorded impairment charges of $48.0 million on Bogoso assets at December 31, 2014 as a result of the planned suspension 
of refractory operation. Mining property related impairment charges totaled $30.0 million, which comprised of $11.7 million relating to 
mine  property,  $9.3  million  relating  to  construction  in  progress  and  $9.0  million  relating  to  property,  plant  and  equipment.  These 
impairment charges represent the excess of carrying values over the recoverable amounts of the Bogoso refractory assets. An additional 
$18.0 million of materials and supplies inventory at the Bogoso refractory operation were also written down. Based on a review of the 
inventory turnover and the expected inventory usage prior to the suspension of the refractory operation it was determined that the net 
realizable value exceeded the cost of the inventory, resulting in the $18 million write off.

The  Company  is  currently  developing  a  care  and  maintenance  plan  to  maintain  the  refractory  processing  plant  subsequent  to 
suspension of the plant and are in the process of determining the associated care and maintenance, holding and employee severance 
costs. The Company currently estimates employee severance to be between $12 million to $16 million which is expected to be incurred and 
expensed in 2015.

WRITE DOWN OF EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS
The Company recorded a write down of $9.7 million on exploration and evaluation assets as the Company has determined that it is 
unlikely that development on these exploration and evaluation assets will proceed at current expected gold prices.

POWER RESTRICTIONS IN GHANA
Since December 2014, the Volta River Authority (“VRA”), the Ghana government’s subsidiary which controls Ghanaian power supply, has 
rationed electric power to all power users in Ghana, including the mining sector. Ghana’s major power generating source, the Akosombo 
Hydroelectric Power Station on the Volta river has cut back its power output over the past several months due to historical low water levels 
in the Akosombo reservoir which feeds the Akosombo power plant. Rainfall over the last several months has not been sufficient to restore 
the  reservoir  water  levels  to  a  point  that  would  allow  continuous  unrestricted  operations.  Additionally,  the  thermal  power  plants  are 
running significantly below capacity causing a further power shortfall of almost 300 megawatts in Ghana.

Ghana has implemented both short and long-term remediation plans to bring the power supply back to capacity. These projects include 
increasing the gas supply, construction of power barges, construction of a power plant and pursuing solar, wind, liquefied natural gas 
and oil projects.

In light of the power supply deficit in Ghana, the Company supported the Ghanaian Ministry of Power’s load shedding plan in December 
2014. The reduction in power usage was achieved by a combination of (i) reducing the plant throughput at Wassa, (ii) limiting activities 
at the Prestea underground mine and (iii) operating our stand-by diesel generating capacity. By taking these actions, the Company was 
able to continue operations at Wassa and Bogoso but the high cost of diesel for our generators has contributed to higher operating costs.

22

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS UPDATE

WASSA
Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”)
The PEA on the development of an underground mining operation at Wassa has been completed and published on SEDAR. It is the 
Company’s objective to develop an underground mine at Wassa that will operate in conjunction with the existing open pit mine. A Mineral 
Resource estimate for Wassa, on which this PEA was based, was recently updated. Below is a summary of the results of the Wassa PEA:

•   Assuming  an  open  pit  and  underground  mining  scenario,  total  Measured  and  Indicated  Mineral  Resources  at  Wassa  are  now 

35.7 million tonnes at 2.22 g/t Au for 2.5 million ounces of gold

•   Substantial increase in Inferred Mineral Resources at Wassa to 9 million tonnes at an average grade of 3.88g/t for 1.1 million ounces of gold

•   Post-tax internal rate of return of 129% estimated for Wassa mine, at $1,300 per ounce gold price

•   Net present value of $350 million estimate for Wassa mine based on discount rate of 5% and $1,300 per ounce gold price

•   Pre-production incremental capital expenditure for Wassa underground estimated at $41 million

•   First production from Wassa underground expected in early 2016, with an estimated mine life of ten years thereafter for combined 

operation

•   Estimated cash operating cost of $684 per ounce for the combined Wassa operations over the life of the mine

•   Estimated all-in sustaining costs of $778 per ounce for combined Wassa operations over the life of the mine

•   Work  has  commenced  on  a  feasibility  study  and  the  construction  of  exploration  decline  is  expected  to  commence  in  the  second 

quarter of 2015

Prior  to  year  end,  Wassa  received  the  necessary  permits  to  commence  development  of  an  exploration  decline  which  will  facilitate 
definition  drilling  and  obtaining  a  bulk  sample  of  the  higher  grade  ore  below  the  Wassa  Main  pit.  Should  the  feasibility  study  on  a 
combined open pit and underground mining operation have a favourable outcome and the necessary underground mining permits be 
received, the decline will be the primary access to the underground operation.

Orders were placed in December 2014 for the underground mining equipment. This equipment is expected to be delivered in the first 
quarter of 2015 which will allow for construction of the decline to start in the second quarter of 2015.

BOGOSO
Prestea Underground Mine
The  PEA  on  the  development  of  the  Prestea  Underground  Mine  has  been  completed  and  published  on  SEDAR.  The  PEA  is  based  on 
development of a non-mechanized mining operation at Prestea. The capital  expenditure  associated  with  a non-mechanized  mine is 
substantially lower and delivers better internal rate of return than the previously contemplated mechanized mining option. Below is a 
summary of the results of the PEA for the Prestea Underground Mine:

•   Post-tax internal rate of return of 72% at $1,200 per ounce gold price

•   Net present value of $121 million estimate for Prestea mine based on discount rate of 5% and $1,200 per ounce gold price

•   Initial capital expenditure of approximately $40 million required to first production

•   Total project life of five years, after one year of development

•   Estimated cash operating cost of $370 per ounce

•   Estimated all-in sustaining costs of $518 per ounce 

•   Payback period of 2.5 years from the start of development

During 2014, the Company incurred capital expenditures totaling $8.6 million for the Prestea Underground Mine. The shrinkage mining 
feasibility study has been commenced and is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2015. The Company expects to 
incur a total of $12.6 million of capital expenditures on the Prestea Underground Mine in 2015, which include expenditures relating to track 
rehabilitation, water pumping and shaft steel replacement.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

23

WASSA OPERATIONS
Through a 90% owned subsidiary Golden Star (Wassa) Limited, the Company owns and operates the Wassa open pit mine, located 
approximately  35  kilometers  east  of  the  town  of  Bogoso,  Ghana.  Wassa  has  a  non-refractory  processing  plant  (“Wassa  processing 
plant”)  consisting  of  a  carbon-in-leach  (“CIL”)  system  with  a  capacity  of  2.7  million  tonnes  per  annum.  Ore  from  the  Wassa  mine  is 
processed at the Wassa processing plant.

WASSA FINANCIAL RESULTS
Revenue

Mine operating expenses
Royalties
Operating costs from/(to) metals inventory

COST OF SALES EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION 
AND AMORTIZATION

Depreciation and amortization

MINE OPERATING MARGIN
Capital expenditures

WASSA OPERATING RESULTS
Ore mined
Waste mined
Ore processed
Grade processed
Recovery
Gold sales
Cash operating cost per ounce1

For the three months ended 
December 31,

For the years ended 
December 31,

2014

2013

2014

2013

30,979

26,559
1,550
(3,107)

56,530

39,168
2,829
(98)

142,734

114,667
7,144
(4,326)

263,072

145,484
13,171
4,411

25,002

41,899

117,485

163,066

4,439

1,538
5,941

5,442

9,189
8,634

14,619

10,630
16,406

40,883

59,123
33,570

653,061
2,830,078
651,462
1.32
93.4
25,831
908

557,869
3,667,459
711,348
2.02
93.2
44,337
881

2,656,064
12,398,568
2,629,029
1.41
92.7
112,831
971

2,053,259
13,258,797
2,695,284
2.29
94.5
185,807
805

$’000

$’000
$’000
$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000
$’000

t
t
t
g/t
%
oz
$/oz

1  See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a reconciliation of cash operating cost per ounce to cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization.

24

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013 
Production
Gold sales were 25,831 ounces for the fourth quarter of 2014, a 42% decrease from the 44,337 ounces sold during the same period of 2013. 
Production was impacted by a 35% reduction in ore grade processed and a 8% reduction in throughput compared to the same prior year 
period. Throughput was affected by the load shedding plan adopted in support for the Ghanaian Energy Commission’s effort to resolve 
the power supply deficit in Ghana. The completion of mining at the Father Brown pit in May 2014 resulted in lower grade ore processed 
in the fourth quarter of 2014 as compared to the same prior year period. 

Gold revenues
Gold revenues were $31.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $56.5 million for the same period in 2013. The decrease was 
due to a 42% decrease in gold production and a 6% decline in the average realized gold price from $1,275 per ounce for the quarter ended 
December 31, 2013 to $1,199 per ounce for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. 

Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization
Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization for Wassa totaled $25.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2014, $16.9 million lower 
than the $41.9 million incurred during the same period of 2013. The lower cost of sales is mainly related to the $12.6 million decrease in mine 
operating expenses as a result of lower mining and lower haulage costs incurred following completion of mining at the Father Brown pit 
in  the  second  quarter  of  2014.  Inventory  build  up  and  lower  royalty  expense  also  contributed  to  the  lower  cost  of  sales  excluding 
depreciation and amortization for the fourth quarter of 2014. Royalty expense was lower as a result of lower gold revenue in the fourth 
quarter compared to same prior year period.

Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization for the fourth quarter of 2014 decreased to $4.4 million from $5.4 million during the same prior year period 
as a result of impairment charges recorded in 2013 which reduced the carrying value of Wassa’s assets for the current year.

Cash operating cost per ounce
Wassa’s cash operating cost per ounce for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $908, up 3% from $881 in the same prior year period. Despite 
cash operating costs for the fourth quarter of 2014 being lower than the same period period of 2013, cash operating cost per ounce was 
slightly higher due to lower gold production. 

Capital expenditures
Capital  expenditures  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  2014  totaled  $5.9  million  compared  with  $8.6  million  during  the  same  period  in  2013. 
Sustaining capital expenditures totaled $2.2 million during the three months ended December 31, 2014 compared to $5.9 million incurred 
the comparable period of 2013. Development capital expenditures totaled $3.7 million during the three months ended December 31, 2014 
and $2.7 million in the same period of 2013. $1.5 million of development capital expenditures in the fourth quarter related to development 
drilling below the Wassa Main pit.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

25

WAS SA  OPERATIONS – CONTINUED

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013 
Production
Gold sales were 112,831 ounces for 2014, a 39% decrease from the 185,807 ounces sold during 2013. Production was impacted by the lower 
grade ore processed and lower recovery as the Company completed mining at the higher grade Father Brown pit during the second 
quarter of 2014. 

Gold revenues
Gold  revenues  were  $142.7  million  for  2014,  compared  to  $263.1  million  for  2013.  The  decrease  was  due  to  a  39%  decrease  in  gold 
production and the decline in the average realized gold price from $1,416 per ounce for the year ended December 31, 2013 to $1,265 per 
ounce for the year ended December 31, 2014. 

Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization
Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization for Wassa was $117.5 million for 2014, $45.6 million lower than the $163.1 million 
incurred during 2013. The lower cost of sales is mainly related to the $30.8 million decrease in mine operating expenses due to lower 
contract mining costs, lower haulage and salaries costs incurred as a result of completion of mining of the Father Brown pit during the 
second quarter of 2014. Inventory build up and lower royalty expense also contributed to the lower cost of sales excluding depreciation 
and amortization for 2014. Royalties were lower as a result of lower gold sales in 2014 compared to 2013.

Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation  and  amortization  for  2014  decreased  to  $14.6  million  from  $40.9  million  in  2013.  The  decrease  is  a  result  of  impairment 
charges recorded in 2013 which reduced the carrying value of Wassa’s assets for 2014.

Cash operating cost per ounce
Wassa’s cash operating cost per ounce for 2014 totaled $971, up 21% from $805 in 2013. Wassa’s cash operating costs of $109.5 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2014 were 27% lower than the $149.6 million incurred during 2013; however, due to lower grades, the 39% 
decrease  in  ounces  of  gold  sold  compared  to  2013  more  than  offset  the  lower  total  cash  operating  costs,  resulting  in  higher  cash 
operating costs per ounce. 

Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures for 2014 were $16.4 million compared with $33.6 million in 2013. Sustaining capital expenditures were $4.6 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $17.7 million incurred in 2013. Development capital expenditures were $11.8 million for the 
year ended December 31, 2014 and $15.9 million in 2013. Development capital expenditures in 2014 included $7.9 million in development 
drilling at the Wassa Main pit and $2.9 million on the tailings storage facility.

26

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

 
BOGOSO OPERATIONS
Through a 90% owned subsidiary Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited, the Company owns and operates the Bogoso gold mining and 
processing  operations  located  near  the  town  of  Bogoso,  Ghana.  Bogoso  operates  a  gold  ore  processing  facility  with  a  capacity  of 
2.7  million  tonnes  of  ore  per  annum,  which  uses  bio-oxidation  technology  to  treat  refractory  ore  (“Bogoso  refractory  plant”).  The 
Company plans to suspend the refractory mining operation and place the Bogoso refractory processing plant on care and maintenance 
in the second half of 2015. Bogoso also has a CIL processing facility located adjacent to the Bogoso refractory plant, which is suitable for 
treating non-refractory gold ores (“Bogoso non-refractory plant”) with capacity of up to 1.5 million tonnes per annum.

Through Bogoso, the Company owns the Prestea Underground Mine, which is located on the Prestea property and consists of a currently 
inactive underground gold mine and associated support facilities.

BOGOSO FINANCIAL RESULTS
Revenue

Mine operating expenses
Royalties
Operating costs from/(to) metals inventory

COST OF SALES EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION 
AND AMORTIZATION

Depreciation and amortization

MINE OPERATING MARGIN/(LOSS)
Capital expenditures

BOGOSO OPERATING RESULTS
Ore mined refractory
Ore mined non-refractory

TOTAL ORE MINED
Waste mined
Refractory ore processed
Refractory ore grade
Gold recovery – refractory ore
Non-refractory ore processed
Non-refractory ore grade
Gold recovery – non-refractory ore
Gold sold refractory
Gold sold non-refractory
Gold sales (total)
Cash operating cost per ounce1

For the three months ended 
December 31,

For the years ended 
December 31,

2014

2013

2014

2013

55,607

44,362
2,782
(736)

39,504

45,649
1,977
(976)

186,181

182,864
9,315
(4,752)

204,724

193,490
10,243
10,341

46,408

46,650

187,427

214,074

3,711

5,488
3,278

4,231

11,600

19,083

(11,377)
13,879

(12,846)
17,249

(28,433)
69,079

729,921
–

729,921
1,694,068
665,123
2.73
72.2
331,769
1.02
39.4
41,968
4,286
46,254
926

539,882
545

540,427
5,063,279
563,204
1.59
60.6
475,835
1.07
46.1
23,972
7,121
31,093
1,391

2,690,760
–

2,690,760
12,169,105
2,542,273
2.30
70.3
1,382,213
0.96
39.2
130,208
17,749
147,957
1,180

1,755,039
391,289

2,146,328
23,409,092
2,352,314
2.24
68.7
1,190,954
1.39
48.1
119,856
25,143
144,999
1,361

$’000

$’000
$’000
$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000
$’000

t
t

t
t
t
g/t
%
t
g/t
%
oz
oz
oz
$/oz

1   See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a reconciliation of cash operating cost per ounce to cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

27

BOG OS O OPERATIONS – CONTINUED

THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013 
Production
Bogoso  gold  sales  were  46,254  ounces  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  2014  compared  to  31,093  ounces  during  the  same  period  of  2013. 
Refractory gold sales increased to 41,968 ounces in the fourth quarter of 2014 from the 23,972 ounces sold in the same period of 2013 due 
to higher plant throughput, higher ore grade and higher recovery. The higher refractory ore grade in 2014 was due to higher ore grades 
mined at depth from the Chujah and Bogoso North pits.

Non-refractory gold sales decreased to 4,286 ounces in the fourth quarter of 2014, down 40% from the 7,121 ounces sold in the same period 
of 2013. The decrease in sales in the non-refractory operation was due to lower recovery and lower grade feed from the tailings reclaim 
material during this quarter compared to the same prior year period. 

Gold revenues
Gold revenues for the fourth quarter of 2014 were $55.6 million, up $16.1 million from $39.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Gold sold 
totaled 46,254 ounces in the fourth quarter of 2014, up 49% ounces from 31,093 ounces sold in the same period of 2013. The realized gold 
price was down 5%, averaging $1,202 per ounce in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with $1,271 per ounce in the same period last year. 

Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization
Bogoso’s  cost  of  sales  excluding  depreciation  and  amortization  was  $46.4  million  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  2014,  down  slightly  from 
$46.7 million for the same period of 2013. The decrease was mostly due to a $1.3 million decrease in mine operating expenses as a result 
of  lower  tonnage  mined  and  reduced  headcount  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2014  compared  to  the  same  period  of  2013,  offset  by  an 
$0.8 million increase in royalty expense. 

Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased to $3.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2014 from $4.2 million for the fourth quarter of 
2013 is the result of impairment charges recorded in 2013 which reduced the carrying value of Bogoso’s assets for 2014.

Cash operating cost per ounce
Bogoso achieved its lowest quarterly cash operating cost per ounce in four years, averaging $926 for the fourth quarter of 2014, down 
from $1,391 in the same period in 2013. The substantial decrease in cash operating cost per ounce was the result of the lower strip ratio 
producing lower mining costs at Chujah as the mine realized the benefits of the betterment stripping that was completed in May 2014 
and higher gold production. 

Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2014 were $3.3 million compared to $13.9 million incurred during the same period in 2013. 
The  decrease  was  mainly  the  result  of  the  completion  of  the  Chujah  pushback  in  May  2014.  Sustaining  capital  expenditures  were 
$0.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to $3.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2013. Development capital expenditures 
decreased to $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to $10.0 million in the comparable period of 2013. $2.3 million of the 
development capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2014 related to spending on the Prestea Underground development project.

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013 
Production
Bogoso gold sales were 147,957 ounces for 2014 compared to 144,999 ounces for 2013. Refractory gold sales increased to 130,208 ounces 
in 2014 from the 119,856 ounces sold in 2013 as a result of higher throughput, higher grade processed and higher recovery achieved during 
the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in throughput was largely due to improvements in plant capital infrastructure. 

Non-refractory gold sales dropped to 17,749 ounces in 2014, down 29% from the 25,143 ounces sold in 2013. Higher ounces gold production 
was achieved in 2013 as higher grade ore was mined from the Pampe operation, however this was replaced by lower grade tailings 
reclaim material in 2014. 

28

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

Gold revenues
Gold revenues for 2014 were $186.2 million, down $18.5 million from $204.7 million in 2013. Gold sold totaled 147,957 ounces in the year 
ended December 31, 2014, up 2% from 144,999 ounces sold in 2013. The realized gold price was down 11%, averaging $1,258 per ounce in 
the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with $1,412 per ounce in the same period in 2013. 

Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization
Bogoso’s  cost  of  sales  excluding  depreciation  and  amortization  was  $187.4  million  for  2014,  down  from  $214.1  million  for  2013.  Mine 
operating expenses totaled $182.9 million, 5% lower than the $193.5 million incurred during 2013 mainly as a result of lower mining costs 
due to lower tonnage mined and lower headcount in 2014 compared to 2013 Processing costs were lower as a result of lower chemical 
and  reagent  usage  including  notably  lower  lime  usage.  In  2014  Bogoso  incurred  $3.8  million  in  severance  costs  to  rationalize  the 
workforce  by  reducing  the  headcount  by  143.  As  a  result  salaries  and  benefits  decreased  by  $1.8  million  in  2014.  The  build-up  of  ore 
stockpiles during the year ended December 31, 2014 totaled $4.8 million compared to a $10.3 million draw down during 2013, resulting in 
a $15.1 million decrease in cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization. 

Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased to $11.6 million for 2014, compared to $19.1 million for 2013 as the result of impairment 
charges recorded in 2013 which reduced the carrying value of Bogoso’s assets for 2014.

Cash operating cost per ounce
Cash operating cost per ounce was $1,180 for 2014, compared to $1,361 for 2013. Cash operating costs for the year ended December 31, 
2014 were $174.6 million, down from $197.3 million during 2013 due mainly to lower mine operating expenses achieved as a result of lower 
headcount and lower strip ratio resulting in lower mining costs at Chujah as the mine realized the benefits of the betterment stripping 
that was completed in the second quarter of 2014.

Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures for 2014 were $17.2 million compared to $69.1 million during 2013. Sustaining capital expenditures were $1.6 million in 
2014 compared to $21.7 million during 2013. Development capital expenditures were $15.7 million in 2014 compared to $47.4 million in 2013. 
Development capital expenditures in 2014 included $8.3 million on the Prestea Underground development project and $5.9 million on 
capitalized betterment stripping at the Chujah pit.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

29

S UM M ARIZE D QUARTERLY FINANCIA L RESULTS

(Stated in thousands of 
U.S dollars except per 
share data)

Revenues
Cost of sales excluding 
depreciation and 
amortization
Net income/(loss)
Net income/(loss) 
attributable to 
shareholders of 
Golden Star
Net income/(loss) per 
share attributable 
to shareholders of 
Golden Star:
– Basic and diluted

Three months ended

December 31,
2014  

September 30,
2014

June 30, 
2014 

March 31,
2014

December 31,
2013

September 30,
2013

June 30,
2013

March 31,
2013

86,586

77,758

79,567

85,004

96,034

118,159

120,693

132,910

71,410
(53,545)

70,774
1,165

78,432
(6,708)

84,296
(24,353)

88,550
(165,304)

91,294
101,178
4,539 (145,671)

96,118
7,922

(48,155)

2,593

(5,153)

(22,364)

(148,576)

3,507 (128,828)

8,005

(0.19)

0.01

(0.02)

(0.09)

(0.57)

0.01

(0.50)

0.03

SELECTED ANNUAL INFORMATION

(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except per share data) 
As of

December 31, 
2014

December 31, 
2013

December 31, 
2012

Cash and cash equivalents
Working capital1
Total assets
Long-term financial liabilities
(Deficit)/Equity

For the year ended

Revenue
Net (loss)/income attributable to Golden Star
Net (loss)/income per share attributable to Golden Star 
shareholders – basic and diluted

39,352
(31,964)
258,053
85,798
(54,193)

65,551
11,201
325,743
83,387
26,702

78,884
69,217
656,295
110,507
328,176

December 31, 
2014

December 31, 
2013

December 31, 
2012

328,915
(73,079)

467,796
(265,892)

550,540
7,186

(0.28)

(1.03)

0.03

1    Working Capital is calculated as Current Assets minus Current Liabilities as disclosed on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
The Company held $39 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2014, down from $65.6 million at December 31, 2013. 
During the year ended December 31, 2014, operations provided $2.4 million of cash, cash used for investing totaled $36.6 million and financing 
activities provided $8.0 million. 

Working capital declined from $11.2 million at December 31, 2013 to a working capital deficit of $32.0 million at December 31, 2014. Accounts 
payable increased from $109.0 million million at December 31, 2013 to $123.5 million at December 31, 2014 mainly due to an increase in accounts 
payable at Bogoso. Cash and cash equivalents declined from $65.6 million at December 31, 2013 to $39.4 million at December 31, 2014.

Before  working  capital  changes,  operations  provided  $3.1  million  of  operating  cash  flow  during  2014,  compared  with  $30.3  million 
provided  by  operations  in  2013.  Cash  provided  by  operations  decreased  primarily  due  to  lower  revenues  resulting  from  lower  gold 
production and lower realized gold price during 2014. 

30

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

Working  capital  changes  used  $0.7  million  during  2014,  compared  to  $28.9  million  provided  by  working  capital  in  2013.  The  working 
capital  changes  in  2014  related  mainly  to  a  decrease  of  current  tax  payable  by  $9.5  million,  an  increase  in  accounts  receivable  by 
$6.6 million and an increase in inventories by $4.8 million, offset by an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities by $18.1 million 
and a decrease in prepaids and other by $2.2 million. The increase in accounts payable is mainly related to an increase in the amounts 
payable to the VRA. The Company has reached an agreement with the VRA on a mutually acceptable plan to repay $30.4 million of 
payables.  The  repayment  plan  includes  a  deferral  of  approximately  $22  million  to  2016  and  2017  which  is  expected  to  improve  the 
Company’s working capital position when it is recorded as long-term in the first quarter of 2015.

Investing  activities  used  $36.6  million  during  2014,  including  $32.2  million  on  construction  in  progress,  $0.1  million  on  mining  property 
development  and  $0.5  million  for  the  plant  and  facility  upgrades.  Investing  activities  used  $101.4  million  during  2013  which  consisted 
mainly of $62.4 million on mining property development, $36.5 million on construction in progress and $3.8 million on plant and facility 
upgrades and purchases of mobile equipment. 

Financing activities provided a net of $8.0 million in 2014 compared to a net of $28.8 million in 2013. During the year ended December 31, 
2014, the Company drew down an additional $20.0 million under the $50 million Ecobank Loan I and made total principal repayments 
of  $12.0  million  on  Ecobank  Loan  I,  equipment  loans  and  capital  lease  obligations.  During  2013,  the  Company  drew  down  a  total  of 
$30  million  under  the  Ecobank  Loan  I  and  financed  $7.7  million  of  new  mobile  equipment  purchases  through  capital  leases  and  the 
Company’s equipment financing facility, offset by $7.9 million principal repayment of debt. 

LIQUIDITY OUTLOOK
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $39.4 million in cash, $25.0 million available for draw down under the Ecobank Loan II and 
funds available for mobile equipment purchases under the Company’s equipment financing facilities. 

Working capital declined from $11.2 million at December 31, 2013 to a working capital deficit of $32.0 million at December 31, 2014. Accounts 
payable increased from $109.0 million at December 31, 2013 to $123.5 million at December 31, 2014 mainly due to an increase in accounts 
payable at Bogoso. The increase in accounts payable is mainly related to an increase in the amounts payable to the VRA. The Company 
has reached an agreement with the VRA on a mutually acceptable plan to repay $30.4 million of payables. The repayment plan includes 
a deferral of approximately $22 million to 2016 and 2017 which is expected to improve the Company’s working capital position.

The Company is currently developing a care and maintenance plan to maintain the Bogoso refractory processing plant subsequent to 
suspension of the plant and are in the process of determining the associated care and maintenance, holding and employee severance 
costs. The Company currently estimates employee severance to be between $12 million to $16 million which is expected to be incurred and 
expensed in 2015.

At Bogoso, payables have increased from $73.8 million at December 31, 2013 to $83.5 million at December 31, 2014 due to lower revenues 
and operating cash flows. The heavy rainfall experienced in June impeded access to the higher grade ore in Chujah resulting in lower 
than  expected  production.  Additionally,  the  refractory  processing  plant  at  Bogoso  experienced  an  extended  power  outage  which 
affected production at the beginning of the third quarter. Subsequent to these production interruptions, Bogoso’s gold production and 
operating cash flow improved as a result of improved access to higher grade ore mined at depth from the Chujah and Bogoso North 
pits. The improved Bogoso cash flow from operations resulted in a decrease of payables of approximately $4 million during the fourth 
quarter of 2014. Based on current gold prices, the Company expects Bogoso to have a positive cash flow from operations for 2015.

The Company intends to initially fund the development of the Wassa underground mine with the $25 million available from the Ecobank 
Loan II and cash flow from operations. The Company also completed the PEA on the development of the Prestea Mine in December 2014. 
The Company is currently seeking additional financing however there can be no assurance that such funding will be available at all or 
on terms acceptable to the Company.

In  the  short  term,  the  Company  expects  to  continue  to  fund  operations  and  capital  projects  through  operating  cash  flows,  the 
Ecobank Loan II and cash on hand. If these sources are not sufficient, the Company could delay planned capital projects or curtail 
operational spending.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

31

LIQUI DITY OUTLOOK – CONTINUED

TABLE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

(Stated in thousands of U.S dollars)

Debt1
Finance leases
Interest on long term debt
Purchase obligations
Rehabilitation provisions2

TOTAL

Payment due (in thousands) by period

Less than 
1 year

16,198
983
8,088
3,642
4,562

1 to 3 years

3 to 5 years

104,554
2,104
10,414
–
28,168

776
420
–
29,627

More than 
5 years

–
–
–
–
30,040

Total

129,658
3,863
18,922
3,642
92,397

33,473

145,240

39,729

30,040

248,482

1    Includes $77.5 million of 5% Convertible Debentures maturing in June 2017, the $50.0 million draw down from the Ecobank Loan I and outstanding repayment amounts from equipment 
financing loans. Golden Star has the right to repay the $77.5 million principal amount of the 5% Convertible Debentures in cash or in common shares at the due date under certain 
circumstances. The presentation shown above assumes payment is made in cash and also assumes no conversions of the 5% Convertible Debentures into common shares by the 
holders prior to the maturity date.

2  Rehabilitation provisions indicates the expected undiscounted cash flows for each period.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no material related party transactions in 2014 and 2013 other than compensation of key management personnel which is 
presented in the table below. Key management personnel is defined as members of the Board of Directors and certain senior officers.

For the years ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of U.S dollars)

Salaries, wages, and other benefits
Bonus and severances
Share-based compensation

2014

2,139
868
1,145

4,152

2013

2,020
2,125
1,606

5,751

OFF-BALANCE ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has no material off-balance sheet arrangements.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
In this MD&A, we use the terms “cash operating cost”, “cash operating cost per ounce”, “all-in sustaining costs”, “cash (used in)/provided 
by operations before working capital changes”, “adjusted net (loss)/income attributable to Golden Star shareholders” and “adjusted net 
(loss)/income per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders”.

“Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization” as found in the statements of operations includes all mine-site operating costs, 
including the costs of mining, ore processing, maintenance, work-in-process inventory changes, mine-site overhead as well as production 
taxes,  royalties,  and  by-product  credits,  but  excludes  exploration  costs,  property  holding  costs,  corporate  office  general  and 
administrative  expenses,  foreign  currency  gains  and  losses,  gains  and  losses  on  asset  sales,  interest  expense,  gains  and  losses  on 
derivatives, gains and losses on investments and income tax expense/benefit.

32

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

“Cash operating cost” for a period is equal to “Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization” for the period less royalties and 
production taxes, minus the cash component of metals inventory net realizable value adjustments and severance charges, and “cash 
operating cost per ounce” is that amount divided by the number of ounces of gold sold during the period. We use cash operating cost 
per ounce as a key operating indicator. We monitor this measure monthly, comparing each month’s values to prior periods’ values to 
detect trends that may indicate increases or decreases in operating efficiencies. We provide this measure to investors to allow them to 
also monitor operational efficiencies of the Company’s mines. We calculate this measure for both individual operating units and on a 
consolidated basis. Since cash operating costs do not incorporate revenues, changes in working capital and non-operating cash costs, 
they  are  not  necessarily  indicative  of  operating  profit  or  cash  flow  from  operations  as  determined  under  IFRS.  Changes  in  numerous 
factors  including,  but  not  limited  to,  mining  rates,  milling  rates,  ore  grade,  gold  recovery,  costs  of  labor,  consumables  and  mine  site 
general and administrative activities can cause these measures to increase or decrease. We believe that these measures are similar to 
the measures of other gold mining companies, but may not be comparable to similarly titled measures in every instance.

“All-in sustaining costs” commences with cash operating costs and then adds sustaining capital expenditures, corporate general and 
administrative costs, mine site exploratory drilling and greenfield evaluation costs and environmental rehabilitation costs. This measure 
seeks  to  represent  the  total  costs  of  producing  gold  from  current  operations,  and  therefore  it  does  not  include  capital  expenditures 
attributable to projects or mine expansions, exploration and evaluation costs attributable to growth projects, income tax payments, 
interest  costs  or  dividend  payments.  Consequently,  this  measure  is  not  representative  of  all  of  the  Company’s  cash  expenditures.  In 
addition, the calculation of all-in sustaining costs does not include depreciation expense as it does not reflect the impact of expenditures 
incurred in prior periods. Therefore, it is not indicative of the Company’s overall profitability.

The  Company  believes  that  “all-in  sustaining  costs”  will  better  meet  the  needs  of  analysts,  investors  and  other  stakeholders  of  the 
Company  in  understanding  the  costs  associated  with  producing  gold,  understanding  the  economics  of  gold  mining,  assessing  the 
operating performance and also the Company’s ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and to generate free cash flow 
on an overall Company basis. Due to the capital intensive nature of the industry and the long useful lives over which these items are 
depreciated, there can be a disconnect between net earnings calculated in accordance with IFRS and the amount of free cash flow that 
is being generated by a mine. In the current market environment for gold mining equities, many investors and analysts are more focused 
on the ability of gold mining companies to generate free cash flow from current operations, and consequently the Company believes 
these  measures  are  useful  non-IFRS  operating  metrics  (“non-GAAP  measures”)  and  supplement  the  IFRS  disclosures  made  by  the 
Company. These measures are not representative of all of Golden Star’s cash expenditures as they do not include income tax payments 
or  interest  costs.  Non-GAAP  measures  are  intended  to  provide  additional  information  only  and  do  not  have  standardized  definitions 
under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. 
These measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. The table below 
reconciles these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures and previous periods have been recalculated to 
conform to the current definition.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

33

N ON -GA AP FINANCIAL M EASURES – CONTI NUED

The table below reconciles consolidated cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization to cash operating cost per ounce and 
all-in sustaining costs per ounce:

(Stated in thousands of U.S dollars)

COST OF SALES EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
  Severance charges
  Royalties
  Metals inventory net realizable value adjustment

CASH OPERATING COSTS

  Royalties
  Metals inventory net realizable value adjustment
  Accretion of rehabilitation provision
  General and administrative costs
  Sustaining capital expenditures

ALL-IN SUSTAINING COSTS

Ounces sold

COST PER OUNCE MEASURES ($/OZ):
Cash operating cost per ounce
All-in sustaining cost per ounce

For the three months ended 
December 31,

For the years ended  
December 31,

2014

71,410
(815)
(4,332)
–

2013

88,549
–
(4,806)
(1,420)

2014

2013

304,912
(2,844)
(16,459)
(1,452)

377,140
–
(23,414)
(6,807)

66,263

82,323

284,157

346,919

4,332
–
437
2,819
2,460

4,806
1,420
148
5,097
9,777

16,459
1,452
1,746
16,367
6,212

23,414
6,807
592
21,515
39,334

76,311

103,571

326,393

438,581

72,085

75,430

260,788

330,806

919
1,059

1,091
1,373

1,090
1,252

1,049
1,326

The  tables  below  reconcile  cost  of  sales  excluding  depreciation  and  amortization  to  cash  operating  costs  per  ounce  for  each  of  the 
operating mines (stated in thousands of U.S dollar except cash operating cost per ounce):

For the three months ended December 31, 2014

COST OF SALES EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
  Severance charges
  Royalties

CASH OPERATING COSTS

Ounces sold
Cash operating cost per ounce

Wassa

25,002
–
(1,550)

23,452

25,831
908

Bogoso

Combined

46,408
(815)
(2,782)

42,811

46,254
926

71,410
(815)
(4,332)

66,263

72,085
919

34

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

For the three months ended December 31, 2013

COST OF SALES EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
  Royalties
  Metals inventory net realizable value adjustment

CASH OPERATING COSTS

Ounces sold
Cash operating cost per ounce

For the year ended December 31, 2014

COST OF SALES EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
  Severance charges
  Royalties
  Metals inventory net realizable value adjustment

CASH OPERATING COSTS

Ounces sold
Cash operating cost per ounce

For the year ended December 31, 2013

COST OF SALES EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
  Royalties
  Metals inventory net realizable value adjustment

CASH OPERATING COSTS

Ounces sold
Cash operating cost per ounce

Wassa

41,899
(2,829)
–

39,070

44,337
881

Bogoso

Combined

46,650
(1,977)
(1,420)

43,253

31,093
1,391

88,549
(4,806)
(1,420)

82,323

75,430
1,091

Wassa

Bogoso

Combined

117,485
–
(7,144)
(799)

187,427
(2,844)
(9,315)
(653)

304,912
(2,844)
(9,315)
(1,452)

109,542

174,615

284,157

112,831
971

147,957
1,180

260,788
1,090

Wassa

Bogoso

Combined

163,066
(13,171)
(265)

214,074
(10,243)
(6,542)

377,140
(23,414)
(6,807)

149,630

197,289

346,919

185,807
805

144,999
1,361

330,806
1,049

“Cash provided by operations before working capital changes” is calculated by subtracting the “Changes in working capital” from “Net 
cash provided by operating activities” as found in the statements of cash flows.

We  use  cash  operating  cost  per  ounce  and  cash  (used  in)/provided  by  operations  before  working  capital  changes  as  key  operating 
indicators.  We  monitor  these  measures  monthly,  comparing  each  month’s  values  to  prior  periods’  values  to  detect  trends  that  may 
indicate increases or decreases in operating efficiencies. These measures are also compared against budget to alert management of 
trends that may cause actual results to deviate from planned operational results. We provide these measures to the investors to allow 
them to also monitor operational efficiencies of the mines owned by the Company. We calculate these measures for both individual 
operating units and on a consolidated basis.

Cash operating cost per ounce and cash provided by operations before working capital changes should be considered as non-GAAP 
financial measures as defined in the Canadian securities laws and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures 
of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. There are material limitations associated with the use of such non-GAAP measures. 
Since these measures do not incorporate revenues, changes in working capital and non-operating cash costs, they are not necessarily 
indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Changes in numerous factors including, but not 
limited to, mining rates, milling rates, ore grade, gold recovery, costs of labor, consumables and mine site general and administrative 
activities can cause these measures to increase or decrease. We believe that these measures are similar to the measures of other gold 
mining companies, but may not be comparable to similarly titled measures in every instance.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

35

N ON -GA AP FINANCIAL M EASURES – CONTI NUED

ADJUSTED NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO GOLDEN STAR SHAREHOLDERS
The table below shows the reconciliation of net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders to adjusted net income/ (loss) 
attributable to Golden Star shareholders and adjusted net (loss)/income per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:

(Stated in thousands of U.S dollars except per share data)

2014

2013

2014

2013

Net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders

(48,155)

(148,576)

(73,079)

(265,892)

For the three months ended 
December 31,

For the years ended
 December 31,

ADD BACK:
Gain on fair value of 5% Convertible Debentures
Severance charges
Impairment charges
Tax recovery related to impairment charges

(1,501)
815
57,747
–

8,906

(1,624)
–
159,704
–

538
2,844
57,747
–

(51,967)
–
355,624
(26,328)

9,504

(11,950)

11,437

Adjustments attributable to non-controlling interest

(81)

(15,970)

(284)

Adjusted net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders

8,825

(6,466)

(12,234)

(32,930)

(21,493)

ADJUSTED NET INCOME/(LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO  
GOLDEN STAR SHAREHOLDERS
Basic and diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted (millions)

0.03
259.4

(0.02)
259.1

(0.05)
259.4

(0.08)
259.1

In  order  to  indicate  to  stakeholders  the  Company’s  earnings  excluding  the  non-cash  (gain)/loss  on  the  fair  value  of  the  Convertible 
Debentures, non-cash impairment charges and severance charges, the Company calculates “adjusted net income/(loss) attributable to 
Golden  Star  shareholders”  and  “adjusted  net  income/(loss)  per  share  attributable  to  Golden  Star  shareholders”  to  supplement  the 
consolidated financial statements.

Adjusted net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders and adjusted net income/(loss) per share attributable to Golden Star 
shareholders  should  be  considered  as  non-GAAP  financial  measures  as  defined  in  the  Canadian  securities  laws  and  should  not  be 
considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are material limitations 
associated with the use of such non-GAAP measures. Since these measures do not incorporate all non-cash expense and income items, 
changes  in  working  capital  and  non-operating  cash  costs,  they  are  not  necessarily  indicative  of  operating  profit  or  cash  flow  from 
operations as determined under IFRS. Changes in numerous factors including, but not limited to, our share price, risk free interest rates, 
gold prices, mining rates, milling rates, ore grade, gold recovery, costs of labor, consumables and mine site general and administrative 
activities can cause these measures to increase or decrease. The Company believes that these measures are similar to the measures of 
other gold mining companies, but may not be comparable to similarly titled measures in every instance.

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA
As  of  February  18,  2015,  there  were  259,490,083  common  shares  of  the  Company  issued  and  outstanding,  14,935,047  stock  options 
outstanding, 1,962,208 deferred share units outstanding, 3,220,665 share appreciation rights outstanding, 2,345,850 performance share 
units outstanding and 5% Convertible Debentures which are convertible into 46,963,636 common shares. The share appreciation rights 
and performance share units are cash settled instruments.

36

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS
The critical accounting estimates and assumptions are disclosed in Note 4 of the audited consolidated financial statements for the year 
ended December 31, 2014.

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The  changes  in  accounting  policies  and  standards,  interpretations  and  amendments  not  yet  effective  are  disclosed  in  Note  3  of  the 
audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

(Stated in thousands of U.S dollars)

Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable
Trade and other payables

5% Convertible Debentures
Ecobank Loan I, net of loan fees
Equipment financing facility
Finance leases

Fair value at
December 31, 
2014

Basis of measurement

Associated risks

39,352
14,832
79,528

47,846
42,925
8,345
3,863

Loans and receivables
Loans and receivables
Amortized cost
Fair value through 
profit and loss
Amortized cost
Amortized cost
Amortized cost

Interest/Credit/
Foreign exchange
Foreign exchange/Credit
Foreign exchange/Interest

Interest
Interest
Interest
Interest

Loans and receivables – Cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivables mature in the short term and approximate their fair 
values.

Amortized costs – Trade and other payables, the Ecobank Loan I, the equipment financing facility, the finance leases and other liabilities 
approximate their carrying values as the interest rates are comparable to current market rates.

Fair value through profit or loss – The debt component of the 5% Convertible Debentures is valued based on discounted cash flows 
and the conversion feature is valued using a Black Scholes model. The risk free interest rate used in the fair value computation is the 
interest  rate  on  US  treasury  rate  with  maturity  similar  to  the  remaining  life  of  the  convertible  debenture.  The  discount  rate  used  is 
determined by adding the risk premium to the risk free interest rate. A market-based volatility rate was also applied to the fair value 
computation. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2014, revaluation gains of $1.5 million and loss of $0.5 million were 
recorded respectively while revaluation loss of $1.6 million and gain of $52.0 million were included in earnings for the three and twelve 
ended December 31, 2013.

DISCLOSURES ABOUT RISKS
Our exposure to market risk includes, but is not limited to, the following risks: changes in interest rates on our debt, changes in foreign 
currency exchange rates, commodity price fluctuations, liquidity risk and credit risk.

INTEREST RATE RISK
Interest rate risk is the risk that the future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. 
Our 5% Convertible Debentures and the outstanding loans under our equipment financing facility bear interest at a fixed rate and are 
not subject to changes in interest payments. The Ecobank Loans I and II bear annual interest based on the three month LIBOR plus 9% 
and three month LIBOR plus 11% respectively. Based on the current $43.8 million outstanding balance, a hundred basis points change in 
the three month LIBOR rate will result in a $0.4 million per annum change in interest expense. We have not entered into any agreements 
to hedge against unfavorable changes in interest rates, but may in the future actively manage its exposure to interest rate risk.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

37

DIS CLOSURES ABOUT RI SKS –  CONTI NUED

FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE RISK
Currency  risk  is  risk  that  the  fair  value  of  future  cash  flows  will  fluctuate  because  of  changes  in  foreign  currency  exchange  rates.  In 
addition, the value of cash and cash equivalents and other financial assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies can fluctuate 
with changes in currency exchange rates.

Since our revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars and our operating units transact mainly in U.S. dollars, we are typically not subject to 
significant  impacts  from  currency  fluctuations.  However,  certain  purchases  of  labor,  operating  supplies  and  capital  assets  are 
denominated in Canadian dollars, Ghana cedis, Euros, British pounds, Australian dollars and South African rand. To accommodate these 
purchases, we maintain operating cash accounts in non-US dollar currencies and appreciation of these non-US dollar currencies against 
the U.S. dollar results in a foreign currency gain and a decrease in non-U.S. dollar currencies results in a loss. In the past, we have entered 
into forward purchase contracts for South African rand, euros and other currencies to hedge expected purchase costs of capital assets. 
During 2014 and 2013, we had no currency related derivatives. As at December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, we held $1.5 million and 
$5.1 million, respectively, of US dollar equivalents in foreign currency.

COMMODITY PRICE RISK
Gold is our primary product and, as a result, changes in the price of gold can significantly affect our results of operations and cash flows. 
A $10 per ounce change in gold price would result in approximately a $2.6 million and $2.1 million change based on our 2014 revenues 
and operating cash flows respectively. To reduce gold price volatility, we have at various times entered into gold price derivatives. The 
Company did not have outstanding gold price derivatives at the end of 2014 and 2013.

LIQUIDITY RISK
Liquidity  risk  is  the  risk  that  we  will  encounter  difficulty  in  meeting  obligations  associated  with  financial  liabilities  that  are  settled  by 
delivering cash or another financial asset. We manage the liquidity risk inherent in these financial obligations by preparing quarterly 
forecasts and annual long-term budgets which forecast cash needs and expected cash availability to meet future obligations. Typically 
these obligations are met by cash flows from operations and from cash on hand. Scheduling of capital spending and acquisitions of 
financial resources may also be employed, as needed and as available, to meet the cash demands of our obligations.

Our ability to repay or refinance our future obligations depends on a number of factors, some of which may be beyond our control. 
Factors  that  influence  our  ability  to  meet  these  obligations  include  general  global  economic  conditions,  credit  and  capital  market 
conditions, results of operations and the price of gold.

CREDIT RISK
Credit  risk  is  the  risk  that  one  party  to  a  financial  instrument  will  cause  a  financial  loss  for  the  other  party  by  failing  to  discharge  an 
obligation. Our credit risk is primarily associated with liquid financial assets and derivatives. We limit exposure to credit risk on liquid 
financial assets by holding our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and deposits at highly-rated financial institutions. We mitigate the 
credit risks of our derivatives by entering into derivative contracts with only high quality counter parties. Risks associated with gold trade 
receivables is considered minimal as we sell gold to a credit-worthy buyer who settles promptly within two days of receipt of gold bullion.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company’s management, with the participation of its President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief 
Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon the results of that 
evaluation, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded 
that, as of the end of the period covered by this MD&A, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide 
reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports it files is recorded, processed, summarized 
and reported, within the appropriate time periods and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the President and 
Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Executive  Vice  President  and  Chief  Financial  Officer,  as  appropriate  to  allow  timely  decisions  regarding 
required disclosure.

38

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The Company’s management, with the participation of its President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief 
Financial  Officer,  are  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over  financial  reporting.  Under  the 
supervision of the President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Company’s internal 
control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and 
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. The Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting includes policies and procedures that:

•   pertain to the maintenance of records that accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable detail, the transactions and dispositions of assets 

of the Company; 

•   provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  financial  statements  in 
accordance  with  IFRS  and  that  the  Company’s  receipts  and  expenditures  are  made  only  in  accordance  with  authorizations  of 
management and the Company’s directors; and 

•   provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of  unauthorized  acquisition,  use,  or  disposition  of  the 

Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

The  Company’s  management,  including  the  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Executive  Vice  President  and  Chief  Financial 
Officer, believes that any disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well conceived 
and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design 
of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to 
their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, they cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and 
instances  of  fraud,  if  any,  within  the  Company  have  been  prevented  or  detected.  These  inherent  limitations  include  the  realities  that 
judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls 
can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by unauthorized override of the 
control. The design of any control system also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there 
can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because 
of the inherent limitations in a cost effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

The Company’s management, under the supervision of the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2014. In 
making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth in the Internal Control-integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013). Based on our assessment, management has concluded that, as at December 31, 2014, 
the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2014 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Chartered 
Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants who also audited the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year 
ended December 31, 2014. PwC LLP as stated in their report that immediately precedes the Company’s audited consolidated financial 
statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control 
over financial reporting.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
There has been no change in the Company’s design of internal controls and procedures over financial reporting that has materially 
affected, or is reasonable likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by 
this MD&A.

RISK FACTORS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The  risk  factors  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2014,  are  substantially  the  same  as  those  disclosed  and  discussed  in  our  annual 
information form for the year ended December 31, 2013. Additional risk factors, if applicable, will be included in our annual information 
form for the year ended December 31, 2014, which will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

39

CON SOLIDATED FINANCI AL STATEMENTS
For the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Golden Star Resources Ltd. (the “Company”) and all information in this financial 
report are the responsibility of management. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards and, where appropriate, include management’s best estimates and judgments.

Management maintains a system of internal control designed to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded from loss 
or unauthorized use, and that financial information is timely and reliable. However, any system of internal control over financial reporting, 
no matter how well designed and implemented, has inherent limitations and may not prevent or detect all misstatements.

The  Board  of  Directors  is  responsible  for  ensuring  that  management  fulfills  its  responsibilities  for  financial  reporting  and  is  ultimately 
responsible for reviewing and approving the consolidated financial statements.

The Board carries out this responsibility principally through its Audit Committee. The Board of Directors appoints the Audit Committee, 
and all of its members are independent directors. The Audit Committee meets periodically with management and the auditors to review 
internal controls, audit results, accounting principles and related matters. The Board of Directors approves the consolidated financial 
statements on recommendation from the Audit Committee.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent firm of Chartered Professional Accountants, was appointed by the shareholders at the last 
annual  meeting  to  examine  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  provide  an 
independent  professional  opinion. 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has full and free access to the Audit Committee.

Samuel T. Coetzer 
President and Chief Executive Officer 

André van Niekerk
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Toronto, Canada
February 18, 2015

40

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

IN DE PE NDENT AUDITOR’S REP ORT

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
We have completed an integrated audit of Golden Star Resources Ltd.’s (the Company) 2014 and 2013 consolidated financial statements 
and its internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2014. Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented below.

REPORT ON THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We  have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  of  the  company,  which  comprise  the  consolidated  balance 
sheets as at December 31, 2014 and 2013 and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, cash flows, and changes 
in shareholders’ equity for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related notes, which comprise a summary of significant 
accounting policies and other explanatory information.

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial  statements in accordance  with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and for such internal 
control  as  management  determines  is  necessary  to  enable  the  preparation  of  consolidated  financial  statements  that  are  free  from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in 
accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards  and the standards of the Public  Company  Accounting Oversight 
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the 
consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement. Canadian generally accepted auditing standards also require 
that we comply with ethical requirements.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence, on a test basis, about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated 
financial  statements.  The  procedures  selected  depend  on  the  auditor’s  judgment,  including  the  assessment  of  the  risks  of  material 
misstatement  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error.  In  making  those  risk  assessments,  the  auditor 
considers internal control relevant to the company’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order 
to  design  audit  procedures  that  are  appropriate  in  the  circumstances.  An  audit  also  includes  evaluating  the  appropriateness  of 
accounting principles and policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating 
the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained in our audits is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion 
on the consolidated financial statements.

OPINION
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the company as at 
December  31,  2014  and  2013  and  its  financial  performance  and  its  cash  flows  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2014  and  2013  in 
accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB.

REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
We have also audited the company’s internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in 
Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

41

INDE PE N DE NT AUDITOR’S REP ORT – CONT INUED 

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness 
of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial 
Reporting.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted 
our  audit  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight 
Board  (United  States).  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether 
effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

An  audit  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  includes  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting, 
assessing  the  risk  that  a  material  weakness  exists,  testing  and  evaluating  the  design  and  operating  effectiveness  of  internal  control, 
based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances.

We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our audit opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

DEFINITION OF INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of 
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles.  A  company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  includes  those  policies  and  procedures  that:  (i)  pertain  to  the 
maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the  transactions  and  dispositions  of  the  assets  of  the 
company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements 
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only 
in  accordance  with  authorizations  of  management  and  directors  of  the  company;  and  (iii)  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding 
prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect 
on the financial statements.

INHERENT LIMITATIONS
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of 
any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in 
conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

OPINION
In our opinion, the company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 
2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

February 18, 2015

Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PwC Tower, 18 York Street, Suite 2600, Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 0B2
T: +1 416 863 1133, F: +1 416 365 8215, www.pwc.com/ca

 “PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership.

42

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

C O N T E N T S

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.  NATURE OF OPERATIONS
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
2. 
3. 
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
4.  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS
5. 
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
INVENTORIES
6. 
7.  MINING INTERESTS
8. 
9. 
10.  ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES
11.  REHABILITATION PROVISIONS
12. DEBT

EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS
INCOME TAXES

13.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
14.  SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
15.  LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
16.  COST OF SALES EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
17.  FINANCE EXPENSE, NET
18.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
19.  PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES
20.  OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA
21.  SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

22.
23. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
24.  CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT

44
45
46
47
48

49
49
49
56
58
59
60
61
61
64
64
65

67
68
72
72
73
73
74
75
76

76
78
80

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

43

GOLDE N STAR RESOURCES LTD.   
CONS OLIDATED STATEMENTS  OF OPERATI ONS
(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except shares and per share data)

For the years ended December 31,

REVENUE
Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization

MINE OPERATING (LOSS)/MARGIN

OTHER EXPENSES/(INCOME)
Exploration expense
General and administrative
Property holding costs
Finance expense, net
Other income
Loss/(gain) on fair value of 5% Convertible Debentures
Impairment charges

LOSS BEFORE TAX
Income tax recovery

NET LOSS
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GOLDEN STAR SHAREHOLDERS

NET LOSS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO GOLDEN STAR SHAREHOLDERS
Basic and diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic and diluted (millions)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

Notes

16

17

5
22

9

15

2014

328,915
304,912
26,219

(2,216)

556
16,367
–
7,375
(1,104)
538
57,747

(83,695)
(254)

(83,441)
(10,362)

(73,079)

(0.28)
259.4

2013

467,796
377,140
59,966

30,690

1,667
21,515
7,018
9,841
(2,163)
(51,967)
355,624

(310,845)
(12,331)

(298,514)
(32,622)

(265,892)

(1.03)
259.1

44

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

GOLDE N STAR RESOURCES LTD.   
CONS OLIDATED STATEMENTS  OF CO MPREHENSI VE LOS S
(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars)

For the years ended December 31,

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS 

NET LOSS
Unrealized loss on investments, net of taxes
Transferred to net loss, net of taxes

COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest

COMPREHENSIVE LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GOLDEN STAR SHAREHOLDERS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

2014

2013

(83,441)
–
–

(83,441)
(10,362)

(73,079)

(298,514)
(7,626)
1,370

(304,770)
(32,622)

(272,148)

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

45

GOLDE N STAR RESOURCES LTD.   
CONS OLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars)

As of

ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Prepaids and other

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
RESTRICTED CASH
MINING INTERESTS
EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS
INTANGIBLE ASSETS

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Current portion of rehabilitation provisions
Current tax liability
Current portion of long term debt

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
LONG TERM DEBT
REHABILITATION PROVISIONS

TOTAL LIABILITIES

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
SHARE CAPITAL
First preferred shares, without par value, unlimited shares authorized.  
No shares issued and outstanding
Common shares, without par value, unlimited shares authorized
CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS
DEFICIT

TOTAL GOLDEN STAR EQUITY
NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST

TOTAL EQUITY

Notes

December 31,
2014

December 31,
2013

6

7
8

10
11
9
12

12
11

39,352
14,832
54,279
4,767

113,230
2,041
142,782
–
–

258,053

123,451
4,562
–
17,181

145,194
85,798
81,254

312,246

–
695,266
31,532
(725,623)

1,175
(55,368)

(54,193)

65,551
8,200
67,725
6,852

148,328
2,029
165,193
9,747
446

325,743

108,983
7,783
9,506
10,855

137,127
83,387
78,527

299,041

–
694,906
29,346
(652,544)

71,708
(45,006)

26,702

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

258,053

325,743

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

Signed on behalf of the Board,
Timothy C. Baker, Director 

William L. Yeates, Director

46

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

GOLDE N STAR RESOURCES LTD.   
CONS OLIDATED STATEMENTS  OF CASH  FLOWS
(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars)

For the years ended December 31,

Notes

2014

2013

OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Gain on sale of assets
Write-off of unsuccessful exploration costs
Impairment charges
Share-based compensation
Deferred income tax recovery
Loss/(gain) on fair value of 5% Convertible Debentures
Accretion of rehabilitation provisions
Amortization of deferred financing fees
Reclamation expenditures
Other
Changes in working capital

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to mining properties
Additions to plant and equipment
Additions to construction in progress
Additions to exploration and evaluation assets
Capitalized interest
Change in accounts payable and deposits on mine equipment and material
Proceeds from sale of assets
Other investing activities

14
9
5

21

(83,441)

(298,514)

26,267
(117)
–
57,747
2,515
–
538
1,746
248
(3,554)
1,139
(677)

2,411

(73)
(499)
(32,232)
–
(851)
(2,894)
–
(12)

60,008
(1,271)
1,333
355,624
3,013
(32,936)
(51,967)
592
103
(5,657)
–
28,918

59,246

(62,415)
(3,780)
(36,454)
(218)
–
(5,695)
7,200
–

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

(36,561)

(101,362)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Principal payments on debt
Proceeds from debt agreements
Exercise of options

NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

See Note 21 for supplemental cash flow information.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

(12,049)
20,000
–

7,951

(26,199)
65,551

39,352

(7,876)
36,507
152

28,783

(13,333)
78,884

65,551

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

47

GOLDE N STAR RESOURCES LTD.   
CONS OLIDATED STATEMENTS  OF CHANGES  IN S HA REHOLDERS ’ EQUITY
(Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except share data)

Number of 
Common 
Shares

Share 
Capital

Contributed
Surplus

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income/(Loss)

Non-
Controlling 
Interest

Total
Shareholders’
Equity

Deficit

BALANCE AT 
DECEMBER 31, 2012
Shares issued under 
options
Options granted net of 
forfeitures
DSUs granted
Unrealized loss on 
investments
Transferred to net loss, net 
of taxes
Net loss

BALANCE AT 
DECEMBER 31, 2013
Shares issued under DSUs
Options granted net of 
forfeitures
DSUs granted
Net loss

BALANCE AT 
DECEMBER 31, 2014

259,015,970

694,652

26,304

6,256

(386,652)

(12,384)

328,176

90,000

254

(102)

–
–

–

–
–

–
–

–

–
–

2,444
700

–

–
–

–

–
–

(7,626)

–

–
–

–

–

–
–

–

152

2,444
700

(7,626)

1,370
–

–
(265,892)

–
(32,622)

1,370
(298,514)

259,105,970
384,113

694,906
360

29,346
(360)

–
–
–

–
–
–

2,053
493
–

259,490,083

695,266

31,532

–
–

–
–
–

–

(652,544)
–

(45,006)
–

–
–
(73,079)

–
–
(10,362)

26,702

2,053
493
(83,441)

(725,623)

(55,368)

(54,193)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

48

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

GOLDE N STAR RESOURCES LTD.   
N OTES  TO THE CONSOLIDATED FI NANC IAL  STAT EMENTS
For the years ended December 31, 
(All currency amounts in tables are in thousands of U.S. dollars unless noted otherwise)

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS 
Golden Star Resources Ltd. (“Golden Star” or “the Company” or “we” or “our”) is a Canadian federally-incorporated, international gold 
mining and exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange 
(the “TSX”) under the symbol GSC, the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE MKT”) under the symbol GSS and the Ghana stock exchange 
under the symbol GSR. The Company’s registered office is located at 150 King Street West, Sun Life Financial Tower, Suite 1200, Toronto, 
Ontario, M5H 1J9, Canada.

Through a 90% owned subsidiary, Golden Star (Wassa) Limited, we own and operate the Wassa open-pit gold mine, Wassa underground 
development project and a carbon-in-leach (“CIL”) processing plant (collectively, “Wassa”), located approximately 35 kilometers from the 
town of Bogoso, Ghana. Through our 90% owned subsidiary Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited, we own and operate the Bogoso 
gold mining and processing operation (“Bogoso”) located near the town of Bogoso, Ghana. Golden Star also has a 90% interest in the 
Prestea Underground mine in Ghana. We hold interests in several gold exploration projects in Ghana and other parts of West Africa, and 
in South America we hold and manage exploration properties in Brazil. 

At Bogoso, the Company processes both refractory and non-refractory ore. The Company has made a decision to suspend the refractory 
operation in late 2015 in conjunction with its business strategy to focus on lower cost mining opportunities at Wassa underground and 
Prestea underground.

2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION 

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as 
issued  by  the  International  Accounting  Standards  Board  (“IASB”)  and  with  interpretations  of  the  International  Financial  Reporting 
Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”) which the Canadian Accounting Standards Board has approved for incorporation into Part 1 of the 
CPA Canada Handbook – Accounting.

These consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on February 18, 2015.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, whether owned directly or indirectly. 
The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same period as the Company using consistent accounting policies for 
all  periods  presented.  All  inter-company  balances  and  transactions  have  been  eliminated.  Subsidiaries  are  entities  controlled  by  the 
Company. Non-controlling interests in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries are a separate component of the Company’s equity.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets 
and discharge of all liabilities in the normal course of business. 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for derivative financial instruments which 
are measured at fair value through profit or loss.

3. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash includes cash deposits in any currency residing in chequing and sweep accounts. Cash equivalents consist of money market funds 
and other highly liquid investments purchased with maturities of three months or less. Investments with maturities greater than three 
months  and  up  to  one  year  are  classified  as  short-term  investments,  while  those  with  maturities  in  excess  of  one  year  are  classified 
as  long-term  investments.  Cash  equivalents  and  short-term  investments  are  stated  at  amortized  cost,  which  typically  approximates 
market value.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

49

N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

INVENTORIES
Inventory  classifications  include  “stockpiled  ore,”  “in-process  inventory,”  “finished  goods  inventory”  and  “materials  and  supplies”.  The 
stated value of all production inventories include direct production costs and attributable overhead and depreciation incurred to bring 
the materials to their current point in the processing cycle. General and administrative costs for corporate offices are not included in any 
inventories.

Stockpiled  ore  represents  coarse  ore  that  has  been  extracted  from  the  mine  and  is  stored  for  future  processing.  Stockpiled  ore  is 
measured by estimating the number of tonnes (via truck counts or by physical surveys) added to, or removed from the stockpile, the 
number of contained ounces (based on assay data) and estimated gold recovery percentage. Stockpiled ore value is based on the costs 
incurred (including depreciation and amortization) in bringing the ore to the stockpile. Costs are added to the stockpiled ore based on 
current mining costs per tonne and are removed at the average cost per tonne of ore in the stockpile.

In-process inventory represents material that is currently being treated in the processing plants to extract the contained gold and to 
transform  it  into  a  saleable  product.  The  amount  of  gold  in  the  in-process  inventory  is  determined  by  assay  and  by  measure  of  the 
quantities of the various gold-bearing materials in the recovery process. The in-process gold is valued at the average of the beginning 
inventory  and  the  cost  of  material  fed  into  the  processing  stream  plus  in-process  conversion  costs  including  applicable  mine-site 
overheads, depreciation and amortization related to the processing facilities.

Finished goods inventory is saleable gold in the form of doré bars that have been poured but not yet shipped from the mine site. Included 
in  the  costs  are  the  direct  costs  of  the  mining  and  processing  operations  as  well  as  direct  mine-site  overheads,  amortization  and 
depreciation.

Materials and supplies inventories consist mostly of equipment parts and other consumables required in the mining and ore processing 
activities.

All inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or net realizable value.

EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS
The initial acquisition costs of exploration and mining properties are capitalized.

Exploration and evaluation costs relating to mineral interests are charged to earnings in the year which they are incurred. When it is 
determined that a mining property has the reserve potential to be economical, subsequent exploration expenditures are capitalized. 
Determination as to reserve potential is based on the results of studies, which indicate whether production from a property is likely to be 
economically feasible. These expenditures include such costs as materials used, surveying costs, drilling costs, consulting fees, payments 
made  to  contractors  and  depreciation  of  plant  and  equipment  used  for  exploration  and  evaluation  activities.  Costs  not  directly 
attributable to exploration and evaluation activities, including general administrative overhead costs, are expensed in the period in which 
they occur.

The  Company  assesses  exploration  and  evaluation  costs  for  impairment  when  facts  and  circumstances  suggest  that  the  carrying 
amount of an asset may exceed its recoverable amount.

When a project is deemed to no longer have commercially viable prospects to the Company, exploration and evaluation costs in respect 
of that project are deemed to be impaired and the exploration and evaluation expenditure costs, in excess of estimated recoveries, are 
written off.

Once the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting the mineral resource has been determined, the property is considered 
to be a mine under development and is classified as mining properties. Exploration and evaluation costs are also tested for impairment 
before the assets are transferred to mining properties.

After proven and probable reserves have been established, subsequent exploration and development costs are capitalized until such 
time  as  a  property  is  in  commercial  production.  Once  commercial  production  is  reached,  accumulated  capitalized  acquisition, 
exploration and development costs become subject to amortization on a units-of-production basis when gold production begins.

50

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property,  plant  and  equipment  assets,  including  machinery,  processing  equipment,  mining  equipment,  mine  site  facilities,  buildings, 
vehicles and expenditures that extend the life of such assets, are initially recorded at cost including acquisition and installation costs. 
Property, plant and equipment are subsequently measured at cost, less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.

The  costs  of  self-constructed  assets  include  direct  construction  costs  and  direct  overhead  during  the  construction  phase.  Indirect 
overhead costs are not included in the cost of self-constructed assets.

Depreciation for mobile equipment and other assets having estimated lives shorter than the estimated life of the ore reserves is calculated 
using the straight-line method at rates which depreciate the cost of the assets, less their anticipated residual values, if any, over their 
estimated useful lives. Mobile mining equipment is amortized over a five year life. Assets, such as processing plants, power generators 
and buildings, which have an estimated life equal to or greater than the estimated life of the ore reserves, are amortized over the life of 
the  proven  and  probable  reserves  of  the  associated  mining  property  using  a  units-of-production  amortization  method,  less  their 
anticipated residual values, if any. The net book value of property, plant and equipment assets is charged against income if the mine site 
is abandoned and it is determined that the assets cannot be economically transferred to another project or sold.

The residual values, useful lives and method of depreciation of property, plant and equipment are reviewed at each reporting period end, 
and adjusted prospectively if appropriate.

Gains and losses on the disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing the proceeds from disposal 
with the carrying amount, and are recognized net in the consolidated statement of operations.

MINING PROPERTIES
Mining property assets, including property acquisition costs, tailings storage facilities, mine-site development and drilling costs where 
proven and probable reserves have been established, pre-production waste stripping, condemnation drilling, roads, feasibility studies 
and wells are recorded at cost. The costs of self-constructed assets include direct construction costs, direct overhead costs and allocated 
interest during the construction phase. Indirect overhead costs are not included in the cost of self-constructed assets.

Mining property assets are amortized over the life of the proven and probable reserves to which they relate, using a units-of-production 
amortization  method.  At  open  pit  mines  the  costs  of  removing  overburden  from  an  ore  body  in  order  to  expose  ore  during  its  initial 
development period are capitalized.

BETTERMENT STRIPPING (WASTE REMOVAL) COSTS
As part of its operations, the Company incurs stripping (waste removal) costs both during the development phase and production phase 
of its operations. Stripping costs incurred as part of development stage mining activities incurred by the Company are capitalized as part 
of mining properties.

Stripping costs incurred during the production stage are incurred in order to produce inventory or to improve access to ore which will be 
mined in the future. Where the costs are incurred to produce inventory, the production stripping costs are accounted for as a cost of 
producing those inventories. Where the costs are incurred to improve access to ore to be mined in the future, the costs are recognized as 
a stripping activity asset (a non-current asset) if improved access to the ore body is probable, the component of the ore body can be 
accurately identified and the costs associated with improving the access can be reliably measured. If these criteria are not met the cost 
is expensed to the consolidated statement of operations as incurred.

The  betterment  stripping  asset  is  subsequently  depreciated  using  the  units-of-production  amortization  method  over  the  life  of  the 
identified component of the ore body that became more accessible as a result of the betterment stripping activity.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Externally acquired intangible assets are initially recognized at cost and subsequently amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful 
economic lives. Intangible assets are recognized on business combinations if they are separable from the acquired entity or give rise to 
other contractual/legal rights.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

51

N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

The intangible asset represented a right to receive, from the Ghana national grid, an amount of electric power equal to one fourth of a 
particular plant’s power output over and above any rationing limit that might be imposed in the future by the Ghana national power 
authority. The intangible asset was amortized over five years ending in 2014.

BORROWING COSTS
Borrowing  costs  attributable  to  the  acquisition,  construction  or  production  of  a  qualifying  asset  that  necessarily  takes  a  substantial 
period of time to get ready for its intended use are capitalized until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use. 
Other borrowing costs are recognized as an expense in the period in which they are incurred.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
The Company assesses at each reporting period whether there is an indication that an asset or group of assets may be impaired. When 
impairment indicators exist, the Company estimates the recoverable amount of the asset and compares it against the asset’s carrying 
amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of its fair value less cost of disposal (“FVLCD”) and the asset’s value in use (“VIU”). If the 
carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recorded in the consolidated statement of operations.

In assessing VIU, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current 
market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset not already reflected in the estimates of future cash 
flows. The cash flows are based on best estimates of expected future cash flows from the continued use of the asset and its eventual 
disposal.

FVLCD is best evidenced if obtained from an active market or binding sale agreement. Where neither exists, the fair value is based on the 
best estimates available to reflect the amount that could be received from an arm’s length transaction.

Future cash flows are based on estimated quantities of gold and other recoverable metals, expected price of gold (considering current 
and historical prices, price trends and related factors), production levels and cash costs of production, capital and reclamation costs, all 
based on detailed engineered life-of-mine plans.

Numerous  factors  including,  but  not  limited  to,  unexpected  grade  changes,  gold  recovery  variances,  shortages  of  equipment  and 
consumables, equipment failures, and collapse of pit walls could impact our ability to achieve forecasted production schedules from 
proven and probable reserves. Additionally, commodity prices, capital expenditure requirements and reclamation costs could differ from 
the assumptions used in the cash flow models used to assess impairment. The ability to achieve the estimated quantities of recoverable 
minerals from exploration stage mineral interests involves further risks in addition to those factors applicable to mineral interests where 
proven  and  probable  reserves  have  been  identified,  due  to  the  lower  level  of  confidence  that  the  identified  mineralized  material  can 
ultimately be mined economically.

If an impairment loss reverses in a subsequent period, the carrying amount (post reversal) of the related asset is increased to the revised 
estimate of recoverable amount to the extent that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have 
been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset previously. Reversals of impairment losses are recognized in the 
statement of operations in the period the reversals occur.

Material changes to any of the factors or assumptions discussed above could result in future asset impairments.

REHABILITATION PROVISIONS
The  Company  records  a  liability  and  corresponding  asset  for  the  present  value  of  the  estimated  costs  of  legal  and  constructive 
obligations  for  future  site  reclamation  and  closure  where  the  liability  is  probable  and  a  reasonable  estimate  can  be  made  of  the 
obligation. The estimated present value of the obligation is reassessed on a periodic basis or when new material information becomes 
available.  Increases  or  decreases  to  the  obligation  usually  arise  due  to  changes  in  legal  or  regulatory  requirements,  the  extent  of 
environmental remediation required, methods of reclamation, cost estimates, inflation rates, or discount rates. Changes to the provision 
for reclamation and remediation obligations related to operating mines, which are not the result of current production of inventory, are 
recorded with an offsetting change to the related asset. The present value is determined based on current market assessments of the 
time value of money using discount rates based on the risk-free rate maturing approximating the timing of expected expenditures to be 

52

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

incurred, and adjusted for country related risks. The periodic unwinding of the discount is recognized in the consolidated statement of 
operations as a finance expense.

PROPERTY HOLDING COST
Property holding costs are costs incurred to retain and maintain properties. Such costs are expensed in the period incurred.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
The  Company’s  presentation  currency  of  its  consolidated  financial  statements  is  the  U.S.  dollar,  as  is  the  functional  currency  of  its 
operations. The functional currency of all consolidated subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. All values are rounded to the nearest thousand, 
unless otherwise stated.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at period end exchange rates. Non-
monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are measured at fair value are translated into U.S. dollars at the 
exchange rate at the date that the fair value was determined. Income and expense items are translated at the exchange rate in effect 
on the date of the transaction. Exchange gains and losses resulting from the translation of these amounts are included in net loss, except 
those arising on the translation of available-for-sale investments that are recorded in other comprehensive income. Non-monetary assets 
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are measured at historical cost are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the 
transaction date.

INCOME TAXES
Income taxes comprise the provision for (or recovery of) taxes actually paid or payable (current taxes) and for deferred taxes.

Current  taxes  are  based  on  taxable  earnings  in  the  year.  Current  tax  is  calculated  using  tax  rates  and  laws  that  were  enacted  or 
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date in the respective jurisdictions.

Current income tax assets and current income tax liabilities are only offset if a legally enforceable right exists to offset the amounts and 
the Company intends to settle on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences 
between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Deferred income tax assets and 
liabilities are computed using enacted or substantially enacted income tax rates in effect when the temporary differences are expected 
to reverse. The effect on the deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period of substantial enactment. 
The provision for or the recovery of deferred taxes is based on the changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the period.

The carrying amount of deferred income tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and recognized to the extent that it 
is probable that taxable earnings will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilized.

NET INCOME/(LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic income/(loss) per share of common stock is calculated by dividing income available to Golden Star’s common shareholders by the 
weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding during the period. In periods with earnings, the calculation of 
diluted net income per common share uses the treasury stock method to compute the dilutive effects of stock options and warrants, and 
other potentially dilutive instruments. In periods of loss, diluted net loss per share is equal to basic income per share.

REVENUE RECOGNITION
Revenue from the sale of metal is recognized when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the purchaser. This 
occurs  when  the  amount  of  revenue  can  be  measured  reliably,  the  metal  has  been  delivered,  title  has  passed  to  the  buyer  and  it  is 
probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity. All of our gold is transported to a South African 
gold refiner who locates a buyer and arranges for sale of our gold on the same day that the gold is shipped from the mine site. The sales 
price is based on the London P.M. fix on the day of shipment. Title and risk of ownership pass to the buyer on the day doré is shipped from 
the mine sites.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
Under  the  Company’s  Third  Amended  and  Restated  1997  Stock  Option  Plan,  common  share  options  may  be  granted  to  executives, 
employees, consultants and non-employee directors. Compensation expense for such grants is recorded in the consolidated statements 
of  operations,  with  a  corresponding  increase  recorded  in  the  contributed  surplus  account  in  the  consolidated  balance  sheets.  The 
expense is based on the fair value of the option at the time of grant, measured by reference to the fair value determined using a Black-
Scholes valuation model, and is recognized over the vesting periods of the respective options on a graded basis. Consideration paid to 
the Company on exercise of options is credited to share capital.

Under the Company’s Deferred Share Unit (“DSU”) plan, DSUs may be granted to executive officers and directors. Compensation expense 
for  such  grants  is  recorded  in  the  consolidated  statements  of  operations  with  a  corresponding  increase  recorded  in  the  contributed 
surplus account in the consolidated balance sheets. The expense is based on the fair values at the time of grant and is recognized over 
the vesting periods of the respective DSUs. Upon exercise the Company’s compensation committee may, at its discretion, issue cash, 
shares of a combination thereof.

The Company’s Share Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) plan allows SARs to be issued to executives and directors. These awards are settled 
in cash on the exercise date equal to the Company’s stock price less the strike price. Since these awards are settled in cash, the Company 
marks-to-market  the  associated  expense  for  each  award  at  the  end  of  each  reporting  period.  The  Company  accounts  for  these  as 
liability awards and marks-to-market the fair value of the award until final settlement.

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS
Under  the  Company’s  Performance  Share  Units  (“PSU”)  plan,  PSUs  may  be  granted  to  executives,  employees  and  non-employee 
directors. Each PSU represents one notional common share that is redeemed for cash based on the value of a common share at the end 
of the three year performance period, to the extent performance and vesting criteria have been met. The cash award is determined by 
multiplying  the  number  of  units  by  the  performance  adjusting  factor,  which  range  from  0%  to  200%.  The  performance  factor  is 
determined by comparing the Company’s share price performance to the share price performance of a peer group of companies. As the 
Company is required to settle this award in cash, it will record an accrued liability and a corresponding compensation expense.

LEASES
Leases that transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership to the Company are recorded as finance leases and classified 
as property, plant and equipment with a corresponding amount recorded with current and long-term debt. All other leases are classified 
as operating leases under which leasing costs are expensed in the period incurred.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company recognizes all financial assets initially at fair value and classifies them into one of the following three categories: fair value 
through profit or loss (“FVTPL”), available-for-sale (“AFS”) or loans and receivables, as appropriate. The Company has not classified any 
of its financial assets as held to maturity.

The  Company  recognizes  all  financial  liabilities  initially  at  fair  value  and  classifies  them  as  either  FVTPL  or  loans  and  borrowings,  as 
appropriate. The Company has not classified any of its derivatives as designated as hedging instruments in an effective hedge.

Convertible debentures
The Company’s convertible debentures are considered financial instruments at FVTPL. The convertible debentures contain embedded 
derivatives that significantly modify the cash flows that otherwise would be required by the contract. The convertible debentures are 
recorded  at  fair  value  determined  based  on  unadjusted  quoted  prices  in  active  markets  when  available,  otherwise  by  valuing  the 
embedded derivative conversion feature and the debt component separately. The conversion feature is valued using a Black-Scholes 
model and the value of the debt is determined based on the present value of the future cash flows. Changes in fair value are recorded in 
the consolidated statement of operations. Upfront costs and fees related to the convertible debentures were recognized in the statement 
of operations as incurred and not deferred.

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

Derivatives
At various times the Company utilizes foreign exchange and commodity price derivatives to manage exposure to fluctuations in foreign 
currency  exchange  rates  and  gold  prices,  respectively.  The  Company  does  not  employ  derivative  financial  instruments  for  trading 
purposes or for speculative purposes. Our derivative instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value with changes in fair 
value recorded in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company did not have any foreign exchange derivatives outstanding 
at December 31, 2014.

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)
Other  comprehensive  income/(loss)  (“OCI”)  consists  of  unrealized  gains/(losses)  on  AFS  investments.  Unrealized  gains  or  losses  on 
securities  are  net  of  any  reclassification  adjustments  for  realized  gains  or  losses  included  in  net  income/(loss)  or  impairments  to  the 
investment which are considered permanent.

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Company has adopted the following new and revised standards, effective January 1, 2014. These changes were made in accordance 
with the applicable transitional provisions.

IFRIC 21 Accounting for Levies Imposed by Government clarifies that the obligating event that give rise to a liability to pay a levy is the 
activity described in the relevant legislation that triggers the payment of the levy. The adoption of this interpretation did not result in any 
impact to the Company’s financial statements.

IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation was amended to clarify requirement for offsetting of financial assets and financial liabilities. 
The adoption of this amendment did not result in any impact to the Company’s financial statements.

IAS 36 Impairment of Assets was amended to remove the requirement of disclosing recoverable amount when a cash generating unit 
(“CGU”) contains goodwill or indefinite life intangible assets but there has been no impairment. This amendment also requires additional 
disclosure of recoverable amount of an asset of CGU when an impairment loss has been recognized or reversed; and detailed disclosure 
of how the fair value less costs of disposal has been measured when an impairment loss has been recognized or reversed. The adoption 
resulted in additional disclosures as included in Note 22 of these financial statements.

IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement was amended to provide relief from discontinuing hedge accounting when 
novation of a hedge instrument to a central counterparty meets specified criteria. The adoption of this amendment did not result in any 
impact to the company’s financial statements.

STANDARDS, INTERPRETATIONS AND AMENDMENTS NOT YET EFFECTIVE
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers supersedes IAS 18 Revenue, IAS 11 Construction Contracts and related interpretations. This 
standard is effective for first interim periods within years beginning on or after January 1, 2017. The Company is still assessing the impact 
of this standard.

IFRS  9 Financial Instruments,  issued  in  November  2009  replaces  IAS  39 Financial Instruments: Recognition & Measurement.  IFRS  9 
introduces  new  requirements  for  classification,  measurement  and  impairment  of  financial  assets  and  hedge  accounting.  IFRS  9 
establishes  two  primary  measurement  categories  for  financial  assets:  (i)  amortized  cost,  and  (ii)  fair  value;  establishes  criteria  for 
classification of financial assets within the measurement category based on business model and cash flow characteristics; and eliminates 
existing  held  for  trading,  held  to  maturity,  available  for  sale,  loans  and  receivable  and  other  financial  liabilities  categories.  IFRS  9  was 
originally issued in November 2009, reissued in October 2010, amended in November 2013 and completed in July 2014. IFRS 9 is effective 
for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 with early adoption permitted. The Company is still assessing the impact of this 
standard.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

4. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS
Preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and 
assumptions that can affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the accompanying disclosures. Estimates 
and  assumptions  are  continuously  evaluated  and  are  based  on  management’s  historical  experience  and  on  other  assumptions  we 
believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. However, uncertainty about these judgments, estimates and assumptions could result 
in outcomes that require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets or liabilities affected in future periods.

INVENTORY VALUATION
Inventories are recorded at the lower of average cost or net realizable value (“NRV”). The allocation of costs to ore in stockpiles and the 
determination of NRV involve the use of estimates. Stockpiled ore represents coarse ore that has been extracted from the mine and is 
stored for future processing. Stockpiled ore is measured using estimates such as the number of tonnes (via truck counts or by physical 
surveys) added to, or removed from the stockpile, the number of contained ounces (based on assay data) and estimated gold recovery 
percentage. Timing and recovery of stockpiled ore can vary significantly from the estimates.

The net realizable value of materials and supplies is recorded based on the expected usage of the inventory items, salvage value and 
condition of the inventory items, all of which are based management estimates and judgments.

MINERAL RESERVES
Determining mineral reserves and resources is a complex process involving numerous variables and is based on a professional evaluation 
using accepted international standards for the assessment of mineral reserves. Estimation is a subjective process, and the accuracy of 
such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering 
and geological interpretation. Mineral reserve estimation may vary as a result of changes in the price of gold, production costs, and with 
additional knowledge of the ore deposits and mining conditions.

Differences between management’s assumptions including economic assumptions such as metal prices and market conditions could 
have a material effect in the future on the Company’s results and financial position, particularly a change in the rate of depreciation and 
amortization of the related mining assets.

BETTERMENT STRIPPING COSTS
Significant  judgment  is  required  to  distinguish  between  development  stripping,  production  stripping  which  relates  to  extraction  of 
inventory  and  development  stripping  which  relates  to  the  creation  of  a  betterment  stripping  and  stripping  activity  asset.  Once  the 
Company has identified its stripping for each surface mining operation, it identifies the separate components for the ore bodies in each 
of its mining operations. An identifiable component is a specific volume of the ore body that is made more accessible by the stripping 
activity. Significant judgment is required to identify these components and to determine the expected volumes (waste and ore) to be 
stripped in each component.

Judgment is also required to identify a suitable production measure to be used to allocate production stripping costs between inventory 
and betterment stripping for each component. The Company considers the ratio of the expected volume of ore to be mined for a specific 
component of the ore body to be the most suitable production measure.

UNITS OF PRODUCTION DEPRECIATION
The mineral properties and a large portion of the property, plant and equipment is depreciated/amortized using the units of production 
method over the expected operating life of the mine based on estimated recoverable ounces of gold, which are the prime determinants 
of the life of a mine. Estimated recoverable ounces of gold include proven and probable reserves. Changes in the estimated mineral 
reserves will result in changes to the depreciation charges over the remaining life of the operation. A decrease in the mineral reserves 
would increase depreciation and amortization expense and this could have a material impact on the operating results. The amortization 
base is updated on an annual basis based on the new mineral estimates.

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

CARRYING VALUE OF ASSETS AND IMPAIRMENT CHARGES
The Company undertakes a review of its assets at each reporting period to determine whether any indication of impairment exists. Where 
an indicator of impairment exists, a formal estimate of the recoverable amount of the asset or CGU is made, which is considered to be 
the  higher  of  its  FVLCD  and  VIU.  An  impairment  loss  is  recognized  when  the  carrying  value  of  the  asset  or  CGU  is  higher  than  the 
recoverable amount. In undertaking this review, management of the Company is required to make significant estimates of, amongst 
other things, discount rates, future production and sale volumes, metal prices, reserves and resource quantities, future operating and 
capital costs and reclamation costs to the end of the mine’s life. These estimates are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which may 
ultimately have an effect on the expected recoverability of the carrying values of the asset or CGU. In determining a CGU, management 
has examined the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of cash inflows from 
other assets or group of assets.

REHABILITATION PROVISIONS
Environmental  reclamation  and  closure  liabilities  are  recognized  at  the  time  of  environmental  disturbance,  in  amounts  equal  to  the 
discounted value of expected future reclamation and closure costs. The estimated future cash costs of such liabilities are based primarily 
upon  environmental  and  regulatory  requirements  of  the  various  jurisdictions  in  which  we  operate  as  well  as  any  other  constructive 
obligations that exist. The liability represents management’s best estimates of cash required to settle the liability, inflation, assumptions 
of risks associated with future cash flows and the applicable risk-free interest rates for discounting the future cash outflow. The liability is 
reassessed and remeasured at each reporting date.

FAIR VALUE OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
The debt component of the 5% Convertible Debentures is valued based on discounted cash flows and the conversion feature is valued 
using a Black-Scholes model. The inputs to these models are taken from observable markets where possible, but if this is not feasible, a 
degree of judgment is required in establishing fair values. The judgments include considerations of inputs such as liquidity risk, credit risk 
and volatility. Changes in assumptions about these factors could affect the reported fair value of financial instruments.

INCOME TAXES
We deal with uncertainties and judgments in the application of complex tax regulations in the various jurisdictions where our properties 
are located. The amount of taxes paid is dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in the various 
jurisdictions and resolution of disputes arising from our international tax audits. We recognize potential liabilities and record tax liabilities 
for anticipated tax audit issues in our various tax jurisdictions based on our best estimate of additional taxes payable. We adjust these 
reserves  in  light  of  changing  facts  and  circumstances,  however,  due  to  the  complexity  of  some  of  these  uncertainties,  the  ultimate 
resolution may result in payment that is materially different from our estimates of our tax liabilities. If our estimate of tax liability proves to 
be less than the ultimate assessment, an additional charge to expense would result. If the estimate of tax liabilities proves to be greater 
that the ultimate assessment, a tax benefit is recognized.

A  deferred  tax  asset  is  recognized  to  the  extent  that  it  is  probable  that  taxable  earnings  will  be  available  against  which  deductible 
temporary differences can be utilized.

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

5. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following tables illustrate the classification of the Company’s recurring fair value measurements for financial instruments within the 
fair value hierarchy and their carrying values and fair values as at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013: 

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS
5% Convertible Debentures

December 31, 2014
Carrying 
value

Fair 
value

December 31, 2013
Carrying 
value

Fair 
value

Level

3

47,846

47,846

 47,308

47,308

There were no non-recurring fair value measurements of financial instruments as at December 31, 2014.

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3 – Inputs that are not based on observable market data.

The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers into and transfers out of the fair value hierarchy levels as of the date of the event or change 
in circumstances that caused the transfer. During the year ended December 31, 2014, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 
fair value measurements, and no transfers into or out of Level 3 fair value measurements.

The Company’s finance department is responsible for performing the valuation of financial instruments, including Level 3 fair values. The 
valuation processes and results are reviewed and approved by the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at least once every 
quarter, in line with the Company’s quarterly reporting dates. Valuation results are discussed with the Audit Committee as part of its 
quarterly review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value are as follows:

5% CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES 
The debt component of the 5% Convertible Debentures is valued based on discounted cash flows and the conversion feature is valued 
based on a Black-Scholes model. The risk free interest rate used in the fair value computation is the interest rate on US treasury bills with 
maturity similar to the remaining life of the 5% Convertible Debentures. The discount rate used is determined by adding our risk premium 
to the risk free interest rate. A market-based volatility rate has been applied to the fair value computation. Inputs used to determine the 
fair value on December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows: 

5% CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
Risk free interest rate
Risk premium
Volatility
Remaining life (years)

December 31, 
2014

December 31,
 2013

0.9%
25.1%
40.0%
2.4%

1.3%
21.0%
40.0%
3.4%

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

The following table presents the changes in the Level 3 investments for the year ended December 31, 2014:

BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2013
Loss in the period included in earnings

BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2014

Fair value

47,308
538

47,846

If  the  risk  premium  increases  by  5%,  the  fair  value  of  the  5%  Convertible  Debentures  would  decrease  and  the  related  gain  in  the 
consolidated statement of operations would increase by $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. In general, an increase in risk 
premium would increase the gain on fair value of the 5% Convertible Debentures.

6. INVENTORIES
Inventories include the following components:

As of

Stockpiled ore
In-process
Materials and supplies

TOTAL

December 31,
2014

December 31,
2013

21,035
8,093
25,151

54,279

10,389
9,926
47,410

67,725

The cost of inventories expensed for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $288.5 million and $353.7 million, respectively. 

A  total  of  $18.0  million  and  $1.6  million  of  materials  and  supplies  inventories  were  written  off  in  2014  and  2013  respectively,  due  to 
obsolescence  and  an  additional  $3.8  million  and  $10.8  million  of  net  realizable  value  adjustments  were  recorded  in  2014  and  2013 
respectively. 

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

7. MINING INTERESTS
The  following  table  shows  the  breakdown  of  the  cost,  accumulated  depreciation  and  net  book  value  of  plant  and  equipment,  and 
mining properties:

COST
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012
Additions
Transfers
Change in rehabilitation provision estimate
Disposals and other

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013
Additions
Transfers
Capitalized interest
Change in rehabilitation provision estimate
Disposals and other

Plant and 
equipment

Mining 
properties

Construction 
in progress

Total

397,514
33,870
23,632
–
(946)

454,070
499
6,717
–
–
(7,212)

555,436
69,725
26,043
28,056
–

679,260
73
32,824
–
1,314
–

94,870
–
(49,675)
–
–

45,195
32,232
(39,541)
851
–
(21)

1,047,820
103,595
–
28,056
(946)

1,178,525
32,804
–
851
1,314
(7,233)

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

454,074

713,471

38,716

1,206,261

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012
Depreciation and amortization
Disposals and other
Impairment charges (Note 22)

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013
Depreciation and amortization
Disposals and other
Impairment charges (Note 22)

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

CARRYING AMOUNT
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

242,114
24,124
(840)
117,563

382,961
19,249
(5,409)
9,043

364,106
31,151
–
235,114

630,371
6,307
–
11,651

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
9,306

606,220
55,275
(840)
352,677

1,013,332
25,556
(5,409)
30,000

405,844

648,329

9,306

1,063,479

155,400

191,330

71,109

48,230

48,889

65,142

94,870

45,195

441,600

165,193

29,410

142,782

As at December 31, 2014, equipment under finance leases had net carrying amounts of $2.7 million. The total minimum lease payments 
are disclosed in Note 12 – Debt.

No depreciation is charged to construction in progress assets.

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

8. EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS
The following table presents changes in exploration and evaluation assets:

COST
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012
Exploration expenditures incurred
Write-off of unsuccessful exploration costs

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013
Write-off of unsuccessful exploration costs (Note 22)

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Exploration and 
evaluation assets

 10,862
218
(1,333)

9,747
(9,747)

–

9. INCOME TAXES 
We  recognize  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  based  on  the  difference  between  the  financial  reporting  and  tax  basis  of  assets  and 
liabilities using the tax rates enacted or substantively enacted when the temporary differences are expected to reverse.

Our net deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 include the following components:

As of

DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
Non-capital loss carryovers
Other

DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES
Mine property costs
Other

NET DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES

The movement in the net deferred tax liabilities were as follows:

Balance at the beginning of the year
Recognized in net earnings

BALANCE AT THE END OF THE YEAR

December 31,
2014

December 31,
2013

17,444
140

11,943
5,641

 –

2014

–
–

–

227
4

227
4

–

2013

32,937
(32,937)

–

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

The composition of our unrecognized deferred tax assets by tax jurisdiction is summarized as follows:

As of

DEDUCTIBLE TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES
Canada
U.S.
Ghana

TAX LOSSES
Canada
U.S.
Ghana

TOTAL UNRECOGNIZED DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
Canada
U.S.
Ghana

The income taxes expense/(recovery) includes the following components:

For the years ended December 31,

CURRENT TAX (RECOVERY)/EXPENSE
Current tax on net earnings
Adjustments in respect to prior years

DEFERRED TAX (RECOVERY)/EXPENSE
Originating and reversal of temporary differences in the current year
Adjustments in respect to prior years
Change in tax rates

INCOME TAX EXPENSE/(RECOVERY)

December 31,
2014

December 31,
2013

2,433
–
52,679

55,112

44,312
158
204,063

248,533

46,745
158
256,742

303,645

8,060
–
73,583

81,643

17,321
180
194,607

212,108

25,381
180
268,190

293,751

2014

2013

 –
(254)

(254)

–
–
–

–

(254)

20,123
483

20,606

(32,831)
(106)
–

(32,937)

(12,331)

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

A  reconciliation  of  expected  income  tax  on  net  (loss)/income  before  minority  interest  at  statutory  rates  with  the  actual  income  tax 
expenses/(recovery) is as follows:

For the years ended December 31,

Net (loss)/income before tax
Statutory tax rate

TAX (BENEFIT)/EXPENSE AT STATUTORY RATE
Foreign tax rates
Change in tax rates
Non-taxable portion of capital gain
Expired loss carryovers
Other
Non-deductible expenses
Loss carryover not previously recognized
Non-deductible convertible debenture conversion feature
Ghana property basis not previously recognized
Change in future tax assets due to exchange rates
Change in unrecognized deferred tax assets

INCOME TAX EXPENSE/(RECOVERY)

At December 31, 2014, the Company had a tax pool and loss carryovers expiring as follows:

2014

(83,695)
26.5

(22,179)
(19,578)
–
–
17,161
(41)
842
–
–
–
3,399
20,142

(254)

Ghana

–
8,721
46,540
32,912
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
527,938

2013

(310,844)
26.5

(82,374)
(36,479)
(1,119)
1,110
12,268
1,520
1,005
18,574
(13,771)
(3,665)
1,081
89,519

(12,331)

Other

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
648

648

Canada

 7,356
–
–
–
18,159
14,465
13,056
19,796
17,694
33,196
16,069
8,581
4,844
26,472

2015
2016
2018
2019
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Indefinite

TOTAL

 179,688

616,111

$593.0 million of the Ghana tax pool is usable against taxable income generated at Bogoso, with the remaining amount usable against 
taxable income generated at Wassa.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

10. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities include the following components:

As of

Trade and other payables
Accrued liabilities
Payroll related liabilities

TOTAL

December 31,
2014

December 31,
2013

79,528
38,969
4,954

61,188
41,352
6,443

123,451

108,983

Subsequent to December 31, 2014, the Company has reached an agreement with the electricity provider in Ghana, Volta River Authority, 
on a mutually acceptable plan to repay $30.4 million of payables included above. The repayment plan includes a deferral of approximately 
$22 million to 2016 and 2017.

11. REHABILITATION PROVISIONS
At December 31, 2014, the total undiscounted amount of the estimated future cash needs was estimated to be $92.4 million. A discount 
rate  assumption  of  2%  and  an  inflation  rate  assumption  of  2%  were  used  to  value  the  rehabilitation  provisions.  The  changes  in  the 
carrying amount of the rehabilitation provisions are as follows:

For the years ended December 31,

BEGINNING BALANCE
Accretion of rehabilitation provisions
Changes in estimates
Cost of reclamation work performed

BALANCE AT THE END OF THE PERIOD
Current portion
Long term portion

TOTAL

2014

86,310
1,746
1,314
(3,554)

85,816
4,562
81,254

85,816

2013

63,319
592
28,056
(5,657)

86,310
7,783
78,527

86,310

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company has recorded a change of estimates of $1.3 million on its rehabilitation provisions of 
the mine sites. The impact of the changes of estimates were an increase of $1.6 million to the reclamation provisions for Wassa and a 
decrease  of  $0.3  million  to  the  reclamation  provisions  for  Bogoso.  The  rehabilitation  provision  for  Wassa  was  $18.2  million  (2013  – 
$18.5 million). The Company expects the payments for reclamation to be incurred between 2015 and 2029. An increase in estimate of 
$1.6 million was recorded during 2014 due to a revision in the timing of payments. The rehabilitation provision for Bogoso was $67.6 million 
(2013 – $67.8 million). The reclamation payments are expected to be settled between 2015 and 2025.

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

12. DEBT
The following table displays the components of our current and long term debt instruments:

As of

CURRENT DEBT:
Equipment financing credit facility
Ecobank Loan I net of loan fees
Finance leases

TOTAL CURRENT DEBT

LONG TERM DEBT:
Equipment financing credit facility
Ecobank Loan I net of loan fees
Finance leases
5% Convertible Debentures at fair value (see Note 5)

TOTAL LONG TERM DEBT

December 31,
2014

December 31,
2013

4,512
11,686
983

17,181

3,833
31,239
2,880
47,846

85,798

5,218
4,752
885

10,855

8,150
24,101
3,828
47,308

83,387

EQUIPMENT FINANCING CREDIT FACILITY
Bogoso and Wassa maintain an equipment financing facility with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, with Golden Star as the 
guarantor of all amounts borrowed. The facility provides credit financing for new and used mining equipment. Amounts drawn under 
this facility are repayable over five years for new equipment and over two years for used equipment. The interest rate for each draw-down 
is fixed at the date of the draw-down using the US Federal Reserve Bank 2-year or 5-year swap rate or London Interbank Offered Rate 
(“LIBOR”) plus 2.38%. Each outstanding equipment loan is secured by the title of the specific equipment purchased with the loan until the 
loan has been repaid in full.

ECOBANK LOANS
Ecobank loan I
In  2013,  the  Company  through  its  subsidiary  Golden  Star  (Wassa)  Limited  closed  a  $50  million  secured  Medium  Term  Loan  Facility 
(“Ecobank Loan I”) with Ecobank Ghana Limited and subsequently drew down $50 million of the facility. The loan has a term of 60 months 
from the date of initial drawing and is secured by, among other things, Wassa’s existing plant, machinery and equipment. The interest 
rate is three month LIBOR plus 9% per annum, payable monthly in arrears. Principal amounts are payable quarterly in arrears. 

Ecobank loan II
In the third quarter of 2014, the Company through its subsidiary Golden Star (Wassa) Limited closed an additional $25 million secured 
Medium Term Loan Facility (“Ecobank Loan II”) with Ecobank Ghana Limited. Drawdowns under the loan will be available to finance the 
development of a potential underground mine at Wassa. This additional $25 million loan has a term of 60 months from the date of initial 
drawdown and is secured by, among other things, Wassa’s existing plant, machinery and equipment. The interest rate on the loan is 
three  month  LIBOR  plus  11%,  per  annum,  payable  monthly  in  arrears  beginning  a  month  following  the  initial  drawdown.  Payment  of 
principal commences six months following the initial drawdown and is thereafter payable quarterly in arrears. The Company will be 
required  to  adhere  to  certain  financial  covenants  from  the  end  of  2016.  The  Company  has  until  the  third  quarter  of  2015  to  make 
drawdowns on the loan. At December 31, 2014, the Company had not made any drawdowns on this facility. 

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

FINANCE LEASES
During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company financed mining equipment at Wassa and Bogoso through equipment financing 
leases. These finance leases are payable in equal installments over a period of 60 months and have implicit interest rates of 6.9%. Each 
outstanding finance lease is secured by the title of the specific equipment purchased with the lease until the lease has been repaid in full. 

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
The  5%  Convertible  Debentures  were  issued  on  May  31,  2012,  in  the  amount  of  $77.5  million,  in  exchange  for  $74.5  million  of  our  4% 
convertible senior unsecured debentures (the “4% Convertible Debentures”) in privately negotiated transactions with certain holders of 
the 4% Convertible Debentures exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The 5% Convertible Debentures are governed by the terms of an indenture dated May 31, 2012, by and between the Company and The 
Bank of New York Mellon, as Indenture Trustee.

Interest on the 5% Convertible Debentures is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 31 and November 30 of each year until maturity on 
June 1, 2017. The 5% Convertible Debentures are, subject to certain limitations, convertible into common shares at a conversion rate of 
606.0606 common shares per $1,000 principal amount of the 5% Convertible Debentures (equal to an initial conversion price of $1.65 per 
share), or approximately 25% above the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the NYSE MKT on May 17, 2012, the last full 
trading day prior to entry into the purchase agreement. The 5% Convertible Debentures are not redeemable at the Company’s option, 
except in the event of certain change in control transactions where 90% or more of the outstanding 5% Convertible Debentures have 
accepted a mandatory offer from us to purchase them.

On maturity, the Company may, at its option, satisfy the repayment obligation by paying the principal amount of the 5% Convertible 
Debentures in cash or, subject to certain limitations, by issuing that number of the Company’s common shares obtained by dividing the 
principal  amount  of  the  5%  Convertible  Debentures  outstanding  by  95%  of  the  weighted  average  trading  price  of  the  Company’s 
common shares on the NYSE MKT for the 20 consecutive trading days ending five trading days preceding the maturity date (the “Current 
Market Price”). If the Company elects to repay the principal amount of the 5% Convertible Debentures at maturity by issuing common 
shares, and the Company is limited under the terms of the indenture from issuing a number of common shares sufficient to fully repay 
the  5%  Convertible  Debentures  outstanding  at  maturity,  the  Company  is  required  to  pay  the  balance  owing  in  cash,  based  on  the 
difference between the principal amount of the 5% Convertible Debentures outstanding and the value of the common shares (based on 
the Current Market Price) delivered in repayment of the 5% Convertible Debentures.

The 5% Convertible Debentures are direct senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company, ranking equally and ratably with all other 
senior unsecured indebtedness, and senior to all subordinated indebtedness of the Company. None of the Company’s subsidiaries has 
guaranteed the 5% Convertible Debentures, and the 5% Convertible Debentures do not limit the amount of debt that the Company or our 
subsidiaries may incur.

The 5% Convertible Debentures are accounted for at fair value and marked to market each reporting period and the corresponding gain/
loss on fair value is recorded in the Statement of Operations.

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

Schedule of payments on outstanding debt as of December 31, 2014: 

EQUIPMENT FINANCING LOANS
Principal
Interest

ECOBANK LOAN I
Principal
Interest

FINANCE LEASES
Principal
Interest

5% CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
Principal
Interest

TOTAL PRINCIPAL
TOTAL INTEREST

2015

2016

2017

2018

Maturity

4,512
417

11,686
3,557

983
239

–
3,875

17,181
8,088

25,269

2,761
180

11,686
2,610

1,016
172

–
3,875

15,463
6,837

22,300

931
34

11,686
1,506

1,088
100

77,490
1,937

91,195
3,577

141  2013 to 2018

2018

2018

June 1, 2017

4

8,765
392

776
24

–
–

9,682
420

94,772

10,102

13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Our commitments and contingencies include the following items:

ENVIRONMENTAL BONDING IN GHANA
The Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) requires environmental compliance bonds that provide assurance for environmental 
remediation at our Bogoso and Wassa mining operations. To meet this requirement the Company has environmental bonds totaling 
$9.6  million  and  $8.1  million  for  Wassa  and  Bogoso  respectively  with  a  commercial  bank  in  Ghana.  These  bonds  are  guaranteed  by 
Golden  Star  Resources  Ltd.  There  is  also  a  cross  guarantee  between  Wassa  and  Bogoso.  The  Company  also  held  cash  deposits  of 
$1.0 million and $1.0 million for each operation, which are recorded as restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets.

GOVERNMENT OF GHANA’S RIGHTS TO INCREASE ITS PARTICIPATION
Under  Act  703,  the  Government  of  Ghana  has  the  right  to  acquire  a  special  share  in  our  Ghanaian  subsidiaries  at  any  time  for  no 
consideration  or  such  consideration  as  the  Government  of  Ghana  and  such  subsidiaries  might  agree,  and  a  pre-emptive  right  to 
purchase all gold and other minerals produced by such subsidiaries. A special share carries no voting rights and does not participate in 
dividends, profits or assets. If the Government of Ghana acquires a special share, it may require us to redeem the special share at any 
time for no consideration or for consideration determined by us. To date, the Government of Ghana has not sought to exercise any of 
these rights at our properties.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

ROYALTIES
Government of Ghana
The Ghana Government receives a royalty equal to 5% of mineral revenues.

Dunkwa Properties
As  part  of  the  acquisition  of  the  Dunkwa  properties  in  2003,  we  agreed  to  pay  the  seller  a  net  smelter  return  royalty  on  future  gold 
production from the Mansiso and Asikuma properties. As per the acquisition agreement, there will be no royalty due on the first 200,000 
ounces produced from Mampon which is located on the Asikuma property. The amount of the royalty is based on a sliding scale which 
ranges from 2% of net smelter return at gold prices at or below $300 per ounce and progressively increases to 3.5% for gold prices in 
excess of $400 per ounce. Since this property is currently undeveloped, we are not required to pay a royalty on this property.

EXPLORATION AGREEMENTS
Obuom
In October 2007, we entered into an agreement with AMI Resources Inc. (“AMI”), which gives AMI the right to earn our 54% ownership 
position in the Obuom property in Ghana. Should AMI eventually obtain full rights to our position on the property and develop a gold 
mining operation at Obuom, we would receive from AMI a 2% net smelter return royalty on 54% of the property’s gold production.

OPERATING LEASES AND CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
The  Company  is  a  party  to  certain  contracts  relating  to  operating  leases,  office  rent  and  capital  commitments.  Future  minimum 
payments under these agreements as at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

Less than 1 year
Between 1 and 5 years
More than 5 years

TOTAL

3,924
1,228
–

5,152

14. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
Non-cash employee compensation expenses recognized in general and administrative expense in the statements of operations are as 
follows:

For the years ended December 31,

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

2014

2,515

2013

3,013

SHARE OPTIONS
We have one stock option plan, the Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) approved by shareholders in May 
2010, under which options are granted at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Options granted are non-assignable and are exercisable 
for a period of ten years or such other period as is stipulated in a stock option agreement between Golden Star and the optionee. Under 
the Plan, we may grant options to employees, consultants and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries for up to 25,000,000 shares, 
of which 2,341,338 are available for grant as of December 31, 2014. The exercise price of each option is not less than the closing price of 
our  shares  on  the  Toronto  Stock  Exchange  on  the  day  prior  to  the  date  of  grant.  Options  typically  vest  over  periods  ranging  from 
immediately to four years from the date of grant. Vesting periods are determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors. 

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

The  fair  value  of  option  grants  is  estimated  at  the  grant  dates  using  the  Black-Scholes  option-pricing  model.  Fair  values  of  options 
granted during the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were based on the weighted average assumptions noted in the following 
table: 

For the years ended December 31,

Expected volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Expected lives
Dividend yield

2014

77.85%
1.43%
6.01 years
0%

2013

59.77%
0.44%
4.47 years
0%

Expected volatilities are based on the mean reversion tendency of the volatility of Golden Star’s shares. Golden Star uses historical data 
to estimate share option exercise and employee departure behavior and this data is used in determining input data for the Black-Scholes 
model. Groups of employees that have dissimilar historical behavior are considered separately for valuation purposes. The expected 
term of the options granted represents the period of time that the options granted are expected to be outstanding; the range given 
above  results  from  certain  groups  of  employees  exhibiting  different  post-vesting  behaviors.  The  risk-free  rate  for  periods  within  the 
contractual term of the option is based on the Canadian Chartered Bank administered interest rates in effect at the time of the grant.

The weighted average fair value per option granted during the year ended December 31, 2014 was $0.57 (year ended December 31, 2013 – 
$0.76). As at December 31, 2014, there was $0.7 million of share-based compensation expense (December 31, 2013 – $0.8 million) relating 
to the Company’s share options to be recorded in future periods. 

A summary of option activity under the Company’s Stock Option Plan during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:

OUTSTANDING AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired

OUTSTANDING AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013
Granted
Forfeited
Expired

OUTSTANDING AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Exercisable as of December 31, 2013
Exercisable as of December 31, 2014

Weighted-
average
exercise
price
(Cdn$)

Weighted-
average
remaining
contractual
term (years)

2.74
1.66
1.70
2.90
4.11

2.45
0.86
2.07
6.95

2.01

2.70
2.33

6.2
5.4
5.2
4.9
–

5.5
9.2
5.3
–

5.7

5.4
5.0

Options
(’000)

12,337
2,814
(90)
(1,799)
(414)

12,848
3,975
(1,710)
(178)

14,935

9,046
10,808

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

The number of options outstanding by strike price as of December 31, 2014 is shown in the following table: 

Range of exercise price (Cdn$)

0.50 to 1.50
1.51 to 2.50
2.51 to 3.50
3.51 to 7.00

Options outstanding

Options exercisable

Number 
outstanding at
 December 31,
 2014
(’000)

Weighted-
average 
remaining 
contractual life
(years)

Weighted-
average 
exercise price
(Cdn$)

Number 
outstanding at
 December 31,
 2014
(’000)

Weighted-
average 
exercise price
(Cdn$)

4,209
6,506
2,513
1,707

14,935

8.6
4.7
4.9
3.4

5.7

0.89
1.85
2.99
3.94

2.01

1,486
5,101
2,513
1,708

10,808

0.96
1.86
2.99
3.94

2.33

The number of options outstanding by strike price as of December 31, 2013 is shown in the following table: 

Range of exercise price (Cdn$)

0.50 to 1.50
1.51 to 2.50
2.51 to 3.50
3.51 to 7.00

Options outstanding

Options exercisable

Number 
outstanding at 
December 31, 
2013
(’000)

Weighted-
average 
remaining
(years)

Weighted-
average 
exercise price
(Cdn$)

Number 
outstanding at 
December 31, 
2013
(’000)

Weighted-
average 
exercise price
(Cdn$)

717
7,257
2,754
2,120

12,848

6.5
5.6
5.9
4.0

5.5

1.13
1.86
2.99
4.20

2.45

429
4,017
2,480
2,120

9,046

1.17
1.88
3.00
4.20

2.70

SHARE BONUS PLAN
In December 1992, the Company established an Employees’ Stock Bonus Plan (the “Bonus Plan”) for any full-time or part-time employee 
(whether or not a director) of the Company or any of our subsidiaries who has rendered meritorious services which contributed to the 
success of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Bonus Plan provides that a specifically designated committee of the Board of 
Directors may grant bonus common shares on terms that it might determine, within the limitations of the Bonus Plan and subject to the 
rules of applicable regulatory authorities. The Bonus Plan, as amended, provides for the issuance of 900,000 common shares of bonus 
stock, of which 710,854 common shares were issued as at December 31, 2012. There were no bonus shares issued during the years ended 
December 31, 2014 and 2013.

DEFERRED SHARE UNITS (“DSUs”)
On March 9, 2011 the Board adopted a Deferred Share Unit Plan (“DSU Plan”) which was subsequently approved by shareholders at the 
May 2011 annual meeting of shareholders. The DSU Plan provides for the issuance of Deferred Share Units (“DSUs”), each representing the 
right to receive one Golden Star common share upon redemption. DSUs may be redeemed only upon termination of the holder’s services 
to the Company, and may be subject to vesting provisions. DSU awards are granted at the sole discretion of the Company’s compensation 
committee. The DSU Plan allows directors, at their option, to receive all or any portion of their director retainer by accepting DSUs in lieu 
of cash.

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

The compensation committee may also award DSUs to executive officers and/or directors in lieu of cash as a component of their long 
term  performance  compensation,  the  amount  of  such  awards  being  in  proportion  to  the  officer’s  or  director’s  achievement  of  pre-
determined  performance  goals.  As  with  DSU  awards  for  directors’  retainers,  DSUs  received  as  performance  compensation  are 
redeemable only upon termination of the holder’s services to the Company. The Company may, at its option, provide cash in lieu of 
common shares upon a holder’s redemption, the cash value being established by the share price on the DSU original award date, less 
all applicable tax withholding.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the DSUs that were granted vested immediately and a compensation expense of $0.5 million was 
recognized  for  these  grants  (year  ended  December  31,  2013  –  $0.7  million).  As  of  December  31,  2014,  there  was  no  unrecognized 
compensation expense related to DSUs granted under the Company’s DSU Plan. 

A summary of DSU activity during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:

For the years ended December 31,

Number of DSUs, beginning of period
Grants
Exercises

NUMBER OF DSUs, END OF PERIOD

2014

1,381,593
964,728
(384,113)

2013

388,059
993,534
–

1,962,208

1,381,593

SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS (“SARs”)
On February 13, 2012, the Company adopted a Share Appreciation Rights Plan, and granted 1,543,043 share appreciation rights (“SARs”) 
that vest after a period of three years.

As of December 31, 2014, there was approximately $0.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested SARs. For the 
year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recognized $nil recovery related to these cash settled awards (year ended December 31, 
2013 – $0.1 million recovery).

A summary of the SARs activity during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:

For the years ended December 31,

Number of SARs, beginning of period (’000)
Grants
Forfeited

NUMBER OF SARs, END OF PERIOD (’000)

2014

3,027
460
(267)

3,220

2013

1,079
2,090
(142)

3,027

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS
On January 1, 2014, the Company adopted a Performance Share Unit (“PSU”) Plan. Each PSU represents one notional common share that 
is redeemed for cash based on the value of a common share at the end of the three year performance period, to the extent performance 
and  vesting  criteria  have  been  met.  The  PSUs  vest  at  the  end  of  a  three  year  performance  period  based  on  the  Company’s  total 
shareholder return relative to a performance peer group of gold companies as listed in the PSU Plan. The cash award is determined by 
multiplying the number of units by the performance adjustment factor, which range from 0% to 200%. The performance adjustment 
factor  is  determined  by  comparing  the  Company’s  share  price  performance  to  the  share  price  performance  of  a  peer  group  of 
companies. As the Company is required to settle this award in cash, it will record an accrued liability and a corresponding compensation 
expense. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded $nil compensation expense. 

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

A summary of the PSU activity during the year ended December 31, 2014:

For the year ended December 31,

Number of PSUs, beginning of period (’000)
Grants
Forfeited

NUMBER OF PSUS, END OF PERIOD (’000)

15. LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
The following table provides reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per common share:

For the years ended December 31,

Net loss attributable to Golden Star shareholders

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF BASIC AND DILUTED SHARES (MILLIONS)

NET LOSS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO GOLDEN STAR SHAREHOLDERS:
BASIC AND DILUTED

16. COST OF SALES EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization include the following components:

For the years ended December 31,

Contractors
Electricity
Fuel
Raw materials and consumables
Salaries and benefits
Transportation costs
General and administrative
Other
Betterment stripping costs capitalized

Mine operating expenses
Operating costs (to)/from metal inventory
Royalties

2014

–
2,648
(302)

2,346

2014

2013

 (73,079)

(265,892)

259.4

259.1

(0.28)

(1.03)

2014

58,732
47,621
28,622
90,716
53,087
2,503
9,780
12,334
(5,864)

297,531
(9,078)
16,459

304,912

2013

102,951
46,748
31,028
108,285
53,209
4,078
9,357
11,829
(28,511)

338,974
14,752
23,414

377,140

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

17. FINANCE EXPENSE, NET
Finance income and expense include the following components:

For the years ended December 31,

Interest income
Interest expense
Net foreign exchange (gain)/loss
Accretion of rehabilitation provision

2014

(30)
7,560
(1,901)
1,746

7,375

2013

(36)
5,633
3,652
592

9,841

18. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no material related party transactions for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 other than the items disclosed below.

KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
Key  management  personnel  is  defined  as  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  certain  senior  officers.  Compensation  of  key 
management personnel are as follows:

For the years ended December 31,

Salaries, wages, and other benefits
Bonus and severances
Share-based compensation

2014

2,139
868
1,145

4,152

2013

2,020
2,125
1,606

5,751

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

19. PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries at December 31, 2014. The principal 
operating subsidiaries are Wassa and Bogoso, in which the Company has a 90% ownership interest in each. 

Set out below is summarized financial information for each subsidiary that has non-controlling interests that are material to the group. 
The amounts are disclosed on a 100% basis and disclosure for each subsidiary are based on those included in the consolidated financial 
statements before inter-company eliminations.

SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

As of December 31,

Non-controlling interest percentage
Current assets
Current liabilities

Non-current assets
Non-current liabilities

Net assets

Wassa

Bogoso

2014

10%
93,472
79,224

14,248

76,876
51,068

25,808

40,056

2013

10%
100,711
73,147

27,564

72,123
49,080

23,043

50,607

2014

10%
46,126
907,052

2013

10%
58,594
850,879

(860,926)

(792,285)

69,166
72,794

(3,628)

96,716
76,240

20,476

(864,554)

(771,809)

ACCUMULATED NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

(11,824)

(12,912)

67,192

57,918

SUMMARIZED INCOME STATEMENT

For the years ended December 31,

Revenue
Net loss

COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

SUMMARIZED CASH FLOWS

For the years ended December 31,

Cash flows provided by/(used in) operating activities
Cash flows used in investing activities
Cash flows provided by financing activities

Wassa

Bogoso

2014

142,734
(10,875)

(10,875)

Wassa

2014

991
(14,744)
3,425

2013

263,072
(23,592)

(23,592)

2013

18,146
(33,570)
29,272

2014

186,181
(92,747)

(92,747)

Bogoso

2014

(13,326)
(21,817)
37,742

2013

204,724
(302,633)

(302,633)

2013

7,251
(69,079)
48,778

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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

20. OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA
The  Company  has  reportable  segments  as  identified  by  the  individual  mining  operations.  Segments  are  operations  reviewed  by  the 
executive management. Each segment is identified based on quantitative and qualitative factors.

Wassa

Bogoso

Other

Corporate

Total

For the years ended December 31,

2014
Revenue
Mine operating expenses
Operating costs to metal inventory
Royalties

Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization

Mine operating margin/(loss)
Impairment charges
Income tax expense
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
Net loss attributable to Golden Star

Capital expenditures

2013
Revenue
Mine operating expenses
Operating costs from metal inventory
Royalties

Cost of sales excluding depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization

Mine operating margin/(loss)
Impairment charges
Income tax recovery
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
Net (loss)/income attributable to Golden Star

142,734
114,667
(4,326)
7,144

117,485
14,619

10,630
9,747
(254)
(1,087)
(10,894)

16,406

263,072
145,484
4,411
13,171

163,066
40,883

59,123
106,917
(12,331)
(2,359)
(44,289)

186,181
182,864
(4,752)
9,315

187,427
11,600

(12,846)
48,000
–
(9,275)
(44,027)

17,249

204,724
193,490
10,341
10,243

214,074
19,083

(28,433)
245,760
–
(30,263)
(247,443)

–
–
–
–

–
–

–
–
–
–
(512)

–

–
–
–
–

–
–

–
–
–
–
(1,975)

218

–
–
–
–

–
–

–
–
–
–
(17,646)

–

–
–
–
–

–
–

–
2,947
–
–
27,815

328,915
297,531
(9,078)
16,459

304,912
26,219

(2,216)
57,747
(254)
(10,362)
(73,079)

33,655

467,796
338,974
14,752
23,414

377,140
59,966

30,690
355,624
(12,331)
(32,622)
(265,892)

–

102,867

Capital expenditures

33,570

69,079

December 31, 2014
Total assets
December 31, 2013
Total assets

Wassa

Bogoso

Other

Corporate

Total

130,010

115,497

138,653

155,709

834

753

11,712

258,053

30,628

325,743

Currently our gold production is shipped to a South African gold refinery. The refinery arranges for sale of the gold on the day it is shipped 
from the mine sites and we receive payment for gold sold two working days after the gold leaves the mine site. The global gold market 
is competitive with numerous banks and refineries willing to buy gold on short notice. Therefore, we believe that the loss of our current 
customer would not materially delay or disrupt revenue.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

75

N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

21. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION 
During the year ended December 31, 2014, $9.3 million was paid for income taxes (year ended December 31, 2013 – $23.5 million). The 
Company paid $7.9 million for interest during the year ended December 31, 2014 (year ended December 31, 2013 – $6.3 million). 

Changes in working capital for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:

For the years ended December 31,

(Increase)/decrease in accounts receivable
(Increase)/decrease in inventories
Decrease in prepaids and other
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Decrease in current tax liability

TOTAL CHANGES IN WORKING CAPITAL

2014

(6,632)
(4,820)
2,193
18,088
(9,506)

(677)

2013

3,695
11,238
3,867
13,006
(2,888)

28,918

22. IMPAIRMENT CHARGES
The following table shows the breakdown of the impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively:

For the years ended December 31,

Bogoso
Wassa

Property plant and equipment, mining properties and intangible assets
Materials and supplies inventories
Exploration and evaluation assets
Available for sale investments

2014

30,000
–

30,000
18,000
9,747
–

2013

245,760
106,917

352,677
–
–
2,947

57,747

355,624

MINING INTERESTS
The recoverable amounts of the Company’s CGUs are determined where facts and circumstances provide indicators of impairment. The 
recoverable amounts of the CGUs are determined based on each CGU’s future cash flows based on the latest feasibility studies and life-
of-mine cash flow projections. The estimated cash flows incorporate management’s best estimate of future metal prices, production 
based  on  current  estimates  of  recoverable  reserves  and  resources,  exploration  potential,  future  operating  costs,  future  capital 
expenditures, and foreign exchange rates. The gold price assumption used is based on consensus analyst pricing. Projected cash flows 
are then discounted using a weighted average cost of capital which includes estimates for risk-free interest rates, market return on equity, 
share volatility, debt-to-equity ratios and risks specific to the CGUs. Management’s estimates of the recoverable amounts are classified as 
Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

At December 31, 2014, the Company assessed and concluded that there were no indicators of impairment for Wassa. For Bogoso, the 
remaining economical reserves for the refractory operation resulting in the planned suspension of the refractory operation in late 2015 is 
an indicator of potential impairment for the Bogoso refractory assets. As a result, the Company assessed the recoverable amounts of 
these Bogoso refractory assets.

At December 31, 2013, the carrying value of the net assets of the Company exceeded its market capitalization, which is an indicator of 
potential  impairment.  In  addition,  gold  prices  declined  significantly  during  2013  and  remained  at  those  lower  levels.  As  a  result,  the 
Company assessed the recoverable amounts of both the Bogoso and Wassa CGUs.

76

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

Bogoso
An impairment charge of $30.0 million ($30.0 million, net of tax) was recorded against Bogoso’s refractory assets at December 31, 2014. 
The impairment charge comprised of $11.7 million related to mine property, $9.3 million related to construction in progress and $9.0 million 
related to property, plant and equipment. These impairment charges represent the excess of carrying values over the total recoverable 
amount of $34.0 million, calculated on a value-in-use basis of the Bogoso refractory assets.

An impairment charge of $245.8 million ($245.8 million, net of tax) was recorded during 2013, primarily due to the overall decline in gold 
prices during the prior year which shortened Bogoso’s mine life, resulting in Bogoso’s carrying value exceeding its FVLCD of $103.1 million. 
The 2013 impairment charge at Bogoso comprised of $98.3 million related to property, plant, equipment, $146.3 million related to mine 
property and $1.2 million related to intangible assets.

Wassa
The  2013  impairment  charge  of  $106.9  million  ($83.5  million,  net  of  tax)  was  comprised  of  $19.4  million  related  to  property  plant  and 
equipment, and $87.5 million related to mine property. This was due to Wassa’s carrying value exceeding the FVLCD of $65.9 million from 
its re-optimized life of mine plan.

Assumptions and sensitivities
The recoverable amounts were assessed using the gold price ranges and discount rates as presented in the table below:

As at

Gold prices per ounce
Discount rates

December 31, 
2014

December 31, 
2013

$1,250
11.50%

$1,250 to $1,300
8.25% to 9.25%

The discount rate of 11.5% used for impairment assessment of the Bogoso refractory assets at December 31, 2014 was based on a pre-tax 
weighted average discount rate.

Sensitivities
The  projected  cash  flows  are  significantly  affected  by  changes  in  assumptions  including  gold  prices,  future  capital  expenditures, 
production cost estimates and discount rates.

For  the  impairment  charge  recorded  in  the  year  ended  December  31,  2014,  a  1%  change  in  discount  rate  used  would  change  the 
impairment  charge  of  Bogoso  refractory  assets  by  $0.1  million.  A  5%  change  to  the  gold  price  assumption  used  would  change  the 
impairment charge of Bogoso refractory assets by $7.7 million.

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES INVENTORY
As the Bogoso refractory operation is expected to be suspended in late 2015, $18.0 million of materials and supplies inventories at the 
Bogoso refractory operation were written down. Based on a review of the inventory turnover and the expected inventory usage prior to 
the suspension of the refractory operation it was determined that the net realizable value exceeded the cost of these inventories, resulting 
in the $18.0 million write off.

EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS
The Company recorded a write down of $9.7 million on exploration and evaluation assets as the Company has determined that it is 
unlikely that development on these assets will proceed at currently expected gold prices.

AVAILABLE FOR SALE INVESTMENTS
The impairment charge of $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 relate to the significant drop in the quoted market price of 
the True Gold Mining Inc shares held by the Company. The Company sold this available for sale investment in the third quarter of 2013.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

77

 
N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

23. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
Our exposure to market risk includes, but is not limited to, the following risks: changes in interest rates on our debt, changes in foreign 
currency exchange rates and commodity price fluctuations.

INTEREST RATE RISK
Interest rate risk is the risk that the future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. 
Our 5% Convertible Debentures and the outstanding loans under our equipment financing facility bear interest at a fixed rate and are 
not subject to changes in interest payments. The Ecobank Loan I bears interest based on the three month LIBOR plus 9% per annum, and 
the Ecobank Loan II bears interest based on the three month LIBOR plus 11% per annum. Based on our current $43.8 million outstanding 
balance on Ecobank Loan I, a 100 basis points change in the three month LIBOR rate will result in $0.4 million per annum change in 
interest expense. We have not entered into any agreements to hedge against unfavorable changes in interest rates, but may in the future 
actively manage our exposure to interest rate risk. 

FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE RISK
Currency  risk  is  risk  that  the  fair  value  of  future  cash  flows  will  fluctuate  because  of  changes  in  foreign  currency  exchange  rates.  In 
addition, the value of cash and cash equivalents and other financial assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies can fluctuate 
with changes in currency exchange rates.

Since our revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars and our operating units transact much of their business in U.S. dollars, we are typically 
not subject to significant impacts from currency fluctuations. However, certain purchases of labor, operating supplies and capital assets 
are denominated in Ghana cedis, euros, British pounds, Australian dollars and South African rand. To accommodate these purchases, 
we maintain operating cash accounts in non-US dollar currencies and appreciation of these non-US dollar currencies against the U.S. 
dollar results in a foreign currency gain and a decrease in non-U.S. dollar currencies results in a loss. In the past, we have entered into 
forward  purchase  contracts  for  South  African  rand,  euros  and  other  currencies  to  hedge  expected  purchase  costs  of  capital  assets. 
During  2014  and  2013,  we  had  no  currency  related  derivatives.  At  December  31,  2014  and  December  31,  2013,  we  held  $1.5  million  and 
$5.1 million, respectively, of foreign currency. 

COMMODITY PRICE RISK
Gold is our primary product and, as a result, changes in the price of gold can significantly affect our results of operations and cash flows. 
Based  on  our  gold  production  in  the  year,  a  $10  per  ounce  change  in  gold  price  would  result  in  approximately  a  $2.6  million  and 
$2.1 million change in our sales revenues and operating cash flows, respectively. To reduce gold price volatility, we have at various times 
entered into gold price hedges. As at December 31, 2014, the Company does not have any outstanding gold price derivative contracts.

LIQUIDITY RISK
Liquidity  risk  is  the  risk  that  we  will  encounter  difficulty  in  meeting  obligations  associated  with  financial  liabilities  that  are  settled  by 
delivering  cash  or  another  financial  asset.  We  manage  the  liquidity  risk  inherent  in  these  financial  obligations  by  preparing  monthly 
financial summaries, quarterly forecasts and annual long-term budgets which forecast cash needs and expected cash availability to 
meet future obligations. Typically these obligations are met by cash flows from operations and from cash on hand. Scheduling of capital 
spending and acquisitions of financial resources may also be employed, as needed and as available, to meet the cash demands of our 
obligations.

78

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

Our ability to repay or refinance our future obligations depends on a number of factors, some of which may be beyond our control. 
Factors  that  influence  our  ability  to  meet  these  obligations  include  general  global  economic  conditions,  credit  and  capital  market 
conditions, results of operations, mineral reserves and resources and the price of gold.

The following table shows our contractual obligations as at December 31, 2014:

(Stated in thousands of U.S dollars)

Debt
Finance leases
Interest on long term debt
Purchase obligations
Rehabilitation provisions1

TOTAL

Payment due (in thousands) by period

Less than 
1 year

16,198
983
8,088
3,642
4,562

1 to 3 years

3 to 5 years

104,554
2,104
10,414
–
28,168

8,906
776
420
–
29,627

More than 
5 years

–
–
–
–
30,040

Total

129,658
3,863
18,922
3,642
92,397

33,473

145,240

39,729

30,040

248,482

1  Rehabilitation provisions indicates the expected undiscounted cash flows for each period.

As at December 31, 2014, the Company has current assets of $113.2 million compared to current liabilities of $145.2 million. Subsequent to 
December  31,  2014,  the  Company  has  reached  an  agreement  with  the  Volta  River  Authority  on  a  mutually  acceptable  plan  to  repay 
$30.4  million  of  payables.  The  repayment  plan  includes  a  deferral  of  approximately  $22  million  to  2016  and  2017  which  significantly 
improves the Company’s working capital position. The Company expects to meet its short-term financing needs through cash flow from 
operations, the $25 million undrawn Ecobank Loan II, and future long term financing as required. These alternatives should provide the 
Company  with  the  flexibility  to  fund  any  potential  cash  flow  shortfall.  There  can  be  no  assurance  however  that  additional  required 
financing will be available at all or on terms acceptable to the Company. 

CREDIT RISK
Credit  risk  is  the  risk  that  one  party  to  a  financial  instrument  will  cause  a  financial  loss  for  the  other  party  by  failing  to  discharge  an 
obligation. Our credit risk is primarily associated with liquid financial assets and derivatives. We limit exposure to credit risk on liquid 
financial assets by holding our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and deposits at highly-rated financial institutions. During 2014, all 
of  our  excess  cash  was  invested  in  funds  that  hold  only  U.S.  treasury  bills.  Risks  associated  with  gold  trade  receivables  is  considered 
minimal as we sell gold to a credit-worthy buyer who settles promptly within two days of receipt of gold bullion. 

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

79

N OTE S TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINA NCI AL  STAT EMENTS  – CONT I NUED 

24. CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The  Company  manages  its  capital  to  ensure  that  it  will  be  able  to  continue  as  a  going  concern  while  maximizing  the  return  to 
stakeholders through the optimization of the debt and equity balance.

In the management of capital, the Company includes the components of equity, long-term debt, net of cash and cash equivalents, and 
investments.

As of

Equity
Long-term debt

Cash and cash equivalents

December 31,
2014

December 31,
2013

(54,193)
85,798

31,605
39,352

70,957

26,702
83,387

110,089
65,551

175,640

The  Company  manages  its  capital  structure  and  makes  adjustments  to  it  in  light  of  changes  in  economic  conditions  and  the  risk 
characteristics of the underlying assets. In doing so, the Company may issue new shares, restructure or issue new debt and acquire or 
dispose of assets.

In order to facilitate the management of its capital requirements, the Company prepares annual budgets that are updated as necessary 
depending on various factors, including successful capital deployment and general industry conditions. The Company’s treasury policy 
specifies  that  cash  is  to  be  held  in  banks  with  a  rating  of  A  or  higher  by  Moody’s  or  Standard  &  Poor’s.  In  addition,  the  Company’s 
investment  policy  allows  investment  of  surplus  funds  in  permitted  investments  consisting  of  US  treasury  bills,  notes  and  bonds, 
government sponsored agency debt obligations, corporate debt or municipal securities with credit rating of at least AA. All investments 
must have a maximum term to maturity of one year.

80

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

C O N T E N T S

HIGHLIGHTS

YEAR AT A GLANCE

CHAIRMAN AND CEO’S REVIEW

RESERVES AND RESOURCES

OPERATIONS IN GHANA

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR 
MANAGEMENT

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONTACT DETAILS

1

2

3

6

9

10

43

81

C O M PA N Y   P R O F I L E
Golden Star is an established gold mining 
company that holds a 90% interest in the Wassa, 
Prestea and Bogoso gold mines in Ghana. In 2014, 
Golden Star produced 261,000 ounces of gold 
and is expected to produce 250,000 – 275,000 
ounces in 2015.

The Company is pursuing brownfield 
development projects at its Wassa and Prestea 
mines that are expected to transform these mines 
into lower cost producers from 2016 onwards. 
As such, Golden Star offers investors leveraged 
exposure to the gold price in a stable African 
mining jurisdiction with significant development 
upside potential. 
Golden Star is listed on the Toronto Stock 
Exchange (TSX: GSC), the New York Stock 
Exchange MKT (NYSE MKT: GSS) and the 
Ghanaian Stock Exchange (GSE: GSR).  
For further information on the Company, 
please visit www.gsr.com.

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

CORPORATE AND REGISTERED OFFICE 
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD. 
150 KING STREET WEST 
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CANADA   M5H 1J9
T: +1 416 583 3800 

REGIONAL OFFICE
PLOT NO. 16 HOUSE NO. A
NORTEY ABABIO STREET 
ROMAN RIDGE, ACCRA
GHANA
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ACCRA, GHANA   

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QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CHANGE OF STOCK
OWNERSHIP, CONSOLIDATION OF ACCOUNTS, 
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OTHER SUCH MATTERS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:

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ONLINE INQUIRY
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STOCK EXCHANGE LISTINGS
TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE SYMBOL: GSC 
NYSE MKT STOCK EXCHANGE SYMBOL: GSS
GHANA STOCK EXCHANGE SYMBOL: GSR

GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK SHARE REGISTRY
GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK
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T  +233 21 66 8712/ 8656

AUDITORS
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

MAIN HEADINGGOLDEN
STAR
2014

gsr.com

D E L I V E R I N G   O N   O U R   S T R AT E GY