VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA (TSX: FRG)(AMEX: FRG) reports its
financial and operating results for the three months ended March
31, 2008. Details of the Company's financial results are described
in the unaudited consolidated financial statements and Management's
Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2008.
Further details on each of Fronteer's projects and activities can
be found on the Company's website: http://www.fronteergroup.com and
on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. All amounts are presented in
Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.
Overview
The Company is a gold-focused exploration and development
company committed to discovering and advancing big deposits with
strong production potential. The Company's vision is to become a
multi-billion-dollar, gold-growth Company advancing a pipeline of
projects stretching from exploration through to production.
The Company has an interest in several major gold and
copper-gold projects throughout Nevada, USA and northwest Turkey.
Among its large portfolio of precious metal mineral rights in
Nevada, the company's key projects include Northumberland, one of
the largest undeveloped Carlin-style gold deposits in the state;
Long Canyon, a discovery defining an entirely new gold trend in the
Eastern Great Basin; and, Sandman, a property which Newmont Mining
Corporation ("Newmont"), subject to finalizing a formal
joint-venture agreement, has the option of advancing to a
production decision within 36 months. In Turkey, Fronteer has built
and retained a 40% interest in a new mineral district that includes
two gold deposits and a copper-gold porphyry deposit, called Agi
Dagi, Kirazli and Halilaga, respectively. Fronteer is also the
founding and largest shareholder at 42.2% of Aurora Energy
Resources Inc. ("Aurora") a company focused on advancing a pipeline
of growing uranium deposits in Labrador, Canada. Aurora is listed
on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AXU.
Significant Events
Significant events for the three months ending March 31, 2008,
through the date of this release are:
- Signing of a letter of intent with Newmont where Newmont may
earn an initial 51% interest in Sandman by spending a minimum US$14
million on exploration and making a production decision supported
by a bankable feasibility study, a commitment to fund and construct
and, the undertaking to advance necessary permits within 36 months.
Newmont may earn an additional 9% interest in Sandman by spending a
further US$9 million on development. Fronteer retains a 2% NSR on
production of the first 310,000 ounces at Sandman. Fronteer can
also elect to have Newmont arrange financing for its 40% of
development costs.
- Fronteer retains a 100% interest in the Northumberland Project
and through the above mentioned Sandman deal will gain access to
Newmont's N2TEC flotation technology for Northumberland.
- The Nunatsiavut government in Labrador voted eight-to-seven in
favour of implementing a three-year moratorium on the working,
production, mining and development of uranium on Labrador Inuit
lands, which directly affects the Company's investment in Aurora.
Uranium exploration is unaffected by the moratorium.
Exploration Projects
Exploration and acquisition expenditures, net of recoveries but
including stock based compensation, for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007 totaled $305,093 and $205,392 in Turkey
(including costs added to Investment in Turkish Properties), and
$75,085 and $108,548 in the Yukon, Canada, respectively. For the
three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company has also expended
$2,830,107 on its properties in Nevada, USA. The properties in
Nevada were acquired with the purchase of NewWest Gold Corporation
in September 2007, and thus there are no expenditures for the
corresponding three months ended March 31, 2007.
The Company has a cash exploration budget of approximately
US$14,000,000 for its Nevada assets in 2008, while Teck Cominco
Limited's Turkish subsidiary ("TCAM") has proposed a total budget
of approximately US$4,600,000 for the Agi Dagi, Kirazli and
Halilaga projects in Turkey, US$3,000,000 of which relates to
Halilaga which will be solely funded by TCAM. Aurora is currently
evaluating its exploration and development budgets for 2008, in
light of the Nunatsiavut government moratorium decision. Permitting
delays at the southwest portion of Long Canyon, the Central Zone at
Halilaga and Kirazli may delay the start of drilling. However,
drilling has now commenced on the permitted sections of Long Canyon
and Halilaga.
Selected Financial Data
This summary of selected financial data should be read in
conjunction with the Management Discussion and Analysis
("MD&A") and the unaudited consolidated financial statements
and related notes thereto for the periods indicated.
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Three months ended March 31,
2008 2007
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Net loss (6,223,412) (1,142,677)
Basic and diluted earnings per share (0.07) (0.02)
Cash used in operations (2,481,501) (1,264,441)
Cash invested in mineral properties and
deferred exploration 1,693,286 563,853
Cash generated by financing activities 97,800 62,686,357
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As at
March 31, 2008 December 31, 2007
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Cash and cash equivalents 98,523,118 99,039,334
Working capital 98,463,531 96,903,057
Investment in Aurora (1) 76,317,901 76,696,684
Investment in Turkish Properties (2) 12,634,985 12,957,378
Exploration properties & deferred
exploration expenditures 226,547,378 223,852,971
Total assets 419,648,592 426,437,437
Asset retirement obligations 1,282,493 1,252,254
Shareholders' equity 360,796,401 366,849,777
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(1) The Company accounts for its investment in Aurora using the equity
method of accounting. At March 31, 2008, the Company owns 42.2%
(December 31, 2007-42.3%) of Aurora. Total market capitalization of
Aurora at March 31, 2008, was approximately $395 million (December 31,
2007 - $989 million).
(2) The Company began to account for its investments in the Agi Dagi,
Kirazli and Halilaga projects as an equity accounted investment in
2007. The Company owns 40% of three TCAM subsidiaries.
The Company's net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2008
was $6,223,412 or $0.07 per share compared to net loss of
$1,142,677 or $0.02 for three months ended March 31, 2007.
Contributing to the period-over-period differences was the
recognition of increased operating expenses such as, stock-based
compensation, wages and benefits, property investigation, office
and general, and accounting and audit. Also the Company experienced
increases in other expenses such as foreign exchange and changes in
the fair value of financial instruments. Offsetting the above noted
increases in operating expenses were the recognition of a gain on
the sale of a long term investment and increased interest income on
cash reserves.
Stock-based compensation expense (a non-cash expense) for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 increased to $4,063,294 from
$144,367 for the three months ended March 31, 2007. Stock-based
compensation expense is comprised of the fair value of stock
options granted to employees, directors and consultants, using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company also recognized an
unrealized foreign exchange loss of $1,621,421, primarily relating
to the translation of a US$ denominated future income tax
liability.
During the quarter, the Company realized a gain of $1,768,235,
on the sale of shares of Latin American Minerals Inc. ("LAT").
Liquidity
At March 31, 2008, the Company had cash on its balance sheet of
$98,523,118 and working capital of $98,463,531 as compared to cash
of $99,039,334 and working capital of $96,903,057 at December 31,
2007. The change in cash and working capital of $516,216 and
$1,560,474, respectively, is primarily due to cash exploration
expenditures of $1,693,286 and cash used in operations of
$2,481,501 during the period, offset by the sale of the Company's
investment in LAT which brought in proceeds of $5,295,450.
The Company currently has no operating revenues other than
interest income and relies primarily on equity financing as well as
the exercise of options to fund its exploration and administrative
costs.
About Fronteer
Fronteer is an exploration and development company with a track
record of making big discoveries. Fronteer has a 40% interest in
three excellent gold and copper-gold projects in western Turkey, an
extensive portfolio of advanced stage gold projects in Nevada, and
a 42.2% interest in Aurora Energy Resources (TSX: AXU), a leading
Canadian uranium company.
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein,
certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to
potential expansion of mineralization, potential for production,
potential timing of receipt of permits and exploration, project
registration and classification of future mineral resources and
potential size of mineralized zones/deposits, timing of resource
estimate and size and type of exploration program involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the
actual results, performance or achievement of Fronteer to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to
international operations and joint ventures , the actual results of
current exploration activities, conclusions of economic
evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of ore reserves and
mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue
to be refined, future prices of gold, silver and copper,
environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or
operating costs, labor and employment matters, relationships with
aboriginal peoples and government regulation as well as those
factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in
Fronteer's Annual Information form and Fronteer's latest Form 40-F
on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
in Washington, D.C. Although Fronteer has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially, 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. Fronteer disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.
NEWS RELEASE 08-13
Contacts: Fronteer Development Group Inc. Mark O'Dea, Ph.D,
P.Geo President and CEO (604) 632-4677 or Toll Free: 1-877-632-4677
Fronteer Development Group Inc. Sean Tetzlaff Chief Financial
Officer (604) 632-4677 or Toll Free: 1-877-632-4677 Email:
info@fronteergroup.com Website: www.fronteergroup.com
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