Unassociated Document
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
x
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 2008
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission
File No. 0-13078
CAPITAL
GOLD CORPORATION
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
State
of Delaware
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13-31805030
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(State
or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S.
Employer
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Incorporation
or organization)
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Identification
No.)
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76
Beaver Street, 14th Floor, New York, New York
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10005
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (212) 344-2785
Securities
registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: none
Securities
registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: Common Stock, par value
$.0001 per share
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes
No
x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months
(or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
YES
x
NO
¨
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulations S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best
of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to
this
Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.
See
definition of "large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer" and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
¨ Large accelerated filer
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¨ Accelerated filer
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¨ Non-accelerated filer
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x Smaller Reporting Company
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Indicate by check
mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of
the
Exchange Act).
Yes
¨
No
x
The
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity on January
31,
2008 held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the closing price of the
issuer’s Common Stock on that date, was $93,983,205 based upon the closing price
($0.70) multiplied by the 134,262,150 shares of the issuer’s Common Stock held
by non-affiliates.
The
number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity as
of October 24, 2008: 192,974,824.
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None.
CAPITAL
GOLD CORPORATION
Form
10-K
July
31,
2008
Table
of Contents
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Page
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Glossary
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(iii)
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Part
I
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Item
1.
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Business.
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1
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Item
1A.
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Risk
Factors.
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3
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Item
1B.
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Unresolved
Staff Comments.
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10
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Item
2.
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Property.
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10
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Item
3.
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Legal
Proceedings.
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18
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Item
4.
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Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
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18
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Part
II
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Item
5.
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Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities.
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18
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Item
6.
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Selected
Financial Data.
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21
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Item
7.
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Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of
Operations.
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22
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Item
7A.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
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38
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Item
8.
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Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data.
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40
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Item
9.
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Changes
in and Disagreement with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure.
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40
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Item
9A
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Controls
and Procedures.
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40
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Item
9B
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Other
Information.
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41
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Part
III
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Item
10.
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Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
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41
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Item
11.
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Executive
Compensation.
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46
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Item
12.
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Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters.
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55
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Item
13.
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Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions and Director
Independence.
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58
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Item
14.
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Principal
Accountant Fees and Services.
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59
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Part
IV
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Item
15.
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Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules.
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60
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Signatures
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64
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Supplemental
Information
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N/A
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Financial
Statements
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F-1
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GLOSSARY
OF TECHNICAL TERMS
Reserve:
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That
part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally
extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Reserves
must be supported by a feasibility study done to bankable standards
that
demonstrates the economic extraction ("Bankable standards" implies
that
the confidence attached to the costs and achievements developed in
the
study is sufficient for the project to be eligible for external debt
financing.) A reserve includes adjustments to the in-situ tonnes
and grade
to include diluting materials and allowances for losses that might
occur
when the material is mined.
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Proven Reserve:
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Reserves
for which (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops,
trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed
from
the results of detailed sampling and (b) the sites for inspection,
sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character
is so well defined that size, shape depth and mineral content of
reserves
are well-established.
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Probable Reserve:
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Reserves
for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information
similar to that used for proven (measured) reserves, but the sites
for
inspection, sampling, and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise
less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than
that
for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between
points of
observation.
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Mineralized Material
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The
term “mineralized material” refers to material that is not included in the
reserve as it does not meet all of the criteria for adequate demonstration
for economic or legal extraction.
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Non-reserves
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The
term “non-reserves” refers to mineralized material that is not included in
the reserve as it does not meet all of the criteria for adequate
demonstration for economic or legal extraction.
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Exploration Stage
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An
“exploration stage” prospect is one which is not in either the development
or production stage.
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Development Stage
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A
“development stage” project is one which is undergoing preparation of an
established commercially mineable deposit for its extraction but
which is
not yet in production. This stage occurs after completion of a
feasibility study.
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Production Stage
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A
“production stage” project is actively engaged in the process of
extraction and beneficiation of mineral reserves to produce a marketable
metal or mineral product.
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ADDITIONAL
DEFINITIONS
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Sediment
cemented by calcium carbonate near surface.
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Diorite:
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Igneous
Rock (Rock formed from magma or molten rock).
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Dore:
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Bars
of low purity precious metal (Gold & Silver) which represents final
product of a gold mine typically weighing 25 kg per
bar.
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Dikes:
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Tabular,
vertical bodies of igneous rock.
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Fissility:
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Shattered,
broken nature of rock.
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Fracture
Foliations:
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Fracture
pattern in rock, parallel orientation, resulting from
pressure.
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Heap
Leaching:
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Broken
and crushed ore on a pile subjected to dissolution of metals by leach
solution.
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Hydrometallurgical
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Plant:
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A
metallurgical mineral processing plant that uses water to leach or
separate and concentrate elements or minerals.
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Intercalated:
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Mixed
in.
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Litho
static Pressure:
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Pressure
brought on by weight of overlaying rocks.
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Major
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Intrusive
Center:
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An
area where large bodies of intrusive igneous rock exist and through
which
large amounts of mineralizing fluids rose.
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Mesothermal:
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A
class of hydrothermal ore deposit formed at medium temperatures and
a
depth over one mile in the earth’s crust.
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Microporphyritic
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Latite:
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Extremely
fine grained siliceous igneous rock with a distribution of larger
crystals
within.
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Mudstone:
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Sedimentary
bed composed primarily of fine grained material such as clay and
silt.
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PPM:
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Part
per million.
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Pyritized:
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Partly
replaced by the mineral pyrite.
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Reverse
Circulation
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Drilling
(or R.C.
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Drilling):
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Type
of drilling using air to recover cuttings for sampling through the
middle
of the drilling rods rather than the outside of the drill rods, resulting
in less contamination of the sampled
interval.
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Sericitized:
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Rocks
altered by heat, pressure and solutions resulting in formation of
the
mineral sericite, a very fine grained mica.
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Siltstone:
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A
sedimentary rock composed of clay and silt sized
particles.
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Silicified:
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Partly
replaced by silica.
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Stockwork
Breccia:
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Earth's
crust broken by two or more sets of parallel faults converging from
different directions.
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Stockwork:
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Ore,
when not in strata or in veins but in large masses, so as to be worked
in
chambers or in large blocks.
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Surface
Mine:
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Surface
mining by way of an open pit without shafts or underground
working.
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PART
I
Item
1. Business
Sonora,
Mexico Concessions
El
Chanate
Through
wholly-owned subsidiaries, Capital Gold Corporation owns 100% of 16 mining
concessions located in the Municipality of Altar, State of Sonora, Republic
of
Mexico totaling approximately 3,544 hectares (8,756 acres or 13.7 square miles).
We commenced mining operations on two of these concessions in late March 2007
and achieved gold production and revenue from operations in early August 2007.
We sometimes refer to the operations on these two concessions as the El Chanate
Project. Our results of operations differ from preceding periods because we
now
are realizing revenue from operations.
On
August
30, 2007, Independent Mining Consultants, Inc. (“IMC”) of Tucson, AZ delivered
to us an updated resource block model and an updated mine plan and mine
production schedule (the “2007 Report”). The original feasibility study (the
“2003 Study”) on the El Chanate Project was prepared by M3 Engineering of Tucson
in August 2003. M3 updated the 2003 Study in October 2005 (the “2005 Study”). An
August 2006 technical report from SRK Consulting, Denver, Colorado (the “2006
Update”) further updated the feasibility study.
According
to the 2007 Report, our proven and probable reserve tonnage increased by
approximately 98 percent from 19.9 million to 39.5 million metric tonnes with
a
gold grade of 0.66 grams per tonne (43.5 million US short tons at 0.019 ounces
per ton). The open pit stripping ratio is 0.6:1 (0.6 tonnes of waste to one
tonne of ore). The updated pit design for the revised plan in the 2007 Report
is
based on a plant recovery of gold that varies by rock types, but is expected
to
average 66.8%. A gold price of US$550 (three year average as of July 31, 2007
as
determined by IMC) per ounce was used to re-estimate the reserves compared
with
a gold price of $450 per ounce used in the previous estimate.
In
September 2008, we initiated a 10 hole deep core drilling campaign at our El
Chanate mine consisting of 2,500 meters which will target the southern extremity
of the main pit. Once this data has been compiled and analyzed, it will be
combined with results from a previous drilling campaign initiated in December
2007 which consisted of a 26 reverse circulation holes amounting to 4,912
meters. These drill holes were mainly positioned to test the outer limits of
the
currently known ore zones within the main pit. All data will be combined with
the intention of increasing proven and probable reserves.
Gold
production at El Chanate is currently at a level of approximately 5,000 ounces
per month inclusive of gold equivalents.
For
more
information on the El Chanate Project, please see “Item
2. Property; El Chanate Properties – Sonora, Mexico.”
Competition
The
acquisition of gold properties and their exploration and development are subject
to intense competition. Companies with greater financial resources, larger
staffs and more equipment for exploration and development may be in a better
position than us to compete for such mineral properties. Our limited financial
resources in relation to companies with greater resources may hinder our ability
to compete for and acquire additional mineral properties.
Human
Resources
As
of
October 24, 2008, we had 143 full time and 16 temporary employees working at
our
El Chanate mine in Sonora, Mexico as well as eight full time employees in the
US. We also utilize a mining contractor at the El Chanate mine which had 42
personnel onsite.
Cautionary
Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
Certain
statements in this report constitute “forwarding-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Certain, but not necessarily all, of such
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking
terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” or
“anticipates” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable
terminology, or by discussions of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties.
All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this report
regarding our financial position, business and plans or objectives for future
operations are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the broader
description of forward-looking statements above, we specifically note that
statements regarding exploration and mine development, construction and
expansion plans, costs, grade, production and recovery rates, permitting,
financing needs, the availability of financing on acceptable terms or other
sources of funding, if needed, and the timing of additional tests, feasibility
studies and environmental permitting are all forward-looking in nature.
Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors, including but not limited to, the risk factors discussed below
in
Item
1A. “Risk Factors”
which
may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements and other factors referenced in
this
report. We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly
release the results of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking
statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements
or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated
events.
Item
1A. Risk
Factors
The
risks described below should not be considered to be comprehensive and
all-inclusive. Additional risks that we do not yet know of or that we currently
think are immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any events
occur that give rise to the following risks, our business, financial condition,
cash flow or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected,
and as a result, the trading price of our Common Stock could be materially
and
adversely impacted. These risk factors should be read in conjunction with other
information set forth in this report, including our Consolidated Financial
Statements and the related Notes.
Risks
related to our business and operations
If
we are unable to sustain sufficient operating revenues, we will not be able
to
generate profits and our business may fail.
Until
this past fiscal year, we had no producing properties and, historically, have
operated at a loss. We only commenced gold producing activities and started
to
generate revenues in August 2007. Our ultimate success will depend on our
ability to continue to generate profits from our properties. While we have
commenced revenue producing mining operations, we cannot assure that revenues
will continue to cover cash flow requirements.
While
we believe that we will continue to generate positive cash flow and profits
from
operations, if we encounter unexpected problems, we may need to raise additional
capital. If additional capital is required and we are unable to obtain it from
outside sources, we may be forced to reduce or curtail our operations or our
anticipated exploration activities.
Prior
to
the first fiscal quarter of 2008, we were not able to generate cash flow from
operations. While we now are generating positive cash flow and profits, if
we
encounter unexpected problems and we are unable to continue to generate positive
cash flow and profits, we may need to raise additional capital. We also may
need
to raise additional capital for property acquisition and new exploration. To
the
extent that we need to obtain additional capital, management intends to raise
such funds through the sale of our securities and/or joint venturing with one
or
more strategic partners. We cannot assure that adequate additional funding,
if
needed, will be available. This is especially true given the current significant
instability in the financial markets. If we need additional capital and we
are
unable to obtain it from outside sources, we may be forced to reduce or curtail
our operations or our anticipated exploration activities.
Our
Credit Facility with Standard Bank plc imposes restrictive covenants on us.
Our
Credit Facility with Standard Bank requires us, among other obligations, to
meet
certain financial covenants including (i) a ratio of current assets to current
liabilities at all times greater than or equal to 1.20:1.00, (ii) a quarterly
minimum tangible net worth at all times of at least U.S.$15,000,000, and (iii)
a
quarterly average minimum liquidity of U.S.$500,000. In addition, the Credit
Facility restricts, among other things, our ability to incur additional debt,
create liens on our property, dispose of any assets, merge with other companies,
enter into hedge agreements, organize or invest in subsidiaries or make any
investments above a certain dollar limit. A failure to comply with the
restrictions contained in the Credit Facility could lead to an event of default
thereunder which could result in an acceleration of such
indebtedness.
Our
mining contractor is using reconditioned equipment which could adversely affect
our cost assumptions and our ability to economically and successfully mine
the
project.
Sinergia,
our mining contractor, is using equipment that
is
not new. Such equipment is subject to the risk of more frequent breakdowns
and
need for repair than new equipment. If the equipment that we or Sinergia uses
breaks down and needs to be repaired or replaced, we will incur additional
costs
and operations may be delayed resulting in lower amounts of gold recovered.
In
such event, our capital and operating cost assumptions may be inaccurate and
our
ability to economically and successfully mine the project may be hampered,
resulting in decreased revenues and, possibly, a loss from operations.
The
gold deposit we have identified at El Chanate is relatively low-grade. If our
estimates and assumptions are inaccurate, our results of operation and financial
condition could be materially adversely affected.
The
gold
deposit we have identified at our El Chanate Project is relatively low-grade.
If
the estimates of ore grade or recovery rates turn out to be lower than the
actual ore grade and recovery rates, if costs are higher than expected, or
if we
experience problems related to the mining, processing, or recovery of gold
from
ore at the El Chanate Project, our results of operation and financial condition
could be materially adversely affected. Moreover, it is possible that actual
costs and economic returns may differ materially from our best estimates. It
is
not unusual in the mining industry for new mining operations to experience
unexpected problems during the initial production phase and to require more
capital than anticipated. There can be no assurance that our operations at
El
Chanate will continue to be profitable.
We
have only one project. As a result, our chances of conducting viable mining
operations are dependent upon the success of that
project.
Our
only
current properties are the El Chanate concessions. Accordingly, we are dependent
upon the success of the El Chanate concessions.
Gold
prices can fluctuate on a material and frequent basis due to numerous factors
beyond our control. Our ability to generate profits from operations could be
materially and adversely affected by such fluctuating
prices.
The
profitability of any gold mining operations in which we have an interest will
be
significantly affected by changes in the market price of gold. Gold prices
fluctuate on a daily basis. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2008, the
spot
price for gold on the London Exchange has fluctuated between $657.50 and
$1,011.30 per ounce. Gold prices are affected by numerous factors beyond our
control, including:
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the
level of interest rates,
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world
supply of gold and
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stability
of exchange rates.
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Each
of
these factors can cause significant fluctuations in gold prices. Such external
factors are in turn influenced by changes in international investment patterns
and monetary systems and political developments. The current significant
instability in the financial markets heightens these fluctuations. The price
of
gold has historically fluctuated widely and, depending on the price of gold,
revenues from mining operations may not be sufficient to offset the costs of
such operations.
We
may not be successful in hedging against gold price and interest rate
fluctuations and may incur mark-to-market losses and lose money through our
hedging programs.
We
have
entered into metals trading transactions to hedge against fluctuations in gold
prices, using call option purchases and forward sales, and have entered into
various interest rate swap agreements. The terms of our Credit Facility with
Standard Bank require that we utilize various price hedging techniques to hedge
a portion of the gold we plan to produce at the El Chanate Project and hedge
at
least 50% of our outstanding loan balance. There can be no assurance that we
will be able to successfully hedge against gold price and interest rate
fluctuations.
Further,
there can be no assurance that the use of hedging techniques will always be
to
our benefit. Hedging instruments that protect against metals market price
volatility may prevent us from realizing the full benefit from subsequent
increases in market prices with respect to covered production, which would
cause
us to record a mark-to-market loss, decreasing our profits. Hedging contracts
also are subject to the risk that the other party may be unable or unwilling
to
perform its obligations under these contracts. Any significant nonperformance
could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows.
To
date,
rather than modifying the original Gold Price Protection agreement with Standard
Bank to satisfy these forward sale obligations, we have opted for a net cash
settlement between the call option purchase price of $535 and the forward sale
price of $500, or $35.00 per oz. As of September 30, 2008, we have paid Standard
Bank an aggregate of approximately $1,936,000 on the settlement of 55,325
ounces. The remaining ounces to settle with regard to this agreement amounted
to
66,602 as of September 30, 2008. We believe we will be able to deliver the
quantity of gold required by our forward sales on a going forward basis;
however, we may continue to opt to net cash settle these forward sale
obligations if it remains the most cost effective option for us. If we are
unable for any reason to produce the quantity of gold required by our forward
sales and generate sufficient cash flow to settle these forward sales in gold
or
cash, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and
cash flows.
Our
material property interests are in Mexico. Risks of doing business in a foreign
country could adversely affect our results of operations and financial
condition.
We
face
risks normally associated with any conduct of business in a foreign country
with
respect to our El Chanate Project in Sonora, Mexico, including various levels
of
political and economic risk. The occurrence of one or more of these events
could
have a material adverse impact on our efforts or operations which, in turn,
could have a material adverse impact on our cash flows, earnings, results of
operations and financial condition. These risks include the
following:
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invalidity
of governmental orders,
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uncertain
or unpredictable political, legal and economic
environments,
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war
and civil disturbances,
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changes
in laws or policies,
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delays
in obtaining or the inability to obtain necessary governmental
permits,
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governmental
seizure of land or mining claims,
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limitations
on ownership,
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limitations
on the repatriation of earnings,
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increased
financial costs,
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import
and export regulations, including restrictions on the export of gold,
and
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foreign
exchange controls.
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These
risks may limit or disrupt the project, restrict the movement of funds or impair
contract rights or result in the taking of property by nationalization or
expropriation without fair compensation.
We
sell gold in U.S. dollars; however, we incur a significant amount of our
expenses in Mexican pesos. If applicable currency exchange rates fluctuate,
our
revenues and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We
sell
gold in U.S. dollars. We incur a significant amount of our expenses in Mexican
pesos. As a result, our financial performance would be affected by fluctuations
in the value of the Mexican peso to the U.S. dollar.
Changes
in regulatory policy could adversely affect our exploration and future
production activities.
Any
changes in government policy may result in changes to laws
affecting:
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environmental
regulations,
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·
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repatriation
of income and/or
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Any
such
changes may affect our ability to undertake exploration and development
activities in respect of future properties in the manner currently contemplated,
as well as our ability to continue to explore, develop and operate those
properties in which we have an interest or in respect of which we have obtained
exploration and development rights to date. The possibility, particularly in
Mexico, that future governments may adopt substantially different policies,
which might extend to expropriation of assets, cannot be ruled out.
Compliance
with environmental regulations could adversely affect our exploration and future
production activities.
With
respect to environmental regulation, future environmental legislation could
require:
|
·
|
stricter
standards and enforcement,
|
|
·
|
increased
fines and penalties for non-compliance,
|
|
·
|
more
stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects and
|
|
·
|
a
heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers,
directors and employees.
|
There
can
be no assurance that future changes to environmental legislation and related
regulations, if any, will not adversely affect our operations. We could be
held
liable for environmental hazards that exist on the properties in which we hold
interests, whether caused by previous or existing owners or operators of the
properties. Any such liability could adversely affect our business and financial
condition.
We
have insurance against losses or liabilities that could arise from our
operations. If we incur material losses or liabilities in excess of our
insurance coverage, our financial position could be materially and adversely
affected.
Mining
operations involve a number of risks and hazards, including:
|
·
|
metallurgical
and other processing,
|
|
·
|
mechanical
equipment and facility performance problems.
|
Such
risks could result in:
|
·
|
damage
to, or destruction of, mineral properties or production facilities,
|
|
·
|
personal
injury or death,
|
|
·
|
monetary
losses and /or
|
|
·
|
possible
legal liability.
|
Industrial
accidents could have a material adverse effect on our future business and
operations. We currently maintain general liability, business interruption,
auto
and property insurance coverage. We cannot be certain that the insurance we
have
in place will cover all of the risks associated with mining or that we will
be
able to maintain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible
premiums. We also might become subject to liability for pollution or other
hazards which we cannot insure against or which we may elect not to insure
against because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from such events
may
have a material adverse effect on our financial position.
Calculation
of reserves and metal recovery dedicated to future production is not exact,
might not be accurate and might not accurately reflect the economic viability
of
our properties.
Reserve
estimates may not be accurate. There is a degree of uncertainty attributable
to
the calculation of reserves, resources and corresponding grades being dedicated
to future production. Until reserves or resources are actually mined and
processed, the quantity of reserves or resources and grades must be considered
as estimates only. In addition, the quantity of reserves or resources may vary
depending on metal prices. Any material change in the quantity of reserves,
resource grade or stripping ratio may affect the economic viability of our
properties. In addition, there can be no assurance that mineral recoveries
in
small scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in large tests under on-site
conditions or during production.
We
are dependent on the efforts of certain key personnel and contractors to develop
our El Chanate Project. If we lose the services of these personnel and
contractors and we are unable to replace them, our planned operations at our
El
Chanate Project may be disrupted and/or materially adversely
affected.
We
are
dependent on a relatively small number of key personnel, including but not
limited to John Brownlie, Chief Operating Officer who, among other duties,
oversees the El Chanate Project, the loss of any one of whom could have an
adverse effect on us. We are also dependent upon Sinergia to provide mining
services. Sinergia commenced mining operations on March 25, 2007, and
transitioned from the pre-production to production phase of the mining contract
in July 2007. Sinergia’s mining fleet is not new. If we lose the services
of our key personnel, or if Sinergia is unable to effectively maintain its
fleet, our planned operations at our El Chanate Project may be disrupted and/or
materially adversely affected.
There
are uncertainties as to title matters in the mining industry. We believe that
we
have good title to our properties; however, any defects in such title that
cause
us to lose our rights in mineral properties could jeopardize our planned
business operations.
We
have
investigated our rights to explore, exploit and develop our concessions in
manners consistent with industry practice and, to the best of our knowledge,
those rights are in good standing. However, we cannot assure that the title
to
or our rights of ownership in the El Chanate concessions will not be challenged
by third parties or governmental agencies. In addition, there can be no
assurance that the concessions in which we have an interest are not subject
to
prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and title may be affected
by
undetected defects. Any such defects could have a material adverse effect on
us.
Our
ability to maintain long-term profitability eventually will depend on our
ability to find, explore and develop additional properties. Our ability to
acquire such additional properties could be hindered by competition. If we
are
unable to acquire, develop and economically mine additional properties, we
most
likely will not be able to be profitable on a long-term
basis.
Gold
properties are wasting assets. They eventually become depleted or uneconomical
to continue mining. The acquisition of gold properties and their exploration
and
development are subject to intense competition. Companies with greater financial
resources, larger staffs, more experience and more equipment for exploration
and
development may be in a better position than us to compete for such mineral
properties. If we are unable to find, develop and economically mine new
properties, we most likely will not be able to be profitable on a long-term
basis.
Our
ability on a going forward basis to discover additional viable and economic
mineral reserves is subject to numerous factors, most of which are beyond our
control and are not predictable. If we are unable to discover such reserves,
we
most likely will not be able to be profitable on a long-term
basis.
Exploration
for gold is speculative in nature, involves many risks and is frequently
unsuccessful. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into
commercially producing mines. As noted above, our long-term profitability will
be, in part, directly related to the cost and success of exploration programs.
Any gold exploration program entails risks relating to
|
·
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the
location of economic ore bodies,
|
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·
|
development
of appropriate metallurgical processes,
|
|
·
|
receipt
of necessary governmental approvals and
|
|
·
|
construction
of mining and processing facilities at any site chosen for mining.
|
The
commercial viability of a mineral deposit is dependent on a number of factors
including:
|
·
|
the
particular attributes of the deposit, such as its
|
|
o
|
proximity
to infrastructure,
|
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·
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importing
and exporting gold and
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·
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environmental
protection.
|
The
effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted.
Risks
related to ownership of our stock
The
market price of our stock may be adversely affected by market volatility due
to
the current significant instability in the financial
markets.
As
a
result of the current substantial instability in the financial markets, our
stock price has recently fluctuated significantly. We cannot predict if or
when
current adverse economic conditions will be
resolved
and what the affect this instability will continue to have on the price of
our
stock.
We
do not intend to pay cash dividends in the near future.
Our
Board
of Directors determine whether to pay cash dividends on our issued and
outstanding shares. The declaration of dividends would depend upon our future
earnings, our capital requirements, our financial condition and other relevant
factors. Our board does not intend to declare any dividends on our shares for
the foreseeable future. We anticipate that we will retain any earnings to
finance the growth of our business and for general corporate purposes.
Provisions
of our Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws and Delaware law could defer a
change of our management which could discourage or delay offers to acquire
us.
Provisions
of our Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws and Delaware law may make it more
difficult for someone to acquire control of us or for our stockholders to remove
existing management, and might discourage a third party from offering to acquire
us, even if a change in control or in management would be beneficial to our
stockholders. For example, our Certificate of Incorporation allows us to issue
different series of shares of common stock without any vote or further action
by
our stockholders and our Board of Directors has the authority to fix and
determine the relative rights and preferences of such series of common stock.
As
a result, our Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of a series of
common stock that would grant to holders the preferred right to our assets
upon
liquidation, the right to receive dividend payments before dividends are
distributed to the holders of other common stock and the right to the redemption
of the shares, together with a premium, prior to the redemption of other series
of our common stock.
Item
1B. Unresolved
Staff Comments
None.
Item
2. Property
El
Chanate Properties – Sonora, Mexico
Through
our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Oro de Altar S. de R. L. de C.V. (“Oro”) and
Minera Santa Rita S. de R.L. de C.V. (“MSR”), we own 100% of the following 16
mining concessions, all of which are located in the Municipality of Altar,
State
of Sonora United States of Mexico.
The
16
mining concessions are as follows:
|
|
Concession Name
|
|
Title No.
|
|
Hectares
|
|
1
|
|
|
San Jose
|
|
|
200718
|
|
|
96.0000
|
|
2
|
|
|
Las
Dos Virgen
|
|
|
214874
|
|
|
132.2350
|
|
3
|
|
|
Rono
I
|
|
|
206408
|
|
|
82.1902
|
|
4
|
|
|
Rono
3
|
|
|
214224
|
|
|
197.2180
|
|
5
|
|
|
La
Cuchilla
|
|
|
211987
|
|
|
143.3481
|
|
6
|
|
|
Elsa
|
|
|
212004
|
|
|
2,035.3997
|
|
7
|
|
|
Elisa
|
|
|
214223
|
|
|
78.4717
|
|
8
|
|
|
Ena
|
|
|
217495
|
|
|
190.0000
|
|
9
|
|
|
Eva
|
|
|
212395
|
|
|
416.8963
|
|
10
|
|
|
Mirsa
|
|
|
212082
|
|
|
20.5518
|
|
11
|
|
|
Olga
|
|
|
212081
|
|
|
60.5890
|
|
12
|
|
|
Edna
|
|
|
212355
|
|
|
24.0431
|
|
13
|
|
|
La
Tira
|
|
|
219624
|
|
|
1.7975
|
|
14
|
|
|
La
Tira 1
|
|
|
219623
|
|
|
18.6087
|
|
15
|
|
|
Los
Tres
|
|
|
223634
|
|
|
8.000
|
|
16
|
|
|
El
Charro
|
|
|
206404
|
|
|
40.0000
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,543.3491
|
|
At
the El
Chanate Project we are mining on two concessions, San Jose and Las Dos Virgens.
We are utilizing four other concessions for processing mined ores. In the
future, we plan to explore some or all of these concessions to determine whether
or not further activity is warranted.
Until
August 2006, we were following an August 2003 feasibility study (the “2003
Study”) prepared by M3 Engineering of Tucson, Arizona (“M3”) as updated by M3 in
October 2005 (The “2005 Study”). The 2005 Study used a base gold price of $375
per ounce. In view of a significant rise in the gold price, in June 2006, we
commissioned SRK Consulting, Denver, Colorado, to prepare an updated Canadian
Securities Administration National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical report
on our El Chanate Project. SRK completed this technical report in August 2006
(the “2006 Update”).
In
May
2007, we completed an expanded 72-hole reverse circulation drilling campaign
to
identify additional proven and probable gold reserves at the El Chanate Project.
The 72 holes totaled approximately 8,300 meters, and were positioned to fill
in
gaps in the ore body and test the outer limits of the currently known ore zones.
We turned the assay data over to Independent Mining Consultants, Inc. (“IMC”) of
Tucson, AZ to update our ore reserve and our mine plan. On August 30, 2007,
IMC
delivered to us an updated resource block model and an updated mine plan and
mine production schedule (the “2007 Report”).
According
to the 2007 Report, our proven and probable reserve tonnage increased by
approximately 98 percent from 19.9 million to 39.5 million metric tonnes with
a
gold grade of 0.66 grams per tonne (43.5 million US short tons at 0.019 ounces
per ton). The open pit stripping ratio is 0.6:1 (0.6 tonnes of waste to one
tonne of ore). The updated pit design for the revised plan in the 2007 Report
is
based on a plant recovery of gold that varies by rock types, but is expected
to
average 66.8%. A gold price of US$550 (three year average as of July 31, 2007
as
determined by IMC) per ounce was used to re-estimate the reserves compared
with
a gold price of $450 per ounce used in the previous estimate.
In
September 2008, we initiated a 10 hole deep core drilling campaign at our El
Chanate mine consisting of 2,500 meters which will target the southern extremity
of the main pit. Once this data has been compiled and analyzed, it will be
combined with results from a previous drilling campaign initiated in December
2007 which consisted of a 26 reverse circulation holes amounting to 4,912
meters. These drill holes were mainly positioned to test the outer limits of
the
currently known ore zones within the main pit. All data will be combined with
the intention of increasing proven and probable reserves.
During
fiscal 2008, we identified certain restrictions related to our ADR plant
capacity which limited the amount of solution that can be processed. We have
addressed these issues by doubling the installed pumping capacity to increase
solution flow to the leach pad and added additional carbon capacity to the
system. We also purchased and installed an additional set of carbon columns
and
a strip vessel to process an additional two tonnes of carbon per strip. The
installation and commissioning of these ADR plant upgrades was completed at
the
end of October 2008.
Gold
production at El Chanate is currently at a level of approximately 5,000 ounces
per month inclusive of gold equivalents. We have implemented steps necessary
to
effectively increase production rates to approximately 70,000 ounces per year
in
2009. As of August 31, 2008, we have expended approximately $3,500,000 on the
leach pad expansion and ADR plant improvement. Management has been and
anticipates that it will continue to fund these expansion costs with its cash
on
hand as well as through revenues from gold sales.
The
following Summary is extracted from the 2007 Report. Please note that the
reserves as stated are an estimate of what can be economically and legally
recovered from the mine and, as such, incorporate losses for dilution and mining
recovery. The
832,280 ounces of contained gold represents ounces of gold contained in ore
in
the ground, and therefore does not reflect losses in the recovery process.
Total
gold produced is estimated to be 555,960 ounces, or approximately 66.8% of
the
contained gold. The gold recovery rate is expected to average approximately
66.8% for the entire ore body. Individual portions of the ore body may
experience varying recovery rates ranging from about 73% to 48%. Oxidized and
sandstone ore types may have recoveries of about 73%; fault zone ore type
recoveries may be about 64%; siltstone ore types recoveries may be about 48%
and
latite intrusive ore type recoveries may be about 50%.
El
Chanate Project
Production
Summary
|
|
Metric
|
|
U.S.
|
Materials
Reserves
Proven
Probable
Total
Reserves
Waste
Total
Contained
Gold
Production
Ore
Crushed**
Operating
Days/Year
Gold
Plant Average Recovery
Average
Annual Production**
Total
Gold Produced
|
|
26.7
Million Tonnes @ 0.68 g/t*
12.8
Million Tonnes
@
0.61g/t*
39.5
Million Tonnes @ 0.66 g/t*
24.1
Million Tonnes
63.6
Million Tonnes
25.89
Million grams
2.6
Million Tonnes /Year
7,500
Mt/d
365
Days per year
66.8
%
1.35
Million grams
17.29
Million grams
|
|
29.4
Million Tons @ 0.0198 opt*
14.1
Million Tons
@
0.0179
opt*
43.5
Million Tons @ 0.0192 opt*
26.6
Million Tons
70.1
Million tons
832,280
Oz
2.87
Million Tons/Year
8,267
t/d
365
Days per year
66.8
%
43,414
Oz
555,960
Oz
|
*
“g/t”
means grams per metric tonne, “opt” means ounces per ton, “Mt/d” means metric
tonnes per day and “t/d” means tons per day. The reserve estimates are based on
a recovered gold cutoff grade of 0.17 to 0.21 grams per metric tonne, depending
on the operating year, and as described below.
**
Based
on mining rate of 7,500 metric tonnes per day of ore. We are currently in excess
of 10,000 metric tonnes per day.
In
the
mineral resource block model developed, with blocks 6m (meters) x 6m x 6m high,
Measured and Indicated resources (corresponding to Proven and Probable reserves
respectively when within the pit design) were classified in accordance with
the
following scheme:
|
·
|
Blocks
with 2 or more drill holes within a search radius of 80m x 70m x
40m and
with a relative kriging (a geostatistical calculation technique)
standard
deviation less than or equal to 0.45 were classified as Measured
(corresponding to Proven);
|
|
·
|
Blocks
with 1 hole within the search radius of 80m x 70m x 40m and with
a
relative kriging standard deviation of 0.60 or less, blocks with
2 holes
and a kriging standard deviation of 0.70 or less, blocks with 3 holes
and
a kriging standard deviation of 0.80 or less, blocks with 4 holes
and a
relative kriging standard deviation of 0.90 or less and all blocks
with 5
or more holes within the search radius were classified as Indicated
(corresponding to Probable), unless they met the above criterion
for
Proven;
|
|
·
|
Blocks
with a grade estimate that did not meet the above criteria were classified
as Inferred (and which was classed as waste material in the mining
reserves estimate);
|
|
·
|
Blocks
outside the above search radii or outside suitable geological zones
were
not assigned a gold grade or a resource
classification.
|
The
proven and probable reserve estimates are based on a recovered gold cutoff
grade
of 0.17 to 0.21 grams/tonne, depending on the operating year. The variation
is
due to balancing the mine and plant production capacities on a year by year
basis for the plan. (A recovered gold cutoff grade was used for reserves
calculation as the head gold grade cutoff varies with the different ore types
due to their variable gold recoveries.) The internal (in-pit) and break even
cutoff grade calculations are as follows:
Cutoff
Grade Calculation
Basic
Parameters
Gold
Price
Shipping
and Refining
Gold
Recovery
Royalty
Operating
Costs per Tonne of Ore
Mining
*
Processing/Leach
Pad
G&A
Total
Internal
Cutoff Grade
Head
Grade Cutoff (66.8% recov.)
Recovered
Gold Grade Cutoff
|
Internal
Cutoff Grade
US$550/oz
US$
4.14/oz
66.8%
4%
of NSR
$
per Tonne of Ore
0.070
1.980
0.800
2.850
Grams
per Tonne
0.25
0.17
|
Break
Even Cutoff Grade
US$550/oz
US$
4.14/oz
66.8%
4%
of NSR
$
per Tonne of Ore
1.360
1.980
0.800
4.140
Grams
per Tonne
0.37
0.25
|
*
The
calculation of an internal cutoff grade does not include the basic mining costs
(which are considered to be sunk costs for material within the designed pit).
The $0.07 per tonne cost included is the incremental (added) cost of hauling
ore
over hauling waste, and which is included in the calculation.
Surface
Property Ownership
Anglo
Gold purchased surface property ownership, consisting of 466 Hectares in Altar,
Sonora, on January 27, 1998. The ownership was conveyed to our subsidiary,
Oro
de Altar S.A. de C.V., in 2002. MSR, one of our wholly-owned Mexican affiliates,
has a lease on the property for the purpose of mining the Chanate gold deposit.
The purchase transaction was recorded as public deed 19,591 granted by Mr.
Jose
Maria Morera Gonzalez, Notary Public 102 of the Federal District, registered
at
the Public Registry of Property of Caborca, Sonora, under number 36026, book
one, volume 169 of the real estate registry section on May 7,
1998.
General
Information and Location
The
El
Chanate Project is located in the State of Sonora, Mexico, 37 kilometers
northeast of the town of Caborca. It is accessible by paved and all weather
dirt
roads typically traveled by pickup trucks and similar vehicles. Driving time
from Caborca is approximately 40 minutes. Access from Caborca to the village
of
16 de September is over well maintained National highways. Beyond the 16 de
September village, routes to the property are currently over well traveled
gravel and sandy desert roads suitable for all types
of vehicles.
We acquired rights for service road access from the village of 16 de September,
and constructed this road.
The
project is situated on the Sonora desert in a hot and windy climate, generally
devoid of vegetation with the exception of cactus. The terrain is generally
flat
with immense, shallow basins, scattered rock outcropping and low rocky hills
and
ridges. The desert floor is covered by shallow, fine sediment, gravel and
caliche. The main body of the known surface gold covers an irregularly shaped
area of approximately 3,170 feet long by 1,590 feet wide. Several satellite
mineral anomalies exist on surfaces which have not been thoroughly explored.
Assays on chip samples taken from trenches at these locations by us indicate
the presence of gold mineralization.
In
2005,
we acquired 15 year rights of way for the current access road, and we acquired
the right to purchase 81 hectares of land near the main highway. We have use
of
the land; however, our actual purchase of the land is conditioned upon the
Ejido
(local cooperative) privatizing the land, before the acquisition is finalized.
We subsequently purchased an extension of our rights-of-way from 15 to 30 years.
In addition to this road, we acquired a water concession, and our water well
is
located within a large regional aquifer. The 2005 feasibility study indicated
our average life of mine water requirements, for ore processing only, will
be
about 94.6 million gallons per year (11.4 liters per second). The amount of
water we were permitted to pump for our operations was approximately 71.3
million gallons per year (8.6 liters per second). In September 2007, and in
conjunction with the results of the 2007 Report, we acquired additional water
rights which permits us to consume up to 109.1 million gallons per year. Based
on the anticipated water consumption for the life of mine, we believe that
we
have an allocation to meet our requirements.
In
December 2005, MSR entered into a Mining Contract with a Mexican mining
contractor, Sinergia Obras Civiles y Mineras, S.A. de C.V. (“Contractor”). The
Mining Contract, as amended, became effective November 1, 2006 and work
commenced on or about March 25, 2007 (the “Commencement Date”). Pursuant to an
amendment to the Mining Contract, the mining rates set forth in that contract
are subject to adjustment for the rate of inflation between September 23,
2005 and the Commencement Date. We are currently in negotiations with the
Contractor on an adjustment to these rates for the aforementioned period.
Pursuant to the Mining Contract, the Contractor, using its own equipment, is
supposed to perform all of the mining work (other than crushing) at the El
Chanate Project for the life of the mine. MSR delivered to the Contractor a
mobilization payment of $70,000 and the advance payment of $520,000. The advance
payments are recoverable by MSR out of 100% of subsequent payments due to the
Contractor under the Mining Contract. Pursuant to the Mining Contract, upon
termination, the Contractor would be obligated to repay any portion of the
advance payment that had not yet been recouped. The Contractor’s mining rates
are subject to escalation on an annual basis. This escalation is tied to the
percentage escalation in the Contractor’s costs for various parts for its
equipment, interest rates and labor. One of the principals of the Contractor
(“FG’s Successor”) is one of the former principals of Grupo Minero FG S.A. de
C.V. (“FG”). FG was our former joint venture partner. In March 2007, we made a
further advance to the Contractor of $319,000 in consideration of FG’s
successors transfer to us of his remaining interest in MSR. As of July 31,
2008,
the entire advance has been recovered.
The
general El Chanate mine area has been mined for gold since the early
19th
century.
A number of old underground workings exist characterized by narrow shafts,
to a
depth of several tens of feet and connecting drifts and cross cuts. No
information exists regarding the amount of gold taken out; however, indications
are that mining was conducted on a small scale.
Geology
The
project area is underlain by sedimentary rocks of the Late Jurassic – Early
Cretaceous Bisbee Group, and the Late Cretaceous Chanate Group, which locally
are overlain by andesites of the Cretaceous El Charro volcanic complex. The
sedimentary strata are locally intruded by andesitic sills and dikes, a
microporphyritic latite and by a diorite stock. The sedimentary strata are
comprised of mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, conglomerate, shale and limestone.
Within the drilled resource area, a predecessor exploration company
differentiated two units on the basis of their position relative to the Chanate
fault. The upper member is an undifferentiated sequence of sandstone,
conglomerate and lesser mudstone that lies above the Chanate fault and it is
assigned to the Escalante Formation of the Middle Cretaceous Chanate Group.
The
lower member is comprised of mudstone with mixed in sandstone lenses and thin
limestone interbreds; it lies below the Chanate fault and is assigned to the
Arroyo Sasabe Formation of the Lower Cretaceous Bisbee Group. The Arroyo Sasabe
formation overlies the Morita Formation of the Bisbee Group. Both the Escalante
and Arroyo Sasabe formations are significantly mineralized proximal to the
Chanate fault, while the Morita Formation is barren.
The
main
structural feature of the project area is the Chanate fault, a 7 km long
(minimum) northwest-striking, variably southwest-dipping structure that has
been
interpreted to be a thrust fault. The Chanate fault is overturned
(north-dipping) at surface, and is marked by brittle deformation and shearing
which has created a pronounced fracture foliation and fissility in the host
rocks. In drill holes the fault is often marked the presence of an andesite
dike. Reports prepared by a predecessor exploration company describe the fault
as consisting of a series of thrust ramps and flats; however, geologic cross
sections which we have reviewed but did not prepare may negate this
interpretation.
Alteration/Mineralization
A
predecessor exploration company has defined a 600 meter long, 300 meter wide,
120 meter thick zone of alteration that is centered about the Chanate fault.
The
strata within this zone have been silicified and pyritized to varying degrees.
In surface outcrop the mineralized zone is distinguished by its bleached
appearance relative to unmineralized rock. The mineralized zone contains only
single digit ppm (parts per million) levels of gold. Dense swarms of veinlets
form thick, mineralized lenses, within a larger area of sub-economic but
anomalous gold concentrations. Drill hole data indicates that the mineralized
lenses are sub-horizontal to gently southwest-dipping and are grossly parallel
to the Chanate fault. The fault zone itself is also weakly mineralized, although
strata in the near hanging wall and footwall are appreciably mineralized.
Our
Acquisition and Ownership of the El Chanate Project
In
June
2001, we purchased 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of Minera Chanate,
S.A. de C.V. from AngloGold North America Inc. and AngloGold (Jerritt Canyon)
Corp. Minera Chanate’s assets at the time of the closing of the purchase
consisted of 106 exploitation and exploration concessions in the States of
Sonora, Chihuahua and Guerrero, Mexico. By June 2002, after property reviews
and
to minimize tax payments, the 106 had been reduced to 12 concessions. To cover
certain non-critical gaps between concessions, four new concessions were
acquired, and the number of concessions is now 16. These concessions are
contiguous, totaling approximately 3,543 hectares (8,756 acres or 13.7 square
miles). Although there are 16 concessions, we are only mining two of these
concessions at the present time. We also own outright 466 hectares (1,151 acres
or 1.8 square miles) of surface rights at El Chanate and no third party
ownership or leases exist on this fee land or the El Chanate concessions. In
the
future, assuming adequate funding is available, we plan on conducting
exploration activities on some of the other concessions.
Pursuant
to the terms of the agreement with Anglo Gold, in December 2001, we made a
$50,000 payment to AngloGold. AngloGold will be entitled to receive the
remainder of the purchase price by way of an ongoing percentage of net smelter
returns of between 2% and 4% plus a 10% net profits interest (until the total
net profits interest payment received by AngloGold equals $1,000,000).
AngloGold's right to a payment of a percentage of net smelter returns and the
net profits interest will terminate at such point as they aggregate $18,018,355.
In accordance with the agreement, the foregoing payments are not to be construed
as royalty payments. Should the Mexican government or other jurisdiction
determine that such payments are royalties, we could be subjected to and would
be responsible for any withholding taxes assessed on such payments. During
the first
part of 2008, Royal Gold, Inc. acquired from Anglo Gold the right to receive
both the net smelter returns of between 2% and 4% plus and the 10% net profits
interest which terminates at such point as they aggregate $18,018,355. As of
July 31, 2008, we have incurred approximately $1,272,000 and $728,000 in expense
with regard to both the net smelter return and net profits interest,
respectively.
Under
the
terms of the agreement, we had granted AngloGold the right to designate one
of
its wholly-owned Mexican subsidiaries to receive a one-time option to purchase
51% of Minera Chanate (or such entity that owns the El Chanate concessions
at
the time of option exercise). That option was exercisable over a 180 day period
commencing at such time as we notified AngloGold that we had made a good faith
determination that we had gold-bearing ore deposits on any one of the identified
groups of El Chanate concessions, when aggregated with any ore that we have
mined, produced and sold from such concessions, of in excess of 2,000,000 troy
ounces of contained gold. The exercise price would equal twice our project
costs
on the properties during the period commencing on December 15, 2000 and ending
on the date of such notice. In January 2008, we made a good faith determination
and notified AngloGold that the drill indicated resources at the El Chanate
gold
mine exceeded two million ounces of contained gold. The term "drill indicated
resources" is defined in the agreement. A drill indicated resource number does
not rise to the level of, and should not be considered proven and probable
reserves as those terms are defined under guidelines of the Securities Exchange
Commission (“SEC”). On July 1, 2008, AngloGold notified us that it would not be
exercising its back-in right.
Saric
Properties – Sonora, Mexico
We
recently leased 12 mining concessions totaling 1,790 hectares located northwest
of Saric, Sonora. In addition, we filed and now own a claim for approximately
2,200 additional hectares adjacent to this property. These concessions and
this
claim are about a sixty mile drive northeast of the El Chanate project.
Mineralization is evident throughout and is hosted by shear zones and quartz
veins in granite intrusive. A short drill program, along with geochemical work,
is currently underway.
We
continue to actively investigate other exploration projects in northern Mexico.
Item
3. Legal
Proceedings
We
are
not presently a party to any material litigation.
Item
4. Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No
matter
was submitted to a vote of our stockholders during the fiscal quarter ended
July
31, 2008.
PART
II
Item
5. |
Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities.
|
(a)
Marketing Information -- The principal U.S. market in which our common shares
(all of which are of one class, $.0001 par value Common Stock) are traded or
will trade is in the over-the-counter market (Bulletin Board Symbol: "CGLD").
Our stock is not traded or quoted on any Automated Quotation
System.
The
following table sets forth the range of high and low closing bid quotes of
our
Common Stock per quarter for the past two fiscal years as reported by the OTC
Bulletin Board (which reflect inter-dealer prices without retail mark-up,
mark-down or commission and may not necessary represent actual transactions).
MARKET
PRICE OF COMMON STOCK
Quarter
Ending
|
|
High
and Low
|
|
July
31, 2008
|
|
|
0.70
|
|
|
0.60
|
|
April
30, 2008
|
|
|
0.78
|
|
|
0.62
|
|
January
31, 2008
|
|
|
0.81
|
|
|
0.60
|
|
October
31, 2007
|
|
|
0.63
|
|
|
0.38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July
31, 2007
|
|
|
0.47
|
|
|
0.38
|
|
April
30, 2007
|
|
|
0.47
|
|
|
0.37
|
|
January
31, 2007
|
|
|
0.41
|
|
|
0.31
|
|
October
31, 2006
|
|
|
0.33
|
|
|
0.28
|
|
Our
Common Stock trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "CGC." The
high and low closing prices for our Common stock for the periods indicated
below
are as follows:
Period
Ending
|
|
High
and Low
|
|
|
|
US$/CDN$
|
|
US$/CDN$
|
|
Quarter
ended July 31, 2008
|
|
|
0.70/0.71
|
|
|
0.61/0.60
|
|
Quarter
ended April 30, 2008
|
|
|
0.83/0.83
|
|
|
0.62/0.62
|
|
Quarter
ended January 31, 2008
|
|
|
077/0.76
|
|
|
0.58/0.57
|
|
Quarter
ended October 31, 2007
|
|
|
0.60/0.61
|
|
|
0.39/0.40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter
ended July 31, 2007
|
|
|
0.50/0.54
|
|
|
0.35/0.37
|
|
Quarter
ended April 30, 2007
|
|
|
0.52/0.60
|
|
|
0.36/0.42
|
|
Quarter
ended January 31, 2007
|
|
|
0.42/0.49
|
|
|
0.27/0.31
|
|
Quarter
ended October 31, 2006
|
|
|
0.36/0.40
|
|
|
0.28/0.32
|
|
(b)
Holders -- The approximate number of record holders of our Common Stock, as
of
October 24, 2008 amounts to 2,236 inclusive of those brokerage firms and/or
clearing houses holding our common shares for their clientele (with each such
brokerage house and/or clearing house being considered as one holder). The
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding is 192,974,824 as of
October 24, 2008.
(c)
Dividends – We have not paid or declared any cash dividends upon our Common
Stock since inception and, by reason of our present financial status and our
contemplated financial requirements, do not contemplate or anticipate paying
any
cash dividends upon our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
On
July
17, 2008, at the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board
of
Directors, our executive officers and directors were granted 515,000 shares
under our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. The restricted shares granted vested
immediately. The fair value of the stock was $0.70 on the date of grant
resulting in our recording approximately $361,000 in equity based compensation
expense within general and administrative expense.
All
of
the foregoing issuances were exempt from registration pursuant to the provisions
of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
We
did
not repurchase any of our securities during the fiscal year ended July 31,
2008.
The
following table gives information about our Common Stock that may be issued
upon
the exercise of options, warrants and rights under all of our equity
compensation plans as of July 31, 2008.
|
|
Number of Securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights*
|
|
Weighted-average
Exercise price of
Outstanding options,
warrants and rights
|
|
Number of securities
Remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
|
|
Plan Category
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
(c)
|
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders:
|
|
|
4,665,000
|
|
$ |
0.56 |
|
|
3,225,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders:
|
|
|
900,000
|
|
$ |
0.58 |
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
5,565,000
|
|
$ |
0.58 |
|
|
3,225,000
|
|
*Does
not
include the issuance of 2,110,000 shares of restricted stock during the fiscal
year ended July 31, 2008
Performance
Graph
Total
Return To Shareholders
(Includes
reinvestment of dividends)
|
|
QUARTERLY
RETURN
PERCENTAGE
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter
Ending
|
|
|
|
Company
/ Index
|
|
10/31/07
|
|
1/31/08
|
|
4/30/08
|
|
7/31/08
|
|
Capital
Gold Corporation
|
|
|
36.07
|
|
|
10.48
|
|
|
-6.61
|
|
|
-0.77
|
|
S&P
SmallCap 600 Index
|
|
|
5.12
|
|
|
-12.65
|
|
|
1.20
|
|
|
-1.48
|
|
Peer
Group
|
|
|
9.32
|
|
|
-20.42
|
|
|
-4.41
|
|
|
17.42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDEXED
RETURNS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Base
|
|
|
|
Quarter
Ending
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
/ Index
|
|
8/1/07
|
|
10/31/07
|
|
1/31/08
|
|
4/30/08
|
|
7/31/08
|
|
Capital
Gold Corporation
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
136.07
|
|
|
150.32
|
|
|
140.39
|
|
|
139.31
|
|
S&P
SmallCap 600 Index
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
105.12
|
|
|
91.82
|
|
|
92.92
|
|
|
91.55
|
|
Peer
Group
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
109.32
|
|
|
87.00
|
|
|
83.16
|
|
|
97.64
|
|
Peer
Group Companies:
|
|
|
|
|
|
ALAMOS
GOLD INC
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAMMON
GOLD INC
|
|
|
|
|
|
WESTERN
GOLDFIELDS INC
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITEM
6. Selected
Financial Data.
The
selected consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in
conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, and the related notes
thereto, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations,” included in this Annual Report. The statement of
operations and balance sheet data presented below for, and as of the end of,
each of the years in the five year period ended July 31, 2008 are derived from
our audited consolidated financial statements. Historical results are not
necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future. The Selected
Financial Data is in thousands except for share and per share data.
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended July, 31
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
Statement
of Operations data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
33,104
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Net
Income (loss)
|
|
$
|
6,364
|
|
$
|
(7,472
|
)
|
$
|
(4,805
|
)
|
$
|
(2,006
|
)
|
$
|
(2,939
|
)
|
Income
(loss) per share – Basic
|
|
$
|
0.04
|
|
$
|
(0.05
|
)
|
$
|
(0.04
|
)
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
$
|
(0.06
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
Sheet data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Assets
|
|
$
|
48,879
|
|
$
|
27,551
|
|
$
|
9,546
|
|
$
|
5,552
|
|
$
|
486
|
|
Long-term
Debt
|
|
$
|
8,375
|
|
$
|
12,500
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Reclamation
and Remediation Liability
|
|
$
|
1,666
|
|
$
|
1,249
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Item
7. Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
The
following discussion relates to the three fiscal years ended July 31, 2008,
2007
and 2006. As disclosed in greater detail elsewhere in this report, we commenced
mining operations and began to receive operating revenues in August 2007,
shortly after the end of the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007. (000’s, except
where otherwise specifically noted).
Overview
You
should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition
and
results of operations in conjunction with our financial statements and related
notes included elsewhere in this report.
Our
financial position was as follows:
|
|
For the year
|
|
For the year
|
|
|
|
ended
|
|
ended
|
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
debt
|
|
$
|
12,500
|
|
$
|
12,500
|
|
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
|
$
|
28,197
|
|
$
|
11,986
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
10,992
|
|
$
|
2,225
|
|
Working
capital
|
|
$
|
15,825
|
|
$
|
6,343
|
|
During
our fiscal year ended July 31, 2008 our debt and liquidity positions were
affected by the following:
|
· |
Net
cash provided from continuing operations of
$6,318;
|
|
· |
Capital
expenditures of $5,507;
|
|
· |
Proceeds
from the issuance of common stock upon the exercising of warrants
of
$7,474;
|
Looking
Forward
Certain
key factors will affect our future financial and operating results. These
include, but are not limited to, the following (000’s except for ounces and cash
cost data):
|
· |
Fluctuations
in gold prices
|
|
· |
We
expect minimum fiscal 2009 gold sales of approximately
55,000 ounces;
|
|
·
|
Cash
costs per ounce sold, excluding royalties, for fiscal 2009 are expected
to
be approximately $250 to $275 per ounce as the impact of industry-wide
cost pressures are expected to be slightly
higher;
|
|
·
|
We
anticipate capital expenditures of approximately $5,500 to $6,500
in
fiscal 2009 with nearly all being allocated to our El Chanate mine
in
Sonora, Mexico;
|
|
·
|
Our
fiscal year 2009 expectations, particularly with respect to sales
volumes
and cash costs per ounce sold, may differ significantly from actual
quarter and full fiscal year results due to variations in: ore grades
and
hardness, metal recoveries, waste removed, commodity input prices,
foreign
currencies and gold sale prices.
|
Result
of Operations
Fiscal
year ended July 31, 2008 compared to fiscal year ended July 31,
2007
Net
income for the year ended July 31, 2008 was approximately $6,364 compared to
a
net loss of approximately $7,472 for the year ended July 31, 2007. The
principal
reason for this transition was our realizing revenue from operations during
the
year ended July 31, 2008. Our first gold sale occurred in August 2007. Net
income per common share was $0.04 for the year ended July 31, 2008, on a basic
basis and $0.03 on a diluted basis. The net loss per share for the same period
in 2007 was $0.05 on a basic basis. Basic
and
diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of
shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Equivalent common shares,
consisting of stock options and warrants were excluded from the calculation
of
diluted net loss per share for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 since their
effect was anti-dilutive.
Revenues
& Costs Applicable to Sales
Gold
revenue for the year ended July 31, 2008 totaled approximately $33,104. We
sold
39,102 ounces
at
an average realizable price per ounce of approximately $847. Costs applicable
to
sales were approximately
$10,690 for the current period. There were no metal sales for the same period
in
the prior year as we had not yet realized revenue from our operations. Our
cash
cost and total cost per ounce sold, excluding Royal Gold’s 10% net profit
interest, formally owned by AngloGold, was $257 and $316, respectively, for
the
year ended July 31, 2008. If we factor in this net profit interest cost for
the
same period, our cash cost and total cost per ounce sold would be $276 and
$335,
respectively. These costs were slightly higher than previous quarter results
primarily due to the accrual of this net profit interest which is capped at
$1,000. As of July 31, 2008, we had approximately $753 accrued towards this
net
profits interest. We anticipate accruing the remaining portion of
the net profit interest within this calendar
year.
Revenues
from by-product sales (silver) are credited to Costs
applicable to sales
as a
by-product credit. Silver
sales totaled 40,461 ounces at an average price of $17.48 amounting to
approximately $707
for
the
year ended July 31, 2008.
Depreciation
and Amortization
Depreciation
and amortization expense during the year ended July 31, 2008 and 2007 was
approximately $3,438 and $891, respectively. The increase of approximately
$2,547 was primarily due to a full year of depreciation and amortization charges
related to the El Chanate capital costs being incurred in the current period.
The charges during the same period in the prior year were significantly lower
as
most of these assets were placed in service in April 2007. Depreciation and
amortization also represents deferred financing costs resulting from the Credit
Facility we entered into with Standard Bank. This accounted for approximately
$1,088 and $876 of the amortization expense during the years ended July 31,
2008
and 2007, respectively.
General
and Administration Expense
General
and administrative expenses during the year ended July 31, 2008 were
approximately $5,405, an increase of approximately $2,645 or 96% from the year
ended July 31, 2007. The increase in general and administrative expenses
resulted primarily from: 1) higher salaries and wages for officers and employees
including the hiring of a controller and the awarding of cash bonuses of
approximately $1,708, 2) the granting of stock options and restricted stock
to
our officers and employees under our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan amounting to
approximately $467, 3) higher investor relations fees and travel fees of
approximately $221, 4) higher accounting and consulting fees of approximately
$419 versus the same period a year earlier, primarily due to the awarding of
a
cash bonus to one of our officers as well as higher consulting fees related
to
compliance with internal control over financial reporting, and 5) an increase
in
insurance costs of approximately $116 versus the same period a year earlier
as
we were not yet in full production in the prior period. The above mentioned
increases in compensation, cash bonus awards as well as the stock option and
restricted stock awards were granted based upon recommendations from an
independent report on executive compensation. This independent report, requested
by our Compensation Committee, was obtained in order to assist us in attracting
and retaining individuals of experience and ability, to provide incentive to
our
employees and directors, to encourage employee and director proprietary
interests in our company, and to encourage employees to remain in our employ.
Exploration
Expense
Exploration
expense during the years ended July31, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $938
and
$1,816, respectively, or a decrease of $878 or 48%. The primary reason for
the
decrease in exploration expense was the result of higher engineering and
planning costs related to our El Chanate Project being expensed in the prior
period as well as the costs incurred from our 72-hole reverse circulation
drilling campaign to identify additional proven and probable gold reserves
at
the El Chanate Project which was completed in May 2007. The current period
includes: 1) costs from our completed 26 hole reverse circulation drilling
program in December 2007 amounting to 4,912 meters at El Chanate. The drill
holes were mainly positioned to test the outer limits of the currently known
ore
zones, and 2) cost associated with our recently leased 12 mining concessions
totaling 1,790 hectares located northwest of Saric, Sonora. We initiated a
short
drill program as well as some geochemical work related to these claims during
the current period. Also, a claim has been filed for approximately 2,200
additional hectares adjacent to this property. These concessions and this claim
are about a sixty mile drive northeast of the El Chanate project. Mineralization
is evident throughout and is hosted by shear zones and veins in granite
intrusive.
Equity
Based Compensation
Equity
based compensation during the year ended July 31, 2008 was approximately $181
as
compared to $133 in costs for the same period a year earlier. These costs
primarily represent the equity compensation expense from the issuance of stock
options for professional services provided to non-employees during the current
and prior period.
Other
Income and Expense
Our
loss
on the change in fair value of derivative instruments during the year ended
July
31, 2008 and 2007, was approximately $1,356 and $1,226, respectively, and was
reflected as an other expense. This
was
primarily due to the change in fair value of our two identically structured
derivative contracts with Standard Bank which correlates to fluctuations in
the
gold price. These contracts were not designated as hedging derivatives; and
therefore, special hedge accounting does not apply.
Interest
expense was approximately $1,207 for the year ended July 31, 2008 compared
to
approximately $792 for the same period a year earlier. This increase was mainly
due to higher interest charges incurred during the current period related to
our
fully outstanding credit facility with Standard Bank. As of July 31, 2008 and
2007, there was $12,500 outstanding, respectively, on this credit facility.
Income
Tax Expense
Income
tax expense was $3,507 during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2008, compared
to
$0 in 2007 with an effective tax rate of 35% and 0%, respectively. The factors
that most significantly impact our effective tax rate are valuation allowances
related to deferred tax assets offset partially by lower statutory tax rates
in
Mexico. Current income tax expense and deferred income tax expense amounted
to
$2,111 and $1,396 as of July 31, 2008, respectively.
Mining
operations are primarily conducted in Mexico that has tax laws, tax incentives
and tax rates that are significantly different than those of the United States.
On October 1, 2007, the Mexican Government enacted legislation which introduced
certain tax reforms as well as a new minimum flat tax system. This new
flat tax system integrates with the regular income tax system and is based
on
cash-basis net income that includes only certain receipts and
expenditures. The flat tax is set at 17.5% of cash-basis net income as
determined, with transitional rates of 16.5% and 17.0% in 2008 and 2009,
respectively. If the flat tax is positive, it is reduced by the regular
income tax and any excess is paid as a supplement to the regular income
tax. If the flat tax is negative, it may serve to reduce the regular
income tax payable in that year or can be carried forward for a period of up
to
ten years to reduce any future flat tax. Companies are required to prepay income
taxes on a monthly basis based on the greater of the flat tax or regular income
tax as calculated for each monthly period. Annualized income projections
indicate that we will not be liable for any excess flat tax for calendar year
2008 and, accordingly, have recorded a Mexican income tax provision as of July
31, 2008.
Deferred
income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between
the financial statement reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and
are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws in effect when the differences
are expected to reverse. The measurement of deferred income tax assets is
reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits, which,
on
a more than likely than not basis, are not expected to be realized. The effect
on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is
recognized in the period that such tax rate changes are enacted.
During
the fiscal year ended 2008, we completed a reconciliation of our U.S. book
and
tax basis assets and liabilities as well as a detailed analysis of our income
taxes payable.
Based
on
the uncertainty and inherent unpredictability of the factors influencing our
effective tax rate and the sensitivity of such factors to gold and other metals
prices as discussed above, the effective tax rate is expected to be volatile
in
future periods.
For
more
information concerning income taxes, please see Note 22 within the consolidated
financial statements contained herein.
Changes
in Foreign Exchange Rates
During
the year ended July 31, 2008 and 2007, we recorded equity adjustments from
foreign currency translations
of approximately $622 and $205, respectively. These translation adjustments
are
related
to changes in the rates of exchange between the Mexican Peso and the US dollar
and are included as
a
component of other comprehensive income.
Summary
of Annual Results
(000’s
except per share Data and ounces sold)
|
|
For the year
|
|
For the year
|
|
|
|
ended
|
|
ended
|
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
33,104
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net
Income (loss)
|
|
|
6,364
|
|
|
(7,472
|
)
|
Basic
net income (loss) per share
|
|
|
0.04
|
|
|
(0.05
|
)
|
Diluted
net income (loss) per share
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
-
|
|
Gold
ounces sold
|
|
|
39,102
|
|
|
-
|
|
Average
price received
|
|
$
|
847
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cash
cost per ounce sold(1)
|
|
$
|
276
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
cost per ounce sold(1)
|
|
$
|
335
|
|
|
-
|
|
(1) Excluding
the net profit interest, cash and total cost per ounce sold were $257 and $316,
respectively.
Fiscal
year ended July 31, 2007 compared to fiscal year ended July 31,
2006
Net
Loss
Our
net
loss for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 was approximately $7,472, an
increase of approximately $2,667 or 56% from the fiscal year ended July 31,
2006. As discussed below, the primary reasons for the increase in loss during
the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 were: 1) an increase in selling, general
and
administrative expenses of approximately $625; 2) an increase in depreciation
and amortization expense of approximately $ 852;
3)
an increase in exploration expenditures of approximately $808; 4) an increase
in
losses of approximately $644 due to the change in fair value of our derivative
instruments; and 5) an increase in interest expense of approximately $792.
These
increases in loss were slightly offset by a decrease in mine expenses of
approximately $933 due to higher planning and engineering costs being expensed
in the prior fiscal year. Net loss per share was $.05 and $.04 for the fiscal
year ended July 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Revenues
We
generated no revenues from mining operations during the fiscal year ended July
31, 2007 and 2006. There were de minimis non-operating revenues during the
fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 and 2006 of approximately $146 and $184,
respectively. These non-operating revenues primarily represent interest
income.
Mine
Expenses
Mine
expenses during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 were $1,008, a decrease
of
$933 or 48% from the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006. Mine expenses were lower
in 2007 versus the same period a year earlier primarily due to higher
engineering and planning costs related to our El Chanate Project being expensed
in the prior period.
Selling,
General and Administration Expense
Selling,
general and administrative expenses during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007
were $2,760, an increase of approximately $625 or 29% from the fiscal year
ended
July 31, 2006. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses
resulted primarily from higher salaries and wages, higher professional and
consulting fees as well as an increase in insurance costs versus the same period
a year earlier.
Equity
Based Compensation
Equity
based compensation during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 was $133 as
compared to $89 in costs for the same period a year earlier. This increase
primarily resulted from the issuance of stock options to our independent
directors, SEC counsel, and outside Canadian Counsel as well as an issuance
of
shares of common stock to an independent contractor for services provided
related to our El Chanate project.
Exploration
Expense
Exploration
expense during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 and 2006 was approximately
$808 and $0, respectively. The primary reason for the increase can be attributed
to our 72-hole drilling campaign to determine additional proven and probable
gold reserves at the El Chanate Project.
Depreciation
and Amortization
Depreciation
and amortization expense during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 and 2006
was
approximately $891 and $39, respectively. The primary reason for the increase
was due to amortization charges on deferred financing costs resulting from
the
Credit Facility entered into in August 2006 with Standard Bank Plc. This
accounted for approximately $876 of the amortization expense during the fiscal
year ended July 31, 2007.
Other
Income and Expense
Our
loss
on the change in fair value of derivative instruments during the fiscal year
ended July 31, 2007 and 2006, was approximately $1,226 and $582,
respectively. This
was
primarily due to us entering into two identically structured derivative
contracts with Standard Bank in March 2006. Each derivative consisted of a
series of forward sales of gold and a purchase gold cap. We agreed to sell
a
total volume of 121,927 ounces of gold forward to Standard Bank at a price
of
$500 per ounce on a quarterly basis during the period from March 2007 to
September 2010. We also agreed to a purchase gold cap on a quarterly basis
during this same period and at identical volumes covering a total volume of
121,927 ounces of gold at a price of $535 per ounce. While the period of the
derivative contracts has commenced, we do not anticipate any material adverse
effect from the fact that we have not commenced to sell gold because the price
of gold is substantially above $535 per ounce. Under FASB Statement No. 133,
“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS 133”),
these contracts must be carried on the balance sheet at their fair value, with
changes to the fair value of these contracts reflected as Other
Income or Expense.
These
contracts were not designated as hedging derivatives; and therefore, special
hedge accounting does not apply.
The
first
derivative was entered into on March 1, 2006 for a premium of $550; and the
second was entered into on March 30, 2006 for a premium of $250. The gold price
rose sharply in the second quarter 2006, and was the primary reason for the
decrease in premium on the derivative contracts. The change in fair value during
the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 reduced the carrying value on these
derivative contracts by approximately $1,226, and was reflected as an other
expense during the 2007 period.
Interest
expense was approximately $792 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 compared
to $0 for the same period in 2006. This increase was mainly due to interest
expense associated with our outstanding balances on our draw downs associated
with the Credit Facility entered into in August 2006 with Standard Bank Plc
related to project costs for our El Chanate Project.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Operating
activities
Cash
provided by operating activities
during
the year ended July 31, 2008 was approximately $6,318, which primarily
represents cash flows resulting from our realization
of revenue from operations during the year ended July 31, 2008. Cash
used in operating activities
for the
same period a year ago was $3,663 as we had not yet been realizing revenue
from
operations.
Investing
Activities
Cash
used in investing activities
during
the year ended July31, 2008, amounted to approximately $5,479, primarily from
the leach pad expansion and the acquisition of equipment, including additional
conveyors and ADR plant equipment, as well as additional water rights related
to
our El Chanate Project. Cash
used in investing activities for
the
same period a year ago was approximately $18,425 which directly related to
the
development of the El Chanate mine.
Financing
Activities
Cash
provided by financing activities
during
the year ended July 31, 2008 amounted to approximately $7,306, primarily from
the exercising of 22,994,178 warrants for gross proceeds of approximately
$7,474. Cash
provided by financing activities
for the
same period a year ago was approximately $21,367 which mostly comprised of
the
full draw down of our credit facility of $12,500 and proceeds received of
approximately $3,486 from the issuance of common stock in private placements
and
$5,643 from the issuance of common stock upon the exercising of 22,203,909
warrants.
Term
loan and Revolving Credit Facility
On
July
17, 2008, we closed in escrow pending execution of Mexican collateral documents
and certain other ministerial matters, an Amended And Restated Credit Agreement
(the “Credit Agreement”) involving our wholly-owned Mexican subsidiaries MSR and
Oro, as borrowers (“Borrowers”), us, as guarantor, and Standard Bank PLC
(“Standard Bank”), as the lender. The Mexican collateral documents were executed
on September 18, 2008, effectively closing the loan. The Credit Agreement amends
and restates the prior credit agreement between the parties dated August 15,
2006 (the “Original Agreement”). Under the Original Agreement, MSR and Oro could
borrow, and did borrow, money in an aggregate principal amount of up to $12,500
(the “Term Loan”) for the purpose of constructing, developing and operating the
El Chanate gold mining project in Sonora State, Mexico. We guaranteed the
repayment of the Term Loan and the performance of the obligations under the
Original Agreement.
The
Credit Agreement establishes a new senior secured revolving credit facility
that
permits Borrowers to borrow up to $5,000 during the one year period after the
closing of the Credit Agreement. The Borrowers may request a borrowing of the
Revolving Commitment from time to time, provided that the Borrowers are not
entitled to request a borrowing more than once in any calendar month (each
borrowing a “Revolving Loan”). Repayment of the Revolving Loans will be secured
and guaranteed in the same manner as the Term Loan. Term Loan principal shall
be
repaid quarterly commencing on September 30, 2008 and consisting of four
payments in the amount of $1,125, followed by eight payments in the amount
of
$900 and two final payments in the amount of $400. There is no prepayment fee.
Principal under the Term Loan and the Revolving Loans shall bear interest at
a
rate per annum equal to the LIBO Rate, as defined in the Credit Agreement,
for
the applicable Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin. An Interest Period
can be one, two, three or six months, at the option of the Borrowers. The
Applicable Margin for the Term Loan and the Revolving Loans is 2.5% per annum
and 2.0% per annum, respectively. The Borrowers are required to pay a commitment
fee in respect of the Revolving Commitment at the rate of 1.5% per annum on
the
average daily unused portion of the Revolving Commitment. Pursuant to the terms
of the Original Credit Agreement, Standard Bank exercised significant control
over the operating accounts of MSR located in Mexico and in the United States.
Standard Bank’s control over the accounts has been lifted significantly under
the terms of the Credit Agreement, giving the Borrowers authority to exercise
primary day-to-day control over the accounts. However, the accounts remain
subject to an account pledge agreement between MSR and Standard Bank.
Debt
Covenants
Our
Credit Facility with Standard Bank requires us, among other obligations, to
meet
certain financial covenants including (i) a ratio of current assets to current
liabilities at all times greater than or equal to 1.20:1.00, (ii) a quarterly
minimum tangible net worth at all times of at least U.S.$15,000,000, and (iii)
a
quarterly average minimum liquidity of U.S.$500,000. In addition, the Credit
Facility restricts, among other things, our ability to incur additional debt,
create liens on our property, dispose of any assets, merge with other companies,
enter into hedge agreements, organize or invest in subsidiaries or make any
investments above a certain dollar limit. A failure to comply with the
restrictions contained in the Credit Facility could lead to an event of default
thereunder which could result in an acceleration of such indebtedness.
In
connection with the refinance proceedings, MSR, as a condition precedent to
closing, obtained a waiver letter from the Lender of any default or event of
default as a result of not being in compliance with regulations of Mexican
federal law with regard to certain filing and environmental bonding issues
in
connection with the operation of mining the El Chanate concessions as well
as
certain insurance requirements. MSR has not yet complied with these regulations
due to the absence of professionals in the area qualified to conduct studies
to
facilitate compliance. MSR believes that the Mexican government is aware of
these barriers to compliance and that it has not enforced the Requirements
against MSR or other mining companies in Sonora. MSR has agreed to make a
commercially reasonable effort to come into compliance with these requirements.
See also “Environmental
and Permitting Issues”
section
below.
As
of
July 31, 2008, except for the aforementioned waiver, we and our related entities
were in compliance with all debt covenants and default provisions.
Environmental
and Permitting Issues
Management
does not expect that environmental issues will have an adverse material effect
on our liquidity or earnings. In Mexico, although we must continue to comply
with laws, rules and regulations concerning mining, environmental, health,
zoning and historical preservation issues, we are not aware of any significant
environmental concerns or existing reclamation requirements at the El Chanate
concessions. We received the required Mexican government permits for
construction, mining and processing the El Chanate ores in January 2004. The
permits were extended in June 2005. Pursuant to the extensions, once we file
a
notice that work has commenced, we have one year to prepare the site and
construct the mine and seven years to mine and process ores from the site.
We
filed the notice on June 1, 2006. Once we revise our new mine plan based on
the
2007 Report, we will work to extend the permits for mining and processing for
the new life of mine. See also “Debt
Covenants”
above.
We
received the renewable explosive permit from the government that expires on
December 31, 2008 and is renewable annually.
We
do
include in all our internal revenue and cost projections a certain amount for
environmental and reclamation costs on an ongoing basis. No assurance can be
given that environmental regulations will not be changed in a manner that would
adversely affect our planned operations. We estimated the reclamation costs
for
the El Chanate site to be approximately $2,300. Reclamation costs are allocated
to expense over the life of the related assets and are periodically adjusted
to
reflect changes in the estimated present value resulting from the passage of
time and revisions to the estimates of either the timing or amount of the
reclamation and closure costs. The asset retirement obligation is based on
when
the spending for an existing environmental disturbance and activity to date
will
occur. We review, on an annual basis, unless otherwise deemed necessary, the
asset retirement obligation at each mine site. We reviewed the estimated present
value of the El Chanate mine reclamation and abandonment costs as of July 31,
2008. This review resulted in an increase in the Asset Retirement Obligation
by
approximately $293. As of July 31, 2008 and 2007, approximately $1,666 and
$1,249, respectively, was accrued for reclamation obligations relating to
mineral properties in accordance with SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations.”
We
own
properties in Leadville, Colorado for which we have previously recorded an
impairment loss. Part of the Leadville Mining District has been declared a
federal Superfund site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, and the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986. Several mining companies and one individual were
declared defendants in a possible lawsuit. We were not named a defendant or
Principal Responsible Party. We did respond in full detail to a lengthy
questionnaire prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") regarding
our proposed procedures and past activities in November 1990. To our knowledge,
the EPA has initiated no further comments or questions. The Division of
Reclamation, Mining and Safety of the State of Colorado (the “Division”)
conducted its most recent inspection of our Leadville Mining properties in
August 2007. The Division concluded that based upon 2007 equipment prices and
labor costs, an additional $46 was necessary to be bonded with the Division
to
reclaim the site to achieve the approved post-mining land use. The total amount
of the bond sufficient to perform reclamation as of July31, 2008, is
approximately $82. We have met this bonding requirement. During our
4th
fiscal
quarter ended July 31, 2008, we sold two of the Leadville Mining claims and
the
mill for gross proceeds of $100 which was recorded within other income and
expense.
Contractual
Obligations
Our
contractual obligations as of July 31, 2008 are summarized as
follows:
|
|
Payments Due by Period
|
|
Contractual Obligations
|
|
Total
|
|
Less than
1 Year
|
|
1 – 3
Years
|
|
3 – 5
Years
|
|
More than
5 Years
|
|
Debt (1)
|
|
$
|
13,500
|
|
$
|
5,125
|
|
$
|
8,375
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Remediation
and reclamation obligations(2)
|
|
|
3,751
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
3,751
|
|
Operating
leases(3)
|
|
|
585
|
|
|
132
|
|
|
440
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
-
|
|
Derivative
instruments(4)
|
|
|
2,626
|
|
|
1,177
|
|
|
1,449
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Minimum
royalty payments(5)
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
$
|
21,462
|
|
$
|
7,434
|
|
$
|
10,264
|
|
$
|
13
|
|
$
|
3,751
|
|
(1) |
Amounts
represent principal ($12,500) and estimated interest payments ($1,000)
assuming no early extinguishment.
|
(2) |
Mining
operations are subject to extensive environmental regulations in
the
jurisdictions in which they operate. Pursuant to environmental
regulations, we are required to close our operations and reclaim
and
remediate the lands that operations have disturbed. The estimated
undiscounted cash outflows of these remediation and reclamation
obligations are reflected here. For more information regarding remediation
and reclamation liabilities, see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
|
(3) |
Amount
represent a non-cancelable operating lease for office space in NYC
that
commenced on September 1, 2007 and terminates on August 31, 2012.
In
addition to base rent, the lease calls for payment of utilities and
other
occupancy costs.
|
(4) |
Amounts
represent the net cash settlement of 75,044 ounces of gold at $35
per
ounce.
|
(5) |
Amount
represents the payment of the 10% net profits interest on the El
Chanate
mining concessions which is capped at $1,000. This does not include
the
net smelter return payments as this payment is linked to the gold
price
and cannot be reasonable estimated given variable market
conditions.
|
While
we
believe that our available funds in conjunction with anticipated revenues from
gold sales will be adequate to cover capital expenditures, debt service,
royalties, net cash settlements on our gold price protection agreement as well
as operating activities at El Chanate and corporate general and administrative
expenses for fiscal 2009, if we encounter unexpected problems we may need to
raise additional capital. We also may need to raise additional capital for
significant property acquisitions and/or exploration activities. To the extent
that we need to obtain additional capital, management intends to raise such
funds through the sale of our securities and/or joint venturing with one or
more
strategic partners. We cannot assure that adequate additional funding, if
needed, will be available. If we need additional capital and we are unable
to
obtain it from outside sources, we may be forced to reduce or curtail our
operations or our anticipated exploration activities.
New
Accounting Pronouncements
Fair
Value Option
On
February 15, 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option
for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an Amendment of
FASB
Statement No. 115. This standard permits an entity to choose to measure many
financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. This option is
available to all entities, including not-for-profit organizations. Most of
the
provisions in Statement 159 are elective; however, the amendment to FASB
Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities, applies to all entities with available-for-sale and trading
securities. Some requirements apply differently to entities that do not report
net income. The FASB's stated objective in issuing this standard is as follows:
"to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity
to
mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets
and
liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting
provisions".
The
fair
value option established by Statement 159 permits all entities to choose to
measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates. A business
entity will report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair
value
option has been elected in earnings (or another performance indicator if the
business entity does not report earnings) at each subsequent reporting date.
A
not-for-profit organization will report unrealized gains and losses in its
statement of activities or similar statement. The fair value option: (a) may
be
applied instrument by instrument, with a few exceptions, such as investments
otherwise accounted for by the equity method; (b) is irrevocable (unless a
new
election date occurs); and (c) is applied only to entire instruments and not
to
portions of instruments.
Statement
159 is effective as of the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that
begins after November 15, 2007. We elected not to adopt the fair value
option for any eligible instruments.
Noncontrolling
Interests
On
December 4, 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 160,“Noncontrolling
Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements - An Amendment of ARB No.
51.”
Statement 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the
noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a
subsidiary. Specifically, this statement requires the recognition of a
noncontrolling interest (minority interest) as equity in the consolidated
financial statements and separate from the parent's equity. The amount of net
income attributable to the noncontrolling interest will be included in
consolidated net income on the face of the income statement. Statement 160
clarifies that changes in a parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary that
do
not result in deconsolidation are equity transactions if the parent retains
its
controlling financial interest. In addition, this statement requires that a
parent recognize a gain or loss in net income when a subsidiary is
deconsolidated. Such gain or loss will be measured using the fair value of
the
noncontrolling equity investment on the deconsolidation date. Statement 160
also
includes expanded disclosure requirements regarding the interests of the parent
and its noncontrolling interest.
Statement
160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal
years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited.
We believe adoption of this standard will not have an impact on the financial
condition or the results of our operations.
Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities
On
April
21, 2008, the FASB posted a revised FASB Statement No. 133 Implementation
guidance for Issues I1, Interaction of the Disclosure Requirements of Statement
133 and Statement 47, and K4, Miscellaneous: Income Statement Classification
of
Hedge Ineffectiveness and the Component of a Derivative's Gain or Loss Excluded
from the Assessment of Hedge Effectiveness. The revisions relate to the issuance
of FASB Statement No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities. We believe adoption of this standard will not have a material impact
on the financial condition or the results of our operations.
Hierarchy
of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
The
FASB
has issued FASB Statement No. 162, The
Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Statement 162 is intended to improve financial reporting by identifying a
consistent framework, or hierarchy, for selecting accounting principles to
be
used in preparing financial statements that are presented in conformity with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for nongovernmental entities.
The
hierarchy under Statement 162 is as follows:
*
FASB
Statements of Financial Accounting Standards and Interpretations, FASB Statement
133 Implementation Issues, FASB Staff Positions, AICPA Accounting Research
Bulletins and Accounting Principles Board Opinions that are not superseded
by
actions of the FASB, and Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC for SEC
registrants.
*
FASB
Technical Bulletins and, if cleared by the FASB, AICPA Industry Audit and
Accounting Guides and Statements of Position.
*
AICPA
Accounting Standards Executive Committee Practice Bulletins that have been
cleared by the FASB, consensus positions of the EITF, and Appendix D EITF
topics.
Statement
162 is effective 60 days following the SEC's approval of the PCAOB amendments
to
AU Section 411, The
Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles.
Since
Statement 162 is only effective for nongovernmental entities, the GAAP hierarchy
will remain in AICPA Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 69, The
Meaning of "Present Fairly in Conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles" in the Independent Auditor's Report,
for
state and local governmental entities and federal governmental entities. We
believe the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the
financial condition or the results of our operations.
Accounting
for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts
The
FASB
issued FASB Statement No. 163, Accounting
for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts.
This new
standard clarifies how FASB Statement No. 60, Accounting
and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises,
applies
to financial guarantee insurance contracts issued by insurance enterprises,
including the recognition and measurement of premium revenue and claim
liabilities. It also requires expanded disclosures about financial guarantee
insurance contracts. Statement 163 is effective for financial statements issued
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and all interim periods
within those fiscal years, except for disclosures about the insurance
enterprise's risk-management activities, which are effective the first period
(including interim periods) beginning after May 23, 2008. Except for the
required disclosures, earlier application is not permitted. We believe the
adoption of this standard will not have an impact on the financial condition
or
the results of our operations.
Disclosure
About Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We
do not
have any transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements that
constitute off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our
financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue,
and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s
application of accounting policies. Critical accounting policies for us include
inventory, revenue recognition, property, plant and mine development, impairment
of long-lived assets, accounting for equity-based compensation, environmental
remediation costs and accounting for derivative and hedging activities.
Ore
on
Leach Pads and Inventories (“In-Process Inventory”)
Costs
that are incurred in or benefit the productive process are accumulated as ore
on
leach pads and inventories. Ore on leach pads and inventories are carried at
the
lower of average cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value represents
the estimated future sales price of the product based on current and long-term
metals prices, less the estimated costs to complete production and bring the
product to sale. Write-downs of ore on leach pads and inventories, resulting
from net realizable value impairments, are reported as a component of
Costs
applicable to sales.
The
current portion of ore on leach pads and inventories is determined based on
the
expected amounts to be processed within the next 12 months. Ore on leach pads
and inventories not expected to be processed within the next 12 months are
classified as long-term. The major classifications are as follows:
Ore
on Leach Pads
The
recovery of gold from certain gold oxide is achieved through the heap leaching
process. Under this method, oxide ore is placed on leach pads where it is
treated with a chemical solution, which dissolves the gold contained in the
ore.
The resulting “pregnant” solution is further processed in a plant where the gold
is recovered. Costs are added to ore on leach pads based on current mining
costs, including applicable depreciation, depletion and amortization relating
to
mining operations. Costs are removed from ore on leach pads as ounces are
recovered based on the average cost per estimated recoverable ounce of gold
on
the leach pad.
The
estimates of recoverable gold on the leach pads are calculated from the
quantities of ore placed on the leach pads (measured tons added to the leach
pads), the grade of ore placed on the leach pads (based on assay data) and
a
recovery percentage (based on ore type). In general, leach pads recover
approximately 50% to 75% of the recoverable ounces in the first year of
leaching, declining each year thereafter until the leaching process is complete.
Although
the quantities of recoverable gold placed on the leach pads are reconciled
by
comparing the grades of ore placed on pads to the quantities of gold actually
recovered (metallurgical balancing), the nature of the leaching process
inherently limits the ability to precisely monitor inventory levels. As a
result, the metallurgical balancing process needs to be constantly monitored
and
estimates need to be refined based on actual results over time. Our operating
results may be impacted by variations between the estimated and actual
recoverable quantities of gold on its leach pads. Variations between actual
and
estimated quantities resulting from changes in assumptions and estimates that
do
not result in write-downs to net realizable value will be accounted for on
a
prospective basis.
In-process
Inventory
In-process
inventories represent materials that are currently in the process of being
converted to a saleable product. Conversion processes vary depending on the
nature of the ore and the specific processing facility, but include mill
in-circuit, leach in-circuit, flotation and column cells, and carbon in-pulp
inventories. In-process material are measured based on assays of the material
fed into the process and the projected recoveries of the respective plants.
In-process inventories are valued at the average cost of the material fed into
the process attributable to the source material coming from the mines,
stockpiles and/or leach pads plus the in-process conversion costs, including
applicable depreciation relating to the process facilities incurred to that
point in the process.
Precious
Metals Inventory
Precious
metals inventories include gold doré and/or gold bullion. Precious metals that
result from our mining and processing activities are valued at the average
cost
of the respective in-process inventories incurred prior to the refining process,
plus applicable refining costs.
Materials
and Supplies
Materials
and supplies are valued at the lower of average cost or net realizable value.
Cost includes applicable taxes and freight.
Property,
Plant and Mine Development
Expenditures
for new facilities or equipment and expenditures that extend the useful lives
of
existing facilities or equipment are capitalized and depreciated using the
straight-line method at rates sufficient to depreciate such costs over the
estimated productive lives, which do not exceed the related estimated mine
lives, of such facilities based on proven and probable reserves.
Mineral
exploration costs are expensed as incurred. When it has been determined that
a
mineral property can be economically developed as a result of establishing
proven and probable reserves, costs incurred prospectively to develop the
property will be capitalized as incurred and are amortized using the
units-of-production (“UOP”) method over the estimated life of the ore body based
on estimated recoverable ounces or pounds in proven and probable reserves.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
We
review
and evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable.
An impairment is considered to exist if the total estimated future cash flows
on
an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the assets, including
goodwill, if any. An impairment loss is measured and recorded based on
discounted estimated future cash flows. Future cash flows are estimated based
on
quantities of recoverable minerals, expected gold and other commodity prices
(considering current and historical prices, price trends and related factors),
production levels and operating costs of production and capital, all based
on
life-of-mine plans. Existing proven and probable reserves and value beyond
proven and probable reserves, including mineralization other than proven and
probable reserves and other material that is not part of the measured, indicated
or inferred resource base, are included when determining the fair value of
mine
site reporting units at acquisition and, subsequently, in determining whether
the assets are impaired. The term “recoverable minerals” refers to the estimated
amount of gold or other commodities that will be obtained after taking into
account losses during ore processing and treatment. Estimates of recoverable
minerals from such exploration stage mineral interests are risk adjusted based
on management’s relative confidence in such materials. In estimating future cash
flows, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable
cash flows that are largely independent of future cash flows from other asset
groups. Our estimates of future cash flows are based on numerous assumptions
and
it is possible that actual future cash flows will be significantly different
than the estimates, as actual future quantities of recoverable minerals, gold
and other commodity prices, production levels and operating costs of production
and capital are each subject to significant risks and uncertainties.
Reclamation
and Remediation Costs (Asset Retirement Obligations)
Reclamation
costs are allocated to expense over the life of the related assets and are
periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the estimated present value
resulting from the passage of time and revisions to the estimates of either
the
timing or amount of the reclamation and abandonment costs. The asset retirement
obligation is based on when the spending for an existing environmental
disturbance and activity to date will occur. We review, on an annual basis,
unless otherwise deemed necessary, the asset retirement obligation at our mine
site in accordance with FASB FAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations.”
Deferred
Financing Costs
Deferred
financing costs which were included in other assets and a component of
stockholders’ equity relate to costs incurred in connection with bank borrowings
and are amortized over the term of the related borrowings.
Intangible
Assets
Purchased
intangible assets consisting of rights of way, easements and net profit
interests are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is
computed using the straight-line method over the economic lives of the
respective assets, generally five years or using the units of production method.
It is our policy to assess periodically the carrying amount of our purchased
intangible assets to determine if there has been an impairment to their carrying
value. Impairments of other intangible assets are determined in accordance
with
SFAS 144. There was no impairment at July 31, 2008.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The
carrying value of our financial instruments, including cash and cash
equivalents, loans receivable and accounts payable approximated fair value
because of the short maturity of these instruments.
Revenue
Recognition
Revenue
is recognized from a sale when the price is determinable, the product has been
delivered, the title has been transferred to the customer and collection of
the
sales price is reasonably assured.
Equity
Based Compensation
In
connection with offers of employment to our executives as well as in
consideration for agreements with certain consultants, we issue options and
warrants to acquire our common stock. Employee and non-employee awards are
made
in the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Effective
February 1, 2006, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123R. Under FAS 123R,
share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the
estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the
requisite service period. We adopted the provisions of FAS 123R using a modified
prospective application. Under this method, compensation cost is recognized
for
all share-based payments granted, modified or settled after the date of
adoption, as well as for any unvested awards that were granted prior to the
date
of adoption. Prior periods are not revised for comparative purposes. Because
we
previously adopted only the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS 123, we
will
recognize compensation cost relating to the unvested portion of awards granted
prior to the date of adoption, using the same estimate of the grant-date fair
value and the same attribution method used to determine the pro forma
disclosures under SFAS 123, except that forfeitures rates will be estimated
for
all options, as required by FAS 123R.
Accounting
for Derivatives and Hedging Activities
We
entered into two identically structured derivative contracts with Standard
Bank
in March 2006. Each derivative consisted of a series of forward sales of gold
and a purchase gold cap. We agreed to sell a total volume of 121,927 ounces
of
gold forward to Standard Bank at a price of $500 per ounce on a quarterly basis
during the period from March 2007 to September 2010. We also agreed to a
purchase gold cap on a quarterly basis during this same period and at identical
volumes covering a total volume of 121,927 ounces of gold at a price of $535
per
ounce. Although these contracts are not designated as hedging derivatives,
they
serve an economic purpose of protecting us from the effects of a decline in
gold
prices. Because they are not designated as hedges, however, special hedge
accounting does not apply. Derivative results are simply marked to market
through earnings, with these effects recorded in other
income
or
other
expense,
as
appropriate under FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities” (“FAS 133”).
On
October 11, 2006, prior to our initial draw on the Credit Facility, we entered
into interest rate swap agreements in accordance with the terms of the Credit
Facility, which requires that we hedge at least 50 percent of our outstanding
debt under this facility. The agreements entered into cover $9,375,000 or 75%
of
the outstanding debt. Both swaps covered this same notional amount of
$9,375,000, but over different time horizons. The first covered the six months
that commenced on October 11, 2006 and terminated on March 31, 2007 and the
second covers the period from March 30, 2007 through December 31, 2010. We
intend to use discretion in managing this risk as market conditions vary over
time, allowing for the possibility of adjusting the degree of hedge coverage
as
we deem appropriate. However, any use of interest rate derivatives will be
restricted to use for risk management purposes.
We
use
variable-rate debt to finance a portion of the El Chanate Project. Variable-rate
debt obligations expose us to variability in interest payments due to changes
in
interest rates. As a result of these arrangements, we will continuously monitor
changes in interest rate exposures and evaluate hedging opportunities. Our
risk
management policy permits us to use any combination of interest rate swaps,
futures, options, caps and similar instruments, for the purpose of fixing
interest rates on all or a portion of variable rate debt, establishing caps
or
maximum effective interest rates, or otherwise constraining interest expenses
to
minimize the variability of these effects.
The
interest rate swap agreements will be accounted for as cash flow hedges, whereby
“effective” hedge gains or losses are initially recorded in other comprehensive
income and later reclassified to the interest expense component of earnings
coincidently with the earnings impact of the interest expenses being hedged.
“Ineffective” hedge results are immediately recorded in earnings also under
interest expense. No component of hedge results will be excluded from the
assessment of hedge effectiveness.
We
are
exposed to credit losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties
to
these interest rate swap agreements, but we do not expect any of the
counterparties to fail to meet their obligations. To manage credit risks, we
select counterparties based on credit ratings, limit our exposure to a single
counterparty under defined guidelines, and monitor the market position with
each
counterparty as required by SFAS 133.
Item
7A. |
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
Changes
in the market price of gold significantly affect our profitability and cash
flow. Gold prices can fluctuate widely due to numerous factors, such as demand;
forward selling by producers; central bank sales, purchases and lending;
investor sentiment; the relative strength of the U.S. dollar and global mine
production levels.
Changes
in the foreign currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar may affect
our profitability and cash flow. Foreign currency exchange rates can fluctuate
widely due to numerous factors, such as supply and demand for foreign and U.S.
currencies and U.S. and foreign country economic conditions. Most of our assets
and operations are solely in Mexico; and therefore, we are more susceptible
to
fluctuations in the Mexican peso / US dollar exchange. Our Mexico operations
sell their metal production based on a U.S. dollar gold price as is the general,
world-wide convention. Fluctuations in the local currency exchange rates in
relation to the U.S. dollar can increase or decrease profit margins to the
extent costs are paid in local currency at foreign operations. Foreign currency
exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar have not had a material impact
on
our determination of proven and probable reserves. However, if a sustained
weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Mexican peso that impact our
cost structure, were not mitigated by offsetting increases in the U.S. dollar
gold price or by other factors, profitability, cash flows and the amount of
proven and probable reserves in the applicable foreign country could be reduced.
The extent of any such reduction would be dependent on a variety of factors
including the length of time of any such weakening of the U.S. dollar, and
management’s long-term view of the applicable exchange rate. We believe,
however, that this exchange rate variability has not had a material impact
on
our financial statements.
Gold
Price Protection Agreement
In
March
2006, we entered into a gold price protection arrangement with Standard Bank
to
protect us against future declines in the price of gold. We agreed to a series
of gold forward sales and call option purchases in anticipation of entering
into
the Credit Facility. Under the price protection agreement, we have agreed to
forward sales for a total volume of 121,927 ounces of gold forward to Standard
Bank at a price of $500 per ounce. These forward sales were to be settled
quarterly over the period from March 2007 to September 2010. We also purchased
call options from Standard Bank enabling the right to purchase gold on the
same
quarterly basis for the same total volume with a strike price of $535 per ounce.
Together, these forward sales and call options serve to put a floor on our
gold
sales price and thereby protect us from the effects of the market price falling
below $535 per ounce, while allowing us to enjoy the upside of higher gold
prices. To date, the we have net settled these contracts, making cash payments
reflecting the difference between the call option purchase price of $535 and
the
forward sale price of $500, or $35.00 per oz on the volume prescribed by the
contracts.
The
total
contractual ounces to settle and cash payments remaining on the gold price
protection agreement are as follows (000’s):
Fiscal year ending:
|
|
Ounces Remaining
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
33,638
|
|
$
|
1,177
|
|
2010
|
|
|
33,176
|
|
$
|
1,161
|
|
2011
|
|
|
8,230
|
|
$
|
288
|
|
Total
|
|
|
75,044
|
|
$
|
2,626
|
|
Interest
Rate Swap Contracts
On
October 11, 2006, prior to our initial draw on the Credit Facility, we entered
into interest rate swap agreements in accordance with the terms of the Credit
Facility. Although the Credit Facility requires that we hedge at least 50%
of
our outstanding debt under this facility, we elected to cover $9,375 or 75%
of
the outstanding debt. The termination date on our existing swap position is
December 31, 2010. However, we intend to use discretion in managing this
risk as market conditions vary over time, allowing for the possibility of
adjusting the degree of hedge coverage as we deem appropriate. In any case,
our
use of interest rate derivatives will be restricted to use for risk management
purposes.
Market
Risk Disclosures
July
31, 2008
(in
thousands)
Instruments
entered into for hedging purposes -
Type of Derivative
|
|
Notional Size
|
|
Fixed Price or
Strike Price
|
|
Underlying Price
|
|
Termination or
Expiration
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
Rate Swaps
|
|
$
|
6,938
|
(1)
|
|
5.30
|
%
|
|
3
Mo. USD LIBOR
|
|
|
12/31/2010
|
|
$
|
(205
|
)
|
Gold
Forward Sales (2)
|
|
|
8,428
oz./qtr.
|
(3)
|
$
|
500/oz.
|
|
|
Price
of gold
|
|
|
9/30/2010
|
|
$
|
(30
,765
|
)
|
Gold
Call Options (2)
|
|
|
8,428
oz./qtr.
|
(3)
|
$
|
535/oz.
|
|
|
Price
of gold
|
|
|
9/30/2010
|
|
$
|
30,039
|
|
(1) The
value shown reflects the notional as of July 31, 2008. Over the term
of
the swap, the notional amortizes, dropping to approximately
$656.
|
(2) These
contracts are used for hedging purposes, but hedge accounting is
not
applied.
|
(3) The
value shown reflects the current notional, but these contracts amortize
down to 8,230 ounces per quarter by the contract
termination.
|
As
of
July 31, 2008, the dollar value of a basis point for this interest rate swap
was
slightly less than $900, suggesting that a one-basis point rise (fall) of the
yield curve would likely foster an increase (decrease) in the interest rate
swaps value by slightly less than $900. Because hedge accounting is applied,
the
contract serves to lock in a fixed rate of interest for the portion of the
variable rate debt equal to the swap's notional size. The swap covers only
75
percent of our variable rate exposure.
The
combined gold forward sales and long call options serve to synthesize a put
option that protects us from the market exposure to gold prices below $535
per
ounce on the volume of sales consistent with the notional size of these
contracts. These contracts covered approximately 90 percent of production during
their term ending July 31, 2008.
Item
8. |
Financial
Statements and Supplementary
Data.
|
For
the
Financial Statements required by Item 8 see the Financial Statements included
at
the end of this Form 10-K starting on page F-1.
Item
9. |
Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosures.
|
There
have been no changes in or disagreements with accountants with respect to
accounting and/or financial disclosure.
Item
9A. |
Controls
and Procedures.
|
The
term
"disclosure controls and procedures" is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). This
term refers to the controls and procedures of a company that are designed to
ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports
that it files under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and
reported within the required time periods. Our Chief Executive Officer and
our
Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.
They
have concluded that, as of that date, our disclosure controls and procedures
were effective at ensuring that required information will be disclosed on a
timely basis in our reports filed under the Exchange Act.
No
change
in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the period
covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely
to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f)
or
15d-15(f), under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting
is
a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive
and
principal financial officers and affected by our Board of Directors, management
and other personnel, and 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 its financial statements.
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 risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management
has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting
as of July 31, 2008. In making this assessment, management used the criteria
set
forth in the framework established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations
of the Treadway Commission Internal
Control—Integrated Framework,
(COSO).
Based on this assessment, management has not identified any material weaknesses
as of July 31, 2008. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination
of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that
a
material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not
be
prevented or detected.
Management
has concluded that we did maintain effective internal control over financial
reporting as of July 31, 2008, based on the criteria set forth in “Internal
Control—Integrated Framework”
issued
by the COSO.
This
annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public
accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.
Management's report was not subject to attestation by our registered public
accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the SEC that permit us to provide
only management's report in this annual report.
Item
9B. |
Other
Information.
|
None.
PART
III
Item
10. |
Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate
Governance.
|
The
following table sets forth certain information concerning our directors and
executive officers:
|
|
|
|
First
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Became
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Director
|
|
Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gifford
A. Dieterle
|
|
76
|
|
9/82
|
|
President,
Treasurer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
&
Chairman of the Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Brownlie
|
|
59
|
|
2/07
|
|
Chief
Operating Officer, Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher
Chipman
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
W. Pritchard
|
|
50
|
|
1/00
|
|
Director,
Executive Vice President,
|
Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Roningen
|
|
73
|
|
9/93
|
|
Director,
Senior Vice President,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger
A. Newell
|
|
65
|
|
8/00
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.
Scott Hazlitt
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
Vice
President – Mine Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ian
A. Shaw
|
|
68
|
|
3/06
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Postle
|
|
67
|
|
3/06
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark
T. Nesbitt
|
|
63
|
|
3/06
|
|
Director
|
Directors
are elected at the meeting of shareholders called for that purpose and hold
office until the next stockholders meeting called for that purpose or until
their resignation or death. Officers of the corporation are elected by the
directors at meetings called by the directors for its purpose.
GIFFORD
A. DIETERLE, President, Treasurer and Chairman of our Board of Directors. Mr.
Dieterle was appointed President in September 1997 and has been an officer
and
Chairman since 1981. He has a M.S. in Geology obtained from New York University.
From 1977 until July 1993, he was Chairman, Treasurer, and Executive
Vice-President of Franklin Consolidated Mining Company. From 1965 to 1987,
he
was lecturer in geology at the City University of N.Y. (Hunter Division). Mr.
Dieterle has been Secretary-Treasurer of South American Minerals Inc. since
1997
and a director of that company since 1996.
JOHN
BROWNLIE, Chief
Operating Officer and a Director, has worked for us since May 2006 and is in
charge of supervising the construction, start-up and operation of the mine.
Mr.
Brownlie provided team management for mining projects requiring technical,
administrative, political and cultural experience over his 28 year mining
career. From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Brownlie was a consultant providing mining and
mineral related services to various companies including SRK, Oxus Mining plc
and
Cemco Inc. From 1995 to 2000, he was the General Manager for the
Zarafshan-Newmont Joint Venture in Uzbekistan, a one-million tonne per month
heap leach plant which produced over 400,000 ounces of gold per year. From
1988
to 1995, Mr. Brownlie served as the Chief Engineer and General Manager for
Monarch Resources in Venezuela, at both the El Callao Revemin Mill and La
Camorra gold projects. Before that, was a resident of South Africa and
associated with numerous mineral projects across Africa. He is also a mechanical
engineer and fluent in Spanish. Mr. Brownlie is also a director of Palladon
Ventures, a publicly traded mineral-related company.
CHRISTOPHER
M. CHIPMAN, Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Chipman has been our Chief Financial
Officer since March 1, 2006. Since November 2000, Mr. Chipman has been a
managing member of Chipman & Chipman, LLC, a consulting firm that assists
public companies with the preparation of periodic reports required to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and compliance with Section 404
of
the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. The firm also provides outsourced financial
resources to clients assisting in financial reporting, forecasting and
accounting services. Mr. Chipman is a CPA and, from 1996 to 1998, he was a
senior accountant with the accounting firm of Grant Thornton LLP. Mr. Chipman
was the Controller of Frontline Solutions, Inc., a software company (March
2000
to November 2000); a Senior Financial Analyst for GlaxoSmithKline (1998-2000);
and an Audit Examiner for Wachovia Corporation (1994-1996). He received a B.A.
in Economics from Ursinus College in 1994. He is a member of the American and
Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
JEFFREY
W. PRITCHARD, Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, has worked
for
us since 1996. He has been in the marketing/public relations field since
receiving a Bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York in 1979. Mr.
Pritchard has served as the Director of Marketing for the New Jersey Devils
(1987-1990) and as the Director of Sales for the New York Islanders (1985-1987).
He also was an Executive Vice President with Long Island based Performance
Network, a marketing and publishing concern from 1990 through 1995.
J.
SCOTT
HAZLITT, Vice President - Mine Development, has been in the mining business
since 1974. Since 2001, he has focused on development of our El Chanate
concessions. Currently, he is involved in mine expansion plans and corporate
development. He has worked primarily in reserves, feasibility, development
and mine operations. Mr. Hazlitt was a field geologist for ARCO Syncrude
Division at their CB oil Shale project in 1974 and 1975. He was a contract
geologist for Pioneer Uravan and others from 1975 to 1977. He was a mine
geologist for Cotter Corporation in 1978 and 1979, and was a mine geologist
for
ASARCO from 1979 to 1984. He served as Vice President of Exploration for Mallon
Minerals from 1984 to 1988. From 1988 to 1992, Mr. Hazlitt was a project
geologist and Mine Superintendent for the Lincoln development project. From
1992
to 1995, he was self-employed as a consulting mining geologist in California
and
Nevada. He was Mine Operations Chief Geologist for Getchell Gold from 1995
to
1999. His work experience has included precious metals, base metals, uranium,
and oil shale. Mr. Hazlitt served as mine manager at our Hopemore Mine in
Leadville, Colorado starting in November 1999. His highest educational degree
is
Master of Science from Colorado State University. He is a registered geologist
in the state of California.
ROBERT
RONINGEN, Senior Vice President and Director, has been engaged in the practice
of law as a sole practitioner and is a self-employed consultant geophysicist
in
Duluth, Minnesota. Mr. Roningen served as our Secretary until February 2007.
From 1988 to August 1993, he was an officer and director of Franklin
Consolidated Mining Company, Inc. He graduated from the University of Minnesota
in 1957 with a B.A. in geology and in 1962 with a degree in Law.
ROGER
A.
NEWELL, Director, worked for us from 2000 to September 2007. He was our Vice
President – Development until September 2007. Since October 2007, Mr.
Newell has been an Executive Vice President of Kilimanjaro Mining Company Ltd.,
a private Nevada based company involved in uranium and gold exploration in
Tanzania, Africa. Since
June 2008, he has served as the Chairman, CEO and President of Lake Victoria
Mining Company, a U.S. Public Company with exploration property in Tanzania,
Africa. From 1974 through 1977, he was a geologist with Kennecott Copper
Corporation. From 1977 through 1989, he served as Exploration Manager/Senior
Geologist for the Newmont Mining Corporation and, from 1989 through 1995, was
the Exploration Manager for Gold Fields Mining Company. He was Vice President
Development, for Western Exploration Company from 1997 through 2000. Since
1995,
he has been a senior consultant in the Minerals Advisory Group LLC, Tucson,
Arizona, a company that provides technical and engineering advice to clients
regarding mineral projects. He has been self-employed as a geologist since
2001.
He is a Fellow in the Society of Economic Geologists and a Past President of
that Society’s Foundation. . He has a M.Sc. from the Colorado School of Mines
and a Ph.D. in mining and mineral exploration from Stanford
University.
IAN
A.
SHAW is a member of our Board of Directors and the Board’s Audit and
Compensation Committees. Mr. Shaw has over 33 years of experience in the
mining industry. He has been Managing Director of Shaw & Associates since
1993. Shaw & Associates is a corporate services consulting firm
specializing in corporate finance, regulatory reporting and compliance with
clients that are typically public companies in the resource industry. In the
course of providing consulting services he has accepted positions as an officer
or director with number of his clients. He recently held the position of
Director, since 1994, of Metallica Resources Inc., a TSX listed corporation
with
a gold mine in Mexico, and exploration properties in Chile and Alaska. Positions
he currently holds include Director of Pelangio Exploration, Inc., since 2008,
a
TSX listed corporation with an interest in gold exploration properties in Canada
and Ghana; Director of PDX Resources, Inc. (formerly Pelangio Mines, Inc.),
since 2008, a TSX listed company with an investment in a company which holds
a
gold property in Canada; Vice President, Finance and CFO, since May 2005, of
Unor Inc., a TSX listed company with uranium exploration properties in
Canada; and Chief Financial Officer, since January 2007, of Olivut Resources
Ltd., a TSX listed corporation with diamond exploration properties in Canada.
Mr. Shaw is a Chartered Accountant and received a B. Comm. from Trinity College
at the University of Toronto in 1964.
JOHN
POSTLE is a member of our Board of Directors and the Board’s Audit and
Compensation Committees. He is a Consulting Mining Engineer associated
with Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. In 1985 he was a founding
partner of Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. which later merged with Scott Wilson
Group Plc. Mr. Postle provides mining consulting services to a number of
international financial institutions, corporations, utilities and law
firms. He worked for Cominco Ltd (1965-1970), Falconbridge Ltd (1970-1975)
and D.S. Robertson and Associates (1976-1985) and has worked at a number of
open
pit and underground mining operations in both operating and planning
capacities. Mr. Postle is a Past Chairman of the Mineral Economics
Committee of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”),
and was appointed a Distinguished Lecturer of the CIM in 1991. In 1997, he
was awarded the CIM Robert Elver Mineral Economics Award. He is currently
Chairman of a CIM Standing Committee on Ore Reserve Definitions. Mr. Postle
is a
director of Strait Gold Corporation, a Canadian publicly traded company, and
serves as a member of that company’s audit and disclosure committees. Mr.
Postle has a B.A.Sc. Degree in Mining Engineering from the University of British
Columbia in 1965 and a M.Sc. Degree in Earth Sciences from Stanford University
in 1968.”
MARK
T.
NESBITT is a member of our Board of Directors and the Board’s Audit and
Compensation Committees. Since 1988, he has been a natural resources attorney
in
Denver, Colorado specializing in domestic and international mining transactions,
agreements, negotiations, title due diligence, corporate and general business
counsel. Mr. Nesbitt has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver
School of Law's since 2001, is an active member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral
Law Foundation, having served as a Trustee from 1987 to 1993, and from 2003
to
2006, Co-chairman of the Mining Sessions at the Foundation’s international
natural resource institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2007, Co-chairman
of
the Foundation's Mining Law and Investment in Latin America institute in Lima,
Peru in 2003, and Chairman of the same institute in 2003, and Chairman of the
Foundation's first Land and Permitting Special Institute in 1994. He also has
served continuously over the years on the Foundation's Special Institutes
Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, and numerous other committees. Mr.
Nesbitt is a member of the International, American, Colorado and Denver Bar
Associations, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, International Mining
Professionals Society (Treasurer since 2000), and the Colorado Mining
Association. He is also a former Director of the Colorado Mining Association
and
past President of the Rocky Mountain Association of Mineral Landmen. He received
a B.S. degree in Geology from Washington State University in 1968 and a J.D.
from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1975.
Jack
V.
Everett, resigned as our Vice President of Exploration and a member of our
Board
of Directors on June 6, 2007. On September 10, 2007, Roger A. Newell resigned
as
our Vice President of Development. He continues to serve as a member of our
Board of Directors.
Compliance
with Section 16(a) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
To
our
knowledge, during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2008, based solely on a review
of such materials as are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
no
officer, director or beneficial holder of more than ten percent of our issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock failed to timely file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission any form or report required to be so filed pursuant
to
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that Mr. Roningen
filed forms 4 late with regard to six transactions, Mr. Brownlie filed forms
4
late with regard to two transactions and Messrs. Dieterle, Pritchard, Chipman,
Hazlitt, Shaw, Postle and Nesbit each filed a form 4 late with regard to one
transaction.
Meetings
And Committees Of The Board
Our
Board
of Directors is responsible for the management and direction of our company
and
for establishing broad corporate policies.
A
primary responsibility of the Board is to provide effective governance
over our
affairs for the benefit of our stockholders. In all actions taken by the Board,
the Directors are expected to exercise their business judgment in what they
reasonably believe to be the best interests of our company. In discharging
that
obligation, Directors may rely on the honesty and integrity of our senior
executives and our outside advisors and auditors.
The
Board
of Directors and the Audit Committee of the Board meet periodically throughout
the year to receive and discuss operating and financial reports presented by
our
executive officers as reports by experts and other advisors. The Board held
five
meetings during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2008 in person and
telephonically, and acted by unanimous written consent on three occasions.
All
directors attended 90% or more of the aggregate meetings.
In
fiscal
2008, the Audit Committee, consisting of all of the non-employee members of
the
Board of Directors, met on four occasions. Representatives of our auditor were
in attendance at one meeting without management present.
Our
Board
of Directors has no standing nominating committee because this function is
handled by the Board of Directors. Nominees to the Board of Directors are
selected by the Board of Directors based on current business and industry
knowledge as well as general business knowledge.
Audit
Committee and Audit Committee Expert.
The
Audit
Committee of our Board of Directors consists of Ian A. Shaw, Committee Chairman,
John Postle and Mark T. Nesbitt. The Board of Directors has determined that
all
three members are
independent directors as (i) defined in Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(ii) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and (ii) under Section
121B(2)(a) of the AMEX Company Guide (although our securities are not listed
on
the American Stock Exchange or any other national exchange). The
Audit
Committee met four times telephonically in fiscal 2008. All committee members
were present at the meetings.
Mr.
Shaw
serves
as the financial expert as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission rules
on the committee. We believe Messrs. Shaw, Postle and Nesbitt to be independent
of management and free of any relationship that would interfere with their
exercise of independent judgment as members of this committee. The principal
functions of the Audit Committee are to (i) assist the Board in fulfilling
its
oversight responsibility relating to the annual independent audit of our
consolidated financial statements, the engagement of the independent registered
public accounting firm and the evaluation of the independent registered public
accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance (ii) prepare the
reports or statements as may be required by the securities laws, (iii) assist
the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the integrity
of our financial statements and financial reporting process and our system
of
internal accounting and financial controls, (iv) discuss the financial
statements and reports with management, including any significant adjustments,
management judgments and estimates, new accounting policies and disagreements
with management, and (vi) review disclosures by independent accountants
concerning relationships with us and the performance of our independent
accountants.
Compensation
Committee.
Our
Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Shaw, Postle and Nesbitt, our
independent directors. The principal functions of the Compensation Committee
are
to advise and makes recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding matters
relating to the compensation of directors, officers and senior management.
The
Compensation Committee met three times telephonically in fiscal 2008. All
committee members were present at the meetings.
Communication
with the Board of Directors
Interested
parties wishing to contact our Board of Directors may do so by writing to the
following address: Board of Directors, 76
Beaver
Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10005, Attn: Jeffrey W. Pritchard,
Secretary.
All
letters received will be categorized and processed by Mr. Pritchard and then
forwarded to our Board of Directors.
Code
of Ethics
We
adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our officers, directors and employees,
including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and
principal accounting officer. The
Code
of Ethics is publicly available in the Management section on our Website at
www.capitalgoldcorp.com. If we make any substantive amendments to this code
of
ethics or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision
of
the code to our chief executive officer, principal financial officer or
principal accounting officer, we will disclose the nature of such amendment
or
waiver on that Website or in a report on Form 8-K.
Item
11. |
Executive
Compensation
|
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
Objectives
and Philosophy of Executive Compensation
The
primary objectives of the Compensation Committee with respect to executive
compensation are to attract and retain the most talented and dedicated
executives possible, to tie annual and long-term cash and stock incentives
to
achievement of measurable performance objectives, and to align executives'
incentives with stockholder value creation. To achieve these objectives, the
compensation committee expects to implement and maintain compensation plans
that
tie a substantial portion of executives' overall compensation to the experience
level of the executive or employee, the complexity and amount of responsibility
of the employee’s job, key strategic financial and operational goals such as the
establishment and maintenance of key strategic relationships, the development
and operation of our mining projects, the identification and possible
development of additional mining properties and the performance of our common
stock price. The compensation committee evaluates individual executive
performance with the goal of setting compensation at levels the compensation
committee believes are comparable with executives in other companies of similar
size and stage of development operating in the mining industry while taking
into
account our relative performance and our own strategic goals. It is our general
practice to grant equity-based awards to executives and employees.
Our
compensation plan was developed by utilizing an independent compensation and
benefits consultant who utilizes publicly available compensation data for
national and regional companies in the mining industry. We believe that the
practices of this group of companies will provide us with appropriate
compensation benchmarks, because these companies have similar organizational
structures and tend to compete with us for executives and other employees.
For
benchmarking executive compensation, we typically will review the compensation
data provided by these independent consultants and provide recommendations
to
the board of directors.
Elements
of Executive Compensation
Executive
compensation consists of the following elements:
Regular
Compensation
Regular
compensation for our executives will be established based on the scope of their
responsibilities, taking into account competitive market compensation paid
by
other companies for similar positions. Generally, we believe that executive
base
salaries should be targeted near the median of the range of salaries for
executives in similar positions with similar responsibilities at comparable
companies, in line with our compensation philosophy. Regular compensation will
be reviewed annually, and adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with
market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance
and experience. This review will occur in the fourth fiscal quarter of each
year.
Compensation
to new executives is based entirely upon similar factors to those discussed
above for regular employees and executives and timing is determined solely
by
needs of our company, some of which can be completely unforeseen, such as
resignations or terminations for cause.
Post-termination
compensation is fixed in the employment agreement of each executive, and
generally, post-termination payments are not offered to non-executive
employees.
Annual
Bonus
Our
compensation program includes eligibility for an annual performance-based cash
and/or equity- based bonus (See “2006 Equity Incentive Plan” below) in the case
of all executives and certain non-executive employees. The amount of the cash
and/or equity-based bonus will depend on the level of achievement of the
financial and operational goals and for achieving individual annual performance
objectives. These objectives will vary depending on the individual executive,
but will relate generally to strategic factors such as establishment and
maintenance of key strategic relationships, the development and operation of
our
mining projects, the identification and possible development of additional
mining properties, and to financial factors such as raising capital and
improving our results of operations. Bonuses, if awarded, will generally be
determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors as recommended
by
the compensation committee.
All
employees, whether executives or key employees, as well as administrative staff,
will be granted bonus compensation at the same time. All efforts are made by
senior management, the compensation committee and the Board of Directors to
avoid issuances of stock as compensation that would create even the appearance
of being timed to the release of material non-public information.
2006
Equity Incentive Plan
The
2006
Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to attract and retain individuals
of experience and ability, to provide incentive to our employees, consultants,
and non-employee directors, to encourage employee and director proprietary
interests in us, and to encourage employees to remain in our employ.
The
Plan
authorizes the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock
appreciation rights and restricted stock awards (each, an “Award”). A maximum of
10,000,000 shares of common stock are reserved for potential issuance pursuant
to Awards under the Plan. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan will continue
in
effect for a period of 10 years from its effective date.
The
Plan
is administered by our Board of Directors which has delegated the administration
to our Compensation Committee. The Plan provides for Awards to be made to such
of our employees, directors and consultants and our affiliates as the Board
may
select.
Stock
options awarded under the Plan may vest and be exercisable at such times (not
later than 10 years after the date of grant) and at such exercise prices (not
less than Fair Market Value at the date of grant) as the Board may determine.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, stock options shall not be
transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The
Board may provide for options to become immediately exercisable upon a "change
in control," as defined in the Plan.
The
exercise price of an option must be paid in cash. No options may be granted
under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of its effective date. Unless the
Board determines otherwise, there are certain continuous service requirements
and the options are not transferable.
The
Plan
provides the Board with the general power to amend the Plan, or any portion
thereof at any time in any respect without the approval of our stockholders,
provided however, that the stockholders must approve any amendment which
increases the fixed maximum percentage of shares of common stock issuable
pursuant to the Plan, reduces the exercise price of an Award held by a director,
officer or ten percent stockholder or extends the term of an Award held by
a
director, officer or ten percent stockholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
stockholder approval may still be necessary to satisfy the requirements of
Section 422 of the Code, Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any applicable stock
exchange listing requirements. The Board may amend the Plan in any respect
it
deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees with the maximum
benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or
to
bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance
therewith. Rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan cannot
be
impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless the Participant consents in
writing. The Board is empowered to amend the terms of any one or more Awards;
provided, however, that the rights under any Award shall not be impaired by
any
such amendment unless the applicable Participant consents in writing and further
provided that the Board cannot amend the exercise price of an option, the Fair
Market Value of an Award or extend the term of an option or Award without
obtaining the approval of the stockholders if required by the rules of the
TSX
or any stock exchange upon which the common stock is listed.
Although
non-cash compensation is utilized by us to prevent placing strains on liquidity,
care is taken by management to avoid materially diluting investors.
Employment
and Engagement Agreements
We
entered into employment agreements, effective July 31, 2006, with the following
executive officers: Gifford A. Dieterle, President and Treasurer, Roger A.
Newell, Vice President of Development, Jack V. Everett, Vice President of
Exploration, and Jeffrey W. Pritchard, Vice President of Investor Relations.
On
December 5, 2006, effective January 1, 2007, we entered into an employment
agreement with J. Scott Hazlitt, Vice President of Mine
Development.
On
June
6, 2007, Jack V. Everett resigned as Vice President of Exploration and a
Director of our company and entered into a consulting agreement with us to
provide mining and mineral exploration consultation services.
On
September 10, 2007, Roger A. Newell resigned as Vice President of Development.
He will continue to serve as a member of our Board of Directors.
The
agreements run for a period of three years and automatically renew for
successive one-year periods unless we or the executive provides the other party
with written notice of their intent not to renew at least 30 days prior to
the
expiration of the then current employment period.
Mr.
Dieterle is entitled to a base annual salary of at least $180,000, Mr. Hazlitt
is entitled to a base annual salary of at least $125,000 and each of the other
executives is entitled to a base annual salary of at least $120,000. Each
executive is entitled to a bonus or salary increase in the sole discretion
of
the board of directors. In addition, Messrs. Dieterle, Newell, Everett and
Pritchard each received two year options to purchase an aggregate of 250,000
shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.32 per share (the closing
price on July 31, 2006). These options have all been exercised. As discussed
below, these agreements have been amended to provide for salary
increases.
We
have
the right to terminate any executive’s employment for cause or on 30 days’ prior
written notice without cause or in the event of the executive’s disability (as
defined in the agreements). The agreements automatically terminate upon an
executive’s death. “Cause” is defined in the agreements as (1) a failure or
refusal to perform the services required under the agreement; (2) a material
breach by executive of any of the terms of the agreement; or (3) executive’s
conviction of a crime that either results in imprisonment or involves
embezzlement, dishonesty, or activities injurious to our reputation. In the
event that we terminate an executive’s employment without cause or due to the
disability of the executive, the executive will be entitled to a lump sum
severance payment equal to one month’s salary, in the case of termination for
disability, and up to 12 month’s salary (depending upon years of service), in
the case of termination without cause.
Each
executive has the right to terminate his employment agreement on 60 days’ prior
written notice or, in the event of a material breach by us of any of the terms
of the agreement, upon 30 days’ prior written notice. In the event of a claim of
material breach by us of the agreement, the executive must specify the breach
and its failure to either (i) cure or diligently commence to cure the breach
within the 30 day notice period, or (ii) dispute in good faith the existence
of
the material breach. In the event that an agreement terminates due to our
breach, the executive is entitled to severance payments in equal monthly
installments beginning in the month following the executive’s termination equal
to three month’ salary plus one additional month’s salary for each year of
service to us. Severance payments cannot exceed 12 month’s salary.
In
conjunction with the employment agreements, our Board of Directors deeming
it
essential to the best interests of its stockholders to foster the continuous
engagement of key management personnel and recognizing that, as is the case
with
many publicly held corporations, a change of control might occur and that such
possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it might raise among
management, might result in the departure or distraction of management personnel
to the detriment of the company and its stockholders, determined to reinforce
and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of our
management to their engagement without distraction in the face of potentially
disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a change in control
of
the company, it entered into identical agreements regarding change in control
with the executives. Each of the agreements regarding change in control
continues through December 31, 2009 (December 31, 2010 for Mr. Hazlitt) and
extends automatically to the third anniversary thereof unless we give notice
to
the executive prior to the date of such extension that the agreement term will
not be extended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a change in control occurs
during the term of the agreements, the term of the agreements will continue
through the second anniversary of the date on which the change in control
occurred. Each of the agreements entitles the executive to change of control
benefits, as defined in the agreements and summarized below, upon his
termination of employment with us during a potential change in control, as
defined in the agreements, or after a change in control, as defined in the
agreements, when his termination is caused (1) by us for any reason other than
permanent disability or cause, as defined in the agreement (2) by the executive
for good reason as defined in the agreements or, (3) by the executive for any
reason during the 30 day period commencing on the first date which is six months
after the date of the change in control. Each executive would receive a lump
sum
cash payment of three times his base salary and three times his bonus award
for
the prior year, as well as outplacement benefits. In addition, the exercise
price of all options would decrease to $0.01 per share. Each agreement also
provides that the executive is entitled to a payment to make him whole for
any
federal excise tax imposed on change of control or severance payments received
by him.
On
September 14, 2007, we entered into a Second Amended Engagement Agreement (the
“Agreement”) with Christopher Chipman, our Chief Financial Officer, effective
May 1, 2007. The Agreement supersedes and replaces Mr. Chipman’s prior agreement
that expired on August 31, 2007. He receives a monthly fee of $14,583. The
Agreement expires on August 31, 2009 and automatically renews for successive
one-year periods, unless either party gives at least 30 days prior notice to
the
other party of its intent not to renew. Mr. Chipman can terminate the Agreement
on 60 days prior notice. We can terminate the Agreement without cause on 30
days
prior notice and for cause (as defined in the Agreement). The Agreement also
terminates upon Mr. Chipman’s disability (as defined in the Agreement) or death.
In the event that we terminate the Agreement without cause, Mr. Chipman will
be
entitled to a cash termination payment equal to his Annual Fee in effect upon
the date of termination, payable in equal monthly installments beginning in
the
month following his termination. In the event the Agreement is terminated by
Mr.
Chipman at his election or due to his death or disability, Mr. Chipman will
be
entitled to the fees otherwise due and payable to him through the last day
of
the month in which such termination occurs. In conjunction with Agreement,
we
entered into a change of control agreement similar to the agreements entered
into with our other executive officers. In connection with the original
engagement agreement with Mr. Chipman in March 2006, Mr. Chipman received a
two
year option to purchase an aggregate of 50,000 shares of our common stock at
an
exercise price of $.34 per share. This option has been exercised in
full.
On
May
12, 2006, we entered into an employment agreement with John Brownlie, pursuant
to which Mr. Brownlie originally served as Vice President Operations. Mr.
Brownlie became our Chief Operating Officer in February 2007. Mr. Brownlie
serves as Vice President Operations. Mr. Brownlie receives a base annual salary
of $150,000 and is entitled to annual bonuses. Upon his employment, he received
options to purchase an aggregate of 200,000 shares of our common stock at an
exercise price of $.32 per share. 50,000 options vested immediately and the
balance vest upon our achieving "Economic Completion" as that term is defined
in
the Standard Bank Credit Facility (when we have commenced mining operations
and
has been operating at anticipated capacity for 60 to 90 days). The term of
the
options is two years from the date of vesting. The agreement runs for an initial
two year period, and automatically renews thereafter for additional one year
periods unless terminated by either party within 30 days of a renewal date.
We
can terminate the agreement for cause or upon 30 days notice without cause.
Mr.
Brownlie can terminate the agreement upon 60 days notice without cause or,
if
there is a breach of the agreement by us that is not timely cured, upon 30
days
notice. In the event that we terminates him without cause or he terminates
due
to our breach, he will be entitled to certain severance payments. We utilized
the Black-Scholes method to fair value the 200,000 options received by Mr.
Brownlie. We recorded approximately $70,000 as deferred compensation expense
as
of the date of the agreement and recorded the vested portion or $17,500 as
stock
based compensation expense for the year ended July 31, 2006.
On
August
29, 2007, at the recommendation of the compensation committee, the Board
increased the salaries of our executive officers to be commensurate with
industry standards and amended their respective agreements accordingly. The
new
salaries were as follows: Gifford A. Dieterle, President, Treasurer and
Chairman of the Board, $250,000; John Brownlie, Chief Operating Officer,
$225,000; Christopher Chipman, Chief Financial Officer, $175,000 (consulting
fee); Jeffrey W. Pritchard, Vice President - Investor Relations and Secretary,
$195,000; Roger A. Newell, Vice President - Development, $135,000; and J. Scott
Hazlitt, Vice President - Mine Development, $135,000. The salary increase for
Mr. Brownlie and the consulting fee increase for Mr. Chipman were retroactive
to
May 1, 2007 and the salary increase for Mr. Pritchard is retroactive to August
1, 2007.
On
July
17, 2008, at the recommendation of the compensation committee of our Board
of
Directors, our executive officers were awarded salary increases effective August
1, 2008. The new salaries were as follows: Gifford A. Dieterle, President,
Treasurer and Chairman of the Board, $287,500; John Brownlie, Chief Operating
Officer, $258,750; Christopher Chipman, Chief Financial Officer, $201,250
(consulting fee); Jeffrey W. Pritchard, Vice President - Investor Relations
and
Secretary, $224,250; and J. Scott Hazlitt, Vice President - Mine Development,
$155,250.
On
October 28, 2008, we entered into an Engagement Agreement with John Brownlie,
our Chief Operating Officer. The agreement supersedes a May 12, 2006 employment
agreement between us and Mr. Brownlie. Pursuant to the Engagement Agreement,
Mr.
Brownlie serves as our Chief Operating Officer and receives a base annual fee
of
at least $258,750 and is entitled to annual bonuses. The Engagement Agreement
runs through August 31, 2009, and automatically renews thereafter for additional
one year periods unless terminated by either party within 30 days of a renewal
date. We can terminate the agreement for cause or upon 30 days notice without
cause. Mr. Brownlie can terminate the agreement upon 60 days notice without
cause or, if there is a breach of the agreement by us that is not timely cured,
upon 30 days notice. In the event that we terminate him without cause or he
terminates due to our breach, he will be entitled to certain severance payments.
We previously entered into a change of control agreement with Mr. Brownlie
similar to the agreements entered into with our other executive officers.
Compensation
of Directors
During
the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007, our Independent Directors each received
a
fee of $1,000 per month. Robert Roningen, director, received a fee of $2,000
per
month for legal and consulting services during the fiscal year ended July 31,
2007. Non-independent directors were not otherwise compensated for acting in
their capacity as Directors. Directors are reimbursed for their accountable
expenses incurred in attending meetings and conducting their duties. On August
29, 2007, we increased directors’ compensation to our independent directors and
to Robert Roningen and Roger Newell by $1,000 per month.
Conclusion
Our
compensation policies are designed to retain and motivate our senior executive
officers and to ultimately reward them for outstanding individual and corporate
performance.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following tables set forth the total compensation paid to or earned by our
named
executive officers, as that term is defined in Item 402(a)(3) of Regulation
S-K
as of our fiscal years ended July 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively (000’s):
Name & Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
Stock
Awards
(2)
|
|
Option
Awards
(1)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen- sation
|
|
Non-
qualified
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Earnings
|
|
All Other
Compen-
sation ($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Gifford A. Dieterle,
Director, Chairman,
Treasurer and CEO
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
244
|
|
$
|
325
|
|
$
|
102
|
|
$
|
60
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
731
|
|
John
Brownlie,
Director
and COO
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
275
|
|
$
|
318
|
|
$
|
102
|
|
$
|
112
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
816
|
|
Jeffrey
Pritchard,
Executive
Vice President
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
189
|
|
$
|
284
|
|
$
|
102
|
|
$
|
60
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
634
|
|
Notes:
|
(1)
|
Based
on Black Scholes Pricing Model of valuing options.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Issuance
of shares based on the fair market value of the our common stock
on the
date of grant.
|
Name & Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
Stock
Awards
(2)
|
|
Option
Awards
(1)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
|
|
Non-
qualified
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Earnings
|
|
All Other
Compen-
sation
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Gifford A. Dieterle,
Director, Chairman,
Treasurer and CEO
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
180
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
180
|
|
John
Brownlie,
Director
and COO
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
150
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
225
|
|
$
|
34
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
409
|
|
Christopher
M. Chipman,
CFO
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
118
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
79
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
197
|
|
Notes:
|
(1)
|
Based
on Black Scholes Pricing Model of valuing options. Total fair value
of
option awards granted in 2007 was $113,000.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Issuance
of shares based on the fair market value of our common stock on the
date
of grant.
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End (000’s
except share data)
The
following tables provide information concerning unexercised options for each
of
our named executive officers, as that term is defined in Item 402(a)(3) of
Regulation S-K as of our fiscal year ended July 31, 2008:
2008
Table
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned Options
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
Gifford A. Dieterle, Director, Chairman, Treasurer and
CEO
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
$
|
0.63
|
|
|
12/20/14
|
|
John
Brownlie, Director and COO
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
$
|
0.63
|
|
|
12/20/14
|
|
Jeffrey
Pritchard, Executive Vice President
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
$
|
0.63
|
|
|
12/20/14
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
Name
(a)
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
(b)
|
|
Value Realized on
Exercise ($)
(c)
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting (#)
(d)
|
|
Value of Realized on
Vesting ($)
(e)
|
|
Gifford A. Dieterle, Director, Chairman, Treasurer and
CEO
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
83
|
|
|
151,142
|
|
$
|
103
|
|
John
Brownlie, Director and COO
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
$
|
72
|
|
|
151,142
|
|
$
|
103
|
|
Jeffrey
Pritchard, Executive Vice President
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
88
|
|
|
151,142
|
|
$
|
103
|
|
Please
also see “Part
III, Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” below.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Our
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, consisting of Ian Shaw, the
Committee Chairman, John Postle and Mark T. Nesbitt, are all independent
directors. There are no interlocking relationships.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
Our
Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
contained in this Annual Report with management. Based on our Committee’s review
of and the discussions with management with respect to the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis, our Committee recommended to the board of directors
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2008 for filing with
the
SEC.
|
Ian
Shaw, Committee Chairman
|
John
Postle
|
|
The
foregoing Compensation Committee report shall not be deemed incorporated by
reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under
these
Director
Compensation
The
following tables sets forth the compensation paid to our directors for the
fiscal year ended July 31, 2008 (000’s).
2008
Table
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
($)
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
Option
Awards
($) (1)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Ian A. Shaw, Director
|
|
$
|
24
|
|
$
|
11
|
|
$
|
3
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
38
|
|
John
Postle, Director
|
|
$
|
24
|
|
$
|
11
|
|
$
|
3
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
38
|
|
Mark
T. Nesbitt, Director
|
|
$
|
24
|
|
$
|
11
|
|
$
|
3
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
38
|
|
Roger
Newell, Direcotr
|
|
$
|
12
|
|
$
|
7
|
|
$
|
2
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
21
|
|
Robert
Roningen, Director
|
|
$
|
12
|
|
$
|
7
|
|
$
|
2
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
24
|
|
$
|
45
|
|
(1)
Based
on Black Scholes Pricing Model of valuing options.
Item
12. |
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters.
|
The
following table sets forth as of October 24,
2008,
the
number and percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock beneficially owned
by:
|
·
|
Each
person, individually or as a group, known to us to be deemed the
beneficial owners of five percent or more of our issued and outstanding
Common Stock;
|
|
·
|
Each
of our Directors and the Named Executives;
and
|
|
·
|
All
of our officers and Directors as a group.
|
As
of the
foregoing date, there were no other persons, individually or as a group, known
to us to be deemed the beneficial owners of five percent or more of the issued
and outstanding Common Stock.
This
table is based upon information supplied by Schedules 13D and 13G, if any,
filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and information obtained from
our
directors and named executives. For purposes of this table, a person or group
of
persons is deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of any shares of Common Stock
which such person has the right to acquire within 60 days of October
3,
2008.
For
purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock
held
by each person or group of persons named in the table, any security which such
person or persons has or have the right to acquire within such date is deemed
to
be outstanding but is not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing
the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as indicated in the
footnotes to this table and pursuant to applicable community property laws,
we
believe, based on information supplied by such persons, that the persons named
in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares
Common Stock which they beneficially own. Unless otherwise noted, the address
of
each of the principal stockholders is care of us at 76 Beaver Street,
14th
floor,
New York, NY10005.
Name and Address
|
|
Amount & Nature
|
|
|
|
of Beneficial
|
|
of Beneficial
|
|
Approximate
|
|
Owner
|
|
Ownership
|
|
Percentage(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gifford A. Dieterle*
|
|
|
3,612,455
|
(2)
|
|
1.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Roningen*
|
|
|
1,828,750
|
(3)
|
|
|
**
|
2955
Strand Road
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Duluth,
MN 55804
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
W. Pritchard*
|
|
|
1,856,354
|
(2)
|
|
1.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher
Chipman*
|
|
|
1,500,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
**
|
4014
Redwing Lane
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audubon,
PA 19407
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger
A Newell*
|
|
|
1,537,273
|
(2)
|
|
|
**
|
1781
South Larkspur Drive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Golden,
CO 80401
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Brownlie*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6040
Puma Ridge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Littleton,
CO 80124
|
|
|
1,599,500
|
(2)
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott
Hazlitt*
|
|
|
1,500,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
**
|
9428
W. Highway 50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salida.
CO 81201
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ian
A. Shaw*
|
|
|
265,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
**
|
98
Crimson Millway
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Toronto,
Ontario M2LIT6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canada
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|