sv1
As filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on January 24, 2011
Registration
No. 333-
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20549
Form S-1
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933
Molycorp, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
|
|
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
1000
|
|
27-2301797
|
(State or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation or organization)
|
|
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
|
|
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
|
5619 Denver Tech Center
Parkway
Suite 1000
Greenwood Village, Colorado
80111
(303) 843-8040
(Address, including zip code,
and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s
principal executive offices)
Mark A. Smith
President and Chief Executive
Officer
5619 Denver Tech Center
Parkway
Suite 1000
Greenwood Village, Colorado
80111
(303) 843-8040
(Name, address, including zip
code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for
service)
Copies to:
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Ashburn, Jr., Esq.
Executive Vice President and
General Counsel
5619 Denver Tech Center Parkway
Suite 1000
Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111
Tel: (303) 843-8040
Fax: (303) 843-8082
|
|
Christopher M. Kelly, Esq.
Michael J. Solecki, Esq.
Jones Day
North Point
901 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Tel: (216) 586-3939
Fax: (216) 579-0212
|
|
Michael Kaplan, Esq.
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Tel: (212) 450-4000
Fax: (212) 701-5800
|
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the
public: As soon as practicable after this
Registration Statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the
following
box. o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
check the following box and list the Securities Act registration
statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
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 the definitions of
“large accelerated filer,” “accelerated
filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
|
|
|
|
Large
accelerated
filer o
|
Accelerated
filer o
|
Non-accelerated
filer þ
|
Smaller reporting
company o
|
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed Maximum
|
|
|
Amount of
|
Title of Each Class of
|
|
|
Aggregate Offering
|
|
|
Registration Fee
|
Securities to be Registered
|
|
|
Price(1)(2)
|
|
|
Fee(3)
|
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
|
|
|
$500,000,000
|
|
|
$58,050.00
|
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per
share (4)
|
|
|
$172,500,000
|
|
|
$20,027.25
|
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (5)
|
|
|
$31,050,000
|
|
|
$3,604.91
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
Includes shares that the
underwriters have an option to purchase.
|
(2)
|
|
Estimated solely for the purpose of
calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o)
under the Securities Act of 1933.
|
(3)
|
|
Calculated pursuant to
Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933 based on an
estimate of the maximum aggregate offering price.
|
(4)
|
|
In accordance with Rule 457(i)
under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
also registers the shares of our common stock that are initially
issuable upon conversion of the Series A convertible
preferred stock registered hereby. The number of shares of our
common stock issuable upon such conversion is subject to
adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events described
herein and will vary based on the public offering price of our
common stock at the time of conversion. Pursuant to
Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, the number of
shares of our common stock to be registered includes an
indeterminable number of shares of common stock that may become
issuable upon conversion of the Series A convertible
preferred stock as a result of such adjustments.
|
(5)
|
|
Represents an estimate of the
maximum amount of dividends that could be payable in the form of
common stock on outstanding shares of the Series A
convertible preferred stock in accordance with the terms thereof.
|
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on
such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective
date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this Registration Statement shall
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration
Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities
and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said
Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This Registration Statement contains a prospectus relating to an
offering of shares of our common stock by our selling
stockholders (for purposes of this Explanatory Note, the Common
Stock Prospectus), together with separate prospectus pages
relating to an offering of shares of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock (for purposes of this Explanatory Note, the
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Prospectus). The complete
Common Stock Prospectus follows immediately. Following the
Common Stock Prospectus are the following alternative and
additional pages for the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock
Prospectus:
|
|
|
|
•
|
front and back cover pages, which will replace the front and
back cover pages of the Common Stock Prospectus;
|
|
|
•
|
pages for the “Prospectus Summary — The
Offering” section, which will replace the “Prospectus
Summary — The Offering” section of the Common
Stock Prospectus;
|
|
|
•
|
pages for the “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to
Ownership of Our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock”
section, which will be added to the Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock Prospectus;
|
|
|
•
|
pages for the “Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Preferred Stock Dividends” section, which will be added to
the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Prospectus;
|
|
|
•
|
pages for the “Description of Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock” section, which will replace the
“Concurrent Offering of Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock” section of the Common Stock Prospectus;
|
|
|
•
|
pages for the “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences” section, which will replace the
“Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences for
Non-U.S. Holders”
section of the Common Stock Prospectus; and
|
|
|
•
|
pages for the “Underwriting” section, which will
replace the “Underwriting” section of the Common Stock
Prospectus.
|
In addition, the following disclosures contained within the
Common Stock Prospectus will be replaced in the Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock Prospectus as follows:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the second sentence and the reference to “or mandatory
convertible preferred stock” in the third sentence of the
“Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our
Business — If we finance the necessary capital to
execute our current business plan through a securities offering
or debt financing, you may experience dilution in the event of
an equity financing, or we may be highly leveraged in the event
of a debt financing” section will be deleted in the
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Prospectus; and
|
|
|
•
|
pages for the “Risk Factors — Risks Related to
Ownership of Our Common Stock — There is no assurance
that the concurrent offering of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock will be completed” will be deleted from the
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Prospectus.
|
Each of the complete Common Stock Prospectus and Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock Prospectus will be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with
Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The
closing of the offering of common stock by our selling
stockholders is not conditioned upon the closing of the offering
of mandatory convertible preferred stock, and the closing of the
offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock is not
conditioned upon the closing of the offering of common stock by
our selling stockholders.
The
information in this prospectus is not complete and may be
changed. The selling stockholders may not sell securities under
this registration statement until the registration statement
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.
This prospectus is not an offer to sell any securities and it is
not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state
where the offer or sale is not permitted.
|
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
Prospectus Dated
January 24, 2011
PROSPECTUS
Shares
Molycorp, Inc.
Common Stock
The selling stockholders named in this prospectus are offering
shares of our common stock. We are not selling any shares of our
common stock in this offering. We will not receive any proceeds
from the sale of common stock by the selling stockholders.
Our common stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol “MCP.” The last sale price of our common
stock on January 21, 2011, as reported by The New York
Stock Exchange, was $42.99 per share.
Concurrently with this offering, we are making a public offering
of shares of our mandatory convertible preferred stock. In that
offering, we have granted the underwriters an option to purchase
up to an
additional shares
of mandatory convertible preferred stock to cover
over-allotments. We cannot assure you that the offering of
mandatory convertible preferred stock will be completed or, if
completed, on what terms it will be completed. The closing of
this offering is not conditioned upon the closing of the
offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock, and the
closing of our offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock
is not conditioned upon the closing of this offering.
Investing in our common stock
involves risk. Please read carefully the section
entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 20 of
this prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Public offering price
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Underwriting discount
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Proceeds to the selling stockholders
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
The underwriters may also purchase up to an additional shares of
common stock from the selling stockholders, at the public
offering price, less the underwriting discount, within
30 days from the date of this prospectus to cover
over-allotments.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of common stock
against payment on or
about ,
2011.
|
|
J.P.
Morgan |
Morgan Stanley |
Prospectus
dated ,
2011.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
We and the selling stockholders have not, and the
underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide any
information other than that contained in this prospectus or in
any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to
which we have referred you. We and the selling stockholders have
not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person
to provide you with different information. We, the selling
stockholders and the underwriters take no responsibility for,
and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other
information that others may give you. We and the selling
stockholders are not, and the underwriters are not, making an
offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the
offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the
information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of
the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business,
financial condition, operating results and prospects may have
changed since that date.
i
PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in
this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that
you should consider before investing in our common stock. You
should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the
sections entitled “Risk Factors” and
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations,” and our historical
consolidated financial statements and related notes included
elsewhere in this prospectus. In this prospectus, unless the
context requires otherwise, references to “Molycorp,”
“we,” “our” or “us” refer to
Molycorp, LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the
corporate reorganization (as described below) and Molycorp, Inc.
and its consolidated subsidiaries after the corporate
reorganization. As used in this prospectus, the term
“ton” means a ton (equal to 2,000 pounds), the term
“mt” means a metric tonne (equal to 2,205 pounds), the
term “IMCOA” means the Industrial Minerals Company of
Australia Pty Ltd, a rare-earth market consultant, and the terms
“ROW” and “Rest of World” mean the entire
world except China. For definitions of certain rare
earth-related and mining terms, see “Glossary of Selected
Mining Terms.” We provided compensation to IMCOA for
industry reports that it prepared for us, although such
compensation is not contingent on the success of this offering.
Some of the information that we attribute to IMCOA in this
prospectus has been derived from those reports.
Our
Business
We are the only rare earth oxide, or REO, producer in the
Western hemisphere and own one of the world’s largest, most
fully developed rare earth projects outside of China.
Furthermore, following the execution of our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy and completion of our initial modernization and
expansion plan, we expect to be one of the world’s most
integrated producers of rare earth products, including oxides,
metals, alloys and magnets. In light of strong industry
fundamentals, including reduced Chinese supply and strong
pricing increases, our Board of Directors recently approved a
second-phase capacity expansion plan in addition to our initial
modernization and expansion plan, which we expect to result in
the ability to produce approximately double the amount of REO
that we will be able to produce upon completion of our initial
modernization and expansion plan.
Our rare earths are critical inputs in many existing and
emerging applications including: clean energy technologies, such
as hybrid and electric vehicles and wind power turbines;
multiple high-tech uses, including fiber optics, lasers and hard
disk drives; numerous defense applications, such as guidance and
control systems and global positioning systems; and advanced
water treatment technology for use in industrial, military and
outdoor recreation applications. Global demand for rare earth
elements, or REEs, is projected to steadily increase due to
continuing growth in existing applications and increased
innovation and development of new end uses. We have made
significant investments, and expect to continue to invest, in
developing technologically advanced applications and proprietary
applications for individual REEs.
For the year ended December 31, 2009 and for the nine
months ended September 30, 2010, we generated approximately
$7.1 million and $13.2 million of revenue,
respectively, from sales of products manufactured from
stockpiled feedstocks, although these levels of revenue are not
representative of our planned level of operations after we
complete our initial modernization and expansion plan and
capacity expansion plan.
Our
Mine Process and Development Plans
We and SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc., or SRK Consulting, estimated
total proven reserves as of February 6, 2010 of
88.0 million pounds of REO contained in 0.480 million
tons of ore, with an average ore grade of 9.38%, and probable
reserves of 2.12 billion pounds of REO contained in
13.108 million tons of ore, with an average ore grade of
8.20%, in each case using a cut-off grade of 5.0%, at our
Mountain Pass mine. Upon the completion of our initial
modernization and expansion plan, which we expect to be
completed by the end of 2012, we will have the ability to
produce approximately 19,050 mt of REO per year at our Mountain
Pass facility. Upon the completion of our recently approved
capacity expansion plan, by the end of 2013, we expect to have
the ability to produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per
year at our Mountain Pass facility, or approximately double the
amount we will be able to produce upon completion of our initial
plan. Based on our estimated reserves and an expected annual
production rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO under our
initial modernization and expansion plan, our expected mine life
is in excess of 30 years (SRK Consulting has preliminarily
indicated, however, that doubling the amount of production
pursuant to the second-phase capacity expansion plan would
reduce the current mine life by half, assuming no additional
exploration, no realization of
1
anticipated improvements in recoveries, and all other factors
remain constant.) According to Roskill Consulting Group Limited,
or Roskill, global REO production in 2008 was approximately
129,000 mt, of which only approximately 4,220 mt originated from
outside of China, with Molycorp producing approximately 1,700 mt
from its stockpiles and Russian producers producing
approximately 2,500 mt. This contrasts with total demand outside
of China in 2008 of approximately 56,000 mt, according to IMCOA,
with rapid growth expected by industry analysts.
Mine-to-Oxides
At our Mountain Pass facility, we have the ability to mine,
crush, mill and separate rare earth ore to produce individual
REEs. We hold a mine plan permit and an associated environmental
impact report, which allow continued operations of our Mountain
Pass facility through 2042. Since our acquisition of the
Mountain Pass facility, we have been producing and selling REOs
from stockpiled feedstocks to significantly improve our solvent
extraction technologies and capabilities. We are now achieving
greater than 98% recovery in our solvent extraction units at
commercial scale for lanthanum, didymium and a heavy rare earth
concentrate composed of samarium, europium, gadolinium,
dysprosium and terbium, or SEG concentrate, which we believe is
one of the highest recovery rates in the world. We have also
developed the expertise to produce the following REEs in many
usable forms: bastnasite concentrate; cerium; lanthanum;
neodymium; praseodymium; europium; samarium; gadolinium;
dysprosium; and terbium. When used to describe the current
recovery rate for our solvent extraction units, the term
“commercial scale” means that the solvent extraction
units are operating at such a production rate that the
scale-up
factor required to achieve the desired production rate is less
than 10 times the current production rate.
Processing at our Mountain Pass facility entails mining the
bastnasite ore followed by crushing and milling it to a fine
powder. Milled bastnasite ore is then processed by flotation
whereby the bastnasite, which is a mineral containing light and
heavy rare earth elements, floats to the surface and is
separated from the waste material, which sinks in a series of
flotation cells. The resultant bastnasite concentrate is then
processed by leaching with strong acid solutions followed by a
series of solvent-extraction separation steps that produce
various individual REO minerals, generally in a high purity
(greater than 99%) oxide form. In the second quarter of 2010, we
began processing bastnasite concentrate from our stockpiles in
an effort to commercially demonstrate our new cracking
technology while at the same time continue to further optimize
our processing technologies and improve recovery rates compared
to historical operations at the Mountain Pass facility.
We recommenced mining operations in December 2010 and are
preparing to recommence milling operations, which we expect to
occur in the first quarter of 2012. Recommencement of mining and
milling operations is coincident with our initial modernization
and expansion plan, which will give us the capacity to
efficiently produce at a rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO
per year by the end of 2012. Additionally, upon the completion
of our capacity expansion plan, we expect to have the ability to
produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end
of 2013. In an April 2010 briefing to the U.S. Government
Accountability Office, or U.S. GAO, titled “Rare Earth
Materials in the Defense Supply Chain,” which was prepared
in accordance with the National Defense Reauthorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2010 (Pub. L.
No. 111-84),
government and industry officials stated that for a typical
exploration-stage mine, once a company has secured the necessary
capital to start a mine, it can take from seven to 15 years
to bring a property fully online, largely due to the time it
takes to comply with multiple state and federal regulations.
Since our Mountain Pass facility is not an early stage rare
earth project, we believe we have a significant timeline
advantage as we have a well-defined ore body, an existing open
pit with over 50 years of production
2
history, an existing mine and reclamation plan, proven reserves,
substantial permitting, and all necessary technology to
successfully process and separate the rare earth elements at a
commercial scale.
Oxides-To-Metals/Alloys
We expect to sell and transport a portion of the REOs we produce
to customers for use in their particular applications. The
remainder of the REOs will be processed into rare earth metals.
A portion of these metals will be sold to
end-users
and we expect to process the rest into rare earth alloys. These
rare earth alloys can be used in a variety of applications,
including but not limited to: electrodes for nickel metal
hydride, or NiMH, battery production; samarium cobalt magnet
production; and neodymium iron boron, or NdFeB, magnet
production. A portion of these rare earth alloys will be
manufactured into NdFeB magnets as part of our alloy and magnet
production joint ventures, described below, and we expect to
sell the rest to
end-users.
Our modernization and expansion plans envision adding facilities
and equipment for metal conversion and alloy production at the
Mountain Pass facility or an off-site property. If we are able
to add an off-site facility to produce rare earth metals and
alloys instead of adding such facilities and equipment at
Mountain Pass, we would transport cerium, lanthanum, neodymium,
praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and samarium oxide products
from our Mountain Pass facility to that off-site location to
produce rare earth metals and alloys. In December 2010, we
entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Hitachi Metals,
Ltd., or Hitachi, a leading manufacturer of NdFeB alloys and
magnets, to form joint ventures for the production of rare earth
alloys and magnets in the United States. Additionally, we have
entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Neo Material
Technologies Inc., or Neo Material, that, among other things,
contemplates a technology transfer agreement pursuant to which
Neo Material may provide us with technical assistance and
know-how with respect to the production of rare earth metals,
alloys and magnets.
Alloy
and Magnet Production Joint Ventures
NdFeB magnets, which are critical components in
“green” technologies and the miniaturization of
electronics, are primarily manufactured in China (approximately
80%) and Japan (approximately 20%). Our proposed joint ventures
with Hitachi would provide us with access to the technology,
people and facilities to convert our rare earth materials into
rare earth alloys and high-performance permanent rare earth
magnets required for production of hybrid and electric vehicles,
wind power turbines, high-tech applications and numerous
advanced defense systems on which the U.S. economy and
national security depend. The consummation of such joint
ventures, in conjunction with our current modernization plans
and the potential technology transfer agreement with Neo
Material, is expected to provide us with the capability to mine,
process, separate and alloy individual REEs and manufacture them
into NdFeB magnets. This downstream integration, which we refer
to as our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy, would make us the only fully integrated producer of
NdFeB magnets outside of China, helping to secure a rare earth
supply chain for the Rest of World. In addition to the
foregoing, we continue to explore additional joint ventures or
other arrangements with third parties for the production of
NdFeB alloys
and/or
magnets.
Rare
earth
“mine-to-magnets”
production supply chain
Industry
Overview
The REE group includes 17 elements, namely the
15 lanthanide elements, which are cerium, lanthanum,
neodymium, praseodymium, promethium (which does not occur
naturally), samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium,
holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium, and two
elements that have similar chemical properties to the lanthanide
elements — yttrium and scandium. The oxides produced
from processing REEs are collectively referred to as REOs. Light
and heavy REEs are contained in all rare earth deposits,
3
including in our deposit at Mountain Pass. Heavy REEs generally
command higher sales prices on a per pound basis than light REEs
because heavy REEs are not as prevalent. Cerium, lanthanum,
neodymium, praseodymium and samarium are considered “light
REEs” that are more predominant in bastnasite, while
europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium,
thulium, ytterbium and lutetium are considered “heavy
REEs” that are more predominant in monazite. Our reserves
are bastnasite, but there are also known monazite occurrences on
our property that we are currently examining.
REEs have unique properties that make them critical materials to
many existing applications upon which society has become
dependent as well as many emerging applications. Examples
include:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Clean-Energy Technologies: hybrid and electric
vehicles, wind power turbines and compact fluorescent lighting;
|
|
|
•
|
High-Technology Applications: miniaturization
of cell phones, personal digital assistant devices, digital
music players, hard disk drives used in computers, computing
devices, “ear bud” speakers and microphones, as well
as fiber optics, lasers and optical temperature sensors;
|
|
|
•
|
Critical Defense Applications: guidance and
control systems, communications, global positioning systems,
radar and sonar; and
|
|
|
•
|
Advanced Water Treatment: industrial,
military, homeland security and domestic and foreign aid
applications.
|
Global consumption of REEs is projected to steadily increase due
to continuing growth in existing applications and increased
innovation and development of new end uses. For example, the
integration of rare earth permanent magnet drives into wind
power turbines has substantially reduced the need for gearboxes,
which increases overall efficiency and reliability. According to
IMCOA, total demand for rare earths outside of China is expected
to increase at a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of
approximately 7% between 2010 and 2015. In addition, according
to IMCOA, global demand for rare earths used in magnets is
expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 8% over the same
period. IMCOA estimates that total global demand for rare
earths is expected to increase from 125,000 mt in 2010 to
185,000 mt in 2015, which results in a CAGR of approximately 8%
for that period.
China has dominated the global supply of REOs for the last ten
years and, according to IMCOA, accounted for approximately 96%
of global REO production in 2008. Even with our planned
production, global supply is expected by analysts to remain
tight due to the combined effects of growing demand and actions
taken by the Chinese government to restrict exports. The Chinese
government heightened international supply concerns beginning in
August 2009 when China’s Interior Ministry first signaled
that it would further restrict exports of Chinese rare earth
resources. Citing the importance of REE availability to internal
industries and the desire to conserve resources, the Chinese
government has announced export quotas, increased export tariffs
and introduced a “mining quotas policy” that, in
addition to imposing export quotas and export tariffs, also
imposes production quotas and limits the issuance of new
licenses for rare earth exploration. According to IMCOA,
China’s export quotas have decreased from approximately
65,600 mt of REO in 2004 to approximately 50,000 mt of REO in
2009. In 2008, according to IMCOA, China imposed export taxes of
up to 25% on selected REOs (primarily heavy REOs) and up to 15%
for all other REOs (primarily light REOs). In addition,
according to IMCOA, China’s Ministry of Industry and
Information Technology issued a plan in 2009 to reduce the
production of separated rare earths by 7% to 110,700 mt of REO
in 2009. China’s internal consumption of rare earths is
expected to continue to grow, leaving the Rest of World with
less supply during a period of projected increasing global
demand. China also dominates the manufacture of rare earth
metals, producing substantially all of the world’s supply,
and the manufacture of NdFeB magnets, producing approximately
80% of the world’s supply. Neither capability currently
exists in the United States, as confirmed by the April 2010
U.S. GAO briefing.
China has announced a national stockpile program, as has South
Korea. Additionally, Japan has increased its national stockpile
program. In December 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy
released a study concluding that five rare earth metals,
dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium and yttrium, are
critical to clean energy technologies in the short term and
medium term due to their importance to the clean energy economy
4
and risk of supply disruption. The report emphasizes that
diversified global supply chains for these critical materials
are essential, and calls for steps to be taken to facilitate
extraction, processing and manufacturing in the United States.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defense is conducting
a study to determine its rare earth requirements and supply
chain vulnerabilities and whether to build a strategic
stockpile. These stockpile programs will likely accelerate the
pace of the current and projected global REE supply deficit.
According to the April 2010 U.S. GAO briefing:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the Mountain Pass mine is the largest non-Chinese rare earth
deposit in the world;
|
|
|
•
|
other U.S. rare earth deposits exist, but these deposits
are still in early exploratory stages of development;
|
|
|
•
|
officials emphasized the significance of the widespread use of
commercial-off-the-shelf products in defense systems that
include rare earth materials, such as computer hard drives;
|
|
|
•
|
heavy REEs, such as dysprosium, which provide much of the
heat-resistant qualities of permanent magnets used in many
industry and defense applications, are considered to be
important;
|
|
|
•
|
government and industry officials told the U.S. GAO that
where rare earth materials are used in defense systems, the
materials are responsible for the functionality of the component
and would be difficult to replace without losing performance;
|
|
|
•
|
a 2009 National Defense Stockpile configuration report
identified lanthanum, cerium, europium and gadolinium as having
already caused some kind of weapon system production delay and
recommended further study to determine the severity of the
delays; and
|
|
|
•
|
defense systems will likely continue to depend on rare earth
materials, based on their life cycles and lack of effective
substitutes.
|
The forecasted demand by IMCOA set forth in the graph below
assumes Mountain Pass and other rare earth projects commence
production and account for a significant portion of the
forecasted increase in supply. If these projects do not commence
production when anticipated, there will be a gap between
forecasted demand and forecasted supply. IMCOA expects that this
anticipated market dynamic will underpin continued strong
pricing.
Global
Rare Earths Supply & Demand,
2005-2020
(mt REO, +/- 20%)
Source: IMCOA (January 2011)(1)
(1) Does not reflect our potential to increase production
to 40,000 mt of REO per year following the completion of our
capacity expansion plan, but instead reflects our production of
19,050 mt of REO per year beginning in 2013.
5
As a result of the global economic crisis, rare earth product
prices declined by approximately 50% during 2008 and through the
third quarter of 2009. According to Metal-Pages, from October
2009 through December 2010, prices for rare earths have risen by
approximately 780% on average. Furthermore, over the same
period, prices for some of the most common rare earths (cerium
oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, and rare earth
carbonate) have risen by more than 1000% on average.
Recent
Developments
Decision
to Double Original Planned Production Capacity
We recommenced mining operations in December 2010 and are
preparing to recommence milling operations, which we expect to
occur in the first quarter of 2012. As of December 2010, we have
secured all permits necessary to allow construction to start on
the initial modernization and expansion plan. We have also
entered into a number of construction contracts associated with
our initial modernization and expansion plan.
In light of strong industry fundamentals, including reduced
Chinese supply and strong pricing increases, our Board of
Directors recently approved a second-phase capacity expansion
plan in addition to our initial modernization and expansion
plan. Upon the completion of this capacity expansion plan, by
the end of 2013, we expect to have the ability to produce up to
approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year at our Mountain Pass
facility, or approximately double the amount we will be able to
produce upon completion of our initial plan. Although our
production capacity is expected to reach 40,000 mt of REO
per year if our capacity expansion plan is successfully
completed, we intend to sell our products into the market at a
rate commensurate with customer and/or demand growth.
We will commence work on this second phase as we are working on
our initial plan. In certain cases, we will not need to add
additional equipment in connection with the second phase to
provide additional capacity, including milling, but in other
cases, including separations and power, we will need to install
additional capacity. We do not believe we will need to obtain
additional permits, other than air and building permits. We do
not expect that work on the second phase will delay completion
of our initial modernization and expansion plan, and we continue
to expect completion of our initial plan pursuant to our current
schedule, subject to obtaining full funding. Our construction
engineer has estimated that we will incur approximately
$250 million in additional capital costs in connection with
the capital expansion plan beyond those budgeted for our initial
plan, and we will need to obtain additional funding for such
plan. Because we will begin expenditures on the second phase
before completion of the initial plan, any funding insufficiency
for the second phase could also impact completion of our initial
plan. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our
Business — We may be unsuccessful in raising the
necessary capital to execute our current business plan.”
We have not yet performed a detailed study of expected operating
costs for this proposed second phase, and we have not yet
commissioned SRK Consulting or any other expert to prepare an
external model or study of operating costs. We have not
identified any reason to believe that there will be any per unit
increase in operating costs under our capacity expansion plan as
compared to our initial modernization and expansion plan
(assuming we are able to sell all of our capacity), and in fact
believe we will realize some decrease in per unit production
costs due to economies of scale associated with the increased
production rate. However, we cannot provide any assurances as to
the actual operating costs, and such costs could be higher. For
our internal analyses to model the viability of our capacity
expansion plan, we have conservatively assumed operating costs
higher than those projected by SRK Consulting for our initial
plan. We have also not secured off-take commitments for the
incremental production from this second phase and cannot assure
you that we will secure such commitments.
Rare
Earths Export Limitation Actions by China
On July 8, 2010, China’s Ministry of Industry and
Information Technology issued the export quota for the second
half of 2010, which reduced rare earth exports by 72% compared
with the same period in 2009 and 40% for the year ended
December 31, 2010 as compared to the year ended
December 31, 2009.
Subsequently, on December 28, 2010, China announced it
would further reduce export quotas of rare earth minerals by 35%
for the first half of 2011 versus the first half of 2010. The
Chinese government cited the desire to
6
preserve China’s supply reserves and ensure it would meet
trade requirements to Europe in 2011. Although no export quotas
have been announced for the second half of 2011, we anticipate
the total 2011 quota to be down significantly from 2010. With
anticipated total consumption of rare earths outside China of
58,000 mt, the estimated 2011 quota of 28,000 mt falls
significantly short of Rest of World demand, according to IMCOA.
The combined impact of these quota announcements, coupled with
growing demand across end-use applications for rare earths, has
resulted in significant price increases for sales of rare earth
oxides, metals and alloys, as summarized in the table below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pricing (US/kg)
|
|
|
|
3-Year
Average
|
|
|
March 2010(1)
|
|
|
June 2010(2)
|
|
|
Jan. 2011(3)
|
|
|
% change(5)
|
|
|
Oxides
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lanthanum oxide
|
|
$
|
6.05
|
|
|
$
|
6.60
|
|
|
$
|
8.12
|
|
|
$
|
60.80
|
|
|
|
821
|
%
|
Cerium
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oxide (glass applications)
|
|
$
|
4.03
|
|
|
$
|
4.09
|
|
|
$
|
6.47
|
|
|
$
|
63.40
|
|
|
|
1,449
|
%
|
Oxide (water filters)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
13.20
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
XSORBX®
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
9.90
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Europium oxide
|
|
$
|
442.07
|
|
|
$
|
473.00
|
|
|
$
|
567.60
|
|
|
$
|
630.00
|
|
|
|
33
|
%
|
Metals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lanthanum
|
|
$
|
10.01
|
|
|
$
|
13.20
|
|
|
$
|
13.20
|
|
|
$
|
62.50
|
|
|
|
373
|
%
|
Praseodymium
|
|
$
|
32.12
|
|
|
$
|
37.99
|
|
|
$
|
42.94
|
|
|
$
|
115.50
|
|
|
|
204
|
%
|
Neodymium
|
|
$
|
32.41
|
|
|
$
|
37.99
|
|
|
$
|
42.94
|
|
|
$
|
117.50
|
|
|
|
209
|
%
|
Alloy products
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NdFeB alloy
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
35.20
|
|
|
$
|
42.94
|
|
|
$
|
84.37
|
(4)
|
|
|
140
|
%
|
SmCo alloy
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
50.60
|
|
|
$
|
54.14
|
|
|
$
|
69.36
|
(4)
|
|
|
37
|
%
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Estimates used for SRK Consulting engineering study |
|
(2) |
|
As of June 15, 2010; Metal-Pages.com |
|
(3) |
|
As of Jan. 18, 2011; Metal-Pages.com |
|
(4) |
|
Molycorp estimates |
|
(5) |
|
From March 2010 to January 2011 |
|
|
Note: |
3-year average refers to Metal-Pages oxide and metal prices
averaged from May 2007 — May 2010, FOB China
|
Sumitomo
Investment
On December 10, 2010, we entered into a memorandum of
understanding with Sumitomo Corporation, or Sumitomo. If we
execute the definitive agreements contemplated by the memorandum
of understanding, we expect to, among other things, provide
Sumitomo with approximately 1,500 mt per year (and following
completion of our initial modernization and expansion plan,
approximately 1,750 mt per year) of cerium and lanthanum-based
products and 250 mt per year of didymium oxide for a period
ending five years after the completion of our initial
modernization and expansion plan, at market-based prices subject
to a floor.
Pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the memorandum of
understanding, Sumitomo will purchase $100 million of our
common stock at a value based on a volume weighted average price
for the 20 trading day period prior to closing and arrange for a
$30 million debt financing at a low interest rate. Sumitomo
is seeking financial support from the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals
National Corporation (JOGMEC), a Japanese government entity, in
connection with this effort. The transactions contemplated by
the memorandum of understanding are subject to finalization of
definitive agreements and various approvals, and the financing
transactions are expected to close near the end of the first
quarter of 2011. There is no assurance that these agreements
will be finalized and that these transactions will be
consummated.
7
Hitachi
Metals Joint Venture
On December 21, 2010, we announced the intent to establish
joint ventures with Hitachi Metals for its NdFeB magnets and
alloys. These joint ventures would provide us with access to
intellectual property needed to implement our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy. We expect to sign definitive agreements, which will be
subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, for the alloy
joint venture by early April 2011. Signing of definitive
agreements, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of the
feasibility study and other conditions, for the joint venture to
produce rare earth magnets would follow later in 2011. There is
no assurance that these joint ventures will be established.
W.R.
Grace Agreement
In November 2010, we entered into a contract to supply W.
R. Grace & Co., or Grace, with a significant amount of
REOs, primarily lanthanum oxide, through mid-2012 at
market-based prices subject to a ceiling and a floor. We also
entered into a second contract to supply Grace with up to
75 percent of our lanthanum product production per year
(based on our initial planned capacity) at market-based prices
subject to a floor for a three-year period commencing upon the
achievement of expected annual production rates under our
initial modernization and expansion plan, which may be extended
at Grace’s option for an additional three-year period.
Commencement
of Sales of
XSORBX®
We commenced sales of
XSORBX®
in the third quarter of 2010.
XSORBX®
is a proprietary product and process, primarily consisting of
cerium, that removes arsenic and other heavy metals from
industrial processing streams and will allow our customers to
more safely sequester arsenic and increase their production.
XSORBX®
is protected by over 100 issued and pending U.S. and
foreign patents and patent applications. We have begun to sell
XSORBX®
for commercial use in the wastewater, recreation, pool and spa,
industrial process and other water treatment markets.
Our
Strengths
We believe that we possess a number of competitive strengths
that position the Mountain Pass facility to regain its role as
one of the leading global suppliers of REOs.
We
have a proven source of REOs with high-grade ore and long
reserve life.
Prior to the end of the last mining campaign at the Mountain
Pass facility in 2002, the mine had been in continuous operation
for over 50 years. Since our acquisition of the Mountain
Pass facility, we have been processing stockpiled feedstocks as
part of our ongoing effort to significantly improve our solvent
extraction technologies and other processing capabilities.
Today, based on estimated total proven reserves of
88.0 million pounds of REO contained in 0.480 million
tons of ore, with an average ore grade of 9.38%, and probable
reserves of 2.12 billion pounds of REO contained in
13.108 million tons of ore, with an average ore grade of
8.20%, in each case using a cut-off grade of 5.0%, the Mountain
Pass mine has a life in excess of 30 years at an annual
production rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO. Our
leadership team is committed to the continuous and sustainable
manufacture of rare earth products at the Mountain Pass facility
using advanced milling and processing technologies that will
significantly increase the life of the known ore body at the
Mountain Pass facility. Additionally, in 2010, we expanded our
on-site
exploratory drilling program to confirm the existence and extent
of bastnasite, monazite and other rare earth phosphate mineral
occurrences in unexplored areas of the Mountain Pass facility.
This program will also help to establish whether our measured,
indicated and inferred resources can become proven or probable
reserves.
We
expect to be well-positioned to capitalize on the tightening
balance of global supply and demand of rare earth
products.
As worldwide demand for rare earth products increases, the
supply of REOs remains limited by available production capacity,
which is currently concentrated in China. According to IMCOA,
China accounted for
8
approximately 96% of global REO production in 2008. China also
dominates the manufacture of metals and NdFeB magnets from rare
earths, capabilities that are not currently found in the United
States.
Chinese government policies will also impact the supply and
demand of REOs and rare earth products. We believe that the
Chinese government intends to increase wind generated power to
at least 150 gigawatts by 2020. The Chinese government has
proposed a package of over $29 billion to fund hybrid and
electric vehicle production, placing additional strain on the
REE supply chain. Citing the importance of REE availability to
internal industries and the desire to conserve resources, the
Chinese government has also announced export quotas, increased
export tariffs and introduced a “mining quotas policy”
that, in addition to imposing export quotas and export tariffs,
also imposes production quotas and limits the issuance of new
licenses for rare earth exploration.
According to IMCOA, China’s export quotas have decreased
from approximately 65,600 mt of REO in 2004 to approximately
50,000 mt of REO in 2009. On July 8, 2010, China’s
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the
export quota for the second half of 2010, which reduced exports
by 72% compared with the second half of 2009 and 40% for the
year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the year ended
December 31, 2009. On December 28, 2010, China’s
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology further reduced
the export quota for the first half of 2011, reducing exports by
35% compared with the first half of 2010 and 20% for the twelve
months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to the twelve months
ended June 30, 2010. In 2008, according to IMCOA, China
imposed export taxes of up to 25% on selected REOs (primarily
heavy REOs) and up to 15% for all other REOs (primarily light
REOs). In addition, according to IMCOA, China’s Ministry of
Industry and Information Technology issued a plan in 2009 to
reduce the production of separated rare earths by 7% to 110,700
mt of REO in 2009.
IMCOA estimates there is a currently a global deficit in REO
supply, which anticipated to continue without the advent of
production from new projects, such as Mountain Pass. Limits on
rare earth exports from China and the lack of available
substitutes make the development of new sources of REEs
essential to meet the growing demand for existing and emerging
technologies, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, wind power
turbines, compact fluorescent light bulbs, hard disk drives and
dual use electronics.
China has announced a national stockpile program, as has South
Korea. Additionally, Japan has increased its national stockpile
program. In December 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy
released a study concluding that five rare earth metals,
dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium and yttrium, are
critical to clean energy technologies in the short term and
medium term due to their importance to the clean energy economy
and risk of supply disruption. The report emphasizes that
diversified global supply chains for these critical materials
are essential, and calls for steps to be taken to facilitate
extraction, processing and manufacturing in the United States.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defense is conducting
a study to determine its rare earth requirements and supply
chain vulnerabilities and whether to build a strategic
stockpile. These stockpile programs will likely accelerate the
pace of the current and projected global REE supply deficit.
U.S. federal government investments and policies may
materially increase end-market demand for our rare earth
products. For example, the U.S. federal government approved
$45 billion in grant funding and loan guarantees directed
toward wind power generation projects and hybrid and electric
vehicles. Pending energy legislation may also increase demand
for clean technology applications, which use rare earth products.
Upon reaching a full planned production rate of approximately
19,050 mt of REO per year by the end of 2012 under our initial
modernization and expansion plan, we expect to be in a position
to supply a substantial portion of the U.S. demand and also
sell to export markets. In addition, under our capacity
expansion plan, we expect to have the ability to produce up to
approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end of 2013.
We
have a highly experienced and qualified management
team.
Our President and Chief Executive Officer has over 29 years
of experience, over 24 of which are associated with the Mountain
Pass facility. In addition, our Chief Technology Officer,
General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer have over
75 years of combined technical, operational, legal,
financial and management experience. Many of our key employees
have worked with the Mountain Pass facility for over
9
20 years each. We also have a proven technology and product
development group and as of December 31, 2010, held 88
issued and pending U.S. patents and patent applications,
and 190 issued and pending foreign patents and patent
applications. Management has also created a work environment
that prioritizes safety. Since July 2005, the Mountain Pass
facility has not had a lost-time accident and has received the
coveted “Sentinels of Safety” award from the Mine
Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, for three of the last
six years.
Our
Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to:
Build
the largest, most advanced and efficient fully integrated REO
processing facility in the world.
We intend to replace existing equipment at the Mountain Pass
facility in connection with our modernization and expansion
efforts. We also intend to build the largest, most advanced and
efficient fully integrated REO processing facility in the world
to support our anticipated production requirements. Following
the purchase, delivery, installation and
start-up of
new equipment, our fully integrated facility will allow us to
reach full production, utilizing our newly optimized and
commercially proven REO processing operations. Additionally, we
expect that our proprietary production technology and our
planned new paste tailings operation will reduce our
environmental footprint and set the standard in the industry for
environmental stewardship.
Successfully
complete modernization and expansion efforts and reach full
planned production rates for REOs at the Mountain Pass
facility.
After reaching full planned production rates for REOs at the
Mountain Pass facility under our initial modernization and
expansion plan, we expect to produce approximately 19,050 mt of
REO per year by the end of 2012. Additionally, under our
capacity expansion plan, we expect to have the ability to
produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end
of 2013. We operate the Mountain Pass facility pursuant to a
conditional use permit that allows us to feed ore to the mill at
a rate of 2,400 tons per day through 2042. While the Mountain
Pass facility historically required 2,000 tons of mill feed per
day to manufacture approximately 19,050 mt of REO per year, we
expect that new proprietary technologies we developed will allow
us to extract the same 19,050 mt of REO per year while only
using approximately 1,100 to 1,200 tons of mill feed per day,
thus allowing us to increase annual REO production from our
initial plan of 19,050 mt of REO per year to up to 40,000 mt of
REO per year without any change in the permit limit. These
estimates are based on results achieved at the Mountain Pass
facility in full scale mill test runs from 2001 to 2002. In
addition, we have improved cracking technology at commercial
scale (2,000 to 3,000 mt per year production rate) from 2009 to
date and improved performance of our solvent extraction at
commercial scale (2,000 to 3,000 mt per year production rate) as
demonstrated from 2007 to 2009.
Improve
our operating efficiencies with technically advanced
manufacturing techniques.
We intend to continue to improve the efficiency of our
operations through the creation and use of technically advanced
manufacturing processes for production of rare earth products,
which will allow us to deliver high-quality rare earth products
at globally competitive prices. We have already invested
significant resources towards perfecting our REO processing
operations and developing new and proprietary applications for
individual REEs. We expect that by advancing all of these
technologies, we will continue to lower our operating costs.
Manage
our costs to be cost competitive.
The success of our business will depend on our ability to manage
our costs. We will manage these costs through the use of new
production technologies that have been developed by our research
and development group, which will use less energy and raw
materials and will result in a reduced environmental footprint.
These production technologies will substantially reduce the
amount of water consumption and waste water generation. We plan
to use our proprietary technology to maximize our process
recoveries and maximize REO
10
concentrate production per unit of extracted ore. We plan to
install a natural gas powered co-generation power plant as part
of our modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass facility
to reduce energy consumption and costs as well as minimize or
eliminate our reliance on the regional electric power grid. As
part of our modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass
facility, we also intend to produce our own hydrochloric acid
and sodium hydroxide at the Mountain Pass facility and recycle
our acid and base, thereby reducing our reliance on external
sources of reagents. After completion of our modernization and
expansion efforts, we anticipate our most significant cash
operating costs will consist of natural gas and labor.
Secure
customer commitments to provide a stable revenue
stream.
We are working to establish stable revenue streams for the rare
earth minerals and products we produce at the Mountain Pass
facility. Upon reaching full planned production rates for REOs
at the Mountain Pass facility under our initial modernization
and expansion plan, we expect to produce approximately 19,050 mt
of REO per year. Additionally, under our capacity expansion
plan, we expect to have the ability to produce up to
approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end of 2013.
Pursuant to our two contracts with Grace, we have agreed to
supply Grace with a significant amount of REOs, primarily
lanthanum oxide, through mid-2012 at market-based prices subject
to a ceiling and a floor and with up to 75 percent of our
lanthanum product production per year (based on our initial
planned capacity) at market-based prices subject to a floor for
a three-year period commencing upon the achievement of expected
annual production rates under our initial modernization and
expansion plan, which may be extended at Grace’s option for
an additional three-year period. Upon execution of definitive
agreements with Sumitomo, we also expect to provide Sumitomo
with approximately 1,500 mt per year (and following completion
of our initial modernization and expansion plan, approximately
1,750 mt per year) of cerium and lanthanum-based products and
250 mt per year of didymium oxide for a period ending five years
after the completion of our initial modernization and expansion
of the Mountain Pass facility, at market-based prices subject to
a floor. As of January 1, 2011, we also had 21 non-binding
letters of intent to sell our rare earth products. These letters
of intent, together with our contracts with Grace and memorandum
of understanding with Sumitomo, represent approximately 148% of
our anticipated production of approximately 19,050 mt of REO for
2013 under our initial modernization and expansion plan, and our
non-binding letter of intent with Neo Material also contemplates
the sale of certain rare earth products. Prior to commencing
anticipated production of approximately 19,050 mt of REO year,
we intend to enter into short- and long-term sales contracts
with existing and new customers for amounts not in excess of our
actual planned production. In addition, we are in discussions
with multiple large, globally diversified mining companies
regarding the sale of
XSORBX®,
which will expand demand for cerium in times when it is in
surplus and low priced.
The following table compares the volume under our contracts with
Grace, our memorandum of understanding with Sumitomo and our 21
non-binding letters of intent to our anticipated production of
approximately 19,050 mt of REO for 2013 (in mt):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Volume Under
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent of
|
|
|
|
Anticipated 2013
|
|
|
Letters of
|
|
|
Contracted
|
|
|
Uncommitted
|
|
|
Anticipated 2013
|
|
Product Type
|
|
Production(1)(2)
|
|
|
Intent(1)(2)
|
|
|
Volume(9)
|
|
|
Volume(10)
|
|
|
Production(11)
|
|
|
Lanthanum oxide or other form
|
|
|
3,104
|
|
|
|
4,641
|
|
|
|
4,535
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
296
|
%
|
Lanthanum metal
|
|
|
2,507
|
|
|
|
700
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,807
|
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
Cerium non-metal
|
|
|
9,684
|
|
|
|
11,265
|
(4)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
116
|
%
|
Cerium metal
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
200
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Neodymium oxide or other form
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Neodymium or NdPr metal
|
|
|
313
|
|
|
|
3,596
|
(5)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,149
|
%
|
Praseodymium metal
|
|
|
116
|
|
|
|
60
|
(5)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
52
|
%
|
Europium oxide
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
7
|
(6)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
37
|
%
|
Samarium Oxide
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Samarium metal(7)
|
|
|
191
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
151
|
|
|
|
21
|
%
|
NdPr metal in NdFeB alloy
|
|
|
1,964
|
|
|
|
1,103
|
(8)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
861
|
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
NdPr metal in NdFeB magnets
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
290
|
(8)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
17,898
|
|
|
|
21,992
|
|
|
|
4,535
|
|
|
|
2,887
|
|
|
|
148
|
%
|
11
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Alloy and magnet production and letter of intent volume are
reported on a rare earth metal basis. Three of our non-binding
letters of intent contain a volume range; these letters cover
lanthanum oxide, cerium non-metal and NdPr metal in NdFeB alloy.
With respect to these non-binding letters of intent, the table
above reflects the high end of the range provided for in each
letter. In addition, certain of our non-binding letters of
intent provide for a certain volume of rare earth metals or
alloys but do not allocate that volume among specific rare earth
metals or alloys. In those instances, we have allocated the
volume in those letters based on management’s estimates of
the needs of those customers and their specific applications.
The table above includes anticipated sales of cerium and
lanthanum-based products and didymium oxide to Sumitomo, subject
to execution of definitive agreements. The table above does not
include any sales of any products under either of the agreements
we have entered into with Traxys North America LLC, which we
refer to as Traxys. See “Certain Relationships and
Related-Party Transactions — Inventory Financing and
Resale Agreements.” Additionally, pursuant to the terms of
our non-binding letter of intent with Neo Material, Neo Material
may agree to purchase 3,000 to 5,000 mt of mixed rare earth
carbonate and 300 to 500 mt of neodymium oxide and praseodymium
oxide per year, which amounts are not included in the table
above. |
|
(2) |
|
With respect to our metal products, there is a 14.2% loss of
mass when REOs are converted to rare earth metal due to oxygen
evolution, which accounts for most of the difference between the
17,898 mt total 2013 production rate and our anticipated
production rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO per year in
2013. |
|
(3) |
|
Contained within mischmetal, a combination of lanthanum, cerium
and iron, for battery alloy producers. |
|
(4) |
|
Volume shown is used in traditional glass or catalyst market
segments and represents only a very small fraction of cerium
buyers. Although IMCOA predicts that there will be a surplus of
cerium in the future, we anticipate most of our production will
serve the new, proprietary
XSORBX®
market segment if a surplus develops. At current prices, we
would seek to sell cerium for other uses instead. This segment
alone is expected to consume many times more cerium units than
we can produce. We believe the new segment negates the need for
additional letters of intent at this time. |
|
(5) |
|
We have received non-binding letters of intent for 9,700,000
pounds of Nd and/or NdPr metal (otherwise known as didymium
metal). To demonstrate the Nd and Pr breakdown, we have split
the didymium requirement to the generally accepted ratio of
75/25 Nd to Pr in the didymium metal. Some of our metal
production will be consumed internally for downstream NdFeB
alloy/magnet production. |
|
(6) |
|
We expect to receive non-binding letters of intent from a number
of phosphor producers, which will easily consume our europium
production. At this time, we are the only producer outside of
China for this element, which enables energy efficient, compact
fluorescent lights and straight tube T-8 lamps. |
|
(7) |
|
IMCOA estimates that there is a surplus of samarium metal. |
|
(8) |
|
This represents the estimated NdPr metal contained in the
non-binding letter of intent volume for NdFeB alloy and magnets. |
|
(9) |
|
Represents volume under our contracts with Grace. |
|
(10) |
|
Represents volume not committed under contract or covered by
non-binding letters of intent. |
|
(11) |
|
Represents volume under
non-binding
letters of intent and contracted volume as a percentage of
anticipated 2013 production. |
Integrate
downstream to profitably capture the full value
chain.
We intend to utilize vertical integration through further
downstream processing of our REOs into rare earth metals, alloys
and finished magnets. Our initial modernization and expansion
plan envisions adding facilities and equipment for metal
conversion and alloy production at the Mountain Pass facility or
an off-site property. If we add an off-site facility to produce
rare earth metals and alloys instead of adding such facilities
and equipment at Mountain Pass, we would transport cerium,
lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and
samarium oxide products from our Mountain Pass facility to that
off-site location to produce rare earth metals and alloys. In
December 2010, we entered into a non-binding letter of intent
with Hitachi to form joint ventures for the production of rare
earth alloys and magnets in the United States. Additionally, we
have entered into a non-binding
12
letter of intent with Neo Material that, among other things,
contemplates a technology transfer agreement pursuant to which
Neo Material may provide us with technical assistance and
know-how with respect to the production of rare earth metals,
alloys and magnets. This
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy, if successfully implemented, would make us the first
fully integrated supplier of NdFeB magnets in the world and the
only producer of NdFeB magnets in the United States. In
addition, we are working to identify and develop new downstream
opportunities for the REOs, rare earth metals and alloys and
rare earth products we will manufacture.
Develop
new higher margin products.
We intend to develop new higher margin products and processes
for REEs that historically have had lower demand. For example,
cerium is used primarily for glass polishing and has typically
sold at prices lower than those for other REEs. However, we have
developed
XSORBX®,
a proprietary product and process, primarily consisting of
cerium, that we have proven to be effective in removing arsenic
and other heavy metals from industrial processing streams. This
will allow our customers to more safely sequester arsenic and
increase their production. We believe this product is applicable
to a broad range of applications with higher margins. For
example, in addition to removing arsenic and other contaminants
from industrial waste water,
XSORBX®
can also be used to treat drinking water, which we believe is an
application with a higher margin as compared to cerium spot
prices. We have entered into two purchase agreements to provide
XSORBX®
to companies in the drinking water market. We have begun to sell
XSORBX®
for commercial use in the wastewater, recreation, pool and spa,
industrial process and other water treatment markets. We are
continuing to seek additional letters of intent and sales
contracts with existing and new customers for sales of
XSORBX®.
XSORBX®
is protected by over 100 issued and pending U.S. and
foreign patents and patent applications. We will continue to
focus on establishing proprietary markets for low-demand REEs to
provide us with an opportunity to sell these REEs as higher
margin products.
Risks
That We Face
Although the Mountain Pass facility had been in continuous
operation for 50 years, mining and milling operations ended
in 2002, and our activities at the facility in recent years have
consisted of manufacturing products from stockpiled feedstocks
to improve our solvent extraction technologies and other
processing capabilities, which have resulted in minimal revenue.
Our ongoing modernization and expansion efforts at the Mountain
Pass facility to reach our planned production rate of
approximately 19,050 mt of REO per year by the end of 2012
requires the commitment of substantial resources for operating
expenses and capital expenditures. Our continued viability is
based on successfully implementing our strategy, including our
modernization and expansion plans at the Mountain Pass facility,
successfully commencing mining operations at the facility and
reaching full planned production rates in accordance with our
expected timeframe. Any unanticipated costs or delays associated
with our ongoing modernization and expansion efforts at the
Mountain Pass facility could have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition or results of operations and could
require us to seek additional capital, which may not be
available on commercially acceptable terms or at all.
We are subject to numerous other risks that may adversely impact
our ability to successfully implement our business strategy,
including, without limitation:
|
|
|
|
•
|
our potential inability to obtain any incremental funding
required to complete our modernization and expansion;
|
|
|
•
|
our potential inability to successfully establish or maintain
collaborative, joint venture, technology transfer and licensing
arrangements;
|
|
|
•
|
our potential inability to convert existing non-binding letters
of intent with customers for the sale of REO products into
binding contracts;
|
|
|
•
|
fluctuations in demand for, and prices of, rare earth products;
|
|
|
•
|
our potential inability to successfully implement new processing
technologies and capabilities;
|
|
|
•
|
the competitive industry in which we operate;
|
13
|
|
|
|
•
|
customers pursuing rare earth alternatives or products that do
not rely on rare earth products; and
|
|
|
•
|
the lack of development of new uses and markets for rare earth
products.
|
For more information regarding these and other risks that we
face, see “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this prospectus.
Our
Corporate History and Structure
Molycorp Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
formerly known as Rare Earth Acquisitions LLC, was formed on
June 12, 2008 to purchase the Mountain Pass, California
rare earth deposit and associated assets from Chevron Mining
Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. Prior to the
acquisition, the Mountain Pass facility was owned by Chevron
Mining Inc. and, before 2005, by Unocal Corporation. Molycorp,
LLC, which was the parent of Molycorp Minerals, LLC, was formed
on September 9, 2009 as a Delaware limited liability
company. Molycorp, Inc. was formed on March 4, 2010 as a
new Delaware corporation and was not, prior to the date of the
consummation of its initial public offering, conducting any
material activities.
The members of Molycorp, LLC contributed either (a) all of
their member interests in Molycorp, LLC or (b) all of their
equity interests in entities that hold member interests in
Molycorp, LLC (and no other assets or liabilities) to Molycorp,
Inc. in exchange for shares of Molycorp, Inc. Class A
common stock. Additionally, all of the holders of profits
interests in Molycorp Minerals, LLC, which were represented by
incentive shares, contributed all of their incentive shares to
Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for shares of Molycorp, Inc.
Class B common stock. Accordingly, Molycorp, LLC and
Molycorp Minerals, LLC became subsidiaries of Molycorp, Inc. We
refer to this process as the “corporate
reorganization” throughout this prospectus. Following the
corporate reorganization, Molycorp, LLC was merged with and into
Molycorp Minerals, LLC. Immediately prior to the consummation of
Molycorp, Inc.’s initial public offering, all of the shares
of Class A common stock and Class B common stock were
converted into shares of common stock.
Company
Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 5619 Denver Tech
Center Parkway, Suite 1000, Greenwood Village, Colorado
80111, and our telephone number is
(303) 843-8040.
Our website address is www.molycorp.com. Information on or
accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus.
14
The
Offering
|
|
|
Common stock offered by the selling stockholders |
|
shares
(or shares
if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional
shares of common stock in this offering in full) |
|
Common stock outstanding after this offering |
|
82,300,757 shares |
|
Use of proceeds |
|
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the
selling stockholders in this offering. |
|
Concurrent mandatory convertible preferred stock offering |
|
Concurrently with this offering of common stock, we are making a
public offering
of shares
of our mandatory convertible preferred stock, and we have
granted the underwriters of that offering a
30-day
option to purchase up
to additional
shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock to cover
over-allotments. Such shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock will be convertible into an aggregate of up
to shares
of our common stock (up
to shares
of our common stock if the underwriters in that offering
exercise their over-allotment option in full), in each case
subject to anti-dilution, make-whole and other adjustments. |
|
|
|
We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the concurrent
offering of our mandatory convertible preferred stock, after
deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated
offering expenses, will be approximately
$ million (or approximately
$ million if the underwriters
in that offering exercise their over-allotment option in full).
We intend to use the net proceeds from the concurrent offering
of our mandatory convertible preferred stock to fund our initial
modernization and expansion plan and our capacity expansion
plan. See “Use of Proceeds.” |
|
|
|
We cannot assure you that the offering of mandatory convertible
preferred stock will be completed or, if completed, on what
terms it will be completed. The closing of this offering is not
conditioned upon the closing of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock offering, and the closing of our offering of
mandatory convertible preferred stock is not conditioned upon
the closing of this offering. See the section of this prospectus
entitled “Concurrent Offering of Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock” for a summary of the terms of our
mandatory convertible preferred stock and a further description
of the concurrent offering. |
|
Risk factors |
|
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 20 and other
information included in this prospectus for a discussion of
factors you should carefully consider before deciding whether to
invest in our common stock. |
|
NYSE symbol |
|
Our common stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange, or
NYSE, under the symbol “MCP.” |
15
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus
reflects or assumes:
|
|
|
|
•
|
no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase up to
an
additional shares
of our common stock;
|
|
|
•
|
the retroactive adjustment of a 38.23435373-for-one stock split
with respect to shares of our Class A common stock and
Class B common stock effective on July 9, 2010;
|
|
|
•
|
the conversion of all of our Class A common stock and
Class B common stock into an aggregate of
53,125,000 shares of common stock immediately prior to the
consummation our initial public offering as described under
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations”;
|
|
|
•
|
the exclusion of shares of common stock expected to be issued to
Sumitomo, subject to the finalization of definitive agreements;
|
|
|
•
|
the exclusion of up
to shares
of our common stock (up
to shares
if the underwriters in our offering of mandatory convertible
preferred stock exercise their over-allotment option in full),
in each case subject to anti-dilution, make-whole and other
adjustments, that would be issuable upon conversion of shares of
mandatory convertible preferred stock issued in our concurrent
offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock; and
|
|
|
•
|
the exclusion of 4,065,628 shares of common stock
authorized and reserved for future issuance under our stock
incentive plan. See “Management — Compensation
Discussion and Analysis — Molycorp, Inc. 2010 Equity
and Performance Incentive Plan.”
|
16
Summary
Consolidated Financial Data
Upon the formation of Molycorp, LLC on September 9, 2009,
all members of Molycorp Minerals, LLC contributed their member
interests to Molycorp, LLC in exchange for member interests in
Molycorp, LLC. That exchange was treated as a reorganization of
entities under common control and Molycorp Minerals, LLC is the
predecessor to Molycorp, LLC. Accordingly, all financial
information of Molycorp, LLC for periods prior to its formation
is the historical financial information of Molycorp Minerals,
LLC. Molycorp Minerals, LLC acquired the Mountain Pass,
California rare earth deposit and associated assets from Chevron
Mining Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, on
September 30, 2008.
The summary consolidated financial data as of December 31,
2009 and 2008, and for the year ended December 31, 2009 and
for the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2008 has been derived from Molycorp,
LLC’s audited consolidated financial statements and the
related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary
consolidated financial data as of September 30, 2010, for the
nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and cumulatively
for the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through September
30, 2010 have been derived from Molycorp, Inc.’s unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements and the related
notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Molycorp, Inc. was formed on March 4, 2010 for the purpose
of continuing the business of Molycorp, LLC in corporate form.
On April 15, 2010, the members of Molycorp, LLC contributed
either (a) all of their member interests in Molycorp, LLC
or (b) all of their equity interests in entities that hold
member interests in Molycorp, LLC (and no other assets or
liabilities) to Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for shares of
Molycorp, Inc., and, as a result, Molycorp, LLC became a wholly
owned subsidiary of Molycorp, Inc. Accordingly, all financial
information of Molycorp, Inc. for periods prior to the corporate
reorganization is the historical financial information of
Molycorp, LLC.
As a limited liability company, the taxable income and losses of
Molycorp, LLC were reported on the income tax returns of its
members. Molycorp, Inc. is subject to federal and state income
taxes and will file consolidated income tax returns. If the
corporate reorganization had been effective as of
January 1, 2009, our net loss of $28.6 million for the
year ended December 31, 2009 would have generated an
unaudited pro forma deferred income tax benefit of
$11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009
assuming a combined federal and state statutory income tax rate.
However, as realization of such tax benefit would not have been
assured, we would have also established a valuation allowance of
$11.3 million to eliminate such pro forma tax benefit.
The unaudited pro forma balance sheet data as of
September 30, 2010 has been prepared to give effect to the
consummation of our offering of mandatory convertible preferred
stock, as if it had occurred on September 30, 2010. The
unaudited pro forma balance sheet data is for informational
purposes only and does not purport to indicate balance sheet
information as of any future date.
The summary consolidated financial data set forth below should
be read in conjunction with “Selected Consolidated
Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”
and the financial statements and the notes thereto included
elsewhere in this prospectus.
17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
(Inception) Through
|
|
|
(Inception) Through
|
|
Statement of Operations Data
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
13,176
|
|
|
$
|
4,889
|
|
|
$
|
7,093
|
|
|
$
|
2,137
|
|
|
$
|
22,406
|
|
Cost of goods sold(1)
|
|
|
(18,989
|
)
|
|
|
(14,896
|
)
|
|
|
(21,785
|
)
|
|
|
(13,027
|
)
|
|
|
(53,801
|
)
|
Selling, general and administrative expense
|
|
|
(12,851
|
)
|
|
|
(8,380
|
)
|
|
|
(12,444
|
)
|
|
|
(2,979
|
)
|
|
|
(28,274
|
)
|
Stock-based compensation
|
|
|
(21,660
|
)
|
|
|
(241
|
)
|
|
|
(241
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(21,901
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization expense
|
|
|
(239
|
)
|
|
|
(123
|
)
|
|
|
(191
|
)
|
|
|
(19
|
)
|
|
|
(449
|
)
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
(695
|
)
|
|
|
(755
|
)
|
|
|
(1,006
|
)
|
|
|
(250
|
)
|
|
|
(1,951
|
)
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(41,258
|
)
|
|
|
(19,506
|
)
|
|
|
(28,574
|
)
|
|
|
(14,138
|
)
|
|
|
(83,970
|
)
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(41,185
|
)
|
|
$
|
(19,492
|
)
|
|
$
|
(28,587
|
)
|
|
$
|
(14,074
|
)
|
|
$
|
(83,846
|
)
|
Weighted average shares outstanding (Common shares)(2):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
56,027,460
|
|
|
|
38,831,232
|
|
|
|
38,921,015
|
|
|
|
38,234,354
|
|
|
|
44,721,664
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
56,027,460
|
|
|
|
38,831,232
|
|
|
|
38,921,015
|
|
|
|
38,234,354
|
|
|
|
44,721,664
|
|
Loss per share of common stock(2):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
(0.74
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.50
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.73
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.37
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.87
|
)
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.74
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.50
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.73
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.37
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.87
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
351,472
|
|
|
$
|
6,929
|
|
|
$
|
2,189
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
371,368
|
|
|
|
18,520
|
|
|
|
8,710
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
476,488
|
|
|
|
97,666
|
|
|
|
95,355
|
|
Total non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,394
|
|
|
|
13,509
|
|
|
|
13,196
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,456
|
|
|
|
23,051
|
|
|
|
17,279
|
|
Members’ equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
74,615
|
|
|
|
78,076
|
|
Stockholders’ equity(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
449,023
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
(Inception) Through
|
|
|
(Inception) Through
|
|
Other Financial Data
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Capital expenditures(4)
|
|
$
|
12,965
|
|
|
$
|
5,365
|
|
|
$
|
7,285
|
|
|
$
|
321
|
|
|
$
|
20,571
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Cost of goods sold includes write-downs of inventory to
estimated net realizable value of $1.6 million,
$7.5 million, $9.0 million, $9.5 million and
$20.1 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2010 and 2009, for the year ended December 31, 2009, for
the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2008 and cumulatively for the period from
June 12, 2008 (Inception) through September 30, 2010,
respectively. |
18
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding gives retroactive effect to
the corporate reorganization, the conversion of all of our
Class A common stock and Class B common stock into
shares of common stock and the consummation of our initial
public offering, and the 38.23435373-for-one stock split
completed by Molycorp, Inc. on July 9, 2010 as if such
events had occurred on June 12, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
Although a final determination cannot be made until issuance, we
currently believe the mandatory convertible preferred stock will
be classified as permanent equity and included in
stockholders’ equity. |
|
(4) |
|
Reflected in cash flows from investing activities on our
consolidated statements of cash flows. |
19
RISK
FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of
risk. Accordingly, you should carefully consider the following
risk factors, together with all of the other information
contained in this prospectus, including our consolidated
financial statements and related notes, before making an
investment in our common stock. If any of the following risks
actually occurs, we may not be able to conduct our business as
currently planned, and our business, operating results and
financial condition could be harmed. In that case, the market
price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all
or a part of your investment.
Risks
Related to Our Business
The
production of rare earth products is a capital-intensive
business and our ongoing modernization and expansion efforts at
the Mountain Pass facility to reach initial planned production
rates by the end of 2012 and to expand our capacity to produce
up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end of 2013
will require the commitment of substantial resources. Any
unanticipated costs or delays associated with our ongoing
modernization and expansion efforts at the Mountain Pass
facility could have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition or results of operations.
Our ongoing modernization and expansion efforts at the Mountain
Pass facility to reach initial planned production rates by the
end of 2012 and to expand our capacity to produce up to
approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end of 2013
require the commitment of substantial resources for operating
expenses and capital expenditures. We expect to incur
approximately $531 million in capital costs to achieve full
planned production rates under our initial modernization and
expansion plan prior to December 31, 2012. In addition, we
expect to incur approximately $250 million in additional
capital costs to build additional production capacity prior to
December 31, 2013. Our estimated expenses may increase in
subsequent years as consultants, personnel and equipment
associated with advancing development and commercial production
are added. The progress of our modernization and expansion
efforts at the Mountain Pass facility and the amounts and timing
of expenditures will depend in part on the following:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the replacement of a significant portion of the existing
process, plant and equipment that consists of aging or outdated
facilities and equipment, retooling and development and the
preparation of the mine pit for renewed production of ore;
|
|
|
•
|
maintaining required federal, state and local permits;
|
|
|
•
|
the results of consultants’ analysis and recommendations;
|
|
|
•
|
negotiating contracts for equipment, earthwork, construction,
equipment installation, labor and completing infrastructure and
construction work;
|
|
|
•
|
negotiating sales and off-take contracts for our planned
production;
|
|
|
•
|
the execution of any joint venture agreements or similar
arrangements with strategic partners; and
|
|
|
•
|
other factors, many of which are beyond our control.
|
Most of these activities require significant lead times and must
be advanced concurrently. Any unanticipated costs or delays
associated with our ongoing modernization and expansion efforts
at the Mountain Pass facility could have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition or results of operations and
could require us to seek additional capital, which may not be
available on commercially acceptable terms or at all.
The
actual amount of capital required for the expansion and
modernization of the Mountain Pass facility may vary materially
from our current estimates, in which case we would need to raise
additional funds, which may delay completion and have a material
adverse effect on our business and financial
condition.
The anticipated funding required to complete the expansion and
modernization of the Mountain Pass facility, including the
second phase capacity expansion, is based on certain estimates
and assumptions we have made about the additional facilities,
equipment, labor, permits and other factors required to complete
the project. If any of these estimates or assumptions change,
the actual timing and amount of capital required to
20
complete the initial expansion and modernization of the Mountain
Pass facility as well as the capacity expansion may vary
materially from what we anticipate. Additional funds may be
required in the event of significant departures from our current
expansion and modernization plan, unforeseen delays, cost
overruns, engineering design changes or other unanticipated
expenses. There can be no assurance that additional financing
will be available to us, or, if available, that it can be
obtained on a timely basis and on commercially acceptable terms.
There
is no assurance that we will be able to successfully implement
our capacity expansion plan within our current timetable, that
the actual costs of the capacity expansion will not exceed our
currently estimated costs or that we will be able to secure
off-take agreements for the incremental production capacity, and
we cannot provide any assurance as to the actual operating costs
once we have completed the capacity expansion.
Our Board of Directors recently approved a second-phase capacity
expansion plan in addition to our initial modernization and
expansion plan. We will commence work on this second phase as we
are working on our initial plan and there is no assurance that
our work on the second phase will not interfere with our
completion of the initial modernization and expansion plan. In
certain cases, including separations and power, we will need to
install additional capacity. We do not believe we will need to
obtain additional permits for the capacity expansion, other than
air and building permits. However there is no assurance that we
will not in the future learn of permits that we will be required
to obtain or existing permits that we will be required to
modify. Our construction engineer has estimated that we will
incur approximately $250 million in additional capital
costs in connection with the capital expansion plan beyond those
budgeted for our initial plan, although actual costs could vary.
We have not yet obtained this additional funding and there is no
assurance that we will be able to do so on terms acceptable to
us or at all. Because we will begin expenditures on our capacity
expansion plan before completion of our initial modernization
and expansion plan, any funding insufficiency for the capacity
expansion could also impact completion of our initial plan.
We have not yet performed a detailed study of expected operating
costs for this proposed second phase, and we have not yet
commissioned SRK Consulting or any other expert to prepare an
external model or study of operating costs. While we have not
identified any reason to believe that there will be any per unit
increase in operating costs under our capacity expansion plan as
compared to our initial modernization and expansion plan
(assuming we are able to sell all of our capacity), we cannot
provide any assurances as to the actual operating costs, and
such costs could be higher. We have also not secured off-take
commitments for the incremental production from this second
phase, and we cannot assure that we will secure such commitments.
Any failure to successfully implement our capacity expansion
plan due to insufficient funding, delays or unanticipated costs,
or to realize the anticipated benefits of our capacity expansion
plan, including securing off-take commitments for the
incremental production, could have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may
be unsuccessful in raising the necessary capital to execute our
current business plan.
Under our current business plan, we intend to spend
approximately $531 million through the end of 2012 to
restart mining operations, construct and refurbish processing
facilities and other infrastructure at the Mountain Pass
facility in connection with our initial modernization and
expansion plan and expand into metal, alloy and magnet
production. In addition, we expect to spend approximately
$250 million in additional capital costs to build
additional production capacity through the end of 2013 in
connection with our capacity expansion plan, and we will need to
obtain additional funding for such plan. If the assumptions on
which we based our estimated capital expenditures of
$781 million change or are inaccurate, we may require
additional funding. We may also require additional financing as
part of our collaborative joint ventures with Hitachi for the
production of rare earth alloys and magnets in the United
States, which is not included in our estimated capital
expenditures of $781 million. Our estimated capital
expenditures of $781 million also do not include corporate,
selling, general and administrative expenses, which we estimate
to be an additional $20 million to $25 million per
year.
We expect to finance these capital expenditures and selling,
general and administrative expenses, as well as our working
capital requirements with the approximately $360.4 million
in net proceeds from our initial public offering (after giving
effect to our use of $18.2 million of net proceeds for
surety bonds), our net proceeds from
21
our offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock and
anticipated cash flows from operations, combined with
traditional debt financing, project financing, additional public
or private equity offerings
and/or
government programs, including the U.S. Department of
Energy loan guarantee program for which we have submitted
applications. We cannot assure you that the offering of
mandatory convertible preferred stock will be completed or, if
completed, on what terms it will be completed. Additionally, on
December 10, 2010, we entered into a memorandum of
understanding with Sumitomo, pursuant to which Sumitomo agreed
to, among other things, purchase $100 million of our common
stock and arrange for a $30 million debt financing. The
consummation of these transactions with Sumitomo is subject to
numerous conditions and finalization of definitive agreements.
There can be no assurance that we will be successful in raising
the incremental capital needed to fully execute our business
plan on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Because we will begin
expenditures on our capacity expansion plan before completion of
our initial modernization and expansion plan, any funding
insufficiency for the capacity expansion could also impact
completion of our initial plan.
We currently have limited sources of revenue from our
operations, and in order to modernize and expand the Mountain
Pass facility, we will need to obtain additional debt
and/or
equity financing.
Our
growth depends on the modernization and expansion of our
Mountain Pass facility, which is our only rare earth mining,
manufacturing and processing facility.
Our only rare earth mining, manufacturing and processing
facility at this time is the Mountain Pass facility. Our
continued viability is based on successfully implementing our
strategy, including our modernization and expansion plans at the
Mountain Pass facility, successfully commencing mining
operations at the Mountain Pass facility and reaching full
planned production rates in accordance with our expected
timeframe. The deterioration or destruction of any part of the
Mountain Pass facility may significantly hinder our ability to
reach or maintain full planned production rates within the
expected time frame or at all. If we are unsuccessful in
reaching and maintaining full planned production rates for REOs
at the Mountain Pass facility, within expected time frames or at
all, we may not be able to build a sustainable or profitable
business.
We may
not successfully establish or maintain collaborative, joint
venture and licensing arrangements, or establish new ones, which
could adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize
our rare earth products.
A key element of our business strategy is to utilize vertical
integration through further downstream processing of our REOs
into rare earth metal alloys and finished magnets for
clean-energy, high-technology and defense applications. To
implement this
“mine-to-magnets”
vertical integration successfully, we will need to license
certain intellectual property related to these downstream
processes and form a joint venture with an existing magnet
producer for the final production of finished rare earth
magnets. While we have entered into non-binding letters of
intent with Hitachi to form joint ventures for the production of
rare earth alloys and magnets in the United States and to
acquire a license for certain technology related to the
production of rare earth metals, alloys and magnets, we may not
be able to finalize definitive agreements and successfully
consummate these partnerships. In addition, other licenses that
may be necessary for some of these downstream processing steps
have not yet been obtained, and we are currently only in
negotiations with respect to a joint venture for the production
of finished magnets and have only entered into a non-binding
letter of intent with Neo Material that contemplates a
technology transfer agreement with respect to the production of
rare earth metals, alloys and magnets. Any failure to establish
or maintain collaborative, joint venture or licensing
arrangements for the production of downstream products on
favorable terms could adversely affect our business prospects,
financial condition or ability to develop and commercialize
downstream rare earth products.
We may
not be able to convert existing letters of intent with customers
for the sale of REO products into binding contracts, or meet the
conditions necessary for customers to commence purchasing under
existing contracts, which may have a material adverse effect on
our financial position and results of operations.
We are working to establish stable revenue streams for the rare
earth minerals and products we produce at the Mountain Pass
facility. Upon reaching full planned production rates for REOs
at the Mountain Pass facility under our initial modernization
and expansion plan, we expect to produce approximately 19,050 mt
of REO per year. Additionally, under our capacity expansion
plan, we expect to have the ability to produce up to
22
approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end of 2013.
Pursuant to our two contracts with Grace, we have agreed to
supply Grace with a significant amount of REOs, primarily
lanthanum oxide, through mid-2012 at market-based prices subject
to a ceiling and a floor and with up to 75 percent of our
lanthanum product production per year (based on our initial
planned capacity) at market-based prices subject to a floor for
a three-year period commencing upon the achievement of expected
annual production rates under our initial modernization and
expansion plan, which may be extended at Grace’s option for
an additional three-year period. Upon execution of definitive
agreements with Sumitomo, we also expect to provide Sumitomo
with approximately 1,500 mt per year (and following completion
of our initial modernization and expansion plan, approximately
1,750 mt per year) of cerium and lanthanum-based products and
250 mt per year of didymium oxide for a period ending five years
after the completion of our initial modernization and expansion
of the Mountain Pass facility, at market-based prices subject to
a floor. As of January 1, 2011, we also had 21 non-binding
letters of intent to sell our rare earth products. These letters
of intent, together with our contracts with Grace and memorandum
of understanding with Sumitomo, represent approximately 148% of
our anticipated production for 2013 under our initial
modernization and expansion plan, and our non-binding letter of
intent with Neo Material also contemplates the sale of certain
rare earth products. Prior to commencing full production, we
intend to enter into short- and long-term sales contracts with
existing and new customers for amounts not in excess of our
actual planned production under our initial modernization and
expansion plan and our capacity expansion plan, respectively.
However, there can be no assurance that these customers will
enter into binding sales contracts for the same amount of REO
products as in the letters of intent, or at all, or that we will
secure
off-take
commitments for the incremental capacity provided by our
capacity expansion plan. The failure to enter into binding
contracts, or the failure to meet the conditions necessary for
customers to commence purchasing under existing agreements, may
have a material adverse effect on our financial position and
results of operations.
We
have limited commercial production and revenues and there can be
no assurance that we will successfully reach full planned
production rates for REOs and other planned downstream products
at the Mountain Pass facility or other facilities and obtain
profitability.
We currently have limited commercial production and revenues
from the Mountain Pass facility and have carried on our business
at a loss since inception. We expect to continue to incur losses
unless and until we achieve full planned production rates and
generate sufficient revenues to fund our continuing operations.
We expect to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future
related to operating expenses, modernization and expansion
activities and other capital expenditures, which may increase in
subsequent years as needed consultants, personnel and equipment
are retained as we continue to implement our business plan. The
amounts and timing of expenditures will depend on the progress
of our ongoing modernization and expansion efforts, the results
of consultants’ analysis and recommendations, the rate at
which operating losses are incurred, the execution of any joint
venture agreements with strategic partners and other factors,
many of which are beyond our control. As a result, we may not
ever achieve profitability.
We
rely on a limited number of customers for a significant portion
of our revenue, and the loss of significant customers, or
significant changes in prices or other terms with significant
customers, prior to the completion of the restart of our mining
operations and modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass
facility, could have a material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
There is a limited market for the REOs that we currently produce
from stockpile concentrates. We currently have four customers
that individually account for a significant portion of our
revenue. The percentage of our total sales that is attributed to
these customers is as follows for the indicated periods.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
43
|
%
|
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co.
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
Mitsubishi Corporation Unimetals U.S.A.
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
11
|
%
|
3M Company
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
23
If our total sales to these customers are reduced or if the
prices we realize from these customers are reduced before we are
able to reduce costs, our operating revenues would likely be
materially adversely affected. As a result, significant changes
in volume, prices or other terms with these customers, prior to
the completion of the restart of our mining operations and
modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass facility could
have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations and financial condition.
We may
be adversely affected by fluctuations in demand for, and prices
of, rare earth products.
Because our sole source of revenue is the sale of rare earth
minerals and products, changes in demand for, and the market
price of, rare earth minerals and products could significantly
affect our profitability. The value and price of our common
stock and our financial results may be significantly adversely
affected by declines in the prices of rare earth minerals and
products. Rare earth minerals and product prices may fluctuate
and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control such as
interest rates, exchange rates, inflation or deflation,
fluctuation in the relative value of the U.S. dollar
against foreign currencies on the world market, global and
regional supply and demand for rare earth minerals and products,
and the political and economic conditions of countries that
produce rare earth minerals and products.
As a result of the global economic crisis, rare earth product
prices declined by approximately 50% during 2008 and through the
third quarter of 2009. Similarly, there can be no assurance that
the recent increase in market prices will be sustained in future
periods. Protracted periods of low prices for rare earth
minerals and products could significantly reduce revenues and
the availability of required development funds in the future.
This could cause substantial reductions to, or a suspension of,
REO production operations, impair asset values and reduce our
proven and probable rare earth ore reserves.
Demand for our products may be impacted by demand for downstream
products incorporating rare earths, including hybrid and
electric vehicles, wind power equipment and other clean
technology products, as well as demand in the general automotive
and electronic industries. Lack of growth in these markets may
adversely affect the demand for our products.
In contrast, extended periods of high commodity prices may
create economic dislocations that may be destabilizing to rare
earth minerals supply and demand and ultimately to the broader
markets. Periods of high rare earth mineral market prices
generally are beneficial to our financial performance. However,
strong rare earth mineral prices, as well as real or perceived
disruptions in the supply of rare earth minerals, also create
economic pressure to identify or create alternate technologies
that ultimately could depress future long-term demand for rare
earth minerals and products, and at the same time may
incentivize development of otherwise marginal mining properties.
For example, automobile manufacturers have recently announced
plans to develop motors for electric and hybrid cars that do not
require rare earth metals, due to concerns about the available
supply of rare earths. If the automobile industry reduces its
reliance on rare earth products, the resulting change in demand
could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Conditions
in the rare earth industry have been, and may continue to be,
extremely volatile, which could have a material impact on our
company.
Conditions in the rare earth industry have been extremely
volatile, and prices, as well as supply and demand, have been
significantly impacted by a number of factors, principally
(1) changes in economic conditions and demand for rare
earth materials and (2) changes, or perceived changes, in
Chinese quotas for export of rare earth materials. As a result
of the global economic crisis, rare earth product prices
declined by approximately 50% during 2008 and through the third
quarter of 2009. According to Metal-Pages, from October 2009
through December 2010, prices for rare earths have risen by
approximately 780% on average. Furthermore, over the same
period, prices for some of the most common rare earths (cerium
oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, and rare earth
carbonate) have risen by more than 1000% on average. If
conditions in our industry remain volatile, our stock price may
continue to exhibit volatility as well. In particular, if prices
or demand for rare earths were to decline, our stock price would
likely decline, and this could also impair our ability to obtain
remaining capital needed for development of our property and our
ability to find purchasers for our products.
24
If we
finance the necessary capital to execute our current business
plan through a securities offering or debt financing, you may
experience dilution in the event of an equity financing, or we
may be highly leveraged in the event of a debt
financing.
We may finance the capital expenditures necessary for our
modernization and expansion costs, including the capacity
expansion plan, through a public or private offering of
securities or debt financing. An equity offering, including any
issuance of common stock to Sumitomo or mandatory convertible
preferred stock, will have the effect of diluting the
proportionate equity interest and voting power of holders of our
common stock. A debt financing may result in us being highly
leveraged, and our level of indebtedness could restrict our
ability to execute our current business plan.
Our
business will be adversely affected if we do not successfully
implement new processing technologies and
capabilities.
Our processing technologies and capabilities are key components
of our competitive strengths and are expected to contribute to
low operating costs and increasing the life of the ore body at
the Mountain Pass facility. In the second quarter of 2010, we
began to process bastnasite concentrate from our stockpiles in
an effort to significantly improve these technologies and
capabilities and optimize recovery rates. Although this effort
has been successful at pilot-scale level with over 95% recovery,
we may not be able to scale the new technology and recovery
rates to commercial levels, or may not be able to do so by 2012,
as planned. We are also working to optimize other steps in our
production process. Any failure may affect our ability to
achieve the expected benefits of the new technologies and may
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or
results of operations.
We
operate in a highly competitive industry.
The rare earths mining and processing markets are capital
intensive and competitive. Our Chinese competitors may have
greater financial resources, as well as other strategic
advantages to maintain, improve and possibly expand their
facilities. Additionally, the Chinese producers have
historically been able to produce at relatively low costs due to
domestic economic factors. Even upon successful implementation
of the new processing technologies and capabilities at the
Mountain Pass facility, if we are not able to achieve
anticipated costs of production, then any strategic advantages
that our competitors may have over us, such as lower labor
costs, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The
success of our business will depend, in part, on the
establishment of new uses and markets for rare earth
products.
The success of our business will depend, in part, on the
establishment of new markets by us or third parties for certain
rare earth products that may be in low demand. Although we are
developing rare earth products for use in NdFeB magnets, which
are used in critical existing and emerging technologies, such as
hybrid and electric vehicles, wind power turbines and compact
fluorescent lighting, the success of our business depends on
creating new markets and successfully commercializing rare earth
products in existing and emerging markets. Any unexpected costs
or delays in the commercialization of any of the foregoing
products and applications could have a material adverse effect
on our financial condition or results of operations.
An
increase in the global supply of rare earth products, dumping
and predatory pricing by our competitors may materially
adversely affect our profitability.
The pricing and demand for our products is affected by a number
of factors beyond our control, including growth of economic
development and the global supply and demand for REO products.
According to IMCOA, it is estimated that China accounted for
approximately 96% of global REO production in 2008. China also
dominates the manufacture of metals and NdFeB magnets from rare
earths, a capacity that is not currently found in the United
States. Once we reach full planned production rates for REOs and
other planned downstream products, the increased competition may
lead our competitors to engage in predatory pricing behavior.
Any increase in the amount of rare earth products exported from
other nations and increased
25
competition may result in price reductions, reduced margins and
loss of potential market share, any of which could materially
adversely affect our profitability. As a result of these
factors, we may not be able to compete effectively against
current and future competitors.
We may
not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property
rights. If we fail to adequately enforce or defend our
intellectual property rights, our business may be
harmed.
Much of the technology used in the markets in which we compete
is protected by patents and trade secrets, and our commercial
success will depend in significant part on our ability to obtain
and maintain patent and trade secret protection for our products
and methods. To compete in these markets, we rely on a
combination of trade secret protection, nondisclosure and
licensing agreements, patents and trademarks to establish and
protect our proprietary intellectual property rights, including
our proprietary rare earth production processes that are not
patented. We also have a proven technology and product
development group and as of December 31, 2010, held 88
issued and pending U.S. patents and patent applications,
and 190 issued and pending foreign patents and patent
applications. We intend to rely on patented products, such as
XSORBX®,
and related licensing agreements to establish proprietary
markets for low demand REEs. These intellectual property rights
may be challenged or infringed upon by third parties or we may
be unable to maintain, renew or enter into new license
agreements with third-party owners of intellectual property on
reasonable terms. In addition, our intellectual property may be
subject to infringement or other unauthorized use outside of the
United States. In such case, our ability to protect our
intellectual property rights by legal recourse or otherwise may
be limited, particularly in countries where laws or enforcement
practices are undeveloped or do not recognize or protect
intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United
States. Unauthorized use of our intellectual property rights or
our inability to preserve existing intellectual property rights
could adversely impact our competitive position and results of
operations. The loss of our patents could reduce the value of
the related products. In addition, the cost to litigate
infringements of our patents, or the cost to defend ourselves
against patent infringement actions by others, could be
substantial.
Proprietary trade secrets and unpatented know-how are also very
important to our business. We rely on trade secrets to protect
certain aspects of our technology, especially where we do not
believe that patent protection is appropriate or obtainable.
However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. Our employees,
consultants, contractors, outside scientific collaborators and
other advisors may unintentionally or willfully disclose our
confidential information to competitors, and confidentiality
agreements may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of
unauthorized disclosure of confidential or proprietary
information. Enforcing a claim that a third party illegally
obtained and is using our trade secrets is expensive and time
consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. Moreover, our
competitors may independently develop equivalent knowledge,
methods and know-how. Failure to obtain or maintain trade secret
protection could adversely affect our competitive business
position.
We may
not be able to obtain additional patents and the legal
protection afforded by any additional patents may not adequately
protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep any competitive
advantage.
Our ability to obtain additional patents is uncertain and the
legal protection afforded by these patents is limited and may
not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep
any competitive advantage. In addition, the specific content
required of patents and patent applications that are necessary
to support and interpret patent claims is highly uncertain due
to the complex nature of the relevant legal, scientific and
factual issues. Changes in either patent laws or interpretations
of patent laws in the United States or elsewhere may diminish
the value of our intellectual property or narrow the scope of
our patent protection. Even if patents are issued regarding our
products and processes, our competitors may challenge the
validity of those patents. Patents also will not protect our
products and processes if competitors devise ways of making
products without infringing our patents.
If we
infringe, or are accused of infringing, the intellectual
property rights of third parties, it may increase our costs or
prevent us from being able to sell our existing products or
commercialize new products.
There is a risk that we may infringe, or may be accused of
infringing, the proprietary rights of third parties under
patents and pending patent applications belonging to third
parties that may exist in the United
26
States and elsewhere in the world that relate to our rare earth
products and processes. Because the patent application process
can take several years to complete, there may be currently
pending applications that may later result in issued patents
that cover our products and processes. In addition, our products
and processes may infringe existing patents.
Defending ourselves against third-party claims, including
litigation in particular, would be costly and time consuming and
would divert management’s attention from our business,
which could lead to delays in our expansion and modernization
efforts. If third parties are successful in their claims, we
might have to pay substantial damages or take other actions that
are adverse to our business. As a result of intellectual
property infringement claims, or to avoid potential claims, we
might:
|
|
|
|
•
|
be prohibited from, or delayed in, selling or licensing some of
our products or using some of our processes unless the patent
holder licenses the patent to us, which it is not required to do;
|
|
|
•
|
be required to pay substantial royalties or grant a cross
license to our patents to another patent holder; or
|
|
|
•
|
be required to redesign a product or process so it does not
infringe a third party’s patent, which may not be possible
or could require substantial funds and time.
|
In addition, we could be subject to claims that our employees,
or we, have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade
secrets or other proprietary information of third parties.
If we are unable to resolve claims that may be brought against
us by third parties related to their intellectual property
rights on terms acceptable to us, we may be precluded from
offering some of our products or using some of our processes.
Power
shortages at the Mountain Pass facility may temporarily delay
mining and processing operations and increase costs, which may
materially adversely impact our business.
Due to its position on the regional electric grid, the Mountain
Pass facility faces occasional power shortages during peak
periods. Instability in electrical supply in past years has
caused sporadic outages and brownouts and higher costs. Such
outages and brownouts have had a negative impact on production.
We plan to install a natural gas powered co-generation power
plant as part of our modernization and expansion of the Mountain
Pass facility to reduce energy costs at the Mountain Pass
facility as well as minimize or eliminate our reliance on the
regional electric power grid. If the co-generation power plant
is not installed, or is significantly delayed, we will remain
subject to the effects of occasional power outages and brownouts
and could experience temporary interruptions of mining and
processing operations. We then may be unable to fill customer
orders in a timely manner and may be subject to higher power
costs at the Mountain Pass facility. As a result, our revenue
could be adversely impacted and our relationships with our
customers could suffer, adversely impacting our ability to
generate future revenue. In addition, if power to the Mountain
Pass facility is disrupted during certain phases of our REO
extraction process, we may incur significant expenses that may
adversely affect our business.
Increasing
costs or limited access to raw materials may adversely affect
our profitability.
We use significant amounts of hydrochloric acid and sodium
hydroxide as reagents to process REOs. We ultimately intend to
produce our own hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide at the
Mountain Pass facility. While the technology used to produce
hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide is well developed, this
technology has not yet been implemented at the Mountain Pass
facility. Accordingly, we currently purchase hydrochloric acid
and sodium hydroxide in the open market and, as a result, could
be subject to significant volatility in the cost or availability
of these reagents. We may not be able to pass increased prices
for these reagents through to our customers in the form of price
increases. A significant increase in the price, or decrease in
the availability, of these reagents before we perfect our
ability to produce them on site could materially increase our
operating costs and adversely affect our profit margins from
quarter to quarter.
27
Fluctuations
in transportation costs or disruptions in transportation
services could increase competition or impair our ability to
supply rare earth minerals or products to our customers, which
could adversely affect our results of operations.
Finding affordable and dependable transportation is important
because it allows us to supply customers around the world. Labor
disputes, derailments, adverse weather conditions or other
environmental events and changes to rail or ocean freight
systems could interrupt or limit available transport services,
which could result in customer dissatisfaction and loss of sales
potential and could materially adversely affect our results of
operations.
We
must process REOs to exacting specifications in order to provide
customers with a consistently high quality product. An inability
to perfect the mineral extraction process to meet individual
customer specifications may have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition or results of operations.
We process REOs to meet customer needs and specifications and to
provide customers with a consistently high quality product and a
purity higher than previously achieved in prior mining
operations at the Mountain Pass facility. An inability to
perfect the mineral extraction process to meet individual
customer specifications may have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition or results of operations. In addition,
customer needs and specifications may change with time. Any
delay or failure in developing processes to meet changing
customer needs and specifications may have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Diminished
access to water may adversely affect our
operations.
Currently, processing of REOs requires significant amounts of
water. The technology we are developing to significantly reduce
our need for fresh water, including proprietary production of
our own hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide from waste water
at our own chlor-alkali plant, has not yet been proven at
commercial scale and has not yet been implemented. Although we
believe our existing water rights and water supply are
sufficient to meet our projected water requirements, any
decrease or disruption in our available water supply until this
technology is successfully developed may have a material adverse
effect on our operations and our financial condition or results
of operations.
Inaccuracies
in our estimates of REO reserves and resource deposits could
result in lower than expected revenues and higher than expected
costs.
We base our REO reserve and resource estimates on engineering,
economic and geological data assembled and analyzed by outside
firms, which are reviewed by our engineers and geologists. Ore
reserve estimates, however, are necessarily imprecise and depend
to some extent on statistical inferences drawn from available
drilling data, which may prove unreliable. There are numerous
uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities and qualities of
REO reserves and non-reserve REO deposits and costs to mine
recoverable reserves, including many factors beyond our control.
Estimates of economically recoverable REO reserves necessarily
depend upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, all of
which may vary considerably from actual results, such as:
|
|
|
|
•
|
geological and mining conditions
and/or
effects from prior mining that may not be fully identified by
available data or that may differ from experience;
|
|
|
•
|
assumptions concerning future prices of rare earth products,
operating costs, mining technology improvements, development
costs and reclamation costs; and
|
|
|
•
|
assumptions concerning future effects of regulation, including
the issuance of required permits and taxes by governmental
agencies.
|
Any inaccuracy in our estimates related to our REO reserves and
non-reserve REO deposits could result in lower than expected
revenues and higher than expected costs or a shortened estimated
life for the mine at the Mountain Pass facility.
28
Period-to-period
conversion of probable rare earth ore reserves to proven ore
reserves may result in increases or decreases to the total
reported amount of ore reserves. Conversion, an indicator of the
success in upgrading probable ore reserves to proven ore
reserves, is evaluated annually. Conversion rates are affected
by a number of factors, including geological variability,
applicable mining methods and changes in safe mining practices,
economic considerations and new regulatory requirements.
Work
stoppages or similar difficulties could significantly disrupt
our operations, reduce our revenues and materially adversely
affect our results of operations.
As of December 31, 2010, approximately 73 employees at
the Mountain Pass facility were covered by a collective
bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers of America
that expires in March 2012. A work stoppage at the Mountain Pass
facility could significantly disrupt our operations, reduce our
revenues and materially adversely affect our results of
operations.
A
shortage of skilled technicians and engineers may further
increase operating costs, which may materially adversely affect
our results of operations.
Efficient production of rare earth products using modern
techniques and equipment requires skilled technicians and
engineers. In addition, our expansion efforts will significantly
increase the number of skilled technicians and engineers
required to successfully operate our business. In the event that
we are unable to hire and train the necessary number of skilled
technicians and engineers, there could be an adverse impact on
our labor costs and our ability to reach full planned production
levels in a timely manner, which could have a material adverse
effect on our results of operations.
We
depend on key personnel for the success of our
business.
We depend on the services of our senior management team and
other key personnel. The loss of the services of any member of
senior management or a key employee could have an adverse effect
on our business. We may not be able to locate, attract or employ
on acceptable terms qualified replacements for senior management
or other key employees if their services are no longer available.
Because
of the dangers involved in the mining of minerals and the
manufacture of mineral products, there is a risk that we may
incur liability or damages as we conduct our
business.
The mining of minerals and the manufacture of mineral products
involves numerous hazards, including:
|
|
|
|
•
|
unusual and unexpected rock formations affecting ore or wall
rock characteristics;
|
|
|
•
|
ground or slope failures;
|
|
|
•
|
environmental hazards;
|
|
|
•
|
industrial accidents;
|
|
|
•
|
processing problems;
|
|
|
•
|
periodic interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather
conditions or other acts of God; and
|
|
|
•
|
mechanical equipment failure and facility performance problems.
|
Although we maintain insurance to address certain risks involved
in our business, such as coverage for pollution liability,
property damage, business interruption and workers compensation,
there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain
insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible
premiums. Additionally, we cannot be certain that all claims we
may make under our insurance policies will be deemed to be
within the scope of, or fully covered by, our policies.
Furthermore, we do not maintain coverage for losses resulting
from acts of terrorism. We might also become subject to
liability for environmental damage or other hazards that may be
uninsurable or for which we may elect not to insure because of
premium costs or commercial impracticality. These policies
contain limits of coverage and exclusions that are typical of
such policies generally. For example, our pollution liability
policy has $20 million aggregate and per incident limits
29
and excludes, among other things, costs associated with closure,
post-closure and reclamation. The payment of such premiums, or
the assumption of such liabilities, may have a material adverse
effect on our financial position and results of operations.
Risks
Related to Environmental Regulation
Our
operations are subject to extensive and costly environmental
requirements; and current and future laws, regulations and
permits will impose significant costs, liabilities or
obligations or could limit or prevent our ability to continue
our current operations or to undertake new
operations.
We are subject to numerous and detailed, federal, state and
local environmental laws, regulations and permits, including
those pertaining to employee health and safety, environmental
permitting and licensing, air quality standards, greenhouse gas,
or GHG, emissions, water usage and pollution, waste management,
plant and wildlife protection, handling and disposal of
radioactive substances, remediation of soil and groundwater
contamination, land use, reclamation and restoration of
properties, the discharge of materials into the environment and
groundwater quality and availability. These requirements may
result in significant costs, liabilities and obligations, impose
conditions that are difficult to achieve or otherwise delay,
limit or prohibit current or planned operations. Consequently,
the modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass facility
may be delayed, limited or prevented and current operations may
be curtailed. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and
permits may result in the assessment of administrative, civil
and criminal penalties, the issuance of injunctions to limit or
cease operations, the suspension or revocation of permits and
other sanctions. Pursuant to such requirements, we may also be
subject to third-party claims, including for damages to property
or injury to persons arising from our operations. Moreover,
these environmental requirements, and the interpretation and
enforcement thereof, change frequently and have tended to become
more stringent over time. For example, GHG emission regulation
is becoming more rigorous. As a result of our planned expansion,
we expect to be required to report annual GHG emissions from our
operations, and additional GHG emission related requirements are
in various stages of development. The U.S. Congress is
considering various legislative proposals to address climate
change, including a nationwide limit on GHGs. In addition, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has issued
regulations, including the “Tailoring Rule,” that
subject GHG emissions from certain stationary sources to the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V
provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. California is also
implementing regulations pursuant to its Global Warming
Solutions Act that will establish a state-wide cap-and trade
program for GHG emissions. Any such regulations could require us
to modify existing permits or obtain new permits, implement
additional pollution control technology, curtail operations or
increase significantly our operating costs. Any regulation of
GHG emissions, including through a
cap-and-trade
system, technology mandate, emissions tax, reporting requirement
or other program, could adversely affect our business, financial
condition, reputation, operating performance and product demand.
Any future changes in these laws, regulations or permits (or the
interpretation or enforcement thereof) or any sanctions,
damages, costs, obligations or liabilities in respect of these
matters could have a material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
We are
subject to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and
the California Occupational Safety and Health Program, and
regulations adopted pursuant thereto, which impose stringent
health and safety standards on numerous aspects of our
operations.
Our operations at the Mountain Pass facility are subject to the
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended by the
Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, and the
regulations adopted by the California Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, which impose stringent health and safety
standards on numerous aspects of mineral extraction and
processing operations, including the training of personnel,
operating procedures, operating equipment and other matters. Our
failure to comply with such standards, or changes in such
standards or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition or otherwise impose significant restrictions on our
ability to conduct mineral extraction and processing operations.
30
Our
operations may affect the environment or cause exposure to
hazardous substances, any of which could result in material
costs, obligations or liabilities.
Our operations currently use, and in the past have used,
hazardous materials and generate, and in the past have
generated, hazardous and naturally occurring radioactive wastes.
The Mountain Pass facility has been used for mining and related
purposes since 1952, and contamination is known to exist around
the facility. We may be subject to claims under environmental
laws, regulations and permits for toxic torts, natural resource
damages and other liabilities, as well as for the investigation
and remediation of soil, surface water, groundwater and other
environmental media. The Mountain Pass facility is currently
subject to an order issued by the Lahontan Regional Water
Quality Control Board pursuant to which we have conducted
various investigatory and remedial actions, primarily related to
certain onsite impoundments, including groundwater monitoring,
extraction and treatment and soil remediation. We are still in
the process of delineating the extent of groundwater
contamination at and around the facility and cannot assure you
that we will not incur material costs relating to the
remediation of such contamination. Also, prior to our
acquisition of the Mountain Pass facility, leaks in a wastewater
pipeline from the Mountain Pass facility to offsite evaporation
ponds on the Ivanpah dry lake bed caused contamination. However,
that contamination is being remediated by Chevron Mining Inc.,
who retained ownership of the ponds and the pipeline. In
addition to claims arising out of our current or former
properties, such claims may arise in connection with
contaminated third-party sites at which we have disposed of
waste. As a matter of law, and despite any contractual indemnity
or allocation arrangements or acquisition agreements to the
contrary, our liability for these claims may be joint and
several, so that we may be held responsible for more than our
share of any contamination, or even for the entire share. These
and similar unforeseen impacts that our operations may have on
the environment, as well as human exposure to hazardous or
radioactive materials or wastes associated with our operations,
could have a material adverse effect on our business,
reputation, results of operation and financial condition.
We may
be unable to obtain, maintain or renew permits necessary for the
development or operation of the Mountain Pass facility, which
could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations and financial condition.
We must obtain a number of permits that impose strict
conditions, requirements and obligations relating to various
environmental and health and safety matters in connection with
our current and future operations, including the modernization
and expansion of the Mountain Pass facility. To obtain certain
permits, we may be required to conduct environmental studies and
collect and present data to governmental authorities pertaining
to the potential impact of our current and future operations
upon the environment and to take steps to avoid or mitigate
those impacts. The permitting rules, and interpretation thereof,
are complex and have tended to become more stringent over time.
In some cases, the public (including environmental interest
groups) has rights to comment upon and submit objections to
permit applications and environmental analysis prepared in
connection therewith, and otherwise participate in the
permitting process, including challenging the issuance of
permits, validity of environmental analyses and determinations
and performance of permitted activities. Accordingly, permits
required for our operations, including the modernization and
expansion of the Mountain Pass facility, may not be issued,
maintained or renewed in a timely fashion or at all, may be
issued or renewed upon conditions that restrict our ability to
conduct our operations economically, or may be subsequently
revoked. Any such failure to obtain, maintain or renew permits,
or other permitting delays or conditions, including in
connection with any environmental impact analyses, could have a
material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
and financial condition.
Our
inability to acquire, maintain or renew financial assurances
related to the reclamation and restoration of mining property
could have a material adverse effect on our business and results
of operations.
We are generally obligated to restore property after it has been
mined in accordance with regulatory standards and our approved
reclamation plan. We are required under federal, state and local
laws to maintain financial assurances, such as surety bonds, to
secure such obligations. The failure to acquire, maintain or
31
renew such assurances, as required by federal, state and local
laws, could subject us to fines and penalties as well as the
revocation of our operating permits. Such failure could result
from a variety of factors, including:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the lack of availability, higher expense or unreasonable terms
of such financial assurances;
|
|
|
•
|
the ability of current and future financial assurance
counterparties to increase required collateral; and
|
|
|
•
|
the exercise by third-party financial assurance counterparties
of any rights to refuse to renew the financial assurance
instruments.
|
Our inability to acquire or failure to maintain or renew such
financial assurances could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
If the
assumptions underlying our reclamation plan and mine closure
obligations are inaccurate, we could be required to expend
materially greater amounts than anticipated to reclaim mined
property, which could materially and adversely affect our
business, results of operations and financial
condition.
Federal, state and local laws and regulations establish
reclamation and closure standards applicable to our surface
mining and other operations as well. Estimates of our total
reclamation and mine closing liabilities are based upon our
closure and reclamation plans, third-party expert reports,
current applicable laws and regulations, certain permit terms
and our engineering expertise related to these requirements. Any
change in the underlying assumptions or other variation between
the estimated liabilities and actual costs could materially and
adversely affect our business, results of operations and
financial condition.
Risks
Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
A
trading market that will provide our stockholders with adequate
liquidity may not be sustained. Our common stock has only been
publicly traded since July 2010, and the price of our common
stock may fluctuate significantly. Accordingly, stockholders
could lose all or part of their investment.
Our shares of common stock began trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, or NYSE, in July 2010. An active trading market for
our common stock may not be sustained, which could depress the
market price of our common stock and could affect your ability
to sell your shares of common stock. Limited trading volumes and
liquidity may result in wide bid-ask spreads, contribute to
significant fluctuations in the market price of our common stock
and limit the number of investors who are able to buy our common
stock.
The market price of our common stock has been, and is likely to
continue to be, highly volatile and may be influenced by many
factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the extremely volatile rare earth industry;
|
|
|
•
|
our quarterly or annual earnings or those of other companies in
our industry;
|
|
|
•
|
loss of a large customer;
|
|
|
•
|
changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance,
interpretations or principles;
|
|
|
•
|
general economic conditions;
|
|
|
•
|
the failure of securities analysts to cover our stock or changes
in financial estimates by analysts;
|
|
|
•
|
future sales of our common stock; and
|
|
|
•
|
other factors described in this “Risk Factors” section.
|
Our common stock price has been particularly affected by the
volatility in the rare earths industry, as the price of our
common stock in the five months since we went public in July
2010 has ranged between $12.10 and $62.80. If conditions in our
industry remain volatile, our common stock price may continue to
exhibit volatility as well. In particular, if prices or demand
for rare earth were to decline, our stock price would likely
decline.
32
Reports
published by securities or industry analysts, including
projections in those reports that exceed our actual results,
could adversely affect our stock price and trading
volume.
Research analysts publish their own quarterly projections
regarding our operating results. These projections may vary
widely from one another and may not accurately predict the
results we actually achieve. Our stock price may decline if we
fail to meet securities research analysts’ projections.
Similarly, if one or more of the analysts who covers us
downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable
research about our business, our stock price could decline. If
one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to
publish reports on us regularly, our stock price or trading
volume could decline.
Future
sales, or availability for sale, of shares of common stock by
stockholders could depress the market price of our common
stock.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in
the public market following this offering, or the perception
that large sales could occur, or the conversion of shares of our
mandatory convertible preferred stock into common stock or the
perception that conversion could occur, could depress the market
price of our common stock. As of January 20, 2011, we had
82,300,757 shares of our common stock outstanding. All of
these shares are generally freely tradable, except for any
shares held by our “affiliates” as defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. Additionally, up
to shares
of common stock (or up
to shares
if the underwriters in the offering of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock exercise their over-allotment option in full),
in each case subject to anti-dilution, make-whole and other
adjustments, will be issuable upon conversion of shares of
mandatory convertible preferred stock. All of these shares will
be freely tradeable.
The holders of 54,522,053 shares of common stock, some of
whom are selling stockholders, have signed
lock-up
agreements under which they have agreed, subject to certain
exceptions, not to sell, transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities
into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common
stock without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan
Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
for a period of 90 days, subject to a possible extension
under certain circumstances, after the date of this prospectus.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated may, in their sole discretion, permit the sale
of these shares prior to the expiration of the
lock-up
agreements. After the expiration of the
lock-up
period, these shares may be sold in the public market, subject
to prior registration or qualification for an exemption from
registration, including, in the case of shares held by
affiliates, compliance with the volume restrictions of
Rule 144. To the extent that any of these stockholders
sell, or indicate an intent to sell, substantial amounts of our
common stock in the public market after the contractual
lock-ups and
other legal restrictions on resale discussed in this prospectus
lapse, the trading price of our common stock could decline
significantly.
In addition, the 4,065,628 shares reserved for future
issuance under our Molycorp, Inc. 2010 Equity and Performance
Incentive Plan, as of January 20, 2011, will become
eligible for sale in the public market in the future, subject to
certain legal and contractual limitations. If these additional
shares are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold,
in the public market, the price of our common stock could
decline substantially.
The
availability of shares of our common stock for sale in the
future could reduce the market price of our common
stock.
In the future, we may issue additional securities to raise
capital, including our expected issuance of $100 million of
common stock to Sumitomo, which is subject to numerous
conditions and finalization of definitive agreements. The number
of shares of common stock issued to Sumitomo if definitive
agreements are executed will vary depending on changes in the
price of our common stock. We may also acquire interests in
other companies by using a combination of cash and our common
stock or just our common stock. We may also issue securities
convertible into our common stock in addition to our mandatory
convertible preferred stock. Any of these events may dilute your
ownership interest in our company and have an adverse impact on
the price of our common stock. In addition, sales of a
substantial amount of our common stock in the public market, or
the perception that these sales may occur, could reduce the
market price of our common stock. This could also impair our
ability to raise additional capital through the sale of our
securities.
33
We do
not intend to pay dividends on our common stock, in the
foreseeable future.
For the foreseeable future, we intend to retain any earnings to
finance the development of our business, and we do not
anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock. Any
future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion
of our board of directors and will be dependent upon
then-existing conditions, including our operating results and
financial condition, capital requirements, contractual
restrictions, business prospects and other factors that our
board of directors considers relevant. So long as any share of
our mandatory convertible preferred stock remains outstanding,
no dividend or distribution may be declared or paid on our
common stock unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends have
been paid on our mandatory convertible preferred stock, subject
to exceptions, such as dividends on our common stock payable
solely in shares of our common stock. Accordingly, investors
must rely on sales of their common stock after price
appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize
a return on their investment.
Our
ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards may be
subject to limitation due to significant changes in the
ownership of our common stock.
As of September 30, 2010, we had gross net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $13.5 million for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. Under Section 382 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, if a
corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” the
corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating
loss carryforwards and other tax attributes to offset its
post-change income may be limited and may result in a partial or
full writedown of the related deferred tax assets. An ownership
change is defined generally for these purposes as a greater than
50% change in ownership over a three-year period, taking into
account shareholders that own 5% or more by value of our common
stock. Depending on the numbers of shares sold by the selling
stockholders in this offering, it is possible that this
offering, in combination with past and future transactions
involving our common stock, will cause an ownership change to
occur that would limit our ability to use our existing net
operating loss carryforwards. As of September 30, 2010, we
have established a full valuation allowance against our
$4.8 million net deferred tax assets.
Anti-takeover
provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and
bylaws after the corporate reorganization, as well as provisions
of Delaware law, could impair a takeover attempt.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provisions may have
the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging a prospective
acquiror from making a tender offer for our shares or otherwise
attempting to obtain control of us. To the extent that these
provisions discourage takeover attempts, they could deprive
stockholders of opportunities to realize takeover premiums for
their shares. Moreover, these provisions could discourage
accumulations of large blocks of common stock, thus depriving
stockholders of any advantages which large accumulations of
stock might provide.
As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to provisions of
Delaware law, including Section 203 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Section 203
prevents some stockholders holding more than 15% of our
outstanding common stock from engaging in certain business
combinations unless the business combination was approved in
advance by our board of directors, results in the stockholder
holding more than 85% of our outstanding common stock or is
approved by the holders of at least
662/3%
of our outstanding common stock not held by the stockholder
engaging in the transaction.
Any provision of our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws
or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a
change in control could limit the opportunity for our
stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common
stock and could also affect the price that some investors are
willing to pay for our common stock.
Our
board of directors can issue, without stockholder approval,
preferred stock with voting and conversion rights that could
adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common
stock.
Our board of directors can issue, without stockholder approval,
preferred stock with voting and conversion rights that could
adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock
and reduce the likelihood that such holders will receive
dividend payments or payments upon liquidation, including shares
of our mandatory
34
convertible preferred stock. Such issuance could have the effect
of decreasing the market price of the common stock. The issuance
of preferred stock or even the ability to issue preferred stock
could also have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing
a change of control or other corporate action.
The
mandatory convertible preferred stock may adversely affect the
market price of our common stock.
The market price of our common stock is likely to be influenced
by the mandatory convertible preferred stock. For example, the
market price of our common stock could become more volatile and
could be depressed by:
|
|
|
|
•
|
investors’ anticipation of the potential resale in the
market of a substantial number of additional shares of our
common stock received upon conversion of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock;
|
|
|
•
|
possible sales of our common stock by investors who view the
mandatory convertible preferred stock as a more attractive means
of equity participation in us than owning shares of our common
stock; and
|
|
|
•
|
hedging or arbitrage trading activity that may develop involving
the mandatory convertible preferred stock and our common stock.
|
There
is no assurance that the concurrent offering of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock will be
completed.
There is no assurance that the concurrent offering of our
mandatory convertible preferred stock will be completed or, if
completed, on what terms it will be completed. If the concurrent
offering of our mandatory convertible preferred stock is not
completed, or is completed on terms unfavorable to us, our stock
price and our ability to raise equity in the future may be
adversely affected.
Our
board of directors and management have broad discretion over the
use of our cash reserves and might not apply this cash in ways
that increase the value of your investment.
We raised approximately $378.6 million after underwriting
discounts and commissions and offering expenses in our initial
public offering, and we used $18.2 million of the net
proceeds as cash collateral to secure surety bonds issued for
the benefit of certain regulatory agencies relating to our
Mountain Pass facility’s closure and reclamation
obligations. We presently intend to use the majority of our
remaining cash reserves, any proceeds received from the sale of
our common stock to Sumitomo and our net proceeds from our
offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock to restart
mining operations, construct and refurbish processing facilities
and other infrastructure at the Mountain Pass facility in
connection with our initial modernization and expansion plan and
the capacity expansion plan and expand into metal, alloy and
magnet production. Our board of directors and management have
broad discretion to use our cash reserves, and you will be
relying on their judgment regarding the application of this
cash. Our board of directors and management might not apply the
cash in ways that increase the value of your investment. Until
we use the cash, we plan to invest it, and these investments may
not yield a favorable rate of return. If we do not invest or
apply the cash in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may
fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause
our stock price to decline.
We
identified a material weakness in our internal control over
financial reporting which, if not satisfactorily remediated,
could result in material misstatements in our consolidated
financial statements in future periods.
During the preparation of our consolidated financial statements
as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for the year ended
December 31, 2009, the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2008, and cumulatively for
the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2009, we identified deficiencies in our
internal control over financial reporting which, when considered
in the aggregate, represent a material weakness. If not
remediated, this material weakness could result in material
misstatements in our consolidated financial statements in future
periods. Specifically, we did not maintain a sufficient
complement of personnel with an appropriate level of accounting
and financial reporting knowledge, experience and training in
the application of U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles, or U.S. GAAP. We also did not maintain an
adequate system of
35
processes and internal controls sufficient to support our
financial reporting requirements and to produce timely and
accurate consolidated financial statements in accordance with
U.S. GAAP.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of
deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such
that there is a reasonable possibility that a material
misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented
or detected on a timely basis. A deficiency in internal control
over financial reporting exists when the design or operation of
a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal
course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or
detect misstatements on a timely basis.
In late 2009, we commenced remediation actions which included
hiring several individuals with significant accounting, auditing
and financial reporting experience and devoting significant
resources to improving our system of processes and internal
controls. Specifically, we hired a chief financial officer, a
corporate controller and a director of financial reporting, and
in early 2010, we hired an accounting manager for the Mountain
Pass facility, all of whom are Certified Public Accountants. We
also installed additional functionality and increased the
integration of our information technology systems to increase
automation and accuracy within our processes. If our actions are
not effective in correcting the material weakness and we
continue to experience material weaknesses, investors could lose
confidence in our financial reporting, particularly if such
weaknesses result in a restatement of our financial results, and
our stock price could decline.
We
will be required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
to evaluate the effectiveness of our internal controls. If we
are unable to achieve and maintain effective internal controls,
particularly in a period of anticipated rapid growth, our
operating results and financial condition could be
harmed.
We will be required to comply with Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act beginning with the year ending
December 31, 2011. Section 404 requires that we
evaluate our internal control over financial reporting to enable
management to report on the effectiveness of those controls.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal
control over financial reporting is a process designed to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated
financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. While we
have begun the comprehensive process of evaluating our internal
controls, we are in the early phases of our review and we cannot
predict the outcome of our review at this time. During the
course of the review, we may identify additional control
deficiencies of varying degrees of severity, in addition to the
material weakness discussed above.
We have taken steps to improve our internal control over
financial reporting, including identification of deficiencies in
the knowledge and expertise of personnel required in the
accounting and finance functions of a public company. We have
incurred significant costs to remediate our material weakness
and deficiencies and improve our internal controls, and will
incur additional expense as we undertake the modernization and
expansion of the Mountain Pass facility. As we implement this
modernization and expansion plan, the resulting growth in our
business will require us to implement additional internal
controls. To comply with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements, especially
during this period of anticipated rapid growth, we will need to
further upgrade our systems, including information technology,
implement additional financial and management controls,
reporting systems and procedures and hire additional accounting,
finance and legal staff. If we are unable to upgrade our systems
and procedures or hire the necessary additional personnel in a
timely and effective fashion, we may not be able to comply with
our financial reporting requirements and other rules that apply
to public companies.
As a public company, we are required to report internal control
deficiencies that constitute material weaknesses in our internal
control over financial reporting. See “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations — Internal Controls.” If we qualify as
an “accelerated filer” or a “large accelerated
filer” under
Rule 12b-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, we
will also be required to obtain an audit report from our
independent registered public accounting firm beginning in 2011
regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting. If we fail to implement the requirements of
Section 404 in a timely manner, if we or, to the extent
applicable, our independent registered public accounting firm
are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial
reporting is effective, or if we fail to comply with our
financial reporting requirements, investors may lose confidence
in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports.
36
SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including the sections entitled
“Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,”
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations,” “Rare Earth
Industry Overview” and “Business,” contains
forward-looking statements that represent our beliefs,
projections and predictions about future events or our future
performance. You can identify forward-looking statements by
terminology such as “may,” “will,”
“would,” “could,” “should,”
“expect,” “intend,” “plan,”
“anticipate,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “predict,”
“potential,” “continue” or the negative of
these terms or other similar expressions or phrases. These
forward-looking statements are necessarily subjective and
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
important factors that could cause our actual results,
performance or achievements or industry results to differ
materially from any future results, performance or achievement
described in or implied by such statements.
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from
expected results described in forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
our ability to secure sufficient capital to implement our
business plans, including our ability to enter into definitive
agreements with Sumitomo to consummate the $100 million
issuance of common stock and $30 million debt financing;
|
|
|
•
|
our ability to complete our initial modernization and expansion
plan, as well as our capacity expansion plan, and reach full
planned production rates for rare earth oxides and other planned
downstream products;
|
|
|
•
|
uncertainties associated with our reserve estimates and
non-reserve deposit information;
|
|
|
•
|
uncertainties regarding global supply and demand for rare earth
materials;
|
|
|
•
|
our ability to maintain appropriate relations with unions and
employees;
|
|
|
•
|
our ability to successfully implement our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy;
|
|
|
•
|
commercial acceptance of our new products, such as
XSORBX®;
|
|
|
•
|
environmental laws, regulations and permits affecting our
business, directly and indirectly, including, among others,
those relating to mine reclamation and restoration, climate
change, emissions to the air and water and human exposure to
hazardous substances used, released or disposed of by
us; and
|
|
|
•
|
uncertainties associated with unanticipated geological
conditions related to mining.
|
See “Risk Factors” for a more complete discussion of
these risks and uncertainties and for other risks and
uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement you read in this
prospectus reflects our current views with respect to future
events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties
and assumptions relating to our operations, operating results,
growth strategy and liquidity. You should not place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements because such
statements speak only as to the date when made. We assume no
obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking
statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes
available in the future, except as otherwise required by
applicable law.
This prospectus also contains statistical data and estimates we
obtained from industry publications and reports generated by
third parties. Although we believe that the publications and
reports are reliable, we have not independently verified their
data.
37
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this
offering by the Selling Stockholders. See “Principal and
Selling Stockholders.”
We estimate that we will receive net proceeds of approximately
$ million from our offering
of mandatory convertible preferred stock (or
$ million if the underwriters
in the mandatory convertible preferred stock offering exercise
their over-allotment option in full), after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering
expenses that we must pay.
Under our current business plan, we intend to spend
approximately $531 million through 2012 to restart mining
operations, construct and refurbish processing facilities and
other infrastructure at the Mountain Pass facility in connection
with our initial modernization and expansion plan and expand
into metals and alloys production. In addition, we expect to
incur approximately $250 million in additional capital
costs to build additional production capacity by the end of 2013
in connection with our capacity expansion plan. Our estimated
capital expenditures of $781 million do not include
corporate, selling, general and administrative expenses, which
we estimate to be an additional $20 million to
$25 million per year.
We presently intend to use the net proceeds from our offering of
mandatory convertible preferred stock to fund our initial
modernization and expansion plan and our capacity expansion
plan. We anticipate that the remainder of the costs associated
with our capacity expansion plan will be funded through
traditional debt financing, project financing, additional public
or private equity offerings, including our potential issuance of
common stock to Sumitomo,
and/or
government programs, including the U.S. Department of
Energy loan guarantee program. Because the costs associated with
our initial modernization and expansion plan and our capacity
expansion plan will be expended through 2012 and 2013,
respectively, we may choose to pursue alternative funding for
these plans, including other sources from our financing plan, in
which case any remaining net proceeds from our offering of
mandatory convertible preferred stock may be used for general
corporate purposes, including, without limitation, to fund our
working capital requirements and to develop new products,
processes and technologies, both through acquisitions and
capital programs.
Pending the use of our net proceeds from our offering of
mandatory convertible preferred stock as described above, we
plan to invest the proceeds in a variety of capital preservation
investments, including short-term interest-bearing obligations,
investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit and direct
guaranteed obligations of the United States.
38
COMMON
STOCK PRICE RANGE
Our common stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol “MCP.” Our initial public offering was
priced at $14.00 per share on July 29, 2010. The following
table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low
sales prices for our common stock as reported on The New York
Stock Exchange.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Year ending December 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter (through January 21, 2011)
|
|
$
|
42.50
|
|
|
$
|
62.80
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
26.76
|
|
|
$
|
51.99
|
|
Third Quarter (from July 29, 2010)
|
|
$
|
12.34
|
|
|
$
|
29.08
|
|
The last reported sales price for our common stock on
January 21, 2011 is set forth on the cover page of this
prospectus. As of January 20, 2011, there were
approximately 100 holders of record of our common stock.
39
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our consolidated cash and cash
equivalents and our capitalization as of September 30, 2010:
|
|
|
|
•
|
on an actual basis; and
|
|
|
•
|
on a pro forma basis to give effect to the issuance and sale by
us of shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock at a
public offering price of $ per
share and the receipt of the net proceeds by us, after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering
expenses payable by us.
|
The information in this table should be read in conjunction with
“Selected Consolidated Financial Data,”
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated
financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in
this prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except share amounts)
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
351,472
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares
authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding,
actual; shares
authorized
and shares
issued and outstanding, as adjusted(1)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 350,000,000 shares
authorized and 82,253,700 shares issued and outstanding,
actual and as adjusted
|
|
|
82
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
532,787
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit accumulated during the development stage
|
|
|
(83,846
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total equity (deficit)
|
|
|
449,023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$
|
449,023
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Although a final determination cannot be made until issuance, we
currently believe the mandatory convertible preferred stock will
be classified as permanent equity. |
40
DIVIDEND
POLICY
Since our inception, we have not paid any cash dividends. For
the foreseeable future, we intend to retain any earnings to
finance the development of our business. We do not anticipate
paying any cash dividends on our common stock. Any future
determination to pay dividends, including on our mandatory
convertible preferred stock, will be at the discretion of our
board of directors and will depend upon then-existing
conditions, including our operating results and our financial
condition, capital requirements, contractual restrictions,
business prospects and other factors that our board of directors
may deem relevant. So long as any share of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock remains outstanding, no dividend or
distribution may be declared or paid on our common stock unless
all accrued and unpaid dividends have been paid on our mandatory
convertible preferred stock, subject to exceptions, such as
dividends on our common stock payable solely in shares of our
common stock.
41
SELECTED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
Upon the formation of Molycorp, LLC on September 9, 2009,
all members of Molycorp Minerals, LLC contributed their member
interests to Molycorp, LLC in exchange for member interests in
Molycorp, LLC. That exchange was treated as a reorganization of
entities under common control and Molycorp Minerals, LLC is the
predecessor to Molycorp, LLC. Accordingly, all financial
information of Molycorp, LLC for periods prior to its formation
is the historical financial information of Molycorp Minerals,
LLC. Molycorp Minerals, LLC acquired the Mountain Pass,
California rare earth deposit and associated assets from Chevron
Mining Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, on
September 30, 2008.
The selected consolidated financial data as of December 31,
2009 and 2008, and for the year ended December 31, 2009 and
for the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2008 has been derived from Molycorp,
LLC’s audited consolidated financial statements and the
related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary
consolidated financial data as of September 30, 2010, for
the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and
cumulatively for the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception)
through September 30, 2010 have been derived from Molycorp,
Inc.’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this
prospectus.
Molycorp, Inc. was formed on March 4, 2010 for the purpose
of continuing the business of Molycorp, LLC in corporate form.
On April 15, 2010, the members of Molycorp, LLC contributed
either (a) all of their member interests in Molycorp, LLC
or (b) all of their equity interests in entities that hold
member interests in Molycorp, LLC (and no other assets or
liabilities) to Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for shares of
Molycorp, Inc., and, as a result, Molycorp, LLC became a wholly
owned subsidiary of Molycorp, Inc. Accordingly, all financial
information of Molycorp, Inc. for periods prior to the corporate
reorganization is the historical financial information of
Molycorp, LLC.
As a limited liability company, the taxable income and losses of
Molycorp, LLC were reported on the income tax returns of its
members. Molycorp, Inc. is subject to federal and state income
taxes and will file consolidated income tax returns. If the
corporate reorganization had been effective as of
January 1, 2009, our net loss of $28.6 million for the
year ended December 31, 2009 would have generated an
unaudited pro forma deferred income tax benefit of
$11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009
assuming a combined federal and state statutory income tax rate.
However, as realization of such tax benefit would not have been
assured, we would have also established a valuation allowance of
$11.3 million to eliminate such pro forma tax benefit.
The unaudited pro forma balance sheet data as of
September 30, 2010 has been prepared to give effect to the
consummation of our offering of mandatory convertible preferred
stock, as if it had occurred on September 30, 2010. The
unaudited pro forma balance sheet data is for informational
purposes only and does not purport to indicate balance sheet
information as of any future date.
The selected consolidated financial data set forth below should
be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” and the financial statements and the notes
thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.
42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Through
|
|
|
through
|
|
Statement of Operations Data
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
13,176
|
|
|
$
|
4,889
|
|
|
$
|
7,093
|
|
|
$
|
2,137
|
|
|
$
|
22,406
|
|
Cost of goods sold(1)
|
|
|
(18,989
|
)
|
|
|
(14,896
|
)
|
|
|
(21,785
|
)
|
|
|
(13,027
|
)
|
|
|
(53,801
|
)
|
Selling, general and administrative expense
|
|
|
(12,851
|
)
|
|
|
(8,380
|
)
|
|
|
(12,444
|
)
|
|
|
(2,979
|
)
|
|
|
(28,274
|
)
|
Stock-based compensation
|
|
|
(21,660
|
)
|
|
|
(241
|
)
|
|
|
(241
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(21,901
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization expense
|
|
|
(239
|
)
|
|
|
(123
|
)
|
|
|
(191
|
)
|
|
|
(19
|
)
|
|
|
(449
|
)
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
(695
|
)
|
|
|
(755
|
)
|
|
|
(1,006
|
)
|
|
|
(250
|
)
|
|
|
(1,951
|
)
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(41,258
|
)
|
|
|
(19,506
|
)
|
|
|
(28,574
|
)
|
|
|
(14,138
|
)
|
|
|
(83,970
|
)
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(41,185
|
)
|
|
$
|
(19,492
|
)
|
|
$
|
(28,587
|
)
|
|
$
|
(14,074
|
)
|
|
$
|
(83,846
|
)
|
Weighted average shares outstanding (Common shares)(2):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
56,027,460
|
|
|
|
38,831,232
|
|
|
|
38,921,015
|
|
|
|
38,234,354
|
|
|
|
44,721,664
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
56,027,460
|
|
|
|
38,831,232
|
|
|
|
38,921,015
|
|
|
|
38,234,354
|
|
|
|
44,721,664
|
|
Loss per share of common stock(2):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
(0.74
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.50
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.73
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.37
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.87
|
)
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.74
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.50
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.73
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.37
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.87
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
Balance Sheet Data
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
351,472
|
|
|
$
|
6,929
|
|
|
$
|
2,189
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
371,368
|
|
|
|
18,520
|
|
|
|
8,710
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
476,488
|
|
|
|
97,666
|
|
|
|
95,355
|
|
Total non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,394
|
|
|
|
13,509
|
|
|
|
13,196
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,456
|
|
|
|
23,051
|
|
|
|
17,279
|
|
Members’ equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
74,615
|
|
|
|
78,076
|
|
Stockholders’ equity(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
449,023
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Through
|
|
|
Through
|
|
Other Financial Data
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Capital expenditures(4)
|
|
$
|
12,965
|
|
|
$
|
5,365
|
|
|
$
|
7,285
|
|
|
$
|
321
|
|
|
$
|
20,571
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Cost of goods sold includes write-downs of inventory to
estimated net realizable value of $1.6 million,
$7.5 million, $9.0 million, $9.5 million and
$20.1 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2010 and 2009, for the year ended December 31, 2009, for
the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2008 and cumulatively for the period from
June 12, 2008 (Inception) through September 30, 2010,
respectively. |
43
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding gives retroactive effect to
the corporate reorganization, the conversion of all of our
Class A common stock and Class B common stock into
shares of common stock and the consummation of our initial
public offering, and the 38.23435373-for-one stock split
completed by Molycorp, Inc. on July 9, 2010 as if such
events had occurred on June 12, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
Although a final determination cannot be made until issuance, we
currently believe the mandatory convertible preferred stock will
be classified as permanent equity and included in
stockholders’ equity. |
|
(4) |
|
Reflected in cash flows from investing activities in our
consolidated statements of cash flows. |
44
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in
conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and
related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The
following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking
statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs and
involves risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could
differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, including those
discussed below, under the headings “Risk Factors” and
“Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”
and in other parts of this prospectus.
Overview
Presentation
Molycorp Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
formerly known as Rare Earth Acquisition, LLC, was formed on
June 12, 2008 to purchase the Mountain Pass, California
rare earth deposits and associated assets, or the Mountain Pass
facility, from Chevron Mining Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron
Corporation, on September 30, 2008. Molycorp, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, which was the parent of
Molycorp Minerals, was formed on September 9, 2009.
Molycorp, Inc. was formed on March 4, 2010 as a new
Delaware corporation that did not, prior to the date of the
consummation of its initial public offering, conduct any
material activities.
On April 15, 2010, the members of Molycorp, LLC contributed
either (a) all of their member interests in Molycorp, LLC
or (b) all of their equity interests in entities that hold
member interests in Molycorp, LLC (and no other assets or
liabilities) to Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for shares of
Molycorp, Inc. Class A common stock. Additionally, all of
the holders of profits interests in Molycorp Minerals, which
were represented by incentive shares, contributed all of their
incentive shares to Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for shares of
Molycorp, Inc. Class B common stock. As a result, Molycorp,
LLC and Molycorp Minerals became subsidiaries of Molycorp, Inc.
On June 15, 2010, Molycorp, LLC was merged with and into
Molycorp Minerals.
On July 9, 2010, Molycorp, Inc. completed a
38.23435373-for-one stock split, which has been retroactively
reflected in the historical financial data for all periods
presented. On August 3, 2010, Molycorp, Inc. completed its
initial public offering of common stock. In connection with its
initial public offering, Molycorp, Inc. issued
29,128,700 shares of common stock at $14.00 per share
(including 1,003,700 shares of Molycorp common stock issued
in connection with the underwriters’ option to purchase
additional shares). Total net proceeds of the offering were
approximately $378.6 million after underwriting discounts
and commissions and offering expenses payable by Molycorp, Inc.
Immediately prior to the consummation of Molycorp, Inc.’s
initial public offering, all of the shares of Class A
common stock and Class B common stock were converted into
shares of common stock.
Our
Business
We are the only REO producer in the Western hemisphere and own
one of the world’s largest, most fully developed rare earth
projects outside of China. Following the execution of our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy and completion of our modernization and expansion
efforts, we expect to be one of the world’s most integrated
producers of rare earth products, including oxides, metals,
alloys and magnets. Our rare earths are critical inputs in many
existing and emerging applications including: clean energy
technologies, such as hybrid and electric vehicles and wind
power turbines; multiple high-tech uses, including fiber optics,
lasers and hard disk drives; numerous defense applications, such
as guidance and control systems and global positioning systems;
and advanced water treatment technology for use in industrial,
military and outdoor recreation applications. Global demand for
REEs is projected to steadily increase both due to continuing
growth in existing applications and increased innovation and
development of new end uses.
45
Our goals are to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
develop innovative rare earth technologies and products vital to
green energy, high-tech, defense and industrial applications;
|
|
|
•
|
be commercially sustainable, globally competitive, profitable
and environmentally superior;
|
|
|
•
|
act as a responsible steward of our rare earth
resources; and
|
|
|
•
|
use our technology to improve the daily lives of people
throughout the world.
|
We have made significant investments, and expect to continue to
invest, in developing technologically advanced and proprietary
applications for individual REEs. We are in the process of
modernizing and expanding our production capabilities at our
Mountain Pass, California facility in order to integrate the
rare earths supply chain: mining; oxide processing; production
of metals and alloys; and, as part of our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy, the production of rare earth-based magnets.
Our vision is to be the rare earth products and technology
company recognized for its “ETHICS” —
Excellence, Trust, Honesty, Integrity, Creativity and Safety.
Since July 2005, the Mountain Pass facility has not had a
lost-time accident and has received the coveted “Sentinels
of Safety” award from the MSHA for three of the last six
years.
Our
Mine Process and Development Plans
We recommenced mining operations in December 2010 and are
preparing to recommence milling operations, which we expect to
occur in the first quarter of 2012. Recommencement of mining and
milling operations is coincident with our initial modernization
and expansion plan, which will give us the capacity to
efficiently produce at a rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO
per year by the end of 2012. Additionally, upon the completion
of our capacity expansion plan, we expect to have the ability to
produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end
of 2013. Prior to the expected completion of our initial
modernization and expansion efforts, we expect to produce
approximately 3,000 mt per year in the aggregate of cerium
products, lanthanum concentrate, didymium oxide and heavy rare
earth concentrates from stockpiled feedstock. In addition, we
expect to produce an additional 1,000 mt of lanthanum
concentrate in 2011 through a tolling arrangement with a
third-party producer.
Our modernization and expansion plans envision adding facilities
and equipment for metal conversion and alloy production at the
Mountain Pass facility or an off-site property. In November
2009, we entered into a non-binding letter of intent to acquire
a third-party producer of rare earth metals and alloys in the
United States; however, these discussions are no longer ongoing
and we do not anticipate executing a definitive agreement. If we
add another off-site facility to produce rare earth metals and
alloys, instead of adding such facilities and equipment at
Mountain Pass, we would transport cerium, lanthanum, neodymium,
praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and samarium oxide products
from our Mountain Pass facility to that off-site location to
produce rare earth metals and alloys.
In December 2010, we entered into a non-binding letter of intent
with Hitachi to form joint ventures for the production of rare
earth alloys and magnets in the United States. Additionally, we
have entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Neo
Material that, among other things, contemplates a technology
transfer agreement pursuant to which Neo Material may provide us
with technical assistance and know-how with respect to the
production of rare earth metals, alloys and magnets.
Our proposed joint ventures with Hitachi would provide us with
access to the technology, people and facilities to convert our
rare earth materials into rare earth alloys and high-performance
permanent rare earth magnets required for production of hybrid
and electric vehicles, wind power turbines, high-tech
applications and numerous advanced defense systems on which the
U.S. economy and national security depend. The consummation
of such joint ventures, in conjunction with our current
modernization plans and the potential technology transfer
agreement with Neo Material, is expected to provide us with the
capability to mine, process, separate and alloy individual REEs
and manufacture them into NdFeB magnets. This downstream
46
integration would make us the only fully integrated producer of
NdFeB magnets outside of China, helping to secure a rare earth
supply chain for the Rest of World.
We anticipate the cost of restarting mining operations, the
modernization and expansion of our Mountain Pass facility in
connection with our initial modernization and expansion plan and
the addition of rare earth metal and alloy production
capabilities to be approximately $531 million. In addition,
we expect to incur approximately $250 million in additional
capital costs to build additional production capacity in
connection with our capacity expansion plan prior to the end of
2013. Our estimated capital expenditures of $781 million do
not include corporate, selling, general and administrative
expenses, which we estimate to be an additional $20 million
to $25 million per year. We expect to finance these
expenditures, as well as our working capital requirements, with
the $360.4 million in net proceeds from our initial public
offering (after giving effect to our use of $18.2 million
of net proceeds for surety bonds), net proceeds from our
offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock, anticipated
revenue from operations and traditional debt financing, project
financing, additional equity offerings
and/or
government programs, including the U.S. Department of
Energy loan guarantee program for which we have submitted an
application in June 2010. On July 18, 2010, the
U.S. Department of Energy notified us that our Part I
submission under the loan guarantee program had been reviewed
and deemed eligible for submission of a Part II
application. Our Part II application was submitted on
December 31, 2010. We have also engaged BNP Paribas to
explore other financing options in the debt capital markets. On
December 10, 2010, we entered into a memorandum of
understanding with Sumitomo, pursuant to which Sumitomo agreed
to, among other things, purchase $100 million of our common
stock and arrange for a $30 million debt financing. The
consummation of these transactions with Sumitomo is subject to
numerous conditions and finalization of definitive agreements.
Our
Products and Markets
Since our acquisition of the Mountain Pass facility, we have
been producing and selling small quantities of certain rare
earth products from our pilot processes using stockpiled
feedstocks. The purpose of this effort has been to significantly
improve our solvent extraction technology and to develop other
key technologies that will be utilized in the new process. We
recently completed processing stockpiled lanthanum rich
feedstock to produce didymium oxide (a combination of neodymium
and praseodymium) and a higher purity lanthanum concentrate than
we previously produced. Lanthanum concentrate produced from the
stockpiled material, which we sell to customers in the fluid
catalytic cracking industry, has been our primary source of
revenue to date.
We commenced a second pilot processing campaign in the second
quarter of 2010 in an effort to commercially demonstrate our new
cracking technology and to further optimize our processing
technologies and improve recovery rates compared to historical
operations at the Mountain Pass facility. Due to the success of
this effort, we are producing cerium and lanthanum products, as
well as didymium oxide from bastnasite concentrate stockpiles.
With these products, we have begun expanding and diversifying
our product mix and our customer base. In July 2010, we began
selling our didymium oxide primarily to customers in the magnet
industry. In addition, in the third quarter of 2010, we began
selling our cerium products to customers in the automobile
emissions catalyst production industry and we completed our
initial sale of
XSORBX®
to the water treatment industry.
Key
Industry Factors
Demand
for Rare Earth Products
Global consumption of REEs is projected to steadily increase due
to continuing growth in existing applications and increased
innovation and development of new end uses. For example, the
integration of rare earth permanent magnet drives into wind
power turbines has substantially reduced the need for gearboxes,
which increases overall efficiency and reliability. If Mountain
Pass and other rare earth projects do not commence production
when anticipated, there will continue to be a gap between
current and forecasted demand and supply. We believe that this
anticipated market dynamic will underpin continued strong
pricing.
47
As a result of the global economic crisis, rare earth product
prices declined by approximately 50% during 2008 and through the
third quarter of 2009. According to Metal-Pages, from October
2009 through December 2010, prices for rare earths have risen by
approximately 780% on average. Furthermore, over the same
period, prices for some of the most common rare earths (cerium
oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, and rare earth
carbonate) have risen by more than 1000% on average.
Supply of
Rare Earth Products
China has dominated the global supply of REOs for the last ten
years and, according to IMCOA, it is estimated that China
accounted for approximately 96% of global REO production in
2008. Even with our planned production, global supply is
expected by analysts to remain tight due to the combined effects
of growing demand and actions taken by the Chinese government to
restrict exports. The Chinese government heightened
international supply concerns beginning in August 2009 when
China’s Interior Ministry first signaled that it would
further restrict exports of Chinese rare earth resources. Citing
the importance of REE availability to internal industries and
the desire to conserve resources, the Chinese government has
announced export quotas, increased export tariffs and introduced
a “mining quotas policy” that, in addition to imposing
export quotas and export tariffs, also imposes production quotas
and limits the issuance of new licenses for rare earth
exploration. On July 8, 2010, China’s Ministry of
Industry and Information Technology issued the export quota for
the second half of 2010, which reduced exports by 72% compared
with the second half of 2009 and 40% for the year ended
December 31, 2010 as compared to the year ended
December 31, 2009. On December 28, 2010, China’s
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology further reduced
the export quota for the first half of 2011, reducing exports by
35% compared with the first half of 2010 and 20% for the twelve
months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to the twelve months
ended June 30, 2010. China’s internal consumption of
rare earths is expected to continue to grow, leaving the Rest of
World with less supply during a period of increasing global
demand. China also dominates the manufacture of rare earth
metals, producing substantially all of the world’s supply,
and the manufacture of NdFeB magnets, producing approximately
80% of the world’s supply. Neither capability currently
exists in the United States.
China has announced a national stockpile program, as has South
Korea. Additionally, Japan has increased its national stockpile
program. In December 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy
released a study concluding that five rare earth metals,
including dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium and yttrium,
are critical to clean energy technologies in the short term due
to their importance to the clean energy economy and risk of
supply disruption. The report emphasizes that diversified global
supply chains for these critical materials are essential, and
calls for steps to be taken to facilitate extraction, processing
and manufacturing in the United States. Additionally, the
U.S. Department of Defense is conducting a study to
determine its rare earth requirements and supply chain
vulnerabilities and whether to build a strategic stockpile.
These stockpile programs will likely accelerate the pace of the
current and projected global REE supply deficit.
As a result of the internal industrial development, as well as
economic, environmental and regulatory factors in China, there
is uncertainty with respect to the availability of rare earth
products from China. Although Chinese production of rare earth
materials is increasing, export quotas imposed by the Chinese
government are decreasing, thus reducing the amount of rare
earth materials that China may export to the rest of the world.
This reduction is occurring at a time when the demand for REEs
is growing significantly.
Factors
Affecting Our Results
Modernization
and Expansion of Mountain Pass Facility
We anticipate a dramatic change in our business and results of
operations upon the completion of our planned modernization and
expansion of our Mountain Pass facility in connection with our
initial modernization and expansion plan and the commencement of
metal, alloy, and magnet production in 2012. For example, we
expect to produce and sell a significantly expanded slate of
products, including specialty cerium products for water
treatment, neodymium and praseodymium metal, neodymium iron
boron and samarium cobalt alloys for magnets, europium,
gadolinium, and terbium oxides for phosphors, and dysprosium and
terbium for magnets.
48
We acquired the Mountain Pass facility on September 30,
2008 from Chevron Mining Inc., which became the owner of the
Mountain Pass facility in 2005 after Unocal Corporation merged
with Chevron Corporation. Unocal Corporation had suspended most
operations at the Mountain Pass facility by 2002 and, except for
pilot processing activities, they remained suspended under
Chevron Mining Inc.’s ownership. Additionally, significant
reclamation work was completed at the Mountain Pass facility
under Chevron Mining Inc.’s ownership.
We plan to utilize the assets we acquired from Chevron Mining
Inc. as a foundation to build an integrated rare earth products
and technology company, which requires considerable additional
capital investment. We believe the application of improved
technologies, along with the capital investment, will allow us
to create a sustainable business by cost effectively producing
high purity rare earth products. Between now and the
start-up of
the new processing facility, we anticipate further diversifying
our product line through the production of
samarium/europium/gadolinium concentrate from bastnasite
concentrate stockpiles. Upon completion of the modernization and
expansion of the Mountain Pass facility, we expect to produce
lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium,
gadolinium, terbium and dysprosium in various chemical compounds
and/or metal
forms, including alloys. In addition to the modernization and
expansion of the Mountain Pass facility, we expect to
significantly broaden our operations through the addition of a
number of downstream activities and products, including rare
earth metal production and NdFeB and samarium cobalt alloys. We
intend to use some of the NdFeB alloy and dysprosium metal
product in a magnet production facility, which we anticipate
developing through a joint venture arrangement. Accordingly,
upon full implementation of our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy, we expect our new products to have significantly more
applications and a broader market base than our current products.
Revenues
In the second quarter of 2010, we commenced a second pilot
processing campaign to commercially demonstrate our new cracking
technology and to further optimize our processing technologies
and improve our recovery rates compared to historical operations
at the Mountain Pass facility. Due to the success of this second
pilot processing campaign, we are producing cerium and lanthanum
products as well as didymium oxide from bastnasite concentrate
stockpiles. The addition of these new products has significantly
increased the diversity of our product mix. The following is a
summary of the percentage of revenue by significant product line
for the three-month and nine-month periods ended
September 30, 2010 and the corresponding sales volumes for
the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30,
2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Didymium Oxide
|
|
|
31
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lanthanum Oxide
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
12
|
%
|
Ceric Hydrate
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
11
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lanthanum Chlorohydrate
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
9
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lanthanum Concentrate
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
85
|
%
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
78
|
%
|
Our prices and product mix are determined by a combination of
global and regional supply and demand factors. Our revenue
increased significantly for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2010 as compared to the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2009 due to the combination of a
general increase in the market prices of REOs, production of
ceric hydrate and commencement of didymium oxide sales, which
have significantly higher values than the lanthanum products we
produced in 2009. Sales for the nine months ended
September 30, 2010 included 2.72 million pounds of
REOs at an average price of $4.88 per pound compared to sales of
1.84 million pounds of REO at an average price of $2.66 per
pound for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The
quantities we sell are determined by the production capabilities
of the Mountain Pass facility and by demand for our product,
which is also influenced by the level of purity and consistency
we are able to achieve. Our revenue also includes sales of
finished products acquired as part of our acquisition of the
Mountain Pass facility.
49
Prices for lanthanum we sold to our two largest customers were
previously based primarily on fixed-price contracts. Our
contract with one of these customers expired on
December 31, 2009 and our contract with the other customer
expired in April 2010. Pursuant to our two contracts with Grace,
we have agreed to supply Grace with a significant amount of
REOs, primarily lanthanum oxide, through mid-2012 at
market-based
prices subject to a ceiling and a floor and with up to
75 percent of our lanthanum product production per year
(based on our initial planned capacity) at market-based prices
subject to a floor for a three-year period commencing upon the
achievement of expected annual production rates under our
initial modernization and expansion plan, which may be extended
at Grace’s option for an additional three-year period. Upon
execution of definitive agreements with Sumitomo, we also expect
to provide Sumitomo with approximately 1,500 mt per year (and
following completion of our initial modernization and expansion
plan, approximately 1,750 mt per year) of cerium and
lanthanum-based products and 250 mt per year of didymium oxide
for a period ending five years after the completion of our
initial modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass
facility, at market-based prices subject to a floor. Although
prices for REOs have generally increased since October 2009,
this increase followed a period of generally lower prices
corresponding with the global financial crisis beginning in
2008. Many factors influence the market prices for REOs and, in
the absence of established pricing in customer contracts, our
sales revenue will fluctuate based upon changes in the
prevailing prices for REOs. We use various industry sources,
including certain publications, in evaluating prevailing market
prices and establishing prices for our products because there
are no published indices for rare earth products, including
alloys or magnets.
Cost
of Goods Sold
Our cost of goods sold reflects the cost allocated to our
inventory acquired as part of our acquisition of the Mountain
Pass facility and, with respect to our recent sales of lanthanum
and cerium products and didymium oxide, the subsequent
processing costs incurred to produce the product. Because many
of our costs are fixed costs as opposed to variable costs, as
our production increases or decreases, our average cost per ton
decreases or increases, respectively. Primary production costs
include direct labor and benefits, maintenance, natural gas,
electricity, operating supplies, chemicals, depreciation and
amortization and other plant overhead expenses.
Currently, our most significant variable costs are chemicals and
electricity. In the future, we intend to produce more of our
chemicals at a plant
on-site,
which will reduce our variable chemical costs. We also intend to
build a co-generation facility to provide power. Following such
steps, natural gas will replace electricity and become our most
significant variable cost.
We expect our labor and benefit costs to increase through 2013
due to the addition of personnel and consultants required to
increase production to a rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO
per year by the end of 2012 in connection with out initial
modernization and expansion plan and up to approximately 40,000
mt of REO per year by the end of 2013 in connection with our
capacity expansion plan. In addition to volume fluctuations, our
variable costs, such as electricity, operating supplies and
chemicals, are influenced by general economic conditions that
are beyond our control. Other events outside our control, such
as power outages, have in the past interrupted our operations
and increased our total production costs, and we may experience
similar events in the future.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
Our selling, general and administrative expenses consist
primarily of: personnel and related costs; legal, accounting and
other professional fees; occupancy costs; and information
technology costs. We continue to experience increased selling,
general and administrative expenses as we expand our business
and operate as a publicly traded company. These expenses include
increasing our staffing as we prepare to start construction of
our new facilities and other business development activities in
January 2011 to execute our
“mine-to-magnets”
business plan. We have also experienced additional legal,
compliance and corporate governance expenses, as well as
additional accounting and audit expenses, stock exchange listing
fees, transfer agent and other stockholder-related fees and
increased premiums for certain insurance policies, among others.
50
Share-based
Compensation
Our share-based compensation is primarily associated with
incentive shares granted November 1, 2009 which, on the
grant date, were classified as a liability and valued at zero
dollars using the intrinsic value method prior to the completion
of our initial public offering on August 3, 2010. In
connection with the corporate reorganization and upon completion
of our initial public offering, these shares were ultimately
converted into 2,232,740 shares of restricted common stock,
744,247 of which vested immediately with the remaining 1,488,493
scheduled to vest
one-half in
September 2010 and
one-half
upon the six-month anniversary of our initial public offering.
On November 4, 2010, the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors approved a grant of 37,500 shares of
restricted stock, with a three-year vesting period, to certain
of our executive officers and a director.
Although we anticipate additional share-based awards in 2011, we
expect share-based compensation to decrease through 2011 as the
final vesting period of the incentive shares will be completed
on February 3, 2011.
Income
Taxes
Prior to our corporate reorganization, we operated entirely
within limited liability companies, which were not directly
liable for the payment of federal or state income taxes and our
taxable income or loss was included in the state and federal tax
returns of Molycorp, LLC’s members. Molycorp, Inc. is
subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. For the
nine months ended September 30, 2010, we have placed a 100%
reserve on our deferred tax assets.
Environmental
Our operations are subject to numerous and detailed federal,
state and local environmental laws, regulations and permits,
including those pertaining to employee health and safety,
environmental permitting and licensing, air quality standards,
GHG emissions, water usage and pollution, waste management,
plant and wildlife protection, handling and disposal of
radioactive substances, remediation of soil and groundwater
contamination, land use, reclamation and restoration of
properties, the discharge of materials into the environment and
groundwater quality and availability.
We retain, both within Molycorp and outside Molycorp, the
services of reclamation and environmental, health and safety, or
EHS, professionals to review our operations and assist with
environmental compliance, including with respect to product
management, solid and hazardous waste management and disposal,
water and air quality, asbestos abatement, drinking water
quality, reclamation requirements, radiation control and other
EHS issues.
We have spent, and anticipate that we will continue to spend,
financial and managerial resources to comply with environmental
requirements. The majority of these resources will be expended
through our capital investment budget. We expect to spend
approximately $187 million on environmentally-driven
capital projects during 2011 and 2012 on our modernization and
expansion project. We have contracted to acquire air emission
offset credits at a cost of approximately $3.1 million in
connection with our initial modernization and expansion plan and
our capacity expansion plan. However, we may need to purchase
additional credits in the future. In addition, in the nine-month
period ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, we incurred
operating expenses of approximately $1.2 million and
$1.5 million, respectively, associated with environmental
compliance requirements. The costs expected to be incurred as
part of our on-going remediation, which is expected to continue
throughout the Mountain Pass facility’s operating, closure
and post-closure periods, are included as part of our asset
retirement obligations. See “— Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates — Reclamation.”
We cannot predict the impact of new or changed laws, regulations
or permit requirements, including the matters discussed below,
or changes in the way such laws, regulations or permit
requirements are enforced, interpreted or administered.
Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change
frequently and have tended to become more stringent over time.
It is possible that greater than anticipated environmental
expenditures will be required in 2011 or in the future. We
expect continued government and public emphasis
51
on environmental issues will result in increased future
investment for environmental controls at our operations.
Additionally, with increased attention paid to emissions of
GHGs, including carbon dioxide, current and future regulations
are expected to affect our operations. We will continue to
monitor developments in these various programs and assess their
potential impacts on our operations.
Violations of environmental laws, regulations and permits can
result in substantial penalties, court orders to install
pollution-control equipment, civil and criminal sanctions,
permit revocations, facility shutdowns and other sanctions. In
addition, environmental laws and regulations may impose joint
and several liability, without regard to fault, for costs
relating to environmental contamination at our facility or from
wastes disposed of at third-party waste facilities. The proposed
expansion of our operations is also conditioned upon securing
the necessary environmental and other permits and approvals. In
certain cases, as a condition to procuring such permits and
approvals, we are required to comply with financial assurance
requirements. The purpose of these requirements is to assure the
government that sufficient company funds will be available for
the ultimate closure, post-closure care
and/or
reclamation at our facilities. We typically obtain bonds as
financial assurance for these obligations and, as of
September 30, 2010, we had placed $27.4 million of
surety bonds with California state and regional agencies. These
bonds are collateralized by $18.2 million in cash, which we
have placed in an escrow account. These bonds require annual
payment and renewal. The EPA has announced its intention to
establish a new financial assurance program for hardrock mining,
extraction and processing facilities under the Federal
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability
Act, known as CERCLA, or the “Superfund” law, which
may require us to establish additional bonds or other sureties.
We cannot predict the effect of any such requirements on our
operations at this time.
Impact
of Inflation
The cost estimates associated with the modernization and
expansion of the Mountain Pass facility described under the
heading “— Liquidity and Capital
Resources — Capital Expenditures” have not been
adjusted for inflation. In the event of significant inflation,
the funds required to execute our business plan over the next
few years could increase proportionately. This could delay or
preclude our business expansion efforts, or require us to raise
additional capital. In addition, historical inflation rates have
been used to estimate the future liability associated with our
future remediation and reclamation obligations as reflected in
the asset retirement obligations in our consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. If inflation
rates significantly exceed the historical inflation rates, our
future obligations could significantly increase.
Foreign
Currency Fluctuations
Substantially all of our product sales are denominated in
U.S. dollars, so we have minimal exposure to fluctuations
in foreign currency exchange rates. Our results are indirectly
influenced by currency fluctuations, as the relative cost of our
exports for a foreign buyer will increase as the
U.S. dollar strengthens and decrease as the
U.S. dollar softens in comparison to the applicable foreign
currency.
52
Results
of Operations
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Three Months
Ended September 30, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
8,410
|
|
|
$
|
1,960
|
|
|
$
|
6,450
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(7,619
|
)
|
|
|
(5,272
|
)
|
|
|
(2,347
|
)
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(4,117
|
)
|
|
|
(3,172
|
)
|
|
|
(945
|
)
|
Share-based compensation
|
|
|
(6,527
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(6,527
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization expense
|
|
|
(83
|
)
|
|
|
(60
|
)
|
|
|
(23
|
)
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
(216
|
)
|
|
|
(252
|
)
|
|
|
(36
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(10,152
|
)
|
|
|
(6,796
|
)
|
|
|
(3,356
|
)
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
Interest (expense) income
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
|
(126
|
)
|
|
|
119
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(10,145
|
)
|
|
$
|
(6,903
|
)
|
|
$
|
(3,242
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, our
revenues were approximately $8.4 million and
$2.0 million, respectively. This significant increase in
revenue is due to the combination of a general increase in the
prices of REO products and our diversification into new
products, such as cerium hydrate and didymium oxide, which have
much higher sales prices per pound than the lanthanum products
we produced and sold in 2009. The following is a summary of the
revenue percentages by significant product for the three months
ended September 30, 2010 and the corresponding sales
volumes for the three months ended September 30, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Didymium Oxide
|
|
|
31
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lanthanum Oxide
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
Ceric Hydrate
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lanthanum Chlorohydrate
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lanthanum Concentrate
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
85
|
%
|
Didymium oxide, which has a relatively high sales price per
pound as compared to our other products, accounted for 31% of
our total revenue for the three months ended September 30,
2010 compared to zero for the three months ended
September 30, 2009. Conversely, lanthanum concentrate,
which has a relatively low sales price per pound as compared to
our other products, accounted for 8% of our total revenue for
the three months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to
85% of total revenue for the three months ended
September 30, 2009. In addition, we commenced sales of
XSORBX®
in the third quarter of 2010. In total, for the three months
ended September 30, 2010, we sold approximately
1.15 million pounds of REO products at an average sales
price of roughly $7.31 per pound compared to sales of
approximately 0.80 million pounds of REO products at an
average sales price of $2.45 per pound for the three months
ended September 30, 2009. We anticipate cerium products,
including
XSORBX®,
lanthanum products and didymium oxide to make up a significant
percentage of our total sales until we complete the
modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass facility.
With the commencement of our second pilot processing campaign in
April 2010, we began production of ceric hydrate and
XSORBX®,
which accounted for roughly 18% and 0.1% of our total revenue,
respectively,
53
for the three months ended September 30, 2010. We
anticipate these products will become a more significant
percentage of our total revenue in future periods.
We expect increased revenue in the last quarter of 2010,
primarily attributable to an improved product mix from the new
products we are producing during our second pilot processing
campaign. In addition, we estimate that generally higher REE
prices in 2010, as compared to 2009, will contribute to our
increased revenue for the remainder of 2010 and into 2011.
Cost
of Goods Sold
Our cost of goods sold for the three months ended
September 30, 2010 and 2009 totaled approximately
$7.6 million and $5.3 million, respectively. Included
in the cost of goods sold for the three months ended
September 30, 2010 and 2009 are write-downs of inventory to
estimated net realizable value of $0.6 million and
$2.3 million, respectively. Lower of cost or market
write-downs were higher during the third quarter of 2009
compared to the same period in 2010 due to lower market prices
for certain products in 2009. Over the first three quarters of
2010, we have seen a steady increase in market prices for our
primary products. Our principal production costs include
chemicals, direct labor and employee benefits, maintenance labor
and materials, contract labor, operating supplies, depreciation,
utilities and plant overhead expenses.
The following is a summary of the production quantity in pounds
by significant product for the three months ended
September 30, 2010 and the corresponding production volumes
for the three months ended September 30, 2009 (in thousands
of pounds).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Didymium Oxide
|
|
|
176
|
|
|
|
317
|
|
Ceric Hydrate
|
|
|
319
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Lanthanum Chlorohydrate
|
|
|
651
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Lanthanum Concentrate
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
927
|
|
Since the commencement of our second pilot processing campaign
in April 2010, our production volumes have been steadily
increasing as we continue to refine and improve our production
process. As a result of the second pilot processing campaign,
our production costs have also increased due to the addition of
more employees and the increased volume of chemicals and other
materials being used throughout the production process. Total
production costs charged to inventory were $6.0 million and
$5.8 million for the three months ended September 30,
2010 and 2009, respectively. Inventory purchases were
$1.4 million and less than $0.1 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. We
primarily purchase lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide and
praseodymium oxide that undergo further processing either at our
facility or at an off-site location.
Our chemical costs were $1.3 million and $1.1 million
for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009,
respectively. Chemical costs are highly correlated to production
volumes and are primarily driven by the market price of the
chemicals being used. For the three months ended
September 30, 2010 and 2009, the most significant chemical
cost was for hydrochloric acid, which represented approximately
47% and 49% of total reagent costs, respectively.
Labor costs, including related employee benefits, allocated to
production were approximately $2.3 million and
$2.1 million for the three months ended September 30,
2010 and 2009, respectively. As of September 30, 2010, we
had a total of 139 employees compared to 116 employees
at September 30, 2009, which led to higher wage and
employee related benefit expenses. During the third quarter of
2010, we also experienced increase in labor costs as compared to
the third quarter of 2009, due to the annual wage increase
required under our union contract in March 2010.
Maintenance costs, including maintenance labor and supplies,
were $0.7 million and $0.5 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Utility charges, which primarily include electricity, were
$0.7 million and $0.6 million in the respective
periods.
54
Other costs allocated to production include depreciation of
$1.4 million and $0.9 million for the three months
ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Depreciation allocated to products is primarily related to
buildings, equipment and machinery used in the production
process. Depreciation expense allocated to production was
significantly higher during the third quarter of 2010 as
compared to the third quarter of 2009, due to depreciation on
over $7.0 million of production equipment and other assets
related to the commencement of our second pilot processing
campaign, which were capitalized over the nine months ended
September 30, 2010. These assets are being depreciated over
a 32-month
period as they will be decommissioned with the full restart of
the mine at the end of 2012.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
Our selling, general and administrative expenses for the three
months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 totaled
approximately $4.1 million and $3.2 million,
respectively. The higher general and administrative expenses for
the third quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period of 2009
are primarily due to increasing our staffing as we prepare to
start construction of our new facilities and other business
development activities in January 2011 to execute our
“mine-to-magnets”
business plan. We have also experienced higher accounting, legal
and other professional services fees due to increased business
development activities. We also paid employee bonuses totaling
$0.6 million in the third quarter of 2010,
$0.4 million of which was allocated to general and
administrative expenses.
In addition, we recognized approximately $6.5 million and
$0 in share-based compensation in the three months ended
September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Share-based
Compensation
For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, our
share-based compensation was $6.5 million and
$0.0 million, respectively. The share-based compensation is
associated with incentive shares that ultimately converted into
2,232,740 shares of restricted common stock at $14.00 per
share in connection with our corporate reorganization and upon
completion of our initial public offering, 744,247 of which
vested immediately with the remaining 1,488,493 scheduled to
vest
one-half in
September 2010 and
one-half
upon the
six-month
anniversary of our initial public offering.
Operating
Losses
Since our inception and our acquisition of the Mountain Pass
facility, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our
operating losses for the three months ended September 30,
2010 and 2009 were approximately $9.9 million and
$6.9 million, respectively.
Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Nine Months
Ended September 30, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
13,176
|
|
|
$
|
4,889
|
|
|
$
|
8,287
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(18,989
|
)
|
|
|
(14,896
|
)
|
|
|
(4,093
|
)
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(12,851
|
)
|
|
|
(8,380
|
)
|
|
|
(4,471
|
)
|
Share-based compensation
|
|
|
(21,660
|
)
|
|
|
(241
|
)
|
|
|
(21,419
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization expense
|
|
|
(239
|
)
|
|
|
(123
|
)
|
|
|
(116
|
)
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
(695
|
)
|
|
|
(755
|
)
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(41,258
|
)
|
|
|
(19,506
|
)
|
|
|
(21,752
|
)
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
124
|
|
|
|
(44
|
)
|
Interest (expense) income
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
|
(110
|
)
|
|
|
103
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(41,185
|
)
|
|
$
|
(19,492
|
)
|
|
$
|
(21,693
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55
Revenues
Net sales were approximately $13.2 million and
$4.9 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2010 and 2009, respectively. The increased revenue for the nine
months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the nine
months ended September 30, 2009 is due to the combination
of a general increase in the price of REO products, as well as
our diversification into new products, such as ceric hydrate and
the commencement of didymium oxide sales, which have much higher
sale prices per pound than the lanthanum products we produced in
2009. The following is a summary of the revenue percentages by
significant products for the nine months ended
September 30, 2010 and the corresponding sales volumes for
the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Didymium Oxide
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lanthanum Oxide
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
12
|
%
|
Ceric Hydrate
|
|
|
11
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lanthanum Chlorohydrate
|
|
|
9
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lanthanum Concentrate
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
78
|
%
|
Didymium oxide, which has a relatively high sales price per
pound as compared to our other products, accounted for 20% of
our total revenue for the nine months ended September 30,
2010 as compared to 0% for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009. Conversely, lanthanum concentrate,
which has a relatively low sales price per pound as compared to
our other products, accounted for 32% of our total revenue for
the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to 78%
of total revenue for the nine months ended September 30,
2009. With the commencement of our second pilot processing
campaign, the production of lanthanum concentrate has ceased and
been replaced by lanthanum chlorohydrate, which is a more
marketable product. In total, for the nine months ended
September 30, 2010, we sold approximately 2.72 million
pounds of REO products at an average sales price of
approximately $4.88 per pound compared to sales of approximately
1.84 million pounds of REO products at an average sales
price of approximately $2.66 per pound for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009. We anticipate cerium products,
including
XSORBX®,
lanthanum products and didymium oxide to make up a significant
percentage of our total revenue until we complete the
modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass facility.
Cost
of Goods Sold
Our cost of goods sold was approximately $18.9 million and
$14.9 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2010 and 2009, respectively. The higher costs for the nine
months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period
for 2009 were due to higher sales and higher production costs,
including costs associated with the transition to our second
pilot processing campaign. These increased costs were partially
offset by a decrease in our lower of cost or market inventory
write-downs from approximately $7.5 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 2009 to $1.6 million for
the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Lower of cost or
market write-downs were higher for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009 as compared to the same period in 2010,
due to lower market prices for certain products in 2009. Our
processing facility was shut down during March 2010 due to high
water levels in our evaporation ponds. In April and May 2010,
operations were limited in preparation for the start up of our
second pilot processing campaign, which decreased production
volumes during the first and second quarters of 2010. As a
result of the shut down, labor, maintenance and other costs,
such as depreciation expense, normally charged to inventory were
expensed as period costs and are reflected in our higher cost of
sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared
to the same period in 2009.
Total production costs charged to inventory were
$10.5 million and $16.9 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The
following is a summary of the production quantity in pounds by
significant product for the nine months ended September 30,
2010 and the corresponding production volumes for the nine
months ended September 30, 2009 (in thousands of pounds).
56
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Didymium Oxide
|
|
|
353
|
|
|
|
944
|
|
Ceric Hydrate
|
|
|
457
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Lanthanum Chlorohydrate
|
|
|
795
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Lanthanum Concentrate
|
|
|
584
|
|
|
|
2,378
|
|
Production costs charged to inventory were lower during the nine
months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the same
period in 2009, due to the plant shut-down and
start-up of
the second pilot processing campaign, as discussed above. We
expensed $7.7 million of production-related costs that
would have otherwise been charged to inventory if we maintained
normal production levels during this time period. We expect to
attain increased production levels in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Inventory purchases were $2.2 million and $0.1 million
for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. The
primary products we purchased during those periods were
lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide and praseodymium oxide.
Chemical costs charged to production were $2.4 million and
$3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2010 and 2009, respectively. Chemical costs in the nine months
ended September 30, 2010 were lower compared to the same
period in 2009 due to lower production levels primarily during
the first and second quarters and improved processing techniques
that reduced chemical usage. Labor costs and related benefits
charged to production were $6.3 million and
$5.9 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2010 and 2009, respectively. During the nine months ended
September 30, 2009, labor costs include an accrual of
$1.3 million for a completion bonus paid in March 2010 to
employees who worked on the NFL pilot processing development
project. In the third quarter of 2010, union workers and other
employees at our Mountain Pass facility received bonuses
totaling approximately $0.2 million. Higher labor costs
during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were
primarily attributable to wage increases established under our
union agreement, which took effect in March 2010, and the
addition of 17 new employees under the collective bargaining
agreement as well as the addition of several salaried employees
in 2010, resulting in higher labor costs during the nine months
ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the same period in
2009.
Other costs charged to production include: maintenance expenses
of $1.5 million and $1.4 million; depreciation expense
of $3.8 million and $2.8 million; and utility charges
of $1.5 million and $1.5 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The
significant increase in depreciation expense is due to the
addition of over $7.0 million of assets related to the
second pilot processing campaign.
In March 2010, we also began blending our existing didymium
oxide inventory, which, prior to blending, contained varying
percentages of neodymium and praseodymium, to create a more
consistent content which better meets customer specifications.
As of September 30, 2010, over 1.0 million pounds were
blended. Blended inventory is reclassified from work in process
to finished goods. We began selling the blended didymium oxide
inventory in August 2010. In addition, we began shipments of
didymium oxide inventory to an off-site processing facility to
be converted into metal. Sales of didymium metal commenced in
the fourth quarter of 2010.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were
$12.9 million and $8.4 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Beginning
in the first quarter of 2010, we experienced a significant
increase in professional fees primarily due to increasing our
staffing as we prepare to start construction of our new
facilities and other business development activities in January
2011 to execute our
“mine-to-magnets”
business plan. We have also experienced increased spending for
accounting, information technology consulting and engineering
services.
57
Share-based
Compensation
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, our
share-based compensation was $21.7 million and
$0.2 million, respectively. The share-based compensation
for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is associated
with incentive shares that ultimately converted into
2,232,740 shares of common stock at $14.00 per share in
connection with our corporate reorganization and upon completion
of our initial public offering, 744,247 of which vested
immediately with the remaining 1,488,493 scheduled to vest
one-half in September 2010 and one-half upon the six-month
anniversary of our initial public offering. The share-based
compensation for the nine months ended September 30, 2009
is associated with options issued to our Chief Executive Officer.
Capital
Expenditures
Our capital expenditures, on an accrual basis, totaled
$15.6 million and $5.1 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Most of
the capitalized costs incurred during the nine months ended
September 30, 2010 are related to our second pilot
processing campaign, which commenced in April 2010, and the
startup of our modernization and expansion project at the
Mountain Pass facility. These costs were primarily associated
with engineering and consulting fees.
We are continuing with the design phase of the plant
modernization and expansion process. We have begun the bidding
process of pre-construction services and soil testing in
preparation to commence construction. We will also be entering
into a number of construction contracts associated with the
modernization and expansion of our Mountain Pass facility
through the remainder of the year.
Year
Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Period from
June 12, 2008 (Inception) to December 31,
2008
Due to the timing of our formation on June 12, 2008 and
completion of the acquisition of the Mountain Pass, California
rare earth deposit and associated assets from Chevron Mining
Inc. on September 30, 2008, the results of our operations
for the year ended December 31, 2009 are not directly
comparable to our results of operations for the period from our
inception on June 12, 2008 to December 31, 2008, which
we refer to as the period ended December 31, 2008. We did
not have any revenue or cost of goods sold until the fourth
quarter of 2008. Accordingly, the following discussion focuses
on significant trends in our revenues, cost of sales and other
operating expenses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Through
|
|
|
Through
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
7,093
|
|
|
$
|
2,137
|
|
|
$
|
9,230
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(21,785
|
)
|
|
|
(13,027
|
)
|
|
|
(34,812
|
)
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(12,685
|
)
|
|
|
(2,979
|
)
|
|
|
(15,664
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization expense
|
|
|
(191
|
)
|
|
|
(19
|
)
|
|
|
(210
|
)
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
(1,006
|
)
|
|
|
(250
|
)
|
|
|
(1,256
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(28,574
|
)
|
|
|
(14,138
|
)
|
|
|
(42,712
|
)
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest (expense) income
|
|
|
(194
|
)
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
(184
|
)
|
Other income
|
|
|
181
|
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
235
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(28,587
|
)
|
|
$
|
(14,074
|
)
|
|
$
|
(42,661
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
For the year ended December 31, 2009 and for the period
ended December 31, 2008, our revenues were approximately
$7.1 million and $2.1 million, respectively. Sales of
lanthanum accounted for 82% and 72% of our sales for the year
ended December 31, 2009 and the period ended
December 31, 2008, respectively. There is a limited market
for our lanthanum and two customers together comprised 82% and
72% of our total product revenue for the year ended
December 31, 2009 and the period ended December 31,
2008, respectively.
58
We anticipate lanthanum and didymium oxide to make up a
significant percentage of our total sales until we complete the
modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass facility, at
which time we will no longer manufacture those products. We sell
100% of our lanthanum to customers in the United States.
Upon completion of the modernization and expansion of the
Mountain Pass facility and the full implementation of our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy, we expect to produce cerium, lanthanum, neodymium,
praseodymium, samarium, dysprosium and terbium oxide and metal
products, europium and gadolinium oxide products and NdFeB and
samarium cobalt alloys. We intend to use some of the NdFeB alloy
and dysprosium metal product in our magnet production plant. Our
new products are expected to have significantly more
applications than our current products, exposing us to a larger
population of potential customers.
Cost
of Goods Sold
Our cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2009
and for the period ended December 31, 2008 totaled
approximately $21.8 million and $13.0 million,
respectively. Included in the cost of sales for the year ended
December 31, 2009 and the period ended December 31,
2008 are write-downs of inventory to estimated net realizable
value of $9.0 million and $9.5 million, respectively.
Our principal production costs include chemicals, direct labor
and employee benefits, maintenance labor and materials, contract
labor, operating supplies, depreciation, utilities and plant
overhead expenses.
Total production costs charged to inventory were
$23.4 million and $5.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2009 and the period ended December 31,
2008, respectively. We produced 3.4 million pounds of
lanthanum and 1.2 million pounds of didymium oxide in 2009
and 0.8 million pounds of lanthanum and 0.1 million
pounds of didymium oxide in the period ended December 31,
2008. Inventory purchases were $0.2 million and
$0.7 million for the respective periods. We primarily
purchase lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide and praseodymium oxide
that undergo further processing either at our facility or at an
off-site location.
Our chemical costs were $6.7 million and $1.9 million
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and for the period
ended December 31, 2008, respectively. Unit chemical costs
do not vary significantly based on production volumes and are
primarily driven by market prices. In 2008, the most significant
chemical cost related to caustic soda, representing
approximately 57% of total reagent costs. We launched a program
in 2009 that has allowed us to lower the quantity and costs
associated with the use of caustic soda in our production
process.
Labor costs, including related employee benefits, allocated to
production were $9.2 million and $2.0 million for the
year ended December 31, 2009 and the period ended
December 31, 2008, respectively. Included in the labor
costs is a bonus, which was granted to all union employees for
working on our NFL pilot processing project, of
$0.8 million and $0.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2009 and the period ended December 31,
2008, respectively. The bonus was paid out in March 2010.
Maintenance costs, including maintenance labor and supplies,
were $1.9 million and $0.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2009 and the period ended December 31,
2008, respectively. Maintenance costs remained consistent
throughout this time period.
Other costs allocated to production include depreciation charges
of $3.7 million and $0.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2009 and the period ended December 31,
2008, respectively. Depreciation allocated to products is
primarily related to buildings, equipment and machinery used in
the production process. We also accrued waste disposal charges
of $1.5 million as of December 31, 2009 for disposal
of by-products of production that are potentially hazardous.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
Our selling, general and administrative expenses for the year
ended December 31, 2009 and for the period ended
December 31, 2008 totaled approximately $12.7 million
and $3.0 million, respectively. Legal and accounting fees
were approximately $1.8 million and $0.5 million,
respectively. Other consulting expenses, primarily related to
engineering and technical consultants were $1.6 million and
$0.5 million. These costs related primarily to engineering
and resource studies as well as process development projects.
Costs associated with research and development projects were
$1.5 million and $0.4 million and primarily are
attributed to labor costs and materials and supplies.
59
Management salaries and related benefits not capitalizable in
inventory were $2.5 million and $0.9 million for the
respective periods.
Operating
Losses
Since our inception and our acquisition of the Mountain Pass
facility, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our
operating losses for the year ended December 31, 2009 and
for the period ended December 31, 2008 were
$28.6 million and $14.1 million, respectively. We have
funded these operating losses entirely with proceeds from equity
contributions from our initial investors.
Capital
Investments
We expect to make significant capital expenditures under our
plan to modernize and expand our Mountain Pass facility, as well
as consistent expenditures to replace assets necessary to
sustain safe and reliable production. Most of the facilities and
equipment acquired in connection with the acquisition of the
Mountain Pass facility are at least 20 years old. We have
developed an accelerated modernization plan that includes the
refurbishment of the Mountain Pass mine and related processing
facilities beginning in 2010 through 2012 in order to increase
REO production. We expect to incur approximately
$531 million in capital costs in connection with our
initial modernization and expansion plan prior to
December 31, 2012, and up to an additional
$250 million in capital costs to build additional
production capacity in connection with our capacity expansion
plan, prior to December 31, 2013.
All of the amounts for future capital spending described above
are initial estimates that are subject to change as the projects
are further developed. Total capital spending in 2010 is
expected to be approximately $26 million, of which approximately
$3 million will be prepayments on contracts.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Under our current business plan, we intend to spend
approximately $531 million through the end of 2012,
including approximately $245 million in 2011, to restart
mining operations, construct and refurbish processing facilities
and other infrastructure at the Mountain Pass facility and
expand into metal, alloy and magnet production in connection
with our initial modernization and expansion plan. In addition,
we expect to spend approximately $250 million through the
end of 2013, including approximately $50 million to
$100 million in 2011, to build additional production
capacity and approximately $20 million in 2011 for other
capital projects. We expect to finance these expenditures, as
well as our working capital requirements, with approximately
$360.4 million of net proceeds from our initial public
offering (after giving effect to our use of $18.2 million
of net proceeds for surety bonds), net proceeds from our
offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock and
anticipated funds from operations, traditional debt financing,
equity financing, project financing
and/or
government programs, including the U.S. Department of
Energy loan guarantee program for which we submitted an
application in June 2010. On July 21, 2010, the
U.S. Department of Energy notified us that our Part I
submission under the loan guarantee program had been reviewed
and deemed eligible for submission of a Part II
application. Our Part II application was submitted on
December 31, 2010. We have also engaged BNP Paribas to
explore other financing options in the debt capital markets. On
December 10, 2010, we entered into a memorandum of
understanding with Sumitomo, pursuant to which Sumitomo agreed
to, among other things, purchase $100 million of our common
stock and arrange for a $30 million debt financing. The
consummation of these transactions with Sumitomo is subject to
numerous conditions and finalization of definitive agreements.
Our estimated capital expenditure of $781 million does not
include corporate, selling, general and administrative expenses,
which we estimate to be an additional $20 million to
$25 million per year.
60
Contractual
Obligations
As of December 31, 2009, we had the following contractual
obligations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments Due by Period
|
|
Contractual Obligations
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Less Than 1 Year
|
|
|
1-3 Years
|
|
|
4-5 Years
|
|
|
More Than 5 Years
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating lease obligations(1)
|
|
$
|
281
|
|
|
$
|
153
|
|
|
$
|
128
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Purchase obligations(2)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Employee bonus obligations(3)
|
|
|
1,400
|
|
|
|
1,400
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Asset retirement obligations(4)
|
|
|
29,247
|
|
|
|
639
|
|
|
|
4,191
|
|
|
|
1,597
|
|
|
|
22,820
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
30,928
|
|
|
$
|
2,192
|
|
|
$
|
4,319
|
|
|
$
|
1,597
|
|
|
$
|
22,820
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents all operating lease payments for office space, land
and office equipment. |
|
(2) |
|
Represents non-cancelable contractual commitments for the
purchase of materials and services from vendors. |
|
(3) |
|
Represents payments due to employees as a result of our NFL
pilot processing campaign. |
|
(4) |
|
Under applicable environmental laws and regulations, we are
subject to reclamation and remediation obligations resulting
from our operations. The amounts presented above represent our
estimated future undiscounted cash flows required to satisfy the
obligations currently known to us. |
At December 31, 2010, there was an accrual of $554,000
relating to employee bonus obligations outstanding, and the
asset retirement obligation was reduced based on an updated
analysis.
On July 19, 2010, we entered into a lease agreement for
additional office space. As a result, our lease obligation for
the Denver office location will be roughly $67,000 for the three
months ending December 31, 2010. Our payments for the
following three years will total payments of roughly $704,000
with additional payments totalling roughly $429,000 for years
four and five. Remaining payments totalling roughly $196,000
will be paid in year six.
On September 30, 2010, we entered into a natural gas
transportation lease agreement, subject to certain exceptions,
with Kern River Gas Transmission Company under which we agreed
to make annual payments of $5.2 million per year for
10 years beginning on the later of January 1, 2012 or
the in-service date, which we anticipate to be April 2012, to
Kern River Gas Transmission Company in exchange for the
designing, permitting, constructing, operating, and maintaining
of facilities necessary to transport natural gas to our new
power generation facility. Assuming an in-service date of
April 1, 2012, our payments for years one to three will
total roughly $9.04 million with additional payments
totalling roughly $10.31 million in years four and five and
payments totalling roughly $32.22 million will be paid in
following periods.
As of November 19, 2010, we had entered into an engineering
services agreement for $18.9 million, subject to certain
exceptions, with M&K Chemical Engineering under which we
agreed to make monthly estimated payments based upon completion
of M&K Chemical Engineering performance of work. As a
result, approximately $1.3 million had been paid during
December 2010 and $17.6 million is expected to be paid
during 2011.
As of December 15, 2010, we had entered into an engineering
equipment purchase obligation with Quinn Process Equipment Co.
totaling $24.2 million. As of December 31, 2010,
$4.7 million of the total was recognized with expected
payments of $16.7 million to be made during 2011 and
$2.8 million to be made during 2012.
As of December 31, 2010, a down payment of 10% had been
paid to Solar Turbines Inc. through a letter of intent prior to
the full execution of a contract for the purchase of turbines,
which is expected to finalized during January 2011, for a
purchase obligation totaling $12.7 million.
As of December 31, 2010, we had entered into various
contracts of $7.8 million related to construction
purchases, $8.7 million related to engineering and design
purchases and $0.8 million related to professional services.
61
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
As of the date of this prospectus, our only off-balance sheet
arrangements are the operating leases included in
“— Contractual Obligations” above. Prior to
September 13, 2010, our only off-balance sheet arrangement
in addition to the operating leases included in
“— Contractual Obligations” above, was our
agreement to compensate our initial investors for providing
collateral relating to our bonding obligations to various
government agencies. In February 2009, the members of Molycorp
Minerals incurred certain costs in providing letters of credit
and/or cash
collateral to secure surety bonds issued for the benefit of
certain regulatory agencies relating to our Mountain Pass
facility closure and reclamation obligations. The total amount
of collateral provided by them was $18.2 million. In
accordance with our agreement, we paid each stockholder a 5%
annual return on the amount of collateral provided resulting in
an aggregate payment of approximately $0.8 million for
interest accrued through September 13, 2010.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
Revenue
and Costs of Goods Sold
Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement
exists, the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred
to the customer, which is generally when title passes, the
selling price is fixed or determinable and collection is
reasonably assured. Title generally passes upon shipment of
product from our Mountain Pass facility. Prices are generally
set at the time of or prior to shipment. Transportation and
distribution costs are incurred only on sales for which we are
responsible for delivering the product. Our reported revenues
are presented net of freight and shipping costs.
Cost of goods sold includes the cost of production as well as
inventory write-downs caused by market price declines. Primary
production costs include labor, supplies, maintenance costs,
depreciation and plant overhead.
Reclamation
Our asset retirement obligations, or AROs, arise from our
San Bernardino County conditional use permit, approved
mining plan and federal, state and local laws and regulations,
which establish reclamation and closure standards for all
aspects of our surface mining operation. Comprehensive
environmental protection and reclamation standards require that
we, upon closure of the Mountain Pass facility, restore the
property in accordance with an approved reclamation plan issued
in conjunction with our conditional use permit.
Our AROs are recorded initially at fair value, or the amount at
which we estimate we could transfer our future reclamation
obligations to informed and willing third parties. We use
estimates of future third party costs to arrive at the AROs
because the fair value of such costs generally reflects a profit
component. It has been our practice, and we anticipate it will
continue to be our practice, to perform a substantial portion of
the reclamation work using internal resources. Hence, the
estimated costs used in determining the carrying amount of our
AROs may exceed the amounts that are eventually paid for
reclamation costs if the reclamation work were performed using
internal resources.
To determine our AROs, we calculate the present value of the
estimated future reclamation cash flows based upon our permit
requirements, which is based upon the approved mining plan,
estimates of future reclamation costs and assumptions regarding
the useful life of the asset to be remediated. These cash flow
estimates are discounted on a credit-adjusted, risk-free
interest rate based on U.S. Treasury bonds with a maturity
similar to the expected life of the asset.
The amount initially recorded as an ARO for the Mountain Pass
facility may change as a result of changes to the mine permit,
and changes in the estimated costs or timing of reclamation
activities. We periodically update estimates of cash
expenditures associated with our ARO obligations in accordance
with U.S. GAAP, which generally requires a measurement of
the present value of any increase in estimated reclamation costs
using the current credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rate.
Adjustments to the ARO for decreases in the estimated amount of
reclamation costs are measured using the credit-adjusted,
risk-free interest rate as of the date of the initial
recognition of the ARO.
62
At September 30, 2010, our accrued ARO obligation was
$11.8 million. Of this amount, approximately
$4.6 million is associated with the demolition and removal
of buildings and equipment, approximately $4.3 million is
associated with groundwater remediation and $2.9 million is
associated with the remediation of tailing ponds, removal of
land improvements and revegetation.
Property,
Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment associated with the acquisition of
the Mountain Pass facility is stated at estimated fair value as
of the acquisition date. Expenditures for new property, plant
and equipment and improvements that extend the useful life or
functionality of the asset are capitalized. Depreciation on
plant and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method
over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Maintenance and
repair costs are expensed as incurred.
Reserves,
Mineral Properties and Development Costs
Mineral properties represent the estimated fair value of the
mineral resources associated with the Mountain Pass facility as
of the acquisition date. We amortize such mineral properties
using the units of production basis over estimated proven and
probable reserves.
Inventory
Inventories consist of
work-in-process,
finished goods, stockpiles of bastnasite and lanthanum
concentrate and materials and supplies. Inventory cost is
determined using the lower of weighted average cost or estimated
net realizable value. Inventory expected to be sold in the next
12 months is classified as a current asset in the
consolidated balance sheet. Cash flows related to the sale of
inventory are classified as operating activities in the
consolidated statements of cash flows.
Write-downs to estimated net realizable value are charged to
cost of goods sold. Many factors influence the market prices for
REOs and, in the absence of established prices contained in
customer contracts, management uses Metal-Pages as an
independent pricing source to evaluate market prices for REOs at
the end of each quarter. Metal-Pages is a widely recognized
pricing source within our industry, which collects and
summarizes data from rare earth producers in China and Europe.
We make appropriate modifications to the Metal-Pages prices,
when applicable, to account for differences between the REO
grade of our inventory and the REO grade assumed in the
corresponding Metal-Pages price.
We evaluate the carrying value of finished goods and materials
and supplies inventories each quarter giving consideration to
slow-moving items, obsolescence, excessive levels and other
factors and recognize related write-downs as necessary. Finished
goods inventories that may not meet customer specifications or
current market demand, and quantities that exceed a two year
supply, generally require write-downs to estimated net
realizable value.
We evaluate our stockpiled concentrates each quarter and
recognize write-downs as necessary to adjust the carrying value
to estimated net realizable value. Our analysis utilizes current
market prices from Metal-Pages and estimated costs to complete
the processing of our concentrates to REOs. Costs associated
with the processing of concentrates through our planned
modernized facilities are based on internal and external
engineering estimates and primarily include labor and benefits,
utilities, chemicals, operating supplies, maintenance,
depreciation and amortization and plant overhead expenses. Our
estimated costs per pound of REO to be produced in our
modernized facilities are significantly lower than our current
production costs per pound, resulting in a higher carrying value
for our stockpiled concentrates. The use of new and proprietary
technologies will allow us to improve our process recoveries and
substantially reduce our water consumption. We will reduce our
energy costs through the use of a natural gas powered
co-generation power plant that will be installed as part of our
modernization project. Additionally, we intend to produce our
own hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide and recycle our acid
and base, thereby reducing our cost of reagents. We estimate,
based upon our current business plan and estimated future demand
for the component rare earth elements to be recovered, that our
inventory of stockpiled concentrates will be fully utilized in
the production of our rare earth products by March 31, 2013.
63
Asset
Impairments
We account for asset impairment in accordance with ASC 360,
Property Plant and Equipment. Long-lived assets such as
property, plant and equipment, mineral properties and purchased
intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for
impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
Impairment is considered to exist if the total estimated future
cash flow on an undiscounted basis is less than the carrying
amount of the related assets. An impairment loss is measured and
recorded based on the discounted estimated future cash flows.
Changes in significant assumptions underlying future cash flow
estimates or fair values of assets may have a material effect on
our financial position and results of operations.
Factors we generally consider important in our evaluation and
that could trigger an impairment review of the carrying value of
long-lived assets include the following:
|
|
|
|
•
|
significant underperformance relative to expected operating
results;
|
|
|
•
|
significant changes in the way assets are used;
|
|
|
•
|
underutilization of our tangible assets;
|
|
|
•
|
discontinuance of certain products by us or by our customers;
|
|
|
•
|
a decrease in estimated mineral reserves; and
|
|
|
•
|
significant negative industry or economic trends.
|
The recoverability of the carrying value of our mineral
properties is dependent upon the successful development,
start-up and
commercial production of our mineral deposit and the related
processing facilities. Our evaluation of mineral properties for
potential impairment primarily includes assessing the existence
or availability of required permits and evaluating changes in
our mineral reserves, or the underlying estimates and
assumptions, including estimated production costs. The
determination of our proven and probable reserves is based on
extensive drilling, sampling, mine modeling, and the economic
feasibility of accessing the reserves. Assessing the economic
feasibility requires certain estimates, including the prices of
REOs to be produced and processing recovery rates, as well as
operating and capital costs. The estimates are based on
information available at the time the reserves are calculated.
Although we believe the carrying values of our long-lived assets
were realizable as of the relevant balance sheet date, future
events could cause us to conclude otherwise.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
There are no recent accounting pronouncements that will have an
impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Our operations may be impacted by commodity prices, geographic
concentration, changes in interest rates and foreign currency
exchange rates.
Commodity
Price Risk
Our principal products, including cerium, lanthanum,
praseodymium, neodymium, europium, samarium, gadolinium,
dysprosium, and terbium, are commodities but are not traded on
any commodity exchange. As such, direct hedging of the prices
for future production cannot be undertaken. We generally do not
currently have any long-term sales contracts with customers, so
prices typically will vary with the transaction and individual
bids received. Our products are primarily marketed to
manufacturer as component materials. Prices will vary based on
the demand for the end products being produced with the mineral
resources we mine and process.
64
Our net sales and profitability are determined principally by
the price of the rare earth products that we produce and, to a
lesser extent by the price of natural gas and other supplies
used in the production process. The prices of our rare earth
products are influenced by the price and demand of the end
products that our products support, including clean energy
technologies. A significant decrease in the global demand for
these products may have a material adverse effect on our
business. We currently have no hedging contracts in place and
intend to consider hedging strategies in future.
Our costs and capital investments are subject to market
movements in other commodities such as natural gas and
chemicals. We may enter into derivative contracts for a portion
of the expected usage of these products, but we do not currently
have any derivative contracts and we do not currently anticipate
entering into derivative agreements.
Interest
Rate Risk
We do not currently have any debt obligations except our
inventory financing arrangement with Traxys North America, LLC
in the amount of $5 million as of September 30, 2010.
Our exposure to interest rate risk as a result of this agreement
would result in a roughly $50,000 increase/decrease in interest
rate expense for every 1% increase/decrease in the underlying
interest rate. Due to our limited borrowings, we are not
significantly impacted by variations in interest rates at this
time. Our exposure to interest rate risk would increase if, for
example, we obtain and utilize debt facilities in the future.
Internal
Controls
As a public company, we are required to comply with the record
keeping, financial reporting, corporate governance and other
rules and regulations of the SEC, including the requirements of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and other regulatory bodies. These
entities generally require that financial information be
reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As a private
company, we were not required to have, and until late 2009 did
not have, sufficient personnel with SEC and Sarbanes-Oxley
experience. In addition, we were not required to comply with the
internal control design, documentation and testing requirements
imposed by Sarbanes-Oxley. Following our initial public
offering, we became subject to these requirements.
Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary
for us to provide reliable annual and interim financial reports
and to prevent fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial
reports or prevent fraud, our operating results and financial
condition could be materially misstated and our reputation could
be significantly harmed. A material weakness in internal control
over financial reporting is defined as a deficiency, or a
combination of deficiencies, such that there is a reasonable
possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or
interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected
on a timely basis. A significant deficiency is a deficiency, or
a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over
financial reporting that is less severe than a material
weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those
responsible for oversight of a company’s financial
reporting. A deficiency in internal control over financial
reporting exists when the design or operation of a control does
not allow management or employees, in the normal course of
performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect
misstatements on a timely basis.
During the preparation of our consolidated financial statements
as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for the year ended
December 31, 2009, the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2008, and cumulatively for
the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2009, we identified deficiencies in our
internal control over financial reporting which, when considered
in the aggregate, represent a material weakness. If not
remediated, this material weakness could result in material
misstatements in our consolidated financial statements in future
periods. Specifically, we did not maintain a sufficient
complement of personnel with an appropriate level of accounting
and financial reporting knowledge, experience and training in
the application of U.S. GAAP. We also did not maintain an
adequate system of processes and internal controls sufficient to
support our financial reporting requirements and to produce
timely and accurate consolidated financial statements in
accordance with U.S. GAAP. If our efforts are not adequate
to remediate this material weakness, we could experience
material misstatements in our consolidated financial statements
in future periods.
65
In late 2009, we commenced remediation actions which included
hiring several individuals with significant accounting, auditing
and financial reporting experience and devoting significant
resources to improving our system of processing and internal
controls. Specifically, we hired a Chief Financial Officer, a
Corporate Controller and a Director of Financial Reporting, and
in early 2010, we hired an Accounting Manager for the Mountain
Pass facility, all of whom are Certified Public Accountants. We
also installed additional functionality and increased the
integration of our information technology systems to increase
automation and accuracy within our processes. Management has
continued to refine and formalize our control procedures,
including the implementation of additional and more timely
review and approval procedures. We also established an Audit and
Ethics Committee of our Board of Directors in conjunction with
our initial public offering. Additionally, we have utilized the
services of an external consulting firm to provide us with a
formal risk assessment and, with their assistance, we have
commenced a project to enhance our documentation of our control
environment and process controls.
Under current requirements, our independent registered public
accounting firm will not be required to evaluate and assess our
internal control over financial reporting until we file our
annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2011. Consequently, we will
not be evaluated independently in respect of our controls for a
substantial period of time after this offering is completed. As
a result, we may not become aware of other material weaknesses
or significant deficiencies in our internal controls that may be
later identified by our independent registered public accounting
firm as part of the evaluation.
The actions we have taken to date, or any future measures or
actions we will take, may not remediate the material weakness
mentioned above. See “Risk Factors — Risks
Related to Our Business— We identified a material
weakness in our internal control over financial reporting which,
if not satisfactorily remediated, could result in material
misstatements in our consolidated financial statements in future
periods” and “— We will be required by
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to evaluate the
effectiveness of our internal controls. If we are unable to
achieve and maintain effective internal controls, particularly
in a period of anticipated rapid growth, our operating results
and financial condition could be harmed” included elsewhere
in this prospectus.
66
RARE
EARTH INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
The Rare
Earth Elements
The REE group includes 17 elements, namely the
15 lanthanide elements, which are cerium, lanthanum,
neodymium, praseodymium, promethium (which does not occur
naturally), samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium,
holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium, and two
elements that have similar chemical properties to the lanthanide
elements — yttrium and scandium. The oxides produced
from processing REEs are collectively referred to as REOs. Light
and heavy REEs are contained in all rare earth deposits,
including in our deposit at Mountain Pass. Heavy REEs generally
command higher sales prices on a per pound basis than light REEs
because heavy REEs are not as prevalent. Cerium, lanthanum,
neodymium, praseodymium and samarium are considered “light
REEs” that are more predominant in bastnasite, while
europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium,
thulium, ytterbium and lutetium are considered “heavy
REEs” that are more predominant in monazite. Our reserves
are bastnasite, but there are also known monazite occurrences on
our property that we are currently examining.
Global
Rare Earth Market
REEs have unique properties that make them critical materials to
many existing applications upon which society has become
dependent as well as many emerging applications. Examples
include:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Clean-Energy Technologies: hybrid and
electric vehicles, wind power turbines and compact fluorescent
lighting;
|
|
|
•
|
High-Technology Applications: miniaturization
of cell phones, personal digital assistant devices, digital
music players, hard disk drives used in computers, computing
devices, “ear bud” speakers and microphones, as well
as fiber optics, lasers and optical temperature sensors;
|
|
|
•
|
Critical Defense Applications: guidance and
control systems, communications, global positioning systems,
radar and sonar; and
|
|
|
•
|
Advanced Water Treatment: industrial,
military, homeland security and domestic and foreign aid
applications.
|
Rechargeable
Batteries
One of the most effective rechargeable batteries is the NiMH
battery, which is used in nearly all hybrid and electric
vehicles and many other electronic products. A mixed rare earth
metal alloy is used as the anode in the NiMH battery. Cerium and
lanthanum are the main REEs used in the NiMH battery.
Magnets
REEs are critical elements in the world’s strongest
permanent magnets. These magnets are utilized in electric
motors, a key component of all motor vehicles, especially hybrid
and electric vehicles. A new and rapidly expanding use of rare
earth permanent magnets is in wind turbine permanent magnet
generators. Owing to the high
power-to-weight
ratio of the magnets, less material is required, permitting
engines and generators to be considerably more powerful while at
the same time smaller and lighter. The powerful REE-
67
based magnets have made possible the miniaturization of hard
disk drives used in computers and many other electrical devices
such as personal digital assistant devices and digital music
players. Neodymium, praseodymium, samarium, and dysprosium are
critical to the permanent magnet industry due to their unique
magnetic properties. Based on estimates by IMCOA, by 2014,
global demand for rare earths used in magnets is estimated at
40,000 mt of REO, excluding demand from the wind energy sector.
The wind energy sector could consume up to an additional 9,000
mt of REO, 1,350 mt of which is estimated solely for the United
States. According to IMCOA, the wind energy sector in the United
States alone could lead to a 3% to 4% increase in global demand
for REOs used in magnets. China succeeds with its current
target, then this could lead to additional consumption of REOs
used in magnets of 8% to 10% by 2014. Today, nearly all magnetic
rare earth products are produced from Chinese-sourced REOs, and
there is no U.S. domestic manufacturer of NdFeB magnets, as
confirmed by the April 2010 U.S. GAO briefing.
Catalysts
REEs are commonly used as a form of catalyst, referred to as a
fluid bed cracking catalyst. Fluid bed cracking catalysts are
being used increasingly in the oil industry because they enhance
the efficiency of separating various fractions from crude oil
during the refining process. Lanthanum is the main REE used in
fluid bed cracking catalysts.
REEs are also used in another form of catalyst in vehicles. A
catalytic converter is a device fitted to the exhaust system of
a combustion engine that reduces the toxicity of emissions.
Recent technological advances have seen the emergence of the
three-way catalytic converter. This device reduces toxic
nitrogen oxides to more benign nitrogen and oxygen, oxidizes
toxic carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and oxidizes unburnt
hydrocarbons. Cerium is the REE used in catalytic converters,
where it forms part of the catalyst. Increasingly stringent
vehicle emission laws are being introduced throughout the world,
and, according to the Manufacturers of Emission Controls
Association, 100% of new vehicles sold in the United States are
equipped with three-way catalytic converters while many
developing nations are also mandating that new passenger cars be
equipped with three-way catalytic converters.
Water
Treatment
We have developed
XSORBX®,
a proprietary product and process, primarily consisting of
cerium, that removes arsenic and other heavy metals from
industrial processing streams and will allow our customers to
more safely sequester arsenic and increase their production.
XSORBX®
is protected by over 100 issued and pending U.S. and
foreign patents and patent applications. This product, which we
have proven to be effective in removing arsenic and other
contaminants from water, is applicable to a broad range of
applications. There are several opportunities for us to
commercialize this technology in the industrial, defense,
foreign aid and outdoor enthusiast sectors. For example, we have
applied the technology in the mining and smelting industries as
a means to improve management of arsenic-laden process streams
and have also developed a portable drinking water filtration
system for U.S. defense applications and for the outdoor
recreation industry. We have begun to sell
XSORBX®
for commercial use in the wastewater, recreation, pool and spa,
industrial process and other water treatment markets.
Demand
for Rare Earth Products
The lack of available substitutes makes REEs essential for
existing and emerging technologies. According to IMCOA, global
demand in 2010 is estimated to have been approximately 125,000
mt of REO, roughly equivalent to the 2008 demand level.
68
Global
demand for rare earths by market (mt of REO): 2008 & 2015
± 20%
Source: IMCOA (January 2011)
Factors that could influence upward demand for rare earth
products include:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the use of neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium in
high-strength NdFeB magnets that are critical to hybrid and
electric vehicles and the increased construction of wind power
generation facilities, particularly off-shore installations;
|
|
|
•
|
the use of lanthanum and cerium for NiMH batteries that are
utilized in hybrid and electric vehicles;
|
|
|
•
|
the use of europium, terbium and yttrium in the production of
compact fluorescent light bulbs;
|
|
|
•
|
the use of high-strength NdFeB magnets in the miniaturization of
electronic products;
|
|
|
•
|
the use of lanthanum by refineries processing lower quality
crude oil that consumes greater quantities of fluid cracking
catalysts;
|
|
|
•
|
the increased use of REEs in the drive to improve energy
efficiency and reduce GHGs by the United States and the European
Union;
|
|
|
•
|
the use of cerium in advanced water filtration
applications; and
|
|
|
•
|
continued research and commercialization of new applications for
rare earths products.
|
Global consumption of REEs is projected to steadily increase due
to continuing growth in existing applications and increased
innovation and development of new end uses. For example, the
integration of rare earth permanent magnet drives into wind
power turbines has substantially reduced the need for gearboxes,
which increases overall efficiency and reliability. According to
IMCOA, total demand for rare earths outside of China is expected
to increase at a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of
approximately 7% between 2010 and 2015. In addition, according
to IMCOA, global demand for rare earths used in magnets is
expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 8% over the same
period. IMCOA estimates that total global demand for rare earths
is expected to increase from 125,000 mt in 2010 to 185,000 mt in
2015, which results in a CAGR of approximately 8% for that
period.
Supply
for Rare Earth Products
China has dominated the global supply of REOs for the last ten
years and, according to Roskill, accounted for approximately 96%
of global REO production in 2008. Even with our planned
production, global supply is expected by analysts to remain
tight due to the combined effects of growing demand and actions
taken by the Chinese government to restrict exports. The Chinese
government heightened international supply concerns beginning in
August 2009 when China’s Interior Ministry first signaled
that it would further restrict exports of Chinese rare earth
resources. Citing the importance of REE availability to internal
industries and the desire to conserve resources, the Chinese
government has announced export quotas, increased export tariffs
and introduced a “mining quotas policy” that, in
addition to imposing export quotas and export tariffs, also
imposes production quotas and limits the issuance of new
licenses for rare earth exploration. According to IMCOA,
China’s export quotas have decreased from approximately
65,600 mt of REO in 2004 to approximately 50,000 mt of REO in
2009. On July 8, 2010, China’s Ministry of Industry
and Information Technology issued the export quota for the
second half of 2010, which reduced exports by 72% compared
69
with the second half of 2009 and 40% for the year ended
December 31, 2010 as compared to the year ended
December 31, 2009. On December 28, 2010, China’s
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology further reduced
the export quota for the first half of 2011, reducing exports by
35% compared with the first half of 2010 and 20% for the twelve
months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to the twelve months
ended June 30, 2010. In 2008, according to IMCOA, China
imposed export taxes of up to 25% on selected REOs (primarily
heavy REOs) and up to 15% for all other REOs (primarily light
REOs). In addition, according to IMCOA, China’s Ministry of
Industry and Information Technology issued a plan in 2009 to
reduce the production of separated rare earths by 7% to 110,700
mt of REO in 2009.
China’s internal consumption of rare earths is expected to
continue to grow, leaving the Rest of World with less supply
during a period of projected increasing global demand. China
also dominates the manufacture of rare earth metals, producing
substantially all of the world’s supply, and the
manufacture of NdFeB magnets, producing approximately 80% of the
world’s supply. Neither capability currently exists in the
United States, as confirmed by the April 2010 U.S. GAO
briefing.
China has announced a national stockpile program, as has South
Korea. Additionally, Japan has increased its national stockpile
program. In December 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy
released a study concluding that five rare earth metals,
dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium and yttrium, are
critical to clean energy technologies in the short term and
medium term due to their importance to the clean energy economy
and risk of supply disruption. The report emphasizes that
diversified global supply chains for these critical materials
are essential, and calls for steps to be taken to facilitate
extraction, processing and manufacturing in the United States.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defense is conducting
a study to determine its rare earth requirements and supply
chain vulnerabilities and whether to build a strategic
stockpile. These stockpile programs will likely accelerate the
pace of the current and projected global REE supply deficit.
According to the April 2010 U.S. GAO briefing:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the Mountain Pass mine is the largest non-Chinese rare earth
deposit in the world;
|
|
|
•
|
other U.S. rare earth deposits exist, but these deposits
are still in early exploratory stages of development;
|
|
|
•
|
officials emphasized the significance of the widespread use of
commercial-off-the-shelf products in defense systems that
include rare earth materials, such as computer hard drives;
|
|
|
•
|
heavy REEs, such as dysprosium, which provide much of the
heat-resistant qualities of permanent magnets used in many
industry and defense applications, are considered to be
important;
|
|
|
•
|
government and industry officials told the U.S. GAO that
where rare earth materials are used in defense systems, the
materials are responsible for the functionality of the component
and would be difficult to replace without losing performance;
|
|
|
•
|
a 2009 National Defense Stockpile configuration report
identified lanthanum, cerium, europium and gadolinium as having
already caused some kind of weapon system production delay and
recommended further study to determine the severity of the
delays; and
|
|
|
•
|
defense systems will likely continue to depend on rare earth
materials, based on their life cycles and lack of effective
substitutes.
|
The forecasted demand by IMCOA set forth in the graph below
assumes Mountain Pass and other rare earth projects commence
production and account for a significant portion of the
forecasted increase in supply. If these projects do not commence
production when anticipated, there will be a gap between
forecasted demand and forecasted supply. IMCOA expects that this
anticipated market dynamic will underpin continued strong
pricing.
70
Global
Rare Earths Supply & Demand,
2005-2020
(mt REO, +/- 20%)
Source: IMCOA (January 2011)(1)
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Does not reflect our potential to increase production to 40,000
mt of REO per year following the completion of our capacity
expansion plan, but instead reflects our production of 19,050 mt
of REO per year beginning in 2013.
|
As a result of the global economic crisis, rare earth product
prices declined by approximately 50% during 2008 and through the
third quarter of 2009. According to Metal-Pages, from October
2009 through December 2010, prices for rare earths have risen by
approximately 780% on average. Furthermore, over the same
period, prices for some of the most common rare earths (cerium
oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, and rare earth
carbonate) have risen by more than 1000% on average.
In 2008, global production of rare earths was estimated at
approximately 129,000 mt of REO according to Roskill. According
to IMCOA, China accounted for approximately 96% of this total.
As a result of economic, environmental and regulatory factors in
China, as well as internal industrial development, there is
uncertainty with respect to the availability of rare earth
products from China. Although Chinese production of rare earth
materials is increasing, export quotas imposed by the Chinese
government are decreasing, thus reducing the amount of rare
earth materials that China may export for the rest of the world.
This reduction is occurring at a time when the demand for REEs
is growing significantly.
In expectation of increasing demand, there are a limited number
of rare earth projects outside of China that are in various
stages of development. None of these deposits are currently in
production. The success of any other rare earth projects depends
on a number of factors, including:
|
|
|
|
•
|
REO grade;
|
|
|
•
|
obtaining and maintaining operating and environmental permits;
|
|
|
•
|
acceptance in the marketplace as a long-term viable alternative
to Chinese production;
|
|
|
•
|
the amount of recoverable high-value REEs contained in ore (such
as neodymium, praseodymium, europium and dysprosium);
|
|
|
•
|
reserve life;
|
|
|
•
|
the ability to separate and concentrate rare earth minerals;
|
|
|
•
|
the ability to economically crack rare earth mineral
concentrates and produce high yields;
|
|
|
•
|
the ability to separate REEs and manufacture finished products;
|
|
|
•
|
natural radioactive material content of the ore and the ability
to responsibly and economically manage radioactive waste;
|
|
|
•
|
the cost of bringing the property into production; and
|
|
|
•
|
access to critical infrastructure, including electricity, fuel
and transportation.
|
71
BUSINESS
Our
Business
We are the REO producer in the Western hemisphere and own one of
the world’s largest, most fully developed rare earth
projects outside of China. Furthermore, following the execution
of our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy and completion of our initial modernization and
expansion plan, we expect to be one of the world’s most
integrated producers of rare earth products, including oxides,
metals, alloys and magnets. In light of strong industry
fundamentals, including reduced Chinese supply and strong
pricing increases, our Board of Directors recently approved a
second-phase capacity expansion plan in addition to our initial
modernization and expansion plan, which we expect to result in
the ability to produce approximately double the amount of REO
that we will be able to produce upon completion of our initial
modernization and expansion plan.
Our rare earths are critical inputs in many existing and
emerging applications including: clean energy technologies, such
as hybrid and electric vehicles and wind power turbines;
multiple high-tech uses, including fiber optics, lasers and hard
disk drives; numerous defense applications, such as guidance and
control systems and global positioning systems; and advanced
water treatment technology for use in industrial, military and
outdoor recreation applications. Global demand for REEs is
projected to steadily increase due to continuing growth in
existing applications and increased innovation and development
of new end uses. We have made significant investments, and
expect to continue to invest, in developing technologically
advanced applications and proprietary applications for
individual REEs.
For the year ended December 31, 2009 and for the nine
months ended September 30, 2010, we generated approximately
$7.1 million and $13.2 million of revenue,
respectively, from sales of products manufactured from
stockpiled feedstocks, although these levels of revenue are not
representative of our planned level of operations after we
complete our initial modernization and expansion plan and
capacity expansion plan.
Our
Mine Process and Development Plans
We and SRK Consulting estimated total proven reserves as of
February 6, 2010 of 88.0 million pounds of REO
contained in 0.480 million tons of ore, with an average ore
grade of 9.38%, and probable reserves of 2.12 billion
pounds of REO contained in 13.108 million tons of ore, with
an average ore grade of 8.20%, in each case using a cut-off
grade of 5.0%, at our Mountain Pass mine. Upon the completion of
our initial modernization and expansion plan, which we expect to
be completed by the end of 2012, we will have the ability to
produce approximately 19,050 mt of REO per year at our Mountain
Pass facility. Upon the completion of our recently approved
capacity expansion plan, by the end of 2013, we expect to have
the ability to produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per
year at our Mountain Pass facility, or approximately double the
amount we will be able to produce upon completion of our initial
plan. Based on our estimated reserves and an expected annual
production rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO under our
initial modernization and expansion plan, our expected mine life
is in excess of 30 years (SRK Consulting has preliminarily
indicated, however, that doubling the amount of production
pursuant to the second-phase capacity expansion plan would
reduce the current mine life by half, assuming no additional
exploration, no realization of anticipated improvements in
recoveries, and all other factors remain constant.) According to
Roskill, global REO production in 2008 was approximately 129,000
mt, of which only approximately 4,220 mt originated from outside
of China, with Molycorp producing approximately 1,700 mt from
its stockpiles and Russian producers producing approximately
2,500 mt. This contrasts with total demand outside of China in
2008 of approximately 56,000 mt, according to IMCOA, with rapid
growth expected by industry analysts.
Mine-to-Oxides
At our Mountain Pass facility, we have the ability to mine,
crush, mill and separate rare earth ore to produce individual
REEs. We hold a mine plan permit and an associated environmental
impact report, which allow continued operations of our Mountain
Pass facility through 2042. Since our acquisition of the
Mountain Pass facility, we have been producing and selling REOs
from stockpiled feedstocks to significantly improve our solvent
extraction technologies and capabilities. We are now achieving
greater than 98% recovery in our solvent extraction units at
commercial scale for lanthanum, didymium and a heavy rare earth
concentrate composed of samarium, europium, gadolinium,
dysprosium and terbium, or SEG concentrate, which we
72
believe is one of the highest recovery rates in the world. We
have also developed the expertise to produce the following REEs
in many usable forms: bastnasite concentrate; cerium; lanthanum;
neodymium; praseodymium; europium; samarium; gadolinium;
dysprosium; and terbium. When used to describe the current
recovery rate for our solvent extraction units, the term
“commercial scale” means that the solvent extraction
units are operating at such a production rate that the
scale-up
factor required to achieve the desired production rate is less
than 10 times the current production rate.
Processing at our Mountain Pass facility entails mining the
bastnasite ore followed by crushing and milling it to a fine
powder. Milled bastnasite ore is then processed by flotation
whereby the bastnasite, which is a mineral containing light and
heavy rare earth elements, floats to the surface and is
separated from the waste material, which sinks in a series of
flotation cells. The resultant bastnasite concentrate is then
processed by leaching with strong acid solutions followed by a
series of solvent-extraction separation steps that produce
various individual REO minerals, generally in a high purity
(greater than 99%) oxide form. In the second quarter of 2010, we
began processing bastnasite concentrate from our stockpiles in
an effort to commercially demonstrate our new cracking
technology while at the same time continue to further optimize
our processing technologies and improve recovery rates compared
to historical operations at the Mountain Pass facility.
We recommenced mining operations in December 2010 and are
preparing to recommence milling operations, which we expect to
occur in the first quarter of 2012. Recommencement of mining and
milling operations is coincident with our initial modernization
and expansion plan, which will give us the capacity to
efficiently produce at a rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO
per year by the end of 2012. Additionally, upon the completion
of our capacity expansion plan, we expect to have the ability to
produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end
of 2013. In the April 2010 U.S. GAO briefing, government
and industry officials stated that, for a typical
exploration-stage mine, once a company has secured the necessary
capital to start a mine, it can take from seven to 15 years
to bring a property fully online, largely due to the time it
takes to comply with multiple state and federal regulations.
Since our Mountain Pass facility is not an early stage rare
earth project, we believe we have a significant timeline
advantage as we have a well-defined ore body, an existing open
pit with over 50 years of production history, an existing
mine and reclamation plan, proven reserves, substantial
permitting, and all necessary technology to successfully process
and separate the rare earth elements at a commercial scale.
Oxides-To-Metals/Alloys
We expect to sell and transport a portion of the REOs we produce
to customers for use in their particular applications. The
remainder of the REOs will be processed into rare earth metals.
A portion of these metals will be sold to
end-users
and we expect to process the rest into rare earth alloys. These
rare earth alloys can be used in a variety of applications,
including but not limited to: electrodes for nickel metal
hydride, or NiMH, battery production; samarium cobalt magnet
production; and neodymium iron boron, or NdFeB, magnet
production. A portion of these rare earth alloys will be
manufactured into NdFeB magnets as part of our alloy and magnet
production joint ventures, described below, and we expect to
sell the rest to
end-users.
Our modernization and expansion plans envision adding facilities
and equipment for metal conversion and alloy production at the
Mountain Pass facility or an off-site property. If we are able
to add an off-site facility to produce rare earth metals and
alloys instead of adding such facilities and equipment at
Mountain Pass, we would transport cerium, lanthanum, neodymium,
praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and samarium oxide products
from our Mountain Pass facility to that off-site location to
produce rare earth metals and alloys. In December 2010, we
entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Hitachi, a
leading manufacturer of NdFeB
73
alloys and magnets, to form joint ventures for the production of
rare earth alloys and magnets in the United States.
Additionally, we have entered into a non-binding letter of
intent with Neo Material that, among other things, contemplates
a technology transfer agreement pursuant to which Neo Material
may provide us with technical assistance and know-how with
respect to the production of rare earth metals, alloys and
magnets.
Alloy
and Magnet Production Joint Ventures
NdFeB magnets, which are critical components in
“green” technologies and the miniaturization of
electronics, are primarily manufactured in China (approximately
80%) and Japan (approximately 20%). Our proposed joint ventures
with Hitachi would provide us with access to the technology,
people and facilities to convert our rare earth materials into
rare earth alloys and high-performance permanent rare earth
magnets required for production of hybrid and electric vehicles,
wind power turbines, high-tech applications and numerous
advanced defense systems on which the U.S. economy and
national security depend. The consummation of such joint
ventures, in conjunction with our current modernization plans
and the potential technology transfer agreement with Neo
Material, is expected to provide us with the capability to mine,
process, separate and alloy individual REEs and manufacture them
into NdFeB magnets. This downstream integration, which we refer
to as our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy, would make us the only fully integrated producer of
NdFeB magnets outside of China, helping to secure a rare earth
supply chain for the Rest of World. In addition to the
foregoing, we continue to explore additional joint ventures or
other arrangements with third parties for the production of
NdFeB alloys
and/or
magnets.
Rare
earth
“mine-to-magnets”
production supply chain
Our
Strengths
We believe that we possess a number of competitive strengths
that position the Mountain Pass facility to regain its role as
one of the leading global suppliers of REOs.
We
have a proven source of REOs with high-grade ore and long
reserve life.
Prior to the end of the last mining campaign at the Mountain
Pass facility in 2002, the mine had been in continuous operation
for over 50 years. Since our acquisition of the Mountain
Pass facility, we have been processing stockpiled feedstocks as
part of our ongoing effort to significantly improve our solvent
extraction technologies and other processing capabilities.
Today, based on estimated total proven reserves of
88.0 million pounds of REO contained in 0.480 million
tons of ore, with an average ore grade of 9.38%, and probable
reserves of 2.12 billion pounds of REO contained in
13.108 million tons of ore, with an average ore grade of
8.20%, in each case using a cut-off grade of 5.0%, the Mountain
Pass mine has a life in excess of 30 years at an annual
production rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO. Our
leadership team is committed to the continuous and sustainable
manufacture of rare earth products at the Mountain Pass facility
using advanced milling and processing technologies that will
significantly increase the life of the known ore body at the
Mountain Pass facility. Additionally, in 2010, we expanded our
on-site
exploratory drilling program to confirm the existence and extent
of bastnasite, monazite and other rare earth phosphate mineral
occurrences in unexplored areas of the Mountain Pass facility.
This program will also help to establish whether our measured,
indicated and inferred resources can become proven or probable
reserves.
We
expect to be well-positioned to capitalize on the tightening
balance of global supply and demand of rare earth
products.
As worldwide demand for rare earth products increases, the
supply of REOs remains limited by available production capacity,
which is currently concentrated in China. According to IMCOA,
China accounted for approximately 96% of global REO production
in 2008. China also dominates the manufacture of metals and
NdFeB magnets from rare earths, capabilities that are not
currently found in the United States.
74
Chinese government policies will also impact the supply and
demand of REOs and rare earth products. We believe that the
Chinese government intends to increase wind generated power to
at least 150 gigawatts by 2020. The Chinese government has
proposed a package of over $29 billion to fund hybrid and
electric vehicle production, placing additional strain on the
REE supply chain. Citing the importance of REE availability to
internal industries and the desire to conserve resources, the
Chinese government has also announced export quotas, increased
export tariffs and introduced a “mining quotas policy”
that, in addition to imposing export quotas and export tariffs,
also imposes production quotas and limits the issuance of new
licenses for rare earth exploration.
According to IMCOA, China’s export quotas have decreased
from approximately 65,600 mt of REO in 2004 to approximately
50,000 mt of REO in 2009. On July 8, 2010, China’s
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the
export quota for the second half of 2010, which reduced exports
by 72% compared with the second half of 2009 and 40% for the
year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the year ended
December 31, 2009. On December 28, 2010, China’s
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology further reduced
the export quota for the first half of 2011, reducing exports by
35% compared with the first half of 2010 and 20% for the twelve
months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to the twelve months
ended June 30, 2010. In 2008, according to IMCOA, China
imposed export taxes of up to 25% on selected REOs (primarily
heavy REOs) and up to 15% for all other REOs (primarily light
REOs). In addition, according to IMCOA, China’s Ministry of
Industry and Information Technology issued a plan in 2009 to
reduce the production of separated rare earths by 7% to 110,700
mt of REO in 2009.
IMCOA estimates there is a currently a global deficit in REO
supply, which anticipated to continue without the advent of
production from new projects, such as Mountain Pass. Limits on
rare earth exports from China and the lack of available
substitutes make the development of new sources of REEs
essential to meet the growing demand for existing and emerging
technologies, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, wind power
turbines, compact fluorescent light bulbs, hard disk drives and
dual use electronics.
China has announced a national stockpile program, as has South
Korea. Additionally, Japan has increased its national stockpile
program. In December 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy
released a study concluding that five rare earth metals,
dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium and yttrium, are
critical to clean energy technologies in the short term and
medium term due to their importance to the clean energy economy
and risk of supply disruption. The report emphasizes that
diversified global supply chains for these critical materials
are essential, and calls for steps to be taken to facilitate
extraction, processing and manufacturing in the United States.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defense is conducting
a study to determine its rare earth requirements and supply
chain vulnerabilities and whether to build a strategic
stockpile. These stockpile programs will likely accelerate the
pace of the current and projected global REE supply deficit.
U.S. federal government investments and policies may
materially increase end-market demand for our rare earth
products. For example, the U.S. federal government approved
$45 billion in grant funding and loan guarantees directed
toward wind power generation projects and hybrid and electric
vehicles. Pending energy legislation may also increase demand
for clean technology applications, which use rare earth products.
Upon reaching a full planned production rate of approximately
19,050 mt of REO per year by the end of 2012 under our initial
modernization and expansion plan, we expect to be in a position
to supply a substantial portion of the U.S. demand and also
sell to export markets. In addition, under our capacity
expansion plan, we expect to have the ability to produce up to
approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end of 2013.
We
have a highly experienced and qualified management
team.
Our President and Chief Executive Officer has over 29 years
of experience, over 24 of which are associated with the Mountain
Pass facility. In addition, our Chief Technology Officer,
General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer have over
75 years of combined technical, operational, legal,
financial and management experience. Many of our key employees
have worked with the Mountain Pass facility for over
20 years each. We also have a proven technology and product
development group and as of December 31, 2010, held 88
issued and pending U.S. patents and patent applications,
and 190 issued and pending foreign patents and patent
applications. Management has also created a work environment
that prioritizes safety. Since July 2005, the Mountain Pass
facility has not had a lost-time accident and has received the
coveted “Sentinels of Safety” award from the Mine
Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, for three of the last
six years.
75
Our
Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to:
Build
the largest, most advanced and efficient fully integrated REO
processing facility in the world.
We intend to replace existing equipment at the Mountain Pass
facility in connection with our modernization and expansion
efforts. We also intend to build the largest, most advanced and
efficient fully integrated REO processing facility in the world
to support our anticipated production requirements. Following
the purchase, delivery, installation and
start-up of
new equipment, our fully integrated facility will allow us to
reach full production, utilizing our newly optimized and
commercially proven REO processing operations. Additionally, we
expect that our proprietary production technology and our
planned new paste tailings operation will reduce our
environmental footprint and set the standard in the industry for
environmental stewardship.
Successfully
complete modernization and expansion efforts and reach full
planned production rates for REOs at the Mountain Pass
facility.
After reaching full planned production rates for REOs at the
Mountain Pass facility under our initial modernization and
expansion plan, we expect to produce approximately 19,050 mt of
REO per year by the end of 2012. Additionally, under our
capacity expansion plan, we expect to have the ability to
produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end
of 2013. We operate the Mountain Pass facility pursuant to a
conditional use permit that allows us to feed ore to the mill at
a rate of 2,400 tons per day through 2042. While the Mountain
Pass facility historically required 2,000 tons of mill feed per
day to manufacture approximately 19,050 mt of REO per year, we
expect that new proprietary technologies we developed will allow
us to extract the same 19,050 mt of REO per year while only
using approximately 1,100 to 1,200 tons of mill feed per day,
thus allowing us to increase annual REO production from our
initial plan of 19,050 mt of REO per year to up to 40,000 mt of
REO per year without any change in the permit limit. These
estimates are based on results achieved at the Mountain Pass
facility in full scale mill test runs from 2001 to 2002. In
addition, we have improved cracking technology at commercial
scale (2,000 to 3,000 mt per year production rate) from 2009 to
date and improved performance of our solvent extraction at
commercial scale (2,000 to 3,000 mt per year production rate) as
demonstrated from 2007 to 2009.
Improve
our operating efficiencies with technically advanced
manufacturing techniques.
We intend to continue to improve the efficiency of our
operations through the creation and use of technically advanced
manufacturing processes for production of rare earth products,
which will allow us to deliver high-quality rare earth products
at globally competitive prices. We have already invested
significant resources towards perfecting our REO processing
operations and developing new and proprietary applications for
individual REEs. We expect that by advancing all of these
technologies, we will continue to lower our operating costs.
Manage
our costs to be cost competitive.
The success of our business will depend on our ability to manage
our costs. We will manage these costs through the use of new
production technologies that have been developed by our research
and development group, which will use less energy and raw
materials and will result in a reduced environmental footprint.
These production technologies will substantially reduce the
amount of water consumption and waste water generation. We plan
to use our proprietary technology to maximize our process
recoveries and maximize REO concentrate production per unit of
extracted ore. We plan to install a natural gas powered
co-generation power plant as part of our modernization and
expansion of the Mountain Pass facility to reduce energy
consumption and costs as well as minimize or eliminate our
reliance on the regional electric power grid. As part of our
modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass facility, we
also intend to produce our own hydrochloric acid and sodium
hydroxide at the Mountain Pass facility and recycle our acid and
base, thereby reducing our reliance on external sources of
reagents. After completion of our modernization and expansion
efforts, we anticipate our most significant cash operating costs
will consist of natural gas and labor.
76
Secure
customer commitments to provide a stable revenue
stream.
We are working to establish stable revenue streams for the rare
earth minerals and products we produce at the Mountain Pass
facility. Upon reaching full planned production rates for REOs
at the Mountain Pass facility under our initial modernization
and expansion plan, we expect to produce approximately 19,050 mt
of REO per year. Additionally, under our capacity expansion
plan, we expect to have the ability to produce up to
approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end of 2013.
Pursuant to our two contracts with Grace, we have agreed to
supply Grace with a significant amount of REOs, primarily
lanthanum oxide, through mid-2012 at market-based prices subject
to a ceiling and a floor and with up to 75 percent of our
lanthanum product production per year (based on our initial
planned capacity) at market-based prices subject to a floor for
a three-year period commencing upon the achievement of expected
annual production rates under our initial modernization and
expansion plan, which may be extended at Grace’s option for
an additional three-year period. Upon execution of definitive
agreements with Sumitomo, we also expect to provide Sumitomo
with approximately 1,500 mt per year (and following completion
of our initial modernization and expansion plan, approximately
1,750 mt per year) of cerium and lanthanum-based products and
250 mt per year of didymium oxide for a period ending five years
after the completion of our initial modernization and expansion
of the Mountain Pass facility, at market-based prices subject to
a floor. As of January 1, 2011, we also had 21 non-binding
letters of intent to sell our rare earth products. These letters
of intent, together with our contracts with Grace and memorandum
of understanding with Sumitomo, represent approximately 148% of
our anticipated production of approximately 19,050 mt of REO for
2013 under our initial modernization and expansion plan, and our
non-binding letter of intent with Neo Material also contemplates
the sale of certain rare earth products. Prior to commencing
anticipated production of approximately 19,050 mt of REO year,
we intend to enter into short- and long-term sales contracts
with existing and new customers for amounts not in excess of our
actual planned production. In addition, we are in discussions
with multiple large, globally diversified mining companies
regarding the sale of
XSORBX®,
which will expand demand for cerium in times when it is in
surplus and low priced.
XSORBX®
is a proprietary product and process, primarily consisting of
cerium, that removes arsenic and other heavy metals from
industrial processing streams and will allow our customers to
more safely sequester arsenic and increase their production.
XSORBX®
is protected by over 100 issued and pending U.S. and
foreign patents and patent applications. We have begun to sell
XSORBX®
for commercial use in the wastewater, recreation, pool and spa,
industrial process and other water treatment markets.
The following table compares the volume under our contracts with
Grace, our memorandum of understanding with Sumitomo and our 21
non-binding letters of intent to our anticipated production of
approximately 19,050 mt of REO for 2013 (in mt):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent of
|
|
|
|
Anticipated
|
|
|
Volume Under
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anticipated
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
Letters of
|
|
|
Contracted
|
|
|
Uncommitted
|
|
|
2013
|
|
Product Type
|
|
Production(1)(2)
|
|
|
Intent(1)(2)
|
|
|
Volume(9)
|
|
|
Volume(10)
|
|
|
Production(11)
|
|
|
Lanthanum oxide or other form
|
|
|
3,104
|
|
|
|
4,641
|
|
|
|
4,535
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
296
|
%
|
Lanthanum metal
|
|
|
2,507
|
|
|
|
700
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,807
|
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
Cerium non-metal
|
|
|
9,684
|
|
|
|
11,265
|
(4)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
116
|
%
|
Cerium metal
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
200
|
(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Neodymium oxide or other form
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Neodymium or NdPr metal
|
|
|
313
|
|
|
|
3,596
|
(5)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,149
|
%
|
Praseodymium metal
|
|
|
116
|
|
|
|
60
|
(5)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
52
|
%
|
Europium oxide
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
7
|
(6)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
37
|
%
|
Samarium Oxide
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Samarium metal(7)
|
|
|
191
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
151
|
|
|
|
21
|
%
|
NdPr metal in NdFeB alloy
|
|
|
1,964
|
|
|
|
1,103
|
(8)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
861
|
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
NdPr metal in NdFeB magnets
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
290
|
(8)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
17,898
|
|
|
|
21,992
|
|
|
|
4,535
|
|
|
|
2,887
|
|
|
|
148
|
%
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Alloy and magnet production and letter of intent volume are
reported on a rare earth metal basis. Three of our non-binding
letters of intent contain a volume range; these letters cover
lanthanum oxide, cerium |
77
|
|
|
|
|
non-metal and NdPr metal in NdFeB alloy. With respect to these
non-binding letters of intent, the table above reflects the high
end of the range provided for in each letter. In addition,
certain of our non-binding letters of intent provide for a
certain volume of rare earth metals or alloys but do not
allocate that volume among specific rare earth metals or alloys.
In those instances, we have allocated the volume in those
letters based on management’s estimates of the needs of
those customers and their specific applications. The table above
includes anticipated sales of cerium and lanthanum-based
products and didymium oxide to Sumitomo, subject to execution of
definitive agreements. The table above does not include any
sales of any products under either of the agreements we have
entered into with Traxys North America LLC, which we refer to as
Traxys. See “Certain Relationships and Related-Party
Transactions — Inventory Financing and Resale
Agreements.” Additionally, pursuant to the terms of our
non-binding letter of intent with Neo Material, Neo Material may
agree to purchase 3,000 to 5,000 mt of mixed rare earth
carbonate and 300 to 500 mt of neodymium oxide and praseodymium
oxide per year, which amounts are not included in the table
above. |
|
(2) |
|
With respect to our metal products, there is a 14.2% loss of
mass when REOs are converted to rare earth metal due to oxygen
evolution, which accounts for most of the difference between the
17,898 mt total 2013 production rate and our anticipated
production rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO per year in
2013. |
|
(3) |
|
Contained within mischmetal, a combination of lanthanum, cerium
and iron, for battery alloy producers. |
|
(4) |
|
Volume shown is used in traditional glass or catalyst market
segments and represents only a very small fraction of cerium
buyers. Although IMCOA predicts that there will be a surplus of
cerium in the future, we anticipate most of our production will
serve the new, proprietary
XSORBX®
market segment if a surplus develops. At current prices, we
would seek to sell cerium for other uses instead. This segment
alone is expected to consume many times more cerium units than
we can produce. We believe the new segment negates the need for
additional letters of intent at this time. |
|
(5) |
|
We have received non-binding letters of intent for 9,700,000
pounds of Nd and/or NdPr metal (otherwise known as didymium
metal). To demonstrate the Nd and Pr breakdown, we have split
the didymium requirement to the generally accepted ratio of
75/25 Nd to Pr in the didymium metal. Some of our metal
production will be consumed internally for downstream NdFeB
alloy/magnet production. |
|
(6) |
|
We expect to receive non-binding letters of intent from a number
of phosphor producers, which will easily consume our europium
production. At this time, we are the only producer outside of
China for this element, which enables energy efficient, compact
fluorescent lights and straight tube T-8 lamps. |
|
(7) |
|
IMCOA estimates that there is a surplus of samarium metal. |
|
(8) |
|
This represents the estimated NdPr metal contained in the
non-binding letter of intent volume for NdFeB alloy and magnets. |
|
(9) |
|
Represents volume under our contracts with Grace. |
|
(10) |
|
Represents volume not committed under contract or covered by
non-binding letters of intent. |
|
(11) |
|
Represents volume under non-binding letters of intent and
contracted volume as a percentage of anticipated 2013 production. |
Integrate
downstream to profitably capture the full value
chain.
We intend to utilize vertical integration through further
downstream processing of our REOs into rare earth metals, alloys
and finished magnets. Our initial modernization and expansion
plan envisions adding facilities and equipment for metal
conversion and alloy production at the Mountain Pass facility or
an off-site property. If we add an off-site facility to produce
rare earth metals and alloys instead of adding such facilities
and equipment at Mountain Pass, we would transport cerium,
lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and
samarium oxide products from our Mountain Pass facility to that
off-site location to produce rare earth metals and alloys. In
December 2010, we entered into a non-binding letter of intent
with Hitachi to form joint ventures for the production of rare
earth alloys and magnets in the United States. Additionally, we
have entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Neo
Material that, among other things, contemplates a technology
transfer agreement pursuant to which Neo Material may provide us
with technical assistance and know-how with respect to the
production of rare earth metals, alloys and magnets. This
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy, if successfully implemented, would make us the first
fully integrated supplier of
78
NdFeB magnets in the world and the only producer of NdFeB
magnets in the United States. In addition, we are working to
identify and develop new downstream opportunities for the REOs,
rare earth metals and alloys and rare earth products we will
manufacture.
Develop
new higher margin products.
We intend to develop new higher margin products and processes
for REEs that historically have had lower demand. For example,
cerium is used primarily for glass polishing and has typically
sold at prices lower than those for other REEs. However, we have
developed
XSORBX®,
a proprietary product and process, primarily consisting of
cerium, that we have proven to be effective in removing arsenic
and other heavy metals from industrial processing streams. This
will allow our customers to more safely sequester arsenic and
increase their production. We believe this product is applicable
to a broad range of applications with higher margins. For
example, in addition to removing arsenic and other contaminants
from industrial waste water,
XSORBX®
can also be used to treat drinking water, which we believe is an
application with a higher margin as compared to cerium spot
prices. We have entered into two purchase agreements to provide
XSORBX®
to companies in the drinking water market. We have begun to sell
XSORBX®
for commercial use in the wastewater, recreation, pool and spa,
industrial process and other water treatment markets. We are
continuing to seek additional letters of intent and sales
contracts with existing and new customers for sales of
XSORBX®.
XSORBX®
is protected by over 100 issued and pending U.S. and
foreign patents and patent applications. We will continue to
focus on establishing proprietary markets for low-demand REEs to
provide us with an opportunity to sell these REEs as higher
margin products.
Our
Corporate History and Structure
Molycorp Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
formerly known as Rare Earth Acquisitions LLC, was formed on
June 12, 2008 to purchase the Mountain Pass, California
rare earth deposit and associated assets from Chevron Mining
Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. Prior to the
acquisition, the Mountain Pass facility was owned by Chevron
Mining Inc. and, before 2005, by Unocal Corporation. Molycorp,
LLC, which was the parent of Molycorp Minerals, LLC, was formed
on September 9, 2009 as a Delaware limited liability
company. Molycorp, Inc. was formed on March 4, 2010 as a
new Delaware corporation and was not, prior to the date of the
consummation of its initial public offering, conducting any
material activities.
The members of Molycorp, LLC contributed either (a) all of
their member interests in Molycorp, LLC or (b) all of their
equity interests in entities that hold member interests in
Molycorp, LLC (and no other assets or liabilities) to Molycorp,
Inc. in exchange for shares of Molycorp, Inc. Class A
common stock. Additionally, all of the holders of profits
interests in Molycorp Minerals, LLC, which were represented by
incentive shares, contributed all of their incentive shares to
Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for shares of Molycorp, Inc.
Class B common stock. Accordingly, Molycorp, LLC and
Molycorp Minerals, LLC became subsidiaries of Molycorp, Inc.
Following the corporate reorganization, Molycorp, LLC was merged
with and into Molycorp Minerals, LLC. Immediately prior to the
consummation of Molycorp, Inc.’s initial public offering,
all of the shares of Class A common stock and Class B
common stock were converted into shares of common stock.
The
Mountain Pass Facility
At the Mountain Pass facility, we own an open-pit mine
containing one of the world’s most fully developed rare
earth deposits outside of China. In addition to the mine, the
Mountain Pass facility includes associated crushing, milling,
flotation and separation facilities. These facilities are not
currently in full operation, and will need to be modernized or
refurbished before we can recommence mining operations. The
Mountain Pass facility is located approximately 60 miles
southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada near Mountain Pass,
San Bernardino County, California. The Mountain Pass
facility straddles Interstate 15 and may be accessed by existing
hard-surface roads, which we use to transport products from the
Mountain Pass facility to our customers using commercial
vehicles.
79
The Mountain Pass facility represents the only developed
commercial source of rare earth material in the Western
hemisphere. Molybdenum Corporation of America began REO mining
operations at the Mountain Pass facility in 1952. REO production
at the Mountain Pass facility, as well as milling and separation
processes, continued under Unocal Corporation, which purchased
Molybdenum Corporation of America in 1977, until 1998. In 1998,
all chemical processing operations were suspended, primarily due
to leaks in a wastewater pipeline that transported waste salt
water to evaporation ponds on the Ivanpah dry lake bed. The
leaks resulted in the release of wastewater containing elevated
levels of sodium chloride, along with minor concentrations of
dissolved rare earths and radionuclides. We did not acquire the
wastewater pipeline or the evaporation ponds in the acquisition
of the Mountain Pass facility from Chevron Mining Inc. in 2008,
and Chevron Mining Inc. is obligated to remove the remaining
pipeline and remediate the impacted soils. See
“Business — Environmental, Health and Safety
Matters.” Mining and milling operations continued until
2002 when those operations were also placed on standby due to
softening prices for REOs, a lack of additional tailings
disposal capacity and delays in obtaining permits required for
the new paste tailings storage facility. Unocal Corporation
thereafter sold or otherwise disposed of substantially all of
the mining equipment at the Mountain Pass facility (e.g.,
shovels, haul trucks, etc.) prior to being acquired by Chevron
Corporation in 2005. Operations at the Mountain Pass facility
remained suspended until September 2007 when Chevron Mining
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation,
commenced a NFL pilot processing campaign. Under the NFL
campaign, lanthanum, which was produced prior to suspending
activities in 1998 and held in lanthanum pond stockpiles at the
Mountain Pass facility, was processed in order to recover the
related neodymium and praseodymium. The NFL campaign did not
constitute the restart of fully integrated operations at the
Mountain Pass facility and was used as an opportunity to improve
processing technologies and generate very modest revenue. On
September 30, 2008, we acquired the Mountain Pass,
California rare earth deposit and associated assets from Chevron
Mining Inc. through Rare Earth Acquisitions LLC (which was later
renamed Molycorp Minerals, LLC). The acquisition by us excluded
certain assets and liabilities, including certain liabilities
related to environmental and employment matters, that were
retained by Chevron Corporation. As part of the acquisition, we
also acquired the services of approximately 100 employees
from Chevron Mining, including 43 non-union employees and 57
union employees. Under the terms of the asset
80
purchase agreement, we agreed to maintain all acquired
employees’ salaries at their previous levels for a period
of 12 months, provide comparable 401(k) and health benefits
and to honor all vacation days accrued prior to the asset
purchase.
We currently hold a mine plan permit and an associated
environmental impact report, which allow continued operations of
our Mountain Pass facility through 2042. Since our acquisition
of the Mountain Pass facility, we have been processing and
selling REOs from stockpiled feedstocks to significantly improve
our solvent extraction technologies and capabilities. We are now
achieving greater than 98% recovery in our solvent extraction
units at commercial scale for lanthanum, didymium and a heavy
rare earth concentrate composed of samarium, europium,
gadolinium, dysprosium and terbium, or SEG concentrate, which we
believe is one of the highest recovery rates in the world. We
have also developed the expertise to produce the following REEs
in many usable forms: bastnasite concentrate; cerium; lanthanum;
neodymium; praseodymium; europium; samarium; gadolinium;
dysprosium; and terbium.
We recommenced mining operations in December 2010 and are
preparing to recommence milling operations, which we expect to
occur in the first quarter of 2012. Prior to the expected
completion of our initial modernization and expansion efforts,
we expect to produce approximately 3,000 mt per year in the
aggregate of cerium products, lanthanum concentrate, didymium
oxide and heavy rare earth concentrates from stockpiled
feedstock. Recommencement of mining and milling operations is
coincident with modernization of our processing capabilities in
order to efficiently produce approximately 19,050 mt of REO per
year by the end of 2012. In addition, upon completion of our
capacity expansion plan, we expect to have the ability to
produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end
of 2013. We are also positioning our company to move further
downstream into metal, alloy and magnet production through our
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy. In addition, we are exploring new downstream markets
for rare earths and rare earth products.
The Mountain Pass facility consists of approximately
2,222 acres of fee land, of which approximately
770 acres are currently in use (e.g., existing buildings,
infrastructure or active disturbance). The lands surrounding the
Mountain Pass facility are mostly public lands managed by the
Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. In
addition to the 2,222 acres we hold in fee, we also hold 55
patented claims that are 100% owned by Molycorp and 489
unpatented lode and mineral mining claims and mill sites under
the provisions of The Mining Law of 1872. We acquired our
mineral rights at the Mountain Pass facility with the purchase
of the Mountain Pass, California rare earth deposit and
associated assets from Chevron Mining Inc. in 2008. Our mineral
rights, surface rights and mining claims are not subject to
royalties or encumbrances, although we are responsible for
making annual maintenance and tax payments on our unpatented
mill sites. These mining claims and mill sites provide land for
mining, ancillary facilities and expansion capacity around the
Mountain Pass facility.
The Mountain Pass facility includes an open-pit mine, overburden
stockpiles, a crusher and mill/flotation plant, a separation
plant, a mineral recovery plant tailings storage areas and
on-site
evaporation ponds, as well as laboratory facilities to support
research and development activities, offices, warehouses and
support buildings. The majority of the physical plant and
equipment at the Mountain Pass facility is over 20 years
old, substantially all of which will be replaced as part of our
modernization effort. We expect to expand the open-pit mine both
laterally to the west, southwest and north as well as deepening
vertically. In addition to the existing overburden stockpile
located west of the pit, which will serve as the initial
overburden stockpile when mining recommences, we will need to
construct additional overburden stockpiles to the north or east
of the pit to provide additional storage capacity sufficient to
accommodate the remaining overburden material for the existing
permitted life of the mine.
In connection with our modernization and expansion efforts at
the Mountain Pass facility, we expect to build new facilities,
including the construction of a control lab, additional
warehousing and raw material storage facilities. We plan to add
facilities and equipment for metal conversion and alloy
production. We also have decided to build a new mill instead of
refurbishing our existing mill. The new mill will be sized for
daily production of up to 2,000 mt. All the new design
changes are allowed under our current operating permits. In
November 2009, we entered into a non-binding letter of intent to
acquire a third-party producer of rare earth metals and alloys
in the United States; however, these discussions are no longer
ongoing and we do not anticipate executing a definitive
agreement. If we are able to acquire another third-party
producer of rare earth
81
metals and alloys or add another off-site facility to produce
rare earth metals and alloys, instead of adding such facilities
and equipment at Mountain Pass, we would transport cerium,
lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and
samarium oxide products from our Mountain Pass facility to that
off-site location to produce rare earth metals and alloys.
We also expect to build a new paste tailings operation and new
roads at the Mountain Pass facility. The construction of the
paste tailings operation, which consists of a paste tailings
filter plant and paste tailings storage facility, is authorized
by our San Bernardino County conditional use permit, and we
began its construction during the second quarter of 2010. The
capital cost for the paste tailings operation, which is included
in the estimated capital expenditure for the expansion of the
separation plant, is estimated to be $10 million. Although
the operating cost of the paste tailings operation is expected
to be greater than it would be for a tailings pond, which is the
method prior owners used at the Mountain Pass facility, we
expect that the increased water recycling and reduced
environmental risks associated with the paste tailings facility
will ultimately mitigate that additional cost.
In addition, we intend to produce hydrochloric acid and sodium
hydroxide at our own chlor-alkali plant at the Mountain Pass
facility, thereby reducing our reliance on external sources of
reagents. While the production of our own hydrochloric acid and
sodium hydroxide will utilize proven technologies, these
technologies have not yet been implemented in the rare earth
industry. Not only would the chlor-alkali plant reduce our need
for external sources of reagents, but it would also reduce our
production of waste salt water. Previous owners of the Mountain
Pass facility disposed of waste salt water in evaporation ponds
on the Ivanpah dry lake bed by using a pipeline. When we
acquired the Mountain Pass facility from Chevron Mining Inc. in
2008, we did not acquire the ponds or the wastewater pipeline
that ran from the Mountain Pass facility to the Ivanpah lake
bed. Because of this decision, and Chevron Mining Inc.’s
ongoing removal of the wastewater pipeline, use of these ponds
is no longer an available option for the Mountain Pass facility.
Accordingly, wastewater must be dealt with in a different
manner. We intend to utilize our chlor-alkali plant to convert
waste salt water to hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide,
which will be recycled into the process. Through this process,
approximately 913 million pounds of water and
101 million pounds of salt would be recycled back to the
chlor-alkali plant per year in order to achieve the annual
production rate of 19,050 mt of REO anticipated following the
completion of our initial modernization and expansion plan. We
expect these amounts to double if our annual production rate is
increased to 40,000 mt of REO per year in connection with our
capacity expansion plan. This process would avoid the need for
disposal of waste salt water in evaporation ponds. Additionally,
because the water is internally recycled, the need for fresh
water from our two water supply well fields to run the Mountain
Pass processing facilities would be dramatically reduced.
Following the completion of our initial modernization and
expansion efforts, we expect to have the ability to mine, crush,
mill and separate 2,000 tons of rare earth ore per day to
produce individual REOs that meet or exceed industry standards
for purity. However, we will only need to process 1,100 to 1,200
tons of rare earth ore per day to meet the annual production
goal of 19,050 mt of REO under our initial modernization and
expansion plan. If we increase our annual production rate to
40,000 mt of REO in connection with our capacity expansion plan,
we will need to process approximately 2,200 to 2,400 tons of
rare earth ore per day. Our modernization and expansion plans
envision adding facilities and equipment for metal conversion
and alloy production at the Mountain Pass facility or an
off-site property. If we add an off-site facility to produce
rare earth metals and alloys instead of adding such facilities
and equipment at Mountain Pass, we would transport cerium,
lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and
samarium oxide products from our Mountain Pass facility to that
off-site location to produce rare earth metals and alloys. In
December 2010, we entered into a non-binding letter of intent
with Hitachi to form joint ventures for the production of rare
earth alloys and magnets in the United States. Additionally, we
have entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Neo
Material that, among other things, contemplates a technology
transfer agreement pursuant to which Neo Material may provide us
with technical assistance and know-how with respect to the
production of rare earth metals, alloys and magnets. This
“mine-to-magnets”
strategy, if successfully implemented, would make us the first
fully integrated supplier of NdFeB magnets in the world and the
only producer of NdFeB magnets in the United States. In
addition, we are working to identify and develop new downstream
opportunities for the REOs, rare earth metals and alloys and
rare earth products we will manufacture.
82
Our proposed joint ventures with Hitachi would provide us with
access to the technology, people and facilities to convert our
rare earth materials into rare earth alloys and high-performance
permanent rare earth magnets required for production of hybrid
and electric vehicles, wind power turbines, high-tech
applications and numerous advanced defense systems on which the
U.S. economy and national security depend. The consummation
of such joint ventures, in conjunction with our current
modernization plans and the potential technology transfer
agreement with Neo Material, is expected to provide us with the
capability to mine, process, separate and alloy individual REEs
and manufacture them into NdFeB magnets.
Our facilities currently rely on electricity provided by
Southern California Edison. Due to its position on the regional
electric grid, the Mountain Pass facility can experience power
shortages during peak periods. Instability in electrical supply
in past years has caused sporadic outages and brownouts. Such
outages and brownouts have had a negative impact on our
production. In connection with our initial modernization and
expansion efforts at the Mountain Pass facility, we expect to
build a new 24 megawatt co-generation power plant that will use
natural gas to provide reliable electricity and steam to our
facilities to allow us to achieve our anticipated annual
production rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO. The
completion of the co-generation power plant is dependent on
several factors, including obtaining the permits required to
build and operate the co-generation power plant. Following the
completion of the co-generation power plant, we expect it to
provide 100% of our production power requirements to achieve an
annual production rate of 19,050 mt of REO and 83% of our
overall power requirements. In connection with our capacity
expansion plan, we will add two additional turbines to the
co-generation power plan to increase the plant’s capacity
to 49 megawatts, which will allow us to achieve an annual
production rate of approximately 40,000 mt of REO. At an annual
production rate of 40,000 mt of REO per year, we expect the
co-generation power plant to provide 100% of our production
power requirements and 91% of our overall power requirements.
We have secured all permits necessary to allow construction to
start on the Mountain Pass facility modernization and expansion
project. Numerous other governmental permits and approvals are
required in order for us to proceed with our modernization and
expansion efforts. These include air permits, various building
permits and permits related to the use and storage of
radioactive or hazardous materials. See
“— Environmental, Health and Safety Matters”
for a detailed discussion of certain of the permits, licenses
and approvals we will be required to obtain or maintain.
83
The bastnasite ore body at the Mountain Pass facility has been
mined as a principal source of REEs for over 50 years. The
Mountain Pass REE deposit is located within an uplifted block of
Precambrian metamorphic and igneous rocks that are bounded to
the south and east by basin-fill deposits in California’s
Ivanpah Valley. The two main groups of rocks in the Mountain
Pass area are Early Proterozoic high-grade metamorphic rocks and
Middle Proterozoic ultrapotassic rocks and monazitic
carbonatites, which carbonatites are associated with higher
levels of REEs. The currently defined zone of REE mineralization
exhibits a strike length of approximately 2,750 feet in a
north-northwest direction and extends for approximately
7,000 feet down dip from surface. The true thickness of the
greater than 3.0% REO zone ranges from 15 feet to
250 feet. The percentage of each rare earth material
contained in the Mountain Pass facility bastnasite ore is
estimated to be as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated
|
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
Element
|
|
Bastnasite Ore
|
|
|
Cerium
|
|
|
48.8
|
%
|
Lanthanum
|
|
|
34.0
|
%
|
Neodymium
|
|
|
11.7
|
%
|
Praseodymium
|
|
|
4.2
|
%
|
Samarium
|
|
|
0.79
|
%
|
Gadolinium
|
|
|
0.21
|
%
|
Europium
|
|
|
0.13
|
%
|
Dysprosium
|
|
|
0.05
|
%
|
Other REE (including Terbium)
|
|
|
0.12
|
%
|
84
Rare
Earth Reserves and Non-Reserve Deposits
As of February 6, 2010, SRK Consulting, an independent
consulting firm that we have retained to assess our reserves,
estimated total proven reserves of 88.0 million pounds of
REO contained in 0.480 million tons of ore, with an average
ore grade of 9.38%, and probable reserves based on historic and
estimated recoveries of 2.12 billion pounds of REO
contained in 13.108 million tons or ore, with an average
ore grade of 8.20%, in each case using a cutoff grade of 5.0%
REO.
SEC
Guidelines
The SEC has established guidelines contained in Industry Guide
to assist registered companies as they estimate ore reserves.
These guidelines set forth technical, legal and economic
criteria for determining whether our ore reserves can be
classified as proven and probable.
“Reserves” are defined by the SEC Industry Guide 7 as
that part of a mineral deposit that could be economically and
legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve
determination. SEC Industry Guide 7 divides reserves between
“proven reserves” and “probable reserves,”
which are defined as follows:
|
|
|
|
•
|
“Proven reserves” are reserves for which:
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
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
|
|
|
•
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
“Probable reserves” are reserves for which quantity
and grade
and/or
quality are computed from information similar to that used for
proven 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.
|
Methodology
We have recently expanded our
on-site
exploratory drilling program to confirm the existence and extent
of bastnasite, monazite and other rare earth phosphate mineral
occurrences in unexplored areas of the Mountain Pass facility.
When estimating proven and probable reserves, however, we
currently rely on the interpretations made during prior mining
campaigns at our Mountain Pass facility, the
U.S. Geological Survey and various consulting companies,
including SRK Consulting, to identify the regional and mine area
geology and hydrogeology, regional and local structure, deposit
geology, current pit slope stability conditions and REE
recoveries.
Proven Reserves. SRK Consulting compiled a
drillhole database from prior drilling at the Mountain Pass site
that includes a total of 137 drillholes with a cumulative length
of 79,453.3 feet. Individual drillholes range in length
from 56 feet to 2,012 feet, and averaged
580 feet. The majority of core samples in the deposit area
analyzed by SRK Consulting range from 50 feet to
250 feet along the strike of the ore body and 150 feet
to 350 feet down dip. The sample data for proven ore
reserves consists of survey data, lithologic data and assay
results.
Based on the review of historic sample preparation and
analytical procedures, SRK Consulting initiated a sample check
assay program of 1% of the assay database. The material
remaining from previous drilling programs consisted of split
core stored at the Mountain Pass facility. SRK Consulting
examined the existing split core using third-party preparation
and analytical laboratories. SRK Consulting determined that the
overall results of the sample check assay program indicated that
our historic data was acceptable for use in preparing their
report. While we believe that a cut off grade below 5.0% is
economically viable, SRK Consulting decided to base the mining
cut-off calculation on a grade of 5.0% REO given historical
performance at the Mountain Pass mine.
Probable Reserves. Probable ore reserves are
based on longer projections and the maximum distance between
drill holes is 200 feet. Statistical modeling and the
established continuity of the bastnasite ore body as determined
from results of over 50 years of mining activity to date
support our technical confidence in
85
estimates of tonnage and grade over this projection distance.
Where appropriate, projections for the probable ore reserve
determination are constrained by any known or anticipated
restrictive geologic features. SRK Consulting generated a
resource estimate based on composites derived from drillhole
sample assay results. Grade interpolation was based on the
geology, drillhole spacing and geo-statistical analysis of the
data. The resources were classified by their proximity to the
sample locations and number of drillholes. SRK Consulting
considers the resource model and resource classification to be
consistent with Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
guidelines.
The proven and probable ore reserves are then modeled as a
long-term mine plan and additional factors including recoveries,
metal prices, mine operating costs and capital estimates are
applied to determine the overall economics of the ore reserves.
Results
Proven and probable reserves at the Mountain Pass facility as of
February 6, 2010 are estimated to be approximately
88.0 million pounds of REO contained in 0.480 million
tons of ore, with an average ore grade of 9.38%, and
2.12 billion pounds of REO contained in 13.108 million
tons of ore, with an average ore grade of 8.20%, respectively,
in each case, using a cut-off grade of 5.0%. We base our REO
reserve estimates and non-reserve REO deposit information on
engineering, economic and geological data assembled and analyzed
by SRK Consulting, which includes various engineers and
geologists. The Mountain Pass facility has been subject to
extensive drilling since the beginning of mining operations in
1952, including drilling data for 152 holes totaling
83,216 feet. We also maintain detailed geologic logs,
on-site
assay records and databases and geologic cross-sections. Our
estimates of REO reserves and non-reserve REO deposits as to
both quantity and quality will be regularly updated to reflect
new drilling or other data received.
The following table provides information as of February 6,
2010 on the amount of our proven and probable REO reserves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Ore
|
|
|
Ore
|
|
|
Contained REO
|
|
Category of Reserves
|
|
Grade (%)
|
|
|
(Millions of Tons)
|
|
|
(Millions of Pounds)
|
|
|
Proven
|
|
|
9.38
|
%
|
|
|
0.480
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
Probable
|
|
|
8.20
|
%
|
|
|
13.108
|
|
|
|
2,122
|
|
In making the estimate above, SRK Consulting:
|
|
|
|
•
|
assumed we have a 100% working interest in the Mountain Pass
facility;
|
|
|
•
|
assumed full mining recovery;
|
|
|
•
|
assumed that mine reserves are fully diluted;
|
|
|
•
|
assumed a historic cut-off grade of 5.0% REO within the pit
design;
|
|
|
•
|
assumed a metallurgical recovery factor of 65% for the mill
facility and 93% for the extraction and separation facilities;
|
|
|
•
|
used the 1997 surface topography for volume control of reserves;
|
|
|
•
|
used the historic three-year average commodity prices set forth
in table below; and
|
|
|
•
|
rounded values to the nearest significant number.
|
86
Pricing values shown in the following table were used by SRK
Consulting in the estimate of our reserves. The prices reflect a
combination of three-year averages for REOs and metals based on
information from (i) Metal-Pages, (ii) IMCOA and
Roskill market studies from 2009 and (iii) alloy pricing
formulas.
|
|
|
|
|
Rare Earth Products
|
|
Price
|
|
|
|
(US$/kg)
|
|
|
Non-Metal Products
|
|
|
|
|
Lanthanum oxide
|
|
$
|
6.60
|
|
Cerium oxide for glass applications
|
|
|
4.09
|
|
Cerium oxide for water filters
|
|
|
13.20
|
|
XSORBX®
|
|
|
9.90
|
|
Europium oxide
|
|
|
473.00
|
|
Metal Products
|
|
|
|
|
Lanthanum
|
|
|
13.20
|
|
Praseodymium
|
|
|
37.99
|
|
Neodymium
|
|
|
37.99
|
|
Metal Alloys
|
|
|
|
|
NdFeB
|
|
|
35.20
|
|
Samarium cobalt
|
|
|
50.60
|
|
Although SRK Consulting assumed pricing levels consistent with
those estimated by Roskill, a 38% decrease in average REE prices
from such levels, holding all other variables constant, would
not materially reduce reserve estimates.
There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating
quantities and qualities of REO reserves and non-reserve REO
deposits and costs to mine recoverable reserves, including many
factors beyond our control. We will regularly evaluate our REO
reserve and non-reserve REO estimates. This will typically be
done in conjunction with expanded, phased drilling programs.
Cores are analyzed by geologists to determine mineral types and
to identify geological anomalies. Samples along the length of
the core are logged and analyzed for total rare earth content,
rare earth distribution and mineralogy. This data is entered
into a master database and statistically analyzed. The resulting
information is used to enhance the mine plan. We also gain
information from blast hole cuttings. The estimates of REO
reserves and non-reserve REO deposits as to both quantity and
quality will also be updated to reflect new drilling or other
data received. Estimates of economically recoverable REO
reserves, however, necessarily depend upon a number of variable
factors and assumptions, all of which may vary considerably from
actual results, such as:
|
|
|
|
•
|
geological and mining conditions
and/or
effects from prior mining that may not be fully identified by
available data or that may differ from experience;
|
|
|
•
|
assumptions concerning future prices of rare earth products,
operating costs, mining technology improvements, development
costs and reclamation costs; and
|
|
|
•
|
assumptions concerning future effects of regulation, including
the issuance of required permits and taxes by governmental
agencies.
|
Actual REO tonnage recovered from identified REO reserve and
non-reserve REO deposit areas and revenues and expenditures with
respect to the same may vary materially from estimates. These
estimates may not accurately reflect our actual REO reserves or
non-reserve REO deposits. Any inaccuracy in our estimates
related to our REO reserves and non-reserve REO deposits could
result in lower than expected revenues and higher than expected
costs.
Additionally, we have recently expanded our
on-site
exploratory drilling program to confirm the existence and extent
of bastnasite, monazite and other rare earth phosphate mineral
occurrences in unexplored areas of the Mountain Pass facility.
This program will also help to establish whether our measured,
indicated and inferred resources can become proven or probable
reserves.
87
Engineering
Study
SRK Consulting prepared an engineering study to determine, among
other things, the size of the underlying ore body and a mine
plan for the restart of the Mountain Pass mine and the
refurbishment of the processing facilities in connection with
our initial modernization and expansion plan. As originally
envisioned, the restart plan includes integrated off-site
facilities for production of metals and rare earth magnet
alloys. Below is a summary of some of the information from the
original engineering study, which does not give effect to any
operational or financial benefits that are expected from our
second-phase capacity expansion. SRK Consulting designed the
mine plan to ensure an annual production rate of approximately
19,050 mt of REO. The assumptions regarding efficiencies and
recoveries are reflected in the table below.
Key
project data
|
|
|
Mine type
|
|
Open pit
|
Process description
|
|
Crushing, milling, flotation, leaching, extraction, separation
|
Open pit mine life
|
|
30 years
|
Mill throughput
|
|
1,300 average tons per day
|
Initial capital costs(1)
|
|
$531 million
|
Sustaining capital costs
|
|
$138 million
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Ore
|
|
|
Ore
|
|
|
Contained REO
|
|
|
|
Grade (%)
|
|
|
(Millions of Tons)
|
|
|
(Millions of Pounds)
|
|
|
Contained minerals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proven
|
|
|
9.38
|
%
|
|
|
0.480
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
Probable
|
|
|
8.20
|
%
|
|
|
13.108
|
|
|
|
2,122
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
SRK Consulting assumes capital expenditures of
$550 million, which includes extra stripping costs for 2013
and 2014. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1-5
|
|
|
6-10
|
|
|
11-30
|
|
|
Life-of-Mine
|
|
|
Average annual payable minerals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ore milled (kilotons)
|
|
|
427
|
|
|
|
368
|
|
|
|
424
|
|
|
|
13,692
|
|
Average ore grade, as a percentage of REO
|
|
|
7.9
|
%
|
|
|
9.3
|
%
|
|
|
8.2
|
%
|
|
|
8.2
|
%
|
Mill REO recovery percentage
|
|
|
65
|
%
|
|
|
65
|
%
|
|
|
65
|
%
|
|
|
65
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total recovered REO (in thousands of pounds)
|
|
|
43,775
|
|
|
|
44,404
|
|
|
|
44,776
|
|
|
|
1,464,272
|
|
Chemical plant recovery percentage
|
|
|
90
|
%
|
|
|
95
|
%
|
|
|
94
|
%
|
|
|
94
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total REO production (in thousands of pounds)
|
|
|
39,532
|
|
|
|
42,044
|
|
|
|
42,044
|
|
|
|
1,372,650
|
|
Average operating cost per pound of REO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mining
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.06
|
|
|
$
|
0.12
|
|
|
$
|
0.11
|
|
Oxides
|
|
|
1.16
|
|
|
|
1.13
|
|
|
|
1.14
|
|
|
|
1.14
|
|
Oxides-to-metals
|
|
|
0.80
|
|
|
|
0.80
|
|
|
|
0.80
|
|
|
|
0.80
|
|
Metals-to-alloys
|
|
|
3.71
|
|
|
|
3.75
|
|
|
|
3.75
|
|
|
|
3.76
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total REO
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.06
|
|
|
$
|
0.12
|
|
|
$
|
0.11
|
|
Price assumptions (Weighted average pricing of different
products)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oxides
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4.55
|
|
Metals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
7.64
|
|
Alloys
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
16.59
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total REO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
11.97
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1-5
|
|
|
6-10
|
|
|
11-30
|
|
|
Life-of-Mine
|
|
|
After tax project internal rate of return
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After tax net present value 8% discount (dollars in millions)(1)
|
|
$
|
1,460
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
As of October 28, 2010, prices for certain rare earth
products had increased from those used by SRK Consulting in its
engineering study. According to SRK Consulting, using the
October 28, 2010 prices set forth in the following table,
which are primarily based on information from Metal-Pages and
alloy pricing formulas, instead of those used in SRK
Consulting’s original model would increase the after tax
project internal rate of return to 115% and the after tax net
present value (8% discount) to $6.76 billion: |
|
|
|
|
|
Product
|
|
October 28, 2010 Price
|
|
|
|
(US$/kg)
|
|
|
Lanthanum Oxide
|
|
$
|
44.54
|
|
Cerium Oxide (Glass Products)
|
|
|
43.04
|
|
Cerium — Water Filters
|
|
|
33.08
|
(1)
|
Cerium Hexahydrate
|
|
|
11.02
|
(1)
|
Europium Oxide
|
|
|
630.52
|
|
Lanthanum Metal
|
|
|
43.66
|
|
Neodymium/Praseodymium Metal
|
|
|
84.54
|
|
Nd-Iron-Boron Alloy
|
|
|
78.32
|
|
Samarium Cobalt Alloy
|
|
|
66.15
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Molycorp market price estimates |
The engineering study, as prepared by SRK Consulting, includes
all mine-level capital and operational costs, but does not
include corporate, selling, general and administrative expenses
which we estimate to be an additional $20 million to
$25 million per year.
Subsequent to the original engineering study, we proceeded with
additional detailed engineering and process testwork for the
project. While substantive elements of the engineering design
remain fixed in terms of function, our ongoing testing effort
through the first quarter of 2011 will finalize the operating
cost estimate for oxide production. Following completion of the
operating cost review, updated process costs and recoveries will
be reflected in the proven and probable reserve statement. At
the present time, as a result of increased REE prices, the
estimated economic cut-off grade for the deposit is less than
the 5% cut-off grade applied by SRK Consulting. Due to the
differential between the estimated economic cut-off grade and
5.0% “hard” cut-off grade, there is a margin for
operating cost variation without a material adjustment in the
proven and probable reserve estimate.
We approved the following changes to the original engineering
study. These changes are provided for clarity and do not have a
material impact on the proven and probable reserve estimate:
|
|
|
|
•
|
We conducted additional drilling and exploration work between
December 2009 and April 2010 with a primary focus on in-fill
drilling and a secondary focus on condemnation. We plan to
conduct additional drilling and exploration work in 2011.
|
|
|
•
|
As disclosed in our quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010, we will
construct a new mill rather than refurbish the existing mill
prior to the start of full-scale production. With this change,
SRK Consulting revised the mine plan to reflect improved access
to ore in the southwest and south portion of the open pit.
Fundamental production criteria remained unchanged (e.g., 5.0%
REO cut-off grade, 19,050 mt REO per year, and overall recovery
of 60%); therefore, there is no material change in the mine
production schedule. However, the pit layouts over time shown in
the original engineering study (e.g., Figures 6.2 through 6.7)
will not match the current pit layouts.
|
|
|
•
|
We changed the location of the extraction and separations
facilities, as well as related infrastructure, from the
northwest portion of our property to immediately southeast of
the existing process facilities.
|
89
|
|
|
|
|
While the location of these facilities has changed, the
production process has not. Accordingly, Figure 7.8 General
Facilities Arrangement for the Extraction and Separation
Facilities in the original engineering study is no longer valid.
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
Updated project capital costs are within 10% of the estimated
capital costs in the original engineering study.
|
|
|
•
|
Project planning during the development phase will be performed
by us and Eichleay Engineers of California, a consulting firm
specializing in project delivery.
|
We will authorize SRK Consulting to revise the engineering study
and to make material adjustments, if any, to the reserve
statement following completion of the updated operating cost
review and testwork related to process recoveries.
In light of strong industry fundamentals, including reduced
Chinese supply and strong pricing increases, our Board of
Directors recently approved a second-phase capacity expansion
plan in addition to our initial modernization plan. Upon the
completion of this expansion plan, by the end of 2013, we expect
to have the ability to produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of
REO per year at our Mountain Pass facility, or approximately
double the amount we will be able to produce upon completion of
our initial modernization and expansion plan.
SRK Consulting prepared its engineering study in connection with
our initial modernization and expansion plan, but has not yet
reviewed the second-phase capacity expansion plan or prepared a
revised engineering study to reflect any potential impact of the
second-phase capacity expansion on capital costs, operating
expenses, mine life or reserve estimates. SRK Consulting has
preliminarily indicated, however, that doubling the amount of
production pursuant to the second-phase capacity expansion plan
would reduce the current mine life by half, assuming no
additional exploration, no realization of anticipated
improvements in recoveries, and all other factors remain
constant.
Customers
We are working to establish stable revenue streams for the rare
earth minerals and products we produce at the Mountain Pass
facility. Upon reaching full planned production rates for REOs
at the Mountain Pass facility under our initial modernization
and expansion plan, we expect to produce approximately 19,050 mt
of REO per year by the end of 2012. Additionally, under our
capacity expansion plan, we expect to have the ability to
produce up to approximately 40,000 mt of REO per year by the end
of 2013. Pursuant to our two contracts with Grace, we have
agreed to supply Grace with a significant amount of REOs,
primarily lanthanum oxide, through mid-2012 at market-based
prices subject to a ceiling and a floor and with up to
75 percent of our lanthanum product production per year
(based on our initial planned capacity) at market-based prices
subject to a floor for a three-year period commencing upon the
achievement of expected annual production rates under our
initial modernization and expansion plan, which may be extended
at Grace’s option for an additional three-year period. Upon
execution of definitive agreements with Sumitomo, we also expect
to provide Sumitomo with approximately 1,500 mt per year (and
following completion of our initial modernization and expansion
plan, approximately 1,750 mt per year) of cerium and
lanthanum-based products and 250 mt per year of didymium oxide
for a period ending five years after the completion of our
initial modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass
facility, at market-based prices subject to a floor. As of
January 1, 2011, we also had 21 non-binding letters of
intent to sell our rare earth products. These letters of intent,
together with our contracts with Grace and memorandum of
understanding with Sumitomo, represent approximately 148% of our
anticipated production for 2013 under our initial modernization
and expansion plan, and our non-binding letter of intent with
Neo Material also contemplates the sale of certain rare earth
products. See “Business—Our Business
Strategy—Secure customer commitments to provide a stable
revenue stream.” for additional detail regarding our
contracts, non-binding letters of intent and off-take
commitments. Prior to commencing full production, we intend to
enter into short- and long-term sales contracts with existing
and new customers for amounts not in excess of our actual
planned production under our initial modernization and expansion
plan and our capacity expansion plan, respectively. For certain
REEs where the market demand is high, such as europium, we do
not expect to enter into letters of intent or contracts, given
that these REEs can be easily sold. None of our existing
customer relationships are from contracts we assumed from
Chevron Mining Inc.
90
The letter of intent with Neo Material also contemplates the
possibility of Neo Material acting as our non-exclusive sales
agent and providing sales, marketing, warehousing and
distribution services for some of our products. The memorandum
of understanding with Sumitomo also contemplates Sumitomo acting
as our non-exclusive sales agent for some of our products until
the completion of our modernization and expansion of the
Mountain Pass facility.
There is a limited market for our lanthanum. Two of our largest
customers, Albemarle Corporation and Grace, comprised 82% (55%
of the total corresponding to Albemarle Corporation and 27% of
the total corresponding to Grace) and 72% (57% of the total
corresponding to Albemarle Corporation and 15% of the total
corresponding to Grace) of our total product revenue for the
year ended December 31, 2009 and the period ended
December 31, 2008, respectively. Four of our largest
customers, Grace, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., 3M Company and
Mitsubishi Corporation Unimetals U.S.A., comprised 84% (43% of
the total corresponding to Grace, 15% corresponding to each of
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. and 3M Company and 11% corresponding to
Mitsubishi Corporation Unimetals U.S.A.) of our total product
revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
In addition, we are in discussions with multiple large, globally
diversified mining companies regarding the sale of
XSORBX®,
which will expand demand for cerium in times when it is in
surplus and low priced.
XSORBX®
is a proprietary product and process, primarily consisting of
cerium that removes arsenic and other heavy metals from
industrial processing streams and will allow our customers to
more safely sequester arsenic and increase their production.
XSORBX®
is protected by over 100 issued and pending U.S. and
foreign patents and patent applications. We have begun to sell
XSORBX®
for commercial use in the wastewater, recreation, pool and spa,
industrial process and other water treatment markets.
We anticipate that the location of the Mountain Pass facility,
just off the Interstate 15 and along the train route leading to
the Los Angeles port, will be an advantage in the transportation
and delivery of our rare earth products to our customers as
compared to other rare earth mining and development projects.
Suppliers
We use significant amounts of hydrochloric acid and sodium
hydroxide as reagents to process REOs. We ultimately intend to
produce and recycle our own hydrochloric acid and sodium
hydroxide at the Mountain Pass facility, however, the technology
we are developing to internally produce these reagents to
significantly reduce our dependence on external supplies has not
yet been implemented. Accordingly, we currently purchase
hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide in the open market
through multiple suppliers and, as a result, could be subject to
significant volatility in the cost or availability of these
reagents, although they are currently in ample supply. We may
not be able to pass increased prices for these reagents through
to our customers in the form of price increases. A significant
increase in the price of these reagents, or limited availability
of such materials, could materially increase our operating costs
and adversely affect our profit margins from quarter to quarter.
Patents,
Trademarks and Licenses
We rely on a combination of trade secret protection,
nondisclosure and licensing agreements, patents and trademarks
to establish and protect our proprietary intellectual property
rights. We utilize trade secret protection and nondisclosure
agreements to protect our proprietary rare earth technology. We
also have a proven technology and product development group and
as of December 31, 2010, held 88 issued and pending
U.S. patents and patent applications, and 190 issued and
pending foreign patents and patent applications. We intend to
rely on patented products, such as
XSORBX®,
and related licensing agreements to establish proprietary
markets for low demand REEs. These intellectual property rights
may be challenged or infringed upon by third parties or we may
be unable to maintain, renew or enter into new license
agreements with third-party owners of intellectual property on
reasonable terms. In addition, our intellectual property will be
subject to infringement or other unauthorized use outside of the
United States. In such case, our ability to protect our
intellectual property rights by legal recourse or otherwise may
be limited, particularly in countries where laws or enforcement
practices are undeveloped or do not recognize or protect
intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United
States. Unauthorized use of our intellectual property rights or
inability to preserve existing intellectual property rights
could adversely impact our competitive position and results of
operations.
91
Competition
According to Roskill, global production of rare earth products
was approximately 129,000 mt of REO in 2008. According to IMCOA,
China accounted for approximately 96% of this total. The
majority of the remaining production in 2008 was from Mountain
Pass and Russia. Although exploration programs for REEs exist
outside of China, Russia, Mountain Pass and Australia, none of
the deposits that are the subject of these programs is currently
in production. In addition, the April 2010 U.S. GAO
briefing stated that, for a typical exploration-stage mine, once
a company has secured the necessary capital to start a mine,
government and industry officials said it can take from seven to
15 years to bring a property fully online, largely due to
the time it takes to comply with multiple state and federal
regulations.
Once we reach full planned production rates for REOs and other
planned downstream products, the increased competition may lead
our competitors to engage in predatory pricing behavior. Any
increase in the amount of rare earth products exported from
other nations, and increased competition, whether legal or
illegal, may result in price reductions, reduced margins and
loss of potential market share, any of which could materially
adversely affect our profitability. As a result of these
factors, we may not be able to compete effectively against
current and future competitors.
Research
and Development
We have invested significant resources to improve the efficiency
of our REO processing operations and the development of new
applications for individual REEs. As of December, 31, 2010, our
product development group consisted of 22 scientists and
engineers. In addition, we spent $1.5 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 2010, $1.5 million for the
year ended December 31, 2009 and $0.4 million for the
period ended December 31, 2008 on research and development.
Environmental,
Health and Safety Matters
We are subject to numerous and detailed, federal, state and
local laws, regulations and permits affecting the mining and
mineral processing industry, including those pertaining to
employee health and safety, environmental permitting and
licensing, air quality standards, GHG emissions, water
pollution, waste management, plant and wildlife protection,
handling and disposal of radioactive substances, remediation of
soil and groundwater contamination, land use, reclamation and
restoration of properties, the discharge of materials into the
environment and groundwater quality and availability. These
laws, regulations and permits have had, and will continue to
have, a significant effect on our results of operations and
competitive position and have tended to become increasingly
stringent over time. Future laws, regulations or permits, as
well as the interpretation or enforcement of existing
requirements, may require substantial increases in capital or
operating costs or otherwise delay, limit or prohibit our
current or future operations. Our management team and employees
have a significant amount of experience working with various
federal, state and local authorities to address compliance with
such laws, regulations and permits. However, we cannot assure
you that we have been or will be at all times in compliance with
such requirements.
We expect that we incurred approximately $3 million in
2010, and we expect to incur approximately $3 million in
2011, for ongoing operating environmental expenditures,
including salaries, monitoring, compliance, reporting and
permits. In addition, we plan to invest significant capital in
certain infrastructure, including iron and lead removal
equipment in our processing facilities, a chlor-alkali plant, a
co-generation power plant and a paste tailings plant and related
storage facility. Our planned chlor-alkali plant is expected to
reduce the amount of waste salt water that otherwise would be
produced by our processing facilities and eliminate the need for
evaporation ponds to dispose of this waste water. Our planned
co-generation power plant is expected to increase the energy
efficiency of our Mountain Pass facility by generating steam
with waste heat from the power generation process. Our planned
paste tailings plant and related storage facility are expected
to increase the extent of our water recycling and present lower
environmental risks than storing tailings in ponds. We expect to
spend approximately $187 million on environmentally-driven
capital projects during 2011 and 2012 on our modernization and
expansion project. We have contracted to acquire air emission
offset credits at a cost of approximately $3.1 million in
connection with our modernization and expansion plan and our
capacity expansion plan. However, we may need to purchase
additional credits in the future.
92
Permits
and Approvals
Numerous governmental permits and approvals are required for our
current and future operations. We hold a mine plan permit and an
associated environmental impact report, which allow continued
operations of our Mountain Pass facility through 2042. We hold
numerous other permits and approvals, including permits to
operate from the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
and orders for wastewater treatment and other facilities. Our
ability to build
state-of-the-art
processing facilities at Mountain Pass depends upon obtaining
the necessary installation and operation permits from a variety
of governmental entities. In connection with our planned
expansion, we will be required to obtain permit modifications
and additional permits for new and replacement processing
facilities and utilities, including a chlor-alkali plant and
co-generation power plant, and also may be required to prepare a
risk management plan in connection with the storage of ammonia
for use at the planned co-generation power plant. To obtain,
maintain and renew these and other environmental permits, we may
be required to conduct environmental studies and collect and
present to governmental authorities data pertaining to the
potential impact that our current or future operations may have
upon the environment.
We may be unable to obtain permits unless we are able to avoid
or mitigate those impacts, particularly impacts to desert flora
and fauna. The permitting processes and development of
supporting materials, including any environmental impact
statements, may be costly and time consuming. Any failure to
obtain, maintain or renew required permits, or other permitting
delays or conditions, may delay, limit or prohibit current or
future operations. Consequently, the expansion and modernization
of the Mountain Pass facility may be delayed, curtailed or
prevented, particularly in the event any environmental impact
statement is required in connection therewith. These permit
processes and requirements, and the interpretation and
enforcement thereof, change frequently, and any such future
changes could materially adversely affect our mining operations
and results of operations.
We have secured all permits necessary to allow construction to
start on the Mountain Pass facility modernization and expansion
project. The following table presents the material permits
relating to our current and future operations that we have
already obtained, as well as those we have yet to obtain and our
proposed filing date for such permits. We expect to obtain the
air quality, building, electrical and plumbing permits included
in the following table as required, on an ongoing basis, in
connection with the construction and installation of buildings
and equipment at the Mountain Pass facility. Other permits are
also required. We cannot predict with certainty the grant date
for any permit or if we will obtain such permit.
Material
Permits — Not Yet Obtained
|
|
|
|
|
Permit
|
|
Agency
|
|
Status
|
|
Air Quality Permits
|
|
Mojave Desert California AQMD
|
|
As Required
|
Building, Electrical and Plumbing Permits
|
|
San Bernardino County, California
|
|
As Required
|
Material
Permits — Already Obtained
|
|
|
|
|
Permit
|
|
Agency
|
|
Approval Date
|
|
Hazardous Materials Business Plan
|
|
San Bernardino County, California
|
|
April 2010
|
Minor Use Permit
|
|
San Bernardino County, California
|
|
November 10, 2010
|
Wastewater Discharge Permits
|
|
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
|
|
October 10, 2010
|
Streambed Alteration Agreement
|
|
California Department of Fish and Game
|
|
December 6, 2010
|
Right of Way for the Shadow Valley Fresh Water Pipeline
|
|
Bureau of Land Management
|
|
August 23, 1982
|
San Bernardino County Domestic Water Supply Permit #36000172
|
|
San Bernardino County, California Department of Public
Health
|
|
December 8, 2004
|
EPA Identification Number CAD009539321
|
|
United States Environmental Protection Agency
|
|
October 30, 2008
|
93
|
|
|
|
|
Permit
|
|
Agency
|
|
Approval Date
|
|
Hazardous Materials Certificate of Registration
|
|
United States Department of Transportation
|
|
June 23, 2010
|
NRC Export Licenses
|
|
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
|
|
November 10, 2008
|
Conditional Use Permit 07533SM2/DN953-681N
|
|
San Bernardino County, California Land Use Services
Department
|
|
July 20, 2004
|
Annual Building, Electrical and Plumbing Permit
|
|
San Bernardino County, California
|
|
July 23, 2009
|
CUPA Annual Permit FA0004811
|
|
San Bernardino County, California Fire Protection District
|
|
August 1, 2009
|
LRWQCB Order 6-01-18 — Domestic Wastewater System
|
|
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
|
|
April 11, 2001
|
LRWQCB Order 6-91-836 — Mine and Mill Site
|
|
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
|
|
June 13, 1991
|
LRWQCB Order R6V-2005-0011 — On Site Evaporation Ponds
|
|
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
|
|
April 14, 2005
|
Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District —
Permits to Operate
|
|
Mojave Desert AQMD
|
|
March 9, 2010
|
Industrial Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
|
|
California State Water Resources Control Board
|
|
February 28, 2006
|
Right-Of-Way
Lease 6375.2
|
|
California State Lands Commission
|
|
January 20, 1983
|
Radioactive Materials License #3229-36
|
|
California Department of Public Health — Radiologic
Health Branch
|
|
June 17, 2010
|
Streambed Alteration Agreement
R6-N-011-2000
|
|
California Department of Fish and Game
|
|
August 25, 2000
|
Mine
Health and Safety Laws
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended by
the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, and
the regulations adopted by the California Occupational Safety
and Health Administration, impose stringent health and safety
standards on numerous aspects of mining operations, including
training of mine personnel, mining procedures, blasting, the
equipment used in mining operations and other matters. As a
result of increasing scrutiny surrounding mine safety, federal
and state legislatures and other regulatory authorities have
imposed more stringent regulatory requirements on mining
operations. In 2006, the MSHA promulgated new emergency rules on
mine safety that address mine safety equipment, training and
emergency reporting requirements. The U.S. Congress enacted
the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006,
which significantly amended the Federal Mine Safety and Health
Act of 1977, requiring improvements in mine safety practices,
increasing criminal penalties and establishing a maximum civil
penalty for non-compliance, and expanding the scope of federal
oversight, inspection and enforcement activities. The MSHA
published final rules implementing the Mine Improvement and New
Emergency Response Act to revise both the emergency rules and
the MSHA’s existing civil penalty assessment regulations,
which resulted in an
across-the-board
increase in penalties from the existing regulations.
The Mountain Pass facility maintains a rigorous safety program.
Our employees and contractors are required to complete
24 hours of initial training sessions, as well as annual
refresher sessions, which cover all of the potential hazards
that may be present at the facility. During the training, our
commitment to a safe work environment is reinforced through our
Stop Work Authority program, which allows any employee or
contractor at the facility to stop work that they deem to be
unsafe. As a direct result of this commitment to safety, the
Mountain Pass facility has an exceptional safety record, which
as of December 31, 2010, stood at 1999 days worked
without a lost-time or restricted work accident. Lost-time
incidence rate is an industry standard used to describe
occupational injuries that result in loss of one or more days
from an employee’s
94
scheduled work. Our lost-time incidence rate for all operations
for each of the year ended December 31, 2009 and the nine
months ended September 30, 2010 was zero as compared to the
national average of 1.78 and 1.88 as reported by the MSHA for
the respective periods.
The exceptional safety performance record of the Mountain Pass
facility is further reflected in the following table, which
compares rates for all lost time, restricted work and medical
treatment incidents per 200,000 hours worked with average
rates for mining operations, as determined by MSHA:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Molycorp Operations
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1.01
|
|
|
|
0.86
|
|
|
|
2.31
|
|
MSHA Rates for Operators
|
|
|
2.79
|
|
|
|
3.73
|
|
|
|
3.48
|
|
|
|
2.95
|
|
|
|
2.83
|
|
Within the last several years, the Mountain Pass facility has
received numerous awards for safety, including: the MSHA
Sentinels of Safety Award (2008, 2006 and 2004); the National
Safety Council Awards — Perfect Record (2008, 2007,
2006, 2004); and the National Safety Council Awards —
Occupational Excellence achievement award (2009, 2007 and 2004).
We believe that our commitment to a safe working environment at
the Mountain Pass facility provides us with a competitive
advantage in attracting and retaining employees.
Workers’
Compensation
Although, as of November 30, 2010, the Mountain Pass
Facility has not experienced a lost-time workplace injury since
July 11, 2005, we are required to compensate employees for
work-related injuries. The states in which we operate consider
changes in workers’ compensation laws from time to time. We
are insured under various state workers’ compensation
programs for our operations at the Mountain Pass facility, our
offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado and the State of
Washington.
Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation
Our San Bernardino County conditional use permit, approved
mining plan and state laws and regulations establish
operational, reclamation and closure standards for all aspects
of our surface mining operations. Comprehensive environmental
protection and reclamation standards must be met during the
course of and upon completion of mining activities, and our
failure to meet such standards may subject us to fines,
penalties or other sanctions.
Although we expect the Mountain Pass facility to remain open for
significantly longer than 30 years, our
30-year mine
plan requires that we restore the surface area upon completion
of mining. Financial assurances are generally required to secure
the performance of these reclamation obligations. To satisfy
these financial assurance requirements, we typically obtain
surety bonds, which are renewable on a yearly basis. Although we
expect to continue to obtain and renew such bonds, it has become
increasingly difficult for mining companies to secure new or
renew existing surety bonds without the posting of partial or
full collateral. In addition, surety bond costs have increased
while the market terms of surety bonds have generally become
less favorable. It is possible that surety bond issuers may
refuse to provide or renew bonds or may demand additional
collateral upon those issuances or renewals. Our inability to
obtain or failure to maintain or renew these bonds could have a
material adverse effect on our business and results of
operations.
As of September 30, 2010, we had financial assurance
requirements of $27.4 million that were satisfied with
surety bonds secured by cash held in escrow, which we have
placed with California state and regional agencies.
95
Water
Usage and Pollution Control
The federal Clean Water Act and similar state and local laws and
regulations affect surface mining and processing operations by
imposing restrictions on the discharge of pollutants, including
tailings and other material, into waters of the United States.
These requirements are complex and subject to amendments, legal
challenges and changes in implementation. Recent court
decisions, regulatory actions and proposed legislation have
created uncertainty over the jurisdiction and permitting
requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. Individual or
general permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
are required if we discharge dredged or fill materials into
jurisdictional waters of the United States. In addition, our
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board permit establishes
treatment standards for wastewater discharges to evaporation
ponds. Regular monitoring by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality
Control Board, as well as compliance with reporting requirements
and performance standards, are preconditions for the issuance
and renewal of our permits.
Our operations require significant quantities of water to
process REOs. As part of the modernization and expansion of the
Mountain Pass facility, we expect to significantly reduce our
need for fresh water by recycling available water resources.
Current design specifications for our modernization project
indicate an approximately 90% reduction of fresh water
consumption as compared to water consumption in the
mid-1990’s, when the mine was producing approximately
19,050 mt of REO per year.
Air
Pollution Control
The federal Clean Air Act and similar state and local laws and
regulations affect our surface mining and processing operations
both directly and indirectly. We currently operate and maintain
numerous air pollution control devices under permits from the
California Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District. We
generally must obtain permits before we install new sources of
air pollution, which may require us to do air quality studies
and obtain emission offset credits, which can be costly and time
consuming to procure. We expect that our new and expanded
facilities will require us to obtain emission credits or offsets
for nitrogen oxides, particulate matter (10 microns), sulfur
oxide and volatile organic compounds. The increased emissions
from these facilities may trigger permitting under Title V
of the Clean Air Act. In addition, the regulations of the
California Air Resources Board will require us to retrofit or
replace off-road, on-road and forklift vehicles to achieve
emission standards for nitrogen oxides and particulate matter
(10 microns).
Our operations also emit GHGs. Pursuant to
existing GHG requirements, we expect that following the
expansion of the Mountain Pass facility we will be required to
report annual GHG emissions from our operations. Additional GHG
emission related requirements are in various stages of
development. For example, the U.S. Congress is considering
various legislative proposals to address climate change,
including a nationwide limit on GHGs. In addition, the EPA has
issued regulations, including the “Tailoring Rule,”
that subject GHG emissions from stationary sources to the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V
provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. California is also
implementing regulations pursuant to its Global Warming
Solutions Act that will establish a state-wide
cap-and-trade
program for GHG emissions. Any such regulations could require us
to modify existing permits or obtain new permits, implement
additional pollution control technology, curtail operations or
increase significantly our operating costs. Any regulation of
GHG emissions, including through a
cap-and-trade
system, technology mandate, emissions tax, reporting requirement
or other program, could adversely affect our business, financial
condition, reputation, operating performance and product demand.
However, such regulations might also present opportunities for
our industry to the extent they increase the demand for rare
earth products used in clean-technology applications, such as
hybrid and electric vehicles and wind power turbines.
The Mountain Pass facility consumes significant amounts of
energy and, accordingly, is subject to fluctuations in energy
costs. These costs may increase significantly in part as an
indirect result of GHG and other air emission regulations
applicable to third-party power suppliers.
96
Hazardous
and Radioactive Substances and Wastes
CERCLA and analogous state laws impose liability, without regard
to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain
classes of persons that are considered to have contributed to
the actual or threatened release of a “hazardous
substance” into the environment. Persons who are or were
responsible for such releases of hazardous substances under
CERCLA, which can include waste generators, site owners, lessees
and others, may be subject to joint and several liability for
the costs of remediating such hazardous substances and for
damages to natural resources. Accordingly, we may be subject to
liability under CERCLA and similar state laws for properties
that we currently own, lease or operate or that we or our
predecessors have previously owned, leased or operated, and
sites to which we or our predecessors sent waste materials.
Pursuant to a 1998 clean up and abatement order issued by the
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, we have conducted
and are continuing to conduct various investigatory, monitoring
and remedial activities related to contamination at and around
the Mountain Pass facility. These activities include soil
remediation and the operation of groundwater monitoring and
recovery wells, water treatment systems and evaporation ponds.
Also, prior to our acquisition of the Mountain Pass facility,
leaks in a wastewater pipeline from the Mountain Pass facility
to offsite evaporation ponds on the Ivanpah dry lake bed caused
contamination. However, that contamination is being remediated
by Chevron Mining Inc., who retained ownership of the ponds and
the pipeline. Although Chevron Mining Inc. is obligated to
indemnify us for certain potential environmental losses
associated with activities that occurred prior to our purchase
of the Mountain Pass facility, the amount of such indemnity is
limited and may not be sufficient to cover such losses. See
“Business — The Mountain Pass Facility.”
In 2009, the EPA announced that it is developing financial
responsibility requirements under CERCLA for certain facilities
within the hardrock mining industry. If applicable to our
current or future operations, these requirements could impose on
us significant additional costs or obligations.
REOs contain naturally occurring radioactive substances, such as
thorium and uranium. The mining and processing of REOs involves
the handling and disposal of such substances, and accordingly we
are subject to extensive safety, health and environmental laws,
regulations and permits regarding radioactive substances.
Significant costs, obligations or liabilities may be incurred
with respect to such requirements, and any future changes in
such requirements (or the interpretation or enforcement thereof)
may have a material adverse effect on our business or results of
operations. One such permit pursuant to which we currently
operate is a Radioactive Materials License issued and
administered by the California Department of Health Services
Radiologic Health Branch. The license applies to the use of
sealed radioactive sources used for gauging volumes of
materials, as well as certain other activities. A failure to
maintain or renew this license could materially adversely affect
our business or results of operations.
We generate, manage and dispose of solid and hazardous waste.
Demolition of structures in connection with facility expansion
and modernization generates waste in addition to that associated
with processing and remediation activities. In connection with
our modernization and expansion effort at the Mountain Pass
facility, we will incur additional costs to handle, store and
dispose of such wastes.
Endangered
Species Act
The federal Endangered Species Act and counterpart state
legislation protect species threatened with possible extinction.
Such laws and related regulations may have the effect of
prohibiting or delaying us from obtaining mining permits and may
impose restrictions on pipeline or road building and other
mining or construction activities in areas containing the
affected species or their habitats. Several species indigenous
to Mountain Pass, California, including the desert tortoise, are
protected under the Endangered Species Act and California
Endangered Species Act.
97
Use of
Explosives
In connection with our surface mining activities, we use
explosives, which are subject to regulation, including under the
federal Safe Explosives Act. Violation of these regulatory
requirements may result in fines, imprisonment, revocation of
permits
and/or
seizure or forfeiture of explosive materials.
Other
Environmental Laws
We are required to comply with numerous other federal, state and
local environmental laws and regulations in addition to those
previously discussed. These additional laws include, for
example, the California Environmental Quality Act, the National
Environmental Policy Act, the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know
Act and the California Accidental Release Prevention Program.
Facilities
and Employees
We own the Mountain Pass facility. We also lease our executive
office space at 5619 Denver Tech Center Parkway, Greenwood
Village, Colorado. The leases for Suite 1000 and
Suite 1005 expire November 2016 and February 2012,
respectively, subject to renewal options.
As of December 31, 2010, we had 150 employees. In
connection with our ongoing modernization and expansion efforts
at the Mountain Pass facility, we expect to hire additional
employees by the end of 2012. As of December 31, 2010, 73
of our employees were represented by the United Steelworkers of
America. Our contract with the United Steelworkers of America
expires in 2012. We have not experienced any work stoppages and
consider our employee relations to be good.
Legal
Proceedings
From time to time, we may become subject to various legal
proceedings that are incidental to the ordinary conduct of our
business. We are not currently party to any material legal
proceedings.
98
MANAGEMENT
Executive
Officers and Directors
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our
executive officers and directors as of December 31, 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
Mark A. Smith
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
James S. Allen
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
|
John L. Burba, PhD
|
|
|
59
|
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
|
John F. Ashburn, Jr.
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
|
Ksenia A. Adams
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
Corporate Controller
|
Douglas J. Jackson
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
Vice President, Business Development
|
Russell D. Ball
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
Director
|
Ross R. Bhappu
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
Brian T. Dolan
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
Director
|
Charles R. Henry
|
|
|
73
|
|
|
Director
|
Mark S. Kristoff
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
Director
|
Alec Machiels
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
Director
|
Jack E. Thompson
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
Director
|
Executive
Officers
Mark A. Smith has been our Chief Executive Officer and
has served as a director since October 2008 and our President
since March 2010. From April 2006 until October 2008,
Mr. Smith was president and chief executive officer of
Chevron Mining Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron
Corporation, and from August 2005 until April 2006 he was vice
president of Chevron Mining Inc. In his positions at Chevron
Mining Inc., Mr. Smith was responsible for
1,500 employees, approximately $500 million in
revenue, three coal mines, one molybdenum mine and the Mountain
Pass rare earth mine. From June 2000 until August 2005,
Mr. Smith was a vice president for Unocal Corporation, an
oil and gas exploration and production company, that previously
owned the Mountain Pass facility, where he was responsible for
managing all real estate, remediation, mining and carbon groups.
Mr. Smith has served on the board of directors of Avanti
Mining Inc., a molybdenum mining company, since November 2009.
Mr. Smith received his B.S. degree in agricultural
engineering from Colorado State University in 1981 and his J.D.,
cum laude, from Western State University College of Law in 1990.
Mr. Smith’s broad experience in the rare earths mining
industry and deep understanding of the operations at our
Mountain Pass facility make him a valuable member of our
management and board of directors.
James S. Allen has been our Chief Financial Officer since
December 2009 and Treasurer since March 2010. From October 2005
until April 2009, Mr. Allen was an audit partner at KPMG
LLP, a public accounting firm, and from June 2002 until
September 2005, Mr. Allen was an audit senior manager at
KPMG. During his time at KPMG, Mr. Allen was responsible
for the professional development of managers and staff, the
execution of audit engagements and other projects in accordance
with firm and professional standards, as well as various other
business development and administrative matters including
maintenance of client relationships. A certified public
accountant, Mr. Allen received his B.S. degree in business
administration — accounting from Colorado State
University in 1989.
John L. Burba, PhD has been our Chief Technology Officer
since October 2008, and was promoted to the position of
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer in
September of 2009. From August 2005 until October 2008,
Mr. Burba was vice president of technology at Chevron
Mining Inc., where he was involved in identifying and developing
technologies for Chevron Mining’s businesses, including
coal, molybdenum and rare earths. From July 2002 until August
2005, Mr. Burba was vice president of technology at
Molycorp Inc., a subsidiary of Unocal Corporation.
Mr. Burba received his B.S. degree in chemistry in
99
1974, his M.S. in physical chemistry in 1976 and his PhD in
physical chemistry from Baylor University in 1979.
John F. Ashburn, Jr. has been our General Counsel
and Executive Vice President since December 2008, and served as
our Secretary from December 2008 until April 2010. From August
2005 until November 2008, Mr. Ashburn was senior counsel of
Chevron Mining Inc. From April 1990 until August 2005,
Mr. Ashburn was senior counsel of Unocal Corporation, an
oil and gas exploration and production company. Mr. Ashburn
received his B.S. degree in psychology from Northern Illinois
University in 1976 and his J.D. from Northern Illinois
University School of Law in 1980.
Ksenia A. Adams has been our Corporate Controller since
July 2009. From May 2007 until July 2009, Ms. Adams was an
audit manager with KPMG LLP. From October 2002 until May 2007,
Ms. Adams was a senior member of the audit staff of KPMG.
Ms. Adams is a certified public accountant and received her
B.S. degree in accounting from Colorado State University in 2002.
Douglas J. Jackson has been our Vice President, Business
Development since November 1, 2010. From 2002 to 2010, he
was a private investor and in 2010 founded and is the principal
of Optimal Solutions SV LLC, a management consulting company.
From 1988 to 2002, he was with Dyno Nobel, Inc., or Dyno, the
largest operating subsidiary of Dyno Nobel ASA, a global
commercial explosives supplier. While with Dyno, he held a
variety of positions, including serving as President and Chief
Executive Officer, where he had the responsibility for
operations in North America and South America, Dyno’s
largest market, while establishing new operations in the high
growth markets of Latin America. Mr. Jackson started his
career with Unocal Corporation, where his roles included
Engineer-Chemical Sales/Service and District Sales
Manager — Industrial Chemical Marketing.
Mr. Jackson received his B.S. degree in engineering from
Washington State University in 1983 and his MBA from California
State University in 1988.
Directors
Russell D. Ball has been a director since March
2010. Since July 2007, Mr. Ball has been the
chief financial officer and since October 2008, he has been the
executive vice president of Newmont Mining Corporation, a gold
mining and production company. Before becoming chief financial
officer, Mr. Ball held a variety of senior positions with
the Newmont Mining Corporation, including vice president and
controller from 2004 until 2007. Mr. Ball is both a
chartered accountant in South Africa and a certified public
accountant in the United States. Mr. Ball brings a unique
and important understanding of finance and accounting in the
international mining industry to our board of directors.
Ross R. Bhappu has been the Chairman of our board of
directors since September 2008. Since 2005, Mr. Bhappu has
been a partner with Resource Capital Funds, a series of private
equity funds investing exclusively in the mining and minerals
industry, and from 2001 until 2005 Mr. Bhappu was vice
president/principal of Resource Capital Funds. Mr. Bhappu
has served on the board directors of EMED Mining Public Ltd., a
copper mining company, since October 2008, and he has been a
director of Traxys S.A., a metal trading and distribution
company, since January 2007. Previously, Mr. Bhappu served
on the board of directors of Constellation Copper Corporation, a
copper mining company, from July 2002 until November 2007 and
Anglo Asian Mining, a gold mining company, from November 2005
until September 2006. Mr. Bhappu has prior experience
constructing and operating complex mining and processing
operations as well as mining related merger and acquisition
activities. He was previously employed by Newmont Mining
Corporation, GTN Copper Corporation and Cyprus Minerals Company.
With his comprehensive knowledge of the mining industry and his
extensive board experience, Mr. Bhappu is a key member of
our board of directors.
Brian T. Dolan has been a director since September 2008.
Mr. Dolan has been a partner of Resource Capital Funds and
RCF Management, L.L.C., a company that provides management
services to the several Resource Capital Funds, since January
2002. Mr. Dolan is currently serving as a member of the
board of directors of the following companies: Connors Drilling
LLC; Dampier International; Dampier Master Fund; RCF IV
Speedwagon Inc.; and Rolling Rock Minerals, Inc. Mr. Dolan
is also currently serving in the following executive officer
positions: vice president and assistant secretary of NYCO
Minerals LLC; vice president and secretary of RCF IV Speedwagon,
Inc.; and vice president and secretary of Rolling Rock Minerals,
Inc. From 1970 to 2001, Mr. Dolan practiced law with Davis
Graham & Stubbs LLP of Denver,
100
Colorado, specializing in natural resources law.
Mr. Dolan’s extensive and ongoing experience as
director of a wide spectrum of companies makes him a vital part
of our board of directors.
Charles R. Henry has been a director since August 2009.
Mr. Henry is currently the president of CRH, Inc., a
consulting firm specializing in defense acquisition issues, and
has been associated with CRH since its formation in 1993. From
2005 to 2007, Mr. Henry was the chief operating officer of
CEG Company, a leading producer of wiring harnesses for military
vehicles. He has served on the board of directors of Gaming
Partners International, a gaming products company, since June
2006. Mr. Henry is a retired two-star general who served
32 years in the U.S. Army. With his strong background
in management, Mr. Henry brings significant organizational
acumen to our board of directors.
Mark S. Kristoff has been a Director since September
2008. Since April 2005, Mr. Kristoff has been the chief
executive officer of the Traxys Group, a global metal trading,
marketing and distribution company with annual revenues of
approximately $4 billion. Before becoming chief executive
officer, Mr. Kristoff was the chief operating officer of
the Traxys Group from its founding in January 2003 until April
2005. Prior to the formation of the Traxys Group,
Mr. Kristoff was the president of Considar Inc. from 1991
until 2003. Mr. Kristoff s experience in global trading,
financing, supply chain management, and distribution of metals
and REE’s provides valuable insight to our board of
directors regarding existing and potential opportunities in the
rare earths markets. Mr. Kristoff graduated from Cornell
University with a BA in Economics in 1984.
Alec Machiels has been a Director since September 2008.
Mr. Machiels has served as a partner at Pegasus Capital
Advisors, L.P., a private equity fund manager, since May 2006.
Prior to becoming a partner at Pegasus, Mr. Machiels was as
vice president from June 2004 until May 2006 and an associate
from August 2002 until June 2004. Mr. Machiels served as a
member of the board of directors of Coffeyville Resources, LLC,
an oil refinery and ammonia plant in Coffeyville, KS, from 2003
until 2005 as well as a member of the board of directors of
Merisant Company, a manufacturer and distributor of sugar
substitute sweeteners, from 2005 until 2008. He has served on
the board of directors of Traxys S.A., a global metal trading
and distribution company, since January 2006. He started his
career as a financial analyst in the Financial Services Group at
Goldman Sachs International in London and in the Private Equity
Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York from July
1996 until June 1999. From July 2001 to July 2002,
Mr. Machiels served as chief executive officer and chairman
of Potentia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Machiels attended
Harvard Business School from August 1999 to June 2001 and
received an MBA. Mr. Machiels also received a masters in
law from KU Leuven Law School in Belgium and a masters in
international economics from Konstanz University in Germany. His
strong background in financial management and investment in
commodity-related businesses provides our board of directors
with a valuable perspective on strategic, financial and capital
raising matters.
Jack E. Thompson has been a Director since August 2009.
From December 2001 until April 2005 he was the vice chairman of
Barrick Gold Corporation, a gold mining company.
Mr. Thompson has served as a member of the boards of
directors of Tidewater, Inc., an offshore oil services company,
and Century Aluminum Co., an aluminum smelting company, since
February 2005. He has also served as a member of the board of
directors of Anglo American, a mining company, since November
2009. Previously, Mr. Thompson served as a member of the
board of directors of: Stillwater Mining Co., a palladium and
platinum mining company, from March 2003 until July 2007; Rinker
Group Limited, a sand and gravel company, from May 2006 until
April 2007; Centerra Gold Inc., a gold mining company, from May
2009 until May 2010; and Phelps Dodge Corporation, a copper
mining company, from January 2003 until March 2007.
Mr. Thompson brings extensive knowledge of the mining
industry and broad management experience to our board of
directors.
Board
Composition
Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of
directors must consist of no less than seven or more than eleven
persons. The exact number of members on our board of directors
is determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of
our full board of directors. Our board of directors is divided
into three classes, with each director serving a three-year term
and one class being elected at each year’s annual meeting
of stockholders. Our directors are divided among the three
classes as follows:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Messrs. Ball, Henry and Thompson serve as Class I
directors (with a term expiring in 2011);
|
101
|
|
|
|
•
|
Messrs. Dolan and Smith serve as Class II directors
(with a term expiring in 2012); and
|
|
|
•
|
Messrs. Bhappu, Kristoff and Machiels serve as
Class III directors (with a term expiring in 2013).
|
Committees
of Our Board of Directors
Audit
and Ethics Committee
Our Audit and Ethics Committee consists of Messrs. Ball,
Thompson, Machiels and Henry. The Audit and Ethics Committee,
among other things, oversees our accounting practices and
processes, system of internal controls, independent auditor
relationships, financial statement audits and audit and
financial reporting processes. All of the members of our Audit
and Ethics Committee are independent under the rules of the NYSE
and Messrs. Ball, Thompson and Henry are independent under
Rule 10A-3
under the Exchange Act. Each of the committee members is
financially literate within the requirements of the NYSE and
Mr. Ball is an audit committee financial expert within the
applicable rules of the SEC and the NYSE.
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for our
Audit and Ethics Committee. A complete copy of the Audit and
Ethics Committee charter is available on our website at
www.molycorp.com. The information on or accessible through our
website is not a part of this prospectus.
Compensation
Committee
Our Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Thompson,
Kristoff and Dolan. The Compensation Committee establishes and
administers our policies, programs and procedures for
compensating our executive officers and directors. The
Compensation Committee’s duties include, among other
things, reviewing and approving executive officer compensation
and recommending incentive compensation plans and equity-based
plans. All of the members of our Compensation Committee are
independent under the rules of the NYSE.
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for our
Compensation Committee. A complete copy of the Compensation
Committee charter is available on our website at
www.molycorp.com. The information on or accessible through our
website is not a part of this prospectus.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of
Messrs. Kristoff, Bhappu and Machiels. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee identifies individuals qualified
to become board members, recommends director nominees,
recommends board members for committee membership, develops and
recommend corporate governance principles and practices,
oversees the evaluation of our board of directors and its
committees and formulates a description of the skills and
attributes of desirable board members. All of the members of our
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent
under the rules of the NYSE.
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for our
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. A complete copy
of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter is
available on our website at www.molycorp.com. The information on
or accessible through our website is not a part of this
prospectus.
Health,
Safety and Environment Committee
Our Health, Safety and Environment Committee consists of
Messrs. Henry, Dolan and Smith. The Health, Safety and
Environment Committee establishes and oversees the
administration of our policies, programs and procedures for
ensuring that we continue to provide a safe working environment
for our employees. The Health, Safety and Environment Committee
also establishes and oversees the administration of our
policies, programs and procedures for ensuring our continued
commitment to protecting the environment.
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for our
Health, Safety and Environment Committee. A complete copy of the
Health, Safety and Environment Committee charter is available on
our website at www.molycorp.com. The information on or
accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus.
102
Executive
Committee
Our Executive Committee consists of Messrs. Bhappu,
Kristoff and Smith. The Executive Committee acts, when
necessary, in place of our full board of directors during
periods in which our board of directors is not in session. The
Executive Committee is authorized and empowered to act as if it
were the full board of directors in overseeing our business and
affairs, except that it is not authorized or empowered to take
actions that have been specifically delegated to other board
committees or to take actions with respect to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the declaration of distributions on our capital stock;
|
|
|
•
|
a merger or consolidation of our company with or into another
entity;
|
|
|
•
|
a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of our
assets;
|
|
|
•
|
a liquidation or dissolution of our company;
|
|
|
•
|
any action that must be submitted to a vote of our
stockholders; or
|
|
|
•
|
any action that may not be delegated to a board committee under
our certificate of incorporation or the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware.
|
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Our Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Thompson,
Kristoff and Dolan. None of these individuals has ever been an
officer or employee of Molycorp or any of our subsidiaries. None
of our executive officers serves or have served as a member of
the compensation committee or other board committee performing
equivalent functions of any entity that has one or more
executive officers serving as one of our directors or on our
Compensation Committee.
Code of
Ethics
Our board of directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics applicable to all officers, other employees and
directors. We have posted the full text of our Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics on our website at www.molycorp.com. We intend
to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of our Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics or waivers of such provisions
applicable to any director, principal executive officer,
principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or
controller, or persons performing similar functions, on our
website identified above. The information on or accessible
through our website is not a part of this prospectus.
Corporate
Governance Guidelines
Our board of directors has adopted Corporate Governance
Guidelines to assist us with the proper management and
governance of the activities of our board of directors. A
complete copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is
available on our website at www.molycorp.com. The information on
or accessible through our website is not a part of this
prospectus. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines cover, among
other topics:
|
|
|
|
•
|
director independence;
|
|
|
•
|
board structure and composition;
|
|
|
•
|
board member nomination and eligibility requirements;
|
|
|
•
|
board leadership and executive sessions;
|
|
|
•
|
limitations on other board and committee service;
|
|
|
•
|
committees of the board;
|
|
|
•
|
director responsibilities;
|
|
|
•
|
board and committee resources, including access to officers and
employees;
|
|
|
•
|
director compensation;
|
|
|
•
|
director orientation and ongoing education;
|
103
|
|
|
|
•
|
succession planning; and
|
|
|
•
|
board and committee self evaluations.
|
Review
and Approval of Related-Party Transactions
Our Audit and Ethics Committee is responsible for the review and
approval of all related-party transactions required to be
disclosed to the public under SEC rules. This procedure is
contained in the written charter of our Audit and Ethics
Committee. In addition, we maintain a written Code of Ethics
that requires all employees, including our officers, to disclose
to the Audit and Ethics Committee any material relationship or
transaction that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a
personal conflict of interest. Related-party transactions are
reviewed and approved by the Audit and Ethics Committee on a
case-by-case
basis.
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
Executive
Summary
As further discussed in this section, our compensation and
benefit program helps us attract, retain and motivate
individuals who will maximize our business results by working to
meet or exceed established company or individual objectives.
This section focuses on our compensation programs for executive
officers, including the following officers whom we refer to as
our named executive officers:
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Title
|
|
Mark A. Smith
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
James S. Allen
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
|
Ksenia A. Adams
|
|
Corporate Controller
|
John F. Ashburn
|
|
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
|
John L. Burba
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
|
In 2010, we implemented several key changes to our compensation
program to correspond with compensation practices typically
found in public companies. Our key changes included:
|
|
|
|
•
|
developing a framework for benchmarking our executives’
salaries to the salaries of executives with comparable positions
in our peer group;
|
|
|
•
|
creating an annual bonus program based on the achievement of
essential corporate objectives;
|
|
|
•
|
creating a long-term equity-based award program, which we refer
to as our Long-Term Incentive Program, under which our
executives may receive equity awards to align their interests
with our stockholders’ interests and encourage them to work
toward the long-term success of the company;
|
|
|
•
|
entering into new employment agreements with our executives in
anticipation of becoming a public company;
|
|
|
•
|
amending and restating our nonqualified deferred compensation
plan to give participants the ability to defer the receipt of
shares subject to restricted stock units granted under the
Long-Term Incentive Program, to convert all or a portion of
their cash bonus into additional restricted stock units and to
be eligible to receive matching restricted stock units, each of
which promotes share ownership in our executives; and
|
|
|
•
|
instituting a stock ownership policy for our directors and
officers, which promotes a long-term view of our performance.
|
The following discussion and analysis of our compensation and
benefit programs should be read together with the compensation
tables and related disclosures that follow this section. This
discussion includes forward-looking statements based on our
current plans, considerations, expectations and determinations
about our compensation program. Actual compensation decisions
that we may make for 2011 and beyond may differ materially from
those made in our recent past.
Overview,
Philosophy and Objectives
Our compensation and benefit program seeks to attract and retain
talented and qualified individuals to manage and lead our
company and to motivate them to pursue our long-term business
objectives. In 2010, our
104
compensation program consisted of a mix of cash and equity-based
components. This mix provided a competitive total compensation
package that rewarded individual and company performance.
We compete with a variety of companies and organizations to hire
and retain individual talent. As a result, the primary goal of
our compensation program is to help us attract, motivate and
retain the best people possible. We implement this philosophy by:
|
|
|
|
•
|
encouraging, recognizing and rewarding outstanding performance;
|
|
|
•
|
recognizing and rewarding individuals for their experience,
expertise, level of responsibility, leadership, individual
accomplishment and other contributions to us;
|
|
|
•
|
recognizing and rewarding individuals for work that helps
increase our value; and
|
|
|
•
|
providing compensation packages that are competitive with those
offered by companies with whom we compete in hiring and
retaining talented individuals.
|
Executive compensation is a management tool that we use to
provide reasonable financial security for our executive officers
in exchange for their service. We also use executive
compensation to align our executive officers’ goals with
our mission, business strategy, values and culture.
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides you with a
description of the material factors underpinning our
compensation policies and decisions for our named executive
officers. We refer to these policies and decisions as our
compensation program.
Compensation
Administration and Consulting
Role of the Board of Directors and the Compensation
Committee. Prior to our initial public offering,
the board of directors of Molycorp, LLC was responsible for
administering our compensation programs and policies. Since our
initial public offering, the Board has delegated to the
Compensation Committee the overall responsibility of overseeing
the compensation and benefit programs of our executive officers.
The Board has retained the final approval of certain key
matters, such as the adoption of, or any material amendment to,
any equity plan. In compliance with the rules of NYSE, our
Compensation Committee is composed entirely of independent
directors. In addition, all members of the Compensation
Committee are:
|
|
|
|
•
|
“non-employee directors” within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act; and
|
|
|
•
|
“outside directors” within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or the Code.
|
Under its charter, the Compensation Committee has the primary
responsibility for:
|
|
|
|
•
|
determining our President and Chief Executive Officer’s
compensation and compensation for our other executive officers;
|
|
|
•
|
working with members of our management to report our executive
compensation practices and policies to our stockholders; and
|
|
|
•
|
administering the equity and incentive compensation plans in
which our executive officers participate.
|
Our Compensation Committee is also responsible for evaluating
and administering our compensation program to ensure that it
properly motivates our executive officers and appropriately
drives our operational and financial performance.
Our Compensation Committee reviews base salaries, determines and
makes annual cash incentive awards, approves payout amounts
earned for the past year’s annual cash incentive awards,
and grants equity incentive awards under the Molycorp, Inc. 2010
Equity and Performance Incentive Plan. In fulfilling its duties
and responsibilities, the Compensation Committee receives input
in the form of:
|
|
|
|
•
|
reports and updates from our executive officers on company and
individual executive performance that is measured against
quantitative and qualitative performance goals established to
help determine individual performance and business success;
|
|
|
•
|
recommendations from our President and Chief Executive Officer
regarding the compensation for our executive officers; and
|
105
|
|
|
|
•
|
advice from its independent compensation consultant, Towers
Watson & Co., which we refer to as Towers Watson.
|
The Compensation Committee is not bound by the input it receives
from our President and Chief Executive Officer or any other
executive officer or consultant. Instead, the Compensation
Committee exercises independent discretion when making executive
compensation decisions.
The Board has the power to change, at any time, the size and
membership of the Compensation Committee, to remove Compensation
Committee members and to fill vacancies on the Compensation
Committee, so long as any new member satisfies the requirements
of the Compensation Committee’s charter and any other
applicable requirements.
Role of Compensation Consultants. Our
management engaged Mountain States Employers Council, Inc.,
which we refer to as MSEC, to assist us in developing the
compensation program for our executive officers. MSEC provided
salary surveys and assisted with establishing pay grades and job
descriptions.
Our management also engaged Buck Consultants, LLC, which we
refer to as Buck Consultants, to assist in the development of
compensation programs for our executive officers. In adopting
our 2010 annual bonus program and the Long-Term Incentive
Program, the Compensation Committee reviewed and considered data
provided by and recommendations made by Buck Consultants.
The Compensation Committee engaged Towers Watson as its
independent compensation consultant. During the year, Towers
Watson reviewed the proposals of MSEC, reviewed the
recommendations of Buck Consultants, selected the peer group
members used in developing our compensation practices, performed
our peer group benchmarking analysis, assisted with establishing
our annual bonus program and the Long-Term Incentive Program,
reviewed award agreements related to our 2010 Equity and
Performance Incentive Plan, reviewed employment agreements for
our executive officers and assisted with other issues in which
independent advice was sought by the Compensation Committee.
Other than the services provided to the Compensation Committee,
Towers Watson did not provide any other services to Molycorp.
Role of Executive Officers. Our President and
Chief Executive Officer provides the Compensation Committee, and
before that, he provided the board of directors of Molycorp
Minerals, LLC, recommendations regarding our compensation
program and the compensation of our named executive officers
other than himself. He has been assisted in this by our Director
of Human Resources, Terry Gleason, and James Sillery of Buck
Consultants.
Peer
Group Analysis
In 2010, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of
Towers Watson, developed a framework for benchmarking our
executives’ salaries to the salaries of executives with
comparable positions in our peer group. Establishing a peer
group was difficult, because we were in a developmental stage
with low earnings and revenues, but expected to become a larger
enterprise within a short time frame. Therefore, in establishing
our executive officers’ salaries, the Compensation
Committee reviewed data from both larger, well-established firms
as well as smaller, newly public companies.
The Compensation Committee created a “Steady Run Rate
Group”, the members of which were selected from metals and
mining companies and chemical companies with revenues ranging
from half to double our near-term expected earnings and revenues
based on prevailing metals prices. Outliers with total asset
values of more than $1.5 billion or a book value of more
than $1.2 billion were removed from the group. Each member
106
of the peer group had a ratio of revenues to assets of less than
1.2. Our analysis resulted in the following list of peer group
members:
|
|
|
Minerals Technologies Inc.
|
|
RTI International Metals Inc.
|
OM Group Inc.
|
|
Stillwater Mining Co.
|
Titanium Metals Corp.
|
|
Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.
|
Brush Engineered Materials Inc.
|
|
Hecla Mining Co.
|
Amcol International Corp.
|
|
Intrepid Potash Inc.
|
Innospec Inc.
|
|
STR Holdings Inc.
|
Terra Nova Royalty Corporation
|
|
American Vanguard Corp.
|
Calgon Corporation
|
|
NL Industries Inc.
|
The median 2009 revenue for the peer group was
$412 million. The median value of total assets for the peer
group was $734 million. The median market capitalization
for the peer group was $890 million. These median values
were viewed as appropriate long-term estimates of
Molycorp’s projected revenue, value of total assets and
market capitalization at the time the group was developed, which
preceded our initial public offering.
As an additional reference, the Compensation Committee created a
supplemental “Developmental Stage Reference Group” by
reviewing U.S. and Canadian companies that made an initial
public offering in 2007 or 2008. The Compensation Committee
limited its search to companies in the materials and energy
industries and with 2009 revenues of less than $200 million
and a ratio of revenues to assets of less than 1.5. A total of
six companies met these criteria and formed our second reference
group:
|
|
|
Fortress Paper Ltd.
|
|
B2gold Corporation
|
Orbit Garant Drilling Inc.
|
|
Quicksilver Gas Services LP
|
Angle Energy Inc.
|
|
Vanguard Natural Resources LLC
|
As expected, this group had a lower median 2009 revenue equal to
$74 million. The 2009 median value of total assets for this
group was $223 million and median market capitalization for
the group was $457 million.
In addition, Towers Watson provided the Compensation Committee
with access to its proprietary market information. This database
covers a wide range of industries but excludes financial
services companies. The data were size-adjusted using one of two
methods:
|
|
|
|
•
|
using a linear regression to estimate salaries for a company
with $400 million in revenue; and
|
|
|
•
|
considering salaries for companies with $200 million to
$1 billion in revenue.
|
The overall salary levels for this group were similar to those
in the Steady Run Rate Group.
The Compensation Committee used data from all three groups to
guide its decisions on the base salary levels for our executive
officers. On the one hand, the Compensation Committee did not
want to set base salaries at the levels found in the Steady Run
Rate Group, because we had not yet achieved earnings and
revenues that were comparable to that group. On the other hand,
the Compensation Committee did not want to align base salaries
to the Developmental Stage Reference Group, because our expected
earnings and revenues in the short term were expected to exceed
the companies in this group. Therefore, the Compensation
Committee set our executives’ salaries to levels that were
lower than the Steady Run Rate median, but higher than the
Developmental Stage Reference Group median.
In addition to using these data to determine the salaries for
our executive officers, the Compensation Committee also used
these data to determine the annual bonus opportunity for our
President and Chief Executive Officer.
Allocation
of Compensation Components
In 2010, our compensation program consisted of the following
components:
|
|
|
|
•
|
base salaries;
|
|
|
•
|
annual bonuses paid in a mix of cash and equity;
|
107
|
|
|
|
•
|
discretionary cash bonuses related to the achievement of our
initial public offering;
|
|
|
•
|
equity-based awards under our Long-Term Incentive Program;
|
|
|
•
|
health and welfare benefits; and
|
|
|
•
|
retirement benefits.
|
We believe that a substantial portion of the total compensation
of our executive officers should be variable and tied to our
performance to align compensation with the achievement of our
business objectives. At the same time, we strive to attract and
retain high-caliber executives with competitive fixed
compensation. We, therefore, offer both fixed and at-risk
compensation, the levels and the mix of which are set at rates
that are intended to be competitive within our industry.
Compensation
Program Overview
We believe our compensation program, when evaluated on a
component-by-component
basis and in total, effectively achieves our compensation
philosophy and objectives described above. The following chart
summarizes the primary components of our compensation program
for 2010:
|
|
|
Component
|
|
Primary Purpose
|
|
Base Salary
|
|
Base salary compensates an individual for his or her
position’s responsibilities, skills, experience and
performance. The levels of base salaries are intended to
attract and retain a high-quality management team, especially
when considered with the other components of our compensation
program. The levels of base salary for our named executive
officers are designed to reflect each executive officer’s
scope of responsibility and accountability.
|
Annual Bonus Payments
|
|
Our annual bonus payments are used to align our executive
officers with our overall business objectives and reward them
for superior performance. Specific goals are determined at the
beginning of the year (other than for 2010, which were
determined after our initial public offering) and performance is
evaluated at year end. Payments are made in a combination of
cash and restricted stock.
|
Equity Awards
|
|
Equity awards under our 2010 Equity and Performance Incentive
Plan align our executives with the interests of our stockholders
and promote retention.
|
Health and Welfare Benefits
|
|
Health and welfare benefits provide for basic health, life and
income security needs of our executive officers and their
dependents.
|
Retirement Benefits
|
|
Our 401(k) plan encourages and rewards long-term service by
providing market-based benefits upon retirement. All employees
are eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan. Our nonqualified
deferred compensation plan provides a tax-efficient vehicle to
accumulate retirement savings. In addition, the plan promotes
share ownership by allowing participants to convert all or a
portion of their cash bonus into restricted stock units and
receive additional matching restricted stock units. The plan
also promotes retention, because the matching restricted stock
units vest over a three-year term.
|
Primary
Components of Executive Compensation
2010 Base Salaries. In 2010, the Compensation
Committee focused on approving the job descriptions and the
assignment of pay grades for our employees as proposed by
management and its consultants. After our initial public
offering, we targeted the salary levels for our executive
officers to above the median of the Developmental Stage
Reference Group, because our expected earnings and revenues in
the short term were expected to exceed the companies in this
group. However, the Compensation Committee set the base salaries
lower than the median of the Steady Run Rate Group, because our
earnings and revenues were not yet comparable to companies in
this group. The Compensation Committee believes that salaries at
these levels, together with our total benefits package, will
make us highly competitive in the market place and help to
108
attract and retain high-quality executives. Based on the results
of our peer group analysis, the Compensation Committee raised
the base salaries for each of Mr. Allen, Mr. Ashburn
and Mr. Burba from $200,000, $215,000, $213,700,
respectively, to $250,000 for each executive.
Discretionary Cash Bonuses. In connection with
the completion of our initial public offering, the Compensation
Committee granted each of our executive officers a discretionary
cash bonus as a reward for his or her exemplary performance in
successfully completing our initial public offering. The amount
of each officer’s award corresponded with his or her level
of responsibility in overseeing the completion of our initial
public offering. Mr. Smith received a bonus of $100,000,
each of Mr. Allen, Mr. Ashburn and Mr. Burba
received a bonus of $50,000, and Ms. Adams received a bonus
of $30,000.
Annual Bonus Payments. After the completion of
our initial public offering, the Board established company
performance objectives in five categories, which included both
qualitative and quantitative criteria. On November 4, 2010,
to align our executive officers’ performance with our
overall business objectives, the Compensation Committee
established bonus opportunities for each of our executive
officers that were discretionary in nature, but based upon the
successful achievement of our objectives. In determining our
executive officers’ annual bonuses, the Compensation
Committee evaluated our performance in the following areas:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Financial — this category included achieving
various financial objectives, such as the completion of our
initial public offering and securing financing for the
modernization and expansion of our Mountain Pass facility.
|
|
|
•
|
Mountain Pass Project — this category included
successful completion of various project milestones related to
the modernization and expansion of our Mountain Pass facility,
such as completing the construction schedule and capital
estimate, obtaining permits required to begin construction,
submitting pre-orders for equipment and starting construction.
|
|
|
•
|
Business Plan — this category included
execution of our 2010 business plan and achieving operating
income of $180,177, consistent with our approved budget.
|
|
|
•
|
Safety — this category included strong progress
in various safety targets, such as engaging an outside firm to
perform an independent safety audit and a 10% improvement in our
recordable injury rate.
|
|
|
•
|
Other — this category included achieving
various strategic business development goals in our
mine-to-magnets
plan as well as obtaining sales contracts for our products after
the completion of our modernization and expansion of our
Mountain Pass facility.
|
In determining our executive officers’ annual bonus
opportunities, the Compensation Committee established the
following discretionary guidelines for each of our executive
officers other than Mr. Smith:
|
|
|
|
•
|
if our overall level of achievement was 80% of target, his or
her bonus would be 20% of his or her 2010 base salary;
|
|
|
•
|
if our overall level of achievement was 100% of target, his or
her bonus would be 40% of his 2010 base salary; and
|
|
|
•
|
if our overall level of achievement was 120% of target, his or
her bonus would be 80% of his or her 2010 base salary.
|
After the close of 2010, the Compensation Committee assessed our
2010 performance relative to our established corporate
objectives. The Compensation Committee used its discretion to
determine the levels of achievement for each of the criteria
described above, which resulted in the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Category
|
|
Weighting
|
|
|
Level of Achievement
|
|
|
Financial
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
113%
|
|
Mountain Pass Project
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
120%
|
|
Business Plan
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
75%
|
|
Safety
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
100%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
150%
|
|
109
Based on the levels of achievement for each of the five criteria
and their respective weightings, the Compensation Committee
determined that the overall level of achievement for all of the
corporate objectives was 109%. Using the bonus opportunity
guidelines, the Compensation Committee awarded
Messrs. Allen, Ashburn and Burba annual bonuses equal to
58% of their 2010 base salaries, and Ms. Adams was awarded
an annual bonus of 44% of her base salary. In addition, the
Compensation Committee recognized Mr. Smith’s efforts
in overseeing our achievement of our 2010 corporate objectives
as described above and awarded an annual bonus to Mr. Smith
equal to 116% of his base salary based on a target level set at
80% of his 2010 base salary, which was at the median of the
Steady State Run Group in our peer group analysis. Because the
bonus amounts were based on our performance during the period
following our initial public offering, we prorated each
executive’s bonus based on the number of days from our
initial public offering to the end of the year. Therefore, based
on the Compensation Committee’s assessment of the overall
level of achievement of our corporate objectives, the bonus
amounts earned by each executive were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Executive
|
|
Bonus Amount
|
|
|
Mr. Smith
|
|
$
|
198,312
|
|
Mr. Allen
|
|
$
|
61,973
|
|
Ms. Adams
|
|
$
|
22,310
|
|
Mr. Ashburn
|
|
$
|
61,973
|
|
Mr. Burba
|
|
$
|
61,973
|
|
Half of the value of each executive’s annual bonus was paid
to the executive in cash and the remaining half was paid in
shares of restricted stock. The restricted stock will vest on
the third anniversary of the date of grant. We believe the
allocation of cash and restricted stock helps promote various
objectives under our compensation philosophy. On the one hand,
we provide immediate rewards to our executives in the form of
cash payments for their strong performance in achieving our
corporate goals, which is a practice that is competitive with
our peers. On the other hand, we promote retention and a
long-term view of our success by granting half of the award in
restricted stock with a three-year vesting period.
On January 13, 2011, the Compensation Committee approved
the 2011 Annual Incentive Plan, which will provide
incentive-based bonus opportunities to our executive officers
upon the successful achievement of our corporate goals for 2011.
Bonus amounts paid under the 2011 Annual Incentive Plan will be
based on a percentage of each executive officer’s 2011 base
salary. As was the case with our executive officers’ 2010
bonuses, the payments under the 2011 Annual Incentive Plan will
also be made in equal amounts of cash and shares of restricted
stock.
Equity Awards. In an effort to promote share
ownership, which aligns our executives’ financial interests
with those of our stockholders, and to encourage our executives
to have a long-term view of our success, the Board approved the
2010 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, for which the Board
delegated administrative authority to the Compensation
Committee. In 2010, as part of the Long-Term Incentive Program,
the Compensation Committee granted shares of restricted stock to
our executive officers, other than Ms. Adams, as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Executive
|
|
Number of Shares of Restricted Stock
|
|
|
Mr. Smith
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
Mr. Allen
|
|
|
18,000
|
|
Mr. Ashburn
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
Mr. Burba
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
The restricted stock vests on the third anniversary of the date
of grant. Each executive must remain in our continuous employ
for his shares to vest on the vesting date, unless his
employment terminates by reason of retirement, death or
disability or in connection with a change of control of the
company. The restricted stock was granted under and pursuant to
the terms and conditions of our 2010 Equity and Performance
Incentive Plan.
The number of shares granted to Mr. Allen was significantly
higher than the number of shares granted to the other executive
officers due to the fact that, unlike the other executive
officers, Mr. Allen did not receive
110
incentive shares prior to our initial public offering (see
“— Compensation Discussion and
Analysis — Molycorp, LLC Incentive Shares and Stock
Options”) and therefore owned fewer shares of common stock
than the other executive officers. As an acknowledgement that
Mr. Allen was not granted incentive shares prior to our
initial public offering, the Compensation Committee granted
Mr. Allen a larger number of shares of restricted stock as
compared to the number of shares received by the other executive
officers.
On January 13, 2011, as part of our Long-Term Incentive
Program, the Compensation Committee made grants to our executive
officers of restricted stock units and stock options pursuant to
the terms and conditions of our 2010 Equity and Performance
Incentive Plan. The restricted stock units vest on the third
anniversary of the date of grant and the stock options vest
ratably over the three-year period following the date of grant.
Health and Welfare Benefits. Each of our named
executive officers is entitled to participate in our employee
benefit plans (including medical, dental, and life insurance
benefits) on the same basis as other employees.
Retirement Benefits. We have established a
401(k) plan for our employees that encourages and rewards
long-term service by providing market-based benefits upon
retirement. Each of our named executive officers is entitled to
participate in our 401(k) plan on the same basis as other
employees. For more information on our 401(k) plan, please see
“— Executive Compensation — Retirement
Plans.”
Our nonqualified deferred compensation plan, which we refer to
as the Management Incentive Compensation Plan, provides a
tax-efficient vehicle to accumulate retirement savings. In 2010,
we amended and restated the plan to allow participants to defer
the receipt of shares subject to restricted stock units granted
under our Long-Term Incentive Program. In addition, if a
participant elects to defer any of the cash portion of the bonus
he or she earns under the 2011 Annual Incentive Plan, he or she
may convert a percentage of that cash portion into restricted
stock units, which are credited to his or her account under the
plan. If a participant converts any of his or her cash bonus
into restricted stock units, then we will credit his or her
account with matching restricted stock units at an amount equal
to 25% of the number of restricted stock units the participant
received after converting his or her cash bonus into restricted
stock units. We added these new conversion and matching features
to promote share ownership in our executive officers and to
align their interests with our stockholders’ interests and
our long-term success. For more information on our nonqualified
deferred compensation plan, please see
“— Executive Compensation —
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation.”
Employment
Agreements
In May 2010, we entered into new employment agreements with
Mr. Smith, Mr. Allen, Mr. Ashburn and
Mr. Burba. The employment agreement for Mr. Smith was
based on his previous employment agreement we entered into in
2009. However, in anticipation of our initial public offering,
we amended some of the sections of Mr. Smith’s
agreement to make it more suitable for an executive of a public
company. For example, we added a provision in which
Mr. Smith would be entitled to severance payments if he
were to terminate his employment for “good reason” (as
defined in the employment agreement) following a change of
control of the company, because an unsolicited change of control
is more of a possibility for a public company. In addition, we
made changes to the restrictive covenants section of his
employment agreement to bring them in line with covenants for
executives of public companies. For a description of the
employment agreements with our executive officers, see
“— Executive Compensation — Employment
Agreements.”
In November 2010, the Compensation Committee amended the
employment agreements for each of our executive officers to
change the definition of “change of control” to match
the definition used in the form equity-award agreements approved
at that time by the Compensation Committee. The new definition
of change of control is more typical for a public company than
the prior definition had been. In addition, we believe that
maintaining consistent change of control definitions across
agreements is desirable for our overall compensation program.
Molycorp,
LLC Incentive Shares and Stock Options
In 2009, prior to our initial public offering, the board of
directors of Molycorp, LLC granted equity-based awards to
Messrs. Smith, Ashburn and Burba, which we refer to as
“incentive shares.” The incentive shares provided the
recipients rights that were parallel to those of other indirect
owners with respect to future profits
111
of Molycorp, LLC. The incentive shares vested ratably in
one-third increments beginning on the date of the grant and on
the first and second anniversaries of the date of the grant,
with vesting accelerating on the six-month anniversary of a
change of control or our initial public offering. Prior to our
initial public offering, each holder of incentive shares
exchanged their incentive shares for shares of Class B
common stock of Molycorp, Inc. in the corporate reorganization
with a similar vesting schedule as the incentive shares. In
connection with our initial public offering, all shares of
Class B common stock, including those issued to the
executive officers in connection with their incentive shares,
were converted into restricted shares of our common stock.
In 2009, Mr. Smith was granted an option to purchase
3,798 shares of Molycorp Minerals, LLC equity (subsequently
assumed by Molycorp, LLC), which was immediately exercisable.
Mr. Smith exercised his option in 2009 and 2010 for
interests in Molycorp, LLC, which were exchanged for shares of
our Class A common stock in the corporate reorganization.
In connection with our initial public offering, all shares of
Class A common stock, including those acquired by
Mr. Smith, were immediately converted into shares of our
common stock.
Tax
and Accounting Considerations
The Board and the Compensation Committee have considered the
potential future effects of Section 162(m) of the Code on
the compensation paid to our executive officers.
Section 162(m) disallows a tax deduction for any publicly
held corporation for individual compensation exceeding
$1 million in any taxable year for our President and Chief
Executive Officer and each of the other named executive officers
(other than our chief financial officer), unless compensation is
performance-based. Prior to our initial public offering, the
Board did not take the deductibility limit imposed by
Section 162(m) into consideration in setting compensation.
We expect that the Compensation Committee will, where reasonably
practicable, seek to qualify the variable compensation paid to
our executive officers for an exemption from the deductibility
limitations of Section 162(m). As such, in approving the
amount and form of compensation for our executive officers in
the future, the Compensation Committee will consider all
elements of the cost to our company of providing such
compensation, including the potential impact of
Section 162(m). However, the Compensation Committee may, in
its judgment, authorize compensation payments that do not comply
with the exemptions in Section 162(m) when it believes that
such payments are appropriate to attract, retain and motivate
executive talent.
Stock
Ownership Guidelines
In an effort to align the interests of our directors and
executives with those of our stockholders, the Board adopted
stock ownership guidelines for our directors and officers. Under
the stock ownership guidelines, our directors and officers are
required to hold the following values in the form of company
stock within five years of becoming a director or officer:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Directors — four times the value of their annual cash
retainer;
|
|
|
•
|
President and Chief Executive Officer — three times
his annual base salary; and
|
|
|
•
|
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice
Presidents — two times their annual base salaries.
|
If an officer’s ownership requirement increases because of
a change in title or if a new officer or director is added, the
five-year period to achieve the stock ownership requirement
begins in January of the year following the year in which the
officer’s title changed or the new officer or director
began service.
112
Executive
Compensation
The following table sets forth compensation information
regarding our President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer and each of our three other most
highly compensated executive officers serving as of
December 31, 2010.
2010
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
Option
|
|
Incentive Plan
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
Name and
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
Awards
|
|
Awards
|
|
Compensation
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
Mark A. Smith
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
199,156
|
|
|
|
219,060
|
(4)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
30,245
|
(7)
|
|
|
848,461
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
241,000
|
(6)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
38,245
|
|
|
|
679,245
|
|
James S. Allen
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
214,583
|
|
|
|
80,987
|
|
|
|
657,180
|
(4)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
29,400
|
(8)
|
|
|
982,150
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer(1)
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
12,179
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
|
12,256
|
|
Ksenia A. Adams
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
120,000
|
|
|
|
41,155
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
17,400
|
(9)
|
|
|
178,555
|
|
Corporate Controller(2)
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
52,308
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
946
|
|
|
|
53,254
|
|
John F. Ashburn
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
225,208
|
|
|
|
80,987
|
|
|
|
109,530
|
(4)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
9,800
|
(10)
|
|
|
425,525
|
|
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
215,000
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
(3)
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
14,700
|
|
|
|
259,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John L. Burba
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
224,288
|
|
|
|
80,987
|
|
|
|
109,530
|
(4)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
29,400
|
(11)
|
|
|
444,205
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
213,701
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
29,918
|
|
|
|
243,619
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Allen was hired on December 9, 2009 as our Chief
Financial Officer and was appointed Treasurer in March 2010. |
|
(2) |
|
Ms. Adams was hired on July 27, 2009. |
|
(3) |
|
Represents $30,000 paid to Mr. Ashburn, which consisted of
the remaining portion of his signing bonus that was contingent
upon his employment continuing in 2009. |
|
(4) |
|
Represents the aggregate grant date fair value computed in
accordance with FASB ASC 718. |
|
(5) |
|
On September 10, 2009, our board of directors awarded
incentive shares of Molycorp Minerals, LLC to certain employees,
including 2,310,000 shares to Mr. Smith,
700,000 shares to Mr. Ashburn and 875,000 shares
to Mr. Burba. Each incentive share is effectively
equivalent to approximately 0.379718 of a share of our common
stock. Additional information regarding the incentive shares,
which are intended to constitute “profits interests”
under IRS Revenue Procedures
93-27 and
2001-43, is
included in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements
included elsewhere in this prospectus. For the year ended
December 31, 2010, we recognized share-based compensation
totaling $11,262,558 for Mr. Smith, $3,412,895 for
Mr. Ashburn and $4,266,119 for Mr. Burba related to the
incentive shares that were exchanged for shares of Class B
common stock and later converted into shares of common stock in
connection with our initial public offering. The incentive
shares were originally classified as a liability and valued at
zero under the intrinsic value method and the Class B
shares were valued at fair value in connection with the
corporate reorganization on April 15, 2010. |
|
(6) |
|
Options for member interests in Molycorp Minerals, LLC, which
were assumed by Molycorp, LLC, were immediately vested and
exercisable on the grant date. The value of this option award
represents the amount of compensation recognized for financial
statement purposes. Additional information regarding the
determination of the grant date fair value of this award and the
underlying assumption is included in Note 8 to the
consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this
prospectus. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes $29,400 for employer contributions to our 401(k) plan
on behalf of Mr. Smith for 2010 and $845 in 2010 for the
premiums paid on a term life insurance policy for the benefit of
Mr. Smith. |
|
(8) |
|
Represents $29,400 for employer contributions to our 401(k) plan
on behalf of Mr. Allen for 2010. |
|
(9) |
|
Represents $17,400 for employer contributions to our 401(k) plan
on behalf of Ms. Adams for 2010. |
|
(10) |
|
Represents employer contributions to our 401(k) plan on behalf
of Mr. Ashburn for 2010. |
|
(11) |
|
Represents employer contributions to our 401(k) plan on behalf
of Mr. Burba for 2010. |
113
Employment
Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with
Messrs. Smith, Allen, Ashburn and Burba.
Mark A.
Smith 2009 Employment Agreement
We entered into an executive employment agreement with
Mr. Smith, our President and Chief Executive Officer, on
November 1, 2009, which we refer to as the 2009 agreement.
The 2009 agreement provided for, among other things:
|
|
|
|
•
|
an annual base salary of $400,000, subject to increases at our
discretion;
|
|
|
•
|
eligibility to participate in our employee benefit plans;
|
|
|
•
|
eligibility to participate in our annual bonus plan for officers
and directors;
|
|
|
•
|
eligibility to participate in our executive nonqualified
deferred compensation plan; and
|
|
|
•
|
a term life insurance policy in the amount of $1,000,000 for the
benefit of Mr. Smith.
|
The 2009 agreement was terminated and replaced by a new
employment agreement in May 2010, as described below.
Mark A.
Smith 2010 Employment Agreement
On May 21, 2010, we entered into a new employment agreement
with Mr. Smith. The employment agreement terminates under
its own terms on June 1, 2013, but it can be renewed upon
our mutual agreement with Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith’s
employment agreement provides for, among other things:
|
|
|
|
•
|
an annual base salary of $400,000, subject to increases at our
discretion;
|
|
|
•
|
eligibility to participate in our employee benefit plans;
|
|
|
•
|
eligibility to participate in any bonus plan or long-term equity
or cash incentive compensation plan for officers and directors
established by our board of directors;
|
|
|
•
|
eligibility to participate in our executive nonqualified
deferred compensation plan; and
|
|
|
•
|
a term life insurance policy in the amount of $1,000,000 for the
benefit of Mr. Smith.
|
If we terminate Mr. Smith’s employment without
“cause,” or if Mr. Smith terminates his
employment for “good reason,” as each term is defined
in his employment agreement, Mr. Smith would be entitled to
receive any accrued salary and vacation pay up to and including
the date of termination and severance payments in an amount
equal to one year of his base salary.
Under his employment agreement, Mr. Smith is subject to a
two-year prohibition on “competitive conduct,” as
defined in his employment agreement, anywhere in the world
following the termination of his employment for any reason.
Employment
Agreements with Certain Named Executive Officers
On May 21, 2010, we entered into an employment agreement
with each of Messrs. Allen, Ashburn and Burba that provides
such named executive officers a specified annual base salary of
$200,000, $215,000 and $213,700, respectively, subject to
increases at our discretion.
The employment agreements also provide for, among other things:
|
|
|
|
•
|
eligibility to participate in our employee benefit plans;
|
|
|
•
|
eligibility to participate in any bonus plan or long-term equity
or cash incentive compensation plan for officers and directors
established by our board of directors; and
|
|
|
•
|
eligibility to participate in our executive nonqualified
deferred compensation plan.
|
Each of the employment agreements expires by its terms on
June 1, 2013, unless renewed in writing by the named
executive officer and us. If, prior to such date, we terminate
the executive’s employment without “cause,” or if
the executive terminates his employment for “good
reason,” as each term is defined in his employment
agreement, he would be entitled to receive any accrued salary
and vacation pay up to and including the date of termination and
severance payments in an amount equal to one year of his base
salary.
114
In addition, each of Messrs. Allen, Ashburn and Burba is
subject to a two-year prohibition on “competitive
conduct,” as defined in his employment agreement, anywhere
in the world following the termination of his employment for any
reason.
The following table sets forth information with respect to
non-equity and equity incentive plan awards granted to our named
executive officers during 2010. The Summary Compensation Table
above provides information regarding the actual dollar amounts
earned under our incentive plans.
2010
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Stock
|
|
Grant Date Fair
|
|
|
Grant
|
|
Awards: Number of Shares
|
|
Value of Awards
|
Name
|
|
Date
|
|
of Stock or Units
|
|
($)
|
|
Mark A. Smith
|
|
|
11/4/2010
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
219,060
|
|
James S. Allen
|
|
|
11/4/2010
|
|
|
|
18,000
|
|
|
|
657,180
|
|
Ksenia A. Adams
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
John F. Ashburn
|
|
|
11/4/2010
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
|
|
109,530
|
|
John L. Burba
|
|
|
11/4/2010
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
|
|
109,530
|
|
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2010
The following table provides information about outstanding
equity awards of each of our named executive officers as of
December 31, 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
Market Value
|
|
|
Shares or Units
|
|
of Shares or
|
|
|
of Stock that
|
|
Units of Stock
|
|
|
Have Not
|
|
that Have Not
|
Name
|
|
Vested (#)
|
|
Vested ($)(3)
|
|
Mark A. Smith
|
|
|
292,383
|
(1)
|
|
|
14,589,912
|
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
299,400
|
|
James S. Allen
|
|
|
18,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
898,200
|
|
Ksenia A. Adams
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
John F. Ashburn
|
|
|
88,601
|
(1)
|
|
|
4,421,190
|
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
149,700
|
|
John L. Burba
|
|
|
110,751
|
(1)
|
|
|
5,526,475
|
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
149,700
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents restricted shares ultimately received in exchange for
the executive officers’ incentive shares in connection with
the corporate reorganization and the conversion of shares of
Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of
our initial public offering. These shares will vest on
February 3, 2011. |
|
(2) |
|
Represents restricted shares granted on November 4, 2010.
These shares will vest in full on the third anniversary of the
grant date, subject to continued employment by the recipient
other than in the case of normal retirement during the
three-year period following the grant date. |
|
(3) |
|
Based on $49.90 per share, which was the closing price of our
common stock on December 31, 2010. |
2010
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
Number of Shares
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired on
|
|
Value Realized on
|
|
|
Vesting (#)
|
|
Vesting ($)(1)
|
|
Mark A. Smith
|
|
|
292,383
|
|
|
|
8,271,505
|
|
John F. Ashburn
|
|
|
88,601
|
|
|
|
2,506,516
|
|
John L. Burba
|
|
|
110,751
|
|
|
|
3,133,145
|
|
115
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The value realized shown in this column is computed by
multiplying the number of restricted shares vesting by the
closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of
vesting. All awards vested on September 30, 2010. The
closing price of a share of our common stock on
September 30, 2010 was $28.29. These restricted shares were
received in exchange for the executive officers’ incentive
shares in the corporate reorganization. |
Retirement
Plans
Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our
tax-qualified Molycorp Minerals, LLC 401(k) Plan on the same
basis as other employees under the plan. Each year, we may make
three types of contributions to each participant’s account.
First, we make nonelective contributions in which we contribute
to a participant’s account an amount equal to 4% of the
participant’s eligible compensation. Second, we make
matching contributions to a participant’s account in which
we contribute an amount equal to 100% of a participant’s
contributions during the plan year, limited to 3% of the
participant’s eligible compensation, plus 50% of the
participant’s contributions during the plan year between 3%
and 5% of the participant’s eligible compensation. Finally,
we may make discretionary matching contributions in which we may
contribute to a participant’s account an amount equal to a
percentage of the participant’s eligible compensation that
we determine each year up to 4% of the participant’s
eligible compensation. The Summary Compensation Table above
reflects the actual dollar amounts contributed to our 401(k)
plan on each named executive officer’s behalf.
Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation
The following table reflects the amounts credited under our
Management Incentive Plan on behalf of our named executive
officers. We do not maintain any other nonqualified deferred
compensation plan.
2010
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive
|
|
|
Registrant
|
|
|
Earnings in
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
Contributions
|
|
|
Contributions
|
|
|
Last Fiscal
|
|
|
Withdrawals/
|
|
|
Balance at Last
|
|
|
|
in Last Fiscal Year
|
|
|
in Last Fiscal Year
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
Fiscal Year End
|
|
Name
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Mark A. Smith
|
|
|
17,667
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,590
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
30,333
|
|
James S. Allen
|
|
|
4,396
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
370
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
4,843
|
|
Ksenia A. Adams
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
155
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,100
|
|
John F. Ashburn
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
802
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
5,702
|
|
John L. Burba
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
700
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
4,974
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The amounts reported are fully reported as part of the
“Salary” and “All Other Compensation”
columns of the Summary Compensation Table. |
On April 1, 2009, we established the Management Incentive
Compensation Plan, which is a nonqualified deferred compensation
plan for the purpose of providing deferred compensation benefits
for a select group of management or highly compensated
employees. We amended and restated the Management Incentive
Compensation Plan in December 2010. Under the Amended and
Restated Management Incentive Compensation Plan, a participant
may defer his or her base salary and any bonus, commission or
other extraordinary compensation that is supplemental to the
participant’s base salary and is dependent upon achievement
of individual or company performance goals. Participants may
also defer the receipt of any shares subject to restricted stock
units granted under our Long-Term Incentive Program. In
addition, if a participant elects to defer any of the cash
portion of the bonus he or she earns under the 2011 Annual
Incentive Plan, he or she may convert a percentage of that cash
portion into restricted stock units, which are credited to his
or her account under the plan. If a participant converts any of
his or her cash bonus into restricted stock units, then we will
credit his or her account with matching restricted stock units
at an amount equal to 25% of the number of restricted stock
units the participant received after converting his or her cash
bonus into restricted stock units. Restricted stock units
credited to a participant’s account based on his or her
converting cash into additional restricted stock units are
immediately vested. However, any matching restricted stock unit
credited
116
to a participant’s account will vest on the third
anniversary of the date on which the matching restricted stock
unit is credited to the account, so long as the participant
remains in our continuous employ or retires prior to the vesting
date.
Under the Amended and Restated Management Incentive Compensation
Plan, we establish for each participant a cash account, to which
we credit any cash deferrals the participant elects, a
restricted stock units account, to which we credit any deferrals
elected with respect to restricted stock units, and a matching
restricted stock units account, to which we credit any matching
restricted stock units credited to the participant. Participants
may elect to have their cash accounts paid in a lump-sum or over
a fixed schedule. Participants may also elect to have their
accounts paid on a specified future date, upon their separation
from service or upon the earlier of the two. Accounts are
automatically paid out, or begin paying out, upon the
participant’s death or disability, or upon a change of
control of the company.
From time to time, the Compensation Committee may make
discretionary contributions to a participant’s account,
which are used to reward the participant for achievement of
superior operating performance. Participants are always fully
vested in any discretionary contribution credited to his or her
account. We intend for the Amended and Restated Management
Incentive Compensation Plan to constitute an unfunded plan for
purposes of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.
Potential
Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Pursuant to his employment agreement, each of
Messrs. Smith, Allen, Ashburn and Burba is entitled to
certain payments upon termination of employment as described
under “— Employment Agreements” above.
Under the award agreements for the shares of restricted stock
granted to Messrs. Smith, Allen, Ashburn and Burba, any
unvested share of restricted stock will immediately vest upon an
executive’s termination of employment due to his
retirement, death or disability. In addition, in the event a
change in control of Molycorp occurs and the successor
corporation does not assume or provide a substitute award of
equivalent value, any unvested share of restricted stock will
immediately vest upon such change in control. If a successor
corporation does assume the restricted stock awards or provides
a substitute award of equivalent value and an executive’s
employment with the successor corporation is terminated without
cause or for good reason (as each term is defined in the award
agreements) within the two-period following the change in
control, then any unvested share of restricted stock held by the
executive will immediately vest upon such termination.
Director
Compensation
The following table sets forth information with respect to the
compensation paid by us to each of our non-employee directors
during 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Paid in Cash
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Russell D. Ball
|
|
|
6,500
|
|
|
|
273,825
|
|
|
|
280,325
|
|
Ross R. Bhappu
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Brian T. Dolan
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Charles R. Henry
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
Mark S. Kristoff
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Alec Machiels
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Jack E. Thompson
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents the aggregate grant date fair value computed in
accordance with FASB ASC 718. |
Prior to our initial public offering, our non-employee
directors, other than those directors serving on our board of
directors that were nominated by our stockholders
(Messrs. Bhappu, Dolan, Kristoff and Machiels), received an
annual cash retainer in the amount of $25,000. Beginning after
the consummation of our initial public offering, all
non-employee directors receive an annual cash retainer in the
amount of $25,000 and also receive an annual cash retainer of
$5,000 for each committee on which the director serves, other
than the chairman of the Audit and Ethics Committee, who
receives an additional cash retainer of $10,000.
On January 13, 2011, our Board of Directors, upon
recommendation by the Compensation Committee, adopted the
Molycorp, Inc. Nonemployee Director Deferred Compensation Plan,
which is a nonqualified
117
deferred compensation plan for the purpose of providing deferred
compensation benefits to members of our Board of Directors who
are not our employees. Under the Nonemployee Director Deferred
Compensation Plan, a participant may defer his or her annual
fees and the receipt of any shares subject to restricted stock
units granted under our 2010 Equity and Performance Incentive
Plan. In addition, if a participant elects to defer any of the
cash portion of his or her annual fees, he or she may convert a
percentage of those fees into restricted stock units, which are
credited to his or her account under the plan. If a participant
converts any of his or her annual fees into restricted stock
units, then we will credit his or her account with matching
restricted stock units at an amount equal to 25% of the number
of restricted stock units the participant received after
converting a portion of his or her annual fees into restricted
stock units. Restricted stock units credited to a
participant’s account based on his or her converting cash
into additional restricted stock units are immediately vested.
However, any matching restricted stock unit credited to a
participant’s account will vest on the third anniversary of
the date on which the matching restricted stock unit is credited
to the account, so long as the participant provides continuous
service to us or retires prior to the vesting date.
Under the Nonemployee Director Deferred Compensation Plan, we
establish for each participant a cash account, to which we
credit any cash deferrals the participant elects, a restricted
stock units account, to which we credit any deferrals elected
with respect to restricted stock units, and a matching
restricted stock units account, to which we credit any matching
restricted stock units credited to the participant. Participants
may elect to have their cash accounts paid in a lump-sum or over
a fixed schedule. Participants may also elect to have their
accounts paid on a specified future date, upon their separation
from service or upon the earlier of the two. Accounts are
automatically paid out, or begin paying out, upon the
participant’s death or disability, or upon a change of
control of the company.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The members of our compensation committee are
Messrs. Thompson, Dolan and Kristoff. None of the members
of our compensation committee has been an officer or employee of
our company or any of our subsidiaries. No executive officer of
our company served in the last year as a director or member of
the compensation committee of another entity one of whose
executive officers served as a member of our board or on our
compensation committee.
118
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Inventory
Financing and Resale Agreements
Molycorp Minerals, LLC entered into an inventory financing and
resale agreement with Traxys, dated as of May 15, 2009.
Traxys, through its subsidiary, TNA Moly Group LLC, owns more
than 5% of our outstanding Class A Common Stock. Pursuant
to this agreement, Traxys agreed to purchase, and Molycorp
Minerals, LLC agreed to sell, approximately one million pounds
of didymium oxide and up to 18 million pounds of bastnasite
at fixed prices. The purchase price paid by Traxys was treated
as an advance, on which Molycorp Minerals, LLC paid finance
charges, until the products were ultimately resold by Traxys to
third-party purchasers. The net revenue from sales to such
third-party purchasers was then allocated between Traxys and
Molycorp Minerals, LLC according to a fixed schedule. Pursuant
to this agreement, Molycorp Minerals, LLC was obligated to
repurchase from Traxys any unsold didymium oxide and any unsold
bastnasite at May 15, 2010 and May 15, 2011,
respectively. At certain periods during the term of the
agreement, Traxys also had the right to convert any amounts
advanced by it (along with applicable finance charges) into
member interests in Molycorp, LLC in the form of shares at a
fixed price. On November 15, 2009, we issued
59,311 shares of Molycorp, LLC (which equates to
approximately 2,303,000 shares of our common stock after
giving effect to the corporate reorganization, the
38.23435373-for-one stock split and the conversion of our
Class A common stock into common stock immediately prior to
the consummation of our initial public offering) to Traxys in
exchange for all outstanding advances and finance charges
totaling $6.8 million. This agreement was replaced by a new
inventory financing and resale agreement on June 1, 2010,
as discussed below, and was terminated pursuant to a termination
and mutual release agreement dated as of June 16, 2010 by
and between Molycorp Minerals, LLC and Traxys.
On April 16, 2010, Molycorp Minerals, LLC executed an
agreement under which Traxys agreed to purchase up to
$5 million of didymium oxide from us from time to time
through December 31, 2010. These purchases by Traxys under
the agreement will occur at our request at a price per pound
based on published index pricing. The net revenue from the sales
by Traxys to third-party purchases of such didymium oxide will
be allocated between Traxys and Molycorp Minerals, LLC according
to a fixed schedule.
On June 1, 2010, Molycorp Minerals, LLC entered into a new
inventory financing and resale agreement with Traxys. Pursuant
to this new agreement, Traxys purchased, and Molycorp Minerals,
LLC sold, approximately 513,677 pounds of didymium oxide at
$11.50 per pound, subject to adjustment. A portion of the
purchase price paid by Traxys will be treated as an advance, on
which Molycorp Minerals, LLC will pay finance charges, until
Traxys resells the didymium oxide to third-party purchasers. The
net revenue from sales by Traxys to such third-party purchasers
will be allocated between Traxys and Molycorp Minerals, LLC
according to a fixed schedule. Pursuant to this new agreement,
Molycorp Minerals, LLC is obligated to repurchase from Traxys
any unsold didymium oxide at June 1, 2011.
Contribution
Agreement
Each of Resource Capital Fund IV L.P., Resource Capital
Fund V L.P., PP IV Mountain Pass II, LLC,
PP IV MP AIV 1, LLC PP IV MP AIV 2, LLC, PP IV MP
AIV 3, LLC, TNA Moly Group LLC, MP Rare Company LLC and
KMSMITH LLC were members of Molycorp, LLC. In connection with
our corporate reorganization and pursuant to a contribution
agreement, these parties contributed either (a) all of
their member interests in Molycorp, LLC or (b) all of their
equity interests in entities that hold member interests in
Molycorp, LLC (and no other assets or liabilities) to Molycorp,
Inc. in exchange for shares of Class A common stock of
Molycorp, Inc., which were subsequently converted to common
stock immediately prior to the consummation of our initial
public offering. See “Principal and Selling
Stockholders.”
Registration
Rights
Resource Capital Fund IV L.P., Resource Capital Fund V
LP, PP IV MP AIV 1, LLC, PP IV MP AIV 2, LLC, PP IV MP
AIV 3, LLC, TNA Moly Group LLC, PP IV MP AIV 1, LLC,
PP IV MP AIV 2, LLC, PP IV MP AIV 3, LLC, TNA Moly
Group LLC and KMSMITH LLC have certain demand and piggyback
registration rights. The demand registration rights may be
exercised beginning February 3, 2011. For a description of
these registration rights, see “Description of Capital
Stock — Registration Rights.”
119
Letters
of Credit
In February 2009, certain of our stockholders incurred certain
costs in providing letters of credit
and/or cash
collateral to secure the surety bonds issued for the benefit of
certain regulatory agencies relating to our Mountain Pass
facility’s closure and reclamation obligations. The total
amount of collateral provided by stockholders was
$18.2 million. Under the terms of an agreement with these
stockholders, we agreed to pay each such stockholder a 5% annual
return on the amount of collateral provided, and such
stockholders were entitled to receive quarterly payments,
delayed payments or
payments-in-kind.
In September 2010, we issued our own cash collateral in the
amount of $18.2 million in replacement of the letters of
credit and cash collateral provided by such stockholders and
terminated the agreement with such stockholders.
Mountain
Pass Acquisition
In connection with our acquisition of the Mountain Pass,
California rare earth deposit and associated land, facilities,
rare earth processing facilities and intellectual property from
Chevron Mining Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation,
certain members of Molycorp Minerals, LLC incurred acquisition
costs that were subsequently reimbursed by Molycorp Minerals,
LLC. At December 31, 2008, accrued expenses included
approximately $0.2 million related to this reimbursement
obligation.
120
PRINCIPAL
AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of shares of common stock as of
January 20, 2011, as adjusted to reflect the completion of
this offering, for:
|
|
|
|
•
|
each of the selling stockholders;
|
|
|
•
|
each person who we know beneficially owns more than 5% of our
common stock;
|
|
|
•
|
each of our directors;
|
|
|
•
|
each of our named executive officers; and
|
|
|
•
|
all of our directors and our executive officers as a group.
|
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the
rules of the SEC. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we
believe, based on the information furnished to us, that the
persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting
and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock
that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community
property laws. The table below is based upon information
supplied by our officers, directors, principal stockholders and
selling stockholders and Schedules 13Gs and 13Ds filed with the
SEC through January 20, 2011.
The information shown in the table with respect to the
percentage of shares of common stock beneficially owned after
the offering is based on 82,300,757 shares of common stock
outstanding at January 20, 2011. The information shown in
the table does not reflect any shares of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock or shares of common stock that would
be issuable upon conversion of shares of mandatory convertible
preferred stock. In computing the number of shares of common
stock beneficially owned by a person and the percentage
ownership of that person, we deemed to be outstanding all shares
of common stock subject to options or warrants held by that
person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within
60 days of January 20, 2011. We did not deem these
shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the
percentage ownership of any other person. Beneficial ownership
representing less than 1% is denoted with an
asterisk “*”.
121
Unless otherwise noted below, the address of the persons and
entities listed on the table is
c/o Molycorp,
Inc., 5619 Denver Tech Center Parkway, Suite 1000,
Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficially
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares
|
|
|
Owned After This
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
to be Sold
|
|
|
Offering if
|
|
|
|
Shares Beneficially
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficially
|
|
|
if Underwriters
|
|
|
Underwriter’s
|
|
|
|
Owned Prior to
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Owned After
|
|
|
Option is
|
|
|
Option is
|
|
Name and Address of
|
|
This Offering
|
|
|
of Shares
|
|
|
This Offering
|
|
|
Exercised in Full
|
|
|
Exercised in Full
|
|
Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Offered
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Resource Capital Funds(1)
|
|
|
27,613,182
|
|
|
|
33.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PP IV Mountain Pass II, LLC(2)
|
|
|
8,516,558
|
|
|
|
10.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PP IV MP AIV 1, LLC(2)
|
|
|
4,125,266
|
|
|
|
5.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PP IV MP AIV 2, LLC(2)
|
|
|
1,506,806
|
|
|
|
1.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PP IV MP AIV 3, LLC(2)
|
|
|
1,506,806
|
|
|
|
1.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TNA Moly Group LLC(3)
|
|
|
8,820,000
|
|
|
|
10.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Russell D. Ball
|
|
|
9,500
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ross R. Bhappu(4)
|
|
|
27,613,782
|
|
|
|
33.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian T. Dolan(4)
|
|
|
27,613,182
|
|
|
|
33.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles R. Henry
|
|
|
134,401
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Kristoff(5)
|
|
|
9,147,150
|
|
|
|
11.1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alec Machiels
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark A. Smith(6)
|
|
|
1,187,011
|
|
|
|
1.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack E. Thompson
|
|
|
132,901
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James S. Allen
|
|
|
19,234
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ksenia A. Adams
|
|
|
528
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Ashburn(7)
|
|
|
279,436
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John L. Burba
|
|
|
342,487
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All executive officers and directors as a group (13 individuals)
|
|
|
38,866,617
|
|
|
|
47.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes (a) 21,715,765 shares of common stock held by
Resource Capital Fund IV L.P., of which Resource Capital
Associates IV L.P. is the general partner (RCA IV GP L.L.C.
is the general partner of Resource Capital Associates IV
L.P.) and (b) 5,897,417 shares of common stock held by
Resource Capital Fund V L.P., of which Resource Capital
Associates V L.P. is the general partner (RCA V GP Ltd. is the
general partner of Resource Capital Associates V L.P.). The
manner in which the investments of Resource Capital Fund IV
L.P. and Resource Capital Fund V L.P. are held, and any
decisions concerning their ultimate disposition, are subject to
the control of an investment committee consisting of certain
partners of Resource Capital Funds: Hank Tuten, James
McClements, Ryan Bennett, Russ Cranswick, Mr. Bhappu and
Mr. Dolan. The investment committee is appointed by each of
RCA IV GP L.L.C. and RCA V GP Ltd. The investment committee has
voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common
stock owned by Resource Capital Fund IV L.P. and Resource
Capital Fund V L.P. The address of Resource Capital
Fund IV L.P. and Resource Capital Fund V L.P. is 1400
Sixteenth Street, Suite 200, Denver, Colorado 80202. |
|
(2) |
|
Pegasus Partners IV, L.P. controls PP IV Mountain Pass II,
LLC and the general partner of Pegasus Partners IV, L.P. is
Pegasus Investors IV, L.P. Pegasus Partners IV (AIV), L.P.
controls PP IV MP AIV 1, LLC and the general partner of
Pegasus Partners IV (AIV), L.P. is Pegasus
Investors IV, L.P. The general |
122
|
|
|
|
|
partner of Pegasus Investors IV, L.P. is Pegasus
Investors IV GP, LLC, of which Pegasus Capital LLC is the
managing member. Craig Cogut is the managing member of Pegasus
Capital LLC. MP IH Holdings 1 LLC controls PP IV MP
AIV 2, LLC. MP IH Holdings 2 LLC controls 96.4% of PP
IV MP AIV 3, LLC. The non-member manager of each of MP IH
Holdings 1 LLC and MP IH Holdings 2 LLC is Pegasus
Capital Advisors IV, L.P., the general partner of which is
Pegasus Capital Advisors IV GP, LLC, and the sole member of
Pegasus Capital Advisors IV GP, LLC is Mr. Cogut. As a
result of the foregoing, Mr. Cogut may be deemed to share
voting and investment power of the shares of common stock owned
by each of PP IV Mountain Pass II, LLC, PP IV MP
AIV 1, LLC, PP IV MP AIV 2, LLC and PP IV MP
AIV 3, LLC, which we refer to collectively as the Pegasus
Entities. Mr. Cogut disclaims beneficial ownership of any
of our securities held by the Pegasus Entities, except to the
extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The address of each of
the Pegasus Entities is 505 Park Avenue, 22nd Floor,
New York, New York 10022. |
|
(3) |
|
Traxys is the sole voting member of TNA Moly Group LLC, appoints
all of the managers and has shared voting and investment power
with respect to the shares of common stock owned by such entity.
Traxys is indirectly controlled by Pegasus Capital LLC through
T-II Holdings LLC, an Anguilla limited liability company.
Mr. Cogut is the managing member of Pegasus Capital LLC.
Mr. Cogut disclaims beneficial ownership of any of our
securities held by Traxys, except to the extent of any pecuniary
interest therein. The address of TNA Moly Group LLC is 825 Third
Avenue, New York, New York 10022. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes (a) 21,715,765 shares of common stock held by
Resource Capital Fund IV L.P., of which Resource Capital
Associates IV L.P. is the general partner (RCA IV GP L.L.C.
is the general partner of Resource Capital Associates IV
L.P.) and (b) 5,897,417 shares of common stock held by
Resource Capital Fund V L.P., of which Resource Capital
Associates V L.P. is the general partner (RCA V GP Ltd. is the
general partner of Resource Capital Associates V L.P.).
Mr. Bhappu and Mr. Dolan are members and shareholders
and directors, respectively, of each of RCA IV GP L.L.C. and RCA
V GP Ltd. and represent two of the seven members and
shareholders and directors, respectively, of RCA IV GP L.L.C.
and RCA V. GP Ltd. As indicated in footnote (1) above, each
of such entities has delegated to an investment committee
consisting of certain partners of Resource Capital Funds, the
voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Resource
Capital Fund IV L.P. and Resource Capital Fund V L.P.
Each of Mr. Bhappu and Mr. Dolan disclaims beneficial
ownership of the shares of common stock held by Resource Capital
Fund IV L.P. and Resource Capital Fund V. L.P., except
to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 8,820,000 shares of common stock held by TNA Moly
Group LLC. Mr. Kristoff is the Chief Executive Officer of
Traxys and TNA Moly Group LLC. Mr. Kristoff disclaims
beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock held by TNA
Moly Group LLC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest
therein, if any. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes 301,734 shares of common stock held by KMSMITH
LLC. Kimberly Smith, the wife of Mr. Smith, has sole voting
and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock
held by KMSMITH LLC. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes 100 shares of common stock held as custodian for
minor son. Mr. Ashburn disclaims beneficial ownership of
the shares of common stock held as custodian for his minor son,
except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, if any. |
123
CONCURRENT
OFFERING OF MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
Concurrently with this offering of common stock by the selling
stockholders, we plan to
offer shares
of our mandatory convertible preferred stock, and we have
granted the underwriters of the offering of mandatory
convertible preferred stock a
30-day
option to purchase up
to
additional shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock to
cover over-allotments. There are currently no shares of
mandatory preferred stock outstanding. We cannot assure you that
the offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock will be
completed or, if completed, on what terms it will be completed.
The closing of this offering is not conditioned upon the closing
of the offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock, and
the closing of our offering of mandatory convertible preferred
stock is not conditioned upon the closing of this offering.
The following summary of the terms of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the provisions of the certificate of designations
for the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Ranking
The mandatory convertible preferred stock, with respect to
dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, ranks:
|
|
|
|
•
|
senior to (i) our common stock and (ii) each other
class of capital stock or series of preferred stock established
after the first original issue date of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock (which we refer to as the “initial issue
date”) the terms of which do not expressly provide that
such class or series ranks senior to or on a parity with the
mandatory convertible preferred stock as to dividend rights or
rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution (which we refer to collectively as “junior
stock”);
|
|
|
•
|
on parity with any class of capital stock or series of preferred
stock established after the initial issue date the terms of
which expressly provide that such class or series will rank on a
parity with the mandatory convertible preferred stock as to
dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution (which we refer to collectively as “parity
stock”);
|
|
|
•
|
junior to each class of capital stock or series of preferred
stock established after the initial issue date the terms of
which expressly provide that such class or series will rank
senior to the mandatory convertible preferred stock as to
dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution (which we refer to collectively as “senior
stock”); and
|
|
|
•
|
junior to our existing and future indebtedness.
|
In addition, the mandatory convertible preferred stock, with
respect to dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, will be structurally subordinated to existing
and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries as well as the
capital stock of our subsidiaries held by third parties.
Dividends
Subject to the rights of holders of any class of capital stock
ranking senior to the mandatory convertible preferred stock with
respect to dividends, holders of shares of mandatory convertible
preferred stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by our Board of Directors, out of funds legally
available for payment, cumulative dividends at the rate per
annum of % on the liquidation
preference of $100 per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock (equivalent to $ per annum
per share), payable in cash, by delivery of shares of our common
stock or through any combination of cash and shares of our
common stock, as determined by us in our sole discretion
(subject to the limitations described below). Declared dividends
on the mandatory convertible preferred stock will be payable
quarterly on February , May ,
August
and
November
of each year to and including the mandatory conversion date (as
defined below), commencing May , 2011, at such
annual rate, and dividends shall accumulate from the most recent
date as to which dividends shall have been paid or, if no
dividends have been paid, from the initial issue date of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock, whether or not in any
dividend period or periods there have been funds legally
available for the payment of such dividends.
Declared dividends will be payable on the relevant dividend
payment date to holders of record as they appear on our stock
register at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
immediately preceding January ,
April , July and
October (each, a “record date”),
whether or not such holders convert their shares, or
124
such shares are automatically converted, after a record date and
on or prior to the immediately succeeding dividend payment date.
These record dates will apply regardless of whether a particular
record date is a business day. A “business day” means
any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by
law or executive order to close. If a dividend payment date is
not a business day, payment will be made on the next succeeding
business day, without any interest or other payment in lieu of
interest accruing with respect to this delay.
So long as any shares of our mandatory convertible preferred
stock remain outstanding, no dividend or distribution may be
declared or paid on our common stock unless all accumulated and
unpaid dividends have been pain on our mandatory convertible
preferred stock, subject to certain exceptions, such as
dividends paid on our common stock in shares of our common stock.
Our ability to declare and pay cash dividends and make other
distributions with respect to our capital stock, including the
mandatory convertible preferred stock, may be limited by the
terms of any existing and future indebtedness. In addition, our
ability to declare and pay dividends may be limited by
applicable Delaware law.
Redemption
The mandatory convertible preferred stock will not be redeemable.
Liquidation
Preference
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, each holder of mandatory convertible preferred
stock will be entitled to receive a liquidation preference in
the amount of $100 per share of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock (the “liquidation preference”), plus
an amount equal to accumulated and unpaid dividends on the
shares to (but excluding) the date fixed for liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution to be paid out of our assets available for
distribution to our stockholders, after satisfaction of
liabilities to our creditors and holders of any senior stock and
before any payment or distribution is made to holders of junior
stock (including our common stock). If, upon our voluntary or
involuntary liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, the amounts payable with respect to the
liquidation preference plus an amount equal to accumulated and
unpaid dividends of the mandatory convertible preferred stock
and all parity stock are not paid in full, the holders of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock and any parity stock will
share equally and ratably in any distribution of our assets in
proportion to the respective liquidation preferences and amounts
equal to accumulated and unpaid dividends to which they are
entitled. After payment of the full amount of the liquidation
preference and an amount equal to accumulated and unpaid
dividends to which they are entitled, the holders of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock will have no right or
claim to any of our remaining assets.
Voting
Rights
The holders of the mandatory convertible preferred stock do not
have voting rights other than those described below, except as
specifically required by Delaware law.
Whenever dividends on any shares of mandatory convertible
preferred stock have not been declared and paid for the
equivalent of six or more dividend periods, whether or not for
consecutive dividend periods, the holders of such shares of
mandatory convertible preferred stock, voting together as a
single class with holders of any and all other series of parity
stock then outstanding, will be entitled at our next special or
annual meeting of stockholders to vote for the election of a
total of two additional members of our Board of Directors,
subject to certain limitations.
So long as any shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or
consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding
shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock and all other
series of voting preferred stock entitled to vote thereon,
voting together as a single class, given in person or by proxy,
either in writing or at a meeting:
|
|
|
|
•
|
amend or alter the provisions of our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designations
for the shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock so as to
authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any
specific class or series of stock ranking senior to the
mandatory convertible preferred stock with respect to payment of
dividends or the distribution of our assets upon our
liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or
|
125
|
|
|
|
•
|
amend, alter or repeal the provisions of our Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of
designations for the shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock so as to adversely affect the special rights, preferences,
privileges and voting powers of the shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
consummate a binding share exchange or reclassification
involving the shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock or
a merger or consolidation of us with another entity, unless in
each case: (i) shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock remain outstanding and are not amended in any respect or,
in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to
which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are
converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the
surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent; and
(ii) such shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case
may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting
powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable
to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges
and voting powers of the mandatory convertible preferred stock
immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole.
|
Mandatory
Conversion
Each share of the mandatory convertible preferred stock, unless
previously converted, will automatically convert
on ,
2014 (the “mandatory conversion date”), into a number
of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate described
below. If we declare a dividend for the dividend period ending
on the mandatory conversion date, we will pay such dividend to
the holders of record on the applicable record date, as
described above under “— Dividends.” If on
or prior to the record date immediately preceding the mandatory
conversion date we have not declared all or any portion of the
accumulated and unpaid dividends on the mandatory convertible
preferred stock, the conversion rate will be adjusted so that
holders receive an additional number of shares of common stock
equal to the amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends that
have not been declared (the “additional conversion
amount”) divided by the greater of the floor price and 97%
of the average volume weighted average price per share of our
common stock over the five consecutive trading day period ending
on the second trading day immediately preceding the applicable
dividend payment date (the “five day average price”).
To the extent that the additional conversion amount exceeds the
product of the number of additional shares and 97% of the
five-day
average price, we will, if we are legally able to do so, declare
and pay such excess amount in cash pro rata to the holders of
the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
The conversion rate, which is the number of shares of common
stock issuable upon conversion of each share of mandatory
convertible preferred stock on the mandatory conversion date,
will, subject to adjustment as described in the section of this
prospectus entitled “— Anti-dilution
Adjustments” below and the preceding paragraph, be as
follows:
|
|
|
|
•
|
if the applicable market value of our common stock is greater
than
$ ,
which we call the “threshold appreciation price,” then
the conversion rate will
be shares
of common stock per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock (the “minimum conversion rate”), which is equal
to $100 divided by the threshold appreciation price;
|
|
|
•
|
if the applicable market value of our common stock is less than
or equal to the threshold appreciation price but equal to or
greater than
$
(the “initial price,” which equals the price at which
our common stock is being offered in this offering), then the
conversion rate will be equal to $100 divided by the applicable
market value of our common stock, which will be
between
and shares
of common stock per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
if the applicable market value of our common stock is less than
the initial price, then the conversion rate will
be shares
of common stock per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock (the “maximum conversion rate”), which is equal
to $100 divided by the initial price.
|
“Applicable market value” means the average
volume-weighted average price per share of our common stock over
the 20 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including,
the third trading day immediately preceding the mandatory
conversion date.
126
Conversion
at the Option of the Holder
Holders of the mandatory convertible preferred stock have the
right to convert their shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock, in whole or in part (but in no event less than one share
of mandatory convertible preferred stock), at any time prior to
the mandatory conversion date, into shares of our common stock
at the minimum conversion rate
of shares
of common stock per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments.
Conversion
at the Option of the Holder upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental
Change Dividend Make-whole Amount
If certain fundamental changes occur, on or prior to the
mandatory conversion date, holders of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock will have the right to: (i) convert their
shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock, in whole or in
part (but in no event less than one share of mandatory
convertible preferred stock), into shares of common stock at the
fundamental change conversion rate, which will be based on the
effective date of the fundamental change and the price paid (or
deemed paid) per share of our common stock in the fundamental
change; (ii) with respect to such converted shares, receive
an amount equal to the present value, calculated using a
discount rate of % per annum, of
all dividend payments on such shares for all the remaining
dividend periods (excluding any accumulated and unpaid dividends
as of the effective date of the fundamental change) from such
effective date to but excluding the mandatory conversion date;
and (iii) with respect to such converted shares, to the
extent that, as of the effective date of the fundamental change,
receive the amount of any accumulated and unpaid dividends as of
the effective date.
Anti-dilution
Adjustments
The formula for determining the conversion rate on the mandatory
conversion date and the number of shares of our common stock to
be delivered upon an early conversion event may be adjusted if
certain events occur, including if:
|
|
|
|
•
|
We issue common stock to all or substantially all holders of our
common stock as a dividend or other distribution.
|
|
|
•
|
We issue to all or substantially all holders of our common stock
rights or warrants (other than rights or warrants issued
pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan or share purchase plan
or other similar plans) entitling them, for a period of up to 45
calendar days from the date of issuance of such rights or
warrants, to subscribe for or purchase our shares of common
stock at less than the current market price of our common stock.
|
|
|
•
|
We subdivide or combine our common stock.
|
|
|
•
|
We distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common
stock evidences of our indebtedness, shares of capital stock,
securities, rights to acquire our capital stock, cash or other
assets, excluding any dividend, distribution, rights or warrants
referred to in the bullets above and any spin-off.
|
|
|
•
|
We make a distribution consisting exclusively of cash to all or
substantially all holders of our common stock, subject to
limited exceptions.
|
|
|
•
|
We or any of our subsidiaries successfully complete a tender or
exchange offer pursuant to a Schedule TO or registration
statement on
Form S-4
for our common stock (excluding any securities convertible or
exchangeable for our common stock), where the cash and the value
of any other consideration included in the payment per share of
our common stock exceeds the current market price of our common
stock.
|
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Computershare Inc., is the transfer agent and registrar for our
mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Listing
We will apply to list our mandatory convertible preferred stock
on the New York Stock Exchange.
127
DESCRIPTION
OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
The following is a summary of the rights of our capital stock,
certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our
bylaws, and certain provisions of applicable law. For more
detailed information, please see our certificate of
incorporation and bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Authorized
Capitalization
Our authorized capital stock consists of shares, with a par
value of $0.001 per share, of which:
|
|
|
|
•
|
350,000,000 shares are designated as common stock; and
|
|
|
•
|
5,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock.
|
Common
Stock
As of January 20, 2011, we had outstanding
82,300,757 shares of common stock and we had approximately
100 record holders of our common stock. Each outstanding
share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders. Pursuant to our certificate
of incorporation, holders of our common stock do not have the
right to cumulate votes in elections of directors. Subject to
preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of
preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to
receive ratably such dividends as may be declared from time to
time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.
For additional information, see “Dividend Policy.” In
the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders
of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets
remaining after payment of liabilities and any amounts due to
the holders of preferred stock. Holders of our common stock have
no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights. No redemption
or sinking fund provisions apply to our common stock. All of our
outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and
non-assessable.
Preferred
Stock
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of
directors, without stockholder approval, to designate and issue
up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more
series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions granted to or imposed upon each such series of
preferred stock, including voting rights, dividend rights,
conversion rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preference,
sinking fund terms, subscription rights and the number of shares
constituting any series or the designation of a series. Our
board of directors can issue, without stockholder approval,
preferred stock with voting and conversion rights that could
adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock
and reduce the likelihood that such holders will receive
dividend payments or payments upon liquidation. Such issuance
could have the effect of decreasing the market price of the
common stock. The issuance of preferred stock or even the
ability to issue preferred stock could also have the effect of
delaying, deterring or preventing a change of control or other
corporate action. As of January 20, 2011, no shares of
preferred stock were outstanding.
Registration
Rights
The holders of 52,390,352 shares of our common stock,
including certain of the selling stockholders, are entitled to
rights with respect to the registration under the Securities Act
of such shares of common stock. These registration rights are
contained in the Registration Rights Agreement entered into with
the former members of Molycorp, LLC in connection with our
corporate reorganization. See “Certain Relationships and
Related-Party Transactions — Registration
Rights.” The following description of the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement is intended as a summary only and
is qualified entirely by reference to the Registration Rights
Agreement filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of
which this prospectus forms a part.
128
Form S-1
Demand Registration Rights
At any time after February 3, 2011, the holders of shares
of our common stock having demand registration rights under the
Registration Rights Agreement have the right to require that we
register their shares of common stock on
Form S-1,
provided such holders hold least 10% or 5% (depending on the
stockholder) of the shares of our common stock outstanding
immediately after giving effect to the corporate reorganization
and the aggregate offering price to the public exceeds
$10,000,000. In the event that such demand registration rights
are exercised, stockholders party to the Registration Rights
Agreement have the right to participate in such offering. We are
only obligated to effect one registration on
Form S-1
for each holder of our common stock possessing such demand
registration rights. We may postpone the filing of a
registration statement for up to 90 days once in any
12-month
period if our board of directors determines in good faith that
the filing would be materially detrimental to our stockholders
or us. In an underwritten offering, the holders of shares of our
common stock having demand registration rights or the right to
participate in such offering will have priority over us in
including such shares in a registration statement filed in
response to the exercise of these demand registration rights. We
must pay all expenses, except for underwriters’ discounts,
selling commissions and the fees and expenses of each selling
stockholder’s own counsel, incurred in connection with the
exercise of these demand registration rights.
Form S-3
Demand Registration Rights
If we are eligible to file a registration statement on
Form S-3,
the stockholders with
Form S-3
registration rights under the Registration Rights Agreement can
request that we register their shares, provided that the total
price of the shares of common stock offered to the public
exceeds $5,000,000. In the event that such demand registration
rights are exercised, stockholders party to the Registration
Rights Agreement have the right to participate in such offering.
These
Form S-3
registration rights are wholly distinct from the
Form S-1
demand registration rights and piggyback registration rights
described in this section. We are obligated to effect an
unlimited number of registrations on
Form S-3
for each holder of our common stock possessing such demand
registration rights. A holder of
Form S-3
registration rights may not require us to file a registration
statement on
Form S-3
if we have already effected two registrations on
Form S-3
at the request of such holder in the last
12-month
period. We may postpone the filing of a
Form S-3
registration statement for up to 90 days once in any
12-month
period if our board of directors determines in good faith that
the filing would be materially detrimental to our stockholders
or us. In an underwritten offering, the holders of shares of our
common stock having demand registration rights or the right to
participate in such offering will have priority over us in
including such shares in a registration statement filed in
response to the exercise of these demand registration rights. We
must pay all expenses, except for underwriters’ discounts,
selling commissions and the fees and expenses of each selling
stockholder’s own counsel, incurred in connection with the
exercise of these demand registration rights.
Piggyback
Registration Rights
If we register any equity securities for public sale, other than
a registration statement filed on
Form S-1
or
Form S-3
pursuant to the stockholder demand registration rights described
above, the stockholders with piggyback registration rights under
the Registration Rights Agreement have the right to include
their shares in the registration, subject to specified
exceptions. In an underwritten offering, certain holders of
shares of our common stock having piggyback registration rights
will have priority over us in including such shares in the
applicable registration statement. We must pay all expenses,
except for underwriters’ discounts, selling commissions and
the fees and expenses of each selling stockholder’s own
counsel, incurred in connection with the exercise of these
piggyback registration rights.
Anti-Takeover
Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaw Provisions
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain several
provisions that may make it more difficult to acquire us by
means of a tender offer, open market purchase, proxy fight or
otherwise. These provisions and certain provisions of Delaware
law are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and
inadequate takeover bids.
129
These provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws
are designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of
us to negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that, as
a general rule, our interests and the interests of our
stockholders would be served best if any change in control
results from negotiations with our board of directors based upon
careful consideration of the proposed terms, such as the price
to be paid to stockholders, the form of consideration to be paid
and the anticipated tax effects of the transaction.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provisions could,
however, have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging
a prospective acquiror from making a tender offer for our shares
or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us. To the extent
that these provisions discourage takeover attempts, they could
deprive stockholders of opportunities to realize takeover
premiums for their shares. Moreover, these provisions could
discourage accumulations of large blocks of common stock, thus
depriving stockholders of any advantages which large
accumulations of stock might provide.
Set forth below is a summary of the relevant provisions of our
certificate of incorporation and bylaws and certain applicable
sections of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. For additional information we refer you to the
provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and
the sections of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
Delaware
Anti-Takeover Statute
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware regulating
corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203, subject to
certain exceptions, prohibits a publicly-held Delaware
corporation from engaging in any business combination with any
interested stockholder for a period of three years following the
date that such person or entity became an interested
stockholder, unless:
|
|
|
|
•
|
prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation
approved either the business combination or the transaction
which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested
stockholder;
|
|
|
•
|
upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the
stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested
stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the
corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced,
excluding specified shares; or
|
|
|
•
|
at or subsequent to such date of the transaction that resulted
in a person or entity becoming an interested stockholder, the
business combination is approved by the board of directors and
authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and
not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least
662/3%
of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the
interested stockholder.
|
The application of Section 203 may limit the ability of
stockholders to approve a transaction that they may deem to be
in their best interests. In addition, Section 203 makes it
more difficult for an interested stockholder to effect various
business combinations with a corporation for a three-year
period, although the stockholders may, by adopting an amendment
to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, elect not to be
governed by this section, effective 12 months after
adoption.
In general, Section 203 defines “business
combination” as:
|
|
|
|
•
|
any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the
interested stockholder;
|
|
|
•
|
any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation to
or with the interested stockholder;
|
|
|
•
|
subject to certain exceptions, any transaction which results in
the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the
corporation to the interested stockholder;
|
|
|
•
|
any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of
increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or
series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested
stockholder; or
|
|
|
•
|
the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any
loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits
provided by or through the corporation.
|
130
In general, Section 203 defines an “interested
stockholder” as any person that is:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the
corporation;
|
|
|
•
|
an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner
of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the
corporation at any time within three years immediately prior to
the relevant date; or
|
|
|
•
|
an affiliate or associate of the above.
|
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not exclude us
from the restrictions imposed under Section 203. We
anticipate that the provisions of Section 203 may encourage
companies interested in acquiring us to negotiate in advance
with our board of directors because the stockholder approval
requirement would be avoided if a majority of the directors then
in office approve either the business combination or the
transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an
interested stockholder.
Classified
Board of Directors
Our certificate of incorporation provides for our board of
directors to be divided into three classes of directors, as
nearly equal in number as possible, serving staggered terms.
Approximately one-third of our board of directors are elected
each year. Under Section 141 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware, unless the certificate of
incorporation provides otherwise, directors serving on a
classified board can only be removed for cause. Accordingly, our
directors may only be removed for cause. The provision for our
classified board of directors may be amended, altered or
repealed only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of
662/3%
of our outstanding voting stock.
The provision for a classified board of directors could prevent
a party that acquires control of a majority of the outstanding
voting stock from obtaining control of our board of directors
until the second annual stockholders meeting following the date
the acquiror obtains the controlling stock interest. The
classified board of directors provision could have the effect of
discouraging a potential acquiror from making a tender offer for
shares of common stock or otherwise attempting to obtain control
of us and could increase the likelihood that our incumbent
directors will retain their positions.
We believe that a classified board of directors helps to assure
the continuity and stability of our board and our business
strategies and policies as determined by our board of directors
because a majority of the directors at any given time will have
prior experience on our board. The classified board of directors
provision should also help to ensure that our board of
directors, if confronted with an unsolicited proposal from a
third party that has acquired a block of our voting stock, will
have sufficient time to review the proposal and appropriate
alternatives and to seek the best available result for all
stockholders.
Number
of Directors; Removal; Vacancies
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that the
number of directors shall be fixed by the affirmative vote of
our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of holders of
at least
662/3%
of our outstanding voting stock. The size of our board of
directors is currently fixed at eight directors.
Pursuant to our certificate of incorporation, each director will
serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified,
unless he or she resigns, dies, becomes disqualified or is
removed. Our certificate of incorporation also provides that,
subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred
stock, directors may be removed, but only for cause.
Our certificate of incorporation further provides that
generally, vacancies or newly created directorships in our board
may only be filled by a resolution approved by a majority of our
board of directors and any director so chosen will hold office
until the next election of the class for which such director was
chosen.
Stockholder
Action; Special Meetings
Our certificate of incorporation provides that stockholder
action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of
stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a
meeting. Our certificate of
131
incorporation and bylaws provide that, except as otherwise
required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can only
be called by the Chairman of our board of directors, our Chief
Executive Officer or our Secretary at the written request of a
majority of the number of directors that we would have if there
were no vacancies on our board of directors. Unless our board of
directors determines otherwise, the Chairman or another
designated officer has sole discretion to determine the order of
business and procedure at annual and special meetings of
stockholders. In addition, stockholders are not permitted to
call a special meeting or to require our board of directors to
call a special meeting. Stockholders also may not bring business
before a special meeting of stockholders.
Stockholder
Proposals and Nominations
Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business
before an annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate
candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of
stockholders must provide timely notice of such proposed
business in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice
generally must be delivered to or mailed and received at our
principal executive office not less than 90 days or more
than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the
preceding year’s annual meeting.
Our bylaws also provide certain requirements as to the form and
content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may
preclude stockholders from bringing matters before an annual
meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors
at an annual meeting of stockholders. A stockholder’s
notice must set forth, among other things, as to each business
matter or nomination the stockholder proposes to bring before
the meeting:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the name and address of the stockholder and the beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal or nomination is
made;
|
|
|
•
|
the class and number of shares that are owned of record and
beneficially by the stockholder proposing the business or
nominating the nominee;
|
|
|
•
|
a representation that the stockholder giving the notice is a
holder of record of shares of our voting stock entitled to vote
at such annual meeting and intends to appear in person or by
proxy at the annual meeting to propose the business or nominate
the person or persons specified in the notice, as
applicable; and
|
|
|
•
|
whether such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver
a proxy statement and forms of proxy to holders of at least the
percentage of shares of our voting stock required to approve
such proposal or nominate such nominee or nominees.
|
If the stockholder is nominating a candidate for director, the
stockholder’s notice must also include the name, age,
business address, residence address and occupation of the
nominee proposed by the stockholder and the signed consent of
the nominee to serve as a director on our board of directors if
so elected. The candidate may also be required to present
certain information and make certain representations and
agreements at our request.
In addition, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
under the Exchange Act with respect to matters relating to
nomination of candidates for directors.
Amendment
of Certificate of Incorporation
Except as otherwise provided by law or our certificate of
incorporation, our certificate of incorporation may be amended,
altered or repealed at a meeting of the stockholders provided
that such amendment has been described or referred to in the
notice of such meeting or a meeting of our board of directors.
Amendment
of Bylaws
Except as otherwise provided by law, our certificate of
incorporation or our bylaws, our bylaws may be amended, altered
or repealed at a meeting of the stockholders provided that such
amendment has been
132
described or referred to in the notice of such meeting or a
meeting of our board of directors, provided that no amendment
adopted by the board of directors may vary or conflict with any
amendment adopted by the stockholders in accordance with our
certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Computershare Inc., is the transfer agent and
registrar for our common stock.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol
“MCP.”
133
SHARES ELIGIBLE
FOR FUTURE SALE
Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the
public market, or the perception that substantial sales may
occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our
common stock or impair our ability to raise equity capital in
the future. Upon the completion of this offering, we will have
82,300,757 shares of our common stock outstanding. All of
these shares will generally be freely tradable, except for any
shares held by our “affiliates” as defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. The holders of
54,522,053 shares of common stock, some of whom are selling
stockholders, have signed
lock-up
agreements under which they have agreed, subject to certain
exceptions, including the sale of shares in this offering, not
to sell, transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of our common stock or any securities into or exercisable
or exchangeable for shares of our common stock without the prior
written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated for a period of
90 days, subject to a possible extension under certain
circumstances, after the date of this prospectus. After the
expiration of the
lock-up
period, these shares may be sold in the public market, subject
to prior registration or qualification for an exemption from
registration, including, in the case of shares held by
affiliates, compliance with the volume restrictions of
Rule 144 described below.
Additional shares of common stock will be issuable upon
conversion of the shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock issued in our offering of mandatory convertible preferred
stock. All of such shares of common stock will be available for
immediate resale in the public market upon conversion, except
for any such shares issued to persons who are subject to the
lock-up
arrangements described below, which shares will be subject to
the terms of such
lock-up
arrangements.
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144 as in effect on the date of this
prospectus, a person who is not one of our affiliates at any
time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has
beneficially owned shares of our common stock for at least six
months, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of shares
of our common stock provided that current public information
about us is available and, after owning such shares for at least
one year, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of
shares of our common stock without restriction. Our affiliates
who have beneficially owned restricted shares of common stock
for at least six months are entitled to sell within any
three-month period a number of restricted shares that does not
exceed the greater of:
|
|
|
|
•
|
1.0% of the number of shares of common stock then
outstanding; or
|
|
|
•
|
the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on the
NYSE during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a
notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.
|
Sales of restricted stock under Rule 144 by our affiliates
are also subject to manner of sale provisions, notice
requirements and the availability of current public information
about us.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act, any of
our directors, officers, employees, consultants or advisors who
purchase shares of common stock from us in connection with a
compensatory stock plan or other written agreement before the
effective date of this offering, to the extent not subject to a
lock-up
agreement, is eligible to resell those shares 90 days after
the effective date of this offering in reliance on
Rule 144, but without compliance with some of the
restrictions, including the holding period, contained in
Rule 144.
Lock-Up
Agreements
We, all of our executive officers and directors and all of the
selling stockholders have agreed that, without the prior written
consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated on
134
behalf of the underwriters, we and they will not, directly or
indirectly, during the period ending 90 days after the date
of this prospectus:
|
|
|
|
•
|
offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell,
grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or
otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of common stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock
or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for shares of common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock;
|
|
|
•
|
file any registration statement with the SEC relating to the
offering of any shares of common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to
another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences
of ownership of the common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or such other securities
|
whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by
delivery of common stock or mandatory convertible preferred
stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. In
addition, we and each such person agrees that, without the prior
written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the
underwriters, we or such person will not, during the period
ending 90 days after the date of this prospectus, make any
demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the
registration of any shares of common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock or any security convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock.
This agreement is subject to certain exceptions and is also
subject to extension for up to an additional 34 days, as
set forth in “Underwriting.”
Stock
Options and Other Equity Awards
On September 9, 2010, we filed a registration statement on
Form S-8
under the Securities Act covering the shares of common stock to
be issued pursuant to options and other equity awards granted
under our equity compensation plan. The registration statement
became effective upon filing. Accordingly, shares registered
under the registration statement on
Form S-8
are available for sale in the open market, after complying with
Rule 144 volume limitations applicable to affiliates and
with applicable
90-day
lock-up
agreements.
Registration
Rights
The holders of approximately 52,390,352 shares of common
stock, including certain of the selling stockholders, or their
transferees will be entitled to various rights with respect to
the registration of these shares under the Securities Act.
Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would
result in these shares becoming fully tradable without
restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the
effectiveness of the registration, except for shares purchased
by affiliates. See “Description of Capital
Stock — Registration Rights” for additional
information. Shares covered by a registration statement will be
eligible for sale in the public market upon the expiration or
release from the terms of any applicable
lock-up
agreement.
135
MATERIAL
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO
NON-U.S.
HOLDERS
General
The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and
disposition of our common stock by a
non-U.S. holder,
as defined below, that acquires our common stock pursuant to
this offering. This discussion assumes that a
non-U.S. holder
will hold our common stock issued pursuant to this offering as a
capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the
Code. This discussion does not address all aspects of
U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a
particular investor in light of the investor’s individual
circumstances. In addition, this discussion does not address
(i) U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift or
estate tax laws, (ii) state, local or
non-U.S. tax
consequences, (iii) the special tax rules that may apply to
certain investors, including, without limitation, banks,
insurance companies, financial institutions, controlled foreign
corporations, passive foreign investment companies,
broker-dealers, grantor trusts, personal holding companies,
taxpayers who have elected
mark-to-market
accounting, tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies,
real estate investment trusts, a partnership or other entity or
arrangement classified as a partnership for United States
federal income tax purposes or other pass-through entities, or
an investor in such entities or arrangements, or
U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the
United States, (iv) the special tax rules that may apply to
an investor that acquires, holds, or disposes of our common
stock as part of a straddle, hedge, constructive sale,
conversion or other integrated transaction, or (v) the
impact, if any, of the alternative minimum tax.
This discussion is based on current provisions of the Code,
applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder, judicial opinions, and published rulings of the
Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, all as in effect on the
date of this prospectus and all of which are subject to
differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive
effect. We have not sought, and will not seek, any ruling from
the IRS or any opinion of counsel with respect to the tax
consequences discussed herein, and there can be no assurance
that the IRS will not take a position contrary to the tax
consequences discussed below or that any position taken by the
IRS would not be sustained.
As used in this discussion, the term
“U.S. person” means a person that is, for
U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) a citizen or
individual resident of the United States, (ii) a
corporation (or other entity taxed as a corporation) created or
organized (or treated as created or organized) in the United
States or under the laws of the United States or any state
thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the
income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if (A) a
court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more
U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial
decisions of the trust, or (B) it has in effect a valid
election under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be
treated as a U.S. person. As used in this discussion, the
term
“non-U.S. holder”
means a beneficial owner of our common stock (other than a
partnership or other entity treated as a partnership or as a
disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes)
that is not a U.S. person.
The tax treatment of a partnership and each partner thereof will
generally depend upon the status and activities of the
partnership and such partner. A holder that is treated as a
partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a
partner in such partnership should consult its own tax advisor
regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences
applicable to it and its partners of the acquisition, ownership
and disposition of our common stock.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL
INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON
STOCK. IT IS NOT TAX ADVICE. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD
CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF
OUR COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY
STATE, LOCAL, AND
NON-U.S. TAX
LAWS, AS WELL AS U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE AND GIFT TAX LAWS, AND
ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
136
Income
Tax Consequences of an Investment in Common Stock
Distributions
on Common Stock
As discussed under “Dividend Policy,” we do not
anticipate paying dividends. If we pay cash or distribute
property to holders of shares of common stock, such
distributions generally will constitute dividends for
U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from
our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined
under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in
excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will
constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and
reduce (but not below zero) the holder’s adjusted tax basis
in our common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as
gain from the sale or exchange of the common stock and will be
treated as described under “— Gain or Loss on
Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common
Stock” below.
Dividends paid to a
non-U.S. holder
that are not effectively connected with the
non-U.S. holder’s
conduct of a trade or business in the United States generally
will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax
at a rate of 30% or such lower rate as may be specified by an
applicable income tax treaty. A
non-U.S. holder
that wishes to claim the benefit of an applicable tax treaty
withholding rate generally will be required to (i) complete
IRS
Form W-8BEN
(or other applicable form) and certify under penalties of
perjury that such holder is not a U.S. person and is
eligible for the benefits of the applicable tax treaty or
(ii) if our common stock is held through certain foreign
intermediaries, satisfy the relevant certification requirements
of applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations. These forms may
need to be periodically updated.
A
non-U.S. holder
eligible for a reduced rate of withholding of U.S. federal
income tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund
of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate
claim for refund with the IRS.
Non-U.S. holders
should consult their own tax advisors regarding their
entitlement to benefits under an applicable income tax treaty
and the manner of claiming the benefits of such treaty
(including, without limitation, the need to obtain a
U.S. taxpayer identification number).
Dividends that are effectively connected with a
non-U.S. holder’s
conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and, if
required by an applicable income tax treaty, attributable to a
permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the
non-U.S. holder
in the United States, are subject to U.S. federal income
tax on a net income basis at the U.S. federal income tax
rates generally applicable to a U.S. holder and are not
subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax, provided
that the
non-U.S. holder
establishes an exemption from such withholding by complying with
certain certification and disclosure requirements. Any such
effectively connected dividends (and, if required, dividends
attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed
base) received by a
non-U.S. holder
that is treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal
income tax purposes may be subject to an additional branch
profits tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be
specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
Gain
or Loss on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common
Stock
Any gain recognized by a
non-U.S. holder
on a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock
generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax,
unless:
(i) The gain is effectively connected with a trade or
business of the
non-U.S. holder
in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income
tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent
establishment or fixed base of the
non-U.S. holder);
(ii) The
non-U.S. holder
is an individual who is present in the United States for
183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition,
and certain other conditions are met; or
(iii) We are or have been a “U.S. real property
holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) for
U.S. federal income tax purposes and the
non-U.S. holder
is not eligible for any treaty exemption. However, the
non-U.S. holder
generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if
(i) our common stock is regularly traded on an established
securities market and (ii) the
non-U.S. holder
held, directly or indirectly, at any time during the five-year
period ending on the date of disposition, 5% or less of our
common stock. A corporation is generally a USRPHC if the fair
market value of its U.S. real property
137
interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market
value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other
assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We believe
that we currently are a USRPHC, and we expect to remain a
USRPHC. Our common stock is currently listed on the NYSE and we
believe that, for as long as we continue to be so listed, our
common stock will be treated as “regularly traded” on
an established market.
Any gain recognized by a
non-U.S. holder
that is described in clause (i) or (iii) of the
preceding paragraph generally will be subject to tax at the
U.S. federal income tax rates generally applicable to a
U.S. person and be required to file a U.S. tax return.
Such
non-U.S. holders
are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible
application of these rules. Any gain of a corporate
non-U.S. holder
that is described in clause (i) above may also be subject
to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate, or such lower
rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. An
individual
non-U.S. holder
that is described in clause (ii) of such paragraph
generally will be subject to a flat 30% tax (or a lower
applicable tax treaty rate) on the U.S. source capital gain
derived from the disposition, which may be offset by
U.S. source capital losses during the taxable year of the
disposition.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding
We generally must report annually to the IRS and to each
non-U.S. holder
of our common stock the amount of dividends paid to such holder
on our common stock and the tax, if any, withheld with respect
to those dividends. Copies of the information returns reporting
those dividends and withholding may also be made available to
the tax authorities in the country in which the
non-U.S. holder
is a resident under the provisions of an applicable income tax
treaty or agreement. Information reporting also is generally
required with respect to the proceeds from sales and other
dispositions of our common stock to or through the
U.S. office (and in certain cases, the foreign office) of a
broker.
Under some circumstances, U.S. Treasury Regulations require
backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax, currently at
a rate of 28%, on reportable payments with respect to our common
stock. A
non-U.S. holder
generally may eliminate the requirement for information
reporting (other than in respect to dividends, as described
above) and backup withholding by providing certification of its
foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed
applicable IRS
Form W-8
or by otherwise establishing an exemption. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, backup withholding and information reporting may
apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or
reason to know, that a holder is a U.S. person.
Backup withholding is not a tax. Rather, the amount of any
backup withholding will be allowed as a credit against a
non-U.S. holder’s
U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, and may entitle
such
non-U.S. holder
to a refund, provided that certain required information is
timely furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. holders
should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application
of backup withholding and the availability of and procedure for
obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in their
particular circumstances.
Additional
Withholding for Certain Payments to
Non-U.S.
Entities
Recently enacted legislation imposes, effective for payments
after December 31, 2012, a new 30% withholding tax on
certain dividends and proceeds from sale of stock for a
“foreign financial institution” unless such
institution enters into an agreement with the
U.S. government to collect and provide to the U.S. tax
authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account
holders of such institution (which would include certain account
holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners). The
legislation would also generally impose a withholding tax of 30%
on such dividends and proceeds paid to a
non-U.S. entity
that is not a “foreign financial institution” unless
such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification
identifying the direct and indirect U.S. owners of the
entity. Under certain circumstances, a
non-U.S. Holder
may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.
Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax
advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation
on their investment in shares of our stock.
138
UNDERWRITING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions in an underwriting
agreement dated the date of this prospectus, the underwriters
named below, for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated are acting as
representatives, have severally agreed to purchase, and the
selling stockholders have agreed to sell to them, severally, the
number of shares of common stock indicated below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
Name
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
|
|
|
|
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The underwriters and the representatives are collectively
referred to as the “underwriters” and the
“representatives,” respectively. The underwriters are
offering the shares of common stock subject to their acceptance
of the shares from the selling stockholders and subject to prior
sale. The obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and
accept delivery of the shares of common stock offered by this
prospectus are subject to the approval of certain legal matters
by their counsel and to certain other customary conditions. The
underwriting agreement provides for a firm commitment
underwriting, and the underwriters are obligated to take and pay
for all of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus
if any such shares are taken. However, the underwriters are not
required to take or pay for the shares covered by the
underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares
described below.
The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the shares
of common stock directly to the public at the offering price
listed on the cover page of this prospectus and part to certain
dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of
$ a share under the public
offering price. After the initial offering of the shares of
common stock, the offering price and other selling terms may
from time to time be varied by the representatives.
The selling stockholders have granted to the underwriters an
option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this
prospectus, to purchase up
to
additional shares of our common stock at the public offering
price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, less
underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may
exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering
over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering of
the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. To the
extent the option is exercised, each underwriter will become
obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase about the
same percentage of the additional shares of common stock as the
number listed next to the underwriter’s name in the
preceding table bears to the total number of shares of common
stock listed next to the names of all underwriters in the
preceding table.
The following table shows the per share and total public
offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions, and
proceeds before expenses to the selling stockholders. These
amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of
the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an
additional shares
of our common stock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
|
No Exercise
|
|
|
Full Exercise
|
|
|
Public offering price
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid by selling
stockholders
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to selling stockholders
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
The estimated offering expenses payable by us for this offering
and the offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock,
exclusive of the underwriting discounts and commissions payable
by us in the offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock,
are approximately
$ .
The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend sales
to discretionary accounts to exceed 5% of the total number of
shares of common stock offered by them.
139
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol
“MCP.”
We, all of our executive officers and directors and all of the
selling stockholders have agreed that, without the prior written
consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the
underwriters, we and they will not, during the period ending
90 days after the date of this prospectus (the
“restricted period”):
|
|
|
|
•
|
offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell,
grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or
otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of common stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock
or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for shares of common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock;
|
|
|
•
|
file any registration statement with the SEC relating to the
offering of any shares of common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to
another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences
of ownership of the common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or such other securities,
|
whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by
delivery of common stock or mandatory convertible preferred
stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
In addition, we and each such person agrees that, without the
prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the
underwriters, we or such person will not, during the restricted
period, make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect
to, the registration of any shares of common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock or any security convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock.
The restrictions described in the immediately preceding
paragraph do not apply to the sale of shares of common stock or
mandatory convertible preferred stock to the underwriters.
With respect to us, the restrictions described above do not
apply to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
issuances of shares of our common stock, options, warrants or
other equity awards relating to our common stock pursuant to our
stock incentive plan, provided that such shares, options,
warrants or other equity awards are restricted through the
restricted period;
|
|
|
•
|
issuances of shares of common stock upon conversion of, or in
connection with a dividend on, our mandatory convertible
preferred stock;
|
|
|
•
|
in the case of any existing warrant or option to purchase, or
other equity award for, shares of our common stock that is
disclosed in this prospectus, the issuance by us of shares of
common stock upon the exercise or vesting of such warrant,
option or equity award, as the case may be, provided that no
filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall
be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with any
such issuance by us during the restricted period;
|
|
|
•
|
issuances of shares of our common stock, mandatory convertible
preferred stock, options, warrants or other convertible
securities relating to our common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock in connection with any bona fide merger,
acquisition, business combination, joint venture or strategic or
commercial relationship to a third party or group of third
parties, of which issuances the underwriters have been advised
in advance, provided that the aggregate amount of securities so
issued during the restricted period is not equal to greater than
15% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding on
the date of this prospectus and the recipient of such securities
shall agree to be bound by the restrictions described
above; or
|
140
|
|
|
|
•
|
the filing of a registration statement on
Form S-8
or other appropriate forms as required by the Securities Act,
and any amendments thereto, relating to our common stock or
other equity-based securities issuable pursuant to the Plan.
|
With respect to our directors, officers and the other holders of
our outstanding stock, the restrictions described above do not
apply to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the exercise of a warrant or an option to purchase, or other
equity award for, shares of our common stock (provided that any
shares of common stock received pursuant to such exercise are
subject to the same restrictions as those described above);
|
|
|
•
|
in the case of an option expiring during the restricted period,
the sale or transfer of shares of our common stock to satisfy
any payment or withholding obligations in connection with the
exercise of an option to purchase, or other equity award for,
shares of our common stock, or in connection with any cashless
exercise of a warrant to purchase shares of our common stock;
|
|
|
•
|
transactions relating to shares of our common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock or other securities acquired in open
market transactions after the completion of this offering
(provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in
connection with subsequent sales of common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock or other securities acquired in such
open market transactions);
|
|
|
•
|
transfers of shares of our common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or any security convertible into our common
stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock (a) as a
bona fide gift, (b) to any affiliate of the director,
officer, or other holder of our outstanding common stock,
(c) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the
director, officer or such other holder of our outstanding stock
or an immediate family member of such individual or (d) to
any immediate family member of the director, officer or such
other holder of our outstanding stock, except that (c) and
(d) do not apply to our stockholders that are not
individuals;
|
|
|
•
|
transfers of shares of our common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or any security convertible into our common
stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock pursuant to the
laws of descent or distribution, except that this exception does
not apply to our stockholders that are not individuals;
|
|
|
•
|
in the case of our stockholders that are not individuals only,
distributions of shares of our common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock or any security convertible into
shares of our common stock or mandatory convertible preferred
stock by a stockholder to any partner, member or stockholders of
such stockholder; and
|
|
|
•
|
the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to
Rule 10b5-1
under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of our common
stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock (provided that
such plan does not provide for the transfer of shares of our
common stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock during the
restricted period and no public announcement or filing under the
Exchange Act regarding the establishment of such plan shall be
required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the director
of officer or us during the restricted period);
|
provided that, in the case of any transfer or distribution
pursuant to the fourth, fifth or sixth bullet above,
(x) each transferee shall sign and deliver a
lock-up
letter substantially in the form of the
lock-up
letter signed by the director or officer and (y) no filing
under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a
reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock
or mandatory convertible preferred stock, shall be required or
shall be voluntarily made during the restricted period.
The restricted period described in the preceding paragraph will
be extended if:
|
|
|
|
•
|
during the last 17 days of the restricted period we issue
an earnings release or material news event relating to us
occurs, or
|
141
|
|
|
|
•
|
prior to the expiration of the restricted period, we announce
that we will release earnings results during the 16- day period
beginning on the last day of the restricted period, in which
case the restrictions described in the preceding paragraph will
continue to apply until the expiration of the
18-day
period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the
occurrence of the material news or material event.
|
In order to facilitate this offering of the common stock, the
underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain
or otherwise affect the price of the common stock. Specifically,
the underwriters may sell more shares than they are obligated to
purchase under the underwriting agreement, creating a short
position. A short sale is covered if the short position is no
greater than the number of shares available for purchase by the
underwriters under the over-allotment option. The underwriters
can close out a covered short sale by exercising the
over-allotment option or purchasing shares in the open market.
In determining the source of shares to close out a covered short
sale, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the
open market price of shares compared to the price available
under the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also sell
shares in excess of the over-allotment option, creating a naked
short position. The underwriters must close out any naked short
position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short
position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are
concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of
the common stock in the open market after pricing that could
adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. As an
additional means of facilitating this offering, the underwriters
may bid for, and purchase, shares of common stock in the open
market to stabilize the price of the common stock. These
activities may raise or maintain the market price of the common
stock above independent market levels or prevent or retard a
decline in the market price of the common stock. The
underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and
may end any of these activities at any time.
We and the selling stockholders on the one hand, and the
underwriters on the other hand, have agreed to indemnify each
other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on
websites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling
group members, if any, participating in this offering. The
representatives may agree to allocate a number of shares of
common stock to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage
account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the
representatives to underwriters that may make Internet
distributions on the same basis as other allocations.
Other
Relationships
Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates
have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future
perform, various financial advisory and investment banking
services for us, for which they received or will receive
customary fees and expenses.
European
Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area
which has implemented the Prospectus Directive, each underwriter
has represented and agreed that with effect from and including
the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in
that Member State it has not made and will not make an offer of
Shares to the public in that Member State, except that it may,
with effect from and including such date, make an offer of
Shares to the public in that Member State:
(a) at any time to legal entities which are authorized or
regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so
authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to
invest in securities;
(b) at any time to any legal entity which has two or more
of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the
last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than
€43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more
than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or
consolidated accounts; or
(c) at any time in any other circumstances which do not
require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to
Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
142
For the purposes of the above, the expression an “offer of
Shares to the public” in relation to any Shares in any
Member State means the communication in any form and by any
means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and
the Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide
to purchase or subscribe the Shares, as the same may be varied
in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus
Directive in that Member State and the expression Prospectus
Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant
implementing measure in that Member State.
United
Kingdom
Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has only
communicated or caused to be communicated and will only
communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or
inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning
of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000) in connection with the issue or sale of the shares of
our common stock in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of
such Act does not apply to us and it has complied and will
comply with all applicable provisions of such Act with respect
to anything done by it in relation to any Shares in, from or
otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
143
CHANGE IN
ACCOUNTANTS
On January 14, 2010, Molycorp, LLC’s board of
directors approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2008 and for the year ended December 31,
2009. Prior to their engagement on January 14, 2010,
neither we nor anyone on our behalf consulted with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding: (i) the application
of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either
completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might
be rendered on our financial statements, and neither a written
report was provided to us nor oral advice was provided that
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP concluded was an important factor
considered by us in reaching a decision as to any accounting,
auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter
that was either the subject of a disagreement (as that term is
defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of
Regulation S-K
and the related instructions to Item 304 of
Regulation S-K)
or a reportable event (as that term is defined in
Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-K).
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the issuance of our securities offered by this
prospectus will be passed upon for us by Jones Day. Certain
legal matters relating to this offering will be passed on for
the underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New
York, New York.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31,
2009 and 2008, and for the year ended December 31, 2009,
the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2008, and cumulatively for the period from
June 12, 2008 (Inception) through December 31, 2009
included in this prospectus, have been so included in reliance
on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of
such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The information appearing in this prospectus concerning
estimates of our proven and probable REO reserves and
non-reserve REO deposits for the Mountain Pass facility was
derived from the report of SRK Consulting, independent mining
consultants, and has been included herein upon the authority of
SRK Consulting as experts with respect to the matters covered by
such report and in giving such report.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on
Form S-1
under the Securities Act to register our securities being
offered in this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a
part of the registration statement, does not contain all the
information set forth in the registration statement or the
exhibits and schedules filed thereto. For further information
about us and the securities offered by this prospectus, we refer
you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules
filed with the registration statement. Any statement contained
in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any
other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration
statement is not necessarily complete and each such statement is
qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such
contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement.
You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC,
including the registration statement, at the SEC’s Public
Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the
operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains
reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers,
like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of
that website is
http://www.sec.gov.
Information on or accessible through the SEC’s website is
not a part of this prospectus.
We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the
Exchange Act, as amended, and file reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements
and other information are available for inspection and copying
at the public reference room and website of the SEC referred to
above.
144
GLOSSARY
OF SELECTED MINING TERMS
The following is a glossary of selected mining terms used in
this prospectus that may be technical in nature:
|
|
|
Assay |
|
The analysis of the proportions of metals in ore, or the testing
of an ore or mineral for composition, purity, weight, or other
properties of commercial interest. |
|
Bastnasite |
|
Bastnasite is a mixed Lanthanide fluoro-carbonate mineral (Ln F
CO3) that currently provides the bulk of the world’s supply
of the light REEs. Bastnasite and monazite are the two most
common sources of cerium and other REEs. Bastnasite is found in
carbonatites, igneous carbonate rocks that melt at unusually low
temperatures. |
|
Cerium |
|
Cerium (Ce) is a soft, silvery, ductile metal which easily
oxidizes in air. Cerium is the most abundant of the REEs, and is
found in a number of minerals, including monazite and bastnasite. |
|
Concentrate |
|
A mineral processing product that generally describes the
material that is produced after crushing and grinding ore
effecting significant separation of gangue (waste) minerals from
the metal and/or metal minerals, and discarding the waste and
minor amounts of metal and/or metal minerals. The resulting
“concentrate” of minerals typically has an order of
magnitude higher content of minerals than the beginning ore
material. |
|
Cut-off grade |
|
The lowest grade of mineralized material that qualifies as ore
in a given deposit. The grade above which minerals are
considered economically mineable considering the following
parameters: estimates over the relevant period of mining costs,
ore treatment costs, general and administrative costs, refining
costs, royalty expenses, by-product credits, process and
refining recovery rates and price. |
|
Didymium |
|
Didymium is a combination of neodymium and praseodymium,
approximately 75% neodymium and approximately 25% praseodymium. |
|
Dysprosium |
|
Dysprosium (Dy) is used in high power neodymium iron boron
magnets to enhance thermal stability. |
|
Europium |
|
Europium (Eu) is desirable due to its photon emission.
Excitation of the europium atom, by absorption of electrons or
by UV radiation, results in changes in energy levels that create
a visible emission. Almost all practical uses of europium
utilize this luminescent behavior. |
|
Gadolinium |
|
Gadolinium (Gd) is a silvery-white, malleable and ductile
rare-earth metal. Gadolinium has exceptionally high absorption
of neutrons and therefore is used for shielding in neutron
radiography and in nuclear reactors. Because of its paramagnetic
properties, solutions of organic gadolinium complexes and
gadolinium compounds are the most popular intravenous medical
magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents in MRI. |
|
Grade |
|
The average REE content, as determined by assay of a ton of ore. |
|
Lanthanum |
|
Lanthanum (La) is the first member of the Lanthanide series.
Lanthanum is a strategically important rare earth element due to
its use in fluid bed cracking catalysts, FCCs, which are used in
the production of transportation and aircraft fuel. Lanthanum is
also used in fuel cells and batteries. |
|
Mill |
|
A processing plant that produces a concentrate of the valuable
minerals contained in an ore. |
|
Mineralization |
|
The concentration of metals and their compounds in rocks, and
the processes involved therein. |
G-1
|
|
|
Monazite |
|
Monazite is a reddish-brown phosphate mineral. Monazite minerals
are typically accompanied by concentrations of uranium and
thorium. Because of this, there is no significant rare earth
production from monazite today. Monazite is becoming more
attractive because it typically has elevated concentrations of
heavy rare earths. |
|
Neodymium |
|
Neodymium (Nd) is used in the production of NdFeB permanent
magnets. These permanent magnets, which maximize the power/cost
ratio, are used in a large variety of motors and mechanical
systems. Cellular phones, vehicle systems and certain lasers
contain both neodymium magnets and capacitors, which produce
powerful electronic generation and boost the power of these
devices. |
|
Ore |
|
That part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and
legally extracted or produced at the time of reserve
determination. |
|
Overburden |
|
In surface mining, overburden is the material that overlays an
ore deposit. Overburden is removed prior to mining. |
|
Praseodymium |
|
Praseodymium (Pr) comprising about 4% of the lanthanide content
of bastnasite, is a common coloring pigment. Along with
neodymium, praseodymium is used to filter certain wavelengths of
light. Praseodymium is used in photographic filters, airport
signal lenses, and welder’s glasses. As part of an alloy,
praseodymium is used in permanent magnet systems designed to
make smaller and lighter motors. Praseodymium is also used in
automobile and other internal combustion engine pollution
control catalysts. |
|
Probable reserves |
|
Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are
computed from information similar to that used for proven
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. |
|
Proven reserves |
|
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. |
|
Recovery |
|
The percentage of contained metal actually extracted from ore in
the course of processing such ore. |
|
Reserves |
|
That part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and
legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve
determination. |
|
Samarium |
|
Samarium (Sm) is a silvery-white metallic element that is
predominantly used to produce high temperature, high power
samarium cobalt. |
|
Strike |
|
The direction of the line of intersection of a REE deposit with
the horizontal plane of the ground. The strike of a deposit is
the direction of a straight line that connects two points of
equal elevation on the deposit. |
|
Tailings |
|
That portion of the mined material that remains after the
valuable minerals have been extracted. |
|
Terbium |
|
Terbium (Tb) is a soft, malleable, silvery-grey element of the
lanthanide series, used in x-ray and color television tubes. |
|
Yttrium |
|
Yttrium (Y) is predominantly utilized in auto-catalysts.
Other uses include resonators, microwave communication devices
and other electronic devices. |
G-2
INDEX TO
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-2
|
|
|
|
|
F-3
|
|
|
|
|
F-4
|
|
|
|
|
F-5
|
|
|
|
|
F-6
|
|
|
|
|
F-7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-20
|
|
|
|
|
F-21
|
|
|
|
|
F-22
|
|
|
|
|
F-23
|
|
|
|
|
F-24
|
|
F-1
Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Members of Molycorp, LLC:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and
the related consolidated statements of operations, of
members’ equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Molycorp, LLC and
its wholly-owned subsidiary (a development stage company) at
December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for the year ended
December 31, 2009, the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2008, and cumulatively for
the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We
conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the
standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An
audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Phoenix, Arizona
April 16, 2010, except for
Note 12(c) for which the
date is as of July 9, 2010
F-2
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
6,929
|
|
|
$
|
2,189
|
|
Trade accounts receivable
|
|
|
1,221
|
|
|
|
1,346
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
8,545
|
|
|
|
2,990
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other
|
|
|
1,825
|
|
|
|
2,185
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
18,520
|
|
|
|
8,710
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
$
|
66,352
|
|
|
$
|
63,053
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
12,090
|
|
|
|
13,122
|
|
Investment in joint venture
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
9,700
|
|
Intangible asset, net
|
|
|
704
|
|
|
|
770
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
|
79,146
|
|
|
|
86,645
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
97,666
|
|
|
$
|
95,355
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade accounts payable
|
|
$
|
2,886
|
|
|
$
|
2,250
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
5,963
|
|
|
|
1,446
|
|
Current portion of asset retirement obligation
|
|
|
693
|
|
|
|
387
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
9,542
|
|
|
|
4,083
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset retirement obligation
|
|
$
|
13,509
|
|
|
$
|
13,196
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
23,051
|
|
|
|
17,279
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members’ equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid-in capital
|
|
|
117,276
|
|
|
|
92,150
|
|
Deficit accumulated during the development stage
|
|
|
(42,661
|
)
|
|
|
(14,074
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members’ equity
|
|
|
74,615
|
|
|
|
78,076
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and members’ equity
|
|
$
|
97,666
|
|
|
$
|
95,355
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
(In thousands, except share and per
share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Through
|
|
|
Through
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
7,093
|
|
|
$
|
2,137
|
|
|
$
|
9,230
|
|
Operating costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(21,785
|
)
|
|
|
(13,027
|
)
|
|
|
(34,812
|
)
|
Selling, general, and administrative
|
|
|
(12,685
|
)
|
|
|
(2,979
|
)
|
|
|
(15,664
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(191
|
)
|
|
|
(19
|
)
|
|
|
(210
|
)
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
(1,006
|
)
|
|
|
(250
|
)
|
|
|
(1,256
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(28,574
|
)
|
|
|
(14,138
|
)
|
|
|
(42,712
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income
|
|
|
181
|
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
235
|
|
Interest income (expense)
|
|
|
(194
|
)
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
(184
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(28,587
|
)
|
|
$
|
(14,074
|
)
|
|
$
|
(42,661
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
38,921,015
|
|
|
|
38,234,354
|
|
|
|
38,676,385
|
|
Loss per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
(0.73
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.37
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.10
|
)
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.73
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.37
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.10
|
)
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
(In thousands, except share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
During the
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Paid-in
|
|
|
Development
|
|
|
Members’
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Stage
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Balance at June 12, 2008 (Inception)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Issuance of common shares
|
|
|
38,168,423
|
|
|
|
92,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
92,000
|
|
Employee compensation agreement
|
|
|
65,931
|
|
|
|
150
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
150
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(14,074
|
)
|
|
|
(14,074
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
38,234,354
|
|
|
|
92,150
|
|
|
|
(14,074
|
)
|
|
|
78,076
|
|
Issuance of shares
|
|
|
3,785,954
|
|
|
|
18,004
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
18,004
|
|
Conversion of short-term borrowings from member plus related
accrued interest into common shares
|
|
|
2,267,750
|
|
|
|
6,831
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
6,831
|
|
Exercise of employee options
|
|
|
20,746
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
Employee compensation agreement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
241
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
241
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(28,587
|
)
|
|
|
(28,587
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2009
|
|
|
44,308,804
|
|
|
$
|
117,276
|
|
|
$
|
(42,661
|
)
|
|
$
|
74,615
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Through
|
|
|
Through
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(28,587
|
)
|
|
$
|
(14,074
|
)
|
|
$
|
(42,661
|
)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
3,896
|
|
|
|
936
|
|
|
|
4,832
|
|
Accretion of asset retirement obligation
|
|
|
1,006
|
|
|
|
250
|
|
|
|
1,256
|
|
Non-cash inventory write-downs
|
|
|
9,035
|
|
|
|
9,509
|
|
|
|
18,544
|
|
Non-cash stock compensation expense
|
|
|
241
|
|
|
|
150
|
|
|
|
391
|
|
Loss on sale of assets
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
|
(1,897
|
)
|
|
|
(1,772
|
)
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
345
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
345
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
(13,557
|
)
|
|
|
(3,440
|
)
|
|
|
(16,997
|
)
|
Prepaid expenses
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
(1,634
|
)
|
|
|
(1,619
|
)
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
(254
|
)
|
|
|
642
|
|
|
|
388
|
|
Asset retirement obligation
|
|
|
(387
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(387
|
)
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
5,749
|
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
|
|
7,967
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(22,371
|
)
|
|
|
(7,340
|
)
|
|
|
(29,711
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of the Mountain Pass facility
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(82,150
|
)
|
|
|
(82,150
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of investment in joint venture
|
|
|
9,700
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
9,700
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
(7,285
|
)
|
|
|
(321
|
)
|
|
|
(7,606
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of assets
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
2,420
|
|
|
|
(82,471
|
)
|
|
|
(80,051
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital contributions from members
|
|
|
18,004
|
|
|
|
92,000
|
|
|
|
110,004
|
|
Proceeds from exercise of options
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
Short-term borrowings from member
|
|
|
6,637
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
6,637
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
24,691
|
|
|
|
92,000
|
|
|
|
116,691
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
4,740
|
|
|
|
2,189
|
|
|
|
6,929
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
|
|
|
2,189
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
|
|
$
|
6,929
|
|
|
$
|
2,189
|
|
|
$
|
6,929
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of short-term borrowings from member plus accrued
interest, into common shares
|
|
$
|
6,831
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
Molycorp, LLC (the “Company” or “Molycorp”)
was formed on September 9, 2009, as a Delaware limited
liability company. Upon such formation, the members of Molycorp
Minerals, LLC (“Molycorp Minerals”) exchanged their
ownership interests for ownership interests in Molycorp. These
transactions were accounted for as a reorganization of entities
under common control at historical cost. Accordingly, the
accompanying financial information for periods prior to
Molycorp’s formation is the historical financial
information of Molycorp Minerals.
Molycorp Minerals, previously known as Rare Earth Acquisition
LLC (which was formed on June 12, 2008), acquired the
Mountain Pass, California rare earth deposit and associated
assets (the “Mountain Pass facility”) and assumed
certain liabilities from Chevron Mining, Inc.
(“Chevron”) on September 30, 2008.
The Mountain Pass facility is located in San Bernardino
County, California and is the only significant developed rare
earth resource in the western world. Rare earth elements
(“REEs”) are a group of specialty elements with unique
properties that make them critical to many existing and emerging
applications including:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Clean-energy technologies such as hybrid and electric vehicles,
wind turbines and compact florescent lighting;
|
|
|
•
|
High-technology applications including cell phones, personal
digital assistant devices, digital music players, hard disk
drives used in computers, computing devices, “ear bud”
speakers and microphones, as well as fiber optics, lasers and
optical temperature sensors;
|
|
|
•
|
Critical defense applications such as guidance and control
systems, communications, global positioning systems, radar and
sonar; and
|
|
|
•
|
Advanced water treatment applications including those for
industrial, military, homeland security, domestic and foreign
aid use.
|
The REE group includes 17 elements, namely the
15 lanthanide elements, which are lanthanum, cerium,
praseodymium, promethium (which does not occur naturally),
neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium,
holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium, and two
elements that have similar chemical properties to the lanthanide
elements — yttrium and scandium. The oxides produced
from processing REEs are collectively referred to as rare earth
oxides (“REOs”). Bastnasite is a mineral that contains
REEs.
Operations at the Mountain Pass facility began in 1952 under
Molybdenum Corporation of America (“MCA”). MCA was
purchased by Union Oil of California (“Unocal”) in
1977. In 2002, mining operations were suspended at the Mountain
Pass facility primarily due to softening prices for REOs and a
lack of additional tailings disposal capacity. Chevron
Corporation purchased Unocal in 2005.
Prior to the acquisition, operations at the Mountain Pass
facility had been suspended with the exception of a pilot
processing project to recover neodymium from lanthanum
stockpiles produced prior to Chevron’s ownership of the
Mountain Pass facility. The neodymium from lanthanum
(“NFL”) pilot processing project was undertaken to
improve the facility’s REE processing techniques. For the
year ended December 31, 2009 and the period from
June 12, 2008 (Inception) through December 31, 2008,
revenue was generated primarily from the sale of products
associated with the NFL pilot processing project.
|
|
(2)
|
Basis of
Presentation
|
The Company’s acquisition of the Mountain Pass facility has
been accounted for as an acquisition of net assets and not a
business combination. As described below, the Company’s
current business plan includes investing substantial capital to
restart mining operations, construct and refurbish processing
facilities and other
F-7
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
infrastructure, and to expand into metal and alloy production.
Molycorp will continue as a development stage company until
these activities have been completed which is currently expected
by the end of 2012.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of the Company and its
wholly-owned
subsidiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation.
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through
April 16, 2010, which is the date the accompanying
financial statements were available to be issued.
|
|
(3)
|
Liquidity
and Capital Requirements
|
Most of the facilities and equipment acquired with the Mountain
Pass facility are at least 20 years old and must be
modernized or replaced. Under its current business plan, the
Company intends to spend approximately $511 million through
2012 to restart mining operations, construct and refurbish
processing facilities and other infrastructure at the Mountain
Pass facility and expand into metal and alloy production.
Capital expenditures under this plan total approximately
$53 million in 2010. The Company expects to finance these
expenditures, as well as its working capital requirements, with
proceeds from planned public
and/or
private offerings of its securities or project financing. There
can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in the
anticipated offerings or that it will be successful in raising
additional capital in the future on terms acceptable to the
Company, or at all.
If the Company is unable to raise sufficient capital through the
planned securities offerings, additional capital contributions
from existing members or other alternative sources of financing,
management will implement a short-term business plan in 2010.
Under this plan, capital expenditures will be curtailed at
mid-year and
limited operations at the Mountain Pass facility will continue
through December 31, 2010. The Company believes that it
will be able to fund the short-term business plan with existing
cash and cash equivalents, which totaled $6.9 million at
December 31, 2009, and funding commitments from its members
totaling $20.0 million.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a
going concern basis under which the Company is expected to be
able to realize its assets and satisfy its liabilities in the
normal course of business. To continue as a going concern beyond
2010 and in order to continue the restart of mining operations
and modernization of the Mountain Pass facility, the Company
will need to complete the planned securities offerings or obtain
alternative sources of financing. Absent additional financing,
the Company will not have the resources to execute its current
business plan.
|
|
(4)
|
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
|
The preparation of the financial statements, in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of
America, requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its
estimates on the Company’s historical experience and on
various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable
under the circumstances. Actual results may differ significantly
from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.
Significant estimates made by management in the accompanying
financial statements include the allocation of the purchase
price for the Mountain Pass facility to the assets acquired and
liabilities assumed, the collectability of accounts receivable,
the recoverability of inventory, the useful lives and
recoverability of long-lived assets such as property, plant and
equipment and intangible asset, and the adequacy of the
F-8
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
Company’s asset retirement obligations. The current
economic environment has increased the degree of uncertainty
inherent in these estimates and the underlying assumptions.
|
|
(b)
|
Revenue
and Cost of Goods Sold
|
Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement
exists, the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred
to the customer, which is generally when title passes, the
selling price is fixed or determinable, and collection is
reasonably assured. Title generally passes upon shipment of
product from the Mountain Pass facility. Prices are generally
set at the time of, or prior to, shipment. Transportation and
distribution costs are incurred only on sales for which the
Company is responsible for delivering the product. Our reported
revenues are presented net of freight and shipping costs.
Cost of goods sold includes the cost of production as well as
inventory write-downs caused by market price declines. Primary
production costs include labor, supplies, maintenance costs,
depreciation, and plant overhead.
The Company considers cash and all highly liquid investments
with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash
equivalents.
|
|
(d)
|
Trade
Accounts Receivable
|
Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount
and do not bear interest. The Company reviews its allowance for
doubtful accounts on a quarterly basis. As of December 31,
2009 and 2008, an allowance for doubtful accounts was not
required.
Inventories consist of
work-in-process,
finished goods, stockpiles of bastnasite and lanthanum
concentrate, and materials and supplies. Inventory cost is
determined using the lower of weighted average cost or estimated
net realizable value. Inventory expected to be sold in the next
12 months is classified as a current asset in the
consolidated balance sheet.
Write-downs to estimated net realizable value are charged to
cost of goods sold. Many factors influence the market prices for
REOs and, in the absence of established prices contained in
customer contracts, management uses an independent pricing
source to evaluate market prices for REOs at the end of each
quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the period
from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through December 31,
2008, and cumulatively for the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2009, the Company
recognized write-downs of $9.0 million, $9.5 million
and $18.5 million, respectively, as a result of declines in
REO market prices.
The Company evaluates the carrying value of materials and supply
inventories each quarter giving consideration to slow-moving
items, obsolescence, excessive levels, and other factors and
recognizes related write-downs as necessary.
F-9
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
At December 31, 2009 and 2008, inventory consisted of the
following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Current:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Work in process
|
|
$
|
4,797
|
|
|
$
|
52
|
|
Finished goods
|
|
|
2,685
|
|
|
|
1,635
|
|
Materials and supplies
|
|
|
1,063
|
|
|
|
1,303
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current
|
|
$
|
8,545
|
|
|
|
2,990
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long term:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Concentrate stockpiles
|
|
$
|
11,844
|
|
|
$
|
11,862
|
|
Work in process
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
681
|
|
Finished goods
|
|
|
246
|
|
|
|
579
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long term
|
|
$
|
12,090
|
|
|
$
|
13,122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
Property,
Plant and Equipment, net
|
Property, plant and equipment associated with the acquisition of
the Mountain Pass facility is stated at estimated fair value as
of the acquisition date. Expenditures for new property, plant
and equipment and improvements that extend the useful life or
functionality of the asset are capitalized. The Company incurred
$7.1 million in plant modernization costs in 2009, and
anticipates incurring approximately $474 million in plant
modernization costs from 2010 through 2012. Depreciation on
plant and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method
over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation
expense for the year ended December 31, 2009, the period
from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through December 31,
2008, and cumulatively for the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2009, was
$3.9 million, $0.9 million and $4.8 million,
respectively. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as
incurred.
Mineral properties at December 31, 2009 and 2008, represent
the estimated fair value of the mineral resources associated
with the Mountain Pass facility. The Company will begin to
amortize such mineral properties using the units of production
method over estimated proven and probable reserves once mining
operations resume, which is currently expected to occur in late
2010.
At December 31, 2009 and 2008, property, plant and
equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Land
|
|
$
|
800
|
|
|
$
|
800
|
|
Land improvements (15 years)
|
|
|
17,954
|
|
|
|
17,923
|
|
Buildings and improvements (4 to 27 years)
|
|
|
8,458
|
|
|
|
8,335
|
|
Plant and equipment (2 to 12 years)
|
|
|
12,065
|
|
|
|
11,692
|
|
Vehicles (7 years)
|
|
|
1,023
|
|
|
|
1,031
|
|
Computer software (5 years)
|
|
|
1,116
|
|
|
|
164
|
|
Furniture and fixtures (5 years)
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
39
|
|
Construction in progress
|
|
|
6,506
|
|
|
|
851
|
|
Mineral properties
|
|
|
23,138
|
|
|
|
23,138
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment at cost
|
|
|
71,101
|
|
|
|
63,973
|
|
Less accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(4,749
|
)
|
|
|
(920
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
$
|
66,352
|
|
|
$
|
63,053
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-10
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
In accordance with ASC 360, Property Plant and
Equipment, long-lived assets such as property, plant, and
equipment, mineral properties and purchased intangible assets
subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company did not
recognize any impairment for the year ended December 31,
2009 or the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2008.
The Company acquired its trade name in connection with the
Mountain Pass facility acquisition. Amortization is provided
using the straight-line method based on an estimated useful life
of 12 years. Amortization expense for the year ended
December 31, 2009, the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2008, and cumulatively for
the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2009 was $65,000, $17,000, and $82,000,
respectively. Amortization expense is estimated to be $65,000
annually for the following five years.
|
|
(h)
|
Investment
in Joint Venture
|
In connection with the Mountain Pass facility acquisition, the
Company acquired a one third interest in a joint venture with
Sumitomo Metals Industries, Ltd. of Japan (Sumitomo) called
Sumikin Molycorp (SMO). The Company sold its interest in the
joint venture to Sumitomo on July 9, 2009 for cash
consideration of $9.7 million and recognized no gain.
Accrued expenses as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 consisted
of the following: (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Waste disposal accrual
|
|
$
|
1,500
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Completion bonus
|
|
|
1,445
|
|
|
|
650
|
|
Defined contribution plan
|
|
|
988
|
|
|
|
192
|
|
Other accrued expenses
|
|
|
2,030
|
|
|
|
604
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total accrued expenses
|
|
$
|
5,963
|
|
|
$
|
1,446
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(j)
|
Asset
Retirement Obligation
|
The Company accounts for reclamation costs, along with other
costs related to the closure of the Mountain Pass facility, in
accordance with
ASC 410-20
Asset Retirement Obligations. This standard requires the
Company to recognize asset retirement obligations at estimated
fair value in the period in which the obligation is incurred.
The Company recognized an asset retirement obligation and
corresponding asset retirement cost of $13.3 million in
connection with the Mountain Pass facility acquisition. The
liability was initially measured at fair value and is
subsequently adjusted for accretion expense and changes in the
amount or timing of the estimated cash flows. The asset
retirement cost was capitalized as part of the carrying amount
of the related long-lived assets and is being depreciated over
the assets’ remaining useful lives. Depreciation expense
associated with the asset retirement cost was $1.2 million,
$0.3 million and $1.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2009, the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2008, and
F-11
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
cumulatively for the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception)
through December 31, 2009, respectively. The following
table presents the activity in our asset retirement obligation
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Through
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
Balance at beginning of period
|
|
$
|
13,583
|
|
|
$
|
13,333
|
|
Obligations settled
|
|
|
(387
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
1,006
|
|
|
|
250
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at end of period
|
|
$
|
14,202
|
|
|
$
|
13,583
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company is required to provide the applicable governmental
agencies with financial assurances relating to its closure and
reclamation obligations. As of December 31, 2008, the
Company had financial assurance requirements of
$26.3 million which were satisfied by instruments obtained
by Chevron. In March 2009, the Company replaced these
instruments with surety bonds secured by letters of credit or
cash collateral provided by the individual members. As of
December 31, 2009, the Company had financial assurance
requirements of $27.4 million, which were satisfied with
surety bonds placed with the California state and regional
agencies.
As a limited liability company, the Company does not incur or
pay federal or state income taxes. Rather, taxable income and
losses of the Company are reported on the income tax returns of
the Company’s members. As a result, a provision for incomes
taxes has not been included in the consolidated statements of
operations. See note 12(a) for a discussion regarding the
income tax effects of the April 15, 2010 Corporate
Reorganization.
Members’ interests are represented by 44,308,804 and
38,234,354 shares of the Company’s common stock at
December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Paid-in capital
in the consolidated balance sheets represents amounts paid by
members or interests earned under certain stock compensation
agreements. The Company’s profits, losses and cash
distributions are allocated to shareholders generally in
accordance with their respective ownership interests, with
certain adjustments for tax matters as described in the
Company’s Operating Agreement. Certain significant actions
of the Company described in the Company’s Operating
Agreement require the approval of shareholders holding aggregate
ownership interests in the Company of 51% or 76%.
|
|
(m)
|
Earnings
(loss) per Share
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the
Company’s net income (loss) by the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted income
(loss) per share reflects the dilution of potential common
shares in the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding during the year, if dilutive. For this purpose, the
“treasury stock method” and “if converted
method,” as applicable, are used for the assumed proceeds
upon the exercise of common share equivalents at the average
selling prices of the shares during the year. For the year ended
December 31, 2009, potential shares associated with
124,468 outstanding stock options were excluded from the
calculation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would
have been anti-dilutive due to the Company’s net loss for
the year.
F-12
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
|
|
(n)
|
Comprehensive
income (loss)
|
The Company does not have any items entering into the
determination of comprehensive income (loss) other than net
income (loss) for the period.
|
|
(5)
|
Acquisition
of Mountain Pass Facility
|
On September 30, 2008, Molycorp completed the acquisition
of the Mountain Pass facility for approximately
$82.1 million, consisting of $80.0 million in cash
paid to Chevron and $2.1 million in related transaction
costs. The acquisition has been accounted as an acquisition of
net assets. The following table summarizes the allocation of the
purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired assets:
|
|
|
|
|
Inventory — concentrate stockpiles
|
|
$
|
19,201
|
|
Inventory — finished goods
|
|
|
1,506
|
|
Inventory — work in process
|
|
|
572
|
|
Inventory — material and supply
|
|
|
902
|
|
Mineral properties
|
|
|
23,138
|
|
Land and land improvements
|
|
|
18,723
|
|
Property, plant, and equipment
|
|
|
21,354
|
|
Trade name
|
|
|
786
|
|
Investment in joint venture
|
|
|
9,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
95,882
|
|
Asset retirement obligation
|
|
|
13,333
|
|
Completion bonus
|
|
|
399
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net purchase price
|
|
$
|
82,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As part of the purchase agreement, the Company also retained the
services of approximately 100 employees from Chevron,
including 43 non-union employees and 57 union employees. Under
the terms of the purchase agreement, the Company agreed to
continue to provide all retained employees’ salaries at
their previous levels for a period of 12 months; provide
comparable 401(k) and health benefits, and to honor all vacation
days accrued prior to the purchase.
|
|
(6)
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
The Company maintains a defined contribution plan for all
employees who meet the related eligibility requirements. All
former Chevron employees became eligible to participate in the
plan on the date of the acquisition while all new employees
become eligible to participate after 90 days of service.
The Company currently makes a non-elective contribution equal to
4% of compensation for each employee who performed at least
1,000 hours of service and is employed on the last day of
the year. In addition, the Company currently matches 100% of the
first 3% contributed and 50% of the next 2% contributed by each
eligible employee. Employees vest in Company contributions after
three years of service. Expense related to this plan totaled
$1.0 million, $0.2 million and $1.2 million for
the year ended December 31, 2009, the period from
June 12, 2008 (Inception) through December 31, 2008,
and cumulatively for the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2009, respectively.
Additionally, accrued expenses at December 31, 2009 and
2008, included $1.0 million and $0.2 million related
to this plan, respectively.
F-13
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
On April 1, 2009, the Company established the Management
Incentive Plan (“MIP”), which is a nonqualified
deferred compensation plan for the purpose of providing deferred
compensation benefits for certain members of management. Under
the MIP, participants can defer their base salary and other
compensation that is supplemental to his or her base salary and
is dependent upon achievement of individual or Company
performance goals. It is intended that the MIP constitute an
unfunded plan for purposes of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended. The amounts of compensation or
awards deferred are deemed to be invested in a hypothetical
investment as of the date of deferral. For the year ended
December 31, 2009, the Company elected to make
discretionary contributions to the MIP totaling approximately
$47,000. In addition, participants in the MIP program elected to
defer approximately $19,000 of their compensation, which is
included in other accrued expenses at December 31, 2009.
|
|
(7)
|
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
The Company is self-insured for employee healthcare costs,
subject to a related stop-loss agreement with an insurance
company. The Company recorded a liability of $0.1 million
associated with this obligation as of December 31, 2009.
|
|
(b)
|
Future
Operating Lease Commitments
|
The Company has certain operating leases for office space, land,
and certain equipment. Remaining annual minimum payments under
these leases at December 31, 2009 were $0.2 million in
2010 and $0.1 million in 2011.
In connection with the Mountain Pass facility acquisition, the
Company assumed a $0.4 million obligation related to a
completion bonus payable to union employees who worked on the
NFL pilot processing development project. Under the terms of the
related labor agreement, eligible employees were entitled to a
bonus of 40 hours of pay at the employee’s base rate
for every month spent on the project, regardless of the number
of hours worked. The Company recognized the related costs
associated with this bonus as employees worked on the project.
As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the accrued completion
bonus was $1.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively.
The completion bonus was paid in March 2010.
Certain Mountain Pass facility employees are covered by a
collective bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers of
America which expires on March 15, 2012. At
December 31, 2009, 60 employees, or approximately 50%
of the Company’s workforce, were covered by this collective
bargaining agreement.
|
|
(e)
|
Reclamation
Surety Bonds
|
As of December 31, 2009, Molycorp had placed
$27.4 million of surety bonds with California state and
regional agencies to secure its Mountain Pass facility closure
and reclamation obligations.
|
|
(f)
|
Insurance
Premium Financing Agreement
|
As of December 31, 2009, Molycorp was a party to a
short-term premium financing agreement related to its property
insurance policies. The unpaid principal balance of
$0.4 million is included in accrued expenses in the
consolidated balance sheet. The agreement requires monthly
principal and interest payments of $41,592 through November 2010.
F-14
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
The Company is subject to numerous and detailed federal, state
and local environmental laws, regulations and permits including
health and safety, environmental, and air quality. The Company
must obtain a number of additional permits in order to complete
the plant modernization and expansion. The Company is subject to
strict conditions, requirements and obligations relating to
various environmental and health and safety matters in
connection with the current permits, and the Company anticipates
additional conditions, requirements and obligations associated
with the additional permits required for future operations,
including the modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass
facility. Certain conditions could be imposed in order to obtain
the required permits including requirements to conduct
additional environmental studies and collect and present data to
government authorities pertaining to the potential impact of
current and future operations upon the environment. Accordingly,
the required permits may not be issued, maintained or renewed in
a timely fashion if at all, or may be issued or renewed upon
conditions that restrict the Company’s ability to conduct
its operations economically. Any failure, significant delay or
significant change in conditions that is required to obtain,
maintain or renew permits, could have a material adverse effect
on the Company’s business, results of operations and
financial condition.
|
|
(8)
|
Stock
Based Compensation
|
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer received a signing
bonus, of which $350,000 was paid in cash and $150,000 was paid
through the issuance of 65,931 shares of common stock. The
per share value of the common stock at the date of issuance
approximates the per share amount contributed by other members.
These shares vested immediately and the related expense was
recognized during the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception)
through December 31, 2008.
The Company issued an option to its Chief Executive Officer for
the purchase of 145,214 shares of Company stock on
April 10, 2009. The option vested on the date of grant and
had a stated exercise price of $2.41 per share. The fair value
of the stock at the time of issuance was estimated to be $3.01
per share based on the share price established in a related
party financing agreement executed shortly after the issuance of
the option. In measuring compensation expense, the Company
estimated the fair value of the award on the grant date using
the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model. Option
valuation models require the input of highly subjective
assumptions, including the expected volatility of the price of
the underlying stock.
The following assumptions were used to compute the fair value of
the option grant:
|
|
|
|
|
Risk free interest rate
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
Dividend yield
|
|
|
—
|
|
Estimated volatility
|
|
|
146
|
%
|
Expected option life
|
|
|
10 months
|
|
The Company’s computation of the estimated volatility was
based on the historical volatility of a group of peer
companies’ common stock over the expected option life. The
peer information was used because Molycorp is not publicly
traded and therefore does not have the market trading history
required to calculate a meaningful volatility factor. The
computation of expected option life was determined based on a
reasonable expectation of the option life prior to being
exercised or forfeited. The risk-free interest rate assumption
was based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity yield at
the date of grant over the expected life of the option.
For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company
recognized stock-based compensation related to this option grant
of $241,000.
F-15
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
A summary of Molycorp’s stock option activity for the year
ended December 31, 2009, is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
Grant-Date
|
|
Remaining
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Price
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
Life
|
|
Outstanding options at beginning of period
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Granted and vested
|
|
|
145,214
|
|
|
|
2.41
|
|
|
|
1.66
|
|
|
|
10 months
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
20,746
|
|
|
|
2.41
|
|
|
|
1.66
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Vested options outstanding end of period
|
|
|
124,468
|
|
|
|
2.41
|
|
|
|
1.66
|
|
|
|
2 months
|
|
Effective November 1, 2009, the Company issued 5,880,000
incentive shares of Molycorp Minerals to certain employees and
independent directors. Pursuant to the terms of Molycorp
Minerals’ Second Amendment and Restated Operating Agreement
dated September 10, 2009, the incentive shares have no
voting rights and are intended to constitute a “profits
interests” as defined under Internal Revenue Service
regulations. Holders of incentive shares have no capital
accounts, but are entitled to receive cash distributions from
the Company in amounts ranging from 3.2% to 7.0% of excess
distributions after common shareholders have received an
annually compounded 10% return of their capital contributions.
The distribution percentage applied is based on the cumulative
return on investment received by the common shareholders.
The incentive shares vest at a rate of one-third per year on the
anniversary date of the award, subject to acceleration at the
Company’s discretion or six months after a change in
control or a public offering of equity interest in the Company.
Upon termination, unvested shares are forfeited and vested
shares may be repurchased by the Company’s at its
discretion. The purchase price of vested shares is based upon an
assumed liquidation of the Company’s assets at book value
and is subject to the same distribution terms as the cash
distribution described above. Due to the Company’s option
to repurchase vested shares of terminated participants at a
price other than fair value, the incentive shares are classified
as liabilities measured using the intrinsic value method. These
liabilities will be remeasured at each reporting date until the
shares are forfeited or repurchased. As of December 31,
2009, the intrinsic value of the incentive shares was zero.
|
|
(a)
|
Limited
Number of Products
|
The Company’s current operations are limited to the
production and sale of REOs from stockpiled concentrates and it
does not have the capability to significantly alter its product
mix prior to completing the modernization and expansion of the
Mountain Pass facility and the restart of mining operations.
Sales of lanthanum concentrate accounted for 82% and 72% of our
sales for the year ended December 31, 2009 and for the
period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2008, respectively.
|
|
(b)
|
Limited
Number of Customers
|
There is a limited market for the Company’s lanthanum
concentrate and its two largest customers comprised 82% (55% of
the total corresponds to the Company’s largest customer and
27% of the total corresponds to the Company’s second
largest customer) and 72% (57% of the total corresponds to the
Company’s largest customer and 15% of the total corresponds
to the Company’s second largest customer) of the
Company’s total product revenue for the year ended
December 31, 2009 and for the period from June 12,
2008 (Inception) through December 31, 2008, respectively.
F-16
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
|
|
(c)
|
Single
Geographic Location
|
Currently, the Company’s only mining and production
facility is the Mountain Pass facility and the Company’s
viability is based on the successful modernization and expansion
of its operations. The deterioration or destruction of any part
of the Mountain Pass facility, or legal restrictions related to
current or anticipated operations at the Mountain Pass facility,
may significantly hinder the Company’s ability to reach or
maintain full planned production rates within the expected time
frame, if at all.
|
|
(10)
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
In connection with the Mountain Pass facility acquisition,
certain members incurred acquisition costs that were
subsequently reimbursed by Molycorp. At December 31, 2008,
accrued expenses included approximately $0.2 million
related to this reimbursement obligation.
In February 2009, the Company’s members provided letters of
credit
and/or cash
collateral totaling $18.2 million to secure the surety
bonds issued for the benefit of certain regulatory agencies
relating to the Company’s Mountain Pass facility closure
and reclamation obligations. The Company has agreed to pay each
member a 5% annual return on the amount of collateral provided.
Under the terms of the agreement, the members may receive
quarterly payments, delayed payments, or
payments-in-kind
of common shares at a price of $100.99 per share. During
the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recognized
approximately $0.8 million in compensation to the members
under this agreement which is included in selling, general and
administrative expense in the consolidated statement of
operations. At December 31, 2009, accrued expenses in the
consolidated balance sheet included $0.6 million payable to
members.
In May and July 2009, Molycorp entered into transactions with a
member under which it borrowed an aggregate $6.6 million,
secured by certain product inventories. Borrowings under this
agreement required interest at a variable rate of LIBOR plus one
percent. On November 15, 2009, the member converted
outstanding advances plus accrued interest totaling
$6.8 million into 2,267,750 shares of Molycorp common
stock in settlement of the obligation.
|
|
(11)
|
Recently
Issued Accounting Pronouncements
|
Variable
Interest Entities
In June 2009, the ASC guidance for consolidation accounting was
updated to require an entity to perform a qualitative analysis
to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest
gives it a controlling financial interest in the variable
interest entity (“VIE”). This analysis identifies a
primary beneficiary of a VIE as the entity that has both of the
following characteristics: (i) the power to direct the
activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the
entity’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation
to absorb losses or receive benefits from the entity that could
potentially be significant to the VIE. The updated guidance also
requires ongoing reassessments of the primary beneficiary of a
VIE. The updated guidance is effective for the Company’s
fiscal year beginning January 1, 2010. The Company is
evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on the
Company’s consolidated financial position, results of
operations and cash flows.
Fair
Value Accounting
In January 2010, the ASC guidance for fair value measurements
and disclosure was updated to require additional disclosures
related to: i) transfers in and out of level 1 and 2 fair
value measurements and ii) enhanced detail in the level 3
reconciliation. The guidance was amended to provide clarity
about: i) the level of disaggregation required for assets
and liabilities and ii) the disclosures required for inputs
and valuation techniques used to measure fair value for both
recurring and nonrecurring measurements that fall in either
level 2 or level 3. The updated guidance is effective for the
Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1,
F-17
MOLYCORP,
LLC
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
2010, with the exception of the level 3 disaggregation which is
effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning
January 1, 2011. The Company is evaluating the potential
impact of adopting this guidance on the Company’s
consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash
flows.
|
|
(a)
|
Corporate
Reorganization
|
Molycorp, Inc. was formed on March 4, 2010, and on
April 15, 2010, the members of Molycorp, LLC contributed
either (a) all of their member interests in Molycorp, LLC
or (b) all of their equity interests in entities that hold
member interests in Molycorp, LLC (and no other assets or
liabilities) to Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for shares of
Molycorp, Inc. Class A common stock. Additionally, all
holders of profits interests in Molycorp Minerals, LLC, which
were represented by incentive shares, contributed all of their
incentive shares to Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for shares of
Molycorp, Inc. Class B common stock. Accordingly, Molycorp,
LLC and Molycorp Minerals, LLC became subsidiaries of Molycorp,
Inc. All of the shares of Class A common stock and
Class B common stock will convert into shares of common
stock immediately prior to the consummation of an initial public
offering of Molycorp, Inc. common stock.
Molycorp, Inc.’s authorized capital stock consists of
common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common
stock, and holders of all such stock vote together as one class.
Holders of common stock and Class A common stock are
entitled to one vote per share and holders of Class B
common stock are entitled to such number of votes as shall equal
the number of shares of common stock into which the shares of
Class B common stock would be convertible at the record
date upon approval by the Board of Directors pursuant to the
terms of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation. The
terms of the Class B common stock with respect to
dividends, liquidation and conversion, generally replicate the
economics of the original incentive shares of Molycorp Minerals
described in note 8.
Molycorp, Inc. is subject to federal and state income taxes and
will file consolidated income tax returns. If the corporate
reorganization had been effective as of January 1, 2009,
our net loss of $28.6 million would have generated an
unaudited pro forma deferred income tax benefit of
$11.3 million, assuming a combined federal and state
statutory income tax rate. However, as realization of such tax
benefit would not have been assured, we would have also
established a valuation allowance of $11.3 million to
eliminate such pro forma tax benefit.
|
|
(b)
|
Related
Party Transaction
|
On April 16, 2010, Molycorp Minerals, LLC executed an
agreement under which an affiliate of one of Molycorp,
Inc.’s stockholders agreed to purchase up to
$5 million of product from Molycorp, Inc. through
December 31, 2010. Purchases under the agreement would
occur at Molycorp, Inc.’s request at a price per pound
based on published index pricing. Upon the resale of any
acquired product, Molycorp, Inc. is entitled to receive 50% of
the sales price that exceeds a specified level.
(c) Stock
Split
On July 9, 2010, Molycorp, Inc. completed a
38.23435373-for-one stock split with respect to its Class A
common stock and Class B common stock, which has been
retroactively reflected for all periods presented in the
accompanying financial statements.
F-18
Molycorp,
Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2010
F-19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
351,472
|
|
|
$
|
6,929
|
|
Trade accounts receivable
|
|
|
5,187
|
|
|
|
1,221
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
13,272
|
|
|
|
8,545
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other
|
|
|
1,437
|
|
|
|
1,825
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
371,368
|
|
|
|
18,520
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deposits
|
|
$
|
20,200
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
75,503
|
|
|
|
66,352
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
8,762
|
|
|
|
12,090
|
|
Intangible asset, net
|
|
|
655
|
|
|
|
704
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
|
105,120
|
|
|
|
79,146
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
476,488
|
|
|
$
|
97,666
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade accounts payable
|
|
$
|
8,330
|
|
|
$
|
2,886
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
2,190
|
|
|
|
5,963
|
|
Short-term borrowing — related party
|
|
|
5,008
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Current portion of asset retirement obligation
|
|
|
543
|
|
|
|
693
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
16,071
|
|
|
|
9,542
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset retirement obligation
|
|
$
|
11,307
|
|
|
$
|
13,509
|
|
Other non-current liabilities
|
|
|
87
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total non-current liabilities
|
|
|
11,394
|
|
|
|
13,509
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
$
|
27,465
|
|
|
$
|
23,051
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 414,000,000 shares
authorized at September 30, 2010; 82,253,700 and
0 shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 and
December 31, 2009, respectively
|
|
|
82
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Class A common stock, $0.001 par value; 0 and
60,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2010 and
December 31, 2009, respectively; 0 and
44,998,185 shares outstanding at September 30, 2010
and December 31, 2009, respectively
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
44
|
|
Class B common stock, $0.001 par value; 0 and
40,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2010 and
December 31, 2009, respectively; 0 and 0 shares
outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31,
2009, respectively
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
532,787
|
|
|
|
117,232
|
|
Deficit accumulated during the development stage
|
|
|
(83,846
|
)
|
|
|
(42,661
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
449,023
|
|
|
|
74,615
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
|
$
|
476,488
|
|
|
$
|
97,666
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to the condensed, consolidated financial
statements.
F-20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total from
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
(Inception) Through
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
8,410
|
|
|
$
|
1,960
|
|
|
$
|
13,176
|
|
|
$
|
4,889
|
|
|
$
|
22,406
|
|
Operating costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(7,619
|
)
|
|
|
(5,272
|
)
|
|
|
(18,989
|
)
|
|
|
(14,896
|
)
|
|
|
(53,801
|
)
|
Selling, general and administrative
|
|
|
(4,117
|
)
|
|
|
(3,172
|
)
|
|
|
(12,851
|
)
|
|
|
(8,380
|
)
|
|
|
(28,274
|
)
|
Stock-based compensation
|
|
|
(6,527
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(21,660
|
)
|
|
|
(241
|
)
|
|
|
(21,901
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(83
|
)
|
|
|
(60
|
)
|
|
|
(239
|
)
|
|
|
(123
|
)
|
|
|
(449
|
)
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
(216
|
)
|
|
|
(252
|
)
|
|
|
(695
|
)
|
|
|
(755
|
)
|
|
|
(1,951
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(10,152
|
)
|
|
|
(6,796
|
)
|
|
|
(41,258
|
)
|
|
|
(19,506
|
)
|
|
|
(83,970
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
124
|
|
|
|
315
|
|
Interest income (expense), net
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
|
(126
|
)
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
|
(110
|
)
|
|
|
(191
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(10,145
|
)
|
|
$
|
(6,903
|
)
|
|
$
|
(41,185
|
)
|
|
$
|
(19,492
|
)
|
|
$
|
(83,846
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding (Common shares)(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
70,019,847
|
|
|
|
38,835,179
|
|
|
|
56,027,460
|
|
|
|
38,831,232
|
|
|
|
44,721,664
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
70,019,847
|
|
|
|
38,835,179
|
|
|
|
56,027,460
|
|
|
|
38,831,232
|
|
|
|
44,721,664
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss per share of common stock:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.18
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.74
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.50
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.87
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.18
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.74
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.50
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.87
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding include the retroactive
treatment of exchange ratios for conversion of Class A
common shares and Class B common shares to common stock in
conjunction with the initial public offering. |
See accompanying notes to the condensed, consolidated financial
statements.
F-21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
During the
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Stock(1)
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Paid-in
|
|
|
Development
|
|
|
Stockholders’
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Stage
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2009
|
|
|
44,998,185
|
|
|
$
|
45
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
117,231
|
|
|
$
|
(42,661
|
)
|
|
$
|
74,615
|
|
Issuance of shares to original shareholders
|
|
|
5,767,670
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
14,994
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
Exercise of employee options
|
|
|
126,405
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
300
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
300
|
|
Conversion of Class A common stock to common stock in
conjunction with the initial public offering
|
|
|
(50,892,260
|
)
|
|
|
(51
|
)
|
|
|
50,892,260
|
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Sale of shares of common stock at $14.00 per share in initial
public offering, net of underwriting fees and other offering
costs of $29.2 million
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
29,128,700
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
378,604
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
378,633
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,232,740
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
21,658
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
21,660
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(41,185
|
)
|
|
|
(41,185
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at September 30, 2010
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
82,253,700
|
|
|
$
|
82
|
|
|
$
|
532,787
|
|
|
$
|
(83,846
|
)
|
|
$
|
449,023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding include the retroactive
treatment of exchange ratios for conversion of Class A
common shares and Class B common shares to common stock in
conjunction with the initial public offering. |
See accompanying notes to the condensed, consolidated financial
statements.
F-22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total from
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
(Inception) Through
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(41,185
|
)
|
|
$
|
(19,492
|
)
|
|
$
|
(83,846
|
)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
4,059
|
|
|
|
2,894
|
|
|
|
8,891
|
|
Accretion of asset retirement obligation
|
|
|
695
|
|
|
|
755
|
|
|
|
1,951
|
|
Non-cash inventory write-downs
|
|
|
1,555
|
|
|
|
7,457
|
|
|
|
20,099
|
|
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
21,660
|
|
|
|
241
|
|
|
|
22,051
|
|
Loss on sale on assets
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
(3,966
|
)
|
|
|
173
|
|
|
|
(5,738
|
)
|
Inventory
|
|
|
(2,955
|
)
|
|
|
(10,837
|
)
|
|
|
(19,952
|
)
|
Prepaid expenses and other
|
|
|
388
|
|
|
|
1,080
|
|
|
|
(886
|
)
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
3,265
|
|
|
|
(680
|
)
|
|
|
3,653
|
|
Asset retirement obligation
|
|
|
(507
|
)
|
|
|
(295
|
)
|
|
|
(894
|
)
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
(4,264
|
)
|
|
|
2,119
|
|
|
|
3,703
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(21,242
|
)
|
|
|
(16,583
|
)
|
|
|
(50,953
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of the Mountain Pass facility
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(82,150
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of investment in joint venture
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
9,700
|
|
|
|
9,700
|
|
Deposits
|
|
|
(20,200
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(20,200
|
)
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
(12,965
|
)
|
|
|
(5,365
|
)
|
|
|
(20,571
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of assets
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in (provided by) investing activities
|
|
|
(33,156
|
)
|
|
|
4,340
|
|
|
|
(113,207
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital contributions from original stockholders
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
7,949
|
|
|
|
125,004
|
|
Net proceeds from sale of common stock in conjunction with the
initial public offering
|
|
|
378,633
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
378,633
|
|
Proceeds from exercise of options
|
|
|
300
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
350
|
|
Short-term borrowings — related party
|
|
|
5,008
|
|
|
|
6,637
|
|
|
|
11,645
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
398,941
|
|
|
|
14,636
|
|
|
|
515,632
|
|
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
344,543
|
|
|
|
2,393
|
|
|
|
351,472
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
|
|
|
6,929
|
|
|
|
2,189
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
351,472
|
|
|
$
|
4,582
|
|
|
$
|
351,472
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to the condensed, consolidated financial
statements.
F-23
Molycorp, Inc. was formed on March 4, 2010 for the purpose
of continuing the business of Molycorp, LLC in corporate form.
On April 15, 2010, the members of Molycorp, LLC contributed
either (a) all of their member interests in Molycorp, LLC
or (b) all of their equity interests in entities that held
member interests in Molycorp, LLC (and no other assets or
liabilities) to Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for Molycorp, Inc.
Class A common stock. Accordingly, Molycorp, LLC and
Molycorp Minerals, LLC became subsidiaries of Molycorp, Inc.
(the “Corporate Reorganization”). On June 15,
2010, Molycorp, LLC was merged with and into Molycorp Minerals,
LLC. On July 9, 2010, Molycorp, Inc. completed a
38.23435373-for-one stock split, which has been retroactively
reflected in the historical financial data for all periods
presented. On August 3, 2010, Molycorp, Inc. completed its
initial public offering (“IPO”) of common stock. In
connection with its IPO, Molycorp, Inc. issued
29,128,700 shares of common stock at $14.00 per share
(including 1,003,700 shares issued in connection with the
underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares). Total
net proceeds of the offering were approximately
$378.6 million after underwriting discounts and commissions
and offering expenses payable by Molycorp, Inc. Immediately
prior to the consummation of the IPO, all of the shares of
Class A common stock and Class B common stock were
converted into shares of common stock. The conversion ratios for
the Class A common stock and Class B common stock have
been retroactively reflected in the historical financial
information for all periods presented. Molycorp. Inc., together
with its subsidiaries is referred to herein as the
“Company” or “Molycorp”.
Molycorp Minerals, LLC, previously known as Rare Earth
Acquisition, LLC (which was formed on June 12, 2008),
acquired the Mountain Pass, California rare earth deposit and
associated assets (the “Mountain Pass facility”) and
assumed certain liabilities from Chevron Mining, Inc.
(“Chevron”) on September 30, 2008.
The Mountain Pass facility is located in San Bernardino
County, California and is the only significant developed rare
earth resource in the western world. Rare earth elements
(“REEs”) are a group of specialty elements with unique
properties that make them critical to many existing and emerging
applications including:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Clean-energy technologies such as hybrid and electric vehicles,
wind turbines and compact florescent lighting;
|
|
|
•
|
High-technology applications including cell phones, personal
digital assistant devices, digital music players, hard disk
drives used in computers, computing devices, “ear bud”
speakers and microphones, as well as fiber optics, lasers and
optical temperature sensors;
|
|
|
•
|
Critical defense applications such as guidance and control
systems, communications, global positioning systems, radar and
sonar; and
|
|
|
•
|
Advanced water treatment applications including those for
industrial, military, homeland security, domestic and foreign
aid use.
|
The REE group includes 17 elements, namely the
15 lanthanide elements, which are lanthanum, cerium,
praseodymium, promethium (which does not occur naturally),
neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium,
holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium, and two
elements that have similar chemical properties to the lanthanide
elements — yttrium and scandium. The oxides produced
from processing REEs are collectively referred to as rare earth
oxides (“REOs”). Bastnasite is a mineral that contains
REEs.
Operations at the Mountain Pass facility began in 1952 under
Molybdenum Corporation of America (“MCA”). MCA was
purchased by Union Oil of California (“Unocal”) in
1977. In 2002, mining operations were suspended at the Mountain
Pass facility primarily due to softening prices for REOs and a
lack of additional tailings disposal capacity. Chevron
Corporation purchased Unocal in 2005.
F-24
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
Prior to the Company’s acquisition of the Mountain Pass
facility, operations at the Mountain Pass facility had been
suspended with the exception of a pilot processing project to
recover neodymium from lanthanum stockpiles produced prior to
Chevron’s ownership of the Mountain Pass facility. The
neodymium from lanthanum (“NFL”) pilot processing
project was undertaken to improve the facility’s REE
processing techniques. Since June 12, 2008 (Inception)
through March 31, 2010, revenue was generated primarily
from the sale of products associated with the NFL pilot
processing project, which concluded in February 2010. In April
2010, the Company commenced the second pilot processing campaign
to recover cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium and
samarium/europium/gadolinium concentrate from bastnasite
concentrate stockpiles.
|
|
(2)
|
Basis of
Presentation
|
The Company’s acquisition of the Mountain Pass facility has
been accounted for as an acquisition of net assets and not a
business combination. As described below, the Company’s
current business plan includes investing substantial capital to
restart mining operations, constructing and refurbishing
processing facilities and other infrastructure, and expanding
into metal and alloy production. Molycorp will continue as a
development stage company until these activities have been
completed, which is currently expected to be by the end of 2012.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America
(“GAAP”) for interim financial information and
Regulation S-X
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. While the
December 31, 2009 balance sheet information was derived
from the Company’s audited financial statements, for
interim periods, GAAP and
Regulation S-X
do not require all information and notes that are required in
the annual financial statements, and all disclosures required by
GAAP for annual financial statements have not been included.
Therefore, the accompanying unaudited financial statements
should be read in conjunction with Molycorp’s consolidated
financial statements and related notes for the year ended
December 31, 2009, and the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2008, included in
Molycorp’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(Registration
No. 333-166129)
and related prospectus dated July 29, 2010 and filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933. The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements reflect all adjustments, which are normal and
recurring in nature, and which, in the opinion of management,
are necessary for the fair presentation of Molycorp’s
financial position, results of operations and cash flows at
September 30, 2010, and for all periods presented. The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements include the accounts of the Company and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Most of the facilities and equipment acquired with the Mountain
Pass facility are at least 20 years old and must be
modernized or replaced. Under its current business plan, the
Company intends to spend approximately $511 million (see
note 9(a)) through 2012 to restart mining operations,
construct and refurbish processing facilities and other
infrastructure at the Mountain Pass facility and to expand into
the production of metals and alloys. The Company expects to
finance these expenditures, as well as its working capital
requirements, with the $378.6 million of net proceeds, from
its IPO, anticipated revenue from operations and debt financing,
project financing,
and/or
federal government programs, including the U.S. Department
of Energy loan guarantee program for which the Company submitted
an application in June 2010.
F-25
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
|
|
(4)
|
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
|
The preparation of the financial statements, in accordance with
GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its
estimates on the Company’s historical experience and on
various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable
under the circumstances. Actual results may differ significantly
from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.
Significant estimates made by management in the accompanying
financial statements include the collectability of accounts
receivable, the recoverability of inventory, the useful lives
and recoverability of long-lived assets such as property, plant
and equipment and intangible asset, and the adequacy of the
Company’s asset retirement obligations. The current
economic environment has increased the degree of uncertainty
inherent in these estimates and the underlying assumptions.
|
|
(b)
|
Revenue
and Cost of Goods Sold
|
Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement
exists, the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred
to the customer, which is generally when title passes, the
selling price is fixed or determinable, and collection is
reasonably assured. Title generally passes upon shipment of
product from the Mountain Pass facility. Prices are generally
set at the time of, or prior to, shipment. Transportation and
distribution costs are incurred only on sales for which the
Company is responsible for delivering the product. Our reported
revenues are presented net of freight and shipping costs.
Cost of goods sold includes the cost of production as well as
inventory write-downs caused by market price declines. Primary
production costs include labor, supplies, maintenance costs,
depreciation, and plant overhead.
|
|
(c)
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
|
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and liquid investments
with an original maturity of three months or less. Included in
cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2010, were
$2.0 million in cash and $349.5 million in cash
equivalent investments, which consisted of funds held in a money
market account.
Inventories consist of
work-in-process,
finished goods, stockpiles of bastnasite and lanthanum
concentrate, and materials and supplies. Inventory cost is
determined using the lower of weighted average cost or estimated
net realizable value. Inventory expected to be sold in the next
12 months is classified as a current asset in the
consolidated balance sheets.
Write-downs to estimated net realizable value are charged to
cost of goods sold. Many factors influence the market prices for
REOs and, in the absence of established prices contained in
customer contracts, management uses an independent pricing
source to evaluate market prices for REOs at the end of each
quarter. For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and
2009, the Company recognized write-downs of $0.6 million
and $2.3 million, respectively, as a result of production
costs in excess of certain REO market prices. For the nine
months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, and cumulatively
for the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
September 30, 2010, the Company recognized write-downs of
$1.6 million, $7.5 million and $20.1 million,
respectively, as a result of production costs in excess of
certain REO market prices.
F-26
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
The Company evaluates the carrying value of materials and supply
inventories each quarter giving consideration to slow-moving
items, obsolescence, excessive levels, and other factors and
recognizes related write-downs as necessary.
At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, inventory
consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Current:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Work in process
|
|
$
|
5,994
|
|
|
$
|
4,797
|
|
Finished goods
|
|
|
5,700
|
|
|
|
2,685
|
|
Materials and supplies
|
|
|
1,578
|
|
|
|
1,063
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current
|
|
$
|
13,272
|
|
|
$
|
8,545
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Concentrate stockpiles
|
|
$
|
8,617
|
|
|
$
|
11,844
|
|
Finished goods
|
|
|
145
|
|
|
|
246
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term
|
|
$
|
8,762
|
|
|
$
|
12,090
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deposits consists of $18.2 million held in an escrow
account as collateral for surety bonds related to the
Company’s reclamation obligations and $2.0 million
held in an escrow account under a long-term vendor contract.
|
|
(f)
|
Property,
Plant and Equipment, net
|
Property, plant and equipment associated with the acquisition of
the Mountain Pass facility was recorded at estimated fair value
as of the acquisition date. Expenditures for new property, plant
and equipment and improvements that extend the useful life or
functionality of the asset are capitalized. The Company
capitalized $7.2 million and $1.7 million in plant
modernization costs for the three months ended
September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and
$15.6 million and $5.1 million in plant modernization
costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009,
respectively.
Mineral properties at September 30, 2010 and
December 31, 2009 represent the purchase price allocated to
mineral resources associated with the Mountain Pass facility.
The Company will begin to amortize such mineral properties using
the units of production method over estimated proven and
probable reserves once mining operations resume, which is
currently expected to occur in late 2011.
F-27
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, property,
plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Land
|
|
$
|
800
|
|
|
$
|
800
|
|
Land improvements (15 years)
|
|
|
15,415
|
|
|
|
17,954
|
|
Buildings and improvements (4 to 27 years)
|
|
|
8,458
|
|
|
|
8,458
|
|
Plant and equipment (2 to 12 years)
|
|
|
20,357
|
|
|
|
12,065
|
|
Vehicles (7 years)
|
|
|
1,078
|
|
|
|
1,023
|
|
Computer software (3 years)
|
|
|
1,207
|
|
|
|
1,116
|
|
Furniture and fixtures (3 years)
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
41
|
|
Construction in progress
|
|
|
13,761
|
|
|
|
6,506
|
|
Mineral properties
|
|
|
23,138
|
|
|
|
23,138
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment at cost
|
|
|
84,256
|
|
|
|
71,101
|
|
Less accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(8,753
|
)
|
|
|
(4,749
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
$
|
75,503
|
|
|
$
|
66,352
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) 360, Property Plant and Equipment,
long-lived assets such as property, plant and equipment, mineral
properties and purchased intangible assets subject to
amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an
asset may not be recoverable.
In connection with an updated asset retirement obligation
analysis prepared as of June 30, 2010, the Company
determined that its asset retirement obligation was overstated
by approximately $2.5 million as a result of not reducing
its prior estimate for costs of soil remediation performed prior
to the Company’s acquisition of the Mountain Pass facility.
As the depreciation of the overstated asset retirement costs and
accretion of the asset retirement obligation had an immaterial
impact on the Company’s net loss for all periods previously
presented and cumulatively since inception, the Company reduced
its asset retirement cost asset and asset retirement obligation
by approximately $2.5 million effective April 1, 2010.
The Company acquired its trade name in connection with the
Mountain Pass facility acquisition. Amortization is provided
using the straight-line method based on an estimated useful life
of 12 years. Amortization expense for each of the three
months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was approximately
$16,000. Amortization expense for the nine months ended
September 30, 2010 and 2009, and cumulatively for the
period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
September 30, 2010 was approximately $49,000, $49,000 and
$131,000, respectively. Amortization expense is estimated to be
$65,000 annually for the remaining useful life.
|
|
(h)
|
Investment
in Joint Venture
|
In connection with the Mountain Pass facility acquisition, the
Company acquired a one-third interest in a joint venture with
Sumitomo Metals Industries, Ltd. of Japan (“Sumitomo”)
called Sumikin Molycorp. The Company disposed of its interest in
the joint venture to Sumitomo on July 9, 2009 for cash
consideration of $9.7 million and recognized no gain.
F-28
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
Accrued expenses at September 30, 2010 and
December 31, 2009 consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Waste disposal
|
|
$
|
157
|
|
|
$
|
1,500
|
|
Completion bonus
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,445
|
|
Defined contribution plan
|
|
|
683
|
|
|
|
988
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1,350
|
|
|
|
2,030
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total accrued expenses
|
|
$
|
2,190
|
|
|
$
|
5,963
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(j)
|
Asset
Retirement Obligation
|
The Company accounts for reclamation costs, along with other
costs related to the closure of the Mountain Pass facility, in
accordance with
ASC 410-20,
Asset Retirement Obligations. This standard requires the
Company to recognize asset retirement obligations at estimated
fair value in the period in which the obligation is incurred.
The Company recognized an asset retirement obligation and
corresponding asset retirement cost of $13.3 million in
connection with the Mountain Pass facility acquisition. The
liability was initially measured at fair value and is
subsequently adjusted for accretion expense and changes in the
amount or timing of the estimated cash flows.
In connection with an updated asset retirement obligation
analysis prepared as of June 30, 2010, the Company
determined that its asset retirement obligation was overstated
by approximately $2.5 million as a result of not reducing
its prior estimate for costs of soil remediation performed prior
to the Company’s acquisition of the Mountain Pass facility.
Because the depreciation of the overstated asset retirement
costs and accretion of the asset retirement obligation had an
immaterial impact on the Company’s net loss for all periods
previously presented and cumulatively since inception, the
Company reduced its asset retirement cost asset and asset
retirement obligation by approximately $2.5 million
effective April 1, 2010. The asset retirement cost was
capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related
long-lived assets and is being depreciated over the assets’
remaining useful lives. Depreciation expense associated with the
asset retirement cost was $0.3 million for each of the
three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
Depreciation expense associated with the asset retirement cost
was $0.8 million, $0.9 million and $2.3 million
for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, and
cumulatively for the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception)
through September 30, 2010, respectively. The following
table presents the activity in our asset retirement obligation
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
Balance at beginning of period
|
|
$
|
14,202
|
|
|
$
|
13,583
|
|
Obligations settled
|
|
|
(507
|
)
|
|
|
(387
|
)
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
695
|
|
|
|
1,006
|
|
Revision in estimated cash flows
|
|
|
(2,540
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at end of period
|
|
$
|
11,850
|
|
|
$
|
14,202
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company is required to provide the applicable governmental
agencies with financial assurances relating to its closure and
reclamation obligations. At September 30, 2010, the Company
had financial
F-29
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
assurance requirements of $27.4 million that were satisfied
with surety bonds secured by cash held in escrow, which the
Company has placed with California state and regional agencies.
Prior to the Corporate Reorganization, the taxable income and
losses of Molycorp, LLC were reported on the income tax returns
of its members. Molycorp, Inc. is subject to federal and state
income taxes and will file consolidated income tax returns.
Molycorp recognizes income taxes under the asset and liability
method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for
the estimated future tax consequences attributable to
differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of
assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred
tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax
rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in
which the deferred tax liability or asset is expected to be
settled or realized. Molycorp records a valuation allowance if,
based on available information, it is deemed more likely than
not that its deferred income tax assets will not be realized in
full. As of September 30, 2010, the Company’s net loss
of $33.4 million since the Corporate Reorganization
included $21.7 million in stock-based compensation expense,
which is a permanent difference between its losses for financial
reporting and income tax purposes. Molycorp has generated a net
deferred income tax benefit of $4.8 million as of
September 30, 2010. However, as realization of these tax
benefits is not assured, we have established a full valuation
allowance against the net deferred tax assets.
Stockholders’ interests are represented by 82,253,700 and
44,998,185 shares of the Company’s common stock and
Class A common stock at September 30, 2010 and
December 31, 2009, respectively. Paid-in capital in the
consolidated balance sheets represents amounts paid by
stockholders or interests earned under certain stock
compensation agreements. For the nine months ended
September 30, 2010, the Company received contributions from
its stockholders totaling $15.0 million in exchange for
5,767,670 shares of Class A common stock prior to the
completion of the IPO. At the time of the IPO, an aggregate of
50,892,260 shares of Class A common stock were
automatically converted into an aggregate of
50,892,260 shares of common stock. The Company also
received net proceeds of $378.6 million after underwriter
discounts and commissions and offering expenses paid by
Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for 29,128,700 shares of common
stock. An additional 2,232,740 common shares were issued in
exchange for shares of Class B common stock held by certain
employees and independent directors pursuant to incentive awards
effective November 1, 2009. The Company recognized
$21.7 million in stock-based compensation expense related
to these awards for the nine months ended September 30,
2010.
|
|
(m)
|
Earnings
(loss) per Share
|
Basic (loss) per share is computed by dividing the
Company’s net income (loss) by the weighted average number
of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted
(loss) per share reflects the dilutive impact of unvested
restricted shares of common stock in the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding during the period, if dilutive. For
this purpose, the “treasury stock method” and “if
converted method,” as applicable, are used for the assumed
proceeds upon the exercise of common stock equivalents at the
average selling prices of the shares during the year. As of
September 30, 2010, there were 744,246 unvested shares of
common stock outstanding. As of September 30, 2009, there
were vested options outstanding for the purchase of
126,405 shares of Class A common stock. All
outstanding shares as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 were
antidilutive in nature; consequently, the Company does not have
any adjustments between earnings per share and diluted earnings
per share.
F-30
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
|
|
(n)
|
Comprehensive
income (loss)
|
The Company does not have any items entering into the
determination of comprehensive income (loss) other than net
income (loss) for the three-month and nine-month periods ended
September 30, 2010 and 2009.
|
|
(5)
|
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
The Company is self-insured for employee healthcare costs,
subject to a related stop-loss agreement with an insurance
company. The Company’s accrued liability associated with
this obligation was $0.1 million at September 30, 2010
and December 31, 2009.
|
|
(b)
|
Future
Lease Commitments
|
The Company has certain operating leases for office space, land
and certain equipment. The remaining annual minimum lease
payments as of September 30, 2010 were $0.1 million
for the remainder of 2010, $0.3 million for 2011 and
$0.2 million each year thereafter until the year ended
December 31, 2016.
On September 30, 2010, the Company entered into a natural
gas transportation lease agreement with Kern River Gas
Transmission Company under which Molycorp agreed, subject to
certain conditions, to make payments totalling $5.2 million
per year ($0.43 million per month) for 10 years
beginning April 2012 to Kern River in exchange for the
designing, permitting, constructing, operating, and maintaining
of facilities necessary to provide natural gas to the power
generation facility under construction at the Mountain Pass
location.
In connection with the Mountain Pass facility acquisition, the
Company assumed a $0.4 million obligation related to a
completion bonus payable to union employees who worked on the
NFL pilot processing development project. Under the terms of the
related labor agreement, eligible employees were entitled to a
bonus of 40 hours of pay at the employee’s base rate
for every month spent on the project, regardless of the number
of hours worked. The Company recognized the related costs
associated with this bonus as employees worked on the project.
At December 31, 2009, the accrued completion bonus was
$1.4 million. The accrued completion bonus was paid in
March 2010.
Certain Mountain Pass facility employees are covered by a
collective bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers of
America, which expires on March 15, 2012. At
September 30, 2010, 71 employees, or approximately 56%
of the Company’s workforce, were covered by this collective
bargaining agreement.
|
|
(e)
|
Reclamation
Surety Bonds
|
At September 30, 2010, Molycorp had placed
$27.4 million of surety bonds with California state and
regional agencies to secure its Mountain Pass facility closure
and reclamation obligations.
|
|
(f)
|
Insurance
Premium Financing Agreement
|
At September 30, 2010, Molycorp was a party to a short-term
premium financing agreement related to its property insurance
policies. The unpaid principal balance of $0.1 million is
included in accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheet.
The agreement requires monthly principal and interest payments
of approximately $42,000 through November 2010.
F-31
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
The Company is subject to numerous and detailed federal, state
and local environmental laws, regulations and permits including
health and safety, environmental, and air quality. The Company
must obtain a number of additional permits in order to complete
the plant modernization and expansion. The Company is subject to
strict conditions, requirements and obligations relating to
various environmental and health and safety matters in
connection with the current permits, and the Company anticipates
additional conditions, requirements and obligations associated
with the additional permits required for future operations,
including the modernization and expansion of the Mountain Pass
facility. Certain conditions could be imposed in order to obtain
the required permits including requirements to conduct
additional environmental studies and collect and present data to
government authorities pertaining to the potential impact of
current and future operations upon the environment. Accordingly,
the required permits may not be issued, maintained or renewed in
a timely fashion if at all, or may be issued or renewed upon
conditions that restrict the Company’s ability to conduct
its operations economically. Any failure, significant delay or
significant change in conditions that is required to obtain,
maintain or renew permits, could have a material adverse effect
on the Company’s business, results of operations and
financial condition.
|
|
(6)
|
Stock-Based
Compensation
|
Molycorp accounts for stock-based compensation based upon the
fair value of the awards at the time of grant. The expense
associated with such awards is recognized over the service
period associated with each issuance. There are no performance
conditions associated with these awards.
The Company issued an option to its Chief Executive Officer on
April 10, 2009 for the purchase of 145,214 shares of
Company common stock (giving effect to the Corporate
Reorganization and the conversion of Class A common stock
into common stock in connection with the IPO). The option
vested, and the related expense of approximately $241,000 was
recognized on the date of grant. At December 31, 2009,
there were vested options outstanding for the purchase of
124,468 shares of common stock with a stated exercise price
of $2.41 per share. On February 1, 2010, the remaining
options were exercised.
Effective November 1, 2009, 5,880,000 incentive shares of
Molycorp Minerals, LLC were issued to certain employees and
independent directors of the Company. At the time of issuance,
due to Molycorp Minerals, LLC’s option to repurchase vested
shares of terminated participants at a price other than fair
value, these incentive shares were classified as liabilities and
were valued at zero using the intrinsic value method. On
April 15, 2010, all holders of incentive shares contributed
their incentive shares to Molycorp, Inc. in exchange for
3,012,420 shares of Class B common stock of Molycorp,
Inc., 1,004,140 shares of which vested immediately with an
additional 1,004,140 shares vesting on September 30,
2010 and the remaining 1,004,140 shares vesting on
September 30, 2011. The shares of Class B common stock
were non-transferable and the Company had the right to
repurchase vested shares upon the termination of employment for
any reason.
The shares of Class B common stock automatically converted
into shares of common stock, based on a conversion factor,
immediately prior to completion of the IPO. On August 3,
2010, Molycorp completed an IPO of common stock at an offering
price of $14.00 a share, at which time the shares of
Class B common stock were converted into
2,232,740 shares of common stock, 744,247 of which remained
vested with the remaining 1,488,493 vesting over a period of six
months following the IPO. Stock-based compensation associated
with these shares was approximately $6.5 million and
$21.7 million for the three-month and nine-month periods
ended September 30, 2010, respectively.
F-32
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
|
|
(a)
|
Limited
Number of Products
|
The Company’s current operations are limited primarily to
the production and sale of REOs from stockpiled concentrates and
the Company does not have the capability to significantly alter
its product mix prior to completing the modernization and
expansion of the Mountain Pass facility and the restart of
mining operations. The percentages of sales for our most
significant products, which are calculated as gross sales less
freight costs, for the three and nine month periods ended
September 30, 2010 and 2009, were approximately as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
September 30
|
|
September 30
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Didymium Oxide
|
|
|
31
|
%
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
Lanthanum Oxide
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
Ceric Hydrate
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
11
|
%
|
Lanthanum Chlorohydrate
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
9
|
%
|
Lanthanum Concentrate
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lanthanum Concentrate
|
|
|
85
|
%
|
|
|
78
|
%
|
Lanthanum Oxide
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
12
|
%
|
|
|
(b)
|
Limited
Number of Customers
|
There is a limited market for the REOs currently produced by the
Company from stockpiled concentrates. The percentages of sales,
which are calculated as gross sales less freight costs, to the
Company’s largest customers, for the three and nine month
periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, were
approximately as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
September 30
|
|
September 30
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W.R. Grace & Co. - Conn.
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
43
|
%
|
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co.
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
Corporation Unimetals U.S.A.
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
11
|
%
|
3M Company
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W.R. Grace & Co. - Conn.
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
21
|
%
|
Albemarle Corporation
|
|
|
54
|
%
|
|
|
57
|
%
|
|
|
(c)
|
Single
Geographic Location
|
Currently, the Company’s only mining and production
facility is the Mountain Pass facility, and the Company’s
viability is based on the successful modernization and expansion
of its operations. The deterioration or destruction of any part
of the Mountain Pass facility, or legal restrictions related to
current or anticipated operations at the Mountain Pass facility,
may significantly hinder the Company’s ability to reach or
maintain full planned production rates within the expected time
frame, if at all.
F-33
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
|
|
(8)
|
Related-Party
Transactions
|
In February 2009, certain of the Company’s stockholders
incurred certain costs in providing letters of credit
and/or cash
collateral to secure the surety bonds issued for the benefit of
certain regulatory agencies relating to the Company’s
Mountain Pass facility closure and reclamation obligations. The
total amount of collateral provided by stockholders was
$18.2 million. Under the terms of the agreement with its
stockholders, the Company agreed to pay each such stockholder a
5% annual return on the amount of collateral provided, and the
stockholders were entitled to receive quarterly payments,
delayed payments, or
payments-in-kind.
In September 2010, the Company issued its own cash collateral in
the amount of $18.2 million in replacement of the letters
of credit and cash collateral provided by the stockholders. The
Company paid fees due to stockholders in the amount of
$0.8 million in September 2010. During each of the three
months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company
recognized approximately $0.5 million in compensation
expense to stockholders under this agreement. During the nine
months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company
recognized approximately $0.4 million and
$0.8 million, respectively, in compensation to the
stockholders under this agreement, which is included in selling,
general and administrative expense in the consolidated
statements of operations. Accrued expenses in the consolidated
balance sheets included payables to stockholders totaling zero
and $0.6 million at September 30, 2010 and
December 31, 2009, respectively, relating to these
agreements.
In June 2010, the Company entered into a transaction with Traxys
North America LLC (“Traxys”), the parent of one of our
stockholders, TNA Moly Group, LLC, under which it borrowed
approximately $5.0 million, secured by certain product
inventories. Borrowings under this agreement required an initial
interest rate of 6% based on three-month LIBOR plus a margin,
which is subject to adjustment every three months. No
adjustments have been made to the interest rate since the
agreement was signed. At September 30, 2010, interest
payable associated with the agreement totaled approximately
$89,000. Principal and interest under this agreement are payable
from revenue generated from sales of the product inventories.
During the third quarter, both parties agreed that 50% of all
didymium oxide sales will be subject to this agreement.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company
and Traxys jointly marketed and sold certain lanthanum oxide,
cerium oxide and erbium oxide products. Per the terms of this
arrangement, the Company and Traxys split gross margin equally
once all costs associated with the sale have been recovered by
both parties. As a result of this arrangement, the Company
purchased 134 thousand pounds of lanthanum oxide from Traxys for
$1.2 million and approximately 12,000 pounds of cerium
oxide for approximately $121,000 during the three months ended
September 30, 2010. The Company purchased approximately
332,000 pounds of lanthanum oxide from Traxys for
$1.7 million and approximately 20,000 pounds of cerium
oxide for approximately $146,000 over the nine months ended
September 30, 2010. The Company recorded a receivable from
Traxys of approximately $14,000 related to the final settlement
on sales of erbium oxide and cerium oxide at September 30,
2010. Related party payable associated with product purchases
was $1.3 million at September 30, 2010.
Our total anticipated project cost through 2012 to restart
mining operations, construct and refurbish processing facilities
and other infrastructure at the Mountain Pass facility and to
expand into the production of metals and alloys was increased to
$531 million, a $20 million increase over the previous
estimate of $511 million. This $20 million increase is
due to the increased scope of the project including the
acceleration of the construction of the new crushing and milling
facility and other design changes to allow a faster conversion
to 40,000 tons per year than would otherwise have been possible.
On November 4, 2010, Molycorp’s Board of Directors
approved an expanded budget (excluding capitalized interest) of
$496 million
F-34
MOLYCORP,
INC.
(A
Company in the Development Stage)
Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements — (Continued)
of the $531 million total, for the Company’s
modernization project at its Mountain Pass facility. We
anticipate spending roughly $26 million of the total
budgeted amount as of December 31, 2010 and we anticipate
spending an additional $245 million and $225 million
as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Under the
approved plan, the crusher and milling facilities will not be
refurbished, as anticipated under the previous expenditure plan;
rather, the Company will accelerate the construction of the new
crushing and milling facility. As a result of this change, we
expect to recognize an impairment equal to the $1.8 million
remaining book value of the current mill and crusher facilities
as of November 4, 2010.
|
|
(b)
|
Stock-Based
Compensation
|
On November 4, 2010, the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company approved the grant of shares
of restricted stock, with a three-year vesting period, to
certain executive officers and a director of the Company. The
following table sets forth the number of shares of restricted
stock granted to these officers and the director.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares of
|
|
|
Restricted Stock
|
|
Russell D. Ball — Director
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
Mark A. Smith — President and CEO
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
James S. Allen — CFO and Treasurer
|
|
|
18,000
|
|
John F. Ashburn, Jr. — EVP and General Counsel
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
John L. Burba — EVP and CTO
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
F-35
Shares
Molycorp, Inc.
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
Joint Book-Running Managers
J.P. Morgan
Morgan Stanley
The
information in this prospectus is not complete and may be
changed. We may not sell securities under this registration
statement until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus
is not an offer to sell any securities and it is not soliciting
an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or
sale is not permitted.
|
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
Prospectus Dated
January 24, 2011
PROSPECTUS
Shares
Molycorp, Inc.
%
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
We are
offering shares
of our % Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, which we refer
to in this prospectus as our mandatory convertible preferred
stock.
Dividends on our mandatory convertible preferred stock will be
payable on a cumulative basis when, as and if declared by our
Board of Directors, or an authorized committee of our Board of
Directors, at an annual rate of %
on the liquidation preference of $100 per share. We may pay
declared dividends in cash or, subject to certain limitations,
in shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, or in
any combination of cash and common stock on
February , May ,
August and November of each
year, commencing on May , 2011 and to, and
including, ,
2014.
Each share of our mandatory convertible preferred stock will
automatically convert
on ,
2014 into
between
and shares
of our common stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. The
number of shares of our common stock issuable on conversion will
be determined based on the average VWAP (as defined herein) of
our common stock over the 20 trading day period ending on,
and including, the third trading day prior to the mandatory
conversion date. At any time prior
to ,
2014, holders may elect to convert each share of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock into shares of common stock at the
minimum conversion rate
of shares
of common stock per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. If you elect to
convert any shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
during a specified period beginning on the effective date of a
fundamental change (as described herein), the conversion rate
will be adjusted under certain circumstances and you will also
be entitled to a fundamental change dividend make-whole amount
(as described herein).
Concurrently with this offering, selling stockholders are also
making a public offering
of shares
of our common stock. The common stock will be offered pursuant
to a separate prospectus. The public offering price of our
common stock is $ per share. In
that offering, the selling stockholders have granted the
underwriters of that offering an option to purchase up to an
additional shares
of common stock to cover over-allotments. The closing of our
offering of our mandatory convertible preferred stock is not
conditioned upon the closing of the offering of our common stock
by the selling stockholders, and the closing of the offering of
common stock is not conditioned upon the closing of this
offering of our mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our
mandatory convertible preferred stock. We will apply to list our
mandatory convertible preferred stock on the New York Stock
Exchange. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol “MCP.”
Investing in our mandatory convertible preferred stock
involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on
page of this prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
Total
|
|
Public offering price
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Underwriting discounts and commissions
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to Molycorp, Inc.
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an
additional shares
of mandatory convertible preferred stock to cover
over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price, less the
underwriting discount, within 30 days from the date of this
prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock to investors on or
about ,
2011.
|
|
J.P.
Morgan |
Morgan Stanley |
Prospectus
dated ,
2011.
The
Offering
The summary below describes the principal terms of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock. Certain of the terms and conditions
described below are subject to important limitations and
exceptions. Refer to the section of this prospectus entitled
“Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock”
for a more detailed description of the terms of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock. As used in this section, the terms
“Molycorp,” “us,” “we,” or
“our” refer to Molycorp, Inc. and not any of its
subsidiaries.
Concurrently with this offering of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock, selling stockholders are offering shares of our
common stock. The closing of this offering of mandatory
convertible preferred stock is not conditioned upon the closing
of the offering of our common stock by the selling stockholders,
and the closing of the offering of common stock is not
conditioned upon the closing of this offering of mandatory
convertible preferred stock.
|
|
|
Securities we are offering |
|
shares
of % Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, $0.001 par value per share, which we refer to in
this prospectus as our mandatory convertible preferred stock. |
|
Public offering price |
|
$100 per share of mandatory convertible preferred stock. |
|
Underwriters’ option |
|
We have granted the underwriters a
30-day
option to purchase up
to
additional shares of our mandatory convertible preferred stock
to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price,
less the underwriting discount. |
|
Dividends |
|
% of the liquidation preference of
$100 per share of our mandatory convertible preferred stock per
year. Dividends will accumulate from the first original issue
date and, to the extent that we are legally permitted to pay
dividends and our Board of Directors or an authorized committee
thereof declares a dividend payable with respect to our
mandatory convertible preferred stock, we will pay such
dividends in cash, or, subject to certain limitations, by
delivery of shares of our common stock or through any
combination of cash and shares of our common stock, as
determined by us in our sole discretion; provided that
any unpaid dividends will continue to accumulate. Dividends that
are declared will be payable on the dividend payment dates (as
described below) to holders of record on the immediately
preceding January , April ,
July and October (each a
“record date”), whether or not such holders convert
their shares, or such shares are automatically converted, after
a record date and on or prior to the immediately succeeding
dividend payment date. The expected dividend payable on the
first dividend payment date is approximately
$ per share. Each subsequent
dividend is expected to be approximately
$ per share. See “Description
of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock —
Dividends.” |
|
|
|
If we elect to make any such payment of a declared dividend, or
any portion thereof, in shares of our common stock, such shares
shall be valued for such purpose at the average VWAP per share
(as defined under “Description of Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock — Definitions”), of our common
stock over the five consecutive trading day period ending on the
second trading day immediately preceding the applicable dividend
payment date (the
“five-day
average price”), multiplied by 97%. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event will the number of shares of our common |
A-2
|
|
|
|
|
stock delivered in connection with any declared dividend,
including any declared dividend payable in connection with a
conversion, exceed a number equal to the total dividend payment
divided by
$ ,
which amount represents approximately 35% of the initial price
(as defined below), subject to adjustment in a manner inversely
proportional to any anti-dilution adjustment to each fixed
conversion rate (such dollar amount, as adjusted, the
“floor price”). To the extent that the amount of the
declared dividend exceeds the product of the number of shares of
common stock delivered in connection with such declared dividend
and 97% of the
five-day
average price, we will, if we are legally able to do so,
notwithstanding any notice by us to the contrary, pay such
excess amount in cash. |
|
|
|
The initial price is
$ ,
which equals the price at which the selling stockholders
initially offered our common stock to the public in the
concurrent offering of our common stock. |
|
Dividend payment dates |
|
February , May ,
August and November of each
year, commencing on May , 2011 and to, and
including, the mandatory conversion date. |
|
Redemption |
|
Our mandatory convertible preferred stock is not redeemable. |
|
Mandatory conversion date |
|
,
2014. |
|
Mandatory conversion |
|
On the mandatory conversion date, each share of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock, unless previously converted, will
automatically convert into a number of shares of our common
stock equal to the conversion rate as described below. |
|
|
|
If we declare a dividend for the dividend period ending on the
mandatory conversion date, we will pay such dividend to the
holders of record on the applicable record date, as described
above. If, on or prior to the record date immediately preceding
the mandatory conversion date, we have not declared all or any
portion of the accumulated and unpaid dividends on the mandatory
convertible preferred stock, the conversion rate will be
adjusted so that holders receive an additional number of shares
of common stock equal to the amount of accumulated and unpaid
dividends that have not been declared (the “additional
conversion amount”) divided by the greater of the floor
price and 97% of the
five-day
average price. To the extent that the additional conversion
amount exceeds the product of the number of additional shares
and 97% of the
five-day
average price, we will, if we are legally able to do so, declare
and pay such excess amount in cash. |
|
Conversion rate |
|
Upon conversion on the mandatory conversion date, the conversion
rate for each share of our mandatory convertible preferred stock
will be not more
than shares
of common stock and not less
than shares
of common stock, depending on the applicable market value of our
common stock, as described below and subject to certain
anti-dilution adjustments. |
|
|
|
The “applicable market value” of our common stock is
the average VWAP per share of our common stock over the
20 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including,
the third trading day |
A-3
|
|
|
|
|
immediately preceding the mandatory conversion date. The
conversion rate will be calculated as described under
“Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock — Mandatory Conversion,” and the following
table illustrates the conversion rate per share of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock, subject to certain anti-dilution
adjustments. |
|
|
|
Applicable market value of our common stock
|
|
Conversion rate (number of shares of common stock issuable upon
conversion of each share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock on the mandatory conversion date)
|
|
Greater than $
|
|
shares
|
Equal to or less than
$ but
greater than or equal
to $
|
|
Between and ,
determined by dividing $100 by the applicable market value
|
Less than
$
|
|
shares
|
|
|
|
Conversion at the option of the holder |
|
Other than during a fundamental change conversion period (as
defined below), at any time prior
to ,
2014, you may elect to convert your shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock in whole or in part at the minimum
conversion rate
of shares
of common stock per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock as described under “Description of Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock — Conversion at the Option
of the Holder.” This minimum conversion rate is subject to
certain anti-dilution adjustments. |
|
|
|
If, as of the effective date of any early conversion (the
“early conversion date”), we have not declared all or
any portion of the accumulated and unpaid dividends for all
dividend periods ending prior to such early conversion date, the
conversion rate will be adjusted so that converting holders
receive an additional number of shares of common stock equal to
such amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends that have not
been declared for such dividend periods (the “early
conversion additional conversion amount”), divided by the
greater of the floor price and the average VWAP per share of our
common stock over the 20 consecutive trading day period ending
on, and including, the third trading day immediately preceding
the early conversion date (the “early conversion average
price”). To the extent that the early conversion additional
conversion amount exceeds the product of the number of
additional shares and the early conversion average price, we
will not have any obligation to pay the shortfall in cash. |
|
Conversion at the option of the holder upon a fundamental
change; fundamental change dividend make-whole amount |
|
If a fundamental change (as defined under “Description of
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock— Conversion at
the Option of the Holder upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental
Change Dividend Make-whole Amount”) occurs on or prior
to ,
2014, holders of the mandatory convertible preferred stock will
have the right to convert their shares of mandatory convertible |
A-4
|
|
|
|
|
preferred stock, in whole or in part, into shares of common
stock at the “fundamental change conversion rate”
during the period beginning on the effective date of such
fundamental change and ending on the date that is 20 calendar
days after the effective date (or, if earlier, the mandatory
conversion date). The fundamental change conversion rate will be
determined based on the effective date of the fundamental change
and the price paid (or deemed paid) per share of our common
stock in such fundamental change. Holders who convert shares of
our mandatory convertible preferred stock within that timeframe
will also receive: (1) a fundamental change dividend
make-whole amount equal to the present value (calculated using a
discount rate of % per annum) of
all dividend payments on such shares (excluding any accumulated
and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the
effective date of the fundamental change, including for the
dividend period, if any, from the dividend payment date
immediately preceding the effective date to but excluding the
effective date (collectively, the “accumulated dividend
amount”)) for all the remaining full dividend periods and
for the partial dividend period from and including the effective
date to but excluding the next dividend payment date (the
“fundamental change dividend make-whole amount”); and
(2) to the extent that there is any accumulated dividend
amount, the accumulated dividend amount, in the case of
clauses (1) and (2), subject to our right to deliver shares
of our common stock in lieu of all or part of such amounts;
provided that if the effective date falls after a record
date and prior to the next dividend payment date, the dividend
for the relevant dividend period will be paid on such dividend
payment date to the holders as of such record date, and will not
be included in the accumulated dividend amount, and the
fundamental change dividend
make-whole
amount will not include the present value of the payment of such
dividend. |
|
|
|
If we elect to make any such payment of the fundamental change
dividend make-whole amount or the accumulated dividend amount,
or any portion thereof, in shares of our common stock, such
shares shall be valued for such purpose at 97% of the price paid
(or deemed paid) per share of our common stock in the
fundamental change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event
will the number of shares of our common stock delivered in
connection with the fundamental change dividend make-whole
amount and the accumulated dividend amount, in the aggregate,
exceed a number equal to the sum of such amounts (the
“additional fundamental change amount”), divided by
the greater of the floor price and 97% of the price paid (or
deemed paid) per share of our common stock in the fundamental
change. To the extent that the additional fundamental change
amount exceeds the product of the number of shares of common
stock delivered in respect of such additional fundamental change
amount and 97% of the price paid (or deemed paid) per share of
our common stock in the fundamental change, we will, if we are
legally able to do so, notwithstanding any notice by us to the
contrary, pay such excess amount in cash. See “Description
of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock — |
A-5
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion at the Option of the Holder upon Fundamental Change;
Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole Amount.” |
|
Anti-dilution adjustments |
|
The conversion rate may be adjusted in the event of, among other
things: (1) stock dividends or distributions;
(2) certain distributions to holders of our common stock of
rights or warrants to purchase our common stock;
(3) subdivisions or combinations of our common stock;
(4) certain distributions to holders of our common stock of
evidences of our indebtedness, shares of capital stock,
securities, rights to acquire our capital stock, cash or other
assets; (5) distributions to holders of our common stock of
cash; and (6) certain tender or exchange offers by us or
one of our subsidiaries for our common stock, in each case
subject to certain exceptions. See “Description of
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock — Anti-dilution
Adjustments.” |
|
Liquidation preference |
|
$100 per share of mandatory convertible preferred stock. |
|
Voting rights |
|
Except as specifically required by Delaware law or our Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which will include
the certificate of designations for the mandatory convertible
preferred stock, the holders of mandatory convertible preferred
stock will have no voting rights. |
|
|
|
Whenever dividends on shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock have not been declared and paid for six or more dividend
periods, whether or not consecutive, the holders of mandatory
convertible preferred stock, voting together as a single class
with holders of all other preferred stock of equal rank having
similar voting rights, will be entitled at our next special or
annual meeting of stockholders to vote for the election of a
total of two additional members of our Board of Directors,
subject to applicable exchange listing rules. |
|
|
|
We will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of holders
of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock and all other preferred stock of
equal rank having similar voting rights, voting together as a
single class (1) authorize or create, or increase the
authorized amount of, any specific class or series of stock
ranking senior to the mandatory convertible preferred stock;
(2) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of our Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation so as to adversely
affect the special rights, preferences, privileges and voting
powers of the mandatory convertible preferred stock; or
(3) consummate a binding share exchange or reclassification
involving shares of mandatory preferred stock or a merger or
consolidation of us with another entity, in each case subject to
certain exceptions. |
|
|
|
See “Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock — Voting Rights.” |
A-6
|
|
|
Ranking |
|
The mandatory convertible preferred stock will rank with respect
to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution: |
|
|
|
• senior to all of our common stock and to each other
class of capital stock or series of preferred stock issued in
the future unless the terms of that stock expressly provide that
it ranks senior to, or on a parity with, the mandatory
convertible preferred stock;
|
|
|
|
• on a parity with any class of capital stock or
series of preferred stock issued in the future the terms of
which expressly provide that it will rank on a parity with the
mandatory convertible preferred stock;
|
|
|
|
• junior to each class of capital stock or series of
preferred stock issued in the future the terms of which
expressly provide that such capital stock or preferred stock
will rank senior to the mandatory convertible preferred stock;
and
|
|
|
|
• junior to all of our existing and future
indebtedness.
|
|
|
|
At September 30, 2010, we had total outstanding debt of
approximately $5.0 million and no outstanding shares of
preferred stock. |
|
|
|
In addition, the mandatory convertible preferred stock, with
respect to dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, will be structurally subordinated to existing
and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries as well as the
capital stock of our subsidiaries held by third parties. |
|
Use of proceeds |
|
We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering,
after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and
estimated offering expenses, will be approximately
$
(or approximately
$ if
the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full).
We intend to use the net proceeds from the concurrent offering
of our mandatory preferred stock to fund our initial
modernization and expansion plan and our capacity expansion plan. |
|
|
|
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our common
stock by the selling stockholders in the concurrent offering.
See “Use of Proceeds.” |
|
Material U.S. federal tax consequences |
|
The material U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing,
owning and disposing of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock and any common stock received upon its conversion are
described in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences.” |
|
Listing |
|
We will apply to list our mandatory convertible preferred stock
on the New York Stock Exchange. Our common stock is listed on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MCP.” |
|
Concurrent common stock offering |
|
Concurrently with this offering of mandatory convertible
preferred stock, the selling stockholders are making a public
offering
of shares
of our common stock. In that offering, the selling stockholders
have granted the underwriters of that offering a |
A-7
|
|
|
|
|
30-day
option to purchase up to an
additional shares
of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The closing of
this offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock is not
conditioned upon the closing of the offering of our common stock
by the selling stockholders, and the closing of the offering of
common stock is not conditioned upon the closing of this
offering of mandatory convertible preferred stock. |
|
Transfer agent and registrar |
|
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and
registrar for the mandatory convertible preferred stock. |
|
Risk factors |
|
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page
of this prospectus for a discussion of risks you should
carefully consider before deciding to invest in our mandatory
convertible preferred stock. |
As of January 20, 2011, 82,300,757 shares of common stock
were outstanding.
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus
reflects or assumes:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the retroactive adjustment of a 38.23435373-for-one stock split
with respect to shares of our Class A common stock and
Class B common stock effective on July 9, 2010;
|
|
|
•
|
the conversion of all of our Class A common stock and
Class B common stock into an aggregate of
53,125,000 shares of common stock immediately prior to the
consummation of our initial public offering as described under
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations”;
|
|
|
•
|
the exclusion of shares of common stock expected to be issued to
Sumitomo, subject to the finalization of definitive
agreements; and
|
|
|
•
|
the exclusion of 4,065,628 shares of common stock authorized and
reserved for future issuance under our stock incentive plan. See
“Management — Compensation Discussion and
Analysis — Molycorp, Inc. 2010 Equity and Performance
Incentive Plan.”
|
The number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding
after this offering also excludes up to shares of our common
stock (up
to shares
if the underwriters in this offering of mandatory convertible
preferred stock exercise their over-allotment option in full),
in each case subject to anti-dilution, make-whole and other
adjustments, that would be issuable upon conversion of shares of
mandatory convertible preferred stock issued in this offering.
A-8
Risks
Related to Ownership of Our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock
You
will bear the risk of a decline in the market price of our
common stock between the pricing date for the mandatory
convertible preferred stock and the mandatory conversion
date.
The number of shares of our common stock that you would receive
upon mandatory conversion is not fixed, but instead will depend
on the applicable market value, which is the average VWAP per
share of our common stock over the 20 consecutive trading day
period ending on, and including, the third trading day
immediately preceding the mandatory conversion date. The
aggregate market value of the shares of our common stock that
you would receive upon mandatory conversion may be less than the
aggregate liquidation preference of your shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock. Specifically, if the applicable
market value of our common stock is less than the initial price
of
$ ,
the market value of the shares of our common stock that you
would receive upon mandatory conversion of each mandatory
convertible preferred stock will be less than the $100
liquidation preference, and an investment in the mandatory
convertible preferred stock would result in a loss. Accordingly,
you will bear the entire risk of a decline in the market price
of our common stock. Any such decline could be substantial.
Purchasers
of our mandatory convertible preferred stock may not realize any
or all of the benefit of an increase in the market price of
shares of our common stock.
The market value of each share of our common stock that you will
receive upon mandatory conversion of each share of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock on the mandatory conversion date
will only exceed the liquidation preference of $100 per share of
mandatory convertible preferred stock if the applicable market
value of our common stock exceeds the threshold appreciation
price of
$ .
The threshold appreciation price represents an appreciation of
approximately % over the initial
price. If the applicable market value of our common stock
exceeds the threshold appreciation price, you will receive on
the mandatory conversion date
approximately % (which percentage
is equal to the initial price divided by the threshold
appreciation price) of the value of our common stock that you
would have received if you had made a direct investment in our
common stock on the date of this prospectus. This means that the
opportunity for equity appreciation provided by an investment in
our mandatory convertible preferred stock is less than that
provided by a direct investment in shares of our common stock.
In addition, if the market value of our common stock appreciates
and the applicable market value of our common stock is equal to
or greater than the initial price but less than or equal to the
threshold appreciation price, the aggregate market value of the
shares of our common stock that you would receive upon mandatory
conversion will only be equal to the aggregate liquidation
preference of the mandatory convertible preferred stock, and you
will realize no equity appreciation on our common stock.
The
market price of our common stock, which may fluctuate
significantly, will directly affect the market price for our
mandatory convertible preferred stock.
We expect that generally the market price of our common stock
will affect the market price of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock more than any other single factor. This may
result in greater volatility in the market price of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock than would be expected for
nonconvertible preferred stock. The market price of our common
stock will likely fluctuate in response to a number of factors,
including our financial condition, operating results and
prospects, as well as economic, financial and other factors,
such as prevailing interest rates, interest rate volatility,
changes in our industry and competitors and government
regulations, many of which are beyond our control. For more
information regarding such factors, see the sections of this
prospectus above entitled “— Risks Related to Our
Business” and “— Risks Related to Ownership
of Our Common Stock.”
In addition, we expect that the market price of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock will be influenced by yield and
interest rates in the capital markets, the time remaining to the
mandatory conversion date, our creditworthiness and the
occurrence of certain events affecting us that do not require an
adjustment to the fixed conversion rates. Fluctuations in yield
rates in particular may give rise to arbitrage opportunities
based upon changes in the relative values of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock and our common stock.
A-9
Any such arbitrage could, in turn, affect the market prices of
our common stock and the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Recent
regulatory actions may adversely affect the trading price and
liquidity of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock.
We expect that many investors in, and potential purchasers of,
the mandatory convertible preferred stock will employ, or seek
to employ, a convertible arbitrage strategy with respect to the
mandatory convertible preferred stock. Investors that employ a
convertible arbitrage strategy with respect to convertible
securities typically implement that strategy by selling short
the common stock underlying the convertible securities and
dynamically adjusting their short position while they hold the
securities. As a result, any specific rules regulating short
selling of securities or other governmental action that
interferes with the ability of market participants to effect
short sales in our common stock could adversely affect the
ability of investors in, or potential purchasers of, the
mandatory convertible preferred stock to conduct the convertible
arbitrage strategy that we believe they will employ, or seek to
employ, with respect to the mandatory convertible preferred
stock. This could, in turn, adversely affect the trading price
and liquidity of the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
At an open meeting on February 24, 2010, the SEC adopted a
new short sale price test through an amendment to Rule 201
of Regulation SHO. The amendments to Rule 201 became
effective on May 10, 2010 and restrict short selling when
the price of a “covered security” has triggered a
“circuit breaker” by falling at least 10% in one day,
at which point short sale orders can be displayed or executed
only if the order price is above the current national best bid,
subject to certain limited exceptions. Compliance with the
amendments to Rule 201 was required by November 10,
2010. Because our common stock is a “covered
security,” the new restrictions may interfere with the
ability of investors in, and potential purchasers of, the
mandatory convertible preferred stock, to effect short sales in
our common stock and conduct the convertible arbitrage strategy
that we believe they will employ, or seek to employ, with
respect to the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
In addition, on June 10, 2010, the SEC approved a six-month
pilot (the “circuit breaker pilot”) pursuant to which
several national securities exchanges and the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) adopted rules to
halt trading in securities included in the S&P 500 Index if
the price of any such security moves 10% or more from a sale in
a five-minute period. On September 10, 2010, the SEC
approved an expansion of the circuit breaker pilot to include
component securities of the Russell 1000 Index and over 300
exchange traded funds. Our common stock is not included in
either the S&P 500 Index or the Russell 1000 Index and
therefore is not subject to the circuit breaker pilot at this
time. However, the SEC could further expand the circuit breaker
pilot in the future or adopt other rules that limit trading in
response to market volatility. Any such additional regulatory
actions may decrease or prevent an increase in the market price
and/or
liquidity of our common stock
and/or
interfere with the ability of investors in, and potential
purchasers of, the mandatory convertible preferred stock, to
effect hedging transactions in or relating to our common stock
and conduct the convertible arbitrage strategy that we believe
they will employ, or will seek to employ, with respect to the
mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Although the direction and magnitude of the effect that the
amendments to Regulation SHO, the circuit breaker pilot and
any additional regulations may have on the trading price and the
liquidity of the mandatory convertible preferred stock will
depend on a variety of factors, many of which cannot be
determined at this time, past regulatory actions have had a
significant impact on the trading prices and liquidity of
convertible securities. For example, in September 2008, the SEC
issued emergency orders generally prohibiting short sales in the
common stock of a variety of financial services companies while
Congress worked to provide a comprehensive legislative plan to
stabilize the credit and capital markets. The orders made the
convertible arbitrage strategy that many investors in
convertible securities employ difficult to execute and adversely
affected both the liquidity and trading price of convertible
securities issued by many of the financial services companies
subject to the prohibition. Any governmental actions that
restrict the ability of investors in, or potential purchasers
of, the mandatory convertible preferred stock to effect short
sales in our common stock or
A-10
to implement hedging strategies, including the recently adopted
amendments to Regulation SHO, could similarly adversely
affect the trading price and the liquidity of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock.
The
fundamental change conversion rate and the payment of the
fundamental change dividend make-whole amount upon the
occurrence of certain fundamental changes may not adequately
compensate you for the lost option value and lost dividends as a
result of early conversion upon a fundamental
change.
If a fundamental change (as defined in the section of this
prospectus entitled “Description of Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock — Conversion at the Option of the
Holder upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental Change Dividend
Make-whole Amount”) occurs on or prior to the mandatory
conversion date, the fundamental change conversion rate will
apply to the shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
converted during the fundamental change conversion period (as
defined in the section of this prospectus entitled
“Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock — Conversion at the Option of the Holder upon
Fundamental Change; Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole
Amount”) unless the stock price is less than
$ or above
$ (in each case, subject to
adjustment) and, with respect to those shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock converted, you will also receive,
among other consideration, a fundamental change dividend
make-whole amount, subject to our right to deliver shares of
common stock in lieu of all or part of such amount. The number
of shares to be issued upon conversion in connection with a
fundamental change will be determined as described in the
section of this prospectus entitled “Description of
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock — Conversion at
the Option of the Holder upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental
Change Dividend Make-whole Amount.” Although the
fundamental change conversion rate and the payment of the
fundamental change dividend make-whole amount are generally
designed to compensate you for the lost option value of your
mandatory convertible preferred stock and lost dividends as a
result of converting your shares of mandatory convertible
preferred stock upon a fundamental change, in some cases the
fundamental change conversion rate will be less than the
conversion rate that would apply upon mandatory conversion, and
the fundamental change conversion rate and fundamental change
dividend make-whole amount are generally only an approximation
of such lost option value and lost dividends and may not
adequately compensate you for your actual loss. Furthermore, our
obligation to deliver a number of shares of common stock, per
share of the mandatory convertible preferred stock, equal to the
fundamental change conversion rate and pay the fundamental
change dividend make-whole amount (whether in cash or shares of
our common stock) upon a conversion during the fundamental
change conversion period could be considered a penalty under
state law, in which case the enforceability thereof would be
subject to general principles of reasonableness of economic
remedies.
The
fixed conversion rates of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock may not be adjusted for all dilutive events that may
adversely affect the market price of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock or the common stock issuable upon conversion of
the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
The fixed conversion rates are subject to adjustment only for
share splits and combinations, share dividends and specified
other transactions. See the section of this prospectus entitled
“Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock — Anti-dilution Adjustments” for further
discussion of anti-dilution adjustments. However, other events,
such as employee stock option grants or offerings of our common
stock or securities convertible into common stock (other than
those set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled
“Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock — Anti-dilution Adjustments”) for cash or
in connection with acquisitions, which may adversely affect the
market price of our common stock, may not result in any
adjustment. Further, if any of these other events adversely
affects the market price of our common stock, it may also
adversely affect the market price of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock. In addition, the terms of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock do not restrict our ability to offer
common stock or securities convertible into common stock in the
future or to engage in other transactions that could dilute our
common stock. We have no obligation to consider the specific
interests of the holders of our mandatory convertible preferred
stock in engaging in any such offering or transaction.
A-11
Purchasers
of our mandatory convertible preferred stock may be adversely
affected upon the issuance of a new series of preferred stock
ranking equally with the mandatory convertible preferred stock
sold in this offering.
The terms of our mandatory convertible preferred stock will not
restrict our ability to offer a new series of preferred stock
that ranks equally with our mandatory convertible preferred
stock as to dividend payments or liquidation preference in the
future. We have no obligation to consider the specific interests
of the holders of our mandatory convertible preferred stock in
engaging in any such offering or transaction.
You
will have no rights with respect to our common stock until you
convert your mandatory convertible preferred stock, but you may
be adversely affected by certain changes made with respect to
our common stock.
You will have no rights with respect to our common stock,
including voting rights, rights to respond to common stock
tender offers, if any, and rights to receive dividends or other
distributions on our common stock, if any, prior to the
conversion date with respect to a conversion of your mandatory
convertible preferred stock, but your investment in our
mandatory convertible preferred stock may be negatively affected
by these events. Upon conversion, you will be entitled to
exercise the rights of a holder of common stock only as to
matters for which the record date occurs after the conversion
date. For example, in the event that an amendment is proposed to
our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or our
Bylaws requiring stockholder approval and the record date for
determining the stockholders of record entitled to vote on the
amendment occurs prior to the conversion date, you will not be
entitled to vote on the amendment, unless it would adversely
affect the special rights, preferences, privileges and voting
powers of the mandatory convertible preferred stock, although
you will nevertheless be subject to any changes in the powers,
preferences or special rights of our common stock.
You
will have no voting rights except under limited
circumstances.
You do not have voting rights, except with respect to certain
amendments to the terms of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock, in the case of certain dividend arrearages, in certain
other limited circumstances and except as specifically required
by Delaware law. You will have no right to vote for any members
of our Board of Directors except in the case of certain dividend
arrearages. If dividends on any shares of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock have not been declared and paid for
the equivalent of six or more dividend periods, whether or not
for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of shares of
mandatory convertible preferred stock, voting together as a
single class with holders of any and all other classes or series
of our preferred stock ranking equally with the mandatory
convertible preferred stock either as to dividends or the
distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up and having similar voting rights, will be entitled to vote
for the election of a total of two additional members of our
Board of Directors, subject to the terms and limitations
described in the section of this prospectus entitled
“Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock — Voting Rights.”
Our
mandatory convertible preferred stock will rank junior to all of
our and our subsidiaries’ liabilities, as well as the
capital stock of our subsidiaries held by third parties, in the
event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or winding up of our or our
subsidiaries’ assets.
In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or winding up, our
assets will be available to make payments to holders of our
mandatory convertible preferred stock only after all of our
liabilities have been paid. In addition, our mandatory
convertible preferred stock will effectively rank junior to all
existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, as well as
the capital stock of our subsidiaries held by third parties.
Your rights to participate in the assets of our subsidiaries
upon any liquidation or reorganization of any subsidiary will
rank junior to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s
creditors and third party equity holders. In the event of a
bankruptcy, liquidation or winding up, there may not be
sufficient assets remaining, after paying our and our
subsidiaries’ liabilities, to pay any amounts to the
holders of our mandatory convertible preferred stock then
outstanding. At September 30, 2010, we had total
outstanding debt of approximately $5.0 million and no
outstanding shares of preferred stock.
A-12
Our
ability to pay dividends on our mandatory convertible preferred
stock may be limited.
Our payment of dividends on our mandatory convertible preferred
stock in the future will be determined by our Board of Directors
in its sole discretion and will depend on business conditions,
our financial condition, earnings and liquidity, and other
factors.
The agreements governing any existing or future indebtedness of
ours may limit our ability to pay cash dividends on our capital
stock, including the mandatory convertible preferred stock. In
the event that the agreements governing any such indebtedness
restrict our ability to pay dividends in cash on the mandatory
convertible preferred stock, we may be unable to pay dividends
in cash on the mandatory convertible preferred stock unless we
can refinance the amounts outstanding under such agreements.
In addition, under Delaware law, our Board of Directors may
declare dividends on our capital stock only to the extent of our
statutory “surplus” (which is defined as the amount
equal to total assets minus total liabilities, in each case at
fair market value, minus statutory capital), or if there is no
such surplus, out of our net profits for the then current
and/or
immediately preceding fiscal year. Further, even if we are
permitted under our contractual obligations and Delaware law to
pay cash dividends on the mandatory convertible preferred stock,
we may not have sufficient cash to pay dividends in cash on the
mandatory convertible preferred stock.
If upon (i) mandatory conversion, (ii) an early
conversion at the option of a holder or (iii) an early
conversion during the fundamental change conversion period, we
have not declared all or any portion of the accumulated and
unpaid dividends payable on the mandatory convertible preferred
stock for specified periods, in the case of clauses (i) and
(ii), the applicable conversion rate will be adjusted so that
converting holders receive an additional number of shares of
common stock having a market value generally equal to the amount
of such accumulated and unpaid dividends, and in the case of
clause (iii), we will pay the amount of such accumulated and
unpaid dividends in cash, shares of our common stock or any
combination thereof, in our sole discretion, subject to the
limitations described under “Description of the Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock — Mandatory
Conversion,” “— Conversion at the Option of
the Holder” and “— Conversion at the Option
of the Holder upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental Change
Dividend Make-whole Amount,” respectively. In the case of
mandatory conversion or conversion upon a fundamental change, if
these limits to the adjustment of the conversion rate are
reached, we will pay the shortfall in cash if we are legally
permitted to do so. We will not have an obligation to pay the
shortfall in cash if these limits to the adjustment of the
conversion rate are reached in the case of an early conversion
at the option of the holder.
You
may be subject to tax upon an adjustment to the conversion rate
of the mandatory convertible preferred stock even though you do
not receive a corresponding cash distribution.
The conversion rate of the mandatory convertible preferred stock
is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Refer to the
section of this prospectus entitled “Description of
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock — Anti-dilution
Adjustments.” If, as a result of an adjustment (or failure
to make an adjustment), your proportionate interest in our
assets or earnings and profits is increased, you may be deemed
to have received for U.S. federal income tax purposes a
taxable dividend without the receipt of any cash or property. If
you are a
Non-U.S. Holder
(as defined in the section of this prospectus entitled
“Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”),
such deemed dividend generally will be subject to
U.S. federal withholding tax (currently at a 30% rate, or
such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty),
which may be set off against subsequent payments on the
mandatory convertible preferred stock. Refer to the section of
this prospectus entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income
Tax Consequences” for a further discussion of U.S. federal
tax implications for U.S. Holders (as defined therein) and
Non-U.S. Holders.
An
active trading market for the mandatory convertible preferred
stock does not exist and may not develop.
The mandatory convertible preferred stock is a new issue of
securities with no established trading market. We will apply to
list our mandatory convertible preferred stock on the New York
Stock Exchange. Even if the mandatory convertible preferred
stock is approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange,
such listing not guarantee that a trading market for the
mandatory convertible preferred stock will develop or, if a
trading market for the mandatory convertible preferred stock
does develop, the depth or liquidity of that market or the
ability of the holders to sell the mandatory convertible
preferred stock, or to sell the mandatory convertible preferred
stock at a favorable price.
A-13
RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK
DIVIDENDS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 12, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Inception)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Through
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Fixed charges are equal to interest expense, plus the portion of
rent expense estimated to represent interest. Total earnings for
the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception) through
December 31, 2008, for the year ended December 31,
2009 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were
insufficient to cover fixed charges by $14.1 million,
$28.8 million and $41.3 million, respectively. There
were no differences between the calculation of fixed charges and
combined fixed charges. The insufficient earnings were primarily
due to our net operating losses for each of the periods
presented. Accordingly, such ratios are not presented.
A-14
DESCRIPTION
OF MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
The following is a summary of certain terms of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock but is not necessarily complete. A
copy our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
including the certificate of designations for the mandatory
convertible preferred stock, and the form of mandatory
convertible preferred stock share certificate are available upon
request from us at the address set forth in the section of this
prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More
Information.” The following summary of the terms of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock is subject to, and
qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of
such documents.
As used in this section, the terms “Molycorp,”
“us,” “we” or “our” refer to
Molycorp, Inc. and not any of its subsidiaries.
General
Under our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our
Board of Directors (such Board of Directors, or any authorized
committee thereof, the “Board of Directors”) is
authorized, without further stockholder action, to issue up to
5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per
share, in one or more series, with such voting powers or without
voting powers, and with such designations, and having such
relative preferences, participating, optional or other special
rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions, as
shall be set forth in the resolutions providing therefor. We
have not previously designated any of such authorized preferred
stock. At the consummation of this offering, we will
issue shares
of mandatory convertible preferred stock. In addition, we have
granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to additional
shares of our mandatory convertible preferred stock to cover
over-allotments, if any, in accordance with the procedures set
forth in the section of this prospectus entitled
“Underwriting.”
When issued, the mandatory convertible preferred stock and any
common stock issued upon the conversion of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock will be fully paid and
nonassessable. The holders of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock will have no preemptive or preferential rights
to purchase or subscribe to stock, obligations, warrants or
other securities of Molycorp of any class. Computershare
Trust Company, N.A. will serve as the transfer agent and
registrar of our common stock and will serve as transfer agent,
registrar, conversion and dividend disbursing agent for the
mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Ranking
The mandatory convertible preferred stock, with respect to
dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, ranks:
|
|
|
|
•
|
senior to (i) our common stock and (ii) each other
class of capital stock or series of preferred stock established
after the first original issue date of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock (which we refer to as the “initial issue
date”) the terms of which do not expressly provide that
such class or series ranks senior to or on a parity with the
mandatory convertible preferred stock as to dividend rights or
rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution (which we refer to collectively as “junior
stock”);
|
|
|
•
|
on parity with any class of capital stock or series of preferred
stock established after the initial issue date the terms of
which expressly provide that such class or series will rank on a
parity with the mandatory convertible preferred stock as to
dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution (which we refer to collectively as “parity
stock”);
|
|
|
•
|
junior to each class of capital stock or series of preferred
stock established after the initial issue date the terms of
which expressly provide that such class or series will rank
senior to the mandatory convertible preferred stock as to
dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution (which we refer to collectively as “senior
stock”); and
|
|
|
•
|
junior to our existing and future indebtedness.
|
A-15
In addition, the mandatory convertible preferred stock, with
respect to dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, will be structurally subordinated to existing
and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries as well as the
capital stock of our subsidiaries held by third parties.
Dividends
Subject to the rights of holders of any class of capital stock
ranking senior to the mandatory convertible preferred stock with
respect to dividends, holders of shares of mandatory convertible
preferred stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by our Board of Directors, out of funds legally
available for payment, cumulative dividends at the rate per
annum of % on the liquidation
preference of $100 per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock (equivalent to $ per annum
per share), payable in cash, by delivery of shares of our common
stock or through any combination of cash and shares of our
common stock, as determined by us in our sole discretion
(subject to the limitations described below). See the section of
this prospectus entitled “— Method of Payment of
Dividends.” Declared dividends on the mandatory convertible
preferred stock will be payable quarterly on
February , May ,
August and November of each
year to and including the mandatory conversion date (as defined
below), commencing May , 2011 (each, a
“dividend payment date”) at such annual rate, and
dividends shall accumulate from the most recent date as to which
dividends shall have been paid or, if no dividends have been
paid, from the initial issue date of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock, whether or not in any dividend period or
periods there have been funds legally available for the payment
of such dividends. Declared dividends will be payable on the
relevant dividend payment date to holders of record as they
appear on our stock register at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the immediately preceding January ,
April , July and
October (each, a “record date”),
whether or not such holders convert their shares, or such shares
are automatically converted, after a record date and on or prior
to the immediately succeeding dividend payment date. These
record dates will apply regardless of whether a particular
record date is a business day. A “business day” means
any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by
law or executive order to close. If a dividend payment date is
not a business day, payment will be made on the next succeeding
business day, without any interest or other payment in lieu of
interest accruing with respect to this delay.
A full dividend period is the period from and including a
dividend payment date to but excluding the next dividend payment
date, except that the initial dividend period will commence on
and include the initial issue date of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock and will end on and exclude the
May , 2011 dividend payment date. The amount of
dividends payable on each share of mandatory convertible
preferred stock for each full dividend period (after the initial
dividend period) will be computed by dividing the annual
dividend rate by four. Dividends payable on the mandatory
convertible preferred stock for the initial dividend period and
any partial dividend period will be computed based upon the
actual number of days elapsed during the period over a
360-day year
(consisting of twelve
30-day
months). Accordingly, the dividend on the mandatory convertible
preferred stock for the first dividend period, assuming the
initial issue date is February , 2011, will be
approximately $ per share (based
on the annual dividend rate of %
and a liquidation preference of $100 per share) and will be
payable, when, as and if declared, on May ,
2011. The dividend on the mandatory convertible preferred stock
for each subsequent full dividend period, when, as and if
declared, will be approximately $
per share (based on the annual dividend rate
of % and a liquidation preference
of $100 per share). Accumulated dividends will not bear interest
if they are paid subsequent to the applicable dividend payment
date.
No dividend will be declared or paid upon, or any sum or number
of shares of common stock set apart for the payment of dividends
upon, any outstanding share of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock with respect to any dividend period unless all
dividends for all preceding dividend periods have been declared
and paid upon, or a sufficient sum or number of shares of common
stock have been set apart for the payment of such dividends
upon, all outstanding shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock.
Our ability to declare and pay cash dividends and make other
distributions with respect to our capital stock, including the
mandatory convertible preferred stock, may be limited by the
terms of any existing and future indebtedness. In addition, our
ability to declare and pay dividends may be limited by
applicable
A-16
Delaware law. See the section of this prospectus entitled
“Risk Factors — Risks Related to this Offering
and Ownership of Our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock— Our ability to pay dividends on our mandatory
convertible preferred stock may be limited”.
So long as any share of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be
declared or paid on the common stock or any other shares of
junior stock, and no common stock or other junior stock or
parity stock shall be, directly or indirectly, purchased,
redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by us or any of
our subsidiaries unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all
preceding dividend periods have been declared and paid upon, or
a sufficient sum or number of shares of common stock have been
set apart for the payment of such dividends upon, all
outstanding shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock. The
foregoing limitation shall not apply to: (i) a dividend
payable on any common stock or other junior stock in shares of
any common stock or other junior stock, or to the acquisition of
shares of any common stock or other junior stock in exchange
for, or through application of the proceeds of the sale of,
shares of any common stock or other junior stock;
(ii) purchases of fractional interests in shares of any
common stock or other junior stock pursuant to the conversion or
exchange provisions of such shares of other junior stock or any
securities exchangeable for or convertible into such shares of
common stock or other junior stock; (iii) redemptions,
purchases or other acquisitions of shares of common stock or
other junior stock in connection with the administration of any
employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business,
including, without limitation, the forfeiture of unvested shares
of restricted stock or share withholdings upon exercise,
delivery or vesting of equity awards granted to officers,
directors and employees; (iv) any dividends or
distributions of rights or common stock or other junior stock in
connection with a stockholders’ rights plan or any
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant to any
stockholders’ rights plan; (v) the acquisition by us
or any of our subsidiaries of record ownership in common stock
or other junior stock or parity stock for the beneficial
ownership of any other persons (other than us or any of our
subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians; and
(vi) the exchange or conversion of junior stock for or into
other junior stock or of parity stock for or into other parity
stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or
junior stock.
When dividends on shares of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock have not been paid in full on any dividend payment date or
declared and a sum or number of shares of common stock
sufficient for payment thereof set aside for the benefit of the
holders thereof on the applicable record date, no dividends may
be declared or paid on any parity stock unless dividends are
declared on the mandatory convertible preferred stock such that
the respective amounts of such dividends declared on the
mandatory convertible preferred stock and each such other class
or series of parity stock shall bear the same ratio to each
other as all accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the
shares of the mandatory convertible preferred stock and such
class or series of parity stock (subject to their having been
declared by the Board of Directors out of legally available
funds) bear to each other; provided that any unpaid
dividends will continue to accumulate.
Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends
(payable in cash, securities or other property) as may be
determined by the Board of Directors may be declared and paid on
any securities, including common stock and other junior stock,
from time to time out of any funds legally available for such
payment, and holders of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.
Method of
Payment of Dividends
Subject to the limitations described below, we may pay any
declared dividend (or any portion of any declared dividend) on
the mandatory convertible preferred stock (whether or not for a
current dividend period or any prior dividend period, including
in connection with the payment of accumulated and unpaid
dividends pursuant to the provisions described in the sections
of this prospectus entitled “— Mandatory
Conversion” and “— Conversion at the Option
of the Holder Upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental Change
Dividend Make-whole Amount”), determined in our sole
discretion:
|
|
|
|
•
|
in cash;
|
|
|
•
|
by delivery of shares of our common stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
through any combination of cash and shares of our common stock.
|
A-17
We will make each payment of a declared dividend on the
mandatory convertible preferred stock in cash, except to the
extent we elect to make all or any portion of such payment in
shares of our common stock. We will give the holders of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock notice of any such
election and the portion of such payment that will be made in
cash and the portion that will be made in common stock no later
than 10 scheduled trading days (as defined below) prior to the
dividend payment date for such dividend.
If we elect to make any such payment of a declared dividend, or
any portion thereof, in shares of our common stock, such shares
shall be valued for such purpose, in the case of any dividend
payment or portion thereof, at the average VWAP per share (as
defined below) of our common stock over the five consecutive
trading day period ending on the second trading day immediately
preceding the applicable dividend payment date (the
“five-day
average price”), multiplied by 97%.
No fractional shares of common stock will be delivered to the
holders of the mandatory convertible preferred stock in respect
of dividends. We will instead pay a cash adjustment to each
holder that would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share
of common stock based on the average VWAP per share of our
common stock over the five consecutive trading day period ending
on the second trading day immediately preceding the relevant
dividend payment date.
To the extent a shelf registration statement is required in our
reasonable judgment in connection with the issuance of or for
resales of common stock issued as payment of a dividend,
including dividends paid in connection with a conversion, we
will, to the extent such a registration statement is not
currently filed and effective, use our reasonable best efforts
to file and maintain the effectiveness of such a shelf
registration statement until the earlier of such time as all
such shares of common stock have been resold thereunder and such
time as all such shares are freely tradable without
registration. To the extent applicable, we will also use our
reasonable best efforts to have the shares of common stock
qualified or registered under applicable state securities laws,
if required, and approved for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange (or if our common stock is not listed on the New York
Stock Exchange, on the principal other U.S. national or
regional securities exchange on which our common stock is then
listed).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the number of
shares of our common stock delivered in connection with any
declared dividend, including any declared dividend payable in
connection with a conversion, exceed a number equal to the total
dividend payment divided by $ ,
which amount represents approximately 35% of the initial price
(as defined below), subject to adjustment in a manner inversely
proportional to any anti-dilution adjustment to each fixed
conversion rate as set forth below in the section of this
prospectus entitled “— Anti-dilution
Adjustments” (such dollar amount, as adjusted, the
“floor price”). To the extent that the amount of the
declared dividend exceeds the product of the number of shares of
common stock delivered in connection with such declared dividend
and 97% of the
five-day
average price, we will, if we are legally able to do so,
notwithstanding any notice by us to the contrary, pay such
excess amount in cash.
Redemption
The mandatory convertible preferred stock will not be redeemable.
Liquidation
Preference
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, each holder of mandatory convertible preferred
stock will be entitled to receive a liquidation preference in
the amount of $100 per share of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock (the “liquidation preference”), plus
an amount equal to accumulated and unpaid dividends on the
shares to (but excluding) the date fixed for liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution to be paid out of our assets available for
distribution to our stockholders, after satisfaction of
liabilities to our creditors and holders of any senior stock and
before any payment or distribution is made to holders of junior
stock (including our common stock). If, upon our voluntary or
involuntary liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, the amounts payable with respect to the
liquidation preference plus an amount equal to accumulated and
unpaid dividends of the mandatory convertible preferred stock
and all parity stock are not paid in full, the holders of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock and any
A-18
parity stock will share equally and ratably in any distribution
of our assets in proportion to the respective liquidation
preferences and amounts equal to accumulated and unpaid
dividends to which they are entitled. After payment of the full
amount of the liquidation preference and an amount equal to
accumulated and unpaid dividends to which they are entitled, the
holders of the mandatory convertible preferred stock will have
no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.
Neither the sale of all or substantially all of our assets or
business (other than in connection with our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution), nor our merger or consolidation into or with
any other person, will be deemed to be our voluntary or
involuntary liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution.
The certificate of designations for our mandatory convertible
preferred stock does not contain any provision requiring funds
to be set aside to protect the liquidation preference of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock even though it is
substantially in excess of the par value thereof.
Voting
Rights
The holders of the mandatory convertible preferred stock do not
have voting rights other than those described below, except as
specifically required by Delaware law.
Whenever dividends on any shares of mandatory convertible
preferred stock have not been declared and paid for the
equivalent of six or more dividend periods, whether or not for
consecutive dividend periods (a “nonpayment”), the
holders of such shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock,
voting together as a single class with holders of any and all
other series of voting preferred stock (as defined below) then
outstanding, will be entitled at our next special or annual
meeting of stockholders to vote for the election of a total of
two additional members of our Board of Directors (the
“preferred stock directors”); provided that the
election of any such directors will not cause us to violate the
corporate governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange
(or any other exchange or automated quotation system on which
our securities may be listed or quoted) that requires listed or
quoted companies to have a majority of independent directors;
and provided further that our Board of Directors shall,
at no time, include more than two preferred stock directors. In
that event, we will increase the number of directors on our
Board of Directors by two, and the new directors will be elected
at a special meeting of stockholders called at the request of
the holders of at least 20% of the shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock or of any other series of voting
preferred stock (provided that such request is received at least
90 calendar days before the date fixed for the next annual or
special meeting of the stockholders, failing which election
shall be held at such next annual or special meeting of
stockholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting, so long as
the holders of mandatory convertible preferred stock continue to
have such voting rights.
As used in this prospectus, “voting preferred stock”
means any other class or series of our preferred stock ranking
equally with the mandatory convertible preferred stock either as
to dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have
been conferred and are exercisable. Whether a plurality,
majority or other portion of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock and any other voting preferred stock have been voted in
favor of any matter shall be determined by reference to the
respective liquidation preference amounts of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock and such other voting preferred
stock voted.
If and when all accumulated and unpaid dividends have been paid
in full, or declared and a sum sufficient for such payment shall
have been set aside (a “nonpayment remedy”), the
holders of mandatory convertible preferred stock shall
immediately and, without any further action by us, be divested
of the foregoing voting rights, subject to the revesting of such
rights in the event of each subsequent nonpayment. If such
voting rights for the holders of mandatory convertible preferred
stock and all other holders of voting preferred stock have
terminated, the term of office of each preferred stock director
so elected will terminate at such time and the number of
directors on our Board of Directors shall automatically decrease
by two.
Any preferred stock director may be removed at any time without
cause by the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding
shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock and any other
shares of voting preferred stock then outstanding (voting
together as a class) when they have the voting rights described
above.
A-19
In the event that a nonpayment shall have occurred and there
shall not have been a nonpayment remedy, any vacancy in the
office of a preferred stock director (other than prior to the
initial election after a nonpayment) may be filled by the
written consent of the preferred stock director remaining in
office or, if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders
of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock and any other shares of voting
preferred stock then outstanding (voting together as a class)
when they have the voting rights described above; provided
that the filling of each vacancy will not cause us to
violate the corporate governance requirements of the New York
Stock Exchange (or any other exchange or automated quotation
system on which our securities may be listed or quoted) that
requires listed or quoted companies to have a majority of
independent directors. The preferred stock directors will each
be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.
So long as any shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or
consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding
shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock and all other
series of voting preferred stock entitled to vote thereon,
voting together as a single class, given in person or by proxy,
either in writing or at a meeting:
|
|
|
|
•
|
amend or alter the provisions of our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designations
for the shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock so as to
authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any
specific class or series of stock ranking senior to the
mandatory convertible preferred stock with respect to payment of
dividends or the distribution of our assets upon our
liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or
|
|
|
•
|
amend, alter or repeal the provisions of our Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of
designations for the shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock so as to adversely affect the special rights, preferences,
privileges and voting powers of the shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
consummate a binding share exchange or reclassification
involving the shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock or
a merger or consolidation of us with another entity, unless in
each case: (i) shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock remain outstanding and are not amended in any respect or,
in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to
which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are
converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the
surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent; and
(ii) such shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case
may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting
powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable
to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges
and voting powers of the mandatory convertible preferred stock
immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole,
|
provided, however, that (1) any increase in the
amount of our authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock,
(2) any increase in the authorized or issued shares of
mandatory convertible preferred stock and (3) the creation
and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount,
of any other series of preferred stock ranking equally with or
junior to the mandatory convertible preferred stock with respect
to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are
cumulative or non-cumulative)
and/or the
distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, will be deemed not to adversely affect the special
rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock, taken as a whole, and
shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of holders of
the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
If any amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange,
reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would
adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting
preferred stock (including the mandatory convertible preferred
stock for this purpose), then only the series of voting
preferred stock adversely affected and entitled to vote shall
vote as a class in lieu of all other series of preferred stock.
Without the consent of the holders of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock, so long as such action does not adversely
affect the special rights, preferences, privileges and voting
powers of the mandatory
A-20
convertible preferred stock, we may amend, alter, supplement, or
repeal any terms of the mandatory convertible preferred stock
for the following purposes:
|
|
|
|
•
|
to cure any ambiguity or mistake, or to correct or supplement
any provision contained in the certificate of designations for
the mandatory convertible preferred stock that may be defective
or inconsistent with any other provision contained in the
certificate of designations for the mandatory convertible
preferred stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
to make any provision with respect to matters or questions
relating to the mandatory convertible preferred stock that is
not inconsistent with the provisions of the certificate of
designations for the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
|
Mandatory
Conversion
Each share of the mandatory convertible preferred stock, unless
previously converted, will automatically convert
on ,
2014 (the “mandatory conversion date”), into a number
of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate described
below. If we declare a dividend for the dividend period ending
on the mandatory conversion date, we will pay such dividend to
the holders of record on the applicable record date, as
described above under “— Dividends.” If on
or prior to the record date immediately preceding the mandatory
conversion date we have not declared all or any portion of the
accumulated and unpaid dividends on the mandatory convertible
preferred stock, the conversion rate will be adjusted so that
holders receive an additional number of shares of common stock
equal to the amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends that
have not been declared (the “additional conversion
amount”) divided by the greater of the floor price and 97%
of the
five-day
average price. To the extent that the additional conversion
amount exceeds the product of the number of additional shares
and 97% of the
five-day
average price, we will, if we are legally able to do so, declare
and pay such excess amount in cash pro rata to the holders of
the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
The conversion rate, which is the number of shares of common
stock issuable upon conversion of each share of mandatory
convertible preferred stock on the mandatory conversion date,
will, subject to adjustment as described in the section of this
prospectus entitled “— Anti-dilution
Adjustments” below and the preceding paragraph, be as
follows:
|
|
|
|
•
|
if the applicable market value of our common stock is greater
than $ , which we call the
“threshold appreciation price,” then the conversion
rate will be shares of common stock
per share of mandatory convertible preferred stock (the
“minimum conversion rate”), which is equal to $100
divided by the threshold appreciation price;
|
|
|
•
|
if the applicable market value of our common stock is less than
or equal to the threshold appreciation price but equal to or
greater than $ (the “initial
price,” which equals the price at which the selling
stockholders initially offered our common stock to the public in
the concurrent offering of our common stock), then the
conversion rate will be equal to $100 divided by the applicable
market value of our common stock, which will be
between
and shares
of common stock per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
if the applicable market value of our common stock is less than
the initial price, then the conversion rate will
be shares
of common stock per share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock (the “maximum conversion rate”), which is equal
to $100 divided by the initial price.
|
We refer to the minimum conversion rate and the maximum
conversion rate collectively as the “fixed conversion
rates.” The fixed conversion rates, the initial price, the
threshold appreciation price and the applicable market value are
each subject to adjustment as described in the section of this
prospectus entitled “— Anti-dilution
Adjustments” below.
A-21
Hypothetical
conversion values upon mandatory conversion
For illustrative purposes only, the following table shows the
number of shares of our common stock that a holder of our
mandatory convertible preferred stock would receive upon
mandatory conversion of one share of mandatory convertible
preferred stock at various applicable market values for our
common stock. The table assumes that there will be no conversion
adjustments as described below in the section of this prospectus
entitled “— Anti-dilution Adjustments” and
that dividends on the shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock will be declared and paid in cash. The actual applicable
market value of shares of our common stock may differ from those
set forth in the table below. Given an initial price of
$ and a threshold appreciation
price of $ , a holder of our
mandatory convertible preferred stock would receive on the
mandatory conversion date the number of shares of our common
stock per share of our mandatory convertible preferred stock set
forth below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion Value (Applicable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market Value Multiplied By the
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares of Our
|
|
|
Number of Shares of Our
|
|
|
|
Common Stock to Be
|
|
|
Common Stock to Be Received
|
|
Applicable Market Value of Our Common Stock
|
|
Received Upon Conversion
|
|
|
Upon Conversion)
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Accordingly, if the applicable market value of our common stock
is greater than the threshold appreciation price, the aggregate
market value of our common stock delivered upon conversion of
each share of the mandatory convertible preferred stock will be
greater than the $100 liquidation preference of the share of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock, assuming that the market
price of our common stock on the mandatory conversion date is
the same as the applicable market value of our common stock. If
the applicable market value for our common stock is equal to or
greater than the initial price and equal to or less than the
threshold appreciation price, the aggregate market value of our
common stock delivered upon conversion of each share of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock will be equal to the $100
liquidation preference of the share of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock, assuming that the market price of our common
stock on the mandatory conversion date is the same as the
applicable market value of our common stock. If the applicable
market value of our common stock is less than the initial price,
the aggregate market value of our common stock delivered upon
conversion of each share of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock will be less than the $100 liquidation preference of the
share of the mandatory convertible preferred stock, assuming
that the market price of our common stock on the mandatory
conversion date is the same as the applicable market value of
our common stock.
Definitions
“Applicable market value” means the average VWAP per
share of our common stock over the 20 consecutive trading
day period ending on, and including, the third trading day
immediately preceding the mandatory conversion date.
The “threshold appreciation price” represents an
approximately % appreciation over
the initial price.
A-22
A “trading day” is a day on which shares of our common
stock:
|
|
|
|
•
|
are not suspended from trading, and on which trading in our
common stock is not limited, on any national or regional
securities exchange or association or
over-the-counter
market during any period or periods aggregating one
half-hour or
longer; and
|
|
|
•
|
have traded at least once on the national or regional securities
exchange or association or
over-the-counter
market that is the primary market for the trading of our common
stock;
|
provided that if our common stock is not traded on any
such exchange, association or market, “trading day”
means any business day.
A “scheduled trading day” is any day that is scheduled
to be a trading day.
“VWAP” per share of our common stock on any trading
day means the per share volume-weighted average price as
displayed on Bloomberg page “MCP <Equity>
AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not
available) in respect of the period from 9:30 a.m. to
4:00 p.m., New York City time, on such trading day; or, if
such price is not available, “VWAP” means the market
value per share of our common stock on such trading day as
determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a
nationally recognized independent investment banking firm
retained by us for this purpose. The “average VWAP”
per share over a certain period means the average of the VWAP
per share for each trading day in such period.
Conversion
at the Option of the Holder
Other than during a fundamental change conversion period (as
defined below in the section of this prospectus entitled
“— Conversion at the Option of the Holder upon
Fundamental Change; Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole
Amount”), holders of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock have the right to convert their shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock, in whole or in part (but in no
event less than one share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock), at any time prior to the mandatory conversion date, into
shares of our common stock at the minimum conversion rate,
subject to adjustment as described in the section of this
prospectus entitled “— Anti-dilution
Adjustments” below.
If as of the effective date of any early conversion (the
“early conversion date”), we have not declared all or
any portion of the accumulated and unpaid dividends for all
dividend periods ending prior to such early conversion date, the
conversion rate will be adjusted so that converting holders
receive an additional number of shares of common stock equal to
such amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends that have not
been declared for such dividend periods (the “early
conversion additional conversion amount”), divided by the
greater of the floor price and the average VWAP per share of our
common stock over the 20 consecutive trading day period ending
on, and including, the third trading day immediately preceding
the early conversion date (the “early conversion average
price”). To the extent that the early conversion additional
conversion amount exceeds the product of the number of
additional shares and the early conversion average price, we
will not have any obligation to pay the shortfall in cash.
Except as described above, upon any optional conversion of any
shares of the mandatory convertible preferred stock, we will
make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends on such shares
of the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Conversion
at the Option of the Holder upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental
Change Dividend Make-whole Amount
General
If a fundamental change (as defined below) occurs, on or prior
to the mandatory conversion date, holders of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock will have the right to:
(i) convert their shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock, in whole or in part (but in no event less than one share
of mandatory convertible preferred stock), into shares of common
stock at the fundamental change conversion rate described below;
(ii) with respect to such converted shares, receive an
amount equal to the present value, calculated using a discount
rate of % per annum, of all
dividend payments on such shares (excluding any accumulated and
A-23
unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective
date of the fundamental change, including for the dividend
period, if any, from the dividend payment date immediately
preceding the effective date to but excluding the effective date
(collectively, the “accumulated dividend amount”)) for
all the remaining full dividend periods and for the partial
dividend period from and including the effective date to but
excluding the next dividend payment date (the “fundamental
change dividend make-whole amount”); and (iii) with
respect to such converted shares, to the extent that, as of the
effective date of the fundamental change, there is any
accumulated dividend amount, receive payment of the accumulated
dividend amount, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii),
subject to our right to deliver shares of our common stock in
lieu of all or part of such amounts as described under
“— Fundamental change dividend make-whole amount
and accumulated dividend amount” below; provided
that, if the effective date falls after the record date for
a declared dividend and prior to the next dividend payment date,
such dividend will be paid on such dividend payment date to the
holders as of such record date, as described in the section of
this prospectus entitled “— Dividends,” and
will not be included in the accumulated dividend amount, and the
fundamental change dividend make-whole amount will not include
the present value of the payment of such dividend.
To exercise this right, holders must submit their shares of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock for conversion at any time
during the period (the “fundamental change conversion
period”) beginning on the effective date of such
fundamental change (the “effective date”) and ending
at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date that is 20
calendar days after the effective date (or, if earlier, the
mandatory conversion date) at the conversion rate specified in
the table below (the “fundamental change conversion
rate”). Holders of mandatory convertible preferred stock
who do not submit their shares for conversion during the
fundamental change conversion period will not be entitled to
convert their shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock at
the fundamental change conversion rate or to receive the
fundamental change dividend make-whole amount or the accumulated
dividend amount. If the effective date of a fundamental change
falls during a dividend period for which we have declared, or
thereafter declare, a dividend, we will pay such dividend on the
relevant dividend payment date to the holders of record on the
applicable record date, as described in the section of this
prospectus entitled “— Dividends.”
We will notify holders of the anticipated effective date of a
fundamental change at least 20 calendar days prior to such
anticipated effective date or, if such prior notice is not
practicable, notify holders of the effective date of a
fundamental change no later than such effective date. If we
notify holders of a fundamental change later than the twentieth
calendar day prior to the effective date of a fundamental
change, the fundamental change conversion period will be
extended by a number of days equal to the number of days from,
and including, the twentieth calendar day prior to the effective
date of the fundamental change to, but excluding, the date of
the notice; provided that the fundamental change
conversion period will not be extended beyond the mandatory
conversion date.
A “fundamental change” will be deemed to have
occurred, at any time after the initial issue date of the
mandatory convertible preferred stock, upon: (i) the
consummation of any transaction or event (whether by means of an
exchange offer, liquidation, tender offer, consolidation,
merger, combination, recapitalization or otherwise) in
connection with which 90% or more of our common stock is
exchanged for, converted into, acquired for or constitutes
solely the right to receive, consideration 10% or more of which
is not common stock that is listed on, or immediately after the
transaction or event will be listed on, the New York Stock
Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global
Market; (ii) (a) any “person” or
“group” (as such terms are used for purposes of
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, whether or
not applicable), other than TNA Moly Group LLC and any group
with which it files a report on Schedule 13D from time to
time (the “TNA Group”), Resource Capital Fund IV
L.P. and any group with which it files a report on
Schedule 13D from time to time (the “Resource
Group”), Pegasus Capital LLC and any group with which it
files a report on Schedule 13D from time to time (the
“Pegasus Group”), us, any of our majority-owned
subsidiaries or any of our or our majority-owned
subsidiaries’ employee benefit plans, becoming the
“beneficial owner,” directly or indirectly, of more
than 50% of the total voting power in the aggregate of all
classes of capital stock then outstanding entitled to vote
generally in elections of our directors, or (b) the TNA
Group, the Resource Group and the Pegasus Group, in the
aggregate, becoming the “beneficial owner,” directly
or indirectly, of more than 65% of the total voting power in the
aggregate of all classes of capital
A-24
stock then outstanding entitled to vote generally in the
elections of our directors; or (iii) our common stock (or
any other security into which the mandatory convertible
preferred stock becomes convertible in connection with a
reorganization event) ceases to be listed or quoted on the New
York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the
NASDAQ Global Market.
Fundamental
change conversion rate
The fundamental change conversion rate will be determined by
reference to the table below and is based on the effective date
of the transaction and the price (the “stock price”)
paid per share of our common stock in such transaction. If the
holders of our common stock receive only cash in the fundamental
change, the stock price shall be the cash amount paid per share.
Otherwise the stock price shall be the average VWAP per share of
our common stock over the five consecutive trading day period
ending on, and including, the trading day preceding the
effective date.
The stock prices set forth in the first row of the table (i.e.,
the column headers) will be adjusted as of any date on which the
fixed conversion rates of our mandatory convertible preferred
stock are adjusted. The adjusted stock prices will equal the
stock prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the minimum
conversion rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise
to the stock price adjustment and the denominator of which is
the minimum conversion rate as so adjusted. Each of the
fundamental change conversion rates in the table will be subject
to adjustment in the same manner as each fixed conversion rate
as set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled
“— Anti-dilution Adjustments.”
The following table sets forth the fundamental change conversion
rate per share of mandatory convertible preferred stock for each
stock price and effective date set forth below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Price on Effective Date
|
|
Effective Date
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
,
2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
,
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
,
2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
,
2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The exact stock price and effective dates may not be set forth
in the table, in which case:
|
|
|
|
•
|
if the stock price is between two stock price amounts on the
table or the effective date is between two dates on the table,
the fundamental change conversion rate will be determined by
straight-line interpolation between the fundamental change
conversion rates set forth for the higher and lower stock price
amounts and the two dates based on a
365-day
year, as applicable;
|
|
|
•
|
if the stock price is in excess of
$ per share (subject to adjustment
as described above), then the fundamental change conversion rate
will be the minimum conversion rate, subject to
adjustment; and
|
|
|
•
|
if the stock price is less than $
per share (subject to adjustment as described above), then the
fundamental change conversion rate will be the maximum
conversion rate, subject to adjustment.
|
Fundamental
change dividend make-whole amount and accumulated dividend
amount
For any shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock that are
converted during the fundamental change conversion period,
subject to the limitations described below, we may pay the
fundamental change dividend make-whole amount and the
accumulated dividend amount, determined in our sole discretion:
|
|
|
|
•
|
in cash;
|
|
|
•
|
by delivery of shares of our common stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
through any combination of cash and shares of our common stock.
|
A-25
We will pay the fundamental change dividend make-whole amount
and the accumulated dividend amount in cash, except to the
extent we elect on or prior to the second business day following
the effective date of a fundamental change to make all or any
portion of such payments in shares of our common stock. If we
elect to make any such payment, or any portion thereof, in
shares of our common stock, such shares shall be valued for such
purpose at 97% of the stock price.
No fractional shares of common stock will be delivered to the
holders of the mandatory convertible preferred stock in respect
of the fundamental change dividend make-whole amount or the
accumulated dividend amount. We will instead pay a cash
adjustment to each converting holder that would otherwise be
entitled to a fraction of a share of common stock based on the
stock price.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the number of
shares of our common stock delivered in connection with the
fundamental change dividend make-whole amount and the
accumulated dividend amount, in the aggregate, exceed a number
equal to the sum of such amounts (the “additional
fundamental change amount”), divided by the greater of the
floor price and 97% of the stock price. To the extent that the
additional fundamental change amount exceeds the product of the
number of shares of common stock delivered in respect of such
additional fundamental change amount and 97% of the stock price,
we will, if we are legally able to do so, notwithstanding any
notice by us to the contrary, pay such excess amount in cash.
Not later than the second business day following the effective
date of a fundamental change, we will notify holders of:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the fundamental change conversion rate;
|
|
|
•
|
the fundamental change dividend make-whole amount and whether we
will pay such amount, or any portion thereof, in shares of our
common stock and, if applicable, the portion of such amount that
will be paid in common stock; and
|
|
|
•
|
the accumulated dividend amount and whether we will pay such
amount, or any portion thereof, in shares of our common stock
and, if applicable, the portion of such amount that will be paid
in common stock.
|
Our obligation to deliver shares at the fundamental change
conversion rate and pay the fundamental change dividend
make-whole amount could be considered a penalty, in which case
the enforceability thereof would be subject to general
principles of reasonableness of economic remedies.
Conversion
Procedures
Upon
mandatory conversion
Any outstanding shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
will automatically convert into shares of common stock on the
mandatory conversion date. The person or persons entitled to
receive the shares of common stock issuable upon mandatory
conversion of the mandatory convertible preferred stock will be
treated as the record holder(s) of such shares as of
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the mandatory conversion
date. Except as provided in the section of this prospectus
entitled “— Anti-dilution Adjustments,”
prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the mandatory
conversion date, the shares of common stock issuable upon
conversion of the mandatory convertible preferred stock will not
be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose and you will have no
rights with respect to such shares of common stock, including
voting rights, rights to respond to tender offers and rights to
receive any dividends or other distributions on the common
stock, by virtue of holding the mandatory convertible preferred
stock.
Upon
early conversion
If you elect to convert your shares of mandatory convertible
preferred stock prior to the mandatory conversion date, in the
manner described in “— Conversion at the Option
of the Holder” or “— Conversion at
A-26
the Option of the Holder upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental
Change Dividend Make-whole Amount,” you must observe the
following conversion procedures:
To convert your shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
you must deliver to The Depository Trust Company (DTC) the
appropriate instruction form for conversion pursuant to
DTC’s conversion program and, if required, pay all taxes or
duties, if any.
The conversion date will be the date on which you have satisfied
the foregoing requirements. You will not be required to pay any
taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of our
common stock if you exercise your conversion rights, except that
you will be required to pay any tax or duty that may be payable
relating to any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of
the common stock in a name other than your own. Shares of common
stock will be issued and delivered only after all applicable
taxes and duties, if any, payable by you have been paid in full
and will be issued on the later of the third business day
immediately succeeding the conversion date and the business day
after you have paid in full all applicable taxes and duties, if
any.
The person or persons entitled to receive the shares of common
stock issuable upon conversion of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock will be treated as the record holder(s) of such
shares as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
applicable conversion date. Prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the applicable conversion date, the shares of
common stock issuable upon conversion of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock will not be deemed to be outstanding
for any purpose and you will have no rights with respect to such
shares of common stock, including voting rights, rights to
respond to tender offers and rights to receive any dividends or
other distributions on the common stock, by virtue of holding
the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Fractional
shares
No fractional shares of common stock will be issued to holders
of our mandatory convertible preferred stock upon conversion. In
lieu of any fractional shares of common stock otherwise issuable
in respect of the aggregate number of shares of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock of any holder that are converted,
that holder will be entitled to receive an amount in cash
(computed to the nearest cent) equal to the product of:
(i) that same fraction; and (ii) the average VWAP per
share of our common stock over the five consecutive trading day
period ending on, and including, the second trading day
immediately preceding the conversion date.
If more than one share of our mandatory convertible preferred
stock is surrendered for conversion at one time by or for the
same holder, the number of shares of our common stock issuable
upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the
aggregate number of shares of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock so surrendered.
Anti-dilution
Adjustments
Each fixed conversion rate will be adjusted if:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
We issue common stock to all or substantially all holders of our
common stock as a dividend or other distribution, in which
event, each fixed conversion rate in effect at 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the date fixed for determination of the
holders of our common stock entitled to receive such dividend or
other distribution will be divided by a fraction:
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
the numerator of which is the number of shares of our common
stock outstanding at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
date fixed for such determination, and
|
|
|
•
|
the denominator of which is the sum of the number of shares of
our common stock outstanding at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the date fixed for such determination and the total
number of shares of our common stock constituting such dividend
or other distribution.
|
Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (1) will become
effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the date fixed for such determination. If any dividend or
distribution
A-27
described in this clause (1) is declared but not so paid or
made, each fixed conversion rate shall be readjusted, effective
as of the date our Board of Directors publicly announces its
decision not to make such dividend or distribution, to such
fixed conversion rate that would be in effect if such dividend
or distribution had not been declared. For the purposes of this
clause (1), the number of shares of common stock outstanding at
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date fixed for such
determination shall not include shares held in treasury but
shall include any shares issuable in respect of any scrip
certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of common
stock. We will not pay any dividend or make any distribution on
shares of common stock held in treasury.
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
We issue to all or substantially all holders of our common stock
rights or warrants (other than rights or warrants issued
pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan or share purchase plan
or other similar plans) entitling them, for a period of up to 45
calendar days from the date of issuance of such rights or
warrants, to subscribe for or purchase our shares of common
stock at less than the “current market price” (as
defined below) of our common stock, in which case each fixed
conversion rate in effect at 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the date fixed for determination of the holders of our common
stock entitled to receive such rights or warrants will be
increased by multiplying such fixed conversion rate by a
fraction:
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
the numerator of which is the sum of the number of shares of
common stock outstanding at 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the date fixed for such determination and the number of
shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to such rights or
warrants, and
|
|
|
•
|
the denominator of which shall be the sum of the number of
shares of common stock outstanding at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the date fixed for such determination and the
number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient of the
aggregate offering price payable to exercise such rights or
warrants divided by the current market price of our common stock.
|
Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (2) will become
effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the date fixed for such determination. In the event that such
rights or warrants described in this clause (2) are not so
issued, each fixed conversion rate shall be readjusted,
effective as of the date our Board of Directors publicly
announces its decision not to issue such rights or warrants, to
such fixed conversion rate that would then be in effect if such
issuance had not been declared. To the extent that such rights
or warrants are not exercised prior to their expiration or
shares of our common stock are otherwise not delivered pursuant
to such rights or warrants upon the exercise of such rights or
warrants, each fixed conversion rate shall be readjusted to such
fixed conversion rate that would then be in effect had the
adjustment made upon the issuance of such rights or warrants
been made on the basis of the delivery of only the number of
shares of our common stock actually delivered. In determining
whether any rights or warrants entitle the holders thereof to
subscribe for or purchase shares of our common stock at less
than the current market price, and in determining the aggregate
offering price payable for such shares of our common stock,
there shall be taken into account any consideration received for
such rights or warrants and the value of such consideration (if
other than cash, to be determined by our Board of Directors).
For the purposes of this clause (2), the number of shares of
common stock at the time outstanding shall not include shares
held in treasury but shall include any shares issuable in
respect of any scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of
shares of common stock. We will not issue any such rights or
warrants in respect of shares of common stock held in treasury.
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
We subdivide or combine our common stock, in which event each
fixed conversion rate in effect at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the effective date of such subdivision or combination
shall be multiplied by a fraction:
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
the numerator of which is the number of shares of our common
stock that would be outstanding immediately after, and solely as
a result of, such subdivision or combination, and
|
|
|
•
|
the denominator of which is the number of shares of our common
stock outstanding immediately prior to such subdivision or
combination.
|
A-28
Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (3) shall
become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the effective date of such subdivision or combination.
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
We distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common
stock evidences of our indebtedness, shares of capital stock,
securities, rights to acquire our capital stock, cash or other
assets, excluding:
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
any dividend or distribution covered by clause (1) above;
|
|
|
•
|
any rights or warrants covered by clause (2) above;
|
|
|
•
|
any dividend or distribution covered by clause (5)
below; and
|
|
|
•
|
any spin-off to which the provisions set forth below in this
clause (4) shall apply,
|
in which event each fixed conversion rate in effect at
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date fixed for the
determination of holders of our common stock entitled to receive
such distribution will be multiplied by a fraction:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the numerator of which is the current market price of our common
stock, and
|
|
|
•
|
the denominator of which is the current market price of our
common stock minus the fair market value, as determined by our
Board of Directors, on such date fixed for determination, of the
portion of the evidences of indebtedness, shares of capital
stock, securities, rights to acquire our capital stock, cash or
other assets so distributed applicable to one share of our
common stock.
|
In the event that we make a distribution to all holders of our
common stock consisting of capital stock of, or similar equity
interests in, or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit
of ours (herein referred to as a “spin-off”), each
fixed conversion rate in effect at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the date fixed for the determination of holders of our
common stock entitled to receive such distribution will be
multiplied by a fraction:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the numerator of which is the sum of the current market price of
our common stock and the fair market value, as determined by our
Board of Directors, of the portion of those shares of capital
stock or similar equity interests so distributed applicable to
one share of common stock as of the fifteenth trading day after
the effective date for such distribution (or, if such shares of
capital stock or equity interests are listed on a national or
regional securities exchange, the current market price of such
securities), and
|
|
|
•
|
the denominator of which is the current market price of our
common stock.
|
Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (4) shall
become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the date fixed for the determination of the holders of
our common stock entitled to receive such distribution. In the
event that such distribution described in this clause (4)
is not so made, each fixed conversion rate shall be readjusted,
effective as of the date our Board of Directors publicly
announces its decision not to make such distribution, to such
fixed conversion rate that would then be in effect if such
distribution had not been declared. If an adjustment to each
fixed conversion rate is required under this clause (4)
during any settlement period in respect of shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock that have been tendered for
conversion, delivery of the shares of our common stock issuable
upon conversion will be delayed to the extent necessary in order
to complete the calculations provided for in this clause (4).
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
We make a distribution consisting exclusively of cash to all or
substantially all holders of our common stock, excluding:
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
any cash that is distributed in a reorganization event (as
described below),
|
|
|
•
|
any dividend or distribution in connection with our liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, and
|
|
|
•
|
any consideration payable as part of a tender or exchange offer
covered by clause (6),
|
A-29
in which event, each fixed conversion rate in effect at
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date fixed for
determination of the holders of our common stock entitled to
receive such distribution will be multiplied by a fraction:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the numerator of which is the current market price of our common
stock, and
|
|
|
•
|
the denominator of which is the current market price of our
common stock minus the amount per share of such distribution.
|
Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (5) shall
become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the date fixed for the determination of the holders of
our common stock entitled to receive such distribution. In the
event that any distribution described in this clause (5) is
not so made, each fixed conversion rate shall be readjusted,
effective as of the date our Board of Directors publicly
announces its decision not to make such distribution, to such
fixed conversion rate which would then be in effect if such
distribution had not been declared.
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
We or any of our subsidiaries successfully complete a tender or
exchange offer pursuant to a Schedule TO or registration
statement on
Form S-4
for our common stock (excluding any securities convertible or
exchangeable for our common stock), where the cash and the value
of any other consideration included in the payment per share of
our common stock exceeds the current market price of our common
stock, in which event each fixed conversion rate in effect at
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of expiration of
the tender or exchange offer (the “expiration date”)
will be multiplied by a fraction:
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
the numerator of which shall be equal to the sum of:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
the aggregate cash and fair market value (as determined by our
Board of Directors) on the expiration date of any other
consideration paid or payable for shares purchased in such
tender or exchange offer; and
|
(ii) the product of:
1. the current market price of our common stock; and
|
|
|
|
2.
|
the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately
after such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect
to the purchase or exchange of shares pursuant to such tender or
exchange offer), and
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
the denominator of which shall be equal to the product of:
|
(i) the current market price of our common stock; and
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately
prior to the time such tender or exchange offer expires.
|
Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (6) shall
become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the seventh trading day immediately following the
expiration date. In the event that we are, or one of our
subsidiaries is, obligated to purchase shares of our common
stock pursuant to any such tender offer or exchange offer, but
we are, or such subsidiary is, permanently prevented by
applicable law from effecting any such purchases, or all such
purchases are rescinded, then each fixed conversation rate shall
be readjusted to be such fixed conversion rate that would then
be in effect if such tender offer or exchange offer had not been
made. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, if the
application of this clause (6) to any tender offer or
exchange offer would result in a decrease in each fixed
conversation rate, no adjustment shall be made for such tender
offer or exchange offer under this clause (6). If an adjustment
to each fixed conversion rate is required pursuant to this
clause (6) during any settlement period in respect of
shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock that have been
tendered for conversion, delivery of the related conversion
consideration will be delayed to the extent necessary in order
to complete the calculations provided for in this clause (6).
A-30
Except with respect to a spin-off, in cases where the fair
market value of the evidences of our indebtedness, shares of
capital stock, securities, rights to acquire our capital stock,
cash or other assets as to which clauses (4) or
(5) above apply, applicable to one share of common stock,
distributed to stockholders equals or exceeds the average VWAP
per share of our common stock over the five consecutive trading
day period ending on the trading day before the ex-date for such
distribution, rather than being entitled to an adjustment in
each fixed conversion rate, holders of the mandatory convertible
preferred stock will be entitled to receive upon conversion, in
addition to a number of shares of our common stock otherwise
deliverable on the applicable conversion date, the kind and
amount of the evidences of our indebtedness, shares of capital
stock, securities, rights to acquire our capital stock, cash or
other assets comprising the distribution that such holder would
have received if such holder had owned, immediately prior to the
record date for determining the holders of our common stock
entitled to receive the distribution, for each share of
mandatory convertible preferred stock, a number of shares of our
common stock equal to the maximum conversion rate in effect on
the date of such distribution.
To the extent that we have a rights plan in effect with respect
to our common stock on any conversion date, upon conversion of
any shares of the mandatory convertible preferred stock, you
will receive, in addition to our common stock, the rights under
the rights plan, unless, prior to such conversion date, the
rights have separated from our common stock, in which case each
fixed conversion rate will be adjusted at the time of separation
as if we made a distribution to all holders of our common stock
as described in clause (4) above, subject to readjustment
in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of
such rights. Any distribution of rights or warrants pursuant to
a rights plan that would allow you to receive upon conversion,
in addition to any shares of our common stock, the rights
described therein (unless such rights or warrants have separated
from our common stock) shall not constitute a distribution of
rights or warrants that would entitle you to an adjustment to
the conversion rate.
For the purposes of determining the adjustment to the fixed
conversion rate for the purposes of:
|
|
|
|
•
|
clauses (2), (4) in the event of an adjustment not relating
to a spin-off and (5) above, the “current market
price” of our common stock is the average VWAP per share of
our common stock over the five consecutive trading day period
ending on the trading day before the “ex-date” with
respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such
computation;
|
|
|
•
|
clause (4) above in the event of an adjustment relating to
a spin-off, the “current market price” of our common
stock, capital stock or equity interest, as applicable, is the
average VWAP per share over the first ten consecutive trading
days commencing on and including the fifth trading day following
the effective date of such distribution; and
|
|
|
•
|
clause (6) above, the “current market price” of
our common stock is the average VWAP per share of our common
stock over the five consecutive trading day period ending on the
seventh trading day after the expiration date of the tender or
exchange offer.
|
The term “ex-date,” when used with respect to any
issuance or distribution, means the first date on which shares
of our common stock trade without the right to receive such
issuance or distribution.
Recapitalizations,
Reclassifications and Changes in our Common Stock
In the event of:
|
|
|
|
•
|
any consolidation or merger of us with or into another person
(other than a merger or consolidation in which we are the
continuing corporation and in which the shares of our common
stock outstanding immediately prior to the merger or
consolidation are not exchanged for cash, securities or other
property of us or another person);
|
|
|
•
|
any sale, transfer, lease or conveyance to another person of all
or substantially all of our property and assets;
|
|
|
•
|
any reclassification of our common stock into securities,
including securities other than our common stock; or
|
A-31
|
|
|
|
•
|
any statutory exchange of our securities with another person
(other than in connection with a merger or acquisition),
|
in each case, as a result of which our common stock would be
converted into, or exchanged for, securities, cash or property
(each, a “reorganization event”), each share of
mandatory convertible preferred stock outstanding immediately
prior to such reorganization event shall, without the consent of
the holders of the mandatory convertible preferred stock, become
convertible into the kind of securities, cash and other property
that such holder would have been entitled to receive if such
holder had converted its mandatory convertible preferred stock
into common stock immediately prior to such reorganization event
(such securities, cash and other property, the “exchange
property,” with each “unit of exchange property”
meaning the kind and amount of exchange property that a holder
of one share of common stock is entitled to receive). For
purposes of the foregoing, the type and amount of exchange
property in the case of any reorganization event that causes our
common stock to be converted into the right to receive more than
a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon
any form of stockholder election) will be deemed to be the
weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration
received by the holders of our common stock that affirmatively
make such an election (or of all holders of our common stock if
none makes an election). We will notify holders of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock of the weighted average as soon as
practicable after such determination is made. The number of
units of exchange property for each share of mandatory
convertible preferred stock converted following the effective
date of such reorganization event will be determined by the
applicable conversion rate then in effect on the applicable
conversion date (without interest thereon and without any right
to dividends or distributions thereon which have a record date
prior to the date such shares of mandatory convertible preferred
stock are actually converted). For the purpose of determining
which bullet of the definition of conversion rate will apply
upon mandatory conversion, and for the purpose of calculating
the conversion rate if the second bullet is applicable, the
value of a unit of exchange property will be determined in good
faith by our Board of Directors, except that if a unit of
exchange property includes common stock or ADRs that are traded
on a U.S. national securities exchange, the value of such
common stock or ADRs will be the average over the 20 consecutive
trading day period ending on, and including, the third trading
day immediately preceding the mandatory conversion date of the
volume weighted average prices for such common stock or ADRs, as
displayed on the applicable Bloomberg screen (as determined in
good faith by our Board of Directors); or, if such price is not
available, the average market value per share of such common
stock or ADRs over such period as determined, using a
volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized
independent investment banking firm retained by us for this
purpose. We (or any successor to us) will, as soon as reasonably
practicable (but in any event within 20 calendar days) after the
occurrence of any reorganization event, provide written notice
to the holders of mandatory convertible preferred stock of such
occurrence and of the kind and amount of cash, securities or
other property that constitute the exchange property. Failure to
deliver such notice will not affect the operation of the
provisions described in this section.
In addition, we may make such increases in each fixed conversion
rate as we deem advisable in order to avoid or diminish any
income tax to holders of our common stock resulting from any
dividend or distribution of shares of our common stock (or
issuance of rights or warrants to acquire shares of our common
stock) or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes
or for any other reason. We may only make such a discretionary
adjustment if we make the same proportionate adjustment to each
fixed conversion rate.
In the event of a taxable distribution to holders of our common
stock that results in an adjustment of each fixed conversion
rate or an increase in each fixed conversion rate in our
discretion, holders of mandatory convertible preferred stock
may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received a
distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a
dividend. In addition,
Non-U.S. Holders
of mandatory convertible preferred stock may, in certain
circumstances, be deemed to have received a distribution subject
to U.S. federal withholding tax requirements. See the
section of this prospectus entitled “Material
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
Adjustments to the fixed conversion rates will be calculated to
the nearest 1/10,000th of a share. Prior to the mandatory
conversion date, no adjustment in a fixed conversion rate will
be required unless the adjustment would require an increase or
decrease of at least one percent in such fixed conversion rate.
If any adjustment
A-32
is not required to be made because it would not change the fixed
conversion rates by at least one percent, then the adjustment
will be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent
adjustment; provided, however, that with respect
to adjustments to be made to the fixed conversion rates in
connection with cash dividends paid by us, we will make such
adjustments, regardless of whether such aggregate adjustments
amount to one percent or more of the fixed conversion rates no
later than February of each
calendar year; provided further that on the earlier of
the mandatory conversion date, an early conversion date and the
effective date of a fundamental change, adjustments to the fixed
conversion rates will be made with respect to any such
adjustment carried forward that has not been taken into account
before such date.
No adjustment to the conversion rate will be made if holders may
participate, at the same time, upon the same terms and otherwise
on the same basis as holders of our common stock and solely as a
result of holding mandatory convertible preferred stock, in the
transaction that would otherwise give rise to such adjustment as
if they held, for each share of mandatory convertible preferred
stock, a number of shares of our common stock equal to the
maximum conversion rate then in effect.
The applicable conversion rate will not be adjusted:
(a) upon the issuance of any common stock pursuant to any
present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of
dividends or interest payable on our securities and the
investment of additional optional amounts in common stock under
any plan;
(b) upon the issuance of any common stock or rights or
warrants to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or
future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program
of or assumed by us or any of our subsidiaries;
(c) upon the issuance of any common stock pursuant to any
option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or
convertible security outstanding as of the date the mandatory
convertible preferred stock were first issued;
(d) for a change in the par value of our common
stock; or
(e) for accumulated and unpaid dividends on the mandatory
convertible preferred stock, except as described above under
“— Mandatory Conversion,”
“— Conversion at the Option of the Holder”
and “— Conversion at the Option of the Holder
upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental Change Dividend Make-whole
Amount.”
We will be required, as soon as practicable after the conversion
rate is adjusted, to provide or cause to be provided written
notice of the adjustment to the holders of shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock. We will also be required to deliver
a statement setting forth in reasonable detail the method by
which the adjustment to each fixed conversion rate was
determined and setting forth each revised fixed conversion rate.
If an adjustment is made to the fixed conversion rates, an
inversely proportional adjustment also will be made to the
threshold appreciation price and the initial price solely for
the purposes of determining which clause of the definition of
the conversion rate will apply on the mandatory conversion date.
Because (a) each of the applicable market value and the
early conversion average price is an average VWAP per share of
our common stock over a 20 consecutive trading day period, and
(b) each of the stock price and the
five-day
average price is an average VWAP per share of our common stock
over a five consecutive trading day period, we will make
appropriate adjustments to the VWAP per share of our common
stock prior to the relevant ex-date, effective date or
expiration date, as the case may be, used to calculate the
applicable market value, the early conversion average price, the
stock price and the
five-day
average price to account for any adjustments to the initial
price, the threshold appreciation price and the fixed conversion
rates that become effective during the applicable period.
If:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the record date for a dividend or distribution on our common
stock occurs after the end of the 20 consecutive trading day
period used for calculating the applicable market value and
before the mandatory conversion date, and
|
A-33
|
|
|
|
•
|
that dividend or distribution would have resulted in an
adjustment of the number of shares issuable to the holders of
mandatory convertible preferred stock had such record date
occurred on or before the last trading day of such 20-trading
day period,
|
then we will deem the holders of mandatory convertible preferred
stock to be holders of record of our common stock for purposes
of that dividend or distribution. In this case, the holders of
the mandatory convertible preferred stock would receive the
dividend or distribution on our common stock together with the
number of shares of common stock issuable upon mandatory
conversion of the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Reservation
of Shares
We will at all times reserve and keep available out of the
authorized and unissued common stock or shares of common stock
held in treasury by us, solely for issuance upon conversion of
the mandatory convertible preferred stock, a number of shares of
common stock equal to the product of the maximum conversion rate
then in effect and the number of shares of mandatory convertible
preferred stock then outstanding.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and
registrar for the mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Book-Entry,
Delivery and Form
The mandatory convertible preferred stock will be issued in
global form. DTC or its nominee will be the sole registered
holder of the mandatory convertible preferred stock. Ownership
of beneficial interests in the mandatory convertible preferred
stock in global form will be limited to persons who have
accounts with DTC (“participants”) or persons who hold
interests through such participants. Ownership of beneficial
interests in the mandatory convertible preferred stock in global
form will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will
be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its
nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the
records of participants (with respect to interests of persons
other than participants).
So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or
holder of a global certificate representing the mandatory
convertible preferred stock, DTC or such nominee, as the case
may be, will be considered the sole holder of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock represented by such global
certificate for all purposes under the certificate of
designations. No beneficial owner of an interest in the
mandatory convertible preferred stock in global form will be
able to transfer that interest except in accordance with the
applicable procedures of DTC in addition to those provided for
under the certificate of designations.
Payments of dividends on the global certificate representing the
mandatory convertible preferred stock will be made to DTC or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder thereof.
None of Molycorp, the transfer agent, registrar, conversion or
dividend disbursing agent will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments
made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global
certificate representing the mandatory convertible preferred
stock or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment
of dividends in respect of a global certificate representing the
mandatory convertible preferred stock, will credit
participants’ accounts with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the
aggregate liquidation preference of such global certificate
representing the mandatory convertible preferred stock as shown
on the records of DTC or its nominee, as the case may be. We
also expect that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in such global certificate representing the
mandatory convertible preferred stock held through such
participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for
the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees
for such customers. Such payments will be the responsibility of
such participants.
A-34
Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the
ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in
same-day
funds.
We understand that DTC is:
|
|
|
|
•
|
a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the
State of New York;
|
|
|
•
|
a “banking organization” within the meaning of New
York Banking Law;
|
|
|
•
|
a member of the Federal Reserve System;
|
|
|
•
|
a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the
Uniform Commercial Code; and
|
|
|
•
|
a “Clearing Agency” registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
|
DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and
facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between participants through electronic book-entry
changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the
need for physical movement of certificates. Participants include:
|
|
|
|
•
|
securities brokers and dealers;
|
|
|
•
|
banks and trust companies; and
|
|
|
•
|
clearing corporations and certain other organizations.
|
Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such as
banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through
or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either
directly or indirectly (indirect participants).
Although DTC is expected to follow the foregoing procedures in
order to facilitate transfers of interests in a global security
among its participants, it is under no obligation to perform or
continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be
discontinued at any time. None of Molycorp, the transfer agent,
registrar, conversion or dividend disbursing agent will have any
responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or
indirect participants of their respective obligations under the
rules and procedures governing their operations.
If DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as a
depositary for the mandatory convertible preferred stock in
global form or DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency
under the Exchange Act, and in either case a successor
depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will
issue certificated shares in exchange for the global securities.
The information in this section concerning DTC and its
book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe
to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy
thereof.
A-35
MATERIAL
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion describes material U.S. federal
income and estate tax consequences associated with the purchase,
ownership and disposition of the mandatory convertible preferred
stock and the ownership and disposition of our common stock
received as a dividend thereon or upon conversion thereof, as of
the date of this prospectus. This discussion assumes that you
will hold our stock as a capital asset within the meaning of
Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code (the
“Code”). This discussion does not address all aspects
of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a
particular investor in light of the investor’s individual
circumstances. In addition, this discussion does not address
(i) U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift or
estate tax laws, (ii) state, local or
non-U.S. tax
consequences, (iii) the special tax rules that may apply to
certain investors, including, without limitation, banks,
insurance companies, financial institutions, controlled foreign
corporations, passive foreign investment companies,
broker-dealers, grantor trusts, personal holding companies,
taxpayers who have elected
mark-to-market
accounting, tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies,
real estate investment trusts, a partnership or other entity or
arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes or other pass-through entities, or an
investor in such entities or arrangements, or
U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the
United States, (iv) the special tax rules that may apply to
an investor that acquires, holds, or disposes of our common
stock as part of a straddle, hedge, constructive sale,
conversion or other integrated transaction, or (v) the
impact, if any, of the alternative minimum tax.
This discussion is based on current provisions of the Code,
applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder, judicial opinions, and published rulings of the
Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), all as in effect
on the date of this prospectus and all of which are subject to
differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive
effect. We have not sought, and will not seek, any ruling from
the IRS or any opinion of counsel with respect to the tax
consequences discussed herein, and there can be no assurance
that the IRS will not take a position contrary to the tax
consequences discussed below or that any position taken by the
IRS would not be sustained.
THIS SUMMARY IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE
DESCRIPTION OF ALL TAX CONSEQUENCES RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION,
OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
STOCK, OR THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK
RECEIVED AS A DIVIDEND THEREON OR UPON CONVERSION THEREOF, AND
IS NOT TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE. PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS OF OUR MANDATORY
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND COMMON STOCK SHOULD CONSULT WITH
THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM
(INCLUDING THE APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL,
FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS, AS WELL AS U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE
AND GIFT TAX LAWS, AND ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY) IN LIGHT OF
THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS.
Tax
Consequences to U.S. Holders
A “U.S. Holder” of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock or common stock means a holder that is for
U.S. federal income tax purposes:
|
|
|
|
•
|
An individual citizen or resident of the United States;
|
|
|
•
|
A corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) created
or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any
state thereof or the District of Columbia;
|
|
|
•
|
An estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal
income taxation regardless of its source; or
|
|
|
•
|
A trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of
a court within the United States and one or more
U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial
decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in
effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a
U.S. person.
|
A-36
If a partnership or other entity or arrangement treated as a
partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our
mandatory convertible preferred stock or common stock, the tax
treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of
the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a
partner in a partnership purchasing mandatory convertible
preferred stock, we urge you to consult your tax advisor.
Distributions
on Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and Common
Stock
In general, any distribution made with respect to shares of our
mandatory convertible preferred stock or our common stock will
be treated as a “dividend” to the extent made out of
our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any distribution not
constituting a dividend will be treated first as a tax-free
return of investment to the extent of the holder’s tax
basis in the stock, and thereafter as capital gain from the sale
or exchange of such stock. Although we believe our earnings and
profits will be sufficient for any distributions paid on our
mandatory convertible preferred stock to be treated as dividends
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we cannot assure you
our earnings and profits will be sufficient for dividend
treatment.
Dividends received by individual U.S. Holders will be
ordinary income upon receipt, but if received in taxable years
beginning before January 1, 2013, will qualify for taxation
at reduced rates (equal to those applying to capital gains),
provided that holding period and other applicable requirements
are met. Dividends received by corporate U.S. Holders will
be eligible for the dividends-received deduction, subject to
certain restrictions, including restrictions relating to the
holder’s taxable income, holding period and debt financing.
Any common stock received as a distribution on our mandatory
convertible preferred stock will be treated as a dividend to the
same extent as if there had been a distribution of cash in the
amount of the fair market value of the stock on the date of the
distribution. The holder’s tax basis in the common stock
received will be equal to that fair market value, and the
holding period for the common stock will begin on the day
following the distribution date.
As a holder of mandatory convertible preferred stock, you may be
treated as receiving a constructive dividend distribution from
us if the conversion rate is adjusted and as a result of such
adjustment your proportionate interest in our assets or earnings
and profits is increased. In some circumstances, either an
increase in the conversion rate, or a failure to make an
adjustment to the conversion rate, may result in a deemed
taxable distribution to a holder of mandatory convertible
preferred stock or common stock, if as a result of such failure,
the proportionate interests of such holders in our assets or
earnings and profits is increased. It is anticipated that such
constructive dividends would be reported to you in the same
manner as actual dividends. Thus, under certain circumstances,
U.S. Holders may recognize income in the event of a
constructive distribution even though they may not receive any
cash or property. However, adjustments to the conversion rate
made pursuant to a bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution
adjustment formula generally should not result in a constructive
dividend distribution. Certain of the possible adjustments
(including, without limitation, adjustments in respect of
taxable dividends to our stockholders) do not qualify as being
made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula.
A dividend in an amount that exceeds five percent of the
holder’s tax basis in our mandatory convertible preferred
stock (or ten percent of the holder’s basis in our common
stock) could be characterized as an “extraordinary
dividend.” In some cases, multiple dividends will be
aggregated for purposes of determining if there is an
extraordinary dividend. Generally, a corporate U.S. Holder
that receives an extraordinary dividend is required to reduce
its stock basis by the portion of such dividend that is not
taxed because of the dividends-received deduction. If the amount
of the reduction exceeds the corporate U.S. Holder’s
tax basis in our mandatory convertible preferred stock or common
stock (as applicable), the excess is treated as taxable gain
from sale of the stock. Generally, an individual
U.S. Holder that receives an extraordinary dividend in
taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013 will be
required to treat any losses on the sale of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock or common stock as long-term capital
losses to the extent of the extraordinary dividends the holder
receives that qualify for the special tax rate on certain
dividends described above.
A-37
Sale
or Exchange of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and Common
Stock
Upon the sale or other disposition of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock (other than pursuant to a conversion into common
stock) or our common stock, you will generally recognize capital
gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized
and your adjusted tax basis in such stock. Such capital gain or
loss will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if your
holding period in respect of the stock is more than one year.
For a discussion of your tax basis and holding period in respect
of common stock received in the conversion of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock, see below under
“— Conversion of Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock into Common Stock.” Under current law, net long-term
capital gain recognized in tax years beginning prior to
January 1, 2013 by individual U.S. Holders is eligible
for a reduced rate of taxation. The deductibility of capital
losses is subject to limitations.
Conversion
of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common
Stock
A U.S. Holder will not recognize any income, gain, or loss
upon the mandatory or optional conversion of mandatory
convertible preferred stock into common stock, except that any
cash or common stock you receive in respect of dividends in
arrears will generally be taxable as described in
“— Distributions on Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock and Common Stock” above. The treatment of
any cash or common stock received in respect of dividends for
any portion of the dividend period containing the date of
conversion is uncertain, and such cash or common stock may be
treated as a payment in respect of dividends in arrears. For
reporting and withholding purposes, we currently expect to treat
the amounts of cash or stock attributable to dividends that
would have accrued through the conversion date as payments in
respect of dividends in arrears. In addition, any cash received
in lieu of a fractional share of common stock will generally be
treated as if you received the fractional share and then
received the cash in redemption of the fractional share. The
deemed redemption will generally result in capital gain or loss
equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and
your tax basis in the stock that is allocable to the fractional
share.
Your tax basis in the common stock you receive upon a conversion
(other than common stock received with respect to dividends in
arrears, but including any basis allocable to a fractional
share) will generally equal the tax basis of the mandatory
convertible preferred stock that was converted. Your tax basis
in a fractional share will be determined by allocating your tax
basis in the common stock between the common stock you receive
upon conversion and the fractional share in accordance with
their respective fair market values. Your holding period for the
common stock you receive (other than common stock received in
respect of dividends in arrears) will include your holding
period for the converted mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Upon certain conversions of our mandatory convertible preferred
stock, we may, in respect of any such conversion, pay a holder
common stock
and/or cash
in respect of any accrued but unpaid dividends and the present
value of future dividends (as described under “Description
of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock — Conversion
at the Option of the Holder upon Fundamental Change; Fundamental
Change Dividend Make-whole Amount”). The tax consequences
of such payment of cash or common stock (other than payment in
respect of dividends in arrears discussed in the first paragraph
above under “— Conversion of Mandatory Preferred
Stock into Common Stock”) are uncertain:
|
|
|
|
•
|
If we choose to pay a U.S. Holder any cash, the receipt of
such cash may be taxable to the extent of gain realized by the
U.S. Holder on the conversion. For this purpose, a
U.S. Holder realizes gain on the conversion equal to the
excess, if any, of (i) the sum of the fair market value of
our common stock received (other than common stock received with
respect to dividends in arrears) and the cash received
attributable to future dividends over (ii) the
U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our mandatory
convertible preferred stock immediately prior to conversion. The
character of such gain is uncertain. If we have current or
accumulated earnings and profits at the time of the conversion,
this gain would be taxable as dividend income to the extent
thereof, if the receipt of the cash attributable to future
dividends is considered to have the effect of a dividend (which
generally would be the case if the receipt of such cash did not
result in a meaningful reduction in such holder’s equity
interest in us, as determined for U.S. federal income tax
purposes), and thereafter as capital gain. Alternatively, such
|
A-38
|
|
|
|
|
gain would be capital gain in its entirety. To the extent the
amount of cash received exceeds the gain realized, the excess
amount will not be taxable to such U.S. Holder but will
reduce its adjusted tax basis in our common stock received upon
conversion (other than common stock received with respect to
dividends in arrears). A U.S. Holder will not be permitted
to recognize any loss realized by it upon conversion of
mandatory convertible preferred stock into common stock.
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
If we choose to deliver common stock, the receipt of such stock
should be treated as consideration received upon conversion of
the mandatory convertible preferred stock. If so treated, such
consideration may be taxed as described in the first paragraph
above under the heading “— Conversion of
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock.”
|
In the event a U.S. Holder’s mandatory convertible
preferred stock is converted pursuant to certain other
transactions, including our consolidation or merger into another
person (see “Description of Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Stock — Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and
Changes in our Common Stock”), the tax treatment of such a
conversion will depend upon the facts underlying the particular
transaction triggering such a conversion. Each U.S. Holder
should consult its tax advisor to determine the specific tax
treatment of a conversion under such circumstances.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding
U.S. backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%) is
imposed on certain payments to persons that fail to furnish the
information required under the U.S. information reporting
requirements. Dividends on mandatory convertible preferred stock
and common stock paid to a U.S. Holder will generally be
exempt from backup withholding, provided the U.S. Holder
meets applicable certification requirements, including providing
a taxpayer identification number, or otherwise establishes an
exemption. We must report annually to the IRS and to each
U.S. Holder the amount of dividends paid to that holder and
the proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of our
mandatory convertible preferred stock or our common stock,
unless a U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient.
Backup withholding does not represent an additional tax. Any
amounts withheld from a payment to a U.S. Holder under the
backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against the
holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may
entitle the U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the
required information or returns are timely furnished by the
U.S. Holder to the IRS.
Tax
Consequences to
Non-U.S.
Holders
A
“Non-U.S. Holder”
is a beneficial owner of our mandatory convertible preferred
stock or our common stock (other than an entity or arrangement
classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes) that is not a U.S. Holder. Special rules may also
apply to certain
Non-U.S. Holders,
such as:
|
|
|
|
•
|
U.S. expatriates;
|
|
|
•
|
“controlled foreign corporations”;
|
|
|
•
|
“passive foreign investment companies”; and
|
|
|
•
|
investors in pass-through entities that are subject to special
treatment under the Code.
|
Non-U.S. Holders
are urged to consult their tax advisors to determine the
U.S. federal, state, local, and other tax consequences that
may be relevant to them.
Distributions
on Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and Common
Stock
Except as described below, if you are a
Non-U.S. Holder
of our mandatory convertible preferred stock or our common
stock, actual and constructive dividends generally are subject
to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate, or
at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an
income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate. Even if you
are eligible for a lower treaty rate, we generally will be
required to withhold at a 30% rate (rather than the lower treaty
rate) on dividend payments to you, unless you have
A-39
furnished to us (1) a valid IRS
Form W-8BEN
or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under
penalties of perjury, your status as a
non-U.S. person
and your entitlement to the lower treaty rate with respect to
such payments, or (2) in the case of payments made outside
the U.S. to an offshore account (generally, an account
maintained by you at an office or branch of a bank or other
financial institution at any location outside the U.S.), other
documentary evidence establishing your entitlement to the lower
treaty rate in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations.
If you are eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding
tax under a tax treaty, you may generally obtain a refund of any
amounts withheld in excess of that rate by timely filing a
refund claim with the IRS.
Under certain circumstances described above in
“— Tax Consequences to
U.S. Holders — Distributions on Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock and Common Stock,”
Non-U.S. Holders
may be deemed to receive constructive dividends. Because any
constructive dividend to a
Non-U.S. Holder
will not give rise to any cash from which any applicable
U.S. federal withholding tax can be satisfied, we intend to
offset any withholding tax that we are required to collect
against the fair market value of any common stock, cash payments
or other distributions otherwise deliverable to you. As a
result, if we make an adjustment to the conversion rate and the
adjustment gives rise to a constructive dividend,
Non-U.S. holders
should expect additional U.S. withholding on subsequent
distributions.
If you wish to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty for
dividends, you will be required to complete IRS
Form W-8BEN
(or other applicable form) and certify under penalties of
perjury that you are not a U.S. person and that you are
entitled to the benefits of the applicable treaty.
Dividends that are effectively connected with your conduct of a
trade or business within the United States or, if certain tax
treaties apply, are attributable to your U.S. permanent
establishment, are not subject to the withholding tax, but
instead are subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net
income basis in the same manner as if you were a
U.S. Holder. Special certification and disclosure
requirements, including the completion of IRS
Form W-8ECI
(or any successor form), must be satisfied for effectively
connected income to be exempt from withholding. If you are a
foreign corporation, any such effectively connected dividends
received by you may be subject to an additional branch profits
tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an
applicable income tax treaty.
Special certification and other requirements apply to certain
Non-U.S. Holders
that are entities rather than individuals.
Sale
or Exchange of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and Common
Stock
You generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income
tax with respect to gain recognized on a sale or other
disposition of shares of our mandatory convertible preferred
stock (including the deemed exchange that gives rise to a
payment of cash in lieu of a fractional share) or our common
stock unless:
|
|
|
|
•
|
The gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade
or business in the United States and, if certain tax treaties
apply, is attributable to your U.S. permanent establishment;
|
|
|
•
|
If you are an individual and hold shares of our mandatory
convertible preferred stock or our common stock as a capital
asset, you are present in the United States for 183 days or
more in the taxable year of the sale or other disposition, and
certain other conditions are met; or
|
|
|
•
|
We are or have been a “U.S. real property holding
corporation” (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal
income tax purposes and you are not eligible for any treaty
exemption. However, you generally will not be subject to
U.S. federal income tax if (i) our common stock or
mandatory convertible preferred stock is regularly traded (as
discussed below) on an established securities market and
(ii) you held, directly or indirectly, at any time during
the five-year period ending on the date of disposition, 5% or
less of our common stock or mandatory convertible preferred
stock (as applicable). A corporation is generally a USRPHC if
the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests
equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its
worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or
held for use in a trade or business.
|
A-40
Any gain recognized by a
Non-U.S. holder
that is described in the first or third bullets above generally
will be subject to tax at the U.S. federal income tax rates
generally applicable to a U.S. person and be required to
file a U.S. tax return. Such
Non-U.S. holders
are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible
application of these rules. Any gain of a corporate
non-U.S. holder
that is described in the first bullet above may also be subject
to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate, or such lower
rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. An
individual
Non-U.S. holder
that is described in the second bullet above generally will be
subject to a flat 30% tax (or a lower applicable tax treaty
rate) on the U.S. source capital gain derived from the
disposition, which may be offset by U.S. source capital
losses during the taxable year of the disposition.
With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe that we
currently are a USRPHC, and we expect to remain a USRPHC. Our
common stock is currently listed on the NYSE and we believe
that, for as long as we continue to be so listed, our common
stock will be treated as “regularly traded” on an
established securities market. We intend to apply to list our
mandatory convertible preferred stock on the NYSE. If our
mandatory convertible preferred stock is listed on the NYSE, we
believe that our mandatory convertible preferred stock will be
treated as “regularly traded” on an established
securities market for so long as it continues to be so listed.
However, even if our mandatory convertible preferred stock is
not so traded, gain arising from the sale or other taxable
disposition of such stock by a
Non-U.S. Holder
will not be subject to U.S. taxation if our common stock is
part of a class of stock that is “regularly traded” on
an established securities market and the
Non-U.S. Holder
has not, at the time it acquires the mandatory convertible
preferred stock and at certain other times described in the
applicable Treasury regulations, directly or indirectly held
mandatory convertible preferred stock (and in certain cases
other direct or indirect interests in our stock) that had a fair
market value in excess of 5% of the fair market value of all of
our outstanding common stock.
Conversion
of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common
Stock
Subject to the discussion above concerning ownership of a USRPHC
and the discussion above under “— Tax
Consequences to U.S. Holders — Conversion of
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock,” a
Non-U.S. Holder
will generally not recognize any gain in respect of the receipt
of common stock upon the conversion of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock. However, any cash or common stock you receive
in respect of dividends in arrears will generally be treated as
a taxable distribution subject to withholding, as described
above in “— Distributions on Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock and Common Stock.” As the tax
treatment of any cash or common stock received in respect of any
accrued dividends for any portion of the dividend period
containing the date of conversion is uncertain, we intend to
treat the amounts of cash or stock attributable to dividends
that would have accrued through the conversion date as payments
in respect of dividends in arrears subject to withholding, as
described above under “— Distributions on
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.” In addition, cash
received in lieu of a fractional share of common stock will
generally be treated as described above in
“— Sale or Exchange of Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock and Common Stock.” A
Non-U.S. Holder
may also recognize dividend income subject to withholding when
the holder receives an additional amount attributable to future
dividends, as described above under “— Tax
Consequences to U.S. Holders — Conversion of
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock.”
If a
Non-U.S. Holder’s
mandatory convertible preferred stock is converted pursuant to
certain other transactions, including our consolidation or
merger into another person (see “Description of Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock — Recapitalizations,
Reclassifications and Changes in our Common Stock”), the
tax treatment of the conversion will depend upon the facts
underlying the particular transaction triggering the conversion.
Under those circumstances,
Non-U.S. Holders
should consult their tax advisors to determine the specific tax
treatment of a conversion.
Additional
Withholding for Certain Payments to
Non-U.S.
Entities
Recently enacted legislation imposes, effective for payments
after December 31, 2012, a new 30% withholding tax on
certain dividends and proceeds from sale of stock for a
“foreign financial institution” unless such
institution enters into an agreement with the
U.S. government to collect and provide to the
A-41
U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding
U.S. account holders of such institution (which would
include certain account holders that are foreign entities with
U.S. owners). The legislation would also generally impose a
withholding tax of 30% on such dividends and proceeds paid to a
non-U.S. entity
that is not a “foreign financial institution” unless
such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification
identifying the direct and indirect U.S. owners of the
entity. Under certain circumstances, a
Non-U.S. Holder
may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.
Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax
advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation
on their investment in shares of our mandatory convertible
preferred stock or common stock.
Federal
Estate Tax
Shares of our mandatory convertible preferred stock and our
common stock owned or treated as owned by an individual who is
not a citizen or resident (as specially defined for
U.S. federal estate tax purposes) of the United States at
the time of death will be includible in the individual’s
gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless
an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise, and
therefore may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding
Under certain circumstances, Treasury regulations require
information reporting and backup withholding on certain payments
on mandatory convertible preferred stock and common stock.
U.S. backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%) is
imposed on certain payments to persons that fail to furnish the
information required under the U.S. information reporting
requirements. Dividends on mandatory convertible preferred stock
and common stock paid to a
Non-U.S. Holder
will generally be exempt from backup withholding, provided the
Non-U.S. Holder
meets applicable certification requirements, including providing
a correct and properly executed IRS
Form W-8BEN
or otherwise establishes an exemption. We must report annually
to the IRS and to each
Non-U.S. Holder
the amount of dividends paid to that holder and the
U.S. federal withholding tax withheld with respect to those
dividends, regardless of whether withholding is reduced or
eliminated by an applicable tax treaty. Copies of these
information reports may also be made available under the
provisions of an applicable treaty or other agreement to the tax
authorities of the country in which the
Non-U.S. Holder
is a resident.
Under current Treasury regulations, payments of proceeds from
the sale of our mandatory convertible preferred stock and our
common stock effected through a foreign office of a broker to
its customer generally are not subject to information reporting
or backup withholding. However, if the broker is a
U.S. person, a controlled foreign corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes, a foreign person 50% or
more of whose gross income is effectively connected with a
U.S. trade or business for a specified three-year period,
or a foreign partnership with significant U.S. ownership or
engaged in a U.S. trade or business, then information
reporting (but not backup withholding) will be required, unless
the broker has in its records documentary evidence that the
beneficial owner of the payment is a
Non-U.S. Holder
or is otherwise entitled to an exemption (and the broker has no
knowledge or reason to know to the contrary), and other
applicable certification requirements are met. Backup
withholding will apply if the sale is subject to information
reporting and the broker has actual knowledge that you are a
U.S. person. Information reporting and backup withholding
generally will apply to payments of proceeds from the sale of
our mandatory convertible preferred stock and common stock
effected through a U.S. office of any U.S. or foreign
broker, unless the beneficial owner, under penalties of perjury,
certifies, among other things, its status as a
Non-U.S. Holder,
or otherwise establishes an exemption. The certification
procedures required to obtain a reduced rate of withholding
under a treaty will satisfy the certification requirements
necessary to avoid backup withholding as well.
Backup withholding does not represent an additional tax. Any
amounts withheld from a payment to a holder under the backup
withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against the
Non-U.S. Holder’s
U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the
holder to a refund, provided that the required information or
returns are timely furnished by the holder to the IRS.
A-42
UNDERWRITING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions in an underwriting
agreement dated the date of this prospectus, the underwriters
named below, for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated are acting as
representatives, have severally agreed to purchase, we have
agreed to sell to them, severally, the number of shares of
mandatory convertible preferred stock indicated below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
Name
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
|
|
|
|
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The underwriters and the representatives are collectively
referred to as the “underwriters” and the
“representatives,” respectively. The underwriters are
offering the shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
subject to their acceptance of the shares from us and subject to
prior sale. The obligations of the several underwriters to pay
for and accept delivery of the shares of mandatory convertible
preferred stock offered by this prospectus are subject to the
approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to
certain other customary conditions. The underwriting agreement
provides for a firm commitment underwriting, and the
underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the shares
of mandatory convertible preferred stock offered by this
prospectus if any such shares are taken. However, the
underwriters are not required to take or pay for the shares
covered by the underwriters’ option to purchase additional
shares described below.
The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the shares
of mandatory convertible preferred stock directly to the public
at the offering price listed on the cover page of this
prospectus and part to certain dealers at a price that
represents a concession not in excess of $ a share under the
public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares
of mandatory convertible preferred stock, the offering price and
other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the
representatives.
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for
30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up
to additional
shares of our mandatory convertible preferred stock at the
public offering price listed on the cover page of this
prospectus, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The
underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of
covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the
offering of the shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock
offered by this prospectus. To the extent the option is
exercised, each underwriter will become obligated, subject to
certain conditions, to purchase about the same percentage of the
additional shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock as
the number listed next to the underwriter’s name in the
preceding table bears to the total number of shares of mandatory
convertible preferred stock listed next to the names of all
underwriters in the preceding table.
The following table shows the per share and total public
offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions, and
proceeds before expenses to us. These amounts are shown assuming
both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’
option to purchase up to an
additional shares
of our mandatory convertible preferred stock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
No Exercise
|
|
Full Exercise
|
|
Public offering price
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid by us
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
The estimated offering expenses payable by us for this offering
and the offering of common stock, exclusive of the underwriting
discounts and commissions payable by us in this offering, are
approximately $ .
We will apply to list our mandatory convertible preferred stock
on the New York Stock Exchange. Our common stock is listed on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MCP.”
A-43
The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend sales
to discretionary accounts to exceed 5% of the total number of
shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock offered by them.
We, all of our executive officers and directors and certain of
our stockholders have agreed that, without the prior written
consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the
underwriters, we and they will not, during the period ending
90 days after the date of this prospectus (the
“restricted period”):
|
|
|
|
•
|
offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell,
grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or
otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of common stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock
or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for shares of common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock;
|
|
|
•
|
file any registration statement with the SEC relating to the
offering of any shares of common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock; or
|
|
|
•
|
enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to
another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences
of ownership of the common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or such other securities,
|
whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by
delivery of common stock or mandatory convertible preferred
stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
In addition, we and each such person agrees that, without the
prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the
underwriters, we or such person will not, during the restricted
period, make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect
to, the registration of any shares of common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock or any security convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock.
The restrictions described in the immediately preceding
paragraph do not apply to the sale of shares of common stock or
mandatory convertible preferred stock to the underwriters.
With respect to us, the restrictions described above do not
apply to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
issuances of shares of our common stock, options, warrants or
other equity awards relating to our common stock pursuant to our
stock incentive plan, provided that such shares, options,
warrants or other equity awards are restricted through the
restricted period;
|
|
|
•
|
issuances of shares of common stock upon conversion of, or in
connection with a dividend on, our mandatory convertible
preferred stock;
|
|
|
•
|
in the case of any existing warrant or option to purchase, or
other equity award for, shares of our common stock that is
disclosed in this prospectus, the issuance by us of shares of
common stock upon the exercise or vesting of such warrant,
option or equity award, as the case may be, provided that no
filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall
be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with any
such issuance by us during the restricted period;
|
|
|
•
|
issuances of shares of our common stock, mandatory convertible
preferred stock, options, warrants or other convertible
securities relating to our common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock in connection with any bona fide merger,
acquisition, business combination, joint venture or strategic or
commercial relationship to a third party or group of third
parties, of which issuances the underwriters have been advised
in advance, provided that the aggregate amount of securities so
issued during the restricted period is not equal to greater than
15% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding on
the date of this prospectus and the recipient of such securities
shall agree to be bound by the restrictions described
above; or
|
A-44
|
|
|
|
•
|
the filing of a registration statement on
Form S-8
or other appropriate forms as required by the Securities Act,
and any amendments thereto, relating to our common stock or
other equity-based securities issuable pursuant to the Plan.
|
With respect to our directors, officers and the other holders of
our outstanding stock, the restrictions described above do not
apply to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the exercise of a warrant or an option to purchase, or other
equity award for, shares of our common stock (provided that any
shares of common stock received pursuant to such exercise are
subject to the same restrictions as those described above);
|
|
|
•
|
in the case of an option expiring during the restricted period,
the sale or transfer of shares of our common stock to satisfy
any payment or withholding obligations in connection with the
exercise of an option to purchase, or other equity award for,
shares of our common stock, or in connection with any cashless
exercise of a warrant to purchase shares of our common stock;
|
|
|
•
|
transactions relating to shares of our common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock or other securities acquired in open
market transactions after the completion of this offering
(provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in
connection with subsequent sales of common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock or other securities acquired in such
open market transactions);
|
|
|
•
|
transfers of shares of our common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or any security convertible into our common
stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock (a) as a
bona fide gift, (b) to any affiliate of the director,
officer, or other holder of our outstanding common stock,
(c) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the
director, officer or such other holder of our outstanding stock
or an immediate family member of such individual or (d) to
any immediate family member of the director, officer or such
other holder of our outstanding stock, except that (c) and
(d) do not apply to our stockholders that are not
individuals;
|
|
|
•
|
transfers of shares of our common stock or mandatory convertible
preferred stock or any security convertible into our common
stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock pursuant to the
laws of descent or distribution, except that this exception does
not apply to our stockholders that are not individuals;
|
|
|
•
|
in the case of our stockholders that are not individuals only,
distributions of shares of our common stock or mandatory
convertible preferred stock or any security convertible into
shares of our common stock or mandatory convertible preferred
stock by a stockholder to any partner, member or stockholders of
such stockholder; and
|
|
|
•
|
the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to
Rule 10b5-1
under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of our common
stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock (provided that
such plan does not provide for the transfer of shares of our
common stock or mandatory convertible preferred stock during the
restricted period and no public announcement or filing under the
Exchange Act regarding the establishment of such plan shall be
required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the director
of officer or us during the restricted period);
|
provided that, in the case of any transfer or distribution
pursuant to the fourth, fifth or sixth bullet above,
(x) each transferee shall sign and deliver a
lock-up
letter substantially in the form of the
lock-up
letter signed by the director or officer and (y) no filing
under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a
reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock
or mandatory convertible preferred stock, shall be required or
shall be voluntarily made during the restricted period.
The restricted period described in the preceding paragraph will
be extended if:
|
|
|
|
•
|
during the last 17 days of the restricted period we issue
an earnings release or material news event relating to us
occurs, or
|
|
|
•
|
prior to the expiration of the restricted period, we announce
that we will release earnings results during the 16- day period
beginning on the last day of the restricted period,
|
A-45
in which case the restrictions described in the preceding
paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the
18-day
period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the
occurrence of the material news or material event.
In order to facilitate this offering of the common stock, the
underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain
or otherwise affect the price of the common stock. Specifically,
the underwriters may sell more shares than they are obligated to
purchase under the underwriting agreement, creating a short
position. A short sale is covered if the short position is no
greater than the number of shares available for purchase by the
underwriters under the over-allotment option. The underwriters
can close out a covered short sale by exercising the
over-allotment option or purchasing shares in the open market.
In determining the source of shares to close out a covered short
sale, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the
open market price of shares compared to the price available
under the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also sell
shares in excess of the over-allotment option, creating a naked
short position. The underwriters must close out any naked short
position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short
position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are
concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of
the common stock in the open market after pricing that could
adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. As an
additional means of facilitating this offering, the underwriters
may bid for, and purchase, shares of common stock in the open
market to stabilize the price of the common stock. These
activities may raise or maintain the market price of the common
stock above independent market levels or prevent or retard a
decline in the market price of the common stock. The
underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and
may end any of these activities at any time.
We and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify each other
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on
websites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling
group members, if any, participating in this offering. The
representatives may agree to allocate a number of shares of
common stock to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage
account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the
representatives to underwriters that may make Internet
distributions on the same basis as other allocations.
Other
Relationships
Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates
have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future
perform, various financial advisory and investment banking
services for us, for which they received or will receive
customary fees and expenses.
European
Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area
which has implemented the Prospectus Directive, each underwriter
has represented and agreed that with effect from and including
the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in
that Member State it has not made and will not make an offer of
Shares to the public in that Member State, except that it may,
with effect from and including such date, make an offer of
Shares to the public in that Member State:
(a) at any time to legal entities which are authorized or
regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so
authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to
invest in securities;
(b) at any time to any legal entity which has two or more
of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the
last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than
€43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more
than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or
consolidated accounts; or
(c) at any time in any other circumstances which do not
require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to
Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
A-46
For the purposes of the above, the expression an “offer of
Shares to the public” in relation to any Shares in any
Member State means the communication in any form and by any
means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and
the Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide
to purchase or subscribe the Shares, as the same may be varied
in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus
Directive in that Member State and the expression Prospectus
Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant
implementing measure in that Member State.
United
Kingdom
Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has only
communicated or caused to be communicated and will only
communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or
inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning
of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000) in connection with the issue or sale of the shares of
our common stock in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of
such Act does not apply to us and it has complied and will
comply with all applicable provisions of such Act with respect
to anything done by it in relation to any Shares in, from or
otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
A-47
Shares
Molycorp, Inc.
% Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock
PROSPECTUS
Joint Book-Running Managers
J.P. Morgan
Morgan Stanley
PART II
INFORMATION
NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
|
|
Item 13.
|
Other
Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
|
The following table shows the costs and expenses, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions, to be paid by the
registrant in connection with this offering. All amounts shown
except the SEC registration fee and the New York Stock Exchange
listing fee are estimates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
SEC Registration Fee
|
|
$
|
81,683
|
|
FINRA Filing Fee
|
|
|
70,855
|
|
Accounting Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
*
|
|
Legal Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
*
|
|
Printing and Engraving Expenses
|
|
|
*
|
|
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
*
|
|
Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
*
|
|
Miscellaneous Expenses
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
To be provided by amendment. |
|
|
Item 14.
|
Indemnification
of Officers and Directors.
|
Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware allows a corporation to include in its
certificate of incorporation a provision that limits or
eliminates the personal liability of directors of a corporation
or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of a
fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached
his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in
intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized
the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase or
redemption in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an
improper personal benefit.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware allows a corporation to indemnify any person who was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of such corporation) by reason
of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at
the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses
(including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding,
provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner
such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. A Delaware
corporation may indemnify directors, officers, employees and
other agents of such corporation in an action by or in the right
of a corporation to procure a judgment in its favor under the
same conditions against expenses (including attorneys’
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or
suit, except that no indemnification is permitted without
judicial approval if the person to be indemnified has been
adjudged to be liable to the corporation with respect to such
claim, issue or matter. Where a present or former director or
officer of the corporation is successful on the merits or
otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding
referred to above or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, the corporation must indemnify such person against the
expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which he or she
actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
II-1
Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware provides, among other things, that a director who
willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of
dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption, may be
held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent
when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the
time, may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such
actions to be entered into the books containing the minutes of
the meetings of the board of directors at the time such action
occurred or immediately after such absent director receives
notice of the unlawful acts.
Our certificate of incorporation contains a provision that
provides that each person who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, or a
proceeding, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a
director or an officer of our company, or is or was serving at
our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect to an employee
benefit plan, or an indemnitee, whether the basis of such
proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a
director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity
while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall
be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent
permitted or required by the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be
amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the
extent that such amendment permits us to provide broader
indemnification rights than such law permitted us to provide
prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and
loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, the
Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 excise taxes
or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred
or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith;
provided, however, that, with limited exceptions relating to
rights to indemnification, we shall indemnify any such
indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part
thereof) was authorized by our board of directors.
Our policy is to enter into separate indemnification agreements
with each of our directors and officers that provide the maximum
indemnity allowed to directors and executive officers by
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware and also provides for certain additional procedural
protections.
In addition, our certificate of incorporation states that we may
maintain insurance to protect ourselves and any person who is or
was a director, officer, employee or agent of our company, or is
or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against
such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or
arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not
we would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liability under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. We have and intend to maintain director and officer
liability insurance, if available on reasonable terms.
|
|
Item 15.
|
Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities.
|
During the past two years, Molycorp, Inc.’s predecessors,
Molycorp, LLC and Molycorp Minerals, LLC, issued unregistered
securities to funds affiliated with Resource Capital Funds,
Pegasus Capital Advisors, LP, GS Power Holdings LLC, Traxys
North America LLC, MP Rare Company LLC and KMSMITH LLC in
connection with capital contributions. Prior to February 4,
2009, no additional securities were issued to members; rather,
the percentage ownership of each member, and such member’s
capital account, was adjusted accordingly. Molycorp, LLC also
granted an option to its Chief Executive Officer to purchase
member interests, and Molycorp Minerals, LLC awarded profits
interests to certain employee and non-employee directors of
Molycorp, LLC. The recipients of the securities in these
transactions represented their intention to acquire the
securities for investment only and not with a view to or for
sale in connection with any distribution thereof. The
information presented below regarding issuances prior to April
15, 2010 does not give effect to our corporate reorganization as
described in the prospectus.
From July 30, 2008 through February 4, 2009 the
members of Molycorp Minerals, LLC contributed an aggregate of
$100,154,300 to Molycorp Minerals, LLC.
II-2
From February 5, 2009 through September 8, 2009, the
members of Molycorp Minerals, LLC contributed an aggregate of
$50,000 to Molycorp Minerals, LLC in exchange for
542.59 shares.
On September 9, 2009, the members of Molycorp Minerals, LLC
exchanged all of their member interests in Molycorp Minerals,
LLC in exchange for all of the member interests of Molycorp,
LLC. On September 10, 2009, Molycorp Minerals, LLC granted
profits interests represented by an aggregate of 5,880,000
incentive shares to certain employees and non-employee directors.
From September 10, 2009 through April 14, 2010, the
members of Molycorp, LLC contributed an aggregate of $27,130,946
to Molycorp, LLC in exchange for 260,606.66 shares.
On May 28, 2010, Molycorp, Inc. issued and sold an
aggregate of 49,519.69 shares of its Class A common
stock, which were converted into to approximately
1,922,812 shares of common stock of Molycorp, Inc. in
connection with our initial public offering, to existing holders
of its Class A common stock at $100.97 per share of
Class A common stock (or $2.60 per share of common stock of
Molycorp, Inc. based on our initial public offering price of
$14.00 per share), for aggregate proceeds of $5,000,000.
None of these transactions involved any underwriters or any
public offerings, and we believe that they were exempt from the
registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933.
|
|
Item 16.
|
Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
.1*
|
|
Form of Common Stock Underwriting Agreement
|
|
1
|
.2*
|
|
Form of Preferred Stock Underwriting Agreement.
|
|
3
|
.1
|
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Molycorp,
Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 6, 2010).
|
|
3
|
.2
|
|
Bylaws of Molycorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.2 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 6, 2010).
|
|
3
|
.3*
|
|
Form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock of Molycorp, Inc.
|
|
4
|
.1
|
|
Form of Certificate of Molycorp, Inc. Common Stock (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 13, 2010).
|
|
4
|
.2*
|
|
Form of Certificate of Molycorp, Inc. Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock.
|
|
5
|
.1*
|
|
Opinion of Jones Day
|
|
10
|
.1
|
|
Sales/Buy-Back Agreement, dated May 15, 2009, between
Molycorp Minerals, LLC and Traxys North America LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.2
|
|
Letter Agreement, dated April 16, 2010, between Molycorp
Minerals, LLC and Traxys North America, LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.3
|
|
Contribution Agreement, dated April 15, 2010, by and among
Molycorp, Inc., Molycorp, LLC, Molycorp Minerals, LLC and the
parties listed therein (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.4 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.4
|
|
Stockholders Agreement, dated April 15, 2010, by and among
Molycorp, Inc. and the parties listed therein (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.5
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 15, 2010, by and
among Molycorp, Inc. and the parties listed therein
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
II-3
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
.6
|
|
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.7 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.7
|
|
Molycorp, Inc. Amended and Restated Management Incentive
Compensation Plan, effective as of December 20, 2010
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.8
|
|
Termination and Mutual Release Agreement, dated June 16,
2010, between Molycorp Minerals, LLC and Traxys North America,
LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.9
|
|
Sales/Buy-Back Agreement, dated June 1, 2010, between
Molycorp Minerals, LLC and Traxys North America, LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.10
|
|
Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2010, between
Molycorp Minerals, LLC and Quinn Process Equipment Co.
|
|
10
|
.11
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 21, 2010, between
Molycorp, Inc. and Mark A. Smith (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.11 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.12
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 21, 2010, between
Molycorp, Inc. and James S. Allen (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.12 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.13
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 21, 2010, between
Molycorp, Inc. and John F. Ashburn, Jr. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.14
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 21, 2010, between
Molycorp, Inc. and John L. Burba (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.14 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.15
|
|
Molycorp, Inc. 2010 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.16
|
|
Letter Agreement, dated April 15, 2010, among Resource
Capital Fund IV, L.P., Resource Capital Fund V, L.P.,
PP IV Mountain Pass II, LLC, PP IV MP AIV 1, LLC, PP IV MP AIV
2, LLC, PP IV MP AIV 3, LLC, TNA Moly Group, LLC, MP Rare
Company, LLC and KMSmith, LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.16 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.17
|
|
Summary of Collateral Arrangement for Surety Bonds (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 13, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.18
|
|
Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 13, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.19
|
|
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Current
Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 8, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.20
|
|
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 8, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.21
|
|
Form of Restricted Stock Units Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Current
Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 8, 2010).
|
II-4
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
.22
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated November 1, 2010,
between Molycorp, Inc. and Douglas J. Jackson.
|
|
10
|
.23
|
|
Molycorp, Inc. Nonemployee Director Deferred Compensation Plan
|
|
10
|
.24
|
|
Molycorp, Inc. Amended and Restated Management Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.25
|
|
Summary of Molycorp, Inc. 2011 Annual Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 19, 2011).
|
|
12
|
.1
|
|
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred
Stock Dividends for the period from June 12, 2008
(Inception) through December 31, 2008, for the year ended
December 31, 2009 and for the nine months ended
September 30, 2010.
|
|
21
|
.1
|
|
List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 21.1 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
23
|
.1
|
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
|
|
23
|
.2*
|
|
Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1).
|
|
23
|
.3
|
|
Consent of SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc.
|
|
23
|
.4*
|
|
Consent of Industrial Minerals Company of Australia Pty Ltd.
|
|
24
|
.1
|
|
Power of Attorney.
|
|
|
|
* |
|
To be filed by amendment |
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,
officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to
the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of
prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in
reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities
Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as
of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that
contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the city of Greenwood Village, Colorado, on the
24th day of January, 2011.
MOLYCORP, INC.
Mark A. Smith
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Mark
A. Smith
Mark
A. Smith
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
January 24, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
James
S. Allen
|
|
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
|
|
January 24, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Russell
D. Ball
|
|
Director
|
|
January 24, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Ross
R. Bhappu
|
|
Director
|
|
January 24, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Brian
T. Dolan
|
|
Director
|
|
January 24, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Charles
R. Henry
|
|
Director
|
|
January 24, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Mark
S. Kristoff
|
|
Director
|
|
January 24, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Alec
Machiels
|
|
Director
|
|
January 24, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Jack
E. Thompson
|
|
Director
|
|
January 24, 2011
|
|
|
|
* |
|
The undersigned by signing his name hereto does sign and execute
this registration statement on
Form S-1
pursuant to the Power of Attorney executed by the above-named
directors and officers of the registrant, which is being filed
herewith on behalf of such directors and officers. |
Attorney-in-Fact
II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
.1*
|
|
Form of Common Stock Underwriting Agreement
|
|
1
|
.2*
|
|
Form of Preferred Stock Underwriting Agreement
|
|
3
|
.1
|
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Molycorp,
Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 6, 2010).
|
|
3
|
.2
|
|
Bylaws of Molycorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.2 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 6, 2010).
|
|
3
|
.3*
|
|
Form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock of Molycorp, Inc.
|
|
4
|
.1
|
|
Form of Certificate of Molycorp, Inc. Common Stock (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 13, 2010).
|
|
4
|
.2*
|
|
Form of Certificate of Molycorp, Inc. Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock.
|
|
5
|
.1*
|
|
Opinion of Jones Day
|
|
10
|
.1
|
|
Sales/Buy-Back Agreement, dated May 15, 2009, between
Molycorp Minerals, LLC and Traxys North America LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.2
|
|
Letter Agreement, dated April 16, 2010, between Molycorp
Minerals, LLC and Traxys North America, LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.3
|
|
Contribution Agreement, dated April 15, 2010, by and among
Molycorp, Inc., Molycorp, LLC, Molycorp Minerals, LLC and the
parties listed therein (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.4 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.4
|
|
Stockholders Agreement, dated April 15, 2010, by and among
Molycorp, Inc. and the parties listed therein (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.5
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 15, 2010, by and
among Molycorp, Inc. and the parties listed therein
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.6
|
|
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.7 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 25, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.7
|
|
Molycorp, Inc. Amended and Restated Management Incentive
Compensation Plan, effective as of December 20, 2010.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.8
|
|
Termination and Mutual Release Agreement, dated June 16,
2010, between Molycorp Minerals, LLC and Traxys North America,
LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.9
|
|
Sales/Buy-Back Agreement, dated June 1, 2010, between
Molycorp Minerals, LLC and Traxys North America, LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.10
|
|
Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2010, between
Molycorp Minerals, LLC and Quinn Process Equipment Co.
|
|
10
|
.11
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 21, 2010, between
Molycorp, Inc. and Mark A. Smith (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.11 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.12
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 21, 2010, between
Molycorp, Inc. and James S. Allen (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.12 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
.13
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 21, 2010, between
Molycorp, Inc. and John F. Ashburn, Jr. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.14
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 21, 2010, between
Molycorp, Inc. and John L. Burba (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.14 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.15
|
|
Molycorp, Inc. 2010 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.16
|
|
Letter Agreement, dated April 15, 2010, among Resource
Capital Fund IV, L.P., Resource Capital Fund V, L.P.,
PP IV Mountain Pass II, LLC, PP IV MP AIV 1, LLC, PP IV MP AIV
2, LLC, PP IV MP AIV 3, LLC, TNA Moly Group, LLC, MP Rare
Company, LLC and KMSmith, LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.16 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.17
|
|
Summary of Collateral Arrangement for Surety Bonds (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Molycorp, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 13, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.18
|
|
Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 13, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.19
|
|
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Current
Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 8, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.20
|
|
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 8, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.21
|
|
Form of Restricted Stock Units Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Current
Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 8, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.22
|
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated November 1, 2010,
between Molycorp, Inc. and Douglas J. Jackson.
|
|
10
|
.23
|
|
Molycorp, Inc. Nonemployee Director Deferred Compensation Plan
|
|
10
|
.24
|
|
Molycorp, Inc. Amended and Restated Management Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 21, 2010).
|
|
10
|
.25
|
|
Summary of Molycorp, Inc. 2011 Annual Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Molycorp,
Inc.’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
(File
No. 001-34827)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
January 19, 2011).
|
|
12
|
.1
|
|
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred
Stock Dividends for the period from June 12, 2008 (Inception)
through December 31, 2008, for the year ended December 31, 2009
and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
|
|
21
|
.1
|
|
List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 21.1 to Molycorp, Inc.’s Registration
Statement on
Form S-1
(File
No. 333-166129)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2010).
|
|
23
|
.1
|
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
|
|
23
|
.2*
|
|
Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1).
|
|
23
|
.3
|
|
Consent of SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc.
|
|
23
|
.4*
|
|
Consent of Industrial Minerals Company of Australia Pty Ltd.
|
|
24
|
.1
|
|
Power of Attorney.
|
|
|
|
* |
|
To be filed by amendment |