urg_s3
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-261309
PROSPECTUS
$100,000,000
Common Shares
Warrants
Units
Rights
Senior Debt Securities
Subordinated Debt Securities
Ur-Energy Inc. (the
“Company,” “we,” “us,” or
“our”) may offer and sell from time to time, in one or
more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at
the time of any such offering, of our common shares, no par value
(“Common Shares”), warrants to purchase Common Shares
(the “Warrants”), our senior and subordinated debt
securities, rights to purchase common shares and/or senior or
subordinated debt securities, units consisting of two or more of
these classes of securities or any combination thereof up to an
aggregate initial offering price of $100,000,000 (all of the
foregoing, collectively, the “Securities”). The prices
at which we may sell the Securities will be determined by the
prevailing market price for such Securities. We will bear all
expenses of registration incurred in connection with this
offering.
We will
provide specific terms of any offering of Securities in one or more
supplements to this prospectus. The Securities may be offered
separately or together in any combination and as separate series.
You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before
you invest. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or
change information contained in this prospectus. You should read
this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully
before you make your investment decision.
We may
sell securities directly to you, through agents we select, or
through underwriters or dealers we select. If we use agents,
underwriters or dealers to sell the Securities, we will name them
and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The net
proceeds we expect to receive from an offering of Securities will
be described in the prospectus supplement.
Our
registration of the Securities covered by this prospectus does not
mean that we will offer or sell any of the Securities. We may sell
the Securities covered by this prospectus in a number of different
ways and at varying prices. We provide more information about how
we may sell the Securities in the section entitled
“Plan of
Distribution” beginning on page 18.
Our
Common Shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(“TSX”) under the symbol “URE” and on the
NYSE American (“NYSE American”) under the symbol
“URG.” On November 22, 2021, the last reported sale
price of the Common Shares on the NYSE American was $1.56 per
Common Share and on the TSX was Cdn$2.01 per Common Share. Unless
otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the
Securities other than the Common Shares will not be listed on any
securities exchange.
There
is currently no market through which the Securities, other than the
Common Shares, may be sold and you may not be able to resell such
Securities purchased under this prospectus and any applicable
prospectus supplement. This may affect the pricing of such
Securities in the secondary market, the transparency and
availability of trading prices, the liquidity of the securities,
and the extent of issuer regulation.
INVESTING
IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD
CAREFULLY READ THE “RISK
FACTORS” SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE 2 OF THIS
PROSPECTUS.
Neither
the U.S. 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
date of this prospectus is December 17, 2021.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
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1
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RISK
FACTORS
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2
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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12
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
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12
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CAUTIONARY NOTE TO
U.S. INVESTORS CONCERNING DISCLOSURE OF MINERAL
RESOURCES
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13
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CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RATES
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13
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
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14
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OUR
BUSINESS
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16
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USE OF
PROCEEDS
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17
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PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
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18
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DESCRIPTION
OF SENIOR AND SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
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20
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DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON SHARES
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28
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DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
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30
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DESCRIPTION
OF UNITS
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31
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DESCRIPTION
OF RIGHTS
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32
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DENOMINATIONS,
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
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33
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CERTAIN
CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
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34
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CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
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36
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LEGAL
MATTERS
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46
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EXPERTS
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46
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In this
prospectus and in any prospectus supplement, unless the context
otherwise requires, references to “Ur-Energy,” the
“Company,” “we,” “us” and
“our” refer to Ur-Energy Inc., either alone or together
with our subsidiaries as the context requires. When we refer to
“shares” throughout this prospectus, we include all
rights attaching to our Common Shares under any shareholder rights
plan then in effect.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This
prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the
“SEC” or the “Commission,” using a
“shelf” registration process. Under the shelf
registration, we may sell any combination of the securities
described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This
prospectus provides you with a general description of the
securities that we may offer. Each time that we sell securities, we
will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific
information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus
supplement also may add, update or change information contained in
this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any
prospectus supplement together with additional information
incorporated by reference in this prospectus before making an
investment in our securities. See “Where You Can Find More
Information” for more information. We may use this
prospectus to sell securities only if it is accompanied by a
prospectus supplement.
You
should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any
accompanying prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by
reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of such
document.
RISK FACTORS
The following sets forth certain risks and uncertainties that could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and/or results of operations and the trading price of our Common
Shares, which may decline, and investors may lose all or part of
their investment. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not
presently know or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair
our business operations. We cannot assure you that we will
successfully address these risks. In addition, other unknown
risks may exist that may affect our business.
An investment in the Securities offered in this prospectus involves
a high degree of risk. For a discussion of other factors you should
carefully consider before deciding to purchase these securities,
please consider the risk factors described in the documents we
incorporate by reference, including those in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and our
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31,
2021, June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2021, as well as those
that may be included in the applicable prospectus supplement and
other information incorporated by reference in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Also, please read our “Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to Our Business
Largely unrestricted imports challenge the U.S. domestic uranium
industry.
Notwithstanding
numerous suspensions in production operations during 2020 related
to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting higher uranium spot prices,
the global uranium market continues to be characterized by
production levels and costs of production in and for countries such
as Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan which have had a substantial
impact on the U.S. uranium production industry over the past
several years. China is also aggressively expanding its role in the
global uranium miningmarkets and in the rest of the nuclear fuel
cycle. If the imports from government-subsidized production sites
remain unchecked on a continuing basis, without other relief, there
could be a significant continuing negative impact to the uranium
market which could adversely impact the Company’s future
profitability.
Our 2018 trade
action, filed with a co-petitioner under Section 232 of the Trade
Expansion Act of 1962 with the U.S. Department of Commerce, was
ultimately not successful in obtaining the suggested quotas on
imports of uranium products to protect against the threat to U.S.
national security presented by Kazakh, Russian and other uranium
importers. The action did result in the establishment of the U.S.
Nuclear Fuel Working Group (“Working Group”), tasked to
conduct a fuller analysis of national security considerations with
respect to the entire nuclear fuel supply chain and, specifically,
to develop recommendations for reviving and expanding domestic
uranium production. The Working Group report was released in April
2020 and made a series of recommendations to support the uranium
production industry. Primary among the recommendations of the
Working Group is the plan for a national uranium reserve and the
revitalization of the existing uranium reserve. In December 2020,
initial funding for the reserve, in amount of $75 million, was
approved by Congress, subject to the Department of Energy
establishing plans for the reserve program.
In
addition to the continuing uncertainty of the timing and outcome of
the establishment of the reserve and/or other recommendations
advanced by the Working Group, the Company’s efforts seeking
relief for the industry may have unintended consequences that may
affect our business relationships with industry and consumers of
uranium. These consequences, together with the costs of continuing
to pursue relief, may have adverse impacts on us.
Our term sales contracts for our production have expired. We may be
unable to enter into new term sales contracts on suitable terms and
conditions, and the spot market does not currently support full
production operations at Lost Creek.
Our
term sales contracts, which historically resulted in uranium sales
at prices in excess of spot prices, have been completed. If market
conditions do not improve, and the U.S. utilities do not move away
from near-total reliance on imported product from Russia,
Kazakhstan and other state-supported operations, we do not expect
to execute sales agreements at favorable prices with U.S. utilities
in the near future. The timing for the establishment of a new
national uranium reserve program and bid process remains unknown.
When the new national uranium reserve program will be established,
and a bid process initiated, remains unknown. Whether we will be
successful in obtaining contracts at pricing and delivery volumes
that will sustain full production operations also remains unknown.
The failure to enter into new term sales contracts on suitable
terms, could adversely impact our operations and mining activity
decisions, and resulting cash flows and income.
The uranium market is volatile and has limited
customers.
The
price of uranium is volatile and may experience significant price
movements over short periods of time. Factors beyond our control
affect the market, including demand for nuclear power; changes in
public acceptance of nuclear power generation; political and
economic conditions in uranium mining, producing and consuming
countries; costs and availability of financing of nuclear plants;
changes in governmental regulations; global or regional consumption
patterns; speculative activities and increased production due to
new extraction developments and improved production methods; the
future viability and acceptance of small modular reactors or
micro-reactors and the related fuel requirements for this new
technology; reprocessing of spent fuel and the re-enrichment of
depleted uranium tails or waste; and global economics, including
currency exchange rates, interest rates and expectations of
inflation. Any future accidents or terrorism at nuclear facilities
are likely to also impact the conditions of uranium mining and the
use and acceptance of nuclear energy. The effect of these factors
on the price of uranium, and therefore on the economic viability of
our properties, cannot accurately be predicted.
Our mining operations involve a high degree of
risk.
Mining
operations generally involve a high degree of risk. We continue
operations at our first and, currently, only, uranium in situ
recovery facility at Lost Creek, where production activities
commenced in 2013. Our operations at Lost Creek, which is a remote
site in south-central Wyoming, and at other projects as they
continue in development, will be subject to all the hazards and
risks normally encountered at remote sites in Wyoming, including
safety in commuting and severe weather which can affect such
commutes and may slow operations, particularly during winter
weather conditions. Additionally, these operations are subject to
all the hazards and risks normally encountered in the production of
uranium by in situ methods of recovery, such as water management
and treatment, including wastewater disposal capacity (deep wells,
Class V wells, ponds or other methods; each of which requires
regulatory authorizations and varying levels of expense to install
and operate), unusual and unexpected geological formations,
unanticipated metallurgical difficulties, equipment malfunctions
and availability of parts, interruptions of electrical power and
communications, other conditions involved in the drilling and
removal of material through pressurized injection and production
wells, radiation safety, transportation and industrial accidents,
and natural disaster (e.g., fire, tornado), any of which
could result in damage to, or destruction of, production
facilities, damage to life or property, environmental damage and
possible legal liability. Adverse effects on operations and/or
further development of our projects could also adversely affect our
business, financial condition, results of operations and cash
flow.
Our business is subject to extensive environmental and other
regulations that may make exploring, mining or related activities
expensive, and which may change at any time.
The
mining industry is subject to extensive environmental and other
laws and regulations, which may change at any time. Environmental
legislation and regulation continue to evolve in ways which will
likely require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines
and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental
assessments of proposed projects, increased reclamation obligations
and attendant costs (and costs of bonding), and a heightened degree
of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and
employees. Various regulatory actions related to the protection of
the greater sage-grouse, for example, are ongoing. EPA rulemakings
which may have significant impacts on ISR projects continue to
occur from time to time and are likely to recur in future
administrations. Proposed CERCLA regulations, which would have
significantly increased financial obligations and surety bonding,
including possibly ISR projects, may also recur. These are not the
only laws and regulations which would result in restrictive
changes. Moreover, compliance with environmental quality
requirements and reclamation laws imposed by federal, state and
local authorities may require significant capital outlays,
materially affect the economics of a given property, cause material
changes or delays in intended activities, and potentially expose us
to litigation and other legal or administrative proceedings. We
cannot accurately predict or estimate the impact of any such future
laws or regulations, or future interpretations of existing laws and
regulations, on our operations. Historic exploration activities
have occurred on many of our properties, and mining and energy
production activities have occurred on or near certain of our
properties. If such historic activities have resulted in releases
or threatened releases of regulated substances to the environment,
or historic activities require remediation, potential for liability
may exist under federal or state remediation statutes.
The uranium mining industry is capital intensive, and we may be
unable to raise necessary additional funding.
Additional funds
will be required for working capital and exploration and
development activities at our properties including Lost Creek and
the adjoining projects at the Lost Creek Property, as well as the
development of our Shirley Basin project. Potential sources of
future funds available to us, in addition to the proceeds from
sales of current inventory or future production, include the sale
of additional equity capital, proceeds from the exercise of
outstanding convertible equity instruments, borrowing of funds or
other debt structure, project financing, or the sale of our
interests in assets. Continued volatility in the equity
markets, particularly the commodities and energy markets, may
increase the costs attendant to any financing. There is no
assurance that such funding will be available to us to renew full
production operations or to fund continued development or future
exploration. Further, even if such financing is successfully
completed, there can be no assurance that it will be obtained on
terms favorable to us or will provide us with sufficient funds to
meet our objectives, which may adversely affect our business and
financial position.
Our mineral resource estimates may not be reliable and are
inherently more uncertain than estimates of proven and probable
reserves; there is risk and increased uncertainty to commencing and
conducting production without established mineral
reserves.
Our
properties do not contain mineral reserves as defined under
Canadian National Instrument 43-101 or SEC Industry Guide 7 and
Regulation S-K Subpart 1300. See “Cautionary Note to United States
Investors Concerning Disclosure of Mineral
Resources” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2020. Until mineral reserves or mineral
resources are mined and processed, the quantity of mineral
resources and grades must be considered as estimates only. We have
established the existence of uranium resources for certain uranium
projects, including at the Lost Creek Property. We have not
established proven or probable reserves, as defined by Canadian
securities regulators or the SEC under Industry Guide 7 or
Regulation S-K Subpart 1300, through the completion of a
feasibility study, for any of our uranium projects, including the
Lost Creek Property. Furthermore, we currently have no plans to
establish proven or probable reserves for any of our uranium
projects for which we plan to utilize ISR mining, such as the Lost
Creek Property or the Shirley Basin Project. As a result, and
despite the fact that we commenced recovery of U3O8 at the Lost
Creek Project in 2013, there is an increased uncertainty and risk
that may result in economic and technical failure which may
adversely impact our future profitability.
There
are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of
mineral resources, including many factors beyond our control, and
no assurance can be given that the recovery of mineral resources,
or even estimated mineral reserves, will be realized. In general,
estimates of mineral resources are based upon several factors and
assumptions made as of the date on which the estimates were
determined, including:
●
geological and
engineering estimates that have inherent uncertainties and the
assumed effects of regulation by governmental
agencies;
●
the judgment of the
geologists, engineers and other professionals preparing the
estimate;
●
estimates of future
uranium prices and operating costs;
●
the quality and
quantity of available data;
●
the interpretation
of that data; and
●
the accuracy of
various mandated economic assumptions, all of which may vary
considerably from actual results.
All
estimates are, to some degree, uncertain; with in situ recovery,
this is due in part to limited sampling information collected prior
to mining. For these reasons, estimates of the recoverable mineral
resources prepared by different professionals or by the same
professionals at different times, may vary substantially. As such,
there is significant uncertainty in any mineral resource estimate
and actual deposits encountered and the economic viability of a
deposit may differ materially from our estimates.
We are depleting our mineral resources and must develop additional
resources to sustain ongoing operations.
We have
been in operation for several years and are depleting the known
mineral resource at Lost Creek, which remains our only uranium
recovery operation currently. As a result, we must be able to
continue to conduct exploration and develop additional mineral
resources. While there remain large areas of our Lost Creek Project
which require additional exploration, we will need to continue to
explore all project areas of the Lost Creek Property and our other
mineral properties in Wyoming, or acquire additional, known mineral
resource properties to replenish our mineral resources and sustain
continued operations. We estimate life of mine when we prepare our
mineral resource estimates, but such estimates may not be
correct.
Production, capital and operating cost estimates may be
inaccurate.
We
prepare estimates of annual and future production, the attendant
production and operational costs and required working capital for
such levels of production, but there is no assurance that we will
achieve those estimates. These types of estimates are inherently
uncertain and may change materially over time. Operational cost
estimates are affected by changes in production levels and may be
affected by a need to utilize a greater level of contractor
services if required staffing is unavailable or cannot timely be
hired and trained. Availability and consistent pricing of materials
necessary in the installation of wells, surface production
equipment, associated infrastructure, chemicals for processing and,
expendable materials related to operations can be variable
depending on economic conditions locally and worldwide and may
force changes in operations and timing of resource production. In
addition, we rely on certain contractors related to the
installation of wells and technical services associated with that
installation. Their availability or cost of service can change
depending on other local market conditions and may therefore affect
the installation and production rates of mining.
Restrictive covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness
may restrict our ability to pursue our business
strategies.
Our State Bond
Loan, under which we currently owe approximately $12.4 million in
principal, includes restrictive covenants that, among other things,
limit our ability to sell the assets securing our indebtedness
(which include our Lost Creek Project and related
assets).
If we are unable to service our debt, we could lose the assets
securing our indebtedness.
Our
ability to make scheduled payments and satisfy other covenants in
the State Bond Loan depends on our financial condition and
operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic,
competitive, legislative and regulatory conditions beyond our
control. We may be unable to generate a level of cash flow from
operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal,
interest and other fees on our indebtedness.
If we
cannot make scheduled payments on our debt, we will be in default
which, if not addressed or waived, could require accelerated
repayment of our indebtedness and enforcement by the lender against
the assets securing our indebtedness. The secured collateral for
the State Bond Loan includes the Lost Creek Project and assets
related to it and other projects of the Lost Creek Property. These
are key assets on which our business is substantially dependent
and, as such, the enforcement against any one or all these assets
would have a material adverse effect on our operations and
financial condition.
Our mining operations are subject to numerous environmental
laws, regulations and permitting requirements and bonding
requirements that can delay production and adversely affect
operating and development costs.
Our
business is subject to extensive federal, state and local laws
governing all stages of exploration, development and operations at
our mineral properties, taxes, labor standards and occupational
health, mine and radiation safety, toxic substances, endangered
species protections, and other matters. Exploration, development
and production operations are also subject to various federal,
state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of
the environment. These laws impose high standards on the mining
industry, and particularly standards with respect to uranium
recovery, to monitor the discharge of wastewater and report the
results of such monitoring to regulatory authorities, to reduce or
eliminate certain effects on or into land, water or air, to
progressively restore mine properties, to manage hazardous wastes
and materials and to reduce the risk of worker accidents. A
violation of these laws may result in the imposition of substantial
fines and other penalties and potentially expose us to operational
restrictions, suspension, administrative proceedings or litigation.
Many of these laws and regulations have tended to become more
stringent over time. Any change in such laws could have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition, cash flow or results of
operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to
meet all the regulatory requirements in a timely manner or without
significant expense or that the regulatory requirements will not
change to delay or prohibit us from proceeding with certain
exploration, development or operations. Further, there is no
assurance that we will not face new challenges by third parties to
regulatory decisions when made, which may cause additional delay
and substantial expense, or may cause a project to be permanently
halted.
Our
operations require licenses and permits from various governmental
authorities. We believe we hold all necessary licenses and permits
to carry on the activities which we are currently conducting or
propose to conduct under applicable laws and regulations. Such
licenses and permits are subject to changes in regulations and
changes in various operating circumstances. There can be no
guarantee that we will be able to obtain all necessary licenses and
permits that may be required to maintain our exploration and mining
activities (or amendments to expand or alter existing operations),
including constructing mines, milling or processing facilities and
commencing or continuing exploration or mining activities or
operations at any of our properties. In addition, if we proceed to
production on any other property or new geologic horizon, we must
obtain and comply with permits and licenses which will contain
specific operating conditions. There can be no assurance that we
will be able to obtain such permits and licenses or that we will be
able to comply with any and all such conditions.
The uranium industry is highly competitive and is competitive with
other energy sources.
The national and international
uranium industry is highly competitive. Our activities are directed
toward the exploration for, evaluation, acquisition and development
of uranium deposits into production operations. There is no
certainty that any expenditures to be made by us will result in
discoveries of commercial quantities of uranium production. There
is aggressive competition within the uranium mining industry for
the discovery, acquisition and development of properties considered
to have commercial potential. We compete with other interests, many
of which have greater financial resources than we have, for the
opportunity to participate in promising projects. Similarly, we
market our product in competition with supplies from a very limited
number of competitors, most of whom currently are state-sponsored
operations producing at lower, subsidized costs.
Nuclear
energy competes with other sources of energy, including natural
gas, oil, coal, hydroelectricity and renewable energy sources.
These other energy sources are to some extent interchangeable with
nuclear energy, particularly in the long term. Lower prices of
natural gas, oil, coal and hydroelectricity may result in lower
demand for uranium concentrate and uranium conversion services.
Technical advances in and government support for renewable energy
sources could make these forms of energy more viable and have a
greater impact on nuclear fuel demands. Further, the growth of the
uranium and nuclear power industry beyond its current level will
depend upon continued and increased acceptance of nuclear
technology as a means of generating electricity. Because of unique
political, technological and environmental factors that affect the
nuclear industry, the industry is subject to public opinion risks
which could have an adverse impact on the demand for nuclear power,
whether through increased regulation or otherwise.
Requirements for
our products and services may be affected by technological changes
in nuclear reactors, enrichment, and used uranium fuel
reprocessing. These technological changes could reduce, or
increase, the demand for uranium. The cost competitiveness of our
operations may be impacted through development of new uranium
recovery and processing technologies. As a result, our competitors
may adopt technological advancements that provide them an advantage
over our operational and production costs.
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to continue and the
specific impacts to our Company remain uncertain.
COVID-19 declared a
pandemic in March 2020, has had a significant negative impact on
the global economy and commodity and equity markets, and the
outlook remains uncertain. The pandemic poses risk to our business
and operations, and could adversely impact our
operations, business and financial condition if our employees,
regulators, suppliers or other business partners are prevented from
conducting routine operations for periods of time. While we
continue to monitor these conditions, including government
restrictions on movement and operations, it is impossible to
predict the extent of any such impact or the levels of success
of responsive actions to impacts, as the circumstances continue to
evolve, including in unforeseeable ways. We are a highly regulated
industry and while the regulators are available to address
operational impacts from illness, governmental restrictions and
other effects, it remains uncertain whether all impacts can be
timely addressed with our operations and with the regulators. We
are and will remain fully engaged with our employees in our efforts
to protect their health and safety.
To the extent
the COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect our business and
financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many
of the other risks described in this section “Risk
Factors” and in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2020, such as those relating to our
ability to access additional capital, which could negatively affect
our business. Because of the highly uncertain and dynamic nature of
events relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not currently
possible to estimate the continuing or future impact of the
pandemic on our business. However, these effects could have a
material impact on our operations, and we will continue to monitor
the COVID-19 situation closely.
We depend on services of our management, and key personnel,
contractors and service providers, and the timely availability of
such individuals and providers cannot be assured now on during a
ramp-up.
Shareholders will
be relying on the good faith, experience and judgment of our
management and advisors providing for the effective management of
the business and our operations and in selecting and developing
future opportunities. We may need to recruit additional qualified
employees, contractors and service providers to supplement existing
management and personnel, and we will need to hire additional
employees if and as we ramp-up Lost Creek operations and as we
develop the Shirley Basin Project. Timely availability of staffing
and retention of contractors cannot be assured in our industry,
many aspects of which are highly specialized. This is particularly
true in the current labor markets in which we recruit our employees
and the remote locations for which employees and contractors are
needed. As well, the skilled professionals with expertise in
geologic, engineering and process aspects of in situ recovery,
radiation safety and other facets of our business are currently in
high demand, as there are relatively few such professionals with
both expertise and experience. The sustained downturn of the
uranium production industry in the past several years makes these
challenges even more pronounced. Even with return to full
production operations, we will continue to be dependent on a
relatively small number of key persons, including key contractors,
the loss of any one or several of whom could have an adverse effect
on our business and operations. We do not hold key man insurance in
respect of any of our executive officers.
Lack of acceptance of or outright opposition to nuclear energy
could impede our business.
Our
future business prospects are tied to the electrical utility
industry in the U.S. and worldwide. Deregulation of and other
fundamental changes in the utility industry, particularly in the
U.S. and Europe, is expected to affect the market for nuclear and
other fuels for years to come and may result in a wide range of
outcomes including the expansion or the premature shutdown of
nuclear reactors. Maintaining the demand for uranium at current
levels and future growth in demand will depend upon the continued
acceptance of nuclear technology as a means of generating
electricity. Unique political and public perception factors impact
the nuclear fuel cycle industries, including uranium miners. In
recent years, government entities and non-governmental
organizations have become more aggressive with respect to
opposition of certain mining activities including specifically
uranium recovery. These actions may affect our operations even if
the opposition is directed at entities or projects unrelated to our
Company. Lack of continued public acceptance of nuclear technology
would adversely affect the demand for nuclear power and potentially
increase the regulation of the nuclear power industry. Following
the events of March 2011 in Fukushima Japan, worldwide reaction
called into question the public’s confidence in nuclear
energy and technology, the effects of which are still apparent in
many countries. Additionally, media coverage about uranium
production and nuclear energy may be inaccurate or non-objective
and further negatively impact public perception of our
industry.
Our property title and rights may be uncertain and could be
challenged.
Although we have
obtained title opinions with respect to certain of our properties,
there is no guarantee that title to any of our properties will not
be challenged or impugned. Third parties may have valid claims
underlying portions of our interests. Our mineral properties in the
U.S. consist of leases covering state lands, unpatented mining
claims and patented mining claims and lands. Many of our mining
properties in the U.S. are unpatented mining claims to which we
have only possessory title. Because title to unpatented mining
claims is subject to inherent uncertainties, it is difficult to
determine conclusively ownership of such claims. These
uncertainties relate to such things as sufficiency of mineral
discovery, proper posting and marking of boundaries and possible
conflicts with other claims not determinable from descriptions of
record. The present status of our unpatented mining claims located
on public lands allows us the exclusive right to mine and remove
valuable minerals. We are allowed to use the surface of the public
lands solely for purposes related to mining and processing the
mineral-bearing ores. However, legal ownership of the land remains
with the U.S. We remain at risk that the mining claims may be
forfeited either to the U.S. or to rival private claimants due to
failure to comply with statutory requirements. Certain of the
changes which have been proposed in recent years to amend or
replace the General Mining Law of 1872, as amended, could also have
an impact on the rights we currently have in our patented and
unpatented mining claims. Similarly, we believe that we have
necessary rights to surface use and access in areas for which we
have mineral rights other than pursuant to a federal unpatented
mining claim. Those rights may also be challenged, resulting in
delay or additional cost to assert and confirm our rights. We have
taken or will take appropriate curative measures to ensure proper
title to our mineral properties and rights in surface use or
access, where necessary and where possible.
Possible amendments to the General Mining Law could make it more
difficult or impossible for us to execute our business
plan.
Members
of the U.S. Congress have repeatedly introduced bills which would
materially amend or replace the provisions of the Mining Law of
1872, as amended, including certain such bills proposed in 2021.
Such bills have proposed, among other things, to (i) significantly
alter the laws and regulations relating to uranium mineral
development and recovery from unpatented and patented mining
claims; (ii) impose a federal royalty on production from unpatented
mining claims and/or impose other taxes or additional fees on the
use or occupancy of federal lands; (iii) impose time limits on the
effectiveness of plans of operation that may not coincide with mine
life; (iv) convert in part or in whole the existing land holdings
program, requiring unpatented mining claims to be taken to lease in
a new program under certain circumstances and imposing other
circumstances in which the unpatented mining claim would have to be
abandoned; (v) limit the mineral property holdings of any single
person or company under various stages from prospecting through
operations; (vi) impose more stringent environmental compliance and
reclamation requirements on activities on unpatented mining claims;
(vii) allow states, localities and Native American tribes to
petition for the withdrawal of identified tracts of federal land
from the operation of the U.S. mining laws; (viii) eliminate or
greatly limit the right to a mineral patent; and (ix) allow for
administrative determinations that mining would not be allowed in
situations where undue degradation of the federal lands in question
could not be prevented.
If
enacted, such legislation could, among other effects, change the
cost of holding unpatented mining claims or leases or the duration
for which the claims or leases could be held without development,
and could significantly impact our ability to develop locatable
mineral resources on our patented and unpatented mining claims.
Although it is impossible to predict at this point what any
legislated royalties might be, enactment could adversely affect the
potential for development and the economics of existing operating
mines. Passage of such legislation could adversely affect our
financial performance, including that proposals imposing a royalty
or otherwise impacting holding and operational costs of mining
claims, if passed, could render mineral projects
uneconomic.
Additionally, as
noted in other risk factors, there are ongoing withdrawals of
federal lands for the purposes of mineral location and development.
While certain of these proposals have been withdrawn or not
finalized and, as yet, no proposal directly affects the areas of
Wyoming and Nevada in which we currently have land holdings, such
actions could have an adverse effect on our financial performance
if they are broadened in scope to directly affect the areas in
which we have properties. The reasons for withdrawals are also
being broadened in certain recent legislative
proposals.
The SEC’s adoption of the “Modernization of Property
Disclosures for Mining Registrants” may result in changes to
our existing technical reports and mineral resources and will
result in increased compliance costs.
The
Modernization of Property Disclosures for Mining Registrants, or
Regulation S-K Subpart 1300, will rescind and replace Industry
Guide 7 and requires us to disclose specific information related to
our material mining operations including concerning our reported
mineral resources at Lost Creek and Shirley Basin in existing NI
43-101 technical reports. While Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 has
similarities with NI 43-101, we will conform our existing technical
reports to comply with both Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 and NI
43-101, which may result in revisions to our estimated mineral
resources and other aspects of existing reports and will add to our
compliance costs. Also, disclosures under Regulation S-K Subpart
1300 will be subject to currently unknown interpretations. We are
unable at this time to predict the nature of any future
enforcement, interpretation, or application of Regulation S-K
Subpart 1300 by the SEC. Any additional revisions to, or
interpretations of, Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 could also result
in additional time and possibly unforeseen cost associated with
compliance.
Our results of exploration and ultimate production are highly
uncertain.
The
exploration for, and development of, mineral deposits involves
significant risks which a combination of careful evaluation,
experience and knowledge may not eliminate. Few properties which
are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Major
expenses may be required to establish mineral resources or
reserves, to develop metallurgical processes and to construct
mining and processing facilities at a site. It is impossible to
ensure that our current exploration and development programs will
result in profitable commercial operations; this is true for our
Excel gold project as well as our uranium mineral
properties.
Whether
a mineral deposit will be commercially viable depends on many
factors, including the attributes of the deposit, such as size,
grade and proximity to infrastructure, as well as uranium and gold
prices, which are highly cyclical. Government regulations,
including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land
tenure, land use, importing and exporting of uranium and
environmental protection also are factors in determining commercial
viability of a mineral project. The exact effect of these factors
cannot be accurately predicted, but the combination of these
factors may result in us not receiving an adequate return on
invested capital.
Climate change and climate change legislation or regulations could
impact our operations.
Although
we play an important role in addressing climate change with our
production of uranium to fuel clean nuclear power, we, too, may be
subject to risks associated with climate change which could harm
our results of operations and increase our costs and expenses. The
occurrence of severe adverse weather conditions may have a
potentially serious impact on our operations. Adverse weather may
result in physical damage to our operations, instability of our
infrastructure and equipment, or alter the supply of electricity to
our Lost Creek Property. Impacts may affect worker productivity at
our projects. Should any impacts of climate change be material in
nature or occur for lengthy periods of time, our financial
condition or results of operations would be adversely
affected.
U.S.,
Canadian, and other international legislative or regulatory action
intended to ensure the protection of the environment are constantly
changing and evolving in a manner expected to result in stricter
standards and enforcement, larger fines and liability, and
potentially increased capital expenditures and operating costs.
While we will continue to monitor and assess any new policies,
legislation or regulations regarding such matters, we currently
believe that the impact of any such legislation on our business
will not be significant.
Our insurance coverage could be insufficient.
We
currently carry insurance coverage for general liability, property
and casualty, directors’ and officers’ liability and
other matters. We intend to carry insurance to protect against
certain risks in amounts we consider adequate. Certain insurances
may be cost prohibitive to maintain, and even if we carried all
such insurances, the nature of the risks we face in our exploration
and uranium production operations is such that liabilities could
exceed policy limits in any insurance policy or could be excluded
from coverage under an insurance policy. The potential costs that
could be associated with any liabilities not covered by insurance
or which exceed insurance coverage, or compliance with applicable
laws and regulations, may cause substantial delays or interruption
of operations and require significant capital outlays, adversely
affecting our business and financial position. We cannot assure
that even our current coverages will continue to be available at
acceptable cost or that coverage limits will remain at current
levels, any of which could result in adverse effects upon our
business and financial condition. We may be required to obtain
additional types of insurance or increase existing coverage amounts
due to changes in regulation of the mining and nuclear fuel cycle
industries. Additionally, we utilize a bonding surety program for
our regulatory, reclamation and restoration obligations at Lost
Creek and the Pathfinder Mines sites. Availability of and terms for
such surety arrangements may change in the future, resulting in
adverse effects to our financial condition.
We are subject to risks associated with litigation, governmental or
regulatory investigations or challenges, and other legal
proceedings.
Defense
and settlement costs of legal claims can be substantial, even with
respect to claims that have no merit. From time to time, we may be
involved in disputes with other parties which may result in
litigation or other proceedings. Additionally, it is not unlikely
that we may find ourselves involved directly or indirectly in legal
proceedings, in the form of governmental or regulatory
investigations, administrative proceedings or litigation, arising
from challenges to regulatory actions as described in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K. Such investigations, administrative
proceedings and litigation related to regulatory matters may delay
or halt exploration or development of our projects. The results of
litigation or any other proceedings cannot be predicted with
certainty. If we are unable to resolve any such disputes favorably,
it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position,
ability to operate, results of operations or our property
development.
Acquisitions and integration may disrupt our business, and we may
not obtain full anticipated value of certain acquisitions due to
the condition of the markets.
From
time to time, we examine opportunities to acquire additional mining
assets and businesses. Any acquisition that we may choose to
complete may be of significant size, may change the scale of our
business and operations, and/or may expose us to new geographic,
political, operating, financial and geological risks. Any
acquisition would be accompanied by risks. For example, there may
be a significant change in commodity prices after we have committed
to complete the transaction and established the purchase price or
share exchange ratio; a material ore body may prove to be below
expectations; we may have difficulty integrating and assimilating
the operations and personnel of an acquired company, realizing
anticipated synergies and maximizing the financial and strategic
position of the combined enterprise, and maintaining uniform
standards, policies and controls across the organization; the
integration of the acquired business or assets may disrupt our
ongoing business and relationships with employees, customers,
suppliers and contractors; and the acquired business or assets may
have unknown liabilities which may be significant. There can be no
assurance that we would be successful in overcoming these risks or
any other problems encountered in connection with such
acquisitions.
We are dependent on information technology systems, which are
subject to certain risks.
We
depend upon information technology systems in a variety of ways
throughout our operations. Any significant breakdown of those
systems, whether through virus, cyber-attack, security breach,
theft, or other destruction, invasion or interruption, or
unauthorized access to our systems, could negatively impact our
business and operations. To the extent that such invasion,
cyber-attack or similar security breach results in disruption to
our operations, loss or disclosure of, or damage to, our data and
particularly our confidential or proprietary information, our
reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition
could be materially adversely affected. Our systems, internal
controls and insurance for protecting against such cyber security
risks may be insufficient. Although to date we have experienced no
such attack resulting in material losses, we may suffer such losses
at any time in the future. We may be required to expend significant
additional resources to continue to modify and enhance our
protective measures or to investigate, restore or remediate any
information technology security vulnerabilities.
We have never paid dividends and do not currently expect to do so
in the near future.
Therefore, if our share price does not appreciate, our
investors may not gain and could potentially lose on their
investment in our shares.
We have not paid dividends on our Common Shares since incorporation
and do not anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future. We
currently intend to retain all available funds and any future
earnings to fund the growth of our business. Payments of any
dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors
(“Board”) after considering many factors, including our
financial condition and current and anticipated cash needs. As a
result, capital appreciation, if any, of our shares will be an
investor’s sole source of gain for the foreseeable
future.
Failure to meet the listing maintenance criteria of the NYSE
American may result in the delisting of our Common
Shares, which could result in lower trading volumes and liquidity,
lower prices of our Common Shares and make it more difficult for us
to raise capital.
Our
Common Shares are listed on the NYSE American and we are subject to
its continued listing requirements, including maintaining certain
share prices and a minimum amount of shareholder equity. The market
price of our Common Shares has been and may continue to be subject
to significant fluctuation. If we are unable to comply with the
NYSE American continued listing requirements, including its trading
price requirements, our Common Shares may be suspended from trading
on and/or delisted from the NYSE American. Although we have not
been notified of any delisting proceedings, there is no assurance
that we will not receive such notice in the future or that we will
be able to then comply with NYSE American listing standards. The
delisting of our Common Shares from the NYSE American may
materially impair our shareholders’ ability to buy and sell
our Common Shares and could have an adverse effect on the market
price of, and the efficiency of the trading market for, our Common
Shares. In addition, the delisting of our Common Shares could
significantly impair our ability to raise capital.
Further, if our
Common Shares were delisted from the NYSE American, they might be
subject to the so-called “penny stock” rules. For any
transaction involving a “penny stock,” unless exempt
pursuant to SEC regulations, the rules impose additional sales
practice requirements on broker-dealers, subject to certain
exceptions. If our Common Shares were determined to be a
“penny stock,” a broker-dealer may find it more
difficult to trade our Common Shares and an investor may find it
more difficult to acquire or dispose of our Common Shares on the
secondary market. These factors could also significantly negatively
affect the market price of our Common Shares and our ability to
raise capital.
The trading price of our Common Shares may experience substantial
volatility.
The
market price of our Common Shares may experience substantial
volatility that is unrelated to the Company's financial condition
or operations. The trading price of our Common Shares may also be
significantly affected by short-term changes in the price of
uranium. The market price of the Company's securities is affected
by many other variables which may be unrelated to our success and
are, therefore, not within our control. These include other
developments that affect the market for all resource sector-related
securities, the breadth of the public market for the common shares
and the attractiveness of alternative investments market reaction
to the estimated fair value of our portfolio; rumors or
dissemination of false information; changes in coverage or earnings
estimates by analysts; our ability to meet analysts’ or
market expectations; and sales of common shares by existing
shareholders. The effect of these and other factors on the market
price of the common shares is expected to make the price of the
common shares volatile in the future, which may result in losses to
investors.
You may experience future dilution as a result of additional equity
offerings.
To
raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional of
our Common Shares or other securities convertible into or
exchangeable for our Common Shares at prices that may not be the
same as the price per share as the shares an investor has
previously purchased, and investors purchasing shares or other
securities in the future could have rights superior to existing
shareholders.
We may be a passive foreign
investment company and there may be adverse U.S. federal income tax
consequences to U.S. shareholders under the passive foreign
investment company rules.
Investors in our
Common Shares that are U.S. taxpayers (referred to as a U.S.
shareholder) should be aware that we may be a “passive
foreign investment company” (a “PFIC”) for the
period ended December 31, 2020 and may be a PFIC in subsequent
years. If we are a PFIC for any year during a U.S.
shareholder’s holding period, then such U.S. shareholders
generally will be subject to a special, highly adverse tax regime
with respect to so-called “excess distributions”
received on our Common Shares. Gain realized upon a disposition of
our Common Shares (including upon certain dispositions that would
otherwise be tax-free) also will be treated as an excess
distribution. Excess distributions are punitively taxed and are
subject to additional interest charges. Additional special
adverse rules also apply to U.S. shareholders who own our Common
Shares if we are a PFIC and have a non-U.S. subsidiary that is also
a PFIC (a “lower-tier PFIC”).
A U.S.
shareholder may make a timely “qualified electing fund”
election (“QEF election”) or a
“mark-to-market” election with respect to our Common
Shares to mitigate the adverse tax rules that apply to PFICs, but
these elections may accelerate the recognition of taxable income
and may result in the recognition of ordinary income. To be timely,
a QEF election generally must be made for the first year in the
U.S. shareholder’s holding period in which Ur-Energy is a
PFIC. A U.S. shareholder may make a QEF election only if the
U.S. shareholder receives certain information (known as a
“PFIC annual information statement”) from us annually.
A U.S. shareholder may make a QEF election with respect to a
lower-tier PFIC only if it receives a PFIC annual information
statement with respect to the lower-tier PFIC. The mark-to-market
election is available only if our Common Shares are considered
regularly traded on a qualifying exchange, which we cannot assure
will be the case for years in which we may be a PFIC. The
mark-to-market election is not available for a lower-tier
PFIC.
We will
use commercially reasonable efforts to make available to U.S.
shareholders, upon their written request, for each year in which
the Company may be a PFIC, a PFIC annual information statement with
respect to the Company and with respect to each such subsidiary
that we determine may be a PFIC.
A U.S.
shareholder may not make a QEF election with respect to Warrants.
As a result, if we are a PFIC at any time when a U.S. shareholder
owns Warrants, the U.S. shareholder generally will not be able to
make a normal QEF election with respect to the Common Shares
acquired upon exercise of such Warrants. Such a U.S. shareholder
could, however, make a special “deemed sale” election
with respect to the Common Shares under which the U.S. shareholder
would recognize inherent gain in the Common Shares acquired on
exercise of such Warrants as an excess distribution at the time of
the deemed sale election. Such a deemed sale election generally can
be made only if the U.S. shareholder owns Common Shares on the
first day of our taxable year in which the election is to be
effective.
A U.S.
shareholder also may not make a mark-to-market election with
respect to Warrants. A U.S. shareholder may be able to make a
mark-to-market election with respect to Common Shares acquired upon
exercise of such Warrants; however, this election would require the
U.S. shareholder to recognize inherent gain in the Common Shares
acquired on exercise of the Warrants as an excess distribution at
the time of the election.
Special
adverse rules that impact certain estate planning goals could apply
to our Common Shares if we are a PFIC. Each U.S. shareholder should
consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state and
local consequences of the PFIC rules, and regarding the QEF and
mark-to-market elections.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are
subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),
and the rules and regulations thereunder and, in accordance
therewith, we file periodic reports and proxy statements with the
SEC. All reports, proxy statements and the other information that
we file with the SEC are available to the public from the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and
our website at www.ur-energy.com.
Information contained on our website is not part of this
prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF
CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC
allows us to “incorporate by reference” information
into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement,
which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The
information incorporated by reference is considered part of this
prospectus, and information filed with the SEC subsequent to this
prospectus and prior to the termination of the particular offering
referred to in such prospectus supplement will automatically be
deemed to update and supersede this information. We incorporate by
reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus
supplement the documents listed below (excluding any portions of
such documents that have been “furnished” but not
“filed” for purposes of the Exchange Act):
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(a)
|
Our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2020 filed with the SEC on February
26, 2021;
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(b)
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Our
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended
March 31, 2021, June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2021, filed with
the SEC on
May 7, 2021,
August 3, 2021 and
November 1, 2021, respectively;
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(c)
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Our
Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on
February 4, 2021,
April 2, 2021,
April 16, 2021,
May 7, 2021,
May 14, 2021,
June 2, 2021,
June 4, 2021,
June 9, 2021, and
July 9, 2021, all to the extent “filed” and not
“furnished” pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act;
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(d)
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The
description of common shares contained in our registration
statement on Form 40-F filed on
January 7, 2008, and as amended on
July 7, 2008, including any amendment or report filed for
purposes of updating such description; and
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(e)
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All
other documents filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this
prospectus but before the end of the offering of the Common Shares
made by this prospectus.
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We also
incorporate by reference all documents we subsequently file with
the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act after the initial filing of the registration statement
of which this prospectus is a part (including prior to the
effectiveness of the registration statement) and prior to the
termination of the offering. Any statement in a document
incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be
modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in this
prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is
incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes
such statement.
Unless
specifically stated to the contrary, none of the information that
we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 or corresponding information
furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit of any Current
Report on Form 8-K that we may from time to time furnish to the SEC
will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in,
this prospectus.
We will
provide without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any
or all of the documents which are incorporated by reference into
this prospectus. Requests should be directed to:
Ur-Energy
Inc.
Attention:
Corporate Secretary
10758
W. Centennial Road, Suite 200
Littleton,
CO 80127
(720)
981-4588
Except
as provided above, no other information, including information on
our website, is incorporated by reference in this
prospectus.
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS CONCERNING DISCLOSURE OF MINERAL
RESOURCES
Unless otherwise indicated, all resource
estimates, included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus
and any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated herein
and therein have been, and will be, prepared in accordance with
Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards
for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (“CIM Definition
Standards”). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian
Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all
public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical
information concerning mineral projects. NI 43-101 permits the
disclosure of an historical estimate made prior to the adoption of
NI 43-101 that does not comply with NI 43-101 to be disclosed using
the historical terminology if the disclosure: (a) identifies the
source and date of the historical estimate; (b) comments on the
relevance and reliability of the historical estimate; (c) to the
extent known, provides the key assumptions, parameters and methods
used to prepare the historical estimate; (d) states whether the
historical estimate uses categories other than those prescribed by
NI 43-101; and (e) includes any more recent estimates or data
available.
Canadian standards,
including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of
the SEC, and resource information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and the
documents incorporated herein and therein may not be comparable to
similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, the
term “resource” does not equate to the term
“‘reserves.” Under SEC Industry Guide 7,
mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve”
unless the determination has been made that the mineralization
could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time
the reserve determination is made. SEC Industry Guide 7 does not
define and the SEC’s disclosure standards normally do not
permit the inclusion of information concerning “measured
mineral resources,” “indicated mineral resources”
or “inferred mineral resources” or other descriptions
of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not
constitute “reserves” by U.S. standards in documents
filed with the SEC. U.S. investors should also understand that
“inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of
uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their
economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or
any part of an “inferred mineral resource” will ever be
upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated
“inferred mineral resources” may not form the basis of
feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an
“inferred mineral resource” exists or is economically
or legally mineable. Disclosure of “contained pounds”
in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations;
however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report
mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by
SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to
unit measures. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits
set forth herein may not be comparable to information made public
by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards under
SEC Industry Guide 7.
The SEC
has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the
mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose
securities are registered with the SEC under the United States
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “U.S.
Exchange Act”). These amendments became effective February
25, 2019 (“Regulation S-K Subpart 1300”) with
compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after
January 1, 2021. Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 will replace the
disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included
in SEC Industry Guide 7. The resource estimates included or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus were not prepared in
accordance with Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 and accordingly,
information concerning mineral deposits included or incorporated
herein may not be comparable to information made public by
companies that report in accordance with Regulation S-K Subpart
1300.
CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RATES
Unless otherwise indicated, all references to
“$” or “dollars” in this prospectus and any
prospectus supplement refer to U.S. dollars. References to
“Cdn$” in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement
refer to Canadian dollars.
The
rate of exchange on November 22, 2021, as reported by the Bank of
Canada for the conversion of Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars, was
Cdn$1.00 equals $0.7886 and, for the conversion of U.S. dollars to
Canadian dollars, was $1.00 equals Cdn$1.2680.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein, may
contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and
forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within
the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, with respect to
our financial condition, results of operations, business prospects,
plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, capital
expenditures, and exploration and development efforts. These
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words
such as “expect,” “anticipate,”
“estimate,” “believe,” “may,”
“potential,” “intends,” “plans”
and other similar expressions or statements that an action, event
or result “may,” “could” or
“should” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the
negative thereof or other similar statements, however the absence
of such words does not mean that a statement is not
forward-looking. These statements are only predictions and involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry
results, to be materially different from any future results,
performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not
limited to: (i) the ability to maintain safe and compliant
reduced-level production operations at Lost Creek; (ii) the timing
for completion of ongoing development and to determine future
development and construction priorities at Lost Creek and Shirley
Basin; (iii) the ability to ramp-up and transition to full or other
warranted production levels in a timely and cost-effective manner
when market and other conditions warrant; (iv) life of mine, costs
and production results for each project; (v) the timing and outcome
of final regulatory approvals of the amendments for uranium
recovery at the LC East Project; (vi) the ability to complete
additional favorable uranium sales agreements including spot sales
if the market warrants and as may be advantageous to the Company;
(vii) the impacts of COVID-19 on our business, operations, and
financial liquidity, and the impacts of the pandemic directly and
indirectly on the uranium market; (viii) resolution of the
continuing challenges within the uranium market, including supply
and demand projections; (ix) the size and sustainability of impacts
on the uranium market of recent physical funds and other
depositories for purchases of uranium inventories; (x) the timing
and impact of implementation of the national uranium reserve
program and the Company’s role in the program; (xi) timing
for implementation of other recommendations made by the United
States Nuclear Fuel Working Group for the revival and expansion of
domestic nuclear fuel production, and whether the Biden
Administration will incorporate nuclear energy and domestic
production of uranium into its climate change initiatives; (xii)
impacts on the global markets of climate change initiatives of
nations and multi-national companies; (xiii) whether the proposed
transaction of certain non-core assets will be completed, on what
terms and timing; and (xiv) whether our financing activities and
cost-savings measures which we have implemented will be sufficient
to support our operations and for what period of
time.
Although we believe
that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot be certain
that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved.
Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially
from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements contained in this
prospectus.
Forward-looking
statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or
results to differ from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks
related to:
●
timing, duration
and overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s
business and operations;
●
challenges
presented by current inventories and largely unrestricted imports
of uranium products into the U.S.;
●
future estimates
for production;
●
mineral resources,
grade estimates and recovery rates;
●
business strategies
and measures to implement such strategies;
●
estimates of goals
for expansion and growth of the business and
operations;
●
plans and
references to our future successes;
●
our history of
operating losses and uncertainty of future
profitability;
●
status as an
exploration stage company;
●
the lack of mineral
reserves;
●
risks associated
with obtaining permits and other authorizations in the
U.S.;
●
risks associated
with current variable economic conditions;
●
our ability to
service our debt and maintain compliance with all restrictive
covenants related to the debt facility and security
documents;
●
the possible impact
of future debt or equity financings;
●
the hazards
associated with mining production operations;
●
compliance with
environmental laws and regulations;
●
uncertainty
regarding the pricing and collection of accounts;
●
the possibility for
adverse results in potential litigation;
●
uncertainties
associated with changes in law, government policy and
regulation;
●
uncertainties
associated with a Canada Revenue Agency or U.S. Internal Revenue
Service audit of any of our cross border transactions;
●
adverse changes in
general business conditions in any of the countries in which we do
business;
●
changes in size and
structure;
●
the effectiveness
of management and our strategic relationships;
●
ability to attract
and retain key personnel and management;
●
uncertainties
regarding the need for and ability to obtain additional
capital;
●
sufficiency of
insurance coverages;
●
uncertainty
regarding the fluctuations of quarterly results;
●
foreign currency
exchange risks;
●
ability to enforce
civil liabilities under U.S. securities laws outside the
U.S.;
●
ability to maintain
our listing on the NYSE American and TSX;
●
risks associated
with the expected classification as a “passive foreign
investment company” under the applicable provisions of the
U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
●
risks associated
with our investments;
●
other factors, many
of which are beyond our control; and
●
other risks and
uncertainties described elsewhere in this prospectus, our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and
in other filings we make with the SEC.
This
list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our
forward-looking statements. Some of the important risks and
uncertainties that could affect forward-looking statements are
described further under the section headings “Our Business” and
“Risk Factors”
in this prospectus and any additional risks or uncertainties
described in any prospectus supplements. Although we have attempted
to identify important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those described in forward-looking
statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be
as anticipated, estimated or intended. Should one or more of these
risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying
assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially
from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. We caution
readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as
required by law, we disclaim any obligation subsequently to revise
any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of
anticipated or unanticipated events. We qualify all of the forward-looking
statements contained or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus by the foregoing cautionary
statements.
OUR BUSINESS
Incorporated on
March 22, 2004, Ur-Energy is an exploration stage mining company,
as that term is defined in the SEC Industry Guide 7. We are engaged
in uranium mining, recovery and processing activities, including
the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of uranium
mineral properties in the U.S. Through our Wyoming operating
subsidiary, Lost Creek ISR, LLC, we began operating our first in
situ recovery uranium mine at our Lost Creek project in 2013.
Ur-Energy is a corporation continued under the Canada Business Corporations
Act on August 8, 2006. Our Common Shares are listed on
the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) under the symbol
“URE” and on the NYSE American LLC (the “NYSE
American”) under the symbol “URG.”
Ur-Energy has one
direct wholly-owned subsidiary: Ur-Energy USA Inc., incorporated
under the laws of the State of Colorado. It has offices in Colorado
and Wyoming and has employees in both states, in addition to having
one employee based in Arizona.
Ur-Energy USA has
three wholly-owned subsidiaries: NFU Wyoming, LLC, a limited
liability company formed under the laws of the State of Wyoming to
facilitate acquisition of certain property and assets and,
currently, to act as our land holding and exploration entity; Lost
Creek ISR, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws
of the State of Wyoming to hold and operate our Lost Creek project
and certain other of our Lost Creek properties and assets; and
Pathfinder Mines Corporation (“Pathfinder”),
incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, which holds,
among other assets, the Shirley Basin and Lucky Mc properties in
Wyoming. Lost Creek ISR, LLC employs personnel at the Lost Creek
Project.
We
utilize in situ recovery (“ISR”) of the uranium at our
flagship project, Lost Creek, and will do so at other projects
where possible. The ISR technique is employed in uranium extraction
because it allows for an effective recovery of roll front uranium
mineralization at a lower cost. At Lost Creek, we extract and
process uranium oxide (“U3O8”) for
shipping to a third-party conversion facility for further
processing, storage and sales.
Our
Lost Creek processing facility, which includes all circuits for the
production, drying and packaging of U3O8 for delivery into
sales transactions, is designed and anticipated under current
licensing to process up to 1.2 million pounds of U3O8 annually
from the Lost Creek mine. The processing facility has the physical
design capacity and is licensed to process 2.2 million pounds of
U3O8 annually,
which provides additional capacity, of up to one million pounds
U3O8, to process
material from other sources. We expect that the Lost Creek
processing facility may be utilized to process captured
U3O8 from our
Shirley Basin Project. However, the Shirley Basin permit and
license allow for the construction of a full processing facility,
providing greater construction and operating flexibility as may be
dictated by market conditions.
In this
prospectus and in any prospectus supplement, unless the context
otherwise requires, references to “Ur-Energy,” the
“Company,” “we,” “us” and
“our” refer to Ur-Energy Inc., either alone or together
with our subsidiaries as the context requires.
Our
corporate office is located at 10758 W. Centennial Road, Suite 200,
Littleton, CO 80127 and our telephone number is (720) 981-4588. Our
website address is www.ur-energy.com. The information on our
website is not part of this prospectus.
Unless
otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the net proceeds
from the sale of the Securities will be used for general corporate
purposes and working capital. Each prospectus supplement will
contain specific information concerning the use of proceeds from
that sale of the Securities.
We will
bear all of the expenses of the offering of the Securities, and
such expenses will be paid out of our general funds, unless
otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are
registering the Securities with an aggregate offering price not to
exceed $100,000,000, to be sold by the Company under a
“shelf” registration process. If we offer any of the
Securities under this prospectus we will amend or supplement this
prospectus by means of an accompanying prospectus supplement
setting forth the specific terms and conditions and other
information about that offering as is required or
necessary.
We may
offer and sell all or a portion of the Securities covered by this
prospectus from time to time, in one or more or any combination of
the following transactions:
●
ordinary brokerage
transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits
purchasers;
●
block trades in
which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent,
but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
●
purchases by a
broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its
account;
●
an exchange
distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
●
privately
negotiated transactions;
●
short sales
affected after the date the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC;
●
through the writing
or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether
through an options exchange or otherwise;
●
broker-dealers may
agree to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated
price per share;
●
sales “at the
market” to or through a market maker or into an existing
trading market, on an exchange or otherwise;
●
a combination of
any such methods of sale; and
●
any other method
permitted by applicable law.
We may
sell the Securities at prices then prevailing or related to the
then current market price or at negotiated prices. The offering
price of the Securities from time to time will be determined by us,
and, at the time of the determination, may be higher or lower than
the market price of our Common Shares on the TSX, NYSE American, or
any other exchange or market.
In
connection with the sale of the Securities or interests therein, we
may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other
financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of
the Securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume.
We may also sell the Securities short and deliver these Securities
to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the
Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these
Securities. We may also enter into option or other transactions
with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation
of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to
such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered
by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other
financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as
supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
In
connection with an underwritten offering, underwriters or agents
may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions from us or from purchasers of the offered shares for
whom they may act as agents. In addition, underwriters may sell the
shares to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive
compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions
from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for
whom they may act as agents. Any underwriters, broker-dealers or
agents that participate in the sale of the Common Shares or
interests therein may be “underwriters” within the
meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts,
commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the
shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act. We will bear all of the expenses of the offering of
Securities.
We may
agree to indemnify an underwriter, broker-dealer or agent against
certain liabilities related to the selling of the Securities,
including liabilities arising under the Securities
Act.
Except
for the Amended and Restated At Market Issuance Sales Agreement
entered into in connection with Ur-Energy’s ATM program, we
have not entered into any agreements, understandings or
arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the
sale of the Securities. Upon entering into any material arrangement
with an underwriter or broker-dealer for the sale of the Securities
through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution,
secondary distribution or a purchase by an underwriter or
broker-dealer, we will file a prospectus supplement, if required,
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing
certain material information, including:
●
the name of the
applicable seller;
●
the Securities
being offered;
●
the terms of the
offering;
●
the names of the
participating underwriters, broker-dealers or agents;
●
any discounts,
commissions or other compensation paid to underwriters or
broker-dealers and any discounts, commissions or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid by any underwriters to
dealers;
●
the purchase price
of the Securities and the proceeds to be received from the sale;
and
●
other material
terms of the offering.
We are
subject to the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including Regulation
M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of
any of the Securities offered in this prospectus. The
anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales
of Securities in the market and to our activities.
To the
extent required, this prospectus may be amended and/or supplemented
from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.
Instead of selling the Securities under this prospectus, we may
sell the Common Shares in compliance with the provisions of Rule
144 under the Securities Act, if available, or pursuant to other
available exemptions from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act.
With
respect to the sale of any Securities under this prospectus, the
maximum commission or discount to be received by any member of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. or any independent
broker or dealer will not be greater than eight percent
(8%).
DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR AND SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
The
following description, together with the additional information we
include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the
material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may
offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized
below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may
offer, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities
that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Because the terms of a specific series of debt
securities may vary from the general information that we have
provided below, you should rely on information in the applicable
prospectus supplement that varies from any information
below.
We may
issue senior notes under a senior indenture to be entered into
among us and a trustee to be named in the senior indenture. We may
issue subordinated notes under a subordinated indenture to be
entered into among us and a trustee to be named in the subordinated
indenture. We have filed forms of these documents as exhibits to
the registration statement which includes this prospectus. We use
the term “indentures” to refer to both the senior
indenture and the subordinated indenture. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures
will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the
“Trust Indenture Act”). We use the term
“trustee” to refer to either the senior trustee or the
subordinated trustee, as applicable. We urge you to read the
indenture applicable to your investment, because the indenture, and
not this section, defines your rights as a holder of debt
securities.
The
following summaries of material provisions of senior notes,
subordinated notes and the indentures are subject to, and qualified
in their entirety by reference to, the provisions of the indenture
applicable to a particular series of debt securities. Except as we
may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the
subordinated indenture are identical in all material
respects.
General
The
senior debt securities will have the same ranking as all of our
other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt
securities will be unsecured and will be subordinated and junior to
all senior indebtedness.
The
debt securities may be issued in one or more separate series of
senior debt securities and/or subordinated debt securities. The
prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of debt
securities being offered will specify the particular amounts,
prices and terms of those debt securities. These terms may
include:
●
the title of the
debt securities;
●
any limit upon the
aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
●
the date or dates,
or the method of determining the dates, on which the debt
securities will mature;
●
the interest rate
or rates of the debt securities, or the method of determining those
rates, the interest payment dates and, for registered debt
securities, the regular record dates;
●
if a debt security
is issued with original issue discount, the yield to
maturity;
●
the places where
payments may be made on the debt securities;
●
any mandatory or
optional redemption provisions applicable to the debt
securities;
●
any sinking fund or
analogous provisions applicable to the debt
securities;
●
whether and on what
terms we will pay additional amounts to holders of the debt
securities that are not U.S. persons in respect of any tax,
assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so,
whether and on what terms we will have the option to
redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional
amounts;
●
whether the notes
will be senior or subordinated;
●
any terms for the
attachment to the debt securities of warrants, options or other
rights to purchase or sell our securities;
●
the portion of the
principal amount of the debt security payable upon the acceleration
of maturity if other than the entire principal amount of the debt
securities;
●
any deletions of,
or changes or additions to, the events of default or covenants
applicable to the debt securities;
●
if other than U.S.
dollars, the currency or currencies in which payments of principal,
premium and/or interest on the debt securities will be payable and
whether the holder may elect payment to be made in a different
currency;
●
the method of
determining the amount of any payments on the debt securities which
are linked to an index;
●
whether the debt
securities will be issued in fully registered form without coupons
or in bearer form, with or without coupons, or any
combination of these, and whether they will be issued in the form
of one or more global securities in temporary or definitive
form;
●
whether the debt
securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for Common
Shares or other debt securities and the conversion price or
exchange ratio, the conversion or exchange period and any other
conversion or exchange provisions;
●
any terms relating
to the delivery of the debt securities if they are to be issued
upon the exercise of warrants; and
●
any other specific
terms of the debt securities.
Unless
otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, (1)
the debt securities will be registered debt securities, and (2)
debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued, in the
case of registered debt securities, in denominations of $1,000 or
an integral multiple of $1,000. Debt securities may bear
legends required by applicable United States and Canadian federal
tax law and regulations.
If any
of the debt securities are sold for any foreign currency or
currency unit or if any payments on the debt securities are payable
in any foreign currency or currency unit, the prospectus supplement
will contain any restrictions, elections, tax consequences,
specific terms and other information with respect to the debt
securities and the foreign currency or currency unit.
Some of
the debt securities may be issued as original issue discount debt
securities. Original issue discount securities bear no interest
during all or a part of the time that these debt securities are
outstanding or bear interest at below-market rates and will be sold
at a discount below their stated principal amount at maturity. The
prospectus supplement will also contain special tax, accounting or
other information relating to original issue discount securities or
relating to other kinds of debt securities that may be offered,
including debt securities linked to an index or payable in
currencies other than U.S. dollars.
Exchange, Registration and Transfer
Debt
securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate trust
office of the security registrar or at any other office or agency
maintained by us or on our behalf for these purposes, without the
payment of any service charge, except for any tax or governmental
charges. The senior trustee initially will be the designated
security registrar in the United States or Canada for the senior
debt securities. The subordinated trustee initially will be the
designated security registrar in the United States or Canada for
the subordinated debt securities.
In the
event of any redemption in part of any class or series of debt
securities, we will not be required to:
●
issue, register the
transfer of, or exchange, debt securities of any series between the
opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities
of that series to be redeemed and the close of business on the day
of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; or
●
register the
transfer of, or exchange, any registered debt security selected for
redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of
any registered debt security being redeemed in part.
Payment and Paying Agent
We will
pay principal, interest and any premium on fully registered
securities in the designated currency or currency unit at the
office of a designated paying agent.
Global Securities
A
global security represents one or any other number of individual
debt securities. Generally, all debt securities represented by the
same global securities will have the same terms. Each debt security
issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security
that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial
institution or its nominee that we select. The financial
institution that we select for this purpose is called the
depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable
prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New
York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all debt securities
that are issued in book-entry form.
A
global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name
of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special
termination situations arise. As a result of these arrangements,
the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered holder
of all debt securities represented by a global security, and
investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a
global security. Beneficial interestsmust be held by means of an
account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in
turn has an account either with the depositary or with another
institution that has an account with the depositary. Thus, an
investor whose security is represented by a global security will
not be the registered holder of the debt security, but an indirect
holder of a beneficial interest in the global
security.
Definitive Global Securities
Book-Entry Securities. Debt securities
of a series represented by a definitive global registered debt
security and deposited with or on behalf of a depositary in the
United States will be represented by a definitive global debt
security registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee.
Upon the issuance of a global debt security and the deposit of the
global debt security with the depositary, the depositary will
credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts represented by that global debt
security to the accounts of participating institutions that have
accounts with the depositary or its nominee. The accounts to be
credited shall be designated by the underwriters or agents for the
sale of book-entry debt securities or by us, if these debt
securities are offered and sold directly by us.
Ownership of
book-entry debt securities will be limited to participants or
persons that may hold interests through participants. In addition,
ownership of book-entry debt securities will be evidenced only by,
and the transfer of that ownership will be affected only through,
records maintained by the depositary or its nominee for the
definitive global debt security or by participants or persons that
hold through participants.
So long
as the depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a
global debt security, that depositary or nominee, as the case may
be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the book-entry
debt securities represented by that global debt security for all
purposes under the indenture. Payment of principal of, and premium
and interest, if any, on, book-entry debt securities will be made
to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner or the
holder of the global debt security representing the book-entry debt
securities. Owners of book-entry debt securities:
●
will not be
entitled to have the debt securities registered in their
names;
●
will not be
entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in
definitive form; and
●
will not be
considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the
indenture.
The
laws of some jurisdictions require that purchasers of securities
take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws
impair the ability to purchase or transfer book-entry debt
securities.
We
expect that the depositary for book-entry debt securities of a
series, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, or premium or
interest, if any, on, the related definitive global debt security,
will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments
in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests
in the principal amount of the global debt security as shown on the
records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global debt
security held through those participants will be governed by
standing instructions and customary practices, and will be the
responsibility of those participants.
Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance
We may,
without the consent of the holders of the debt securities, merge
into, amalgamate or consolidate with any other person, or convey or
transfer all or substantially all of our properties and assets to
another person provided that the successor assumes on the same
terms and conditions all the obligations under the debt securities
and the indentures.
The
remaining or acquiring person will be substituted for us in the
indentures with the same effect as if it had been an original party
to the indenture. A prospectus supplement will describe any other
limitations on our ability to merge into, amalgamate, consolidate
with, or convey or transfer all or substantially all of our
properties and assets to, another person.
Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance
We may
be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of any
class or series that have matured or will mature or be redeemed
within one year if we deposit with the trustee enough cash and/or
U.S. or Canadian government obligations to pay all the principal,
interest and any premium due to the stated maturity or redemption
date of the debt securities and comply with the other conditions
set forth in the applicable indenture, which will described in the
applicable prospectus supplement. The principal conditions that we
must satisfy to discharge our obligations on any debt securities
are (1) pay all other sums payable with respect to the applicable
series of debt securities and (2) deliver to the trustee an
officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel that state
that the required conditions have been satisfied.
Each
indenture contains a provision that permits us to elect to be
discharged from all of our obligations with respect to any class or
series of debt securities then outstanding. However, even if we
affect a legal defeasance, some of our obligations will continue,
including obligations to:
●
maintain and apply
money in the defeasance trust,
●
register the
transfer or exchange of the debt securities,
●
replace mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, and
●
maintain a
registrar and paying agent in respect of the debt
securities.
The
indentures specify the types of U.S. or Canadian government
obligations that we may deposit, which will be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
Except
as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, each
indenture defines an event of default with respect to any class or
series of debt securities as one or more of the following
events:
●
failure to pay
interest on any debt security of the class or series for 90 days
when due;
●
failure to pay the
principal or any premium on any debt securities of the class or
series when due;
●
failure to make any
sinking fund payment when due;
●
failure to perform
any other covenant in the debt securities of the series or in the
applicable indenture with respect to debt securities of the series
for 90 days after being given notice; and
●
occurrence of an
event of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization set forth in the
indenture.
An
event of default for a particular class or series of debt
securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for
any other class or series of debt securities issued under an
indenture.
If any
event of default as to a series of debt securities occurs and is
continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series may
declare all the debt securities to be due and payable
immediately.
The
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities of that series then outstanding by notice to the trustee
may on behalf of the holders of all of the debt securities of that
series waive any existing default or event of default and its
consequences under the applicable indenture except a continuing
default or event of default in the payment of interest on, or the
principal of, the debt securities of that series.
Each
indenture requires the trustee to, within 90 days after the
occurrence of a default known to it with respect to any outstanding
series of debt securities, give the holders of that class or series
notice of the default if uncured or not waived. However, the
trustee may withhold this notice if it determines in good faith
that the withholding of this notice is in the interest of those
holders, except that the trustee may not withhold this notice in
the case of a payment default. The term “default” for
the purpose of this provision means any event that is, or after
notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default
with respect to debt securities of that series.
Other
than the duty to act with the required standard of care during an
event of default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its
rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request or
direction of any of the holders of debt securities, unless the
holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security and
indemnity. Each indenture provides that the holders of a majority
in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series
may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or
other power conferred on the trustee if the direction would not
conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture. However, the
trustee may take any other action that it deems proper which is not
inconsistent with any direction and may decline to follow any
direction if it in good faith determines that the directed action
would involve it in personal liability.
Each
indenture includes a covenant that we will file annually with the
trustee a certificate of no default, or specifying any default that
exists.
Modification of the Indentures
We and
the applicable trustee may modify an indenture without the consent
of the holders for limited purposes, including adding to our
covenants or events of default, establishing forms or terms of debt
securities, curing ambiguities and other purposes which do not
adversely affect the holders in any material respect.
We and
the applicable trustee may make modifications and amendments to an
indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all affected
series. However, without the consent of each affected holder, no
modification may:
●
change the stated
maturity of any debt security;
●
reduce the
principal, premium, if any, or rate of interest on any debt
security; or
●
reduce the
percentage of holders of outstanding debt securities of any series
required to consent to any modification, amendment or waiver under
the indenture.
Notices
Notice
to holders of registered debt securities will be given by mail to
the addresses of those holders as they appear in the security
register.
Replacement of Securities Coupons
Debt
securities or coupons that have been mutilated will be replaced by
us at the expense of the holder upon surrender of the mutilated
debt security or coupon to the security registrar. Debt securities
or coupons that become destroyed, stolen, or lost will be replaced
by us at the expense of the holder upon delivery to the security
registrar of evidence of its destruction, loss, or theft
satisfactory to us and the security registrar. In the case of a
destroyed, lost, or stolen debt security or coupon, the holder of
the debt security or coupon may be required to provide reasonable
security or indemnity to the trustee and us before a replacement
debt security will be issued.
Concerning the Trustees
We may
from time to time maintain lines of credit, and have other
customary banking relationships, with any of the
trustees.
Senior Debt Securities
The
senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other
unsecured and non-subordinated debt.
Certain Covenants in the Senior Indenture
The
prospectus supplement relating to a series of senior debt
securities will describe any material covenants in respect of that
series of senior debt securities.
Subordinated Debt Securities
The
subordinated debt securities will be unsecured. The subordinated
debt securities will be subordinate in right of payment to all
senior indebtedness. In addition, claims of creditors generally
will have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of our
subsidiaries over the claims of our creditors, including holders of
the subordinated debt securities, even though those obligations may
not constitute senior indebtedness. The subordinated debt
securities, therefore, will be effectively subordinated to
creditors, including trade creditors with regard to the assets of
our subsidiaries. Creditors of our subsidiaries include trade
creditors, secured creditors and creditors holding guarantees
issued by our subsidiaries.
Unless
otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, senior indebtedness
shall mean the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, all
indebtedness for money borrowed by us and any deferrals, renewals,
or extensions of any senior indebtedness. Indebtedness for money
borrowed by us includes all indebtedness of another person for
money borrowed that we guarantee, other than the subordinated debt
securities, whether outstanding on the date of execution of the
subordinated indenture or created, assumed or incurred after the
date of the subordinated indenture. However, senior indebtedness
will not include any indebtedness that expressly states to have the
same rank as the subordinated debt securities or to rank junior to
the subordinated debt securities. Senior indebtedness will also not
include any of our obligations to our subsidiaries.
The
senior debt securities constitute senior indebtedness under the
subordinated indenture. A prospectus supplement will describe the
relative ranking among different series of subordinated debt
securities.
Unless
otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, we may not make any
payment on the subordinated debt securities and may not purchase,
redeem, or retire any subordinated debt securities if any senior
indebtedness is not paid when due or the maturity of any senior
indebtedness is accelerated as a result of a default, unless the
default has been cured or waived and the acceleration has been
rescinded or the senior indebtedness has been paid in full. We may,
however, pay the subordinated debt securities without regard to
these limitations if we or the subordinated trustee receive written
notice approving the payment from the representatives of the
holders of senior indebtedness with respect to which either of the
events set forth above has occurred and is continuing. Unless
otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, during the
continuance of any default with respect to any designated senior
indebtedness under which its maturity may be accelerated
immediately without further notice or the expiration of any
applicable grace periods, we may not pay the subordinated debt
securities for 90 days after the receipt by the subordinated
trustee of written notice of a default from the representatives of
the holders of designated senior indebtedness. If the holders of
designated senior indebtedness or the representatives of those
holders have not accelerated the maturity of the designated senior
indebtedness at the end of the 90 day period, we may resume
payments on the subordinated debt securities. Only one notice may
be given in any consecutive 360-day period, irrespective of the
number of defaults with respect to designated senior indebtedness
during that period.
In the
event that we pay or distribute our assets to creditors upon a
total or partial liquidation, dissolution or reorganization of our
company or our property, the holders of senior indebtedness will be
entitled to receive payment in full of the senior indebtedness
before the holders of subordinated debt securities are entitled to
receive any payment. Until the senior indebtedness is paid in full,
any payment or distribution to which holders of subordinated debt
securities would be entitled but for the subordination provisions
of the subordinated indenture will be made to holders of the senior
indebtedness as their interests may appear. However, holders of
subordinated debt securities will be permitted to receive
distributions of shares and debt securities subordinated to the
senior indebtedness. If a distribution is made to holders of
subordinated debt securities that, due to the subordination
provisions, should not have been made to them, the holders of
subordinated debt securities are required to hold it in trust for
the holders of senior indebtedness, and pay it over to them as
their interests may appear.
If
payment of the subordinated debt securities is accelerated because
of an event of default, either we or the subordinated trustee will
promptly notify the holders of senior indebtedness or the
representatives of the holders of the acceleration. We may not pay
the subordinated debt securities until five business days after the
holders or the representatives of the senior indebtedness receive
notice of the acceleration. Afterwards, we may pay the subordinated
debt securities only if the subordination provisions of the
subordinated indenture otherwise permit payment at that
time.
As a
result of the subordination provisions contained in the
subordinated indenture, in the event of insolvency, our creditors
who are holders of senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably,
than the holders of subordinated debt securities. In addition, our
creditors who are not holders of senior indebtedness may recover
less, ratably, than holders of senior indebtedness and may recover
more, ratably, than the holders of subordinated
indebtedness.
The
prospectus supplement relating to a series of subordinated debt
securities will describe any material covenants in respect of any
series of subordinated debt securities.
Conversion or Exchange
We may
issue debt securities that we may convert or exchange into Common
Shares or other securities, property or assets. If so, we will
describe the specific terms on which the debt securities may be
converted or exchanged in the applicable prospectus supplement. The
conversion or exchange may be mandatory, at your option, or at our
option. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the
manner in which the Common Shares or other securities, property or
assets you would receive would be issued or delivered.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES
Our
authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of Common
Shares without par value. As at November 22, 2021 we had
216,013,525 Common Shares outstanding.
Dividend Rights
Holders
of Common Shares are entitled to receive such dividends as may be
declared from time to time by our Board, in its discretion, out of
funds legally available therefore.
Voting Rights
Holders
of Common Shares are entitled to one vote for each share held of
record on all matters to be acted upon by the
shareholders.
Election of Directors
The
Company has adopted a majority voting policy for the election of
directors at uncontested meetings which can be viewed on our
website at https://www.ur-energy/investors/corporate-governance/governance-documents.
The policy provides that, in an uncontested election, each director
must be elected by a majority of the votes cast with respect to
that director’s election. Votes will not be deemed cast if no
authority or discretion is given (for example, a broker non-vote).
If a director does not receive a majority (50% + 1) of the votes
cast as to that director’s election, the candidate will
forthwith submit to the Board a notice of resignation and shall not
participate in any meeting of the Board or any of its committees
while the resignation is considered. The Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee (the “Committee”) will
expeditiously consider the candidate’s resignation and make
recommendation to the Board whether to accept it. In considering
the candidate’s resignation, the Committee and the Board
shall only refuse to accept such resignation if there are
exceptional circumstances.
Liquidation
Upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of
Common Shares are entitled to receive pro rata the assets of the
Company, if any, remaining after payments of all debts and
liabilities. All of the Common Shares rank equally as to
participation in a distribution of our assets on a liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of the Company and the entitlement to
dividends.
Redemption
No
shares have been issued subject to call or assessment. There
are no pre-emptive or conversion rights and no provisions for
redemption or purchase for cancellation, surrender, or sinking or
purchase funds.
Advance
Notice By-Law
By-Law
No. 2 (Advance Notice) was approved by our Board on February 25,
2016, and later approved by our shareholders at Ur-Energy’s
annual and special meeting of shareholders on May 5, 2016. The
Advance Notice By-Law requires shareholders to provide
the Company with advanced notice of persons the shareholder intends
to nominate for election to the Board. The Advance
Notice By-Law fixes a deadline by which director
nominations must be submitted to the Company prior to any annual or
special meeting of shareholders and sets forth the information that
a shareholder must include in the notice to the Company for it to
be in proper written form.
In the
case of an annual meeting of shareholders, notice to the Company
must be made not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of
the annual meeting; provided, however, that if the first public
announcement of the date of the annual meeting is less than fifty
(50) days prior to the meeting, notice must be made not later than
the tenth (10th) day following such public
announcement.
In the
case of a special meeting (which is not also an annual meeting) of
shareholders called for the purpose of electing directors, notice
to the Company must be made not later than the close of business on
the fifteenth (15th) day following the day on which the first
public announcement of the date of the special meeting was
made.
Other Provisions
Provisions as to
the modification, amendment or variation of the rights attached to
the Common Shares are contained in our articles and
the Canada Business
Corporations Act. Generally speaking, substantive changes to
the share capital require the approval of the shareholders by
special resolution (at least two-thirds of the votes
cast).
General
All
outstanding Common Shares are, and the Common Shares offered by
this prospectus or obtainable upon exercise or conversion of other
securities offered hereby, if issued in the manner described in
this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, will be,
fully paid and non-assessable.
You
should read the prospectus supplement relating to any offering of
Common Shares, or of securities convertible, exchangeable or
exercisable for Common Shares, for the terms of the offering,
including the number of Common Shares offered, any initial offering
price and market prices relating to the Common Shares.
This
section is a summary and may not describe every aspect of our
Common Shares that may be important to you. We urge you to read
applicable provisions of the Canada Business Corporations
Act and our Articles of Continuance and Articles of
Amendment, because they, and not this description, define your
rights as a holder of our Common Shares. See “Where You Can Find More
Information” for information on how to obtain copies
of these documents.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may
issue Warrants for the purchase of debt securities, Common Shares
or other securities. Warrants may be issued independently or
together with debt securities, Common Shares or other securities
offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or
separate from any such offered Securities. Series of Warrants may
be issued under a separate warrant agreement entered into between
us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, as will be set
forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue
of Warrants. The warrant agent would act solely as our agent in
connection with the Warrants and would not assume any obligation or
relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of Warrants
or beneficial owners of Warrants.
You
should refer to the provisions of the warrant agreement that will
be filed with the SEC and any other applicable securities
commissions or similar regulatory authorities in connection with
the offering of Warrants for the complete terms of the warrant
agreement.
Prior
to the exercise of any Warrants, holders of such Warrants will not
have any rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such
exercise, including the right to receive payments of dividends or
the right to vote such underlying securities.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
As
specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue
units consisting of one or more debt securities, Common Shares,
Warrants or any combination of such securities. In addition, the
prospectus supplement relating to units will describe the terms of
any units we issue, including as applicable:
●
the designation and
terms of the units and the securities included in the
units;
●
any provision for
the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the
units;
●
the date, if any,
on and after which the units may be transferable
separately;
●
whether we will
apply to have the units traded on a securities exchange or
securities quotation system;
●
any material
Canadian and/or United States federal income tax consequences;
and
●
how, for Canadian
and/or United States federal income tax purposes, the purchase
price paid for the units is to be allocated among the component
securities.
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
We may
issue rights to purchase debt securities or Common Shares. These
rights may be issued independently or together with any other
security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the
shareholder receiving the rights in such offering. In connection
with any offering of such rights, we may enter into a standby
arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers
pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be
required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for
after such offering.
Each
series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement
which we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as rights
agent, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with
the certificates relating to the rights and will not assume any
obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holders of
rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. We will file
the rights agreement and the rights certificates relating to each
series of rights with the SEC, and incorporate them by reference as
an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus
is a part on or before the time we issue a series of
rights.
The
applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms
of any offering of rights for which this prospectus is being
delivered, including the following:
●
the date of
determining the shareholders entitled to the rights
distribution;
●
the number of
rights issued or to be issued to each shareholder;
●
the exercise price
payable for each share of debt securities, common shares, or other
securities upon the exercise of the rights;
●
the number and
terms of the shares of debt securities, common shares, or other
securities which may be purchased per each right;
●
the extent to which
the rights are transferable;
●
the date on which
the holder’s ability to exercise the rights shall commence,
and the date on which the rights shall expire;
●
the extent to which
the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect
to unsubscribed securities;
●
if applicable, the
material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement
entered into by us in connection with the offering of such rights;
and
●
any other terms of
the rights, including the terms, procedures, conditions and
limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the
rights.
The
description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any rights
that we may offer will not necessarily be complete and will be
qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights
certificate, which will be filed with the SEC.
DENOMINATIONS, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
Other
than in the case of book-entry-only Securities, Securities may be
presented for registration of transfer (with the form of transfer
endorsed thereon duly executed) in the city specified for such
purpose at the office of the registrar or transfer agent designated
by us for such purpose with respect to any issue of Securities
referred to in a prospectus supplement. No service charge will be
made for any transfer, conversion or exchange of the Securities but
we may require payment of a sum to cover any transfer tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Such transfer,
conversion or exchange will be affected upon such registrar or
transfer agent being satisfied with the documents of title and the
identity of the person making the request. If a prospectus
supplement refers to any registrar or transfer agent designated by
us with respect to any issue of Securities, we may at any time
rescind the designation of any such registrar or transfer agent and
appoint another in its place or approve any change in the location
through which such registrar or transfer agent acts.
In the
case of book-entry-only Securities, a global certificate or
certificates representing the Securities will be held by a
designated depositary for its participants. The Securities must be
purchased or transferred through such participants, which includes
securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies. The
depositary will establish and maintain book-entry accounts for its
participants acting on behalf of holders of the Securities. The
interests of such holders of Securities will be represented by
entries in the records maintained by the participants. Holders of
Securities issued in book-entry-only form will not be entitled to
receive a certificate or other instrument evidencing their
ownership thereof, except in limited circumstances. Each holder
will receive a customer confirmation of purchase from the
participants from which the Securities are purchased in accordance
with the practices and procedures of that participant.
CERTAIN CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Non-Residents of Canada
The
following is a general summary of the principal Canadian federal
income tax considerations generally applicable
under Income Tax
Act (Canada) (the “Tax Act”) to a holder
who acquires Common Shares or Warrants as beneficial owner pursuant
to the prospectus and who, at all relevant times, for the purposes
of the Tax Act, holds such Common Shares or Warrants as capital
property, deals at arm’s length with the Company, is not
affiliated with the Company and, for purposes of the Tax Act, is
not, and is not deemed to be, a resident of Canada and has not and
will not use or hold or be deemed to use or hold the Common Shares
or Warrants in or in the course of carrying on business in Canada
(a “Non-Resident Holder”). Special rules, which are not
discussed below, may apply to a non-resident of Canada that is an
insurer which carries on business in Canada and elsewhere. Such
Non-Residents Holders should consult their own tax
advisors.
The
Common Shares and Warrants will generally be considered capital
property to a Non-Resident Holder unless either (i) the
Non-Resident Holder holds the Common Shares or Warrants in the
course of carrying on a business of buying and selling securities
or (ii) the Non-Resident Holder has acquired the Common Shares or
Warrants in a transaction or transactions considered to be an
adventure in the nature of trade.
The
term “US Holder,” for the purposes of this section,
means a Non-Resident Holder who, for purposes of
the Canada-United States Tax
Convention (1980) as amended, (the
“Convention”), is at all relevant times a resident of
the United States and is a “qualifying person” within
the meaning of the Convention. In some circumstances, income or
gains earned by fiscally transparent entities (including limited
liability companies) will be eligible for benefits under the
Convention. US Holders are urged to consult with their own tax
advisors to determine their entitlement to benefits under the
Convention based on their particular circumstances.
This
summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act, the
regulations thereunder (the “Regulations”), the current
provisions of the Convention, and counsel’s understanding of
the current administrative policies and assessing practices of the
Canada Revenue Agency (the “CRA”) publicly available
prior to the date hereof.
This
summary also takes into account all specific proposals to amend the
Tax Act and Regulations publicly announced by or on behalf of the
Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof
(collectively, the “Proposed Tax Amendments”). No
assurances can be given that the Proposed Tax Amendments will be
enacted or will be enacted as proposed. Other than the Proposed Tax
Amendments, this summary does not take into account or anticipate
any changes in law or the administration policies or assessing
practice of CRA, whether by judicial, legislative, governmental or
administrative decision or action, nor does it take into account
provincial, territorial or foreign income tax legislation or
considerations, which may differ significantly from those discussed
herein.
This
summary is of a general nature only and is not intended to be, nor
should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular
holder and no representations with respect to the income tax
consequences to any particular holder are made. This summary is not
exhaustive of all Canadian federal income tax considerations.
Accordingly, prospective investors in Common Shares or Warrants
should consult their own tax advisors with respect to their own
particular circumstances.
Currency Conversion
For
purposes of the Tax Act, all amounts relating to the acquisition,
holding or disposition of the Common Shares and Warrants, including
dividends, adjusted cost base and proceeds of disposition must be
converted into Canadian dollars using the rate of exchange quoted
by the Bank of Canada on the date on which the amount first arose
or such other rate of exchange as is acceptable to the
CRA.
Exercise of Warrants
Upon
the exercise of a Warrant, there will be no income tax consequences
for a Non-Resident Holder. When a Warrant is exercised, the
Non-Resident Holder’s cost of the Common Share acquired
thereby will be the aggregate of the Non-Resident Holder’s
adjusted cost base of such Warrant and the exercise price paid for
the Common Share. The Non-Resident Holder’s adjusted cost
base of the Common Share so acquired will be determined by
averaging such cost with the adjusted cost base to the Non-Resident
Holder of all Common Shares held by the Non-Resident Holder as
capital property immediately prior to such
acquisition.
Disposition
of Common Shares and Warrants
Generally, a
Non-Resident Holder will not be subject to tax under the Tax Act in
respect of any capital gain realized by such Non-Resident Holder on
a disposition of the Common Shares or Warrants (nor will capital
losses arising from the disposition be recognized under the Tax
Act) unless the Common Shares or Warrants constitute “taxable
Canadian property” (as defined in the Tax Act) of the
Non-Resident Holder at the time of disposition and the Non-Resident
Holder is not entitled to relief under an applicable income tax
treaty or convention. Provided the shares are listed on a
designated stock exchange (which currently includes the TSX and the
NYSE MKT, now renamed the NYSE American) at the time of
disposition, the Common Shares and the Warrants generally will not
constitute taxable Canadian property of a Non-Resident Holder,
unless at any time during the 60-month period immediately preceding
the disposition the following two conditions have been met
concurrently: (i) the Non-Resident Holder, persons with whom the
Non-Resident Holder did not deal at arm’s length, or the
Non-Resident Holder together with all such persons, owned or was
considered to own 25% or more of the issued shares of any class or
series of shares of the capital stock of the Company; and (ii) more
than 50% of the fair market value of the Common Shares was
determined directly or indirectly from one or any combination of
real or immovable property situated in Canada, “Canadian
resource properties” (as determined in the Tax Act),
“timber resource properties” (as defined in the Tax
Act) or options in respect of, or interests in, or civil law rights
in, such properties, whether or not such property
exists.
In July
2017, NYSE MKT, which is listed by the Department of Finance
(Canada) as a “designated stock exchange,” was
rebranded as NYSE American. The Department of Finance (Canada) has
not yet confirmed that the NYSE American is a “designated
stock exchange” for purposes of the Tax Act. While the NYSE
American should be considered a “designated stock
exchange,” this matter is not entirely free from doubt.
Non-Resident Holders should consult their own advisors in this
regard.
If the
Common Shares or Warrants are taxable Canadian property to a
Non-Resident Holder, any capital gain realized on the disposition
or deemed disposition of such shares, may not be subject to
Canadian federal income tax pursuant to the terms of an applicable
income tax treaty or convention between Canada and the country of
residence of a Non-Resident Holder.
A Non-Resident Holder whose shares are taxable Canadian property
should consult their own advisors.
Dividends on Common Shares
Under
the Tax Act, dividends on shares paid or credited to a Non-Resident
Holder will be subject to Canadian withholding tax at the rate of
25% of the gross amount of the dividends. This withholding tax may
be reduced pursuant to the terms of an applicable income tax treaty
or convention between Canada and the country of residence of a
Non-Resident Holder. Under the Convention, a US Holder will
generally be subject to Canadian withholding tax at a rate of 15%
of the amount of such dividends. In addition, under the Convention,
dividends may be exempt from Canadian non-resident withholding tax
if paid to certain US Holders that are qualifying religious,
scientific, literary, educational or charitable tax-exempt
organizations and qualifying trusts, companies, organizations or
arrangements operated exclusively to administer or provide pension,
retirement or employee benefits that are exempt from tax in the
United States and that have complied with specific administrative
procedures.
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The
following is a general summary of the anticipated U.S. federal
income tax considerations applicable to a U.S. Holder (as defined
below) arising from and relating to (i) the acquisition, ownership
and disposition of Common Shares or Warrants which the Company may
offer, either separately or in combination as a unit, from time to
time pursuant to terms described in an applicable prospectus
supplement, including Common Shares acquired upon exercise of a
Warrant; and (ii) the exercise, disposition, and lapse of Warrants
acquired in such an offering.
This
summary is for general information purposes only and does not
purport to be a complete analysis or listing of all potential U.S.
federal income tax considerations that may apply to a U.S. Holder
as a result of acquisition of Common Shares or Warrants pursuant to
a prospectus supplement. Additionally, this summary does not
address the U.S. federal tax consequences of acquiring, owning and
disposing of the other types of securities (including debt
securities) that the Company has the ability to offer based on this
prospectus, and the relevant prospectus supplement will contain
additional or modified disclosure concerning the anticipated U.S.
federal income tax consequences relevant to such other securities.
Furthermore, this summary does not take into account the individual
facts and circumstances of any particular U.S. Holder that may
affect the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to
such U.S. Holder at the time of a particular offering of Common
Shares or Warrants. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to
be, and should not be construed as, legal or U.S. federal income
tax advice with respect to any U.S. Holder. U.S. Holders should
consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, U.S.
state and local, and foreign tax consequences relating to the
acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares and/or
Warrants in connection with any offering pursuant to a prospectus
supplement.
No
ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the
“IRS”) or legal opinion has been requested, or will be
obtained, regarding the potential U.S. federal income tax
considerations applicable to U.S. Holders as discussed in this
summary. This summary is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS is not
precluded from taking a position that is different from, and
contrary to, the positions taken in this summary. In addition,
because the authorities on which this summary is based are subject
to various interpretations, the IRS and the U.S. courts could
disagree with one or more of the positions taken in this
summary.
Scope of this Summary
Authorities
This
summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”), regulations promulgated by the Department
of the Treasury (whether final, temporary or proposed)
(“Treasury Regulations”), U.S. court decisions,
published rulings and administrative positions of the IRS, and the
Convention, in each case, in effect as of the date of this
prospectus. Any of the authorities on which this summary is based
could be changed in a material and adverse manner, possibly with
retroactive effect, at any time, including between the date of this
prospectus and the date of any prospectus supplement pursuant to
which a U.S. Holder acquires Common Shares and/or Warrants.
Additionally, any such change could be applied on a retroactive
basis after a U.S. Holder has acquired Common Shares and/or
Warrants and could change the U.S. federal income tax
considerations described in this summary as applied to such U.S.
Holder in connection with a purchase of Common Shares and/or
Warrants pursuant to the applicable prospectus supplement. This
summary does not discuss the potential effects, whether adverse or
beneficial, of any proposed legislation that, if enacted, could be
applied on a retroactive basis.
U.S. Holder
For
purposes of this section, a “U.S. Holder” is a
beneficial owner of Common Shares or Warrants acquired pursuant to
a prospectus supplement that is (a) an individual who is a citizen
or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax
purposes; (b) a corporation, or other entity treated as a
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that is created
or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state
in the United States or the District of Columbia; (c) an estate if
the income of such estate is subject to U.S. federal income tax
regardless of the source of such income; or (d) a trust if (i) such
trust has validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, or (ii) a U.S. court is able to
exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust
and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of such trust.
Non-U.S. Holder
For
purposes of this summary, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is a
beneficial owner of Common Shares or Warrants that is neither a
U.S. Holder nor a partnership (or other “pass-through”
entity). This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax
considerations applicable to Non-U.S. Holders relating to the
acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares or
Warrants. Accordingly, Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own
tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. state and local, and
foreign tax consequences (including the potential application of
and operation of the Convention or any other tax treaties) relating
to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares and
Warrants.
U.S. Holders Subject to Special U.S. Federal Income Tax Rules Not
Addressed
This
summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax considerations
applicable to U.S. Holders that are subject to special provisions
under the Code, including (a) U.S. Holders that are tax-exempt
organizations, qualified retirement plans, individual retirement
accounts or other tax-deferred accounts; (b) U.S. Holders that are
financial institutions, underwriters, insurance companies, real
estate investment trusts or regulated investment companies or that
are broker-dealers, dealers, or traders in securities or currencies
that elect to apply a mark-to-market accounting method; (c) U.S.
Holders that have a “functional currency” other than
the U.S. dollar; (d) U.S. Holders that own Common Shares or
Warrants as part of a straddle, hedging transaction, conversion
transaction, constructive sale or other arrangement involving more
than one position; (e) U.S. Holders that acquired Common Shares or
Warrants in connection with the exercise of employee stock options
or otherwise as compensation for services; (f) U.S. Holders that
hold Common Shares or Warrants other than as a capital asset
(generally property held for investment purposes) within the
meaning of Section 1221 of the Code; or (g) U.S. Holders that own,
directly, indirectly or by attribution, 10% or more, by voting
power or value, of the outstanding shares of the Company. The
summary below also does not address the impact of an offering on
persons who are U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of
the United States subject to Section 877 or 877A of the Code. U.S.
Holders and others that are subject to special provisions under the
Code, including U.S. Holders described immediately above, should
consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income
tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership and
disposition of Common Shares and/or Warrants.
If an
entity that is classified as a partnership (or other
“pass-through” entity) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes holds Common Shares or Warrants, the U.S. federal income
tax consequences applicable to such partnership (or
“pass-through” entity) and the partners of such
partnership (or owners of such “pass-through” entity)
generally will depend on the activities of the partnership (or
“pass-through” entity) and the status of such partners
(or owners). Partners of entities that are classified as
partnerships (and owners of other “pass-through”
entities) for U.S. federal income tax purposes should consult their
own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences
relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common
Shares and/or Warrants.
Tax Consequences Other than U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
Not Addressed
This
summary does not address the U.S. state and local tax, U.S. estate,
gift, and generation-skipping tax, U.S. federal alternative minimum
tax, or foreign tax consequences to U.S. Holders relating to the
acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares and/or
Warrants. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor
regarding the U.S. state and local tax, U.S. estate, gift, and
generation-skipping tax, U.S. federal alternative minimum tax and
foreign tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership,
and disposition of Common Shares and/or Warrants.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of Common Shares and Warrants
Offered as Part of a Unit
It is
possible that the Company will offer Common Shares and Warrants in
combination to be purchased as a unit. For U.S. federal income tax
purposes, the acquisition by a U.S. Holder of such a unit will be
treated as the acquisition of two separate instruments: an
instrument consisting of a Common Share or portion of such a Common
Share and an instrument consisting of a Warrant or portion of such
a Warrant. The purchase price for the unit will be allocated
between these two instruments in proportion to their relative fair
market values at the time the unit is purchased by the U.S. Holder.
This allocation of the purchase price for a unit will establish a
U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis for U.S. federal income tax
purposes in the Common Share and Warrant components that comprise
such unit.
If the
Company issues Common Shares and Warrants as part of a unit, it
will inform the U.S. Holder of the portion of the unit purchase
price it intends to allocate to each instrument in the applicable
prospectus supplement. However, the IRS will not be bound by the
Company’s allocation of the purchase price for units offered,
and therefore, the IRS or a U.S. court might not respect the
allocation provided by the Company. U.S. Holders should consult
their own tax advisors regarding the allocation of the purchase
price for any units purchased. A U.S. Holder’s holding period
for each instrument acquired in a unit will begin on the day after
the date of acquisition.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Exercise and
Disposition of Warrants
Exercise of Warrants
A U.S.
Holder should not recognize gain or loss on the exercise of a
Warrant and related receipt of a Common Share (unless cash is
received in lieu of the issuance of a fractional Common Share). A
U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the Common Share received
on the exercise of a Warrant should be equal to the sum of (a) such
U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such Warrant plus (b) the exercise
price paid by such U.S. Holder on the exercise of such Warrant.
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder’s
holding period for the Common Share acquired on exercise of a
Warrant generally should begin on the day after the date on which
such U.S. Holder exercised the corresponding Warrant.
It is
possible that under the terms of the applicable prospectus
supplement, a U.S. Holder may be permitted to undertake a cashless
exercise of a Warrant into Common Shares. The U.S. federal income
tax treatment of a cashless exercise of Warrants into Common Shares
is unclear, and the tax consequences of a cashless exercise could
differ from the consequences upon the exercise of a Warrant
described in the preceding paragraph. U.S. Holders should consult
their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of a cashless exercise of Warrants, including whether
taxable gain or loss is recognized in connection with such a
cashless exercise, if a cashless exercise is permitted under the
applicable prospectus supplement.
Disposition of Warrants
A U.S.
Holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale or other taxable
disposition of a Warrant in an amount equal to the difference, if
any, between (a) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of
any property received and (b) such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in
the Warrant sold or otherwise disposed of. As noted below under
“Sale or Other Taxable
Disposition of Common Shares,” such gain or loss
generally will be treated as “U.S. source” gain or loss
for purposes of U.S. foreign tax credit calculations. Subject to
the PFIC rules discussed below, any such gain or loss generally
should be a capital gain or loss (provided that the Common Shares
to be issued on the exercise of such Warrant would have been a
capital asset if acquired by the U.S. Holder). Any such gain or
loss will be long-term gain or loss if the Warrant disposed of was
held for more than one year.
Expiration of Warrants without Exercise
Upon
the lapse or expiration of a Warrant a U.S. Holder will recognize a
loss in an amount equal to such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in
the Warrant. Any such loss generally will be a capital loss
(provided that the Common Shares to be issued on the exercise of
such Warrant would have been a capital asset if acquired by the
U.S. Holder) and will be long-term capital loss if the Warrant was
held for more than one year. Deductions for capital losses are
subject to limitations under the Code.
Certain Adjustments to the Warrants
Under
Section 305 of the Code, an adjustment to the number of Common
Shares that are to be issued on the exercise of Warrants purchased,
or an adjustment to the exercise price of such Warrants, may be
treated as a constructive distribution to a U.S. Holder of the
Warrants if, and to the extent that, such adjustment has the effect
of increasing such U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in
the “earnings and profits” or assets of the Company,
depending on the circumstances of such adjustment (for example, if
such adjustment is to compensate for a distribution of cash or
other property to shareholders of the Company). Any constructive
distributions will generally be taxable (see a more detailed
discussion of the rules applicable to distributions made by the
Company at “Distributions on
Common Shares” below).
However,
adjustments to the exercise price of the Warrants made pursuant to
a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula that has the effect of
preventing the dilution of the interest of the holders of Warrants
will generally not be considered to result in a constructive
distribution to a U.S. Holder of Warrants. U.S. Holders should
carefully review the conversion rate adjustment provisions and
consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences
of any such adjustment.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Acquisition, Ownership
and Disposition of Common Shares
Distributions on Common Shares
Subject
to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder that receives a
distribution, including a constructive distribution, with respect
to a Common Share will be required to include the amount of such
distribution in gross income as a dividend (without reduction for
any Canadian income tax withheld from such distribution) to the
extent of the current or accumulated “earnings and
profits” of the Company, as computed for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. To the extent that a distribution exceeds the current
and accumulated “earnings and profits” of the Company,
such distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of
capital to the extent of a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the
Common Shares and thereafter as a gain from the sale or exchange of
such Common Shares (see “Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common
Shares” below). However, the Company might not
determine its current and accumulated earnings and profits in
accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles, and U.S.
Holders might therefore assume that any distribution by the Company
with respect to its Common Shares will constitute dividend income.
Dividends received on Common Shares will not be eligible for the
“dividends received deduction.”
If we
are not a PFIC in the taxable year in which we pay a dividend or
the immediately preceding taxable year, dividends paid to a
non-corporate U.S. Holder in a taxable year will be taxed to such
U.S. Holder at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains as
“qualified dividend income” so long as our Common
Shares are readily tradable on an established securities exchange
within the United States or we are eligible for benefits under the
Convention. We will be eligible for benefits under the Convention
if the principal class of our shares is primarily and regularly
traded on one or more recognized stock exchanges. However, dividend
income will not be qualified dividend income (and will be taxed at
ordinary income rates) if (i) the U.S. Holder has not held its
Common Shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period
beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date; (ii) our Common
Shares are not readily tradable on an established securities
market; (iii) the Company is a PFIC for the taxable year in which
the dividend is paid or in the preceding taxable year; or, (iv) we
are not eligible for benefits under the Convention and our stock is
not readily tradable on an established securities exchange within
the United States. If the Company is not a PFIC, dividends paid to
a U.S. Holder that do not result in qualified dividend income
generally will be taxed at ordinary income tax rates.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares
Subject
to the PFIC rules discussed below, upon the sale or other taxable
disposition of Common Shares, a U.S. Holder generally will
recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference
between (a) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any
property received and (b) its tax basis in such Common Shares sold
or otherwise disposed of. Such gain generally will be treated as
“U.S. source” for purposes of applying the U.S. foreign
tax credit rules unless the gain is subject to tax in Canada and is
re-sourced as “foreign source” under the Convention and
such U.S. Holder elects to treat such gain or loss as
“foreign source” (see a more detailed discussion at
“Foreign Tax
Credit” below).
Foreign Tax Credit
A U.S.
Holder who pays (whether directly or through withholding) Canadian
income tax with respect to dividends paid on Common Shares
generally may elect to deduct or credit such tax. This election is
made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid
(whether directly or through withholding) by a U.S. Holder during a
year.
Complex
limitations apply to the foreign tax credit, including the general
limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of
a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability that such
U.S. Holder’s “foreign source” taxable income
bears to such U.S. Holder’s worldwide taxable income. In
applying this limitation, a U.S. Holder’s various items of
income and deduction must be classified, under complex rules, as
either “foreign source” or “U.S. source.”
In addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect
to specific categories of income. Dividends paid by the Company
generally will constitute “foreign source” income and
generally will be categorized as “passive category
income.” However, and subject to certain exceptions, a
portion of the dividends paid with respect to Common Shares will be
treated as U.S. source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes,
in proportion to its U.S. source earnings and profits, if United
States persons own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the
voting power or value of the foreign corporation’s shares. A
portion of any dividends paid with respect to Common Shares may be
treated as U.S. source income under these rules, which may limit
the ability of a U.S. Holder to claim a foreign tax credit for any
Canadian withholding taxes paid in respect of such amount. Because
the foreign tax credit rules are complex, U.S. Holders should
consult their own tax advisors regarding the foreign tax credit
rules, including the source of any dividends paid to U.S.
Holders.
Subject
to certain specific rules, foreign income and withholding taxes
paid with respect to any distribution in respect of stock in a PFIC
should qualify for the foreign tax credit. The rules relating to
distributions by a PFIC are complex, and a U.S. Holder should
consult with its own tax advisor with respect to any distribution
received from a PFIC.
Receipt of Foreign Currency
The
amount of any distribution paid in foreign currency to a U.S.
Holder in connection with the ownership of Common Shares, or on the
sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Common Shares or
Warrants, generally will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of such
foreign currency based on the exchange rate applicable on the date
of actual or constructive receipt (regardless of whether such
foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars at that time). If
the foreign currency received is not converted into U.S. dollars on
the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder will have a basis in the foreign
currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. A
U.S. Holder that receives foreign currency and converts such
foreign currency into U.S. dollars at a conversion rate other than
the rate in effect on the date of receipt may have a foreign
currency exchange gain or loss, which generally would be treated as
U.S. source ordinary income or loss for foreign tax credit
purposes. U.S. Holders should consult their own U.S. tax advisors
regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving,
owning and disposing of foreign currency.
Surtax on Unearned Income
A
surtax at the rate of 3.8% (the “unearned income Medicare
contribution tax”) is imposed on the “net investment
income” of certain U.S. citizens and resident aliens, and on
the undistributed ‘‘net investment income’’
of certain estates and trusts, in each case in excess of a certain
threshold amount. Net investment income generally includes
interest, dividends, royalties, rents, gross income from a trade or
business involving “passive” activities, and net gains
from the disposition of property (other than property held in a
“non-passive” trade or business). Net investment income
is reduced by deductions that are properly allocable to such
income.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
If the
Company is a PFIC within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code at
any time during a U.S. Holder’s holding period, then certain
different and potentially adverse tax consequences would apply to
such U.S. Holder’s acquisition, ownership and disposition of
Common Shares and Warrants.
PFIC Status of the Company
The
Company generally will be a PFIC if, for a given tax year, (a) 75%
or more of the gross income of the Company for such tax year is
passive income or (b) 50% or more of the assets held by the Company
either produce passive income or are held for the production of
passive income, based on the fair market value of such assets.
“Gross income” generally includes all income less the
cost of goods sold, and “passive income” includes, for
example, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties, certain
gains from the sale of stock and securities, and certain gains from
commodities transactions. Active business gains arising from the
sale of commodities generally are excluded from passive income if
substantially all (85% or more) of a foreign corporation’s
commodities are stock in trade or inventory, depreciable property
used in a trade or business, or supplies regularly used or consumed
in a trade or business.
For
purposes of the PFIC income test and asset test described above, if
the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the total
value of the outstanding shares of another corporation, the Company
will be treated as if it (a) held a proportionate share of the
assets of such other corporation and (b) received directly a
proportionate share of the income of such other corporation. In
addition, for purposes of the PFIC income test and asset test
described above, “passive income” does not include any
interest, dividends, rents or royalties that are received or
accrued by the Company from a “related person” (as
defined in Section 954(d)(3) of the Code), to the extent such items
are properly allocable to the income of such related person that is
not passive income.
Under
certain attribution rules, if the Company is a PFIC, U.S. Holders
will be deemed to own their proportionate share of any subsidiary
of the Company which is also a PFIC (a “lower-tier
PFIC”), and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on (a)
a distribution on the shares of a lower-tier PFIC and (b) a
disposition of shares of a lower-tier PFIC, both as if the U.S.
Holder directly held the shares of such lower-tier
PFIC.
The
Company may (or may not) be a PFIC for the tax year ended December
31, 2020 and may (or may not) be a PFIC in subsequent years. The
determination of whether the Company (or a subsidiary of the
Company) was, or will be, a PFIC for a tax year depends, in part,
on the application of complex U.S. federal income tax rules, which
are subject to differing interpretations. In addition, whether the
Company (or subsidiary) will be a PFIC for any tax year depends on
the assets and income of the Company (and each such subsidiary)
over the course of each such tax year and, as a result, cannot be
predicted with certainty as of the date of this document.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not
challenge any determination made by the Company (or subsidiary)
concerning its PFIC status or that the Company (and any subsidiary)
was not, or will not be, a PFIC for any tax year. U.S. Holders
should consult their own tax advisors regarding the PFIC status of
the Company and any subsidiary of the Company.
Default PFIC Rules under Section 1291 of the Code
If the
Company is a PFIC, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a
U.S. Holder of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common
Shares and Warrants will depend on whether such U.S. Holder makes a
QEF Election or makes a mark-to-market election under Section 1296
of the Code (a “Mark-to-Market Election”) with respect
to Common Shares. A U.S. Holder that does not make either a QEF
Election or a Mark-to-Market Election will be referred to in this
summary as a “Non-Electing U.S. Holder.”
A
Non-Electing U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules of Section
1291 of the Code with respect to (a) any gain recognized on the
sale or other taxable disposition of Common Shares or Warrants and
(b) any excess distribution paid on the Common Shares. A
distribution generally will be an “excess distribution”
to the extent that such distribution (together with all other
distributions received in the current tax year) exceeds 125% of the
average distributions received during the three preceding tax years
(or during a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Common
Shares, if shorter).
If the
Company is a PFIC, under Section 1291 of the Code any gain
recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition of Common
Shares or Warrants (including an indirect disposition of shares of
a lower-tier PFIC), and any excess distribution paid on Common
Shares (or a distribution by a lower-tier PFIC to its shareholders
that is deemed to be received by a U.S. Holder) must be ratably
allocated to each day of a Non-Electing U.S. Holder’s holding
period for the Common Shares or Warrants, as applicable. The amount
of any such gain or excess distribution allocated to the tax year
of disposition or excess distribution and to years before the
Company became a PFIC, if any, would be taxed as ordinary income.
The amounts allocated to any other tax year would be subject to
U.S. federal income tax at the highest tax rate applicable to
ordinary income in each such year without regard to the U.S.
Holder’s other tax attributes, and an interest charge would
be imposed on the tax liability for each such year, calculated as
if such tax liability had been due in each such year. A
Non-Electing U.S. Holder that is not a corporation must treat any
such interest paid as “personal interest,” which is not
deductible.
If the
Company is a PFIC, under Section 1291 of the Code any gain
recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition of Common
Shares or Warrants (including an indirect disposition of shares of
a lower-tier PFIC), and any excess distribution paid on Common
Shares (or a distribution by a lower-tier PFIC to its shareholders
that is deemed to be received by a U.S. Holder) must be ratably
allocated to each day of a Non-Electing U.S. Holder’s holding
period for the Common Shares or Warrants, as applicable. The amount
of any such gain or excess distribution allocated to the tax year
of disposition or excess distribution and to years before the
Company became a PFIC, if any, would be taxed as ordinary income.
The amounts allocated to any other tax year would be subject to
U.S. federal income tax at the highest tax rate applicable to
ordinary income in each such year without regard to the U.S.
Holder’s other tax attributes, and an interest charge would
be imposed on the tax liability for each such year, calculated as
if such tax liability had been due in each such year. A
Non-Electing U.S. Holder that is not a corporation must treat any
such interest paid as “personal interest,” which is not
deductible.
Under
proposed Treasury Regulations, if a U.S. Holder has an option,
warrant or other right to acquire stock of a PFIC (such as
Warrants), such option, warrant or right is considered to be PFIC
stock subject to the default rules of Section 1291 of the Code.
Under rules described below, if the Company were a PFIC, the
holding period for Common Shares acquired on exercise of Warrants
would begin on the day after the date a U.S. Holder acquired the
Warrants. This would adversely affect the availability of the QEF
Election and Mark-to-Market Election with respect to such Common
Shares. (See discussion under “QEF Election” and
“Market-to-Market
Election” below.)
QEF Election
If the
Company is a PFIC and a U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election for the
first tax year in which its holding period of its Common Shares
begins, such U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to the rules
of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above with respect to its
Common Shares. However, a U.S. Holder that makes a QEF Election
will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such U.S.
Holder’s pro rata share of (a) the net capital gain of the
Company, which will be taxed as long-term capital gain to such U.S.
Holder, and (b) the ordinary earnings of the Company, which will be
taxed as ordinary income to such U.S. Holder. Generally, “net
capital gain” is the excess of (a) net long-term capital gain
over (b) net short-term capital gain, and “ordinary
earnings” are the excess of (a) “earnings and
profits” over (b) net capital gain. A U.S. Holder that makes
a QEF Election will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such
amounts for each tax year in which the Company is a PFIC,
regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed to such
U.S. Holder by the Company. However, a U.S. Holder that makes a QEF
Election may, subject to certain limitations, elect to defer
payment of current U.S. federal income tax on such amounts, subject
to an interest charge. If such U.S. Holder is not a corporation,
any such interest paid will be treated as “personal
interest,” which is not deductible.
A U.S.
Holder that makes a QEF Election generally (a) may receive a
tax-free distribution from the Company to the extent that such
distribution represents “earnings and profits” of the
Company that were previously included in income by the U.S. Holder
because of such QEF Election and (b) will adjust such U.S.
Holder’s tax basis in the Common Shares to reflect the amount
included in income or allowed as a tax-free distribution because of
such QEF Election. In addition, a U.S. Holder that makes a QEF
Election generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale
or other taxable disposition of Common Shares.
The
procedure for making a QEF Election, and the U.S. federal income
tax consequences of making a QEF Election, will depend on whether
such QEF Election is timely. A QEF Election will be treated as
timely if it is made for the first year in the U.S. Holder’s
holding period for the Common Shares in which the Company was a
PFIC. A U.S. Holder may make a timely QEF Election by filing the
appropriate QEF Election documents at the time such U.S. Holder
files a U.S. federal income tax return for such year.
A QEF
Election will apply to the tax year for which such QEF Election is
made and to all subsequent tax years, unless such QEF Election is
invalidated or terminated or the IRS consents to revocation of such
QEF Election. If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election and, in a
subsequent tax year, the Company ceases to be a PFIC, the QEF
Election will remain in effect (although it will not be applicable)
during those tax years in which the Company is not a PFIC.
Accordingly, if the Company becomes a PFIC in a subsequent tax
year, the QEF Election will be effective, and the U.S. Holder will
be subject to the QEF rules described above during a subsequent tax
year in which the Company qualifies as a PFIC.
As
discussed above, under proposed Treasury Regulations, if a U.S.
Holder has an option, warrant or other right to acquire stock of a
PFIC (such as Warrants), such option, warrant or right is
considered to be PFIC stock subject to the default rules of Section
1291 of the Code on its disposition. However, a holder of an
option, warrant or other right to acquire stock of a PFIC may not
make a QEF Election that will apply to the option, warrant or other
right to acquire PFIC stock. In addition, under proposed Treasury
Regulations, if a U.S. Holder holds an option, warrant or other
right to acquire stock of a PFIC, the holding period with respect
to shares of stock of the PFIC acquired upon exercise of such
option, warrant or other right will include the period that the
option, warrant or other right was held.
Consequently, if a
U.S. Holder of Common Shares makes a QEF Election, such election
generally will not be treated as a timely QEF Election with respect
to Common Shares subsequently acquired on the exercise of Warrants,
and the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above will
continue to apply with respect to such U.S. Holder’s
previously owned Common Shares. However, a U.S. Holder of Common
Shares acquired on exercise of Warrants should be eligible to make
a timely QEF Election if such U.S. Holder elects in a tax year
throughout which such U.S. Holder owns such Common Shares to
recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules of Section 1291
of the Code discussed above) as if such Common Shares were sold on
the first day of such year at fair market value. In addition, gain
recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition (other than by
exercise) of the Warrants by a U.S. Holder will be subject to the
rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above. U.S. Holders
should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of
the PFIC rules to Warrants and Common Shares acquired upon exercise
of Warrants.
The
Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to make available
to U.S. Holders, upon their written request, for each year in which
the Company may be a PFIC, all information and documentation that a
U.S. Holder making a QEF Election with respect to the Company, and
any lower-tier PFIC in which the Company owns, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of such lower-tier PFIC’s total
aggregate voting power, is required to obtain for U.S. federal
income tax purposes in the event it is a PFIC. However, U.S.
Holders should be aware that the Company provides no assurances
that it will attempt to provide any such information relating to
any lower-tier PFIC in which the Company owns, directly or
indirectly, 50% or less of such lower-tier PFIC’s aggregate
voting power. Because the Company may own shares in one or more
lower-tier PFICs, and may acquire shares in one or more lower-tier
PFICs in the future, they will continue to be subject to the rules
discussed above with respect to the taxation of gains and excess
distributions with respect to any lower-tier PFIC for which the
U.S. Holders do not obtain the required information. U.S. Holders
should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of,
and procedure for making, a QEF Election with respect to the
Company and any lower-tier PFIC.
Mark-to-Market Election
A U.S.
Holder may make a Mark-to-Market Election only if the Common Shares
are marketable stock. The Common Shares generally will be
“marketable stock” if they are regularly traded on (a)
a national securities exchange that is registered with the SEC; (b)
the national market system established pursuant to section 11A of
the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; or (c) a foreign
securities exchange that is regulated or supervised by a
governmental authority of the country in which the market is
located, provided that (i) such foreign exchange has trading
volume, listing, financial disclosure and other requirements and
the laws of the country in which such foreign exchange is located,
together with the rules of such foreign exchange, ensure that such
requirements are actually enforced; and (ii) the rules of such
foreign exchange ensure active trading of listed stocks. If such
stock is traded on such a qualified exchange or other market, such
stock generally will be “regularly traded” for any
calendar year during which such stock is traded, other than in de
minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar
quarter. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor
regarding whether the Common Shares constitute marketable
stock.
A U.S.
Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election with respect to its
Common Shares generally will not be subject to the rules of Section
1291 of the Code discussed above. However, if a U.S. Holder does
not make a Mark-to-Market Election beginning in the first tax year
of such U.S. Holder’s holding period for Common Shares or
such U.S. Holder has not made a timely QEF Election, the rules of
Section 1291 of the Code discussed above will apply to certain
dispositions of, and distributions on, the Common
Shares.
Any
Mark-to-Market Election made by a U.S. Holder for Common Shares
will also apply to such U.S. Holder’s Common Shares acquired
upon exercise of Warrants. As a result, if a Market-to-Market
Election has been made by a U.S. Holder with respect to Common
Shares, any Common Shares received on exercise of Warrants will
automatically be marked-to-market in the year of exercise. If the
Company is a PFIC at the time a U.S. Holder acquires Warrants, a
U.S. Holder’s holding period for Warrant Shares received on
exercise will include the period during which such U.S. Holder has
held the Warrants. In these circumstances, a U.S. Holder will be
treated as making a Mark-to-Market Election with respect to its
Common Shares acquired on exercise of the Warrants after the
beginning of such U.S. Holder’s holding period for such
Common Shares, unless the Common Shares are acquired in the same
tax year as the year in which the U.S. Holder acquired the
corresponding Warrants, and the tax regime and interest charge of
Section 1291 described above generally will apply to the
mark-to-market gain realized in the tax year in which the Common
Shares are received. However, the general mark-to-market rules will
apply to subsequent tax years.
A U.S.
Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will include in
ordinary income, for each tax year in which the Company is a PFIC,
an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value
of the Common Shares, as of the close of such tax year over (b)
such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such Common Shares. A U.S.
Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will be allowed a
deduction in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) such
U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares over
(ii) the fair market value of such Common Shares (but only to the
extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result
of the Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years).
U.S.
Holders that make a Mark-to-Market Election generally also will
adjust their tax basis in the Common Shares to reflect the amount
included in gross income or allowed as a deduction because of such
Mark-to-Market Election. In addition, upon a sale or other taxable
disposition of Common Shares, a U.S. Holder that makes a
Mark-to-Market Election will recognize ordinary income or loss (not
to exceed the excess, if any, of (a) the amount included in
ordinary income because of such Mark-to-Market Election for prior
tax years over (b) the amount allowed as a deduction because of
such Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years).
A
Mark-to-Market Election applies to the tax year in which such
Mark-to-Market Election is made and to each subsequent tax year,
unless the Common Shares cease to be “marketable stock”
or the IRS consents to revocation of such election. U.S. Holders
should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability
of, and procedure for making, a Mark-to-Market
Election.
Although a U.S.
Holder may be eligible to make a Mark-to-Market Election with
respect to Common Shares, no such election may be made with respect
to the stock of any lower-tier PFIC that a U.S. Holder is treated
as owning because such stock is not marketable. Hence, the
Mark-to-Market Election will not be effective to eliminate the
interest charge described above with respect to deemed dispositions
of lower-tier PFIC stock or distributions from a lower-tier
PFIC.
Other PFIC Rules
Under
Section 1291(f) of the Code, the IRS has issued proposed Treasury
Regulations that, subject to certain exceptions, would cause a U.S.
Holder that had not made a timely QEF Election to recognize gain
(but not loss) upon certain transfers of Common Shares that would
otherwise be tax-deferred (e.g., gifts and exchanges pursuant to
corporate reorganizations) in the event the Company is a PFIC
during such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the relevant
shares. However, the specific U.S. federal income tax consequences
to a U.S. Holder may vary based on the manner in which Common
Shares are transferred.
Certain
additional adverse rules will apply with respect to a U.S. Holder
if the Company is a PFIC, regardless of whether such U.S. Holder
makes a QEF Election. For example, under Section 1298(b)(6) of the
Code, a U.S. Holder that uses Common Shares or Warrants as security
for a loan will, except as may be provided in Treasury Regulations,
be treated as having made a taxable disposition of such Common
Shares or Warrants.
If the
Company were a PFIC, a U.S. Holder would be required to attach a
completed IRS Form 8621 to its tax return every year in which it
recognized gain on a disposition of the Common Shares or Warrants
or received an excess distribution. In addition, subject to certain
rules intended to avoid duplicative filings, U.S. Holders may also
be required to file an annual information return on IRS Form 8621
with respect to each PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds a direct
or indirect interest. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax
advisors regarding their filing obligations with respect to such
information returns.
In
addition, a U.S. Holder who acquires Common Shares or Warrants from
a decedent will not receive a “step up” in tax basis of
such Common Shares or Warrants to fair market value unless such
decedent had a timely and effective QEF Election in
place.
Special
rules also apply to foreign tax credits that a U.S. Holder may
claim on a distribution from a PFIC.
The
PFIC rules are complex, and U.S. Holders should consult their own
tax advisors regarding the PFIC rules and how they may affect the
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership,
and disposition of Common Shares and Warrants in the event the
Company is a PFIC at any time during the holding period for such
Common Shares or Warrants.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Certain
U.S. Holders are required to report information relating to an
interest in Common Shares or Warrants, subject to certain
exceptions (including an exception for Common Shares and Warrants
held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions), by
attaching a completed IRS Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign
Financial Assets, with their tax return for each year in which they
hold an interest in Common Shares or Warrants. U.S. Holders are
urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding information
reporting requirements relating to their ownership of the Common
Shares and Warrants.
Payments made
within the United States, or by a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman, of
dividends on Common Shares, and proceeds arising from certain sales
or other taxable dispositions of Common Shares or Warrants, may be
subject to information reporting and backup withholding tax, at the
rate of 24%, if a U.S. Holder (a) fails to furnish such U.S.
Holder’s correct U.S. social security or other taxpayer
identification number (generally on Form W-9); (b) furnishes an
incorrect U.S. taxpayer identification number; (c) is notified by
the IRS that such U.S. Holder has previously failed to properly
report items subject to backup withholding tax; or (d) fails under
certain circumstances to certify, under penalty of perjury, that
such U.S. Holder has furnished its correct U.S. taxpayer
identification number and that the IRS has not notified such U.S.
Holder that it is subject to backup withholding tax. However, U.S.
Holders that are corporations generally are excluded from these
information reporting and backup withholding rules. Any amounts
withheld under the U.S. backup withholding rules will be allowed as
a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax
liability, if any, or will be refunded, if such U.S. Holder timely
furnishes the required information to the IRS. U.S. Holders should
consult their own tax advisors regarding the information reporting
and backup withholding tax rules.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the
securities offered by this prospectus will be passed on by Fasken
Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Ottawa, Ontario, as to Canadian legal
matters and Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, Denver, Colorado, as to
U.S. legal matters.
EXPERTS
The consolidated
financial statements of the Company included in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K incorporated by
reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated
in reliance
on the report
of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional
Accountants, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
(“PwC”), an independent registered public accounting
firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing
and accounting.
PwC are the Company’s auditors and have
advised that they are independent from the Company within the
meaning of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British
Columbia Code of Professional Conduct and within the meaning
of the U.S. Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations
thereunder adopted by the SEC. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
is registered with the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States).
The
mineral resource estimate and related information of the
Company’s Lost Creek Property incorporated by reference
herein are based upon analyses performed or overseen by
TREC, Inc. Such estimates and related information have been
incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority of
such firm as experts in such matters.
The
mineral resource estimate and related information of the
Company’s Shirley Basin Project incorporated by reference
herein are based upon analyses performed by Western Water
Consultants, Inc., d/b/a WWC Engineering. Such estimates and
related information have been incorporated by reference herein in
reliance upon the authority of such firm as experts in such
matters.
UR-ENERGY INC.
$100,000,000
Common Shares
Warrants
Units
Rights
Senior Debt Securities
Subordinated Debt Securities
PROSPECTUS
December
17, 2021