UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
For the quarterly period ended
Commission File Number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (IRS Employer Identification Number) |
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of exchange on which registered | ||
| None | None | None |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ❏ | Accelerated filer ❏ |
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Smaller reporting company |
| Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ❏
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ❏ Yes ☒
As of June 14, 2024, the registrant had
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of Rise Gold Corp. ("we", "us", "our", the "Company", or the "registrant"), a Nevada corporation, included herein were prepared, without audit, pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because certain information and notes normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America were condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, the condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the audited financial statements of the Company in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.
RISE GOLD CORP.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024
RISE GOLD CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM BALANCE SHEETS
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
(Unaudited)
| AS AT | April 30, 2024 | July 31, 2023 | ||||
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Current | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents (Note 3) | $ | $ | ||||
| Receivables | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses (Note 4) | ||||||
| Assets held for sale (Note 6) | ||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||
| Non-current | ||||||
| Mineral property interests (Note 5) | ||||||
| Equipment (Note 6) | ||||||
| Deferred financing asset (Note 11) | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||
| Current | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | $ | ||||
| Loan payable (Note 9) | ||||||
| Payable to related parties (Note 8) | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||
| Non-current | ||||||
| Loan payable (Note 9) | ||||||
| Credit facility (Note 11) | ||||||
| Derivative liability (Note 10) | ||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||
| Stockholders' equity | ||||||
| Capital stock, $ |
||||||
| Additional paid-in capital (Note 12) | ||||||
| Cumulative translation adjustment | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||
| Deficit | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||
| Total stockholders' equity | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | $ | ||||
| Nature and continuance of operations (Note 1) | ||||||
| Contingency (Note 7) | ||||||
| Subsequent event (Note 11 and 15) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
1
RISE GOLD CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
(Unaudited)
| Three months | Three months | Nine months | Nine months | |||||||||
| ended April | ended April | ended April | ended April | |||||||||
| 30, 2024 | 30, 2023 | 30, 2024 | 30, 2023 | |||||||||
| EXPENSES | ||||||||||||
| Accretion expense (Note 9 and 11) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
| Consulting | ||||||||||||
| Directors' fees | ||||||||||||
| Filing and regulatory | ||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||||||
| Geological, mineral, and prospect costs (Note 5) | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense (Note 9 and 11) | ||||||||||||
| Professional fees | ||||||||||||
| Promotion and shareholder communication | ||||||||||||
| Salaries | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Share-based compensation (Note 12) | ||||||||||||
| Loss | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) |
| Gain (loss) on fair value adjustment on derivative liability (Note 10) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Write-off on receivable | ( |
) | - | |||||||||
| Other income | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) |
| Basic and diluted loss per common share | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (basic and diluted) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
2
RISE GOLD CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
(Unaudited)
| FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||
| Loss for the period | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) |
| Items not involving cash | ||||||
| Depreciation | ||||||
| Interest expense | ||||||
| Share-based compensation | ||||||
| Accretion expense | ||||||
| Loss (gain) on fair value adjustment on derivative liability | ( |
) | ||||
| Non-cash working capital item changes: | ||||||
| Receivables | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ( |
) | ||||
| Related party payables | ( |
) | ||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||
| Private placement, net of issuance cost | ||||||
| Loan repayment | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||
| Proceeds from option exercise | ||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||
| Change in cash and cash equivalents for the period | ( |
) | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | $ |
Supplemental disclosure with respect to cash flows (Note 13)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
3
RISE GOLD CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
(Unaudited)
| Capital Stock | Additional Paid- in Capital |
Shared subscribed in advance |
Cumulative Translation Adjustment |
||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Amount | Deficit | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as at July 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||
| Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Balance as at October 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||
| Shares issued for cash, net of issuance cost | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Balance as at January 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||
| Shares issued for cash, net of issuance cost | ( |
) | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
| Options exercise | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants issued for loan modification | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||
| Balance as at April 30, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||
| Balance as at July 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||
| Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Shares subscribed in advance | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance as at October 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||
| Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Shares issued for cash, net of issuance cost | ( |
) | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance as at January 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||
| Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Shares issued for cash, net of issuance cost | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants issued for credit facility | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance as at April 30, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
4
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
1. NATURE AND CONTINUANCE OF OPERATIONS
Rise Gold Corp. (the "Company") was originally incorporated as Atlantic Resources Inc. in the State of Nevada on February 9, 2007 and is in the exploration stage. On April 11, 2012, the Company merged its wholly-owned subsidiary, Patriot Minefinders Inc., a Nevada corporation, in and to the Company to effect a name change to Patriot Minefinders Inc. On January 14, 2015, the Company completed a name change to Rise Resources Inc. in the same manner. On March 29, 2017, the Company changed its name to Rise Gold Corp. These mergers were carried out solely for the purpose of effecting these changes of names.
On September 18, 2020, the Company increased its authorized capital from
On January 29, 2016, the Company completed an initial public offering in Canada and began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") on February 1, 2016.
The Company is in the early stages of exploration and as is common with any exploration company, it raises financing for its acquisition activities. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis, which presumes that the Company will continue operations for the foreseeable future and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred a loss of $
At April 30, 2024, the Company had a working capital deficit of $
2. BASIS OF PREPARATION
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America ("US GAAP") and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for financial information with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-K. Results are not necessarily indicative of results which may be achieved in the future. The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, which contains the audited financial statements and notes thereto, together with Management's Discussion and Analysis, for the year ended July 31, 2023. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations. These financial statements follow the same accounting policies in the annual financial statements. The operating results for the nine months ended April 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended July 31, 2024.
5
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
2. BASIS OF PREPARATION (continued)
Basis of Consolidation
These condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rise Grass Valley Inc. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.
Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Company has exposure to variable returns from its involvement and has the ability to use power over the investee to affect its returns. The existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are considered when assessing whether the Company controls another entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Company until the date on which control ceases.
The accounts of subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the parent company, using consistent accounting policies. Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealized gains or losses on transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant areas requiring the use of estimates include the carrying value and recoverability of mineral properties and the recognition of deferred tax assets based on the change in unrecognized deductible temporary tax differences. Actual results could differ from those estimates and would impact future results of operations and cash flows.
3. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
As at April 30, 2024, the balance of cash and cash equivalents is $
4. PREPAID EXPENSES
| April 30, 2024 | July 31, 2023 | |||||
| Current | ||||||
| Insurance | $ | $ | ||||
| Deposits | ||||||
| Investor relations | ||||||
| Total | $ | $ |
6
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
5. MINERAL PROPERTY INTERESTS
The Company's mineral properties balance consists of:
| Idaho-Maryland, California | |||
| July 31, 2023 and April 30, 2024 | $ |
Title to mineral properties
Title to mineral properties involves certain inherent risks due to the difficulties of determining the validity of certain mineral titles. Additionally, the potential for problems arising from the frequently ambiguous conveying history characteristic of many mineral properties also exist in addition to requisite permits to authorize a mine. As at April 30, 2024, the Company holds title to the Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine Property.
As of April 30, 2024, based on management's review of the carrying value of mineral rights, management determined that there is no evidence that the cost of these acquired mineral rights will not be fully recovered and accordingly, the Company determined that no adjustment to the carrying value of mineral rights was required. As of the date of these consolidated financial statements, the Company has not established any proven or probable reserves on its mineral properties and has incurred only acquisition and exploration costs.
Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine Property, California
On August 30, 2016, the Company entered into an option agreement with three parties to purchase a
In connection with the option agreement, the Company agreed to pay a cash commission of $
7
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
5. MINERAL PROPERTY INTERESTS (continued)
Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine Property, California (continued)
On January 6, 2017, the Company entered into an option agreement with Sierra Pacific Industries Inc. ("Sierra") to purchase a
On May 14, 2018, the Company completed the purchase of the surface rights by making the final payment of $
As at April 30, 2024, the Company has incurred cumulative exploration expenditures of $
|
Nine months ended April 30, 2024 |
Year ended July 31, 2023 |
|||||
| Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine expenditures: | ||||||
| Opening balance | $ | $ | ||||
| Consulting | ||||||
| Depreciation | ||||||
| Engineering | ||||||
| Exploration | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||
| Logistics | ||||||
| Rent | ||||||
| Supplies | ||||||
| Sampling | ||||||
| Total expenditures for the period | ||||||
| Closing balance | $ | $ |
8
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
6. EQUIPMENT
| Cost | Drilling equipment | ||
| At July 31, 2022 | $ | ||
| At July 31, 2023 | $ | ||
| At April 30, 2024 | $ | ||
| Accumulated depreciation | |||
| At July 31, 2022 | $ | ||
| Depreciation | |||
| At July 31, 2023 | $ | ||
| Depreciation | |||
| At April 30, 2024 | $ | ||
| Total carrying value, July 31, 2023 | $ | ||
| Total carrying value, April 30, 2024 | $ | ||
| Assets held for sale | ( |
) | |
| Total carrying value, April 30, 2024 | $ |
Assets Held for Sale
During the quarter ended April 30, 2024, the Company approved a plan to sell its drilling equipment. The Company intends to sell the equipment within the next twelve months. No impairment loss was recognized on reclassification to asset held for sale as the Company expects the fair value (estimated based on recent market prices of similar assets) less cost to sell is higher than the carrying amount. As a result, the net carrying amount of $
7. CONTINGENCY
During the year ended July 31, 2014, the Company entered into a binding letter of intent ("LOI") with Wundr Software Inc. ("Wundr"). Under the terms of the LOI, the Company would acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Wundr. The Company did not complete the transactions contemplated in the LOI, which the Company announced had expired on January 10, 2014.
On September 17, 2014, the Company learned that it was the subject, along with a number of additional defendants, of a notice of civil claim (the "Claim") filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by Wundr, under which Wundr is seeking general damages from the Company as well as damages for conspiracy to cause economic harm. None of the allegations contained in the Claim have been proven in court. Management has assessed that the probability of the Claim resulting in an unfavourable outcome and financial loss to the Company is unlikely.
9
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
8. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Key management personnel consist of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and the directors of the Company. The remuneration of the key management personnel is as follows:
a) Salaries of $
b) Director fees of $
c) During the period ended April 30, 2024, the Company paid $
d) Share-based compensation of $
e) As at April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2023, $
f) As at April 30, 2024, certain directors of the Company purchased an aggregate of
g) A director of the Company is a manager of a private company which manages Eridanus Capital, LLC, a company that provided a secured loan to the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Rise Grass Valley in 2019.
9. LOAN PAYABLE
On September 3, 2019, the Company completed a debt financing with Eridanus Capital LLC (the "Lender" or "Eridanus") for $
| Loan Payable | |||
| Balance, July 31, 2022 | $ | ||
| Interest expense | |||
| Accretion expense | |||
| Issuance costs | ( |
) | |
| Repayment | ( |
) | |
| Balance, July 31, 2023 | $ | ||
| Interest expense | |||
| Accretion expense | |||
| Repayment | ( |
) | |
| Balance, April 30, 2024 | $ |
10
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
In February 2023, the Company renegotiated its debt agreement with the Lender whereby the Company agreed to pay $
The following weighted average assumptions were used for the Black-Scholes pricing model valuation of warrants:
| February 17, 2023 |
|
| Risk-free interest rate | |
| Expected life of warrants | |
| Expected annualized volatility | |
| Share price at grant date | $ |
| Exercise price | $ |
| Fair value | $ |
| Dividend | |
| Forfeiture rate |
10. DERIVATIVE LIABILITY
The exercise price of the Company's share purchase warrants is fixed in Canadian dollars and the functional currency of the Company is the USD. These warrants are considered to be a derivative as a variable amount of cash in the Company's functional currency will be received on exercise of the warrants. Accordingly, the share purchase warrants issued as part of past financings, are classified and accounted for as a derivative liability.
The following table shows a continuity of the Company's derivative liability:
| Number of warrants | ||||||
| accounted for as | ||||||
| Warrant derivative | derivative liability | |||||
| Balance, July 31, 2022 | $ | |||||
| Fair value adjustment | ( |
) | ||||
| Balance, July 31, 2023 | $ | |||||
| Fair value adjustment | ( |
) | ||||
| Balance, April 30, 2024 | $ |
For the nine-month period ended April 30, 2024, the Company recorded a total gain on fair value of derivative liability of $
11
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
10. DERIVATIVE LIABILITY (continued)
The following weighted average assumptions were used for the Black-Scholes pricing model valuation of warrants as at April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2023:
| April 30, 2024 |
July 31, 2023 |
|
| Risk-free interest rate | ||
| Expected life of warrants | ||
| Expected annualized volatility | ||
| Share price at measurement date | $ |
$ |
| Dividend | ||
| Forfeiture rate |
11. CREDIT FACILITY
On February 6, 2024, the Company entered into a credit facility arrangement with an arm's length lender that also provides services to the Company. Pursuant to the arrangement, each month, the lender will defer and add to the loan principal an amount equal to half of the fees billed by the lender up to $
| Credit Facility | |||
| Balance, July 31, 2023 | $ | ||
| Principal amount | |||
| Interest expense | |||
| Issuance costs | ( |
) | |
| Accretion expense | |||
| Balance, Apr 30, 2024 | $ | ||
| Deferred Financing Asset | |||
| Balance, July 31, 2023 | $ | ||
| Issuance costs 1,000,000 warrants | |||
| Allocation to credit facility | ( |
) | |
| Balance, Apr 30, 2024 | $ |
12
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
11. CREDIT FACILITY (continued)
The following weighted average assumptions were used for the Black-Scholes pricing model valuation of warrants:
| February 5, 2024 |
|
| Risk-free interest rate | |
| Expected life of warrants | |
| Expected annualized volatility | |
| Share price at grant date | $ |
| Exercise price | $ |
| Fair value | $ |
| Dividend | |
| Forfeiture rate |
Subsequent to the period ended April 30, 2024,
12. CAPITAL STOCK AND ADDITIONAL PAID-IN-CAPITAL
Private Placements
On April 29, 2024, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement over two tranches for gross proceeds totaling $
On December 7, 2023, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement over two tranches for gross proceeds totaling $
On February 17, 2023, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement over two tranches for gross proceeds totaling $
13
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
12. CAPITAL STOCK AND ADDITIONAL PAID-IN-CAPITAL (continued)
Stock Options
On December 12, 2023, the Company granted a total of
On September 22, 2023, the Company granted a total of
On February 21, 2023, the Company granted a total of
The following incentive stock options were outstanding and exercisable as at April 30, 2024:
|
Number of Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price (C$) |
Expiry Date |
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As at April 30, 2024, the aggregate intrinsic value of the Company's stock options is $
Stock option transactions are summarized as follows:
| Number of Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price ($C) |
|||||
| Balance outstanding and exercisable, July 31, 2022 | ||||||
| Options granted | ||||||
| Options cancelled | ( |
) | ||||
| Options expired | ( |
) | ||||
| Options exercised | ( |
) | ||||
| Balance outstanding and exercisable, July 31, 2023 | ||||||
| Options granted | ||||||
| Options expired | ( |
) | ||||
| Balance outstanding and exercisable, April 30, 2024 | $ |
14
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
12. CAPITAL STOCK AND ADDITIONAL PAID-IN-CAPITAL (continued)
Stock Options (continued)
The following weighted average assumptions were used for the Black-Scholes pricing model valuation of stock options issued during the period ended April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2023:
|
|
April 30, 2024 |
July 31, 2023 |
|
Risk-free interest rate |
|
|
|
Expected life of stock options |
|
|
|
Expected annualized volatility |
|
|
|
Share price at grant date |
$ |
$ |
|
Dividend |
|
|
|
Forfeiture rate |
|
|
Share-Based Payments
The Company has a stock option plan under which it is authorized to grant options to executive officers and directors, employees and consultants enabling them to acquire up to
Warrants
On June 14, 2022, the Company amended the term of
15
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
12. CAPITAL STOCK AND ADDITIONAL PAID-IN-CAPITAL (continued)
Warrants (continued)
The following warrants were outstanding at April 30, 2024:
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Number of Warrants |
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Warrant transactions are summarized as follows:
| Number of Warrants | Weighted Average | |||||
| Exercise Price (C$) | ||||||
| Balance, July 31, 2022 | $ | |||||
| Warrants issued | ||||||
| Warrants expired | ( |
) | ||||
| Balance, July 31, 2023 | ||||||
| Warrants issued | ||||||
| Warrants expired | ( |
) | ||||
| Balance, April 30, 2024 |
16
| RISE GOLD CORP. (An Exploration Stage Company) NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) |
13. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE WITH RESPECT TO CASH FLOWS
During the nine -month periods ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had the following non-cash financing and investing activities:
For the period ended April 30, 2024:
a) The Company accrued $
b) The Company accrued $
For the period ended April 30, 2023:
a) Company accrued $
14. SEGMENTED INFORMATION
A reporting segment is defined as a component of the Company that:
- Engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses;
- Operating results are reviewed regularly by the entity's chief operating decision maker; and
- Discrete financial information is available.
The Company has determined that it operates its business in
15. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
Subsequent to the period ended April 30, 2024, the Company granted a total of
17
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
SPECIAL NOTE OF CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
CERTAIN STATEMENTS IN THIS REPORT, INCLUDING STATEMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION, ARE WHAT ARE KNOWN AS "FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS", WHICH ARE BASICALLY STATEMENTS ABOUT THE FUTURE. FOR THAT REASON, THESE STATEMENTS INVOLVE RISK AND UNCERTAINTY SINCE NO ONE CAN ACCURATELY PREDICT THE FUTURE. WORDS SUCH AS "PLANS", "INTENDS", "WILL", "HOPES", "SEEKS", "ANTICIPATES", "EXPECTS" AND THE LIKE OFTEN IDENTIFY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, BUT ARE NOT THE ONLY INDICATION THAT A STATEMENT IS A FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT. SUCH FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE STATEMENTS CONCERNING OUR PLANS AND OBJECTIVES WITH RESPECT TO PRESENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS, AND STATEMENTS WHICH EXPRESS OR IMPLY THAT SUCH PRESENT AND FUTURE PLANS OR OPERATIONS WILL OR MAY PRODUCE POSITIVE RESULTS, REVENUES, INCOME OR PROFITS. NUMEROUS FACTORS AND FUTURE EVENTS COULD CAUSE US TO CHANGE SUCH PLANS AND OBJECTIVES OR FAIL TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT SUCH PLANS OR ACHIEVE SUCH OBJECTIVES, OR CAUSE SUCH PRESENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS TO FAIL TO PRODUCE REVENUES, INCOME OR PROFITS. THEREFORE, THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSION OF RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS CONTAINED IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IN OUR OTHER FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. NO STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS A GUARANTEE OR ASSURANCE OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE OR FUTURE RESULTS.
Description of Business
We are a mineral exploration company that was incorporated in the state of Nevada in 2007. Our primary asset is our interest in the Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine property (the "I-M Mine Property"), which is a major past producing high-grade property near Grass Valley, California, United States, which we own outright through our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary, Rise Grass Valley Inc. ("Rise Grass Valley").
Our common stock is currently listed in Canada on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") under the symbol "RISE". We are a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario in Canada. Our common stock is also currently traded in the United States on the OTCQX Market under the symbol "RYES". We are an SEC reporting company by virtue of our class of common stock being registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").
Business Development
Developments in our Company's business during the July 31, 2023 fiscal year and the nine-month period ended April 30, 2024 (and subsequent period), include the following:
On May 13, 2024, the Company reported that we had submitted a Writ of Mandamus to the Superior Court of California (the "Court") asking the Court to compel the Board of Supervisors of Nevada County (the "Board of Supervisors") to follow applicable law and grant recognition of the Company's vested right to operate our I-M Property. The Company's position in this matter is that the Board of Supervisors' December 2023 decision to deny the Company's vested rights petition adversely infringed on our fundamental and constitutional property rights. The Company contends that the Court is compelled to use its independent judgement and consider the administrative record de novo (i.e., "afresh" or "from the beginning") and without deference to the Board of Supervisors arguments or conclusions.
On May 1, 2024, the Company granted a total of 1,004,479 stock options to directors and an officer of the Company. The stock options are exercisable at a price of $0.17 per share until May 1, 2029.
On April 29, 2024, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement over two tranches for gross proceeds totaling $954,253 through the issuance of 10,044,765 units in total at a price of $0.095 per unit with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one-half of one share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.158 for a period of three years from the date of issuance. Certain directors of the Company purchased an aggregate of 5,406,320 units of the private placement for gross proceeds of $513,600. The Company paid fees of $8,475 and issued 21,000 finder's warrants where each finder's warrant entitles the holder to acquire one share at a price of $0.158 for a period of two years. The Company paid legal fees of $15,137 in connection with this financing.
18
On February 20, 2024, the Company announced that the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in a public hearing on February 16, 2024, denying the Company's application for a Use Permit to allow the re-opening of the I-M Mine Property and not certifying the "FEIR".
On February 6, 2024, the Company entered into a credit facility arrangement with an arm's length lender that also provides services to the Company. Pursuant to the arrangement, each month, the lender will defer and add to the loan principal an amount equal to half of the fees billed by the lender up to $1,000,000. Amounts loaned will bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum compounded annually and will be due four years from the date of the arrangement. The Company may repay any amounts owing under the credit facility at any time without penalty. In connection with the credit facility, the Company has issued 1,000,000 non-transferable share purchase warrants to the lender, with each warrant exercisable into one share of common stock of the Company at a price of $0.16 per share for a period of four years from the date of issuance. In addition, for each $100,000 loaned under the arrangement, the Company has agreed to issue to the lender 200,000 additional non-transferable warrants ("Additional Warrants"). Each Additional Warrant will be exercisable into one share of common stock of the Company at any time within a four-year period from the date of issuance at an exercise price equal to the market price of the shares of the Company on grant.
On December 13 and 14, 2023, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors ("Board of Supervisors") held a public hearing regarding the Company's Petition and the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution rejecting the Company's vested rights petition to operate the I-M Mine Property. To view the full version of the December 14, 2023 press release, please visit https://www.risegoldcorp.com/news_items.
On December 12, 2023, the Company granted a total of 707,752 stock options with a fair value of $140,624 to directors of the Company. The stock options are exercisable at a price of $0.25 per share until December 12, 2028.
On December 7, 2023, the Company announced that it had completed two tranches of non-brokered private placements that total $967,957 through the sale of 5,377,541 total units at a price of $0.18 per unit with each unit comprising of one share of common stock and one-half of one share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.26 for a period of two years from the date of issuance. The Company paid fees of $6,480 and issued 36,000 finder's warrants where each finder's warrant entitles the holder to acquire one share at a price of $0.26 until November 7, 2025.
On September 26, 2023, the Company granted a total of 397,780 stock options to officers and directors of the Company. The stock options are exercisable at a price of $0.26 per share until September 22, 2028.
The Company appointed Joseph Mullin as President and CEO of the Company as at September 25, 2023. Ben Mossman will continue in his position as a director of the Company and serve as an advisor. The Company also appointed two new directors in Clynton Nauman on September 7, 2023, and Daniel Oliver Jr. on July 10, 2023.
On September 6, 2023, the Company submitted a Petition to the County of Nevada, California (the "County") asserting its vested right to mine at the I-M Mine Property. The Company's position as demonstrated in the Petition is that mining operations on the I-M Mine Property are a vested use, protected under the California and federal Constitutions, and a use permit is not required for mining operations to continue. The Company owns the I-M Mine Property consisting of 175 acres of surface land and a 2,560 acre mineral estate (the "Vested Mine Property"), located in the County. Before the I-M Mine Property was consolidated into its current configuration in 1941, it existed as multiple historical mines and operations.
For the vested right to be recognized by the County, the Company needs to demonstrate the fact that mine operations were being conducted both before and immediately after the County first required a permit to mine in 1954. The Petition and its exhibits are replete with historical evidence that mining was conducted at the I-M Mine Property prior to, during, and after 1954, when the County first required a use permit.
19
Once vested, this right to mine endures unless it is abandoned. Abandonment only occurs if two conditions are met: (1) there is evidence of a property owner's actual intent to abandon the vested mining right; and (2) an overt act (or failure to act) demonstrating such intent. The California Supreme Court has held that a vested mining right is not abandoned merely because the mine has been inactive for periods of time, and the Court has found that cessation of use alone does not constitute abandonment of a mine. The evidence set out in the Petition establishes the various previous owners evidenced their intent to retain the vested right to mine by continuously recording mineral reservations, entering into leases, and making plans for resuming mining in the future, even when mining operations were suspended. There is no evidence that any owner of the I-M Mine Property intended to abandon the vested mining right or took an overt act demonstrating that intent (let alone both). In addition, the vested right was already confirmed in 1980 by the County. The Company is subject to the vested rights being confirmed by the County. A decision on the Petition is not discretionary, rather the Board of Supervisors must decide whether to confirm the vested rights by reviewing the historical facts in light of how the California Supreme Court has interpreted the relevant legal principles.
On June 5, 2023, the Company sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors that highlights significant irregularities with the May 10 to 11, 2023 Planning Commission Hearing regarding the Company's proposed mining operations at the I-M Mine Property. The letter details Brown Act violations, egregious abuses of the Company's constitutionally protected rights to due process, as well as the Planning Commission's noncompliance with the County's ethics training and adopted policies for conducting the business of Board-appointed bodies. To view the full version of the press release, please visit https://www.risegoldcorp.com/news_items.
On May 12, 2023, the Company announced the result of the County Planning Commission (the "Planning Commission") hearing on the Idaho-Maryland Mine Project. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on May 10 and May 11, 2023 to consider the "FEIR". At the conclusion of the public hearing the Planning Commission recommended to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors that the FEIR not be certified and that the Use Permit be denied. The Nevada County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in a public forum at the Hearing held on February 16, 2024, denying the Company's application for a Use Permit to allow the re-opening of the Idaho Maryland Gold Mine and to not certify the Final Environmental Impact Report.
In February 2023, the Company renegotiated its debt agreement with Eridanus Capital LLC, whereby the Company agreed to pay $250,000 to Eridanus to reduce the outstanding balance of the loan and issue 575,000 share purchase warrants to Eridanus. The maturity date of the loan has been extended by one year to September 4, 2024, and the interest rate has been reduced to 15% for a period of 12 months following the date of issuance of the Eridanus warrants. Each warrant entitles the holder to acquire one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.60 for a period of two years from the date of issuance. The Eridanus warrants and any shares of common stock acquired upon the exercise of the Eridanus warrants will be subject to statutory hold periods in accordance with applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. The fair value of these warrants was calculated to be $154,218, which was netted against the loan payable balance.
On February 21, 2023, the Company granted a total of 1,045,000 stock options to employees, officers, directors, and consultants of the Company, exercisable at a weighted average price of $0.53 per share for a period of five years.
On February 17, 2023, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement over two tranches for gross proceeds totalling $3,000,000 through the issuance of 7,500,000 units in total at a price of $0.40 per unit, where each unit consisted of one share of common stock and one-half of one share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.60 until January 31, 2025 and February 17, 2025. Certain directors of the Company purchased an aggregate of 3,870,662 units of the private placement for gross proceeds of $1,548,265. The Company paid fees of $4,014 and issued 10,440 finder's warrants, where each finder's warrant entitles the holder to acquire one share of common stock at a price of $0.60 until January 31, 2025 and February 17, 2025. The Company paid legal fees of $10,563 in connection with this financing.
Plan of Operations
As at April 30, 2024, the Company had a cash balance of $630,290, compared to a cash balance of $758,272 as at July 31, 2023.
Our plan of operations for the next 12 months is to enter into litigation in pursuit of protecting the Company's property rights under both California State and US Federal Law, including asserting its 5th Amendment Rights under the US Constitution and other due process rights under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. The Company is also considering asking the Court to overturn the County of Nevada's decision denying the Company's Vested Mining Rights.
20
On May 13, 2024, the Company reported that we had submitted a Writ of Mandamus to the Superior Court of California (the "Court") asking the Court to compel the Board of Supervisors of Nevada County (the "Board of Supervisors") to follow applicable law and grant recognition of the Company's vested right to operate our I-M Property. The Company's position in this matter is that the Board of Supervisors' December 2023 decision to deny the Company's vested rights petition adversely infringed on our fundamental and constitutional property rights. The Company contends that the Court is compelled to use its independent judgement and consider the administrative record de novo (i.e., "afresh" or "from the beginning") and without deference to the Board of Supervisors arguments or conclusions.
Project Design
The Use Permit application proposes underground mining to recommence at an average throughput of 1,000 tons per day. The existing Brunswick Shaft, which extends to ~3400 feet depth below surface, would be used as the primary rock conveyance from the I-M Mine Property. A second service shaft would be constructed by raising from underground to provide for the conveyance of personnel, materials, and equipment. Gold processing would be done by gravity and flotation to produce gravity and flotation gold concentrates. Processing equipment and operations would be fully enclosed in attractive modern buildings and numerous mature trees located on the perimeter of the Brunswick site would be retained to provide visual shielding of aboveground project facilities and operations.
The Company would produce barren rock from underground tunnelling and sand tailings as part of the project which would be used for creation of approximately 58 acres of level and useable industrial zoned land for future economic development in the County.
A water treatment plant and pond, using conventional processes, would ensure that groundwater pumped from the mine is treated to regulatory standards before being discharged to the local waterways.
Detailed studies by professionals in the fields of civil and electrical engineering, biology, hydrology, cultural resources, traffic, air quality, human health, vibration, and sound have guided the design of the project.
Approximately 300 employees would be required if the mine reaches full production.
Employees
During the year ended July 31, 2023, and until September 23, 2023, the Company had one full-time employee, who was the former Chief Executive Officer and President, and who now serves as an advisor to the Company. Our current Chief Executive Officer and President provides services pursuant to a consulting agreement, and other officers and directors provide services to us on an as-needed basis. We plan to rely on their efforts, as well as those of a number of independent consultants, to manage our operations for the foreseeable future.
Government Regulations
We plan to engage in mineral exploration and development activities and will accordingly be exposed to environmental risks associated with mineral exploration activity. We are the operator of the I-M Mine Property.
Our exploration and development activities will be subject to extensive federal, state and local laws, regulations and permits governing protection of the environment. Among other things, its operations must comply with the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 as administered by the United States Department of Labor.
Our plan is to conduct our operations in a way that safeguards public health and the environment. We believe that our operations comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations in all material respects.
The costs associated with implementing and complying with environmental requirements can be substantial and possible future legislation and regulations could cause us to incur additional operating expenses, capital expenditures, restrictions and delays in developing or conducting operations on its properties, including the I-M Mine Property, the extent of which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
21
Results of Operations
For the Periods Ended April 30, 2024 and 2023
The Company's operating results for the periods ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 are summarized as follows:
| Three months | Three months | Nine months | Nine months | |||||||||
| ended April | ended April | ended April | ended April | |||||||||
| 30, 2024 | 30, 2023 | 30, 2024 | 30, 2023 | |||||||||
| EXPENSES | ||||||||||||
| Accretion expense | $ |
19,897 |
$ | 41,104 | $ |
69,419 |
$ | 99,030 | ||||
| Consulting | 69,472 | 186,094 | 235,655 | 464,350 | ||||||||
| Directors' fees | 30,000 | 20,000 | 88,022 | 60,000 | ||||||||
| Filing and regulatory | 8,959 | 13,470 | 30,545 | 46,802 | ||||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | 20,081 | (26,781 | ) | 27,980 | 38,699 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 76,937 | 147,829 | 339,088 | 266,626 | ||||||||
| Geological, mineral, and prospect costs | 337,158 | 438,319 | 732,924 | 675,926 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 62,569 | 56,850 | 192,230 | 267,028 | ||||||||
| Professional fees | 276,858 | 181,335 | 872,136 | 405,464 | ||||||||
| Promotion and shareholder communication | 8,079 | 68,947 | 51,558 | 154,266 | ||||||||
| Salaries | (43 | ) | 33,750 | 89,526 | 101,250 | |||||||
| Share-based compensation | - | 466,527 | 230,985 | 466,527 | ||||||||
| Loss | $ | (909,967 | ) | $ | (1,627,444 | ) | $ | (2,960,068 | ) | $ | (3,045,968 | ) |
| Gain (loss) on fair value adjustment on derivative liability | 8,742 | 274,107 | 137,457 | (454,418 | ) | |||||||
| Write-off on receivable | 40 | - | (64,524 | ) | - | |||||||
| Other income | 8,374 | (5 | ) | 18,413 | 1,029 | |||||||
| Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period | $ | (892,811 | ) | $ | (1,353,342 | ) | $ | (2,868,722 | ) | $ | (3,499,357 | ) |
| Basic and diluted loss per common share | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (basic and diluted) | 47,128,914 | 39,742,958 | 43,108,301 | 34,483,714 |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working Capital
| At April 30, | At July 31, | At July 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Current Assets | $ | 1,237,738 | $ | 980,843 | $ | 986,577 | |||
| Current Liabilities | $ | 2,427,690 | $ | 508,571 | $ | 349,960 | |||
| Working Capital (Deficit) | $ |
(1,189,952 |
) | $ | 472,272 | $ | 636,617 |
Cash Flows
| For the nine-month period ended April 30, 2024 |
For the nine-month period ended April 30, 2023 |
|||||
| Net Cash used in Operating Activities | $ | (1,826,580 | ) | $ | (1,936,299 | ) |
| Net Cash used in Investing Activities | $ | - | $ | - | ||
| Net Cash provided by Financing Activities | $ | 1,698,598 | $ | 2,762,831 | ||
| Net increase/(decrease) in Cash During the Period | $ | (127,982 | ) | $ | 826,532 |
As of April 30, 2024, the Company had $630,290 in cash, $1,237,738 in current assets, $5,498,883 in total assets, $2,427,690 in current liabilities and $111,136 in non-current liabilities, a working capital deficit of $1,189,952 and an accumulated deficit of $29,537,708.
22
During the nine-month period ended April 30, 2024, the Company used $1,826,580 (2023 - $1,936,299) in net cash on operating activities. The difference in net cash used in operating activities during the two periods was largely due to the difference between the loss (gain) of the revaluation adjustment of the derivative liability, share-based compensation for options granted during the period, and professional fees related to the Use Permit and Vested Rights petition.
The Company had no investing activities during the nine-month period ending April 30, 2024 (April 30, 2023 - $Nil).
The Company received net cash of $1,698,598 (2023 - $2,762,831) from financing activities related to the private placement and net of loan repayment during the nine-month periods ending April 30, 2024.
The Company expects to operate at a loss for at least the next 12 months. It has no agreements for additional financing and cannot provide any assurance that additional funding will be available to finance its operations on acceptable terms in order to enable it to carry out its business plan. There are no assurances that the Company will be able to complete further sales of its common stock or any other form of additional financing. If the Company is unable to achieve the financing necessary to continue its plan of operations, then it will not be able to carry out any exploration work on the Idaho-Maryland Property or the other properties in which it owns an interest and its business may fail. As such, these material uncertainties cast a substantial doubt regarding the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
23
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") defines the term "disclosure controls and procedures" to mean controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of the end of the period covered by this Report, management of the Company carried out an evaluation, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of April 30, 2024 because a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting existed as of that date as a result of a lack of segregation of incompatible duties due to insufficient personnel.
A material weakness is a deficiency or a combination of control deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Until the Company is able to have the proper staff in place, it likely will not be able to remediate this material weakness.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the period ended April 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
Risks Related to Our Business
Increased levels of volatility or a rapid destabilization of global economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
In recent years, global financial conditions have been characterized by increased volatility which has impacted many industries, including the mining industry. Global financial conditions are subject to sudden and rapid destabilization in response to current and future events, as governmental authorities may have limited resources to respond to such events. Global capital markets continue to experience increased volatility in response to global events such as the significant increase in the rate of inflation in recent years, and the effects of certain countermeasures taken by central banks including increased interest rates. Future economic crises may be precipitated by any number of causes, including natural disasters, epidemics (such as the COVID-19 virus pandemic), geopolitical instability and war (such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict), the failure of financial institutions, terrorism, material changes in the price of oil, the volatility of metal prices, and the volatility of global financial markets. Continued increased levels of volatility or a sudden or rapid destabilization of global economic conditions could negatively impact our ability to obtain equity or debt financing or to make other suitable arrangements to finance our Idaho-Maryland Mine Project which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
Our ability to continue to operate as a going concern depends on our ability to obtain adequate financing in the future.
The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent on the Company's ability to maintain continued support from its shareholders and creditors and to raise additional capital and implement its business plan.
There is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain adequate financing in the future or that such financing will be on terms advantageous to the Company. However, management believes that the Company can raise sufficient working capital to meet its projected minimum financial obligations for the next fiscal year. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared under the assumption that we will continue as a going concern. We are an exploration stage company and we have incurred losses since our inception.
We will require significant additional capital to fund our business plan.
We will be required to expend significant funds to determine whether proven and probable mineral reserves exist at our properties, to continue exploration and, if warranted, to develop our existing properties, and to identify and acquire additional properties to diversify our property portfolio. We anticipate that we will be required to make substantial capital expenditures for the continued exploration and, if warranted, development of our I-M Mine Property. We have spent and will be required to continue to expend significant amounts of capital for drilling, geological, and geochemical analysis, assaying, permitting, and feasibility studies with regard to the results of our exploration at our I-M Mine Property. We may not benefit from some of these investments if we are unable to identify commercially exploitable mineral reserves.
In addition, the Company may incur significant legal costs going forward should it decide to litigate in pursuit of protecting its property rights under both California State and US Federal Law, including asserting its 5th Amendment Rights under the US Constitution and other due process rights under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, amongst other legal remedies that are available to the Company.
Our ability to obtain necessary funding for these purposes, in turn, depends upon a number of factors, including the status of the national and worldwide economy and the price of metals. Capital markets worldwide were adversely affected by substantial losses by financial institutions, caused by investments in asset-backed securities and remnants from those losses continue to impact the ability for us to raise capital. We may not be successful in obtaining the required financing or, if we can obtain such financing, such financing may not be on terms that are favorable to us.
25
Our inability to access sufficient capital for our operations could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or prospects. Sales of substantial amounts of securities may have a highly dilutive effect on our ownership or share structure. Sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the public markets, or the potential for such sales, could decrease the trading price of those shares and could impair our ability to raise capital through future sales of common stock. We have not yet commenced commercial production at any of our properties and, therefore, have not generated positive cash flows to date and have no reasonable prospects of doing so unless successful commercial production can be achieved at our I-M Mine Property. We expect to continue to incur negative investing and operating cash flows until such time as we enter into successful commercial production. This will require us to deploy our working capital to fund such negative cash flow and to seek additional sources of financing. There is no assurance that any such financing sources will be available or sufficient to meet our requirements. There is no assurance that we will be able to continue to raise equity capital or to secure additional debt financing, or that we will not continue to incur losses.
We have a limited operating history on which to base an evaluation of our business and prospects.
Since our inception, we have had no revenue from operations. We have no history of producing products from any of our properties. Our Idaho-Maryland Mine Project is a historic, past-producing mine which, apart from the exploration work that we have completed since 2016, has had very little recent exploration work since 1956. We would require further exploration work in order to reach the development stage. Advancing our I-M Mine Property into the development stage will require significant capital and time, and successful commercial production from the I-M Mine Property will be subject to completing feasibility studies, permitting and re-commissioning of the mine, constructing processing plants, and other related works and infrastructure. As a result, we are subject to all of the risks associated with developing and establishing new mining operations and business enterprises including:
The costs, timing, and complexities of exploration, development, and construction activities may be increased by the location of our properties and demand by other mineral exploration and mining companies. It is common in exploration programs to experience unexpected problems and delays during drill programs and, if commenced, development, construction, and mine start-up. In addition, our management and workforce will need to be expanded, and sufficient support systems for our workforce will have to be established. This could result in delays in the commencement of mineral production and increased costs of production. Accordingly, our activities may not result in profitable mining operations, and we may not succeed in establishing mining operations or profitably producing metals at any of our current or future properties, including our I-M Mine Property.
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We have a history of losses and expect to continue to incur losses in the future.
We have incurred losses since inception, have had negative cash flow from operating activities, and expect to continue to incur losses in the future. We have incurred the following losses from operations during each of the following periods:
We expect to continue to incur losses unless and until such time as one of our properties enters into commercial production and generates sufficient revenues to fund continuing operations. We recognize that if we are unable to generate significant revenues from mining operations and/or dispositions of our properties, we will not be able to earn profits or continue operations. At this early stage of our operation, we also expect to face the risks, uncertainties, expenses, and difficulties frequently encountered by companies at the start-up stage of their business development. We cannot be sure that we will be successful in addressing these risks and uncertainties and our failure to do so could have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition.
Damage to our reputation could adversely affect our company's operations and financial condition.
Our relationship with the communities where we operate is critical to ensure the future success of our existing operations and the construction and development of our I-M Mine Property. Reputational damage can be the result of the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, and could include any negative publicity, whether true or not. There is an increasing level of public concern relating to the perceived effect of mining activities on the environment and on communities impacted by such activities. Certain individuals and groups who oppose resource development can often be vocal critics of the mining industry and its practices, including the use of hazardous substances in processing activities and effects on the environment. The increased use of social media and other web-based tools used to generate, publish and discuss user-generated content and to connect with other users has made it increasingly easier for such individuals and groups to communicate and share their opinions and views regarding our company and our activities. Adverse publicity generated by such persons related to extractive industries generally, or our operations or development activities specifically, could have an adverse effect on our reputation. Reputation loss, including reputation loss by other similar mining companies, may result in decreased investor confidence, increased challenges in developing and maintaining community and stakeholder relations and an impediment to our overall ability to advance our I-M Mine Property (including our ability to obtain permits), which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and prospects. While we are committed to operating in a socially responsible manner, there is no guarantee that our efforts in this respect will mitigate this potential risk. We do not ultimately have direct control over how we are perceived by others and reputational damage could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.
We rely on information systems which may become subject to security threats.
We have entered into agreements with third parties for hardware, software, telecommunications and other information technology ("IT") services in connection with our operations. Our operations depend, in part, on how well we and our suppliers protect networks, equipment, IT systems and software against damage from a number of threats, including, but not limited to, cable cuts, natural disasters, terrorism, fire, power loss, hacking, phishing schemes, computer viruses, vandalism, fraud and theft. Our operations also depend on the timely maintenance, upgrade and replacement of networks, equipment, IT systems and software, as well as pre emptive interventions and expenditures to mitigate the risks of failures and other IT system disruptions. Any of these and other events could result in information systems failures, delays and increases in capital expenses and which would negatively impact the Company's ability to operate. The failure of any part of our information systems could, depending on the nature and degree of any such failure, adversely impact our reputation and results of operations. Our risk and exposure to these matters cannot be fully mitigated because of, among other things, the evolving nature of these threats. As a result, cyber security and the continued development and enhancement of controls, processes and practices designed to protect our systems, computers, software, data and networks from attack, damage or unauthorized access remain a priority. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to modify or enhance protective measures or to investigate and remediate any security vulnerabilities.
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Increasing attention to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters may impact our business.
Increasing attention to ESG matters, including those related to climate change and sustainability, and increasing societal, investor and legislative pressure on companies to address ESG matters may result in increased costs, increased investigations and litigation or threats thereof, negative impacts on our stock price and access to capital markets, and damage to our reputation. Increasing attention to climate change, for example, may result in additional governmental investigations and private litigation, or threats thereof, against our company. In addition, some organizations that provide information to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters, including climate change and climate-related risks. Such ratings are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. Unfavorable ESG ratings may lead to negative investor sentiment toward our company and to the diversion of investment to other industries, which could have a negative impact on our stock price and our access to and costs of capital. Additionally, evolving expectations on various ESG matters, including biodiversity, waste, and water, may increase costs, require changes in how we operate and lead to negative stakeholder sentiment.
Risks Related to Mining and Exploration
The I-M Mine Property is in the exploration stage. There is no assurance that we can establish the existence of any mineral reserve on the I-M Mine Property or any other properties we may acquire in commercially exploitable quantities. Unless and until we do so, we cannot earn any revenues from these properties and if we do not do so we will lose all of the funds that we expend on exploration. If we do not establish the existence of any mineral reserve in a commercially exploitable quantity, the exploration component of our business could fail.
We have not established that any of our mineral properties contain any mineral reserve according to recognized reserve guidelines, nor can there be any assurance that we will be able to do so.
A mineral reserve is defined in subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and the Exchange Act ("Subpart 1300") as an estimate of tonnage and grade or quality of "indicated mineral resources" and "measured mineral resources" (as those terms are defined in Subpart 1300) that, in the opinion of a "qualified person" (as defined in Subpart 1300), can be the basis of an economically viable project. In general, the probability of any individual prospect having a "reserve" that meets the requirements of Subpart 1300 is small, and our mineral properties may not contain any "reserves" and any funds that we spend on exploration could be lost. Even if we do eventually discover a mineral reserve on one or more of our properties, there can be no assurance that they can be developed into producing mines and that we can extract those minerals. Both mineral exploration and development involve a high degree of risk, and few mineral properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines.
The commercial viability of an established mineral deposit will depend on a number of factors including, by way of example, the size, grade, and other attributes of the mineral deposit, the proximity of the mineral deposit to infrastructure such as processing facilities, roads, rail, power, and a point for shipping, government regulation, and market prices. Most of these factors will be beyond our control, and any of them could increase costs and make extraction of any identified mineral deposit unprofitable.
The nature of mineral exploration and production activities involves a high degree of risk and the possibility of uninsured losses.
Exploration for and the production of minerals is highly speculative and involves greater risk than many other businesses. Most exploration programs do not result in mineralization that may be of sufficient quantity or quality to be profitably mined. Our operations are, and any future development or mining operations we may conduct will be, subject to all of the operating hazards and risks normally incidental to exploring for and development of mineral properties, such as, but not limited to:
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Any of these risks can materially and adversely affect, among other things, the development of properties, production quantities and rates, costs and expenditures, potential revenues, and production dates. If we were to determine that capitalized costs associated with any of our mineral interests are not likely to be recovered, we would incur a write-down of our investment in these interests. All of these factors may result in losses in relation to amounts spent that are not recoverable, or that result in additional expenses.
Commodity price volatility could have dramatic effects on the results of operations and our ability to execute our business plan.
The price of commodities varies daily. Our future revenues, if any, will likely be derived from the extraction and sale of base and precious metals. The price of those commodities has fluctuated widely, particularly in recent years, and is affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, interest rates, global and regional consumptive patterns, speculative activities and increased production due to new extraction developments and improved extraction and production methods. The effect of these factors on the price of base and precious metals, and therefore the economic viability of our business, could negatively affect our ability to secure financing or our results of operations.
Estimates of mineralized material and resources are subject to evaluation uncertainties that could result in project failure.
Our exploration and future mining operations, if any, are and would be faced with risks associated with being able to accurately predict the quantity and quality of mineralized material and resources/reserves within the earth using statistical sampling techniques. Estimates of any mineralized material or resource/reserve on any of our properties would be made using samples obtained from appropriately placed trenches, test pits, underground workings, and intelligently designed drilling. There is an inherent variability of assays between check and duplicate samples taken adjacent to each other and between sampling points that cannot be reasonably eliminated. Additionally, there also may be unknown geologic details that have not been identified or correctly appreciated at the current level of accumulated knowledge about our properties. This could result in uncertainties that cannot be reasonably eliminated from the process of estimating mineralized material and resources/reserves. If these estimates were to prove to be unreliable, we could implement an exploitation plan that may not lead to commercially viable operations in the future.
Any material changes in mineral resource/reserve estimates and grades of mineralization will affect the economic viability of placing a property into production and a property's return on capital.
As we have not completed feasibility studies on our I-M Mine Property and have not commenced actual production, we do not have mineral resources and any estimates may require adjustments or downward revisions. In addition, the grade of ore ultimately mined, if any, may differ from that indicated by future feasibility studies and drill results. Minerals recovered in small scale tests might not be duplicated in large scale tests under on-site conditions or in production scale.
Our exploration activities on our properties may not be commercially successful, which could lead us to abandon our plans to develop our properties and our investments in exploration.
Our long-term success depends on our ability to identify mineral deposits on our I-M Mine Property and other properties we may acquire, if any, that we can then develop into commercially viable mining operations. Mineral exploration is highly speculative in nature, involves many risks, and is frequently non-productive. These risks include unusual or unexpected geologic formations, and the inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment, or labor. The success of commodity exploration is determined in part by the following factors:
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Substantial expenditures are required to establish proven and probable reserves through drilling and analysis, to develop metallurgical processes to extract metal, and to develop the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for mining. Whether a mineral deposit will be commercially viable depends on a number of factors that include, without limitation, the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade, and proximity to infrastructure; commodity prices; and government regulations, including, without limitation, regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting of minerals, and environmental protection. We may invest significant capital and resources in exploration activities and may find it necessary to abandon such investments if we are unable to identify commercially exploitable mineral reserves. The decision to abandon a project may have an adverse effect on the market value of our securities and the ability to raise future financing.
We are subject to significant governmental regulations that affect our operations and costs of conducting our business and may not be able to obtain all required permits and licenses to place our properties into production.
We believe that mining operations on the I-M Mine Property are a vested use, protected under the California and federal Constitutions, and that a use permit is not required for mining operations to continue. The Company owns the I-M Mine Property, consisting of 175 acres of surface land and a 2,560 acre mineral estate, located in the County. Before the I-M Mine Property was consolidated into its current configuration in 1941, it existed as multiple historical mines and operations.
For the vested right to be recognized by the County, the Company needs to demonstrate that mine operations were being conducted both before and immediately after the County first required a permit to mine in 1954. The Petition and its exhibits are replete with historical evidence that mining was conducted at the I-M Mine Property prior to, during, and after 1954, when the County first required a use permit.
Once vested, this right to mine endures unless it is abandoned, which the Company contends has not occurred. Abandonment only occurs if two conditions are met: (1) there is evidence of a property owner's actual intent to abandon the vested mining right; and (2) an overt act (or failure to act) demonstrating such intent. The California Supreme Court has held that a vested mining right is not abandoned merely because the mine has been inactive for periods of time, and the Court has found that cessation of use alone does not constitute abandonment of a mine. The evidence set out in the Petition establishes the various previous owners evidenced their intent to retain the vested right to mine by continuously recording mineral reservations, entering into leases, and making plans for resuming mining in the future, even when mining operations were suspended. There is no evidence that any owner of the I-M Mine Property intended to abandon the vested mining right or took an overt act demonstrating that intent (let alone both). We are subject to the vested rights being confirmed by the County. On September 6, 2023, the Company submitted a Petition to the County asserting its vested right to mine at the I-M Mine Property. The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing regarding the Company's Petition on December 13 and 14, 2023. The Board of Supervisors denied recognition of the Company's assertion of its vested right. There is no assurance that the Courts to which we propose to appeal this determination will recognize the Company's rights.
As previously applied by the Company, under the Use Permit process, the Company's operations, including exploration and, if warranted, development of the I-M Mine Property, require permits from governmental authorities and will be governed by laws and regulations, including:
Companies engaged in exploration activities often experience increased costs and delays in production and other schedules as a result of the need to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and permits. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and permits may result in enforcement actions, including the forfeiture of mineral claims or other mineral tenures, orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities requiring operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment, or costly remedial actions. We cannot predict if all permits that we may require for continued exploration, development, or construction of mining facilities and conduct of mining operations will be obtainable on reasonable terms, if at all. Costs related to applying for and obtaining permits and licenses may be prohibitive and could delay our planned exploration and development activities. We may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of our mineral exploration or our mining activities, if any, and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of, or our failure to comply with, such laws, regulations, and permits.
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Existing and possible future laws, regulations, and permits governing operations and activities of exploration companies, or more stringent implementation of such laws, regulations and permits, could have a material adverse impact on our business and cause increases in capital expenditures or require abandonment or delays in exploration. Our I-M Mine Property is located in California, which has numerous clearly defined regulations with respect to permitting mines, which could potentially impact the total time to market for the project.
Subsurface mining is allowed in the County M1 Zoning District, where the I-M Mine Property is located, with approval of a "Use Permit". Approval of a Use Permit for mining operations requires a public hearing before the County Planning Commission, whose decision may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors. Use Permit approvals include conditions of approval, which are designed to minimize the impact of conditional uses on neighboring properties.
On November 21, 2019, the Company submitted an application for a Use Permit to the County. On April 28, 2020, with a vote of 5-0, the Board of Supervisors approved the contract for Raney to prepare an EIR and conduct contract planning services on behalf of the County for the proposed Idaho-Maryland Mine Project. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on May 10 and May 11, 2023 to consider the FEIR. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Planning Commission recommended to the Board of Supervisors that the FEIR not be certified and that the Use Permit be denied.
On February 20, 2024, the Company announced that the Nevada County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in a public hearing on February 16, 2024 (the "Hearing"), denying the Company's application for a Use Permit to allow the re-opening of the Idaho Maryland Gold Mine and not certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report.
The Use Permit application proposes underground mining to recommence at the I-M Mine Property at an average throughput of 1,000 tons per day. The existing Brunswick Shaft, which extends to ~3400 feet depth below surface, would be used as the primary rock conveyance from the I-M Mine Property. A second service shaft would be constructed by raising from underground to provide for the conveyance of personnel, materials, and equipment. Processing would be done by gravity and flotation to produce gravity and flotation gold concentrates.
We propose to produce barren rock from underground tunneling and sand tailings as part of the project which would be used for creation of approximately 58 acres of level and useable industrial zoned land for future economic development in the County. A water treatment plant and pond, using conventional processes, would ensure that groundwater pumped from the mine is treated to regulatory standards before being discharged to the local waterways. There is no assurance our Use Permit application will be accepted as submitted. If substantial revisions are required, our ability to execute our business plan will be further delayed.
In 1975, the California Legislature enacted the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act ("SMARA"), which required that all surface mining operations in California have approved reclamation plans and financial assurances. SMARA was adopted to ensure that land used for mining operations in California would be reclaimed post-mining to a useable condition. Pursuant to SMARA, we would be required to obtain approval of a Reclamation Plan from and provide financial assurances to the County for any surface component of the underground mining operation before mining operations could commence. Approval of a Reclamation Plan will require a public hearing before the Planning Commission.
To approve a Reclamation Plan and Use Permit, the County would need to satisfy the requirements of California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). CEQA requires that public agency decision makers study the environmental impacts of any discretionary action, disclose the impacts to the public, and minimize unavoidable impacts to the extent feasible. CEQA is triggered whenever a California governmental agency is asked to approve a "discretionary project". The approval of a Reclamation Plan is a "discretionary project" under CEQA. Other necessary ancillary permits like the California Department of Fish and Wildlife ("CDFW") Streambed Alteration Agreement (if applicable) also triggers CEQA compliance.
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In this situation, the lead agency for the purposes of CEQA would be the County. Other public agencies in charge of administering specific legislation will also need to approve aspects of the Project, such as the CDFW (the California Endangered Species Act), the Air Pollution Control District (Authority to Construct and Permit to Operate), and the Regional Water Quality Control Board (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (authorized to state governments by the US Environmental Protection Agency) and Report of Waste Discharge). However, CEQA's Guidelines provide that if more than one agency must act on a project, the agency that acts first is generally considered the lead agency under CEQA. All other agencies are considered "responsible agencies." Responsible agencies do need to consider the environmental document approved by the lead agency, but they will usually accept the lead agency's document and use it as the basis for issuing their own permits. There is no assurance that other agencies will not require additional assessments in their decision-making process. If such assessments are required, additional time and costs will delay the execution of, and may even require us to re-evaluate the feasibility of, our business plan.
Our activities are subject to environmental laws and regulations that may increase our costs of doing business and restrict our operations.
All phases of our operations are subject to environmental regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner that may require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors, and employees. These laws address emissions into the air, discharges into water, management of waste, management of hazardous substances, protection of natural resources, antiquities and endangered species, and reclamation of lands disturbed by mining operations. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and future changes in these laws and regulations, may require significant capital outlays and may cause material changes or delays in our operations and future activities. It is possible that future changes in these laws or regulations could have a significant adverse impact on our properties or some portion of our business, causing us to re-evaluate those activities at that time.
Regulations and pending legislation governing issues involving climate change and our obligation to monitor and report on how our operations may impact climate change could result in increased operating costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
A number of governments or governmental bodies have introduced or are contemplating legislative and/or regulatory changes in response to concerns about the potential impact of climate change. Legislation and increased regulation regarding climate change could impose significant costs on us, on our future venture partners, if any, and on our suppliers, including costs related to increased energy requirements, capital equipment, environmental monitoring and reporting, and other costs necessary to comply with such regulations. Many governments and other stakeholders are seeking enhanced disclosure and are moving to enact climate change legislation and treaties at the international, national, state, provincial and local levels. In the United States, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") has proposed climate-related disclosure rules: "The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors". In Canada, the Canadian Securities Administrators have proposed their own climate-related disclosure rules in National Instrument 51-107 - Disclosure of Climate-related Matters. The International Sustainability Standards Board has two proposed international standards for disclosure ("General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability Related Information" and "Climate Related Disclosures") which were developed to provide a global baseline of financial reporting disclosure rules for reporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) related issues. Any adopted future climate change regulations and our obligations to report on them could also negatively impact our ability to compete with companies situated in areas not subject to such limitations. Given the emotional and political significance and uncertainty surrounding the impact of climate change and how it should be dealt with, we cannot predict how legislation and regulation will ultimately affect our financial condition, operating performance, and ability to compete. Furthermore, even without such regulation, increased awareness and any adverse publicity in the global marketplace about potential impacts on climate change by us or other companies in our industry could harm our reputation. The potential physical impacts of climate change on our operations are highly uncertain, could be particular to the geographic circumstances in areas in which we operate and may include changes in rainfall and storm patterns and intensities, water shortages, changing sea levels, and changing temperatures. Extreme weather events, such as forest fires, severe storms, floods, drought or more extreme temperatures, all of which may be more frequent and more extreme due to climate change, may affect our operations. Our operations could be adversely affected in various ways, including through damage to our facilities or from increased costs for insurance. Such extreme weather events can also lead to community evacuations, temporary labour shortages, and delays in receiving critical supplies. Water will be a key resource for our operations and inadequate water management and stewardship could have a material adverse effect on our company and our operations. While certain aspects relating to water management are within our ability to control, extreme weather events, resulting in too much or too little water, can negatively impact our water management practices. The effects of climate change may adversely impact the cost, production, and financial performance of our operations.
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Land reclamation requirements for our properties may be burdensome and expensive.
Although variable depending on location and the governing authority, land reclamation requirements are generally imposed on mineral exploration companies (as well as companies with mining operations) in order to minimize long term effects of land disturbance.
Reclamation may include requirements to:
In order to carry out reclamation obligations imposed on us in connection with our potential development activities, we must allocate financial resources that might otherwise be spent on further exploration and development programs. We plan to set up a provision for our reclamation obligations on our properties, as appropriate, but this provision may not be adequate. If we are required to carry out unanticipated reclamation work, our financial position could be adversely affected.
We face intense competition in the mining industry.
The mining industry is intensely competitive in all of its phases. As a result of this competition, some of which is with large established mining companies with substantial capabilities and with greater financial and technical resources than ours, we may be unable to acquire additional properties, if any, or financing on terms we consider acceptable. We also compete with other mining companies in the recruitment and retention of qualified managerial and technical employees. If we are unable to successfully compete for qualified employees, our exploration and development programs may be slowed down or suspended. We compete with other companies that produce our planned commercial products for capital. If we are unable to raise sufficient capital, our exploration and development programs may be jeopardized or we may not be able to acquire, develop, or operate additional mining projects.
A shortage of equipment and supplies could adversely affect our ability to operate our business.
We are dependent on various supplies and equipment to carry out our mining exploration and, if warranted, development operations. Any shortage of such supplies, equipment, and parts could have a material adverse effect on our ability to carry out our operations and could therefore limit, or increase the cost of, production.
Joint ventures and other partnerships, including offtake arrangements, may expose us to risks.
We may enter into joint ventures, partnership arrangements, or offtake agreements, with other parties in relation to the exploration, development, and production of the properties in which we have an interest. Any failure of such other companies to meet their obligations to us or to third parties, or any disputes with respect to the parties' respective rights and obligations, could have a material adverse effect on us, the development and production at our properties, including the I-M Mine Property, and on future joint ventures, if any, or their properties, and therefore could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial performance, cash flows and the price of our common stock.
We may experience difficulty attracting and retaining qualified management to meet the needs of our anticipated growth, and the failure to manage our growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
We are dependent on a relatively small number of key employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The loss of any officer could have an adverse effect on us. We have no life insurance on any individual, and we may be unable to hire a suitable replacement for them on favorable terms, should that become necessary.
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Our results of operations could be affected by currency fluctuations.
Our properties are currently all located in the United States and, while most costs associated with these properties are paid in U.S. dollars, a significant amount of our administrative expenses are payable in Canadian dollars. There can be significant swings in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar. There are no plans at this time to hedge against any exchange rate fluctuations in currencies.
Title to our properties may be subject to other claims that could affect our property rights and claims.
There are risks that title to our properties may be challenged or impugned. Our I-M Mine Property is located in California and may be subject to prior unrecorded agreements or transfers and title may be affected by undetected defects.
We may be unable to secure surface access or purchase required surface rights.
Although we obtain the rights to some or all of the minerals in the ground subject to the mineral tenures that we acquire, or have the right to acquire, in some cases we may not acquire any rights to, or ownership of, the surface to the areas covered by such mineral tenures. In such cases, applicable mining laws usually provide for rights of access to the surface for the purpose of carrying on mining activities; however, the enforcement of such rights through the courts can be costly and time consuming. It is necessary to negotiate surface access or to purchase the surface rights if long-term access is required. There can be no guarantee that, despite having the right at law to carry on mining activities, we will be able to negotiate satisfactory agreements with any such existing landowners/occupiers for such access or purchase of such surface rights, and therefore we may be unable to carry out planned mining activities. In addition, in circumstances where such access is denied, or no agreement can be reached, we may need to rely on the assistance of local officials or the courts in such jurisdiction the outcomes of which cannot be predicted with any certainty. Our inability to secure surface access or purchase required surface rights could materially and adversely affect our timing, cost, or overall ability to develop any mineral deposits we may locate.
Our properties and operations may be subject to litigation or other claims.
From time to time our properties or operations may be subject to disputes that may result in litigation or other legal claims. We may be required to take countermeasures or defend against these claims, which will divert resources and management time from operations. The costs of these claims or adverse filings may have a material effect on our business and results of operations.
We do not currently insure against all the risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development, and mining operations.
Exploration, development, and mining operations involve various hazards, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, metallurgical and other processing problems, unusual or unexpected rock formations, structural cave-ins or slides, flooding, fires, and periodic interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions. These risks could result in damage to or destruction of mineral properties, facilities, or other property, personal injury, environmental damage, delays in operations, increased cost of operations, monetary losses, and possible legal liability. We may not be able to obtain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums or at all. We may elect not to insure where premium costs are disproportionate to our perception of the relevant risks. The payment of such insurance premiums and of such liabilities would reduce the funds available for exploration and production activities.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
Our share price may be volatile and as a result you could lose all or part of your investment.
In addition to volatility associated with equity securities in general, the value of your investment could decline due to the impact of any of the following factors upon the market price of our common stock:
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Our share price on the CSE and the OTCQX has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. Stock markets in general have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, and the market prices of securities have been highly volatile. These fluctuations are often unrelated to operating performance and may adversely affect the market price of the Shares. As a result, you may be unable to sell any Shares you acquire at a desired price.
We have never paid dividends on our common stock.
We have not paid dividends on our common stock to date, and we do not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future. We intend to retain our initial earnings, if any, to finance our operations. Any future dividends on common stock will depend upon our earnings, our then-existing financial requirements, and other factors, and will be at the discretion of the Board.
Investors' interests in our company will be diluted and investors may suffer dilution in their net book value per share of common stock if we issue additional employee/director/consultant options or if we sell additional common stock and/or warrants to finance our operations.
In order to further expand our operations and meet our objectives, any additional growth and/or expanded exploration activity will likely need to be financed through sale of and issuance of additional common stock, including, but not limited to, raising funds to explore the I-M Mine Property. Furthermore, to finance any acquisition activity, should that activity be properly approved, and depending on the outcome of our exploration programs, we likely will also need to issue additional common stock to finance future acquisitions, growth, and/or additional exploration programs of any or all of our projects or to acquire additional properties. We will also in the future grant to some or all of our directors, officers, and key employees and/or consultants options to purchase common stock as non-cash incentives. The issuance of any equity securities could, and the issuance of any additional common stock will, cause our existing stockholders to experience dilution of their ownership interests.
If we issue additional common stock or decide to enter into joint ventures with other parties in order to raise financing through the sale of equity securities, investors' interests in our company will be diluted and investors may suffer dilution in their net book value per share of common stock depending on the price at which such securities are sold.
The issuance of additional shares of common stock may negatively impact the trading price of our securities.
We have issued common stock in the past and will continue to issue common stock to finance our activities in the future. In addition, newly issued or outstanding options, warrants, and broker warrants to purchase common stock may be exercised, resulting in the issuance of additional common stock. Any such issuance of additional common stock would result in dilution to our stockholders, and even the perception that such an issuance may occur could have a negative impact on the trading price of the common stock.
We are subject to the continued listing criteria of the CSE, and our failure to satisfy these criteria may result in delisting of our common stock from the CSE.
Our common stock is currently listed for trading on the CSE. In order to maintain the listing on the CSE or any other securities exchange we may trade on, we must maintain certain financial and share distribution targets, including maintaining a minimum number of public shareholders. In addition to objective standards, these exchanges may delist the securities of any issuer if, in the exchange's opinion, our financial condition and/or operating results appear unsatisfactory; if it appears that the extent of public distribution or the aggregate market value of the security has become so reduced as to make continued listing inadvisable; if we sell or dispose of our principal operating assets or cease to be an operating company; if we fail to comply with the listing requirements; or if any other event occurs or any condition exists which, in their opinion, makes continued listing on the exchange inadvisable.
If the CSE or any other exchange or market were to delist the common stock, investors may face material adverse consequences, including, but not limited to, a lack of trading market for the common stock, reduced liquidity, decreased analyst coverage, and/or an inability for us to obtain additional financing to fund our operations.
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
The Company made no unregistered sales of securities during the quarter covered by this report that have not previously been disclosed on Form 8-K.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
__________________
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(1) Included as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form S-1 filed on September 5, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) Included as an exhibit to our Form 10-K annual report filed on October 29, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3) Included as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form S-1 filed on February 19, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| By: | /s/ Joseph Mullin | |
| Joseph Mullin President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
||
| By: | /s/ Vincent Boon | |
| Vincent Boon Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
||
| Date | June 14, 2024 |
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