UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
OR
For the fiscal year ended |
| Commission File Number |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
British Columbia, |
| 1040 |
| Not Applicable |
(Province or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
| (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
| (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
( (Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States) |
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class: |
| Trading Symbol(s) |
| Name of exchange on which registered: |
None |
| N/A |
| None |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Shares, no par value
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this Form.
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).
☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
EXPLANATORY NOTE
First Mining Gold Corp. (the “Company” or the “Registrant”) is a Canadian issuer eligible, pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act, to file its annual report on Form 40‑F pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system of the Exchange Act. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act. Equity securities of the Company are accordingly exempt from Sections 14(a), 14(b), 14(c), 14(f) and 16 of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 3a12-3.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report on Form 40‑F and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward‑looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward‑looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward‑looking statements, which are all statements other than statements of historical fact, include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future price of commodities, the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, reserve determination and reserve conversion rates. Generally, these forward‑looking statements can be identified by the use of forward‑looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward‑looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward‑looking statements, including but not limited to: fluctuations in the price of commodities; expectations and anticipated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to mining and exploration operations including risks related to fluctuations in the price of the primary commodities mined at such operations, actual results of mining and exploration activities, economic and political risks of the jurisdictions in which the mining and exploration operations are located, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; and differences in the interpretation or application of tax laws and regulations; as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled “Risks that can affect our business” in the Company’s annual information form (the “AIF”) for the financial year ended December 31, 2022. Forward‑looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, that the mining and exploration operations will operate and the mining projects will be completed in accordance with their public statements and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward‑looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward‑looking statements will prove to be accurate. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward‑looking statements. The forward‑looking statements and forward‑looking information contained or incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 40‑F are included for the purpose of providing investors with information to assist them in understanding the Company’s expected financial and operational performance and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward‑looking statements that are included or incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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NOTE TO UNITED STATES READERS – DIFFERENCES
IN UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN REPORTING PRACTICES
The Company is permitted, under a multi‑jurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States, to prepare this annual report on Form 40‑F in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. The Company prepares its financial statements (the “Audited Financial Statements”) in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”).
The AIF filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40‑F has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms “Mineral Reserve”, “Proven Mineral Reserve” and “Probable Mineral Reserve” are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43‑101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43‑101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended. These definitions differ from the definitions in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules applicable to domestic United States companies.
Accordingly, information contained in this annual report on Form 40‑F and the documents incorporated by reference herein containing descriptions of the Company’s mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
CURRENCY
Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts in this annual report on Form 40‑F are in Canadian dollars. The functional currency of the Company and its Canadian subsidiaries is the Canadian dollar while the functional currency of the Company’s non-Canadian subsidiaries is the US dollar. The financial statement presentation currency is the Canadian dollar. The expenditures of our Canadian operations where incurred in currencies other than Canadian dollars are translated at the exchange rates in effect at the date of the underlying transactions. Differences arising from these foreign currency transactions are recorded in the consolidated statement of net loss.
ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM
The AIF is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to, and incorporated by reference in, this annual report on Form 40‑F.
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AUDITED ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, including the report of the independent registered public accounting firm with respect thereto, is filed as Exhibit 99.2 to, and incorporated by reference in, this annual report on Form 40‑F.
Our independent registered public accounting firm is PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, PCAOB Firm ID:
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The Company’s management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition for the year ended December 31, 2022 is filed as Exhibit 99.3 to, and incorporated by reference in, this annual report on Form 40‑F.
CERTIFICATIONS
See Exhibits 99.4, 99.5, 99.6 and 99.7, which are included as Exhibits to this annual report on Form 40‑F.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 40‑F, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of, and with the participation of, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a – 15(e) and Rule 15d – 15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based upon the results of that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 40‑F, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the appropriate time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and (ii) information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow for accurate and timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
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Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management, with the participation of the CEO and CFO, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:
| · | maintain records that accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable detail, the transactions and dispositions of assets of the Company; |
| · | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary for preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS; |
| · | provide reasonable assurance that the Company’s receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Company’s Directors; and |
| · | provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. |
Because of its inherent limitations, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Additionally, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation. Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective and no material weakness was identified as at December 31, 2022.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
This Annual Report on Form 40-F does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting because the Company qualified as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act of 1933 during the year covered by this Annual Report on Form 40-F, and this Annual Report on Form 40-F is therefore not required to include such an attestation report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the period covered by this annual report on Form 40‑F, no change occurred in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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Limitations of Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that its disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision‑making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost‑effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Audit Committee
The Company’s board of directors has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The members of the Company’s audit committee are identified on page 126 of the AIF, filed as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein. The Company’s board of directors has determined that all members of the audit committee are independent (as determined under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange) and are financially literate.
Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Company’s board of directors has determined that Raymond Polman is an audit committee “financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, in that he has an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles in Canada and financial statements and is able to assess the general application of accounting principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves. Mr. Polman also has experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements (or actively supervising another person who did so). Mr. Polman also has an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and an understanding of audit committee functions. Mr. Polman has experience as a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant or auditor.
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CODE OF ETHICS
The Company has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. A copy of this code is available on the Company’s website at http://www.firstmininggold.com or to any person without charge, by written request addressed to: First Mining Gold Corp., Attention: General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Suite 2070 – 1188 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 4A2, Canada 1.844.306.8827, or by email (info@firstmininggold.com).
If any amendment to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is made, or if any waiver from the provisions thereof is granted, the Company may elect to disclose the information about such amendment or waiver required by Form 40-F to be disclosed, by posting such disclosure on the Company’s website.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP served as the Registrant’s principal accountant (the “Principal Accountant”) for the year ended December 31, 2022. See page 135 of the AIF, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, for the total amount billed to the Company by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for services performed in the last two financial years by category of service (for audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and all other fees) in Canadian dollars.
AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Since the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 on July 30, 2002, all audit and non-audit services performed by the Registrant’s outside auditors are pre-approved by the audit committee of the Registrant.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company does not have any 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 is material to investors, or relationships with unconsolidated special purpose entities.
CASH REQUIREMENTS
The information provided under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis – Financial Instruments – Financial Liabilities and Commitments” contained in Exhibit 99.3 as filed with this annual report on Form 40‑F contains the Company’s disclosure of contractual obligations and is incorporated by reference herein.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED COMPENSATION
Not applicable.
UNDERTAKINGS
The Company undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the SEC staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the SEC staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40‑F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40‑F arises; or transactions in said securities.
CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
The Company filed an Appointment of Agent for Service of Process and Undertaking on Form F‑X with respect to the class of securities in relation to which the obligation to file this annual report on Form 40‑F arises.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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| Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
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101.INS |
| XBRL Instance Document |
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101.SCH |
| XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
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101.CAL |
| XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
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101.DEF |
| XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document |
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101.LAB |
| XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
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101.PRE |
| XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
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104 |
| Cover Page Interactive Data File |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40‑F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Date: March 29, 2023.
FIRST MINING GOLD CORP. | |||
| By: | /s/ Daniel W. Wilton | ||
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| Daniel W. Wilton | |
Chief Executive Officer | |||
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