UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
For the transition period from to
INTERNATIONAL TOWER HILL MINES LTD.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (604) 683-6332
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 such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes xNo¨
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).
Yes xNo ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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.
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 ¨ No x
As of April 26, 2018, the registrant had 186,522,683 Common Shares outstanding.
Table of Contents
2
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS REGARDING ESTIMATES OF MEASURED, INDICATED AND INFERRED RESOURCES AND PROVEN AND PROBABLE RESERVES
International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (“we”, “us”, “our,” “ITH” or the “Company”) is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, 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 (the “CIM”)—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 (“SEC”) Industry Guide 7 (“SEC Industry Guide 7”). Under SEC Industry Guide 7 standards, a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical average price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves, and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority. In addition, the terms “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral deposit in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
“Inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all, or any part, of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable.
Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations if such disclosure includes the grade or quality and the quantity for each category of mineral resource and mineral reserve; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information contained in this report and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain descriptions of our mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
The term “mineralized material” as used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, although permissible under SEC Industry Guide 7, does not indicate “reserves” by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards. We cannot be certain that any part of the mineralized material will ever be confirmed or converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant “reserves”. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the mineralized material will ever be confirmed or converted into reserves or that mineralized material can be economically or legally extracted.
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO ALL INVESTORS CONCERNING ECONOMIC ASSESSMENTS THAT INCLUDE INFERRED RESOURCES
The Company currently holds or has the right to acquire interests in an advanced stage exploration project in Alaska referred to as the Livengood Gold Project (the “Livengood Gold Project” or the “Project”). Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have no demonstrated economic viability. The preliminary assessments on the Project are preliminary in nature and include “inferred mineral resources” that have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. It cannot be assumed that all, or any part, of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies. There is no certainty that such inferred mineral resources at the Project will ever be realized. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable.
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning anticipated results and developments in the operations of the Company in future periods, planned exploration activities, the adequacy of the Company’s financial resources and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “potential,” “possible” and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results “will,” “may,” “could” or “should” (or the negative and grammatical variations of any of these terms) occur or be achieved. These forward looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements concerning:
Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others:
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Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including without limitation those discussed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which are incorporated herein by reference, as well as other factors described elsewhere in this report and the Company’s other reports filed with the SEC.
The Company’s forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this report. The Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not attribute undue certainty to or place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
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PART 1
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM BALANCE SHEETS
As at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017
(Expressed in US Dollars - Unaudited)
December 31,
2017
General Information and Nature of Operations (Note 1)
Commitments (Note 9)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
8
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in US dollars – Unaudited)
International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (“ITH” or the "Company") is incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, Canada. The Company’s head office address is 2300-1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. consists of ITH and its wholly owned subsidiaries Tower Hill Mines, Inc. (“TH Alaska”) (an Alaska corporation), Tower Hill Mines (US) LLC (“TH US”) (a Colorado limited liability company), Livengood Placers, Inc. (“LPI”) (a Nevada corporation), and 813034 Alberta Ltd. (an Alberta corporation). The Company is in the business of acquiring, exploring and evaluating mineral properties, and either joint venturing or developing these properties further or disposing of them when the evaluation is completed. At March 31, 2018, the Company controls a 100% interest in its Livengood Gold Project, an exploration-stage project in Alaska, U.S.A.
These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on a going-concern basis, which presumes the realization of assets and discharge of liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future.
As at March 31, 2018, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $13,174,233 compared to $2,244,466 at December 31, 2017. The Company has no revenue generating operations from which it can internally generate funds. On March 13, 2018, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement pursuant to which it issued 24,000,000 common shares at $0.50 per share for gross proceeds of $12,000,000.
The Company will require significant additional financing to continue its operations (including general and administrative expenses) in connection with advancing activities at the Livengood Gold Project and the development of any mine that may be determined to be built at the Livengood Gold Project, and there is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain the additional financing required on acceptable terms, if at all. In addition, any significant delays in the issuance of required permits for the ongoing work at the Livengood Gold Project, or unexpected results in connection with the ongoing work, could result in the Company being required to raise additional funds to advance permitting efforts. The Company’s review of its financing options includes pursuing a future strategic alliance to assist in further development, permitting and future construction costs, although there can be no assurance that any such strategic alliance will, in fact, be realized.
Despite the Company’s success to date in raising significant equity financing to fund its operations, there is significant uncertainty that the Company will be able to secure any additional financing in the current or future equity markets. The amount of funds to be raised and the terms of any proposed equity financing that may be undertaken will be negotiated by management as opportunities to raise funds arise. Specific plans related to the use of proceeds will be devised once financing has been completed and management knows what funds will be available for these purposes.
These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of the Company’s management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position at March 31, 2018 and the results of its operations for the three months then ended. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018. The 2017 year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.
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The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make judgments, 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 revenues and expenses during the period. These judgments, estimates and assumptions are continuously evaluated and are based on management’s experience and knowledge of the relevant facts and circumstances. While management believes the estimates to be reasonable, actual results could differ from those estimates and could impact future results of operations and cash flows.
On May 3, 2018, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
Basis of consolidation
These condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of ITH and its wholly owned subsidiaries TH Alaska, TH US, LPI and 813034 Alberta Ltd. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values due to the short-term maturity of these financial instruments.
Financial instruments measured at fair value are classified into one of three levels in the fair value hierarchy according to the significance of the inputs used in making the measurement. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Fair value as at
December 31, 2017
The Company had the following activity related to capitalized acquisition costs:
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The following table presents costs incurred for exploration and evaluation activities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:
Livengood Gold Project Property
The Livengood property is located in the Tintina gold belt approximately 113 kilometers (70 miles) northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. The property consists of land leased from the Alaska Mental Health Trust, a number of smaller private mineral leases, Alaska state mining claims purchased or located by the Company and patented ground held by the Company.
Details of the leases are as follows:
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Title to mineral properties
The acquisition of title to mineral properties is a detailed and time-consuming process. The Company has taken steps to verify title to mineral properties in which it has an interest. Although the Company has taken every reasonable precaution to ensure that legal title to its properties is properly recorded in the name of the Company, there can be no assurance that such title will ultimately be secured.
The following table presents the accrued liabilities balances at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
March 31, 2018
Accrued liabilities at March 31, 2018 include accruals for general corporate costs and project costs of $63,510 and $112,328, respectively. Accrued liabilities at December 31, 2017 include accruals for general corporate costs and project costs of $34,941 and $166,732, respectively.
During 2011, the Company acquired certain mining claims and related rights in the vicinity of the Livengood Gold Project located near Fairbanks, Alaska. The aggregate consideration for the claims and rights was $13,500,000 in cash plus an additional payment based on the five-year average daily gold price (“Average Gold Price”) from the date of the acquisition (“Additional Payment”). The Additional Payment equaled $23,148 for every dollar that the Average Gold Price exceeded $720 per troy ounce. If the Average Gold Price were less than $720, there would not have been any additional consideration due.
At initial recognition on December 13, 2011, the derivative liability was valued at $23,100,000. As at December 12, 2016, the five-year average daily gold price was $1,354.79, resulting in a derivative liability of $14,694,169. The obligation to make the contingent payment was secured by a Deed of Trust over the rights of the Company in the purchased claims in favor of the vendors. On January 12, 2017, the Company paid $14,694,169 for the timely and full satisfaction of the final derivative payment.
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Authorized
500,000,000 common shares without par value. At December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2018, there were 162,392,996 and 186,522,683 shares issued and outstanding, respectively.
Share issuances
On March 13, 2018, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement pursuant to which it issued 24,000,000 common shares at $0.50 per share for gross proceeds of $12,000,000. Share issuance costs included $83,478 related to the private placement. Following the resignation of director Mark Hamilton on November 6, 2017, the Company recognized an obligation to issue 129,687 common shares, with a value of $63,593. On March 27, 2018, the Company issued the 129,687 common shares in full satisfaction of the obligation.
Stock options
The Company adopted an incentive stock option plan in 2006, as amended September 19, 2012 and reapproved on May 28, 2015 at the Company’s Annual General Meeting (the “2006 Plan”). The essential elements of the 2006 Plan provide that the aggregate number of common shares of the Company’s capital stock that may be made issuable pursuant to options granted under the 2006 Plan may not exceed 10% of the number of issued shares of the Company at the time of the granting of the options. Options granted under the 2006 Plan will have a maximum term of ten years. The exercise price of options granted under the 2006 Plan shall be fixed in compliance with the applicable provisions of the TSX Company Manual in force at the time of grant and, in any event, shall not be less than the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the TSX on the trading day immediately preceding the day on which the option is granted, or such other price as may be agreed to by the Company and accepted by the TSX. Options granted under the 2006 Plan vest immediately, unless otherwise determined by the directors at the date of grant.
On March 21, 2018, the Company granted incentive stock options to certain officers, employees and consultants of the Company to purchase a total of 420,085 common shares in the capital stock of the Company. The options vest 100% on the grant date with an expiry date of March 21, 2024. The exercise price of these options is C$0.61 per common share.
A summary of the status of the 2006 Plan as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and changes is presented below:
The weighted average remaining life of options outstanding at March 31, 2018 was 4.73 years.
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Stock options outstanding are as follows:
Exercise
Price (C$)
A summary of the non-vested options as of March 31, 2018 and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows:
At March 31, 2018, there was unrecognized compensation expense of C$22,130 related to non-vested options outstanding. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining period of approximately 0.84 years.
Share-based payments
During the three month period ended March 31, 2018, there were 420,085 stock options granted by the Company. Share-based payment charges for the three months ended March 31, 2018 totaled $174,167.
During the three month period ended March 31, 2017, there were no incentive stock options granted by the Company. Share-based payment charges for the three months ended March 31, 2017 totaled $12,959.
The following weighted average assumptions were used for the Black-Scholes option pricing model calculations:
The expected volatility used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s shares.
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Deferred Share Unit Incentive Plan
On April 4, 2017, the Company adopted a Deferred Share Unit Plan (the “DSU Plan”). On May 24, 2017, at the Company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, the DSU Plan was approved. The maximum aggregate number of Common Shares that could be issued under the DSU Plan and the 2006 Plan is 10% of the number of issued and outstanding Common Shares (on a non-diluted basis).
In accordance with the Company’s DSU Plan, on October 23, 2017 the Company granted each of the members of the Board (other than those directors nominated for election by Paulson & Co., Inc.) 129,687 DSUs with a grant date fair value (defined as the weighted average of the prices at which the Common Shares traded on the TSX for the five trading days immediately preceding the grant) of CAD 0.62 per grant, or an aggregate of CAD 482,436. The DSUs entitle the holders to receive shares of the Company’s Common Stock without the payment of any consideration. The DSUs vested immediately upon being granted but the shares of Common Stock underlying the DSUs are not deliverable to the grantee until the grantee is no longer serving on the Company’s Board of Directors.
Following the resignation of director Mark Hamilton on November 6, 2017, the Company recorded an obligation to issue 129,687 DSUs valued at $63,593 (CAD 80,406). On March 27, 2018, the Company issued the 129,687 common shares in full satisfaction of the obligation.
DSUs outstanding are as follows:
The Company operates in a single reportable segment, being the exploration and development of mineral properties. The following tables present selected financial information by geographic location:
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The following table discloses, as of March 31, 2018, the Company’s contractual obligations including anticipated mineral property payments. Under the terms of the Company’s mineral property purchase agreements, mineral leases and the terms of the unpatented mineral claims held by it, the Company is required to make certain scheduled acquisition payments, incur certain levels of expenditures, make lease or advance royalty payments, make payments to government authorities and incur assessment work expenditures as summarized in the table below in order to maintain and preserve the Company’s interests in the related mineral properties. If the Company is unable or unwilling to make any such payments or incur any such expenditure, it is likely that the Company would lose or forfeit its rights to acquire or hold the related mineral properties. The following table assumes that the Company retains the rights to all of its current mineral properties, but does not exercise any lease purchase or royalty buyout options:
In December 2011, in accordance with a Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Company, Alaska/Nevada Gold Mines, Ltd. (“AN Gold Mines”) and the Heflinger Group, the Company acquired certain mining claims and related rights in the vicinity of the Livengood Gold Project located near Fairbanks, Alaska. The Company’s derivative liability, as described in Note 6 above, represented the remaining consideration for the purchase of these claims and related rights and was paid in January 2017. Under the Agreement, the payment was made 70% to AN Gold Mines and 30% to the Heflinger Group.
Mr. Hanneman was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Company on March 26, 2015 and subsequently appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective January 31, 2017. Mr. Hanneman was a partner of the general partner, as well as a limited partner, of AN Gold Mines and held an 11.9% net interest in AN Gold Mines.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. All currency amounts are stated in US dollars unless noted otherwise.
Current Business Activities
General
During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and to the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company worked to support a financing and, on March 13, 2018, the Company announced it had completed a non-brokered private placement pursuant to which it issued 24,000,000 common shares at $0.50 per share for gross proceeds of $12.0 million.
On March 12, 2018, the Board approved a 2018 budget of $5.1 million. The work program incorporated in this budget will build upon the metallurgical studies undertaken in 2017 to continue to define and refine the project flowsheet. Using the improved mineralization and alteration models now available for the Livengood gold deposit arising from the work completed in 2017, 4000 kg of metallurgical composites have been selected based on location within the deposit and shipped to SGS Vancouver. Portions of these samples will be processed in 2018 to determine whether different recovery or cost parameters should be applied to different portions of the orebody. The engineering firm of BBA Inc. will be retained to continue to guide the metallurgical program. Work is also planned to advance the environmental baseline efforts needed to support future permitting.
Other Developments
The Board has approved recommendations by management to further reduce corporate overhead costs beginning in 2018, including a reduction in CEO salary by 50% reflecting an approximate 50% reduction in the effort needed to perform the CEO duties, a reduction in board member cash compensation and expense, and staff reductions as appropriate when critical work is completed. Depending upon the level of technical work or permitting efforts underway in future years, these cost savings should bring total project G&A costs into the range of $2.5 million/year, providing the opportunity for a multi-year runway from the proceeds of the March 2018 private placement.
The Company has sufficient funds to complete the test programs and engineering work currently underway.
Results of Operations
Summary of Quarterly Results
Basic and diluted net loss
per common share
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
The Company incurred a net loss of $1,065,220 for the three month period ended March 31, 2018, compared to a net loss of $1,677,977 for the three month period ended March 31, 2017.
Mineral property expenditures decreased $506,904 to $204,212 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $711,116 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 due to the differences in the scope of technical work completed during the periods.
Excluding share-based payment charges of $168,199 and $9,322, respectively, wages and benefits for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased to $359,464 from $447,092 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 primarily due to staffing changes.
Consulting costs were $53,715 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $72,695 for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease of $18,980 is primarily due to the Company’s continued efforts to maintain or reduce spending.
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Travel costs decreased $13,164 to $18,289 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $31,453 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 due to the Company’s continued efforts to maintain or reduce spending.
Investor relations costs decreased $9,990 to $18,507 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $28,497 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 due to reduced on-going investor relations support.
Share-based payment charges
Share-based payment charges for the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were allocated as follows:
Share-based payment charges were $174,167 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $12,959 during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase of $161,208 in share-based payment charges during the period was mainly the result of options granted becoming fully expensed.
Most other expense categories reflected moderate increases or decreases period over period reflecting the Company’s efforts to maintain or reduce spending.
Other items amounted to a loss of $12,299 during the three month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to a loss of $155,263 during the three month period ended March 31, 2017. The Company had a foreign exchange loss of $27,447 during the three month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to a loss of $166,124 during the three month period ended March 31, 2017 as a result of the impact of exchange rates on certain of the Company’s U.S. dollar cash balances. The average exchange rate during the three month period ended March 31, 2018 was C$1 to US$0.7910 compared to C$1 to US$0.7554 for the three month period ended March 31, 2017.
Liquidity Risk and Capital Resources
The Company has no revenue generating operations from which it can internally generate funds. To date, the Company’s ongoing operations have been predominantly financed through sale of its equity securities by way of private placements and the subsequent exercise of share purchase and broker warrants and options issued in connection with such private placements. However, the exercise of warrants/options is dependent primarily on the market price and overall market liquidity of the Company’s securities at or near the expiry date of such warrants/options (over which the Company has no control) and therefore there can be no guarantee that any existing warrants/options will be exercised. There are currently no warrants outstanding.
As at March 31, 2018, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $13,174,233 compared to $2,244,466 at December 31, 2017. The increase of approximately $10.9 million resulted mainly from financing activities of approximately $12.0 million partially offset by expenditures on the Livengood Gold Project of approximately $1.1 million.
Financing activities during the three month period ended March 31, 2018 included completion of a non-brokered private placement pursuant to which it issued 24,000,000 common shares at $0.50 per share for gross proceeds of $12.0 million. Following the resignation of director Mark Hamilton on November 6, 2017, the Company recognized an obligation to issue 129,687 common shares, with a value of $63,593. On March 27, 2018, the Company issued the common shares in full satisfaction of the obligation. Share issuance costs included $83,478 related to the March 2018 private placement.
Financing activities during the three month period ended March 31, 2017 included payment of the final derivative payment of approximately $14.7 million and share issuance costs related to a non-brokered private placement of common shares in December 2014 of $45,000.
The Company had no cash flows from investing activities during the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.
As at March 31, 2018, the Company had working capital of $13,041,367 compared to working capital of $1,993,358 at December 31, 2017. The Company expects that it will operate at a loss for the foreseeable future, but believes the current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient for it to complete its anticipated 2018 work plan at the Livengood Gold Project and satisfy its currently anticipated general and administrative costs through the 2019 fiscal year.
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Despite the Company’s success to date in raising significant equity financing to fund its operations, there is significant uncertainty that the Company will be able to secure any additional financing in the current or future equity markets. See “Risk Factors – We will require additional financing to fund exploration and, if warranted, development and production. Failure to obtain additional financing could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation and could cast uncertainty on our ability to continue as a going concern” included in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Other than cash held by its subsidiaries for their immediate operating needs in the United States, all of the Company’s cash reserves are on deposit with a major Canadian chartered bank. The Company does not believe that the credit, liquidity or market risks with respect thereto have increased as a result of the current market conditions.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Other – Related Party Transactions
In December 2011, in accordance with a Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Company, Alaska/Nevada Gold Mines, Ltd. (“AN Gold Mines”) and the Heflinger Group, the Company acquired certain mining claims and related rights in the vicinity of the Livengood Gold Project located near Fairbanks, Alaska. The Company’s derivative liability, as described in Note 6 to the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, represented the remaining consideration for the purchase of these claims and related rights and was paid in January 2017. Under the Agreement, the payment was made 70% to AN Gold Mines and 30% to the Heflinger Group.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not have any off balance sheet arrangements.
Environmental Regulations
The operations of the Company may in the future be affected from time to time in varying degrees by changes in environmental regulations, including those for future removal and site restoration costs. Both the likelihood of new regulations and their overall effect upon the Company vary greatly and are not predictable. The Company’s policy is to meet or, if possible, surpass standards set by relevant legislation by application of technically proven and economically feasible measures.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. HoldersThe Company has been a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes in recent years and expects to continue to be a PFIC in the future. Current and prospective U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors as to the tax consequences of PFIC classification and the U.S. federal tax treatment of PFICs. Additional information on this matter is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, under “Part II. Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders.”
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of March 31, 2018, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act). Based on the evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2018, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted to the SEC under the Exchange Act: (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in a manner that allows for timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
The effectiveness of our or any system of disclosure controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance that the objectives of the system will be met and is subject to certain limitations, including the exercise of judgement in designing, implementing and evaluating controls and procedures and the assumptions used in identifying the likelihood of future events.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 under the heading “Risk Factors.”
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act, issuers that are operators, or that have a subsidiary that is an operator, of a coal or other mine in the United States are required to disclose specified information about mine health and safety in their periodic reports. These reporting requirement are based on the safety and health requirements applicable to mines under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”) which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”). During the three month period ended March 31, 2018, the Company and its subsidiaries were not subject to regulation by MSHA under the Mine Act and thus no disclosure is required under Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
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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.
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