Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
⌧ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021
OR
◻ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 001-33638
INTERNATIONAL TOWER HILL MINES LTD.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
British Columbia, Canada
N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. EmployerIdentification No.)
2710 - 200 Granville StreetVancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1S4
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
V6C 1S4
(Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (604) 683-6332
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class:
Trading Symbol:
Name of each exchange on which registered:
Common Shares, no par value
THM
NYSE American
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 ⌧ No ◻
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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
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
Non-accelerated filer
⌧
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 ◻ No ⌧
As of July 30, 2021, the registrant had 194,908,184 common shares outstanding.
Page
Part I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1
Financial Statements
6
Item 2
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
19
Item 3
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
23
Item 4
Controls and Procedures
Part II
OTHER INFORMATION
Legal Proceedings
24
Item 1A
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5
Other Information
Item 6
Exhibits
25
SIGNATURES
26
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 disclosure 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 the United States 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”). Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have no demonstrated economic viability. The preliminary assessments on the Livengood Gold 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 disclosure 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 Livengood Gold 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.
3
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,” “plans” 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:
4
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, 2020, which are incorporated herein by reference, as well as other factors described elsewhere in 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.
5
PART 1
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM BALANCE SHEETS
As at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020
(Expressed in US Dollars - Unaudited)
June 30,
December 31,
Note
2021
2020
ASSETS
Current
Cash and cash equivalents
1
$
10,617,438
13,049,293
Prepaid expenses and other
244,412
162,079
Total current assets
10,861,850
13,211,372
Property and equipment
7,463
7,832
Capitalized acquisition costs
55,375,124
Total assets
66,244,437
68,594,328
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
376,636
199,026
Accrued liabilities
302,833
293,965
Total liabilities
679,469
492,991
Shareholders’ equity
Share capital, no par value; unlimited number of authorized shares; 194,908,184 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020
288,032,132
Contributed surplus
35,929,885
35,454,805
Accumulated other comprehensive income
2,063,665
1,759,228
Deficit
(260,460,714)
(257,144,828)
Total shareholders’ equity
65,564,968
68,101,337
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
General Information and Nature of Operations (Note 1)
Commitments (Note 8)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2021
June 30, 2020
Operating expenses
Consulting fees
421,664
340,576
481,665
380,995
Depreciation
342
442
369
885
Insurance
47,027
35,662
87,937
66,886
Investor relations
41,700
31,558
53,893
42,048
Mineral property exploration
1,125,316
536,603
1,665,070
652,023
Office
8,820
6,107
13,405
13,727
Other
4,826
5,190
8,084
9,082
Professional fees
50,019
37,040
96,660
89,160
Regulatory
32,983
19,083
133,006
80,256
Rent
33,688
33,939
67,644
67,872
Travel
4,480
3,599
6,988
5,761
Wages and benefits
263,162
230,203
426,412
384,733
Total operating expenses
(2,034,027)
(1,280,002)
(3,041,133)
(1,793,428)
Other income (expenses)
Gain/(loss) on foreign exchange
(157,829)
(225,095)
(298,516)
316,091
Interest income
3,842
13,341
13,763
50,666
Other income
10,000
5,292
Total other income (expenses)
(143,987)
(206,462)
(274,753)
372,049
Net loss for the period
(2,178,014)
(1,486,464)
(3,315,886)
(1,421,379)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Exchange difference on translating foreign operations
161,045
230,652
304,437
(322,682)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) for the period
Comprehensive loss for the period
(2,016,969)
(1,255,812)
(3,011,449)
(1,744,061)
Basic and diluted loss per share
(0.01)
(0.02)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – basic and diluted
194,908,184
187,573,671
7
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2021
Accumulated
other
Number of
Contributed
comprehensive
shares
Share capital
surplus
income
Total
Balance, December 31, 2020
Stock-based compensation-options
0
107,230
Stock-based compensation-DSUs
367,850
Net loss
Balance, June 30, 2021
Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2021
Balance, March 31, 2021
35,473,776
1,902,620
(258,282,700)
67,125,828
88,259
8
Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2020
Balance, December 31, 2019
278,213,801
35,069,274
1,574,011
(252,626,110)
62,230,976
—
53,635
294,617
Balance, June 30, 2020
35,417,526
1,251,329
(254,047,489)
60,835,167
Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2020
Balance, March 31, 2020
1,020,677
(252,561,025)
61,742,727
9
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
Operating Activities
Loss for the period
Add items not affecting cash:
Changes in non-cash items:
Accounts receivable
22,696
103,194
(101,908)
(75,260)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
183,500
(87,358)
Cash used in operating activities
(2,736,149)
(1,131,666)
Effect of foreign exchange on cash
304,294
(315,828)
Change in cash and cash equivalents
(2,431,855)
(1,447,494)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period
6,937,621
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period
5,490,127
10
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
(Expressed in US dollars – Unaudited)
1. GENERAL INFORMATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
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 2710 - 200 Granville 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), and Livengood Placers, Inc. (“LPI”) (a Nevada 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 June 30, 2021, the Company has 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 June 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $10,617,438 compared to $13,049,293 at December 31, 2020. The Company has no revenue generating operations from which it can internally generate funds.
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. There is no assurance that the Company will make a decision to build a mine at the Livengood Gold Project and, if so, that it 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.
COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus 2019 (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic. This contagious disease outbreak, which has continued to spread, and any related adverse public health developments, has adversely affected workforces, economies, and financial markets globally, potentially leading to an economic downturn. While it is not possible for the Company to predict the duration or magnitude of the adverse results of the outbreak, including as a result of the emergence of variant strains of the virus and ongoing vaccination efforts, and its ultimate effects on the Company’s business, results of operations or ability to raise funds at this time, as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the COVID-19 pandemic has not had any material adverse effects on the Company.
11
2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
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, 2020 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 June 30, 2021 and the results of its operations for the six months then ended. Operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021.
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 August 5, 2021, 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, and LPI. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
3. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
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 nature 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:
There were no financial instruments measured at fair value.
4. MINERAL PROPERTY
The Company had the following activity related to the mineral property:
Amount
Acquisition costs
12
The following table presents costs incurred for exploration and evaluation activities for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:
Exploration costs:
Aircraft
8,400
Environmental
110,890
80,189
Equipment rental
29,923
23,363
Field costs
60,040
49,942
Geological/geophysical
969,428
54,906
Land maintenance and tenure
423,096
425,212
Legal
60,385
12,947
Transportation and travel
2,908
5,464
Total expenditures for the period
Livengood Gold Project Property
The Livengood property is located in the Tintina gold belt approximately 70 miles (113 kilometers) 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:
13
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.
5. ACCRUED LIABILITIES
The following table presents the accrued liabilities balances at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
December 31, 2020
266,070
227,459
Accrued salaries and benefits
36,763
66,506
Total accrued liabilities
Accrued liabilities at June 30, 2021 include accruals for general corporate costs and project costs of $39,191 and $226,879, respectively. Accrued liabilities at December 31, 2020 include accruals for general corporate costs and project costs of $51,151 and $176,308, respectively.
6. SHARE CAPITAL
Authorized
The Company's authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares without par value. At December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2021, there were 194,908,184 shares issued and outstanding.
Share issuances
There were no share issuances during the six months ended June 30, 2021.
14
Stock options
The Company adopted an incentive stock option plan in 2006, as amended September 19, 2012 and reapproved by the Company’s shareholders on May 28, 2015, May 30, 2018, and May 25, 2021 (the “Stock Option Plan”). The essential elements of the Stock Option Plan provide that the aggregate number of common shares of the Company that may be issued pursuant to options granted under the Stock Option Plan and any other share-based compensation arrangements may not exceed 10% of the number of issued shares of the Company at the time of the granting of the options. Options granted under the Stock Option Plan will have a maximum term of ten years. The exercise price of options granted under the Stock Option Plan shall be fixed in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") Company Manual in force at the time of grant and, in any event, shall not be less than the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the TSX on the trading day immediately preceding the day on which the option is granted, or such other price as may be agreed to by the Company and accepted by the TSX. Options granted under the Stock Option Plan vest immediately, unless otherwise determined by the directors at the date of grant.
A summary of the options granted under the Stock Option Plan as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is presented below:
Year Ended
Weighted
Average
Aggregate
Exercise Price
Intrinsic Value
Options
(C$)
Balance, beginning of the period
2,707,049
0.94
2,452,049
Granted
240,000
1.31
255,000
0.92
Balance, end of the period
2,947,049
0.97
975,808
2,287,262
The weighted average remaining life of options outstanding at June 30, 2021 was 2.5 years.
Stock options outstanding are as follows:
Exercise
Expiry Date
Price (C$)
Exercisable
February 25, 2022
1.11
510,000
0.73
270,000
March 10, 2022
120,000
March 16, 2023
1.00
580,000
0.50
130,000
June 9, 2023
30,000
March 21, 2024
0.61
374,817
February 1, 2025
1.35
250,000
August 8, 2025
0.85
187,232
May 27, 2026
170,000
85,000
May 25, 2027
80,000
2,702,049
2,537,049
15
A summary of the non-vested options as of June 30, 2021 and changes during the six months ended June 30, 2021 is as follows:
Weighted average
grant-date fair value
Non-vested options:
options
Outstanding at December 31, 2020
0.76
0.98
Vested
(165,000)
0.87
Outstanding at June 30, 2021
245,000
0.91
At June 30, 2021, there was unrecognized compensation expense of C$174,225 related to non-vested options outstanding. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining period of approximately 1.3 years.
Deferred Share Unit Incentive Plan
On April 4, 2017, the Company adopted a Deferred Share Unit Plan (the “DSU Plan”). The DSU Plan was approved by the Company's shareholders on May 24, 2017 and reapproved by the Company's shareholders on May 27, 2020 and May 25, 2021. The maximum aggregate number of common shares that may be issued under the DSU Plan and the Stock Option Plan is 10% of the number of issued and outstanding common shares (on a non-diluted basis).
During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company granted each of the members of the Board (other than those directors nominated for election by Paulson& Co. Inc.) 63,359 deferred share units (“DSUs”) with a grant date fair value (defined as the weighted average of the prices at which the common shares traded on the exchange with the most volume for the five days immediately preceding the grant) of C$1.31 per DSU, representing C$83,000 per director or C$415,000 in the aggregate.
The DSUs entitle the holders to receive common shares of the Company without the payment of any consideration. The DSUs vested immediately upon being granted but the common shares underlying the DSUs are not deliverable to the holder until the holder is no longer serving on the Board.
DSUs outstanding are as follows:
Weighted Average
Average Exercise
Units
1,834,481
0.81
1,383,396
0.77
Issued
316,795
451,085
2,151,276
0.88
Share-based payments
During the six-month period ended June 30, 2021, there were 240,000 stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan and 316,795 DSUs for common shares of the Company under the DSU Plan. Share-based payment compensation for the six months ended June 30, 2021 totaled $475,080 ($107,230 related to stock options and $367,850 related to DSUs). Of the total expense for the period ended June 30, 2021, $376,410 was included in consulting fees ($8,560 related to stock options and $367,850 related to DSUs), $6,578 was included in investor relations, and $92,092 was included in wages and benefits in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
16
During the six-month period ended June 30, 2020, there were 255,000 stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan and 451,085 DSUs for common shares of the Company under the DSU Plan. Share-based payment compensation for the six months ended June 30, 2020 totaled $348,252 ($53,635 related to stock options and $294,617 related to DSUs). Of the total expense for the period ended June 30, 2020, $300,927 was included in consulting fees ($6,310 related to stock options and $294,617 related to DSUs), $3,155 was included in investor relations, and $44,170 was included in wages and benefits in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
YTD June 30, 2021
Expected life of options
6 years
Risk-free interest rate
0.99%
Annualized volatility
81.22%
Dividend rate
0.00%
Exercise price (C$)
7. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
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:
Canada
United States
Current assets
10,414,630
447,220
10,422,093
55,822,344
12,862,068
349,304
12,869,900
55,724,428
Three months ended
Net loss for the period – Canada
(808,616)
(701,159)
Net loss for the period – United States
(1,369,398)
(785,305)
Six months ended
(1,175,564)
(287,621)
(2,140,322)
(1,133,758)
17
8. COMMITMENTS
The following table discloses the Company’s contractual obligations as of June 30, 2021, including anticipated mineral property payments. Under the terms of the Company’s mineral property purchase agreements, mineral leases and unpatented mineral claims, 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:
Payments Due by Year
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026 and beyond
Mineral Property Leases(1)
426,972
513,715
519,136
524,625
530,183
2,514,631
Mining Claim Government Fees
132,460
794,760
559,432
646,175
651,596
657,085
662,643
3,309,391
18
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, 2020. All currency amounts are stated in U.S. dollars unless noted otherwise.
Current Business Activities
General
In response to improved gold prices and changing worldwide macroeconomic conditions that were supportive of accelerating work on the Livengood Gold Project, on May 7, 2020, the Board directed management to prepare an updated pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) for the Livengood Gold Project.
Recent Developments
On January 12, 2021, the Company announced that the Board had approved a 2021 budget of $5.6 million and endorsed the associated 2021 work program to advance the Livengood Gold Project. The key element of the 2021 work program is the completion of the updated PFS for the Livengood Gold Project that is planned for release in October 2021. The work program will also advance the baseline environmental data collection in critical areas of hydrology and waste rock geochemical characterization needed to support future permitting, as well as advance community engagement.
Results of Operations
Summary of Quarterly Results
Description
March 31, 2021
September 30, 2020
Net income (loss)
(1,137,872)
(1,995,576)
(1,101,763)
Basic and diluted net gain (loss) per common share
March 31, 2020
December 31,2019
September 30, 2019
65,085
(760,035)
(858,406)
0.00
(0.00)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2020
The Company had a net loss of $2,178,014 for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to a net loss of $1,486,464 for the three months ended June 30, 2020.
Mineral property expenditures were $1,125,316 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $536,603 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $588,713 is primarily due to work completed toward the updated PFS for the Livengood Gold Project of $548,085, timing variance of baseline environmental costs of $24,188, and land-related legal costs of $16,440 during the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Excluding share-based costs of $374,178 and $300,927 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, respectively, consulting costs were $47,486 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $39,649 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $7,837 is primarily due to increased investor relations support services.
Regulatory costs were $32,983 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $19,083 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $13,900 is primarily due to increased costs of $7,540 related to the annual general shareholders meeting and additional TSX listing fees of $6,360.
Professional fees were $50,019 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $37,040 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $12,979 is primarily due to increased legal costs.
Insurance costs were $47,027 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $35,662 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $11,365 is primarily due to premium increases.
Excluding share-based costs of $5,462 and $3,155 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, respectively, investor relations costs were $36,238 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $28,403 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $7,835 is primarily due to investor relations conferences and services.
Share-based payment charges
Share-based payment charges for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were allocated as follows:
Expense category:
Consulting
374,178
300,927
5,462
3,155
76,469
44,170
456,109
348,252
Share-based payment charges were $456,109 during the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $348,252 during the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $107,857 is mainly the result of the DSUs issued on May 25, 2021 being expensed at a closing price of C$1.40 as compared to the DSUs issued on May 27, 2020 being expensed at a closing price of C$0.90 ($73,233) and the stock options for common shares of the Company issued to its employees and consultants issued on May 27, 2020 and May 25, 2021 vesting over a period of two years, with only one-third being exercisable upon grant ($34,624).
Other items amounted to total other expense of $143,987 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021, compared to total other expense of $206,462 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. As a result of the impact of exchange rates on certain of the Company’s U.S. dollar cash balances, the Company had a foreign exchange loss of $157,829 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021, compared to a loss of $225,095 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. The average exchange rate during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021 was C$1 to US$0.8144 compared to C$1 to US$0.7221 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. Interest income was $3,842 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2021, compared to $13,341 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. The decrease of $9,499 is primarily due to short-term investment certificates being re-invested upon maturity at a lower interest rate.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2020
The Company had a net loss of $3,315,886 for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to a net loss of $1,421,379 for the six months ended June 30, 2020.
Mineral property expenditures were $1,665,070 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $652,023 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $1,013,047 is primarily due to work completed toward the updated PFS for the Livengood Gold Project
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of $914,521, timing variance of baseline environmental costs of $51,088, and land-related legal costs of $47,438 during the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Excluding share-based costs of $376,410 and $300,927 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, respectively, consulting costs were $105,255 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $80,068 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $25,187 is primarily due to increased investor relations support services.
Regulatory costs were $133,006 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $80,256 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $52,750 is primarily due to increased costs for TSX listing fees and filing fees due to the Company’s increased market valuation.
Insurance costs were $87,937 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $66,886 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $21,051 is primarily due to premium increases.
Excluding share-based costs of $6,578 and $3,155 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, respectively, investor relations costs were $47,315 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $38,893 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $8,422 is primarily due to investor relations conferences and increased services.
Share-based payment charges for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were allocated as follows:
376,410
6,578
92,092
475,080
Share-based payment charges were $475,080 during the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $348,252 during the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $126,828 is mainly the result of the DSUs issued on May 25, 2021 being expensed at a closing price of C$1.40 as compared to the DSUs issued on May 27, 2020 being expensed at a closing price of C$0.90 ($73,233) and the stock options for common shares of the Company issued to its employees and consultants on May 27, 2020 and May 25, 2021 vesting over a period of two years, with only one-third being exercisable upon grant ($53,595).
Other items amounted to expense of $274,753 during the six-month period ended June 30, 2021 compared to income of $372,049 during the six-month period ended June 30, 2020. As a result of the impact of exchange rates on certain of the Company’s U.S. dollar cash balances, the Company had a foreign exchange loss of $298,516 during the six-month period ended June 30, 2021 compared to a gain of $316,091 during the six-month period ended June 30, 2020. The average exchange rate during the six-month period ended June 30, 2021 was C$1 to US$0.8023 compared to C$1 to US$0.7332 during the six-month period ended June 30, 2020. Interest income was $13,763 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2021 compared to $50,666 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2020. The decrease of $36,903 is primarily due to short-term investment certificates being re-invested upon maturity at a lower interest rate.
Liquidity Risk and Capital Resources
The Company has no revenue generating operations from which it can internally generate funds. To date, the Company has predominantly financed its ongoing operations through the sale of its equity securities by way of public offerings and private placements and the subsequent exercise of share purchase and broker warrants and options issued in connection with such private placements.
As at June 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $10,617,438 compared to $13,049,293 at December 31, 2020. The decrease of approximately $2.4 million resulted mainly from the expenditures on operating activities of $2.7 million partially offset by a positive foreign currency transaction impact of $0.3 million.
The Company had no cash flows from financing activities during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.
The Company had no cash flows from investing activities during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.
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As at June 30, 2021, the Company had working capital of $10,182,381 compared to working capital of $12,718,381 at December 31, 2020. 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 PFS and anticipated 2021 work plan at the Livengood Gold Project and satisfy its currently anticipated general and administrative costs through at least the next 12 months.
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. 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, 2020.
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
The following table discloses the Company’s contractual obligations as of June 30, 2021, including anticipated mineral property payments and work commitments. Under the terms of the Company’s mineral property purchase agreements, mineral leases and unpatented mineral claims, 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:
1.
Does not include required work expenditures, as it is assumed that the required expenditure level is significantly below the level of work that will actually be carried out by the Company. Does not include potential royalties that may be payable (other than annual minimum royalty payments).
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.
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Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders
The 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, 2020, 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 June 30, 2021, 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 June 30, 2021, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act: (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and (ii) is 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 June 30, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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, 2020 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 requirements 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 June 30, 2021, 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
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number
3.1*
Amended and Restated Articles of the Company, as amended on June 21, 2021.
31.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1+
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2+
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101*
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheets at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Three and Six Months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and (v) the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.
104*
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
* Filed herewith.
+ Furnished herewith.
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.
International Tower Hill Mines Ltd.
By:
/s/ Karl L. Hanneman
Karl L. Hanneman
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: August 6, 2021
/s/ David Cross
David Cross
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)