September 28, 2007
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
[ ]
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or 12(g) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
[X]
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year endedMarch 31, 2007 (with other information to August 31, 2007, except where noted)
OR
[ ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
[ ]
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report
For the transition period from _______________ to _______________
Commission file number0-29870
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CREAM MINERALS LTD. |
(Exact name of Registrant specified in its charter) CREAM MINERALS LTD. |
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English) BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA |
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) Suite 1400, 570 Granville Street Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 3P1 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
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Title of Each Class | Name of each exchange on which registered |
None |
Not applicable |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act
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Common Shares without Par Value |
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
None
Number of outstanding shares of Cream's only class of issued capital stock as at August 31, 2007:
__________________44,208,809 Common Shares Without Par Value
Indicate by check mark if the issuer is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes No X
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant to require to file reports pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer¨
Accelerated Filer¨
Non-Accelerated Filerþ
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item Registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17 X Item 18
If this report is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes No X
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether Registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
NOT APPLICABLE
Currency and Exchange Rates
All monetary amounts contained in this Registration Statement are, unless otherwise indicated, expressed in Canadian dollars. On August 31, 2007, the Federal Reserve noon rate for Canadian Dollars was U.S.$1.00:Cdn$0.9470 (see Item 4 for further historical Exchange Rate Information).
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 20-F under the captions “Item 3 - Risk Factors”, “Item 4 - Business Overview and Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and “Item 11 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” and elsewhere in this Annual Report and the documents incorporated herein by reference constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Some forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as “believes”, “anticipates”, “intends” or “expects”. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of its business and the industry in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncer tainties and other factors including the factors set forth in other filings with the Canadian securities commissions and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions, which will, among other things, impact demand for gold and silver and other precious metals explored for by the Company; industry capacity; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategy; changes in, or the unintentional failure to comply with, government regulations (especially safety and environmental laws and regulations); changes in the uses of gold, silver and other precious metals; silver and gold price volatility; increased competition; risks of the mining industry; exploration programs not being successful; inability to obtain financing; inability to obtain or, cancellation of, government permits; changes to regulations and mining law; increased reclamation obligations; title defects with respect to properties; risks associated with international operations; and foreign exchange and currency fluctuations. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this annual report are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any written forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Currency and Measurement
All currency amounts in this Registration Statement are stated inCanadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. Conversion of metric units into imperial equivalents is as follows:
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Metric Units | Multiply by | Imperial Units |
Hectares | 2.471 | = acres |
Metres | 3.281 | = feet |
kilometres | 0.621 | = miles (5,280 feet) |
Grams | 0.032 | = ounces (troy) |
Tonnes | 1.102 | = tons (short) (2,000 lbs) |
grams/tonne | 0.029 | = ounces (troy)/ton |
The following table sets out the exchange rates, based on the noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for the conversion of Canadian dollars into United States dollars in effect at the end of the following periods, and the average and the range of high and low noon buying rates for such periods.
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| To August 31, 2007 | 2006
| 2005
| 2004
| 2003
| 2002
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End of Period | $0.9470 | $0.8582 | $0.8579 | $0.8310 | $0.7738 | $0. |
Average for Period | 0.8979 | 0.8818 | 0.8254 | 0.7682 | 0.7139 |
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High for Period | 0.9641 | 0.9100 | 0.8690 | 0.8493 | 0.7738 |
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Low for Period | 0.8437 | 0.8528 | 0.7872 | 0.7158 | 0.6349 |
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| High and low exchange rates for the past six months |
| August 2007 | July 2007 | June 2007 | May 2007 | April 2007 | March 2007 |
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High | 0.9527 | 0.9641 | 0.9453 | 0.9345 | 0.9035 | 0.8673 |
Low | 0.9299 | 0.9355 | 0.9322 | 0.8980 | 0.8633 | 0.8467 |
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS
This Annual Report may use the terms “measured resources” and “indicated resources.” We advise U.S. investors that while such terms are recognized and permitted under Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
This Annual Report may use the terms “inferred resources.” We advise U.S. investors that while such term is recognized and permitted under Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize it. “Inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, as well 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 other economic studies. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
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S.E.C. Industry Guide | National Instrument 43-101 |
Reserve:That part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission requires a final or full Feasibility Study to be completed in order to support either Proven or Probable Reserves and does not recognize other classifications of mineralized deposits. Note that for industrial mineral properties, in addition to the Feasibility Study, “sales” contracts or actual sales may be required in order to prove the project’s commerciality and reserve status. | Mineral Reserve:The economically mineable part of a Measured or Indicated Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility study. This study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be justified. |
Proven Reserves:Reserves for which a quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling; the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well established. | Proven Mineral Reserve:The economically mineable part of a Measured Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility study. This study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction is justified. |
Probable Reserves:Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation. | Probable Mineral Reserve:The economically mineable part of an indicated, and in some circumstances, a Measured Mineral Resource, demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility Study. This study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be justified. |
Further Particulars of Cream’s Properties
Cream is presently in the exploration stage without any assurance that a commercially viable ore deposit (a reserve) exists in any of Cream’s properties until further geological work is done and a comprehensive economic feasibility study is conducted.
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PART 1
ITEM 1.
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2.
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
ITEM 3.
KEY INFORMATION
A.
Selected Financial Data
The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial information with respect to the Company for the periods indicated and is extracted from the more detailed consolidated financial statements included herein. The following constitutes selected financial data for Cream Minerals Ltd. for the last five fiscal years ended March 31, 2007, in Canadian dollars, presented in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) which differs in many respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”). A discussion of measurement differences between Canadian GAAP and US GAAP is contained in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements. The following table should be read in conjunction with “Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”, and the consolidated financial statements included in Item 17. On March 31, 2007, the noon buying rate as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was 1.1530 Canadian dollars per US dollar.
(Canadian Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)
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(Cdn$) | As at March 31 |
Balance Sheet Data | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |
Total assets according to financial statements (Cdn GAAP)(1) | $ |
4,455
$ 1,861 | $ 1,127 | $ 2,755 | $ 637 | Total assets (U.S. GAAP)(2) | 1,433 | 1,055 | 806 | 1,552 | 102 |
Total liabilities | 401 | 467 | 139 | 216 | 502 |
Share capital | 21,483 | 18,530 | 17,440 | 16,517 | 13,857 |
Contributed surplus and Warrants | 1,166 | 796 | 589 | 248 | 13 |
Deficit (Cdn GAAP) | (18,595) | (17,932) | (17,041) | (14,226) | (13,735) |
Deficit (U.S. GAAP) | $ (21,617) | $ (18,738) | $ (17,362) | $ (15,429) | $ (14,247) |
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(Cdn$) | As at March 31 |
Period End Balances (as at) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |
Working capital (deficiency) | $ 4 | $ (34) | $ 134 | $ 1,053 | $ (478) |
Mineral property interests (U.S. GAAP) | 816 | 518 | 385 | 187 | 30 |
Mineral property interests (Cdn GAAP) | 3,838 | 1,324 | 706 | 1,390 | 528 |
Shareholders’ equity (Cdn GAAP) | 4,054 | 1,394 | 989 | 2,539 | 135 |
Shareholders’ equity (deficiency) (U.S. GAAP) | 1,023 | 581 | 657 | 1,347 | (377) |
Number of outstanding shares | 41,801 | 34,766 | 29,691 | 28,050 | 19,865 |
No cash or other dividends have been declared.
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(Canadian Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) |
(Cdn$) | As at March 31 |
Statement of Operations Data | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |
Investment and other income | $ 23 | $ 1 | $ 5 | $ 1 | $ -- |
General and administrative expenses | 686 | 764 | 721 | 479 | 149 |
Write-down (recovery) of value added taxes recoverable | -- | (70) | 104 | -- | -- |
Write-down of investments | -- | 25 | -- | -- | -- |
Mineral property write-downs | -- | 173 | 1,996 | 13 | 1,107 |
Loss according to financial statements (CDN GAAP) | (663) | (891) | (2,815) | (491) | (1,256) |
Loss from continuing operations per common share (CDN GAAP) | (0.02) | (0.03) | (0.07) | (0.02) | (0.07) |
Loss according to financial statements (U.S. GAAP) | (2,879) | (1,376) | (1,922) | (1,183) | (593) |
Loss per share (U.S. GAAP)(2) | (0.07) | (0.04) | (0.07) | (0.05) | (0.03) |
Notes:
(1)
Under Canadian GAAP applicable to junior mining exploration companies, mineral exploration expenditures can be deferred on prospective properties until such time as it is determined that further exploration is not warranted, at which time the property costs are written off. Cream has capitalized the exploration costs as incurred, which is not consistent with U.S. GAAP, whereby all exploration expenditures are expensed until an independent feasibility study has determined that the property is capable of economic commercial production.
(2)
Under Canadian GAAP, management incentive shares held in escrow are included in the calculation of loss per share. Under U.S. GAAP, shares held in escrow are excluded from the weighted average number of shares outstanding until such shares are released for trading. No Cream shares are held in escrow.
Additionally, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.128: Earnings per Share (“SFAS 128”) replaces the presentation of primary earnings per share (“EPS”) with a presentation of both basic and diluted EPS for all entities with complex capital structures, including a reconciliation of each numerator and denominator. Basic EPS excludes dilutive securities and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the year. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities were converted into common stock and is computed similarly to fully diluted EPS pursuant to previous accounting pronouncements. SFAS 128 applies equally to loss per share presentations.
Stock options and warrants outstanding were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share as their inclusion would be antidilutive.
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The tables below include the quarterly results for the years ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.
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(Cdn$) | Year Ended March 31, 2007 |
Statement of Operations Data | Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 |
Investment and other income | $ 7,384 | $ 614 | $ 13,179 | $ 1,322 |
General and administrative expenses | 157,452 | 146,067 | 116,597 | 185,734 |
Stock-based compensation | 29,277 | 18,045 | 15,105 | 5,440 |
Property investigations | -- | 12,132 | -- | -- |
Loss according to financial statements (Cdn GAAP) | (179,345) | (175,630) | (118,523) | (189,852) |
Loss according to financial statements (U.S. GAAP) | (451,645) | (727,628) | (794,758) | (904,860) |
Loss from continuing operations per common share | (0.01) | (0.00) | (0.00) | (0.01) |
Loss per share (U.S. GAAP)(2) | (0.01) | (0.02) | (0.02) | (0.02) |
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(Cdn$) | Year Ended March 31, 2006 |
Statement of Operations Data | Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 |
Investment and other income | $ 189 | $ 49 | $ 44 | $ 283 |
General and administrative expenses | 214,092 | 242,407 | 150,628 | 156,847 |
Write-down of investment | -- | -- | 24,999 | -- |
Recovery of value added tax | -- | 69,841 | -- | -- |
Mineral property write-downs | 113,044 | 59,653 | -- | -- |
Loss according to financial statements (Cdn GAAP) | (326,947) | (232,170) | (175,583) | (156,564) |
Loss according to financial statements (U.S. GAAP) | (585,804) | (285,606) | (279,337) | (225,453) |
Loss from continuing operations per common share | (0.01) | (0.01) | (0.01) | (0.00) |
Loss per share (U.S. GAAP)(2) | (0.02) | (0.01) | (0.01) | (0.00) |
See Item 17 for accompanying consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for further details, including note 13 that reconciles Canadian GAAP to U.S. GAAP.
B.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
C.
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
D.
Risk Factors
The following is a brief discussion of those distinctive or special characteristics of Cream’s operations and industry, which may have a material impact on, or constitute risk factors in respect of Cream’s financial performance.
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Financial Risk Factors
Cream currently has no source of operating cash flow and has a history of operating losses. Cream currently has no revenues from operations and all of its mineral property interests are in the exploration stage. The Company will not receive revenues from operations at any time in the near future, and Cream has no prior years’ history of earnings or cash flow. Cream has not paid dividends on its shares at any time since incorporation and does not anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future. Cream’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming Cream will continue on a going-concern basis. However, unless additional funding is obtained, this assumption will have to change and Cream’s assets may be written down to realizable values. Cream has incurred losses since inception (deficit at March 31, 2007, is $18.6 million), which casts substantial doubt on the ability of Cream to continue as a going-concern. Cream has no revenue other than interest income. A mining project can typically require five years or more between discovery, definition, development and construction and as a result, no production revenue is expected from any of the Company’s exploration properties in that time frame. All of Cream’s short to medium-term operating and exploration expenses must be paid from its existing cash position or external financing. At March 31, 2007, Cream had working capital of $3,610 compared to a working capital deficiency of $34,142 at March 31, 2006. Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities. Subsequent to March 31, 2007, to the date of the Company’s audit report of July 25, 2007, 645,000 stock options were exercised at prices ranging from $0.15 to $0.54, for proceeds of $144,380, and 1,745,300 warrants were exercised at $0.45, for proceeds of $785,385 to the treasury. The Company will requi re further equity infusion to complete the planned exploration programs in Mexico, Sierra Leone, and Canada. In addition, funds have been advanced to the Company by Frank A. Lang, the Company’s significant shareholder, for working capital. At August 31, 2007, $350,000 had been advanced to the Company by Mr. Lang. These funds will have to be repaid from any equity capital raised by the Company.
Cream may be unable to obtain the funds necessary to expand exploration. Cream’s operations consist, almost exclusively, of cash consuming activities given that its main mineral project is in the exploration stage. Cream will need to receive significant (upwards of $1 million) in new equity capital or other funding annually for the foreseeable future in order to fund its current planned exploration programs, in addition to the working capital received by the exercise of warrants and stock options received subsequent to the March 31, 2007, year end, and failing that, it may cease to be economically viable. To date, the only sources of funds that have been available to the Company are the sale of equity capital or the offering by the Company of an interest in its properties to be earned by another parties or parties carrying out further development thereof. We currently do not have sufficient financial re sources to undertake all of the planned exploration programs in fiscal 2008. This includes significant expenditure on diamond exploration in Sierra Leone and an additional drilling program in Mexico. The Company does not have enough funds available for the exploration planned for the fall and winter of 2007, but will require financing for exploration on all of its properties. We have been successful in the past in obtaining financing through the sale of equity securities, but as a venture capital company, it is often difficult to obtain adequate financing when required, and it is not necessarily the case that the terms of such financings will be favourable. If we fail to obtain additional financing on a timely basis, the Company could forfeit its interest in its mineral property interests, dilute its interests in its properties and/ or reduce or terminate operations. The Company’s exploration programs would have to be prioritized to fit within cash availability.
Currently, Cream is reviewing strategies for private placement equity financing that would carry the Company through the next year of operations at a minimum. It is expected that warrants would be attached as part of the private placement to fund the Company for a further one to two-year period. Any such financings will result in dilution of the Company, depending on the number of common shares issued.
Volatile gold and silver prices can cause significant changes in the Company’s share price because as the prices of precious metals increase or decrease, the economic viability of the mineral properties is affected. Cream has no history of mining or sources of revenue. It is dependent upon financing from forms of capital, whether from issuance of its common shares, joint ventures, or other form of business venture. The Company is exploring for gold, and historically, the prices of the common shares of junior mining companies are very volatile. This volatility may be partly attributed to volatility of gold and silver prices, and also to the success or failure of the Company’s exploration programs.
Environmental and Regulatory Risk Factors
Compliance with environmental regulations could affect future profitability and timeliness of operations. The current and anticipated future operations of Company require permits from various federal, territorial and local
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governmental authorities. Companies engaged in the exploration and development of mines and related facilities must comply with applicable laws, regulations and permits.
The Company’s exploration activities are subject to various laws governing land use, the protection of the environment, prospecting, development, commodity prices, exports, taxes, labour standards, occupational safety and health, waste disposal, toxic substances, mine safety and other matters. Cream believes it is in substantial compliance with all material laws and regulations which currently apply to its activities. The Company may be unable to obtain all permits required for exploration and development, and the costs of obtaining these permits may not be on reasonable terms. Existing laws and regulations may be modified, which could have an adverse effect on any exploration project that the Company might undertake.
The exploration activities conducted by the Company have not progressed beyond drilling, and as such, reclamation bonds posted by the Company have been nominal. Reclamation of drill sits and access to these sites, once completed to the satisfaction of the governmental body responsible, results in the return of any bonds posted.
Failure to comply with environmental and reclamation rules could result in penalties. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment or remedial actions. The Company and its employees have been involved in the exploration of mineral properties for many years. Currently, the operations of the Company have been limited to exploration, and no mining activity has yet been undertaken. The mining industry is closely regulated in North America, where the Company has most of its operations, so that permitting is required before any work is undertaken where there is any form of land disturbance. Exploration activity undertaken in Sierra Leone and Mexico is subject to the laws and regulations of the respective countries, but land disturbance has been minimal and all required reclamation has been completed. In addition, baseline studies have been initiated in Sierra Leone.
Risk Factors Associated with Mining and Exploration
Cream’s exploration efforts may be unsuccessful in locating viable mineral resources. Resource exploration is a speculative business, characterized by a number of significant risks, including, among other things, unprofitable efforts resulting not only from the failure to discover mineral deposits but also from finding mineral deposits, which, though present, are insufficient in quantity and quality to return a profit from production.
There is no certainty that the expenditures to be made by the Company on the exploration of its properties and prospects as described herein, in particular, the Casierra Diamond property, will result in discoveries of mineralized material in commercial quantities.
Most exploration projects do not result in the discovery of commercially mineable ore deposits and no assurance can be given that any particular level of recovery or ore reserves will in fact be realized or that any identified mineral deposit will ever qualify as a commercially mineable (or viable) ore body which can be legally and economically exploited.
Cream’s projects have uncertain project realization values. Cream defers (capitalizes) acquisition and exploration costs incurred in connection with its Projects on its balance sheet in accordance with Canadian GAAP. Although Cream believes these costs (of approximately $1.324 million) are recoverable, notwithstanding the mineralized materials contained at the projects are not currently economically viable or classified as ore, there can be no assurance that Cream could dispose of the projects for their financial statement carrying values, and in such circumstances this would mean a diminution in the book value of shareholders’ equity.
Cream may not be able to market the minerals acquired or discovered by the Company due to factors beyond the control of the Company. The marketability of minerals acquired or discovered by the Company may be affected by numerous factors which are beyond the control of the Company and which cannot be accurately predicted, such as market fluctuations, the proximity and capacity of milling facilities, mineral markets and processing equipment, and such other factors as government regulation, including regulation relating to royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection, the combination of which factors may result in the Company not receiving an adequate return on investment capital.
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Other Risk Factors
Cream is dependent on its ability to recruit and retain key personnel. The success of the activities of Cream is dependent to a significant extent on the efforts and abilities of its management. Investors must be willing to rely to a significant extent on their discretion and judgment. Cream does not maintain key employee insurance for any of its employees. The President of the Company is 83 years of age, and as such, there is a need to recruit a replacement. The Company has relied on the President of the Company for many of its financings to date. Cream has relied on and will continue to rely upon consultants and others for exploration, development and technical expertise. The ability of the Company to retain and its ability to continue to pay for services are dependent upon the ability of the Company to obtain adequate financing to continue operating as a going concern.
Further funding will be required to avoid loss of interest in certain of its mineral properties. Cream’s acquisition rights to the various projects are contingent on its ability to meet its funding commitments. Currently, Cream’s only means of generating funds is through equity offerings of its securities, and there can be no assurance that such financings will generate any or sufficient amounts to allow Cream to discharge its obligations, which include cash payments and required exploration expenditures in addition to issuances of its common shares. In the event Cream is unable to discharge its obligations in a timely manner, Cream may be forced to forfeit interests in its mineral property interests.
Cream’s title to mineral property interests may be challenged. Although Cream has done a review of titles to its mineral interests it has not obtained title insurance or any formal legal opinion with respect to its properties and there is no guarantee of title. The mineral properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements or transfers or native land claims, and title may be affected by undetected defects. Cream’s mineral property interests consist of mineral claims, which have not been surveyed, and therefore, the precise area and location of such claims or rights may be in doubt. As there are unresolved native land claim issues in British Columbia, the Company’s properties and prospects in this jurisdiction may be affected in the future. The Company’s mineral properties in British Columbia are early stage exploration, and have no known mineral resources or reserves.
The Casierra Diamond property in Sierra Leone and the Nuevo Milenio property in Mexico also have no known mineral resources or reserves. The title to the Casierra Diamond properties is held by Casierra Diamond Corporation (“CDC”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc. (“CDF”). The Company has earned a 70% interest in CDF’s interest in two exclusive prospecting licence areas in Sierra Leone. To date, the only sources of funds that have been available to the Company are the sale of equity capital or the offering by the Company of an interest in its properties to be earned by another parties or parties carrying out further development thereof.
Cream’s directors and officers serve as directors and officers of other publicly traded junior resource companies. Some of the directors and officers of Cream serve as officers and/or directors of other resource exploration companies and are engaged and will continue to be engaged in the search for additional resource opportunities on their own behalf and on behalf of other companies, and situations may arise where these directors and officers will be in direct competition with Cream. Such potential conflicts, if any, will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant provisions of British Columbia corporate and common law. In order to avoid the possible conflict of interest which may arise between the directors’ duties to Cream and their duties to the other companies on whose boards they serve, the directors and officers of Cream expect that participation in exploration prospects offered to the director s will be allocated among or between the various companies that they serve on the basis of prudent business judgement and the relative financial abilities and needs of the companies.
We may not be able to insure certain risks which could negatively impact our operating results. In the course of exploration, development and production of mineral properties, certain risks, and in particular, unexpected or unusual geological and operating conditions including rock bursts, unusual or unexpected formations, formation pressures, cave-ins, land-slides fires, explosions, flooding and earthquakes, power outages, labour disruptions, and the inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment or labour may occur. It is not always possible to fully insure against such risks and the Company may decide not to take out insurance against such risks as a result of high premiums or other reasons. Should such liabilities arise, they could reduce or eliminate any future profitability and result in increasing costs and a decline in the value of the securities of the Company.
U.S. investors may not be able to enforce their civil liabilities against the Company or its directors, controlling persons and officers. It may be difficult to bring and enforce suits against the Company. The Company is a corporation incorporated in British Columbia under theBusiness Corporations Act (British Columbia) and,
11
consequently, there is a risk that Canadian courts may not enforce judgements of U.S. courts or enforce, in an original action, liabilities predicated upon the U.S. federal securities laws directly. A majority of the Company’s directors and officers are residents of Canada and all of the Company’s assets are located outside of the United States. Consequently, it may be difficult for United States investors to effect service of process upon those directors or officers who are not residents of the United States, or to realize in the United States upon judgements of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities under United States securities laws. It is unlikely that an original action could be brought successfully in Canada against any of such persons or the Company predicated solely upon such civil liabilities under the U.S. Securities Act.
Cream has been operating in the foreign jurisdictions of Sierra Leone and Mexico, which have different risks than those of British Columbia, Canada. Cream’s activities in Mexico and Sierra Leone will be subject not only to risks common to operations in the mining industry, but as well the political and economic uncertainties of operating in foreign jurisdictions, namely Mexico and Sierra Leone. This may result in risk such as possible misinterpretation of laws, unilateral modification of mining or exploration rights, operating restrictions, increased taxes, environmental regulation, any or all of which could have an adverse impact upon Cream. Cream’s operations may also be affected in varying degrees by political and economic instability, terrorism, crime, extreme fluctuations in currency exchange rates and inflation. Cream’s operations and exploration activities in Mexico are subject to Mexican federal and state laws an d regulations governing protection of the environment. These laws are continually changing and, as a general matter, are becoming more restrictive.
Certain of Cream’s mineral properties are located in Sierra Leone and are subject to its laws and regulations. Mineral exploration and mining activities may be affected in varying degrees by political stability and government regulations relating to the mining industry and foreign investors in Sierra Leone. Any changes in regulations or shifts in political conditions are beyond the control of the Company and may adversely affect its business. Operations may be affected in varying degrees by government regulations policies or directives with respect to restrictions on production, price controls, export controls, income taxes, expropriation of property, repatriation of income, royalties, environmental legislation and mine safety. The Company may also be required to negotiate mining leases with the Sierra Leone government. Despite clear language in the Mines and Minerals Act, 2003 (“MMA”) to the contrary, the government may impose conditions that could affect the viability of a development project such as providing the government with a free carried interest or providing subsidies for the development of local infrastructure or other social assistance. There can be no assurance that the Company‘s leases and terms on these leases will have commercially acceptable terms or that these mining leases will be successfully enforced in Sierra Leone.
Operations may also be affected in varying degrees by political and economic instability, economic or other sanctions imposed by other countries, terrorism civil wars, guerrilla activities, military repression, crime, extreme fluctuation in currency exchange rates and high inflation. The developing country status and political climate of Sierra Leone will make it more difficult for the Company to obtain any required project financing because individuals and institutions may not be willing to finance projects in this country due to the investment risk.
Civil war in Sierra Leone in prior years caused delays in obtaining mining leases by the holders of the leases.Sierra Leone suffered a major civil war from 1991 to 2002. This resulted in approximately 50,000 deaths and around one-third of the population moving to neighbouring countries as refugees.
The former president, President Kabbah, was elected to office in elections in 1996; however, in 1997 his administration was overthrown by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (“AFRC”), a rebel military group, and the democratically elected administration was only reinstated in March 1998 after the intervention of Nigerian-led troops.
There was a second attempt to overthrow the government in 1999 by the Revolutionary United Front (“RUF”) and AFRC, which led to the introduction of United Nations peacekeepers later that year. The Nigerian-led troops then departed and the RUF immediately attacked the United Nations forces, holding hundreds of personnel hostage and capturing their arms and ammunition. After further violent clashes between the RUF and the United Nations troops, the civil war was officially declared to be over in January 2002.
Sierra Leone's National Elections Commission (NEC) announced on Saturday August 25, 2007, the certified results of recent presidential and parliamentary elections. The opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) party won the majority seats in parliament but no winner was declared for the presidency as 55% of the votes are required by the country's constitution for a first round victory. As a result, there will be a second round of presidential elections
12
based on simple majority votes on September 8, 2007, between Earnest Koroma of the opposition APC party and Solomon Berewa of the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party.
As of September 2004, the majority of United Nations (“UN”) peacekeeping troops have been withdrawn, with approximately 8,400 troops remaining at September 2004. The UN Mission came to a close at the end of 2005. There are approximately 1,000 peacekeeping personnel remaining in Sierra Leone, which are under the newly created UN Integrated Office for Sierra Leone, which took over from the UN Mission in Sierra Leone at the beginning of January 2006.
The major stability threat to Sierra Leone comes from the Liberian border area in the southeast. Neighbouring Liberia has suffered from a 14-year conflict and the area, which borders Sierra Leone, remains volatile with large numbers of refuges on the move. There is also a threat from disparate rebel groups, warlords and youth gangs from Liberia creating insurgencies, arms trafficking and ethnic conflicts around the border regions. Any resurgence in civil unrest could have a material effect on the Company’s activities in Sierra Leone, and consequently, on the Company’s share price.
The infrastructure in Sierra Leone has been seriously damaged by its recent civil war. Failure in electrical power and shortages of the supply of diesel fuel, mechanical parts and other items required for the Company’s operations occur frequently in the country. Extended periods without electricity or other necessary elements required to support its operations could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition. The Company may need to build its own infrastructure to support its operations.
The fate of the economy now depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial foreign aid to supplement government revenues. The working population of Sierra Leone has low literacy rates and HIV levels are at around seven per cent. In addition, the economy has to accommodate around 65,000 rebels and pro-government militiamen who have given up their weapons and rejoined society.
There is a risk of appropriation of assets in Sierra Leone. Given the relatively unstable political environment in Sierra Leone, which is improving, it is possible that the current system of diamond exploration, prospecting and development may change resulting in nationalization or expropriation of the Mineral Licenses. While the risk may appear remote at the time, this risk should not be discounted.
There is a risk of restrictions on repatriation of earnings or capital from Sierra Leone. Currently, there are no restrictions on the repatriation from Sierra Leone of earnings or capital to foreign entities. However, there can be no assurance that any such restrictions on repatriation of earnings or capital from Sierra Leone, or any other country where the Company may invest, will not be imposed in the future.
There are risks in the diamond industry, which may affect the Company. There is no assurance that, even if commercial quantities and qualities of diamonds are discovered, a market will exist for the profitable sale of such diamonds. The value of precious stones, particularly diamonds, varies widely according to size, colour and freedom from flaws. The market price of diamonds and other precious stones is affected by numerous factors beyond the control of the Company, including international economic and political conditions, levels of international supply and demand for diamonds, changes in international investment patterns and global or regional consumption patterns, production costs, costs of substitutes, inventory levels and carrying costs, expectations or rates of inflation, currency availability and exchange rates, interest rates, speculative activities in connection with diamonds and increased production due to improved mining and prod uction methods. If the price of certain stones should drop significantly, the economic prospect of operations in which the Company has an interest could be significantly reduced or rendered uneconomic. In addition, De Beers and the Diamond Trading Company, which is owned by De Beers, retain substantial influence, controlling approximately half the world production of diamonds.
Downturns in general economic conditions and uncertainties regarding future economic prospects have historically affected sales of luxury goods such as jewellery. Accordingly, such downturns or uncertainties in the future or a decline in consumer confidence could have a material adverse affect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company.
The values attributed to Cream’s mineral properties do not necessarily reflect realizable value. The amounts attributed to Cream’s properties in its financial statements represent acquisition and exploration expenditures to date, and should not be taken to necessarily reflect realizable value.
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Risks Relating to an Investment in the Securities of the Company
The Company could be deemed a Passive Foreign Investment Company which could have negative consequences for U.S. investors. Potential investors who are U.S. taxpayers should be aware that Cream expects to be a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for the current fiscal year, and may also have been a PFIC in prior and may also be a PFIC in subsequent years. If Cream is a PFIC for any year during a U.S. taxpayer’s holding period, then such U.S. taxpayer generally will be required to treat any so-called “excess distribution” received on its common shares, or any gain realized upon a disposition of common shares, as ordinary income and to pay an interest charge on a portion of such distribution or gain, unless the taxpayer makes a qualified electing fund (“QEF”) election or a mark-to-market election with respect to the shares of Cream. In certain circumstances, the sum of the tax and the interest charge may exceed the amount of the excess distribution received, or the amount of proceeds of disposition realized, by the taxpayer. A U.S. taxpayer who makes a QEF election generally must report on a current basis its share of Cream’s net capital gain and ordinary earnings for any year in which Cream is a PFIC, whether or not Cream distributes any amounts to its shareholders. A U.S. taxpayer who makes the mark-to-market election generally must include as ordinary income each year the excess of the fair market value of the common shares over the taxpayer’s tax basis therein. U.S. taxpayers are advised to seek the counsel of their professional tax advisors.
Cream’s stock price may limit its ability to raise additional capital by issuing common shares. The low price of Cream’s common stock also limits Cream’s ability to raise additional capital by issuing additional shares. There are several reasons for these effects. First, the internal policies of certain institutional investors prohibit the purchase of low-priced stocks. Second, many brokerage houses do not permit low-priced stocks to be used as collateral for margin accounts or to be purchased on margin. Third, some brokerage house policies and practices tend to discourage individual brokers from dealing in low-priced stocks. Finally, broker’s commissions on low-priced stocks usually represent a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions on higher priced stocks. As a result, Cream’s shareholders pay transaction costs that are a higher percentage of their total share value than if Cr eam’s share price were substantially higher.
The liquidity of Cream’s shares in the United States markets may be limited or more difficult to effectuate because Cream is a “Penny Stock” issuer. Cream’s stock may be subject to U.S. “Penny Stock” rules which may make the stock more difficult for U.S. shareholders to trade on the open market. The SEC has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in “penny” stocks. Penny stocks are equity securities with a price of less than US$5.00 per share (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or quoted on the NASDAQ system provided that current prices and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system.
The Penny Stock Rules require a broker-dealer, prior to effecting a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from such rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the SEC that provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. In particular, the statement must contain:
(i)
A description of the nature and level of risk in the market for penny stocks in both public offerings and secondary trading;
(ii)
A description of the broker-dealer’s duties to the customer and of the rights and remedies available to the customer with respect to a violation to such duties or other requirements of securities laws;
(iii)
A brief, clear, narrative description of a dealer market, including bid and ask prices for penny stocks and the significance of the spread between the bid and ask price;
(iv)
A toll-free telephone number for inquiries on disciplinary actions;
(v)
The definitions of significant terms in the disclosure document or in the conduct of trading in penny stocks; and
(vi)
Such other information and be in such form, including language, type, size and format, as the Commission shall require by rule or regulation.
The broker-dealer must obtain from the customer a written acknowledgement of receipt of the standardized disclosure document.
The broker-dealer must provide the customer with:
(i)
The inside bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, or other bid and offer price information for the penny stock, if inside bid and offer quotations are not available;
(ii)
The compensation of the broker-dealer and its salespersons in the transaction;
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(iii)
The number of shares to which such bid and ask prices apply, or other comparable information relating to the depth an liquidity of the market for such stock; and
(iv)
A monthly account statement showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account.
In addition, the Penny Stock Rules require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from such rules the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk disclosure statement, a written agreement to transactions involving penny stocks, and a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement. At the present market prices, Cream’s common shares will (and in the foreseeable future are expected to continue to) fall within the definition of a penny stock. Accordingly, United States broker-dealers trading in Cream’s shares will be subject to the Penny Stock Rules. Rather than complying with those rules, some broker-dealers may refuse to attempt to sell penny stock. As a result, shareholders and their broker-dealers in the United States may find it more difficult to sell their shares of Cream, if a market for the shares should develop in the United States.
The market for the Company’s stock has been subject to volume and price volatility which could negatively affect a shareholder’s ability to buy or sell the Company’s shares. The market for the common shares of the Company may be highly volatile for reasons both related to the performance of the Company or events pertaining to the industry (e.g. mineral price fluctuation/high production costs/accidents) as well as factors unrelated to the Company or its industry. In particular, market demand for products incorporating minerals in their manufacture fluctuates from one business cycle to the next, resulting in change of demand for the mineral and an attendant change in the price for the mineral. The Company’s common shares can be expected to be subject to volatility in both price and volume arising from market expectations, announcements and press releases regarding the Company’s business, and changes in estimates and ev aluations by securities analysts or other events or factors. In recent years the securities markets in the United States and Canada have experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and the market prices of securities of many companies, particularly small-capitalization companies such as the Company have experienced wide fluctuations that have not necessarily been related to the operations, performances, underlying asset values, or prospects of such companies. For these reasons, the Company’s common shares can also be expected to be subject to volatility resulting from purely market forces over which the Company will have no control. Further, despite the existence of a market for trading the Company’s common shares in Canada, stockholders of the Company may be unable to sell significant quantities of common shares in the public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of the stock. Cream’s shares have ranged between Cdn$0.16 and Cdn$1.38 in the last three years.
Significant potential equity dilution and end of lock-ups. A summary of Cream’s diluted share capital is as follows:
Cream has a large number of stock options outstanding (4,979,900 at August 31, 2007), all of which are exercisable at prices ranging from $0.165 to $0.54 per share which will likely act as an upside damper on the trading range of Cream’s shares. There are no common shares of Cream remaining subject to hold period restrictions in Canada and no shares with hold restrictions in the United States as of August 31, 2007. At August 31, 2007, there are 1,000,0000 warrants exercisable at a price of $0.40 until March 21, 2008, and 1,250,000 warrants exercisable at a price of $0.50 until February 21, 2009. The resale of outstanding shares from the exercise of dilutive securities would have a depressing effect on the market for Cream’s shares. Dilutive securities at August 31, 2007, represent approximately 16.35% of Cream’s issued and outstanding shares.
ITEM 4.
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A.
History and Development of the Company
The Company’s executive office is located at:
Suite 1400 – 570 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 3P1
Telephone: (604) 687-4622
Facsimile: (604) 687-4212
Email:info@creamminerals.com
Website:www.creamminerals.com
The contact person is Vancouver, British Columbia, is Frank A. Lang, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.
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The Company does not have an agent in the United States. The mailing address of the Company is the Company’s executive office at the address noted above.
Cream operates directly and also through one wholly-owned subsidiary, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“Cream de Mexico”). References to “Cream” or to “the Company” include Cream de Mexico except where otherwise indicated
The Company’s fiscal year end is March 31.
The Company’s common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “CMA.” Cream also trades on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board in the United States under the symbol CRMXF, and since January has traded on the Frankfurt market under the symbol “DFL”.
Cream Minerals Ltd. ("Cream", or the "Company") was incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia as Cream Silver Mines N.P.L. on October 12, 1966, with an authorized capital of 3,000,000 shares, each having a par value of $0.50. By Special Resolution passed on July 12, 1974, Cream cancelled its Memorandum and Articles and substituted a new Memorandum and Articles therefore providing for the limited liability of members and the increase of the authorized capital to 10,000,000 shares with a par value of $0.50 each. By Special Resolution passed September 24, 1987, Cream again altered its Memorandum, changing its name to Cream Silver Mines Ltd. in its English form and "Mines Cream Silver Ltee." in its French form and amending its authorized share capital to 30,000,000 common shares without par value. Last, by Special Resolution passed September 15, 1994, Cream alt ered its Memorandum to consolidate its authorized and issued share capital of 30,000,000 common shares on a five-for-one basis into 6,000,000 common shares authorized, and issued common shares were consolidated from 18,707,937 common shares on a five-for-one basis into 3,741,587 common shares; to further increase its authorized capital to 50,000,000 common shares without par value (the "Common Shares"); and to change its name to Cream Minerals Ltd. Cream has been listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX Venture"), formerly the Vancouver Stock Exchange (“VSE”), since June 3, 1970. The Company subsequently altered its Memorandum to increase its authorized capital to 500,000,000 common shares. Effective March 29, 2004, theCompany Act (British Columbia) was replaced by theBusiness Corporations Act (British Columbia). TheBusiness Corporations Act (British Columbia) does not require a company’s Notice of Articles to contain a nu merical limit on the authorized capital with respect to each class of shares. Effective September 21, 2004, the Company altered the authorized capital of the Company from 500,000,000 shares without par value to an unlimited number of shares without par value.
At Cream’s request, the VSE placed Cream on inactive status on August 12, 1994. Cream had requested inactive status in order to reorganize its affairs after the British Columbia provincial government placed Cream’s Vancouver Island mineral claims adjoining those of Westmin Resources Ltd. in moratorium, and refused to grant Cream a permit to explore these claims. The claims, in Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island, were placed in moratorium in connection with the Strathcona Park area being declared a provincial park in 1972. These actions by the provincial government left Cream with no viable project at the time and with little working capital. The claims currently remain in moratorium. Throughout the early to mid-1970s, Cream initiated several court cases seeking compensation for these claims. The matter was ultimately decided by a decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal denying Cream’s right to compensation. Leave to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada was refused and Cream was then advised that it was without further legal recourse with respect to its Vancouver Island claims. Recently, the British Columbia Court of Appeal specifically overruled its previous decision in the Cream case. The Company reviewed its legal position in the light if this development, and has been advised that it remains bound by the previous decision.
Following Cream’s entry into inactive status, Cream embarked on a reorganization program that included a consolidation of its issued and outstanding share capital and subsequent increase of authorized capital (as described above); a restructuring of the Board of Directors and appointment of new officers; a review of its financial affairs which included completing two private placements for the issuance of a total of 680,000 units, each consisting of one common share and one warrant, at a price of $0.35 per unit, which raised a total of $231,000; and a review of its property holdings. During Cream’s inactive period, certain of its claim groups in British Columbia were allowed to lapse, and others were sold off. Following completion of this reorganization, Cream resumed active status on April 11, 1996.
All references to currency are expressed in Canadian Dollars unless otherwise indicated.
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Since its incorporation in 1966, the Company has been in the business of acquiring and exploration mineral properties. For most of the past three completed years, and prior to that, the Company has been principally attempting to locate deposits of precious metals in the Province of British Columbia, Canada and Mexico. The Company also has mineral claims in the Province of Manitoba, and in February 2005, entered into an agreement to explore for diamonds in Sierra Leone.
During fiscal 2003 and 2004, the Company continued exploration on its Nuevo Milenio property, located south of Tepic in the municipality of Xalisco, State of Nayarit, Mexico, which it staked in 2000. In fiscal 2005, the Company received a report recommending an additional exploration program be carried out on the Nuevo Milenio property in Mexico. After receiving the report, and reviewing the results in conjunction with other mineral property interests held by the Company, the Company determined that it was not going to conduct further exploration on the property in the foreseeable future, and as a result, has written down the property by $1,523,030 in fiscal 2005 to a nominal carrying value of $1. Additional exploration and carrying costs of $59,655 incurred on the property was expensed until the end of September 2005. Since that date, the Company has capitalized expenses on the property.
In fiscal 2005 Cream entered into an option to purchase agreement to acquire a 51% right, title and interest in the “Fenix” and “La Fenix 2” gold-silver properties, located in the State of Nayarit, Mexico. After a total of four holes were drilled, the results did not meet the Company’s expectations and the properties have been returned to the optionors, and $472,948 was written off in fiscal 2005. An additional $113,042 in costs incurred in fiscal 2006 was written off in fiscal 2006.
During fiscal 2003, Cream entered into several option agreements in the Province of British Columbia and staked claims in the Province of Manitoba. The properties optioned in British Columbia include the Kootenay Gemstone property located in the Nelson Mining Division, British Columbia, the Goldsmith property consisting of 14 mineral units in three (3) mineral claims, located near Kaslo, British Columbia and the Lucky Jack Claim Group consisting of six (6) mineral claims, located near Kaslo, British Columbia. The Lucky Jack Claim Group is adjacent to the Goldsmith Property and shares the same history and geology. In fiscal 2003, Cream completed a second small, preliminary mapping and rock chip-sampling program at Goldsmith. This phase of the exploration program focused on identifying the orientation of the veins or stockwork systems discovered in earlier work on the property. In fiscal 2004, work carried out on the Kootenay Gemstone property in British Columbia consisted of prospecting and the establishment of detailed grids over new showings in the northern and southern sections of the property which have delineated geological and geochemical trends to the favourable gem-bearing occurrences.
In fiscal 2003, Cream acquired an initial 30,000-hectare mineral lease in northern Manitoba (the “Stephens Lake Property”). The Stephens Lake Property is entirely covered by unconsolidated tills, alluvial sediments and a thin veneer of Palaeozoic sediments below which the geology is believed to consist of rocks belonging to the extension of the Thompson Nickel Belt. In fiscal 2004, the claims were pooled with the adjacent properties held by ValGold Resources Ltd., and Sultan Minerals Inc. (the “Companies”) to form one block of 92,194 hectares with each company holding a one third interest. In April 2004 and since that time, additional claims were acquired adjoining to the north and now the property totals 174,018 hectares. The Companies entered into an agreement with BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. (“BHP Billiton”) whereby BHP Billiton was granted options to acquire up to a 70% undivided interest and fund all exploration expenditures on the property until they are terminated or fully exercised.
Cream also jointly entered into an agreement with BHP Billiton to option two (2) staked claims namely the Trout and Trout 1 claims located approximately 130 km east of Gillam, Manitoba (the “Trout Claim Group”) and encompassing an area of 256 hectares. The Trout Claim Group is contiguous with and encompassed by the Stephens Lake Claim Group, which is held by the Companies. Under the terms of the Trout Claim Group agreement, the Companies agreed to make total cash payment of $110,000 ($10,000 paid by the Company) and issue 200,001 common shares (66,667 shares in the capital of each of the three companies (50,000 common shares of the Company issued to July 28, 2006)) to the optionor over a 36-month period from July 22, 2004. BHP Billiton reimbursed the Companies for the cash paid and for the value of the common shares issued by each company pursuant to the agreement. These reimbursements were recorded as a reducti on in the cost of the Trout claims. In addition, the Companies were to jointly incur exploration expenses of no less than $250,000 prior to July 22, 2007, all of which have been incurred on the Companies’ behalf by BHP Billiton. Upon earning its 75.0% interest, the Companies and the optionor would enter into a 75:25 joint venture for the further exploration and development of the Trout Claim Group. After two drill programs were completed the Companies received the Stephens Lake nickel property back from BHP Billiton.
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In fiscal 2003 Cream wrote down its deferred acquisition and exploration costs on its 100% interest in the Kaslo Silver property to a nominal carrying value of $1 to reflect the extended period of inactivity by the Company on the property. In fiscal 2005 Cream conducted a diamond drill program on the Kaslo Silver Property, but it was terminated due to poor ground conditions. This two-hole drill program was designed to test the lateral and down dip extensions of the high grade silver mineralization found within the strongly faulted Silver Bear shear structure. Diamond drilling was suspended after attempts to drill through the highly mineralized fault zone were unsuccessful. Capitalization of exploration costs on this property was restarted due to the exploration programs planned, which are dependent upon financing.
In fiscal 2003, Cream also entered into an agreement with Terra Gaia Inc. (formerly Terra Gaia Environmental Group Inc.) (“Terra Gaia”) by which it could acquire up to 100% of the outstanding shares of Terra Gaia, a private Canadian company. Cream decided not to pursue the opportunity provided by the Terra Gaia transaction but retains 100,000 shares at a cost of $25,000. The shares were written down by $24,999 in fiscal 2006 to a nominal carrying value of $1, as the ultimate recoverability of the investment is uncertain.
In fiscal 2005, the Company also entered into an agreement with Casierra Diamond Corporation (“CDC”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc. (“CDF”) (collectively, Casierra”) to earn an interest in production from two exclusive prospecting licence areas for diamonds and other minerals and metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Under the terms of the agreement, Cream has earned a 70% interest in the CDF’s interest in the two licence areas, by issuing a total of 500,000 common shares, and incurring exploration costs of US$800,000. A joint venture will be formed between the parties and each party will contribute to further expenditures on the property in accordance with its interest.
The president of the Company holds approximately 33% of the issued and outstanding shares of CDC, incorporated in British Columbia.
Cream’s principal capital expenditures and divestitures (in 000’s) over the three fiscal years ended March 31, 2007, are as follows:
| | |
Year | | |
(i) Amounts Deferred (capitalized or invested) |
2007 | 2,514 | |
2006 | 791 | |
2005 | 1,312 | |
(ii) Amounts Written Down |
2007 | -- | |
2006 | 173 | |
2005 | 1,996 | |
(iii) Amounts Expensed as Property Investigation Costs |
2007 | 12 | |
2006 | -- | |
2005 | 25 | |
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4.
The principal capital expenditures (in 000’s) currently anticipated for the ensuing year are as follows:
| |
| Exploration Projects |
2008 Activities | $2,000 |
B.
Business Overview
General
Cream is engaged in the exploration of natural resource properties and has been so engaged since its inception in 1966. Over the past five years, until the year ended March 31, 2007, Cream primarily focused its efforts in the Province of British Columbia and in Mexico. In February 2005 the Company entered into an agreement with Casierra Diamond Corporation (“CDC”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc. (“CDF”) (collectively, Casierra”) to earn an interest in production from two exclusive prospecting licence areas for diamonds and other minerals and metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa, in which it earned a 70% interest in June 2006.
Since 1999, Cream entered into exploration programs on two properties in Mexico, the Nuevo Milenio and the Fenix property, both located in the State of Nayarit, Mexico. Cream wrote the Nuevo Milenio property down in the year ended March 31, 2005, by $1,523,030 to a nominal carrying value of $1, and currently retains a 100% interest in the property. An additional $59,655 in exploration costs was written off relating to the Nuevo Milenio property in the year ended March 31, 2006. Effective October 1, 2005, the Company re-commenced exploration on the Nuevo Milenio property and started capitalizing exploration expenditures again at that time.
A property agreement was entered into during the year ended March 31, 2005 on the Fenix Property in Mexico. After an unsuccessful drilling program, the property was written off by $472,948, and the property was returned to the optionors. An additional $113,042 in exploration expenditure incurred and written off in the year ended March 31, 2006.
In fiscal 2003, Cream entered into three option agreements on mineral property interests in the Province of British Columbia, the Kootenay Gemstone property and the Goldsmith and Lucky Jack properties, which are contiguous to each other. The Company also has a 100% interest in the Kaslo Silver property, which it has held since 1996.
In fiscal 2005, the Company also entered into an agreement with Casierra Diamond Corporation (“CDC”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc. (“CDF”) (collectively, Casierra”) to earn a 70% interest in production from two exclusive prospecting licence areas for diamonds and other minerals and metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa, which it earned in the year ended March 31, 2007. Under the terms of the agreement, Cream earned its 70% interest in the property by completing exploration expenditures totalling US$800,000 and issuing 500,000 common shares. A joint venture will now be formed between the parties and each party will contribute to further expenditures on the property in accordance with its interest.
The president of the Company holds approximately 33% of the issued and outstanding shares of CDC, incorporated in British Columbia, and it’s wholly owned subsidiary company, CDF, also incorporated in British Columbia.
All of the exploration properties and property agreements on properties located in Canada remain in good standing. Exploration programs continually require additional funds and there is no certainty that such funds can be raised. Cream’s properties are without a known body of commercial ore, and Cream’s activities on such properties to date have been exploratory in nature.
The prices of common shares of junior exploration companies are indirectly tied to metal prices, including gold prices which have fluctuated in the past ten years. This affects exploration activity. The ability to raise funds for exploration in a venture capital company is affected by factors such as the price of gold, a factor over which the Company has no control. Annual average, high and low gold prices since 1996 are shown below, which shows the fluctuation in the price of gold. Metals prices also affect the rate of return on a mining property that may reach the development stage over the longer term.
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| | | |
Year
| Average price per ounce (US$) | High price per ounce (US$) | Low price per ounce (US$) |
1996 | 388 | 415 | 367 |
1997 | 331 | 362 | 283 |
1998 | 294 | 313 | 283 |
1999 | 279 | 326 | 253 |
2000 | 279 | 313 | 264 |
2001 | 271 | 293 | 256 |
2002 | 310 | 349 | 278 |
2003 | 363 | 416 | 320 |
2004 | 410 | 454 | 375 |
2005 | 445 | 537 | 411 |
2006 | 603 | 725 | 525 |
2007 (to August 31) | 660 | 691 | 608 |
Cream does not have any operating revenue although historically it has had minor annual interest revenue as a consequence of investing surplus funds pending the completion of exploration programs.
C.
Organizational Structure
The Company currently has one direct wholly owned subsidiary, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., incorporated in Mexico. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to the “Company” or “Cream” include the subsidiary of the Company.
D.
Property, Plant and Equipment
The Company has mineral exploration interests in mineral properties in Canada, Mexico and Sierra Leone. Until April 2005, the Company was actively exploring in Mexico but exploration activities were suspended as results were not considered encouraging. After re-evaluation of the results on its Nuevo Milenio property in November 2005, the Company commenced a drilling program in the fall of 2006, which extended to June 2007. Further drilling is planned in fiscal 2008, upon completion of equity financing.
The Company has acquired a 70% interest in the Casierra Diamond licences in Sierra Leone and since the acquisition of the licences has been focusing its exploration activity on this property. The Company’s mineral property interests in Canada are in good standing and all payments on the properties are up to date.
None of the Company’s projects have known reserves, and its proposed programs are exploratory in nature.
1.
Casierra Diamond Property, Sierra Leone
Property Description
Casierra Development Fund Inc. (“CDF”) has been working in Sierra Leone since 1993 and obtained its first prospecting licence on the Sewa River, which drains the Kono diamond area. Kono is an important centre of diamond production in Sierra Leone with a high percentage of gem quality diamonds coming from kimberlite and alluvial sources. Extensive alluvial diamond exploitation has been carried out upstream of the CDF licence. In late 1994, CDF obtained its second offshore special Exclusive Prospecting Licence at the mouth of two rivers with extensive alluvial diamond mining activity, the Moa and the Mano.
In March 2005, Cream Minerals Ltd. entered into an agreement with Casierra Diamond Corporation (“CDC”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc, to acquire an interest in Casierra’s two large exploration licences, subject to government approvals. Casierra holds a 100% interest in the Hima Licence EPL 1/94 and a 90% interest in the Offshore Marine Licence EPL 5/94. The Company earned a 70% interest in the licences by financing US$800,000 in work and issuing 500,000 common shares. The two licences include the Hima Licence EPL1/94 on the Sewa River and its banks, and an offshore licence, EPL 5/94 at the mouths of the Mano and Moa rivers in southern Sierra Leone.
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A form of joint venture will be constituted between the two parties and each party will contribute to further expenditures on the property in accordance with its interest. If the optionor is unable to fund its share of joint venture expenditures, Cream will advance funds on its behalf, such advances to be repaid, with interest at LIBOR plus 1%, out of 80% of the optionor's share in the net proceeds of production from the property prior to any other distribution to the optionor.
Upon fulfilling the obligations set out above, Cream will be vested with an undivided interest in the licences or in the company which holds title to the property. In any event this interest may be converted, if Cream so elects and subject to the approval of the Government of Sierra Leone, into a direct interest in the licences at the time that a production lease is obtained for the licence(s).
The Hima licence is located on the Sewa River downstream from the prolific Kono diamond fields and more than 80 kilometers of alluvial diamond workings in river terraces and active channel gravels. The Sewa channel on the licence serves as a large natural sluice box as it is the first segment of the river where the rate of flow is reduced from the higher velocities in the rapids upstream. The channel is crossed by several ribs of diabase dykes and the foliation of the underlying metaschists, which together form natural riffles in the natural sluice box. The combination of water velocity drop and riffles was the reason the area was selected as being highly prospective in 1994 by Casierra Development Fund Inc. This segment of the river channel has not been previously mined by artesanal operators due to the depth of the water (3-5 meters) and a government policy of reserving the licence area for industrial-scale dredging.
A Technical Report on the Casierra alluvial diamond properties EPL 1/94 (Hima prospecting license area) and EPL 5/94 in Sierra Leone, West Africa was written by Mr. Charles K. Ikona, P.Eng., Pamicon Developments Ltd. of Vancouver, Canada, who was requested to examine the licenses and prepare a report in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101.
Mr. Ikona visited EPL 1/94 and EPL 5/94 from March 18 to 28, 2005, and also held discussions with government representatives. EPL 1/94 covers approximately 10.5 km of the Sewa River channel along with adjoining flats and terraces up to 1.4 km wide. The Sewa River has a long history of diamond production from alluvial sources with EPL 1/94 containing one of the last portions of the diamondiferous sections of the river which has not seen extensive hand mining by natives (Hall, 1966). Within the lease, the river has a relatively low gradient, but is surrounded both upstream and downstream by sections of the river with much steeper, rapid forming gradients.
In a report written for the Geological Survey of Sierra Leone “The Diamond Fields of Sierra Leone” (P.K. Hall, ARSM, BSc, AMIMM), Hall (1966) reports production from 1950 to 1965 on the section of the river above EPL 1/94, as 42,000 cubic yards with an average recovered grade of 0.75 carats per yard. He further reports 64,000 cubic yards production at similar grade for the same period from the section downstream from the license and suggests substantial reserves remain in these areas.
Based on extensive study of the Sewa River placers and very minor sampling, Hall presents an estimate for the section of the river contained within EPL 1/94. He suggests 2,900,000 cubic yards at 0.4 carats per yard for the channel gravels and 1,500,000 cubic yards at 0.4 carats per yard for the flats and low terraces.
In his Technical Report, Mr. Ikona discusses historical reserve estimates, and notes “These are historical reserves only and do not conform to guidelines for resources and reserves according to NI 43-101, nor should it be assumed that any such resource or reserves will be developed on the license.” He notes, however, there seems to be little doubt that diamondiferous gravels are present on the lease and accordingly recommends a two-phase exploration and development program.
Mr. Ikona reports that “Sampling to date is very encouraging, but has been on a wide spread basis and not sufficient to allow estimates of potential for the lease. The lease at this time contains no mineral reserves or resources and it cannot be assumed that further work will develop any such reserves or resources.”
He reports, however, that results of the programs to date are sufficient to justify further work and recommends a two-phase program. Phase 1, completed in June 2005, was a detailed magnetometer survey over portions of the lease indicated by the 1995 geophysical work as possible paleo channels employing an Ovenhauser type horizontal and vertical gradient magnetometer. Costs of the program incurred to date on both licenses are estimated at US$350,000, of a total budget of US$525,500. Phase 2 will be a dredge-sampling program based on the results of phase 1 at an estimated cost of US$710,000. The budgets are estimates only and are subject to change depending on
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equipment availability and exploration results. It should be emphasized that no recovery of diamonds is anticipated from the Banka drilling, according to Mr. Ikona. The drills being used have 6-inch diameter drive shoes, which produce a theoretical volume of 0.00670 cubic yards of material per foot of penetration into the gravels. Assuming an average gravel depth of 3 feet, samples should then be about 0.02 cubic yards in volume, which is not great enough to ensure that any values present will be indicated. In fact, should any diamonds be recovered, they must not be used to assign any values to the gravels, as the multiplication factor used in converting from the small sample size to cubic yards would indicate an impossibly high number. Material recovered from drilling will be examined for trace minerals, possibly indicative of alluvial diamonds, and used as a guide for bulk tests.
The magnetometer survey was designed to obtain sufficiently detailed data to plan a bulk-sampling program in the next phase of work necessary to develop the first target of many on the offshore licence. Magnetic heavy minerals in the younger marine sediments occur as concentrations in the marine sediments that are derived from the diamondiferous gravels transported into the ocean. Partially weathered magnetite grains would be expected to have a density close to that of diamonds (3.55 gms/cc) so this concentration would be expected to include diamonds amongst the heavy minerals.
Three anomalies indicate areas of heavy mineral concentrations over 2 square kilometers each in size. The total area thus identified would have a volume of approximately 8,000,000 cu m per meter of depth, located within a small part of the 88 square kilometer licence. Modeling of the magnetic data will allow estimates of thickness of the heavy mineral rich zones and serve to guide the next phase of sampling.
Initial work on the Hima Exclusive Prospecting Licence was a survey defining the property boundaries. A field camp was constructed near the village of Hima and in 2005 a Banka drill program was carried out to define the distribution of gravels in terraces and flood plain areas on the Hima licence. This sampling identified thicker gravels than indicated in the Hall Bulletin, a prior report on the licences discussed by Mr. Ikona in his report. An initial evaluation of the river potential was completed during the period of low water in April-May 2005 when gravels behind a crosscutting dyke in the central part of the licence area were found to be thicker than projected in the Hall Bulletin. Because diamonds are closer in density to the associated gravels than gold would be, the gems would be expected to be distributed throughout the gravel beds and therefore this work indicates that there may be a larger volume of diamondifer ous gravels available than indicated in the Hall Bulletin.
The magnetometer survey was designed to obtain sufficiently detailed data to plan a bulk-sampling program in the next phase of work to develop this first target of many on the offshore licence. Magnetic heavy minerals occur as concentrations in the marine sediments that are derived from the diamondiferous gravels transported into the ocean by two large rivers, the Moa and the Mano. Partially weathered magnetite grains would be expected to have a density close to that of diamonds (3.55 gms/cc) so this concentration would be expected to include diamonds amongst the heavy minerals. For millions of years the rivers have been conveying this material from diamond-bearing kimberlitic sources less than 100 kms upstream in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
The post-survey data processing indicated five areas where bulk sampling should be undertaken.
The following description of these five areas is taken from the conclusions of the report.
1.
A submarine paleo-shoreline of 6,000 m length and associated with it a magneto-active layer of 100 to 400 m width and thickness of 1 to 3 meters.
2.
Channels cutting across the paleo-shoreline that are short life channels carrying fluvial sediments.
3.
A sector within a high-frequency part of the area with an anomalous magnetic field shows some distinct and well-correlated zones that can be followed from survey line to line in the recent/present deposition of the fluviatile sediments onto the sea floor. These features are approximately from 1,500 m wide and more than 2,500 m long in size, with a thickness of up to 5 meters.
4.
A submarine paleo-distributary fan of the river within the NW part of the survey area. The size of the identified area is 800 by 1,100 meters and has a thickness of 5 to 10 meters. The depth of the magneto-active body is 10 to 40 meters.
5.
A larger body of 800 x 900 meters with a thickness of 210 meters was identified by results of mathematical modelling in the area of a main distributary channel.
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In the lower reaches of the Moa, active river channel gravels are reported to have a grade of 0.5 carats per cu meter (Hall, P.K., Bulletin 5, The Diamond Fields of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Geological Survey). There is considerable alluvial mining activity on the Mano River (see Google earth) that suggests payable grades in that river, which also drains areas with kimberlite dykes and possibly pipe structures. Fluvial sediments in the two rivers should be similar to those deposited from the rivers onto the seafloor.
Work reports submitted in October 2005 were accepted by the Sierra Leone Government and the Government has granted approval for the renewal and upgrading of the two large exclusive diamond licences held in that country to the tenure holder, Casierra Development Fund Inc.
In fiscal 2007, the Company assisted in the construction of a bridge near the Company’s onshore licence by providing materials. The bridge opening was warmly received by the people of the area and television coverage was screened on three evenings on Sierra Leone National Television, with clips of supportive comments from the Paramount Chief of Lubu Chiefdom and his Chiefs and their Elders. The bridge construction was a joint venture with three village groups and allows access for heavier equipment and vehicles to the advantage of both the traditional landowners and Cream in its exploration work.
On the offshore licence (EPL 5/94), a charter was arranged for a 40-meter ship to serve as a platform for a bulk sampling program completed in December 2006. The bulk sampling programme identified strong sea currents as a constraint on the use of conventional ship-borne sampling tools. Specifications of dredging equipment indicated that it would be feasible to lift slurry up to a screen deck on the back deck of a local 40 meter fishing boat chartered for the work. In practice, it was found that the ship could not be stabilized with the anchor system supplied. Slurried sediments were collected in a double length oil drum arrangement with screening to facilitate reduction of water in the collector. Sampling lifted material with a suction head that was usually traversing across 3-30 meters of seafloor, depending upon current strengths. The currents are an important factor in the concentration of diamonds in the marine sediments because they can winnow away light fine sediments.
Material lifted included organic debris, shell and clay fragments with occasional penetration into coarser clastic sediments. When the clay was penetrated, clay balls up to 7 inches in diameter were lifted into the modified collection system, followed by coarse pebble sized sandstone concretions that individually weighed up to 1-2 lbs and coarser sands from beneath the clays. It is estimated that the maximum penetration achieved was in the order of one meter.
Heavy frothing resulted from the necessary use of high volumes of water to lift the slurry. It is believed that the shallow depths sampled and flotation by the froth of any diamonds in the slurry contributed to the inability to recover diamonds with the methods used. This flotation effect is well recognized by local miners and they too require capture of all of the sample slurry for treatment, since loss of fines and lighter fractions, including froth-attached diamonds by overflow, will blow the diamonds out with the overflow.
In Sierra Leone, a large fenced campground was completed at Hima townsite and a 400-metre road built to the Sewa River. After overcoming numerous transport delays all equipment, including a Caterpillar 211 Crawler Excavator, a Gekko Diamond Pre-Concentrator, Toyo Pumps, dredges, generators, fuel supplies, sluice boxes, screens and associated equipment required to maximize the search for and recovery of alluvial diamonds, bulk sampling commenced in May 2007 on the Sewa River Licence which had not had exploration work since the summer of 2005.
The first three bulk samples taken under the Sewa River Exploration Licence sampling program successfully confirmed estimates of diamond grades as reported by the Geological Survey of Sierra Leone. Three bulk samples of approximately 6 cubic meters of diamondiferous alluvial products yielded ten (10) individual diamonds whose total weight averaged 0.55 carats per cubic meter. This grade is comparable to historical estimates of Hall (1966) for the mineral potential of this licence EPL 1/94.
The ten individual stones recovered included seven good clarity white and pale gold coloured stones and three coated stones. They were hand screened down to a 1.5 mm mesh and were weighed with a high precision portable diamond balance under still air conditions at the field camp. They varied in weight from 0.54 carats to 0.054 carats. The weighing accuracy of the balance is indicated to be within ± 0.002 grams (0.01 carats).
The samples were taken from the active sediments of the Sewa River, which is more than 500 meters wide with large islands formed down stream of several of the diabase dykes that cross the river at right angles to its course. Water levels in the Sewa were exceptionally low this year, exposing nine of these dykes in sand bars in the
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downstream part of the 10-kilometre stretch of the River covered by this exploration licence. Several dykes are also known on the upstream sector of this licence from a traverse by inflatable boat during this work. The dykes act as giant natural riffles across the full width of the riverbed, causing the concentration of heavy minerals such as diamonds and gold.
Minerals associated with the diamonds include lilac coloured garnets, possibly of the pyrope range that are an indicator mineral for kimberlitic rocks, collanda (a local name for ilmenite and iron oxide gravel fragments with similar density to the target diamonds) and some fine grained flake gold. Close to the downstream boundary of the licence, artesanal miners were recovering sufficient gold to justify their hand mining efforts. A request is being made to the Mines Department to include gold in the permitted minerals of the diamond exploration licence.
The above results are from the first bulk samples taken on the Sewa licence since the earlier private acquisition of the licence in 1994. Despite a slow start due to remoteness and lack of infrastructure, Cream management is very encouraged by these results due to their correlation with historic results and the size of the property. Plans are to expand fieldwork significantly after the rainy season.
Casierra plans to apply for a mining licence on a section of the Sewa River so that all diamonds recovered in this work may be given a certificate of origin and the Company will be able to comply with the full Kimberley Process of identifying the provenance of rough stones and pay appropriate royalties. This would permit the Company to export the rough diamonds from Sierra Leone and define value by actual sales. A report amended January 18th 2006 by C. Ikona, PEng., with title, Technical Report on Alluvial Diamond Properties EPL 1/94 and EPL 5/94, Sierra Leone for Cream Minerals, which is compliant with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101, describes the licence in some detail. This report is posted on the Company’s website.
Sierra Leone has been at peace, and going through reconstruction for several years since the civil disorders of the late 1990’s. British and European support has been committed to rebuilding the national infrastructure and the country is moving forward again. During the two years prior to the development of the Kimberley Process, the Sierra Leone Government was working actively with the United Nations to develop a system of identifying the provenance of diamonds mined in the country. The full Kimberley Process is now in place and operating in Sierra Leone. Legal production reported by the government has increased both in terms of carats and average price per carat as a result of this measure.
Baseline studies for the purpose of developing data for an environmental impact assessment for a marine mining operation were also started. The initial work shows no major constraints to such an operation. Fishing communities along the coast were consulted during this baseline data gathering in order to develop a working relationship with the people whose precarious livelihoods are based on the same area of the Atlantic Ocean. Fishery enhancement is a potential long-term benefit that marine mining operations may be able to achieve without significant additional costs if built into the mining plan at an early stage.
Diamond products that may be recovered in the course of any of the Company’s exploration programs will be submitted to the Sierra Leone Government Gold and Diamond Office for valuation. This valuation will be used as a basis for determining the value of the samples processed and incorporated in the economic evaluation of the first target area. As neither Casierra nor Cream is in receipt of a Mining Licence, the stones may not be sold at this time, but can be exported for the purpose of further valuation.
Expenditures incurred on the Casierra property in fiscal 2007 include the following: Acquisition costs - $99,000 (2006 - $20,241); community relations - $41,327 (2006 - $Nil); assays and analysis - $3,409 (2006 - $Nil); dredging and bulk sampling - $464,781 (2006 – $Nil); drilling - $Nil (2006 - $18,172); geological and geophysical - $181,500 (2006 - $216,853); site activities - $173,102 (2006 - $63,541), and travel and accommodation- $202,723 (2006 - $58,838).
The Company has also acquired field equipment which is being used in Sierra Leone in the exploration programs. Amortization of the equipment is capitalized and included in site activities.
It is estimated that a mining operation could be initiated for a capital cost of less than US$10 million, if exploration results warrant the start of operations.
The budget for both programs was developed by Casierra and discussed with Charles Ikona, P. Eng., of Pamicon Developments Ltd., the Company’s “Qualified Person” for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.
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Expenditures incurred on the Casierra property in fiscal 2006 include the following: Acquisition costs - $20,241 (2005 - $80,000); drilling - $18,172 (2005 - $11,170); geological and geophysical - $216,853 (2005 - $31,122); site activities - $63,541 (2005 - $20,666), and travel and accommodation- $58,838 (2005 - $44,578).
Mr. Benjamin Ainsworth, P.Eng., President of Ainsworth Jenkins Consultants Ltd. is the President of both CDF and CDC, and will continue to be the operator on the property.
2.
Mexico Exploration Properties
a.
The Nuevo Milenio Property, Nayarit, Mexico
The Nuevo Milenio property is located south east of the city of Tepic in the State of Nayarit, Mexico. The property covers several overlapping calderas defined by rhyolitic ring dykes and rhyolite domes. Work on the property from 2000 to 2004 was concentrated within the five-km diameter Nuevo Milenio Caldera. A report on an Enzyme Leach orientation study was completed by Dr. G. H. Gale, P. Eng., province of Manitoba, to determine if partial leach analytical methods could be used in delineating exploration targets. Dr. Gale recommended that the three targets, Once Bocas, Cafetal and South Once Bocas areas be more fully investigated with a partial leach survey to establish potential drill targets in these areas of alteration, disseminated mineralization and silica stockworks. The cost of the recommended work was estimated to be US $150-175,000, exclusive of a follow-up drill program. ;Dr. G. H. Gale, P.Eng., is a “Qualified Person” for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.
After receiving the report, and reviewing the results in conjunction with other mineral property interests held by the Company, the Company determined that it was not going to conduct further exploration on the property in the foreseeable future, due to financing constraints and exploration of other mineral property interests, and as a result has written down the property by $1,523,030 in fiscal 2005 to a nominal carrying value of $1. The size of the Nuevo Milenio property was reduced by the CMM 1 claims and the remainder of the claims were reduced in size by approximately 33% to reduce carrying costs on the property, which primarily involves payment of taxes relating to the concessions held.
Drilling commenced on the Dos Hornos zone in late 2006. Drill intersections show that Dos Hornos Vein 1 is a structural zone from 20 m to 40 m wide hosting several parallel, mineralized veins, breccia faults and quartz stockwork zones. The economic width will be defined by an assay boundary.
Diamond drill holes DDH 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 and 13 were drilled beyond the faulted off section of Zone #1 and did not intersect the Dos Hornos Zone #1. These seven holes intersected parallel quartz veins with no significant gold or silver values. The Dos Hornos Zone is known to be off set to the northeast by faulting.
In January 2007, the focus of the drill program was shifted to in-fill drilling followed by drill testing the segment between Section 5 (Trench 3) to Section 12 (Mina Santa Gertrudis). This resulted in tracing the gold-silver bearing segment of Dos Hornos Zone 1 for a total horizontal distance of 1,300 m (4,260 ft), and established that the structure carries gold-silver mineralization over a known vertical distance of 385 m (1,263 ft) from the bottom of DDH 03-06 at 925 m (3,034 ft) to the collar of DDH 20-06 at elevation 1,310 m (4,296 ft). In many cases, drill recovery was poor and it is believed that underground bulk sampling will provide more accurate grade results. Almost all holes were drilled at -45º and to an average depth of approx 200 meters.
Work to date has completed 31 diamond drill holes along the Dos Hornos 1 Zone for a total of approximately 5,200 metres. Drilling in 2007 focused on the southeast section from Trench 4 to Mina Santa Gertrudis, a strike length of 1,350 m. The zone has been traced for an additional 500 m to the southeast and is still open.
Inferred Mineral Resource for Dos Hornos Zone:
| | | | | |
Strike Length | Down Dip | Average Width | Au g/T | Ag g/T | SG |
700 m | 150 m | 5.50 m | 2.827 | 178.05 | 2.65 |
1,530,000 Tonnes, Au: 139,000 oz, Ag: 8,760,000 oz
Recent diamond drilling has confirmed that Dos Hornos Zone 1 has continuity of gold – silver mineralization and has extended Zone 1 from Adit 1 to Mina Santa Gertrudis, a distance of 1,300 m, and is open to the North and
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South. It also confirmed that mineralization occurs over a known vertical height of 385 m (DDH 03-06 intersection at 925 m elevation, to DDH 20-06 outcrop at 1,310 m elevation). The topographic relief along the south part of Dos Hornos Zone 1 should permit low cost bulk sampling by tunneling along the zone into the hillside.
Inferred Mineral Resource for Once Bocas:
| | | | | |
Strike Length | Down Dip | AverageWidth | Au g/T | Ag g/T | S.G T/cu.m |
350 m | 125 m | 100 m | 0.345 | 57.90 | 2.65 |
11,590,000 Tonnes, Au: 129,000 oz, Ag: 21,580,000 oz
Drilling has shown that Zone 1 is a Vein – Fault – Breccia zone up to 40 m wide with a higher mineralized center 8 m to 10 m width. Core recovery within the mineralized quartz – breccia segment of Zone 1 varies from 20% to 80%, hence underground sampling may be expected to give higher gold-silver values.
Mr. Ferdinand (Fred) Holcapek, P. Eng., is supervising exploration programs on the Company’s Properties in Mexico and is the Company's "Qualified Person" for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Holcapek is responsible for the technical information, which has been vetted by Dr. A. D. Drummond P. Eng., consultant to the Company.
Expenditures incurred on the Nuevo Milenio property in fiscal 2007 include the following: assays and analysis - $13,348 (2006 – $4,375); drilling - $591,172 (2006 - $1,679); geological and geophysical - $152,119 (2006 - $35,253); site activities - $135,820 (2006 - $111,302); and travel and accommodation- $44,906 (2006 - $14,243).
See Page 5 for information relating to Inferred Resources. Inferred Resources are defined in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the CIM Council on December 11, 2005, as follows: “An Inferred Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits workings and drill holes.”
b.
Fenix and La Fenix 2 Gold-Silver Properties, Mexico
In fiscal 2005, Cream, through its wholly owned Mexican subsidiary, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“CMM”), entered into an option to purchase agreement to acquire a 51% right, title and interest in the “Fenix” and “La Fenix 2” gold-silver properties, located in the State of Nayarit, Mexico.
Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the optionors were to vest 51% right, title and interest in the properties to CMM in exchange for cash payments totalling US$100,000 (US$50,000 paid) over a 6-month period and the issuance of 200,000 common shares (50,000 issued) of the Company to be received over a 12-month period. In addition to the above cash and share payments, CMM was to incur expenditures on the property totalling US$300,000 within one year following the date of regulatory approval, which was November 2, 2004.
After a total of four holes were drilled, the results did not meet the Company’s expectations, the property was returned to the optionors, and costs of $472,948 were written off. Additional costs incurred in fiscal 2006 of $113,042 have also been written off.
3.
Canada Exploration Properties
a.
Kaslo Silver Property
Introduction
The 100% owned Kaslo Silver Property encompasses nine former high-grade silver-lead-zinc mines located in south-eastern British Columbia, Canada. The various mines operated at different times during the period from 1895 to 1966. The property currently consists of 7 modified grid claims, 13 crown grants, 8 reverted crown grants, 37 two-post claims and one mining lease of three units, for a total 160 units.
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Cream acquired the property in 1996, and in 1997 a trenching program successfully intersected bedrock in three areas; the Silver Bear zone, the Gold Cure zone and the south extension of the Cork Mine, which was followed up with diamond drilling in late 1997. In 1998 and 1999, expanded exploration programs consisted of geophysical (VLF-EM and gravity) surveys, soil sampling and geological mapping. The exploration programs led to diamond drilling at 6 locations: the Cork South, Silver Bear, Gold Cure, Bismark, Gibson and Black Bear zones.
Results identified two large mineralizing structures referred to as the Cork and Gold Cure Shear Zones. Due to low silver and base metal prices the property was dormant from 1999 to 2004.
In October 2004 Cream commenced a diamond drill program on the Kaslo Silver Property. This two-hole drill program was designed to test the lateral and down dip extensions of the high grade silver mineralization found within the strongly faulted Silver Bear shear structure. Diamond drilling was suspended after attempts to drill through the highly mineralized fault zone were unsuccessful. The initial drill hole was abandoned at 34 metres when the drill proved incapable of coring the shear zone. A second steeper angled drill hole was successful in intersecting the hanging wall of the mineralized shear structure. However, the second hole did not penetrate through the entire width of the shear zone and did not intersect the high-grade footwall mineralization.
Although the drill holes did not reach their proposed depth, the width and intensity of the intersected shear structure is very encouraging. Prior drilling by Cream in 1998 returned values up to 2,271 g/t silver over 0.51 metres within a 3.25 metre interval that assayed 390.05 g/t silver from drill hole 98SB-05. The highest silver values intersected in the previous drill program were obtained from the strongest part of the shear zone tested during that program. These step-out holes intersected what appears to be broader and more intense shearing that may be related to higher-grade silver values.
Location and Access
The 4,000-hectare Kaslo Silver Property is located 12 kilometres west of the town of Kaslo in southern British Columbia. Access to the Property is via Highway 31A for seven kilometres west from Kaslo, then 4.5 kilometres southwest along Keen Creek Road to the property boundary. The property lies along the Keen Creek Road for approximately 10 kilometres. Logging roads and numerous old mining roads and trails, some of which are heavily overgrown, bisect the property. Power lines come to within 4 kilometres of the property boundary, and water is abundant throughout.
Physiography
The Kaslo Silver Property is located in an area of rugged mountainous terrain. Topography on the property is steep with elevations ranging from 1,050 metres along the Keen Creek valley to 2,200 metres on the Gold Cure ridge.
The Keen Creek valley runs along the northwest boundary of the property, with numerous tributaries crossing the property and emptying into Keen Creek. The major tributaries, from northeast to southwest are Ben Hur, Briggs, Klawala, Kyawats and Desmond Creeks.
History
The Kaslo Silver Property includes nine former, small mines, which were originally discovered and worked for high-grade silver ores during the heyday of the Slocan Mining Camp at the end of the 19th century. Intermittent exploration, development and production have taken place at various locations on the property since that time, most notably in the 1920s and 1950s. The Cork-Province Mine was consolidated in 1914 and was the longest-lived producer in the camp when it closed in 1966. Five former workings, the Silver Bear, Hartford, Gibson, Gold Cure, and Bismark are situated along the Gold Cure Shear Zone, which has been traced northeast across the property for 7.1 kilometres. Five additional workings, the Black Bear, Cork, Province, Dublin and Black Fox workings lie along the parallel 4.1 kilometre long Cork Shear Zone, located in the Keen Creek valley approximately one kilometre north of the Gold Cure Shear Zone. B oth shears are open along strike to the north and at depth.
Geophysics
Since it acquired the property, Cream has completed 51.7 kilometres of VLF-EM geophysical coverage over the mineralized Cork and Gold Cure Shear Zones. The geophysical surveys clearly define the location and extent of the controlling shears, as they are very conductive by nature.
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In 1999, a gravity geophysical survey was done over the Cork North zone to define which of the several limestone beds have the best potential to host massive sulphide mineralization. Targets generated by the gravity survey have not yet been drill tested.
Geochemistry
Soil geochemical surveys have been completed over the length of the Cork and Gold Cure Shear Zones. Linear trends of anomalous values for silver, lead and zinc in soil have been found running coincident with the shear zones. Occasionally gold, arsenic, cadmium and other elements occur with the silver, lead and zinc anomalies.
Black Bear Group of Claims
For a description of Cream’s interest in this property, see “Kaslo Silver Property” under this Item 4.
Location
The Black Bear claims are located immediately north of and are contiguous with the Bismark Claims. The Property is presently composed of a three-claim mining lease and three reverted, crown-granted mineral claims situated just 600 metres along strike to the north of the former Cork-Province Mine on the adjacent Bismark Claims.
History
The property encompasses three former silver producers, the Mastodon, Liberty, and Black Bear workings. The Mastodon and Liberty workings were discovered and operated in the late 1890s. The Black Bear was probably discovered at the same time but the only government reports of this occurrence are from 1920 when the mine was rehabilitated to explore a 48-centimetre wide vein that yielded 2.74 g/t gold, 181.7 g/t silver, 15.0% lead and 3.6% zinc.
The Liberty and Mastodon workings were on adjacent crown grants that were initially worked in 1899. Workings consist of eight or more short adits and shafts that explore two or more fissure-vein lodes striking northeast and in part conforming with structure of the host metasediments. Exploration completed by Cream in 1997 on the adjacent Bismark Claims suggests that the Black Bear workings are probably hosted by the same shear structure that hosts the Cork-Province Mine. The Liberty and Mastodon workings are believed to be on parallel structures.
Cream completed a preliminary program of geological mapping, geochemical surveys, VLF electro-magnetometer surveys, a reconnaissance gravity geophysical survey, excavator trenching and 110 metres of diamond drilling in three short holes over the Black Bear Claims in 1998 and 1999. The trenching program successfully encountered several small massive sulphide bodies that were tested with three short, wide spaced, diamond drill holes. Sulphides were primarily pyrite, arsenopyrite and sphalerite containing low-grade silver values.
Black Fox Claims
In June 1998, Cream purchased a 100% interest in the Black Fox Claims located near Kaslo, British Columbia. The property comprises three crown-granted mineral claims: the Daisy, Black Fox and California. The former Black Fox mine workings are located on the Daisy Claim, immediately adjacent to the Cork-Province area on Cream’s Bismark Claims. The claims lie on the southwest extension of the Cork Shear Zone.
There was no material work carried out on the property in fiscal 2003 or 2004. Cream has not had sufficient working capital to conduct a full-scale exploration program on the properties that make up the Kaslo Silver Property. As a result, in 2003, Cream wrote down deferred acquisition and exploration costs to a nominal carrying value of $1 to reflect the extended period of inactivity on the property. The claims remain in good standing and the property is a long-term asset of the Company. Cream has recommenced capitalizing exploration costs due to an exploration program completed on the property during the year ended March 31, 2005, with $160,083 capitalized to March 31, 2007.
Proposed Exploration
Cost estimates to complete a recommended exploration program, including airborne and ground geophysical surveys, diamond and rotary drilling, and bulk sampling, total $2,024,650. The primary target areas for further
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investigation are within and adjacent to some of the historic workings. Most of these require drilling to explore for continuity of mineralization previously explored by surface cuts, drifts and shafts. The program recommends that mineralization be explored both laterally and to depth from the workings. An airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey flown over the entire property would assist in further defining the regional structures that host mineralization.
At the Silver Bear zone, reverse circulation rotary drilling is recommended along the strike of the graphitic shear structure. Difficulty of recovery from previous diamond drilling, combined with the nugget effect of the poddy mineralization, may require follow up work to consist of a combination of reverse circulation drilling and bulk sampling of surface exposures. As well, diamond drilling is recommended at the Black Fox, Gibson, Bismark and Cork-Province mineralized zones to further explore their potential.
Due to the encouraging results in past exploration, an expanded work program is planned for fiscal 2008, and to date an airborne survey has been flown with results pending.
Ms. Linda Dandy, P.Geo., of P&L Geological Services, has supervised the Company’s Canadian exploration programs summarized above and is the Company’s supervisor and “Qualified Person” for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.
b.
Kootenay Gemstone Property, BC
The Company holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Kootenay Gemstone (formerly called Bayonne Aquamarine) Property located in the Nelson Mining Division, British Columbia. The option agreement calls for the issuance of 500,000 common shares (200,000 issued) and cash payments totalling $100,000 ($20,000 paid) over 48 months. The optionor will retain a 2% Net Product Returns royalty from the production of gemstones, half of which may be purchased by the Company for $1,000,000 upon commencement of commercial production. Additional claims adjacent to those originally optioned have been acquired for Cream by staking.
Introduction
After Cream discovered ice-blue to deep greenish-blue beryl crystals (aquamarine) on its Kootenay Gemstone Property, additional claims, now covering over 5,000 hectares were staked along the 23-kilometre length of the favourable contact area. This contact area hosts classic beryl mineralization in pegmatites and quartz veins.
During the initial prospecting, claim staking and sampling program, widespread beryl mineralization was identified within abundant pegmatite dykes located in both granitic rocks of the Bayonne batholith and adjacent sedimentary rocks. Ice-blue beryl crystals are the most common, followed by greenish beryl crystals, with minor clear, white and yellow beryl crystals also being found.
Beryl gemstones include Aquamarines, which are greenish-blue in colour, and Emeralds, which are green in colour. These beryl gemstones are also generally classified into three categories according to quality: gem quality is transparent; near-gem quality is translucent; non-gem quality is opaque. On Cream’s Kootenay Gemstone Property, all three categories of Aquamarine crystals have been discovered. So far, in this very early exploration stage, only near-gem and non-gem Emerald crystals have been found.
Location and Access
The Kootenay Gemstone Property is located on the west and south sides of Kootenay Lake, in the Nelson Mining Division of southeastern British Columbia. The north-western corner of the property is located 30 kilometres east of Salmo and the southeastern corner of the property is 12 kilometres west of Creston. The claims cover an area of approximately 5800 hectares and are centred at latitude 49o15'N and longitude 116o51'E within mapsheets 82F.017, 026, 036.
Access to the northern portion of the Kootenay Gemstone Property is via Highway 6, north from Salmo for 8 kilometres, then easterly on the Porcupine Forest Service Road for 35 kilometres. The southern part of the claim block can be accessed from Highway 3 ten kilometres west of Creston, then north and west on the Topaz Creek Forest Service Road for 21 kilometres. Numerous logging roads cross the claim block.
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Physiography
The Kootenay Gemstone Property is located in an area of rugged terrain. Topography on the property is steep with elevations ranging from 532 metres at Kootenay Lake to 2,285 metres on the peak of Iguana Mountain in the south central portion of the claim area. Outcrop is somewhat limited on the property, generally confined to steep creek gullies or road cuts, with more prevalent outcrops on ridges and steeper slopes.
History
Very little historic information can be found on the beryl mineralization in this region. Rice (1941) reported the occurrence of blue-green beryl crystals, with garnet, tourmaline and magnetite in pegmatite dykes south of Midge Creek (MINFILE 082FSE091).
Geology
The Shaw Creek stock is a late Cretaceous, 130 square kilometre intrusion composing the central to southern one-third of the middle to late Cretaceous multiphase Bayonne Batholith. The stock is typically light grey to pinkish-grey biotite +/- hornblende granite with abundant K-feldspar megacrysts averaging 2 to 3 centimetres. Leucoquartz monzonite is locally abundant.
Detailed prospecting and mapping on the OMG and Topaz Claims in 2003 and 2004 revealed three distinct styles of beryl mineralization. Beryl crystals on the OMG claims are of variable quality, consistently blue to bluish-green and relatively abundant (locally up to 10% of pegmatite volume). The majority of the beryls are found within the matrix of the pegmatite veins and dykes. However, the most impressive specimens were discovered in later stage quartz veins containing minor molybdenite and significant open spaces (vugs). Perfect millimetre scale transparent, light greenish-blue aquamarine crystals have been found within the open vugs, in these veins.
It has been demonstrated that litho geochemistry and soil geochemistry techniques have been successful at defining potential targets and due to the fact that the Shaw Creek Stock is still relatively unexplored, additional work is warranted on the Kootenay Gemstone Property. The Company is actively seeking a joint venture partner with gemstone experience to assist in development of this property. A work program for assessment purposes, including trenching, will be carried out in the fall of 2007.
Ms. Linda Dandy, P.Geo., of P&L Geological Services, is the Company’s project supervisor and “Qualified Person” for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.
c.
Goldsmith Property, British Columbia
Introduction
The Company holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Goldsmith property located near Kaslo, British Columbia. The option agreement calls for the issuance of 200,000 common shares (issued) and cash payments totalling $110,000 ($30,000 paid) over six years. The optionors will retain a 2% NSR royalty on all metals. The Company may acquire one half of the NSR for $1,000,000 upon commencement of commercial production or earlier.
The Goldsmith Property contains numerous historic, small scale, high-grade gold workings (Lucky Jack, Bullock, Swede, Goldsmith, Gold Park, etc) throughout a 3 kilometre long belt of altered volcanic and sedimentary host rocks. High-grade gold mineralization in the workings is found in numerous quartz veins which range from a few centimetres to 5 metres in width. Also of interest on the Goldsmith Property are reported historic gold values obtained from the sulphide-altered wall rock between and adjacent to the quartz veins. Historic reports from the early 1900s expound on the amount and size of free gold within these vein networks. The 1903 Geological Survey of Canada Summary Report describes the original discovery of the Lucky Jack vein as:
“The quartz is milky to watery white, carrying a little arsenopyrite, galena and pyrite with, in places, very coarse free gold, liberally splashed through it, in bunches, masses, fibres and plates. The gold occurs in the pure quartz, in the sulphides, surrounding the sulphides, with inclusions of country rock or along the walls. The vein has afforded many magnificent specimens of native gold, some of the finest ever found in the province.”
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The Company also entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Lucky Jack mineral claims adjacent to the Goldsmith property located near Kaslo, British Columbia. The option agreement calls for the issuance of 200,000 common shares (issued) and payments totalling $110,000 ($50,000 paid) over 6 years. The optionor will retain a 2% NSR royalty on all metals. The Company may acquire one half of the NSR for $1,000,000 upon commencement of commercial production or earlier.
The Lucky Jack claim groups are being worked contiguously with the Goldsmith Group and are considered jointly to make up the Goldsmith Property.
Location and Access
The Goldsmith Property is located west of the small community of Poplar Creek along Highway 31, 66 kilometres north of Kaslo, BC. The claims are located on mapsheets 082K.035 and 045 in the Slocan Mining Division of southeastern British Columbia.
The south side of the claim block (south of Poplar Creek) can be accessed off the Cascade Creek Forest Service Road and the north side of the claim block can be accessed from the Poplar Creek Forest Service Road.
Previous Work
Portions of the Goldsmith Property were worked by Westmin Resources in 1980 and 1981. Work included soil sampling, geological mapping, trenching and diamond drilling. The 1981 drilling and trenching programs were concentrated on the Lucky Jack and Goldsmith areas. Trenching and/or drilling returned narrow widths of high grade gold mineralization in both areas.
No significant exploration programs were carried out on the property after 1982, until Cream’s small exploration programs on the property.
Results by Cream
Cream received encouraging assay results from a preliminary sampling program carried out on the Goldsmith Property in 2003. Historic documents indicate very high gold grades can be obtained from many of the old workings. Cream’s initial exploration program consisted of a small rock grab and chip sampling program designed to confirm the presence of the reported extremely high gold values. Cream’s initial sampling program found gold mineralization in a number of showings outlined along a 3 km long belt of altered volcanic rocks.
Proposed Exploration Program
Due to the favourable results for the 2003 sampling program, an expanded exploration program is proposed for the Goldsmith Property in fiscal 2008. Along with continued prospecting and sampling of additional historic workings, not previously located during the 2003 program, a grid will be established over the 1.5 x 1.5 kilometre area containing most of the historic workings. This grid will be geochemically and geophysically surveyed accompanied by detailed geological mapping in order to define trench and drill targets.
Encouraging results from the 2003 and 2004 soil geochemistry and rock sampling programs were followed up with detailed geological and structural mapping and expanded soil sampling.
Total exploration and acquisition costs incurred in fiscal 2007 on the Goldsmith and Lucky Jack Claims totalled $49,680. Subsequent to March 31, 2007, a payment of $20,000 was made on each of the Goldsmith and Lucky Jack claims, pursuant to the option agreements.
Ms. Linda Dandy, P.Geo., of P&L Geological Services, is the Company’s project supervisor and “Qualified Person” for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.
d.
Stephens Lake Property
The Company has a one-third interest, along with Sultan Minerals Inc. and ValGold Resources Ltd. (“Sultan” and “ValGold” or the “Companies”) in Mineral Exploration Licence Number 64 and staked claims to the north and contiguous in Manitoba (“the Stephens Lake property”).
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The Company also, jointly with Sultan and ValGold acquired an option on two statked claims, the Trout and Trout 1 claims, which are contiguous with and encompassed by the Stephens Lake property.
Under the terms of the Trout Claim Group agreement, the Companies agreed to make total cash payment of $110,000 ($23,333 paid by the Company) and issue 200,001 common shares (66,667 shares in the capital of each of the three companies (66,667 common shares of the Company issued to July 28, 2007)) to the optionor over a 36-month period from July 22, 2004. Upon earning its 75.0% interest, the Companies and the optionor may into a 75:25 joint venture for the further exploration and development of the Trout Claim Group.
Mr. Arthur Troup, P.Geo., of Sultan Minerals, is the Company’s project supervisor and “Qualified Person” for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.
e.
Wine Nickel-Copper Property, Manitoba
In March 2006, the Company entered into an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Wine Claim, MB 3964 and Wine 1 Claim, located approximately 60 kilometres southeast of Flin Flon, Manitoba. The Company can earn its interest by making payments totalling $105,000 ($10,000 paid) and issuing 200,000 common shares (100,000 issued) over a 48-month period. The Company must also incur exploration expenditures on the property of $5,000 annually for four years. On completion of these obligations, the property will be subject only to a 2.0% NSR royalty payable to the optionor from the production of gold, silver and all base metals and other minerals. The Company has the right to reduce the NSR royalty to 1.0% by the payment of $1,000,000 to the optionor at any time up to and including the commencement of commercial production.
Cream’s exploration plans included investigating the Wine showing with a single vertical drill hole to determine if the mineralization could be similar to the Sherritt Gordon Mines ore-bodies at Lynn Lake, Manitoba. The Sherritt Gordon Mine produced 20,151,146 tonnes of ore with an average grade of 1.023% Nickel and 0.535% Copper from eleven discrete vertical pipes that are hosted by a mafic to ultramafic igneous pluton (Pinset, R.H.; 1980). A second drill hole was to investigate a large geophysical anomaly situated 100 meters west of the Wine showing.
The first test hole, RAD 07 – 01, on its Wine – Radar Lake property, 60 km southeast of Flin Flon, Manitoba, assayed 1.30% Nickel, 2.27% Copper, 0.319 g/t Gold, 0.132 g/t Platinum and 0.270 g/t Palladium over 66.8 feet core length at a dip of –49 degrees (true width is estimated to be 43.6 feet).
The hole was drilled to test and confirm an earlier hole DDH EEL – 346, drilled in 1987 by Hudson Bay Exploration and Development Co. Ltd., which assayed 0.85% Nickel and 1.42% Copper over 54.0 feet at a dip of –45 degrees (Refer to Cream News Release dated February 6, 2006).
A second drill hole, RAD 07 – 02 was collared at approximately 230 feet southeast of RAD 07 – 01. It was drilled at –60 degrees to a depth of 837 feet with the hope of intersecting mineralization should the zone plunge vertically to that point. The favourable horizon was not intersected in this hole; however, the main purpose of the hole was to locate the downward plunge of the upper zone and the hole will now be used for a down the hole Pulse EM Survey as soon as possible in order to locate the mineralized body.
During the drill program, standard sampling procedures were used whereby the core was cut with a circular diamond saw and half of the core was sent by trucking company directly to TSL Laboratories Ltd. in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The remaining half of the core was stored in a core storage facility in Snow Lake, Manitoba. All sample preparation was done at the laboratory by TSL staff, who assayed the samples using a multi-acid digestion and Atomic Absorption assay procedures.
Mr. A. J. Spooner, P.Eng., of A.J. Spooner Exploration Services, Inc., Flin Flon, Manitoba, is the Qualified Person for NI 43-101.
3.
Other Investments
In March 2002, Cream entered into an agreement to acquire up to 100% of the outstanding shares of Terra Gaia Inc. (“Terra Gaia”), a private Canadian company. To complete the transaction, Cream was to complete a financing to raise approximately $3.2 million, which would be advanced to Terra Gaia pursuant to the agreement to be used to build and operate a proposed demonstration plant and provide working capital for Terra Gaia. In consideration for arranging the financing, Terra Gaia was to issue shares to Cream in an amount equal to 50% of the then outstanding
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share capital of Terra Gaia. Upon completion of the full amount of the financing, Cream and Terra Gaia agreed to enter into an arrangement agreement, whereby Cream was to be given the opportunity to acquire the shares of Terra Gaia not then held by Cream, and pursuant to which the Terra Gaia shareholders, other than Cream, would be entitled to exchange their shares for shares in the capital of the Company, pursuant to a Plan of Arrangement under the Company Act (British Columbia). In July 2002, Cream was unable to make a required second payment of $225,000 and the agreement with Terra Gaia was terminated. The Company invested $25,000 for which Cream has received 100,000 common shares of Terra Gaia. In the year ended March 31, 2006, the Company wrote down the investment by $24,999 to a nominal sum of $1, due to the uncertainty of the recoverability of this investment.
ITEM 4A.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 5.
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of Cream Minerals Ltd. (“Cream”) for the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and related notes thereto. Cream’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Except as described fully in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements, which is summarized below, there are no material differences, for the purposes of the consolidated financial statements, between accounting principles generally accepted in Canada and the United States.
Material Differences between Canadian and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Cream prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada (“Canadian GAAP”), which differ in certain respects from those principles that it would have followed had its financial statements been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The major differences between Canadian and U.S. GAAP, which affect Cream’s financial statements, are described below:
i)
Under Canadian GAAP, exploration expenses may be deferred until such time as the exploration work is either effectively abandoned and related costs are written off or the property reaches a development stage. Development costs may also be deferred until such time as further related costs are written off or an operating mine is established following which accumulated costs are amortized to earnings. Under U.S. GAAP, and under Securities and Exchange Commission guidelines, all exploration expenses incurred prior to the determination of the existence of a commercially mineable deposit and the completion of a feasibility study should be recorded as expenses as they are incurred. At this stage, Cream has not yet identified economically recoverable reserves on any of its properties. Accordingly, under U.S. GAAP, all exploration costs incurred during the year are to be expensed.
ii)
SFAS No. 115 requires investments to be classified with respect to holding period, as determined by management, as either held-to-maturity debt securities, trading securities or available-for-sale investments.
The Company has no held-to-maturity debt securities or trading securities.
iii)
United States accounting standards for reporting comprehensive income are set forth in SFAS No. 130. Comprehensive income represents the change in equity during a reporting period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Components of comprehensive income include available for sale investments that are not actively traded on short-term differences in price. For U.S. GAAP purposes, these holding gains and losses are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.
iv)
United States accounting standards for income taxes are set forth in SFAS No. 109. The Company has determined that the adoption of SFAS No. 109 would have no material affect on the assets, liabilities or operations for the years presented in these financial statements. The only significant tax assets the Company has are the accumulated non-capital losses and accumulated resource related expenditures, which are available to offset future taxable income. The Company’s operations have no income subject to income taxes and it is not likely that such tax assets will be realized. Accordingly, under U.S.
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GAAP the Company would eliminate the effect of the recognition of any of these tax assets by the recording of a valuation allowance equal to the value of the tax assets, as the Company has done under Canadian GAAP.
Recent pronouncements
Impact of recent applicable United States accounting pronouncements
Share-based payments
On April 1, 2006, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 123(R),Share-Based Payment (“FAS 123R”). Previously, the Company accounted for stock-based compensation using the fair value method under the provisions of FASB Statement No. 123Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. As the Company had previously applied the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation, the adoption of FAS 123R did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Accounting for Uncertainty in Tax Positions
In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN No. 48Accounting for Uncertainty in Tax Position, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109(“FIN 48”). FIN 48 addresses the recognition and measurement of all tax positions. The recognition process involves determining whether it is more likely than not that a tax position would be sustained on audit based solely on its technical merits. The amount of benefit recognized in the financial statements is the maximum amount which is more likely than not to be realized based on a cumulative probability approach. FIN 48 is effective for the Company on April 1, 2007. The Company does not believe that FIN 48 will impact its consolidated financial statements for U.S. GAAP.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements in Canada
Comprehensive income
CICA Handbook Section 1530 -Comprehensive Income and Section 3251 –Equity apply to interim financial periods beginning on or after October 1, 2006. Comprehensive income is the change in the net assets of an enterprise during a period and resulting from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. It includes items that would normally not be included in earnings such as unrealized gains and losses on financial assets classified as available for sale, unrealized foreign currency translation amounts, net of any hedging and changes in fair value of the effective portion of cash flow hedging instruments. (See Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement).
Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement
In April 2005, the Accounting Standards Board issued CICA Handbook Section 3855,Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement, along with two companion standards, Section 1530,Comprehensive Income, and Section 3865,Hedges.
Under this new standard, all financial instruments will be classified as one of the following: held to maturity investments, loans and receivables, held for trading and available for sale. Financials assets and liabilities held for trading will be measured at fair value with gains and losses recognized in net income. Financial assets held to maturity, loans and receivables and financial liabilities other than those held for trading, will be measured at amortized cost. Available for sale instruments will be measured at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income. The standard also permits the designation of any financial instrument as held for trading upon initial recognition. The Company is still determining the full impact of these standards on its consolidated financial statements.
Hedges
This new standard specifies the criteria under which hedge accounting can be applied and how hedge accounting can be executed for each of the permitted hedging strategies; fair-value hedges and cash-flow hedges. The Company’s foreign operations are not self-sustaining. As at March 31, 2007, the adoption of this Section is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements.
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Overview
Cream is a mineral exploration company with no producing properties and consequently has no current operating income or cash flow. All of Cream’s short to medium-term operating and exploration cash flow must be derived from external financing.
Critical accounting policies and changes in accounting policies
The preparation of financial statements requires management to establish accounting policies, estimates and assumptions that affect the timing and reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. These estimates are based upon historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, and require judgment on matters which are inherently uncertain. A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies is set out in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2007.
(A)
Operating Results
Year Ended March 31, 2007, Compared to Year Ended March 31, 2006
For the year ended March 31, 2007, Cream incurred a loss of $663,350, or loss per common share of $0.02, compared to a loss of $891,264, or a loss of $0.03 per common share in the year ended March 31, 2006.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses totalled $685,849 in fiscal 2007, compared to $763,974 in fiscal 2006. The Company wrote-off the balance of costs incurred on the Fenix property in fiscal 2006 of $113,042. In fiscal 2005 the Company wrote down its Nuevo Milenio property by $1,523,030 to a nominal carrying value of $1 due to inactivity on the property at that time. Further, the costs incurred in the first two quarters of fiscal 2006 on the Nuevo Milenio property of $59,655 were also written off in that period. The Company re-commenced capitalization of costs on the Nuevo Milenio Property, of which $1,077,716 has been capitalized to date. There were no mineral property interest write-downs in fiscal 2007.
Cream conducted exploration activities in Mexico and in Sierra Leone in fiscal 2007, and as such, there are foreign exchange risks associated with exploration in foreign jurisdictions. The Company had a foreign exchange gain of $2,330 in fiscal 2007 as opposed to having a foreign exchange loss of $3,141 in fiscal 2006. The Company’s cash balances are held in Canadian dollars, United States dollars and in Mexican pesos. There is significant volatility with these currencies compared to the Canadian dollar, but as the Company did not have significant cash balances for any length of time in foreign currencies other than United States dollars, a small gain on foreign exchange has been recorded in each fiscal period.
Legal, accounting and audit increased from $26,642 in fiscal 2006 to $42,419 in fiscal 2007. Legal fees have decreased during the year, as no major acquisitions were completed. Audit fees of $18,110 incurred in fiscal 2007, compare to $12,600 in fiscal 2006. Audit and accounting fees will likely increase in fiscal 2008, with changes in generally accepted accounting principles, further reviews of internal controls and more audit testing expected to be undertaken in fiscal 2008. Legal fees will likely increase in the future due to increased regulatory reporting requirements and a joint venture agreement that will need to be finalized on the Casierra properties in Sierra Leone.
The Company paid Lang Mining Corporation, a private company, a monthly management fee of $2,500 per month for the services of Frank Lang as President and CEO of the Company, for a total of $30,000 in fiscal 2006. The fees paid to Lang Mining Corporation were increased to $5,000 per month, effective April 1, 2006, and to $10,000 per month, effective November 1st, 2006. These fees totalled $85,000 in fiscal 2007.
LMC Management Services Ltd. provides accounting, administrative and other services on a full cost recovery basis to Cream and other public companies sharing office space. Consulting fees of $17,500 (2006 - $7,500) were paid to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. for services rendered by Sargent H. Berner, a director of the Company.
Office and administration costs decreased from $133,781 in fiscal 2006 to $79,474 in fiscal 2007. The office and administration costs include rent, telephone, shared office services and other costs related to administration of a
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public company. Decreased use of office space near the end of 2006, and throughout 2007, accounted for the decrease in office and administration costs in fiscal 2007.
Salaries and benefits have decreased from $84,795 in fiscal 2006 to $75,929 in fiscal 2007. Wages will likely increase in future due to the increased time required to comply with new reporting and regulatory regulations. The exploration activity in Sierra Leone has contributed to the increase in administration salaries and office costs related to the tracking and recording of costs incurred.
Stock-based compensation of $232,287 relates to the vested portion of stock options granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees in fiscal 2006, and compares to $67,867 related to the vested portion of stock options granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees in fiscal 2007. These options were valued using the Black-Scholes option valuation model developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that are fully transferable and have no vesting restrictions. The Company’s stock options are not transferable and cannot be traded. The Company used historical volatility rates of 85% in fiscal 2007 and 109% in fiscal 2006.
Shareholder communications have increased from $190,246 in fiscal 2006 to $286,510 in fiscal 2007. The Company has an agreement with Arbutus Enterprises Ltd. (“Arbutus”) to provide investor relations services at a monthly fee of $2,000. Arbutus was paid $24,000 in both fiscal 2007 and 2006. Axino AG was paid $82,500 in fiscal 2007 for services primarily related to the European markets. Listing and filing fees decreased from $28,933 in fiscal 2006 to $20,839 in fiscal 2007. Transfer agent fees increased from $9,632 in fiscal 2006 to $12,649 in fiscal 2007, and will likely continue to increase as transfer agent fees have increased and the Company has more shares outstanding. Website, printing, conference fees, annual general meeting materials, and related shareholder communications costs have increased from $65,595 in fiscal 2006 to $147,357 in fiscal 2007. The largest portion of the increase rel ates to advertising and printed material which increased from $32,287 in fiscal 2006 to $81,762 in fiscal 2007.
Travel and conference expenses have decreased from $49,139 in fiscal 2006 to $19,458 in fiscal 2007, due primarily to less travel to investor conferences during the year.
In fiscal 2005, the Company could not determine the recoverability of value-added taxes paid in Mexico in prior years. As a result, $91,411 in value-added taxes recoverable was written off. In fiscal 2006, $69,841 of the prior years’ value-added taxes was recovered. No recoveries or write-downs were recorded in fiscal 2007.
Year Ended March 31, 2006, Compared to Year Ended March 31, 2005
For the year ended March 31, 2006, Cream incurred a loss of $891,264, or loss per common share of $0.03, compared to a loss of $2,815,003, or a loss of $0.10 per common share in the year ended March 31, 2005.
General and administrative expenses
Total general and administrative expenses totalled $763,974 in fiscal 2006, compared to $720,764 in fiscal 2005. The Company wrote-off the balance of costs incurred on the Fenix property in fiscal 2006 of $113,042, and the costs incurred in the first two quarters of fiscal 2006 on the Nuevo Milenio property of $59,655. The Company re-commenced capitalization of costs on the Nuevo Milenio Property, of which $107,198 has been capitalized to date. In fiscal 2005 the Company wrote down its Nuevo Milenio property by $1,523,030 to a nominal carrying value of $1 due to inactivity on the property, and wrote off its Fenix property by $472,948, for a total write-down of mineral property interests of $1,995,978.
Cream conducted exploration activities in Mexico and in Sierra Leone in fiscal 2006, and there are foreign exchange risks associated with exploration in foreign jurisdictions. Foreign exchange losses decreased from $13,958 in fiscal 2005 to $3,141 in fiscal 2006. The Canadian dollar increased in value against the United States and Mexican peso in fiscal 2006, which reduced the foreign exchange loss incurred in paying expenses denominated in those currencies.
Legal, accounting and audit decreased from $58,787 in fiscal 2005 to $26,642 in fiscal 2006. Legal, fees have decreased during the year, as no major acquisitions were completed. Audit fees of $12,600 incurred in fiscal 2006, compare to $14,100 in fiscal 2005.
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The Company paid Lang Mining Corporation, a private company, a monthly management fee of $2,500 per month for the services of Frank Lang as President and CEO of the Company, for a total of $30,000 in each fiscal year. These services are not provided through LMC Management Services Ltd., the management company that provides accounting, administrative and other services on a full cost recovery basis to Cream and other public companies sharing office space. The fees paid to Lang Mining Corporation were increased to $5,000 per month, effective April 1, 2006. Consulting fees of $7,500 were paid to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. in fiscal 2006 for services rendered by Sargent H. Berner, a director of the Company. There were no comparative fees paid in fiscal 2005.
Office and administration costs increased from $90,536 in fiscal 2005 to $133,781 in fiscal 2006. The office and administration costs include rent, telephone, shared office services and other costs related to administration of a public company. Computer and accounting system upgrades during the period have contributed to the increase in office and administration costs.
Salaries and benefits have increased from $64,855 in fiscal 2005 to $84,795 in fiscal 2006. The exploration activity in Sierra Leone has contributed to the increase in administration salaries and office costs related to the tracking and recording of costs incurred.
Stock-based compensation of $232,287 relates to the vested portion of stock options granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees in fiscal 2006, compares to $288,601 related to the vested portion of stock options granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees in fiscal 2005. These options were valued using the Black-Scholes option valuation model developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that are fully transferable and have no vesting restrictions. The Company used historical volatility rates of 109% in fiscal 2006 and 141% in fiscal 2005.
Shareholder communications have increased from $114,625 in fiscal 2005 to $190,246 in fiscal 2006. Two investor relations’ consultants provided services to the Company. The first contract was with Renmark Financial Communications (“Renmark”), entered into in August 2003. Renmark was paid $Nil in fiscal 2006, compared to $21,000 in fiscal 2005. Renmark is no longer providing investor relations services to the Company. The Company also has an agreement with Arbutus Enterprises Ltd. (“Arbutus”) to provide investor relations services at a monthly fee of $2,000. Arbutus was paid $24,000 in both fiscal 2006 and 2005. Listing and filing fees increased from $14,057 in fiscal 2005 to $28,933 in fiscal 2006, due to filing fees related to various filings incurred during the year. Transfer agent fees decreased from $10,297 in fiscal 2005 to $9,632 in fiscal 2006. Website, printin g, conference fees, annual general meeting materials, and related shareholder communications costs have increased from $45,271 in fiscal 2005 to $65,595 in fiscal 2006. The largest portion of the increase relates to advertising and other printed material which increased from $7,498 in fiscal 2005 to $32,287 in fiscal 2006.
Travel and conference expenses have increased from $25,673 in fiscal 2005 to $49,139 in fiscal 2006. Travel increased due to increased attendance at conferences during the year.
In fiscal 2005, the Company could not determine the recoverability of value-added taxes paid in Mexico in prior years. As a result, $91,411 in value-added taxes recoverable was written off. In fiscal 2006, $69,841 of the prior years’ value-added taxes was recovered.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007, Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2006
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 (“Q4 2007”), Cream incurred a loss of $189,852 or $0.01 per common share, compared to a loss of $156,564, or $0.00 per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2006 (“Q4 2006”). Total operating expenses, before interest income, were $191,174 in Q4 2007 as compared to $156,847 in Q4 2006. In Q4 2007, there was a $9,614 loss on foreign exchange related to transactions associated with operations in Mexico and Sierra Leone in Q4 2006, compared to a loss of $704 in Q4 2006.
Legal, accounting and audit fees decreased from $19,543 in Q4 2006 to $9,952 in Q4 2007, primarily due to a decrease in legal expense. Salaries and benefits decreased from $23,573 in Q4 2006 to $19,948 in Q4 2007. Non-cash stock-based compensation related to vesting of stock options granted to directors, consultants and employees included in Q4 2006 is $33,567 compared to $5,440 in Q4 2007.
Shareholder communications increased from $51,671 in Q4 2006 to $80,323 in Q4 2007. Consulting fees of $6,000 were paid to Arbutus in each fiscal period. Fees of $22,500 were paid to Axino AG in Q4 2007, compared to $Nil in Q1 2006 which accounts for the majority of the quarterly change.
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Travel and conference costs of $8,764 in Q4 2006 compare to $12,875 in Q4 2007. The Company had a representative at the Prospectors and Developers Conference in both fiscal years. Travel by management to review the Nuevo Milenio property also contributed to the increase.
In Q4 2007, management fees of $30,000 were paid to Lang Mining Corporation for the services of the president, pursuant to an agreement dated January 1, 2003, as amended, compared to $7,500 in Q4 2006. Consulting fees of $2,000 were paid to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. in Q4 2006, compared to $4,500 in Q4 2007.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2006, Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2005
For the three months ended March 31, 2006 (“Q4 2006”), Cream incurred a loss of $156,564 or $0.00 per common share, compared to a loss of $762,072, or $0.03 per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2005 (“Q4 2005”). Total operating expenses, before interest income, were $156,847 in Q4 2006 as compared to $193,648 in Q4 2005. In Q4 2006, there was a $704 foreign exchange loss related to transactions associated with operations in Mexico and Sierra Leone in Q4 2006, compared to a loss of $2,827 in Q4 2005 related to operations in Mexico.
Legal, accounting and audit fees decreased from $19,543 in Q4 2005 to $5,850 in Q4 2006, primarily due to early billing of the fiscal 2005 audit. Salaries and benefits increased from $1,067 in Q4 2005 to $23,573 in Q4 2006. This is a result of timing of administration and accounting activity required during the quarter and the year, and a full-cost recovery credit received in third quarter of fiscal 2006, compared to the fourth quarter in fiscal 2005. Non-cash stock-based compensation related to vesting of stock options granted to directors, consultants and employees included in Q4 2005 is $42,884 compared to $33,567 in Q4 2006.
Shareholder communications increased from $38,304 in Q4 2005 to $51,671 in Q4 2006. Consulting fees of $6,000 were paid to Arbutus in each fiscal period. Cash payments of $1,000 were made to Renmark in Q4 2005, compared to $Nil in Q4 2006. Renmark and Arbutus are at arm’s length to the Company. The most significant increase relates to advertising in magazines and websites, which increased from $481 in Q4 2005 to $20,834 in Q4 2006.
Travel and conference costs of $13,836 in Q4 2005 compare to $8,764 in Q4 2006. The Company had a representative at the Prospectors and Developers Conference in both fiscal years.
In Q4 2006 and Q4 2005, management fees of $7,500 were paid to Lang Mining Corporation for the services of the president, pursuant to an agreement dated January 1, 2003. These fees have increased to $5,000 per month, effective April 1, 2006. Consulting fees of $2,000 were paid to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. in Q4 2006, with no comparative expense in Q4 2005.
In Q4 2005, the Company wrote off its interest in the Fenix property in Mexico by a total of $472,948 and incurred additional costs of $6,073, which were written down, on its Nuevo Milenio property in Mexico. The Company has commenced capitalization of costs on the Nuevo Milenio property in Mexico. A drilling program is planned in the second or third quarter of fiscal 2007. In Q4 2006, there were no mineral property writedowns.
(B)
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Year ended March 31, 2007
Historically, the Company’s sole source of funding was the issuance of equity securities for cash, primarily through private placements to sophisticated investors. The Company has issued common shares in each of the past few years pursuant to private placement financings and the exercise of warrants and options.
Investing Activities
Current assets decreased to $404,737 at March 31, 2007, from $432,366 at March 31, 2006. The Company would have been able to meet its current commitments of $401,127 (March 31, 2006 - $466,508) from its current cash balances at March 31, 2007, but would require further financing to continue operations.
The marketable securities held are highly volatile. At March 31, 2007, the book value of these publicly traded securities is $31,704 (2006 - $31,704). Investments include shares with a book value of $30,796 (2006 - $30,796) that are investments in companies with officers and directors in common with the Company.
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Mineral Property Acquisitions and Payments
In fiscal 2005, the Company jointly entered into an agreement to option two (2) staked claims namely the Trout and Trout 1 claims located approximately 130 km east of Gillam, Manitoba (the “Trout Claim Group”) and encompassing an area of 256 hectares. The Trout Claim Group is contiguous with and encompassed by the Stephens Lake Claim Group, which is held by the same optionees (namely the Company, Sultan, and ValGold). Under the terms of the agreement the optionees agreed to make total cash payments of $110,000 and issue 200,001 common shares, all of which were issued by the Companies at the date of this report. The optionees are vested with 75% of the Trout Claim Group and may enter into a 75:25 joint venture for the further exploration and development of the Trout Claim Group.
The Company holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Goldsmith property located near Kaslo, British Columbia, which is comprised of the Goldsmith property and the Lucky Jack mineral claims. The Goldsmith option agreement calls for the issuance of 200,000 common shares (issued) and cash payments totalling $110,000 ($30,000 paid) over six years.
The Lucky Jack option agreement requires the issuance of 200,000 common shares (issued) and payments totalling $110,000 ($50,000 paid) over six years.
The Kootenay Gemstone property agreement requires the issuance of 500,000 common shares (issued) and cash payments totalling $100,000 ($20,000 paid) over 48 months. A payment of $10,000 payable on February 21, 2005, was deferred to February 21, 2008.
The 100% held Nuevo Milenio property is located south east of the city of Tepic in the State of Nayarit, Mexico. Due to financing constraints and exploration of other mineral property interests, in fiscal 2005 the Company wrote down the property by $1,523,030 to a nominal carrying value of $1. The size of the Nuevo Milenio property has also been reduced by the CMM 1 claims and the remainder of the claims have been reduced in size by approximately 33% to reduce carrying costs on the property, which primarily involves payment of taxes relating to the concessions held. On the Nuevo Milenio property, tax payments are required to be made twice yearly on an escalating basis, in January and July of each year, to maintain the concessions.
Costs of $59,655 incurred were expensed in the year ended March 31, 2006. In the third quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company recommenced capitalizing costs on the Nuevo Milenio property due to increasing silver prices, and $1,077,716 has been capitalized to March 31, 2007.
In fiscal 2005, Cream, through its wholly owned Mexican subsidiary, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“CMM”), wrote off costs totalling $472,948 on the Fenix properties in the year ended March 31, 2005. Costs incurred in the year ended March 31, 2006, of $113,042 were written off in the period of expenditure.
In February 2005, Cream entered into an agreement with Casierra Diamond Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc, to acquire an interest in two large exploration licences for diamonds in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The Company has earned up to a 70% interest in the licences by financing US$500,000 in work and issuing 500,000 common shares. The two licences include the Hima Licence EPL1/94 on the Sewa River and its banks, and an offshore licence, EPL 5/94 at the mouths of the Mano and Moa rivers in southern Sierra Leone.
A form of joint venture will be constituted between the two parties and each party will contribute to further expenditures on the property in accordance with its interest. If the optionor is unable to fund its share of joint venture expenditures, Cream will advance funds on its behalf, such advances to be repaid, with interest at LIBOR plus 1%, out of 80% of the optionor's share in the net proceeds of production from the property prior to any other distribution to the optionor.
Expenditures incurred on the Casierra property in fiscal 2007 include the following: Acquisition costs - $99,000; community relations - $41,327; dredging and bulk sampling - $464,781; geological and geophysical - $181,500; site activities - $173,102, and travel and accommodation- $202,723.
In fiscal 2006 Cream entered into an option agreement with W. S. Ferreira Ltd. to acquire 100% interest in the Wine Claim, MB 3964 and Wine 1 Claim (the “Wine Property”), located approximately 60 kilometers southeast of Flin Flon, Manitoba. Cream can earn its interest by making payments totalling $105,000 ($10,000 paid) and issuing
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200,000 common shares (100,000 issued) over a 48-month period. Cream must also incur exploration expenditures on the property totalling $5,000 within one year following the date of regulatory approval, $10,000 cumulative prior to the second anniversary of regulatory approval, $15,000 cumulative prior to the third anniversary of regulatory approval, and $20,000 cumulative prior to the fourth anniversary of regulatory approval. Upon completion of its obligations, the property will be subject only to a 2.0% Net Smelter Return royalty (“NSR”) payable to the optionor from the production of gold, silver and all base metals and other minerals from the property. Cream will have the right to reduce the NSR to 1.0% by the payment of $1,000,000 to the optionor at any time up to and including the commencement of commercial production. Acquisition and exploration costs incurred in fiscal 2007 total $2,513,803.
In summary, in fiscal 2007, Cream incurred cash payments of $48,333 and issued 566,667 common shares for the acquisition of mineral property interests on the Casierra, Kootenay Gemstone, Goldsmith, Lucky Jack, Trout Claim Group and Wine properties. In addition, claim fees of $14,762 were paid on these properties.
Other exploration expenditures in fiscal 2007 include $49,860 on exploration of its British Columbia properties, other than the Kaslo property. This included $10,050 on assays and analysis, $28,941 on geological services; $807 on site activities and $9,882 on travel and accommodation. Exploration expenditures in Manitoba totalled $30,057 in fiscal 2007. Exploration expenditures totalled $98,444 on the Kaslo Silver Property in fiscal 2007.
Cream has no long-term debt. Cream has several mineral property interests under option, where cash and share payments are required to be made pursuant to the terms of the option agreements. In the year ended March 31, 2008, cash payments of $138,333 are required to be made, and the issuance of 66,666 common shares is required to maintain all of the Company’s current mineral property interests. At the date of this report, cash payments of $68,333 have been made and 16,666 common shares have been issued.
Capital Resources
In fiscal 2007, the Company completed the following share placements:
(a)
On June 1, 2006, the Company completed a private placement of 3,000,000 units at a price of $0.60 per unit. Each unit was comprised of one common share and one half of one non-transferable share purchase warrant, exercisable at a price of $0.75 until June 1, 2007. These warrants expired, unexercised.
(b)
On February 22, 2007, the Company completed a private placement of 2,500,000 units at a price of $0.40 per unit. Each unit was comprised of one common share and one half of one non-transferable share purchase warrant, exercisable at a price of $0.50 until February 21, 2009.
In fiscal 2007, 877,900 stock options were exercised at prices of $0.10 to $0.54 to acquire 877,900 common shares. On August 3, 2005, 100,000 and 310,000 stock options were granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees at prices of $0.50 and $0.53 per June 12, 2011, and January 29, 2012, respectively. Stock-based compensation of $101,020 in fiscal 2007 relates to the vested portion of stock options granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees, compared to $238,965 related to the vested portion of stock options granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees in fiscal 2006. These options were valued using the Black-Scholes option valuation model developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that are fully transferable and have no vesting restrictions. The Company’s stock options are not transferable and cannot be traded. The Company used historical volatility rates of 85% in fiscal 2007 and 109% in fiscal 2006.
Subsequent to March 31, 2007, and up to the date of the audit report of July 25, 2007, 645,000 stock options were exercised at prices ranging from $0.15 to $0.54 to provide $144,380 to the treasury and 1,745,300 warrants were exercised at $0.45 to provide $785,385 to the treasury. In addition, 1,855,000 stock options were granted to directors, officers and employees at an exercise price of $0.50, expiring April 18, 2012.
Insiders of Cream purchased an aggregate 51.2% of the private placement of 3,000,000 units at $0.60 noted above. Lang Mining Corporation (“Lang Mining”) and Dauntless Developments Ltd. (“Dauntless”), both private companies controlled by Frank A. Lang, acquired 1,000,000 units and 242,234 units, respectively, on the same terms as the other subscribers to the private placement. Immediately prior to the closing of the private placement, Frank A. Lang beneficially owned or had control or direction over 8,869,953 common shares and securities convertible into 2,863,000 common shares of Cream equal in aggregate to approximately 33% of the issued and outstanding
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common shares of Cream. The acquisition of 1,000,000 units by Lang Mining and 242,234 units by Dauntless, constitutes an increase to the beneficial holdings of Frank A. Lang of 4.9% of the post closing issued and outstanding common shares of Cream. Of these securities, Lang Mining holds 3,383,403 common shares and securities convertible into 500,000 common shares of Cream equal in aggregate to approximately 10% of the post closing issued and outstanding common shares of Cream, and Dauntless holds 1,273,254 common shares and securities convertible into 214,117 common shares of Cream equal in aggregate to approximately 3.9% of the post closing issued and outstanding common shares of Cream.
Additionally, Ferdinand Holcapek and Sargent H. Berner, both directors of Cream, purchased 250,000 Units and 45,000 units, respectively, on the same terms as the other subscribers to the private placement. Post closing, Mr. Holcapek holds or had control or direction over 2,327,037 common shares and securities convertible into 645,000 common shares of Cream equal in aggregate to approximately 7.8% of the post closing issued and outstanding common shares of Cream, and Mr. Berner holds or had control or direction over 213,500 common shares and securities convertible into 332,500 common shares of Cream equal in aggregate to approximately 1.4% of the post closing issued and outstanding common shares of Cream.
Frank A. Lang holds approximately 33% of the issued and outstanding shares of Casierra Diamond Corporation, incorporated in British Columbia and its wholly-owned subsidiary company, Casierra Development Fund Inc., also incorporated in British Columbia, which hold an interest in two prospecting licence areas for diamonds and other minerals and metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
At March 31, 2007, the following warrants were exercisable:
| | |
Number of Warrants | Exercise Price | Expiry Date |
1,909,500 | $0.45 | April 18, 2007 |
1,000,000 | $0.40 | March 21, 2008 |
1,500,000 | $0.75 | June 1, 2007 |
1,250,000 | $0.50 | February 21, 2009 |
5,659,500 | | |
Year Ended March 31, 2006
Investing Activities
Current assets increased to $432,366 at March 31, 2006, from $272,923 at March 31, 2005. The Company would have been unable to meet its current commitments of $466,508 (March 31, 2005 - $138,550) from its current cash balances at March 31, 2006, if the Company had not completed a completed a non-brokered private placement of 3,000,000 units at a price of $0.60 per unit, for gross proceeds of $1,800,000, shortly after the fiscal 2006 year end.
The market value of investments in marketable securities was $36,686 at March 31, 2006, compared to $33,166 at March 31, 2005. The marketable securities held are highly volatile. The book value of these securities is $31,704 (2005 - $31,704). Investments in shares of ValGold Resources Ltd. and Abitibi Mining Corp. have been written down to the trading price of the common shares on March 31, 2005. Investments include shares with a book value of $30,796 (March 31, 2005 - $30,796) that are investments in companies with officers and/or directors in common with the Company. Cream also holds 100,000 shares of Terra Gaia Inc., a private company, at a nominal carrying value of $1. This investment was written down by $24,999 in fiscal 2006.
Mineral Property Acquisitions and Payments
Costs of $59,655 incurred on the Nuevo Milenio property in Mexico were expensed in the year ended March 31, 2006. In the third quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company recommenced capitalizing costs on the Nuevo Milenio property due to increasing silver prices, and $107,198 was capitalized to March 31, 2006.
In fiscal 2005, Cream, through its wholly owned Mexican subsidiary, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“CMM”), wrote off costs totalling $472,948 on the Fenix properties in the year ended March 31, 2005. Costs incurred in the year ended March 31, 2006, of $113,042 were written off in the period of expenditure.
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Expenditures incurred on the Casierra property in Sierra Leone in fiscal 2006 include the following: Acquisition costs - $20,241; drilling - $18,172; geological and geophysical - $216,853; site activities - $63,541, and travel and accommodation- $58,838.
In fiscal 2006 Cream entered into an option agreement with W. S. Ferreira Ltd. to acquire 100% interest in the Wine Claim, MB 3964 and Wine 1 Claim (the “Wine Property”), located approximately 60 kilometers southeast of Flin Flon, Manitoba. Acquisition and exploration costs incurred in fiscal 2006 total $34,036.
In summary, in fiscal 2006, Cream incurred cash payments of $31,667 and issued 266,667 common shares for the acquisition of mineral property interests on the Kootenay Gemstone, Goldsmith, Lucky Jack, Trout Claim Group and Wine properties.
Other exploration expenditures in fiscal 2006 include $17,980 on exploration of its British Columbia properties. This included $1,616 on assays and analysis, $8,985 on geological services and $1,516 on travel and accommodation on the Kaslo, Goldsmith, Kootenay Gemstone and Lucky Jack properties. Exploration expenditures in Manitoba totalled $2,355 in fiscal 2006.
Cream has no long-term debt. Cream has several mineral property interests under option, where cash and share payments are required to be made pursuant to the terms of the option agreements. In the year ended March 31, 2007, cash payments of $93,333 are required to be made, and the issuance of 566,667 common shares is required to maintain all of the Company’s current mineral property interests. At the date of this report, cash payments of $35,000 have been made and 400,000 common shares have been issued.
Financing Activities
In fiscal 2006, the Company completed the following share placements:
i.
On April 18, 2005, the Company completed a private placement of 2,000,000 units at a price of $0.35 per unit. Each unit was comprised of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant, exercisable at a price of $0.45 until April 18, 2006. In addition, the Company issued 32,350 finders’ fee units, which were equal to 5% of the total number of units purchased. The expiry date of the warrants was extended for a one year period, to April 18, 2007.
ii.
On March 21, 2006, the Company completed a private placement of 2,000,000 units at a price of $0.30 per unit. Each unit was comprised of one common share and one half of one non-transferable share purchase warrant, exercisable at a price of $0.40 until March 21, 2008. Mr. Frank A. Lang, the president, chairman and a director of the Company was the sole placee.
In fiscal 2006, 776,600 stock options were exercised at prices of $0.10 to $0.165 to acquire 776,600 common shares, and On August 3, 2005, 1,485,000 stock options were granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants at a price of $0.165 per share, expiring August 3, 2010, and 500,000 stock options were granted to an officer and director, at a price of $0.215 per share, with an expiry date of October 28, 2010.
Stock-based compensation of $232,287 in fiscal 2006 relates to the vested portion of stock options granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees, compared to $288,601 related to the vested portion of stock options granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees in fiscal 2005. These options were valued using the Black-Scholes option valuation model developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that are fully transferable and have no vesting restrictions. The Company’s stock options are not transferable and cannot be traded. The Company used historical volatility rates of 109% in fiscal 2006 and 141% in fiscal 2005.
At March 31, 2006, the following warrants were exercisable:
| | |
Number of Warrants | Exercise Price | Expiry Date |
2,000,000 | $0.45 | April 18, 2007 |
32,350 | $0.45 | April 18, 2006 |
1,000,000 | $0.40 | March 21, 2008 |
3,032,350 | | |
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The expiry date of 2,000,000 of the warrants described above was extended from April 18, 2006, to April 18, 2007, and the majority of these were exercised in fiscal 2007 and subsequent to March 31, 2007, up to the expiration date..
Year Ended March 31, 2005
Investing Activities
In fiscal 2005, the Company jointly entered into an agreement to option two (2) staked claims namely the Trout and Trout 1 claims located approximately 130 km east of Gillam, Manitoba and encompassing an area of 256 hectares. The Trout Claim Group is contiguous with and encompassed by the Stephens Lake Claim Group, which is held by the same optionees (namely the Company, Sultan, and ValGold) and is currently under option to BHP Billiton.
In fiscal 2005, Cream, through its wholly owned Mexican subsidiary, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“CMM”), entered into an option to purchase agreement with the optionors to acquire a 51% right, title and interest in the “Fenix” and “La Fenix 2” gold-silver properties, located in the State of Nayarit, Mexico. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the optionors were to vest 51% right, title and interest in the properties to CMM in exchange for cash payments totalling US$100,000 (US$50,000 paid) over a six-month period and issuance of 200,000 common shares (50,000 issued) of the Company to be received over a 12-month period. The Company expended a total of $70,536 on acquisition costs and $402,412 on exploration activities and as exploration results did not meet the Company’s expectations, these costs totalling $472,948 were written off in the year ended March 31, 2005. Costs incurred subsequent to March 31, 2005, will be written off in the period of expenditure.
In February 2005, the Company entered into an agreement with Casierra Diamond Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc., (collectively, Casierra”) to earn up to a 70% interest in production from two exclusive prospecting licence areas for diamonds and other minerals and metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa, which it subsequently earned.
In summary, in fiscal 2005, Cream incurred cash payments of $23,333 and US$50,000 and issued 466,667 common shares for the acquisition of mineral property interests on the Kootenay Gemstone, Goldsmith, Lucky Jack, Fenix, Trout Claim Group and Stephens Lake properties.
Exploration expenditures on the Nuevo Milenio Property in fiscal 2005 included $134,382 on drilling, $82,037 on geological, $87,579 on site activities, $35,752 on assays and analysis, and $45,518 on travel and accommodation. In Q3 2005, the Company reviewed the exploration results on the Nuevo Milenio property, and although the Nuevo Milenio property has exploration potential, the Company felt it did not meet the expectations of the Company, and as a result the property has been written down by $1,523,030 to a nominal carrying value of $1.
The Company expended $472,948 on the Fenix property in Mexico, including site activities of $201,921, drilling of $77,589, assays and analysis of $11,980, travel and accommodation of $50,399, and geological of $60,523. Exploration results did not meet the Company’s expectations and as a result the Company has written off the Fenix property by $472,948. Additional costs incurred on this property subsequent to March 31, 2005, were written off in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, and totalled $113,042.
Other exploration expenditures in fiscal 2005 include $223,013 on exploration of its British Columbia properties. This included $21,139 on assays and analysis, $56,139 on geological services and $8,054 on travel and accommodation on the Goldsmith, Kootenay Gemstone and Lucky Jack properties. The Company also expended $54,188 on work on the Kaslo property, including $38,110 on a drill program that they were unable to complete.
The Company received a refund on the exploration advance of $29,862 from the province of Manitoba with respect to exploration costs incurred in fiscal 2005 on the Stephens Lake Property in Manitoba, including the Trout claims, which has offset acquisition costs.
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Capital Resources
In fiscal 2005, 810,001 share purchase warrants were exercised and 364,000 stock options were exercised to acquire 1,174,001 common shares, providing $285,750 to the treasury.
The Company extended the expiry date of warrants previously issued pursuant to a brokered private placement from February 19, 2005, to April 19, 2005. The warrants, exercisable at an exercise price of $0.75 per share, for up to 1,200,000 common shares of Cream, expired unexercised.
Financial Constraints
All of Cream’s short to medium-term operating and exploration cash flow must be derived from external financing. As discussed below, Cream will continue to have to rely on financing to carry on its proposed exploration programs for fiscal 2008. In the event that market conditions prevent Cream from receiving external financing, Cream will be forced to review its property holdings and prioritize its project exploration to fit within cash availability. Cream’s primary exploration focus is currently on the Casierra licences in Sierra Leone, the Nuevo Milenio property in Mexico, the Wine Property in Manitoba and the Goldsmith and Kootenay Gemstone properties in British Columbia.
With respect to its Kaslo Silver property, Cream has planned a $3 million exploration program that would include geological mapping, expanded geophysical surveys, gravity surveys, additional soil sampling and 12,100 meters of diamond drilling and bulk sampling over existing zones and new targets, on the Black Bear, Black Fox and Ben Hur areas of the property. This program is contingent on obtaining additional financing.
During the year ended March 31, 2001, Cream acquired three mining lots in the State of Nayarit, Mexico, by denouncement (the Nuevo Milenio property). The property was decreased to reduce carrying costs in fiscal 2005. In Mexico, tax payments are due in January and July of each year for all mineral property concessions. These payments escalate and are indexed for all exploration permits. To date, Cream has made all required tax payments, including the payment made in July 2007. The Company completed a drilling and exploration program in May 2004 and is currently planning further drilling to commence in the fall of 2007, pending financing. Exploration results are summarized in Item 4 of this annual report.
Exploration programs on the Company’s mineral property interests are contingent on satisfactory exploration results and the ability of the Company to obtain financing, as the Company has no other source of revenue.
It will be necessary for the Company to enter into a form of private placement or similar form of financing in order to continue with property and exploration commitments on its mineral properties.
Of Cream’s issued and outstanding shares, there are no shares held in escrow, nor have there been any shares held in escrow in the past five fiscal years.
The Company’s ability to continue in operation has generally been dependent on the continuing support of its creditors, funding from related parties, and the Company’s ability to secure additional financing. While it has been successful in securing additional financing in the past, there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so in the future. Accordingly, these financial statements do not reflect adjustments to the carrying value of assets and liabilities and balance sheet classifications that would be necessary if going concern assumptions were not appropriate. Some adjustments could be material, and as the Company is dependent on external sources of financing, there may be significant doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern in future periods.
Cream does not have any material commitments for capital expenditures and accordingly can remain relatively flexible in gearing its activities to the availability of funds. As of the end of the fiscal 2007 year Cream estimates the minimum cost of maintaining its corporate administrative activities at approximately $25,000 per month, based on current levels of activity. Accordingly Cream’s management estimates that a minimum of $600,000 will be needed to maintain its corporate status and assets over the ensuing two-year period, including minimal exploration and claims related activity. Cream does not have sufficient working capital reserves at this time to ensure continued viability over this period of time.
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Cream has made all share and cash commitments on the mineral property interests currently held. It does not currently anticipate any deficiencies in long-term liquidity but if any such deficiencies arise, Cream would expect to raise additional funds through private placements of its shares, or some other form of equity financing.
Cream will need to raise additional financing to complete its proposed exploration programs for fiscal 2008. In the event that market conditions prevent Cream from receiving additional external financing if required, Cream will be forced to review its property holdings and prioritize project exploration to fit within cash availability.
With respect to its mineral property interests, Cream has planned a $3 million exploration program that will include geological mapping, expanded geophysical surveys, gravity surveys, additional soil sampling and 12,100 meters of diamond drilling over existing zones and new targets, on the Black Bear, Black Fox and Ben Hur areas of the Kaslo Silver Property. This program is contingent on obtaining additional financing. To date the Company has not started this program, as it has not had sufficient financing. Cream also has a bulk sampling program planned at a cost of US$500,000 planned to start in October 2007 on the Casierra Property, in addition to further drilling on the Nuevo Milenio property. All of these programs are dependent upon adequate financing. The Casierra bulk sampling, Nuevo Milenio drilling, additional drilling on the Wine property, and assessment work on the British Columbia properties are the initial exp loration plans for fiscal 2008.
Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments are comprised of cash and cash equivalent, short term investments, taxes recoverable, amounts due to and from related parties, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Financial instruments are recorded at cost as their fair values approximate their carrying values due to the immediate or short-term maturity of the financial instruments. Cream primarily holds its financial instruments denominated in Canadian dollars and does not engage in any hedging operations with respect to currency or in-situ minerals. Excess funds on hand, over and above planned expenditures are invested in Government of Canada or like debt obligations and other short term cash investments pending the requirement for the funds.
C.
Research and development expenditures, patents and licenses
Cream is a mineral resource expenditure based corporation and accordingly does not have a program of intellectual property development or patenting or licensing issues.
D.
Trend information
As a natural resource exploration company, Cream’s activities are cyclical as metals prices have traditionally been cyclical in nature. The recent trend for metals prices, however, has been somewhat volatile for gold and silver.
Silver
From a historical perspective Cream has strategically focused its exploration activities on potential silver based prospects. According to the Silver Institute in Washington. D.C., total silver fabrication demand, led by surging industrial demand, rose to its highest level in 2005 since 2001. Total silver fabrication dipped by a little under 1% in 2006 after increasing by 3% in 2005, to 864.4 million ounces (“Moz”), its highest total since 2001. This was in spite of a trend toward significantly higher and more volatile silver prices. Most notably, industrial applications, a key component of the demand complex, posted a 6% gain to 430.0 million ounces, recording the fifth consecutive year of growth in this category. China posted an impressive 10.4% increase in industrial demand and Japan recorded a 10% increase in 2006. The United States topped 106.8 Moz, a record. Total industrial demand exceed ed 50% of total global fabrication demand for the first time in 2006
Jewellery fabrication posted a nearly 5% loss in 2006, largely due to price-related losses in India. Indonesian and Chinese jewellery fabrication, however, grew by an impressive 18 and 16%. Lower fabrication in price-sensitive countries and structural taste shifts accounted for the 7.5 Moz dip in global silverware demand in 2006. About 60% of the silverware decline was due to India, where the price rise was evident in rupee terms.
Photographic demand continued to fall, decreasing by 10% in 2006 to 145.8 Moz. The bulk of the decline was the result of lower consumer film demand du to growth of digital imaging technology.
45
Global silver mine production edged up fractionally in 2006, with notable gains in Latin America and Asia. Total silver mine production reached 646.1 Moz in 2006, with Peru, Mexico, China, Australia and Chile the top five silver mining countries. Last year, silver generated at primary mines fell by 10% to 161.4 Moz. Representing 25% of global silver production. Cash costs at primary silver mines contracted last year by 16% to average US$2.74 per ounce.
The supply of silver from above-ground stocks on a net basis dropped by 4% in 2006 to 194.4 Moz. The decline was a result of a shift of net producer hedging to the demand side. Total scrap supply provided the market with 188.0 Moz of silver in 2006, virtually unchanged from 2005.
To document these and other market fundamentals, each year the Silver Institute words with GFMS Limited, of London, a leading research company, to prepare and publish an annual report of worldwide silver supply and demand trends, with special emphasis on key markets and regions. This annual survey also includes current information on prices and leasing rates, mine production, investment and fabrication. The silver price has increased from an average of US$4.95 per ounce in 2000 to US$11.55 per ounce in 2006. The price in 2005 averaged US$7.31.
Most silver is a by-product of gold, copper, and lead/zinc mines, with primary silver production accounting for only approximately 20% of total mine production, or approximately 100 million ounces of silver. The fact that primary silver mining represents such a small percentage of total mine supply means that when the inevitable silver price increase occurs, only a fraction of production capacity will be available to meet immediate demands.
Globally, exploration expense specifically for silver has declined over the last 5 to 8 years. With the ever-growing supply deficit, the demand for new low cost silver producing mines is becoming more important. While Cream’s management is not in a position to forecast economic trends, management is aware that widely read business periodicals continue to predict economic softness so it is difficult to anticipate a near term recovery in the price of gold and silver.
Diamonds
The marketability of diamonds acquired or discovered by the Company may be affected by numerous factors that are unpredictable and beyond the Company's control. These factors include market fluctuations, the proximity and capacity of processing and facilities and the performance of processing equipment. Other potential factors are government regulations, including those related to royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of diamonds, requirements for "value added" processing of rough diamonds in a country and environmental protection. Any one or more of these factors may result in the Corporation not receiving an adequate return of investment capital.
The mining industry, in general, is competitive. Accordingly, there is no assurance that, even if commercial quantities of diamonds are discovered, a profitable market will exist for the sale of the diamonds produced. Factors beyond the control of the Company may affect the marketability of any diamonds or other minerals discovered. Pricing is affected by many factors beyond the Company’s control including international economic and political trends, global or regional consumption and demand patterns, currency exchange rates, increased production and the influence of the world's major diamond producing companies. There is no assurance that the price of diamonds recovered will be such that they can be mined at a profit. Pricing is affected by numerous factors beyond the Company's control such as international economic and political trends, global or regional consumption and demand patterns, increased production and the influence of the world’s largest diamond producer, De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd.
The diamond market is dominated by a small number of major suppliers, most notably the Diamond Trading Corporation (a subsidiary of De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. ("De Beers")). There is no quoted market for diamonds, sale prices are typically kept confidential and the small number of major suppliers can affect the prices for which rough diamonds may be sold.
E.
Off-balance sheet arrangements
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonable likely to have a current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
46
F.
Tabular disclosure of contractual obligations
The Company has no long-term obligations. All mineral option payments and share issuances are at the option of the Company, and are made pursuant to the option agreements, and upon exploration results that warrant additional work. The following table summarizes the Company’s option payments that may be made at the option of the Company, on its mineral property interests at March 31, 2007:
| | | | | | | |
| Less than one year | 1-2 years | 2-3 years | 3-4 years | 4-5 years | 5th and subsequent years(1) | Total |
| | | | | | | |
Kootenay Gemstone Property option | $ 40,000 | $ 20,000 | $ -- | $ -- | $ -- | $ -- | $ 60,000 |
Goldsmith Property option | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | -- | -- | 80,000 |
Lucky Jack option | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | -- | -- | -- | 60,000 |
Wine Property option | 40,000 | 40,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 80,000 |
| $ 120,000 | $ 100,000 | $ 40,000 | $ 20,000 | $ -- | $ -- | $ 280,000 |
(1)
Mineral property option payments are made at the option of the Company, however non-payment of mineral property leases may result in forfeiture of Cream’s rights to a particular property.
G.
Safe harbour
Refer to Page 3 - “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”
ITEM 6.
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A.
Directors and Senior Management
The following table lists the directors and senior management of the Company. The directors have served in their respective capacities since their election and/or appointment and will serve until the next annual general meeting or until a successor is duly elected, unless the office is vacated in accordance with the Articles/By-Laws of the Company.
| | |
Name and Position | Other Principal Directorships | Principal Business Activities Outside the Company |
Frank A. Lang, President Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | Sultan Minerals Inc., Aurizon Mines Ltd., Acrex Ventures Ltd., Aurifer Capital Corp. | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cream Minerals Ltd. |
Arthur G. Troup Vice President, Exploration and Director | Sultan Minerals Inc.; Acrex Ventures Ltd.; alder Resources Ltd., Armadillo Resources Ltd. and Altima Resources Ltd. | President, Sultan Minerals Inc. |
Ferdinand Holcapek Director and Sole Administrator, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. | None | Director General and Sole Administrator, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. since 2000 |
47
| | |
Sargent H. Berner Director | ValGold Resources Ltd.; Emgold Mining Corporation, Aurizon Mines Ltd., Sultan Minerals Inc., Titan Logix Corp., Canadian Small Cap Resource Fund 2006 No. 1 and No. 2 Limited Partnerships, NovaDX Ventures Corp., Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd., Bordeaux Energy Inc., Magnate Ventures Inc., Palo Duro Entergy Inc., and Olivut Resources Ltd., | Businessman |
Robin H. Merrifield Director | Acrex Ventures Ltd. | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Uranium One Inc. |
C. Douglas Lang | None | Business consultant since 2005 |
Shannon M. Ross CFO and Corporate Secretary
| Golden Pacific Capital Corp., Glenthorne Enterprises Inc., Canadian Small Cap Resource Fund 2006 No. 1 and No. 2 Limited Partnerships, | Chief Financial Officer of ValGold Resources Ltd., Sultan Minerals Inc., and Emgold Mining Corporation |
Frank A. Lang, P.Eng., Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director has been President of the Company from 1966. Mr. Lang is also Chairman of Sultan Minerals Inc. Prior to working full time in the mining industry, Mr. Lang was an industrial sales engineer with BC Hydro. Frank Lang has been involved in the operation and financing of junior resource companies for over 30 years.
Sargent Berner, Director, is a graduate of the University of British Columbia where he received his B.A. in 1963 and his LL.B. in 1966, and the London School of Economics, London, England where he received the degree of Master of Laws in 1967. From 1968 to 1976 he served as a full-time Assistant and Associate Professor of the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia and practised corporate, securities and natural resources law as an associate and/or partner in the Vancouver law firm of DuMoulin Black from 1976 to 2006. He is a consultant to LMC Management Services Ltd., which provides management and administrative and other services to the Company.
Ferdinand Holcapek is a geologist, and has been the Sole Administrator and Director General of Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. since its incorporation in 1999. From 1996 to 2001 he was the Sole Administrator and Director General of Valerie Gold de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
Arthur G. Troup, P.Eng, is Vice President, Exploration, to the Company. For several years prior to joining Cream, Mr. Troup was a geological consultant and President of Archean Engineering Ltd., a company offering project management and mineral exploration services. Mr. Troup graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario with a M.Sc. in Geology and has 30 years experience in the mining industry throughout the world including working for Rio Algom Exploration, Teck Corporation, Canada Nickel Corporation and Placer Dome Canada Limited. Mr. Troup spends about 5% to 10% of his time on the affairs of the Company.
Robin Merrifield, Director since 2004, was a business consultant from 2001 to 2006. Since July 2006 he has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Uranium One Inc. From 1997 to 2001, he was Vice-President, Finance of Kumtor Operating Company, operators of the Kumtor gold project, a subsidiary of Cameco Corporation.
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C. Douglas Lang is a Certified General Accountant who obtained his professional designation while employed with the City of Campbell River. His position with the City was that of Chief Financial Officer (1991 to 2005) and he regularly managed complex annual budgets in excess of $60 million. Under Mr. Lang’s stewardship the City twice received the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting. He presently serves as a director and held the position as board chair (2005/06) of Coastal Community Credit Union. The Credit Union has assets of $1.3 billion dollars and employs over 500 people. He has also been a member of their Audit and Finance Committee. He is currently working as an independent consultant for local governments in British Columbia and has done consulting work for the junior mining industry.
Shannon M. Ross, CA, has been the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company since 2000, and is also the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary for Sultan Minerals Inc, Emgold Mining Corporation and ValGold Resources Ltd., public companies sharing office premises. From June 2001 to March 2004 she was the Chief Financial Officer for Northern Orion Resources Inc. From 1991 to 1999, Ms Ross was with the Hunter Dickinson Group of companies, and held the position of Controller and other positions during that period. She was Controller of Dia Met Minerals Ltd. for a period in 1999. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, and is a registered Chartered Accountant (CA) in British Columbia. Ms Ross spends approximately 15% to 20% of her time on the affairs of the Company.
Executive officers are appointed by the Board of Directors to serve until terminated by the Board of Directors or until their successors are appointed. Certain of the directors serve as directors of other reporting companies and if a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the Board of Directors, any director in a conflict will declare his interest and abstain from voting on such matter. All directors have a term of office expiring at the next annual general meeting of Cream which is expected to be held in September 2007.
B.
Compensation
Stock option plan
Cream has no arrangements, standard or otherwise, pursuant to which directors are compensated by Cream or its subsidiaries for their services in their capacity as directors, or for committee participation, involvement in special assignments or for services as consultant or expert during the most recently completed financial year, except for amounts paid from time to time to LMC Management Services Ltd. in reimbursement for consulting services provided by Sargent Berner. Stock options are a significant component of the compensation received by the directors and serve to provide incentive to such individuals to act in the best interests of Cream and its shareholders. Cream has a formalized stock option plan for the granting of incentive stock options to the officers, employees and directors. Cream granted stock options to its directors, officers and employees during the most recently completed financial year. The purpose of granting such options is to assist Cream in compensating, attracting, retaining and motivating the Directors of Cream to closely align the personal interests of such persons to that of the shareholders.
The purpose of the Plan is to allow Cream to grant options to directors, officers, employees and service providers, as an incentive to continue to serve, and as an opportunity to participate in the profitability of Cream. The granting of such options is intended to align the interests of such persons with that of Cream. Options are exercisable over periods of up to five years as determined by the board of directors of Cream and are required to have an exercise price no less than the Market Price as defined in the Plan prevailing on the day that the option is granted. Pursuant to the Plan, the board of directors may from time to time authorize the issue of options to directors, officers and employees of and consultants to Cream and its subsidiaries or employees of companies providing management services to the Cream or its subsidiaries. At March 31, 2007, and at August 31, 2007, the maximum number of Common Shares which ma y be issued pursuant to options previously granted and granted under the Plan is 7,752,268, or such additional amounts as may be approved from time to time by shareholders of Cream. A total of 4,979,900 stock options are outstanding as of August 31, 2007, and 3,770,400 were outstanding at March 31, 2007.
The Plan provides that the number of Common Shares under the Plan, together with all of Cream’s other previously established or proposed share compensation arrangements, may not exceed 20% of the total number of issued and outstanding Common Shares. In addition, the number of shares which may be reserved for issuance to any one individual may not exceed 5% of the issued shares on a yearly basis.
The Plan provides that if a change of control, as defined therein, occurs, all shares subject to options shall immediately become vested and may thereupon be exercised in whole or in part by the option holder.
49
For the purposes hereof, an "insider" is a director or senior officer of Cream, a director or senior officer of a company that is itself an insider or subsidiary of Cream, or a person whose control, or direct or indirect beneficial ownership, or a combination thereof, over securities of Cream extends to securities carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all Cream’s outstanding voting securities.
The number of shares under option from time to time and the exercise prices of such options, and any amendments thereto, will be and have been determined by the Directors in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Option Grants During the Most Recently Completed Financial Year
At August 31, 2007, the Company’s current option plan allows for the issuance of 7,752,268 stock options. There were 410,000 options granted during the year ended March 31, 2007. Subsequent to March 31, 2007, 645,000 stock options were exercised at prices ranging from $0.16.5 to $0.54 to provide $144,380 to the treasury and 1,745,300 warrants were exercised at $0.45 to provide $785,385 to the treasury. In addition, subsequent to March 31, 2007, a grant of 1,855,000 stock options was made to directors, officers and employees at a price of $0.50, expiring April 18, 2012, leaving 1,761,868 options available to be granted from a maximum allowable of 7,752,268. At the Company’s Annual General Meeting held on September 21, 2007, the maximum allowable under the plan was increased to 8,941,761 options. The plan allows for a vesting period of all options granted under the plan as follows: 25% on grant, and 25% ever y six months thereafter. There are no changes to be made to the terms of the stock option plan. The Plan provides that the number of common shares under the Plan, together with all of Cream’s other previously established or proposed share compensation arrangements, may not exceed 20% of the total number of issued and outstanding common shares. In addition, the number of shares which may be reserved for issuance to any one individual may not exceed 5% of the issued shares on a yearly basis.
The purpose of the Plan is to allow Cream to grant options to directors, officers, employees and service providers, as additional compensation, and as an opportunity to participate in the profitability of Cream. The granting of such options is intended to align the interests of such persons with that of Cream. Options will be exercisable over periods of up to five years as determined by the board of directors of Cream and are required to have an exercise price no less than the market price as defined in the Plan prevailing on the day that the option is granted. Pursuant to the Plan, the board of directors may from time to time authorize the issue of options to directors, officers and employees of and consultants to Cream and its subsidiaries or employees of companies providing management services to Cream or its subsidiary.
The Plan provides that if a change of control, as defined therein, occurs, all shares subject to options shall immediately become vested and may thereupon be exercised in whole or in part by the option holder.
For the purposes hereof, an "insider" is a director or senior officer of Cream, a director or senior officer of a company that is itself an insider or subsidiary of Cream, or a person whose control, or direct or indirect beneficial ownership, or a combination thereof, over securities of Cream extends to securities carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all Cream’s outstanding voting securities.
The number of shares under option from time to time and the exercise prices of such options, and any amendments thereto, will be and have been determined by the Directors in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.
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Stock Options Outstanding
(at August 31, 2007)
| | | | |
Optionholder Status
| Number of Shares
| Exercise Price (Cdn$) |
Date of Grant
|
Expiry Date
|
Directors and Officers of Cream and Subsidiaries | | | | |
| | | |
Frank A. Lang Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Director | 100,000 | 0.54 | December 18, 2003 | December 18, 2008 |
500,000 | 0.215 | October 28, 2005 | October 28, 2010 |
270,000 | 0.50 | April 16, 2007 | April 16, 2012 |
870,000 | | | |
Arthur G. Troup Vice President Exploration and Director | 100,000 | 0.54 | December 18, 2003 | December 18, 2008 |
100,000 | 0.30 | October 6, 2004 | October 6, 2009 |
120,000 | 0.165 | August 3, 2005 | August 3, 2010 |
150,000 | 0.50 | April 16, 2007 | April 16, 2012 |
470,000 | | | |
Shannon M. Ross Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary | 100,000 | 0.54 | December 18, 2003 | December 18, 2008 |
120,000 | 0.165 | August 3, 2005 | August 3, 2010 |
180,000 | 0.50 | April 16, 2007 | April 16, 2012 |
400,000 | | | |
Sargent H. Berner Director | 100,000 | 0.54 | December 18, 2003 | December 18, 2008 |
125,000 | 0.165 | August 3, 2005 | August 3, 2010 |
160,000 | 0.50 | April 16, 2007 | April 16, 2012 |
385,000 | | | |
Ferdinand Holcapek Director and Sole Administrator, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. | 100,000 | 0.54 | December 18, 2003 | December 18, 2008 |
116,100 | 0.30 | October 6, 2004 | October 6, 2009 |
30,000 | 0.165 | August 3, 2005 | August 3, 2010 |
100,000 | 0.53 | January 29, 2007 | January 29, 2012 |
175,000 | 0.50 | April 16, 2007 | April 16, 2012 |
521,100 | | | |
Robin Merrifield Director | 150,000 | 0.30 | October 6, 2004 | October 6, 2009 |
120,000 | 0.165 | August 3, 2005 | August 3, 2010 |
75,000 | 0.50 | April 16, 2007 | April 16, 2012 |
345,000 | | | |
C. Douglas. Lang Director | 100,000 | 0.50 | June 12, 2006 | June 12, 2011 |
75,000 | 0.50 | April 16, 2007 | April 16, 2012 |
175,000 | | | |
Total Directors/Officers (7 persons) | 3,166,100
| | | |
Total Employees/Consultants (21 persons) | 1,474,300
| $0.15 to $0.54
| April 26, 2002 to August 3, 2005 | April 26, 2007 to August 3, 2010 |
Total Directors/Officers/ Employees/ Consultants | 3,835,400
| | | |
There were 877,900 stock options exercised in fiscal 2007. In the year ended March 31, 2007, 410,000 stock options were granted at prices ranging from $0.50 to $0.53 to consultants and directors. Subsequent to March 31, 2007, 1,855,000 stock options were granted to directors, officers and employees at an exercise price of $0.50, expiring April 18, 2012.
During Cream’s financial year ended March 31, 2007, the aggregate direct remuneration paid or payable to Cream’s directors and senior officers by Cream and its subsidiaries, all of whose financial statements are consolidated with those of Cream, was $119,542 and US$102,000. This figure includes $85,000 paid to Lang Mining Corporation, US$102,000 paid to the director and sole administrator of Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. and $17,042 paid to the officers of Cream, other than the fees paid to the President and Chief Executive Officer and the sole administrator of the Company. The portion of remuneration received through LMC Management Services Ltd., which is attributable to directors and officers for Cream’s affairs totalled $34,542 for the year ended March 31, 2007.
Frank A. Lang, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors and a director of Cream, Ferdinand Holcapek, Sole Administrator, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Arthur G. Troup, Vice President Exploration and a director of Cream and Shannon Ross, Cream’s Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, are each a “Named Executive Officer” of Cream for the purposes of the following disclosure.
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The compensation paid to each of the Named Executive Officers during Cream’s three most recently completed financial years ended March 31, is as set out below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Annual Compensation | Long Term Compensation | |
| | | Awards | Payouts | |
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary Bonus Other Annual ($) ($) Compensation ($) | Securities Under Option/ SAR's granted (#) | Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units
($) |
LTIP Payouts
($) |
All other Compensa-tion
($) |
Frank A. Lang, President and Director | 2007 | Nil | Nil | 85,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
2006 | Nil | Nil | 30,000 | 750,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
2005 | Nil | Nil | 30,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Arthur G. Troup Vice President Exploration and Director | 2007 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
2006 | 9,493 | Nil | Nil | 120,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
2005 | 15,200 | Nil | Nil | 100,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Ferdinand Holcapek Sole Administrator, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. and Director | 2007 | US102,000 | Nil | Nil | 100,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
2006 | 59,138 | Nil | Nil | 120,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
2005 | 106,572 | Nil | Nil | 200,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Shannon M. Ross Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary | 2007 | 17,042 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
2006 | 22,556 | Nil | Nil | 120,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
2005 | 16,930 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Aggregated Options/SAR Exercises in Last Financial Year
and Financial Year-End Option/SAR Values
The Named Executive Officers and directors exercised the following stock options in respect of Cream’s shares during the most recently completed financial year.
| | | | |
Name |
Securities Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Aggregate Value Realized
($) | Unexercised Options/SAR's at Fiscal Year-End (#)
Exercisable/ Unexercisable* | Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options/SAR's at Fiscal Year-End ($)
Exercisable/ Unexercisable |
Frank A. Lang | 170,000 | 54,400 | 600,000/0 | 147,500/0 |
Ferdinand Holcapek | 173,900 | 80,200 | 346,100/0 | 54,300/32,300 |
Sargent H. Berner | Nil | Nil | 310,000/0 | 88,575/0 |
Arthur G. Troup | Nil | Nil | 395,000/0 | 92,350/0 |
C. Douglas Lang | Nil | Nil | 50,000/50,000 | 2,000/0 |
Robin Merrifield | Nil | Nil | 270,000/0 | 75,600/0 |
Shannon M. Ross | Nil | Nil | 270,000/0 | 61,100/0 |
Termination of Employment, Changes in Responsibility and Employment Contracts:
Cream and its subsidiaries have no employment contracts with any Named Executive Officer.
Cream and its subsidiaries have no compensatory plan or arrangement in respect of compensation received or that may be received by the Named Executive Officers in Cream’s most recently completed or current financial year to compensate such executive officers in the event of the termination of employment (resignation, retirement, change of control) or in the event of a change in responsibilities following a change in control.
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Securities Held by Insiders
As at August 31, 2007, the directors and officers of Cream held as a group, directly and indirectly, ownership or control of 19,432,664 fully diluted common shares (37.78%). To the knowledge of the directors and officers of Cream, as at such date, there were no persons exclusive of Frank A. Lang holding more than 10% of the issued common shares.
C.
BOARD PRACTICES
All directors were re-elected at the September 20, 2006, annual general meeting and have a term of office expiring at the next annual general meeting of Cream to be held on September 21, 2007. All officers have a term of office lasting until their removal or replacement by the Board of Directors.
An “unrelated” director under the TSX governance guidelines is a director who is independent from management and is free from any interest and any business or other relationship which could materially interfere with his or her ability to act I the best interest to the Company other than interests arising from shareholding. Where a company has a significant shareholder, in addition to a majority of “unrelated” directors, the Board should include a number of directors who do not have interest or relationships with either the Company or the significant shareholder. Mr. Robin Merrifield was appointed to the Board as an independent director. There are six directors. Frank Lang, Arthur Troup and Fred Holcapek are related due to holding an executive position with the Company, or a subsidiary. Mr. Holcapek also receives consulting fees. Sargent Berner was formerly an associate counsel at DuMoulin B lack, the Company’s legal counsel, and was related until April 1, 2006. He currently receives consulting fees for services through a private company, Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. C. Douglas Lang is an unrelated director.
No director and/or executive officer has been the subject of any order, judgment, or decree of any governmental agency or administrator or of any court or competent jurisdiction, revoking or suspending for cause any license, permit or other authority of such person or of any corporation of which he is a director and/or executive officer, to engage in the securities business or in the sale of a particular security or temporarily or permanently restraining or enjoining any such person or any corporation of which he is an officer or director from engaging in or continuing any conduct, practice or employment in connection with the purchase or sale of securities, or convicting such person of any felony, or misdemeanor involving a security or in any aspect of the securities business of theft or of any felony. Belmoral Mines Limited, of which Frank a. Lang was a director, was subject to a cease-trade order as of September 17, 1980, subject to the submission of overdue documentation, which was revoked on October 6, 1980.
There are no director’s services contracts with the Company providing for benefits upon termination of employment. Emgold and its subsidiaries have no compensatory plan or arrangement in respect of compensation received or that may be received by the directors of the Company in its most recently completed or current financial year to compensate such directors in the event of termination as director (resignation, retirement, change of control) or in the event of a change in control. There are no arrangements or understandings with any two or more directors or executive officers pursuant to which he was selected as a director or executive officer. Other than as disclosed in related party transactions, and salaries for executive officers, there is no compensation paid to outside directors other than stock-based compensation.
The following information is provided with respect to the Company’s directors, and members of its administrative, supervisory or management body and includes the date of expiration of the current term of office and the period during which the person has served in that office.
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| | |
Name | Position(s) with Company | Term of Office/Period of Service |
Frank A. Lang | President Chief Executive Officer Director | October 12, 1966 September 25, 2002 October 12, 1966 |
Ferdinand Holcapek | Director Sole Administrator, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. | October 10, 2001 December 1999 |
Arthur G. Troup | Vice President, Exploration Director | September 24, 1987 September 25, 1997 |
C. Douglas Lang | Director | May 30, 2006 |
Robin Merrifield | Director | September 21, 2004 |
Sargent H. Berner | Director | January 23, 1996 |
Shannon M. Ross | Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary | January 31, 2000 |
| | |
Audit Committee
Robin Merrifield, C. Douglas Lang, and Sargent H. Berner are the current members of Cream’s audit committee. The audit committee is elected annually by the directors of Cream at the first meeting of the board held after Cream’s annual general meeting. Its primary function is to review the financial statements of Cream before they are submitted to the board for approval. The audit committee is also available to assist the board if required with matters relating to the appointment of Cream’s auditor and the overall scope and results of the audit, internal financial controls, and financial information for publication for various purposes. Mr. C. Douglas Lang was appointed to the audit committee in addition to Mr. Berner and Mr. Robin Merrifield in June 2006, to replace Arthur G. Troup.
Corporate Governance and Executive Compensation Committee
Members of the Corporate Governance and Executive Compensation Committee are Messrs. Troup, Berner, Lang and Merrifield. The committee was formed for making recommendations to the board with respect to developments in the area of corporate governance, the practices of the board, and appropriate candidates for nomination to the board and for evaluating the performance of the board.
D.
EMPLOYEES
At March 31, 2007, Cream had no employees in its head office and contracts staff on an as needed basis. Cream’s functions are primarily administered through LMC Management Services Ltd. (“LMC”) (see Item 7). CMM, Cream’s subsidiary in Mexico has less than five employees.
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E.
SHARE OWNERSHIP
Common Shares (fully diluted) at August 31, 2007
| | |
Name of Beneficial Owner | Amounts and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(1) | Percent of Class* |
Frank A. Lang | 9,136,580/4,754,607 (1) | 27.01% |
Ferdinand Holcapek | 2,872,037/0(2) | 5.58% |
Arthur G. Troup | 737,400/121,000(3) | 1.67% |
C. Douglas Lang | 227,540/0(4) | 0.44% |
Robin Merrifield | 345,000/0(5) | 0.67% |
Sargent H. Berner | 683,500/0(6) | 1.33% |
Shannon M. Ross | 555,000/0(7) | 1.08% |
| 14,557,057/4,875,607 | 37.78% |
*Based on 51,438,709 shares outstanding as of August 31, 2007, including stock options and warrants that were exercisable on that date.
(1)
Of these shares, 870,000 represent stock options in the name of Frank A. Lang, and 2,080,000 warrants in the name of Frank Lang. Of the indirect ownership, 4,950 are in the name of Mark Management Ltd., 1,366,254 are held in the name of Dauntless Developments Ltd., and 3,383,403 are held in the name of Lang Mining Corporation, all private companies controlled by Frank A. Lang.
(2)
Of these shares, 521,100 represent stock options.
(3)
Of these shares, 470,000 represent stock options. The common shares held indirectly are in the name of Istana Investments Ltd., a private company controlled by Arthur G. Troup.
(4)
Of these shares, 175,000 represent stock options.
(5)
Of these shares, 345,000 represent stock options.
(6)
Of these shares, 385,000 represent stock options.
(7)
Of these shares, 400,000 represent stock options.
ITEM 7.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A.
Major Shareholders
Cream’s securities are recorded on the books of its transfer agent in registered form, however the majority of such shares are registered in the name of intermediaries such as brokerage houses and clearing houses on behalf of their respective brokerage clients, and Cream does not have knowledge of or access to information about the beneficial owners thereof. To the best of its knowledge, Cream is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a corporation or foreign government. As of August 31, 2007, Cream had authorized an unlimited number of common shares without par value of which 44,208,809 were issued and outstanding.
As of August 31, 2007, the only registered holders of 5% or more of the common shares of Cream were Frank Lang with 6,186,580 common shares held directly and 4,754,607 common shares held indirectly, and Ferdinand Holcapek with 2,350,937 common shares held directly. All other known shareholders with greater than 5% are brokerage clearing houses.
As of August 31, 2007, directors and officers of Cream as a group (seven persons) owned or controlled an aggregate of 14,186,564 common shares (32.09%) of Cream, or 19,432,664 common shares (37.78%) on a fully diluted basis.
Under the British ColumbiaSecurities Actinsiders (generally officers, directors, holders of 10% or more of Cream's shares) are required to file insider reports of changes in their ownership 10 days following a trade in Cream's securities. Copies of such reports are available for public inspection at the offices of the British Columbia Securities Commission, P.O. Box 10142 Pacific Centre, 701 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,
V7Y 1L2 (phone (604) 899-6500) or at the British Columbia Securities Commission web site (www.bcsc.bc.ca).
As of August 31, 2007, there were 277 registered shareholders of record holding a total of 44,208,809 common shares of Cream. To the best of Cream’s knowledge there were 84 registered shareholders of record with registered addresses in Canada, 186 shareholders of record with registered addresses in the United States and 7 shareholders of record with registered addresses in other countries holding approximately 42,421,450 (96.0%), 1,600,973 (3.6%)
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and 186,386 (0.4%) of the outstanding common shares, respectively. Shares registered in intermediaries are assumed to be held by residents of the same country in which the clearing-house is located.
B.
Related Party Transactions
No director or senior officer, and no associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons, and no insider has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transactions, or in any other proposed transaction, during the year ended March 31, 2007, except as noted below.
Casierra Acquisition
In fiscal 2005, the Company entered into an agreement with Casierra Diamond Corporation (“CDC”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc. (“CDF”) (collectively, Casierra”) to earn an interest in production from two exclusive prospecting licence areas for diamonds and other minerals and metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Under the terms of the agreement, Cream earned up to a 70% interest in the properties by issuing a total of 500,000 common shares and incurring exploration costs of not less than US$800,000 by March 16, 2007. A joint venture is to be formed between the parties and each party will contribute to further expenditures on the property in accordance with its interest.
The president of the Company holds approximately 33% of the issued and outstanding shares of CDC, incorporated in British Columbia
Management Agreements
Frank A. Lang and Lang Mining Corporation
On January 1, 2003, the Company commenced paying a management fee of $2,500 per month to Lang Mining Corporation (“Lang Mining”) for the services of Frank A. Lang. Lang Mining is a private company of which Frank A. Lang is the President, a Director and a major shareholder. These services are not provided by LMC Management Services Ltd. (“LMC”). The fee paid to Lang Mining was increased to $5,000 per month from April 1, 2006, to October 31, 2006, and $10,000 per month from November 1, 2006, to March 31, 2007.
LMC Management Services Ltd., Administration and Services Agreement
Commencing August 1, 2001, management, administrative, geological and other services have been provided by LMC Management Services Ltd. (“LMC”), a private company held jointly by the Company and other public companies, to provide services on a full cost recovery basis to the various public entities currently sharing office space with the Company. Currently the Company has a 25% interest in LMC. Three months of working capital is required to be on deposit with LMC under the terms of the services agreement. LMC does not retain any profits in connection with the services provided by it. All transactions are conducted in an arms-length manner.
During the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, $232,638, $244,149 and $186,603 were paid to LMC, respectively. These totals include salaries and benefits and full cost recoveries.
Other Related Party Transactions in the Three Years Ended March 31, 2007
Consulting fees of $17,500 (2006 - $7,500; 2005 - $Nil) were paid to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd., a private company controlled by Sargent H. Berner, for consulting services during the year.
Fees were paid to Fred Holcapek, a director of the Company and an officer of the subsidiary in Mexico, at a rate of US$8,500 per month for administrative services and geological services, for a total of US$102,000 (2006 - $59,138; 2005 - $106,572).
Legal fees of $Nil (2006 - $13,895, 2005 - $32,773) were paid to DuMoulin Black, Barristers and Solicitors during the year ended March 31, 2007. A director of the Company was an associate counsel of the law firm to April 1, 2006.
56
The Company’s investments in public companies include shares of Emgold Mining Corporation, Sultan and ValGold, companies with directors and management in common with the Company. The Company also holds interests in the Stephens Lake Property jointly with Sultan and ValGold.
Balances payable to related parties, and balances receivable from related parties are non-interest bearing and due on demand.
C.
Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A.
Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
See “Item 17 Financial Statements”. The consolidated financial statements as required are attached hereto and found immediately following the text of this Annual Report. The audit report of Morgan and Company, independent Chartered Accountants, is included immediately preceding the consolidated financial statements.
Legal Proceedings
Cream is not involved in any litigation or legal proceedings and to Cream’s knowledge no material legal proceedings involving Cream or its subsidiary are to be initiated against Cream.
Dividend Policy
Cream has not paid any dividends on its outstanding common shares since its incorporation and does not anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable future. All funds of Cream are being retained for working capital and exploration of its Projects.
B.
Significant Changes
There are no significant changes of financial condition since the most recent audited financial statements included within this Annual Report. Interim financial statements are incorporated into the financial statements included herein.
ITEM 9.
THE OFFER AND LISTING
A.
Offer and Listing Details
1.
Trading Markets
The tables below list the high and low prices for common shares of the Company for the past three years and for the current fiscal year to August 31, 2007:
| | | |
TSX Venture: CMA – Trading in Canadian Dollars |
| High | Low | Monthly |
| ($) | ($) | Volume |
Month ended |
|
|
|
August 31, 2007 | 0.67 | 0.40 | 2,232,000 |
July 31, 2007 | 1.38 | 0.34 | 9,513,000 |
June 30, 2007 | 0.61 | 0.44 | 882,000 |
May 31, 2007 | 0.59 | 0.47 | 617,000 |
April 30, 2007 | 0.59 | 0.50 | 831,000 |
March 31, 2007 | 0.52 | 0.44 | 1,456,000 |
February 28, 2007 | 0.55 | 0.44 | 2,641,000 |
January 31, 2007 | 0.54 | 0.40 | 3,299,000 |
December 31, 2006 | 0.66 | 0.40 | 892,000 |
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| | | |
November 30, 2006 | 0.65 | 0.51 | 529,000 |
October 31, 2006 | 0.55 | 0.43 | 423,000 |
September 30, 2006 | 0.58 | 0.45 | 504,000 |
August 31, 2006 | 0.58 | 0.47 | 470,000 |
July 31, 2006 | 0.57 | 0.47 | 354,000 |
June 30, 2006 | 0.60 | 0.33 | 967,000 |
May 31, 2006 | 0.80 | 0.57 | 3,009,000 |
April 30, 2006 | 0.76 | 0.52 | 7,781,000 |
March 31, 2006 | 0.55 | 0.30 | 3,947,000 |
February 28, 2006 | 0.45 | 0.34 | 842,000 |
January 31, 2006 | 0.40 | 0.25 | 780,000 |
| | | |
By Quarter | | | |
Calendar 2007 | | | |
First Quarter | 0.55 | 0.40 | 7,396,000 |
Second Quarter | 0.61 | 0.44 | 2,330,000 |
| | | |
Calendar 2006 | | | |
First Quarter | 0.55 | 0.25 | 5,569,000 |
Second Quarter | 0.80 | 0.33 | 11,757,000 |
Third Quarter | 0.58 | 0.45 | 1,328,000 |
Fourth Quarter | 0.66 | 0.40 | 1,844,000 |
| | |
|
Calendar 2005 | | |
|
First Quarter | 0.40 | 0.27 | 1,003,000 |
Second Quarter | 0.38 | 0.21 | 774,300 |
Third Quarter | 0.24 | 0.16 | 1,325,800 |
Fourth Quarter | 0.28 | 0.16 | 1,187,300 |
| | |
|
Annual 2006 | 0.80 | 0.25 | 20,498,000 |
Annual 2005 | 0.40 | 0.16 | 4,290,400 |
Annual 2004 | 0.90 | 0.26 | 7,300,300 |
Annual 2003 | 0.69 | 0.10 | 5,060,600 |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
OTCBB: CRMXF – Trading in U.S. Dollars |
| High | Low | Volume |
| ($) | ($) | |
Month ended |
|
|
|
August 31, 2007 | 0.65 | 0.35 | 343,000 |
July 31, 2007 | 1.38 | 0.30 | 260,000 |
June 30, 2007 | 0.57 | 0.40 | 51,000 |
May 31, 2007 | 0.61 | 0.42 | 79,000 |
April 30, 2007 | 0.51 | 0.40 | 80,000 |
March 31, 2007 | 0.48 | 0.37 | 113,000 |
February 28, 2007 | 0.45 | 0.36 | 164,000 |
January 31, 2007 | 0.44 | 0.36 | 163,000 |
December 31, 2006 | 0.59 | 0.35 | 137,000 |
November 30, 2006 | 0.56 | 0.41 | 92,000 |
October 31, 2006 | 0.46 | 0.36 | 55,000 |
September 30, 2006 | 0.56 | 0.41 | 99,000 |
August 31, 2006 | 0.52 | 0.35 | 59,400 |
July 31, 2006 | 0.51 | 0.35 | 107,800 |
June 30, 2006 | 0.54 | 0.30 | 616,300 |
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| | | |
May 31, 2006 | 0.72 | 0.49 | 175,300 |
April 30, 2006 | 1.01 | 0.44 | 551,500 |
March 31, 2006 | 0.45 | 0.29 | 441,700 |
February 28, 2006 | 0.38 | 0.30 | 239,100 |
January 31, 2006 | 0.38 | 0.21 | 220,600 |
| | |
|
By Quarter | | |
|
Calendar 2007 | | |
|
First Quarter | 0.48 | 0.36 | 440,000 |
Second Quarter | 0.61 | 0.40 | 210,000 |
| | |
|
Calendar 2006 | | |
|
First Quarter | 0.45 | 0.21 | 901,400 |
Second Quarter | 1.01 | 0.30 | 1,343,100 |
Third Quarter | 0.56 | 0.33 | 259,000 |
Fourth Quarter | 0.59 | 0.35 | 285,000 |
| | |
|
Calendar 2005 | | |
|
First Quarter | 0.31 | 0.21 | 562,300 |
Second Quarter | 0.29 | 0.15 | 208,300 |
Third Quarter | 0.22 | 0.12 | 464,600 |
Fourth Quarter | 0.23 | 0.12 | 430,100 |
| | |
|
Calendar 2004 | | |
|
First Quarter | 0.67 | 0.35 | 857,000 |
Second Quarter | 0.64 | 0.21 | 1,125,500 |
Third Quarter | 0.38 | 0.21 | 529,500 |
Fourth Quarter | 0.36 | 0.20 | 646,100 |
| | |
|
Annual 2005 | 0.31 | 0.12 | 1,665,300 |
Annual 2004 | 0.67 | 0.20 | 3,158,100 |
Annual 2003 | 0.48 | 0.05 | 386,700 |
| | |
|
B.
Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
C.
Markets
The shares of Cream have traded in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange (formerly the Canadian Venture Exchange and successor to the Vancouver Stock Exchange) since June 3, 1970, (symbol-CMA). Since October 5, 1999, Cream’s shares have traded on the over-the-counter market (“OTC-BB”) in the United States (symbol-CRMXF.OB). They also trade on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol “DFL”.
D.
Selling Shareholders
Not applicable.
E.
Dilution
Not applicable.
F.
Expenses of the Issue
Not applicable.
59
ITEM 10.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A.
Share Capital
Cream’s share capital consists of one class of shares, namely common shares without par value, of which there are an unlimited number of shares authorized and 44,208,809 common shares without par value issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2007. Note 8 of the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements provide details of all share issuances effected by Cream and the issue price per share for the three previous fiscal years. There are no shares of Cream that are held by or on behalf of Cream. There have been no changes in the classification of common shares (reclassifications, consolidations, reverse splits or the like) within the previous five years. All common shares of Cream rank pari passu for the payment of any dividends and distributions in the event of a windup. A summary of Cream’s dilutive securities (convertible or exercisable into common shares) is as follows:
B.
Memorandum and Articles of Association
Cream’s corporate constituting documents comprising Articles of Association and Memorandum are registered with the British Columbia Registrar of Companies under Corporation No. 71412. A copy of the Articles of Association and Memorandum were filed as an exhibit with Cream’s initial registration statement on Form 20-F and amended articles have been filed as exhibits subsequent to the initial registration statement.
Objects and Purposes
Cream’s Articles of Incorporation do not specify objects or purposes. Under British Columbia law, a British Columbia corporation has all the legal powers of a natural person. British Columbia corporations may not undertake certain limited business activities such as operating as a trust company or railroad without alterations to its form of articles and specific government consent.
Directors – Powers and Limitations
Cream’s articles do not specify a maximum number of directors (the minimum under British Columbia law for a public company is three). Shareholders at the annual shareholders meeting determine the number of directors annually and all directors are elected at that time. There are no staggered directorships. Under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act (“BCA”) directors are obligated to abstain from voting on matters in which they may be financially interested after fully disclosing such interest. Directors’ compensation is not a matter on which they must abstain. Directors must be of the age of majority (18), and meet eligibility criteria including not being mentally infirm, an undischarged bankrupt, no fraud related convictions in the previous five years and a majority of directors must be ordinarily resident in Canada. There is no mandatory retirement age either under Cream’s A rticles or under the BCA.
Directors’ borrowing powers are not generally restricted where the borrowing is in Cream’s best interests, but the directors may not authorize Cream to provide financial assistance for any reason where Cream is insolvent or the providing of the guarantee would render it insolvent. Directors need not own any shares of Cream in order to qualify as directors.
The Articles specify the number of directors shall be the number of directors fixed by shareholders annually, or the number that are actually elected at a general shareholders meeting. Shareholders at the annual shareholders’ meeting determine the number of directors annually and all directors are elected at that time. Under the Articles the directors are entitled between successive annual general meetings to appoint one or more additional directors but not more than one-third of the number of directors fixed at a shareholders meeting or actually elected at the preceding annual shareholders’ meeting. Directors automatically retire at the commencement of each annual meeting but may be re-elected thereat.
Under the Articles, a director who is in any way directly or indirectly interested in a proposed contract or transaction with Cream, or who holds any office or possesses any property whereby directly or indirectly a duty might be created which would conflict with his duty or interest as a directors, shall declare the nature and extent of such interest in such contract or transaction. A director shall not vote in respect of any such contract or transaction and if he should vote, his vote shall not be counted, but he may be counted in the quorum present at the meeting. Similarly, under the BCA directors are obligated to abstain from voting on matters in which they may be financially interested after fully disclosing such interest.
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Descriptions of rights, preferences and restriction attaching to each class of shares
Common Shares
Cream has only one class of shares, common shares without par value of which an unlimited number are authorized and 44,208,809 are outstanding as of August 31, 2007. All common shares rank pari passu for the payment of dividends and distributions in the event of wind-up.
Some of the significant provisions under British Columbia law and Cream’s Articles relating to the common shares may be summarized as follows:
Capital increases and Other Changes
Authorized capital increases as well as other changes to the constituting documents require the approval of 75% of votes of shareholders at a duly convened meeting.
Certain changes such as amalgamations, re-domiciling, and creation of new classes of shares may also give rise to dissent rights (the right to be paid the “fair value” for their shares in cash if the matter is proceeded with).
Shares Fully Paid
All Cream shares must, by applicable law, be issued as fully paid for cash, property or services. They are, therefore, non-assessable and not subject to further calls for payment.
Redemption
Cream has no redeemable securities authorized or issued.
Pre-emptive Rights
There are no pre-emptive rights applicable to Cream which provide a right to any person to participate in offerings of Cream’s securities
Liquidation
All common shares of Cream participate rateably in any available assets in the event of a winding up or other liquidation.
No Limitation on Foreign Ownership
There are no limitations under Cream’s Articles or in the BCA on the right of persons who are not citizens of Canada to hold or vote common shares. (See also “Exchange Controls”)
Dividends
Dividends may be declared by the Board out of available assets and are paid rateably to holders of common shares. No dividend may be paid if Cream is, or would thereby become, insolvent.
Voting Rights
Each Cream share is entitled to one vote on matters to which common shares ordinarily vote including the election of directors, appointment of auditors and approval of corporate changes. There are no cumulative voting rights applicable to Cream.
Shareholder Meetings
Shareholders’ meetings are governed by the Articles of Cream but many important shareholder protections are also contained in the Securities Act (British Columbia) and the BCA. The Articles provide that Cream will hold an annual shareholders’ meeting, will provide at least 21 days’ notice and will provide for certain procedural matters
61
and rules of order with respect to the conduct of the meeting. The Securities Act (British Columbia) and the BCCA superimpose requirements that generally provide that shareholder’ meetings require not less than a 60 day notice period from initial public notice and that Cream makes a thorough advanced search of intermediary and brokerage registered shareholdings to facilitate communication with beneficial shareholders so that meeting proxy and information materials can be sent via the brokerages to unregistered but beneficial shareholders. The form and content of information circulars and proxies and like matters are governed by the Securities Act (British Columbia) and the BCA. This legislation specifies the disclosure requirements for the proxy materials and various corporate actions, background information on the nominees for election for director, executive compensation paid in the previous year and full details of any unusual matters or related party transactions. Cream must hold an annual shareholders meeting open to all shareholders for personal attendance or by proxy at each shareholder’s determination. The meeting must be held within 13 months of the previous annual shareholders’ meeting and must present audited statements, which are no more than 180 days old at such meeting.
Change in Control
Cream has not implemented any shareholders’ rights or other “poison pill” protection against possible take-overs. Cream does not have any agreements which are triggered by a take-over or other change of control, except that a takeover or change if control may result in the vesting of stock options previously granted. There are no provisions in its articles triggered by or affected by a change in outstanding shares which gives rise to a change in control. There are no provisions in Cream’s material agreements giving special rights to any person on a change of control.
Insider Share Ownership Reporting
The articles of Cream do not require disclosure of share ownership. Share ownership of director nominees must be reported annually in proxy materials sent to Cream’s shareholders. There are no requirements under British Columbia corporate law to report ownership of shares of Cream but the Securities Act (British Columbia) requires disclosure of trading by insiders (generally officers, directors and holders of 10% of voting shares) within 10 days of the trade. Controlling shareholders (generally those in excess of 20% of outstanding shares) must provide seven days advance notice of share sales.
Securities Act (British Columbia)
This statute applies to Cream and governs matters typically pertaining to public securities such as continuous quarterly financial reporting, immediate disclosure of material changes, insider trade reporting, take-over protections to ensure fair and equal treatment of all shareholders, exemption and resale rules pertaining to non-prospectus securities issuances as well as civil liability for certain misrepresentations, disciplinary, appeal and discretionary ruling maters. All Cream shareholders regardless of residence have equal rights under this legislation.
Future capital Calls
The directors of the Company do not have any liability for future capital calls.
C.
Material Contracts
Cream is not party to any material contracts other than those entered into in the ordinary course of business for the two years preceding the date of this document.
D.
Exchange Controls
Cream is incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. The Company is not aware of any Canadian federal or provincial laws, decrees or regulations that restrict the export or import of capital, including foreign exchange controls, or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of Common Shares, other than withholding tax requirements. Any such remittance to United States residents are generally subject to withholding tax, however no such remittances are likely in the foreseeable future. See “Taxation” below.
There is no limitation imposed by the laws of Canada or by the charter or other constituent documents of Cream on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote the Common Shares, other than as provided in the Investment Canada Act (the “Investment Act”). The following discussion summarizes the material features of the Investment Act for a non-
62
resident who proposes to acquire the Common Shares. It is general only, it is not a substitute for independent advice from an investor’s own advisor, and it does not anticipate statutory or regulatory amendments. Cream does not believe the Investment Act will have any effect on it or on its non-Canadian shareholders due to a number of factors including the nature of its operations and Cream’s relatively small capitalization. Except as provided in the Investment Canada Act (the “Investment Act”), there are no limitations under the laws of Canada, the province of British Columbia or in the charter or any other constituent documents of the Company on the right of foreigners to hold or vote the Company’s common shares.
The Investment Act generally prohibits implementation of a “reviewable” investment by an individual, government or agency thereof, corporation, partnership, trust or joint venture (each an “entity”) that is not a “Canadian” as defined in the Investment Act (a “non-Canadian”), unless after review the Director of Investments appointed by the minister responsible for the Investment Act is satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada. The size and nature of a proposed transaction may give rise to an obligation to notify the Director to seek an advance ruling. An investment in Cream’s Common Shares by a non-Canadian other than a “WTO Investor” (as that term is defined in the Investment Act and which term includes entities which are nationals of or are controlled by nationals o f member states of the World Trade Organization) when Cream was not controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment to acquire control of Cream and the value of the assets of Cream, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Act, was over a certain figure, or if an order for review was made by the federal cabinet on the grounds that the investment related to Canada’s cultural heritage or national identity, regardless of the value of the assets of Cream. An investment in the Common Shares by a WTO Investor, or by a non-Canadian when Cream was controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment to acquire control of Cream and the value of the assets of Cream, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Act, was not less than a specified amount, which for 2005 exceeds Cdn$250 million. A non-Canadian would acquire control o f Cream for the purposes of the Investment Act if the non-Canadian acquired a majority of the Common Shares. The acquisition of less than a majority but one-third or more of the Common Shares would be presumed to be an acquisition of control of Cream unless it could be established that, on the acquisition, Cream was not controlled in fact by the acquiror through the ownership of the Common Shares.
The foregoing assumes Cream will not engage in the production of uranium or own an interest in a producing uranium property in Canada, or provide any financial service or transportation service, as the rules governing these businesses are different.
Certain transactions relating to the Common Shares would be exempt from the Investment Act, including:
i.
an acquisition of the Common Shares by a person in the ordinary course of that person’s business as a trader or dealer in securities,
ii.
an acquisition of control of Cream in connection with the realization of security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and not for a purpose related to the provisions of the Investment Act, and
iii.
an acquisition of control of Cream by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or indirect control in fact of Cream, through the ownership of the Common Shares, remained unchanged.
E.
Taxation
ALL PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING THE COMMON SHARES.
Material Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences for United States Residents
The following summarizes the material Canadian federal income tax consequences generally applicable to the holding and disposition of Common Shares by a holder (in this summary, a “U.S. Holder”) who, (a) for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “Tax Act”), is not resident in Canada, deals at arm’s length with Cream, holds the Common Shares as capital property and does not use or hold the Common Shares in the course of carrying on, or otherwise in connection with, a business in Canada, and (b) for the purposes of the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention, 1980 (the “Treaty”), is a resident solely of the United States, has never been a resident of Canada, and has not held or used (and does not hold or use) Common Shares in connection with a permanent establishment or fixed base in Canada. This summary does not apply to traders or dealers in securities, limited liability companies,
63
tax-exempt entities, insurers, financial institutions (including those to which the mark-to-market provisions of the Tax Act apply), or any other U.S. Holder to which special considerations apply.
This summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act including all regulations thereunder, the Treaty, all proposed amendments to the Tax Act, the regulations and the Treaty publicly announced by the Government of Canada to the date hereof, and the current administrative practices of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. It has been assumed that all currently proposed amendments will be enacted as proposed and that there will be no other relevant change in any governing law or administrative practice, although no assurances can be given in these respects. This summary does not take into account provincial, U.S., state or other foreign income tax law or practice. The tax consequences to any particular U.S. Holder will vary according to the status of that holder as an individual, trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the jurisdictions in which that holder is subject to taxation, and generally according to that holder’s particular circumstances. Accordingly, this summary is not, and is not to be construed as, Canadian tax advice to any particular U.S. Holder.
Dividends
Dividends paid or deemed to be paid to a U.S. Holder by Cream will be subject to Canadian withholding tax. Under the Treaty, the rate of withholding tax on dividends paid to a U.S. Holder is generally limited to 15% of the gross amount of the dividend (or 5% if the U.S. Holder is a corporation and beneficially owns at least 10% of Cream’s voting shares). Cream will be required to withhold the applicable withholding tax from any such dividend and remit it to the Canadian government for the U.S. Holder’s account.
Disposition
A U.S. Holder is not subject to tax under the Tax Act in respect of a capital gain realized on the disposition of a Common Share in the open market unless the share is “taxable Canadian property” to the holder thereof and the U.S. Holder is not entitled to relief under the Treaty. A Common Share will be taxable Canadian property to a U.S. Holder if, at any time during the 60 months preceding the disposition, the U.S. Holder or persons with whom the U.S. Holder did not deal at arm’s length alone or together owned, or had rights to acquire, 25% or more of Cream’s issued shares of any class or series. If the shares of Cream constitute taxable Canadian property to the holder, the holder may be subject to Canadian income tax on the gain. The taxpayer’s taxable capital gain or loss from a disposition of the share is the amount, if any, by which the proceeds of disposition exceed (or are exceeded by) the aggregate of the adjusted cost base and reasonable expenses of disposition. One-half of the capital gain is included in income and one-half of the capital loss is deductible from capital gains realized in the same year. Unused capital losses may be carried back three taxation years or forward indefinitely and applied to reduce capital gains realized in those years. It should be noted that Canada requires a withholding tax on the gross proceeds of a sale of taxable Canadian property by a non-resident. The withholding tax may be reduced on completion of a Clearance Certificate Request. If the disposition of the share is subject to tax in Canada, the non-resident must also file a Canadian income tax return reporting the disposition.
A U.S. Holder whose Common Shares do constitute taxable Canadian property, and who might therefore be liable for Canadian income tax under the Tax Act, will generally be relieved from such liability under the Treaty unless the value of such shares at the time of disposition is derived principally from real property situated in Canada. The value of Cream’s common shares is not currently derived principally from real property situated in Canada.
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SUMMARY CONTAINING ANY U.S. FEDERAL TAX ISSUE IS INTENDED OR WRITTEN TO BE USED, AND IT CANNOT BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING U.S. TAX PENALTIES UNDER THE CODE.
The following is a discussion of material United States federal income tax consequences, under current law, generally applicable to a U.S. Holder (as hereinafter defined) of common shares of Cream. This discussion does not address all potentially relevant federal income tax matters and it does not address consequences peculiar to persons subject to special provisions of federal income tax law, such as those described below as excluded from the definition of a U.S. Holder. In addition, this discussion does not cover any state, local or foreign tax consequences. (see “Taxation – Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences” above). Accordingly, we strongly recommend that holders and prospective holders of common shares of Cream consult their own tax advisors about the specific federal, state, local, and foreign tax consequences to them of purchasing, owning and disposing of common shares of Cream, based upon their individual circumstances .
64
The following discussion is based upon the sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations, published Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) rulings, published administrative positions of the IRS and court decisions that are currently applicable, any or all of which could be materially and adversely changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time and which are subject to differing interpretations. This discussion does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any proposed legislation, which, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time.
U.S. Holders
As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” means a holder of common shares of Cream who is a citizen or individual resident of the United States, a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, an estate whose income is taxable in the United States irrespective of source or a trust subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and control of a United States fiduciary as described Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code. This summary does not address the tax consequences to, and U.S. Holder does not include, persons subject to specific provisions of federal income tax law, such as tax-exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and other tax-deferred accounts, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, broker-dealers, non-resident alien individuals, persons or entities that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar, shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax, shareholders who hold common shares as part of a straddle, hedging or conversion transaction, and shareholders who acquired their common shares through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services. This summary is limited to U.S. Holders who own common shares as capital assets, within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and who own (directly and indirectly, pursuant to applicable rules of constructive ownership) no more than 5% of the value of the total outstanding stock of Cream. This summary does not address the consequences to a person or entity holding an interest in a shareholder or the consequences to a person of the ownership, exercise or disposition of any options, warrants or other rights to acquire common shares. In addition, this summary does not address special rules applicable to United States persons (as defined in Sec tion 7701(a)(30) of the Code) holding common shares through a foreign partnership or to foreign persons holding common shares through a domestic partnership.
Distribution on Common Shares of Cream
In general, U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive dividends) with respect to common shares of Cream are required to include in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes the gross amount of such distributions, equal to the U.S. dollar value of such distributions on the date of receipt (based on the exchange rate on such date), to the extent that Cream has current or accumulated earnings and profits, without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distributions. Such Canadian tax withheld may be credited, subject to certain limitations, against the U.S. Holder’s federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in computing the U.S. Holder’s federal taxable income by those who itemize deductions. (See more detailed discussion at “Foreign Tax Credit” below). To the extent that distributions exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits of Cream, they wil l be treated first as a return of capital up to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in the common shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of property. Preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains are applicable to a U.S. Holder, which is an individual, estate or trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains for a U.S. Holder, which is a corporation.
In the case of foreign currency received as a dividend that is not converted by the recipient into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Generally any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale or other disposition of the foreign currency, including the exchange for U.S. dollars, will be ordinary income or loss. However, an individual whose realized gain does not exceed $200 will not recognize that gain, provided that there are no expenses associated with the transaction that meet the requirements for deductibility as a trade or business expense (other than travel expenses in connection with a business trip) or as an expense for the production of income.
Under current Treasury Regulations, dividends paid on Cream’s common shares, if any, generally will not be subject to information reporting and generally will not be subject to U.S. backup withholding tax. However, dividends and the proceeds from a sale of Cream’s common shares paid in the U.S. through a U.S. or U.S. related paying agent (including a broker) will be subject to U.S. information reporting requirements and may also be subject to the 28% U.S. backup withholding tax, unless the paying agent is furnished with a duly completed and signed Form W-9. Any amounts withheld under the U.S. backup withholding tax rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Tax Credit
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A U.S. Holder who pays (or has withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax with respect to the ownership of common shares of Cream may be entitled, at the option of the U.S. Holder, to either receive a deduction or a tax credit for such foreign tax paid or withheld. Generally, it will be more advantageous to claim a credit because a credit reduces United States federal income taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis, while a deduction merely reduces the taxpayer’s income subject to tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and generally applies to all foreign taxes paid by (or withheld from) the U.S. Holder during that year. There are significant and complex limitations which apply to the credit; among which is the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of the U.S. Holder’s United States income tax liability that the U.S. Holder’s foreign source income bears to his or its worldwide taxable income. I n the determination of the application of this limitation, the various items of income and deduction must be classified into foreign and domestic sources. Complex rules govern this classification process. In addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income such as “passive category income”, and “general category income.” Dividends distributed by Cream will generally constitute “passive category income” or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, “general category income” for these purposes. The availability of the foreign tax credit and the application of the limitations on the credit are fact specific, and U.S. Holders of common shares of Cream should consult their own tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances.
Disposition of Common Shares of Cream
In general, U.S. Holders will recognize gain or loss upon the sale of common shares of Cream equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received, and (ii) the shareholder’s tax basis in the common shares of Cream. Preferential tax rates apply to long-term capital gains of U.S. Holders, which are individuals, estates or trusts. In general, gain or loss on the sale of common shares of Cream will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common shares are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder and are held for more than one year. Deductions for net capital losses are subject to significant limitations. For U.S. Holders, which are not corporations, any unused portion of such net capital loss may be carried over to be used in later tax years until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.
For U.S. Holders that are corporations (other than corporations subject to Subchapter S of the Code), an unused net capital loss may be carried back three years and carried forward five years from the loss year to be offset against capital gains until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.
Passive Foreign Investment Company
United States income tax law contains rules governing “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFIC”) which can have significant tax effects on U.S. Holders of foreign corporations. These rules do not apply to non-U.S. Holders. Section 1297 of the Code defines a PFIC as a corporation that is not formed in the United States if, for any taxable year, either (i) 75% or more of its gross income is “passive income,” which includes interest, dividends and certain rents and royalties or (ii) the average percentage, by fair market value (or, if the corporation is not publicly traded and either is a controlled foreign corporation or makes an election, by adjusted tax basis), of its assets that produce or are held for the production of “passive income” is 50% or more. Cream appears to have been a PFIC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, and at least certain prior fiscal years. In addition, Cream may qualify as a PFIC in future fiscal years. We strongly recommend that each U.S. Holder consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect such U.S. Holder’s tax situation.
Each U.S. Holder who holds stock in a foreign corporation during any year in which such corporation qualifies as a PFIC is subject to United States federal income taxation under one of three alternative tax regimes at the election of such U.S. Holder. The following is a discussion of such alternative tax regimes applied to such U.S. Holders of Cream.
A U.S. Holder who elects to treat Cream as a qualified electing fund (“QEF”) will be subject, under Section 1293 of the Code, to current federal income tax for any taxable year to which the election applies in which Cream qualifies as a PFIC on his pro rata share of Cream’s (i) “net capital gain” (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), which will be taxed as long-term capital gain, and (ii) “ordinary earnings” (the excess of earnings and profits over net capital gain), which will be taxed as ordinary income, in each case, for the shareholder’s taxable year in which (or with which) Cream’s taxable year ends, regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common shares will be increased by any such amount that is included in income but not distributed.
The procedure a U.S. Holder must comply with in making an effective QEF election, and the consequences of such election, will depend on whether the year of the election is the first year in the U.S. Holder’s holding period in
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which Cream is a PFIC. If the U.S. Holder makes a QEF election in such first year, i.e., a “timely” QEF election, then the U.S. Holder may make the QEF election by simply filing the appropriate documents at the time the U.S. Holder files his tax return for such first year. If, however, Cream qualified as a PFIC in a prior year during the U.S. Holder’s holding period, then, in order to avoid the Section 1291 rules discussed below, in addition to filing documents, the U.S. Holder must elect to recognize under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code (discussed herein), any gain that he would otherwise recognize if the U.S. Holder sold his stock on the qualification date. The qualification date is the first day of Cream’s first tax year in which Cream qualified as a QEF with respect to such U.S. Holder. For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder who makes (i) a timely QEF election, or (ii) an untimely QEF election and the above-des cribed gain-recognition election under Section 1291 is referred to herein as an “Electing U.S. Holder.” A U.S. Holder who holds common shares at any time during a year of Cream in which Cream is a PFIC and who is not an Electing U.S. Holder (including a U.S. Holder who makes an untimely QEF election and does not make the above-described gain-recognition election) is referred to herein as a “Non-Electing U.S. Holder.” An Electing U.S. Holder (i) generally treats any gain realized on the disposition of his Cream common shares as capital gain; and (ii) may either avoid interest charges resulting from PFIC status altogether, or make an annual election, subject to certain limitations, to defer payment of current taxes on his share of Cream’s annual realized net capital gain and ordinary earnings subject, however, to an interest charge. If the U.S. Holder is not a corporation, any interest charge imposed under the PFIC regime would be treated as “personal i nterest” that is not deductible.
In order for a U.S. Holder to make (or maintain) a valid QEF election, Cream must provide certain information regarding its net capital gains and ordinary earnings and permit its books and records to be examined to verify such information. Cream intends to make the necessary information available to U.S. Holders to permit them to make (and maintain) QEF elections with respect to Cream. We strongly recommend that each prospective U.S. Holder consult a tax advisor regarding the availability of, and procedure for making, the QEF election.
A QEF election, once made with respect to Cream, applies to the tax year for which it was made and to all subsequent tax years, unless the election is invalidated or terminated, or the IRS consents to revocation of the election. If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF election and Cream ceases to qualify as a PFIC in a subsequent tax year, the QEF election will remain in effect, although not applicable, during those tax years in which Cream does not qualify as a PFIC. Therefore, if Cream again qualifies as a PFIC in a subsequent tax year, the QEF election will be effective and the U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules described above for Electing U.S. Holders in such tax year and any subsequent tax years in which Cream qualifies as a PFIC. In addition, the QEF election remains in effect, although not applicable, with respect to an Electing U.S. Holder even after such U.S. Holder disposes of all of his or its direct and indirect interest in the shares of Cream. &n bsp;Therefore, if such U.S. Holder reacquires an interest in Cream, that U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules described above for Electing U.S. Holders for each tax year in which Cream qualifies as a PFIC.
In the case of a Non-Electing U.S. Holder, special taxation rules under Section 1291 of the Code will apply to (i) gains realized on the disposition (or deemed to be realized by reasons of a pledge) of his Cream common shares and (ii) certain “excess distributions,” as defined in Section 1291(b), by Cream.
A Non-Electing U.S. Holder generally would be required to pro rate all gains realized on the disposition of his Cream common shares and all excess distributions on his Cream common shares over the entire holding period for the common shares. All gains or excess distributions allocated to prior years of the U.S. Holder (excluding any portion of the holder’s period prior to the first day of the first year of Cream (i) which began after December 31, 1986, and (ii) for which Cream was a PFIC) would be taxed at the highest tax rate for each such prior year applicable to ordinary income. The Non-Electing U.S. Holder also would be liable for interest on the foregoing tax liability for each such prior year calculated as if such liability had been due with respect to each such prior year. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder that is not a corporation must treat this interest charge as “personal interest” which, as discussed above, is wholly non-deductible. Th e balance, if any, of the gain or the excess distribution will be treated as ordinary income in the year of the disposition or distribution, and no interest charge will be incurred with respect to such balance. In certain circumstances, the sum of the tax and the PFIC interest charge may exceed the amount of the excess distribution received, or the amount of proceeds of disposition realized, by the U.S. Holder.
If Cream is a PFIC for any taxable year during which a Non-Electing U.S. Holder holds Cream common shares, then Cream will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such Registrant common shares, even if it is no longer definitionally a PFIC. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder may terminate this deemed PFIC status by electing to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules discussed above for Non-Electing U.S. Holders) as if such Cream common shares had been sold on the last day of the last taxable year for which it was a PFIC.
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Effective for tax years of U.S. Holders beginning after December 31, 1997, U.S. Holders who hold (actually or constructively) marketable stock of a foreign corporation that qualifies as a PFIC may elect to mark such stock to the market annually (a “mark-to-market election”). If such an election is made, such U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to the special taxation rules of Section 1291 discussed above. However, if a Non-Electing U.S. Holder makes the mark-to-market election after the beginning of the holding period for the PFIC stock, then the Section 1291 rules will apply to certain dispositions of, distributions on and other amounts taxable with respect to Cream common shares. A U.S. Holder who makes the mark-to market election will include in income for each taxable year for which the election is in effect an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the common shares of Cream as of the close of such tax year ov er such U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in such common shares. In addition, the U.S. Holder is allowed a deduction for the lesser of (i) the excess, if any, of such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares over the fair market value of such shares as of the close of the tax year, or (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) the mark-to-market gains for the common shares in Cream included by such U.S. Holder for prior tax years, including any amount which would have been treated as a mark-to-market gain for any prior tax year but for the Section 1291 rules discussed above with respect to Non-Electing U.S. Holders, over (B) the mark-to-market losses for shares that were allowed as deductions for prior tax years. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares of Cream will be adjusted to reflect the amount included in or deducted from income as a result of a mark-to-market election. A mark-to-market election applies to the taxable year in which the e lection is made and to each subsequent taxable year, unless Cream common shares cease to be marketable, as specifically defined, or the IRS consents to revocation of the election. A U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election by filing IRS Form 8621. No view is expressed regarding whether common shares of Cream are marketable for these purposes or whether the election will be available.
Under Section 1291(f) of the Code, the IRS has issued Proposed Treasury Regulations that, subject to certain exceptions, would treat as taxable certain transfers of PFIC stock by Non-Electing U.S. Holders that are generally not otherwise taxed, such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death. Generally, in such cases the basis of Cream common shares in the hands of the transferee and the basis of any property received in the exchange for those common shares would be increased by the amount of gain recognized. Under the Proposed Treasury Regulations, an Electing U.S. Holder would not be taxed on certain transfers of PFIC stock, such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death. The transferee’s basis in this case will depend on the manner of the transfer. In the case of a transfer by an Electing U.S. Holder upon death, for example, the transferee’s basis is generally equal to t he fair market value of the Electing U.S. Holder’s common shares as of the date of death under Section 1014 of the Code. The specific tax effect to the U.S. Holder and the transferee may vary based on the manner in which the common shares are transferred. We strongly recommend that each prospective U.S. Holder of Cream consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect his or its tax situation.
Certain special, generally adverse, rules will apply with respect to Cream common shares while Cream is a PFIC unless the U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election. For example under Section 1298(b)(6) of the Code, a U.S. Holder who uses PFIC stock as security for a loan (including a margin loan) will, except as may be provided in regulations, be treated as having made a taxable disposition of such shares.
F.
Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G.
Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
H.
Documents on Display
Exhibits attached to this Form 20-F are also available for viewing at the head office of the Company, Suite 1400, 570 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1, or on request of Cream at 604-687-4622. Copies of Cream’s financial statements and other disclosure documents required under the British ColumbiaSecurities Act are available for viewing on the internet at www.sedar.com during normal business hours.
I.
Subsidiary Information
Not applicable
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ITEM 11.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Transaction Risk and currency Risk Management
Cream’s current operations do not employ financial instruments or derivatives. Currently, the Company has no long-term debt or source of revenue as the Company is in the resource exploration and development stage on its mineral property interests.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
The Company is engaged in mineral exploration and related activities, including exploration, and reclamation. Changes in the price of foreign exchange rates could significantly affect the Company’s profitability and cash flows. See “Key Information” under Item 3 above, for a description of factors relating to foreign exchange and currency fluctuations. Its liabilities are all denominated in Canadian dollars. Certain operations are in Mexico and in Sierra Leone and are affected by exchange rate risk, of both the U.S. Dollar and the local currency in each country.
Exchange Rate Sensitivity
The majority of Cream’s exploration operations are in Sierra Leone, with additional exploration being conducted in Mexico and Canada, and its administrative operations are in Canada. It is affected by exchange rate risk, as the equity financings by the Company to date have been denominated in Canadian dollars. Excess cash is invested and may be affected by exchange rate risk for United States dollar expenditures. In future, it will be necessary to do further equity or other forms of financing. The funds are usually received in Canadian dollars. Funds received in U.S. dollars will likely remain in U.S. dollars and be used for expenditures in U.S. dollars, to reduce exchange risk. The risk that the Company is subject to arises when expenses are incurred in U.S. dollars or other currencies, but primarily U. S. dollars, with large fluctuations in the Canadian-U.S. dollar exchange rate at that time of the transaction. Exchange gain s incurred in fiscal 2007 were $2,330 on $2.8 million in expenditures, a nominal amount.
Interest Rate Risk and Equity Price Risk
Cream has been equity financed and does not have any debt that is subject to interest rate change risks.
Commodity Price Risk
While the value of Cream’s resource properties can always be said to relate to the price of precious metals and the outlook for same, Cream currently does not have any operating mines and hence does not have any hedging or other commodity based risk respecting its operations.
ITEM 12.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 13.
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 14.
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
ITEM 15.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Not applicable.
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ITEM 16A.
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The board of directors has determined that Mr. Robin Merrifield is a member of the audit committee of the Company who qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” based on his education and experience. Mr. Merrifield is independent, as that term is defined by the rules of the British Columbia Securities Commission.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated that the designation of Robin Merrifield as an audit committee financial expert does not make him an “expert” for any purpose, impose on him any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on him as a member of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors in absence of such designation, or affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or Board of Directors.
ITEM 16B.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Company’s chief executive officer, the chief financial officer and other members of senior management. The Company’s Code of Ethics is attached as an exhibit to this Form 20-F.
ITEM 16C.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table discloses the aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the Company’s audit firm for various services.
| | |
| Years ended March 31, |
Services: | 2007 (Cdn$) | 2006 (Cdn$) |
Audit fees | $ 17,500 | $ 11,400 |
Audit-related fee | NIL | 3,300 |
Tax fees | 1,690 | 600 |
All other fees | -- | -- |
Total fees | $ 19,190 | $ 15,300 |
Note:
“Audit-Related Fee” includes services that are traditionally performed by the auditor. These audit-related services include employee benefit audits, due diligence assistance, accounting consultations on proposed transactions, internal control reviews and audit or attest services not required by legislation or regulation.
From time to time, management of the Company recommends to and requests approval from the audit committee for non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s auditors. The audit committee routinely considers such requests at committee meetings, and if acceptable to a majority of the audit committee members, pre-approves such non-audit services by a resolution authorizing management to engage the Company’s auditors for such non-audit services, with set maximum dollar amounts for each itemized service. During such deliberations, the audit committee assesses, among other factors, whether the services requested would be considered “prohibited services” as contemplated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and whether the services requested and the fees related to such services could impair the independence of the auditors. All of the non-audit related services provided by the Company’s audit firm were pre-approved by the audit committee.
During the year ended March 31, 2007, none of the services described above under “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” under the captions “Audit-Related Fees”, “Tax Fees”, and “All Other Fees” were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
ITEM 16D.
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
Not applicable.
ITEM 16E.
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
Not applicable.
PART III
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ITEM 17.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are stated in Canadian dollars and are prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP, the application of which, in the case of the Company, conforms in all material respects for the periods presented with United States GAAP, except as disclosed in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.
The financial statements and notes thereto as required under Item 17 are attached hereto and found immediately following the text of this Annual Report. The audit report of Morgan and Company, independent Chartered Accountants, is included herein immediately preceding the consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 18
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Not applicable. See item 17.
ITEM 19.
EXHIBITS
Financial Statements:
a.
Auditors’ Report on the consolidated balance sheets as at March 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005;
b.
Consolidated balance sheets as at March 31, 2007 and 2006;
c.
Consolidated statements of operations for each of the three years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005;
d.
Consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity for each of the three years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005;
e.
Consolidated statements of cash flows for each of the three years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005;
f.
Notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Index to Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed with this Annual Report on Form 20-F in respect of the current year:
| | |
Exhibit Number | Description
| |
1.1* | Certified Copies of Transition Application and Notice of Articles and Notice of Articles - post transition | |
2.1 | CMA 2004 Stock Option Plan, as Amended Sept 21, 2006 | |
4.1* | Option to Purchase Diamond Exploration Licences EPL.1/94 and EPL.5/94 in Sierra Leone | |
6.1 | Calculation of earnings per share – N/A | |
7.1 | Explanation of calculation of ratios – N/A | |
8.1* | List of Subsidiaries | |
11.1* | Code of ethics | |
12.1 | Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(A)/15d-14(a) of Chief Executive Officer | |
12.2 | Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(A)/15d-14(a) of Chief Financial Officer | |
13.1 | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 of Chief Executive Officer | |
13.2 | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 of Chief Financial Officer | |
| | |
*These exhibits have been filed with the Company’s registration statement on Form 20-F and are incorporated by reference. |
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Glossary of Geologic and Mining Terms
Adit-A horizontal passage from the surface into a mine, commonly called a tunnel.
Ag - Chemical symbol for the metallic element silver.
Au - Chemical symbol for the metallic element gold.
Alteration - Any change in the mineralogic composition of a rock that is brought about by physical or chemical means.
Banka drilling –A drilling method used in inhospitable and isolated arias in the world, primarily using human manpower. Developed by Conrad Banka, the drills are indispensable to prospect or explore alluvial deposits; mine tailings; clay, bauxite and lateritic iron ore; water bearing layers; deep geochemistry in water saturated soils and for geotechnical soil testing.
Bed - The smallest division of a stratified rock series, marked by a well-defined divisional plane from its neighbours above and below; an ore deposit, parallel to the stratification, constituting a regular member of the series of formations.
Bedding - Condition where planes divide sedimentary rocks of the same or different lithology.
Bedrock - Solid rock exposed at the surface of the earth, or overlain by surficial deposits.
Biotite - A generally dark colored iron, magnesium and potassium rich mica.
Caldera - A large basin-shaped volcanic depression, more or less circular, the diameter of which is many times greater than that of the included vent or vents, irrespective of the steepness of the walls of the form of the floor.
Contact – The place or surface where two different kinds of rocks come together.
Cretaceous - A period of geological time extending from 135 million to 65 million years ago.
Crown grant - A mineral claim located on the ground, defined by two claim posts, the location of which is governed by a mineral title act enacted at an earlier date than the current act.
Diamond drill hole - A method of obtaining a cylindrical core of rock by drilling with a diamond impregnated bit.
Deposit – A natural occurrence of a useful mineral or ore in sufficient extent and degree of concentrating to invite exploitation.
Dip - The angle at which a stratum or drill hole is inclined from the horizontal.
Displacement - Relative movement of rock on opposite side of a fault; also known as dislocation.
Disseminated – Fine particles of mineral dispersed through the enclosing rock.
EM - Electromagnetic.
Fault - A fracture in a rock along which there has been relative movement either vertically or horizontally.
Feldspar - A group of common aluminosilicate minerals.
Feldspar porphyry - A rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark red or purple groundmass.
Feasibility study - Engineering study to determine if a mineral property can be developed at a profit, and the methods to develop it.
72
Footwall - The mass of rock that lies beneath a fault, an ore body, or a mine working; the top of the rock stratum underlying a vein or bed of ore.
g/t - Grams per tonne.
Galena - Lead sulphide, PbS, the principal ore of lead.
Geochemical survey - A measure of the abundance of different elements in rock, soil, water, etc.
Geochemistry - Study of chemical elements in rocks or soil.
Geological mapping – Surveys defining the surface distribution of rock varieties, age relationships and structural features.
Grab sampling - A random sample of mineralized rock with no statistical validity, taken simply to check the type of mineralization.
Grade - The quality of an ore; in effect, the metal content.
Granite – An intrusive rock consisting essentially of feldspar and quartz.
Grid - A network of evenly spaced horizontal and vertical bars or lines, used generally to locate points in the field when placed over a map or chart.
Hanging wall - The rock mass above a fault plane, vein, lode, ore body, or other structure, the underside of the country rock overlying a vein or bed of ore.
Hectare - A square of 100 metres on each side.
Induced polarization survey – A survey to determine the conductivity and chargeability of rock units located along grid lines.
Intrusive - Said of an igneous rock, which invades older rocks.
Lime - A white substance, calcium oxide (CaO), obtained by the action of heat on limestone, shells and other materials containing calcium carbonate.
Limestone - Rock consisting mainly of calcium carbonate, often composed of the organic remains of sea animals (mollusks, coral, etc.).
Lode - See vein.
Meta-intrusive - An intrusive rock that has been metamorphosed.
Metamorphosed/Metamorphic - A rock that has been altered by physical and chemical processes including heat, pressure and fluids.
Meta-sediment - A sedimentary rock that has been metamorphosed.
Mineralization - The concentration of metals and their chemical compounds within a body of rock.
Mining lease – A claim or number of claims to which the right to mine is assigned.
Modified grid mineral claim – A claim with north-south and east-west borders, located by using claim posts at each corner and at 500 metre intervals along each side. Each 500 metre x 500-metre interval is referred to as one unit and modified grid claims can total no more than 20 units in size.
Net smelter royalty - A royalty based on the actual metal sale price received less the cost of refining at an off-site refinery.
73
Ore - Rock containing mineral(s) or metals, which can be economically extracted.
Orebody - A solid and fairly continuous mass of ore.
Outcrop - An exposure of bedrock at the surface.
Pb - Chemical symbol for the metallic element lead.
Pod - An orebody of elongate, lenticular shape; also known as podiform orebody.
PPB - Part Per Billion.
PPM - Part Per Million.
Pyrite - Iron sulphide (FeS2).
Quartz - A mineral composed of silicon dioxide.
Reconnaissance - A general examination or survey of a region with reference to its main features, usually as a preliminary to a more detailed survey.
Replacement mineralization – Mineral deposit formed by replacement of previous rock.
Rhyolite - A siliceous volcanic rock with a high potassium in feldspar component.
Rock chip sample – A rock sample consisting of continuous chips collected over a specified width.
Rotary drilling – A drilling method where a hard-toothed bit rotates at the bottom of a drill pipe, grinding a hole into the rock. Lubrication is provided by continuously circulating drilling fluid, which brings the rock cuttings to the surface.
Sediment - Solid material that has settled down from a state of suspension in a liquid. More generally, solid fragmental material transported and deposited by wind, water or ice, chemically participated from solution, or secreted by organisms, and that forms in layers in loose unconsolidated form.
Sedimentary rock – Rock formed by lithification of sediments.
Shaft – a vertical excavation
Shear - To move as to create a planar zone of deformed rock.
Showing - A rock outcrop revealing the presence of a certain mineral.
Siliceous - Said of a rock rich in silica.
Silt sample– A sample of fine sediment collected from a stream bed.
Soil sampling - Systematic collection of soil samples at a series of different locations in order to study the distribution of soil geochemical values.
Sphalerite - A zinc sulphide, ZnS, which may contain some iron and cadmium; the principal ore of zinc and cadmium.
Strike – The horizontal plane representing the direction of a structure or bed.
Sulphide - A group of minerals in which one or more metals are found in combination with sulphur.
Tonne - Metric unit of weight equivalent to volume multiplied by specific gravity, equivalent to 1.102 tons.
74
Trenching- The act of blasting or digging through overburden/outcrop to attend fresh bedrock for mapping and sampling.
Vein - A tabular or sheet-like body of minerals, which has been intruded into a joint fissure, or system of fissures, in rocks.
VLF - Very Low Frequency.
VLF EM survey – A survey to determine ground variations in the electromagnetic field along grid lines.
Workings - A part of a mine, quarry, etc., where work is or has been done.
Zn - Chemical symbol for the metallic element zinc.
75
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2007 and 2006
76
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
To the Shareholders of Cream Minerals Ltd.
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets ofCream Minerals Ltd. as at March 31, 2007 and 2006 and the consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards, and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the company as at March 31, 2007 and 2006 and the results of its operations, shareholders’ equity and its cash flows for each of the three years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
On July 25, 2007, we reported separately to the shareholders of Cream Minerals Ltd. On the consolidated financial statements for the same periods, prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, excluding Note 13, Differences Between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles, included in the accompanying financial statements.
Vancouver, Canada
/s/ Morgan & Company
July 25, 2007
Chartered Accountants
Comments by Auditors for U.S. Readers on Canada-U.S. Reporting Differences
The reporting standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) for auditors require the addition of an explanatory paragraph (following the opinion paragraph) when the financial statements are affected by conditions and events that cast substantial doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, such as those described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Our report to the shareholders, dated July 25, 2007, is expressed in accordance with Canadian reporting standards which do not permit a reference to such events and conditions in the Auditors’ Report when these are adequately disclosed in the financial statements.
Vancouver, Canada
/s/ Morgan & Company
July 25, 2007
Chartered Accountants
![[cream20f100107004.gif]](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-F/0001137171-07-001315/cream20f100107004.jpg)
77
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
| | |
| March 31, | March 31, |
| 2007 | 2006 |
| | |
Assets | | |
| | |
Current assets | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ |
202,486
$ 398,815 | Short term investments | 35,750 | -- |
Taxes recoverable | 91,972 | 13,636 |
Due from related parties (Note 9) | 11,999 | 16,866 |
Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses | 62,530 | 3,049 |
| 404,737 | 432,366 |
|
|
|
Mineral property interests(Notes 4 and 14) | 3,837,781 | 1,323,978 |
Equipment(Note 5) | 177,998 | 40,023 |
Investments(Note 6) | 31,706 | 31,706 |
Reclamation and other deposits(Note 7) | 3,000 | 32,883 |
| | |
| $ 4,455,222 | $ 1,860,956 |
| | |
Liabilities | | |
| | |
Current liabilities | | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ 304,473 | $ 15,670 |
Accounts payable, related parties (Note 9) | 96,654 | 450,838 |
| 401,127 | 466,508 |
Shareholders’ equity |
|
|
Share capital(Note 8) |
|
|
Authorized: Unlimited number of common shares without par value |
|
|
Issued and fully paid: 41,801,343 (2006 – 34,766,276) common shares |
21,482,992 | 18,530,383
|
Warrants | 349,830 | -- |
Contributed surplus | 816,439 | 795,881 |
Deficit | (18,595,166) | (17,931,816) |
| 4,054,095 | 1,394,448 |
|
$ 4,455,222 |
$ 1,860,956 |
Going concern and nature of operations (Note 1)
Subsequent events (Notes 1, 4, 8 and 16)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Approved on behalf of the board of Directors
/s/Frank A. Lang
/s/Robin Merrifield
Frank A. Lang
Robin Merrifield
78
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Consolidated Statements of Operations
| | | |
| For the years ended March 31, |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
| | | |
Expenses |
|
|
|
Amortization | $ 1,890 | $ 6,443 | $ 8,536 |
Foreign exchange (gains) / losses | (2,330) | 3,141 | 13,958 |
Legal, accounting and audit | 42,419 | 26,642 | 58,787 |
Management and consulting fees (Note 9 ( b, d)) | 102,500 | 37,500 | 30,000 |
Office and administration | 79,474 | 133,781 | 90,536 |
Property investigation costs | 12,132 | -- | 25,193 |
Salaries and benefits | 75,929 | 84,795 | 64,855 |
Shareholder communications | 286,510 | 190,246 | 114,625 |
Stock-based compensation | 67,867 | 232,287 | 288,601 |
Travel and conferences | 19,458 | 49,139 | 25,673 |
Write-down of investments | -- | 24,999 | 12,191 |
Write-down of mineral property interests | -- | 172,697 | 1,995,978 |
(Recovery)/write-down of value added tax | -- | (69,841) | 91,411 |
Interest income | (22,499) | (565) | (5,341) |
| | |
|
Loss for the year | (663,350) | (891,264) | (2,815,003) |
| | | |
Loss per common share | $ (0.02) | $ (0.03) | $ (0.10) |
| | | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted |
38,395,299 | 32,188,964
|
28,765,766 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
79
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
Years ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
| | | | | | | | |
| Common Shares Without Par Value | Share Subscriptions |
Warrants | Contributed Surplus | Deficit
| Total Shareholders’ |
Shares | Amount | | | | | Equity |
Balance, March 31, 2004 |
28,049,991 | $ 16,516,678 | $ -- | $ -- | $ 247,636 | $ (14,225,549) | $ 2,538,765 | Exercise of warrants | 810,001 | 240,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 240,000 |
Stock options exercised | 364,000 | 53,852 | -- | -- | (8,102) | -- | 45,750 |
Private placements, less share issue costs | -- | -- | 429,217 | -- | -- | -- | 429,217 |
Mineral property interests |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldsmith Claims | 50,000 | 32,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 32,000 |
Lucky Jack Claims | 50,000 | 38,500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 38,500 |
Stephens Lake – Trout Claims | 16,667 | 5,583 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5,583 |
Fenix Property | 50,000 | 14,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 14,000 |
Kootenay Gemstone Property | 100,000 | 30,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 30,000 |
Casierra Diamond Licences | 200,000 | 80,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 80,000 |
Stock-based compensation | -- | -- | -- | -- | 349,809 | -- | 349,809 |
Loss for the year | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | (2,815,003) | (2,815,003) |
Balance, March 31, 2005 | 29,690,659 | 17,010,613 | 429,217 | -- | 589,343 | (17,040,552) | 988,621 |
Stock options exercised | 776,600 | 128,937 | -- | -- | (32,427) | -- | 96,510 |
Private placements, less share issue costs | 4,000,000 | 1,286,343 | (429,217) | -- | -- | -- | 857,126 |
Mineral property interests |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldsmith Claims | 50,000 | 17,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 17,000 |
Lucky Jack Claims | 50,000 | 17,500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 17,500 |
Stephens Lake – Trout Claims | 16,667 | 2,667 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2,667 |
Kootenay Gemstone Property | 100,000 | 37,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 37,000 |
Wine Claims | 50,000 | 19,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 19,000 |
Finders’ fees | 32,350 | 11,323 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 11,323 |
Stock-based compensation | -- | -- | -- | -- | 238,965 | -- | 238,965 |
Loss for the year | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | (891,264) | (891,264) |
Balance, March 31, 2006 | 34,766,276 | 18,530,383 | -- | -- | 795,881 | (17,931,816) | 1,394,448 |
Stock options exercised | 877,900 | 251,432 | -- | -- | (80,462) | -- | 170,970 |
Warrants exercised | 90,500 | 40,725 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 40,725 |
Private placements, less share issue costs | 5,500,000 | 2,425,285 | -- | 349,830 | -- | -- | 2,775,115 |
Mineral property interests |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldsmith Claims | 50,000 | 29,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 29,000 |
Lucky Jack Claims | 50,000 | 27,500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 27,500 |
Stephens Lake – Trout Claims | 16,667 | 8,667 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8,667 |
Kootenay Gemstone Property | 100,000 | 49,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 49,000 |
Casierra Diamond Licences | 300,000 | 99,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 99,000 |
Wine Claims | 50,000 | 22,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 22,000 |
Stock-based compensation | -- | -- | -- | -- | 101,020 | -- | 101,020 |
Loss for the year | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | (663,350) | (663,350) |
Balance, March 31, 2007 | 41,801,343 | $ 21,482,992 | $ -- | $ 349,830 | $ 816,439 | $ (18,595,166) | $ 4,054,095 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
80
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
| | | |
| For the years ended March 31, |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
Cash provided by (used for) | | | |
| | | |
Operating activities | | | |
Loss for the year | $ (663,350) | $ (891,264) | $ (2,815,003) |
Items not affecting working capital | | | |
Amortization | 1,890 | 6,443 | 8,536 |
Stock-based compensation | 67,867 | 232,287 | 288,601 |
Write-down of mineral property interests | -- | 172,697 | 1,995,978 |
Write-down of investments | -- | 24,999 | 12,191 |
Changes in non-cash working capital |
|
|
|
Taxes recoverable | (78,336) | (5,661) | 60,744 |
Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses | (59,481) | 6,790 | 10,730 |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 18,069 | (9,272) | (1,035) |
| (713,341) | (462,981) | (515,753) |
|
|
|
|
Investing activities |
|
|
|
Mineral property interests |
|
|
|
Acquisition costs | (63,095) | (40,147) | (67,814) |
Exploration and development costs | (1,850,109) | (471,547) | (982,996) |
Related party advances | 9,404 | (16,866) | (162,025) |
Reclamation and other deposits | 29,883 | -- | (16,381) |
Short term investments | (35,750) | -- | -- |
Equipment | (201,411) | (4,918) | (56,966) |
| (2,111,078) | (533,478) | (1,286,182) |
|
|
|
|
Financing activities |
|
|
|
Due to/from related parties | (358,720) | 337,230 | (76,495) |
Issuance of common shares | 2,986,810 | 964,960 | 285,750 |
Share subscriptions received | -- | -- | 429,217 |
| 2,628,090 | 1,302,190 | 714,967 |
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
Increase (decrease) during the year | (196,329) | 305,731 | (1,086,968) |
Balance, beginning of year | 398,815 | 93,084 | 1,180,052 |
| | | |
Balance, end of year | $ 202,486 | $ 398,815 | $ 93,084 |
| | | |
Supplementary information | | | |
Stock-based compensation in mineral property interests | $
33,153 | $
6,679 | $
61,208 |
Contributed surplus recognized on option exercise | $ 80,462 | $ 32,428 | $ 8,102 |
Issuance of shares for mineral property interests | $ 235,167 | $ 93,165 | $ 200,083 |
Issuance of shares for finance and agent’s fee | $ -- | $ 11,323 | $ -- |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
81
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
1.
Going concern and nature of operations:
Cream Minerals Ltd. (the “Company”) is incorporated in the Province of British Columbia under the Business Corporations Act of British Columbia, and its principal business activity is the exploration of mineral properties, currently in Mexico, Sierra Leone and Canada.
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going-concern basis, which implies that the Company will continue realizing its assets and discharging its liabilities in the normal course of business. Accordingly, they do not give effect to adjustments that would be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern and therefore be required to realize its assets and liquidate its liabilities, contingent obligations and commitments in other than the normal course of business and at amounts different from those in these financial statements.
The Company had a loss of $663,350 for the year ended March 31, 2007, and the Company had working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, as at March 31, 2007, of $3,610, with an accumulated deficit of $18,595,166.
The Company has capitalized $3,837,781 (2006 – $1,323,978) in acquisition and related exploration and development costs on its mineral properties. On the Nuevo Milenio property in Mexico, tax payments are required to be made twice yearly on an escalating basis, in January and July of each year, to maintain the concessions. In addition, the Company must make cash payments of $138,333 and issue 66,666 common shares in fiscal 2008 to maintain the mineral property interests held at March 31, 2007. Subsequent to March 31, 2007, cash payments of $55,000 have been made, and 16,666 common shares have been issued.
Without additional external funding to meet existing obligations and to finance further exploration and development work on its mineral properties, there is substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Although the Company has been successful securing financing to date, there can be no assurance that additional funding will be available in the future. The financial statements do not reflect the adjustments to the carrying values of assets and liabilities that would be necessary if the Company were unable to achieve profitable mining operations or obtain adequate financing. Such adjustments could be material.
2.
Significant accounting policies:
(a)
Basis of consolidation
These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Cream Minerals de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
82
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
2.
Significant accounting policies (continued):
(b)
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenditures during the reporting period. Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates include the determination of impairment of equipment and mineral property interests, investments, reclamation obligations, rates of amortization and the valuation of stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ from those estimated.
(c)
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and those short-term money market instruments that are readily convertible to cash with an original term of less than ninety days.
(d)
Mineral property interests
Mineral property acquisition costs and exploration and development costs are recorded at cost and deferred until the property to which they relate is placed into production, sold, allowed to lapse or abandoned. These costs will be amortized over the estimated useful life of the property following commencement of commercial production or will be written off if the property is sold, allowed to lapse or is impaired.
Management of the Company periodically reviews the recoverability of the capitalized mineral property interests. Management considers various information including, but not limited to, results of exploration activities conducted to date, estimated future metal prices, and reports and opinions of outside geologists, mine engineers and consultants. When it is determined that a project or property will be abandoned, then the deferred costs are written-off, or if its carrying value has been impaired, then the deferred costs are written down to fair value.
Mineral property acquisition costs include cash costs and the fair market value of common shares, based on the trading price of the shares issued for mineral property interests, pursuant to the terms of the related property agreements. Payments relating to a property acquired under an option or joint venture agreement, where payments are made at the sole discretion of the Company, are recorded as mineral property acquisition costs upon payment.
Although the Company has taken steps to verify title to mineral properties in which it has an interest, in accordance with industry standards for the current stage of exploration of such properties, these procedures do not guarantee a clear title. Property title may be subject to unregistered prior agreements and regulatory requirements. The Company is not aware of any disputed claims of title.
Administrative costs and property investigation costs, where a property interest is not acquired, are expensed as incurred.
83
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
2.
Significant accounting policies (continued):
(e)
Investments
The Company accounts for its portfolio investments as long-term investments. They are recorded at cost unless a permanent impairment in value has been determined, at which time they are written down to market value. Investments in companies over which the Company exercises significant influence are recorded on an equity basis.
(f)
Equipment
Amortization of equipment is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic lives ranging from three to five years.
(g)
Income taxes
Income taxes are calculated using the liability method. Temporary differences arising from the difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its carrying amount on the balance sheet are used to calculate future income tax liabilities or assets. Future tax assets are recognized to the extent that they are considered more likely than not to be realized. Future income tax liabilities or assets are calculated using the tax rates anticipated to apply in the periods that the temporary differences are expected to reverse.
(h)
Asset retirement obligations
The Company follows the recommendations of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Handbook section 3110, “Asset Retirement Obligations” which requires companies to record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which it incurs a legal obligation associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. This liability is recognized at the fair value of the asset retirement obligation. When the liability is initially recorded, the Company capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived assets. Over time the liability is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is amortized over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, the Company either settles the obligation for its recorded amount or incurs a gain or loss upon settlement.
It is possible that the Company’s estimates of its asset retirement obligations could change as a result of changes in regulations, the extent of environmental remediation required, and the means of reclamation or cost estimates. Changes in estimates are accounted for prospectively from the period the estimate is revised.
At March 31, 2007, the Company has only performed exploratory work on its mineral properties, and has no unfulfilled legal obligations for reclamation. As such, no provision for reclamation activities has been made in these financial statements.
84
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
2.
Significant accounting policies (continued):
(i)
Translation of foreign currencies
The Company’s operations in Mexico are considered to be integrated for the purposes of foreign currency translation. Its monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date, non-monetary assets and related amortization at historical rates, and revenue and expense items at the exchange rates prevailing on transaction dates. Foreign currency translation gains or losses are included in the consolidated statements of operations.
(j)
Stock-based compensation
The Company has a stock option plan which is described in Note 8. Stock-based compensation is recorded using the fair value based method of accounting for stock options recommended by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants in Section 3870. CICA 3870 establishes standards for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of stock-based compensation and other stock-based payments made in exchange for goods and services. It applies to transactions, including non-reciprocal transactions, in which an enterprise grants shares of common stock, stock options, or other equity instruments, or incurs liabilities based on the price of common stock or other equity instruments.
Compensation expense for options granted is determined based on estimated fair values of the options at the time of grant, the cost of which is recognized over the vesting period of the respective options and grants.
(k)
Loss per common share
Loss per common share has been calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the year. The Company follows the “treasury stock” method in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. Since the Company has losses, the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants has not been included in this calculation as it would be anti-dilutive.
(l)
Variable interest entities
The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants issued Accounting Guideline 15, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” to provide accounting guidance related to variable interest entities (“VIE’s”). Accounting Guideline 15 indicates that VIE’s are required to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary. The Company adopted Accounting Guideline 15 effective April 1, 2005, and has determined that it has no VIE’s.
3.
New accounting pronouncements:
In 2005, the Accounting Standards Board issued CICA Handbook Section 3855,Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement, along with two companion standards, Section 3865,Hedges and Section 1530,Comprehensive Income.
Section 3855 expands on Section 3860,Financial Instruments – Disclosure and Presentation, by prescribing when a financial instrument is to be recognized on the balance sheet and at what amount. It also specifies how gains and losses on financial instruments are to be presented in the financial statements.
85
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
3.
New accounting pronouncements (continued):
Section 3865 provides alternative treatments to Section 3855 for entities that choose to designate qualifying transactions as hedges for accounting purposes. It replaces and expands on Accounting Guideline 13,Hedging relationships, and the hedging guidance in Section 1650Foreign Currency Translation, by specifying how hedge accounting is applied and what disclosures are necessary when it is applied.
Section 1530 introduces a new requirement to temporarily present certain gains and losses outside net income as “Other Comprehensive Income.”
Sections 3855, 3865 and 1530 apply to fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2006 and thus will be implemented by the Company in its fiscal year starting April 1, 2007. The Company has not yet determined the full impact of these standards on its consolidated financial statements.
4.
Mineral property interests:
Detailed accumulated costs in respect to the Company’s mineral property interests owned, leased or under option are disclosed in Note 14.
(a)
Kaslo Silver Property, Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada
In accordance with CICA Accounting Guideline 11, in the year ended March 31, 2003, the Company had written off deferred property costs to a nominal carrying value of $1 to reflect the extended period of inactivity on the property. Preliminary work was restarted on this property in the year ended March 31, 2004, and property costs are again being deferred.
(i)
Bismark Claims
The Company holds a 100% interest in the property. The property is subject to a net smelter returns (“NSR”) royalty of 1.5% of which 50% can be purchased for the sum of $500,000.
(ii)
Black Bear Group of Claims
The Company holds a 100% interest in the claims. The claims are subject to a 3% NSR royalty from the production of gold and silver and 1.5% NSR royalty from the production of other metals from the property. The Company has the right to purchase 50% of the royalty interest for $500,000 upon completion of a positive feasibility report.
(iii)
Black Fox Claims
The Company holds a 100% interest in the Black Fox Silver claims.
86
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
4.
Mineral property interests (continued):
(b)
Nuevo Milenio Property, Nayarit, Mexico
The Company holds a 100% interest in the Nuevo Milenio Property, which was located by the Company. The property was written down by $1,523,030 to a nominal carrying value of $1. Carrying costs are again being capitalized as exploration has resumed on the property. Costs incurred to September 30, 2005, of $59,655 were expensed before exploration resumed on the property.
(c)
British Columbia properties
The Company holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Kootenay Gemstone property located in the Nelson Mining Division, British Columbia. The option agreement calls for the issuance of 500,000 common shares (issued) and cash payments totalling $100,000 ($20,000 paid) over 72 months. The optionor will retain a 2% net product returns royalty from the production of gemstones, half of which may be purchased by the Company for $1,000,000 upon commencement of commercial production.
The Company holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Goldsmith property comprised of the Goldsmith and Lucky Jack properties located near Kaslo, British Columbia. The Goldsmith option agreement calls for the issuance of 200,000 common shares (issued) and cash payments totalling $110,000 ($30,000 paid) over six years. In April 2007, an additional cash payment of $20,000 was made. The Lucky Jack option agreement calls for the issuance of 200,000 common shares (issued) and payments totalling $110,000 ($50,000 paid) over six years. In April 2007, an additional payment of $20,000 was made pursuant to the option agreement. The optionors will retain a 2.0% NSR royalty on all metals. The Company may acquire one half of the NSR royalty on each of the two properties for $1,000,000 each, upon commencement of commercial production or earlier.
(d)
Manitoba Properties
(i)
Stephens Lake Property
The Company has a one-third interest, along with Sultan Minerals Inc. and ValGold Resources Ltd. (“Sultan” and “ValGold” or the “Companies”) in its initial Mineral Exploration Licence Number 64 and staked claims to the north and contiguous in Manitoba (“the Stephens Lake property”).
The Company also, jointly with Sultan and ValGold, acquired an option on two staked claims, the Trout and Trout 1 claims, which are contiguous with and encompassed by the Stephens Lake Claim Group.
Under the terms of the Trout Claim Group agreement, the Companies agreed to make cash payments totalling $110,000 ($23,333 paid by the Company) and issue 200,001 common shares (66,667 shares in the capital of each of the three companies (50,001 shares of the Company issued at March 31, 2007, and subsequently fully issued on July 21, 2007)) to the optionor over a 36-month period from July 22, 2004. Upon earning the 75% interest, the Companies and the optionor may enter into a 75:25 joint venture for the further exploration and development of the Trout Claim Group.
87
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
4.
Mineral property interests (continued):
(d)
Manitoba Properties (continued)
(ii)
Wine Claims
In March 2006, the Company entered into an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Wine Claim, MB 3964 and Wine 1 Claim, located approximately 60 kilometres southeast of Flin Flon, Manitoba. The Company can earn its interest by making payments totalling $105,000 ($10,000 paid) and issuing 200,000 common shares (100,000 issued) over a 48-month period. The Company must also incur exploration expenditures on the property of $5,000 annually for four years. On completion of these obligations, the property will be subject only to a 2.0% NSR royalty payable to the optionor from the production of gold, silver and all base metals and other minerals. The Company has the right to reduce the NSR royalty to 1.0% by the payment of $1,000,000 to the optionor at any time up to and including the commencement of commercial production.
(e)
Casierra Diamond Licences, Sierra Leone
The Company has acquired a 70% interest in production from two exclusive prospecting licence areas for diamonds and other minerals and metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The Company entered into an agreement with Casierra Diamond Corporation. (“CDC”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc. (“CDF”) and issued 500,000 common shares and expended US$800,000 in exploration expenditures by March 16, 2007. A joint venture will be formed between the parties and each party will contribute to further expenditures on the licences in accordance with its interest.
5.
Equipment:
| | | | | | |
| Cost
| Accumulated Depreciation | Net Book Value 2007 | Cost
| Accumulated Depreciation | Net Book Value 2006 |
Vehicles | $ 57,283 | $ 33,745 | $ 23,538 | $ 47,907 | $ 22,201 | $ 25,706 |
Office equipment | 1,573 | 292 | 1,281 | 515 | 145 | 370 |
Computer equipment | 16,673 | 7,404 | 9,269 | 6,688 | 3,026 | 3,662 |
Field equipment | 192,833 | 48,923 | 143,910 | 17,274 | 6,989 | 10,285 |
| $ 268,362 | $ 90,364 | $ 177,998 | $ 72,384 | $ 32,361 | $ 40,023 |
88
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
6.
Investments:
| | | |
| Number of Shares | Book Value 2007 | Book Value 2006 |
Publicly traded companies: | |
|
|
ValGold Resources Ltd. | 100,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
Abitibi Mining Corp. | 7,000 | 210 | 210 |
Stingray Resources Ltd. | 2,016 | 698 | 698 |
Emgold Mining Corporation | 2,000 | 480 | 480 |
Sultan Minerals Inc. | 2,630 | 316 | 316 |
| | 31,704 | 31,704 |
Non-public companies: | |
|
|
Terra Gaia Inc. | 100,000 | 1 | 1 |
LMC Management Services Ltd. (Note 9) |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| | $31,706 | $31,706 |
The Company wrote down its investment in Terra Gaia Inc. to a nominal value of $1 at March 31, 2006. The quoted market value of the above listed publicly traded securities as at March 31, 2007, was $34,306 (2006 - $36,686). Terra Gaia Inc. and LMC Management Services Ltd. are private companies.
7.
Reclamation and other deposits:
Prior to commencement of exploration of a mineral property in British Columbia, a Company is required to post a reclamation deposit, which is refunded to the Company upon completion of reclamation to the satisfaction of the Inspector of Mines. The Company has no contractual liabilities or existing obligations arising from environmental or reclamation costs.
8.
Share capital:
Authorized
Unlimited number of common shares without par value.
Issued and fully paid
During the year, the Company completed the following share placements:
(c)
On June 1, 2006, the Company completed a private placement of 3,000,000 units at a price of $0.60 per unit. Each unit was comprised of one common share and one half of one non-transferable share purchase warrant, exercisable at a price of $0.75 until June 1, 2007.
(d)
On February 22, 2007, the Company completed a private placement of 2,500,000 units at a price of $0.40 per unit. Each unit was comprised of one common share and one half of one non-transferable share purchase warrant, exercisable at a price of $0.50 until February 21, 2009.
89
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
8.
Share capital (continued):
Stock options
The Company has a stock option plan for its directors and employees to acquire common shares of the Company at a price determined by the fair market value of the shares at the date of grant. The Company may issue up to 7,752,268 common shares under the plan. At March 31, 2007, 3,770,400 (2006 – 4,238,300) stock options have been granted and are outstanding, exercisable for up to five years. The stock option plan provides for vesting of 25% on the date of grant and 25% every six months thereafter.
The fair value of stock options granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with weighted average assumptions as follows:
| | | |
| Years ended March 31, |
Weighted average: | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
Risk free interest rate | 3.98% | 3.21% | 2.23% |
Expected life (years) | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Expected volatility | 85% | 109% | 141% |
Fair value per option granted |
$ 0.26 | $ 0.12 | $ 0.24 |
The following table summarizes information on stock options outstanding at March 31, 2007:
| | |
Exercise Price
| Number Outstanding
| Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life |
$0.15 | 310,000 | 0.07 years |
$0.54 | 1,199,300 | 1.72 years |
$0.30 | 416,100 | 2.52 years |
$0.165 | 935,000 | 3.35 years |
$0.215 | 500,000 | 3.58 years |
$0.50 | 100,000 | 4.20 years |
$0.53 | 310,000 | 4.78 years |
| 3,770,400 | |
90
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
8.
Share capital (continued):
Stock options (continued)
A summary of the changes in stock options for the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, is presented below:
| | |
| Number of Shares
| Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Balance, March 31, 2004 | 2,854,900 | $0.31 |
Exercised | (364,000) | $0.12 |
Expired and cancelled | (61,000) | $0.34 |
Granted | 600,000 | $0.30 |
Balance, March 31, 2005 | 3,029,900 | $0.33 |
Exercised | (776,600) | $0.12 |
Granted | 1,985,000 | $0.18 |
Balance, March 31, 2006 | 4,238,300 | $0.30 |
Exercised | (877,900) | $0.19 |
Granted | 410,000 | $0.52 |
Balance, March 31, 2007 | 3,770,400 | $0.34 |
Exercisable at March 31, 2007 | 3,362,900 | $0.34 |
Share purchase warrants
As at March 31, 2007, the following share purchase warrants issued in connection with private placements were outstanding:
| | |
Number of Warrants | Exercise Price | Expiry Date |
1,909,500 | $0.45 | April 18, 2007 |
1,000,000 | $0.40 | March 21, 2008 |
1,500,000 | $0.75 | June 1, 2007 |
1,250,000 | $0.50 | February 21, 2009 |
5,659,500 | | |
During the year ended March 31, 2007, 32,350 warrants exercisable at a price of $0.45 expired unexercised. Subsequent to March 31, 2007, 164,200 warrants exercisable at $0.45 expired, unexercised, and 1,500,000 warrants exercisable at $0.75 expired, unexercised.
91
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
9.
Related party transactions and balances:
| | | |
Services rendered in the year ended March 31, | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
LMC Management Services Ltd. (a) | $ 232,638 | $ 244,149 | $ 186,603 |
Lang Mining Corporation (b) | 85,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Legal fees | -- | 13,895 | 32,773 |
Consulting (d) | 17,500 | 7,500 | -- |
Director (e, f) | US 102,000 | 59,138 | 106,572 |
| | | |
Balances at March 31, | 2007 | 2006 | |
Balances receivable from: | | | |
LMC Management Services Ltd. | $ 11,999 | $ -- | |
Casierra project advances (c) | -- | 16,866 | |
Balances payable to: | | | |
LMC Management Services Ltd. | $ -- | $ 903 | |
Ainsworth Jenkins - Casierra project (c) | 49,612 | -- | |
Directors | 47,042 | 446,935 | |
Legal fees | -- | 3,000 | |
| $ 96,654 | $ 450,838 | |
(a)
Management, administrative, geological and other services are provided by LMC Management Services Ltd. (“LMC”), a private company held jointly by the Company and other public companies to provide services on a full cost recovery basis to the various public entities currently sharing office space with the Company. Currently the Company has a 25% interest in LMC. Three months of estimated working capital is required to be on deposit with LMC under the terms of the services agreement. There is no difference between the cost of $1 and the equity value.
(b)
Lang Mining Corporation (“Lang Mining”) is a private company controlled by Frank A. Lang, the president of the Company. Lang Mining provided management services at a rate of $5,000 per month from April 1 to October 31, 2006 and $10,000 per month from November 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007.
(c)
Frank A. Lang holds approximately 33% of the issued and outstanding shares of Casierra Diamond Corporation, incorporated in British Columbia and its wholly-owned subsidiary company, Casierra Development Fund Inc., also incorporated in British Columbia, which hold an interest in two prospecting licence areas for diamonds and other minerals and metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
(d)
Consulting fees were paid indirectly to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd., a private company controlled by a director, Sargent H. Berner. These fees were paid through LMC, and are also included in the balance for services provided by LMC Management Services Ltd. Any amount owing to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. is owed to LMC, and so is included in the net receivable from LMC.
(e)
Fees were paid to Fred Holcapek, a director of the Company and an officer of the subsidiary in Mexico, at a rate of US$8,500 per month for administrative and geological services.
(f)
The Company’s investments in public companies include shares of Emgold Mining Corporation, Sultan, and ValGold, companies with directors and management in common with the Company. The Company also holds interests in the Stephens Lake property jointly with Sultan and ValGold.
(g)
Balances payable to related parties, and balances receivable from related parties are non-interest bearing and due on demand.
(h)
Related parties participated in the private placements described in Note 8.
92
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
10.
Financial instruments:
The Company’s financial instruments are comprised of cash and cash equivalents, short term investments, taxes recoverable, amounts due to and from related parties, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Financial instruments are recorded at cost as their fair values approximate their carrying values due to the immediate or short-term maturity of the financial instruments.
11.
Segmented information:
Operating segments
The Company has one operating segment, which is the exploration of mineral properties.
Geographic segments
The Company’s principal operations are carried out in Canada, Mexico and Sierra Leone. All investment income is earned in Canada. Segmented assets by geographical location are as follows:
| | | | |
2007 | Canada | Mexico | Sierra Leone | Total |
Current assets | $ 274,528 | $ 130,209 | $ -- | $ 404,737 |
Mineral properties and deferred costs |
1,029,042 |
1,077,716 |
1,731,023 |
3,837,781 |
Equipment | 6,393 | 6,691 | 164,914 | 177,998 |
Investments | 31,706 | -- | -- | 31,706 |
Reclamation and other deposits |
3,000 |
-- |
-- |
3,000 |
Total Assets | $ 1,344,669 | $ 1,214,616 | $ 1,895,937 | $ 4,455,222 |
| | | | |
2006 | Canada | Mexico | Sierra Leone | Total |
Current assets | $ 366,868 | $ 65,498 | $ -- | $ 432,366 |
Mineral properties and deferred costs |
651,599 |
107,198 |
565,181 |
1,323,978 |
Equipment | 2,047 | 12,926 | 25,050 | 40,023 |
Investments | 31,706 | -- | -- | 31,706 |
Reclamation and other deposits |
32,883 |
-- |
-- |
32,883 |
Total Assets | $ 1,085,103 | $ 185,622 | $ 590,231 | $ 1,860,956 |
93
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
12.
Income taxes:
The income taxes shown in the consolidated statements of operations differ from the amounts obtained by applying statutory rates to the loss before income taxes due to the following:
| | | |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
Loss for the year | $ 663,350 | $ 891,264 | $ 2,815,003 |
Statutory tax rate | 34.12% | 34.50% | 35.62% |
Expected income tax recovery | 226,335 | 307,442 | 1,002,704 |
Non-deductible differences | (29,073) | (145,678) | (559,548) |
Deductible differences | 148,796 | 96,572 | 12,931 |
Effect of tax rate in different regimes | (187) | (5,124) | (41,789) |
Unrecognized benefits of current year’s losses | (345,871) | (253,212) | (414,298) |
Income tax provision | -- | -- | -- |
The significant components of the Company’s future tax assets are as follows:
| | | |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
| | | |
Operating losses carried forward | $ 1,346,098 | $ 1,197,390 | $ 1,304,513 |
Resource deductions | 1,743,824 | 1,870,169 | 2,237,356 |
Share issue costs | 19,249 | 27,866 | 51,724 |
| 3,109,171 | 3,095,425 | 3,593,593 |
Valuation allowance for future tax assets | (3,109,171) | (3,095,425) | (3,593,593) |
| $ -- | $ -- | $ -- |
The realization of income tax benefits related to these future potential tax deductions is uncertain and cannot be viewed as more likely than not. Accordingly, no future income tax assets have been recognized for accounting purposes.
The Company has Canadian non-capital losses carried forward of $2,929,000 that may be available for tax purposes. The losses expire as follows:
| |
Expiry date | $ |
2008 | 370,000 |
2009 | 278,000 |
2010 | 270,000 |
2014 | 405,000 |
2015 | 424,000 |
2026 | 564,000 |
2027 | 618,000 |
Total | 2,929,000 |
In addition, the Company has Mexican non-capital losses carried forward of approximately $1,565,000, expiring at various dates over the next seven years, available to offset future Mexican-source income. The Company has resource pools of approximately $8,439,000 to offset future taxable income. The tax benefit of these amounts is available to be carried forward indefinitely.
94
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
13.
Differences between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles:
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada (“Canadian GAAP”), which differ in certain respects from those principles that the Company would have followed had its financial statements been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”). The major differences between Canadian and US GAAP, which affect the Company’s financial statements, are described below, and their effect on the financial statements is summarized as follows:
(a)
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Deficit and Balance Sheets
| | | |
| Years ended March 31, |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
Loss in accordance with Canadian GAAP | $ (663,350) | $ (891,264) | $ (2,815,003) |
Deduct: | | | |
Net exploration expenditures for the period (i) | (2,215,541) | (484,936) | (256,524) |
Add: | | | |
Write-down of publicly-traded securities | -- | -- | 12,191 |
Deferred exploration costs written off during the year that would have been incurred and expensed in a prior period (i) |
--- |
--- |
1,137,763 |
Loss in accordance with US GAAP | (2,878,891) | (1,376,200) | (1,921,573) |
Comprehensive income (loss) | (2,380) | 3,520 | (24,857) |
Comprehensive loss under US GAAP | $ (2,881,271) | $ (1,372,680) | $ (1,946,430) |
Loss per share US GAAP | $ (0.07) | $ (0.04) | $ (0.07) |
Comprehensive loss under US GAAP | $ (0.08) | $ (0.04) | $ (0.07) |
Weighted average shares outstanding US GAAP |
38,395,299 |
32,188,964 |
28,765,766 |
| | | |
| Years ended March 31, |
| 2006 | 2006 | 2005 |
Shareholders’ equity per Canadian GAAP | $ 4,054,095 | $ 1,394,448 | $ 988,621 |
Exploration expenditures for the period, net of write-downs (i) |
|
|
|
2007 | (2,215,541) | -- | -- |
2006 | (484,936) | (484,936) | -- |
2005 | 881,238 | 881,238 | 881,238 |
2004 | (704,555) | (704,555) | (704,555) |
2003 | 673,609 | 673,609 | 673,609 |
2002 | (94,807) | (94,807) | (94,807) |
2001 | (169,544) | (169,544) | (169,544) |
2000 | (3,958) | (3,958) | (3,958) |
1999 | (692,752) | (692,752) | (692,752) |
1998 | (209,152) | (209,152) | (209,152) |
1997 | (1,297) | (1,297) | (1,297) |
| 1,032,400 | 588,294 | 667,403 |
Cumulative effect of comprehensive income adjustments (iii) |
(9,588) |
(7,208) |
(10,728) |
Shareholders’ equity (deficiency) - US GAAP | $ 1,022,812 | $ 581,086 | $ 656,675 |
95
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
13.
Differences between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles (continued):
(a)
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Deficit and Balance Sheets (continued)
| | | |
| Years ended March 31, |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
Mineral Property Interests – Canadian GAAP | $ 3,837,781 | $ 1,323,978 | $ 705,730 |
Exploration expenditures expensed per US GAAP(i) |
(3,021,695) |
(806,154) |
(321,218) |
Mineral Property Interests – US GAAP | $ 816,086 | $ 517,824 | $ 384,512 |
v)
Under Canadian GAAP, exploration expenses may be deferred until such time as the exploration work is either effectively abandoned and related costs are written off or the property reaches a development stage. Development costs may also be deferred until such time as further related costs are written off or an operating mine is established following which accumulated costs are amortized to earnings. Under U.S. GAAP, and under Securities and Exchange Commission guidelines, all exploration expenses incurred prior to the determination of the existence of a commercially mineable deposit and the completion of a feasibility study should be recorded as expenses as they are incurred. At this stage, Cream has not yet identified economically recoverable reserves on any of its properties. Accordingly, under U.S. GAAP, all exploration costs incurred during the year are to be expensed.
vi)
SFAS No. 115 requires investments to be classified with respect to holding period, as determined by management, as either held-to-maturity debt securities, trading securities or available-for-sale investments.
The Company has no held-to-maturity debt securities or trading securities.
vii)
United States accounting standards for reporting comprehensive income are set forth in SFAS No. 130. Comprehensive income represents the change in equity during a reporting period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Components of comprehensive income include available for sale investments that are not actively traded on short-term differences in price. For U.S. GAAP purposes, these holding gains and losses are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.
(b)
Statements of Cash Flows
| | | |
| Years ended March 31, |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
Cash provided by (used for) operations | | | |
Canadian GAAP | $ (713,341) | $ (462,981) | $ (515,753) |
Exploration expenditures (i) | (1,850,109) | (471,547) | (982,996) |
US GAAP | (2,563,450) | (934,528) | (1,498,749) |
Investing Activities |
|
|
|
Canadian GAAP | (2,111,078) | (533,478) | (1,286,182) |
Exploration expenditures (i) | 1,850,109 | 471,547 | 982,996 |
US GAAP | (260,969) | (61,931) | (303,186) |
Financing Activities |
|
|
|
Canadian GAAP and US GAAP | $ 2,628,090 | $ 1,302,190 | $ 714,967 |
96
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
13.
Differences between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles (continued):
(c)
Impact of recent applicable United States accounting pronouncements
Share-based payments.
On April 1, 2006, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 123(R),Share-Based Payment (“FAS 123R”). Previously, the Company accounted for stock-based compensation using the fair value method under the provisions of FASB Statement No. 123Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. As the Company had previously applied the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation, the adoption of FAS 123R did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Accounting for uncertainty in tax positions.
In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN No. 48Accounting for Uncertainty in Tax Position, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109(“FIN 48”). FIN 48 addresses the recognition and measurement of all tax positions. The recognition process involves determining whether it is more likely than not that a tax position would be sustained on audit based solely on its technical merits. The amount of benefit recognized in the financial statements is the maximum amount which is more likely than not to be realized based on a cumulative probability approach. FIN 48 is effective for the Company on April 1, 2007. The Company does not believe that FIN 48 will impact its consolidated financial statements for U.S. GAAP.
(d)
Recently issued accounting pronouncements in Canada
Comprehensive income.
CICA Handbook Section 1530 -Comprehensive Income and Section 3251 –Equity apply to interim financial periods beginning on or after October 1, 2006. Comprehensive income is the change in the net assets of an enterprise during a period and resulting from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. It includes items that would normally not be included in earnings such as unrealized gains and losses on financial assets classified as available for sale, unrealized foreign currency translation amounts, net of any hedging and changes in fair value of the effective portion of cash flow hedging instruments. (See Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement).
Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement.
In April 2005, the Accounting Standards Board issued CICA Handbook Section 3855,Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement, along with two companion standards, Section 1530,Comprehensive Income, and Section 3865,Hedges.
Under this new standard, all financial instruments will be classified as one of the following: held to maturity investments, loans and receivables, held for trading and available for sale. Financials assets and liabilities held for trading will be measured at fair value with gains and losses recognized in net income. Financial assets held to maturity, loans and receivables and financial liabilities other than those held for trading, will be measured at amortized cost. Available for sale instruments will be measured at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income. The standard also permits the designation of any financial instrument as held for trading upon initial recognition. The Company is still determining the full impact of these standards on its consolidated financial statements.
Hedges.
This new standard specifies the criteria under which hedge accounting can be applied and how hedge accounting can be executed for each of the permitted hedging strategies; fair-value hedges and cash-flow hedges. The Company’s foreign operations are not self-sustaining. As at March 31, 2007, the adoption of this Section is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements.
97
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
14.
Mineral property interests:
| | | | | | |
Year Ended March 31, 2007
|
Casierra Property, Sierra Leone
| Kaslo Silver Property, British Columbia
| Goldsmith and Other Properties, British Columbia |
Manitoba Properties, Manitoba
| Nuevo Milenio Property, Mexico
|
Total
March 31, 2007 |
Acquisition costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, beginning of year | $ 100,241 | $ 5,806 | $ 374,753 | $ 37,024 | $ -- | $ 517,824 |
Incurred during the year | 99,000 | 3,714 | 145,020 | 50,528 | -- | 298,262 |
Balance, end of year | 199,241 | 9,520 | 519,773 | 87,552 | -- | 816,086 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exploration and development costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incurred during the year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assays and analysis | 3,409 | -- | 10,050 | -- | 13,348 | 26,807 |
Community relations | 41,327 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 41,327 |
Dredging and bulk sampling | 464,781 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 464,781 |
Drilling | -- | -- | -- | -- | 591,172 | 591,172 |
Geological and geophysical | 181,500 | 97,809 | 28,941 | 133 | 152,119 | 460,502 |
Site activities | 173,102 | 165 | 807 | 29,924 | 135,820 | 339,818 |
Stock-based compensation | -- | -- | -- | -- | 33,153 | 33,153 |
Travel and accommodation | 202,723 | 470 | 9,882 | -- | 44,906 | 257,981 |
| 1,066,842 | 98,444 | 49,680 | 30,057 | 970,518 | 2,215,541 |
Balance, beginning of year | 464,940 | 52,119 | 170,586 | 11,311 | 107,198 | 806,154 |
Balance, end of year | 1,531,782 | 150,563 | 220,266 | 41,368 | 1,077,716 | 3,021,695 |
Total Mineral Property Interests | $ 1,731,023 | $ 160,083 | $ 740,039 | $ 128,920 | $ 1,077,716 | $ 3,837,781 |
98
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
14.
Mineral property interests (continued):
| | | | | | | |
Year Ended March 31, 2006
|
Casierra Property, Sierra Leone
| Kaslo Silver Property, British Columbia
| Goldsmith and Other Properties, British Columbia |
Manitoba Properties, Manitoba
|
Fenix Property, Mexico
| Nuevo Milenio Property, Mexico
|
Total
March 31, 2006 |
Acquisition costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, beginning of year | $ 80,000 | $ 4,976 | $ 285,768 | $ 13,768 | $ -- | $ -- | $ 384,512 |
Incurred during the year | 20,241 | 830 | 88,985 | 23,256 | -- | -- | 133,312 |
Balance, end of year | 100,241 | 5,806 | 374,753 | 37,024 | -- | -- | 517,824 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exploration and development costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incurred during the year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assays and analysis | -- | -- | 1,616 | -- | 2,111 | 4,375 | 8,102 |
Drilling | 18,172 | -- | -- | -- | 8,791 | 1,679 | 28,642 |
Geological and geophysical | 216,853 | (110) | 8,985 | 2,217 | 41,768 | 35,253 | 304,966 |
Site activities | 63,541 | 224 | 514 | 138 | 40,205 | 111,302 | 215,924 |
Stock-based compensation | -- | -- | 5,235 | -- | 1,444 | -- | 6,679 |
Travel and accommodation | 58,838 | -- | 1,516 | -- | 18,723 | 14,243 | 93,320 |
| 357,404 | 114 | 17,866 | 2,355 | 113,042 | 166,852 | 657,633 |
Balance, beginning of year | 107,536 | 52,005 | 152,720 | 8,956 | -- | 1 | 321,218 |
Write-down of mineral property interests | - --
| - --
| - --
| - --
| (113,042)
| (59,655)
| (172,697)
|
Balance, end of year | 464,940 | 52,119 | 170,586 | 11,311 | -- | 107,198 | 806,154 |
Total Mineral Property Interests | $ 565,181 | $ 57,925 | $ 545,339 | $ 48,335 | $ -- | $ 107,198 | $ 1,323,978 |
99
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
(an exploration stage company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004
(expressed in Canadian dollars)
15.
Comparative figures:
Certain of the prior years’ figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.
16.
Subsequent events:
Subsequent to March 31, 2007:
(a)
645,000 stock options were exercised at prices from $0.15 to $0.54, for proceeds of $144,380;
(b)
1,855,000 stock options were granted to directors, officers and employees at an exercise price of $0.50, expiring April 18, 2012;
(c)
1,745,300 warrants were exercised at $0.45, for proceeds of $785,385. See Note 8 for warrants expired; and
(d)
mineral property payments were made as described in Note 4.
100
SIGNATURES
Cream Minerals Ltd. certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
CREAM MINERALS LTD.
Per:
/s/ Frank A. Lang
Frank A. Lang, President
DATED:
September 29, 2007
101
Index to Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed with this Annual Report on Form 20-F in respect of the current year:
102