Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
2
1.1
Date
2
1.2
Overview and Management’s Discussion and Analysis
2
1.2.1
Casierra Diamond Property, Sierra Leone
3
1.2.2
Nuevo Milenio Silver Gold Property, Mexico
4
1.2.3
Kaslo Silver Property, British Columbia
6
1.2.4
Kootenay Gemstone Property, British Columbia
7
1.2.5
Goldsmith Property, British Columbia
7
1.2.6
Stephens Lake Property, Manitoba
8
1.2.7
Wine Nickel-Copper Property, Manitoba
8
1.2.8
Grand Nickel Project (Cedar Claims), Manitoba
8
1.2.9
Mineral Property Option Payments Due In Fiscal 2009
9
1.2.10
Market and Industry Trends
9
1.3
Selected Annual Information
10
1.4
Results of Operations
11
1.5
Summary of Quarterly Results
14
1.6
Liquidity
15
1.8
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
18
1.9
Transactions with Related Parties
18
1.10
Fourth Quarter
19
1.11
Proposed Transactions
19
1.12
Critical Accounting Estimates
19
1.13
Critical Accounting Policies and Changes in Accounting Policies
20
1.14
Financial Instruments and Other Instruments
22
1.15
Other MD& A Requirements
22
1.15.1
Additional Disclosure for Venture Issuers without Significant Revenue
23
1.15.2
Disclosure of Outstanding Share Data
23
Other Information
24
1
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Forward-Looking Statements: This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) contains certain “Forward-Looking Statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration and development activities, and future plans of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties including changes in future prices of precious metals; variations in resources and grades, accidents, labour disputes and other risks associated with the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing. Actual results could differ from those currently projected. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Mineral Reserves and Resources: These materials may use the terms ‘mineral reserves’, ‘measured resources’, ‘indicated resources’ and ‘inferred resources’. U.S. investors are advised that while these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101”)), the definition of reserves differs from that outlined in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Guide 7, and the definitions of resources are not recognized. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted to reserves. In addition, ‘inferred resources’ have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and economic and legal feasib ility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of anInferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian Rules, estimates ofInferredMineral Resources may not form the basis of Feasibility or Pre-Feasibility Studies, or economic studies except for a Preliminary Assessment as defined under NI 43-101. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of anInferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
1.1
Date
The effective date of this interim report is March 2, 2009.
1.2
Overview and Management’s Discussion and Analysis
This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Cream Minerals Ltd. for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008. All dollar figures stated herein are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified.
Cream Minerals Ltd. (“Cream” or the “Company”) is a mineral exploration company. The Company has a portfolio of mineral exploration projects and the following is a brief summary of its current activities.
·
Cream’s consolidated loss for thenine months ended December 31, 2008 (“fiscal 2009”), was $3,137,460 or $0.06 per share compared to Cream’s consolidated loss of $1,141,083 or $0.03 per share in thenine months ended December 31, 2007 (“fiscal 2008”). In fiscal 2009, the Company wrote-off its exploration activities in Sierra Leone, the Kootenay Gemstone Property and the Grand Nickel property in Manitoba for a total of $2,420,299. There were no mineral property write-downs in fiscal 2008.
·
In fiscal 2009, the Company completed a private placement of 1,658,635 non-flow-through units at a price of $0.22, each unit comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant exercisable at a price of $0.25 for one year. In addition, the Company completed a private placement of 1,010,800 flow-through units at a unit price of $0.25, each unit comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant exercisable at a price of $0.28 for one year. Net
2
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
proceeds raised were $966,452. In fiscal 2008, Cream raised net proceeds of $1,087,516 in private placements by the exercise of 1,745,300 share purchase warrants and 1,145,500 stock options.
·
During fiscal 2009, cash used in operations was $479,013 compared to $723,958 used in operations in fiscal 2008.
In October 2008, Mr. Michael O’Connor was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer and director of the Company. Mr. Frank Lang continues as non-executive Chairman of the Board.
1.2.1
Casierra Diamond Property, Sierra Leone
In June 2006 the Company earned a 70% interest in production from two exclusive prospecting licence areas for diamonds and other minerals and metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa, from Casierra Diamond Corporation (“CDC”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Casierra Development Fund Inc. (“CDF”), (collectively, “Casierra”). Casierra currently holds a 90% interest in the Offshore Marine Licence EPL 5/94 and held a 100% interest in the Hima Licence EPL 1/94 until the summer of 2008. The licences must be renewed every two years, and the Company did not renew its interest in EPL 1/94.
In 2008 the Company conducted a program of test mining on the Sewa River licence area which continued until May 2008 and was undertaken on the flanks of two of the five largest diabase dykes that cross the 500-meter wide river. Local landowners and other stakeholders were very supportive of the Company. Infrastructure work including road maintenance and bridge construction was completed to improve access for the operations and for villages along the Sewa River. Initial work conducted on the claims were encouraging, however, subsequent results of the work program on three test areas did not justify additional expenditures. While there are other areas that could have been tested, the approaching rain season and significantly higher water levels on the Sewa River required that exploration work be halted.
An environmental study and application for conversion to a full mining licence would have been necessary for the next stage of exploration on the Sewa Licence. Based on the results of the prior exploration work the Company chose not to proceed with any further exploration work on the Sewa River concessions. Subsequently, the Company advised the government of Sierra Leone that it would not be renewing its license for the Sewa River claims.
In the year ended March 31, 2008, Cream determined that it would write the property down by $1,586,240 to a nominal carrying value of $1. As a result of the return of the claims to the government of Sierra Leone, the exploration and maintenance costs, and the cost of all vehicles and equipment have been written down to a nominal value of $1 pending disposition. This has resulted in an additional write-down of $488,196 related to the Sewa River claims in the nine months ended December 31, 2008. All dredging and concentrator plant equipment is located in a secure storage facility, pending sale. During the period, some equipment has been sold, providing working capital for the wind-up of operations in Sierra Leone.
The Company has applied to extend the term of the marine exploration licence for a further two years as provided for in the regulations. The additional time will allow the Company to review its available options which could include a bulk sampling program providing adequate funding is available, or a joint venture or other form of transaction. Although the Company has extended the marine exploration licence for a further two-year period, it has determined that a write down the offshore claim by $1,521,515 to a nominal carrying value of $1 was necessary due to the lack of adequate financing available to the Company to carry out the exploration program necessary for the offshore licence at this time.
Mr. Val T. Collier is the Country Agent for Cream and assists with its operations in Sierra Leone. As a respected career civil servant and former Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, he brings a
3
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
strong element of corporate social responsibility to the Company’s Sierra Leone operations.
Mr. Benjamin Ainsworth, consultant to Cream, and Mr. Frank A. Lang, Chairman and a director of Cream are the significant shareholders in CDC. Mr. Lang holds approximately 33% of the issued and outstanding shares of CDC. Mr. Benjamin Ainsworth, P.Eng. President of Ainsworth Jenkins Consultants Ltd. is the President of both CDF and CDC.
Exploration expenditures incurred on the Casierra claims in fiscal 2009 before write-downs, (fiscal 2008 numbers in brackets) include the following: community relations - $32,040 ($328); assays and analysis - $Nil ($1,630); dredging and bulk sampling - $112,276 ($26,009); geological and geophysical - $8,623 ($106,329); site activities, including the write-off of equipment - $299,134 ($344,319), stock-based compensation - $5,168 ($99,402); and travel and accommodation - $30,955 ($150,915).
1.2.2
Nuevo Milenio Silver Gold Property, Mexico
The Nuevo Milenio property covers several overlapping calderas defined by rhyolitic ring dykes and rhyolite domes. Although the original size of the property has been reduced over time to reduce the carrying costs, consisting of taxes paid semi-annually, the Company retains a full 100% interest in the Nuevo Milenio property. This project has excellent infrastructure and is only 20 kilometres (km) (as the crow flies, 27k by road) from Tepic, the capital of Nayarit State, Mexico. Tepic has a population of 300,000 people, and is 150 kilometers northeast of Puerto Vallarta. The property is readily accessible, being only three kilometres from a paved highway. In addition a railway, airport, power lines and water are within reasonable distance of the property providing cost effective access to infrastructure in the event the property is advanced to production.
A NI 43-101 Report titled “Evaluation Report, Dos Hornos and Veta Tomas Gold Silver Structures, Nuevo Milenio Project” dated December 24, 2008, with a revised Inferred Mineral Resource estimate was prepared with two objectives in mind: First, to define high-grade veins over optimal mining widths and secondly, to maintain the continuity of mineralization along strike and down dip. While removal of lower grade vein segments from the Inferred Mineral Resource reduces the volume of the revised Resource, the outcome is a high grade Mineral Resource that retains the same overall exploration potential.
Reported Inferred Mineral Resources NI 43-101 (2006 and 2008)
| | | | | | |
Dos Hornos (U/G) | Width m | Tonnes | Au g/t | Ag g/t | Au oz | Ag oz |
Dos Hornos Segment 1 | 7.13 | 2,132,802.55 | 1.530 | 133.71 | 104,582.59 | 9,168,652.44 |
Dos Hornos Segment 2 | 14.88 | 2,949,214.68 | 0.946 | 76.47 | 89,657.28 | 7,250,802.66 |
Veta Tomas | 5.09 | 1,246,162.50 | 1.282 | 354.72 | 51,344.17 | 14,212,286.62 |
Once Bocas (OP) | 100 | 11,590,000.00 | 0.345 | 57.90 | 129,000.00 | 21,580,000.00 |
Total | | 17,918,179.73 | | | 374,584.00 | 52,211,800.00 |
Tonnes: 17,920,000 Au oz: 375,000 Ag oz: 52,212,000
Silver Equivalent (Gold -- Silver price Ratio = 50:1): 71,000,000 oz (assumes 100% recovery)
The initial Inferred Mineral Resources were calculated during a period of sharply rising gold and silver prices. Consequently the anticipated economic cut off grade at the time was estimated to be 60 g/t silver to 70 g/t silver. Following the correction in gold and silver prices since March 2008 the Inferred Mineral Resource data has been revised in the light of current gold and silver prices. Based on the anticipated higher cut off grade of 120 g/t to 150 g/t silver narrower mineralized vein structures at significantly
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
higher grade have been selected and were used to calculate the revised Inferred Mineral Resources outlined below.
Reported Inferred Mineral Resources revised to allow for present Gold and Silver Prices
| | | | | | |
Dos Hornos (U/G) | Width m | Tonnes | Au g/t | Ag g/t | Au oz | Ag oz |
Dos Hornos Segment 1 | 4.70 | 1,173,901.56 | 1.500 | 165.34 | 59,400.00 | 6,552,238.85 |
Dos Hornos Segment 2 | 4.06 | 746,528.32 | 1.770 | 201.95 | 42,390.25 | 4,847,215.70 |
Veta Tomas | 5.09 | 1,246,162.50 | 1.280 | 351.19 | 51,344.17 | 14,070,467.48 |
Once Bocas | 2.42 | 1,921,162.50 | 1.920 | 252.59 | 118,347.79 | 15,602,012.74 |
Total | | 5,087,754.88 | 1.660 | 251.09 | 271,482.21 | 41,071,934.77 |
Tonnes: 5,088,000 Au: 1.660 g/t, Ag 251.09 g/t Au: 271,500 oz, Ag: 41,072,000
Silver Equivalent (Gold -- Silver price Ratio = 50:1): 54,647,000 oz (assumes 100% recovery)
The NI 43 – 101 Compliant Inferred Mineral Resources were revised to reflect changes in silver and gold prices, hence requiring the selection of sample sections with Higher Grades and/or Narrower widths from the existing data base used for the Inferred Mineral Resource calculations as reported in the NI 43 -101 compliant Reports, dated February 12, 2006 and January 30 2008. In particular, Dos Hornos Segment 1 has a reduced width from 7.13 m to 4.67 m and Dos Hornos Segment 2 from 14.88 m to 4.34 m but retaining the horizontal and vertical dimensions for each individual Mineralized Block as used for the calculation of Inferred Mineral Resources, as reported, in the NI 43 – 101 compliant report dated January 30, 2008. At Once Bocas only the higher grade and continuous veins were selected. The strike length of 300 m, used for the open pit, was retained but the down dip dimension was taken as 250m. The continuity of mineralization along strike and down dip of the vein structures was preserved.
Dos Hornos Segment 1:
| | | | | | |
Segment 1 | m | Tonnes | Au g/t | Ag g/t | Au oz | Ag oz |
Block 1 | 4.67 | 143,753.81 | 1.759 | 195.19 | 8,129.86 | 902,141.46 |
Block 2 | 4.34 | 268,280.70 | 1.728 | 164.03 | 14,906.53 | 1,414,892.32 |
Block 3 | 5.21 | 281,847.33 | 1.835 | 148.98 | 16,624.99 | 1,350,010.34 |
Block 4 | 4.61 | 349,806.63 | 1.388 | 160.00 | 15,605.43 | 1,799,512.77 |
Block 5 | 3.00 | 148,892.90 | 0.678 | 169.75 | 3,244.35 | 812,613.45 |
Block 6 | 2.00 | 42,466.25 | 0.651 | 200.00 | 888.84 | 273,068.51 |
All Blocks | 4.70* | 1,173,901.56 | 1.496 | 165.34 | 59,400.00 | 6,552,238.85 |
* weighted average width of Block 1 to 6
Dos Hornos Segment 2:
| | | | | | |
Segment 2 | m | Tonnes | Au g/t | Ag g/t | Au oz | Ag oz |
Block 1 | 4.52 | 84,325.12 | 4.950 | 254.45 | 13,420.23 | 689,853.93 |
Block 2 | 3.41 | 125,578.20 | 2.911 | 274.44 | 11,752.22 | 1,108,057.64 |
Block 3 | 3.00 | 99,375.00 | 1.191 | 252.52 | 3,806.35 | 806,798.18 |
Block 4 | 3.85 | 218,625.00 | 0.735 | 149.26 | 5,164.02 | 1,325,681.61 |
Block 5 | 3.00 | 218,625.00 | 1.173 | 130.43 | 8,247.44 | 916,824.34 |
Total | 4.06* | 746,528.32 | 1.766 | 201.95 | 42,390.25 | 4,847,215.70 |
* weighted average width of Block 1 to 5
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
Veta Tomas: No changes from NI 43 – 101 January 30, 2008
| | | | | | |
Veta Tomas | m | Tonnes | Au g/t | Ag g/t | Au oz | Ag oz |
Block 1 | 8.00 | 206,700.00 | 1.662 | 160.88 | 11,045.09 | 1,069,153.97 |
Block 2 | 5.71 | 251,750.00 | 1.327 | 177.13 | 10737.6 | 1,433,735.80 |
Block3 | 5.00 | 251,750.00 | 0.594 | 157.54 | 4807.88 | 1,275,124.31 |
Block 4 | 5.00 | 185,500.00 | 1.113 | 394.48 | 6639.19 | 2,352,688.45 |
Block 5 | 5.00 | 169,600.00 | 1.989 | 735.6 | 10845.72 | 4,011,116.61 |
Block 6 | 4.00 | 180,862.50 | 1.250 | 700.00 | 7268.69 | 4,070,467.48 |
Total | 5.09* | 1,246,162.50 | 1.282 | 354.72 | 51,344.17 | 14,212,286.62 |
* weighted average width of Block 1 to 6
Veins Once Bocas North of Creek:
| | | | | | |
Description | m | Tonnes | Au g/t | Ag g/t | Au oz | Ag oz |
Vein 2 | 2.3 | 457,125.00 | 1.537 | 159.58 | 22,589.50 | 2,345,368.86 |
Vein 3 | 1.9 | 377,625.00 | 0.866 | 178.8 | 10,514.20 | 2,170,830.79 |
Total | 2.10 | 834,750.00 | 1.233 | 168.27 | 33,103.70 | 4,516,199.64 |
* weighted average width vein 2 and 3
Veins Once Bocas South of Creek:
| | | | | | |
Description | m | Tonnes | Au g/t | Ag g/t | Au oz/t | Ag oz |
Vein 1 | 2.57 | 510,787.50 | 4.311 | 509.3 | 70,797.19 | 8,363,954.40 |
Vein 2 | 2.90 | 576,375.00 | 0.78 | 146.88 | 14,446.90 | 2,721,858.34 |
Total | 2.73* | 1,087,162.50 | 2.439 | 317.16 | 85,244.09 | 11,085,812.74 |
* weighted average width vein 1and 2
Work-in-progress includes further surface prospecting and sampling to identify new zones of mineralization, testing of recently identified mineralized zones and continued review and sampling of historical Spanish underground workings. The Company has designed an underground work program intended to upgrade current mineral resources as well as identify additional mineral resources. The underground program may require two years to complete and will include the construction of tunnels, approximately 8,000 metres of underground diamond drilling, a bulk sampling program and metallurgical studies. Upon completion of the work program it is anticipated that the reported underground and open pit Inferred Mineral Resource of 54.6 million ounces silver equivalent (50:1gold-silver ratio) will be upgraded to a Measured and Indicated Resource. In addition the Company expects to add additional NI 43-101 compliant In ferred Mineral Resources indicated within Mineral Resource Targets, in close proximity to the current Inferred Mineral Resources (see news release dated May 21, 2008).
Exploration expenditures incurred on the Nuevo Milenio property in fiscal 2009, (comparable fiscal 2008 numbers in brackets) include the following: assays and analysis - $1,690 ($16,889); drilling - $Nil ($424,583); geological and geophysical - $141,685 ($104,865); site activities - $109,121 ($107,137); stock-based compensation - $6,134 ($61,530); and travel and accommodation - $14,768 ($25,662).
1.2.3
Kaslo Silver Property, British Columbia
The 100%-owned Kaslo Silver Property hosts eleven historic high-grade silver deposits within 14 kilometres of sub-parallel shear zones. It is located 12 kilometres west of Kaslo in southern British Columbia. Cost estimates to complete a recommended exploration program on the property, including
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
airborne and ground geophysical surveys (completed in 2006), diamond and rotary drilling, and bulk sampling, total $2,020,000. This planned program will be undertaken when sufficient funding is obtained.
Costs incurred on the property totalled $1,133 in fiscal 2009 compared to $1,853 in fiscal 2008.
Ms. Linda Dandy, P.Geo. of P&L Geological Services, has supervised the Company’s previous exploration programs summarized above and is the Company’s supervisor and “Qualified Person” for the purpose of NI 43-101.
1.2.4
Kootenay Gemstone Property, British Columbia
The Company held an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Kootenay Gemstone property located in the Nelson Mining Division, British Columbia. The option agreement called for the issuance of 500,000 common shares (issued) and cash payments totalling $100,000 ($20,000 paid) over 72 months. Cream staked additional claims adjacent to those in the original option. Work initially completed on the property demonstrated that the Shaw Creek Stock, and immediately surrounding country rock, was highly prospective for beryl mineralization (aquamarine and emerald). Results from a trenching program undertaken in the summer of 2008 did not meet the Company’s expectations however, and as a result the Company has written the property off for a total write-down of $371,186, and returned the property to the optionor.
Ms. Linda Dandy, P.Geo. of P&L Geological Services, was the Company’s project supervisor and “Qualified Person” for the purpose of NI 43-101.
1.2.5
Goldsmith Property, British Columbia
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 ($70,000 paid) over six years. The Lucky Jack option agreement calls for the issuance of 200,000 common shares (issued) and payments totalling $110,000 ($90,000 paid) over six years. The optionors will retain a 2.0% net smelter return royalty (“NSR”) on all metals. The Company may acquire one half of the NSR on each of the two properties for $1,000,000 each upon commencement of commercial production or earlier.
The Goldsmith Property contains numerous historic, small-scale, high-grade gold workings (Lucky Jack, Bullock, Swede, Goldsmith, and Gold Park) throughout a 3-kilometre long belt of altered volcanic and sedimentary host rocks. Cream has now increased the size of its claim holdings by staking 87 new claims, due to the encouraging rock and soil sampling. The new claim acquisitions more than double the size of the original claim block and cover six small, undeveloped historic showings.
The Lucky Jack claim groups are being worked contiguously with the Goldsmith group and are considered jointly to form the Goldsmith Property.
A trenching program was conducted in the fall of 2007 on the property after Cream obtained extremely encouraging results from rock grab and chip samples collected from the numerous small-scale historic workings. Six trenches were completed in the area of the historic Bullock and Goldsmith workings. Two of the trenches were put in at a cross-section to test the geology between old adits and trenches. One trench exposed the Goldsmith-V2 vein for 64 metres along strike, and three short trenches opened up areas where prior surface sampling (from a road cut) returned high gold assays. An additional 20 trenches were excavated in the late summer of 2008. The trenches included excavating next to and around several of the historic workings, plus exposing bedrock in areas of geochemical and geophysical anomalies. The
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
2007 trenching results are detailed in a news release dated May 7, 2008, which can be found on the Company’s website.
Exploration expenditures incurred on the Goldsmith and other properties in British Columbia in fiscal 2009 of $44,342 compared to $21,894 in fiscal 2008.
Linda Dandy, P.Geo. of P&L Geological Services, is the Company’s supervisor and “Qualified Person” for the purpose of NI 43-101.
1.2.6
Stephens Lake Property, Manitoba
The Trout Claim Group is situated 100 kilometres east of Gillam, Manitoba. In order to facilitate the exploration of the property, Sultan Minerals Inc., ValGold Resources Ltd., and the Company (the “Companies”), agreed to pool three respective and contiguous exploration licences, so that each would hold an undivided one-third interest in the three exploration licences. The Companies have since reduced the size of the property to the Trout Claim Group. The Trout Claim Group was acquired under an option agreement whereby the Companies made combined cash payments totaling $110,000 and issued a combined 200,001 common shares. Having earned the 7 5% 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. To date, a joint venture agreement has not been entered into.
1.2.7
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 totaling $105,000 ($25,000 paid) and issuing 200,000 common shares (100,000 issued) over a 48-month period. In the nine months ended December 31, 2008, the Company issued 50,000 common shares and made a cash payment of $40,000, pursuant to the option agreement. 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 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 to 1.0% by the payment of $1,000,000 to the optionor at any time up to and i ncluding the commencement of commercial production.
As a result of drilling completed in the summer of 2007 on the Wine Property, a VTEM survey was flown over the Wine Property and the Company’s Cedar Claims in the late spring of 2008. The results of the VTEM survey on the Wine Claims are currently being analyzed and will be issued in a news release when available.
Mr. A. J. Spooner, P.Eng. of A.J. Spooner Exploration Services, Inc., Flin Flon, Manitoba, is the Qualified Person for NI 43-101.
1.2.8
Grand Nickel Project (Cedar Claims), Manitoba
In October 2007, the Company entered into an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Grand Nickel Project (the Cedar 1, MB7355 and MEL 324B claims), located in the Thompson Nickel Belt, approximately 40 kilometres north-west of the town of Grand Rapids, Manitoba. Cream held the exclusive right and option to earn a 100% interest in the property by making payments totalling $105,000 and issuing 200,000 common shares to the optionor over a 48-month period. The Company made a cash payment to the optionor of $10,000 on regulatory approval. Results from an airborne VTEM survey conducted over the Cedar Claims in the summer of 2008 did not meet expectations and as a result, the
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
property was returned to the optionor and a write-off of $39,402 in acquisition and exploration costs was recorded in fiscal 2009.
Exploration expenditures on all of the Manitoba properties in fiscal 2009, with the fiscal 2008 numbers in brackets, were: assays and analysis - $Nil ($1,338); drilling - $Nil ($120,470); geological and geophysical - $75,739 ($17,449); site activities - $243 ($3,290), and travel and accommodation, including helicopter transport – $Nil ($69,432). Write-off of exploration costs of $5,152 related to the Grand Nickel property are included in these exploration expenditures in fiscal 2009.
1.2.9
Mineral Property Option Payments Due In Fiscal 2009
The Company must make cash payments totalling $120,000 and issue 100,000 common shares in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009, to maintain the mineral property interests held at December 31, 2008.
1.2.10
Market and Industry Trends
The average gold and silver prices in 2007 were US$695 and US$13 per ounce, respectively, and the average prices for 2008 were US$872 and US$15 per ounce, respectively. The Company does not have any revenue from the sales of gold and silver, or any other source of revenue.
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
1.3
Selected Annual Information
The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and are expressed in Canadian dollars.
| | | | |
| As at March 31, 2008 | As at March 31, 2007 | As at March 31, 2006 |
| | | | |
| Current assets | $ 272,021 | $ 404,737 | $ 432,366 |
| Mineral property interests | 4,765,477 | 3,837,781 | 1,323,978 |
| Other assets | 277,475 | 212,704 | 104,612 |
| Total assets | 5,314,973 | 4,455,222 | 1,860,956 |
| |
|
|
|
| Current liabilities | 1,332,707 | 401,127 | 466,508 |
| Shareholders’ equity | 3,982,266 | 4,054,095 | 1,394,448 |
| Total shareholders’ equity and liabilities | $ 5,314,973 | $ 4,455,222 | $ 1,860,956 |
| |
|
|
|
| Working capital (deficiency) | $ (1,060,686) | $ 3,610 | $ (34,142) |
| | | |
| For the years ended March 31, |
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
Expenses |
|
|
|
Amortization | $ 624 | $ 1,890 | $ 6,443 |
Finance costs | 154,010 | -- | -- |
Foreign exchange losses / (gains) | 41,516 | (2,330) | 3,141 |
Legal, accounting and audit | 74,714 | 42,419 | 26,642 |
Management and consulting fees | 136,500 | 102,500 | 37,500 |
Office and administration | 132,444 | 79,474 | 133,781 |
Property investigation costs | 1,734 | 12,132 | -- |
Salaries and benefits | 115,736 | 75,929 | 84,795 |
Shareholder communications | 353,259 | 286,510 | 190,246 |
Stock-based compensation | 414,484 | 67,867 | 232,287 |
Travel and conferences | 21,262 | 19,458 | 49,139 |
Write-down of investments | -- | -- | 24,999 |
Write-down of mineral property interests | 1,586,240 | -- | 172,697 |
(Recovery) of value added tax | -- | -- | (69,841) |
Interest income | (5,745) | (22,499) | (565) |
Loss for the year | (3,026,778) | (663,350) | (891,264) |
Loss per common share | $ (0.06) | $ (0.02) | $ (0.03) |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted |
47,872,669 |
38,395,299 |
32,188,964 |
10
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
1.4
Results of Operations
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2008, Compared to Nine Months Ended December 31, 2007
For fiscal 2009, Cream incurred a loss of $3,137,460, or loss per common share of $0.06, compared to a loss of $1,141,083, or a loss of $0.03 per common share in fiscal 2008.
| | | | |
| Three months ended December 31, | Nine months ended December 31, |
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 |
| | | | |
Expenses | | | | |
Amortization | $ 239 | $ 102 | $ 444 | $ 522 |
Finance expense | 2,984 | 143,567 | 23,984 | 143,567 |
Foreign exchange | 15,222 | 20,493 | 20,213 | 48,479 |
Legal, accounting and audit | 6,674 | 29,039 | 60,257 | 53,688 |
Office and administration | 39,439 | 31,255 | 130,163 | 86,450 |
Salaries and benefits | 20,876 | 6,916 | 111,209 | 87,615 |
Shareholder communications | 33,942 | 119,852 | 199,000 | 272,457 |
Management and consulting fees | 37,500 | 33,500 | 117,500 | 100,500 |
Property investigations | -- | 31 | -- | 1,734 |
Stock-based compensation | 9,553 | 63,805 | 50,432 | 342,872 |
Travel and conferences | -- | 5,885 | 4,479 | 7,856 |
Write-down of mineral property interests | 19,861 | -- | 2,420,299 | -- |
Interest and other income | (20) | (1,750) | (520) | (4,657) |
| (186,270) | 452,695 | 3,137,460 | 1,141,083 |
|
|
|
|
|
Loss for the period | (186,270) | (452,695) | (3,137,460) | (1,141,083) |
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit, beginning of period | (24,573,134) | (19,283,554) | (21,621,944) | (18,595,166) |
| | |
|
|
Deficit, end of period | $ (24,759,404) | $ (19,736,249) | $ (24,759,404) | $ (19,736,249) |
| | | | |
Loss per share, basic and diluted | $ (0.00) | $ (0.01) | $ (0.06) | $ (0.03) |
| | | | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
48,560,209 |
45,631,813 | 48,560,209
| 45,323,453
|
Number of shares outstanding, end of period | 50,812,588 | 47,921,073
| 50,812,588
| 47,921,073
|
General and administrative expenses, not including stock-based compensation and write-down of mineral property interests, totaled $666,729 in fiscal 2009, compared to $798,211 in fiscal 2008. The changes in general and administrative expenses in fiscal 2009 can be primarily attributed to five areas: a decrease in finance costs from $143,567 to $23,984, of which the fiscal 2008 cost includes $140,000 relating to bonus shares issued in fiscal 2008; an increase in management fees from $100,500 to $117,500, an increase in legal, accounting and audit from $53,688 to $60,257, an increase in office and administration from $86,450 to $130,163 and a decrease in shareholder communications costs from $272,457 to $199,000.
Foreign exchange losses of $48,479 in fiscal 2008 compare to $20,213 in fiscal 2009. Cream conducted exploration activities in Mexico and Sierra Leone, and as such, has foreign exchange risks associated with exploration in foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s cash balances are primarily held in Canadian dollars,
11
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
with some balances in United States dollars and in Mexican pesos. There can be significant volatility with these currencies compared to the Canadian dollar, and the change in the exchange rate with respect to the United States dollars has contributed to the foreign exchange losses. If the Company increases its activity in foreign jurisdictions, it carries larger asset balances denominated in foreign currencies, foreign exchange gains and losses may increase as currency values fluctuate.
In fiscal 2008 the Company entered into a loan agreement with Frank Lang in the amount of $700,000 which was approved by the TSX Venture Exchange. The loan agreement called for the loan amount of $700,000 to be repaid by October 26, 2008. Interest is calculated at an annual rate of 6%, payable quarterly, payments commencing 90 days from November 30, 2007. In fiscal 2009, $23,984 in interest had been accrued or paid with respect to the loan agreement. There was no interest paid in fiscal 2008. The interest paid on the loan has not been revised, and Mr. Lang has not requested payment of the loan.
The Company pays Lang Mining Corporation (“Lang Mining”), a private company, a monthly management fee of $10,000 per month for the services of Frank Lang as President and CEO of the Company. The fees paid to Lang Mining Corporation totaled $90,000 in fiscal 2009 (fiscal 2008 - $70,000). At December 31, 2008, $94,500 is payable to Lang Mining. Consulting fees of $27,500 (fiscal 2008 - $10,500) were paid to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. (“Kent Avenue”) for services rendered by Sargent H. Berner, a director of the Company. An amount payable of $73,503 to Kent Avenue is included in the amount payable to LMC Management Services Ltd. (“LMC”) at December 31, 2008.
Legal, accounting and audit costs increased from $53,688 in fiscal 2008 to $60,257 in fiscal 2009. The increase relates to increased audit fees. The audit costs for the year ended March 31, 2008, were higher than the estimated accrual for that year, and as a result, the current fiscal year accrual has been increased. Changes in generally accepted accounting principles, further reviews of internal controls and more audit testing are expected to be undertaken in the balance of the year ended March 31, 2009, which will likely continue to increase accounting and audit costs further. No major legal expense was incurred in fiscal 2009.
Salaries and benefits have increased from $87,615 in fiscal 2008 to $111,209 in fiscal 2009. Wages may increase in future due to the increased time required to comply with changing reporting and regulatory regulations. Increased regulatory requirements have resulted in an overall increase in salaries, office and administration costs. Office and administration costs increased from $86,450 in fiscal 2008 to $130,163 in fiscal 2009. These costs include rent, telephone, shared office services and other costs related to administration of a public company. LMC provides these services on a full cost recovery basis to Cream and other public companies sharing the office space.
In fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008, 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. The payment of these fees commenced in the second quarter of fiscal 2007. The fees are capitalized to the Nuevo Milenio property exploration and development costs.
Stock-based compensation of $50,432 in fiscal 2009 compares to $342,872 in fiscal 2008. The decrease in expense relates to the amount and timing of vesting of stock options granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees.
Shareholder communications costs have decreased from $272,457 in fiscal 2008 to $199,000 in fiscal 2009. The Company granted 780,000 stock options to CHF Investor Relations (Cavalcanti Hume Funfer Inc.) of Toronto and Calgary (“CHF”), an investor relations firm specializing in mineral resource companies, as the Company’s investor relations counsel: 260,000 at a price of $0.75, 260,000 at a price of $0.85, and 260,000 at a price of $0.95, with an expiry date of September 21, 2012. The fair value of the stock options granted was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes (“B-S”) option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: Risk free interest rate – 4.59%; expected life in
12
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
years – 1.5, and expected volatility of 92%. The fair value per option at the time of grant was $0.13, $0.12 and $0.11 for the options granted at prices of $0.75, $0.85 and $0.95, respectively. These options were cancelled in the second quarter of fiscal 2009, at which time the contract with CHF was terminated. The Company paid $37,500 for these services in fiscal 2009, compared to $34,500 in fiscal 2008.
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 $18,000 in both fiscal periods. Axino AG was paid $45,000 (2008 - $75,000), and the contract was terminated early in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Dynamic Stock Market Analysts were paid $22,833 (2008 - $21,417) to help the Company increase its presence on the internet. This contract has not been renewed. Robert Paul was hired in September 2007 to provide services in the Vancouver office to shareholders and investors at a cost of $3,000 monthly. In other corporate developments the Company, subject to regulatory approval, has retained the services of Mr. Dale T. Nejmeldeen to complement the Company’s investor relations program. Dale was granted incentive stock options exercisable for up to 150,000 comm on shares in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.30 per share until October 17, 2013, and the Company will pay him $2,000 per month from its general working capital. The fair value of the stock options granted was estimated on the date of grant using the B-S option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: Risk free interest rate – 2.8%; expected life in years – 4, and volatility of 89%. The fair value per option at the time of grant was $0.06.
Interest and other income decreased from $4,657 in fiscal 2008 to $520 in fiscal 2009 as a result of lower cash balances.
The Company wrote-down its interest in the Cream Offshore claims, exploration work undertaken on the Sewa River onshore claims, its interest in the Kootenay-Gemstone Property and the Grand Nickel Project in Manitoba for a total of $2,420,299. There were no write-downs in fiscal 2008.
Three Months Ended December 31, 2008 (“Q3 2009”), Compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2007 (“Q3 2008”)
For Q3 2009, Cream incurred a loss of $186,270 or $0.00 per common share, compared to $452,695 or $0.01 per common share for Q3 2008. Total general and administrative expenses, before interest income, stock-based compensation, and write-down of mineral properties were $156,876 in Q3 2009 as compared to $390,640 in Q3 2008. Significant differences relate to $143,567 in finance costs in Q3 2008, compared to $2,984 in Q3 2009, decreased legal, accounting and audit from $29,039 in Q3 2008 to $6,674 in Q3 2009 and decreased shareholder communications from $119,852 in Q3 2008 to $33,942 in Q3 2009.
Stock-based compensation of $9,553 was recorded in Q3 2009, compared to stock-based compensation of $63,805 recorded in Q3 2008. Stock-based compensation recorded in Q3 2008 and Q3 2009 is comprised of the vested portion of the options granted to directors, consultants and employees in April 2007, December 2007 and October 2008.
In Q3 2009, the Company wrote-down $19,861 in additional costs related to its interest in the Cream Offshore claims, additional costs incurred on the on the Sewa River onshore claims, and miscellaneous costs related to previously written off mineral property interests.
13
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
1.5
Summary of Quarterly Results
The tables below provide administration costs and other income or expenses for the eight quarters in the previous two years and the total acquisition and exploration cost in the eight quarters in the past two years on a project-by-project basis:
| | | | | |
| Casierra Property, Sierra Leone
| Kaslo Silver Property, British Columbia | Goldsmith and other properties, Canada
|
Manitoba Properties,
Manitoba | Nuevo Milenio Property, Mexico
|
Fiscal 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth Quarter | 199,613 | 2 | 52,134 | 45,164 | 496,933 |
Fiscal 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter | 371,974 | 574 | 49,169 | 137,276 | 118,502 |
Second Quarter | 208,635 | 164 | 10,499 | 121,847 | 584,113 |
Third Quarter | 172,148 | 1,115 | 11,250 | 28,875 | 38,051 |
Fourth Quarter | 605,900 | 163 | 4,771 | 50 | 43,584 |
Fiscal 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter | 295,338 | 526 | 49,599 | 107,651 | 77,336 |
Second Quarter | 172,997 | -- | 21,650 | 17,876 | 69,774 |
Third Quarter | 19,861 | 607 | 24,363 | 3,355 | 126,288 |
Quarterly information for the eight quarters to December 31, 2008, is summarized as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
Statement of Operations Data | Three months ended March 31, 2008 | Three months ended June 30, 2008 | Three months ended September 30, 2008 | Three months ended December 31, 2008 |
Investment and other income | $ 1,088 | $ 66 | $ 434 | $ 20 |
General and administrative expenses | 228,931 | 244,636 | 265,737 | 156,876 |
Stock-based compensation | 71,612 | 21,288 | 19,591 | 9,553 |
Property investigations | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Write-down of mineral property interests | 1,586,240 | 295,338 | 2,105,100 | 19,861 |
Loss according to financial statements | 1,885,695 | 561,196 | 2,389,994 | 186,270 |
Loss from continuing operations per common share | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.00 |
Statement of Operations Data | Three months ended March 31, 2007 | Three months ended June 30, 2007 | Three months ended September 30, 2007 | Three months ended December 30, 2007 |
Investment and other income | $ 1,322 | $ 2,205 | $ 703 | $ 1,750 |
General and administrative expenses | 185,734 | 201,674 | 208,852 | 390,609 |
Stock-based compensation | 5,440 | 170,985 | 108,082 | 63,805 |
Property investigations | -- | 360 | 1,343 | 31 |
Loss according to financial statements | 189,852 | 370,814 | 317,574 | 452,695 |
Loss from continuing operations per common share | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
14
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
1.6
Liquidity
Historically, the Company’s sole source of funding has been the issuance of equity securities for cash, primarily though private placements to sophisticated investors and institutions. 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.
The current market conditions, the challenging funding environment and the low price of Cream’s common shares make it difficult to raise funds by private placements of shares. In addition the Company must exercise prudent judgement when attempting to raise capital through the issuance of common shares to minimize dilution to existing shareholders. Therefore the Company must rely on its ability to market its projects and in so doing raise cash in order to remain solvent, in addition to limited private placements that will be necessary to provide working capital. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful with any financing ventures. Please refer to the “Risks” section of this document.
At December 31, 2008, Cream had a working capital deficiency of $1,592,460 (a measurement tool generally defined as current assets less current liabilities) compared to a working capital deficiency of $1,060,686 at March 31, 2008, and an accumulated deficit of $24,759,404 (March 31, 2008 - $21,621,944).
Plans for Fiscal 2009
The Company is focused on the continuing exploration of its Nuevo Milenio property and plans on expending flow-through funds on its mineral property interests in Manitoba and British Columbia.
Risks
At December 31, 2008, the Company has a significant working capital deficiency. The deficiency is primarily related to an interest-bearing loan payable to Frank Lang of $700,000 and additional cash advances from Mr. Lang of approximately $415,000 at the date of this Quarterly Report. It is estimated that it may require approximately $2.0 - $4.0 million in total working capital to operate the Company and repay the advances from Mr. Lang in the current fiscal year, unless another form of repayment of the loan payable is entered into. Subsequent to December 31, 2008, the Company repaid $200,000 of the additional cash advances made to the Company by Frank Lang. The ability to raise working capital directly impacts the ability of the Company to undertake any planned exploration programs. Sufficient work must be undertaken on any claims to keep the claims in good standing. &nbs p;
The Company’s exploration activities and its potential mining and processing operations are subject to various laws governing land use, the protection of the environment, prospecting, development, production, contractor availability, 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. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain all permits required for exploration, any future development and construction of mining facilities and conduct of mining operations on reasonable terms or that new legislation or modifications to existing legislation, would not have an adverse effect on any exploration or mining project which the Company might undertake.
The Company has been performing remediation activities on an on-going basis. As such, management feels that there is no significant reclamation liability outstanding on properties owned by the Company.
The low price of Cream’s common stock limits Cream’s ability to raise additional capital by issuing
15
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
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 Cream’s share price were substantially higher.
The Company is in the process of exploring its mineral property interests and has not yet determined whether its mineral property interests contain mineral reserves that are economically recoverable. The Company’s continuing operations and the underlying value and recoverability of the amounts shown for mineral property interests are entirely dependent upon the existence of economically recoverable mineral reserves, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing to complete the exploration and development of the mineral property interests, and on future profitable production or proceeds from the disposition of the mineral property interests.
The Mexican subsidiary of the Company has a value-added tax receivable. The Company must make application for the recovery of the taxes for the prior two fiscal years. The Company has received prior years’ value-added tax recoveries.
Investing Activities and Capital Expenditures
Current assets decreased to $269,002 at December 31, 2008, from $272,021 at March 31, 2008. The market value of investments in marketable securities was $2,886 at December 31, 2008, compared to $24,767 at March 31, 2008. The marketable securities held are highly volatile. At December 31, 2008, the book value of these publicly traded securities is $31,704 (March 31, 2008 - $31,704). Investments include shares with a book value of $30,796 (March 31, 2008 - $30,796) that are investments in companies with officers and directors in common with the Company.
Capital Resources
During the nine months ended December 31, 2008, no stock options, warrants, or agent’s warrants were exercised.
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 5,081,259 common shares under the stock option plan approved by shareholders at the Company’s annual meeting held in September 2008. At December 31, 2008, 4,194,900 (March 31, 2008, 5,349,900 (granted under the previous stock option plan)) stock options have been granted and are outstanding, exercisable for up to five years. The stock option plan provides for immediate vesting or terms of vesting at the discretion of the Company, pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.
In the nine months ended December 31, 2008, the Company completed a private placement financing consisting of 1,658,635 non-flow-through units (“NFT Unit) at a price of $0.22 per NFT Unit, each NFT Unit consisting of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company for a period of 12 months from closing at an exercise price of $0.25. Compensation of 90,000 finder’s units were issued and payment of a finder’s fee of $2,912 was made with respect to this financing. Each finder’s unit consists of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant. Each finder’s unit warrant will entitle the holder, on exercise, to purchase one additional common share of the Company for a period of 12 months following the date of issue of the finder’s unit at an ex ercise price of $0.25.
In addition, 1,010,800 flow-through units (“FT Unit”) were issued at a price of $0.25 per FT Unit. Each
16
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
FT Unit was comprised of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company for a period of 12 months from closing at an exercise price of $0.28. Compensation of 81,080 finder’s units were issued and a payment of a finder’s fee of $3,088 was made with respect to this financing. Each finder’s unit consists of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant. Each finder’s unit warrant will entitle the holder, on exercise, to purchase one additional common share of the Company for a period of 12 months following the date of issue of the Finder’s Unit at an exercise price of $0.28.
If the Company shares trade at or above $0.40 per share for 10 consecutive trading days, the Company may, at its discretion, accelerate the expiration of the Warrants and Finder’s Unit Warrants by providing notice in writing to the holders of such securities, whereby the Warrants and Finder’s Unit Warrants will expire within 30 days from the date of such written notice.
The financings completed during the nine months ended December 31, 2008, are not sufficient for the Company to continue its planned exploration programs. Without continued external funding to finance further exploration and development work on its mineral properties, there is substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to operate as a going concern. Although the Company has been successful in raising funds to date, there can be no assurance that additional funding will be available in the future. The interim consolidated financial statements referred to in this quarterly report 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.
Subsequent to December 31, 2008, the Company completed a private placement of non-flow-through units and flow-through units. A total of 11,664,400 non-flow-through units were issued at a price of $0.05 per unit for gross proceeds of $583,220. Each unit consisted of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.10 per for a period of 12 months and at a price of $0.20 per for the next 12-month period. Subscribers to the non-flow-through units financing were eligible to participate in a flow-through unit (“FT Unit”) financing on a one unit to one FT Unit basis. Both the unit and the FT Unit financings were carried out concurrently.
A total of 1,780,000 FT Units were issued at a price of $0.05 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of $89,000. Each FT Unit consisted of one flow-through common share and one non-transferable non-flow-through share purchase warrant (the “FT Unit Warrant”). Each FT Unit Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional non-flow-through common share (the “FT Unit Warrant Share”) at an exercise price of $0.10 per for a period of 12 months.
The Company paid compensation to certain arm’s-length parties where such finders arranged for subscribers to the private placements. The finder’s fee paid was comprised of $8,500 and a total of 340,000 units (the “Finder’s Units”). 170,000 Finder’s Units were issued in relation to subscriptions for units, and consisted of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant (the “Finder’s Unit Warrant”). Each Finder’s Unit Warrant entitles the holder, on exercise, to purchase one additional common share of the Company (a “Finder’s Unit Warrant Share”) at an exercise price of $0.10 per Finder’s Unit Warrant Share for a period of 12 months from the date of issue of the Finder’s Unit Warrant and at a price of $0.20 per Finder’s Unit Warrant Share for the remaining 12-month period.
Of the total Finder’s Units issued 170,000 Finder’s Units were issued in relation to subscriptions for FT Units, and consist of one common share and one Finder’s Unit Warrant which, on exercise, entitles the holder to purchase a Finder’s Unit Warrant Share at an exercise price of $0.10 per Finder’s Unit Warrant Share for a period of 12 months following the date of issue of the Finder’s Unit.
All warrants issued in relation to these private placements carry an accelerated expiry provision that allows the Company, at its discretion, to accelerate the expiration of such warrants, if the Company shares
17
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
trade at or above $0.30 per share for 10 consecutive trading days, by providing notice in writing to the holders of such securities, whereby such warrants will expire within 30 days from the date of the written notice.
Subsequent to December 31, 2008, 1,250,000 warrants exercisable at $0.50 to February 21, 2009, expired unexercised.
Insiders of the Company subscribed for a total of 5,500,000 units. Subsequent to December 31, 2008, 2,000,000 warrants issued to Frank A. Lang, pursuant to a letter agreement, were cancelled, with respect to this financing.
1.8
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
1.9
Transactions with Related Parties
| | | | | | |
| Nine months ended December 31, |
| 2008 | 2007 |
Services rendered during the period: |
|
|
LMC Management Services Ltd. (a) | $ 297,493 | $ 233,363 |
Lang Mining Corporation (b) | 90,000 | 70,000 |
Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. (d) | 27,500 | 10,500 |
Frank A. Lang (c) | 23,984 | 143,567 |
Fred Holcapek (e) | US 76,500 | US 77,105 |
|
|
|
|
| December 31, 2008 | March 31, 2008 |
Balances payable to (f): |
|
|
|
LMC Management Services Ltd.(a) | $ 237,537 | $ 89,004 |
Lang Mining Corporation (b) | 94,500 | 10,500 |
Ainsworth Jenkins - Casierra project (b) | 45,748 | 39,038 |
Directors (f) | 1,071,471 | 961,641 |
| $ 1,449,256 | $ 1,100,183 |
(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, and is currently in arrears. 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 has provided management services to the Company at a rate of $10,000 per month since November 1, 2006.
(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. These companies hold an interest in two prospecting licences for diamonds and other minerals and
18
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
metals in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Mr. Ben Ainsworth also holds approximately 33% of the issued and outstanding shares of Casierra Diamond Corporation.
(d)
During the year ended March 31, 2008, Mr. Lang had advanced $700,000 to the Company without interest or repayment terms. In consideration, the Company issued 411,764 common shares to Mr. Lang as bonus shares in lieu of interest. The value of these shares was calculated at $140,000. Pursuant to the terms of the loan agreement, the Company is paying interest to Mr. Lang on a per annum rate of six percent (6%). Interest is payable commencing November 30, 2007, and interest payments are payable every ninety (90) days thereafter until the loan is repaid in full. For the nine months ended December 31, 2008, the interest totals $23,984, of which $17,328 is accrued. The loan and accrued interest thereon may be prepaid by the Company in whole or in part at any time and from time to time, without penalty. Mr. Lang has advanced an additional $220,000 to Decemb er 31, 2008, after repayment of $200,000, which had been advanced without interest or repayment terms.
(e)
Consulting fees are 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. Any amount owing to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. is owed to LMC, and so is included in the net receivable or payable from or to LMC.
(f)
Fees are 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.
(g)
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 an interest in the Stephens Lake property jointly with Sultan and ValGold.
(h)
Balances payable to related parties, and balances receivable from related parties are non-interest bearing and due on demand.
(i)
All related party transactions are in the normal course of operations and are measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related parties.
1.10
Fourth Quarter
Not applicable.
1.11
Proposed Transactions
There are no proposed asset or business acquisitions or dispositions, other than those in the ordinary course of business or as described in items 1.6 or 1.7 above, before the board of directors for consideration.
1.12
Critical Accounting Estimates
As at December 31, 2008, the Company was a venture issuer. Critical accounting estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements include the Company’s estimate of recoverable value of its mineral properties as well as the value of stock-based compensation. Both of these estimates involve considerable judgment and are, or could be, affected by significant factors that are out of the Company’s control. The
19
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
factors affecting stock-based compensation include estimates of when stock options might be exercised and the stock price volatility. The timing for exercise of options is out of the Company’s control and will depend upon a variety of factors including the market value of the Company’s shares and financial objectives of the stock-based instrument holders. The future volatility is also uncertain and the model has its limitations. The Company uses the B-S option pricing model to estimate a value for these options.
The Company’s recoverability of the recorded value of its mineral properties is based on market conditions for minerals, underlying mineral resources associated with the properties and future costs that may be required for ultimate realization through mining operations or by sale. The Company is in an industry that is dependent on a number of factors including environmental, legal and political risks, the existence of economically recoverable reserves, the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to obtain necessary financing to complete the development and future profitable production or the proceeds of disposition thereof.
1.13
Critical Accounting Policies and Changes in Accounting Policies
Accounting policy choice for transaction costs
On June 1, 2007, the Emerging Issues Committee of the CICA issued Abstract No. 166, “Accounting Policy Choice for Transactions Costs” (EIC 166). This EIC addresses the accounting policy choice of expensing or adding transaction costs related to the acquisition of financial assets and financial liabilities that are classified as other than held for trading. Specifically, it requires that the same accounting policy choice be applied to all similar financial instruments classified as other than held for trading, but permits a different policy choice for financial instruments that are not similar. The Company has adopted EIC 166 effective April 1, 2008, which requires retroactive application to all transaction costs accounted for in accordance with CICA Handbook Section 3855, Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement. The Company has evaluated the impact of EIC 166 and determined that no adjustm ents are required.
Capital disclosures
CICA handbook Section 1535, Capital Disclosures, establishes standards for disclosing information about the Company’s capital and how it is managed. Under this standard, the Company will be required to disclose the following, based on the information provided internally to the Company’s key management personnel: (i) qualitative information about its objectives, policies and processes for managing capital; (ii) summary quantitative data about what it manages as capital; (iii) whether during the period it completed with any externally imposed capital requirements to which it is subject; and (iv) when the Company has not complied with such externally imposed capital requirements, the consequences of such non-compliance.
This standard is effective for interim and annual financial statements beginning on January 1, 2008, or for the Company, April 1, 2008. The Company manages its common shares, options and warrants as capital. As the Company is in the exploration state, its principal source of funds is from the issuance of common shares. It is the Company’s objective to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can continue to explore and develop its projects for the benefit of its stakeholders.
The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The TSX Venture Exchange imposes certain capital requirements prior to listing; however, there are no ongoing capital requirements to remain listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
Financial instruments disclosures
CICA Handbook Section 3862, “Financial Instruments – Disclosures”, requires entities to provide disclosure of quantitative and qualitative information in their financial statements that enable users to evaluate (a) the significance of financial instruments for the Company’s financial position and performance; and (b) the nature and extent of risks arising from financial instruments to which the company is exposed during the period and at the balance sheet date, and management’s objectives, policies and procedures for managing such risks. The Company will be required to disclose the measurement basis or bases used, and the criteria used to determine classification for different types of instruments. The section requires specific disclosures to be made, including the criteria for (i) designating financial assets and liabilities as held for trading; (ii) designating financial assets as available-for-sale; and (iii) determining when impairment is recorded against the related financial asset or when an allowance account is used. This standard is effective for interim and annual financial statements beginning on January 1, 2008, or in the case of the Company, April 1, 2008.
As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s carrying values of cash, taxes recoverable, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate their fair market values.
Credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and accounts receivable. The Company deposits cash and short-term investments with Canadian chartered banks with a credit rating of R-1 High or equivalent.
Currency risk
As at December 31, 2008, the majority of the Company’s cash and short-term investments were held in Canadian dollars. The Company’s functional and reporting currency is the Canadian dollar. The Company’s current currency risk is nominal, as cash balances kept in United States dollars are nominal and are used primarily for wire transfers for exploration expenditures outside of Canada, paid in local currencies or United States dollars. Should the Company’s foreign exploration activities increase significantly larger asset balances denominated in foreign currencies will be required resulting in the potential for foreign exchange gains or losses as currency values fluctuate.
Interest rate risk
Included in the loss for the period in these interim financial statements is interest income on Canadian dollar cash and short-term investments. If interest rates throughout the period had been 10 basis points (0.1% lower (higher), then the loss for the period would have been nominal and would have had no effect on the operations of the Company.
Liquidity risk
The Company manages liquidity risk by maintaining sufficient cash and short-term investment balances. Liquidity requirements are managed based on expected cash flow to ensure there is sufficient capital in order to meet short-term obligations. The Company has completed an equity financing subsequent to December 31, 2008. For most of fiscal 2009, the majority of the company’s working capital has been provided by advances by the chairman, Mr. Frank A. Lang, resulting in a working capital deficiency, due to the short-term nature of the advances.
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
Market risks
The significant market risks to which the Company is exposed are commodity price risk, interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk.
Commodity price risk
The Company’s ability to raise capital to fund exploration or development activities is subject to risks associated with fluctuations in the market prices of gold, silver and diamonds, all commodities or precious metals that are being explored in the two mineral property interests held by the Company with significant exploration costs incurred in the previous two fiscal years.
General standards on financial statement presentation
CICA Handbook section 1400, “General Standards on Financial Statement Presentation”, has been amended to include requirements to assess and disclose an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The changes are effective for interim and annual financial statements beginning on or after January 1, 2008, or April 1, 2008, for the Company. The adoption of these changes has not had an impact on its interim financial statements.
International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS")
In 2006, the Canadian Accounting Standards Board ("AcSB") published a new strategic plan that will significantly affect financial reporting requirements for Canadian companies. The AcSB strategic plan outlines the convergence of Canadian GAAP with IFRS over an expected five year transitional period. In February 2008, the AcSB announced that 2011 is the changeover date for publicly-listed companies to use IFRS, replacing Canada's own GAAP. The date is for interim and annual financial statements relating to fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. The transition date of January 1, 2011 will require the restatement for comparative purposes of amounts reported by the Company for the year ended March 31, 2011. While the Company has begun assessing the adoption of IFRS for 2011, the financial reporting impact of the transition to IFRS cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.
1.14
Financial Instruments and Other Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments are comprised of cash and cash equivalents, taxes recoverable, amounts due to and from related parties, and 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. Unless otherwise noted, it is management’s opinion that the Company is not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from the financial instruments.
A significant portion of the Company’s current assets are held in Canadian dollars. To date the Company has not made use of currency hedges.
1.15
Other MD& A Requirements
See the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR atwww.sedar.com.
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
1.15.1
Additional Disclosure for Venture Issuers without Significant Revenue
(a)
capitalized or expensed exploration and development costs
The required disclosure is presented in the schedule of mineral property interests attached to the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements.
(b)
expensed research and development costs
Not applicable.
(c)
deferred development costs
Not applicable.
(d)
general administrative expenses
The required disclosure is presented in the Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(e)
any material costs, whether capitalized, deferred or expensed, not referred to in (a) through (d)
None.
1.15.2
Disclosure of Outstanding Share Data
The following details the share capital structure as of March 2, 2009, the date of this MD&A, subject to minor accounting adjustments:
Outstanding share information at March 2, 2009
Authorized Capital
Unlimited number of common shares without par value.
Issued and Outstanding Capital
64,596,988 common shares are issued and outstanding
Stock Options Outstanding
| | |
Number of Options | Exercise Price ($) |
Expiry Dates |
416,100 | 0.30 | October 6, 2009 |
715,000 | 0.165 | August 3, 2010 |
100,000 | 0.50 | June 11, 2011 |
310,000 | 0.53 | January 29, 2012 |
1,546,500 | 0.50 | April 18, 2012 |
150,000 | 0.50 | December 11, 2012 |
150,000 | 0.30 | October 17, 2013 |
3,387,600 |
| |
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Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
Warrants Outstanding
| | |
Number of Warrants | Exercise Price | Expiry Date |
745,000 | $0.65 | November 30, 2009 |
49,600 | $0.65 | November 30, 2009 |
630,250 | $0.65 | December 10, 2009 |
94,040 | $0.65 | December 10, 2009 |
1,010,800 | $0.28 | July 8, 2009 |
81,080 | $0.28 | July 8, 2009 |
1,658,635 | $0.25 | July 8, 2009 |
91,000 | $0.25 | July 8, 2009 |
9,648,400 | $0.10/$0.20 | January 28, 2001/2011 |
170,000 | $0.10 | January 28, 2010/2011 |
1,796,000 | $0.10 | January 28, 2010 |
170,000 | $0.10 | January 28, 2010 |
16,144,805 | | |
Other Information
Controls and Procedures
As of December 31, 2008, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our President and Chief Financial Officer of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, our President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure control and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be (a) disclosed is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner and (b) disclosed in the reports that we file or submit is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
We have designed, or caused to be designed under our supervision, internal controls over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the nine months ended December 31, 2008, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect its internal controls over financial reporting.
Approval
The Board of Directors of Cream Minerals Ltd. has approved the disclosure contained in the Interim MD&A. A copy of this Interim MD&A will be provided to anyone who requests it and can be located, along with additional information, on the SEDAR website atwww.sedar.com.
Caution on Forward-Looking Information
This MD&A includes forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe the Company’s future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or
24
Cream Minerals Ltd.
Quarterly Report
Three and Nine Months Ended (Q3)
December 31, 2008
management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or update forward-looking statements in the event actual results differ from those currently anticipated.
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