UNITED STATES SECUITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
[X] REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXHANGE ACT OF
1934
[ ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. For the
Fiscal Year Ended _______
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. For
transition period from ____ to ______
Commission File Number: _____________
KNIGHT RESOURCES LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
Canada
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
Suite 1360 – 605 Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 5J3
(Address of Principal executive office)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Not Applicable
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Shares, Without Par Value
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
Number of outstanding shares of each of the Company’s classes of capital or common stock as of September 30, 2003: 36,215,437 Common Shares, Without Par Value
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:
Yes: No: ___
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17 X Item 18 ___
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent tot he distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by court. Yes: No: ___
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
Convention
In this Form 20-F all references to "Canada" are references to The Dominion of Canada. All references to the "Government" are references to the government of Canada. Unless otherwise noted all references to "shares" or "common stock" are references to the common shares of Knight Resources Ltd. (the "Company").
In this document, all references to "SEC" are reference to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. References to"$", "Cdn Dollars", or "Cdn$" are to the currency of Canada and all references to "US Dollars" or "US$" are to the currency of the United States of America.
Measurement Conversion Information
In this Report, metric measures are used with respect to mineral properties described herein. For ease of reference, the following conversion factors are provided:
1 mile | = 1.609 kilometres | 2,204 pounds | = 1 tonne |
1 yard | = 0.9144 metre | 2,000 pounds/1 short ton | = 0.907 tonnes |
1 acre | = 0.405 hectare | 1 troy once | = 31.103 grams |
1 U.S. gallon | = 3.785 litres | 1 imperial gallon | = 4.546 litres |
GEOLOGIC TIME
The geological history of the earth is divided into Periods and sub-divided into Eras, based on ages as outlined below:
Name of Era | Name of Period | | Number of Years before Present (Millions) |
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Quaternary | Holocene | | 0 to 0.4 |
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| Pleistocene | | 0.4 to 1.8 |
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Tertiary | Pliocene | | 1.8 to 5.0 |
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| Miocene | | 5.0 to 24 |
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| Oligocene | | 24 to 38 |
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| Eocene | | 38 to 56 |
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| Paleocene | | 56 to 66 |
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Mesozoic | Cretaceous | | 66 to 140 |
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| Jurassic | | 140 to 200 |
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| Triassic | | 200 to 250 |
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Paleozoic | Permian | | 250 to 290 |
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| Carboniferous | Pennsylvanian | |
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| | Missippian | 290 to 365 |
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| Devonian | | 365 to 405 |
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| Silurian | | 405 to 425 |
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| Ordovician | | 425 to 500 |
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| Cambrian | | 500 to 570 |
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Precambrian | Precambrian | | > 570 |
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GLOSSARY
The following are abbreviations and definitions of terms commonly used in the natural resource industry and this Report.
Abandonment A permanent dismantling of a production platform or other installation. i.e. plugging of a well.
Airborne Geophysical
Survey A geophysical technique carried out from a plane or helicopter.
Anomaly A deviation from the typical geological pattern.
Anorthosite A type of igneous rock.
Basalt A type of Igneous Rock.
Chalcopyrite A mineral containing copper, iron and sulphur and is an ore mineral of copper.
Co The chemical symbol for cobalt.
Cobalt A tough shiny silver-white magnetic metallic chemical element commonly associated with iron and
nickel.
Copper A malleable reddish metallic chemical element.
Craton A major structual unit of the earth’s crust consisting of a large stable land mass.
Cu The chemical symbol for copper.
Cut-off grade The minimum grade of ore used to establish reserves.
Depletion The reduction in petroleum reserves due to production.
Disseminated Fine particles of a mineral dispersed throughout the host rock.
Dyke A tabular body of igneous rock that cuts across the structure of adjacent rocks.
EM Survey A type of geophysical survey that measures the conductivity of a rock unit.
Erosion The wearing away of land by mechanical action. (i.e. wind, glaciers, rivers).
Erosional Remnant The portion of land remaining after erosion has occurred.
Farm In or Farm Out A common form of agreement between or among petroleum companies where the holder of the
petroleum interest agrees to assign all or part of an interest in the ownership to another party that is
willing to fund agreed exploration activities which may be more or less than the proportionate interest
assigned to such other party.
Fault A fracture in rock along which there has been displacement of the two sides.
Fire Assay The assaying of metallic ores, usually gold and silver, by methods requiring furnace heat.
Formation A reference to a group of rocks of the same age extending over a substantial area of a basin.
Fracture Breaks in rocks due to intensive folding or faulting.
Gabbro A type of igneous rock.
Geophysical Surveys The use of one or more geophysical techniques in geophysical exploration.
Glaciated Terrain An area previously and or actively covered by a glacier.
Gneiss A term applied to banded rocks formed during metamorphism.
Gossan An iron-bearing weathered product overlying a sulfide deposit.
Grab Samples A sample of rock taken more or less indiscriminately at any place.
Granite A type of igneous rock.
Gravity Survey A type of geophysical survey that measures the density of rock.
Horizon A time-plane recognizable in rocks by some characteristic feature.
Hydrocarbon Any organic compound, gaseous, liquid or solid, consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen. Crude oil is
essentially a complex mixture of hydrocarbons.
Igneous Rock A rock formed by the crystallization of magma or lava.
Intrusion A body of igneous rock which has forced itself into pre-existing rocks.
Iron A heavy magnetic metallic chemical element.
Joint A fracture in a rock between the sides of which there is no observable relative movement.
Km A measure of distance known as a kilometre.
Limonitic Consisting of, or resembling, limonite in appearance, an important ore of iron.
Magma Liquid or molten rock material formed deep within the earth and called lava when it reaches the surface.
Massive Sulphide A rock comprised entirely of metallic minerals of which iron and sulphur are always present.
Metamorphism The processes by which changes are brought about in rocks within the earth’s crust by the agencies of
heat.
Mineralization The concentration of metals and their chemical compounds within a body of rock.
Mineralized zone A specific area in a host rock where mineralization occurs.
Mineral Resource Consists of a deposit or concentration of a solid, inorganic or organic fossilized substance of potential
economic interest, accessible from the surface of the earth, and delimited at the measured, indicated, or
inferred levels.
Mg The chemical symbol for magnesium.
Mafic Intrusive The type of igneous rock that has intruded (forced) into another pre-existing rock.
Ni The chemical symbol for nickel.
Nickel A hard silver white metallic chemical element.
Norite A type of igneous rock.
NSR Net Smelter Returns.
Olivine A type of silicate mineral containing iron and magnesium.
Ore A natural aggregate of one or more minerals which, at a specified time and place, may be mined and sold at
a profit, or from which some part may be profitably separated.
Ore Reserve Consists of the portion of a measured and indicated mineral resource which can be extracted or produced
legally and profitably, at conditions established in a production feasibility study.
Palladium A rare white precious metal used as a catalyst and in jewellery.
Participating Interest An equity interest, compared with a royalty interest, in an oil and gas property whereby the participating
interest holder pays its proportionate or agreed percentage share of development and operating costs and
receives its proportionate share of the proceeds of hydrocarbon sales after deduction of royalties due on
gross income.
Pentlandite A mineral containing nickel, iron and sulphur and is a common ore mineral of nickel.
Permit An area that is granted for a prescribed period of time for exploration, development or production under
specific contractual or legislative conditions.
Petrographic
Examination Simply a description of the rock in hand specimen and thin section.
Peridotite A type of Igneous rock.
Platinum A white heavy precious metal that does not tarnish.
Pluton Large scale mass of an igneous rock.
ppb Parts per billion.
ppm Parts per million.
Prospect A potential hydrocarbon trap which has been confirmed by geological and geophysical studies to warrant
the drilling of an exploration well.
Pyroxene A common group of minerals characterized by short stout crystals and good prismatic cleavage in two
directions intersecting at angles of about 87 degrees and 93 degrees.
Pyrrhotite An iron sulphide mineral.
Royalty The entitlement to a stated or determinable percentage of the proceeds received from the sale of
hydrocarbons calculated as prescribed in applicable legislation or in the agreement reserving the royalty
to the owner of the royalty.
Sedimentary Rock Rocks formed from material derived from pre-existing rocks.
Seismic A geophysical technique using low frequency sound waves to determine the subsurface structure of
sedimentary rocks.
Shear A fracture in rock similar to a fault.
Sill A tabuler or sheet like body of igneous rock that is injected parallel to the structure of adjacent rocks.
Strike The course or bearing of a bed or layer of rock.
Stringer A narrow vein or irregular filament of mineral traversing a rock mass of different material.
Structure A geological formation which, if sealed against leakage, could be a potential trap for hydrocarbons.
Sour gas Natural gas that contains hydrogen sulphide.
Test well A well drilled in an unproven area. Also known as a wildcat well.
Trap A geological structure in which hydrocarbons build up to form an oil, condensate or gas field.
Troctolite A type of igneous rock.
Ultramafic Rock A type of igneous rock.
Vein A vein is a tabular or sheet-like body of minerals which has been intruded into a joint or fissure in a rock.
Volcaniclastic A type of sedimentary rock which is composed primarily of volcanic detritus.
PART I
Item 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
A. Directors and senior management
The names, business addresses and functions of the Company’s Directors and senior management are as follows:
DAVID PATTERSON
#1360 – 605 Robson Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 5J3
Mr. David Patterson has been the Chief Executive Officer since January 18, 2002 and a Director since September 11, 2002. Mr. Patterson was President and a Director from July 12, 1999 to October 13, 2000.
HARVEY KEATS
#1360 – 605 Robson Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 5J3
Mr. Harvey Keats has been the President since October 13, 2000, and was Chief Executive Officer from October 13, 2000 to January 18, 2002. Mr. Keats has been a Director since October 22, 1999. Mr. Keats is a geologist.
KERRY SPARKES
#1360 – 605 Robson Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 5J3
Mr. Kerry Sparkes has been a Director of the Company since October 13, 2000. Mr. Sparkes is a geologist.
JOHN MAHER
111 – 324 8 th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 2Z2
Mr. John Maher has been a Director of the Company since August 9, 2001. Mr. Maher is a geologist.
ERIN WALMSLEY
#700 – 625 Howe Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6C 2T6
Ms. Erin Walmsley has been Secretary of the Company since April 3, 2003.
B. Advisers
The legal advisers for the Company are Maitland & Company of 700-625 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T6.
C. Auditors
The Company's current auditor and the auditor for fiscal 2003, is KPMG LLP of 777 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7Y 1K3. KPMG LLP is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. The Company's auditor for fiscal 2002 and fiscal 2001 was Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton o f Suite 1700 – 1140 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4G1. Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Item 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
N/A
Item 3. KEY INFORMATION
A. Selected Financial Data
Currency Exchange Rate Information
The rate of exchange means the nominal noon exchange rate in Canadian dollars as published by the Bank of Canada. The average rate means the average of the exchange rates on the last date of each month during a calendar year.
| 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 |
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High | $1.5747 | $1.6132 | $1.6021 | $1.5593 | $1.5298 |
Low | 1.2924 | 1.5110 | 1.4936 | 1.4344 | 1.4436 |
Average for Period | 1.3914 | 1.5710 | 1.5513 | 1.4868 | 1.4826 |
End of Period | 1.2924 | 1.5796 | 1.5926 | 1.5002 | 1.4433 |
The exchange rate on September 30, 2003 was 1.3504.
The exchange rate on January 31, 2004 was 1.3264.
The high and low exchange rates for the most recent six months are as follows:
| January 2004 | December 2003 | November 2003 | October 2003 | September 2003 | August 2003 |
High | 1.3339 | 1.3397 | 1.3385 | 1.3451 | 1.3918 | 1.4072 |
Low | 1.2692 | 1.2924 | 1.2991 | 1.3040 | 1.3470 | 1.3795 |
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, selected financial and operating data for the Company. The financial data for fiscal 2003 and 2002 and the revenues, loss and loss per share for fiscal 2001, is derived from the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere herein. This information should be read in conjunction with the Company's Financial Statements and Notes thereto and "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" included elsewhere herein. The selected financial data provided below are not necessarily indicative of the future results of operations or financial performance of the Company. To the best of management’s knowledge, the Company has not paid any dividends on the Common Shares and it does not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
The 2003 year end Financial Statements of the Company have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent chartered accountants. They are presented in Canadian dollars, and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada. Comparison of Canadian GAAP and United States GAAP are set forth in the notes to the Financial Statements of the Company.
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Year Ended September 30 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | |
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Amounts in Accordance with | | | | | | |
Canadian GAAP: | | | | | | |
Total assets | $ 3,006,284 | $ 358,596 | $ 704,502 | $ 492,792 | $ 3,092,812 | |
Net working capital (deficit) | $ 2,433,657 | $ (553,032) | $ 199,816 | $ 52,876 | $ 255,758 | |
Share capital | $ 10,431,488 | $ 5,790,863 | $ 5,130,863 | $ 5,130,863 | $ 4,310,963 | |
Shareholders' equity (deficiency) | $ 2,899,818 | $ (205,383) | $ 399,324 | $ 19,130 | $ 3,069,282 | |
Revenues | $ 26,665 | $ 7,474 | $ 729,135 | $ 139,343 | $ - | |
Loss | $ (1,597,424) | $ (774,707) | $ (109,806) | $ (3,870,052) | $ (143,974) | |
Loss per share | $ (0.08) | $ (0.09) | $ (0.02) | $ (0.70) | $ (0.06) | |
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Amounts in Accordance with | | | | | | |
U.S. GAAP: | | | | | | |
Total assets | $ 3,006,284 | $ 358,596 | $ 704,502 | $ 492,792 | $ 3,092,812 | |
Net working capital (deficit) | $ 2,433,657 | $ (553,032) | $ 199,816 | $ 52,876 | $ 255,758 | |
Share capital | $ 10,555,805 | $ 5,915,180 | $ 5,182,680 | $ 5,182,680 | $ 4,310,963 | |
Shareholders' equity (deficiency) | $ 2,899,818 | $ (205,383) | $ 399,324 | $ 19,130 | $ 3,069,282 | |
Revenues | $ 26,665 | $ 7,474 | $ 729,135 | $ 139,343 | $ - | |
Loss | $ (1,597,424) | $ (875,957) | $ (109,806) | $ (3,978,999) | $ (270,474) | |
Loss per share | $ (0.08) | $ (0.10) | $ (0.02) | $ (0.71) | $ (0.12) | |
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B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
As of January 31, 2004 the Company had 46,477,206 common shares outstanding with a capitalization of $14,981,588.
As of January 31, 2004 the Company has no debt obligations or indebtedness in the form of guaranteed or unguaranteed, secured or unsecured, and/or indirect or contingent indebtedness.
C. Risk Factors
The following risks relate specifically to the Company's business and should be considered carefully. The Company's business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by any of the following risks.
(1) The Company's limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s current business and forecast future results.
The Company has only a limited operating history on which to base an evaluation of the Company's current business and prospects, each of which should be considered in light of the risks, expenses and problems frequently encountered in the early stages of development of all companies. This limited operating history leads the Company to believe that period-to-period comparisons of its operating results may not be meaningful and that the results for any particular period should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance.
The auditors’ report on the fiscal 2003 Financial Statements includes additional comments for U.S. readers that states that conditions exist which raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not reflect any adjustments as a result of this uncertainty.
(2) The Company's has no significant source of operating cash flow and failure to generate revenues in the future could cause the Company to go out of business.
The Company has no significant source of operating cash flow. The Company has limited financial resources. The Company’s ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow is dependent upon the Company’s:
· ability to locate a profitable natural resource;
· ability to generate revenues; and
· ability to reduce exploration and development costs.
Based upon current plans the Company expects to incur operating losses in future periods. This will happen because there are continuing expenses associated with the exploration of the Company’s properties. Failure to generate revenues could cause the Company to go out of business.
Additional funds raised by the Company through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities will cause the Company's current stockholders to experience dilution. Such securities may grant rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of the Company's common stockholders.
The Company does not have any contractual restrictions on the Company's ability to incur debt and, accordingly, the Company could incur significant amounts of indebtedness to finance its operations. Any such indebtedness could contain covenants, which would restrict the Company's operations. The Company does not plan on entering into any debt obligations in the next twelve months.
(3) The Company will need to raise additional financing to retain its natural resources properties, or participate in additional natural resource exploration programs.
If the Company wishes to retain its natural resource properties, or participate in additional exploration programs, it would need to raise additional financing. Failure to generate additional funds could result in the Company going out of business.
(4) The Company has no history of generating revenues and the continuing failure to generate revenues could cause the Company to cease operations.
The Company has no history of pre-tax profit. The continued operation of the Company will be dependent upon its ability to generate operating revenues and to procure additional financing. Failure to generate revenues or raise capital could cause the Company to cease operations.
(5) The Company has a history of Operating Losses.
The Company sustained operating losses for each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999 of $1,597,424, $774,707, $109,806, $3,870,052 and $143,974 respectively.
(6) As the Company is a Canadian company it may be difficult for U.S. shareholders of the Company to effect service on the Company or to realize on judgments obtained against the Company in the United States.
The Company is a Canadian corporation. All of its directors and officers are residents of Canada and a significant part of its assets are, or will be, located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for shareholders resident in the United States to effect service within the United States upon the Company, directors, officers or experts who are not residents of the United States, or to realize in the United States judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon civil liability of any of the Company, directors or officers under the United States federal securities laws. If a judgement is obtained in the U.S courts based on civil liability provisions of the U.S federal securities laws against the Company or its directors or officers it will be difficult to enforc e the judgment in the Canadian courts against the Company and any of the Company’s non-U.S resident executive officers or directors. Accordingly, United States shareholders may be forced to bring actions against the Company and its respective directors and officers under Canadian law and in Canadian courts in order to enforce any claims that they may have against the Company or its directors and officers. Subject to necessary registration, as an extra provincial company, under applicable provincial corporate statutes in the case of a corporate shareholder, Canadian courts do not restrict the ability of non-resident persons to sue in their courts. Nevertheless it may be difficult for United States Shareholders to bring an original action in the Canadian courts to enforce liabilities based on the U.S federal securities laws against the Company and any of the Company’s non U.S resident executive officers or directors.
(7) The Company does not presently have insurance covering any of its natural resource properties and as a consequence could incur significant costs.
Natural resource exploration involves risks, which even a combination of experience, knowledge and careful evaluation may not be able to overcome. Operations in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest may be subject to unusual or unexpected formations, cave-ins, equipment breakdown, fire, explosion, blowouts, cratering, oil spills, rugged terrain, wildlife hazards and harsh weather conditions, all of which could result in work stoppages, damage to property, and possible environmental damage, and damage to property or personal injury. The Company does not presently have insurance covering its natural resource properties and does not presently intend to obtain liability insurance. As a result of not having insurance the Company could incur significant costs that could have a materi ally adverse effect upon its financial condition and even cause the Company to cease operations. To date the Company has not experienced any material losses due to hazards arising from its operations.
(8) The Company is not the Operator of its Natural Resource Properties and will be largely unable to direct or control the activities of the Operator.
To the extent that the Company is not the operator of its natural resource properties, the Company will be dependant upon the operator of the projects for the timing of activities related to the projects and will be largely unable to direct or control the activities of the operators.
(9) The natural resource properties of the Company are in the exploration stage only and consequently exploration of the Company's natural resource properties may not result in any discoveries of commercial bodies of ore.
The property interests owned by the Company or in which it has an option to earn an interest are in the exploration stages only and are without known commercial quantity of metals or hydrocarbons. Development of one or more of the Company’s natural resource properties would follow only if favorable exploration results are obtained. Natural resource exploration involves a high degree of risk and few properties which are explored are ultimately commercially developed. If the Company’s efforts do not result in any discovery of commercial ore the Company will be forced to look for other exploration projects or cease operations.
The properties of the Company are considered to be in the exploration stages and do not contain known commercial quantities of metals or hydrocarbons.
(10) The Company’s natural resource properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements or transfers and as such title to some of the Company’s natural resource properties may be affected.
Although the Company has sought and received such representations as it has been able to achieve from vendors in connection with the acquisition of or options to acquire an interest in its natural resource properties and has conducted its own investigation of legal title to each such property, the natural resource properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements or transfers and title ma y be affected by undetected defects.
(11) Numerous factors beyond the control of the Company effect the marketablility of any metal or hydrocarbons discovered.
Factors beyond the control of the Company may affect the marketability of any metals or hydrocarbons discovered. Significant price movements over short periods of time may be affected by numerous factors beyond the control of the Company, including international economic and political trends, government regulations, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations (specifically, the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies), interest rates and global or regional consumption patterns, speculative activities and increased production due to improved mining and hydrocarbon production methods. The effect of these factors on the price of metals and hydrocarbons and therefore the economic viability of any of the Company’s exploration projects cannot accurately be predicted. As the Com pany is in the exploration stage, the above factors have had no material impact on operations or income.
(12) The Company’s future performance is dependent on key personnel. The loss of the services of any of the Company's executives or Board of Directors could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.
The Company’s performance is substantially dependent on the performance and continued efforts of the Company’s senior officers and Board of Directors. The loss of the services of any of the Company’s senior officers or directors could have a material adverse effect on the Company business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company currently does not carry any key person insurance on any of the members of the board of directors.
(13) The Company has not declared any dividends since its inception in 1983, and has no present intention of paying any cash dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future
The Company has not declared any dividends since its inception in 1983 and has no present intention of paying any cash dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future. The payment by the Company of dividends, if any, in the future, rests in the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and will depend, among other things, upon the Company's earnings, its capital requirements and financial condition, as well as other relevant factors.
(14) The possible issuance of additional shares may impact the value of the Company stock.
The Company is authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock. It is the Company's intention to issue more shares. Sales of substantial amounts of common stock (including shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options, the conversion of notes and the exercise of warrants), or the perception that such sales could occur, could materially adversely affect prevailing market prices for the common stock and the ability of the Company to raise equity capital in the future. Additional issuance of shares by the Company will cause the current shareholders to suffer dilution.
(15) The Company's expectations reflected in forward looking statements may prove to be incorrect.
This Form 20-F includes "forward-looking statements". A shareholder or prospective shareholder should bear this in mind when assessing the Company's business. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this registration statement, including, without limitation, the statements under and located elsewhere herein regarding industry prospects and the Company's financial position are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are reasonable, such expectations may prove to be incorrect.
(16) Certain of the Company's directors are also directors and/or officers of others companies that are engaged in the business of natural resources exploration and accordingly conflicts of interest may arise
Messrs. Keats, Patterson, Sparkes, and Maher, the directors of the Company, also serve as officers and/or directors of other companies whose securities are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, and which engage in natural resource exploration and development activities. See "Item 6(A) – Directors and Senior Management". To the extent that such other companies may participate in ventures in which the Company may participate, the directors of the Company may have a conflict of interest in negotiating and concluding terms respecting the extent of such participation the result of which could ca use the Company to lose potential exploration and development opportunities. In the event that such a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the directors of the Company, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from voting for or against the approval of such a participation or such terms. In appropriate cases the Company will establish a special committee of independent directors to review a matter in which several directors, or management, may have a conflict. From time to time several companies may participate in the acquisition, exploration and development of natural resource properties thereby allowing for their participating in larger programs, permitting involvement in a greater number of programs and reducing financial exposure in respect of any one program. It may also occur that a particular company will assign all or a portion of its interest in a particular program to another of these companies due to the financial position of the company making the assignment. In accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia, the directors of the Company are required to act honestly, in good faith and in the best interest of the Company. In determining whether the Company will participate in a particular program and the interest therein to be acquired by it, the directors will primarily consider the potential benefits to the Company, the degree of risk to which the Company may be exposed and its financial position at the time. Other than as indicated, the Company has no other procedures or mechanisms to deal with conflicts of interest.
(17) The value and transferability of the Company’s shares may be adversely impacted by the limited trading market for the Company’s common stock, the penny stock rules and future share issuances. There is a limited market for the Company’s common stock in the US.
The Company's common stock is not quoted for trading in the United States.
The sale or transfer of the Company's common stock by shareholders in the United States may be subject to the so-called "penny stock rules."
Under Rule 15g-9 of the Exchange Act, a broker or dealer may not sell a "penny stock" (as defined in Rule 3a51-1) to or effect the purchase of a penny stock by any person unless:
(a) such sale or purchase is exempt from Rule 15g-9;
(b) prior to the transaction the broker or dealer has (1) approved the person's account for transaction in penny stocks in accordance with Rule15g-9, and (2) received from the person a written agreement to the transaction setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased; and
(c) the purchaser has been provided an appropriate disclosure statement as to penny stock investment.
The SEC adopted regulations that generally define a penny stock to be any equity security other than a security excluded from such definition by Rule 3a51-1. Such exemptions include, but are not limited to (1) an equity security issued by an issuer that has (i) net tangible assets of at least $2,000,000, if such issuer has been in continuous operations for at least three years, (ii) net tangible assets of at least $5,000,000, if such issuer has been in continuous operation for less than three years, or (iii) average revenue of at least $6,000,000 for the preceding three years; (2) except for purposes of Section 7(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 419, any security that has a price of $5.00 or more; and (3) a security that is authorized or approved for authorization upon notice of issuance for quotation on the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.'s Automated Quotation System. It is likely that shares of the Company’s common stock, assuming a market were to develop in the US therefore, will be subject to the regulations on penny stocks; consequently, the market liquidity for the common stock may be adversely affected by such regulations limiting the ability of broker/dealers to sell the Company’s common stock and the ability of shareholders to sell their securities in the secondary market in the US.
Moreover, the Company shares may only be sold or transferred by the Company shareholders in those jurisdictions in the US in which an exemption for such "secondary trading" exists or in which the shares may have been registered.
(18) The natural resources industry is intensely competitive and the Company competes with many companies that have greater financial means and technical facilities.
The natural resources industry is intensely competitive and the Company competes with many companies that have greater financial means and technical facilities. Significant competition exists for the limited number of natural resource acquisition opportunities available. As a result of this competition, the Company’s ability to acquire additional attractive natural resource properties on terms it considers acceptable may be adversely affected.
Item 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. History and Development of the Company
The Company was incorporated by Memorandum and Articles pursuant to the Company Act (British Columbia) on April 11, 1983 under the name Orotek Resources Corporation. On December 29, 1992, the Company consolidated its share capital on a 4.7 for 1 basis and changed its name to Doucette Developments Corp. Effective August 30, 1995, the Company changed its name to Traders International Franchise Systems Inc. The Company subsequently consolidated its share capital on a 3 for 1 basis and changed its name to Newquest Ventures Corp. on May 21, 1998. On May 26, 1999, the Company consolidated its share capital on a 2 for 1 basis and changed its name to Aster Ventures Corp. The Company subsequently consolidated its share capital on a 2 for 1 basis and changed its name to Knight Petroleum Corp. on March 22, 2001. Effective March 7, 2003, the Company changed its name to Knight Resources Ltd.
The Company changed its name each time it consolidated its share capital. The policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and its predecessors require companies whose shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange to change their name whenever they consolidate their share capital. The Company recently changed its name to Knight Resources Ltd. to better reflect the Company’s exploration activities.
The head office of the Company is located at 1360 - 605 Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5J3. The Company’s telephone number is (604) 684-6535. The registered office of the Company is located at 700 – 625 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T6. The Company’s common stock has been listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 10 years. Effective June 18, 2003, the Company's common shares were listed for trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. See "Item 9(A) – Listing Details and Markets".
Over the past 3 years ended September 30, 2003, the Company has spent $2,008,621 on the acquisition and exploration on its various natural resource properties. The Company will continue making expenditures on its natural resource properties in fiscal 2004, in particular the Company intends to incur on approximately $4,400,000 on its West Raglan Project. See "Item 4(D) – Property, Plant and Equipment".
B. Business Overview
The Company is currently engaged in the acquisition and exploration of natural resource properties. The Company’s primary property is the West Raglan Project, located in the Province of Quebec, Canada where the Company is exploring for nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum and palladium. The Company entered into an option earn-in agreement with Anglo American Exploration (Canada) Ltd. to acquire an interest in the West Raglan Project in fiscal 2003. The Company carried out one exploration program on the West Raglan Project in fiscal 2003.
The Company entered into a co-participation agreement with Prairie Pacific Energy Corporation to acquire an interest in the Lagarde oil and gas project, located in the Province of British Columbia in fiscal 2001. The Company, together with a number of junior oil and gas exploration companies, drilled an initial test well on the Lagarde Project in fiscal 2002. The initial test well was deemed to be uneconomic on a stand alone basis and all acquisition and exploration costs related to the Lagarde project were written-off in fiscal 2002.
The Company entered into a co-participation agreement with Prairie Pacific Energy Corporation to acquire an interest in the Fort St. John oil and gas project, located in the Province of British Columbia in fiscal 2000. A successful well was drilled and tied-in in fiscal 2000. The Company’s working interest was reduced to 15% from 30% when the Fort St. John project well reached payout in January 2001. The well was shut in for a large portion of fiscal 2002 and 2003 and no reserves are assigned to the project.
All of the natural resource properties in which the Company has an interest are currently in the exploration stage without any known reserves. The Company’s primary objective is to explore its existing natural resource properties. Its secondary objective is to locate, evaluate and acquire other natural resource properties and to finance their exploration.
C. Organizational Structure
On June 12, 2002, Knight Petroleum (Delaware) Corp. was incorporated in the state of Delaware as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("Subco"). Effective on June 12, 2002, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Canada Trace Capital Corp. ("Canada Trace"), a Delaware corporation, from the shareholders thereof in an exchange for an aggregate of 150,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the "Acquisition"). Immediately following the Acquisition, Subco merged with Canada Trace.
Canada Trace was organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on October 18, 2000. Canada Trace filed with the SEC a Form 10SB12G on January 4, 2001 and became a "reporting issuer" under the 1934 Act on March 5, 2001. The purpose of the transaction was to continue Canada Trace’s reporting issuer status to the Company but Canada Trace’s reporting issuer status was never transferred to the Company.
Prior to the Acquisition, both Subco and Canada Trace had limited finances and no material assets or liabilities and the Acquisition had no material effect on the financial statements of the Company.
In October 11, 2002, the terms of the acquisition agreement between the Company and Canada Trace were amended whereby the Company was no longer required to issue the 150,000 shares of common stock of the Company to the shareholders of Canada Trace because Canada Trace’s reporting issuer status was not transferred to the Company.
On March 27, 2003, the Company dissolved Subco. From the time of Subco’s incorporation to the date of dissolution, there was no active business carried out through the subsidiary and the subsidiary had no assets or liabilities. The dissolution of Subco resulted in no gain or loss.
On March 26, 2003 Donner Minerals Ltd. acquired 8,000,000 common shares and 8,000,000 share purchase warrants. Each warrant entitles Donner to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 expiring March 25, 2005. As at January 31, 2004, Donner Minerals Ltd. owns 17.6% of the Company. (See "Item 7.A - Major Shareholders and related Party Transactions").
D. Property, plant and equipment
The Company has executive offices at 1360 - 605 Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5J3 that are rented on a month-to-month basis, at a cost of $2,000 per month.
Since 1999, the Company has been involved in the business of exploring for oil and gas. The Company holds various interests in two oil and gas projects located in northeast British Columbia (the Fort St. John Project and the Lagarde Project); and a minority working interest in a large sour gas prospect located in the Foothills Region of Alberta (the Maycroft Project).
The Company has an option to earn a 49% participating joint venture interest in certain mineral claims known as the West Raglan Project located in northern Quebec. The Company’s primary focus is the West Raglan Project, where the Company is exploring for nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum and palladium.
All of the Company's natural resource properties are in the exploration stage.
West Raglan Project, Quebec
On March 26, 2003, the Company entered into a formal Option and Joint Venture Agreement with Anglo American Exploration (Canada) Ltd. ('Anglo American') whereby the Company can earn a 49% participating joint venture interest in the 720 square kilometre West Raglan Project located in the Cape Smith Belt in northern Quebec. The Project is located in the Ungava Peninsula of Northern Quebec some 80 km south from the coastal town of Salluit. The group of 1,646 claims covers an area of approximately 700 km 2 oriented east-west and centered on coordinates 60°20’ latitude and 75°50’ longit ude.
To exercise the option, the Company must incur a total of $11.8 million of expenditures on exploration and related work on the property on or before December 31, 2006, as follows:
(a) $1,700,000 of expenditures by December 31, 2003 (completed);
(b) $2,300,000 of expenditures by December 31, 2004;
(c) $3,400,000 of expenditures by December 31, 2005; and
(d) $4,400,000 of expenditures by December 31, 2006.
Anglo American must contribute to exploration funding by participating in private placements in the Company in an amount equal to 20% of approved exploration program expenditures. Anglo American is only obligated to complete any private placement from time to time if it is satisfied, in its sole discretion, that the Company has sufficient funds to pay the balance of the costs of the exploration program.
Exploration will be carried out by Anglo American, under the direction of a Management Committee comprised of two representatives from each of the Company and Anglo American. Anglo American will have the deciding vote in the case of a Management Committee stalemate. The Management Committee will determine the nature of the expenditures to be incurred by the Issuer to exercise the option.
Anglo American are charging an administrative and overhead charge of 12% of direct project costs during the option period. The Company has also granted to Anglo American the right to purchase, at fair market value, all mineral products assigned to the Company’s interest in any future mine developed on the West Raglan Project. Anglo American has the right to increase its interest in the Project from 51% to 70% by completing, at its own cost, a bankable feasibility study. At the Company’s election, Anglo American can further increase its interest in the West Raglan Project to 75% by arranging production financing for both parties.
The Company and Anglo American both have a right of first refusal to purchase all or any part of the other party’s interest in the West Raglan Project.
Anglo American Exploration (Canada) Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anglo American plc, of London, England.
Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources, Infrastructure and Physiography
The Property can be accessed by floatplane to Lake Chukotat or by helicopter from Salluit or from Puvirnituk located some 170 km to the southwest. Travel within the area is predominantly by helicopter.
The entire area lies in the zone of discontinuous, but widespread permafrost, which can extend to depths of 540 meters (Stewart, 1976). The climate of the area is harsh, with summer (July and early August) temperatures ranging between 0 o C and 20 o C. Winter temperatures range between 0 o C and –50 o C with extreme wind conditions throughout the year. Snow accumulation is common in all months of the year. Sheltered ridge areas often remain snow covered throughout the entire year. The field season for surface exploration activities optimally lasts the months of July, August and early September, with winter snow expected in late August and early September. The area is subject to strong wind conditions and periods of dense fog. Ice thickness on the lakes can reach up to five feet thick in winter.
History
Some of the earliest geological observations of the Ungava Peninsula were made by Bell (1885) during a series of expeditions to Ungava Bay, Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay in 1875, 1877, 1884 and 1885. Low (1902) explored the coastal region from Kettlestone Bay to Korak Bay. His report contains the first descriptions of pillowed basalt in the area.
Based on Low’s observations, the western part of the Cape Smith Belt was prospected for base metals between 1931 to 1932. Most exploration was carried out in the coastal region by Cyril Knight Prospecting Company Limited, Huronian Mining and Finance Company, Newmont Exploration Limited and Quebec Prospectors Limited. Several mineral showings were found in the western belt. The most prominent was in the Korak Bay area. Gunning (1934) examined this showing and reported that mineralization consisted of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite that was localized along the folded contact between gabbro bodies and the host sedimentary rocks.
With the discovery of nickel and other base metals in the Cape Smith Belt in 1957-1959, geologists from the Ministere de l’Energie et des Ressources du Quebec began to map several areas of the west and central belt. The majority of the project area has not been subject to any major systematic government mapping projects to date. To the west of the project area, Bergeron (1957) completed the first detailed work, while Moorehead (1986, 1989) completed 1:50,000 regional mapping east of Chukotat Lake.
Previous mineral exploration in the area has been very sporadic and quite limited. Aerodat flew a 3-frequency helicopter borne survey in 1987 on behalf of Ateba Mines Inc. and Jascan Resources Inc. It is not known if any follow up work was carried out. The Aerodat survey shows apparent resistivity anomalies. Falconbridge has carried out reconnaissance geological mapping and sampling in the area, however, no follow-up work has been undertaken. No modern large scale geophysical surveys have been carried out on the property prior to 2003.
2003 Exploration Program
The Cape Smith Belt in northern Quebec has recently emerged as one of the most prospective areas in the world to discover new nickel deposits.
Falconbridge's Raglan nickel mine is located 90 kilometres east of the eastern margin of the West Raglan Project. Resources, reserves and mined ore to date at Falconbridge’s Raglan mine total 28 million tonnes averaging 2.8% nickel and 0.8% copper with significant cobalt, platinum and palladium. Proximity of the Company's West Raglan Project to Falconbridge's Raglan deposits and comparisons thereto, do not provide any assurance that economic mineralization exists on the West Raglan Project.
The known nickel deposits in the Cape Smith Belt occur in two different settings: 1) ultramafic rocks of the Raglan Formation at the base of a series of basaltic flows known as the Chukotat Group, and 2) ultramafic rocks of the Delta Horizon in a series of basaltic flows and sedimentary rocks of the older Povungnituk Group. All of Falconbridge’s resources and reserves are hosted by ultramafic rocks of the Raglan Formation and occur in nine separate deposits over a 55 kilometre strike length.
In 2002 Anglo American confirmed the existence of 65 kilometres of strike length of the Raglan Formation and 65 kilometres of strike length of the Delta Horizon on the West Raglan Project.
The 2003 program began when Anglo American flew the entire property with their deep penetrating SPECTREM electromagnetic and magnetic airborne system, which was followed up in the field by ground electromagnetic and magnetic surveys.
In July, surface sampling in the area of an airborne electromagnetic and magnetic anomaly discovered high grade locally derived boulders on the West Raglan Project. The best grab sample taken assayed 3.41% nickel, 2.91% copper, 0.09% cobalt, 3.3 grams/tonne palladium and 0.84 grams/tonne platinum. Results of all of the boulder samples are shown in the table below.
In 2003, a total of 18 holes were drilled, eight of which intersected significant nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum and palladium mineralization in the Frontier area. The Frontier area, which extends over 3 kilometres east-west by 1 kilometre north-south, has been divided into four zones: Frontier East, Frontier Central, Frontier West and Frontier South. The eight intersections are located in proximity to the sulphide boulders discovered at Frontier East and Frontier Central and in proximity to a surface gossan discovered at Frontier South. The source of the sulphide boulders at Frontier West has not yet been found. The mineralization occurs in ultramafic rocks of the Raglan Formation.
The discovery hole, WR-08 intersected 14.75 metres of 3.04% nickel in 50% net textured sulphides at Frontier South. The best hole, WR-16, intersected 5.12 metres of 4.16% nickel averaging 35% sulphides, including a 0.67 metre intersection of 11.83% nickel in massive sulphides at Frontier Central. All of the significant assays from Fontier East, Frontier Central and Frontier South are shown in the tables below. Assays from the remaining eight holes are insignificant and only hole locations are shown.
Frontier Central
Hole Number | Grid Location | Angle/ Direction | From | To | Core Length (metres) | Nickel % | Copper % | Cobalt % | Platinum (grams/tonne) | Palladium (grams/tonne) | Sulphur % |
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WR-14 | 1+50W 2+80N | - 45 ° / 350 | 20.75 | 29.50 | 8.75 | 3.26 | 1.40 | 0.06 | 0.95 | 3.22 | Not reported |
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Incl. | | | 23.00 | 28.00 | 5.00 | 3.96 | 1.67 | 0.07 | 1.10 | 3.72 | Not reported |
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WR-15 | 1+50W 2+80N | - 70 ° / 350 | 26.22 | 28.92 | 2.70 | 2.00 | 0.99 | 0.05 | 0.29 | 1.75 | 14.7 |
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Incl. | | | 27.22 | 28.92 | 1.70 | 2.66 | 1.04 | 0.07 | 0.45 | 2.27 | 20.2 |
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WR-16 | 2+50W 2+65N | - 45 ° / 350 | 19.15 | 19.95 | 0.80 | 7.15 | 3.56 | 0.16 | 1.21 | 2.99 | 34.2 |
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| | | 64.33 | 69.45 | 5.12 | 4.16 | 1.64 | 0.09 | 0.60 | 2.48 | 12.8 |
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Incl. | | | 64.33 | 65.00 | 0.67 | 11.83 | 2.03 | 0.23 | 0.91 | 5.60 | 33.7 |
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Frontier South
Hole Number | Grid Location | Angle/ Direction | From | To | Core length (metres) | Nickel % | Copper % | Cobalt % | Platinum (grams/tonne) | Palladium (grams/tonne) | Sulphur % |
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WR-8 | 7+25W 0+67S | - 88 ° / 175 | 17.25 | 32.00 | 14.75 | 3.04 | 1.13 | 0.08 | 0.87 | 2.93 | 16.1 |
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Incl. | | | 17.25 | 19.00 | 1.75 | 3.53 | 1.33 | 0.08 | 0.76 | 2.17 | 17.7 |
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Incl. | | | 19.00 | 23.00 | 4.00 | 3.23 | 1.66 | 0.07 | 1.55 | 5.54 | 16.2 |
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Incl. | | | 23.00 | 28.00 | 5.00 | 3.34 | 0.96 | 0.09 | 0.83 | 2.47 | 18.6 |
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WR-9 | 7+25W 0+67S | - 60 ° / 175 | 3.05 | 10.00 | 6.95 | 1.05 | 0.92 | 0.03 | 0.27 | 0.92 | 16.7 |
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Incl. | | | 3.05 | 7.00 | 3.95 | 1.35 | 0.78 | 0.04 | 0.43 | 1.47 | 17.2 |
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| | | 24.30 | 27.30 | 3.00 | 3.69 | 0.86 | 0.07 | 0.36 | 2.28 | 13.0 |
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Incl. | | | 25.00 | 27.30 | 2.30 | 4.29 | 0.88 | 0.08 | 0.37 | 2.54 | 14.6 |
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WR-04 | 6+93W 0+25S | - 45 ° / 175 | | | | | | | | |
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WR-05 | 8+00W 0+30S | - 60 ° / 175 | | | | | | | | |
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WR-06 | 6+97W 0+45S | - 45 ° / 175 |
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WR-10 | 7+50W 0+79S | - 88 ° / 175 | | | | | | | | |
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WR-11 | 7+50W 0+62S | - 88 ° / 175 | | | | | | | | |
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Frontier East
Hole Number | Grid Location | Angle/ Direction | From | To | Core Length (metres) | Nickel % | Copper % | Cobalt % | Platinum (grams/tonne) | Palladium (grams/tonne) | Sulphur % |
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WR-12 | 9+00E 3+15N | - 45 ° / 350 | 15.50 | 31.00 | 15.50 | 1.20 | 0.81 | 0.04 | 0.28 | 1.03 | 8.9 |
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Incl. | | | 18.00 | 23.00 | 5.00 | 1.87 | 0.95 | 0.06 | 0.44 | 1.71 | 13.5 |
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WR-13 | 9+00E 3+15N | - 70 ° / 350 | 41.00 | 49.42 | 8.42 | 2.32 | 1.40 | 0.08 | 0.38 | 1.49 | 32.2 |
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Incl. | | | 41.80 | 48.00 | 6.20 | 2.64 | 1.00 | 0.10 | 0.41 | 1.69 | 36.0 |
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WR-17 | 8+50E 3+00N | - 45 ° / 350 | 51.80 | 56.00 | 4.20 | 2.85 | 1.30 | 0.07 | 0.61 | 2.03 | 18.8 |
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Incl. | | | 51.80 | 53.00 | 1.20 | 3.88 | 1.89 | 0.09 | 0.92 | 2.28 | 26.2 |
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| | | 61.00 | 65.20 | 4.20 | 1.30 | 0.65 | 0.03 | 0.25 | 1.08 | 4.5 |
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WR-02 | 8+08E 3+81N | - 60 ° / 170 | | | | | | | | |
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WR-18 | 8+50E 3+00N | - 70 ° / 350 |
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Frontier West
Hole Number | Grid Location | Angle/ Direction | From | To | Core Length (metres) | Nickel % | Copper % | Cobalt % | Platinum (grams/tonne) | Palladium (grams/tonne) | Sulphur % |
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WR-03 | 7+00W 3+13N | - 45 ° / 350 | | | | | | | | | |
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2004 Exploration Program
Exploration on the West Raglan Project will resume in late spring 2004. The 2004 exploration program will focus on detailed drilling in the Frontier area, target drilling on the virtually unexplored 65 km strike length of the Raglan Formation, and target drilling on the 65 km strike length of the Delta Horizon. The preliminary budget for the 2004 exploration program is $4,400,000.
Fort St. John Project, British Columbia
Pursuant to the terms of a farmout and sub-participation agreement dated November 16, 1999 between the Company and Prairie Pacific Energy Corporation ("Prairie Pacific"), of Vancouver, BC, the Company acquired a 30% working interest in the Kiskatinaw formation on a section of land (640 acres) near Fort St. John, BC, by funding 30% of the total cost of drilling, completing, equipping and tying-in an initial test well. The Company was also required to pay an overriding royalty to Prairie Pacific in the amount of 15% on the net value at the wellhead of all oil and gas net of any royalties payable to the Crown.
Prairie Pacific (TSX.V: PRP) is a public Canadian independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with over 30 years experience across North America.
On January 21, 2001, the well reached payout. As a result of reaching payout, the Company’s working interest was reduced to 15% from 30% and the Company was no longer required to pay the 15% overriding royalty to Prairie Pacific.
The well has produced approximately 502 million cubic feet of gas since it was tied in on August 2, 2000. Production was limited during 2002 and therefore the Company provided for 100% depletion of the well during the 2002 fiscal year. The well was shut in for most of 2003 but produced approximately 33 million cubic feet of gas during the year with 31 million cubic feet produced in September 2003.
Due to the sporadic and limited nature of production from the Fort St. John Project in fiscal 2002 and 2003, no reserves have been assigned to the Fort St. John Project.
Lagarde Project, British Columbia
Pursuant to the terms of a Co-Participation Agreement dated July 16, 2001 (the "Lagarde Agreement") with Prairie Pacific, the Company acquired a 45% working interest in the Lagarde lands, subject to a 7.5% overriding royalty to the original owner. The Company paid to Prairie Pacific the sum of $217,002 as reimbursement for one-half of the entire land and seismic costs of the Lagarde Project.
The Company subsequently entered into farm-out agreements with numerous junior oil and gas companies for the drilling of an initial test well on the Lagarde lands. The Company directly funded 15% of the initial test well, the balance of which was funded by junior oil and gas companies and Prairie Pacific. The Company had a 32.5% before payout working interest and a 66.25% after payout working interest in the initial test well. The Company also had a 7.5% overriding royalty until payout on the initial test well. The Company had a 22.5% working interest in the Lagarde lands.
The Lagarde lands were comprised of three sections of land located north of Fort St. John, in northeastern British Columbia. Two of the sections include the petroleum and natural gas rights below base 43001 Bluesky-Gething-Dunlevy. The remaining section includes all of the petroleum and natural gas rights. The Lagarde lands are currently comprised of the one section of land where the initial test well was drilled, the other two sections having been relinquished.
In November 2001, drilling of the initial test well on the Lagarde lands was completed. Results of testing, well bore analysis and interpretations received by the Company indicated that the test well would be uneconomic on a stand-alone basis and after spending some months evaluating the overall project prospects a decision was made to abandon the well. Abandonment of the well began in November 2003 and site restoration is expected to be completed by mid-2004. It is not expected that the cost to the Company of abandonment and site restoration will exceed the $11,000 that the Company has accrued for such cost. Total exploration costs on the Lagarde project amounted to $397,247. All exploration and acquisitions costs were written-off in fiscal 2002.
Maycroft Project, Alberta
Pursuant to the terms of a farmout agreement dated November 1, 2001 (the "Polaris Agreement") with Polaris Resources Ltd. ("Polaris"), a private Alberta company, to participate and earn a 25% before payout working interest, subject to a 9% overriding royalty, and a 20% after payout working interest in a large sour gas prospect located in the Foothills region of Alberta (the "Maycroft Project"). The Maycroft Project is in the exploration stage. The Company has paid to Polaris the sum of $125,000 toward the seismic costs as required under the terms of the Polaris Agreement. The Company has also paid an additional $327,500 to Polaris, being the Company’s proportionate share of preparatory work to obtain a well license. John Maher, a director of the Company, is the President, a director and a significant shareholder of Polaris.
The cost of an initial 5,000 metre test well is estimated at $9 million of which the Company’s portion is approximately $2.25 million.
The Maycroft Project is a large geological structure that is prospective for natural gas. The structure is surrounded at some distance by major natural gas fields, which are some of the largest gas fields in Alberta producing from Devonian and Mississippian (of the Carboniferous era) Formations. Geophysical and geological mapping indicate a structural closure causing a large potential reservoir for natural gas in the Mississippian and Devonian Formations. Secondary targets exist in the overlying Cretaceous Formations. The structure, as mapped, is 10 kilometres in length by over 1 kilometre in width and structural closure is interpreted to be in excess of 100 metres. Most, if not all of the drillable locations are believed to be on the Maycroft Project lands. A large portion of the structure is inaccessible due to environmental restrictions. It is largely because of the past environmental concerns that Polaris was required to expend a relatively large sum toward preparatory work in its application to obtain a licence to drill a test well. The preparatory work included environmental and engineering consulting, preparation of an emergency response program and numerous community advisory and consultation activities.
Polaris, the operator, has applied for a well license for the drilling of an initial test well and up to three additional wells from the same site. The Alberta Energy & Utilities Board ('AEUB') conducted a public hearing on the proposed drilling of the initial test well in Maycroft, Alberta in September 2003. On December 16, 2003, the AEUB denied the well license application for the Maycroft Project, submitted by Polaris. The Company and Polaris are reviewing the decision.
Item 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of the Company and related notes included therein.
All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Report, including, without limitation, the statements under "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects," "Information on the Company," and "Property, plant and equipment" and located elsewhere herein regarding industry prospects and the Company’s financial position are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations ("Cautionary Statements") are disclosed in this Report, including, without limitation, in conjunction with the forward-l ooking statements included in this Report under "Item 3(C) – Risk Factors." All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributed to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statement.
A. Operating Results
United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
See note 16 to the financial statements for a comparison of Canadian GAAP and United States GAAP as applicable to the Company's operations.
Critical Accounting Policies
Under Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants ("CICA") Handbook Section 1581, Business Combinations , and CICA Handbook Section 3062, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets , mining assets without established mineral reserves are required to be classified as intangible assets. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives should be tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset might be impaired.
Under CICA Handbook Section 3061, Property, Plant and Equipment , and Emerging Issue Committee Abstract 126, Accounting by Mining Enterprises for Exploration Costs , mining enterprises that have not established mineral reserves are not precluded from considering the capitalized costs of acquired mineral rights to have characteristics of property, plant and equipment. The Company follows these re commendations and therefore the unproven mineral property claim costs are initially capitalized as property, plant and equipment. Such assets are tested for impairment in accordance with the provisions of the CICA Handbook Section 3063, Impairment of Long-lived Assets .
The Company has interpreted the adoption of CICA Handbook Sections 1581 and 3062 and has determined that it is not required to change its accounting for the cost of its contract based mining assets. Regardless of whether the unproven mineral property claims are classified as intangible assets or property, plant and equipment, there is no material difference to the financial statements of the Company for the years ended September 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001.
The CICA may provide additional guidance that requires accounting for mining assets that differs from the Company’s interpretation.
The Company has changed its primary focus to mineral exploration from oil and gas exploration and development. The method of accounting for mineral exploration expenditures differs from accounting for oil and gas exploration expenditures. Exploration costs incurred on mineral properties are expensed as incurred and only capitalized if economically recoverable reserves are discovered. Exploration costs incurred on oil and gas properties are capitalized immediately.
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 compared to fiscal year ended September 30, 2002
The Company reported a loss of $1,597,424 (2002 - $774,707) and a loss per share of $0.08 (2002 - $0.09) for the year ended September 30, 2003.
The Company expended $1,982,685 (2002 - $nil) on exploration of the West Raglan Project. The Company has accrued $858,000 in tax credits recoverable as at September 30, 2003. These tax credits recoverable relate to the Government of Quebec’s exploration subsidy program whereby a corporation is entitled to receive a 33.75% refundable tax credit for every exploration dollar spent in Quebec and a 12% mining duties refund on all Quebec exploration expenditures less the 33.75% refundable tax credit. As a result of these credits, the Company’s 2003 net expenditures on the West Raglan Project were $1,124,685.
The Company’s oil and gas operations improved slightly over 2002 as the Fort St. John well provided the Company $26,665 (2002 - $7,474) in sales. The Company does not anticipate significant production from the well in the future. As of the date of this report, there are no plans to abandon the well in the short term. The Company is not expecting any material future profits or losses from the well.
Most of the line items on the consolidated schedule of general and administrative expenses have increased in 2003 compared to 2002. The increase is in large part due to the Company’s recent involvement in the West Raglan Project.
Filing fees have increased significantly during fiscal 2003 compared to fiscal 2002 because of the increase in fundraising activity and the Company's involvement in the West Raglan Project. The Company also incurred approximately $16,500 in fees related to the listing of its common shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Legal fees have increased by $56,092 over 2002 as the result of the Company completing the purchase of the West Raglan Project.
Office and miscellaneous expenditures have primarily increased during fiscal 2003 compared to fiscal 2002 because of increased printing costs and the cost of updating the Company’s web site.
The Company paid an arms-length private company $74,000 (2002 - $55,000) for administrative and accounting services and paid the same company $18,000 (2002 - $12,000) for rent of office space. Rent has increased due to the Company using more office space because of its involvement in the West Raglan Project.
Management anticipates increasing expenditures for fiscal 2004 in order to manage the Company’s involvement in the West Raglan Project and to raise sufficient funds to incur the required exploration expenditures. In particular, the Company expects to incur greater legal fees, travel and promotion costs, filing fees, transfer agent fees and administrative fees.
Effective October 1, 2002, the Company adopted the new Recommendations of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Handbook Section 3870, Stock-based Compensation and Other Stock-based Payments . The Company applies Section 3870 prospectively to all stock-based payments to employees and non-employees granted on or after October 1, 2002.
The Company accounts for all options granted to employees, including directors, under the intrinsic value method, whereby the excess, if any, of the quoted market value of the stock at the date of grant over the exercise price of the option is recorded as stock-based compensation expense. As the exercise price of the options granted is greater than the market value on the measurement date, the Company has determined that the application of this accounting policy for employees did not affect reported results of operations for the year ended September 30, 2003.
Options granted to non-employees on or after October 1, 2002 are accounted for under the fair value based method. Under this method, options granted to non-employees are measured at their fair value and recognized as the options are earned. For the year ended September 30, 2003, $62,000 of compensation expense has been recorded in the financial statements related to grants to non-employees.
If the Company had used the fair value based method for grants of stock options to employees and directors, pro forma loss would have amounted to $1,941,424 (an increase of $344,000) and pro forma loss per share would have been $0.10 (an increase of $0.02) for the year ended September 30, 2003.
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2002 compared to fiscal year ended September 30, 2001
The Company reported a loss of $774,707 for the year ended September 30, 2002 compared to a loss of $109,806 in 2001. The large increase in the loss is primarily due to the sharp decline of production at the Fort St. John well and the write-off of $397,247 of deferred costs associated with the Lagarde property.
The Fort St. John well lost $115,474 in 2002 compared to earning $190,234 in 2001. The Company changed the depletion estimate during the year and all of the remaining carrying costs were charged to depletion. Also, royalties were $17,464 higher than gross sales due to the operator having to recalculate government royalties previously paid in fiscal 2001.
The Company wrote-off the Lagarde deferred costs of $397,247 during 2002. Included in these costs is an $11,000 estimate of future overhead and abandonment costs. There were no write-offs in 2001.
The Company was unsuccessful in completing the South Whale Basin property acquisition. The Company incurred $46,844 in costs related to this project and these have been expensed as property investigation expenditures. There were no such costs incurred in 2001.
The Company reported expenses of $261,986 (2001 - $300,040) net of oil and gas property write-offs of $397,247 (2001 - $ nil). Travel and promotion, salaries and benefits, administrative fees and management fees all decreased during 2002 due to the Company’s slower business activity.
The Company incurred $33,000 (2001 - $26,281) in consulting fees for various services received in conjunction with the Company’s general operations.
The Company paid an arms-length private company $55,000 (2001 - $73,000) for administrative and accounting services and paid the same company $12,000 (2001 - $12,000) for rent of office space.
The CEO and a company related to the CEO loaned the Company $150,100 (2001 - $nil) in order for the Company to meet ongoing operations and Maycroft exploration commitments. These loans are due on demand, non-interest bearing and have no specified terms of repayment.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
At September 30, 2003 the Company had working capital of $2,433,657. At January 31, 2004 the Company had working capital of approximately $5,400,000. It is anticipated that working capital at January 31, 2004 will be sufficient to cover the Company’s fiscal 2004 operating costs and exploration commitments.
The increase in working capital since September 30, 2003 is primarily due to the issuance of 3,531,000 common shares on the exercise of options and warrants, which realized $1,050,100, and the issuance of 6,730,769 Units, which realized $3,500,000. The Units are comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.65 until May 11, 2005.
The Company expects to spend approximately $4,400,000 on exploration of the West Raglan Project in calendar 2004. The Company does not expect to incur any significant expenditures on the Fort St. John or Lagarde Projects. In light of the recent decision of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board denying a well license on the Maycroft Project, the Company intends on investigating various means to recover its costs. In the near term expenditures on the Maycroft Project are expected to be minimal.
The Company has no off balance sheet arrangements.
The Company has no contractual obligations. However in order to retain the option on the West Raglan Project, the Company is required to incur approximately $1,100,000 by December 31, 2004, an additional $3,400,000 by December 31, 2005 and an additional $4,440,000 by December 31, 2006. Failure to incur these expenditures will result in the Company forfeiting its entire interest in the West Raglan Project. Anglo American must contribute to exploration funding by participating in private placements in the Company in an amount equal to 20% of approved exploration program expenditures on the West Raglan Project until the Company has earned in to the West Raglan Project. (See "Item 4.D - Property, plants, and equipment").
Item 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A. Directors and Senior Management
The following table sets forth certain information as of January 31, 2004 about the Company’s current directors and senior management:
Name | Age | Position | Other Reporting Companies |
Company | Position | | |
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David Patterson | 50 | Chief Executive Officer and Director | Donner Minerals Ltd. Terra Nova Gold Corp. Bayswater Ventures Corp. Springbank Ventures Corp. | CEO and Director Chairman and Director Director Director |
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Harvey Keats (Geologist) | 57 | President and Director | Donner Minerals Ltd. Terra Nova Gold Corp. | President and Director President and Director |
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Kerry Sparkes (Geologist) | 40 | Director | Donner Minerals Ltd. Terra Nova Gold Corp. | Director Director |
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John Maher (Geologist) | 60 | Director | N/A | N/A |
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Erin Walmsley | 42 | Secretary | N/A | N/A |
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David Patterson, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mr. Patterson has been the Chief Executive Officer since January 18, 2002 and a Director since September 11, 2002. Mr. Patterson was President and a Director from July 12, 1999 to October 13, 2000. Mr. Patterson is the CEO and Director of both the Company and Donner Minerals Ltd., a junior exploration company. Mr. Patterson obtained a MBA from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia in 1991. Mr. Patterson has been a director and officer of a number of junior public companies whose shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.
Harvey Keats, President and Director
Mr. Keats has been the President since October 13, 2000 and was Chief Executive Officer from October 13, 2000 to January 18, 2002. Mr. Keats has been a Director since October 22, 1999. Mr. Keats is the President of Keats Consulting Inc. since 1995, a private geological and management consulting firm. Mr. Keats has been the President of Donner Minerals Ltd. since November 26, 1997. Mr. Keats was the Vice-President of Exploration with Diamond Fields Resources Ltd from August 1995 to August 1996. Prior thereto, Mr. Keats spent 25 years with Falconbridge Limited. Mr. Keats obtained a B.Sc-Geology (1968) and M.Sc,-Geology (1970) from Memorial University, Newfoundland.
Kerry Sparkes, Director
Mr. Sparkes joined the board on October 13, 2000. Mr. Sparkes is the President of Sparkes Consulting Ltd. since 1999, a private geological consulting firm. Mr. Sparkes has been the Exploration Manager for Donner Minerals Ltd. since March 1998. Mr. Sparkes worked seven years with Noranda Exploration, was Exploration Manager with Archean Resources from December 1994 to December 1996 and was a Senior Geologist with Voisey’s Bay Nickel Ltd. from January 1997 to March 1998. Mr. Sparkes obtained a B.Sc.(hons)-Geology(1986) and M.Sc.–Geology(1989) from Memorial University, Newfoundland.
John Maher, Director
Mr. Maher joined the board on August 9, 2001. Mr. Maher is the President of Polaris Resources Ltd. since 1981, a private oil and gas company. Mr. Maher was the President of Panoil Resources Ltd. from 1994 to 1999, a public company involved in oil and gas exploration. Mr. Maher obtained a B.Sc.(hons)-Geology(1970) and M.Sc.–Geology(1973) from Memorial University, Newfoundland.
Erin Walmesley, Secretary
Ms. Walmesley has been the Secretary for the Company since April 3, 2003. Ms. Walmesely has been a legal assistant with Maitland & Company, Barristers and Solicitors, since 1981.
Neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors or controlling shareholders has (i) been the subject of any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to Canadian securities legislation or by a Canadian securities regulatory authority, (ii) entered into a settlement agreement with a Canadian securities regulatory authority, or (iii) been subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory authority that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor making an investment decision, except that Mr. David Patterson, the Chairman, entered into a settlement agreement and agreed statement of facts with the British Columbia Securities Commission on October 13, 2000, whereby Mr. Patterson admitted to failing to file certain insider trading report s pertaining to trades made by a trust over which Mr. Patterson had direction and control. Mr. Patterson was fined $50,000 (inclusive of costs in the amount of $10,000) and was prohibited from acting as a director or officer of any public company for a period of 15 months (which prohibition expired on January 14, 2002).
B. Compensation
The following table sets forth the compensation paid, and benefits in kind granted to the Directors and members of the Company’s administrative, supervisory or management bodies for the year ended September 30, 2003.
Name and Principal Position | Annual Compensation | Long Term Compensation |
Salary ($) |
Awards |
Payouts |
| Other Annual Compen-sation ($) | Restricted Stock Award(s) ($) | Securities LTIP Under Payouts Options/ ($) SARs Granted (#) | |
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Harvey Keats President | nil | nil | 26,667 1 | Nil | 885,000 | Nil |
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David Patterson CEO | nil | nil | 9,000 2 | Nil | 1,140,000 | Nil |
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John Maher Director | nil | nil | nil | Nil | 50,000 | Nil |
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Kerry Sparkes Director | nil | nil | 24,500 3 | Nil | 330,000 | nil |
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Erin Walmsley Secretary | nil | nil | Nil | Nil | 100,000 | nil |
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1 Paid for Management Services to Keats Consulting Inc., a company wholly owned by Harvey Keats
2 Paid for Management Services to Elyssian Enterprises Inc., a company controlled by the family of David Patterson.
3 Paid for Management Services to Sparkes Consulting Inc., a company wholly owned by Kerry Sparkes
Compensation of Directors
The Company has no arrangements, standard or otherwise, pursuant to which directors are compensated by the Company 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.
None of the Company’s directors have received any manner of compensation for services provided in their capacity as directors during the Company’s most recently completed financial year.
Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) Awards
The Company does not have LTIP awards pursuant to which cash or non-cash compensation is intended to serve as an incentive for performance whereby performance is measured by reference to financial performance or the price of the Company’s securities, was paid or distributed.
Defined Benefit or Actuarial Plan Disclosure
The Company has no defined benefit or actuarial plans.
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
The Company maintains a "rolling" Stock Option Plan whereby a maximum of 10% of the issued shares of the Company, from time to time, may be reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of options. The purpose of the Stock Option Plan is to provide the Company with a share related mechanism to enable the Company and its subsidiaries to attract, retain and motivate qualified directors, officers, employees and other service providers, to reward directors, officers, employees and other service providers, for their contribution toward the long term goals of the Company and its subsidiaries and to enable and encourage such individuals to acquire shares of the Company as long term investments.
The following information is intended as a brief description of the Stock Option Plan:
1. The maximum number of shares that may be issued, from time to time, upon the exercise of stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan shall not exceed 10% of the Company’s issued shares, the exercise price of which, as determined by the board of directors in its sole discretion, shall not be less than the closing price of the Company’s shares traded through the facilities of the Exchange on the date prior to the date of grant, less allowable discounts, in accordance with the policies of the Exchange or, if the shares are no longer listed for trading on the Exchange, then such other exchange or quotation system on which the shares are listed or quoted for trading.
2. The board of directors shall not grant options to any one person in any one year which will, when exercised, exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company or to consultants or to those persons employed by the Company who perform investor relations services which will, when exercised, exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company.
3. Upon expiry of an option, or in the event an option is otherwise terminated for any reason, without having been exercised in full, the number of shares in respect of the expired or terminated option shall again be available for the purposes of the Stock Option Plan. All options granted under the Stock Option Plan may not have an expiry date exceeding five years from the date on which the board of directors grant and announce the granting of the option.
4. If the option holder ceases to be a director of the Company or ceases to be employed by the Company (other then by reason of death), as the case may be, then the option granted shall expire on no later than the 30th day following the date that the option holder ceases to be a director or ceases to be employed by the Company, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Stock Option Plan.
See Item 6(e) for details of the stock options held by all of the Company’s Directors and members of its administrative, supervisory and management bodies.
C. Board Practices
The Board of Directors of the Company is currently comprised of David Patterson, Harvey Keats, Kerry Sparkes, and John Maher. Each director of the Company is elected annually and holds office until the next Annual General Meeting of the Members unless that person ceases to be a Director before then. The Board of Directors currently has one committee; the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs. Keats, Sparkes and Maher. This committee is responsible for reviewing the Company’s financial reporting procedures, internal controls and the performance of the Company’s external auditors. The committee is also responsible for reviewing quarterly financial statements and the annual financial statements.
Termination of Employment, Changes in Responsibility and Employment Contracts
The Company does not have any compensatory plan or arrangement which will result from the resignation, retirement or other termination of employment of any Directors and/or member of the Company’s administrative, supervisory or management bodies or from a change of control of the Company or a change in any of such persons’ responsibilities following a change of control.
D. Employees
In the past three financial years, the Company has not had any employees, other than the Company's officers and directors. Three of the Company’s directors are geologists.
E. Share Ownership
The following table lists as of January 31, 2004, the share ownership of all of the Company’s Directors and members of its administrative, supervisory and management bodies. The Company has only one class of shares, common, with no par value and all of the common shares have the same voting rights.
Name | Number of Shares Held | Percentage of Shares Held (%) (1) | Number of Stock Options Held | Number of Share Purchase Warrants Held | Exercise Price ($) | Expiration Date |
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David Patterson | 685,500 | 1.47 | 55,000 900,000 | 250,000 | 0.30 0.93 0.65 | June 18, 2005 December 22, 2005 June 10, 2005 |
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Harvey Keats | 387,500 | 0.83 | 300,000 235,000 900,000 | 37,500 | 0.30 0.51 0.93 0.65 | June 18, 2005 July 28, 2005 December 22, 2005 June 10, 2005 |
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Kerry Sparkes | 116,000 | 0.25 | 250,000 80,000 200,000 | 20,000 | 0.30 0.51 0.93 0.65 | June 18, 2005 July 28, 2005 December 22, 2005 June 10, 2005 |
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John Maher | 422,000 | 0.91 | 150,000 50,000 50,000 25,000 | 25,000 | 0.25 0.25 0.30 0.93 0.65 | August 23, 2006 January 17, 2007 June 18, 2005 December 22, 2005 June 10, 2005 |
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Erin Walmesley | 10,000 | 0.02 | 85,000 100,000 | Nil | 0.30 0.93 | June 18, 2005 December 22, 2005 |
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(1) The percentage ownership is based on 46,477,206 shares outstanding as of January 31, 2004.
None of the aforementioned options or share purchase warrants were issued to officers, directors or senior management of the Company as part of a compensation plan .
Mssrs. Patterson, Keats and Sparkes are directors and shareholders of Donner Minerals Ltd., a company which at January 31, 2004 owns 17.6% of the Company. (See "Item 7.A - Major Shareholders").
Item 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. Major Shareholders
As of January 31, 2004, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, the following parties have ownership of 5% or greater of the Company’s common shares, all of which have the same voting rights attached thereto as all other common shares of the Company:
Name | Number of Common Shares Held | Percentage of Common Shares Held |
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Donner Minerals Ltd. | 8,160,750 | 17.6% |
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Donner Minerals Ltd. acquired 8,000,000 common shares and 8,000,000 share purchase warrants on March 26, 2003. Each warrant entitles Donner to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 expiring March 25, 2005.
As of January 31, 2004 the Company had 94 shareholders of record of which 45,720,436 (98.5%) shares were held by 63 shareholders of record resident in Canada.
Other than as disclosed above the Company is not aware of any other company, any foreign government or any other person, jointly or severally, that directly or indirectly controls the Company. The Company is not aware of any arrangements the operation of which may at a future date result in a change in control of the Company.
B. Related Party Transactions
During fiscal 2003, the Company paid management fees of $26,667 (2002 – Nil, 2001 - $13,333) to Keats Consulting Ltd., a company controlled by Harvey Keats, the President and a director of the Company.
During fiscal 2003, the Company paid management fees of $24,500 (2002 – Nil, 2001 - $10,000) to Sparkes Consulting Ltd., a company controlled by Kerry Sparkes, a director of the Company.
During fiscal 2003, the Company paid management fees of $9,000 to Elyssian Enterprises Inc., a company controlled by the family of David Patterson. In fiscal 2002, the Company paid consulting fees of $10,000 to Elyssian Enterprises Inc.
In May 2003, the Company repaid a convertible debenture with a principal amount outstanding of $280,000 plus accrued interest of $31,556. The convertible debenture was held by Donner Minerals Ltd. ("Donner"), a public company with directors in common with the Company and paid interest at 11% on a semi-annual basis. The Company had the right to redeem the whole or less than the whole of the principal and accrued interest at any time before maturity, May 3, 2005. In Fiscal 2003 the interest expense on the convertible debenture was $19,071 (2002 - $30,800, 2001 - $35,111).
In fiscal 2003, the Company issued 8,000,000 common shares to Donner via a non-brokered private placement at a price of $0.10 per share for proceeds of $800,000. Along with the shares, the Company issued Donner 8,000,000 non-transferable share purchase warrants entitling Donner to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 expiring March 25, 2005. Donner and the Company have common directors and officers. As at September 30, 2003, Donner owned approximately 23% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares.
On June 25, 2002, the Company announced that it had entered into an option agreement with Polaris to acquire a 75% interest in the South Whale Basin Property, located offshore Newfoundland, for a total consideration of $2,000,000 and 9,500,000 common shares. On August 28, 2002 it was announced that due to market conditions, the Company would not be proceeding with the option to acquire the South Whale Basin Property. The Company advanced to Polaris a $20,000 non-refundable option payment and incurred $26,844 of engineering and geological fees for due diligence. John Maher is a director of the Company and a director of Polaris.
In November 2001, the Company entered into a farmout agreement with Polaris Resources Ltd. (‘Polaris’) to participate and earn a 25% before payout (20% after payout) working interest, subject to a 9% overriding royalty in a gas prospect in the Foothills region of Alberta, Canada. John Maher is a director of the Company and a director of Polaris. Upon signing the agreement, the Company advanced Polaris $125,000 for seismic costs and has advanced an additional $327,500 for preparatory work to obtain a well licence.
During fiscal 2002, David Patterson and a company owned by Mr. Patterson’s spouse loaned the Company $150,100. The loans were due on demand, non-interest bearing and had no specified terms of repayment. The loans were repaid in fiscal 2003.
Item 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. Consolidated Statement and Other Financial Information
See Item 17 for the Company’s Financial Statements.
The Company knows of no pending legal or arbitration proceedings including those relating to bankruptcy, governmental receivership or similar proceeding and those involving any third party against it, nor is the Company involved as a plaintiff in any material pending litigation.
The Company knows of no pending proceedings to which any director, member of senior management, or affiliate is either a party adverse to the Company or its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or its subsidiaries.
To the best of the Management’s knowledge, the Company has not since the date of its incorporation, declared or paid any dividends, nor does it intend to declare any dividend for the foreseeable future.
B. Significant Changes
None
Item 9. THE LISTING
A. Listing Details and Markets
The Common Shares of the Company are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol KNP and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol KRL. The Company's primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The following table sets out the market price range of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange within each of the periods indicated:
Market Prices | High ($) | Low ($) | Average Daily Trading Volume |
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Annual High and Low Fiscal 2003 Fiscal 2002 Fiscal 2001 Fiscal 2000 Fiscal 1999 | 0.90 0.35 0.32 1.25 1.40 | 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.11 0.10 | 109,601 14,800 21,792 74,671 22,223 |
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Quarterly High and Low Fiscal 1 st Quarter – 2003 Fiscal 2 nd Quarter – 2003 Fiscal 3 rd Quarter – 2003 Fiscal 4 th Quarter - 2003 Fiscal 1 st Quarter – 2002 Fiscal 2 nd Quarter – 2002 Fiscal 3 rd Quarter – 2002 Fiscal 4 th Quarter – 2002 | 0.11 0.26 0.38 0.90 0.35 0.24 0.29 0.29 | 0.04 0.18 0.23 0.23 0.14 0.15 0.15 0.04 | 19,811 16,060 41,453 361,079 11,060 21,561 14,246 12,447 |
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Most Recent Six Months January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 | 1.20 1.10 1.16 0.92 0.90 0.80 | 0.90 0.83 0.76 0.48 0.48 0.38 | 132,128 119,386 289,135 444,477 337,085 372,575 |
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There is no active trading market for the Common Shares in the United States, although United States residents may purchase Common Shares in Canada.
As a foreign private issuer the Company will be subject to certain of the reporting obligations of the Exchange Act including:
(1) filing an annual report, on a Form 20-F, within 6 months after the end of the Company’s fiscal year end which form must include audited financial statements in compliance with US GAAP.
(2) filing periodic reports on Form 6-K, any "significant information" with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries which the Company (i) is required to make public in its own country, (ii) has filed with a non-U.S. stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are traded and which the exchange has make public, or (iii) has distributed to holders of its securities, either directly or through a press release.
As a foreign private issuer the Company will not be subject to the reporting obligations of the proxy rules of Section 14 of the Exchange Act nor the short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
Item 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. Share Capital
(1) Authorized - 100,000,000 common shares without par value
(2) Share capital has been issued as follows:
Issued | | | | Number of Common Shares/Units | | Amount |
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Balance at September 30, 2000 | | | 6,276,937 | | | $5,130,863 |
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Balance at September 30, 2001 | | | 6,276,937 | | | 5,130,863 |
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Units issued pursuant to private placement | | 2,450,000 | | | 490,000 |
on October 3, 2001 to 16 placees 1 | | | | | |
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Units issued pursuant to private placement | | 850,000 | | | 170,000 |
on March 27, 2002 to 11 placees 2 | | | | | |
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Balance at September 30, 2002 | | | 9,576,937 | | | 5,790,863 |
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|
| | | | | | | | |
Units issued pursuant to private placement | | 8,000,000 | | | 800,000 |
on March 26, 2003 to one placee 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Units issued pursuant to private placement | | 1,700,000 | | | 340,000 |
on May 13, 2003 to one placee 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Units issued pursuant to brokered offering | | 10,250,000 | | | 1,822,500 |
on May 13, 2003 5 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Exercise of warrants | | | | 5,918,500 | | | 1,470,625 |
| | | | | | | | |
Exercise of options | | | | 770,000 | | | 207,500 |
| | | | | | | | |
Balance at September 30, 2003 | | | 36,215,437 | | | 10,431,488 |
| | |
| | |
|
| | | | | | | | |
Exercise of warrants | | | | 2,016,000 | | | 503,250 |
| | | | | | | | |
Exercise of options | | | | 1,515,000 | | | 546,850 |
| | | | | | | | |
Units issued pursuant to private placement on December 11, 2003 to 41 placees 6 | | | 6,730,769 | | | 3,500,000 |
| | |
| | |
|
| | | | | | | | |
Balance at January 31, 2004 | | | | | 46,477,206 | | | $14,981,588 |
| | | | |
| | |
|
| | | | | | | | |
1 Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.25 per share until October 2, 2003.
2 Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.22 per share until March 26, 2004.
3 Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.15 per share until March 25, 2005. Donner Minerals Ltd. was the sole placee.
4 Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.25 per share until May 12, 2005. Angle American Exploration (Canada) Ltd. was the sole placee.
5 Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.25 per share until May 12, 2005. The brokered offering was carried out by First Associates Investments Inc.
6 Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.65 per share until June 10, 2005.
(3) Options
As of September 30, 2003 options to purchase common shares of the Company were outstanding as follows:
Date of Grant | Number Outstanding | Exercise Price | Expiry Date |
|
|
|
|
August 24, 2001 | 237,500 | $0.25 | August 23, 2006 |
January 18, 2002 | 50,000 | $0.25 | January17, 2007 |
May 12, 2003 | 1,500,000 | $0.20 | May 12, 2005 |
June 19, 2003 | 1,922,500 | $0.30 | June 18, 2005 |
July 29, 2003 | 875,000 | $0.51 | July 28, 2005 |
As of January 31, 2004 options to purchase common shares of the Company were outstanding as follows:
Date of Grant | Number Outstanding | Exercise Price | Expiry Date |
|
|
|
|
August 24, 2001 | 237,500 | $0.25 | August 23, 2006 |
January 18, 2002 | 50,000 | $0.25 | January17, 2007 |
May 12, 2003 | 1,300,000 | $0.20 | May 12, 2005 |
June 19, 2003 | 1,142,500 | $0.30 | June 18, 2005 |
July 29, 2003 | 340,000 | $0.51 | July 28, 2005 |
November 14, 2003 | 200,000 | $0.83 | November 13, 2005 |
December 23,2003 | 2,625,000 | $0.93 | December 22, 2005 |
As of September 30, 2003 an option to purchase 1,500,000 Units of the Company was outstanding. Each Unit is comprised of common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.25 until May 12, 2005.
As of January 31, 2004 an option to purchase 1,350,000 Units of the Company was outstanding. Each Unit is comprised of common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.25 until May 12, 2005.
(4) As at September 30, 2003, the Company had the following warrants outstanding to purchase shares of the Company as follows:
| | Potential | | | | |
Number of | | Number of | | | | Exercise |
Warrants | | Shares to | | Exercisable | | Price |
Outstanding | | be Issued | | Until | | per Share |
| |
| |
| |
|
640,000 | | 640,000 | | October 2, 2003 | | $0.25 |
550,000 | | 550,000 | | March 26, 2004 | | $0.22 |
8,000,000 | | 8,000,000 | | March 25, 2005 | | $0.15 |
8,141,500 | | 8,141,500 | | May 12, 2005 | | $0.25 |
As at January 31, 2004 , the Company had the following warrants outstanding to purchase shares of the Company as follows:
| | Potential | | | | |
Number of | | Number of | | | | Exercise |
Warrants | | Shares to | | Exercisable | | Price |
Outstanding | | be Issued | | Until | | per Share |
| |
| |
| |
|
| | | | | | |
525,000 | | 525,000 | | March 26, 2004 | | $0.22 |
8,000,000 | | 8,000,000 | | March 25, 2005 | | $0.15 |
6,990,500 | | 6,990,500 | | May 12, 2005 | | $0.25 |
6,730,769 | | 6,730,769 | | June 10, 2005 | | $0.65 |
B. Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation
(1) The Company’s objects and purposes as set forth in the Company’s Memorandum and Articles:
The Company’s Memorandum and Articles are silent as to the Company’s objects and purposes.
(2) Matters relating to Directors of the Company:
(a) Director's power to vote on a proposal, arrangement or contract in which the director is materially interested:
Article 15.1 of the Company Articles state: "A Director who is, in any way, directly or indirectly interested in an existing or proposed contract or transaction with the Company or who holds any office or possesses any property directly or indirectly, where a duty or interest might be created to conflict with his duty or interest as a Director, shall declare the nature and extent of his interest in the contract or transactions or of the conflict or potential conflict with his duty and interest as a Director in accordance with the provisions of the Company Act (the "Company Act")." Article 15.2 of the Company Articles states: "A Director shall not vote in respect of any contract or transaction with the Company in which he is interested and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted, but he shall be counted in the quorum present at the meeting at which such vote is taken."
(b) Directors' power, in the absence of an independent quorum, to vote compensation to themselves or any members of their body:
Part 12.2 of the Company’s Articles provides that: "The remuneration of the Directors as such may from time to time be determined by the Directors or, if the Directors shall decide, by the members. The remuneration may be in addition to any salary or other remuneration paid to any Officer or employee of the Company as such who is also a Director. The Directors shall be repaid reasonable traveling, hotel and other expenses as they incur in and about the business of the Company and if any Director shall perform any professional or other services for the Company that in the opinion of the Directors are outside the ordinary duties of a Director or shall otherwise be specifically occupied in or about the Company's business, he may be paid a remuneration to be fixed by the Board, or, at the o ption of the Director, by the Company in general meeting, and such remuneration may be either in addition to, or in substitution for any other remuneration that he may be entitled to receive. The Directors on behalf of the Company, unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his spouse or dependents and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance."
(c) Borrowing powers exercisable by the directors and how such borrowing powers can be varied:
Part 8.1 of the Company’s Articles provides that "The Directors may from time to time on behalf of the Company: a) borrow money in a manner and amount, on any security, from any source and upon any terms and conditions; b) issue bonds, debentures, and other debt obligations either outright or as security for any liability or obligation of the Company or any other person; and c) mortgage, charge, whether by way of specific or floating charge, or give other security on the undertaking, or the whole or any part of the property and assets, the Company (both present and future").
(d) Other than as referred to in item (a) above, the Company’s Articles are silent with regard to the retirement or non-retirement of directors under an age limit requirement.
(e) Number of shares, if any, required for qualification:
Part 12.3 of the Company’s Articles states that "A Director shall be required to hold a share in the authorized capital of the Company as qualification for his office."
(3) Rights, preferences and restrictions attaching to each class of shares:
(a) Dividend rights, including time limit after which dividend entitlement lapses
Pursuant to Part 20 of the Company’s Articles, the Company’s shareholders, subject to the rights, privileges and restrictions attaching to a particular class of shares, have the right to receive dividends if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors. Neither the Company Act nor the Company’s Articles provides for lapses in dividend entitlement.
(b) Voting rights; staggered re-election intervals; cumulative voting
Each of the Company’s Common Shares entitles the holder to one vote at any annual or special meting of shareholders. The Company’s Articles provide for election of directors on a rotation basis. The Company’s Shareholders do not have cumulative voting.
(c) Rights to share in surplus in event of liquidation
In the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up or other distribution of the Company’s assets, the holders of Common Shares will be entitled to receive, on a pro rata basis, all of the assets remaining after the Company’s liabilities have been paid out.
(d) Other
Holders of the Company’s Common Shares do not have rights to share in the profits of the Company . There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to the Company’s Common Shares. Common shareholders have no liability as to further capital calls by the Company. There are no provisions discriminating against any existing or prospective holder of the Company’s Common Shares as a result of such shareholder owning a substantial number of the Company’s Common Shares. Holders of the Company’s Common Shares do not have pre-emptive rights.
(4) Actions necessary to change the rights of holders of the Company's stock:
In order to change the rights of holders of a class of the Company's stock, a vote of at least three-quarters of the issued and outstanding shares of that class is required.
(5) Conditions governing manner in which annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings of shareholders are convoked, including conditions of admission:
Annual Meeting
Part 9.1 of the Company’s Articles states that " Subject to Article 9.2 and to the Company Act the annual general meeting shall be held once in every calendar year at such time, not being more than 13 months after the holding of the last preceding annual general meeting and at a place as the Directors shall appoint."
Special Meetings
Part 9.3 of the Company’s Articles states that "The Directors may, whenever they think fit, convene a general meeting. A general meeting if requisitioned in accordance with the Company Act shall be convened, by the Directors or, if not convened by the Directors, may be convened by the requisitionists as provided in the Company Act."
Part 9.4 of the Company’s Articles provides that "Not less than 21 days notice of any general meeting specifying the time and place of meeting and in case of special business, the general nature of that business shall be given in the manner mentioned in these Articles, or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by ordinary resolution whether previous notice thereof has been given or not, to any person as may by law or under these Articles or other regulations of the Company entitled to receive such notice from the Company. But the accidental omission to give notice of any meeting to, or the non-receipt of any such notice by, any of such persons shall not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting."
(6) Limitations on rights to own securities of the Company:
The Investment Canada Act (the "ICA"), enacted on June 20, 1985, requires prior notification to the Government of Canada on the "acquisition of control" of Canadian businesses by non-Canadians, as defined in the ICA. Certain acquisitions of control, discussed below, are reviewed by the Government of Canada. The term "acquisition of control" is defined as any one or more non-Canadian persons acquiring all or substantially all of the assets used in the Canadian business, or the acquisition of the voting shares of a Canadian corporation carrying on the Canadian business or the acquisition of the voting interests of an entity controlling or carrying on the Canadian business. The acquisition of the majority of the outstanding shares is deemed to be an "acquisition of control" of a corporation. The acquisition of less than a majority, but one-third or more, of the voting shares of a corporation is presumed to be an "acquisition of control" of a corporation unless it can be established that the purchaser will not control the corporation.
Investments requiring notification and review are all direct acquisitions of Canadian businesses with assets of Cdn. $5,000,000 or more (subject to the comments below on WTO investors), and all indirect acquisitions of Canadian businesses (subject to the comments below on WTO investors) with assets of more than Cdn. $50,000,000 or with assets of between Cdn. $5,000,000 and Cdn. $50,000,000 which represent more than 50% of the value of the total international transaction. In addition, specific acquisitions or new business in designated types of business activities related to Canada's cultural heritage or national identity could be reviewed if the Government of Canada considers that it is in the public interest to do so.
The ICA was amended with the implementation of the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization ("WTO") to provide for special review thresholds for "WTO investors", as defined in the ICA. "WTO investor" generally means:
(a) an individual, other than a Canadian, who is a national of a WTO member (such as, for example, the United States), or who has the right of permanent residence in relation to that WTO member;
(b) governments of WTO members; and
(c) entities that are not Canadian controlled, but which are WTO investor controlled, as determined by rules specified in the ICA.
The special review thresholds for WTO investors do not apply, and the general rules described above do apply, to the acquisition of control of certain types of businesses specified in the ICA, including a business that is a "cultural business". If the WTO investor rules apply, an investment in the shares of the Company by or from a WTO investor will be reviewable only if it is an investment to acquire control of the Company and the value of the assets of the Company is equal to or greater than a specified amount (the "WTO Review Threshold"). The WTO Review Threshold is adjusted annually by a formula relating to increases in the nominal gross domestic product of Canada. The 1999 WTO Review Threshold was $184,000,000.
If any non-Canadian, whether or not a WTO investor, acquires control of the Company by the acquisition of shares, but the transaction is not reviewable as described above, the non-Canadian is required to notify the Canadian government and to provide certain basic information relating to the investment. A non-Canadian, whether or not a WTO investor, is also required to provide a notice to the government on the establishment of a new Canadian business. If the business of the Company is then a prescribed type of business activity related to Canada's cultural heritage or national identity, and if the Canadian government considers it to be in the public interest to do so, then the Canadian government may give a notice in writing within 21 days requiring the investment to be review ed.
For non-Canadians (other than WTO investors), an indirect acquisition of control, by the acquisition of voting interests of an entity that directly or indirectly controls the Company, is reviewable if the value of the assets of the Company is then Cdn. $50,000,000 or more. If the WTO investor rules apply, then this requirement does not apply to a WTO investor, or to a person acquiring the entity from a WTO investor. Special rules specified in the ICA apply if the value of the assets of the Company is more than 50% of the value of the entity so acquired. By these special rules, if the non-Canadian (whether or not a WTO investor) is acquiring control of an entity that directly or indirectly controls the Company, and the value of the assets of the Company and all other entities carrying on business in Canada, calculated in the manner provided in the ICA and the regulations under the ICA, is more than 50% of the value, calculated in the manner provided in the ICA and the regulations under the ICA, of the assets of all entities, the control of which is acquired, directly or indirectly, in the transaction of which the acquisition of control of the Company forms a part, then the thresholds for a direct acquisition of control as discussed above will apply, that is, a WTO Review Threshold of Cdn. $184,000,000 (in 1999) for a WTO investor or threshold of Cdn. $5,000,000 for a non-Canadian other than a WTO investor. If the value exceeds that level, then the transaction must be reviewed in the same manner as a direct acquisition of control by the purchase of shares of the Company.
If an investor is reviewable, an application for review in the form prescribed by the regulations is normally required to be filed with the Director appointed under the ICA (the "Director") prior to the investment taking place and the investment may not be consummated until the review has been completed. There are, however, certain exceptions. Applications concerning indirect acquisitions may be filed up to 30 days after the investment is consummated and applications concerning reviewable investments in culture-sensitive sectors are required upon receipt of a notice for review. In addition, the Minister (a person designated as such under the ICA) may permit an investment to be consummated prior to completion of the review, if he is satisfied that delay would cause undue hards hip to the acquiror or jeopardize the operations of the Canadian business that is being acquired. The Director will submit the application to the Minister, together with any other information or written undertakings given by the acquiror and any representation submitted to the Director by a province that is likely to be significantly affected by the investment.
The Minister will then determine whether the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada, taking into account the information provided and having regard to certain factors of assessment where they are relevant. Some of the factors to be considered are:
(a) the effect of the investment on the level and nature of economic activity in Canada, including the effect on employment, on resource processing, and on the utilization of parts, components and services produced in Canada;
(b) the effect of the investment on exports from Canada;
(c) the degree and significance of participation by Canadians in the Canadian business and in any industry in Canada of which it forms a part;
(d) the effect of the investment on productivity, industrial efficiency, technological development, product innovation and product variety in Canada;
(e) the effect of the investment on competition within any industry or industries in Canada;
(f) the compatibility of the investment with national industrial, economical and cultural policies;
(g) the compatibility of the investment with national industrial, economic and cultural policies taking into consideration industrial, economic and cultural objectives enunciated by the government or legislature of any province likely to be significantly affected by the investment; and
(h) the contribution of the investment to Canada's ability to compete in world markets.
To ensure prompt review, the ICA sets certain time limits for the Director and the Minister. Within 45 days after a completed application has been received, the Minister must notify the acquiror that he is satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada, or that he is unable to complete his review, in which case he shall have 30 additional days to complete his review (unless the acquiror agrees to a longer period), or he is not satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada.
Where the Minister has advised the acquiror that he is not satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada, the acquiror has the right to make representations and submit undertakings within 30 days of the date of the notice (or any other further period that is agreed upon between the acquiror and the Minister). On the expiration of the 30-day period (or the agreed extension), the Minister must quickly notify the acquiror that he is now satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada or that he is not satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada. In the latter case, the acquiror may not proceed with the investment or, if the investment has already been consummated, must divest itself of control of the Cana dian business.
The ICA provides civil remedies for non-compliance with any provision. There are also criminal penalties for breach of confidentiality or providing false information.
Except as provided in the ICA, there are no limitations under the laws of Canada, the Province of British Columbia or in any constituent documents of the Company on the right of non-Canadians to hold or vote the common shares of the Company.
(7) Provisions of Company's articles, charter or by-laws that have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition, or corporate restructuring involving the Company:
There are no limitations in the Company’s Memorandum or Articles.
(8) Provisions governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed:
The British Columbia Securities Act provides that a person that has direct or indirect beneficial ownership of, control or direction over, or a combination of direct or indirect beneficial ownership of, and of control or direction over, securities of the issuer carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all the issuer's outstanding voting securities must, within 10 days of becoming an "insider", file an insider report in the required form effective the date on which the person became an insider, disclosing any direct or indirect beneficial ownership of, or control or direction ove r, securities of the reporting issuer. The British Columbia Securities Act also provides for the filing of a report by an "insider" of a reporting issuer who acquires or transfers securities of the issuer. This insider report must be filed within 10 days of the date in which the change takes place.
The U.S. rules governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed are more stringent than those under the British Columbia Securities Act . Section 13 of the Exchange Act imposes reporting requirements on persons who acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in the Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 5 per cent of a class of an equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. In general, such persons must file, within 10 days after such acquisition, a report of beneficial ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commi ssion containing the information prescribed by the regulations under Section 13 of the Exchange Act. This information is also required to be sent to the issuer of the securities and to each exchange where the securities are traded.
(9) Significant differences between law applicable to the Company and law of the United States.
See 8 above.
(10) Conditions imposed by the Company’s Memorandum and Articles that are more stringent than required by law.
None
C. Exchange Controls
There is no law or governmental decree or regulation in Canada that restricts the export or import of capital, or affects the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of Common Shares, other than withholding tax requirements. See "Item 10(D) – Taxation."
There is no limitation imposed by Canadian law or by the constituent documents of the Company on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote Common Shares, other than are provided in the Investment Canada Act (Canada). The following summarizes the principal features of the Investment Canada Act (Canada).
The Investment Canada Act (Canada) requires certain "non-Canadian" individuals, governments, corporations or other entities who wish to acquire a "Canadian business" (as defined in the Investment Canada Act), or establish a "new Canadian business" (as defined in the Investment Canada Act) to file either a notification or an application for review with a governmental agency known as "Investment Canada". The Investment Canada Act requires that certain acquisitions of control by a Canadian business by a "non-Canadian" must be reviewed and approved by the Minister responsible for the Investment Canada Act on the basis that the Minister is satisfied that the acquisition is "likely to be of net benefit to Canada", having regard to criteria set forth in the Investment Canada Act. Only acquisitions of control rules for the determination of whether control has been acquired and, pursuant to those rules, the acquisition of one-third or more of the voting shares of a corporation may, in some circumstances, be considered to constitute an acquisition of control. Certain reviewable acquisitions of control may not be implemented before being approved by the Minister; if the Minister does not ultimately approve a reviewable acquisition which has been completed, the acquired Canadian business would be divested. Failure to comply with the review provisions of the Investment Canada Act could result in, among other things, an injunction or a court order directing disposition of assets or shares.
D. Taxation
The following is a general discussion of certain possible Canadian and United Sates federal income tax consequences, under current law, generally applicable to a U.S. Holder (as hereinafter defined) of common shares of the Company. 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.
THE DISCUSSION IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, NOR SHOULD IT BE CONSTRUED TO BE, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE TO ANY HOLDER OR PROSPECTIVE HOLDER OF COMMON SHARES OF THE COMPANY AND NO OPINION OR REPRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE CANADIAN OR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO ANY SUCH HOLDER OR PROSPECTIVE HOLDER IS MADE. ACCORDINGLY, HOLDERS AND PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES OF THE COMPANY SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS ABOUT THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF COMMON SHARES OF THE COMPANY.
U. S. Holders
As used herein, a "U.S. Holder" means a holder of common shares of the Company who is a citizen or individual resident of the United States, a company or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof or a trust whose income is taxable in the United States irrespective of source. 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 entit ies that have a "functional currency" other than the U.S. dollar, shareholders who hold common shares as part of a straddle, hedging or a conversion transaction, and shareholders who acquired their common shares through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services.
A "U.S. Resident" means a U.S. Holder who (i) is a resident of the United States for the purposes of the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention, 1980 (the "Convention"); (ii) is not currently, nor has previously been a resident of Canada or deemed to be a resident of Canada for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (herein referred to as the "Canada Tax Act") at any time while the holder has held common shares; (iii) holds his or her common shares as capital property; (iv) deals at arm’s length with the Company for the purposes of the Canada Tax Act; and (v) does not use or hold , and is not deemed under the Canada Tax Act to use or hold, such common shares in carrying a business or performing independent services in Canada. Common shares will generally be considered to be capital property to a U.S. Resident unless they are held as inventory in the course of carrying on a business or were acquired in a transaction considered to be an adventure or concern in the nature of trade.
This summary is limited to U.S. Holders who own common shares as capital assets. 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.
CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion is based upon the current provisions of the Canada Tax Act and the regulations (the "Regulations") enacted thereunder as at the date hereof, the Company’s understanding of the current published administrative and assessing policies of the Canada Revenue Agency, all specific proposals to amend the Canada Tax Act and the Regulations publicly announced by the Minister of Finance before the date hereof (the "Proposed Amendments") and the provisions of the Convention as at the date hereof. This summary does not take into account provincial, territorial or foreign income tax considerations (see "United States Federal Income Tax Consequences" below), and does not take into account or anticipate any changes in law, whether by judicial, governmental or legislation decisi on or action except to the extent of the Proposed Amendments. No assurance can be given that any of the Proposed Amendments will be enacted into law or that legislation will implement the Proposed Amendments in the manner now proposed.
Distribution on Common Shares of the Company
Under the Convention, dividends which are paid or credited, or are deemed to be paid or credited, to a U.S. Resident in respect of the common shares will generally be subject to Canadian withholding tax at a rate of 5% of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a company which owns at least 10% of the voting stock of the Company or 15% of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner of the dividends is any other U.S. Resident (other than certain exempt organizations referred to in Article XXI of the Convention).
Disposition of Common Shares of the Company
A U.S. Resident will generally not be subject to tax under the Canada Tax Act in respect of any capital gain realized on the disposition or deemed disposition of common shares unless such common shares are "taxable Canadian property", as defined in the Canada Tax Act, to the U.S. Resident. The common shares will not generally constitute taxable Canadian property to a U.S. Resident unless either (i) at any time during the five –year period ending at the time of the disposition of the common shares by such U.S. Resident, 25% or more of the issued shares (and in the view of the Canada Revenue Agency, taking into account any rights to acquire shares) of any class or series of the capital stock of the Company were owned by such U.S. Resident, persons with whom the U.S. Resident did not deal at arm’s length or such U.S. Resident together with such persons, or (ii) the U.S. Resident’s common shares are otherwise deemed to be taxable Canadian property. Capital gains realized on the disposition of common shares that constitute taxable Canadian property to a U.S. Resident will nevertheless, by virtue of the Convention, not be subject to tax under the Canadian Tax Act, provided that shares of the Company do not derive their value principally from real property, including the right to explore for or exploit natural resources and rights to amounts computed by reference to production, situated in Canada at the time of disposition.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
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. This discussion does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any recently proposed legislation which, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time.
Distribution on Common Shares of the Company
U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive dividends) with respect to common shares of the Company 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 dividends on the date of receipt (based on the exchange rate on such date) to the extent that the Company 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. Holders’ federal taxable income by those who itemize deductions. (See more deta iled discussion at "Foreign Tax Credit" below). To the extent that distributions exceed current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Company, they will 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 sales of exchange of the common shares. 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, to the extent that there are no expenses associated with the transaction that meet the requirement 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.
Dividends paid on the common shares of the Company will not generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction provided to corporations receiving dividends from certain United States corporations. A U.S. Holder which is a corporation may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to a 70% or 80% deduction of the United States source portion of dividends received from the Company (unless the Company qualifies as a "foreign personal holding company" or a "passive foreign investment company", as defined below) if such U.S. Holder owns shares representing at least 10% or 20%, respectively, of the voting power and value of the Company. The availability of this deduction is subject to several complex limitations which are beyond the scope of this discussion.
Under current temporary Treasury Regulations, dividends paid, and the proceeds of a sales of Company’s common shares, will be subject to U.S. information reporting requirements and may also be subject to the 28% U.S. backup withholding tax, unless the Company or 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
A U.S. Holder who pays (or has withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax with respect to the ownership of common shares of the Company 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 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 s hares 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. In 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 income", "high withholding tax interest", "financial services income", "shipping income", and certain other classifications of income. Dividends distributed by the Company will generally constitute "passive income" or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, "financial services 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 the Company should consult their own tax advisors regarding their individual circums tances.
Disposition of Common Shares of the Company
A U.S. Holder will recognize a gain or loss upon the sale of common shares of the Company 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 the Company. This gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss if the common shares are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder, which will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common shares of the Company are held for more than one year. Lower long-term capital gain rates will apply if the U.S. Holder is an individual, estate or trust and such U.S. Holder has held the common shares for more than twelve months. Deductions for net capital losses are subject to significant limitations. For U.S. Holders that are not corporations, any unused portion of such net capital loss may be carried over to be used in later taxation 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.
Other Considerations
In the following circumstances, the above sections of this discussion may not describe the United States federal income tax consequences resulting from the holding and disposition of common shares:
Foreign Personal Holding Company
If at any time during a taxable year more than 50% of the total combined voting power or the total value of the Company’s outstanding shares is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals who are citizens or residents of the United States and 50% (60% in the first year) or more of the Company’s gross income for such year was derived from certain passive sources (e.g., from dividends received from its subsidiaries), the Company may be treated as a "foreign personal holding company". In that event, U.S. Holders that hold common shares would be required to include in gross income for such year their allocable portions of such passive income to the extent the Company does not actually distribute such income.
Foreign Investment Company
If 50% or more of the combined voting power or total value of the Company’s outstanding shares is held, directly or indirectly, by citizens or residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships or corporations, or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts (as defined by the Code Section 7701(a)(31)), and the Company is found to be engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities, commodities, or any interest therein, it is possible that the Company may be treated as a "foreign investment company" as defined in Section 1246 of the Code, causing all or part of any gain realized by a U.S. Holder selling or exchanging common shares to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain.
Passive Foreign Investment Company
Certain United States income tax legislation 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 and, 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 is either a controlled foreign corporation or makes an election, adjusted tax basis) of its assets that produce or are held for the production of "passive income" is 50% or more. The Company believes that it qualified as a PFIC for the current fiscal year and may qualify as a PFIC in subsequent years. There can be no assurance that the Company’s determination concerning its PFIC status will not be challenged or that it will able to satisfy record keeping requirements which will be imposed on a Qualified Electing Fund ("QEF"). Each U.S. Holder of the Company is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect their tax situation.
A U.S. Holder who holds stock in a foreign corporation during any year in which such corporation qualifies as a PFIC may elect to be subject to United States federal income taxation under one of two alternative tax regimes. In the event that no such election is made, the PFIC rules will apply. The following is a discussion of the two alternative elective tax regimes applied to such U.S. Holders of the Company. In addition, special rules apply if a foreign corporation qualifies as both a PFIC and a "controlled foreign corporation" (as defined below) and a U.S. Holder owns, directly and indirectly, ten percent (10%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of such foreign corporation (See more detailed discussion at "Controlled Foreign Corporation" below).
Assuming that the Company satisfies record-keeping requirements, a U.S. Holder who elects in a timely manner to treat the Company as a QEF (an "Electing U.S. Holder") will be subject, under Section 1293 of the Code, to current federal income tax for any taxable year in which the Company qualifies as a PFIC on his pro rata share of the Company’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 to the Electing U.S. Holder and (ii) "ordinary earnings" (the excess of earnings and profits over net capital gain), which will be taxed as ordinary income to the Electing U.S. Holder, in each case, for the shareholder’s taxable year in which (or with which) the Company’s taxable year ends, re gardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed.
The effective QEF election also allows the Electing U.S. Holder to (i) generally treat any gain realized on the disposition of Company common shares (or deemed to be realized on the pledge of his shares) as capital gain; (ii) treat his share of the Company’s net capital gain, if any, as long-term capital gain instead of ordinary income; and (iii) 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 the Company’s annual realized net capital gain and ordinary earnings subject, however, to an interest charge. If the Electing U.S. Holder is not a corporation, such an interest charge would be treated as "personal interest" that is not deductible.
The procedure a U.S. Holder must comply with in making an effective QEF election will depend on whether the year of the election is the first year in the U.S. Holder’s holding period in which the Company 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, the Company qualified as a PFIC in a prior year, then in addition to filing documents, the U.S. Holder must elect to recognize (i) under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code (discussed below), any gain that he would otherwise recognize if the U.S. Holder sold his stock on the qualification date or (ii) if the Company is a controlled foreign corporation, the U.S. Holder’s pro rata share of the Company’s post-1986 earnings and profits as of the qualification date. The qualification date is the first day of the Company’s first tax year in which the Company qualified as a "qualified electing fund" with respect to such U.S. Holder. The elections to recognize such gain or earnings and profits can only be made if such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common shares of the Company includes the qualification date. By electing to recognize such gain or earnings and profits, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have made a timely QEF election. A U.S. Holder who made elections to recognize gain or earnings and profits after May 1, 1992 and before January 27, 1997 may, under certain circumstances, elect to change such U.S. Holder’s qualification date to the first day of the first QEF year. U.S. Holders are urged to consult a tax advisor regarding the availability of and procedure for electing to recognize gai n or earnings and profits under the foregoing rules. In addition, special rules apply if a foreign corporation qualifies as both a PFIC and a "controlled foreign corporation" (as defined below) and a U.S. Holder owns, directly and indirectly, ten percent (10%) or more of the total combined voting power of classes of shares of such foreign corporation (See more detailed discussion at "Controlled Foreign Corporation" below).
If the Company no longer qualifies as a PFIC in a subsequent year, a timely QEF election will remain in effect, although not applicable, during those years that the Company is not a PFIC. Therefore, if the Company requalifies as a PFIC, the QEF election previously made is still valid, and the U.S. Holder is required to satisfy the requirements of that election. Furthermore, a QEF election remains in effect with respect to a U.S. Holder, although dormant, after a U.S. Holder disposes of its entire interest in the Company. Upon the U.S. Holder’s reacquisition of an interest in the Company, the QEF election will apply to the newly acquired stock of the Company.
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 annually elect to mark such stock to the market (a "mark-to-market election"). If such an election is made, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the special taxation rules of Section 1291 described below for the taxable year for which the mark-to-market election is made. A U.S. Holder who makes such an election will include in income for the taxable year for which the election was made an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the common shares of the Company as of the close of such tax year over 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 the Company included by such U.S. Holder for prior tax years, including any amount which would have been included for any prior tax year but for Section 1291 interest on tax deferral rules discussed below 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. U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares of the Company will be increased to reflect the amount included or deducted as a result of a mark-to-market election. A mark-to-market election only applies to the taxable year in which the election was made. A separate election must be made by a U.S. Holder for each subsequent taxable year. Because the Int ernal Revenue Service has not established procedures for making a mark-to-market election, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisor regarding the manner of making such an election.
If a U.S. Holder does not make a timely QEF or mark-to-market election during a year in which it holds (or is deemed to have held) the shares in question and the Company is a PFIC (a "Non-electing U.S. Holder"), then 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 Company common shares and (ii) certain "excess distributions", as specifically defined, by the Company.
A Non-electing U.S. Holder generally would be required to pro rate all gains realized on the disposition of his Company common shares and all excess distributions on his Company common shares over the entire holding period for the Company. All gains or excess distributions allocated to prior years of the U.S. Holder (other than years prior to the first taxable year of the Company during such U.S. Holder’s holding period and beginning after January 1, 1987 for which it 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 nondeductible. The balance 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.
If the Company is a PFIC for any taxable year during which a Non-electing U.S. Holder holds Company common shares, then the Company will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such Company 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 a gain (which will be taxed under the rules discussed above for Non-electing U.S. Holders) as if such Company common shares had been sold on the last day of the last taxable year for which it was a PFIC.
Under Section 1291(f) of the Code, the IRS has issued proposed 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 the Company 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. 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 a transfer at death, for example, the transferee’s basis is equal to (i) the fair market value of the Electing U.S. Holder’s common shares, less (ii) the excess of the fair market value of the Electing U.S. Holder’s common shares reduced by the U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in these common shares at death. 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. Each U.S. Holder of the Company is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect their tax situation.
Certain special, generally adverse, rules will apply with respect to Company common shares while the Company is a PFIC whether or not it is treated as a QEF. 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.
Controlled Foreign Corporation
If more than 50% of the voting power of all classes of shares or the total value of the shares of the Company is owned, directly and indirectly, by citizens or residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships and companies or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts, each of whom own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company ("United States shareholder"), the Company could be treated as a controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") under Subpart F of the Code. This classification would effect many complex results, one of which is the inclusion of certain income of a CFC which is subject to current U.S. tax. The United States generally taxes a United States shareholder of a CFC currently on their pro rata shares of the S ubpart F income of the CFC. Such U.S. shareholders are generally treated as having received a current distribution out of the CFC’s Subpart F income and are also subject to current U.S. tax on their pro rata shares of the CFC’s earnings invested in U.S. property. The foreign tax credit described above may reduce the U.S. tax on these amounts. In addition, under Section 1248 of the Code, gain from the sale or exchange of shares by a U.S. Holder of common shares of the Company who is or was a United States shareholder at any time during the five-year period ending with the sale or exchange is treated as ordinary income to the extent of earnings and profits of the Company attributable to the shares sold or exchanged. If a foreign corporation is both a PFIC and CFC, the foreign corporation generally will not be treated as a PFIC with respect to United States shareholders beginning after 1997 and for taxable years of foreign corporations ending with or within such taxable years of United States sharehol ders. Special rules apply to United States shareholders who are subject to the special taxation rules under Section 1291 discussed above with respect to PFIC. Because of the complexity of Subpart F, and because it is not clear that Subpart F would apply to U.S. Holders of common shares of the Company, a more detailed review of these rules is outside of the scope of this discussion.
E. Statements by Experts
The Company's financial statements as at September 30, 2003 and for the year then ended included in this Form 20-F have been audited by KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants as stated in their report appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon the report of such firm, also included elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The Company's financial statements as at September 30, 2002 and 2001 and for the years then ended included in this Form 20-F have been audited by Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton, Chartered Accountants as stated in their report appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon the report of such firm, also included elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
F. Documents on Display
The Documents concerning the Company which are referred to in this Report are either annexed hereto as exhibits (See Item 19) or may be inspected at the principal offices of the Company.
Item 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
A. Qualitative Information about Market Risk
Currency Exchange Rate Sensitivity
The results of the Company’s operations are subject to currency translation risk and currency transaction risk. Regarding currency translation risk, the operating results and financial position of the Company and Company’s subsidiaries are reported in Canadian dollars in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company incurs certain costs in US dollars. The fluctuation of the US dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar will therefore have an impact upon the profitability of the Company and may also affect the value of the Company’s assets and the amount of shareholders’ equity.
In regards to transaction risk, the Company’s functional currency is the Canadian dollar and its activities are predominantly executed using the Canadian dollar. The Company incurs a relatively small portion of its expenses in U.S. dollars. The Company’s common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and are bought and sold in Canadian dollars. The Company has not entered into any agreements or purchased any instruments to hedge any possible currency risks at this time.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
The Company currently has no short term or long term debt requiring interest payments. As a result, the Company has not entered into any agreement or purchased any instrument to hedge against possible interest rate risks at this time.
Commodity Price Sensitivity
The future revenue and profitability of the Company will be dependent, to a significant extent, upon prevailing spot market prices for metals and hydrocarbons. In the past metal and hydrocarbon prices have been volatile. Prices are subject to wide fluctuations in response to changes in supply of and demand for metals and hydrocarbons, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond the control of the Company. The Company’s properties are in the exploration phase and accordingly the Company is not generating any operating revenues and is therefore not subject to any short term volatility in the prices of metals and hydrocarbons. As the Company is in the exploration phase, the above factors have had no material impact on operations or income. No futures or forward c ontracts have been entered into by the Company.
PART II
Item 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
None
Item 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
None
Item 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATION TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
None
PART III
Item 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared on the basis of Canadian GAAP. A reconciliation to U.S. GAAP is included therein.
The auditors’ report, financial statements and notes thereto, schedules thereto as required under Item 17 are found immediately below. The Audit Reports of KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants and Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton, Chartered Accountants are included herein immediately preceding the respective financial statements, notes, schedules, etc.
Financial Statements:
Auditors’ Report dated November 14, 2003
Comments by Auditor for U.S. Readers on Canada – U.S. Reporting Difference
Auditor's Report dated January 17, 2003
Comments by Auditor for U.S. Readers on Canada – U.S. Reporting Difference
Consolidated Balance Sheets
as of September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
September 30, 2003, September 30, 2002 and September 30, 2001
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
September 30, 2003, September 30, 2002 and September 30, 2001
Consolidated Statement of Shareholders Equity for the Years Ended
September 30, 2003, September 30, 2002 and September 30, 2001
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
All other financial statement schedules are omitted because the information is not required, is not material or is otherwise included in the financial statements or related notes thereto.
Item 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company has elected to report under Item 17.
Item 19. EXHIBITS
3.1 Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation
10.1 Certificates of Name Change
10.2 Farmout agreement dated November 1, 2001 with Polaris Resources Ltd.
10.3 Option and joint venture agreement dated March 26, 2003 between the
Company and Anglo American Exploration (Canada) Ltd.
23.1 Consent of Auditors
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby 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 repot on its behalf.
Dated: February 26, 2004 Knight Resources Ltd.
By: /s/David Patterson/s/
David Patterson,
Chief Executive Officer
Knight Resources Ltd.
(formerly Knight Petroleum Corp.)
Consolidated Financial Statements
MATHESON James F Carr-Hilton, Ltd. Peter J Donaldson, Inc. Fraser G. Ross, Ltd.
CARR-HILTON Robert J Burkart, Inc. Alvin F Dale, Ltd. Robert J Matheson, Inc.