U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 40-F
Registration statement pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or
X Annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year endedOctober 31, 2009
Commission File Number001-32345
Cardero Resource Corp.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
British Columbia, Canada | 1041 | Not Applicable |
#1920 – 1188 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A2
(604) 408-7488
(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
DL Services Inc. Columbia Center, 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 6100 Seattle, WA 98104-7043 (206) 903-5448 (Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States) |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class: | Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered: |
Common Shares, no par value | NYSE Amex LLC |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this form:
X Annual Information Form
X Audited Annual Financial Statements
AtOctober 31, 2009, the Registrant had outstanding 58,543,477 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 Exchange Act 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.
X Yes
No
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes No
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The Annual Information Form (“AIF”) of Cardero Resource Corp. (the “Registrant” or the “Company”) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference.
The audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended October 31, 2009 and 2008, including the report of the auditors with respect thereto, are incorporated herein by reference. For a reconciliation of important differences between Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (“Canadian GAAP”) and United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), see Note 15 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements.
The Company’s management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) for the year ended October 31, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Company is a Canadian issuer eligible to file its annual report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) on Form 40-F. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Company’s equity securities are exempt from Sections 14(a), 14(b), 14(c), 14(f) and 16 of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 3a12-3.
The Company is permitted, under a multi-jurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States, to prepare this annual report on Form 40-F in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States.
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with Canadian GAAP, and is subject to Canadian auditing and auditor independence standards. Accordingly, the financial statements of the Company included in this report may not be comparable to financial statements of United States companies. Significant differences between Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP are described in Note 15to the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this report.
Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts are reported in Canadian dollars.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in the operations of the Company in future periods, planned exploration and development activities, the adequacy of the Company’s financial resources and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “potential,” “possible” and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results “will,” “may,” “could” or “should” occur or be achieved. Information concerning the interpretation of drill results and mineral resource estimates also may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as such information constitutes a prediction of what mineralizati on might be found to be present if and when a project is actually developed. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those described in the AIF.
The Company’s forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements in the future. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The information provided under the heading “Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures” (page 21) contained in the MD&A is incorporated by reference herein.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The information provided under the heading “Management’s Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” contained at the beginning of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statementsis incorporated by reference herein.
ATTESTATION REPORT OF THE REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The information provided under the heading “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to the Shareholders of Cardero Resource Corp. (an Exploration Stage Company)” contained at the beginning of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements is incorporated by reference herein.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The information provided under the heading “Changes In Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” (page 22) contained in the MD&A is incorporated by reference herein.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Company’s Board of Directors consists of the following individuals: Hendrik Van Alphen, Lawrence W. Talbot, Leonard Harris, Murray Hitzman and Stephan Fitch. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Harris, Hitzman and Fitch are “independent” under the criteria established by NYSE Amex.
AUDIT COMMITTEE IDENTIFICATION AND FINANCIAL EXPERT
The information provided in Schedule “A” to the AIF is incorporated by reference herein. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that Stephan Fitch, a member of the Audit Committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the Commission’s rules. Mr. Fitch is “independent” under the criteria established by NYSE Amex.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and persons performing similar functions. A copy of the Company’s code of ethics has been posted on the Company’s Internet website atwww.cardero.com. No substantive amendments were made to the Company’s code of ethics during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and no waivers of the Company’s code of ethics were granted to any principal officer of the Company or any person performing similar functions during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information provided under the headings “Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” (page 12) and “External Auditor Service Fees (By Category)” (page 13) contained in Schedule “A” to the AIF is incorporated by reference herein.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table presents, as at October 31, 2009, the Company’s known contractual obligations, aggregated by type of contractual obligation as set forth below:
Contractual obligations | Total | Less than 1 Year | 1-3 Years | 3-5 Years | More than 5 Years |
Operating lease obligations(1) | $769,340 | $271,104 | $498,236 | $Nil | $Nil |
Total contractual obligations | $769,340 | $271,104 | $498,236 | $Nil | $Nil |
(1)
Obligations in respect of office leases.
UNDERTAKINGS
The Company undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises; or to transactions in said securities.
CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
The Company has previously filed with the Commission a written consent to service of process and power of attorney on Form F-X. Any change to the name or address of the Company’s agent for service shall be communicated promptly to the Commission by amendment to the Form F-X referencing the file number of the Company.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
CARDERO RESOURCE CORP.
Hendrik Van Alphen
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: January 29, 2010
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following documents are being filed with the Commission as exhibits to this annual report on Form 40-F.
Exhibit | Description | |
4.(1) | Management Information Circular dated February 18, 2009 in respect of the 2009 Annual General Meeting
| |
Certification of Chief Executive Officer as Required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act | ||
Certification of Chief Financial Officer as Required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act | ||
Consent of SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd. and M. Wanless | ||
Consent of Holland & Holland Consultants (UK) and L. Holland | ||
(1)
Incorporated by reference to the Form 6-K furnished by the Company on March 3, 2009.