Since the termination of its Phase 1 drilling program in January 2010, the Company’s exploration activities on the CVN Project have focused primarily on target assessment including additional geological and geochemical studies and assessment.
In addition, two angle core holes have been drilled on the “Safford” portion of the CVN Project covered by the WFW Lease. The Safford property is adjacent to and southeast of the Barth iron deposit, comprised of massive hematite, which has been theorized to either be a skarn or IOCG style deposit. Safford mineralization is comprised largely of silver and copper mineralization in shear zones and siliceous, baritic, sulfidic breccias. The two angle core holes were drilled through and below the downward and on-strike extension of mineralization below the 1880 mining that reached a maximum of 150 feet below surface. Assays from these holes did not contain any results of economic significance.
Excluding claim maintenance fees and lease payments, as of September 30, 2011 the Company has incurred approximately $851,474 (December 31, 2010 - $400,494) in exploration expenses on the CVN Project including, but not limited to, data analysis, sampling and processing, geological, consulting fees and drilling costs including the costs of the incomplete Phase 1 drilling program terminated in January 2010.
The Company is currently reviewing its proposed exploration plan for 2012 on the CVN Project which includes mapping the geology of and appropriately sampling the entire claim block and conducting additional scoop sampling over areas that have not been sampled and where there are essentially no outcroppings to sample. The Company considers this approach an effective tool in identifying, but not quantifying, geochemical anomalies. Follow-up of the scoop samples with detailed soil sampling may be warranted to additionally define the geochemical anomalies. The Company also proposes to drill test the main range-front chalcedony/quartz breccia-veining further down dip as part of its budget from the Phase 1 drilling program terminated in January 2010. The exposed and previously drilled portions of the veining fit into the exploration model above the expected level of gold mineralization. Drill holes need to reach at least 1,200 feet below surface to test the model depth of expected gold if the gold precipitated under hydrostatic conditions. If the system sealed itself, the depth to gold could be greater. Up to 4 or 5 combined RC and core holes are currently being considered for drilling on the CVN Project when conditions permit in 2012. The estimated budget for the 2012 exploration program is between $450,000 and $1,000,000.
Camp Douglas Project, Mineral County, Nevada
Pursuant to the Diversified Lease, the Company has the exclusive right and option to purchase, subject to the 4% Diversified Royalty, a 100% undivided interest in 198 unpatented mineral claims totaling approximately 3,800 acres in the Camp Douglas Project in the Walker Lane Trend in Mineral County, Nevada. Subsequent to the Diversified Lease, the Company has acquired control over an additional 79 unpatented mineral claims and 80 acres of fee land covering approximately 1,226 acres thereby increasing the overall size of the Camp Douglas Project to 277 unpatented mineral claims and 80 acres of fee land encompassing a total of 5,026 acres (2,033 hectares).
In 2011, we intend to engage the services of a geophysicist to assess the application of electrical geophysical methods for targeting purposes at the Camp Douglas Project. Ground assessment will follow and contingent on positive results a Phase 1 drilling program will be formulated and submitted for permitting. We anticipate such drilling to begin in late spring of 2012.
ITEM 8: RISK FACTORS
The business and operations of the Company is subject to a number of risks. The Company considers the risks set out below to be the most significant to potential investors in the Company, but not all of the risks associated with an investment in securities of the Company. If any of these risks materialize into actual events or circumstances or other possible additional risks and uncertainties of which the Company is currently unaware or which it considers to be material in relation to the Company’s business actually occur, the Company’s assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations (including future results of operations), business and business prospects, are likely to be materially and adversely affected. In such circumstances, the price of the Company’s securities could decline and investors may lose all or part of their investment.
Limited Operating History
The Company has a limited history of operations, is in the early stage of development and must be considered a start-up. As such, the Company is subject to many risks common to such enterprises, including under-capitalization, cash shortages, limitations with respect to personnel, financial and other resources and lack of revenues. The Company has no history of earnings, and there is no assurance that any of its current or future mineral properties will generate earnings, operate profitably or provide a return on investment in the future. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in achieving a return on shareholders’ investment and the likelihood of success must be considered in light of the Company’s early stage of operations. The Company has no intention of paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.
The exploration of the Company’s properties depends on its ability to obtain additional required financing. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining the required financing, which could cause it to postpone its exploration plans or result in the loss or substantial dilution of its interest in its properties as disclosed in this AIF.
Mineral Properties
The Company has an interest in three mineral resource properties located in the State of Nevada, U.S.A., being the Railroad, CVN and Camp Douglas Projects.
The Railroad Project is an advanced stage exploration property and has been the subject of considerable historical exploration work as outlined in the Railroad Report prepared for the Company and JKR by Ernest L. Hunsaker III, CPG 8137 (the “Author”). The Railroad Report does not contain an estimate for mineral resources or mineral reserves, but refers to certain historical estimates for gold on a portion of the Railroad Project known as the POD area. Drilling by Nicor Mineral Ventures Inc., Westmont Mining Inc. and Kinross Gold U.S.A. Inc., led to historical estimates (the “Historical Estimates”) of “drill indicated reserves” for the POD area of 1,197,400 tons containing 107,766 ounces gold at an average grade of 0.090 (cut off grade at 0.030) ounces per ton (Kuhl, 1985) and “geologic resource calculation” of 1,006,665 tons containing 89,731 ounces gold at an average grade of 0.089 (cut off grade at 0.030) ounces per ton (Bartels, 1999). These descriptions are similar to that defined as “inferred mineral resource” by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (2010). However, the Company does not treat the Historical Estimates as current mineral resources or reserves as defined by NI 43-101 as such estimates have not had sufficient work completed by the Author or any “qualified person” to allow for such classification as current mineral resources or mineral reserves under NI 43-101 and therefore should not be relied upon. The lack of pulps, rejects, cuttings or core currently available for sampling and verification makes the data utilized in formulating the Historical Estimates limited in their reliability. In addition, no gold has been produced from the Historical Estimates. For these reasons, among others, the Historical Estimates should not be relied upon as a guarantee of mineral resources or reserves. Actual resources or reserves, if any, may differ significantly.
On the other hand, the Historical Estimates are relevant as a guide to the Company’s future exploration and as partial summaries of historical background data. Such data is relevant because it provides a foundation upon which an exploration course of action can be recommended and is believed to be reliable because the companies and authors referenced in the calculations are known to be competent and professional in their work. Reference is made to the Railroad Report, incorporated by reference herein, for a detailed discussion of the Historical Estimates and the recommended work program for the Railroad Project.
The CVN and Camp Douglas Projects are in the early exploration stage and are without known resources or reserves.
In the case of each property, the proposed work programs are exploratory in nature and are designed to search for and/or confirm the existence of a mineral deposit.
Development of these or any future mineral properties will only follow upon obtaining satisfactory results. Exploration for and the development of minerals involve a high degree of risk and few properties, which are explored, are ultimately developed into producing properties. There is no assurance that our exploration and, if warranted, development activities will result in any discoveries of commercial bodies of ore. The long-term success of our operations will be in large part directly related to the cost and success of our exploration programs, which may be affected by a number of factors.
The Company expects to incur losses unless and until such time as one or more of its properties enters into commercial production and generates sufficient revenue to fund its continuing operations.
Calculations of Mineral Resources
To the extent that the Company’s future exploration and drilling work enables it to classify the Historical Estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves or otherwise make an estimate of mineral resources or mineral reserves for the Railroad or other projects, such estimates will be subject to uncertainty. The estimating of mineral reserves and mineral resources is a subjective process and the accuracy of such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data and the assumptions used and judgments made in interpreting engineering and geological information. There is significant uncertainty in any mineral reserve or mineral resource estimate, and the actual deposits encountered and the economic viability of mining a deposit may differ materially from our estimates. Estimated mineral resources may have to be recalculated based on changes in metal prices, further exploration or development activity or actual production experience. This could materially and adversely affect estimates of the volume or grade of mineralization, estimated recovery rates or other important factors that influence estimates of mineral resources. Any material change in the quantity of mineral resources, mineralization, grade or stripping ratio may affect the economic viability of our property. In addition, there can be no assurance that gold recoveries or other metal recoveries in small-scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in larger scale tests under on-site conditions or during production.
Furthermore, any resource estimates will be prepared in accordance with standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. These practices are different from the practices used to report reserve and resource estimates in reports and other materials filed with the SEC. It is Canadian practice to report measured, indicated and inferred resources, which are generally not permitted in disclosure filed with the SEC. In the United States, mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated resources will ever be converted into reserves. Further, “inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Disclosure of “contained ounces” is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC only permits issuers to report “resources” as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information concerning descriptions of mineralization and resources that we prepare may not be comparable to information made public by other United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC.
Nature of Exploration and Mining
Resource exploration and development is a speculative business and involves a high degree of risk, which even a combination of experience, knowledge and careful evaluation may not be able to avoid. There is no assurance that commercial quantities of ore will be discovered. There is also no assurance that even if commercial quantities of ore are discovered, a property will be brought into commercial production or that the metallurgical processing will produce economically viable saleable products. The discovery of commercial deposits is dependent upon a number of factors not the least of which is the technical skill of the exploration personnel involved. The commercial viability of a deposit once discovered and the decision as to whether it should be brought into production will depend upon the results of exploration programs and/or feasibility studies, and the recommendations of duly qualified engineers and/or geologists, all of which involves significant expense. This decision will involve consideration and evaluation of several significant factors including, but not limited to: (1) costs of bringing a property into production, including exploration and development work, preparation of production feasibility studies and construction of production facilities; (2) availability and costs of financing; (3) ongoing costs of production; (4) market prices for the minerals to be produced; (5) environmental compliance regulations and restraints (including potential environmental liabilities associated with historical exploration activities); and (6) political climate and/or governmental regulation and control. Our ability to sell and profit from the sale of any eventual mineral production from any of our properties will be subject to the prevailing conditions in the marketplace at the time of sale. Many of these factors are beyond our control and therefore represent a market risk which could impact our long term viability and operations.
Operating Hazards and Risks
In the course of exploration, development and production of mineral properties, certain risks may occur including, but not limited to, difficult surface or underground conditions, water conditions, unexpected or unusual rock conditions or geological operating conditions including rock bursts, cave-ins, ground fall, slope failures and land slides, fires, explosions, flooding and earthquakes. Additional risks include unanticipated variations in grade and other geological problems, failure of pit walls or dams, adverse environmental conditions or hazards, mechanical and equipment performance problems, industrial accidents, labour disputes, changes in the regulatory environment, damage to mineral properties or facilities and personal injury or death.
It is not always possible to fully insure against such risks and we may decide not to insure against such risks as a result of high premiums or other reasons. Should such liabilities arise, they could reduce or eliminate any future profitability and result in increasing costs and a decline in the value of our securities.
While the Company maintains insurance to insure against general commercial liability claims, such insurance will not cover all of the potential risks associated with the Company’s operations. The Company may also be unable to obtain insurance to cover other risks at economically feasible premiums or at all. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available, or may not be adequate to cover liabilities. The Company might also become subject to liability for environmental, pollution or other hazards associated with mineral exploration and production which may not be insured against, which may exceed the limits of our insurance coverage, or which we may elect not to insure against because of premium costs or other reasons. Currently, we are not insured against most environmental risks.
Losses from any one or more of these events may cause us to incur significant costs that could materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and its ability to fund activities on its properties. A significant loss could force the Company to reduce or terminate its operations and even result in bankruptcy.
Insufficient Resources or Reserves
Substantial additional expenditures will be required to establish either resources or reserves on the Company’s mineral properties and to develop processes to extract the minerals. No assurance can be given that minerals will be discovered in sufficient quantities to justify commercial operations or that the funds required for development can be obtained on a timely basis on terms acceptable to us or at all.
History of Net Losses
To date, the Company has not received any revenue from the exploration activities on its properties and has only incurred losses since its incorporation. In addition, the Company has not found that development activity is warranted on any of its properties. Even if the Company does undertake development activity on one or more of its properties, there is no certainty that the Company will produce revenue, operate profitably or provide a return on investment in the future.
Maintaining Interests in Mineral Properties
The Company’s ability to maintain ownership in its current mineral properties and to initially establish and subsequently maintain ownership in any future mineral properties will be dependent upon compliance with applicable laws and with agreements to which it is a party. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain and/or maintain all required permits and licenses to carry on its operations. Additional expenditures will be required by the Company to maintain its interests in its properties. There can be no assurance that the Company will have the funds, will be able to raise or will be able to comply with the provisions of the agreements relating to its properties which would entitle it to an interest therein and if the Company fails to do so its interest in some or all of these properties may be reduced or be lost.
Significant Additional Capital Required
Substantial expenditures will be required to establish resources or proven and probable reserves through drilling and analysis, to develop metallurgical processes to extract metal and develop the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure at any mine site. In addition to the funds the Company has budgeted for drilling in 2012, it will be required to expend significant amounts for geological and geochemical analysis, assaying, and, if warranted, feasibility studies with regard to the results of its exploration. The Company may not benefit from such investments if it is unable to identify commercially exploitable resources. If the Company is successful in identifying resources, it will require significant additional capital to construct a mill and other facilities necessary to extract those resources. That funding, in turn, depends upon a number of factors, including the state of the national and worldwide economy and the price of gold. The Company may not be successful in obtaining the required financing for these or other purposes, in which case, its ability to continue operating would be adversely affected. Failure to obtain such additional financing could result in delay or indefinite postponement of further exploration and the possible, partial or total loss of the Company’s potential interest in certain properties.
The Company will also require additional funding to acquire further property interests. The Company’s ability to arrange such financing in the future will depend, in part, upon the prevailing capital market conditions as well as its business performance. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in its efforts to arrange additional financing on terms satisfactory to it or at all. If the Company raises additional financing through the issuance of shares from its treasury, control of the Company may change and existing security holders will suffer additional dilution.
Future Operations Contingent on Production
The Company has only recently begun operations and has no history of revenues or earnings. To become profitable, the Company must first establish resources at its mineral resource properties, and then either develop such properties or locate and enter into agreements with third party operators. It could be years before the Company receives any revenues from the production of gold or other precious metals, if ever. The Company may suffer significant additional losses in the future and may never be profitable. The Company does not expect to receive revenue from operations in the foreseeable future, if at all. Even if the Company does achieve profitability, it may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.
Reliance on Key Personnel
The success of the Company will be largely dependent upon the experience, judgment, discretion, integrity, good faith and performance of its management and key employees such as Jonathan T. Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer, and David C. Mathewson, Vice-President, Exploration. The Company could be adversely affected if such individuals do not remain with the Company. Furthermore, the Company does not maintain life insurance policies in respect of its key personnel.
The Company’s future success will also be highly dependent on its ability to attract and retain key individuals to act as directors and/or executives who have the necessary skills and abilities to successfully grow the Company.
Locating mineral deposits depends on a number of factors, not the least of which is the technical skill and expertise of the personnel involved. The competition for qualified personnel in the mineral resource industry is intense and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to attract and retain all personnel necessary for the development and operation of its business. Failure to retain these individuals or to attract or retain additional key individuals with necessary skills could have a materially adverse impact upon the Company’s success.
Competition
The Company competes with many companies in the mining industry, including large, established mining companies with substantial capabilities, personnel and financial resources. There is a limited supply of desirable mineral lands available for claim-staking, lease or acquisition in the United States, particularly Nevada, and other areas where the Company may conduct exploration activities. The Company may be at a competitive disadvantage in acquiring mineral properties, since it will be competing with these individuals and companies, many of which have greater financial resources and larger technical staffs. From time to time, specific properties or areas which would otherwise be attractive to the Company for exploration or acquisition may be unavailable to it due to their previous acquisition by other companies or the Company’s lack of financial resources. Competition in the industry is not limited to the acquisition of mineral properties but also extends to the technical expertise to find, advance, and operate such properties; the labor to operate the properties; and the capital for the purpose of funding such properties. Many competitors not only explore for and mine precious metals, but conduct refining and marketing operations on a world-wide basis. Such competition may result in the Company being unable to acquire desired properties, recruit or retain qualified employees or raise the capital necessary to fund its operation and advance its properties. The Company’s inability to compete with other companies for these resources would have a material adverse effect on its results of operation and business.
Title
The Company’s ability to explore and operate its properties depends on the validity of title to its properties. The mineral claims currently making up the Company’s properties consist of both patented and unpatented mining claims.
Unpatented mining claims are unique property interests and are generally considered to be subject to greater risk than other real property interests because the validity of unpatented mining claims is often uncertain. Unpatented mining claims provide only possessory title and their validity is often subject to contest by third parties or the federal government. These uncertainties relate to such things as the sufficiency of mineral discovery, proper posting and marking of boundaries, assessment work, unregistered agreements, undetected defects and possible conflicts with other claims not determinable from descriptions of record. Since a substantial portion of all mineral exploration, development and mining in the United States now occurs on unpatented mining claims, this uncertainty is inherent in the mining industry.
While the Company has investigated title to its projects, this should not be construed as a guarantee of title. There may be valid challenges to the title to its properties, particularly its unpatented claims, which, if successful, could impair development and/or operations and result in the loss of all or a portion of the properties to which the title defect relates.
No assurances can be given that title defects to the Company’s current properties or any future properties in which the Company may seek to acquire an interest do not exist.
The Company will also remain at risk that the mining claims may be forfeited either to the United States or to rival private claimants due to failure to comply with statutory requirements as to location and maintenance of the claims or challenges to whether a discovery of a valuable mineral exists on every claim.
The Company’s current mineral properties are also subject to annual compliance with assessment work and/or fee requirements, property taxes and lease payments. Any failure to make such payments or comply with such requirements could result in the loss of all or a portion of its interest in the properties.
Environmental Risks
Due to the early stage of the Company’s operations and its minimal capitalization any environmental issues or any changes in environmental regulations would seriously adversely affect the Company. All phases of the Company’s operations will be subject to federal, state and local environmental regulation. These regulations mandate, among other things, the maintenance of air and water quality standards and land reclamation. They also set forth limitations on the generation, transportation, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner which will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. Future changes in environmental regulation, if any, may adversely affect the Company’s operations, make its operations prohibitively expensive, or prohibit them altogether. Environmental hazards may exist on the Company’s current properties and on properties in which the Company may hold interests in the future that are unknown to the Company at the present and that have been caused by the Company or by previous owners or operators of the properties, or that may have occurred naturally.
Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions thereunder, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities, causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment, or remedial actions.
Future production, if any, at the Company’s properties will involve the use of hazardous materials. Should these materials leak or otherwise be discharged from their containment systems, the Company may become subject to liability. The Company does not currently maintain insurance for environmental risks including potential liability for pollution or other hazards as a result of the disposal of waste products occurring from exploration or production, as it is not generally available at a reasonable price.
Potential Environmental Lawsuits
Neighbouring landowners and other third parties could file claims based on environmental statutes and common law for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances or other waste material into the environment on or around the Company’s properties. There can be no assurance that the Company’s defense of such claims will be successful. A successful claim against the Company could have a material adverse affect on its business prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Governmental and Regulatory Requirements
The Company’s current and future operations including exploration and development activities and, if applicable, commencement of production on its properties, require permits from various federal, state and local governmental authorities, as well as approval of members of surrounding communities and such operations are and will be governed by laws and regulations governing prospecting, development, mining, production, taxes, labour standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, mine safety and other matters. Companies engaged in the development and operation of mines and related facilities generally experience increased costs and delays in production and other schedules as a result of the need to comply with the applicable laws, regulations and permits. Permits and studies may be necessary prior to operation of the exploration properties in which the Company has an interest and there can be no guarantee that the Company will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary permits that may be required to commence construction or operation of mining facilities at these properties on terms which enable operations to be conducted at economically justifiable costs. The Company cannot be certain that all permits and approvals which it may require for its future operations will be obtainable on reasonable terms or that such laws and regulations would not have an adverse effect on any mining project, which it might undertake. To the extent such permits and approvals are required and are not obtained, the Company may be delayed or prohibited from proceeding with planned exploration or development of mineral properties which would adversely affect its business, prospects and operations.
Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment or remedial actions. Parties engaged in mining operations may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of the mining activities and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed upon them for violation of applicable laws or regulations.
Amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of mining companies, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a material adverse impact on the Company and cause increases in capital expenditures or exploration costs, reduction in levels of exploration or abandonment or delays in the development of mining properties.
Proposed Legislation
Periodically, members of the U.S. Congress have introduced bills which would supplant or alter the provisions of the General Mining Law of 1872, which governs the unpatented claims that the Company currently controls within its properties. One such amendment has become law and has imposed a moratorium on patenting of mining claims, which reduced the security of title provided by unpatented claims such as those in the Company’s Railroad and CVN Projects. If additional legislation is enacted, it could substantially increase the cost of holding unpatented mining claims by requiring payment of royalties, and could significantly impair the Company’s ability to develop mineral resources on unpatented mining claims. Such bills have proposed, among other things, to make permanent the patent moratorium, to impose a federal royalty on production from unpatented mining claims and to declare certain lands as unsuitable for mining. Although it is impossible to predict at this time what royalties may be imposed in the future, the imposition of such royalties could adversely affect the potential for development of such mining claims, and the economics of operating mines on federal unpatented mining claims. Passage of such legislation could adversely affect the Company’s business.
Adequate Infrastructure
Mining, processing, development and exploration activities depend, to one degree or another, on the availability of adequate infrastructure. Reliable roads, bridges, power sources, fuel and water supply and the availability of skilled labour and other infrastructure are important determinants, which affect capital and operating costs. Unusual or infrequent weather phenomena, sabotage, government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure could adversely affect the Company’s business, operations, condition and results of operations.
Water Supply
In accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada, the Company will need to obtain permits to drill water wells in connection with its future exploration and, if applicable, development and production activities. However, the amount of water that the Company will be entitled to use from those wells will not be determined by the appropriate regulatory authorities until a future date. A final determination of these rights will be dependent in part on the Company’s ability to demonstrate a beneficial use for the amount of water that its intend to use. Unless the Company is successful in developing the properties to a point where it can commence commercial production of gold or other precious metals, it may not be able to demonstrate such beneficial use. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company will have access to the amount of water needed to operate a mine at its properties.
Factors Beyond the Company’s Control
The potential profitability of the Company’s mineral properties is dependent upon many factors beyond its control. For instance, world prices of and markets for minerals are unpredictable, highly volatile, potentially subject to governmental fixing, pegging and/or controls and respond to changes in domestic, international, political, social and economic environments. Another factor is that rates of recovery of minerals from mined ore may vary from the rate experienced in tests and a reduction in the recovery rate will adversely affect profitability and, possibly, the economic viability of a property. Profitability also depends on the costs of operations, including costs of labour, equipment, electricity, environmental compliance or other production inputs. Such costs will fluctuate in ways the Company cannot predict and are beyond its control, and such fluctuations will impact on profitability and may eliminate profitability altogether. The economics of developing a mineral property will also be affected by grade of ore, fluctuating mineral markets, costs of processing equipment, competition, extensions on licenses and such other factors as government regulations, including regulations relating to title to mineral concessions, royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. Also, the Company will rely upon consultants and others for construction and operating expertise. Many of the above factors are beyond the Company’s control. Depending on the price of minerals produced, the Company may determine that it is impractical to either commence or continue commercial production.
Fluctuating Gold Prices
Even if the Company is successful in identifying resources, its ability to raise the significant additional capital to construct a mill and other facilities necessary to extract those resources and its potential for future profitability will be directly impacted by, among other things, the market price of minerals, particularly gold. A decrease in the price of gold at any time during future exploration and development may prevent the Company’s properties from being economically mined or result in the write off of assets whose value is impaired as a result of lower gold prices.
The market price of gold has experienced volatile and significant price movements over short periods of time, and is affected by numerous factors beyond the Company’s control, including international economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations (specifically, the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies), interest rates, global or regional consumption patterns, speculative activities, the purchase and sale of gold by central banks, and increased production due to improved mining and production methods. In particular, the supply of and demand for minerals are affected by, among other factors, political events, economic conditions and production costs in various producing regions. The effect of these factors cannot be predicted.
Although it may in the future be possible for the Company to protect some price fluctuations by hedging if it identifies commercially minable resources or reserves on its properties, the volatility of mineral prices represents a substantial risk, which no amount of planning or technical expertise can eliminate. In the event gold prices decline and remain low for prolonged periods of time, the Company might be unable to develop its properties or produce any revenue.
Assets Located Outside of Canada
Substantially all of the Company’s assets are located outside of Canada, and may from time to time be held directly or indirectly through foreign affiliates. It may be difficult or impossible to enforce judgments obtained in Canadian courts predicted upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of certain provinces of Canada against the portion of the Company’s assets located outside of Canada.
Dilution
The Company may in the future grant to some or all of its directors, officers, key employees and consultants options to purchase Common Shares at exercise prices equal to market prices at times when the public market is depressed. To the extent that significant numbers of such options are granted and exercised, the interests of the Company’s then existing shareholders will be subject to additional dilution.
The Company’s board of directors will have the authority to authorize the offer and sale of additional securities without the vote of or notice to existing shareholders. Based on the need for additional capital to fund expected expenditures and growth, it is likely that the Company will issue additional securities to provide such capital and that such additional issuances may involve a significant number of shares at prices less than the current market price for the Company’s Shares. Such additional issuances will dilute the percentage interest of existing shareholders and may reduce the price at which the Common Shares are able to be sold.
Limited Trading Market
The Common Shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and are traded on the OTCQX International in the United States. During the past year trading in the Common Shares has been limited and sporadic and there can be no assurance that an active market for the Common Shares will develop or be sustained in the future. If an active public market for the Common Shares does not develop in the future, or if developed, is not sustained, the liquidity of an investor’s investment may be limited and the share price may decline below the current market price for the Common Shares. See Item 11 ‘MARKET FOR SECURITIES”.
Conflicts of Interest
Certain of the directors and officers of the Company are engaged and will continue to be engaged in the search for additional business opportunities on behalf of other corporations, and situations may arise where these directors and officers will be in direct competition with the Company. Conflicts, if any, will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). In addition, some of the Company’s directors and officers are or may become directors or officers of other companies engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of mineral resource properties. See ITEM 13.3 “DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS – Conflicts of Interest” below.
Currency Fluctuation and Foreign Exchange Controls Risks
The Company’s operations will be conducted primarily in countries other than Canada making it subject to foreign currency fluctuation and such fluctuations may materially affect its financial position and results. The Company’s currency fluctuation exposure will be primarily to the U.S. dollar as all material commitments are in Canadian or U.S. dollars.
In addition, stock markets generally have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations and the market prices of securities generally have been highly volatile. These fluctuations are often unrelated to operating performance of a company and may adversely affect the market price of the Company’s Common Shares.
Dividend Policy
The Company has not paid any dividends on its Common Shares to date, and it is highly unlikely that the Company will be in a position to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company’s ability to pay dividends will depend on its ability to successfully develop one or more properties and generate revenue from operations. Further, its initial earnings, if any, will likely be retained to finance growth. Any future dividends will depend upon the Company’s earnings, if any, its then-existing financial requirements and other factors, and will be at the discretion of its board of directors.
Recent Global Financial Conditions
Recent global financial conditions have been subject to increased volatility and numerous financial institutions have either gone into bankruptcy or have had to be rescued by governmental authorities. In addition, access to public financing has been negatively impacted by the current European debt crisis. These factors may impact the ability of the Company to obtain equity or debt financing in the future and, if obtained, on terms favourable to it. If these increased levels of volatility and market turmoil continue, the Company’s operations could be adversely impacted and the value and the price of the Common Shares could continue to be adversely affected.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not exhaustive.
ITEM 9: DIVIDENDS
All of the Common Shares of the Company are entitled to an equal share in the dividends declared and paid by the Company. There are no restrictions in the Company's articles which could prevent the Company from paying dividends as long as there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the Company is insolvent or the payment of the dividend would render the Company insolvent. However, the Company has not paid any dividends since incorporation and it is not contemplating that any dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future.
The Company intends to retain all future earnings, if any, and other cash resources for the future operation and development of its business, and accordingly, does not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors after taking into account many factors including the Company’s operating results, financial condition and current and anticipated cash needs.
ITEM 10: DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE
The authorized capital of the Company consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares without par value. The following Common Shares of the Company were issued and outstanding as of the dates set out below:
Type of Security | Amount Authorized or to be Authorized | Outstanding as at December 31, 2010 | Outstanding as at February 14, 2012 |
Common Shares | Unlimited | 42,735,559 | 60,961,447 |
The holders of Common Shares are entitled to vote at all meetings of shareholders of the Company (with each Common Share having one vote), to receive dividends if, as and when declared by the directors and to participate rateably in any distribution of property or assets upon the liquidation, winding-up or other dissolution of the Company. Distribution in the form of dividends, if any, will be set by the Company’s board of directors. See Item 9 “DIVIDENDS” above for particulars of the Company’s dividend policy.
Provisions as to the modification, amendment or variation of the rights attached to the capital of the Company are contained in the Company’s Articles and the BCBCA. Generally speaking, substantive changes to the share capital require the approval of the shareholders by special resolution (at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast).
ITEM 11: MARKET FOR SECURITIES
11.1 Trading Price and Volume
The Common Shares of the Company currently trade on the Exchange under the symbol “GV”. On February 16, 2010 trading in the Common Shares was halted at the request of the Company pending the announcement of the Arrangement. On June 15, 2010 the Common Shares resumed trading on the Exchange. As of February 14, 2012 the closing price of the Company’s Common Shares on the Exchange was $1.17 per share.
The following table sets out the Company’s trading history on the Exchange on a monthly basis since the commencement of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2010: