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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
| Washington, D.C. 20549 |
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| FORM 20-F |
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¨ | REGISTRATIONSTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION12(b)OR(g)OFTHESECURITIESEXCHANGEACTOF1934 |
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x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2014 |
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¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from __________ to ________ |
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¨ | SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of event requiring this shell company report |
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Commission file number000-53117
Clifton Star Resources Inc. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Canada (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
1040 Avenue Belvedere, Suite 217, Quebec, QC, Canada G1S 3G3 (Address of principal executive offices)
Michel Bouchard, CEO 1040 Avenue Belvedere, Suite 217, Quebec, QC, Canada G1S 3G3 (418) 914-9922 Fax (418) 914-9687 (Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Shares, without par value (Title of Class)
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Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: | None |
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Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report. |
38,664,390 |
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known, seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. | Yes¨ | Nox |
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If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | Yes¨ | Nox |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 12 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 ninety days | Yesx | No¨ |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer: |
(Check one) Large accelerated filer¨ Accelerated filer¨ | Non-accelerated filerx |
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Indicatebycheckmarkwhichbasisofaccountingregistranthasusedtopreparefinancialstatementsincludedinthisfiling: |
U.S.GAAP¨ InternationalFinancialReportingStandardsasissuedbyInternationalAccountingStandardsBoard x | Other¨ |
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If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow: | Item 17¨ | Item 18x |
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If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). | Yes¨ | Nox |
Under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the "JOBS Act"), Clifton Star is classified as an "Emerging Growth Company". Under the JOBS Act, Emerging Growth Companies are exempt from certain reporting requirements, including the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Under this exemption, the company’s auditor will not be required to attest to and report on management’s assessment of the company’s internal controls over financial reporting during a five-year transition period. The Company is also exempt from certain other requirements, including the requirement to adopt certain new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards would apply to private companies. The Company will remain an Emerging Growth Company for up to five years, although it will lose that status earlier if revenues exceed US$1 billion, or if the Company issues more than US$1 billion in non-convertible debt in a three year period, or if the market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million.
CLIFTON STAR RESOURCES INC.
FORM 20-F ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Part I | | Page |
| Introduction | |
Item 1 | Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors | 5 |
Item 2 | Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable | 5 |
Item 3 | Key Information | 5 |
Item 4 | Information on the Company | 11 |
Item 5 | Operating and Financial Review and Prospects | 39 |
Item 6 | Directors, Senior Management and Employees | 54 |
Item 7 | Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions | 65 |
Item 8 | Financial Information | 67 |
Item 9 | The Offer and Listing | 69 |
Item 10 | Additional Information | 72 |
Item 11 | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 77 |
Item 12 | Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities | 77 |
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Part II | | |
Item 13 | Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies | 77 |
Item 14 | Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds | 77 |
Item 15 | Controls and Procedures | 78 |
Item 16 | Reserved | 79 |
Item 16A | Audit Committee Financial Expert | 79 |
Item 16B | Code of Ethics | 79 |
Item 16C | Principal Accountant Fees and Services | 80 |
Item 16D | Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committee | 80 |
Item 16E | Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company and Affiliated Purchasers | 80 |
Item 16F | Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant | 80 |
Item 16G | Corporate Governance | 80 |
Item 16H | Mine Safety Disclosure | 80 |
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Part III | | |
Item 17 | Financial Statements | 80 |
Item 18 | Financial Statements | 80 |
Item 19 | Exhibits | 81 |
INTRODUCTION
Clifton Star Resources Inc. was incorporated under theBusiness Corporations Act (British Columbia, Canada) (the “BCABC”), under the name Houstonian Resources Inc. The Company changed its name to Clifton Star Resources Inc. on November 8, 1982. The Company was continued under theCanada Business Corporations Act (Canada) (the “CBCA”) on December 29, 2010. In this Annual Report, the “Company”, “Clifton Star”, “we”, “our” and “us” refer to Clifton Star Resources Inc. (unless the context otherwise requires). We refer you to the actual corporate documents for more complete information than may be contained in this Annual Report. Our corporate offices are located at 1040 Avenue Belvedere, Suite 217, Quebec, QC, Canada, G1S 3G3.Our telephone number is (418) 914-9922 and our fax number is (418) 914-9687.
We file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549; you may obtain copies of our filings with the SEC by accessing their website located atwww.sec.gov. Corporate information may be found at the Company’s website:www.cfo-star.com
BUSINESS OF CLIFTON STAR RESOURCES INC.
Clifton Star Resources Inc. (the “Company”) is a mineral exploration company. Its main focus is on exploring its property interests, primarily the Duparquet Project, in Quebec, Canada.
FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
In this Annual Report, unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian Dollars (“CDN$” or “$”). The Government of Canada permits a floating exchange rate to determine the value of the Canadian Dollar against the U.S. Dollar (US$).
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Form 20-F Annual Report contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words like “plans”, “expects”, “aims”, “believes”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “will”, “should”, “could” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion, expectation, or projection of future operating or financial performance, events or trends. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions, which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from these expectations/assumptions due to changes in global political, economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
These factors include, but are not limited to, the fact that the Company is in the exploration stage, will need additional financing to develop its properties, and will be subject to certain risks, since its prospects are located in Canada, which factors are set forth in more detail in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in Item #3D, “Business Overview” in ITEM #4B, and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” at ITEM #5.
PART I
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS
--- Not Applicable ---
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE.
--- No Disclosure Necessary ---
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION.
3.A.1. Selected Financial Data
3.A.2. Selected Financial Data
The selected financial data of the Company for fiscal years 2014 and 2013 ended June 30th, were derived or calculated from the financial statements audited by Deloitte LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, as indicated in their Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, which is included elsewhere in this Annual Report. Deloitte & Touche, LLP name was changed to Deloitte LLP. in January 2014. The selected financial data for the fiscal years 2012 and 2011, ended June 30th were derived or calculated from the financial statements audited by Davidson & Company LLP.
The Company has not declared any dividends since incorporation and does not anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable future. The present policy of the Company is to retain all available funds for use in its operations and the expansion of its business.
Table No. 1 is derived from the financial statements of the Company, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards for fiscal years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, 2012, & 2011.
The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and other financial information included elsewhere in the Annual Report.
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Table No. 1 |
Selected Financial Data |
International Financial Reporting Standards |
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| Year | Year | Year | Year |
| Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended |
| June 30, 2014 | June 30, 2013 | June 30, 2012 | June 30, 2011 |
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Sales Revenue | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - |
Loss From Operations | | (1,949,448) | | (3,400,743) | | (3,123,738) | | (5,220,364) |
Loss and Comprehensive Loss | | (6,245,111) | | (3,869,453) | | (2,244,155) | | (4,765,837) |
Basic/Diluted (Loss) Per Common Share | | (0.16) | | (0.10) | | (0.06) | | (0.14) |
Dividends Per Share | | | | - | | - | | - |
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Working Capital | $ | 1,965,662 | $ | 5,517,009 | $ | 13,397,588 | $ | 16,803,118 |
Exploration and Evaluation Assets | | 36,718,578 | | 42,253,866 | | 33,318,968 | | 31,620,626 |
Deferred Income and Mining Tax Liability | | 323,000 | | 3,441,000 | | 1,267,000 | | 1,946,000 |
Long-Term Debt | | - | | - | | - | | - |
Shareholder’s Equity | | 39,187,877 | | 45,145,534 | | 45,523,334 | | 46,533,657 |
Total Assets | | 39,883,065 | | 50,074,697 | | 47,508,170 | | 48,873,570 |
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Weighted Avg. Shares O/S | | 38,599,322 | | 37,393,568 | | 35,654,390 | | 33,454,231 |
Year End Shares O/S | | 38,664,390 | | 38,414,390 | | 35,654,390 | | 35,654,390 |
3.A.3. Exchange Rates
In this Annual Report, unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian Dollars (CDN$). The Government of Canada permits a floating exchange rate to determine the value of the Canadian Dollar against the U.S. Dollar (US$). For purposes of this table, the rate of exchange means the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The table sets forth the number of Canadian Dollars required under that formula to buy one U.S. Dollar. The average rate means the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period. The following table sets forth the rate of exchange for the Canadian Dollar at the end of the most recent fiscal periods ended June 30th, the average rates for the period, and the range of high and low rates for the period. The data for each month during the previous six months are also provided.
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Table No. 2 |
Canadian Dollars to Buy One US Dollar |
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Period | Average | High | Low | Close |
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September 2014 | | $ 1.12 | $ 1.09 | $ 1.12 |
August 2014 | | 1.10 | 1.09 | 1.09 |
July 2014 | | 1.09 | 1.06 | 1.09 |
June 2014 | | 1.09 | 1.07 | 1.07 |
May 2014 | | 1.10 | 1.08 | 1.09 |
April 2014 | | 1.10 | 1.09 | 1.10 |
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Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2014 | $ 1.07 | $ 1.13 | $ 1.02 | $ 1.07 |
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013 | 1.01 | 1.05 | 0.97 | 1.03 |
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2012 | 1.00 | 1.04 | 0.95 | 1.02 |
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2011 | 1.00 | 1.06 | 0.95 | 0.96 |
3.B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not Applicable
3.C. Reasons For The Offer And Use Of Proceeds
--- No Disclosure Necessary ---
3.D. Risk Factors
In addition to the other information presented in this Annual Report, the following should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company and its business. This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Risks Related to the Company
If the Company Fails to Make Any Scheduled Payments Due or Fails to Meet any Milestones Associated with its Property Agreements, It Will Lose Its Interest in the Properties.
To earn the remaining 90% interest in Beattie-Donchester-Dumico gold properties, pursuant to the amended agreement dated September 14, 2012, the Company must pay $10 million on December 1, 2014; pay an additional $10 million on December 1, 2015; pay an additional $15 million on December 1, 2016; and pay a final $15.2 million on December 1, 2017. If the Company is unable to make any of the scheduled payments under the agreements, or is unable to further renegotiate the agreement, it will lose its option to acquire the remaining interests in the companies that own the properties above the 10% interest it already owns, and the deferred costs will be written down.
Clifton Star Has Not Yet Achieved Profitable Operations, and Expects to Incur Further Losses in the Development of Its Business, All of Which Casts Doubt About the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern.
The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to generate future profitable operations and/or to obtain the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. The Company has recorded net losses in each of the past three fiscal years.
Clifton Star’s Lack of Revenues Necessitates the Distribution of Stock and/or Borrowing Capital by the Company to Provide Funding to Locate Mineralized Materials in Commercial Quantities.
The inability to secure financing on terms that are suitable to the Company and its shareholders could ultimately result in the Company having to cease operations.
Clifton Star Has No Reserves on the Properties in Which It Has an Interest, and If Reserves Are Not Defined the Company Could Have to Cease Operations.
The expenditures to be made by Clifton Star in the exploration of its properties as described herein may not result in discoveries of mineralized material in commercial quantities. To date, no mineralized material in commercial quantities has been confirmed on any of the properties in which Clifton Star has an interest. Most exploration projects do not result in the discovery of commercially mineable ore deposits, and this occurrence could ultimately result in Clifton Star having to cease operations.
As a Canadian Reporting Issuer and a Foreign Private Issuer in the United States, Clifton Star reports mineral estimates using National Instrument 43-101 and not under the Security and Exchange Commission's Industry Guide 7
The disclosure in this Form 20-F annual report uses terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada and certain estimates are made in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the “CIM”) –CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves,adopted by the CIM Council, as amended
NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless otherwise indicated, all reserve and resource estimates contained in this annual report have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC, and reserve and resource information contained herein and incorporated by reference herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies.
This annual report includes mineral reserve estimates that have been calculated in accordance with NI 43-101, as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities. For United States reporting purposes, SEC Industry Guide 7 (under the Exchange Act), as interpreted by the SEC Staff, applies different standards in order to classify mineralization as a reserve. As a result, the definitions of proven and probable reserves used in NI 43-101 differ from the definitions in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Under SEC standards, 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. Among other things, all necessary permits would be required to be in hand or issuance imminent in order to classify mineralized material as reserves under the SEC standards. Accordingly, certain mineral reserve estimates contained in this annual report may not qualify as “reserves” under SEC standards.
This annual report also uses the terms “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources” to comply with the reporting standards in Canada. Although those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility.
Further, “inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Therefore, Investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the inferred resources exist. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of “inferred mineral resources” cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies.
It cannot be assumed that all or any part of “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources”, or “inferred mineral resources” will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources”, or “inferred mineral resources” in this annual report is economically or legally mineable.
For these reasons, information contained in this annual report and the documents incorporated by reference herein containing descriptions of our mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Clifton Star Has No Positive Cash Flow and No Recent History of Significant Earnings, and Is Dependent Upon Public and Private Distributions of Equity to Obtain Capital in Order to Sustain Operations. The sale of securities to the public results in dilution to existing shareholders. For the past three years, Clifton Star has had no revenues and, consequently, no positive cash flow.
Historically, the only source of funds available to Clifton Star has been through the sale of its common shares. Any future additional equity financing would cause dilution to current stockholders.
Dilution through Employee/Director/Consultant Options Could Adversely Affect Clifton Star Resource’s Stockholders.
Because the success of Clifton Star is highly dependent upon its respective employees, the Company has granted to some or all of its key employees, Directors and consultants options to purchase common shares as non-cash incentives. To the extent that significant numbers of such options may be granted and exercised, the interests of the other stockholders of the Company may be diluted. At June 30, 2014, there were 3,285,000 share purchase options outstanding, which, if exercised, would result in an additional 3,285,000 common shares being issued and outstanding. For a breakdown of dilution, refer to the risk factor entitled: “Clifton Star does not have Positive Cash Flow and No Recent History of Significant Earnings, and Is Dependent Upon Public and Private Distributions of Equity to Obtain Capital in Order to Sustain Operations. Public distributions of capital result in dilution to existing shareholders”.
Clifton Star is Dependent on Key Personnel, and the Absence of Any of These Individuals Could Result in the Company Having to Cease Operations.
While engaged in the business of exploring mineral properties, the nature of Clifton Star’s business, its ability to continue its exploration of potential exploration projects, and to develop a competitive edge in the marketplace, depends, in large part, on its ability to attract and maintain qualified key management personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense and the Company may not be able to attract and retain such personnel. Clifton Star’s growth will depend on the efforts of its Senior Management, particularly its President/CEO/Director, Michel Bouchard; its Chairman, Ross Glanville; its Chief Financial Officer, Louis Dufour; its Vice-President, Exploration, Louis Martin; and its directors, Philip Nolan, Peter Gundy and Yves Harvey. Clifton Star does not carry key-man insurance on any individuals.
Clifton Star’s Management has Abandoned Business Plans and Changed Industries with Prior Companies
Some of the members of Clifton Star’s current management have been past officers and/or directors of other companies that have abandoned their business plans and changed industries. Clifton Star has raised funds through flow-through common share offerings that require funds raised to be spent on qualifying mineral exploration activities by a certain date. If the Company were to change its business plan to an industry other than mineral exploration, it would be in breach of the terms of the flow-through subscription agreements. A breach would likely cause the Company to lose any unspent funds raised through flow-through common share offerings, as well as be required to indemnify and pay the flow-through subscribers the amount of any tax. Such a breach would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition. If Clifton Star were to abandon mineral exploration and adopt a new business plan, it would likely require the appointment of new officers and/or directors, and have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position.
U.S. Investors May Not Be Able to Enforce Their Civil Liabilities Against Us or Our Directors, Controlling Persons and Officers.
It may be difficult to bring and enforce suits against Clifton Star. Clifton Star is a corporation continued under the CBCA. All of the Company's directors are residents of Canada, and all or substantial portions of their assets are located outside of the United States, predominately in Canada. As a result, it may be difficult for U.S. holders of the Company’s common shares to effect service of process on these persons within the United States or to realize in the United States upon judgments rendered against them. In addition, a shareholder should not assume that the courts of Canada (i) would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against the Company or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws or other laws of the United States, or (ii) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against the Company or such persons predicated upon the U.S. federal securities laws or other laws of the United States.
The Risks Associated with Penny Stock Classification Could Affect the Marketability of the Common Stock of Clifton Star and Shareholders Could Find It Difficult to Sell Their Stock.
Clifton Star’s common shares are subject to “penny stock” rules as defined in 1934 Securities and Exchange Act rule 3a51-1. The Commission has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks. Transaction costs associated with purchases and sales of penny stocks are likely to be higher than those for other securities. Penny stocks generally are equity securities with a price of less than US$5.00 (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or quoted on the NASDAQ system, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system).
The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction, and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation.
In addition, the penny stock rules require that, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from such rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the Company’s common shares in the United States, and shareholders may find it more difficult to sell their shares.
As a "foreign private issuer”, Clifton Star is exempt from the Section 14 proxy rules and Section 16 of the 1934 Securities Act, and Results in Shareholders Having Less Complete and Timely Data.
The submission of proxy and annual meeting of shareholder information (prepared to Canadian standards) on Form 6-K results in shareholders having less complete and timely data. The exemption from Section 16 rules regarding sales of common shares by insiders results in shareholders having less data in this regard.
Risks Related to the Industry
The Amount of Capital Necessary to Meet All Environmental Regulations Associated with the Exploration Programs of Clifton Star Could Be In An Amount Great Enough to Force the Company to Cease Operations.
The current and anticipated future operations of Clifton Star, including further exploration activities require permits from various Federal and Provincial governmental authorities in Canada. Such operations are subject to various laws governing land use, the protection of the environment, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, mine safety and other matters. Unfavorable amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of resource exploration companies, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a materially adverse impact on the Company and cause increases in capital expenditures which could result in a cessation of operations by the Company.
Failure to comply with applicable 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. Parties engaged in resource exploration 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 for violation of applicable laws or regulations.
Large increases in capital expenditures resulting from any of the above factors could force Clifton Star to cease operations. If that were the case, investors would lose their entire investment in the Company.
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
4.A. History and Progress of the Company
Introduction
Clifton Star Resources Inc. engages in the exploration of several mineral properties in Canada. Its primary project is the Duparquet Project in Quebec, which consists of 4 properties under separate acquisition and option agreements, which the Company may purchase by making the required payments.
The Company’s executive office is located at:
Suite 217 – 1040 Belvedere Ave.
Quebec, QC, Canada
G1S 3G3
Telephone: (418) 914-9922
Facsimile: (418) 914-9687
e-mail: mbouchard@cfo-star.com
website:www.cfo-star.com
The Company’s executive office is located in premises of approximately 1,100 sq. ft., and Clifton began occupying these facilities in February 2012. The Company leases office space under an original formal lease which ran through January 31, 2014 but has been extended through January 31, 2015. Rental costs are $1,663 per month, plus taxes. The lease can be renewed for an additional period 1 year, with monthly rent adjusted by the Canada Cost of Living Index.
The contact person is Michel Bouchard, and his email is mbouchard@cfo-star.com
The Company's fiscal year-end is June 30th.
The Company's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada, under the symbol ”CFO”; and on the Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart Stock Exchanges in Germany.
The Company has an unlimited number of common shares without par value authorized. At June 30, 2014, the end of the Company's most recent fiscal year, there were 38,664,390 common shares issued and outstanding.
In this Annual Report, unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian Dollars (CDN$).
Incorporation
The Company was incorporated by Articles of Incorporation under the BCABC on April 30, 1981, under the name “Houstonia Resources Ltd.”. The Company changed its name to Clifton Star Resources Inc. on November 8, 1982. At the Company’s annual general meeting held on December 15, 2004, the Company adopted new Articles to comply with the new British Columbia Corporations Act (“BCCA”). The Company was continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act (“CBCA”) on December 29, 2010.
Historic Corporate Development
Upon incorporation, the Company was in the business of acquiring and exploring mineral properties. On March 12, 2000, faced with unsuccessful exploration results and the inability to finance further mineral property efforts, the Company had divested all of its interest in mineral properties. In March 2000, the Company signed a purchase and sale agreement to acquire controlling interest in a satellite communications industry company. During Fiscal 2001, the acquisition effort was abandoned by the Company. Since that time until September 2006, the Company was in the process of reorganizing and re-evaluating its business operations and future opportunities.
On September 20, 2006, the Company signed an option agreement (subsequently amended May 14, 2007, June 11, 2007 and July 31, 2012) whereby it could acquire all of the issued shares of Duquesne Gold Mines Ltd. (“Duquesne”), a private Canadian mineral exploration company, from the shareholders of Duquesne. The main asset of Duquesne is the Duquesne Gold Project that includes fifty-five mineral claims and one mining concession located in Quebec. On June 20, 2010, the Company fulfilled all its obligations under the option agreement and acquired a 100% interest in the Duquesne property, subject to a 3% Net Smelter Royalty ("NSR"), which the Company has the option to purchase from the optionor for the sum of $1,000,000 for each 0.5% for a total of $6,000,000. In July 2012, the Company agreed to buy back a 0.5% portion of the total 3.0% of the NSR royalty for $1,000,000. The remaining NSR of 2.5% must be purchased in tranches of 0.5% NSR in consideration for $1.0M each tranche, starting in June 2017 under certain conditions.
In June 2014, the Company completed an internal study on the potential economic viability of the Duquesne project. The study considered the gold price, the investment requirements and the potential level of economic resources on the property. Based on the conclusions of the study, the Company decided to record a write-down of $7,630,457 on the exploration and evaluation assets of the Duquesne project in fiscal 2014.
On May 1, 2008, the Company signed three mineral property option agreements (subsequently amended July 22, 2008, November 24, 2008, April 8, 2009, October 26, 2009, and September 14, 2012) with Beattie Gold Mines Ltd. ("Beattie”), 2699681 Canada Ltd. (“2699681”) and 2588111 Manitoba Ltd. (“2588111”), respectively, with similar terms. Beattie owns an underground mining concession. 2699681 owns, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Eldorado Gold Mines Inc., certain surface rights. 2588111 owns, through its wholly owned subsidiary, 173714 Canada Inc., certain mineral claims and mining concessions. All the mining rights, claims and concessions are located near the town of Duparquet, Quebec. To earn its interest in each of the optionor companies which own the Beattie-Donchester-Dumico gold properties, pursuant to the October 2009 amended agreement, the Company was required to pay $8.5 million in cash to the vendors by June 1, 2010, to earn a 10% interest (paid); pay $22 million in cash by December 1, 2012; and pay $30 million in cash by December 1, 2017. Once the final payment is made, the Company will have a 100% interest in each of the optionor companies with no NSR. In September 2012, the Company and the optionors agreed to a revised option payment schedule. In order to earn the remaining 90% interest in the optionor companies, the Company must pay $2 million (Paid) and issue 250,000 common shares on December 1, 2012 (issued); an additional $10 million on December 1, 2014; an additional $10 million on December 1, 2015; an additional $15 million on December 1, 2016; and a final $15.2 million on December 1, 2017. The optionors have retained a 2% NSR for the duration of the option period, but the NSR would be eliminated upon the Company acquiring 100% interest in each of the vendor companies.
The payments and share issuances will permit the Company to earn the remaining 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors. There shall be no increase in the share ownership of the optionors by the Company above the current 10% ownership interest unless all payment conditions are satisfied. In the event of a change of control in the Company, or an assignment of the mineral property option agreements prior to the expiry of the aforementioned options, all the above conditions vest two years in advance.
On December 15, 2008, the Company signed an option agreement whereby it may acquire a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in the Central Duparquet property. The property comprises 18 mineral claims totalling 293 hectares located in Duparquet Township, Quebec. The Company earned a 100% interest in the property by paying $400,000 on January 13, 2009. On February 26, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire the 2% NSR from the optionor. In consideration for the acquisition of the NSR, the Company paid $155,000 and issued 10,000 common shares, valued at $57,400. Under the original acquisition agreement, during the five-year period following the date of execution of the agreement the Company may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of its interest in the property. One of the conditions of the agreement will be a payment to the optionor of shares of any company acquiring an interest in the property at a deemed value of $1,900,000, or $1,900,000 in cash. On May 2nd, 2013, the Company paid $125,000 in cash to extend the five-year period to six years and six months.
Osisko Joint-Venture Agreement
In December 2009, the Company entered into joint venture agreement (since terminated) with Osisko Mining Corporation ("Osisko") regarding a Joint Venture (the "Joint Venture") on Clifton's Duparquet Project (the "Project"), which consisted of the Beattie, Donchester, Central Duparquet, Dumico and Duquesne properties.
Under the agreement, Osisko was to make contributions to the Joint Venture in the first year, which commenced on January 1, 2010, of an aggregate minimum of $15 million. Thereafter, Osisko could:
a.
contribute an aggregate of $15.7 million in earn-in payments to the Joint Venture in the second year, which shall commence on January 1, 2011;
b.
contribute an aggregate of $23.6 million in earn-in payments to the Joint Venture in the third year, which shall commence on January 1, 2012; and
c.
contribute an aggregate of $15.7 million in earn-in payments to the Joint Venture in the fourth year, which shall commence on January 1, 2013; and
d.
by making such contributions (aggregate total of $70 million) Osisko could earn a 50% interest in the Joint Venture over a period of four years (the "Option Period"). Osisko shall have the right to increase the rate of earn-in payments and accelerate the term of the Option Period to acquire the 50% interest under the Joint Venture. Earn-in payments shall be used by the Joint Venture to fund the activities of the Joint Venture.
In addition to the payments above, Osisko agreed to loan money to Clifton to facilitate payment to the underlying property owners, which would assist Clifton in securing full title to the property. Under the agreement, Osisko agreed to advance to Clifton:
a.
for a period of 24 months the principal amount of $8.5 million (the "$8.5 Million Loan") at a rate of interest per annum of 5% calculated on the full principal amount and compounded monthly from and including the day the funds are advanced to and including the date of payment. Clifton did not take advantage of the $8.5 million loan, and it is therefore no longer available.
b.
for a period of 36 months up to an aggregate principal amount of $22.5 million (the "$22.5 Million Loan") at the rate of interest per annum of 5% calculated on the outstanding principal amount compounded monthly from and including the dates that funds are advanced to and including the date of payment. The principal amount and interest owing pursuant to the $22.5 Million Loan shall be due and payable on the 36-month anniversary of the date of execution of the Joint Venture agreement with the option exercisable by Clifton to repay the loan (plus interest at a rate of 5%) through the issuance of shares of the Company at a price of $3.12 per share for the principal, and at market rate for the interest.
The $22.5 Million Loan (the "Loan") would be unsecured, and would be evidenced by promissory notes in such amounts as are specified herein.
On June 16, 2011, Osisko notified the Company of its decision to terminate its participation in the project. However, Clifton is of the opinion that it retains the right to access a loan of $22.5 million from Osisko on or before December 1, 2012 for payments to the property vendors. The loan would be for a period of 36 months at an interest rate of 5%. If Clifton were to access the funds, the Company would have the right to repay the loan by the issuance of Clifton common shares to Osisko at a price of $3.12 per share for the principal and at the market price of the shares for the interest. On November 15, 2012, the Company sent a formal letter to Osisko requesting the disbursement of the loan of $22,500,000 on December 1st, 2012. Discussions were subsequently held between the parties but no agreement was reached.
On June 3, 2014, the Company filed suit against Osisko in Quebec Superior Court over the $22.5 million loan facility. The Company is requesting that the original loan agreement be enforced which would result in Osisko advancing the Company the $22.5 million, plus interest, and the Company issuing eventually 6,961,538 common shares to Osisko.
In April 2014, the Company announced it had received a positive Pre-Feasibility Study on the Duparquet project. The study was prepared as a 10,000 tonne-per-day open-pit project with Proven and Probable Reserves totaling 39.4 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.50 g/t gold at a long-term gold price of $1,300 per ounce. The pre-production capital costs are estimated to be $394 million and sustaining costs of $118 million, excluding $24.5 million for closure costs.
In June and July of 2014, the Company staked 40 mining claims covering 2,271 hectares known as the Roquemaure project. The property is owned 100% by the Company and has no underlying royalties.
Shareholder Right’s Plan
At the Annual/Special Meeting of Shareholders held on December 13, 2010, a Shareholder Right’s Plan was approved. On December 3, 2013, the Company’s shareholders approved the adoption of an Amended and Restated Shareholders Right Plan.
The purpose of the Shareholder Rights Plan is to provide the Board of directors and Shareholders with sufficient time to properly consider any take-over bid made for the Corporation, and to allow enough time for competing bids and alternative proposals to emerge. The Shareholder Rights Plan also seeks to ensure that all Shareholders are treated fairly in any transaction involving a change of control of the Corporation and that all Shareholders have an equal opportunity to participate in the benefits of a take-over bid. Refer to ITEM #10.B. "Memorandum and Articles of Association - Shareholder's Right's Plan".
British Columbia Cease Trade Order
On July 22, 2011, the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC") issued a Cease-trade order (the "Order") against the Company and its common shares. The reason for the order was the Company's failure to file certain documents with Canadian regulators as required under National Instrument 51-102,Continuous Disclosure Obligations, and National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"),Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. As detailed in the Order, the Company failed to file compliant technical reports on the Beattie, Donchester and Duquesne properties, as well as related material change reports. In conjunction with the BCSC Cease-trade order, the Company's common shares were suspended from trading on the TSX Venture Exchange, its primary trading market.
To remedy the Order, the Company filed updated NI 43-101 compliant reports on its Duparquet project properties, and updated its disclosure documents through the filing of several news releases. The BCSC lifted the Order on March 5, 2012. In order to resume trading on the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company was first required to satisfy the conditions of the BCSC Order. Once the BCSC Order was lifted, the Company was then required to satisfactorily complete a review by the TSX Venture Exchange to determine if the Company was in compliance with the Exchange's Continued Listing Requirements. Each of these requirements were met by the Company, and the Company's common shares resumed trading on the TSX Venture Exchange on March 9, 2012.
Capital Expenditures
| | |
Fiscal Year | Capital Expenditures | Purpose |
Fiscal 2014 | $ 2,436,786 | Mineral Property Acquisition and Deferred Exploration Costs |
Fiscal 2013 | $ 10,193,531 367 | Mineral Property Acquisition and Deferred Exploration Costs Computer Equipment |
Fiscal 2012 | $ 5,467,686 26,168 | Mineral Property Acquisition and Deferred Exploration Costs Computer Equipment and Building |
Financings
The Company has financed its operations through funds raised via public/private placements of common shares. In addition, shares have been issued upon exercise of options and warrants; for the acquisition of property, and as agent commissions. Refer to ITEM #5, “Financing Timeline” for additional information.
| | | |
Fiscal Year | Nature of Share Issuance | Number of Securities | Gross Amount |
| | | |
Fiscal 2014 | Property Acquisition | 250,000 | $ 60,000 |
| | | |
Fiscal 2013 | Private Placement (Flow-Through) | 2,760,000 | $ 3,450,000 |
| | | |
Fiscal 2012 | None | None | None |
| | | |
Fiscal 2011 | Private Placement | 182,000 | $ 1,001,000 |
| | | |
Fiscal 2010 | None | None | None |
Plan Of Operations
Source of Funds for Fiscal 2015 Ending June 30, 2015
The Company’s primary source of funds since incorporation has been through the issuance of equity. As of June 30, 2014, the Company had working capital of $1,965,662. Management believes this amount sufficient to meet its anticipated general and administrative expenses and corporate operating requirements for fiscal 2015. However, the Company has an installment payment of $10,000,000 due to the property optionors on December 1, 2014. If the Company is unsuccessful in obtaining the funds required to make the payment by the due date, it may result in the termination of the option agreements on the Duparquet property. If the option agreements are terminated, the related exploration and evaluations will then have to be written-off. The Company would retain its previously acquired 10% interest in the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors.
Anticipated Changes to Facilities/Employees
The Company is not expected to change any facilities or add any employees in fiscal 2015.
United States vs. Foreign Sales/Assets
During the 3 most recent fiscal years, the Company had no sales revenues.
All of the Company's assets are located in Canada.
4.B. BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Clifton Star Resources Inc. (“the Company”) was incorporated under the BCABC and continued under the CBCA on December 29, 2010. The Company is primarily engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. The Company's primary project is the Duparquet Project in Quebec, which consists of the Beattie, Donchester, Central Duparquet, and Dumico properties.
Overview of Duparquet Project
Clifton is advancing a large gold project (the “Duparquet Project”) that is located in a politically secure area of the world. The location in the province of Quebec is considered to be a major advantage when compared to the locations of other gold projects in many other jurisdictions, since the government of Quebec provides tax credits for exploration, has an extensive and experienced mining labor pool, and provides good infrastructure.
The Porcupine Destor Fault, or associated faults, pass through the Duparquet property, but this area has been relatively unexplored in the past. On the Ontario side of the Quebec-Ontario border, over 100 million ounces of gold have been mined, while only a fraction of this amount has been mined on the Quebec side where Duparquet is located.
Clifton has the right to acquire an additional 90% of the private optionor companies that own a 100% interest in the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties in addition to the 10% it already owns by making cash payments and issuing common shares to the underlying owners. Under an amended option agreement dated September 14, 2012, the Company is required to make additional cash payments totaling $52.2 million through December 1, 2017 in order to acquire the remaining 90% interest in the optionor companies.
Osisko Mining Corporation (“Osisko”), the Company’s former joint venture partner, was granted the option in late 2009 to earn a 50% interest in the Duparquet Project by spending $70 million on exploration, and by advancing an additional $30 million to the project. During 2010, Osisko spent over $15 million (and drilled approximately 123,000 meters), and thereby met their minimum requirement of $15 million of expenditures in 2010 in order to maintain their right to earn 50%. However, in June of 2011, Osisko decided to exit the Duparquet Project, leaving Clifton with the right to earn 100% (with no interest being earned by Osisko).
Since Osisko’s departure from the joint venture in June of 2011, Clifton initiated a substantial exploration program with a view to increasing resources, as well as upgrading portions of the resources from inferred to indicated. After Osisko exited the project in June 2011, Clifton expended $1,698,342 (net of costs recovered) on exploration on the project during fiscal 2012. The work included drilling, metallurgical testing, and the preparation and filing of updated NI 43-101 compliant technical reports on the Duquesne and Donchester projects, as well as a comprehensive NI 43-101 Report, which covers all of the contiguous properties which make up the Duparquet Project (including Beattie, Donchester, Central Duparquet, Dumico, and the Beattie Tailings Deposit), and which was completed and filed subsequent to the fiscal year-end. In April 2014, the Company released a positive Pre-Feasibility Study on the Duparquet property.
Material Effects of Government Regulations
Operational and Environmental Regulations
The Company’s primary exploration properties are located in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Mining and Environmental laws which are applicable to the Company are regulated on both the Federal and Provincial levels. On the Canadian Federal level, the primary regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over mineral exploration and production operations in regard to the environment is Environment Canada. On the Quebec Provincial level, mining rights are governed by the Quebec Mining Act R.S.Q.c M-13 that includes obtaining the required permits, subject to environmental regulations, for mining exploration work, which are regulated by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Environmental matters in the Province are governed by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks.
These regulations include:
·
Acquisition, ownership and maintenance of mineral claims and rights;
·
Exploration and development of mineral properties;
·
Operation of mines and mineral production;
·
Decommissioning and reclamation of mineral properties;
·
Land use and permits and review processes;
·
Management and use of explosives and hazardous substances;
·
Occupational and worker health and safety standards;
·
Historic and cultural investigation and preservation;
·
Financial guarantees;
·
Royalties and taxation.
If the Company fails to comply with such laws and regulations, it may result in enforcement actions, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities which may require the reduction or cessation of some or all operations, as well as corrective or remedial actions. The Company may also be subject to civil or criminal fines or penalties, and may be required to compensate private parties who have suffered losses and damages due to the Company’s failure to comply with such laws and regulations.
Exploration Activities
During fiscal 2014 ended June 30, 2014, the Company incurred total exploration expenditures of $2,374,597 (net $2,032,980 after tax and mining credits). The Company announced the completion of the positive Pre-Feasibility Study on the Duparquet project during the year.
During fiscal 2013 ended June 30, 2013, the Company incurred total exploration expenditures of $7,068,531 (net $5,809,898 after tax and mining credits). The Company announced a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment Study (“PEA”) on the Duparquet project, and an updated resource estimate, which will be incorporated into a Pre-Feasibility Study on the project which was initiated during the fiscal year.
During fiscal 2012 ended June 30, 2012, the Company incurred total exploration expenditures of $5,467,686 (net $1,698,342 after tax and mining credits). The Company conducted a series of metallurgical tests on the Duparquet ore zones and the Beattie tailings to confirm and improve on the expected recoveries of the gold.
Expenditures on the Company’s properties for the last 3 fiscal years are detailed below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the Year ended June 30, 2014 |
Beattie Property |
Donchester Property |
Dumico Property |
Central Duparquet Property |
Total Duparquet Project |
Duquesne Property |
Hunter Property |
Other Properties (***) |
Total |
|
|
Acquisition costs, beginning of year | $ | 4,800,000 | | 4,800,000 | $ | 2,400,000 | $ | 737,400 | $ | 12,737,400 | $ | 3,103,500 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 15,840,900 |
Additions during the year | | 24,000 | | 24,000 | | 12,000 | | - | | 60,000 | | - | | - | | 2,189 | | 62,189 |
Acquisition costs, end of Year | | 4,824,000(*) | | 4,824,000(*) | | 2,412,000(*) | | 737,400 | | 12,797,400 | | 3,103,500(**) | | - | | 2,189 | | 15,903,089 |
| | 11,063,415 | | 7,805,290 | | 650,998 | | 912,037 | | 20,431,740 | | 5,526,248 | | 391,364 | | 63,614 | | 26,412,966 |
Deferred exploration costs, beginning of year |
Additions during the year: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assays | | 62,889 | | 91,561 | | 4,837 | | 8,397 | | 167,684 | | - | | - | | - | | 167,684 |
Drilling | | 52,021 | | 26,067 | | - | | - | | 78,088 | | - | | - | | - | | 78,088 |
Field expenditures | | 283,563 | | 271,745 | | 12,040 | | 38,261 | | 605,609 | | 623 | | - | | - | | 606,232 |
Geological Consulting | | 19,283 | | 17,128 | | - | | 298 | | 36,709 | | 500 | | 500 | | - | | 37,709 |
Studies | | 99,004 | | 99,004 | | - | | - | | 198,008 | | - | | - | | - | | 198,008 |
Prefeasibility Studies | | 643,438 | | 643,438 | | - | | - | | 1,286,876 | | - | | - | | - | | 1,286,876 |
Total additions during the year | | 1,160,198 | | 1,148,943 | | 16,877 | | 46,956 | | 2,372,974 | | 1,123 | | 500 | | - | | 2,374,597 |
Tax and mining credit applied during the year | | (170,699) | | (148,997) | | (6,455) | | (14,862) | | (341,013) | | (414) | | (190) | | - | | (341,617) |
Deferred exploration costs, end of year | | 12,052,914 | | 8,805,236 | | 661,420 | | 944,131 | | 22,463,701 | | 5,526,957 | | 391,674 | | 63,614 | | 28,445,946 |
Total exploration and evaluation assets | $ | 16,876,914 | | 13,629,236 | $ | 3,073,420 | $ | 1,681,531 | $ | 35,261,101 | $ | 8,630,457 | $ | 391,674 | $ | 65,803 | $ | 44,349,035 |
Write-down of exploration and evaluation assets during the year | | - | | - | | - | | - | | - | | (7,630,457) | | - | | - | | (7,630,457) |
Total exploration and evaluation assets | | 16,876,914 | | 13,629,236 | | 3,073,420 | | 1,681,531 | | 35,261,101 | | 1,000,000 | | 391,674 | | 65,803 | | 36,718,578 |
(*):
These acquisitions costs relate to the acquisition of the shares of the companies that hold the rights to the mining properties
(**):
These acquisitions costs include $1,818,500 that relates to the acquisition of the shares of the company that hold the rights to the mining property
(***): Other property comprises: Cat Lake
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the Year ended June 30, 2013 | Beattie Property (Note 8a) | Donchester Property (Note 8a) | Dumico Property (Note 8a) | Central Duparquet Property (Note 8b) | Total Duparquet Project | Duquesne Property (Note 8c) | Hunter Property (Note 8e) | Other Property(***) (Note 8d) | Total |
|
|
Acquisition costs, beginning of year | $ | 4,000,000 | $ | 4,000,000 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 612,400 | $ | 10,612,400 | $ | 2,103,500 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 12,715,900 |
Additions during the year | | 800,000 | | 800,000 | | 400,000 | | 125,000 | | 2,125,000 | | 1,000,000 | | - | | - | | 3,125,000 |
| | 4,800,000(*) | | 4,800,000(*) | | 2,400,000(*) | | 737,400 | | 12,737,400 | | 3,103,500(**) | | - | | - | | 15,840,900 |
Acquisition costs, end of year | |
| | 8,377,285 | | 5,539,867 | | 598,980 | | 125,759 | | 14,641,891 | | 5,517,763 | | 379,800 | | 63,614 | | 20,603,068 |
Deferred exploration costs, beginning of year |
Additions during the year: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Assays | | 182,056 | | 309,454 | | 62,835 | | 118,019 | | 672,364 | | - | | - | | - | | 672,364 |
Drilling | | 1,113,480 | | 1,214,116 | | - | | 538,525 | | 2,866,121 | | - | | - | | - | | 2,866,121 |
Field expenditures | | 625,320 | | 544,160 | | - | | 185,385 | | 1,354,865 | | 19,969 | | 10,165 | | - | | 1,384,999 |
Geological Consulting | | 224,071 | | 189,378 | | 4,171 | | 15,483 | | 433,103 | | - | | - | | - | | 433,103 |
Studies | | 560,477 | | 220,396 | | - | | - | | 780,873 | | - | | - | | - | | 780,873 |
Preliminary Economic Assessment | | 144,117 | | 144,094 | | - | | - | | 288,211 | | - | | - | | - | | 288,211 |
Prefeasibility Studies | | 280,559 | | 273,968 | | - | | 88,333 | | 642,860 | | - | | - | | - | | 642,860 |
| | 3,130,080 | | 2,895,566 | | 67,006 | | 945,745 | | 7,038,397 | | 19,969 | 10,165 | | - | | 7,068,531 |
Total additions during the year | |
| | (443,950) | | (630,143) | | (14,988) | | (159,467) | | (1,248,548) | | (11,484) | | 1,399 | | - | | (1,258,633) |
Tax and mining credit applied during the year |
| | 11,063,415 | | 7,805,290 | | 650,998 | | 912,037 | | 20,431,740 | | 5,526,248 | | 391,364 | | 63,614 | | 26,412,966 |
Deferred exploration costs, end of year |
| $ | 15,863,415 | $ | 12,605,290 | $ | 3,050,998 | $ | 1,649,437 | $ | 33,169,140 | $ | 8,629,748 | $ | 391,364 | $ | 63,614 | $ | 42,253,866 |
Total exploration and evaluation assets |
(*):
These acquisitions costs relate to the acquisition of the shares of the companies that hold the rights to the mining properties (see note 8a for additional details)
(**): These acquisitions costs include $1,818,500 that relates to the acquisition of the shares of the company that hold the rights to the mining property (see note 8c for additional details)
(***): Other property comprises: Cat Lake
| | | | | | | | |
For the Year ended June 30, 2012 |
Cat Lake Property | Central Duparquet Property |
Duquesne Property |
Beattie Property |
Donchester Property |
Dumico Property |
Hunter Property |
Total |
Acquisition costs, beginning of year | $ - | $ 612,400 | $ 2,103,500 | $ 4,000,000 | $ 4,000,000 | $ 2,000,000 | $ - | $ 12,715,900 |
Additions during the year | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | | | | | | | |
Acquisition costs, end of year | - | 612,400 | 2,103,500 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 2,000,000 | - | 12,715,900 |
| | | | | | | | |
Deferred exploration costs, beginning of year | 63,614 | 42,131 | 5,681,626 | 7,196,926 | 4,751,125 | 703,992 | 465,312 | 18,904,726 |
| | | | | | | | |
Additions during the year: | | | | | | | | |
Assays | - | 12,400 | 8,546 | 230,110 | 134,702 | 16,781 | 7,529 | 410,068 |
Drilling | - | 32,838 | 24,566 | 1,356,044 | 992,704 | 105,339 | 632 | 2,512,123 |
Field expenditures | - | 36,593 | 13,116 | 864,881 | 287,228 | - | - | 1,201,818 |
Geological consulting | - | 70,035 | 46,086 | 711,714 | 513,266 | 2,576 | - | 1,343,677 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total additions during the year | - | 151,866 | 92,314 | 3,162,749 | 1,927,900 | 124,696 | 8,161 | 5,467,686 |
| | | | | | | | |
Tax and mining credit applied during the year | - | (68,238) | (256,177) | (1,982,390) | (1,139,158) | (229,708) | (93,673) | (3,769,344) |
| | | | | | | | |
Deferred exploration costs, end of year | 63,614 | 125,759 | 5,517,763 | 8,377,285 | 5,539,867 | 598,980 | 379,800 | 20,603,068 |
| | | | | | | | |
Total exploration and evaluation assets | $ 63,614 | $ 738,159 | $ 7,621,263 | $ 12,377,285 | $ 9,539,867 | $ 2,598,980 | $ 379,800 | $ 33,318,968 |
The Company's principal project is its Duparquet Project in Quebec, which is comprised of the Beattie, Donchester, Dumico and Central Duparquet properties. The Company also has the Duquesne, Hunter and Roquemaure properties, which are located in Quebec, near the Duparquet Project, and the Cat Lake Property in Manitoba. Descriptions of the Company's properties are given below and locations are illustrated in Figure 1.
Duparquet Project
Quebec, Canada
Gold Exploration
The Duparquet Project currently consists of the Beattie, Donchester, Central Duparquet, and Dumico properties. The Duquesne property was formerly considered to be part of the Duparquet project, but was recently excluded from the project due to the results of an internal study on the potential viability of the Duquesne property and is now considered to be a stand-alone project. The properties are located in Northwest Quebec, Abitibi West County. The town of Duparquet is located partially within the property boundaries of the Beattie property.
The Company assembled the project through separate agreements for each of the 4 properties.
Figure No. 1
Project Location Map
![[clifton20f2014_annual002.gif]](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-F/0001217160-14-000209/clifton20f2014_annual002.gif)
Figure No. 2
Duparquet Project
Location Map
![[clifton20f2014_annual004.gif]](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-F/0001217160-14-000209/clifton20f2014_annual004.gif)
Figure No. 3
Beattie/Donchester/Dumico/ Central Duparquet Properties
Property Map
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Acquisition Details
Each of the 4 properties which together comprise the Duparquet Project is covered under a separate agreement.
The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties under three mineral property option agreements dated May 1, 2008 (subsequently amended July 22, 2008, November 24, 2008, April 8, 2009, October 26, 2009, and September 14, 2012) with Beattie Gold Mines Ltd. ("Beattie”), 2699681 Canada Ltd. (“2699681”) and 2588111 Manitoba Ltd. (“2588111”) respectively, with similar terms.
Beattie owns an underground mining concession. 2699681 owns, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Eldorado Gold Mines Inc., certain surface rights. 2588111 owns, through its wholly owned subsidiary, 173714 Canada Inc., certain mineral claims and mining concessions.
Currently, the Company has a 10% interest in the private companies (subject to a 2% NSR) which, in turn, have a 100% interest in the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties based upon payments of $4,000,000 to Beattie, $2,000,000 to 2699681, and $4,000,000 to 2588111 made under the old option agreements. Under an amended agreement dated September 14, 2012, Clifton may acquire the remaining 90% interest in each of the optionors by making cash payments and issuing common shares to the private company shareholders under the following schedule:
Terms of the new agreements are as follows:
1.
cash payments of $800,000 to Beattie, $400,000 to 2699681, and $800,000 to 2588111 due on December 1, 2012 (Paid); and
ii.
issuance of 100,000 shares of the Company to Beattie, 50,000 shares of the Company to 2699681, and 100,000 shares of the Company to 2588111 on December 1, 2012 (issued); and
iii.
cash payments of $4,000,000 to Beattie, $2,000,000 to 2699681, and $4,000,000 to 2588111 due on December 1, 2014; and
iv.
cash payments of $4,000,000 to Beattie, $2,000,000 to 2699681, and $4,000,000 to 2588111 due on December 1, 2015; and
v.
cash payments of $6,000,000 to Beattie, $3,000,000 to 2699681, and $6,000,000 to 2588111 due on December 1, 2016; and
vi.
cash payments of $6,075,000 to Beattie, $3,037,500 to 2699681, and $6,075,000 to 2588111 before or on December 1, 2017, will earn the Company the remaining 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors.
These payments will permit the Company to earn the remaining 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors. The Company will not increase its share ownership of the optionors unless all payment conditions specified above are satisfied. In the event of a change of control in the Company or an assignment of the mineral property option agreements prior to the expiry of the aforementioned options, all the above conditions vest two years in advance. The optionors have retained a 2% NSR for the duration of the option period. However, upon the exercise of the option to earn 100%, this NSR will be eliminated.
The Company currently has a 100% interest in the Central Duparquet property. Under an option agreement dated December 15, 2008, Clifton could acquire a 100% interest in the Central Duparquet Property by paying the optionor $400,000 cash, which was paid on January 31, 2009. The optionor retained a 2% NSR, which Clifton acquired from the optionor on February 26, 2010, by paying $155,000 cash and issuing 10,000 common shares valued at $57,400. The Central Duparquet property is also subject to a transfer restriction. During the five-year period following the date of execution of the agreement, the Company may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of its interest in the property. A term of this disposition will be a payment to the optionor of shares of any company acquiring an interest in the property at a deemed value of $1,900,000 or $1,900,000 in cash. On May 2, 2013, the Company paid $125,000 cash to extend the five-year period to six years and six months.
Osisko Joint-Venture
In December 2009, the Company entered into joint venture agreement with Osisko Mining Corporation ("Osisko") regarding a joint venture on Clifton's Duparquet Project, which was comprised of the Company's Central Duparquet, Duquesne, Beattie, Donchester, and Dumico properties. As per the agreement, Osisko contributed $15,000,000 to the Joint Venture during the first year which funded the calendar 2010 exploration programs. Osisko exited the project in June 2011, and has no further direct interest in the Joint Venture or the projects. Clifton reassumed operation of the properties upon Osisko's departure.
Property Description
The properties all lie near the town of Duparquet in Northwest Quebec, Canada.
The Beattie Mine Property consists of the surface rights and underground Mining Concession MC#292 of 942.2 acres. The Donchester Mine Property consist of Mining Concession #384 of 823.5 acres. The Dumico property consist of claims C003231 and C003232 which total 238 acres. The Central Duparquet property consists of 18 mineral claims totaling 293 hectares.
Accessibility, Infrastructure, Climate, Local Resources, and Physiography
The properties are located in Northwest Quebec, Abitibi West County, approximately 35 kilometers northwest of the city of Rouyn-Noranda. The town of Duparquet is located partially within the property boundaries of the Beattie property. All of the properties are accessible by an all-weather paved highway from the city of Rouyn-Noranda and a series of all-weather gravel roads. Duparquet is reached by going north from Noranda on Highway #101 for approximately 32 kilometers and then 14.5 kilometers west on Highway #393.
Work can be conducted on the properties throughout the year. Although snowfall and accumulations of one to three feet occur from mid-November to mid-April, the weather is generally not severe enough to halt exploration or mining operations in the area.
The town of Duparquet contains skilled workers and housing, while the city of Rouyn-Noranda currently provide labor and supplies to numerous exploration and mining operations throughout the region. Water and power is available to the properties from Duparquet.
Several of the properties have historical mineral production, although most of the former mine buildings on the properties have been dismantled and removed. However, a concentrate roaster remains intact on the Beattie Mine site. Tailings from the historical mining operations exist on portions of the properties. The Beattie Mine milled ore on-site from 1933 to 1956, which was processed by flotation, roasting, and cyanidation. When the ore was roasted, arsenic in the form of arsenic trioxide was collected, and is currently contained on the property within one cement reservoir and within metal and plastic drums stored in sixteen secured truck trailers. At the request of the Quebec government, a fence and locked gates has been placed around the arsenic trioxide storage containers as well as the roaster and mill remnants.
Vegetation in the area consists mainly of second growth birch, poplar & spruce. The properties are crossed by higher ridges, and mill tailings were deposited in several of the lower-lying areas. The region is within the Abitibi Greenstone belt, and the properties lie along a portion of the Porcupine-Destor Fault, as well as several off-shoots known as the Beattie, Donchester Faults. Gold mineralization appears to be related to late intrusions of syenite and/or feldspar porphyries in volcanics along lines of weakness adjacent to or coincident with the Beattie and Donchester Faults.
History
The Duparquet project covers 7.7 kilometers of strike length along the historically prolific gold-bearing Porcupine-Destor fault and associated splays. Much of the project has been relatively unexplored in the past, and historic drilling has only been conducted to relatively shallow depths of generally less than 400 meters below surface.
The Beattie Mine has seen the highest level of operation of the 4 properties, including mining and milling on-site between 1933 and 1956. Gold was first discovered in Duparquet Township by John Beattie in 1910, but the first claims in MC292 were staked by Mr. Beattie in 1923. The Main or North orebody was discovered in 1930, and a six-compartment shaft was sunk to a depth of 1,150 feet, with nine levels established at 150-foot intervals. A 2,000 ton per day flotation plant was built, and production started in 1933, with a cyanidation plant installed in 1934 and a roaster added in 1937. Additional shafts were sunk to support higher production rates, which rose to 1,900 tons/day in 1941/1942. The owner of the property acquired the Donchester property in 1941, and mining proceeded at Donchester from 1946 to 1956, with the ore processed at the Beattie mill. Due to rising costs, production ceased at both Beattie and Donchester. The Beattie mill processed a total of 10,614,421 tons at an average grade of 0.126 oz gold per ton. Of that total, 1,350,000 tons grading 0.14 oz/ton gold were mined from the Donchester property.
The claims that make up the current Dumico property were originally part of a larger property which produced gold from two shafts sunk into a mineralized zone traced along 700 meters of strike length. A total of 7,100 tons of ore with an average grade of 0.09 oz/t gold was mined from Dumico and milled at the Beattie mill. The underground workings at Beattie and Donchester are connected to the Dumico shaft.
Except for a small surface exploration program, including two drill holes conducted in 1966, the Beattie and Donchester properties were not explored again until 1987. At that time, Beattie Mines Ltd. hired C.W. Archibald Limited to conduct a review of the Beattie Property. Upon a positive recommendation, exploration was conducted, including line cutting, geological mapping and surveying, and surface stripping and sampling. Diamond drilling of 43 holes totaling 21,931 feet was conducted at Beattie in five different areas of the property between 1988 and 2008. This drilling has been successful in identifying and delineating a number of areas of mineralization. These include direct extensions of known zones, as well as new zones, both near surface and underground, largely beneath the 9th level.
Central Duparquet lies between the Donchester and Dumico properties, and drilling by previous operators returned gold intersections along strike.
Recent Exploration and Drill Programs
The mineralization on the Duparquet project is composed of syenite-porphyry within fairly well defined North and South Zones, as well as several smaller subvertical, and possibly folded, mineralized zones that extend in an east-west direction, and have been traced for over 2.6 kilometers along strike. The individual mineralized zones, which can be up to 80 meters wide, include the North Zone, West Zone, RW Zones, RS Zones, and the South Zone. A second mineralized syenite-porphyry, the Main Zone, occurs parallel and to the southeast of the Beattie-Donchester intrusion on the Central Duparquet and Dumico properties. The style of mineralization for the Main Zone is similar in nature to the Beattie-Donchester Syenite, but has seen significantly less historical exploration.
Over the last 7 years, a total of 966 drill holes totaling 267,128 meters have been completed on the Duparquet project.
2008 - 154 diamond drill holes, consisting of 49,204 meters
2009 - 176 diamond drill holes, consisting of 51,718 meters
2010 - 316 diamond drill holes, consisting of 107,402 meters
2011 - 79 diamond drill holes, consisting of 8,531 meters
2012 - 98 diamond drill holes, consisting of 28,952 meters
2013 - 143 diamond drill holes, consisting of 21,321 meters
2014 – No Drilling
The 2010 drilling consisted of 316 holes (49,204 meters at an average length of 340 meters per hole) that were completed on the Beattie, Donchester, and Central Duparquet properties.
An airborne TDEM and Magnetic survey was completed over the Duparquet Project in March of 2011. The gold-bearing zones hosted by the syenite porphyry units coincide with a magnetic high feature, which includes several parallel units that are observed on all of the properties. Several magnetic high anomaly structures trending east-west and northeasterly can be observed from the survey. These anomalous areas have been followed up by Clifton.
The 2011 drilling consisted of new drill holes on the Beattie, Donchester, Dumico and Central Duparquet properties. The program also included extending 28 previously drilled holes on the Beattie property from 400 meters below surface to 500 meters below surface to test potential deeper mineralization. Several holes were also completed in higher-grade pockets in the West Zone and RW-RS zones in order to better define the geometry and continuity of these zones.
The 2012 drilling was conducted on the Beattie, Donchester, and Central Duparquet properties and consisted of 98 drill holes, totaling 28,952 meters. The program concentrated on increasing the gold resource, as well as upgrading portions of the resource. Drilling was also focused on obtaining sufficient representative samples required to obtain an integrated Mineral Resource estimate and metallurgical testing which included 47 drill holes, totaling 3,997 meters (average 85 meters per hole).
Fiscal 2013 drilling was conducted on the Beattie, Donchester, and Central Duparquet properties. An additional 92 drill holes were completed after the cut-off date of September 15, 2012, for the preparation of the PEA, and 39 of the 92 holes were completed after the May 6 cut-off date of the updated resource estimate (dated June 28, 2013). This drill program included holes drilled within the current proposed open-pit to upgrade the resource, but also included holes drilled outside the parameters of the proposed open pits in order to potentially expand the resource. Mineralization remains open along strike and at depth.
No drilling was conducted in fiscal 2014 as the Company focused its efforts on the Pre-Feasibility Study.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Procedure
For the 2012/2013 drill program, drill cores were boxed, covered and sealed at the drill rigs, and transported by drilling employees to the core logging facility at the Beattie mine where Company personnel took over the core handling. The core was logged and sampled by, or under the supervision of, Company geologists. Each sample was tagged with a unique number. Drill core samples were sawed by technicians and then bagged and sealed before being grouped in batches. The sample batches were shipped directly to Techni-Lab S.G.B. Abitibi Inc. (“Techni-Lab”), an independent ISO 17025 accredited facility in Sainte-Germaine-Boulé, Québec for assay.
At Techni-Lab, each sample was crushed in its entirety using either an oscillating jaw crusher or a roll crusher, with the specification that more than 85% of the crushed material must pass a 2.4 mm (8 mesh) screen. A 250- to 300-gram fraction derived from the crushing process was then pulverized using a ring mill to 90% passing 106 μm (150 mesh). Gold was analyzed by fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish using a 50-g nominal sample weight. For grades over 5.0 g/t gold obtained by fire assay, samples were re-assayed with a gravimetric finish. If the assay result from gravimetric finish is over 10 g/t Au, the sample is again assayed by metallic sieve method. Ten percent of samples having a content of gold above to 0.3 g/t Au are randomly selected and sent to different laboratory, Accurassay Laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Accurassay utilized the same analytical method as Techni-Lab, and results obtained indicate an excellent reproducibility of gold values.
Metallurgical Testing
Following the end of the joint venture with Osisko, the Company continued metallurgical studies at SGS (Lakefield, Ontario), which are designed to investigate the use of flotation, pre-oxidation, and cyanidation across six different mineralized zones of the Duparquet Project. Prior metallurgical testing has indicated good gold recoveries with commonly utilized treatment processes.
Dr. David Dreisinger, Clifton's Vice-President of Metallurgy, is responsible for the studies to determine the optimum process alternative(s) for the different Duparquet deposits. These tests include flotation, cyanidation and oxidation processes, as well as the BIOX bacteria process and the Albion grinding and leaching process. Six metallurgical samples, with head grades ranging from 1.25 g/t gold to 3.58 g/t gold, were provided to SGS Lakefield Research. The samples were core from the Beattie (A Zone, South Zone, and RW Zone) the Donchester North, the Donchester South, and the Central Duparquet Main Zone. In March 2012, test results conducted by SGS were announced. Overall average gold recovery from the six metallurgical samples, utilizing a combination process of conventional flotation, pressure oxidation and cyanidation, was 93%. In April 2012, the Company reported excellent test results from both the BIOX and Albion testing. BIOX testing of concentrate from Duparquet by Goldfields of South Africa resulted in gold recovery of 94.3 to 94.7%. Testing of the same concentrate utilizing the Albion process by Albion Process Pty. and HRLtesting resulted in overall gold recovery of 93.8%. The tests also revealed a low and stable form of arsenic in the tailings, and indicated that it will not leach into the environment. This represents an important benefit for the project. Testing is continuing in order to optimize recoveries and reagent costs.
Metallurgical testing was also conducted by SGS on a sample of the Beattie Tailings. A combination process of conventional flotation, pressure oxidation and cyanidation achieved overall gold recovery from the tailings sample of 83.5%.
In the PEA study, the conventional Flotation-POX-Cyanidation flowsheet process was chosen as the best metallurgical process, as it is an established commercial metallurgical process. Following the release of the PEA study, representative samples from the Duparquet Project were treated using a cleaner flotation scheme developed by SGS Minerals to produce high grade gold concentrates. The average overall gold recovery was 89.6% with this process. Despite the lower percentage of gold recovery, the production of high grade concentrates raises the possibility of reducing substantially the capital costs and operating costs of the project related to the non-utilization of a POX process. This new alternative will be evaluated more in detail and integrated within the Prefeasibility study, which will review the economic viability of both processes.
In March 2013, a 12 tonne sample of the Duparquet mineralized zones from large diameter drill core was prepared and sent to SGS. The material was representative of the contribution of the various zones to the resource estimate, with a target grade typical of the average grade of the various zones. Between March and August 2013, SGS conducted tests and analyses using flotation, pressure oxidation and cyanidation. The pilot plant was arranged using suitable equipment to simulate a full-scale mineral processing plant. Continuous flotation testing was conducted to make a bulk concentrate for pressure oxidation (POX) pilot testing and, as an alternate process, to produce a high-grade gold concentrate that could be sold directly to smelters. For the POX process, the bulk concentrate produced by flotation assayed 26.8 g/t gold, with an average 91.7% gold recovery. After applying POX to the flotation concentrate and cyanide leach to the flotation tailing, the overall average gold recovery was 92%. Further work has shown that recovery can reach 94% by using a hot lime treatment of the POX product before cyanidation. For the gold concentrate process, the concentrate assayed an average of 49.9 g/t gold, 50.0 g/t silver and 31.4% sulphur. Flotation recoveries averaged 86.5% for gold. The flotation tailing was cyanide leached, and this increased the overall gold recovery to 91.9%. These concentrates could potentially be sold to smelters without further processing.
Mineral Resources
In July 2012, the Company released a comprehensive NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate of the Duparquet Project, including the Beattie Resource Tailings. The report is dated July 5, 2012, and was prepared by InnovExplo of Val-d'Or, Quebec. It is the first 3D block model and integrated Mineral Resource estimate on the project. The mineral resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) standards on mineral resources and reserves, definitions, and guidelines prepared by the CIM standing committee on reserve definitions and adopted by the CIM council.
In August 2013, InnovExplo completed an updated NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for the Duparquet Project, which includes the Beattie Tailings. The update includes additional new and resampled drill holes which were not included in the original estimate, as well as Dumico area drill holes. The estimate is for 60 mineralized zones, an envelope zone containing the remaining isolated gold intercepts, and 4 tailing zones. The estimate was made using 3D block modeling of the project with a strike-length of 4.5 kilometers and a width of approximately 1 kilometer, to a vertical depth of 1,050 meters below surface. The 60 mineralized zones have been interpreted in cross-sections spaced 25 meters part. The estimate is based on a total of 168,555 sampled intervals taken from 260,948.4 meters of drilled core, and a total of 2,371 analyses taken from 1,827 meters of channels. QA/QC analyses were carried on 1111 drill hole samples (only duplicate samples, excluding blanks and standards). A total of 47 drill holes were not included in the resource estimate because of the cut-off date and will be added and integrated in a future reserve/resource estimate. The deposit remains open for extensions at depth and along strike.
The August 2013 mineral resource estimate was used in the Pre-Feasibility Study which was completed by InnovExplo in April 2014.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured and Indicated Resources
This section uses the terms “measured” and “indicated resources”. We advise U.S. investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. U.S. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Inferred Resources
This section uses the term “inferred resources”. We advise U.S. investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize it. “Inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
The project has been designed as an open-pit mine and contains three designated areas: In-Pit, Underground and tailings. The reserve estimate is derived from the Measured and Indicated resources within the pit shell, and does not include any underground resources.
Mineral Reserve Estimate (Exclusive of Mineral Resources)
| | | | |
| | Area | |
Resources Type | Parameters | Tailings | In-Pit | TOTAL |
| Cut-off (g/t) | > 0.45 | > 0.51 | |
| Tonnes (t) | 19,600 | 175,100 | 194,700 |
Proven | Grade (t) | 2.06 | 1.31 | 1.38 |
| Au (Oz) | 1,295 | 7,372 | 8,667 |
| | | | |
| Tonnes (t) | 4,105,000 | 35,063,400 | 39,168,400 |
Probable | Grade (t) | 0.93 | 1.56 | 1.50 |
| Au (Oz) | 123,200 | 1,763,664 | 1,886,864 |
| | | | |
Proven | Tonnes (t) | 4,124,600 | 35,238,400 | 39,363,000 |
+ | Grade (t) | 0.94 | 1.56 | 1.50 |
Probable | Au (Oz) | 124,495 | 1,771,035 | 1,895,530 |
In-Pit results are presented undiluted within Whittle-optimized pit shells. Whittle parameters used for the reserve pit shell are:
·
Mining cost = US$2.20 / tonne
·
Milling cost = US$16.77 / tonne
·
Refining cost = $5 / ounce
·
Overburden removal = $0.88 / tonne
·
Transportation cost from stockpile to mill = $0.88 / tonne
·
Additional cost related to old stope = $1.00 / tonne
·
General & Administrative cost = US$3.12 / tonne
·
Gold Price = US$1,350
·
Mining recovery = 95%
·
Milling recovery = 93.9%
·
Dilution = 10%
·
Pit slope = 45 degrees on the north wall and 48 degrees on the south wall
·
Production = 10,000 tpd
·
Cut-off grade 0.51 g/t
Mineral Resource Estimate (Exclusive of Mineral Reserves)
| | | | | |
| | Area | |
Resources Type | Parameters | In-Pit (PFS) | In-Pit (Resource) | Underground | TOTAL |
| Cut-off (g/t) | > 0.45 | > 0.45 | > 2.00 | |
| Tonnes (t) | - | - | - | - |
Measured | Grade (t) | - | - | - | - |
| Au (Oz) | - | - | - | - |
| | | | | |
| Tonnes (t) | 1,542,200 | 18,644,100 | 3,550,200 | 23,736,500 |
Indicated | Grade (t) | 0.48 | 1.32 | 2.78 | 1.48 |
| Au (Oz) | 23,800 | 789,896 | 314,275 | 1,127,972 |
| | | | | |
Measured | Tonnes (t) | 1,542,200 | 18,644,100 | 3,550,200 | 23,736,500 |
+ | Grade (t) | 0.48 | 1.32 | 2.78 | 1.48 |
Indicated | Au (Oz) | 23,800 | 789,896 | 314,275 | 1,127,972 |
| | | | | |
| Tonnes (t) | 5,702,600 | 18,201,700 | 5,705,400 | 29,609,700 |
Inferred | Grade (t) | 0.81 | 1.28 | 2.96 | 1.50 |
| Au (Oz) | 149,227 | 750,616 | 532,059 | 1,431,902 |
Whittle parameters used for the resource pit shells are:
·
Mining cost = US$2.40 / tonne
·
Milling cost = US$13.46 / tonne
·
General & Administrative cost = US$4.18 / tonne
·
Gold Price = US$1,445
·
Mining recovery = 90.9%
·
Milling recovery = 93.9%
·
Pit slope = 52 degrees.
The estimate includes 60 gold-bearing zones and a remaining envelope containing isolated gold intercepts. In-Pit results are presented undiluted within Whittle-optimized pit shells. In-Pit (Resource) results are presented undiluted within the Resource-optimized pit shells, exclusive of any material contained within the PFS Pitshells. Underground results are presented undiluted and in-situ, outside Whittle-optimized pitshells. In-Pit resources were compiled at 0.35, 0.40, 0.45, 0.50, 0.55, 0.60, 0.65, 0.70, 0.80 and 0.90 g/t Au cut-off grades. Underground resources were compiled at 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 5.0 g/t Au cut-off grades. Cut-off grades must be re-evaluated in light of prevailing market conditions, including the gold price, exchange rate, and mining costs.
A minimum true thickness of 3.0 m. was applied, using the grade of the adjacent material when assayed, or a value of zero when not assayed. A fixed density of 2.73 g/cm3was used in mineralized zones and in the envelope. High-grade capping was done on the raw data for In-Pit and Underground and established at 25.0 g/t Au for diamond drill hole assays and channel sample assays. For In-Pit and Underground, compositing was not done over entire drill hole lengths. Instead, compositing was done on drill hole and channel sample sections falling within the mineralized zone envelopes (composite = 1.0 meters). Resources were evaluated from drill hole and surface channel samples using an ID2 interpolation method in a block model. The In-Pit measured category is defined by blocks having a volume of at least 25% within an envelope built at a distance of 10m around existing channels. The In-Pit and Underground indicated category is defined by the combination of blocks within a maximum distance of 15m of existing stopes and blocks for which the average distance to drill hole composites is less than 45m. The number of metric tons was rounded to the nearest 100.
Underground indicated category is defined by the combination of blocks within a maximum distance of 15m from existing stopes and blocks for which the average distance to drill hole composites is less than 45m.
Pre-Feasibility Study
In May 2013, the Company engaged InnovExplo Inc. to complete a Pre-Feasibility Study (“PFS”) on the Duparquet Project. The PFS was prepared in accordance with the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and was completed in April 2014.
The PFS was prepared as a 10,000 tonne-per-day open-pit mining project, producing an average of 173,000 ounces per year for the first 5 years, and an average of 158,000 ounces per year over the 11 years of production studied. Proven and Probable Reserves total 39.4 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.50 g/t Au, from which a total of 1.7 million ounces of gold are projected to be recoverable under the PFS parameters.
The PFS used the following assumptions (all in Canadian dollars except where indicated):
| |
Gold Price (US$/ounce) | US$1,300 |
Foreign exchange rate (C$/US$) | $1.10/$1.00 |
In-pit and Tailing Reserves mined: | 1.89 million oz |
Average Total Site Cash Cost (life of mine of 11 years) | US$775 |
Average Total All-In-Cost, Average life of mine | US$1,042 |
Average annual operating cash flow Pre-tax (years 1 -10) | $99.1 million |
Payback period | 4.3 years |
Internal Rate of Return, pre-tax | 15.1% |
Internal Rate of Return, after-tax | 12.1% |
Net Present Value 5% pre-tax | $222 million |
Mine plan tonnage (11 year life of mine) | 39.36 million tonnes at 1.50 g/t au and 1.94 g/t Ag |
Mine plan, tonnage and grade (g/t au) | |
Ore | 29.45 Mt / 1.69 g/t |
Low grade stockpiles | 5.79 Mt / 0.90 g/t |
Existing tailings | 4.12 Mt / 0.94 g/t |
Strip ratio (Waste : Ore): Ramp and roads included in pit design, 45°and 48°pit walls | 8.26 : 1 |
Nominal daily production rate (tonnes) | 10,000 |
Estimated overall gold recovery (%) – POX scenario | 90.1% |
Total recovered gold | 1.6 million ounces |
Pre-production period | 4 years |
| |
Mine life | 11 years |
Average annual gold production: | |
Average first 5 years | 173,000 ounces |
Average 11 years life of mine | 158,000 ounces |
Pre-production capital | $394 million |
Sustaining capital (excluding $24.5 million closing costs) | $118 million |
Average milling cost per tonne of rock | $15.96 |
Average milling cost per tonne of existing tailings | $13.68 |
Average operating cash cost per tonne milled, life of mine | $36.94 |
The pre-production capital costs and sustaining costs for the Duparquet Project are estimated to be $394 million and $118 million, respectively, excluding $24.5 million for closure costs. Contingencies and indirect costs included in the capital costs and sustaining capital costs total $98.7 million or approximately 26% of all pre-production costs. The average operating cash cost is estimated at US$775 per ounce of gold over a life of mine (LOM) of 11 years. All in costs are estimated at US$1,042 per ounce of gold.
The NI 43-101 resource estimate was prepared in August, 2013, by InnovExplo for the PFS and was used to develop an open-pit mining plan that would result in mining 1.89 million ounces of gold. The life of mine (“LOM”) estimate is 11 years, with the potential for future expansion with a successful diamond drilling program to convert parts or all of the Inferred Resources. For the LOM, a total of 1.7 million ounces of gold are recovered. Only mineralized material classified as Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources was considered in the mine plan.
Mining plan
The Duparquet Project will first address legacy issues at this brownfield location. The existing roaster dating from the 1930’s will be demolished and the site will be cleaned up in compliance with all environmental regulations. The historical Beattie tailings area will be isolated from Lake Duparquet, and will be reclaimed. Run-off from the project’s watershed will be collected, controlled and treated. The environmental Capex for historical and proposed mining operations is estimated at $53.1 million before mining of the open-pit commences (and these costs have been included in the total capital cost estimates of the project), and is expected to total $70.4 million over the LOM. Reclamation costs at the end of the future operations are estimated at $24.5 million.
The Duparquet Project has been designed as an open-pit mine with a planned ore production rate of 3,650,000 tonnes per year (10,000 tpd). It is anticipated that permitting and construction of the mine would take approximately four years. The mill start-up will occur in the last pre-production year when 535,500 tonnes of ore is expected to be processed. The mining plan is supplemented by the 4.12 million tonnes of available tailings.
Due to the proximity of the town of Duparquet which is adjacent and to the south of the mining concessions of the Duparquet Project, a mining plan to minimize any effect to the Duparquet town or provincial infrastructures was selected. The mine scenario would therefore be more socially acceptable, but has the effect of leaving in-situ parts of the deposit. These untouched portions may be recovered eventually, by further extensions of the mine life.
Pit optimization was performed by InnovExplo using Whittle software from Geovia (previously Gemcom). The optimized pit shell was generated by a Lerchs-Grossmann pit optimizer algorithm. All ramps and roads were included. The north wall has a slope angle of 45° to allow the presence of the ramp and the south wall slope is 48°. The pits were designed with a double benching arrangement, and include an 8.5 meter geotechnical safety berm at every 20 meters in vertical depth.
The mining schedule will require the extraction of 39.4 million tonnes of mineralized material and 291.2 million tonnes of waste rock, resulting in a LOM strip ratio of 8.26 to 1. The overburden consists of 23.4 million tonnes, and will be put aside for reclamation work. Accounting for the overburden, the LOM strip ratio is 8.92 to 1.
Conventional open-pit mining methods will be used, requiring a fleet of 136 tonne capacity off-road haul trucks, hydraulic excavators (16.5 m3), production drills and various ancillary equipment. Mine operations were designed to support an average daily production rate of 96,600 tonnes, including overburden.
Metallurgy and Mineral Processing
Gold mineralization of the Duparquet Project is associated with disseminated sulphides, dominantly pyrite (95%) and lesser arsenopyrite (5%). As the material is refractory, the selection of an oxidation method before the cyanidation of a flotation concentrate became necessary to improve and optimize the level of gold recovery. The consistency of the recovery results obtained, combined with current and historical use of this technology elsewhere in the world over the last 30 years, led to the selection of the conventional pressure oxidation (“POX”) technology, utilizing an autoclave, as the preferred method of oxidation for the Duparquet Project.
This process uses sulphide oxidation at high pressure and temperatures, thereby speeding up the kinetics and allowing the reaction to be self-sustaining. The processing facilities will be located on the Duparquet Project site and include: crushing, grinding, flotation, pressure oxidation, cyanidation, carbon-in-pulp (CIP), carbon stripping, electrowinning, refining and cyanide destruction.
Metallurgical test work performed by SGS Lakefield indicates that the use of the pressure oxidation circuit prior to concentrate cyanidation leaching, combined with flotation tailings cyanidation, improves the projected overall gold recoveries to 93.9 % for the mineralized material and to 83.9 % for the existing tailings. After evaluating the financial return of the flotation tailings cyanidation circuit, it was decided not to incorporate this circuit in the mill design. Therefore, the overall recovery used in the PFS is 90.1% for gold and 90% for silver. The process facility was designed for an average feed of 10,000 tonnes per day (“tpd”).
The PFS considered two possible processing scenarios. The POX process generated the highest financial return, while the alternative Concentrate production process resulted in lower capital and lower operating costs. Based on the current results, the POX process is favored in the PFS. Metallurgical gold recovery used in the PFS is 90.1%, since it was decided not to proceed with the recovery of gold from the new flotation tailings due to an insufficient financial return at the gold price used.
The Concentrate production alternative generates a lower financial return than the POX process is related to lower overall revenues from the concentrate because of higher shipping and third-party smelting costs and lower payable gold and silver by smelters. The alternative Concentrate production process would generate 94,500 tonnes of concentrate per year, grading on average 50 g/t gold, and a similar silver grade. The calculated NPV (5% discount rate) is $68.7 million and IRR before tax is 8.6% using the same US$1,300 gold price. However, if the Concentrate production process could be integrated vertically in a corporate structure, whereby final processing would be controlled by the same owner, the concentrate production process could deliver returns similar to the POX process, with a lower Capex of $357 million and average production cost of US$670 per ounce of gold. The Company and its consulting firms have identified several technical areas to improve the mining and milling scenarios. A possible increase in the overall return is related to the optimization of the pit design, the mining sequence, and a reduction in the strip ratio. The Company will also pursue the Concentrate production process scenario by continuing discussions with processing companies.
Tailings Ponds
The PFS includes two distinct tailings impoundments for the pressure oxidation scenario. Ninety four percent (94%) of the tailings containing very low sulphide, very low arsenic, and no cyanide will be stored in a flotation thickened tailings pond. The remaining 6% of the tailings, coming from the autoclave circuit, will be stored in a specifically designed lined impoundment after cyanide destruction. The tailings will meet all environmental guidelines.
The Company has completed the first two phases of its Environmental Baseline Study and is working with the government, community and First Nations groups surrounding the project to maintain an open dialogue as the project advances.
Proposed Surface Infrastructure
The proposed mine infrastructure incorporates the following:
·
Covered ore pile and mill complex, including a crushing, grinding, flotation, pressure oxidation, cyanidation with carbon-in-pulp circuit (CIP) and a refinery;
·
Two tailings ponds, one overburden storage area and three waste rock dumps;
·
Office complex, a six door open-pit garage and associated services buildings;
·
New electrical main line from the Hydro Quebec grid, site substation and site electrical distribution installations;
·
Water treatment plant, pit dewatering system, surface water management.
·
Access roads to the site and on site; parking facilities, ramp system, green wall.
Mine Closure
Mine closure costs are estimated at $24.5 million. They are incorporated in the cash-flow calculations, but are not included as capital or sustaining capital costs. Wherever practical, a progressive reclamation approach is recommended, since the two (2) tailings ponds will be built in stages. At Duparquet, the overburden disposal area will be reclaimed and this material will be used as capping material to re-vegetate waste rock and tailings disposal sites.
Capital and Sustaining Capital Costs Estimates
The PFS is based on capital pricing as of the last quarter 2013. The capital costs include various added contingencies depending on the sectors. The pre-production capital costs are estimated at $394 million and sustaining capital is estimated at $118 million. Contingencies and indirect costs total $98.7 million of the pre-production costs and represent 26% of the costs. Indirect costs (owner's costs, Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management ("EPCM") and detailed engineering) of 37% have been applied on the process plant and to the other surface infrastructure. Average contingency for all environmental items is 20%. Sustaining capital expenditures are estimated at $118 million over 11 years.
Operating Costs
The LOM average operating cash cost is estimated at US$775 per ounce of gold, or an average of just under $37/t milled.
Current and Anticipated Work
Following the positive PFS, the Company’s consultant InnovExplo recommends the preparation of a Feasibility Study to advance the project to the feasibility stage. The additional work would include:
·
Updating the reserve and resource calculations to include the results from the 47 holes that were received after the last cut-off date.
·
Further definition drilling to increase Mineral Resources and to upgrade Inferred Resources to an Indicated category.
·
Further exploration drilling on the Duparquet Project to increase resources and confidence on the geological model. More specifically, the NE-SW striking secondary zones should be drilled to test their lateral and depth extensions.
·
Additional metallurgical tests related to ore variability and to firm up design basis to further define the flow sheet of the ore treatment and for final design of the mill facilities.
·
Continuing permitting and social outreach to present the project to the communities. Additional baseline data will have to continue to be gathered to complete what has up to this date been collected in order to adequately assess the project’s potential environmental and social effects.
·
Initiate negotiations with Hydro-Quebec to advance the work for installation of the power line.
Any additional work on the property will be dependent upon several factors, particularly the satisfaction of the payments due to the optionors under the property agreements. A $10,000,000 installment payment is due on December 1, 2014. If the Company is unable to raise the additional financing necessary for the payment, or is unable to renegotiate the agreements, it may result in the termination of the property agreements, although the Company would retain a 10% interest in the property.
Duquesne Project
Quebec, Canada
Gold Exploration
The Duquesne Gold Project is located in Destor and Duparquet townships, Quebec. The Duquesne property was formerly considered to be part of the Duparquet project, but was recently excluded from the project due to the results of an internal study on the potential viability of the Duquesne property and is now considered to be a stand-alone project.
Figure No. 4
Duquesne Gold Property
Claim Map
![[clifton20f2014_annual007.jpg]](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-F/0001217160-14-000209/clifton20f2014_annual007.jpg)
Acquisition Details
The Company currently has a 100% interest (subject to a 2.5% NSR) in the Duquesne property. Under an option agreement dated September 20, 2006, (subsequently amended May 14, 2007 and June 11, 2007) Clifton could acquire all the issued shares of Duquesne Gold Mines Ltd. (“Duquesne”), a private Canadian mineral exploration company, from the shareholders of Duquesne (“Optionor”). Pursuant to the terms of the option agreement, the Company issued 10,000 common shares valued at $18,500 to the optionor, and must pay $1,800,000 cash over a three-year period and spend $4,000,000 of exploration expenditures on the property during a four-year period. The optionor retained a 3% Net Smelter Return Royalty (“NSR”), while the Company has the option to purchase from the optionor the 3% NSR in consideration for the sum of $1,000,000 for each 0.5% at any time, for a total of $6,000,000. On June 30, 2010, the Company fulfilled all obligations under the option agreement, and acquired a 100% interest in the Duquesne property, subject to the 3% NSR. In July 2012, the Company agreed to buy back a 0.5% portion of the total 3.0% of the NSR royalty for $1,000,000 cash. The remaining NSR of 2.5% must be purchased in tranches of 0.5% NSR in consideration of $1.0M for each tranche, for a total of $6,000,000, starting in June 2017, under certain conditions.
The Duquesne property originally consisted of fifty-five contiguous mining claims (seventeen development licenses) totaling some 935 hectares, and one mining concession (Concession Miniere # 377-Block 4) totaling some 183.85 hectares; all within Destor Township. During Fiscal 2009, the Company acquired additional claims totaling 964 hectares, known as the Duquesne Extension / Southwest Property; which adjoins the Duquesne property to the south and southwest. In addition, the Company acquired claims totaling 525 hectares known as the Lepine and Destor properties. These claims are contiguous to the northwest and east of the Duquesne property, respectively. The optionor retains a 2% Net Smelter Return Royalty on these claims.
In September 2012, the Company announced an agreement with Xmet Inc. (“Xmet”), an unrelated public company, to sell its Duquesne property to Xmet. In exchange for its 100% interest in the Duquesne property (subject to a 2.5% NSR held by a third party), Clifton was to receive Xmet common shares representing a maximum total of 19.9% of Xmet’s outstanding common shares. Completion of the transaction was subject to a number of conditions, including Xmet exercising a separate option agreement to purchase an interest in a neighboring property, raising financing, obtaining all necessary approvals, and the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. Xmet was unable to meet the transaction conditions. In April 2013, Xmet announced that it would not be proceeding with the acquisition of the Duquesne property. Therefore, the Company retains its 100% interest in the property, subject to the 2.5% NSR held by the third party.
Property Details
The Duquesne property was first explored by various property holders in 1923. In 1941 a shaft was sunk down to 152.4 meters, and by 1945 this shaft had been extended to a depth of 266.7 meters. By 1949, the Duquesne Mine consisted of a total of nine levels down to a depth of 390 meters. Production of gold continued from 1949 until the end of 1952. Exploration work began again in 1962 when 1,993 meters of drilling were completed in fourteen drill holes to test the extension of the ore zone below the seventh level. In 1986 further exploration work, consisting of magnetic surveys, VLF electromagnetic surveys, geological surveys and sampling surveys, was completed. Twenty drill holes, consisting of 3,048 meters, were also completed to outline west extensions and parallel zones located north of the Duquesne Mine workings. In 1987 and 1988 additional surface and underground exploration work, consisting of shaft dewatering and rehabilitation, resource calculations, geological mapping and sampling, was completed. During this time, 37,365 meters of underground exploration drilling and 18,504 meters of surface drilling was also completed.
From 1987 to 1991, Radisson Mining Resources Inc. complied with orders from the Ministry of the Environment concerning tonnages mined, effluent discharges, and restoration of the site. The head-frame was taken down and the shaft cement-capped. All of the waste piles were flattened, power-transmission lines taken down, and only a locked entrance gate existed. Ore material extracted was taken off-site to be processed. All trailers and buildings (including head-frame) were taken off site. Final cleanup was approved by the Ministry of the Environment and the Quebec Government authorities and the Company is not aware of any outstanding environmental concerns
Exploration work resumed in 1990, and consisted of line cutting, geological mapping, sampling, and geophysical surveys, followed by diamond drilling. From 2000 until its acquisition by the Company, Duquesne Gold Mines Ltd., under the exploration management of F.T. Archibald, drilled parallel mineralized zones north of the mine workings and west extensions of the mine workings in areas which were previously only sparsely explored. From 2000 to 2003, the area of intercalated syenite porphyry intrusives and ultramafics was drilled about two hundred meters north of the shaft, where there was little exploration work done in the past. Mineralization was encountered.
Over the last 7 years, a total of 125 drill holes totaling 47,772 meters have been completed on the Duquesne project.
2008 - 38 diamond drill holes, consisting of 20,034 meters
2009 - 14 diamond drill holes, consisting of 6,619 meters
2010 - 70 diamond drill holes, consisting of 20,614 meters
2011 - 3 diamond drill holes, consisting of 505 meters
2012 - No Drilling
2013 - No Drilling
2014 – No Drilling
In 2010, the Company completed 70 drill holes for a total of 20,614 meters on the Duquesne property. The following year 3 drill holes were completed for a total of 505 meters on the Duquesne property. During 2012 and 2013, geophysical work consisting of IP surveying was conducted. A surface rock sampling program was completed during 2014.
In June 2014, the Company completed an internal study on the potential economic viability on the project. The study considered the gold price, the investment requirements and the potential level of economic resources on the property. Based on the conclusions of the study, the Company decided to record a write-down of $7,630,457 on the exploration and evaluation assets in fiscal 2014.
Hunter Mine Property
Quebec, Canada
Copper/Zinc/Silver Exploration
The Hunter Mine Property is a former copper/silver producer, totaling 127.5 hectares, located approximately 8.0 km northeast of the town of Duparquet and the Beattie/Donchester mine properties (Figure 5). The Company can acquire a 100% interest in the property under the agreement dated May 1, 2008 (subsequently amended on July 22, 2008, November 24, 2008, April 8, 2009, October 26, 2009 and September 14, 2012) between Clifton Star (the “Optionee”), the shareholders of 2588111 Manitoba Ltd. and 173714 Canada Inc., as described above under the “Duparquet Project" description.
Approximately 117,000 tons averaging. 0.99% Cu was mined on the property from underground workings through 1957. Zinc and silver values are also associated with the known copper mineralized zones. One hole of 150 meters was drilled immediately east of the Hunter Shaft. The hole cored into copper-bearing sheared-rhyolites, and ended in zinc-bearing intermediate tuffs. The most significant values were over 2.0% zinc, with low copper and silver values. Previous drilling (since 1996) was carried out to locate copper-bearing zones on the west side of the Hunter Shaft; and three continuous copper-bearing zones were encountered during these programs; all associated with the contacts between rhyolites and intermediate tuffs.
Over the last 7 years, a total of 13 drill holes totaling 4,176 meters have been completed on the Hunter project.
2008 - 1 diamond drill hole1 totaling 45.8 meters
2009 - 1 diamond drill hole1 totaling 53.5 meters
2010 - 1 diamond drill hole1 totaling 201.0 meters
2011 - 10 diamond drill holes, consisting of 3,975 meters
2012 - No Drilling
2013 - No Drilling
2014 – No Drilling
In fiscal 2011, the company completed 10 drill holes totaling 3,975 metres on the Hunter property. All of the holes were drilled to intersect the mineralization below the prior underground workings, except for hole #7 which was drilled above the underground workings. The intersections ranged from about one to five meters (not true widths), with most of the assays from 1.5% to 2.5% copper. Silver assays ranged from about 10 to 30 grams per tonne. Other than hole #7, most of the intersections were at depths of 200 to 300 meters.
Geophysical work, consisting of IP surveys, was carried out on the Hunter property in the 2012 and 2013 calendar years. A surface rock sampling program was completed in 2014.
Figure No. 5
Hunter Property
Claim Map
![[clifton20f2014_annual009.gif]](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-F/0001217160-14-000209/clifton20f2014_annual009.gif)
Roquemaure Property
Quebec, Canada
Copper/Zinc/Silver Exploration
During June and July 2014, the Company map staked 40 mining claims totaling 2,271 hectares in northwest Quebec. The property is 100% owned by the Company and is not subject to any underlying royalties.
No work was carried out in 2014.
Figure No. 6
Roquemaure Property
Claim Map
![[clifton20f2014_annual010.jpg]](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-F/0001217160-14-000209/clifton20f2014_annual010.jpg)
Cat Lake Mine Property
Manitoba Province, Canada
Nickel/Copper Exploration
The Cat Lake Mine Property is a former copper/nickel producing property, totaling 238 hectares, located northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Company can acquire a 100% interest in the property under the agreement dated May 1, 2008 (subsequently amended on July 22, 2008, November 24, 2008, April 8, 2009, October 26, 2009 and September 14, 2012) between Clifton Star (the “Optionee”), the shareholders of 2588111 Manitoba Ltd. and 173714 Canada Inc., as described above under the “Duparquet Project" description.
The mine stockpiled ore produced from four underground levels until closure in 1957. A 1,000 ton/day concentrator was installed on the property, but was never operational before the mine’s closure.
On the Cat Lake property, six holes were drilled into the main copper-nickel zone, which is associated with mineralized gabbros. Significant values of copper-nickel were encountered, with the best intersection being 24.5 meters averaging 0.78% copper and 0.37% nickel (from 55.5 meters to 80.0 meters).
No work was conducted on the Cat Lake property in fiscal 2013 or 2014.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The following discussion for fiscal years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto.
Introduction
The Company is currently primarily engaged in the exploration of mineral properties. The Company's principal project is the Duparquet Project in Quebec, Canada
The Company has a option to acquire a 100% interest in the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties under three mineral property option agreements dated May 1, 2008 (subsequently amended July 22, 2008, November 24, 2008, April 8, 2009, October 26, 2009, and September 14, 2012) with Beattie Gold Mines Ltd. ("Beattie”), 2699681 Canada Ltd. (“2699681”) and 2588111 Manitoba Ltd. (“2588111”) respectively, with similar terms. Beattie owns an underground mining concession. 2699681 owns, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Eldorado Gold Mines Inc., certain surface rights. 2588111 owns, through its wholly owned subsidiary, 173714 Canada Inc., certain mineral claims and mining concessions. To earn its interest in each of the optionor companies which own the Beattie-Donchester-Dumico gold properties, pursuant to the October 2009 amended agreement, the Company was required to pay $8.5 million in cash to the vendors by June 1, 2010, to earn a 10% interest (paid); pay $22 million in cash by December 1, 2012; and pay $30 million in cash by December 1, 2017. Once the final payment is made, the Company will have a 100% interest in each of the optionor companies with no NSR. In September 2012, the Company and the optionors agreed to a revised option payment schedule. In order to earn the remaining 90% interest in the optionor companies, the Company must pay $2 million (paid) and issue 250,000 common shares (issued); pay an additional $10 million on December 1, 2014; an additional $10 million on December 1, 2015; an additional $15 million on December 1, 2016; and a final $15.2 million on December 1, 2017. There shall be no increase in the share ownership of the optionors by the Company unless all payment conditions specified above are satisfied. In the event of a change of control in the Company, or an assignment of the mineral property option agreements prior to the expiry of the aforementioned options, all the above conditions vest two years in advance. The optionors have retained a 2% NSR for the duration of the option period, but the NSR would be eliminated upon the Company acquiring 100% interest in each of the vendor companies.
On December 15, 2008, the Company signed an option agreement whereby it may acquire a 100% interest in the Central Duparquet property. The property comprises 18 mineral claims totaling 293 hectares located in Duparquet Township, Quebec.
To fund exploration expenses and the above efforts, the Company has issued equity in public and private placements of equity, stock-for-property arrangements, and the exercise of stock options and warrants. As of June 30, 2014, the Company had working capital of $1,965,662. The Company believes it has sufficient funds to undertake its planned operations and anticipated property expenditures through Fiscal 2015. However, if the Company decides to proceed with the acquisition of the remaining 90% interest in the private optionor companies which own the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties, the Company will be required to pay the vendors $10 million on December 1, 2014; an additional $10 million on December 1, 2015; an additional $15 million on December 1, 2016; and a final $15.2 million on December 1, 2017.Clifton does not currently have the funds required to complete the required $10 million payment due December 1, 2014. The Company is of the opinion that it has the right to access a loan of $22,500,000 from Osisko for the required payments to acquire the optionors of the properties. Discussions between the Company and Osisko did not result in the companies reaching an agreement on the loan. On June 3, 2014, the Company filed a legal action against Osisko in order to ensure compliance with the loan agreement. If the Company fails to make any of the above payments, or is unable to renegotiate the option agreements, the original agreements and their current amendments will be automatically terminated and the related exploration and evaluation assets would then be written-off. However, the Company would retain its 10% interest of the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors it has already acquired.
Financing Timeline
The Company has since inception primarily financed its activities through the issuance of equity. The Company anticipates having to raise additional funds by equity issuance in the next several years, as all of the Company’s properties are at the exploration stage. The timing of such offerings is dependent upon the success of the Company’s exploration programs as well as the general economic climate.
The Company has financed its operations through the issuance of common shares. The following sales and issuances of common stock have been completed in the last 5 fiscal years.
| | | | |
Table No. 3 Common Share Issuances |
|
Fiscal Year Ended June 30 |
Type of Share Issuance | Number of Common Shares Issued |
Price |
Gross Proceeds/ Deemed Value |
| | | | |
2014 | Property Acquisition | 250,000 | $ 0.24 | $ 60,000 |
| | | | |
2013 | Flow-through Private Placement | 2,760,000 | $ 1.25 | $ 3,450,000 |
| | | | |
2012 | None | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| | | | |
2011 | Flow-through Private Placement | 182,000 | $ 5.50 | $ 1,001,000 |
| Exercise of Options | 368,500 | Various | 946,098 |
| Exercise of Agent's Options | 579,584 | Various | 1,211,531 |
| Exercise of Warrants | 5,770,108 | Various | 14,033,638 |
| | | | |
2010 | Exercise of Options | 1,544,000 | Various | $ 3,896,900 |
| Exercise of Agent's Options | 184,054 | Various | 397,695 |
| Exercise of Warrants | 3,199,308 | Various | 7,770,875 |
| Acquisition of NSR | 10,000 | $ 5.74 | 57,400 |
Results of Operations
Fiscal 2014 ended June 30, 2014 vs. Fiscal 2013 ended June 30, 2013
The net loss and comprehensive loss for the year ended June 30, 2014 was $6,245,111, or $(0.16) per share, compared to the net loss and comprehensive loss of $3,869,453, or $(0.10) per share, for the year ended June 30, 2013. The higher net loss in the current year was largely due to the write-down of exploration and evaluation assets of $7,630,457 related to the value of the Duquesne Property. Loss from operations was $1,949,448 for the year ended June 30, 2014 compared to a loss of $3,400,743 for fiscal 2013. The decrease was largely due to a decline in share-based payments to $215,716 from $977,411 as the Company’s common share price has fallen and resulted in a lower expenses using the graded-vesting accounting method. The Company also recorded the one-time expense of settlement of litigation of $350,000 in fiscal 2013 and none in fiscal 2014.
In addition to the significant decrease in share-based payments and settlement of litigation costs, the Company also realized significant changes in the following operating expenditures:
·
Wages & benefits of $663,627 (2013 - $768,890) decreased by $105,263, compared to the same period in 2013, primarily as a result of the payment of management team bonuses 25% in cash and 25% as share-based payments.
·
Consulting of $104,378 (2013 - $165,269) decreased by $60,891 compared to the same period in 2013 primarily explained by the termination of Harry Miller’s management contract and new efforts to identify potential mining tax credits recoverable from previous years.
·
Professional fees of $412,236 (2013 - $511,105) decreased by $98,869. The decrease is mainly explained by the absence of legal costs related to the statement of claim against the Company and two former directors recorded on September 19, 2007. This claim was settled out of Court without any admission of wrong doing. The decrease was offset partially by the legal counsel fees to support the preparation of a legal claim against Osisko.
·
Investor relations of $191,862 (2013 - $246,875) decreased by $55,013, mainly explained by the reclassification of some expenses to ‘Filing and transfer agent fees’. This was partially offset by the hiring of two consultants to improve investor relations in the North American and European markets.
·
Travel and telephone of $42,637 (2013 - $56,617) decreased by $13,980. The decrease is mainly explained by the reduction of the travelling expenses incurred compared to the same period in 2013.
·
Office and miscellaneous of $81,181 (2013 - $89,305) decreased by $8,124 compared to the same period in 2013, mainly due to timing of the occurrence of the expenses.
·
Director’s fees of $158,000 (2013 - $156,000) increased by $2,000, primarily explained by the addition of one director in December 2012 and the creation of a new committee, the Technical, Environmental, Health and Safety Committee.
·
Filing and transfer agent fees of $29,946 (2013 – $27,731) increased by $2,215 mainly due to the reclassification of some expenses from ‘Investor relations’. This was mainly offset by the non-recurrent costs incurred in the same period in 2013 for the closing of a Brokered Flow-Through Private Placement.
Other operating costs, including amortization and insurance, totaled $49,865 for the year ended June 30, 2014 compared to $51,540 in the prior year. Interest income declined to $45,425 from $103,617 in fiscal 2013, a decrease of $58,192. The reduction is a direct result of decreased cash balances and short-term investments during the year ended June 30, 2014.
Deferred income tax recovery was $3,289,369 compared to a tax charge of ($572,327) for the year ended June 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to the write-down of the exploration and evaluation assets of the Duquesne Property and the net loss incurred in the twelve months period ended June 30, 2014.
Fiscal 2013 ended June 30, 2013 vs. Fiscal 2012 ended June 30, 2012
The net loss and comprehensive loss for the year ended June 30, 2013, was $3,869,453, or $(0.10) per share, compared to the net loss and comprehensive loss of $2,244,155, or $(0.06) per share, for the year ended June 30, 2012. The higher next loss in the current year was largely due to differences in deferred income taxes and settlement of litigation. Loss from Operations was $3,400,743 in fiscal 2013 compared to $3,123,738, which was partially due to a significant decrease in share-based payments from $1,222,953 in 2012 to $977,411, a decrease of $245,542. The number of stock options granted in 2013 was 1,175,000 compared to 1,510,000 for the same period in 2012, a decrease of 335,000 stock options. In addition, the stock price and the strike price have decreased significantly in 2013, which resulted in additional reduction of the compensation expense using the graded-vesting accounting method.
In addition to the significant decrease in share-based payments, the Company also realized significant changes in the following operating expenditures:
·
Wages & benefits of $768,890 (2012 - $310,863) increased by $458,027, compared to the same period in 2012, primarily as a result of the hiring of a new Chief Executive Officer, a new Chief Financial Officer, a new Vice President Exploration and a new administrative assistant that are now on the payroll of the Company. In previous years, all of management were on a contract basis.
·
Director fees of $156,000 (2012 - $246,750) decreased by $90,750, primarily explained by the appointment of a new management team and the non-recurrent expenses related to the Cease Trade Order issued by the B.C. Securities Commission and to the reorganization costs in the same period in 2012.
·
Consulting fees of $165,269 (2012 - $338,182) decreased by $172,913 compared to the same period in 2012 primarily explained by the renegotiation of Mr. Miller’s contract and the replacement of the former consultant Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) by a new CFO, who is on the payroll of the Company.
·
Professional fees of $511,105 (2012 - $581,276) decreased by $70,171. The decrease is mainly explained by less legal activities related to the Cease Trade Order issued by the B.C. Securities Commission in the same period in 2012. The decrease was partially offset by the statement of claim against the Company and two former directors as described in the contingency section, the amended agreements with the optionors of the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties, the sales agreement related to the Duquesne Property and the closing of a Brokered Flow-Through Private Placement.
·
Investor relations of $246,875 (2012 - $111,436) increased by $135,439, mainly explained by the need to inform all investors of the Company following the new agreements with the optionors of the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties, the new agreement related to the NSR on the Duquesne property, the agreement to sell the Duquesne property, the results of the drilling campaign, the closing of the Brokered Flow-Through Private Placement and the status of the PEA. The increase is also explained by the low level of expenses incurred during the same period in 2012 as the Company was under a Cease Trade Order.
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Filing and transfer agent fees of $27,731 (2012 – $24,550) increased by $3,181 compared to the year ended June 30, 2012, mainly due to the closing of a Brokered Flow-Through Private Placement.
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Travel and telephone of $56,617 (2012 - $141,804) decreased by $85,187. The decrease is mainly explained by the relocation of the executive office to Quebec and the appointment of a new management team.
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Office and miscellaneous of $89,305 (2012 - $104,688) decreased by $15,383 compared to the year ended June 30, 2012, mainly due to some non-recurring costs.
·
Settlement of litigation of $350,000 (2012 - $NIL) increased by $350,000 compared to the same period in 2012 which was due to the settlement of a statement of claim brought by two former directors.
Interest income for the year ended June 30, 2013 was $103,617 compared to $200,583 for the prior fiscal year, a decrease of $96,966. The reduction is a direct result of decreased cash balances and short-term investments during the fiscal 2013.
The Company recorded deferred tax expense in the amount of $572,327 compared to a deferred tax recovery of $679,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. The current year deferred mining duties tax provision was established under the assumption that the exploration and evaluation assets will be recovered through future production, not through the sale of the related assets as was the case in prior years. This change in assumption resulted in an increase of the deferred mining duties tax liability of $768,000.
Net loss and comprehensive loss for the year ended June 30, 2013, was $3,869,453, or $(0.10) per share, compared to the net loss and comprehensive loss of $2,244,155, or $(0.06) per share, for the year ended June 30, 2012. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in the calculation of loss per share was 37,393,568 in fiscal 2013 compared to 35,654,390 in fiscal 2012.
Fiscal 2012 ended June 30, 2012 vs. Fiscal 2011 ended June 30, 2011
The Loss and Comprehensive Loss for fiscal 2012 was $2,244,155 compared to $4,765,837 in fiscal 2011. The decreased loss was largely due to lower share-based payments in fiscal 2012, as well as a higher deferred tax recovery.
Loss from operations decreased to $3,123,738 in fiscal 2012 from $5,220,364 in fiscal 2011. Large changes in expenses occurred in:
·
Consulting fees, which declined to $338,182 from $415,072. Until January 2012, the Company's CFO was compensated as a consultant. Also, Harry Miller's management contract was amended in February 2011with a reduction of the annual fee. The lower costs due to these changes were partially offset by costs related to the changes in the Company's internal control processes, including a new accounting system, and work related to production of a claim for Quebec sales tax.
·
Director's fees rose to $246,750 from $105,107. Effective December 2010, the Company instituted an annual retainer fees and fees for committee memberships for its directors to be paid in quarterly installments, beginning December 1, 2010. The higher fees in fiscal 2012 reflect a full fiscal year of the retainer fees as well as special fees to Directors due to the reconstruction of the Company’s management and the additional work required of the members of the Board.
·
Filing and Transfer Agent fees declined to $3,145 from $59,768. The reduction is due to no common shares being issued in fiscal 2012, while in fiscal 2011 the Company completed a private placement of flow-through common shares and issuance of shares through the exercise of options and warrants.
·
Investor Relations rose to $111,436 from $76,030. The higher spending in fiscal 2012 was due to management increasing its shareholder communications during the period of the cease-trade order and apprising the investment community of management's progress of satisfying requirements under the order.
·
Management Fees declined to $202,051 from $270,080. The lower fees were due to the amendment to Harry Miller's management contract in February 2011
·
Professional Fees rose to $581,276 from $410,602. The higher fees were related to costs incurred to satisfy the conditions of the British Columbia cease trade order, and to resume trading, as well as costs incurred support the management changes in fiscal 2012.
·
Share-based Payments decreased to $1,222,953 from $3,747,777 in fiscal 2011. The decline was due to fewer stock options being granted in fiscal 2011 and a lower fair-value of the options under the Black-Scholes pricing model.
·
Travel and Telephone expenses fell to $141,804 from $160,335 as management reduced its travel in fiscal 2012.
·
Wages & Benefits rose to $310,863 from $78,000 due to the hiring of a new CEO, CFO and Vice-President, Exploration, as well as a new administrative assistant in fiscal 2012.
Interest income rose to $200,583 from $129,627 in fiscal 2012 due to higher cash balances and short-term investments during the full fiscal year in 2012. The Company also recorded Deferred Tax Recovery of $679,000 in fiscal 2012 compared to $324,900 due to the net loss incurred for fiscal 2012.
Net loss and Comprehensive Loss for fiscal 2012 was $2,244,155, or $0.06 per common share, compared to the Loss and Comprehensive Loss of $4,765,837, or $0.14 per share, in fiscal 2011. The weighted average number of shares used in the calculation of the loss per share was 35,654,390 in fiscal 2012 compared to 33,454,231 in fiscal 2011.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s working capital position at June 30, 2014 was $1,965,662, including cash of $1,328,239 and refundable tax credits and mining duties of $890,137. Management believes it has sufficient funds to support the Company’s general, administrative and corporate requirements through Fiscal 2015. The Company will likely require additional financing to meet its anticipated corporate expenditures for fiscal 2016. The Company may raise additional funds through the sale of equity as funding opportunities become available.
If the Company decides to proceed with the acquisition of the remaining 90% interest in the private optionor companies which own the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties, the Company will be required to pay the vendors $10 million on December 1, 2014. The Company does not currently have the funds required to complete the required $10 million payment due December 1, 2014. If the Company decides to proceed with the acquisition of the private optionor companies, it will require additional funds to satisfy the required payment. If the Company fails to make any of the above payments, or is unable to renegotiate the option agreements, the original agreements and their current amendments will be automatically terminated and the related exploration and evaluations will then have to be written-off. The Company would retain its previously acquired 10% interest in the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors.
Fiscal 2014 Ended June 30, 2014
The Company's working capital position at June 30, 2014 was $1,965,662, including cash of $1,328,239 and refundable tax credits and mining duties of $890,137. During the fiscal year, Operating Activities provided cash of $924,977, including the net loss for the year of $6,245,111. Items not affected by cash include amortization of $8,088, share-based payments of $215,716, write-down of exploration and evaluation assets of $7,630,457, and deferred income tax recovery of $3,289,369. Changes in non-cash working capital items include a decrease in receivables of $256,036, a decrease in refundable tax credits received of $2,843,974, an increase in prepaids of $65,927, and an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $428,887.
There were no Financing Activities during the year. Investing Activities used cash of $3,040,026, with the entire amount from additions to exploration and evaluation assets.
Cash totaled $1,328,239 at June 30, 2014 compared to cash of $3,443,288 at June 30, 2013, a decrease of $2,115,049 during the year.
Fiscal 2013 Ended June 30, 2013
The Company's working capital position at June 30, 2013 was $5,517,009, including cash of $3,443,288 and refundable tax credits and mining duties of $3,252,301. During the fiscal year, Operating Activities used cash of $1,411,284, including the net loss for the year of $3,869,453. Items not affected by cash include amortization of $9,994, share-based payments of $977,411, deferred income tax expense of $572,327, and refundable tax credits received of $230,144. Changes in non-cash working capital items include a decrease in receivables of $201,966, a decrease in prepaids of $9,568, and an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $456,759.
Financing Activities provided cash of $3,223,755, which included $3,450,000 in cash provided by shares issued for cash, and $226,245 of cash used by issuance costs paid. Investing Activities used cash of $5,474,815. Additions to property and equipment used cash of $367, decrease in short-term investments provided cash of $4,360,000, and additions to exploration and evaluation assets used cash of $9,834,448.
Cash totaled $3,443,288 at June 30, 2013 compared to cash of $7,105,632 at June 30, 2012, a decrease of $3,662,344 during the year.
Fiscal 2012 Ended June 30, 2012
The Company's working capital position at June 30, 2012 was $13,397,588, including cash of $7,105,632, short-term investments of $4,360,000, and refundable tax credits and mining duties of $2,128,675. During the fiscal year, Operating Activities used cash of $1,565,661, including the net loss for the year of $2,244,155. Items not affected by cash include amortization of $8,302, share-based payments of $1,222,953, and deferred tax recovery of $679,000. Changes in non-cash working capital items included an increase in receivables of $315,396, a decrease in prepaids of $37,191, and an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $404,444.
There were no Financing Activities during the year, as no common shares were issued. Investing Activities used cash of $3,932,826. Additions to property and equipment used cash of $26,168, additions to short-term investments used cash of $10,000, and additions to exploration and evaluation assets, net of recovered costs, were $3,896,658.
Cash totaled $7,105,632 at June 30, 2012 compared to $12,604,119 as of June 30, 2011, a decrease of $5,498,487 during the year.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Management is required to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On a regular basis, management evaluates its estimates and assumptions. The estimates are based on historical experience, past results, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form that basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets, including mineral properties, and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates due to events or circumstances which may be beyond the control of the Company.
Basis of presentation
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) issued and applicable as of June 30, 2014. The Company has consistently applied the same accounting policies to all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements.
Basis of consolidation
The financial statements of the Company consolidate the accounts of Clifton and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Duquesne Gold Mines Inc. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation.
A subsidiary is an entity which Clifton controls by having the power to govern its financial and operating policies. The existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are considered when assessing whether Clifton controls another entity. The subsidiary is fully consolidated from the date on which control was obtained, and will be de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.
Use of judgments and estimates
The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported expenses during the period.
On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its judgments and estimates in relation to assets, liabilities and expenses. Management uses historical experience and various other factors it believes to be reasonable under the given circumstances as the basis for its judgments and estimates. Actual outcomes may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.
The consolidated financial statements include judgments and estimates which, by their nature, are uncertain. The impacts of such judgments and estimates are pervasive throughout the consolidated financial statements, and may require accounting adjustments based on future occurrences. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised and the revision affects both current and future periods.
The most significant judgments relate to:
Critical judgments exercised in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements are as follows:
Recoverability and probability of future economic benefits of mineral property interests
Management has determined that exploration and evaluation assets and related costs incurred, which were capitalized, may have future economic benefits and may be economically recoverable. Management uses several criteria in its assessments of economic recoverability and probability of future economic benefits including, geologic and metallurgic information, the scoping of the pre-feasibility study of the Duparquet project, the quality and capacity of existing infrastructure facilities locally, evaluation of permitting and environmental issues, and local support for the project. In addition, management’s assessment of the recoverability of this asset assumes that it will be able to increase to 100% its ownership in the Duparquet project and to finance the Company’s development in the Duparquet project. Should management not be successful in obtaining the required financing, the mining asset value will no longer be recoverable.
Information about assumptions and estimation uncertainties at the end of the reporting period that have a significant risk of resulting in material adjustments to the Company’s assets and liabilities are as follows:
Recoverability and probability of future economic benefits of mineral property interests
The Company considers both external and internal sources of information in assessing whether there are any indications that exploration and valuation assets are impaired. External sources of information the Company considers include changes in the market, economic and legal environment in which the Company operates that are not within its control and affect the recoverable amount of exploration and evaluation assets. Internal sources of information the Company considers include the pre-feasibility study.
In determining the recoverable amounts of the Company’s evaluation and exploration assets, the Company’s management makes estimates of the discounted future after-tax cash flows expected to be derived from the Company’s valuation assets and the appropriate discount rate. The projected cash flows are significantly affected by changes in assumptions about metal selling prices, expected future capital expenditures, reductions in the amount of recoverable reserves, resources, and exploration potential, effective production cost estimates, discount rates and exchange rates. Continued access to the estimated recoverable reserves, resources and exploration potential of the Company’s evaluation and exploration assets is a key assumption in determining their recoverable amounts.
Reduction in metal price forecasts, increase in expected future costs of production, increase in expected capital expenditures, reduction in the amount of recoverable reserves, resources, and exploration potential, and/or adverse current economics can result in a write-down of the carrying amounts of the Company’s evaluation and exploration assets.
Income taxes and mining duties
In assessing the probability of realizing income tax assets, management makes estimates related to expectation of future taxable income, applicable tax opportunities, expected timing of reversals of existing temporary differences and the likelihood that tax positions taken will be sustained upon examination by applicable tax authorities.
In making its assessments, management gives additional weight to evidence that can be objectively verified.
Valuation of share-based compensation
The Company uses the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model for valuation of share-based compensation. Option pricing models require the input of subjective assumptions, including expected price volatility, expected life of stock options, and forfeiture rate. Changes in the input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate and the Company’s earning and share-based payment reserve.
Short-term investments
Short-term investments consist mainly of cashable Guaranteed Investment Certificates (“GIC’s”) with original terms to maturity greater than three months.
Refundable tax credits and mining duties and non-refundable tax credits
The Company is entitled to a refundable tax credit of 35% until June 4, 2014 and 28% thereafter on qualified exploration expenditures incurred in the province of Quebec. The Company is also entitled to a refund of mining duties of 16% on 50% of qualified mining exploration expenses during the period, net of the refundable tax credit. The company was also entitled to a federal non-refundable tax credit of 5% up to December 31, 2013 on qualified exploration expenditures incurred, net of the refundable tax credit.
The provincial and federal credits are recorded against exploration and evaluation assets based on management’s best estimates once the necessary information is available and management believes that the amounts are collectible or will benefit in the future. The non-refundable tax credit is classified as a long term asset while the mining duties credit is recorded in deferred income and mining tax liability.
Property and equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization. The Company provides for amortization using the declining balance method at rates designed to amortize the cost of the property and equipment over its estimated useful life. The annual amortization rates are as follows:
| | |
| Building | 10 % |
| Computer equipment | 30 % |
| Office equipment | 30 % |
Land is carried at cost. Maintenance and repair expenditures which do not improve or extend productive life of the property and equipment are expensed in the period incurred.
Exploration and evaluation assets
The Company records its interest (via option agreements) in its mining properties at cost. Once the right to explore an area has been acquired, the Company capitalizes exploration and evaluation costs directly related to specific mineral properties until such time as the extent of mineralization has been determined and the mineral properties are either sold, developed or the Company’s mineral rights are allowed to lapse. Capitalized costs will be amortized on a units-of-production basis over the useful life of the ore body following commencement of commercial production or written-off if the property is sold or abandoned.
Acquisition costs (included in exploration and evaluation assets) include initial vendor payments, staking costs at the date of acquisition, subsequent property staking, and lease and royalty payments required to maintain ownership title. Options are exercisable entirely at the discretion of the optionee, and accordingly, the related option payments and royalties are recorded only upon payment or receipt. Option income receipts on subcontracted properties reduce capitalized exploration costs, and amounts in excess of capitalized costs are recorded as income. Expenditures incurred before the Company has obtained the legal rights to explore a specific area are expensed as incurred.
Once the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the extraction of mineral resources in an area of interest are demonstrable, exploration and evaluation assets attributable to that area of interest are first tested for impairment and then reclassified to mining property and development assets within property and equipment. Subsequent costs are capitalized to the respective mineral property interests.
Recorded costs of exploration and evaluation assets are not intended to reflect present or future values of mineral properties. Capitalized costs are subject to measurement uncertainty, and it is reasonably possible, based on existing knowledge, that a change in future conditions could require a material change in the recorded amounts.
The Company considers the following facts and circumstances in determining if it should test exploration and evaluation assets for impairment:
·
the period for which the Company has the right to explore in the specific area has expired during the period or will expire in the near future, or is not expected to be renewed or the mining property ownership not gained.
·
substantive expenditures on further exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources in the specific area is neither budgeted or planned.
·
exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources in the specific area have not led to the discovery of commercially viable quantities of mineral resources and the entity has decided to discontinue such activities in the specific area; and
·
sufficient data exists to indicate that, although a development in the specific area is likely to proceed, the carrying amount of the exploration and evaluation assets is unlikely to be recovered in full from successful development or by sale.
General exploration costs in areas of interest in which the Company has not secured rights are expensed as incurred.
Impairment of non-current assets
Non-current assets are evaluated at each reporting date by management for indicators that the carrying value is impaired and may not be recoverable. When indicators of impairment are present, the recoverable amount of an asset is evaluated at the level of a cash generating unit (“CGU”), the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets, where the recoverable amount of a CGU is the greater of the CGU’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. An impairment loss is recognized in the statement of loss and comprehensive loss to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount.
In calculating the recoverable amount, the Company uses discounted cash flow techniques to determine fair value when it is not possible to determine fair value either by quotes from an active market or a binding sales agreement. The determination of discounted cash flows is dependent on a number of factors, including future metal prices, the amount of reserves and resources, the cost of bringing the project into production, production costs, sustaining capital expenditures, and site closure, restoration and environmental rehabilitation costs.
Additionally, the reviews take into account factors such as political, social and legal and environmental regulations. These factors may change due to changing economic conditions or the accuracy of certain assumptions and, hence, affect the recoverable amount. The Company uses its best efforts to fully understand all of the aforementioned to make an informed decision based upon historical and current facts surrounding the projects. Discounted cash flow techniques often require management to make estimates and assumptions concerning reserves and resources and expected future production revenues and expenses.
Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset or cash-generating unit is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset or cash-generating unit in prior periods. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognized immediately in the statement of loss and comprehensive loss. Management’s estimates of mineral prices, recoverable reserves, and operating, capital and restoration costs are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may affect the recoverability of exploration and evaluation assets. Although management has made its best estimate of these factors, it is possible that changes could occur in the near term that could adversely affect management’s estimate of the net cash flows to be generated from its projects.
Restoration and provision
The Company records a liability based on the best estimate of costs for restoration activities that the Company is legally or constructively required to remediate, and recognizes the liability when those obligations result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal operations of assets. Restoration provisions are measured at the present value of the expected expenditures required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax discount rate reflecting the time value of money and risks specific to the liability. The liability is increased for the passage of time and adjusted for changes to the current market-based risk-free discount rate, and the amount of or timing of the underlying cash flows needed to settle the obligation. The associated restoration costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related non-current asset and amortized into income on a systematic basis over the expected useful life of the asset. At June 30, 2014 and 2013, no restoration provision has been recognized.
Current and deferred taxes
Taxes, comprising both income and mining taxes, accounted for as income taxes are recognized in the consolidated statements of loss, except where they relate to items recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case the related taxes are recognized in other comprehensive loss or equity. Taxes on income are recorded using the tax rate that would be applicable to expected annual income.
The current income tax charge is based on taxable income for the period. Taxable income differs from net income as reported in the consolidated statement of loss and comprehensive loss because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other periods and it further excludes items that are not taxable or deductible.
Deferred tax is recognized on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases used in computing taxable profit. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted or substantively enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
Deferred income tax assets also result from unused loss carry forwards, resource related pools and other deductions. A deferred tax asset is recognized for unused tax losses, tax credits and deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which they can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized.
Share-based payments
The Company grants stock options to buy common shares of the Company to directors, officers, employees and consultants. Share-based payments to employees are measured at the fair value of the instruments issued and amortized over the vesting periods. Share-based payments to non-employees are measured at the fair value of the goods or services received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, if it is determined that the fair value of the goods or services cannot be reliably measured, and are recorded at the date the goods or services are received. The offset to the recorded cost is to share-based payments reserve. Consideration received on the exercise of stock options is recorded as share capital, and the related share-based payments reserve is transferred to share capital. When stock options are forfeited prior to becoming fully vested, any expense previously recorded is reversed. When vested stock options expire, the associated amount recorded in the share-based payments reserve is transferred to the deficit.
Share capital
The Company records in share capital proceeds from share issuances, net of issue costs and any tax effects. The fair value of common shares issued as consideration for mineral properties is based on the trading price of those shares on the TSX-V on the date of the agreement to issue shares as determined by the Board of Directors. Stock options and other equity instruments issued as purchase consideration in non-monetary transactions are recorded at fair value determined by management using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Proceeds from unit placements are allocated between shares and warrants according to their relative fair value using the residual method to determine the value of warrants issued.
Loss per share
Basic loss per share is computed by dividing the loss available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Under this method, the weighted-average number of common shares used to calculate the dilutive effect in the consolidated statement of loss and comprehensive loss assumes that the proceeds that could be obtained upon exercise of options, warrants and similar instruments would be used to purchase common shares at the average market price during the period. In periods where a net loss is incurred, basic and diluted loss per share is the same, as the effect of outstanding stock options and warrants would be anti-dilutive.
Flow-through shares
Share capital includes flow-through shares which is a unique Canadian tax incentive pursuant to certain provisions of theIncome Tax Act. Proceeds from the issuance of flow-through shares are used to fund qualified exploration and evaluation expenditures, and the related income tax deductions are renounced to the subscribers of the flow-through shares. The premium, if any, paid for flow-through shares in excess of the market value of the shares without flow-through features, at the time of issue, is credited to other liabilities and recognized in income at the time qualifying expenditures are incurred. The Company recognizes a deferred tax liability with a corresponding recovery in the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss when the qualifying exploration and evaluation expenditures are incurred. To the extent that the Company has deferred tax assets in the form of tax loss carry-forwards and other unused tax credits as at the reporting date, the Company may use them to reduce its deferred tax liability relating to tax benefits transferred through flow-through shares.
Financial instruments
Financial assets -The Company classifies its financial assets in the following categories: fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables and available-for-sale. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of financial assets at the time of recognition.
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are initially recognized at fair value with changes in fair value recorded through income. The Company does not have financial assets classified under this category.
Loans and receivables
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They are classified as current assets or non-current assets based on their maturity date. Loans and receivables are carried at amortized cost less any impairment. Cash, short-term investments, receivables and refundable mining tax credit have been classified under this category.
Available-for-sale
Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivatives that are either designated as available-for-sale or not classified in any of the other financial asset categories. Changes in fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and classified as a component of equity. When the financial assets are sold or an impairment write-down is required, the accumulated fair value adjustments in other comprehensive income are included in the consolidated statements of loss and are included in other gains or losses. The Company does not have financial assets classified under this category.
Financial liabilities - The Company classifies its financial liabilities in the following categories: borrowings and other financial liabilities and derivative financial liabilities.
Borrowings and other financial liabilities
Borrowings and other financial liabilities are non-derivatives and are recognized initially at fair value, net of transactions costs incurred, and are subsequently stated at amortized cost. Any difference between the amounts originally received, net of transaction costs, and the redemption value is recognized in the consolidated statements of loss over the period to maturity using the effective interest method. Borrowings and other financial liabilities are classified as current or non-current based on their maturity date. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities have been classified under this category.
Derivative financial liabilities
Derivative financial liabilities are initially recognized at their fair value on the date the derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value at each reporting period with changes in the fair value recognized in profit or loss. There are no financial liabilities classified under this category.
Impairment of financial assets -At each reporting date, the Company assesses whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset is impaired. If such evidence exists, the Company recognizes an impairment loss, as follows:
(a)
Financial assets carried at amortized cost: The loss is the difference between the amortized cost of the loan or receivable and the present value of the estimated future cash flows, discounted using the instrument’s original effective interest rate. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced by this amount either directly or indirectly through the use of an allowance account.
(b)
Available-for-sale financial assets: The impairment loss is the difference between the original cost of the asset and its fair value at the measurement date, less any impairment losses previously recognized in the consolidated statements of loss. This amount represents the cumulative loss in accumulated other comprehensive income that is reclassified to net loss.
Changes in accounting policies
The following new standards, interpretations and amendments, which have been applied in these consolidated financial statements, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements:
IFRS 10Consolidated financial statements
IFRS 10 builds on existing principles by identifying the concept of control as the determining factor in whether an entity should be included within the consolidated financial statements of the parent company. The standard provides additional guidance to assist in the determination of control where this is difficult to assess.
IFRS 11Joint arrangements
IFRS 11 describes the accounting for arrangements in which there is joint control; proportionate consolidation is not permitted for joint ventures (as newly defined). IFRS 11 replaces IAS 31Interests in Joint Ventures and SIC 13Jointly Controlled Entities - Non-Monetary Contributions by Venturers.
IFRS 12Disclosures of interests in other entities
IFRS 12 includes the disclosure requirements for all forms of interests in other entities, including joint arrangements, associates, special purpose vehicles and other off balance sheet vehicles.
IFRS 13Fair value measurement
IFRS 13 aims to improve consistency and reduce complexity by providing a precise definition of fair value and a single source of fair value measurement and disclosure requirements for use across IFRSs. The requirements do not extend the use of fair value accounting but provide guidance on how it should be applied where its use is already required or permitted by other standards within IFRSs.
IFRIC 20Stripping costs in the production phase of a surface mine
In IFRIC 20, the IFRS Interpretations Committee sets out principles for the recognition of production stripping costs in the statement of financial position. The interpretation recognizes that some production stripping in surface mining activity will benefit production in future periods, and sets out criteria for capitalizing such costs. While the Company is not yet in the production phase, the adoption of IFRIC 20 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
IAS 1Presentation of financial statements
IAS 1 was amended to change the grouping of items presented in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). Items that would be reclassified to profit or loss at a future point in time will be presented separately from items that will never be reclassified. The amendments do not change the nature of the items that are currently recognized in OCI, nor do they impact the determination of whether items in OCI are reclassified through profit or loss in future periods.
Future accounting changes
The following new standards have not been applied in these consolidated financial statements and may have an impact on the Company’s future financial statements:
IFRS 9Financial instruments
IFRS 9Financial instruments is part of the IASB's wider project to replace IAS 39Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IFRS 9 retains but simplifies the mixed measurement model and establishes two primary measurement categories for financial assets: amortized cost and fair value. The basis of classification depends on the entity’s business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. This project has now been completed. However, as part of the Limited Amendments to IFRS 9 project, on 24 July 2013 the IASB tentatively decided to defer the mandatory effective date of IFRS 9 and that the mandatory effective date should be left open pending the finalisation of the impairment and classification and measurement requirements. In February 2014, the IASB tentatively determined that the revised effective date for IFRS 9 would be January 1, 2018. The Company has not yet completed an assessment of the impact of adopting IFRS 9.
IFRIC 21Accounting for Levies imposed by Governments
IFRIC 21Accounting for Levies imposed by Governments, clarifies that the obligating event giving rise to a liability to pay a levy is the activity described in the relevant legislation that triggers payment of the levy. IFRIC 21 will be effective for the Company beginning on July 1, 2014. The Company does not believe this guidance will have a material impact.
5.C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
The Company conducts no Research and Development activities, nor is it dependent upon any patents or licenses.
5.D. Trend Information
The Company knows of no trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the Company’s operations or financial condition.
5.E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.
5.F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
| | | | | | |
Table No. 4 Contractual Obligations As of June 30, 2014 |
|
| Payments due by period |
| | | | | | |
| |
Total | Less than 1 year |
1 – 3 years |
3 – 5 Years | More than 5 years |
| | | | | | |
Long-Term Debt Obligations | | None | None | None | None | None |
Capital Lease Obligations | | None | None | None | None | None |
Operating Lease Obligations(1) | | $ 21,244 | $ 21,244 | None | None | None |
Purchase Obligations | | None | None | None | None | None |
Other Long-Term Liabilities | | None | None | None | None | None |
|
(1) The Operating Lease Obligations includes a lease on the Company's corporate offices and leases on two vehicles. |
The Company also has an agreement in place to acquire the remaining 90% interest in the private companies that own the Beattie-Donchester-Dumico gold properties, pursuant to the amended agreement dated September 14, 2012. To earn the remaining 90% interest in the optionees, the Company must pay $2 million (paid) and issue 250,000 common shares (issued); an additional $10 million on December 1, 2014; an additional $10 million on December 1, 2015; an additional $15 million on December 1, 2016; and a final $15.2 million on December 1, 2017. The Company is not contractually obligated to make any or all of these payments if it does not wish to acquire the remaining interest in the properties.
For the Duquesne property, the remaining NSR2.5% could be purchased in tranche of 0.5% NSR in consideration of $1.0 million for each tranche, starting June 2017.
Other than disclosed above, the Company does not have any contractual obligations and commitments as of October 30, 2014 that will require significant future cash outlays.
5.G. Safe Harbor.
Not Applicable
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT, AND EMPLOYEES
6.A. Directors and Senior Management
| | | |
Table No. 5 Directors and Senior Management August 31, 2014 |
|
Name | Positions | Age | Date First Elected or Appointed |
Michel F. Bouchard(4)(5) | President, CEO and Director | 60 | November 2011 |
Louis Dufour(5) | Chief Financial Officer | 58 | January 2012 |
Louis Martin(5) | Vice-President, Exploration | 53 | December 2011 |
Ross Glanville(1)(2)(4)(6) | Chairman and Director | 67 | January 2010 |
Peter Gundy(1)(2)(3)(7) | Director | 75 | May 2010 |
Yves Harvey(1)(3)(4)(7) | Director | 64 | December 2012 |
Philip Nolan(2)(3)(7) | Director | 52 | August 2008 |
(1) Member of Audit Committee (2) Member of Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (3) Member of Compensation Committee (4) Member of the Technical, Environmental, Health and Safety Committee (5) He spends 100% of his time on the affairs of the Company (6) He spends about 33% of his time on the affairs of the Company (7) He spends about 10% of his time on the affairs of the Company |
Michel Bouchard was named President, CEO and a Director effective November 7, 2011. He has a B.Sc. and M.Sc. Geology from Montreal University and an MBA from HEC Montreal. Previously, he held senior management and exploration positions with several public mineral companies, including Vice-President, Exploration & Development for North American Palladium, and President & CEO of Cadiscor Resources from 2006 until its acquisition by North American Palladium in 2009. He also served in senior management with McWatters Mines, and was Vice-President Exploration and Vice-President Development with SOQUEM.
Louis Dufour, CPA, CA, was named Chief Financial Officer of the Company on January 23, 2012. Mr. Dufour is a Chartered Public Accountant with thirty five years of experience. He began his career at KPMG before becoming controller of Kenworth of Canada. Since 2008, he served as Vice-President, Finance and CFO of Dualam Plastics Inc., a company specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of plastic and fiberglass tanks and piping until its acquisition by ZCL Composites, a public company traded on the TSX. After the completion of the acquisition by ZCL, Mr. Dufour served as Director of Operations of ZCL Dualam Inc., where he was interim manager of all business activities of the Dualam Group, and integrated the administration, marketing and operational processes of Dualam with ZCL.
Louis Martin was named Vice President, Exploration on December 19, 2011. Mr. Martin is a professional geologist with a Bachelor of Science, Geology degree from Concordia University and a Pure and Applied Science degree from Vanier College. Mr. Martin has over 29 years of professional experience, and has worked in numerous exploration camps in Ontario and Quebec. He was part of two different exploration teams that received the Quebec Prospectors Association "Discovery of the Year" award, including in 1989 for the Louvicourt deposit and in 2005 for the West Ansil deposit. He has worked for Falconbridge, Noranda, Goldcorp, Teck and Aur Resources. From 2002 to 2011, he served as senior geologist for Xstrata Copper, where he was responsible for target generation and compilation, including construction of 3D models for the Noranda and Timmins camps, as well as porphyry projects across Canada. He is a current member of the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association, the Ontario Prospectors Association, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and the Order of Geologists of Quebec.
Ross Glanville, Director and Chairman of the Company, has over forty years of resource-related experience in many countries, and has been involved in the exploration, financing, development, and operation of a number of mines. Mr. Glanville was formerly President of Giant Bay Resources Ltd. and Vice President of Wright Engineers Ltd. (since acquired by Fluor Corp.), and has been a Director of a number of exploration, development, and mining companies. He is currently a Director of Silvercrest Mines, a precious metals producer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE MKT; Baja Mining, a mineral development company listed on the TSX Exchange; and Archon Minerals Limited, a mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Mr. Glanville graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1970 with a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree (Mining Engineering) and became a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of British Columbia in 1972 (P.Eng.). In 1974, Mr. Glanville obtained a Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA), specializing in finance and securities analysis; and in 1980 he became a member of the Certified General Accountants of B.C. (CGA). Since 1985, Mr. Glanville has specialized in valuations, fairness opinions, and litigation support related to the mining and exploration industry.
Peter Gundy, Director of the Company, was the founder and former President, CEO and Chairman of Neo Material Technologies Inc. a TSX listed mineral Technologies company. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1992 to 2006 and resigned as Chairman in 2008. He has also served as a Director of a number of exploration, development, and mining companies. Mr. Gundy graduated from the London School of Economics with a Masters of Science in Economics degree, from McGill University with a Bachelor of Civil Law degree, and from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Mr. Gundy was also awarded certification as a director by the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is currently a director and co-owner of Veritprop Ltd. in Toronto.
Yves Harvey, Ph.D. Director of the Company, was from 1991 to 2006 the former President and Executive Director of SOQUEM, the Quebec Provincial Mining Company. He formerly served as Executive Director of COREM, a mineral industry research laboratory which is a collaborative industry/government consortium. He currently serves as a director and a member of the Compensation Committee of Stornoway Diamond Corporation, a diamond exploration company listed on the TSX Exchange. Mr. Harvey received his Ph.D. in economic geology from Universite Laval, Quebec, in 1984 and received a masters degree in geological engineering from Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal in 1975. He is a member of the Ordre des Ingenieurs du Quebec (retired status), the Association des Prospecteurs du Quebec, the Canadian Institute of Mining, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). In 1994, he received the Past President’s Memorial Medal from CIM in recognition of his contributions to the Canadian mining industry. In 1995, CIM awarded him Quebec’s District Medal and in 1996, the District #2 Medal. He received the CIM Distinguished Service Medal in 2001.
Philip Nolan, Director of the Company, is an attorney and a partner with the Lavery, de Billy Law Firm in Montreal, Quebec. Mr. Nolan received his B.A from the University of Western Ontario in 1984 and his LLB from the Universite de Montreal in 1988. He has been employed with Lavery de Billy since 1997, and specializes in tax law. Since 2001, Mr. Nolan has been a director of Imaflex Inc., a publicly traded packaging company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange.
The Directors have served in their respective capacities since their election and/or appointment, and will serve until the next Annual General Meeting or until a successor is duly elected, unless the office is vacated in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation of the Company.
The Senior Management serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
The Board has adopted a written Code of Business Ethics to promote a culture of ethical business conduct, and relies upon the selection of persons to act as directors, officers and employees who they consider to meet the highest ethical standards.
No Director and/or Senior Management has been the subject of any order, judgment, or decree of any governmental agency or administrator or of any court or competent jurisdiction, revoking or suspending for cause any license, permit or other authority of such person or of any corporation of which he is a Director and/or Senior Management, to engage in the securities business or in the sale of a particular security or temporarily or permanently restraining or enjoining any such person or any corporation of which he is an officer or director from engaging in or continuing any conduct/practice/employment in connection with the purchase or sale of securities, or convicting such person of any felony or misdemeanor involving a security or any aspect of the securities business or of theft or of any felony.
There are no family relationships between any Directors or Senior Management.
There are no arrangements or understandings with major shareholders, customers, suppliers or others, pursuant to which any person referred to above was selected as a Director or member of senior management.
6.B. Compensation
Director Compensation
The Board of Directors approved the recommendation of the Compensation Committee that non-executive Directors receive an annual retainer fee in the amount of $18,000 to be paid in quarterly installments, beginning December 15, 2010. Until such date, the Company had no arrangements, standard or otherwise, pursuant to which directors were paid retainers by the Corporation except per diem fees paid to directors for attendance in person at meetings.
The annual retainer fees were set as follows:
| |
Lead Director | $15,000 |
Chair-Audit Committee | $12,000 |
Chair-Compensation Committee | $ 5,000 |
Chair-Governance and Nominating Committee | $ 5,000 |
Chair-Technical, Safety, Environmental, Health and Safety Committee | $ 5,000 |
Members participating in either Board or Committee meetings are entitled to participation or attendance fees in the amount of $1,000 per meeting, or, if the Company requires an individual’s presence in person for a specific meeting and that plane travel is required by the individual to attend the meeting, then the attendance fee will be increased by $1,500.
For Fiscal 2012, the Board of Directors voted special fees to Directors due to the reconstruction of the Company’s management and the additional work required of the members of the Board.
No Director received any compensation for his services as a Director, including committee participation and/or special assignments, other than detailed in the following table which details compensation paid/accrued for Fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012, ended June 30, for each Director.
| | | | | | | | | |
Table No. 6 |
Director Compensation |
Name | Fiscal Year | Fees Earned | Option-based Awards(1) | All Other Compensation | Total |
Peter Gundy | 2014 2013 2012 | $ | 32,500 33,500 61,000 | $ | 20,138 22,399 67,781 | $ |
- - | $ | 52,638 55,899 128,781 |
Philip Nolan | 2014 2013 2012 | $ | 33,000 34,000 61,500 | $ | 20,138 22,399 327,161 | $ |
- - | $ | 53,138 56,399 388,661 |
Ross Glanville | 2014 2013 2012 | $ | 59,000 67,000 98,750 | $ | 25,483 27,999 87,144 | $ | - - - | $ | 84,483 94,999 185,894 |
Yves Harvey | 2014 2013 | $ | 33,500 21,500 | $ | 22,888 44,799 | $ | - - | $ | 56,388 66,299 |
Frederick T. Archibald(2) | 2012 | $ | 10,000 | $ | - | $ | 96,818 | $ | 106,818 |
Nick Segounis(3) | 2012 | $ | 15,500 | $ | 83,376 | $ | - | $ | 98,876 |
|
1. Based on the grant date fair value of stock options under the Stock Option Plan. Specifically a Black-Scholes option pricing model was used with the following assumptions determined on the date of grant: risk free interest rate of 1.21% (2013 – 1.11% 2012 - 1.47%; expected average life of 5.0 years (2013 – 5.0 years; 2012 - 4.54 years), expected volatility of 79.47 (2013 – 79.47%; 2012 - 84.19%) and expected dividend yield of 0% (2013 - 0%; 2012 - 0%). |
2. Geological fees of $96,818 were paid to Mr. Archibald for exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties in fiscal 2012. Mr. Archibald resigned as a Director in October 2011. |
3. Mr. Segounis did not stand for re-election at the 2011 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, and ceased to be a director effective December 5, 2011. |
The table below sets forth, for each director other than Named Executive Officers (as hereinafter defined), information regarding option-based awards outstanding as at June 30, 2014.
| | | |
Name | Option-based awards |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options | Option exercise price | Option expiration date |
Peter Gundy | 175,000 100,000 | $ 1.40 0.85 | April 25, 2017 April 15, 2018 |
| | | |
Philip Nolan | 200,000 175,000 100,000 | $ 2.50 1.40 0.85 | June 20, 2016 April 25, 2017 April 15, 2018 |
| | | |
Ross Glanville | 225,000 125,000 | $ 1.40 0.85 | April 25, 2017 April 15, 2018 |
| | | |
Yves Harvey | 200,000 | $ 0.85 | April 15, 2018 |
Closing price of the common shares of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange as of June 30, 2014 was $0.26.
Senior Management Compensation
The following table details compensation paid/accrued for Fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, ended June 30th, for the Senior Management.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Table No. 7 |
Senior Management Compensation |
Name and principal position |
Fiscal Year | Salary | Share-based awards | Option-based awards(1) | Non-equity incentive plan compensation | Pension value | All other compensation | Total compensation |
Annual incentive plans | Long-term incentive plans |
Michel Bouchard, President and CEO | 2014 2013 2012 | $ | 330,000 420,000 196,154 | Nil Nil Nil | $ | 60,723 44,799 569,301 | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | $ | 11,000 (2) 11,000 Nil | $ | 390,723 475,799 765,455 |
Harry Miller, Former President/CEO and Corporate Secretary (3) | 2014 2013 2012 | $ | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | $ | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | $ | 67,036 146,224 195,414 | $ | 67,036 146,224 195,414 |
Louis Dufour, CFO | 2014 2013 2012 | $ | 141,750 162,000 59,711 | Nil Nil Nil | $ | 19,585 65,511 27,112 | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | $ | 5,000 (2) 5,000 Nil | $ | 161,335 256,115 86,823 |
Louis Martin, Vice-President | 2014 2013 2012 | $ | 147,000 168,000 75,385 | Nil Nil Nil | $ | 21,235 65,511 38,732 | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | Nil Nil Nil | $ | 5,000 (2) 5.000 Nil | $ | 168,235 238,511 114,117 |
Ian Beardmore, Former CFO (4) | 2012 | $ | Nil | Nil | $ | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $ | 88,848 (5) | $ | 88,848 |
(1) Based on the grant date fair value of stock options under the Stock Option Plan. Specifically a Black-Scholes option pricing model was used with the following assumptions determined on the date of grant: risk free interest rate of 1.51% (2013 – 1.31%; 2012 - 1.47%), expected average life of 5.0 years (2013 – 5.0 years; 2012 - 4.54 years), expected volatility of 74.05% (2013 – 86.25%; 2012 - 84.19%) and expected dividend yield of 0% (2013 - 0%; 2012 - 0%). |
(2) “Other Compensation” for Mr. Bouchard, Mr. Dufour, and Mr. Martin is for contributions to each person’s Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). |
(3) Mr. Miller resigned as President and CEO, and as a Director, on November 6, 2011. He was named as Corporate Secretary and a Senior Advisor until December 31, 2013. |
(4) Mr. Beardmore served as Chief Financial Officer until January 23, 2012. |
(5) These amounts were paid to Mr. Beardmore as consulting fees. |
The table below sets forth, for each Named Executive Officers, information regarding option-based awards outstanding as at June 30, 2014.
| | | |
Name | Option-based awards |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options | Option exercise price | Option expiration date |
Michel Bouchard, President and CEO | 274,000 435,000 315,000 200,000 | $ 0.18 2.03 1.40 0.85 | December 3, 2018 March 9, 2017 April 25, 2017 April 15, 2018 |
| | | |
Louis Dufour, Chief Financial Officer | 62,000 70,000 85,000 | $ 0.18 1.40 1.14 | December 3, 2018 April 25, 2017 September 14, 2017 |
| | | |
Louis Martin, Vice-President, Exploration | 64,000 100,000 85,000 | $ 0.18 1.40 1.14 | December 3, 2018 April 25, 2017 September 14, 2017 |
Closing price of the common shares of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange as of June 30, 2014 was $0.26.
Options/SARs Granted/Cancelled During The Most Recently Completed Fiscal Year
At the beginning of Fiscal 2014 ended June 30, 2014, the most recently completed fiscal year; there were 2,935,000 stock options outstanding. During Fiscal 2014, 400,000 stock options were granted to Senior Management as partial payment for bonus. During Fiscal 2014, no stock options were exercised; 50,000 stock options were cancelled and/or expired; and none were re-priced. The minimum option vesting requirements shall be 12.5% of the options upon TSX Venture Exchange approval and 12.5% every three months thereafter. During Fiscal 2014, no SARs (stock appreciation rights) were granted.
| | | | |
Table No. 8 |
Stock Option Grants |
Fiscal 2014 Ended June 30, 2014 |
|
Name | Number of Options Granted | Exercise Price per Share | Grant Date | Expiration Date |
Senior Management and Directors | | | | |
Michel Bouchard | 274,000 | $ 0.18 | December 3, 2013 | December 3, 2018 |
Louis Dufour | 62,000 | $ 0.18 | December 3, 2013 | December 3, 2018 |
Louis Martin | 64,000 | $ 0.18 | December 3, 2013 | December 3, 2018 |
TOTAL | 400,000 | | | |
Stock Options. The Company may grant stock options to Directors, Senior Management and employees. Refer to ITEM #6.E., “Share Ownership” and Tables No. 4/5/6/7/8/9 for information about stock options.
Change of Control Remuneration. Other than described below in “Written Management Agreements” regarding the Employment Agreements with Michel Bouchard, Louis Martin and Louis Dufour, the Company has no plans or arrangements in respect of remuneration received or that may be received by Senior Management of the Company in Fiscal 2015 to compensate such officers in the event of termination of employment (as a result of resignation, retirement, change of control) or a change of responsibilities following a change of control, where the value of such compensation exceeds US$100,000 per Senior Management.
Bonus/Profit Sharing/Non-Cash Compensation. The Company has discretionary bonus clauses in the management contracts currently in effect with Michel Bouchard, Louis Dufour and Louis Martin as detailed in “Written Management Agreements” below.
Pension/Retirement Benefits. Under the written management agreements with Michel Bouchard, Louis Martin and Louis Dufour, the Company provides funds for each person’s Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) annually. For Michel Bouchard, the Company makes a contribution of $11,910 in 2014 and $12,135 in 2015. For Louis Martin and Louis Dufour, the Company contributes $2,500 per year to the Employee RRSP and will match up to another $2,500 of the employee's contribution to his RRSP.
Other Compensation. No Senior Management and/or Director received “other compensation” in excess of the lesser of US$25,000 or 10% of such officer's cash compensation, and all Senior Management/Directors as a group did not receive other compensation which exceeded US$25,000 times the number of persons in the group or 10% of the compensation, other than disclosed in Table No. 4/5/6/7/8/9, ITEM #6B and ITEM #7B.
Written Management Agreements.
As of August 31, 2014, the Company has written management agreements in effect with Michel Bouchard, Louis Martin, and Louis Dufour.
Michel Bouchard Employment Agreement
Michel Bouchard was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Clifton Star effective November 7, 2011. Under the terms of his employment agreement dated January 1, 2014, he will receive an annual base salary of $300,000 for a term expiring on December 31, 2015. He also receives $11,910 annually in 2014 and $12,135 in 2015 as a contribution to his Registered Retirement Savings Plan, and a yearly bonus of up to 40% of his base salary by reaching objectives and goals to be determined by the Board. Should Mr. Bouchard’s office be terminated for cause, the Corporation shall have the obligation to pay accrued but unpaid salary and reimburse any other accrued but unpaid amounts due under Mr. Bouchard’s employment agreement as of the date of termination. In the event Mr. Bouchard’s office is terminated by the Corporation without cause, or by Mr. Bouchard for a good reason, the Corporation shall have the obligation to pay the amount still owing under the term of the employment agreement if the termination occurs in the first twelve months of the employment agreement or by paying twelve months base salary if the termination occurs thereafter. Should Mr. Bouchard’s office be terminated as a result of a change of control, he shall be entitled to two years' annual base salary plus any amount owed as vacation.
Louis Dufour Employment Agreement
Louis Dufour and the Company entered into an Employment Agreement effective January 23, 2012, for Mr. Dufour to serve as Chief Financial Officer. Under the terms of his employment agreement, he will receive an annual salary of $135,000 plus a yearly bonus of up to 20% of his base salary by reaching objectives and goals to be determined by the President of the Company. The Corporation will also contribute $2,500 per year to the Employee RRSP and will match up to another $2,500 of the employee's contribution to his RRSP. Should Mr. Dufour’s office be terminated as a result of a change of control, he shall be entitled to one years' annual base salary.
Louis Martin Employment Agreement
Louis Martin and the Company entered into an Employment Agreement dated December 19, 2011 for Mr. Martin to serve as Vice President Exploration. Under the terms of his employment agreement, he will receive an annual base salary of $140,000, plus a yearly bonus of up to 20% of his base salary by reaching objectives and goals to be determined with his superior. The Corporation will also contribute $2,500 per year to the Employee RRSP and will match up to another $2,500 of the employee's contribution to his RRSP. Should Mr. Martin be terminated by the Corporation for a cause, the Corporation shall have the obligation to pay accrued but unpaid salary and reimburse any other accrued but unpaid amounts due under Mr. Martin’s employment agreement as of the date of termination. In the event of Mr. Martin's employment being terminated by the Corporation without cause, Mr. Martin shall be entitled to receive a lump sum equal to 11 months of salary if terminated within the first 18 months of service; a lump sum equal to 3 months per year of service if terminated after 18 months of service; and any portion of the salary and accrued vacation pay, if any, that is accrued to the date of termination but not yet paid.
6.C. Board Practices
All directors hold office until the next meeting of the shareholders of the Company unless they resign or are removed in accordance with the Company’s Articles. Senior Management representatives are appointed to serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and Committees of the Board schedule regular meetings over the course of the year.
The fundamental objective of the Board is to ensure that it operates in a fashion that maximizes shareholder value over the long term. The Board’s duties and responsibilities are all carried out in a manner consistent with that fundamental objective. The principal duty and responsibility of the Board is to oversee the management and operations of the Company, with the day-to-day management of the business and affairs of the Company delegated by the Board to the CEO and other Senior Management.
The Board’s responsibilities include overseeing the conduct of the Company’s business, providing leadership and direction to its management, and setting policies. Strategic direction for the Company is developed through the Board’s annual planning process. Through this process, the Board adopts the operating plan for the coming year, and monitors management’s progress relative to that plan through a regular reporting and review process.
The Board has delegated to the President/CEO and other Senior Management responsibility for the day-to-day management of the business of the Company. Matters of policy and issues outside the normal course of business are brought before the Board for its review and approval, along with all matters dictated by statute and legislation requiring Board review and approval. The President/CEO and other Senior Management review the Company’s progress in relation to the current operating plan at in-person and telephone-conference Board meetings. The Board meets on a regular basis with and without management present. Financial, operational and strategic issues facing the Company are reviewed, monitored and approved at the Board meetings.
6.C.1. Terms of Office. Refer to ITEM 6.A and ITEM 6.C.
6.C.2. Directors’ Service Contracts. No Disclosure Necessary
6.C.3. Board of Directors’ Committees.
The Board of Directors has adopted standards for determining whether a director is independent from management. The Board reviews, consistent with the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, whether a director has any material relationship with the Company that would impair the director’s independent judgment. The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined, based on its standards, that Ross Glanville, Philip Nolan, and Peter Gundy are independent. However, Ross Glanville and Philip Nolan are not considered to be independent pursuant to National Instrument 52-110 when they are acting as members of the Audit Committee.
6.C.4. Board meetings and committees; annual meeting attendance
During Fiscal 2014, the Board of Directors held six regularly scheduled meetings. For various reasons, Board members may not be able to attend a Board meeting; all Board members are provided information related to each of the agenda items before each meeting, and, therefore, can provide counsel outside the confines of regularly scheduled meetings. No director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of: (1) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors, while he was a Director; and (2) the total number of meetings of committees of the Board of Directors on which the director served. Directors are encouraged to attend annual meetings of our stockholders; and all of the current directors attended the December 2013 annual shareholders meeting.
The Company has an Audit Committee, which recommends to the Board of Directors the engagement of the independent auditors of the Company and reviews with the independent auditors the scope and results of the Company’s audits, the Company’s internal accounting controls, and the professional services furnished by the independent auditors to the Company. The Company has an Audit Committee charter, adopted September 1, 2006. The current members of the Audit Committee are: Ross Glanville (Chairman - not independent) and Peter Gundy and Yves Harvey (both independent). The Audit Committee met quarterly during Fiscal 2014.
The Company does not have a designated “audit committee financial expert” serving on its Audit Committee. The Company’s Audit Committee consists of one not independent director and two independent directors, all of whom are both financially literate and very knowledgeable about the Company’s affairs. Because the Company’s structure and operations are straightforward, the Company does not find it necessary to augment its Board with an “official” financial expert.
The Company has a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee which is responsible for identifying new candidates for the Board of Directors as necessary, after considering what competencies and skills the directors as a group should possess and assessing the competencies and skills of the existing and any proposed directors, and considering the appropriate size of the Board. The committee is also responsible for developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Chief Financial Officer, and overseeing the evaluation of the Board and Senior Management. The current members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Philip Nolan (Chairman), Peter Gundy, and Yves Harvey.
The Company has a Compensation Committee that evaluates the adequacy of compensation of the directors and executive officers. After sufficient review and analysis, the Compensation Committee recommends the remuneration of the directors and executive officers to the Board for approval. The current members of the Compensation Committee are Philip Nolan (Chairman), Peter Gundy, and Yves Harvey.
The Company has a Technical, Environmental, Health and Safety Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to ensure compliance relating to environmental, occupational health and safety, and technical issues, which includes ore reserve calculations. The current members of the committee are Yves Harvey (Chairman), Michel Bouchard, and Ross Glanville.
6.C.5. Code of Ethics
The Board has adopted a “Code of Ethics” in November 2011 addressing various codes of conducts. The Board of Directors expects management to operate the business of the Company in a manner that enhances shareholder value and is consistent with the highest level of integrity. Management is expected to execute the Company’s business plan and to meet performance objectives and goals. In addition, the Board of Directors must comply with conflict of interest provisions in Canadian corporate law, including relevant securities regulatory instruments, in order to ensure directors exercise independent judgment in considering transactions and agreements in respect of which a director or executive officer has a material interest. During Fiscal 2014, there are no material change reports relating to the conduct of any Directors or executive officers of the Company.
6.D. Employees
As of June 30, 2014, the Company had five employees other than its Senior Management. Four of these employees are directly engaged in duties at the Company's mineral exploration properties. One of the employees is located at the Company’s head office for corporate administration. None of the Company's employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements.
6.E. Share Ownership
The following table lists Directors and Senior Management who beneficially own the Company's voting securities, consisting solely of common shares, and the amount of the Company's voting securities owned by the Directors and Senior Management as a group. The table also includes all persons/companies where the Company is aware that they have 5% or greater beneficial interest in the Company’s voting securities.
| | | | | |
Table No. 9 Shareholdings of Directors and Senior Management June 30, 2014 |
|
Title of Class | Name of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Percent of Class |
Common | Michel Bouchard(1) | 1,196,400 | 3.01% |
Common | Louis Dufour(2) | 186,000 | 0.48% |
Common | Louis Martin(3) | 247,000 | 0.64% |
Common | Ross Glanville(4) | 358,750 | 0.92% |
Common | Peter Gundy(5) | 275,000 | 0.71% |
Common | Yves Harvey(6) | 166,000 | 0.43% |
Common | Philip Nolan(7) | 1,196,600 | 3.04% |
| Directors and Senior Management Total | 3,625,750 | 8.74% |
| | | |
(1) | 1,037,000 of these shares represent vested stock options. An additional 187,000 stock options have been granted but not yet vested. |
(2) | 186,000 of these shares represent vested stock options. An additional 31,000 stock options have been granted but not yet vested. |
(3) | 217,000 of these shares represent vested stock options. An additional 32,000 stock options have been granted but not yet vested. |
(4) | 318,750 of these shares represent vested stock options. An additional 31,250 stock options have been granted but not yet vested. |
(5) | 250,000 of these shares represent vested stock options. An additional 25,000 stock options have been granted but not yet vested. |
(6) | 150,000 of these shares represent vested stock options. An additional 50,000 stock options have been granted but not yet vested. |
(7) | 673,500 of these common shares are owned indirectly through 3342913 Canada Inc., a private company controlled by Philip Nolan. 10,000 of these common shares are owned in the name of Vincenca La Greca, the wife of Philip Nolan 450,000 of these shares represent vested stock options. An additional 25,000 stock options have been granted but not yet vested. |
# Based on 38,664,390 common shares outstanding at June 30, 2014, and stock options held by each beneficial holder exercisable within sixty days. |
Stock Options. Incentive stock options are granted by the Company in accordance with the rules and policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the CBCA, and the British Columbia Securities Commission, including the number of common shares under option, the exercise price and expiry date of such options, and any amendments thereto. The Company adopted its current formal written stock option plan (the “Stock Option Plan”) on December 28, 2007.
The principal purposes of the Company’s stock option program are to (a) promote a proprietary interest in the Company among the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its affiliates, (b) retain and attract the qualified officers, directors and employees the Company requires, (c) provide a long-term incentive element in overall compensation, and (d) promote the long-term profitability of the Company.
The Stock Option Plan provides that stock options may be granted to directors, officers, and service providers of the Company (and any subsidiary of the Company). For the purposes of the Stock Option Plan, the terms “employees”, “consultants” and “management company employees” have the meanings set out in TSX Venture Exchange Policy 4.4. In addition, the term “director” is defined in TSX Venture Exchange Policy 4.4 to include directors, senior officers and management company employees.
Under the Stock Option Plan, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) may, from time to time, designate a director or other senior officer or employee of the Company as administrator (the “Administrator”) for the purposes of administering the Plan. Currently, the Administrator is the Corporate Secretary of the Company.
The Stock Option Plan provides for the issuance of stock options to acquire at any time up to a maximum of 20% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company (subject to standard anti-dilution adjustments). If a stock option expires or otherwise terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full, the number of common shares reserved for issuance under that expired or terminated stock option shall again be available for the purposes of the Stock Option Plan. Any stock option outstanding when the Stock Option Plan is terminated will remain in effect until it is exercised or it expires. The Stock Option Plan provides that it is solely within the discretion of the Board to determine who should receive stock options and in what amounts, subject to the following conditions:
a.
options will be non-assignable and non-transferable except that they will be exercisable by the personal representative of the option holder in the event of the option holder’s death;
b.
options may be exercisable for a maximum of five years from grant date;
c.
options to acquire no more than 5% of the issued shares of the Company may be granted to any Insider and any Associates of such Insider.
d.
options to acquire no more than 2% of the issued shares of the Company may be granted to any one consultant in any 12 month period;
e.
options to acquire no more than an aggregate of 2% of the issued shares of the Company may be granted to an employee conducting investor relations activities (as defined in TSX Venture Exchange Policy 1.1), in any 12 month period;
f.
options held by an option holder will be cancelled as of the date they cease to be a director, officer, or Consultant. If the optionee ceases to be a director, officer, employee, or consultant due to his or her death, than the option held by the optionee shall be exercisable to acquire vested unissued shares at any time up to but not after the earlier of 120 days after the date of death or the expiry date.
The names and titles of the Senior Management/Directors/Former Directors of the Company to whom outstanding stock options have been granted and the number of common shares subject to such options are set forth in following table, as well as the number of options granted to Directors/Senior Management and all employees/consultants as a group. The minimum option vesting requirements shall be 12.5% of the options upon TSX Venture Exchange approval and 12.5% every three months thereafter.
| | | | |
Table No. 10 Stock Options Outstanding June 30, 2014 |
|
Name | Number of Options Held | Exercise Price per Share | Grant Date | Expiration Date |
Officers/Directors/Former Directors | | | | |
Michel Bouchard | 435,000 315,000 200,000 274,000 | $ 2.03 1.40 0.85 0.18 | March 9, 2012 April 25, 2012 April 15, 2013 December 3, 2013 | March 9, 2017 April 25, 2017 April 15, 2018 December 3, 2018 |
Louis Dufour | 70,000 85,000 62,000 | $ 1.40 1.14 0.18 | April 25, 2012 September 14, 2012 December 3, 2013 | April 25, 2017 September 14, 2017 December 3, 2018 |
Louis Martin | 100,000 85,000 64,000 | $ 1.40 1.14 0.18 | April 25, 2012 September 14, 2012 December 3, 2013 | April 25, 2017 September 14, 2017 December 3, 2018 |
Ross Glanville | 225,000 125,000 | $ 1.40 0.85 | April 25, 2012 April 15, 2013 | April 25, 2012 April 15, 2018 |
Peter Gundy | 175,000 100,000 | $ 1.40 0.85 | April 25, 2012 April 15, 2013 | April 25, 2017 April 15, 2018 |
Yves Harvey | 200,000 | $ 0.85 | April 15, 2013 | April 15, 2018 |
Philip Nolan | 200,000 175,000 100,000 | $ 2.50 1.40 0.85 | June 20, 2011 April 25, 2012 April 15, 2013 | June 20, 2016 April 25, 2017 April 15, 2018 |
Total Officers and Directors | 2,990,000 | | | |
| | | | |
Employees/Consultants | 15,000 280,000 | $ 1.40 1.14 | April 25, 2012 September 14, 2012 | April 25, 2017 September 14, 2017 |
Total Employees/Consultants | 295,000 | | | |
TOTAL | 3,285,000 | | | |
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
7.A. Major Shareholders.
7.A.1.a. Holdings By Major Shareholders.
| | | |
Table No. 11 5% or Greater Shareholders June 30, 2014 |
|
Title of Class | Name of Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Percent of Class |
| | | |
Common | Richard C. McKenzie Jr.(1) | 3,162,700 | 8.18% |
|
(1) Based upon information obtained from each holder's most recent Schedule 13G filing. |
Based on 38,664,390 common shares outstanding at June 30, 2014, share purchase warrants and Stock options held by each beneficial holder exercisable within sixty days as detailed in Table No. 13, “Stock Options Outstanding” below.
No shareholders of the Company have different voting rights from any other shareholder.
7.A.1.b. Significant Changes in Major Shareholders’ Holdings.
The participation in private placements of equity by the Company and exercise of stock options/share purchase warrants has lead over the last several years to some significant changes in the holdings of major shareholders (five percent) direct/indirect holdings of common shares. Refer to ITEM #6E and Table No. 4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11 for additional information.
| | | | |
| Common Shares Owned at June 30, 2014 | Common Shares Owned at June 30, 2013 | Common Shares Owned at June 30, 2012 |
Harry Miller | 1,247,200 | 1,211,200 | 1,206,200 |
Passport Capital, LLC(1) | Nil | 3,268,301 | 7,025,800 |
Libra Advisors, LLC(2) | (3) | 930,000 | 3,183,100 |
Richard C. McKenzie Jr.(4) | 3,162,700 | 3,162,700 | 2,774,700 |
(1) Passport Capital, LLC acts as Investment Manager to various investment funds who hold common shares of the Company as reported in Passport's Schedule 13G filing. (2) Libra Advisors, LLC is an Investment Manager as reported in Libra's Schedule 13G filing. (3) Libra ceased to be a 5% holder on June 28, 2013 and the number of common shares owned as of June 30, 2014 is not reported. (4) Richard C. McKenzie Jr. is a private investor as reported in Mr. McKenzie's Schedule 13G filing. |
7.A.1.c. Different Voting Rights. The Company’s major shareholders do not have different voting rights.
7.A.2. Share Ownership. On July 31, 2014, the Company’s shareholders’ list showed 38,664,390 common shares outstanding, with 52 registered shareholders, including depositories. 38 of these shareholders were resident in Canada, holding 36,972,128 common shares (representing about 95.6% of the issued/outstanding shares); 14 registered shareholders were resident in the United States, holding 1,692,262 common shares (representing about 4.4% of the issued/outstanding shares); and no registered shareholders were resident in other countries.
7.A.3. Control of Company. The Company is a publicly owned Canadian corporation, the shares of which are owned by Canadian residents, United States’ residents, and other foreign residents. The Company is not controlled by any foreign government or other person(s) except as described in ITEM #4.A., “History and Growth of the Company”, and ITEM #6.E., “Share Ownership”.
7.A.4. Change of Control of Company Arrangements.
No Disclosure Necessary
7.B. Related Party Transactions
During the year ended June 30, 2014, the Company entered into the following transactions with related parties:
a.
Paid or accrued $115,824 (2013 - $161,072; 2012 - $304,523) in legal fees to Lavery, de Billy L.L.P., a partner of which is a director of the Company.
b.
Paid or accrued $Nil (2013 - $Nil; 2012 - $96,818) in geological consulting fees to F.T. Archibald Consulting Ltd, which is controlled by Fred Archibald, a former director of the Company.
c.
Paid or accrued $Nil (2013 - $Nil; 2012 - $88,848) in consulting fees to Ian Beardmore, former Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
d.
Paid or accrued $67,036 (2013 - $146,224; 2012 - $195,414) in management fees to Harry Miller, a former officer and former director of the Company.
Harry Miller and the Company originally entered into a management agreement dated January 1, 2009, and subsequently amended on October 1, 2009, for Mr. Miller to act as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company for a period of three years from January 1, 2009. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, Mr. Miller received an annual remuneration of $120,000, payable quarterly, which amount was increased to $180,000, payable quarterly, effective October 1, 2009. The offices of Mr. Miller as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation were terminated on November 6, 2011. Mr. Miller also resigned as a director of the Corporation. Pursuant to a new agreement (the “Senior Advisor Agreement”) effective as of November 7, 2011, Mr. Miller continued to act on behalf of the Corporation as Secretary and Senior Advisor. Mr. Miller earned an annual retainer of $10,000 per month for a term that expired on December 31, 2013 - however, he continued to earn his former remuneration rate of $20,833.33 per month until December 31, 2011.
These transactions were in the normal course of operations, and were measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related parties.
Other than as disclosed above and in the MD&A in ITEM #5, there have been no transactions since June 30, 2014, or proposed transactions, which have materially affected or will materially affect the Company in which any director, executive officer, or beneficial holder of more than 10% of the outstanding common shares, or any of their respective relatives, spouses, associates or affiliates has had or will have any direct or material indirect interest. Management believes the transactions referenced above were on terms at least as favorable to the Company as the Company could have obtained from unaffiliated parties.
7.C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
--- No Disclosure Necessary ---
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
8.A. Statements and Other Financial Information
The Company's financial statements are stated in Canadian Dollars (CDN$) and are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the IASB.
The financial statements as required under ITEM #18 are attached hereto and found immediately following the text of this Annual Report. The audit report of Deloitte LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is included herein immediately preceding the financial statements.
a.
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements:
For Fiscal 2014 and 2013 Ended June 30th
8.A.7. Legal/Arbitration Proceedings
Legal Claims
On June 3, 2014, the Company filed suit against Osisko in Quebec Superior Court. The claim relates to a contract signed between the parties that include a $22.5 million loan facility that the Company formally requested from Osisko in November 2012 in order to pay an option payment on the Duparquet Property. The credit facility was not made available by Osisko at that time and discussions between the parties failed to resolve the dispute. The Company is requesting that the original loan agreement be enforced which would result in Osisko advancing the Company the $22.5 million, plus interest, and the Company issuing eventually 6,961,538 common shares to Osisko.
On June 19th, 2014 The Company was served with proceedings, as an impleaded party, of an action instituted between some of the Optionors of the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties against other Optioners of the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties where damages were being claimed between the Optioners on the basis that improper transfers of mining titles had occurred over 20 years ago.
On August 15, 2014, the Plaintiffs in these proceedings amended their action to name the Company as Co-Defendants instead of as an impleaded party and claiming damages from the Company as it is alleged that the Company failed to carry-out proper due diligence before signing its agreement with the Optioners’ representative. As such, Plaintiffs have asked the Court to find the Company jointly and solidarily liable with the Co-Defendants for the purported damages suffered by the Plaintiffs. The Company strongly believes that the amended proceedings against it have simply been instituted as a means of exercising pressure on the Co-Defendants and that there is no basis in fact or in law for this recourse against the Company.
However, these proceedings have complicated the Company’s quest for new financing as the Company has had to disclose to potential investors the risk to title.
The new litigation has further complicated renegotiating the terms of the existing options agreements as the Optioners are in active litigation with one another and neither party wishes to in any way compromise its position in that litigation..
At this time, it is premature to evaluate the outcome of these current legal proceedings.
On September 19, 2007, the Company and two former directors received a statement of claim. On August 8, 2013, the Company and the two former directors agreed to settle this claim out of Court without any admission of wrong doing. The Company’s obligation in the settlement amounted to $350,000, and was recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the audited consolidated financial statements.
The Company knows of no material, active or pending, legal proceedings against them; nor is the Company involved as a plaintiff in any other material proceeding or pending litigation. The Company knows of no active or pending proceedings against anyone that might materially adversely affect an interest of the Company.
British Columbia Cease Trade Order
On July 22, 2011, the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC") issued a Cease-trade order (the "Order") against the Company and its common shares. The reason for the order was the Company's failure to file certain documents with Canadian regulators as required under National Instrument 51-102,Continuous Disclosure Obligations, and National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"),Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. As detailed in the Order, the Company failed to file compliant technical reports on the Beattie, Donchester and Duquesne properties, as well as related material change reports. In conjunction with the BCSC Cease-trade order, the Company's common shares were suspended from trading on the TSX Venture Exchange, its primary trading market.
To remedy the Order, the Company filed updated NI 43-101 compliant reports on its Duparquet properties and updated its disclosure documents through the filing of several news releases. The BCSC lifted the Order on March 5, 2012. In order to resume trading on the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company was first required to satisfy the conditions of the BCSC Order. Once the BCSC Order was lifted, the Company was then required to satisfactory pass a review by the TSX Venture Exchange to determine if the Company was in compliance with the Exchange's Continued Listing Requirements. Each of these requirements was met by the Company, and the Company's common shares resumed trading on the TSX Venture Exchange on March 9, 2012.
8.B. Significant Changes
No undisclosed significant changes have occurred since the date of the annual financial statements and/or since the date of the most recent interim financial statements.
ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING
9.A. Common Share Trading Information
The Company's common shares began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (and its predecessors) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on April 15, 1985. The current stock symbol is “CFO”. The CUSIP number is 18713J108, and the ISIN number is CA18713J1084.
The following table lists the high, low and closing sales prices on the TSX Venture Exchange for the Company's common shares for: the last six months, the last twelve fiscal quarters; and the last five fiscal years.
| | | |
Table No. 12 TSX Venture Exchange Common Shares Trading Activity Canadian Dollars |
|
Period Ended | High | Low | Closing |
Monthly | | | |
| | | |
September 2014 | $ 0.21 | $ 0.14 | $ 0.18 |
August 2014 | 0.22 | 0.16 | 0.16 |
July 2014 | 0.25 | 0.21 | 0.21 |
June 2014 | 0.27 | 0.20 | 0.26 |
May 2014 | 0.28 | 0.21 | 0.21 |
April 2014 | 0.37 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| | | |
Quarterly | | | |
September 30, 2014 | $ 0.25 | $ 0.14 | $ 0.18 |
June 30, 2014 | 0.37 | 0.20 | 0.26 |
March 31, 2014 | 0.44 | 0.18 | 0.28 |
December 31, 2013 | 0.25 | 0.16 | 0.18 |
September 30, 2013 | 0.33 | 0.20 | 0.24 |
June 30, 2013 | 0.67 | 0.22 | 0.24 |
March 31, 2012 | 0.95 | 0.64 | 0.68 |
December 31, 2012 | 1.28 | 0.60 | 0.86 |
September 30, 2012 | 1.28 | 0.75 | 1.19 |
June 30, 2012 | 1.68 | 0.90 | 1.08 |
March 31, 2012 | 2.31 | 1.53 | 1.60 |
December 31, 2011 * | No Trading |
| | | |
Yearly | | | |
Fiscal 2014 ended June 30, 2014 | $ 0.44 | $ 0.16 | $ 0.26 |
Fiscal 2013 ended June 30, 2013 | 1.28 | 0.22 | 0.24 |
Fiscal 2012 ended June 30, 2012 | 2.90 | 0.90 | 1.08 |
Fiscal 2011 ended June 30, 2011 | 5.39 | 1.86 | 2.53 |
Fiscal 2010 ended June 30, 2010 | 8.25 | 1.85 | 3.97 |
*
On July 22, 2011, the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC") issued a Cease-trade order (the "Order") against the Company and its common shares. The cease trade order was lifted and the shares resumed trading on March 9, 2012.
The Company’s common shares began trading on the Berlin Stock Exchange on August 23, 2005, with the trading symbol of “C3T.BE. Prices ranged from €3.91 to €0.01; the closing price as of August 30, 2014 was €0.17.
The Company’s common shares began trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on November 5, 2008, with the trading symbol of “C3T.F”. Prices ranged from €3.90 to €0.15; the closing price on August 30, 2014 was €0.15.
The Company’s common shares began trading on the Stuttgart Stock Exchange on March 29, 2010, with the trading symbol of “C3T.SG. Prices ranged from €4.56 to €0.14; the closing price on August 30, 2014 was €0.14.
The Company’s common shares began trading on the Munich Stock Exchange on August 3, 2010, with the trading symbol of “C3T.MU”. Prices ranged from €3.92 to €0.15; the closing price on August 30, 2014 was €0.15.
9.A.5. Common Share Description
Registrar/Common Shares Outstanding/Shareholders
The Company's common shares are issued in registered form, and the following information is taken from the records of Computershare Trust Company, 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3B9, the registrar and transfer agent for the common shares.
Common Share Description
All of the common shares without par value in the capital of the Company rank equally as to voting rights, participation in a distribution of the assets of the Company on a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and the entitlement to dividends. The holders of common shares are entitled to receive notice of all meetings of shareholders and to attend and vote at the meetings. Each common share carries with it the right to one vote. There are no pre-emptive rights, conversion or exchange rights, redemption, retraction, purchase for cancellation or surrender provisions, sinking or purchase fund provisions, provisions permitting or restricting the issuance of additional securities or provisions requiring a shareholder to contribute additional capital attaching to the common shares.
In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company or other distribution of its assets, the holders of the common shares will be entitled to receive, on a pro rata basis, all of the assets remaining after the Company has paid out its liabilities. Distributions in the form of dividends, if any, will be set by the board of directors.
Provision as to the modification, amendment or variation of the rights attached to the common shares is contained in the Company’s articles and theBusiness Corporations Act(British Columbia). Generally speaking, substantive changes to the Company’s share capital require the approval of the shareholders by special resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast in person or by proxy by holders of the common shares.
The Company's Articles and theBritish Columbia Corporations Act contain provisions, which require a “special resolution” for effecting certain corporate actions. Such a “special resolution” requires a two-third vote of shareholders rather than a simple majority for passage. The principle corporate actions that require a “special resolution” include:
a.
Transferring the Company's jurisdiction from British Columbia to another jurisdiction (at the Company’s Annual General Meeting on December 5th, 2011, the Company’s jurisdiction was transferred to Quebec)
b.
Giving financial assistance under certain circumstances;
c.
Certain conflicts of interest by Directors;
d.
Disposing of all/substantially all of Company's undertakings;
e.
Removing a Director before expiration of his term of office;
f.
Certain alterations of share capital;
g.
Changing the Company name; and
h.
Certain reorganizations of the Company.
There are no restrictions on the repurchase or redemption of common shares of the Company while there is any arrearage in the payment of dividends or sinking fund installments.
Flow-Through Common Shares
The Company has historically financed its operations through the sale of common shares, including flow-through common shares. Flow-through shares include a unique Canadian tax incentive pursuant to certain provisions of theIncome Tax Act. Proceeds from the issuance of flow-through shares are used to fund qualified exploration and evaluation expenditures and the related income tax deductions are renounced to the subscribers of the flow-through shares. The Company recognizes a deferred tax liability with a corresponding recovery in the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss when the qualifying exploration and evaluation expenditures are incurred. If the Company does not incur the required exploration and evaluation expenditures under the flow-through share agreements, or does not incur qualified expenditures, it may cause the Company to lose any unspent funds raised through the sale of the flow-through common shares, as well as be required to indemnify and pay the flow-through subscribers the amount of any tax.
Stock Options
Refer to ITEM #6E and Tables No. 4/5/6/7/8/9 for additional information.
Warrants
As of June 30, 2014, the Company had no stock purchase warrants outstanding.
9.A.6. Differing Rights
9.A.7.a. Subscription Warrants/Right
9.A.7.b. Convertible Securities/Warrants
The Company has no convertible securities or warrants outstanding.
9.C. Stock Exchanges Identified
The common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and on the Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, and Stuttgart Exchanges in Germany. Refer to ITEM #9.A.4.
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
10.A. Share Capital
Not Applicable
10.B. Memorandum and Articles of Association
Refer to discussion in Form 20-F Registration Statement and amendments for more information about the Company’s memorandum and articles.
Shareholder Right’s Plan
At the Annual/Special Meeting of Shareholders held on December 13, 2010, a Shareholder Right’s Plan was approved and must be reconfirmed at the third annual meeting following the meeting at which the Plan was confirmed. On December 3, 2013, the shareholders approved the adoption of an Amended and Restated Shareholders Rights Plan (the “Plan”).
The purpose of the Plan is to provide the Board of directors and Shareholders with sufficient time to properly consider any take-over bid made for the Corporation and to allow enough time for competing bids and alternative proposals to emerge. The Plan also seeks to ensure that all Shareholders are treated fairly in any transaction involving a change of control of the Corporation and that all Shareholders have an equal opportunity to participate in the benefits of a take-over bid. The Plan encourages potential acquirers to negotiate the terms of any offer for Common Shares with the Board of directors or, alternatively, to make a Permitted Bid (as defined in the Plan) without the approval of the Board of directors. The Plan addresses several concerns that are widely believed to be inherent in the provisions of current legislation governing take-over bids in Canada. These concerns are described in greater detail below.
Time to consider bid
Under current securities legislation, the minimum period that a take-over bid must remain open for acceptance is 35 days. The Board of Directors is of the view that 35 days constitutes an insufficient amount of time to permit the directors and Shareholders to assess an offer, and to allow the Directors to negotiate with the offeror, solicit competing offers and otherwise try to maximize Shareholder value. The Plan gives the Board of Directors and Shareholders more time to consider a take-over bid by requiring an offeror to make a “Permitted Bid” if it wishes to proceed without negotiating with the Board of Directors and without triggering the Plan. In order to qualify as a Permitted Bid, the bid must meet certain minimum conditions. A Permitted Bid must be open for at least 60 days and must remain open for a further period of 10 business days after the offeror publicly announces that more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Shares (as defined in the Plan) held by Independent Shareholders (as defined below) have been deposited or tendered and not withdrawn. “Independent Shareholders” includes all holders of Voting Shares other than (i) a person (or a group of affiliated or associated persons) who has publicly announced that it has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Common Shares (an “Acquiring Person”) (ii) any offeror making a take-over bid; (iii) any affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person or offeror; (iv) persons acting “jointly or in concert” with an Acquiring Person; and (v) employee benefit, stock purchase or certain other plans or trusts for employees of the Corporation or its wholly-owned subsidiaries unless the beneficiaries of such plans or trusts direct the voting and tendering to a take-over bid of the Voting Shares.
Pressure to tender
A shareholder may feel compelled to tender to a take-over bid which the shareholder considers to be inadequate because, in failing to tender, the shareholder may be left with illiquid or minority discounted shares. This is particularly so in the case of a partial bid where the Acquiring Person or an offeror wishes to obtain a control position but does not wish to acquire all of the Common Shares. The Plan contains a shareholder approval mechanism in the Permitted Bid definition, which is that no Voting Shares may be taken up and paid for under the bid unless more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Shares held by Independent Shareholders have been deposited or tendered and not withdrawn. In addition, a Permitted Bid must remain open for acceptance for a further period of 10 business days following public announcement that more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Shares have been deposited. The Plan therefore effectively separates a Shareholder’s decision to accept a bid from the decision to tender, thereby lessening concern about undue pressure to tender to the bid.
Unequal treatment of shareholders
Under current securities legislation, an offeror may obtain control or effective control of a corporation without paying full value, without obtaining shareholder approval and without treating all shareholders equally. For example, an acquirer could acquire blocks of shares by private agreement from one or a small group of shareholders at a premium to market price, which premium is not shared by the other shareholders. In addition, a person could slowly accumulate shares through stock exchange acquisitions which may result, over time, in an acquisition of control or effective control without paying a control premium or fair sharing of any control premium among shareholders. Under the Plan, if it is to qualify as a Permitted Bid, any offer to acquire 20% or more of the Corporation’s Voting Shares must be made to all holders of Voting Shares.
How the Plan Works and Effect of the Plan
One right (a “Right”) has been issued in respect of each of the outstanding Common Shares to the Shareholders as of the close of business on November 10, 2010. One Right will also be issued in respect of each Common Share issued after November 10, 2010 and prior to the Separation Time (as defined below).
Notwithstanding the effectiveness of the Plan, the Rights are not exercisable until the Separation Time.Unless waived by the Board of directors in the circumstances permitted by the Plan, the Separation Time would generally be the close of business on the tenth trading day after the earliest to occur of:
·
a public announcement that a person or a group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (becoming an Acquiring Person) other than as a result of, among other things (i) a reduction in the number of Common Shares outstanding, or (ii) a “Permitted Bid” or a “Competing Permitted Bid” (as defined under the Plan);
·
the date of commencement of, or the first public announcement of an intention of any person (other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries) to commence a take-over bid (other than a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted Bid) where the Common Shares that are subject to the bid together with the Common Shares beneficially owned by that person (including affiliates, associates and others acting jointly or in concert therewith) would constitute 20% or more of the outstanding Common Shares; and
·
the date upon which a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted Bid ceases to be such.
After the Separation Time, each Right entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at the Exercise Price (as defined under the Plan). The initial Exercise Price under each Right in order to acquire a Common Share is three times the Market Price at the Separation Time. “Market Price” is defined as the average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities on each of the 20 consecutive trading days through and including the trading day immediately preceding the Separation Time.
Following a transaction which results in a person becoming an Acquiring Person (a “Flip-in-Event”), the Rights entitle the holder thereof (other than a holder who is an Acquiring Person) to receive, upon exercise, such number of Common Shares which have an aggregate market value (as of the date of the Flip-In Event) equal to twice the then Exercise Price of the Rights In such event, however, any Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person (including affiliates, associates and others acting jointly or in concert therewith), or a transferee of any such person, will be void. A Flip-in-Event does not include acquisitions approved by the Board of directors (to the extent permitted by the Plan) or acquisitions pursuant to a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid.
In the event of an unsolicited take-over bid or a bid that is not a Permitted Bid under the Plan, the Board of directors believes that the effect of the Plan will be to enhance Shareholder value, ensure equal treatment of Shareholders in the context of an acquisition of control, and lessen the pressure on Shareholders to tender to a bid. Upon the occurrence of a Flip-in-Event, the conversion price of the Debentures will be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the indenture governing the Debentures.
It is not the intention of the Board of directors to entrench themselves or avoid a bid for control that is fair and in the best interest of Shareholders. For example, Shareholders may tender to a bid which meets the Permitted Bid criteria without triggering the Plan, regardless of the acceptability of the bid to the Board of directors.
The Plan does not diminish or detract from the duty of the Board of directors to act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Corporation and its Shareholders, or to consider on that basis any take-over bid that is made, nor does the Plan alter the proxy mechanism to change the Board of directors, create dilution on the initial issue of the rights, or change the way in which the Corporation’s Common Shares trade.
The Plan must be reconfirmed by a resolution passed by a majority of greater than 50 % of the votes cast by holders of Voting Shares (as defined in the Plan) who vote in respect of this matter at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company in 2016. If the Plan is not so reconfirmed or is not presented for reconfirmation at such annual meeting, the Plan and all outstanding Rights (as defined in the Plan) shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect on and from the date of termination of the annual meeting; provided that termination shall not occur if a Flip-in Event (as defined in the Plan) has occurred prior to the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company in 2016.
A copy of the Plan has been filed as an exhibit to this fiscal 2014 20-F Annual Report.
10.C. Material Contracts
a.
Agreement to Acquire Beattie Gold Mines Ltd., dated 5/1/2008 (as amended on 7/22/2008, 11/24/2008, 4/8/2009, 10/26/2009 and 9/14/2012), between Clifton Star and the Shareholders of Beattie Gold Mines Ltd. A copy of the original contract has been filed in a Form 6-K. A copy of the September 14, 2012 amendment has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
b.
Second Beattie/Donchester/Dumico Agreement, dated 5/1/2008 (as amended on 7/22/2008, 11/24/2008, 4/8/2009, 10/26/2009 and 9/14/2012), between Clifton Star and Rhonda Smerchanski. A copy of the original contract has been filed in a Form 6-K. A copy of the September 14, 2012 amendment has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
c.
Donchester/Dumico/Hunter Agreement dated 5/1/2008 (as amended on 7/22/2008, 11/24/2008, 4/8/2009, 10/26/2009 and 9/14/2012) between Clifton Star, the shareholders of 2588111 Manitoba Ltd., and 173714 Canada Inc. A copy of the original contract has been filed in a Form 6-K. A copy of the September 14, 2012 amendment has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
d.
Management Agreement with Harry Miller between the Company and Harry Miller, dated 6/1/2008. A copy of this contract has been filed in a Form 6-K.
e.
Employment agreement between the Company and Michael Bouchard dated January 1, 2014. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to this fiscal 2014 Annual Report.
f.
Senior Advisor Agreement with Harry Miller between the Company and Harry Miller dated October 28, 2011. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Company's Fiscal 2011 Annual Report.
g.
Employment agreement between the Company and Louis C. Martin dated December 19, 2011. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
h.
Employment agreement between the Company and Louis Dufour dated December 23, 2011. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
i.
NSR purchase agreement dated July 31, 2012 between the Company and the former shareholders of Duquesne Gold Mines Ltd. for the purchase of the NSR on the Duquesne property. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
j.
Sales agreement dated September 19, 2012 between the Company and Xmet Inc. for the sale of the Company's interest in the Duquesne property to Xmet in exchange for a maximum of 19.9% of the outstanding common shares of Xmet. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
10.D. Exchange Controls
Canada has no system of exchange controls. There are no Canadian restrictions on the repatriation of capital or earnings of a Canadian public company to non-resident investors. There are no laws in Canada or exchange restrictions affecting the remittance if dividends, profits, interest, royalties and other payments to non-resident holders of the Company's securities, except as discussed in ITEM 10.E., “Taxation” below.
Restrictions on Share Ownership by Non-Canadians
There are no limitations under the laws of Canada or in the organizing documents of the Company on the right of foreigners to hold or vote securities of the Company, except that the Investment Canada Act may require review and approval by the Minister of Industry (Canada) of certain acquisitions of “control” of the Company by a “non-Canadian”. The threshold for acquisitions of control is generally defined as being one-third or more of the voting shares of the Company. “Non-Canadian” generally means an individual who is not a Canadian citizen, or a corporation, partnership, trust or joint venture that is ultimately controlled by non-Canadians.
10.E Taxation
The Company believes the following is a brief summary of all material principal Canadian federal income tax consequences to a holder of common shares of the Company (a “U.S. Holder”) who deals at arm's length with the Company, holds the shares as capital property and who, for the purposes of theIncome Tax Act (Canada) (the “Act”) and theCanada – United States Income Tax Convention (the “Treaty”), is at all relevant times resident in the United States, is not and is not deemed to be resident in Canada and does not use or hold and is not deemed to use or hold the shares in carrying on a business in Canada. Special rules, which are not discussed below, may apply to a U.S. Holder that is an insurer that carries on business in Canada and elsewhere.
U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to their particular circumstances.
Under the Act and the Treaty, a U.S. Holder of common shares will generally be subject to a 15% withholding tax on dividends paid or credited or deemed by the Act to have been paid or credited on such shares. The withholding tax rate is 5% where the U.S. Holder is a corporation that beneficially owns at least 10% of the voting shares of the Company and the dividends may be exempt from such withholding in the case of some U.S. Holders such as qualifying pension funds and charities.
In general, a U.S. Holder will not be subject to Canadian income tax on capital gains arising on the disposition of shares of the Company unless (i) at any time in the five-year period immediately preceding the disposition, 25% or more of the shares of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock was owned by (or was under option of or subject to an interest of) the U.S. holder or persons with whom the U.S. holder did not deal at arm's length, and (ii) the value of the Company’s common shares at the time of the disposition derives principally from real property (as defined in the Treaty) situated in Canada. For this purpose, the Treaty defines real property situated in Canada to include rights to explore for or exploit mineral deposits situated in Canada, rights to amounts computed by reference to the amount or value of production from such mineralization, certain other rights in respect of properties situated in Canada and shares of a corporation the value of whose shares is derived principally from real property situated in Canada.
U.S. investors in the Company could be subject to U.S. taxation at possibly adverse or higher rates and under a system that might be more complicated and unfamiliar to them. For example, a U.S investor might be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” received and any gain realized from a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of that holder's shares. Distributions a U.S. investor receives in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or the holder's holding period for the shares will be treated as excess distributions. For example, under certain circumstances, a U.S. investor who is an individual might be subject to information reporting requirements and backup withholding, currently at a 25% rate, on dividends received on common shares.
The US Internal Revenue Code provides special anti-deferral rules regarding certain distributions received by US persons with respect to, and sales and other dispositions (including pledges) of stock of, a passive foreign investment company. A foreign corporation, such as the Company, will be treated as a passive foreign investment company if 75% or more of its gross income is passive income for a taxable year or if the average percentage of its assets (by value) that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income is at least 50% for a taxable year. If a U.S. Holder holds shares in any year in which the Company is a PFIC, that holder might be required to file Internal Revenue Service Form 8621.
10.F. Dividends and Paying Agents
The Company has not declared any dividends on its common shares for the last five years and does not anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable future. The present policy of the Company is to retain future earnings for use in its operations and the expansion of its business.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned: the Company is unaware of any dividend restrictions; has no specific procedure for the setting of the date of dividend entitlement; but might expect to set a record date for stock ownership to determine entitlement; has no specific procedures for non-resident holders to claim dividends, but might expect to mail their dividends in the same manner as resident holders. The Company has not nominated any financial institutions to be the potential paying agents for dividends in the United States.
10.G. Statement by Experts
Not Applicable
10.H. Documents on Display
The Company’s documents, including financial statements, press releases, Annual General Meeting documents, Annual Reports, and other documents can be viewed at its Canadian office, located at: Suite 217 - 1040 Belvedere Avenue, Quebec, QC, Canada G1S 3G3.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and files reports, registration statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company’s reports, registration statements and other information can be inspected on the SEC’s website atwww.sec.gov andhttp://sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html and such information can also be inspected and copies ordered at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at the following location: Judiciary Plaza, 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549.
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is a small business issuer, as defined in Section 240.12b-2; and thus, ITEM #11 is not applicable.
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
12.A. Debt Securities
--- No Disclosure Necessary ---
12.B. Warrants and Rights
--- Refer to ITEM #9, “Warrants”
12.C. Other Securities
--- No Disclosure Necessary ---
12.D. American Depository Shares
-- No Disclosure Necessary ---
PART II
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
--- No Disclosure Necessary ---
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that material information related to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to senior management, including Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), and by others within those entities on a timely basis so that appropriate decisions can be made regarding public disclosure.
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and our CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of June 30, 2014. The CEO and CFO assessed whether the disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2014, were effective to give reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon our evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2014.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for designing, establishing and maintaining a system of Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) to provide reasonable assurance that the financial information prepared by the Company for external purposes is reliable and has been recorded, processed and reported in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with IFRS. The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that management fulfills its responsibilities. The Audit Committee fulfills its role of ensuring the integrity of the reported information through its review of the interim and annual financial statements. Management reviewed the results of their assessment with the Company’s Audit Committee.
Because of its inherent limitations, the Company’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting may not prevent or detect all possible misstatements or frauds. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the Company’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting, Management has used the Internal Control - Integrated Framework, which is a suitable, recognized control framework established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") version of 1992. Based on its assessment, management has concluded that, as of June 30, 2014, the Company's Internal Control over Financial Reporting was effective and no material weaknesses in the Company's Internal Control over Financial Reporting were identified.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
The Company's management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that our Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding Internal Control over Financial Reporting as the Company qualifies as an “emerging growth company” under section 3(a) of the Exchange Act (as amended by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, enacted on April 5, 2012), and is therefore exempt from the attestation requirement.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
ITEM 16. RESERVED
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The Company does not have an “audit committee financial expert” serving on its Audit Committee. The Company’s Audit Committee consists of three directors, all of whom are both financially literate and very knowledgeable about the Company’s affairs. Because the Company’s structure and operations are straightforward, the Company does not find it necessary to augment its Board with a financial expert.
ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS
The Board adopted a “Code of Ethics” in November 2011 addressing various codes of conducts. The Board of Directors expects management to operate the business of the Company in a manner that enhances shareholder value and is consistent with the highest level of integrity. Management is expected to execute the Company’s business plan and to meet performance objectives and goals. In addition, the Board of Directors must comply with conflict of interest provisions in Canadian corporate law, including relevant securities regulatory instruments, in order to ensure directors exercise independent judgment in considering transactions and agreements in respect of which a director or executive officer has a material interest. During Fiscal 2014, there are no material change reports relating to the conduct of any Directors or executive officers of the Company. A copy of the new “Code of Ethics” has been filed as an exhibit to the Company's Fiscal 2011 20-F Annual Report.
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of auditors; the Audit Committee has in place procedures for receiving complaints and concerns about accounting and auditing matters; and has the authority and the funding to engage independent counsel and other outside advisors.
The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more designated members of the Audit Committee the authority to grant pre-approvals required by this policy/procedure. The decisions of any Audit Committee member to whom authority is delegated to pre-approve a service shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
In accordance with the requirements of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we introduced a procedure for the review and pre-approval of any services performed by Deloitte LLP, including audit services, audit related services, tax services and other services. The procedure requires that all proposed engagements of Deloitte LLP for audit and permitted non-audit services are submitted to the Audit Committee for approval prior to the beginning of any such services.
Fees, including reimbursements for expenses, for professional services rendered by Deloitte LLP for fiscal 2014 and 2013 are detailed below.
| | | | |
Principal Accountant Fees and Services | Fiscal 2014 Ended June 30, 2014 | Fiscal 2013 Ended June 30, 2013 |
Audit Fees | $ | 70,000 | $ | 55,000 |
Audit-Related Fees | $ | 14,500 | | - |
Tax Fees | $ | 52,350 | | - |
All Other Fees | $ | 5,365 | | - |
TOTAL | $ | 142,215 | $ | 55,000 |
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
--- No Disclosure Necessary ---
PART III
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company has provided financial statements pursuant to ITEM #18.
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company's financial statements are stated in Canadian Dollars (CDN$) and are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.
The financial statements as required are attached hereto and found immediately following the text of this Annual Report. The Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Deloitte LLP is included herein immediately preceding the audited financial statements for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
Audited Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, October 28, 2014
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss
for the years ended June 30, 2014, June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
for the years ended June 30, 2014, June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
for the years ended June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
1. Notice of Articles and Articles of Incorporation as currently in effect:
Incorporated by reference to Form 20-F Registration Statement, as amended
3. Voting Trust Agreements: No Disclosure Necessary
4. Material Contracts:
a.
Agreement to Acquire Beattie Gold Mines Ltd., dated 5/1/2008 (as amended on 7/22/2008, 11/24/2008, 4/8/2009, 10/26/2009 and 9/12/2012), between Clifton Star and the Shareholders of Beattie Gold Mines Ltd. A copy of the original contract has been filed in a Form 6-K. A copy of the September 14, 2012, amendment has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
b.
Second Beattie/Donchester/Dumico Agreement, dated 5/1/2008 (as amended on 7/22/2008, 11/24/2008, 4/8/2009, 10/26/2009 and 9/12/2012), between Clifton Star and Rhonda Smerchanski. A copy of the original contract has been filed in a Form 6-K. A copy of the September 14, 2012, amendment has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
c.
Donchester/Dumico/Hunter Agreement dated 5/1/2008 (as amended on 7/22/2008, 11/24/2008, 4/8/2009, 10/26/2009 and 9/12/2012) between Clifton Star, the shareholders of 2588111 Manitoba Ltd., and 173714 Canada Inc. A copy of the original contract has been filed in a Form 6-K. A copy of the September 14, 2012, amendment has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
d.
Management Agreement with Harry Miller between the Company and Harry Miller, dated 6/1/2008. A copy of this contract has been filed in a Form 6-K.
e.
Employment agreement between the Company and Michael Bouchard dated January 1, 2014. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to this fiscal 2014 Annual Report
f.
Senior Advisor Agreement with Harry Miller between the Company and Harry Miller dated October 28, 2011. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Company's Fiscal 2011 Annual Report.
g.
Employment agreement between the Company and Louis C. Martin dated December 19, 2011. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
h.
Employment agreement between the Company and Louis Dufour dated December 23, 2011. A copy of this agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
i.
NSR purchase agreement dated July 31, 2012 between the Company and the former shareholders of Duquesne Gold Mines Ltd. for the purchase of the NSR on the Duquesne property. A copy of this agreement and amendment has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
j.
Sales agreement dated September 19, 2012 between the Company and Xmet Inc. for the sale of the Company's interest in the Duquesne property to Xmet in exchange for a maximum of 19.9% of the outstanding common shares of Xmet. A copy of this agreement and amendment has been filed as an exhibit to the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report.
5. Foreign Patents: No Disclosure Necessary
6. Earnings Per Share Calculation: No Disclosure Necessary
7. Ratio of Earnings To Fixed Charges: No Disclosure Necessary
8. List of Subsidiaries: No Disclosure Necessary
9. Statement Regarding Date of Financial Statements: No Disclosure Necessary
10. Notice Required by Rule 104 of Regulation BTR: No Disclosure Necessary
11. Code of Ethics as required by ITEM No. 16B
12i: Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
12ii: Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
13i. Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and
Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code
13ii. Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and
Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code
14. Legal Opinion required by Instruction 3 of ITEM 7B:
No Disclosure Necessary
15. Additional Exhibits:
Charter of the Technical, Environmental, Health and Safety Committee
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AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
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| Deloitte LLP. 1 Place Ville Marie Suite 3000 Montreal QC H3B 4T9 Canada |
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| Tel.: 514-393-7115 Fax: 514-390-4113 www.deloitte.ca |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Clifton Star Resources Inc. (the “Company”), which comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as at June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013 and the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss, changes in equity and cash flows for the two year period ended June 30, 2014, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
Management's Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor's Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Clifton Star Resources Inc. as at June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013, and its financial performance and its cash flows for the two year period ended June 30, 2014 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
Emphasis of Matter
Without qualifying our opinion, we draw attention to Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements which indicates that Clifton Star Resources Inc. has incurred cumulative losses since inception, has a deficit of $25,305,457 as of June 30, 2014 and a net loss of $6,245,111 for the year ended June 30, 2014. These conditions, along with other matters as set forth in Note 2, indicate the existence of material uncertainties that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
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October 28, 2014
____________________
1 CPA auditor, CA, public accountancy permit No. A103322
| | | | | |
Clifton Star Resources Inc. |
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position |
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars) |
| | | |
|
Notes | As at June 30, 2014 | As at June 30, 2013 |
ASSETS | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | |
Cash | | $ | 1,328,239 | $ | 3,443,288 |
Receivables | 12 | | 33,822 | | 289,858 |
Refundable tax credits and mining duties | 6 | | 890,137 | | 3,252,301 |
Prepaids | | | 85,652 | | 19,725 |
| | | 2,337,850 | | 7,005,172 |
Non-current assets: | | | | | |
Non-refundable tax credits | 6 | | 770,574 | | 751,508 |
Property and equipment | 7 | | 56,063 | | 64,151 |
Exploration and evaluation assets | 8 | | 36,718,578 | | 42,253,866 |
| | | 37,545,215 | | 43,069,525 |
Total Assets | | $ | 39,883,065 | $ | 50,074,697 |
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | | | |
Current liabilities | | | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | $ | 372,188 | $ | 1,476,051 |
Flow-through premium liability | 9b | | - | | 12,112 |
| | | 372,188 | | 1,488,163 |
Deferred income and mining tax liability |
13 | | 323,000 | |
3,441,000 |
Total Liabilities | | | 695,188 | | 4,929,163 |
Equity: | | | | | |
Share capital | 9a,b | | 59,583,659 | | 59,523,659 |
Share-based payments reserve | 9c | | 4,909,675 | | 4,827,037 |
Deficit | | | (25,305,457) | | (19,205,162) |
Total Equity | | | 39,187,877 | | 45,145,534 |
Total Liabilities and Equity | | $ | 39,883,065 | $ | 50,074,697 |
Approved and authorized by the Board on October 28, 2014:
| | |
/s/ Michel Bouchard | | /s/ Ross Glanville |
| | |
Michel Bouchard, Director | | Ross Glanville , Director |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| | | | | | | |
Clifton Star Resources Inc. |
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss |
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars) |
Year ended June 30 |
| | | | | | | |
| Notes | | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 |
Expenses | | | | | | | |
Wages and benefits | | $ | 663,627 | $ | 768,890 | $ | 310,863 |
Share-based payments | 9c | | 215,716 | | 977,411 | | 1,222,953 |
Director’s fees | 10b | | 158,000 | | 156,000 | | 246,750 |
Consulting | 10a | | 104,378 | | 165,269 | | 338,182 |
Professional fees | 10a | | 412,236 | | 511,105 | | 581,276 |
Investor relations | | | 191,862 | | 246,875 | | 111,436 |
Filing and transfer agent fees | | | 29,946 | | 27,731 | | 24,550 |
Travel and telephone | | | 42,637 | | 56,617 | | 141,804 |
Office and miscellaneous | | | 81,181 | | 89,305 | | 104,688 |
Insurance | | | 41,777 | | 41,546 | | 32,934 |
Amortization | 7 | | 8,088 | | 9,994 | | 8,302 |
Settlement of litigation | | | - | | 350,000 | | - |
Loss from operations | | $ | (1,949,448) | $ | (3,400,743) | $ | (3,123,738) |
| | | | | | | |
Other items | | | | | | | |
Write-down of exploration and evaluation assets | 8c | | (7,630,457) | | - | | - |
Interest income | | | 45,425 | | 103,617 | | 200,583 |
Loss before tax | | | (9,534,480) | | (3,297,126) | | (2,923,155) |
Deferred income tax recovery (expense) | 13 | | 3,289,369 | | (572,327) | | 679,000 |
Net loss and comprehensive loss for the year | | $ | (6,245,111) | $ | (3,869,453) | $ | (2,244,155) |
| | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | | | 38,599,322 | | 37,393,568 | | 35,654,390 |
| | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted loss per common share | | $ | (0.16) | $ | (0.10) | $ | (0.06) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| | | | | | | | | | |
Clifton Star Resources Inc. |
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity |
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars) |
Year ended June 30 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Notes | Number of shares | | Share capital | | Share-based payments reserve | | Accumulated deficit | | Total |
Balance – July 1, 2012 | | 35,654,390 | $ | 57,100,892 | $ | 11,821,755 | $ | (23,399,313) | $ | 45,523,334 |
Flow-through private placement, net of issuance costs and its | | | | | | | | | | |
related tax effect | 9b | 2,760,000 | | 2,422,767 | | 33,848 | | - | | 2,456,615 |
Fair value of share-based payments capitalized | 9c | - | | - | | 57,627 | | - | | 57,627 |
Share-based payments | 9c | - | | - | | 977,411 | | - | | 977,411 |
Stock options expired | 9c | - | | - | | (8,063,604) | | 8,063,604 | | - |
Net Loss from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 | | - | | - | | - | | (3,869,453) | | (3,869,453) |
Balance – June 30, 2013 | | 38,414,390 | $ | 59,523,659 | $ | 4,827,037 | $ | (19,205,162) | $ | 45,145,534 |
Fair value of stock issued for acquisition of properties | 9a | 250,000 | | 60,000 | | - | | - | | 60,000 |
Fair value of share-based payments capitalized | 9c | - | | - | | 11,738 | | - | | 11,738 |
Share-based payments | 9c | - | | - | | 215,716 | | - | | 215,716 |
Stock options expired | 9c | - | | - | | (144,816) | | 144,816 | | - |
Net Loss from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 | | - | | - | | - | | (6,245,111) | | (6,245,111) |
Balance – June 30, 2014 | | 38,664,390 | $ | 59,583,659 | $ | 4,909,675 | $ | (25,305,457) | $ | 39,187,877 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| | | | | | | | |
Clifton Star Resources Inc. |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars) |
Year ended June 30 |
| | | | | | | |
| Notes | | 2014 | | 2013
| | 2012 |
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | | | | |
Net loss for the year | | $ | (6,245,111) | $ | (3,869,453) | $ | (2,244,155) |
Items not affecting cash: | | | | | | | |
Amortization | 7 | | 8,088 | | 9,994 | | 8,302 |
Share-based payments | 9c | | 215,716 | | 977,411 | | 1,222,953 |
Write-down of exploration and evaluation assets | 8c | | 7,630,457 | | - | | - |
Deferred income tax (recovery) expense | 13 | | (3,289,369) | | 572,327 | | (679,000) |
| | | (1,680,219) | | (2,309,721) | | (1,691,900) |
Changes in non-cash working capital: | | | | | | | |
Receivables | | | 256,036 | | 201,966 | | (315,396) |
Refundable tax credits received | | | 2,843,974 | | 230,144 | | - |
Prepaids | | | (65,927) | | 9,568 | | 37,191 |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | | (428,887) | | 456,759 | | 404,444 |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | | | 924,977 | | (1,411,284) | | (1,565,661) |
Cash flows from financing activities | | | | | | | |
Shares issued for cash | 9b | | - | | 3,450,000 | | - |
Issuance costs paid | 9b | | - | | (226,245) | | - |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | | - | | 3,223,755 | | - |
Cash flows from investing activities | | | | | | | |
Additions to property and equipment | 7 | | - | | (367) | | (26,168) |
Short-term investments | | | - | | 4,360,000 | | (10,000) |
Additions to exploration and evaluation assets | | | (3,040,026) | | (9,834,448) | | (3,896,658) |
Net cash used in investing activities | | | (3,040,026) | | (5,474,815) | | (3,932,826) |
Net decrease in cash | | | (2,115,049) | | (3,662,344) | | (5,498,487) |
Cash – beginning of the year | | | 3,443,288 | | 7,105,632 | | 12,604,119 |
Cash – end of the year | | $ | 1,328,239 | $ | 3,443,288 | $ | 7,105,632 |
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities | | | | | | | |
Tax credits receivable and applied in reduction of exploration and evaluation assets | 8 | $ | 341,617 | $ | 1,258,633 | $ | 3,769,344 |
Exploration and evaluation assets included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | $ | 44,650 | $ | 719,627 | $ | 418,171 |
Fair value of share-based payments included in exploration and evaluation assets | | $ | 11,738 | $ | 57,627 | $ | 10,879 |
Shares issued for acquisition of exploration and evaluation assets | 9a | $ | 60,000 | $ | - | $ | - |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
1.
Nature of operations
Clifton Star Resources Inc. (the “Company” or “Clifton”) is primarily engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. The Company’s major mineral properties are located in the province of Quebec, Canada, and the Company is currently advancing a large gold project (the “Duparquet Project”). The Duparquet Project includes the Beattie Mine Property, Donchester Mine Property, Central Duparquet Mine Property, Dumico Mine Property and the Beattie Tailings Deposit.
Clifton is a publicly listed company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, and was continued under theCanada Business Corporations Act on December 29, 2010. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol “CFO”.
The Company’s registered and executive office, principal address and records office is located at Suite 217 – 1040 Belvedere Ave., Quebec City, province of Quebec, Canada, G1S 3G3. The Company’s web site address iswww.cfo-star.com.
These consolidated financial statements were approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on October 28, 2014.
2.
Going concern
These consolidated statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The going concern basis of presentation assumes that the Company will continue in operation for the foreseeable future and be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the reported expenses and statement of financial position classification that would be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. These adjustments could be material.
The recoverability of the amounts shown for exploration and evaluation assets is dependent upon the existence of economically recoverable mineral reserves, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing to acquire the remaining 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors (note 8), to complete the development, and upon future profitable production or proceeds from disposition of the mineral properties. Due to difficult market conditions facing junior mining companies, there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in raising additional financing to pay the $10,000,000 instalment that is required December 1, 2014 and the remaining $40,187,500 that will be required over the period from December 1, 2015 to December 1, 2017, in order to acquire 100% interest in the claims of the Duparquet Property (note 8).
At June 30, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.3 million (June 30, 2013: $3.4 million) and working capital of $2.0 million (June 30, 2013: $5.5 million). The Company does not earn revenue from its operations; it has incurred a loss of 9.5 million before income taxes during the year ended June 30, 2014, and has a deficit of $25.3 million at June 30, 2014. Management believes that the cash on hand at June 30, 2014, is sufficient to meet corporate and administrative expenses for the coming twelve months. However, there is uncertainty as to the company’s abilities to meet its yet unrecorded instalments to the optionors amounting in aggregate to $10,000,000 by December 1, 2014 which is the stated date. Should management not be successful in its additional fund raising initiative, it may result in the termination of its option agreement on its main property, Duparquet, then the Company would retain a 10% interest in the Duparquet property and the related deferred exploration and evaluation assets
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
2.
Going concern– Continued
would then have to be written-off. Management has taken steps to reduce non-discretionary expenditures and financial overheads. The above could change significantly the financial position of the Company and its future strategy for investments in exploration and evaluation projects. These material uncertainties raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
3.
Summary of significant accounting policies
a.
Basis of presentation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2014. The Company has consistently applied the same accounting policies to all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements.
b.
Basis of consolidation
The financial statements of the Company consolidate the accounts of Clifton and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Duquesne Gold Mines Inc. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation.
A subsidiary is an entity which Clifton controls by having the power to govern its financial and operating policies. The existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are considered when assessing whether Clifton controls another entity. The subsidiary is fully consolidated from the date on which control was obtained, and will be de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.
c.
Use of judgments and estimates
The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported expenses during the period.
On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its judgments and estimates in relation to assets, liabilities and expenses. Management uses historical experience and various other factors it believes to be reasonable under the given circumstances as the basis for its judgments and estimates. Actual outcomes may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.
The consolidated financial statements include judgments and estimates which, by their nature, are uncertain. The impacts of such judgments and estimates are pervasive throughout the consolidated financial statements, and may require accounting adjustments based on future occurrences. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised and the revision affects both current and future periods.
The most significant judgments relate to:
Critical judgments exercised in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements are as follows:
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
3.
Summary of significant accounting policies– Continued
c.
Use of judgments and estimates- Continued
(i)
Recoverability and probability of future economic benefits of mineral property interests
Management has determined that exploration and evaluation assets and related costs incurred, which were capitalized, may have future economic benefits and may be economically recoverable. Management uses several criteria in its assessments of economic recoverability and probability of future economic benefits including, geologic and metallurgic information, the pre-feasibility study of the Duparquet project, the quality and capacity of existing infrastructure facilities locally, evaluation of permitting and environmental issues, and local support for the project. In addition, management’s assessment of the recoverability of this asset assumes that it will be able to increase to 100% its ownership in the Duparquet project and to finance the Company’s development in the Duparquet project. Should management not be successful in obtaining the required financing, the mining asset value will no longer be recoverable. (see note 2)
Information about assumptions and estimation uncertainties at the end of the reporting period that have a significant risk of resulting in material adjustments to the Company’s assets and liabilities are as follows:
(i)
Recoverability and probability of future economic benefits of mineral property interests
The Company considers both external and internal sources of information in assessing whether there are any indications that exploration and valuation assets are impaired. External sources of information the Company considers include changes in the market, economic and legal environment in which the Company operates that are not within its control and affect the recoverable amount of exploration and evaluation assets. Internal sources of information the Company considers include the pre-feasibility study.
In determining the recoverable amounts of the Company’s evaluation and exploration assets, the Company’s management makes estimates of the discounted future after-tax cash flows expected to be derived from the Company’s valuation assets and the appropriate discount rate. The projected cash flows are significantly affected by changes in assumptions about metal selling prices, expected future capital expenditures, reductions in the amount of recoverable reserves, resources, and exploration potential, production cost estimates, discount rates and exchange rates. Continued access to the estimated recoverable reserves, resources and exploration potential of the Company’s evaluation and exploration assets is a key assumption in determining their recoverable amounts.
Reductions in metal price forecasts, increases in expected future costs of production, increases in expected capital expenditures, reductions in the amount of recoverable reserves, resources, and exploration potential, and/or adverse current economics can result in a write-down of the carrying amounts of the Company’s evaluation and exploration assets.
(ii)
Income taxes and mining duties
In assessing the probability of realizing income tax assets, management makes estimates related to expectation of future taxable income, applicable tax opportunities,
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
3.
Summary of significant accounting policies– Continued
c.
Use of judgments and estimates- Continued
(ii)
Income taxes and mining duties– Continued
expected timing of reversals of existing temporary differences and the likelihood that tax positions taken will be sustained upon examination by applicable tax authorities.
In making its assessments, management gives additional weight to evidence that can be objectively verified.
(ii)
Valuation of share-based compensation
The Company uses the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model for valuation of share-based compensation. Option pricing models require the input of subjective assumptions, including expected price volatility, expected life of stock options, and forfeiture rate. Changes in the input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate and the Company’s earning and share-based payment reserve.
d.
Short-term investments
Short-term investments consist mainly of cashable Guaranteed Investment Certificates (“GIC’s”) with original terms to maturity greater than three months.
e.
Refundable tax credits and mining duties and non-refundable tax credits
The Company was entitled to a refundable tax credit of 35% until June 4, 2014, and of 28% thereafter, on qualified exploration expenditures incurred in the province of Quebec. The Company is also entitled to a refund of mining duties of 16% on 50% of qualified mining exploration expenses during the period, net of the refundable tax credit. The company was also entitled to a federal non-refundable tax credit of 5% up to December 31, 2013, on qualified exploration expenditures incurred, net of the refundable tax credit.
The provincial and federal credits are recorded against exploration and evaluation assets based on management’s best estimates once the necessary information is available and management believes that the amounts are collectible or will benefit in the future. The non-refundable tax credit is classified as a long term asset while the mining duties credit is recorded in deferred income and mining tax liability.
f.
Property and equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization. The Company provides for amortization using the declining balance method at rates designed to amortize the cost of the property and equipment over its estimated useful life. The annual amortization rates are as follows:
| | |
| Building | 10 % |
| Computer equipment | 30 % |
| Office equipment | 30 % |
Land is carried at cost. Maintenance and repair expenditures which do not improve or extend productive life of the property and equipment are expensed in the period incurred.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
3.
Summary of significant accounting policies- Continued
g.
Exploration and evaluation assets
The Company records its interest (via option agreements) in its mining properties at cost. Once the right to explore an area has been acquired, the Company capitalizes exploration and evaluation costs directly related to specific mineral properties until such time as the extent of mineralization has been determined and the mineral properties are either sold, developed or the Company’s mineral rights are allowed to lapse. Capitalized costs will be amortized on a units-of-production basis over the useful life of the ore body following commencement of commercial production or written-off if the property is sold or abandoned.
Acquisition costs (included in exploration and evaluation assets) include initial vendor payments, staking costs at the date of acquisition, subsequent property staking, and lease and royalty payments required to maintain ownership title. Options are exercisable entirely at the discretion of the optionee, and accordingly, the related option payments and royalties are recorded only upon payment or receipt. Option income receipts on subcontracted properties reduce capitalized exploration costs, and amounts in excess of capitalized costs are recorded as income. Expenditures incurred before the Company has obtained the legal rights to explore a specific area are expensed as incurred.
Once the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the extraction of mineral resources in an area of interest are demonstrable, exploration and evaluation assets attributable to that area of interest are first tested for impairment and then reclassified to mining property and development assets within property and equipment. Subsequent costs are capitalized to the respective mineral property interests.
Recorded costs of exploration and evaluation assets are not intended to reflect present or future values of mineral properties. Capitalized costs are subject to measurement uncertainty, and it is reasonably possible, based on existing knowledge, that a change in future conditions could require a material change in the recorded amounts.
The Company considers the following facts and circumstances in determining if it should test exploration and evaluation assets for impairment:
(i)
the period for which the Company has the right to explore in the specific area has expired during the period or will expire in the near future, or is not expected to be renewed or the mining property ownership not gained .
(ii)
substantive expenditures on further exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources in the specific area is neither budgeted or planned.
(iii)
exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources in the specific area have not led to the discovery of commercially viable quantities of mineral resources and the entity has decided to discontinue such activities in the specific area; and
(iv)
sufficient data exists to indicate that, although a development in the specific area is likely to proceed, the carrying amount of the exploration and evaluation assets is unlikely to be recovered in full from successful development or by sale.
General exploration costs in areas of interest in which the Company has not secured rights are expensed as incurred.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
3.
Summary of significant accounting policies- Continued
h.
Impairment of non-current assets
Non-current assets are evaluated at each reporting date by management for indicators that the carrying value is impaired and may not be recoverable. When indicators of impairment are present, the recoverable amount of an asset is evaluated at the level of a cash generating unit (“CGU”), the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets, where the recoverable amount of a CGU is the greater of the CGU’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. An impairment loss is recognized in the statement of loss and comprehensive loss to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount.
In calculating the recoverable amount, the Company uses discounted cash flow techniques to determine fair value when it is not possible to determine fair value either by quotes from an active market or a binding sales agreement. The determination of discounted cash flows is dependent on a number of factors, including future metal prices, the amount of reserves and resources, the cost of bringing the project into production, production costs, sustaining capital expenditures, and site closure, restoration and environmental rehabilitation costs.
Additionally, the reviews take into account factors such as political, social and legal and environmental regulations. These factors may change due to changing economic conditions or the accuracy of certain assumptions and, hence, affect the recoverable amount. The Company uses its best efforts to fully understand all of the aforementioned to make an informed decision based upon historical and current facts surrounding the projects. Discounted cash flow techniques often require management to make estimates and assumptions concerning reserves and resources and expected future production revenues and expenses.
Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset or cash-generating unit is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset or cash-generating unit in prior periods. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognized immediately in the statement of loss and comprehensive loss. Management’s estimates of mineral prices, recoverable reserves, and operating, capital and restoration costs are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may affect the recoverability of exploration and evaluation assets. Although management has made its best estimate of these factors, it is possible that changes could occur in the near term that could adversely affect management’s estimate of the net cash flows to be generated from its projects.
i.
Restoration and provision
The Company records a liability based on the best estimate of costs for restoration activities that the Company is legally or constructively required to remediate, and recognizes the liability when those obligations result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal operations of assets. Restoration provisions are measured at the present value of the expected expenditures required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax discount rate reflecting the time value of money and risks specific to the liability. The liability is increased for the passage of time and adjusted for changes to the current market-based risk-free discount rate, and the amount of or timing of the underlying cash flows needed to settle the obligation. The associated restoration costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related non-current asset and amortized into
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
3.
Summary of significant accounting policies -Continued
i.
Restoration and provision- Continued
income on a systematic basis over the expected useful life of the asset. At June 30, 2014 and 2013, no restoration provision has been recognized.
j.
Current and deferred taxes
Taxes, comprising both income and mining taxes, accounted for as income taxes are recognized in the consolidated statements of loss, except where they relate to items recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case the related taxes are recognized in other comprehensive loss or equity. Taxes on income are recorded using the tax rate that would be applicable to expected annual income.
The current income tax charge is based on taxable income for the period. Taxable income differs from net income as reported in the consolidated statement of loss and comprehensive loss because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other periods and it further excludes items that are not taxable or deductible.
Deferred tax is recognized on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases used in computing taxable profit. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted or substantively enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
Deferred income tax assets also result from unused loss carry forwards, resource related pools and other deductions. A deferred tax asset is recognized for unused tax losses, tax credits and deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which they can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized.
k.
Share-based payments
The Company grants stock options to buy common shares of the Company to directors, officers, employees and consultants. Share-based payments to employees are measured at the fair value of the instruments issued and amortized over the vesting periods. Share-based payments to non-employees are measured at the fair value of the goods or services received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, if it is determined that the fair value of the goods or services cannot be reliably measured, and are recorded at the date the goods or services are received. The offset to the recorded cost is to share-based payments reserve. Consideration received on the exercise of stock options is recorded as share capital, and the related share-based payments reserve is transferred to share capital. When stock options are forfeited prior to becoming fully vested, any expense previously recorded is reversed. When vested stock options expire, the associated amount recorded in the share-based payments reserve is transferred to the deficit.
l.
Share capital
The Company records in share capital proceeds from share issuances, net of issue costs and any tax effects. The fair value of common shares issued as consideration for mineral properties is based on the trading price of those shares on the TSX-V on the date of the agreement to
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
3.
Summary of significant accounting policies -Continued
l.
Share capital- Continued
issue shares as determined by the Board of Directors. The Company occasionally issues stock options and other equity instruments as purchase consideration as non-monetary transactions are recorded at fair value determined by management using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Proceeds from unit placements are allocated between shares and warrants according to their relative fair value using the residual method to determine the value of warrants issued.
m.
Loss per share
Basic loss per share is computed by dividing the loss available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Under this method, the weighted-average number of common shares used to calculate the dilutive effect in the consolidated statement of loss and comprehensive loss assumes that the proceeds that could be obtained upon exercise of options, warrants and similar instruments would be used to purchase common shares at the average market price during the period. In periods where a net loss is incurred, basic and diluted loss per share is the same, as the effect of outstanding stock options and warrants would be anti-dilutive.
n.
Flow-through shares
Share capital includes flow-through shares which is a unique Canadian tax incentive pursuant to certain provisions of theIncome Tax Act. Proceeds from the issuance of flow-through shares are used to fund qualified exploration and evaluation expenditures, and the related income tax deductions are renounced to the subscribers of the flow-through shares. The premium, if any, paid for flow-through shares in excess of the market value of the shares without flow-through features, at the time of issue, is credited to other liabilities and recognized in income at the time qualifying expenditures are incurred. The Company recognizes a deferred tax liability with a corresponding recovery in the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss when the qualifying exploration and evaluation expenditures are incurred. To the extent that the Company has deferred tax assets in the form of tax loss carry-forwards and other unused tax credits as at the reporting date, the Company may use them to reduce its deferred tax liability relating to tax benefits transferred through flow-through shares.
o.
Financial instruments
(i) Financial assets -The Company classifies its financial assets in the following categories: fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables and available-for-sale. The classification depends on the nature and purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of financial assets at the time of recognition.
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are initially recognized at fair value with changes in fair value recorded through income. The Company does not have financial assets classified under this category.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
3.
Summary of significant accounting policies -Continued
o.
Financial assets- Continued
Loans and receivables
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They are classified as current assets or non-current assets based on their maturity date. Loans and receivables are carried at amortized cost less any impairment. Cash, short-term investments, receivables and refundable mining tax credit have been classified under this category.
Available-for-sale
Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivatives that are either designated as available-for-sale or not classified in any of the other financial asset categories. Changes in fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and classified as a component of equity. When the financial assets are sold or an impairment write-down is required, the accumulated fair value adjustments in other comprehensive income are included in the consolidated statements of loss and are included in other gains or losses. The Company does not have financial assets classified under this category.
(ii)
Financial liabilities - The Company classifies its financial liabilities in the following categories: other financial liabilities and derivative financial liabilities.
Borrowings and other financial liabilities
Borrowings and other financial liabilities are non-derivatives and are recognized initially at fair value, net of transactions costs incurred, and are subsequently stated at amortized cost. Any difference between the amounts originally received, net of transaction costs, and the redemption value is recognized in the consolidated statements of loss over the period to maturity using the effective interest method. Borrowings and other financial liabilities are classified as current or non-current based on their maturity date. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities have been classified under this category.
Derivative financial liabilities
Derivative financial liabilities are initially recognized at their fair value on the date the derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value at each reporting period with changes in the fair value recognized in profit or loss. There are no financial liabilities classified under this category.
(iii) Impairment of financial assets -At each reporting date, the Company assesses whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset is impaired. If such evidence exists, the Company recognizes an impairment loss, as follows:
a)
Financial assets carried at amortized cost: The loss is the difference between the amortized cost of the loan or receivable and the present value of the estimated future cash flows, discounted using the instrument’s original effective interest rate. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced by this amount either directly or indirectly through the use of an allowance account.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
3.
Summary of significant accounting policies -Continued
o.
Share capital - Continued
b)
Available-for-sale financial assets: The impairment loss is the difference between the original cost of the asset and its fair value at the measurement date, less any impairment losses previously recognized in the consolidated statements of loss. This amount represents the cumulative loss in accumulated other comprehensive income that is reclassified to net loss.
4.
Changes in accounting policies
The following new standards, interpretations and amendments, which have been applied in these consolidated financial statements, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements:
·
IFRS 10Consolidated financial statements
IFRS 10 builds on existing principles by identifying the concept of control as the determining factor in whether an entity should be included within the consolidated financial statements of the parent company. The standard provides additional guidance to assist in the determination of control where this is difficult to assess.
·
IFRS 11Joint arrangements
IFRS 11 describes the accounting for arrangements in which there is joint control; proportionate consolidation is not permitted for joint ventures (as newly defined). IFRS 11 replaces IAS 31Interests in Joint Ventures and SIC 13Jointly Controlled Entities - Non-Monetary Contributions by Venturers.
·
IFRS 12Disclosures of interests in other entities
IFRS 12 includes the disclosure requirements for all forms of interests in other entities, including joint arrangements, associates, special purpose vehicles and other off balance sheet vehicles.
·
IFRS 13Fair value measurement
IFRS 13 aims to improve consistency and reduce complexity by providing a precise definition of fair value and a single source of fair value measurement and disclosure requirements for use across IFRSs. The requirements do not extend the use of fair value accounting but provide guidance on how it should be applied where its use is already required or permitted by other standards within IFRSs.
·
IFRIC 20Stripping costs in the production phase of a surface mine
In IFRIC 20, the IFRS Interpretations Committee sets out principles for the recognition of production stripping costs in the statement of financial position. The interpretation recognizes that some production stripping in surface mining activity will benefit production in future periods, and sets out criteria for capitalizing such costs. While the Company is not yet in the production phase, the adoption of IFRIC 20 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
4.
Changes in accounting policies –Continued
·
IAS 1Presentation of financial statements
IAS 1 was amended to change the grouping of items presented in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). Items that would be reclassified to profit or loss at a future point in time will be presented separately from items that will never be reclassified. The amendments do not change the nature of the items that are currently recognized in OCI, nor do they impact the determination of whether items in OCI are reclassified through profit or loss in future periods.
5.
Future accounting changes
The following new standards have not been applied in these consolidated financial statements and may have an impact on the Company’s future financial statements:
·
IFRS 9Financial instruments
IFRS 9Financial instruments is part of the IASB's wider project to replace IAS 39Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IFRS 9 retains but simplifies the mixed measurement model and establishes two primary measurement categories for financial assets: amortized cost and fair value. The basis of classification depends on the entity’s business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. This project has now been completed. However, as part of the Limited Amendments to IFRS 9 project, on 24 July 2013 the IASB tentatively decided to defer the mandatory effective date of IFRS 9 and that the mandatory effective date should be left open pending the finalisation of the impairment and classification and measurement requirements. In February 2014, the IASB tentatively determined that the revised effective date for IFRS 9 would be January 1, 2018. The Company has not yet completed an assessment of the impact of adopting IFRS 9.
·
IFRIC 21Accounting for Levies imposed by Governments
IFRIC 21Accounting for Levies imposed by Governments, clarifies that the obligating event giving rise to a liability to pay a levy is the activity described in the relevant legislation that triggers payment of the levy. IFRIC 21 will be effective for the Company beginning on July 1, 2014. The Company does not believe this guidance will have a material impact.
6.
Mining tax credit and duties
The current Quebec refundable tax credits and mining duties, as of June 30, 2014, amount to $890,137 (June 30, 2013: $3,252,301) and relate to exploration expenses incurred in the years ended June 30, 2014, June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012.
The non-current federal non-refundable tax credits, as of June 30, 2014, amount to $770,574 (June 30, 2013: $751,508) and relate to exploration expenses incurred in the years ended June 30, 2014, June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012; it can be applied in reduction of future income tax payable.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
7.
Property and equipment
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Land | | Computer Equipment | | Building | | Office Equipment | | Total |
Cost: | | | | | | | | | | |
At July 1, 2013 | $ | 6,069 | $ | 20,609 | $ | 66,204 | $ | 9,557 | $ | 102,439 |
Additions | | - | | - | | - | | - | | - |
At June 30, 2014 | | 6,069 | | 20,609 | | 66,204 | | 9,557 | | 102,439 |
Amortization: | | | | | | | | | | |
At July 1, 2013 | | - | | 9,399 | | 19,523 | | 9,366 | | 38,288 |
Charge for the period | | - | | 3,363 | | 4,668 | | 57 | | 8,088 |
At June 30, 2014 | | - | | 12,762 | | 24,191 | | 9,423 | | 46,376 |
Net book value: | | | | | | | | | | |
At July 1, 2013 | | 6,069 | | 11,210 | | 46,681 | | 191 | | 64,151 |
At June 30, 2014 | $ | 6,069 | $ | 7,847 | $ | 42,013 | $ | 134 | $ | 56,063 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Land | | Computer Equipment | | Building | | Office Equipment | | Total |
Cost: | | | | | | | | | | |
At July 1, 2012 | $ | 6,069 | $ | 20,242 | $ | 66,204 | $ | 9,557 | $ | 102,072 |
Additions: | | - | | 367 | | - | | - | | 367 |
At June 30, 2013 | | 6,069 | | 20,609 | | 66,204 | | 9,557 | | 102,439 |
Amortization: | | | | | | | | | | |
At July 1, 2012 | | - | | 4,674 | | 14,336 | | 9,284 | | 28,294 |
Charge for the period | | - | | 4,725 | | 5,187 | | 82 | | 9,994 |
At June 30, 2013 | | - | | 9,399 | | 19,523 | | 9,366 | | 38,288 |
Net book value: | | | | | | | | | | �� |
At July 1, 2012 | | 6,069 | | 15,568 | | 51,868 | | 273 | | 73,778 |
At June 30, 2013 | $ | 6,069 | $ | 11,210 | $ | 46,681 | $ | 191 | $ | 64,151 |
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
8.
Exploration and evaluation assets
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the Year ended June 30, 2014 |
Beattie Property (Note 8a) |
Donchester Property (Note 8a) |
Dumico Property (Note 8a) |
Central Duparquet Property (Note 8b) |
Total Duparquet Project |
Duquesne Property (Note 8c) |
Hunter Property (Note 8d) |
Other Properties(***) (Note 8e) |
Total |
|
|
Acquisition costs, beginning of year | $ | 4,800,000 | | 4,800,000 | $ | 2,400,000 | $ | 737,400 | $ | 12,737,400 | $ | 3,103,500 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 15,840,900 |
Additions during the year | | 24,000 | | 24,000 | | 12,000 | | - | | 60,000 | | - | | - | | 2,189 | | 62,189 |
Acquisition costs, end of Year | | 4,824,000(*) | | 4,824,000(*) | | 2,412,000(*) | | 737,400 | | 12,797,400 | | 3,103,500(**) | | - | | 2,189 | | 15,903,089 |
| | 11,063,415 | | 7,805,290 | | 650,998 | | 912,037 | | 20,431,740 | | 5,526,248 | | 391,364 | | 63,614 | | 26,412,966 |
Deferred exploration costs, beginning of year |
Additions during the year: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assays | | 62,889 | | 91,561 | | 4,837 | | 8,397 | | 167,684 | | - | | - | | - | | 167,684 |
Drilling | | 52,021 | | 26,067 | | - | | - | | 78,088 | | - | | - | | - | | 78,088 |
Field expenditures | | 283,563 | | 271,745 | | 12,040 | | 38,261 | | 605,609 | | 623 | | - | | - | | 606,232 |
Geological Consulting | | 19,283 | | 17,128 | | - | | 298 | | 36,709 | | 500 | | 500 | | - | | 37,709 |
Studies | | 99,004 | | 99,004 | | - | | - | | 198,008 | | - | | - | | - | | 198,008 |
Prefeasibility Studies | | 643,438 | | 643,438 | | - | | - | | 1,286,876 | | - | | - | | - | | 1,286,876 |
Total additions during the year | | 1,160,198 | | 1,148,943 | | 16,877 | | 46,956 | | 2,372,974 | | 1,123 | | 500 | | - | | 2,374,597 |
Tax and mining credit applied during the year | | (170,699) | | (148,997) | | (6,455) | | (14,862) | | (341,013) | | (414) | | (190) | | - | | (341,617) |
Deferred exploration costs, end of year | | 12,052,914 | | 8,805,236 | | 661,420 | | 944,131 | | 22,463,701 | | 5,526,957 | | 391,674 | | 63,614 | | 28,445,946 |
Total exploration and evaluation assets | $ | 16,876,914 | | 13,629,236 | $ | 3,073,420 | $ | 1,681,531 | $ | 35,261,101 | $ | 8,630,457 | $ | 391,674 | $ | 65,803 | $ | 44,349,035 |
Write-down of exploration and evaluation assets during the year | | - | | - | | - | | - | | - | | (7,630,457) | | - | | - | | (7,630,457) |
Total exploration and evaluation assets | | 16,876,914 | | 13,629,236 | | 3,073,420 | | 1,681,531 | | 35,261,101 | | 1,000,000 | | 391,674 | | 65,803 | | 36,718,578 |
(*): These acquisitions costs relate to the acquisition of the shares of the companies that hold the rights to the mining properties (see note 8a for additional details)
(**): These acquisitions costs include $1,818,500 that relates to the acquisition of the shares of the company that hold the rights to the mining property (see note 8c
for additional details)
(***): Other properties comprise: Cat Lake and Roquemaure
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
8.
Exploration and evaluation assets-Continued
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the Year ended June 30, 2013 | Beattie Property (Note 8a) | Donchester Property (Note 8a) | Dumico Property (Note 8a) | Central Duparquet Property (Note 8b) | Total Duparquet Project | Duquesne Property (Note 8c) | Hunter Property (Note 8d) | Other Property(***) (Note 8e) | Total |
|
|
Acquisition costs, beginning of year | $ | 4,000,000 | $ | 4,000,000 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 612,400 | $ | 10,612,400 | $ | 2,103,500 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 12,715,900 |
Additions during the year | | 800,000 | | 800,000 | | 400,000 | | 125,000 | | 2,125,000 | | 1,000,000 | | - | | - | | 3,125,000 |
| | 4,800,000(*) | | 4,800,000(*) | | 2,400,000(*) | | 737,400 | | 12,737,400 | | 3,103,500(**) | | - | | - | | 15,840,900 |
Acquisition costs, end of year | |
| | 8,377,285 | | 5,539,867 | | 598,980 | | 125,759 | | 14,641,891 | | 5,517,763 | | 379,800 | | 63,614 | | 20,603,068 |
Deferred exploration costs, beginning of year |
Additions during the year: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Assays | | 182,056 | | 309,454 | | 62,835 | | 118,019 | | 672,364 | | - | | - | | - | | 672,364 |
Drilling | | 1,113,480 | | 1,214,116 | | - | | 538,525 | | 2,866,121 | | - | | - | | - | | 2,866,121 |
Field expenditures | | 625,320 | | 544,160 | | - | | 185,385 | | 1,354,865 | | 19,969 | | 10,165 | | - | | 1,384,999 |
Geological Consulting | | 224,071 | | 189,378 | | 4,171 | | 15,483 | | 433,103 | | - | | - | | - | | 433,103 |
Studies | | 560,477 | | 220,396 | | - | | - | | 780,873 | | - | | - | | - | | 780,873 |
Preliminary Economic Assessment | | 144,117 | | 144,094 | | - | | - | | 288,211 | | - | | - | | - | | 288,211 |
Prefeasibility Studies | | 280,559 | | 273,968 | | - | | 88,333 | | 642,860 | | - | | - | | - | | 642,860 |
| | 3,130,080 | | 2,895,566 | | 67,006 | | 945,745 | | 7,038,397 | | 19,969 | 10,165 | | - | | 7,068,531 |
Total additions during the year | |
| | (443,950) | | (630,143) | | (14,988) | | (159,467) | | (1,248,548) | | (11,484) | | 1,399 | | - | | (1,258,633) |
Tax and mining credit applied during the year |
| | 11,063,415 | | 7,805,290 | | 650,998 | | 912,037 | | 20,431,740 | | 5,526,248 | | 391,364 | | 63,614 | | 26,412,966 |
Deferred exploration costs, end of year |
| $ | 15,863,415 | $ | 12,605,290 | $ | 3,050,998 | $ | 1,649,437 | $ | 33,169,140 | $ | 8,629,748 | $ | 391,364 | $ | 63,614 | $ | 42,253,866 |
Total exploration and evaluation assets |
(*): These acquisitions costs relate to the acquisition of the shares of the companies that hold the rights to the mining properties (see note 8a for additional details)
(**): These acquisitions costs include $1,818,500 that relates to the acquisition of the shares of the company that hold the rights to the mining property (see note 8c
for additional details)
(***): Other property comprises: Cat Lake
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
8.
Exploration and evaluation assets-Continued
a.
Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties
The Company signed three mineral property option agreements on May 1, 2008 (amended July 22, 2008, November 24, 2008, April 8, 2009 and October 26, 2009) with Beattie Gold Mines Ltd. (“Beattie”), 2699681 Canada Ltd. (“2699681”), and 2588111 Manitoba Ltd. (“2588111”) respectively with similar terms.
Beattie owns a mining concession. 2699681 owns, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Eldorado Gold Mines Inc., certain surface rights. 2588111, owns, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 173714 Canada Inc., certain mineral claims and mining concessions. All the mining rights, claims and concessions are located near the town of Duparquet, Quebec.
On September 14, 2012, the Company signed amended agreements with the above-named optionors. As of June 30, 2014, the Company had paid $4,800,000 to Beattie, $2,400,000 to 2699681 and $4,800,000 to 2588111 under the option agreements and now owns 10% of the shares of the optionors. In connection with the September 2012 agreement, the Company has also issued, in October 4, 2013, a further 100,000 shares of the Company to Beattie, 50,000 shares to 2699681, and 100,000 shares to 2588111. The other remaining terms of these amended agreements are as follows:
i.
cash payments of $4,000,000 to Beattie, $2,000,000 to 2699681, and $4,000,000 to 2588111 due on December 1, 2014; and
ii.
cash payments of $4,000,000 to Beattie, $2,000,000 to 2699681, and $4,000,000 to 2588111 due on December 1, 2015; and
iii.
cash payments of $6,000,000 to Beattie, $3,000,000 to 2699681, and $6,000,000 to 2588111 due on December 1, 2016; and
iv.
cash payments of $6,075,000 to Beattie, $3,037,500 to 2699681, and $6,075,000 to 2588111 before or on December 1, 2017.
These payments will permit the Company to earn the remaining 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors. There shall be no increase in the share ownership of the optionors by the Company unless all payment conditions specified above are satisfied. If the Company fails to make any of the above payments or to make new amendments to the Option Agreements, the original agreements and their current amendments will be automatically terminated and the related exploration and evaluation assets would then have to be written-off. The Company would still retain its 10% interest of the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors.
In the event of a change of control in the Company, or an assignment of the mineral property option agreements prior to the expiry of the aforementioned options, all the above conditions vest two years in advance.
The optionors have retained a 2% Net Smelter Royalty (“NSR”) for the duration of the option period, but this NSR will be eliminated upon Clifton acquiring 100% of these properties.
On December 10, 2009, the Company entered into a mineral property option and joint venture agreement with Osisko Mining Corporation (“Osisko”) regarding a joint venture on the Duparquet Project (the “Project”). The Project comprises the Central Duparquet, Duquesne, Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties. Under the terms of the mineral property option and joint venture agreement, Osisko could earn a 50% interest in the joint venture by contributing, as
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
8.
Exploration and evaluation assets -Continued
a.
Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties -Continued
operator, a total of $70,000,000 ($15,000,000 was incurred) to the joint venture over a four-year period.
On June 16, 2011, Osisko notified the Company of its decision to terminate its participation in the Project.
On June 3, 2014, the Company has filed legal proceedings against Osisko to claim damages sustained by the Company. The claim relates to a contract signed between the parties that includes a $22.5 Million loan facility that the Company formally requested from Osisko, in November 2012, in order to pay an option payment on the Duparquet Project. The credit facility was not made available by Osisko at that time, and discussions between the parties failed to resolve the dispute since then.
b.
Central Duparquet Property
On December 15, 2008, the Company signed an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Central Duparquet property. The property comprises 18 mineral claims located in the Duparquet Township, Quebec. To earn its 100% interest, the Company paid $400,000 on January 13, 2009.
During the five-year period following the date of execution of the agreement, the Company may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of its interest in the property. One of the condition of the agreement will be a payment to the optionor of shares of any company acquiring an interest in the property at a deemed value of $1,900,000, or $1,900,000 in cash. On May 2nd, 2013, the Company paid $125,000 in cash to extend the five-year period to six years and six months.
On February 26, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire the 2% NSR from the optionor. As consideration for the acquisition of the 2% NSR, the Company paid $155,000 and issued 10,000 common shares, valued at $57,400, to the optionor.
c.
Duquesne Property
Pursuant to an option agreement dated September 20, 2006 (amended on May 14, 2007 and June 11, 2007), the Company issued 10,000 common shares valued at $18,500 to the optionor, paid $1,800,000 in cash, and committed to incur before the fourth anniversary, over $4,000,000 in exploration expenditures to acquire all of the issued shares of Duquesne Gold Mines Ltd. (“Duquesne”). Duquesne was a private Canadian mineral exploration company which owned fifty five mineral claims and one mining concession, located in Destor Township, Quebec, together known as the Duquesne Gold Project. The optionor retained a 3% NSR, which the Company is required, upon certain conditions, to purchase from the optionor in consideration for the sum of $1,000,000 for each 0.5% NSR at any time for a total of $6,000,000.
During the year ended June 30, 2009, the Company acquired additional claims, known as the Duquesne Extension, for $35,000. The Duquesne Extension adjoins the Duquesne property to the south and southwest. In addition, the Company paid $250,000 to acquire claims known as
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
8.
Exploration and evaluation assets -Continued
c.
Duquesne Property -Continued
the Lepine and Destor properties. These claims are contiguous to the northwest and east, respectively, of the Duquesne property. The optionor has retained a 2% NSR.
On June 20, 2010, the Company had fulfilled all obligations under the option agreement, and acquired a 100% interest in Duquesne.
In connection with an agreement entered on July 31, 2012, the Company purchased a 0.5% NSR royalty on the Duquesne Property for $1.0M in cash. The remaining NSR of 2.5% could be purchased in tranche of 0.5% NSR in consideration for $1.0M each tranche, starting in June 2017 under certain conditions.
Following an internal study dated June 2, 2014, on the economic viability of the mining project, which considered the gold price, the investment requirements and the level of the mineral resources of the Duquesne Property, the Company has decided to record a write-down of $7,630,457 on the exploration and evaluation assets incurred on this project.
d.
Hunter Property
The Company signed a mineral property option agreement on November 30, 2009, with 173714 Canada Inc. to acquire the property as part of the Donchester Option Agreement.
e.
Other Properties
Cat Lake Property
The Company signed a mineral property option agreement on May 1, 2008 (amended July 22, 2008, November 24, 2008, and April 8, 2009) with 2588111. The Cat Lake property comprises nine mining leases in the Lac Dubonnet Mining District, which is northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Under the terms of the option agreement, the Company must keep the property in good standing (currently in good standing) until July 28, 2015, and incur minimum exploration expenditures of $33,000, which were incurred. At year-end, the Company has not yet earned any interest in the Cat Lake Property.
Roquemaure Property
The Roquemaure Project is composed of 40 mining claims covering 2,271 hectare. The claims were staked by Clifton Star Resources in June and July of 2014. The property is wholly owned by Clifton Star and is not subject to any underlying royalty or option or joint venture agreement.
9.
Share capital
a.
Share issuance
The Company’s authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares without par value.
As part of the amended agreements with the optionors related to the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties, the Company has issued on October 4, 2013, 250,000 shares at a price of $0.24 per share. The value of the share issuance of $60,000 was recorded as acquisition costs in the exploration and evaluation assets.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
9.
Share capital -Continued
a.
Flow through shares
On November 13, 2012, The Company completed a brokered private placement of 2,760,000 flow-through shares at $1.25 per share for gross proceeds of $3,450,000. The Company paid agent fees of $203,250 and issued 138,000 agent’s options(fair value $33,848) enabling the agent to purchase common shares for a period of eighteen (18) months at a price of $1.25 per share. The Company also paid $22,995 in legal fees. These issuance costs (net of the tax effect of $60,860) were applied in reduction of the share capital issued. In addition, the Company has recorded a flow-through premium liability of $828,000 of which $12,112 (June 30, 2013: $815,888) has been reversed against income tax expense at the time qualifying expenditures were incurred.
As of June 30, 2014, the Company has incurred the required exploration expenses eligible and, the Flow-through premium liability was reduced to $NIL.
b.
Stock options
The Company has a stock option plan (the “Stock Option Plan”), the purpose of which is to advance the interests of the Company by providing directors, officers and employees with a financial incentive for the continued improvement in the performance of the Company and encouragement for them to remain with the Company. The option price under each option shall not exceed the market price on the grant date. The term of any option granted under the Stock Option Plan may not exceed five years. The number of options granted shall not exceed 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company, with vesting requirements determined by the directors. The following transactions took place during the periods:
| | | | | |
| | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price |
| Balance – July 31, 2012 | | 4,720,000 | $ | 3.68 |
| Granted | | 1,175,000 | $ | 0.96 |
| Expired(1) | | (2,960,000) | $ | 4.81 |
| Balance – June 30, 2013 | | 2,935,000 | $ | 1.45 |
| Granted | | 400,000 | $ | 0.18 |
| Expired(1) | | (50,000) | $ | 5.00 |
| Balance – June 30, 2014 | | 3,285,000 | $ | 1.24 |
(1)
During the year ended June 30, 2014, 50,000 (June 30, 2013 – 2,960,000) stock options were cancelled, forfeited or have expired. Accordingly, the associated amount of $144,816 (June 30, 2013 – $8,063,604 recorded in share-based payments reserve was transferred to deficit.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
9.
Share issuance -Continued
c.
Stock option -Continued
At June 30, 2014, the following options were outstanding and exercisable:
| | | | | |
| Expiry date | Weighted-Average Exercise Price | Number of Options Outstanding | Weighted- Average Remaining life | Number of Options Vested |
| June 20, 2016 | $2.50 | 200,000 | 1.9 | 200,000 |
| March 9, 2017 | $2.03 | 435,000 | 2.7 | 435,000 |
| April 25, 2017 | $1.40 | 1,075,000 | 2.8 | 1,075,000 |
| September 14, 2017 | $1.14 | 450,000 | 3.2 | 450,000 |
| April 15, 2018 | $0.85 | 725,000 | 3.8 | 543,750 |
| December 3, 2018 | $0.18 | 400,000 | 4.4 | 200,000 |
| | $1.24 | 3,285,000 | 3.2 | 2,903,750 |
The fair value of the stock options granted during the year calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model was $43,747 (2013 – $509,217; 2012 - $1,592,492), or $0.11 (2013 – $0.43; 2012 - $1.05) per option, and the Company expensed $215,716 and capitalized $11,738 as exploration assets (2013 – $977,411 and $57,627 respectively; 2012 - $1,222,953 and $10,879 respectively) of which $32,387 relates to the current year’s grants and $183,329 was from stock options granted in the prior year. The unamortized share-based payments balance of $19,271 (2013 – $202,977; 2012 - $728,798) will be recognized during the next fiscal year.
The following weighted-average assumptions were used for the Black-Scholes valuation of stock options granted during the year:
| | | | | | | |
| | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | |
| | | | | | | |
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.51 | % | 1.24 | % | 1.32 | % |
| Expected life of options | 5.0 | Years | 5.0 | Years | 5.0 | Years |
| Annualized volatility(i) | 74.05 | % | 82.06 | % | 84.29 | % |
| Dividend rate | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % |
| (i) The expected volatility used was based on the historic volatility of the Company’s share price |
d.
Agent’s Options
The following transactions took place during the periods:
| | | | | |
| | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price |
| Balance – July 31, 2012 | | - | $ | - |
| Granted | | 138,000 | $ | 1.25 |
| Balance – June 30, 2013 | | 138,000 | $ | 1.25 |
| Expired | | (138,000) | $ | 1.25 |
| Balance – June 30, 2014 | | - | $ | - |
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
9.
Share issuance -Continued
e.
Shareholder rights plan
On December 3, 2013, the Company’s shareholders approved the adoption of an Amended and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan (the “Plan”) (amended and restating the Shareholder Rights Plan of the Company dated November 10, 2010) to ensure, to the extent possible, that all shareholders of the Company are treated fairly in connection with any take-over offer for the Company. The Plan must be reconfirmed at the third annual meeting following the meeting at which the Plan was confirmed.
Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, any bids that meet certain criteria intended to protect the interests of all shareholders are deemed to be permitted bids. A permitted bid must be made by way of a takeover bid circular prepared in compliance with applicable securities law and, in addition to certain conditions, must remain open for 60 days. In the event a takeover bid does not meet the permitted bid requirements of the Plan, the Rights issued under the Plan will entitle shareholders, other than any shareholder or shareholders involved in the takeover bid, to purchase additional common shares of the Company at a significant discount to the market price of the common shares at that time.
To implement the Plan, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the distribution and issuance of one Right in respect of each common share outstanding to holders of record on November 10, 2010. One Right will also be issued for each common share issued by the Company after November 10, 2010. Until the occurrence of such specific events, the Rights will not be exercisable and will be attached to and traded with the common shares of the Company.
10.
Related party transactions
Details of transactions between the Company and its related parties are disclosed below.
a.
Trading transactions
For the year ended June 30, 2014, the Company’s related parties consist of the following:
(i)
Paid or accrued for the year ended June 30, 2014, $115,824 (2013 - $161,072; 2012 - $304,523) to a legal firm which has a partner as director of the Company.
(ii)
Paid or accrued for the year ended June 30, 2014, $67,036 (2013 - $146,224; 2012 - $195,414) in consulting fees to the Company’s former Corporate Secretary and former President, CEO and director.
(iii)
Paid or accrued for the year ended June 30, 2014, $NIL (2013 - $NIL; 2012 - $96,818) in consulting fees to a company controlled by the Company’s former Vice-President of Exploration and director.
(iv)
Paid or accrued for the year ended June 30, 2014, $NIL (2013 - $NIL; 2012 - $88,848) in consulting fees to the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”).
Included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities as at June 30, 2014, is $60,000 (2013 - $60,000) for legal fees accrued to that same legal firm.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
10.
Related party transactions -Continued
a.
Trading transactions -Continued
The Company has entered into agreements with three officers for employment. If such agreements are terminated without cause, the Company will have to pay $87,500 or $450,000, respectively, to two of the three officers. If such agreements are terminated following a change in control, the Company will have to pay $135,000 or $628,000, respectively, to two of the three officers.
b.
Compensation of key management personnel
The remuneration of the Company’s key management personnel for the years ended June 30, is as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| | | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 |
| Salary of key management employees | $ | 618,750 | $ | 750,000 | $ | 331,250 |
| Directors fees | | 158,000 | | 156,000 | | 246,750 |
| Consulting fees | | 67,036 | | 146,224 | | 381,080 |
| Share-based payments | | 190,191 | | 848,321 | | 1,200,607 |
| | $ | 1,033,977 | $ | 1,900,545 | $ | 2,159,687 |
11.
Management of capital
The Company manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it, based on the funds available to the Company, in order to support exploration and development of mineral properties. The Board of Directors has not established quantitative capital structure criteria management, but will review on a regular basis the capital structure of the Company to ensure its appropriateness to the stage of development of the business. The Company considers the components of shareholders’ equity as capital.
The Company’s objectives when managing capital are:
·
To safeguard its accumulated capital in order to maintain a sufficient level of funds to support continued evaluation and maintenance of the Company’s existing properties, and to acquire, explore, and develop other precious and base metal deposits.
·
To invest cash on hand in highly liquid and highly rated financial instruments with high credit quality issuers, thereby minimizing the risk and loss of principal.
·
To obtain the necessary financing to complete exploration and development of its properties, if and when it is required.
The properties in which the Company currently holds an interest in are in the exploration stage, and the Company is dependent on external financing to fund its activities. In order to carry out planned exploration and development and pay for administrative costs, the Company will utilize its existing working capital and raise additional amounts as needed.
Management reviews its capital management approach on an ongoing basis and believes that this approach, given the relative size of the Company, is reasonable.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
11.
Management of capital -Continued
In order to facilitate the management of capital and development of its mineral properties, the Company prepares annual expenditure budgets, which are updated as necessary and are reviewed by the Company’s Board of Directors. In addition, the Company may issue new equity, incur additional debt, option its mineral properties for cash and/or expenditure commitments from optionees, enter into joint venture arrangements, or dispose of certain assets. When applicable, the Company’s investment policy is to hold cash in interest bearing accounts at high credit quality financial institutions to maximize liquidity. In order to maximize ongoing development efforts, the Company does not pay dividends. The Company expects to continue to raise funds, from time to time, to continue meeting its capital management objectives.
There were no changes in the Company’s approach to capital management during the year ended June 30, 2014, compared to the year ended June 30, 2013. The Company is not subject to externally-imposed capital requirements (see note 2).
12.
Financial instruments
Fair value
The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash, short-term investments, receivables and accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The carrying values of these financial instruments approximate their fair values due to their short-term maturity.
Financial risk management
The Company’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks including credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk.
Credit risk
Credit Risk is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will fail to discharge an obligation and cause the other party to incur a financial loss. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash, short-term investments and receivables. The carrying amount of the financial assets recorded in the financial statements, net of any allowance for losses, represents the maximum exposure to credit risk.
The Company deposits its cash and short-term investments with a high credit quality major Canadian financial institution as determined by ratings agencies. Receivables are mainly interest receivable from the bank and sales tax receivable.
To reduce credit risk, the Company regularly reviews the collectability of its receivables, and establishes an allowance based on its best estimate of potentially uncollectible amounts. The Company historically has not had difficulty collecting its receivables.
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk represents the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Company mitigates liquidity risk through its capital structure and by continuously monitoring actual and projected cash flows. The Company finances its exploration activities through equity issues, flow-through shares issues, operating cash flows and the utilization of its liquidity reserves.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
12.
Financial instruments -Continued
If the Company fails to make the payments $10,000,000, due on December 1, 2014, related to the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties, or to make new amendments to the Option Agreements, the original agreements and the current amendments will be automatically terminated and the related exploration and evaluation assets would then have to be written-off. The Company would still retain its 10% interest of the issued and outstanding shares of the optionors.
The Board of Directors reviews the Company’s operating and capital budgets, as well as any material transactions outside of the ordinary course of business.
Contractual maturities of financial liabilities are one year or less.
Market risk
Market risk is the risk of loss that may arise from changes in market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency risk and gold price risk.
(a)
Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the Company’s exposure to increase or decrease in financial instruments value caused by fluctuations in interest rates. Since the Company has no financial obligations, its current risk is limited to potential returns on short-term deposits.
(b)
Foreign currency risk
The Company has no significant foreign assets and liabilities, and accordingly is not exposed to significant foreign currency risk.
(c)
Gold price risk
The Company will be exposed to the risk of fluctuations in prevailing market gold prices. Currently, the Company is advancing a large gold project, and is not exposed to financial instruments risks related to gold prices.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
13.
Income taxes
A reconciliation of income taxes at statutory rates with the reported taxes is as follows:
| | | | | | |
| 2014 | 2013 | | 2012 |
| | | | | | |
Loss for the year before tax | $ | 9,534,480 | $ | 3,297,126 | $ | 2,923,155 |
Expected income tax recovery | $ | (2,564,775) | $ | (892,777) | $ | (755,000) |
Change in statutory tax rates and other | | - | | 23,000 | | (229,000) |
Effect of mining duties tax rate on the write-down of assets | | (784,219) | | - | | - |
Non-deductible share-based payments | | 58,000 | | 263,000 | | 306,000 |
Deferred exploration flow-through shares | | 54,684 | | 1,232,000 | | 29,000 |
Change in estimate(1) | | - | | 768,000 | | - |
Other | | (40,947) | | (5,008) | | (30,000) |
| $ | (3,277,257) | $ | 1,388,215 | $ | (679,000) |
Reversal of flow-through premium | | (12,112) | | (815,888) | | - |
| | | | | | |
Deferred income tax expense (recovery) | $ | (3,289,369) | $ | 572,327 | $ | (679,000) |
(1)
For the fiscal year 2013, the deferred mining duties tax provision was established under the assumption that the exploration and evaluation assets will be recovered through future production, not through the sale of the related assets as was the case in prior years. This change in assumption in 2013 resulted in an increase of the deferred mining duties tax liability of $768,000
The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
| | | | |
| 2014 | 2013 |
| | | | |
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) | | | | |
Exploration and evaluation assets | $ | (4,250,000) | $ | (6,566,000) |
Non-capital losses available for future period(i) | | 3,879,000 | | 3,067,000 |
Financing costs | | 37,000 | | 49,000 |
Property and equipment | | 11,000 | | 9,000 |
Net deferred tax liability | $ | (323,000) | $ | (3,441,000) |
(i) The Company has available non-capital losses that may be carried forward to apply against future years’ income for income tax purposes in certain jurisdictions. The Company has accumulated non-capital tax losses carryforwards of $14,380,000. The non-capital tax losses expire as follows: |
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
13.
Income taxes –Continued
| | |
Available to years | | Amount |
2015 | $ | 27,000 |
2026 | | 20,000 |
2027 | | 77,000 |
2028 | | 552,000 |
2029 | | 1,249,000 |
2030 | | 1,556,000 |
2031 | | 1,784,000 |
2032 | | 2,123,000 |
2033 | | 3,970,000 |
2034 | | 3,022,000 |
| $ | 14,380,000 |
The Company’s unrecognized temporary differences and tax losses are as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| Expiry date range | | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 |
Temporary differences Allowable capital losses | No expiry date | $ |
140,000 |
$ |
140,000 |
$ |
140,000 |
14.
Segmented information
The Company conducts its business in a single operating reportable segment, that being the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. All of the Company’s exploration and evaluation assets are located in Canada.
15.
Contingency
On June 3, 2014, the Company has filed legal proceedings against Osisko to claim damages sustained by the Company. The claim relates to a contract signed between the parties that include a $22.5 Million loan facility that the Company formally requested from Osisko, in November 2012, in order to pay an option payment on the Duparquet Property. The credit facility was not made available by Osisko at that time and discussions between the parties failed to resolve the dispute since then.
At this time, it is premature to evaluate the outcome of these legal proceedings.
16.
Subsequent Event
On June 19th, 2014 The Company was served with proceedings, as an impleaded party, of an action instituted between some of the Optionors of the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties against other Optioners of the Beattie, Donchester and Dumico properties where
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
June 30, 2014
16.
Subsequent Event –Continued
damages were being claimed between the Optioners on the basis that improper transfers of mining titles had occurred over 20 years ago.
On August 15, 2014, the Plaintiffs in these proceedings amended their action to name the Company as Co-Defendants instead of as an impleaded party and claiming damages from the Company as it is alleged that the Company failed to carry-out proper due diligence before signing its agreement with the Optioners’ representative. As such, Plaintiffs have asked the Court to find the Company jointly and solidarily liable with the Co-Defendants for the purported damages suffered by the Plaintiffs. The Company strongly believes that the amended proceedings against it have simply been instituted as a means of exercising pressure on the Co-Defendants and that there is no basis in fact or in law for this recourse against the Company.
However, these proceedings have complicated the Company’s quest for new financing as the Company has had to disclose to potential investors the risk to title.
The new litigation has further complicated renegotiating the terms of the existing options agreements as the Optioners are in active litigation with one another and neither party wishes to in any way compromise its position in that litigation.
Signature Page
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Clifton Star Resources Inc.
Registrant
| |
Dated: October 28, 2014 | Signed:/s/ “Michel F. Bouchard” |
| Michel F. Bouchard, President and CEO |