EXPLANATORY NOTE
Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (the “Company”, “Sandstorm Gold”, or the “Registrant”) is a Canadian issuer eligible to file its annual report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on Form 40-F pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system of the Exchange Act. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act. Equity securities of the Company are accordingly exempt from Sections 14(a), 14(b), 14(c), 14(f) and 16 of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 3a12-3.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report on Form 40-F and the exhibits attached hereto and incorporated herein may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Exchange Act, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”) or in releases made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), all as may be amended from time to time, concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Sandstorm Gold. The forward-looking statements contained in this annual report on Form 40-F are made only as of the date hereof. The forward-looking statements contained in the exhibits incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 40-F are made only as of the respective dates set forth in such exhibits. The Company does not have, or undertake, any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.
Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions; conditions on the Chapada Mine, the Cerro Moro Project, the Houndé Mine, the Ming Mine, the Gualcamayo Mine, the Karma Mine, the Emigrant Springs Mine, the Thunder Creek Mine, MWS, the Hugo North Extension and Heruga deposits, the mines underlying the Sandstorm portfolio of royalties, the Bachelor Lake Mine, the Diavik Mine, the Mt. Hamilton mine, the Prairie Creek Project, the San Andres Mine, the Hod Maden (formerly “Hot Maden”) Project, the Hackett River Project, the Lobo-Marte Project, Agi Dagi and Kirazli or the Bracemac-McLeod Mine (each as defined in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “MD&A”)); the absence of control over mining operations from which the Company will purchase gold and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; problems inherent to the marketability of minerals; industry conditions,
including fluctuations in the price of metals, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in interest rates; government entities interpreting existing tax legislation or enacting new tax legislation in a way which adversely affects the Company; stock market volatility; competition; as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled “Risks to Sandstorm” in the MD&A and the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in Sandstorm’s most recent Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “AIF”) attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herewith.
Forward-looking information in this annual report on Form 40-F includes, among other things, disclosure regarding: the Company’s existing Streams (as defined below) and royalties as well as its future outlook, the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates for each of the Chapada Mine, the Cerro Moro Project, the Houndé Mine, the Diavik Mine, the Aurizona Mine, the Gualcamayo Mine, the Emigrant Springs Mine, the Thunder Creek Mine, MWS, the Santa Elena Mine, the Ming Mine, the Black Fox Mine, the Hugo North Extension and Heruga deposits, the Karma Mine, the mines underlying the Sandstorm portfolio of royalties, the Bachelor Lake Mine, the Mt. Hamilton Mine, the Prairie Creek Project, the San Andres Mine, the Hod Maden (Formerly “Hot Maden”) Project, the Hackett River Project, the Lobo-Marte Project, Agi Dagi and Kirazli and the Bracemac-McLeod Mine. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the continued operation of the mines from which the Company will purchase gold, other commodities or receive royalties from, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, that the mining operations will operate in accordance with their public statements and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out in such statements.
Although Sandstorm has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
NOTE TO UNITED STATES READERS -
DIFFERENCES IN UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN REPORTING PRACTICES
The Company is permitted, under a multi-jurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States, to prepare this annual report on Form 40-F in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. The Company is also subject to Canadian auditing and auditor independence standards.
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, including the reports of the independent registered public accounting firm with respect thereto. Consequently, the Company’s financial statements may not be comparable to those prepared by U.S. companies. The Company’s audited financial statements as at and for the year ended 2017 and 2016 (the “Audited Financial Statements”) and the Company’s MD&A are included in the 2017 Annual Report of the Company (the “Annual Report”) which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 to this annual report on Form 40-F and incorporated by reference herein.
CURRENCY
Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts in this annual report on Form 40-F are in United States dollars. The exchange rate of United States dollars into Canadian dollars, on December 29, 2017 based upon the daily average exchange rate as published by the Bank of Canada, was U.S.$1.00=CDN$1.2545. The exchange rate of United States dollars into Canadian dollars, on March 28, 2018 based upon the daily average exchange rate as published by the Bank of Canada, was U.S.$1.00=CDN$1.2902.
RESOURCE AND RESERVE ESTIMATES
The Company’s AIF, attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F, and the Annual Report, attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this annual report on Form 40-F, have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in the AIF and the Annual Report have been prepared in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) - Definition Standards adopted by CIM Council (the “CIM Definition Standards”) which were incorporated by reference in the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) which is a rule developed by Canadian Securities Administrators that established standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. The terms “mineral reserve”, “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM standards. These definitions differ from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7 (“SEC Industry Guide 7”) under the Securities Act.
In addition, the terms “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101 and the CIM standards; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. “Inferred mineral 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 pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
Accordingly, information contained in this annual report on Form 40-F and the portions of documents incorporated by reference herein containing descriptions of the Company’s 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.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
At the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 40-F, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a - 15(e) and 15d - 15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 40-F, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that: (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and (ii) material information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed under the Exchange Act was accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and the CFO, as appropriate, to allow for accurate and timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in National Instrument 52-109 in Canada and in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The Company’s management, including its CEO and CFO, does not expect that its disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived 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 controls. The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls 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.
With the participation of the CEO and CFO, management conducted an evaluation of the design and operation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, following the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013 Framework). This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation. Based on this evaluation, management concluded in its report that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.
Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting (the “Report”) is included with the Audited Financial Statements which are included in the Annual Report attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this annual report on Form 40-F.
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 included with the Audited Financial Statements which are included in the Annual Report attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this annual report on Form 40-F.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the period covered by this annual report on Form 40-F, no changes occurred in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. This assessment includes the Company’s implementation and evaluation of its framework of internal control over financial reporting with respect to Mariana Resources Ltd., which it acquired in July of 2017.
REGULATION BTR
The Company was not required by Rule 104 of Regulation BTR to send any notice to its directors and executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 concerning any equity security subject to a blackout period under Rule 101 of Regulation BTR.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Identification
The Company has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee is comprised of three individuals: David E. De Witt (Chair), John P.A. Budreski, and Andrew T. Swarthout. In the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”), each of the members of the Audit Committee is financially sophisticated and independent, as such terms are defined by the NYSE American listing standards applicable to the Company and as determined under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.
Audit Committee Financial Experts
The Board has determined that each of John P.A. Budreski, David E. De Witt and Andrew T. Swarthout is an audit committee financial expert under the applicable criteria prescribed by NYSE American and the SEC in the general instructions of Form 40-F.
The SEC has indicated that the designation of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not make such person an “expert” for any purpose, impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than those imposed on such person as a member of the Audit Committee and Board in the absence of such designation, or affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or Board.
Audit Committee Charter
The Company’s audit committee charter is attached as an exhibit to the AIF, available for review on the Company’s website at www.sandstormgold.com and in print without charge to any shareholder that provides the Company with a written request addressed to the Company’s Corporate Secretary.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Company’s Board has adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company. The Code addresses the items required to be included in a “code of ethics” as set forth in paragraph 9(b) of General Instruction B of Form 40-F, as well as various other topics.
The Code is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on the Company’s website at www.sandstormgold.com. The Company will provide a copy of the Code in print without charge to any person that provides the Company with a written request addressed to the Company’s Corporate Secretary.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, was appointed as the Company’s external auditor in June 17, 2016. The Company’s independent auditors prior to June 17, 2016 was Deloitte LLP (“Deloitte”). For a description of the total amount billed to the Company by PwC and Deloitte for services performed in the last two financial years by category of service (audit fees, audit related fees, tax fees and all other fees), see “Audit Committee - External Auditor Service Fees” on page 108 of the AIF, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F and incorporated by reference herein.
For a description of the Company’s pre-approval policies and procedures related to the provision of non-audit services, see “Audit Committee - Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” on page 108 of the AIF, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F and incorporated by reference herein.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table lists as of December 31, 2017 information with respect to the Company’s known contractual obligations:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Contractual Obligations | | Total | | Less than | | 1 to 3 | | 3 to 5 | | More than |
| | | | | 1 Year | | Years | | Years | | 5 Years |
Long-Term Debt Obligations | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - |
Interest Payments | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - |
Operating Lease Obligations | | $ | 2,126,807 | | $ | 587,789 | | $ | 1,180,039 | | $ | 358,979 | | $ | - |
Purchase Obligations | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - |
Other Long-Term Liabilities | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | - |
Total | | $ | 2,126,807 | | $ | 587,789 | | $ | 1,180,039 | | $ | 358,979 | | $ | - |
The Company is a resource-based Company that acquires gold streams and other metals purchase agreements (“Gold Streams” or “Streams”) from companies that have advanced stage development projects or operating mines. Gold Streams are acquired by entering into gold streaming agreements which provide that in return for making a one-time up-front payment, the Company receives the right to purchase, at a fixed price per unit or at a variable price based on the spot market price, a percentage of a mine’s production for the life of the mine. Accordingly, the Company’s purchase commitments with respect to each Gold Stream are not based on time periods, such as less than 1 year or 1 to 3 years, but rather continue for the life of the mine. Furthermore, in connection with the Company’s various Streams, certain payments are advanced to companies as their mining projects are advanced. These payments are subject to certain funding conditions and are not based on time periods. For a description of the purchase commitments of the Company, see “Contractual Obligations” and “Note 14 - Contractual Obligations” on pages 27 and 67, respectively, of the Annual Report attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this annual report on Form 40-F and incorporated by reference herein.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
As a Canadian corporation listed on NYSE American, the Company is not required to comply with most of the NYSE American corporate governance standards, so long as it complies with Canadian corporate governance practices. However, pursuant to the NYSE American rules, the Company must disclose the significant differences between its corporate governance practices and those required to be followed by U.S. domestic issuers under the NYSE American’s corporate governance standards.
NYSE American’s quorum requirement provides that a quorum for a shareholder meeting of a NYSE American-listed company must be at least 33-1/3% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the company. The Company instead follows applicable Canadian laws with respect to quorum requirements. The Company’s articles provide that the quorum requirement for a shareholder meeting shall be one person present or represented by proxy.
The Company reviews its governance practices and monitors developments in Canada and the United States on an ongoing basis to ensure it is in compliance with applicable rules and standards. The board is committed to sound corporate governance practices which are both in the interest of its shareholders and contribute to effective and efficient decision making.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Company, including the Audited Financial Statements, and MD&A and the AIF, can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov or on the Company’s website at www.sandstormgold.com. Shareholders may also contact the Company’s Corporate Secretary by phone at (604) 689-0234 or by e-mail at info@sandstormLTD.com to request copies of these documents and this annual report on Form 40-F for no charge.
UNDERTAKING
The Company undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the SEC staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the SEC staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises; or transactions in said securities.
CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
The Company has previously filed with the SEC a written consent to service of process and power of attorney on Form F-X. Any change to the name or address of the Company’s agent for service shall be communicated promptly to the SEC by amendment to the Form F-X referencing the file number of the Company.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
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| SANDSTORM GOLD LTD. |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Nolan Watson |
| Name: | Nolan Watson |
Date: March 29, 2018 | Title: | President & Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| | |
Exhibit | | Description |
| | |
99.1 | | Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2017 |
99.2 | | Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2017, which includes Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and the Audited Annual Consolidated Financial Statements as at and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 |
99.2 | | Printer Friendly Copy |
99.3 | | Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
99.4 | | Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
99.5 | | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
99.6 | | Consent of Ramon Mendoza Reyes |
99.7 | | Consent of Yohann Bouchard |
99.8 | | Consent of Keith Laskowski |
99.9 | | Consent of Rodney Webster |
99.10* | | Code of Conduct and Ethics (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.6 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2013 and filed with the SEC on March 11, 2014) |
101.INS | | XBRL Instance Document |
101.SCH | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema |
101.CAL | | XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase |
101.LAB | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase |
101.PRE | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase |
101.DEF | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Document |
*Not filed herewith, but incorporated herein by reference.
