Management Discussion and Analysis
(expressed in United States dollars)
Years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010
CANARC RESOURCE CORP.
(the “Company”)
Fourth Quarter Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
For the Year ended December 31, 2011
(expressed in United States dollars)
CAUTION – FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained herein regarding the Company and its operations constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, assumptions or expectations of future performance, are “forward-looking statements”. We caution you that such “forward looking statements” involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include fluctuations in precious metal prices, unpredictable results of exploration activities, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, fluctuations in the costs of goods and services, problems associated with exploration and mining operations, changes in legal, social or political conditions in the jurisdictions where the Company operates, lack of appropriate funding and other risk factors, as discussed in the Company’s filings with Canadian and American Securities regulatory agencies. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, other than as may be specifically required by applicable securities laws and regulations.
1.0 Preliminary Information
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) of Canarc Resource Corp. (the “Company”) should be read in conjunction with the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, all of which are available at the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.
Financial information in this MD&A is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). International Financial Reporting Standards 1 – First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting (“IFRS 1”) has been applied with an adoption date of January 1, 2011 and a transition date of January 1, 2010, and all dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.
All information contained in the MD&A is as of March 23, 2012 unless otherwise indicated.
1.1 Background
The Company was incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, and is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and exploitation of precious metal properties in Canada and the United States.
As the Company is focused on its mineral exploration activities, there is no mineral production, sales or inventory in the conventional sense. The recoverability of amounts capitalized for mineral properties is dependent upon the existence of reserves in its mineral properties, the ability of the Company to arrange appropriate financing and receive necessary permitting for the exploration and development of its properties, confirmation of the Company’s interest in certain properties, and upon future profitable production or proceeds from the disposition thereof. Such exploration and development activities normally take years to complete and the amount of resulting income, if any, is difficult to determine with any certainty at this time. Many of the key factors are outside of the Company’s control. As the carrying value and amortization of mineral properties and capital assets are, in part, related to the Company’s mineral reserves and resources, if any, the estimation of such reserves and resources is significant to the Company’s financial position and results of operations.
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
1.2 Overall Performance
The Company currently only owns a direct interest in the precious metal property, known as the New Polaris property (British Columbia), and has option agreements to earn interests in the Tay-LP property (Yukon) and the Windfall Hills properties (British Columbia), and staked the Devil’s Thumb property (British Columbia).
New Polaris property (British Columbia, Canada)
The Company owns a 100% interest in the New Polaris property, located in the Atlin Mining Division, British Columbia, which is subject to a 15% net profit interest and may be reduced to a 10% net profit interest within one year of commercial production by issuing 150,000 common shares to Rembrandt Gold Mines Ltd.
In 2007, the Company retained Moose Mountain Technical Services (“Moose Mountain”) and Giroux Consultants Limited to update resource estimates for the New Polaris gold project. Their technical report entitled “Resource Potential, New Polaris Project” (the “New Polaris Resource Report”) was authored by R.J. Morris, MSc, PGeo, and G.H. Giroux, MASc, PEng, respectively, who are independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, dated March 14, 2007, and was prepared in compliance with NI 43-101, to the best of the Company’s knowledge. The New Polaris Resource Report is available at www.sedar.com.
Based upon the New Polaris Resource Report, measured and indicated undiluted resources range from 570,000 to 457,000 oz of gold contained in 1,670,000 to 1,009,000 tonnes (1,840,861 to 1,112,233 tons) of mineralized vein material grading 10.6 to 14.1 grams per tonne (0.31 to 0.41 oz per ton) using a range of cutoff grades from 2 to 8 gpt (0.06 to 0.23 opt). Greater than 95% of the measured and indicated resources are located within the C vein system where infill drilling programs were conducted.
Inferred undiluted resources range from 697,000 to 571,000 oz of gold contained in 2,060,000 to 1,340,000 tonnes (2,270,763 to 1,477,098 tons) of mineralized vein material grading 10.5 to 13.3 grams per tonne (0.31 to 0.39 oz per ton) using a range of cutoff grades from 2 to 8 gpt (0.06 to 0.23 opt). Approximately 75% of the inferred resources are also located within the C vein system, with the remainder attributable to the Y19 and Y20 veins.
MEASURED UNDILUTED RESOURCE | ||||||
Cutoff Grade | Mineralized Tonnage | Average Grade | Contained Gold | |||
(g/tonne) | (oz/ton)* | (tonnes) | (tons) | (g/tonne) | (oz/ton) | Au (oz) |
2 | 0.058 | 390,000 | 429,902 | 9.48 | 0.277 | 119,000 |
4 | 0.117 | 330,000 | 363,763 | 10.62 | 0.310 | 113,000 |
6 | 0.175 | 271,000 | 298,727 | 11.89 | 0.347 | 104,000 |
8 | 0.233 | 203,000 | 223,769 | 13.54 | 0.395 | 88,000 |
INDICATED UNDILUTED RESOURCE | ||||||
Cutoff Grade | Mineralized Tonnage | Average Grade | Contained Gold | |||
(g/tonne) | (oz/ton)* | (tonnes) | (tons) | (g/tonne) | (oz/ton) | Au (oz) |
2 | 0.058 | 1,280,000 | 1,410,960 | 10.97 | 0.320 | 451,000 |
4 | 0.117 | 1,180,000 | 1,300,728 | 11.65 | 0.340 | 442,000 |
6 | 0.175 | 1,017,000 | 1,121,052 | 12.71 | 0.371 | 416,000 |
8 | 0.233 | 806,000 | 888,464 | 14.22 | 0.415 | 368,000 |
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 2 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
MEASURED PLUS INDICATED UNDILUTED RESOURCE | ||||||
Cutoff Grade | Mineralized Tonnage | Average Grade | Contained Gold | |||
(g/tonne) | (oz/ton)* | (tonnes) | (tons) | (g/tonne) | (oz/ton) | Au (oz) |
2 | 0.058 | 1,670,000 | 1,840,861 | 10.62 | 0.310 | 570,000 |
4 | 0.117 | 1,510,000 | 1,664,491 | 11.42 | 0.333 | 555,000 |
6 | 0.175 | 1,288,000 | 1,419,778 | 12.54 | 0.366 | 519,000 |
8 | 0.233 | 1,009,000 | 1,112,233 | 14.08 | 0.411 | 457,000 |
INFERRED UNDILUTED RESOURCE | ||||||
Cutoff Grade | Mineralized Tonnage | Average Grade | Contained Gold | |||
(g/tonne) | (oz/ton)* | (tonnes) | (tons) | (g/tonne) | (oz/ton) | Au (oz) |
2 | 0.058 | 2,060,000 | 2,270,763 | 10.5 | 0.307 | 697,000 |
4 | 0.117 | 1,925,000 | 2,121,951 | 11.0 | 0.322 | 683,000 |
6 | 0.175 | 1,628,000 | 1,794,564 | 12.2 | 0.354 | 636,000 |
8 | 0.233 | 1,340,000 | 1,477,098 | 13.3 | 0.387 | 571,000 |
* ton equals short dry ton
The resource estimate uses ordinary kriging of 192 recent drill holes and 1,432 gold assay intervals constrained within 4 main vein segments as modelled in three dimensions by the Company’s geologists. The total New Polaris database consisted of 1,056 diamond drill holes with a total of 31,514 sample intervals. For this study, the classification for each resource block was a function of the semivariogram range. In general, blocks estimated using ¼ of the semivariogram range were classed as measured, blocks estimated using ½ the semivariogram range were classed as indicated and all other blocks estimated using the full semivariogram range were classed as inferred. A review of gold grade distribution outlined 6 overlapping lognormal gold populations within the resource database. On this basis, a total of 10 gold assays were capped at 63 g/t.
In April 2011, the Company completed an updated NI 43-101 preliminary economic assessment report by Moose Mountain for the New Polaris gold project (the “New Polaris Preliminary Economic Report”). The New Polaris Preliminary Economic Report is available at www.sedar.com.
The preliminary economic assessment is based upon building and operating a 600 tonne per day gold mine, averaging 72,000 ounces gold per year. The updated parameters in the base case economic model includes a gold price of US$1,200 per oz, CAD$/US$ foreign exchange rate of 1.00, cash costs of US$481 per oz, and a cut-off grade 7 grams per tonne. The New Polaris Preliminary Economic Report for the New Polaris project results in an after-tax net present value of CAD$129.8 million using a discount rate of 5%, an after-tax internal rate of return of 31.4%, and a pay-back period of 2.5 years. Given its conceptual nature, there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.The base case mine model in the New Polaris Preliminary Economic Report is summarized below (stated in Canadian dollars):
Scheduled Resources | 1,056,000 tonnes measured and indicated grading 11.7 gpt Au (after dilution) and 1,132,000 tonnes inferred grading 10.8 gpt Au (after dilution) and a 7 gpt cutoff | |
Production Rate | 600 tonnes per day | |
Grade | 11.3 grams per tonne (diluted 13%) | |
Recoveries | 91% gold into concentrate |
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 3 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Average Output | 72,000 oz gold per year | |
Mine life | 10 years | |
The base case financial parameters are (in Canadian dollars): | ||
Gold Price | US$ 1200 per oz | |
Exchange Rate | US$ 1.00 = CA$ 1.00 | |
Capital Cost | $101.1 million | |
Cash Cost | US$ 481 per oz (excluding offsites) | |
Pre-Tax | After-Tax | |
Cash Flow (LoM) | $280.8 million | $188.1 million |
Net Present Value (NPV) | ||
NPV (5%) | $197.2 million | $129.8 million |
NPV (8%) | $160.0 million | $103.7 million |
NPV (10%) | $139.3 million | $ 89.0 million |
Pre-Tax | After Tax | |
Internal Rate of Return | 38.1% | 31.4% |
Payback Period | 2.41 years | 2.51 years |
The net present values are life of mine net cash flows shown at various discount rates. The internal rates of return assume 100% equity financing. Cash costs include all site-related costs to produce a gold-sulphide concentrate but offsite costs for concentrate transportation and processing were treated as deductions against sales. The preferred processing alternative entails reducing the ore to a bulk gold-sulphide concentrate and shipping the concentrate to existing autoclave facilities in Nevada for the production of dore gold bars.
The project economics are most sensitive to variations in the gold price and least sensitive to changes in capital and operating costs, as shown by the following sensitivity analysis:
New Polaris AFTER TAX CASH FLOW SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS | |||
Description of Sensitivity | Cash Flow | NPV @ 5% | NPV @ 8% |
CAD$ (000)s | CAD$ (000)s | CAD$ (000)s | |
Gold US$1,000/oz -17% | $104,287 | $63,920 | $45,788 |
Gold US$1,100/oz -8% | $146,197 | $96,981 | $74,907 |
Base Case US$1,200/oz | $188,107 | $129,819 | $103,707 |
Gold US$1,300/oz +8% | $230,017 | $162,657 | $132,507 |
Gold US$1,400/oz +17% | $271,927 | $195,347 | $161,090 |
Grade -10% | $137,815 | $90,403 | $69,132 |
Grade -5% | $162,961 | $110,116 | $86,427 |
Base Case Grade 11.25 gpt | $188,107 | $129,819 | $103,707 |
Grade +5% | $213,253 | $149,522 | $120,987 |
Grade +10% | $238,399 | $169,225 | $138,267 |
Capital Cost -10% | $193,775 | $135,816 | $109,850 |
Capital Cost -5% | $190,941 | $132,817 | $106,778 |
Base Case $101M Capital | $188,107 | $129,819 | $103,707 |
Capital Cost +5% | $185,273 | $126,821 | $100,635 |
Capital Cost +10% | $182,440 | $123,822 | $97,564 |
Operating Cost -10% | $208,383 | $145,818 | $117,799 |
Operating Cost -5% | $198,245 | $137,819 | $110,753 |
Base Case | $188,107 | $129,819 | $103,707 |
Operating Cost +5% | $177,969 | $121,819 | $96,661 |
Operating Cost +10% | $167,831 | $113,820 | $89,614 |
Exchange rate $0.90 -10% | $238,750 | $169,523 | $138,540 |
Exchange rate $0.95 -5% | $212,104 | $148,633 | $120,213 |
Base Case $1.00 | $188,107 | $129,819 | $103,707 |
Exchange rate $1.05 +5% | $166,384 | $112,788 | $88,765 |
Exchange rate $1.10 +10% | $146,625 | $97,297 | $75,174 |
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 4 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
This preliminary economic assessment is based on resources, not reserves, and a portion of the modeled resources in the mine plan are in the inferred resource category. Given the inherent uncertainties of resources, especially inferred resources compared to reserves, the New Polaris gold project cannot yet be considered to have proven economic viability. However, the mine plan only takes into account approximately 80 % of the total estimated resources at a 7 gpt cut-off grade.The Qualified Person (“QP”) pursuant to NI 43-101 for the updated preliminary economic assessment report is Jim Gray, P. Eng.
The Company has initiated its efforts on the application for an underground development and exploration program at the New Polaris project is 2011 and shall continue with such efforts in 2012 subject to securing a partner for the project and financing.
Tay-LP property (Yukon, Canada)
On August 24, 2009, the Company entered into an option agreement with Ross River Minerals Inc. and Ross River Gold Ltd. (collectively, “Ross River”) to acquire a 100% interest in the Tay-LP gold property by paying CAD$1 million in cash and/or shares and spending CAD$1.5 million on exploration over a three-year period, which can occur in two stages. In the first stage, the Company can earn a 51% interest by paying CAD$150,000 in cash and spending CAD$900,000 on exploration over a two-year period. In the second stage, the Company can earn an additional 49%, thereby totalling 100% interest, by paying CAD$850,000 in cash or shares at the Company’s discretion and spending CAD$600,000 on exploration by the third year. If the Company does not proceed with the second stage, then a joint venture would be formed. The Company shall pay to the optionors a gold bonus equal to CAD$1 per ounce of gold for all proven and probable gold reserves and measured and indicated gold resources to a maximum of 1 million oz gold. The option agreement is subject to net smelter returns (“NSR”) totalling 3% which can be reduced to 1.5% by payments totalling US$1.95 million. Commencing on or before October 31, 2009 and continuing on or before October 31 of each subsequent year until the property is put into commercial production, the Company shall pay to the NSR holders an annual advance NSR royalty payments totalling CAD$25,000 or that number of common shares of the Company and which shall be deducted from NSR obligations. The NSR of 3% shall be subject to maximum total payments based on one million payable ounces of gold being mined by commercial production but will be reduced to 500,000 payable ounces of gold if the NSR was reduced to 1.5%.
On September 3, 2011, the Company and Ross River amended the option agreement by increasing the cash payment of CAD$50,000 to CAD$75,000 due by October 31, 2011 (paid), deferring the exploration expenditures of CAD$500,000 from October 31, 2011 to October 31, 2012 and exploration expenditures of CAD$600,000 from October 31, 2012 to October 31, 2013, and including a cash payment of CAD$25,000 due by October 31, 2012.
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 5 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
In late March 2010, the Company entered into an option agreement with Cap-Ex Ventures Ltd. (“Cap-Ex”) whereby Cap-Ex can acquire 50% of the Company’s interest in the Tay-LP gold property, by paying CAD$100,000 of which CAD$25,000 have been paid, issuing 200,000 common shares of which 100,000 common shares have been received, incurring exploration expenditures of CAD$675,000, and maintaining the Company’s underlying option agreement in good standing until October 2011. Cap-Ex terminated the option agreement in March 2011.
Cash payments of CAD$75,000 were paid in 2011 for option payments. The Company issued 215,580 common shares at a value of CAD$0.116 per common share as the annual advance NSR royalty for CAD$25,000 for the Tay-LP property for 2011.
The Company completed a Phase 1 exploration program for 10 holes including 2,000 m of diamond drilling in 2009. The objective of the program was to extend known mineralization along strike and down-dip of existing gold intercepts in three principle target areas.
In 2010, Cap-Ex completed a 470 kilometer airborne geophysical survey at Tay LP which identified several new EM conductors and magnetic anomalies within prospective geological settings. In March 2011, Cap-Ex terminated its option agreement with the Company.
The new anomalies will require ground follow up and test new targets in 2012 prior to drilling, subject to financing.
Relief Canyon project (Nevada, USA)
In December 2010, the Company was the accepted bidder to acquire an open pit, heap leach gold mine through a bankruptcy court auction held in Reno, Nevada. The Company agreed to purchase the Relief Canyon gold mine assets from Firstgold Corporation (“Firstgold”) for $11 million, subject to a due diligence period which expired on February 4, 2011. As a condition of its winning bid, the Company paid a non-refundable deposit of $300,000 in December 2010 to Firstgold in trust pending the Company’s due diligence, and was also obligated to pay $20,000 bi-weekly to Firstgold for its operating expenses during the due diligence period. If the Company elected not to proceed with the purchase of the Relief Canyon gold mine assets, the Company was obligated to pay an additional $300,000 to Firstgold but in return, Firstgold would transfer ownership of its fully built, permitted and operating commercial assay laboratory located near the Relief Canyon mine-site to the Company.
To finance the acquisition, the Company arranged a CAD$12 million bridge loan with Effisolar Energy Corporation (“Effisolar”), subject to Effisolar’s due diligence, execution of definitive loan documents and regulatory and exchange approvals. The bridge loan was to close on or before February 3, 2011, mature in one year, bear simple annual interest rate of 12%, and secured by a first charge on the Relief Canyon gold mine assets. If the Company elected not to proceed with the purchase of the Relief Canyon gold mine assets whereby the acquisition of the commercial assay laboratory would then need to be financed, the Company arranged a separate CAD$300,000 convertible loan with Effisolar, subject to Effisolar’s due diligence, execution of definitive loan documents and regulatory and exchange approvals. At the Company’s election, the convertible loan was to close on or before February 3, 2011, mature in one month, bear no interest and automatically convert into common shares of the Company based on the 10 day average closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”).
In January 2011, after conducting due diligence, both the Company and Effisolar decided not to proceed with the Relief Canyon project. In early February 2011, the Company paid an additional $300,000 to Firstgold whereby ownership of the commercial assay laboratory was transferred to the Company. The Company issued a convertible debenture for CAD$300,000 to Effisolar for the interest-free loan from Effisolar, which was then converted into 1,282,051 common shares of the Company on March 2, 2011.
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 6 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Windfall Hills property (British Columbia, Canada)
In April 2011, the Company entered into two option agreements to purchase 100% interests in two adjacent gold properties located in British Columbia. The Company can acquire a 100% interest in the Atna properties by making $750,000 in cash payments over a four year period ($50,000 paid), honouring a pre-existing 1.5% net smelter return (“NSR”) production royalty that can be purchased for CAD$1 million, and granting the vendor a 2% NSR production royalty.
The Company can acquire a 100% interest in the Dunn properties by making CAD$250,000 in cash payments over a four year period (CAD$15,000 paid), and a final bonus payment based on all gold resources estimated in an independent NI 43-101 technical report. The formula for the bonus payment is $30 per oz for measured resources, $20 per oz for indicated resources, and $10 per oz for inferred resources.
The Company completed a Phase 1 exploration program on its Windfall Hills project which included detailed soil and rock geochemical sampling over known target areas. A total of 340 geochemical soil samples were collected on a 100 meter by 25 meter grid over the main 2.8 sq. km. prospect area. Two anomalies were delineated on the basis of multi-element geochemistry. Results of this work along with preliminary exploration work over the remainder of the claims will help define targets for drilling in 2012, subject to financing.
Devil’s Thumb property (British Columbia, Canada)
In May 2011, the Company staked three gold properties totalling 17,175 hectares northeast of its Windfall Hills properties in central British Columbia.
Sara Kreek project (Suriname)
Prior to 2006, the Company held 80% of the shares of Sara Kreek Resource Corporation N.V. (“Sara Kreek Resource”), the company that holds the Sara Kreek concession in the Republic of Suriname. On April 15, 2006, the Company entered into a Settlement and Termination Agreement with Suriname Wylap Development N.V. (“Wylap Development”) to transfer the Company’s interest in Sara Kreek Resource. In settlement for all claims, loans and advances owed to the Company, the Company received a cash payment of $400,000 in 2006, and shall receive the greater of $50,000 per year, payable semi-annually, or a 1.5% royalty on annual gross production from the Sara Kreek property until December 31, 2011. The Company has received $50,000 in annual royalties from 2006 to 2011.
Other Matters
In July 2011, Mr. Gregg Wilson was appointed Vice-President of Investor Relations.
On July 6, 2011, the Company granted 2,220,000 stock options with an exercise price of CAD$0.135 and an expiry date of July 6, 2016 which are subject to vesting provisions whereby 20% vest immediately and 20% vest every 6 months thereafter.
In March 2012, the Company arranged demand loans of up to CAD$200,000 from certain directors and an officer of the Company. The loans are repayable on demand and bear an interest rate of 12% compounded monthly with interest payable semi-annually. Demand loans of CAD$150,000 have been received by the Company.
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 7 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
In March 2012, the Company granted 1,400,000 stock options with an exercise price of CAD$0.10 and which are exercisable for a period of up to one year and are subject to vesting provisions in which 25% of the options vest immediately on the grant date and 25% vest every three months thereafter.
The Shareholders Update included in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 provides further review of the Company’s overall performance for fiscal 2011 and outlook for fiscal 2012.
1.3 Selected Annual Information
All financial information is prepared in accordance with IFRS:
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
(in $000s except per share amounts) | 2011 | 2010 | ||||||
Total revenues | $ | - | $ | - | ||||
Loss before discontinued operations and extraordinary items: | ||||||||
(i) Total | $ | (1,209 | ) | $ | (1,396 | ) | ||
(ii) Basic per share | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | ||
(iii) Fully diluted per share | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | ||
Net loss: | ||||||||
(i) Total | $ | (1,209 | ) | $ | (1,396 | ) | ||
(ii) Basic per share | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | ||
(iii) Fully diluted per share | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | ||
Total assets | $ | 13,277 | $ | 13,900 | ||||
Total long-term liabilities | $ | - | $ | - | ||||
Dividends per share | $ | - | $ | - | ||||
1.4 Results of Operations
Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2011 – Year ended December 31, 2011 compared with December 31, 2010
The Company incurred a net loss of $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 which is lower than the net loss of $1.4 million in fiscal 2010. Operating losses for each fiscal year were comparable, reflecting the continued activities of the Company in seeking an appropriate joint venture partner for the New Polaris property and in pursuing new projects of merit, as gold prices reached new highs in 2011. Such efforts culminated in the accepted bid for the Relief Canyon project in early December 2010 which resulted in the Company’s acquisition of an assay laboratory and was then subsequently sold for full recovery of all out-of-pocket expenses. Corporate development activities were also successful in the acquisition of option interests in the Windfall Hills properties and the staking of additional properties nearby, as the Company expanded its portfolio of strategic exploration projects in Canada in 2011.
Corporate development expenses in 2011 were higher primarily in relation to the accepted bid for the Relief Canyon project.
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 8 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Remuneration for employees was higher in 2011 as the Company continued to evaluate gold projects for acquisition purposes and to seek possible partners for the New Polaris project. Efforts in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 were also focused on an updated NI 43-101 technical report for the New Polaris gold project, which supported the project’s robust economics in the preliminary economic assessment. Higher employee expenses were also attributed to staffing activities for conversion in accounting standards from Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (“Canadian GAAP”) to IFRS, the Relief Canyon bid, and the acquisition and subsequent disposition of the commercial assay laboratory.
Effective January 1, 2011, the Company determined that its functional currency has changed from the United States dollar to the Canadian dollar but continues to maintain its presentation currency in the United States dollar. The Company recognizes foreign gains and losses on translation to the presentation currency as an equity item which is included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. In 2010, such translation gains and losses were recognized in operations.
General and administrative expenses were comparable for both fiscals 2011 and 2010. In 2011 legal fees were incurred in the Company’s bid for the Relief Canyon project, its acquisition of the assay laboratory in February 2011 including all title and permitting issues and to its subsequent sale in May 2011, and due to the convertible debenture with Effisolar in February 2011 which was converted into common shares in March 2011.
Shareholder relations activities increased in 2011 so as to promote greater awareness of the profile of the Company and its portfolio of projects, especially the accepted bid for the Relief Canyon project, the New Polaris project with its revised preliminary economic assessment which indicated conceptually the project’s stronger financial viability due to heightened gold prices, and property option agreements and staking of additional mineral property interests in British Columbia.
Share-based payments were higher in 2011 due to the net effects of the input parameters for the stock option pricing model including the vesting provisions, stock volatility, forfeiture rates, risk free interest rates, and expected life. Although more stock options were granted in 2010 than in 2011, the fair values of the stock options granted in 2011 were higher than those granted in 2010.
In April and August 2010, the Company disposed all of its shareholdings in Caza Gold Corp., a company sharing one common director, (“Caza”) which are available-for-sale financial assets and were recorded at cost because such shares did not have a quoted market price at that time.
In 2011, the Company wrote down good and services tax recoveries by $25,000 as collectability of the recoveries was uncertain.
Due diligence costs of $60,000 in 2011 were incurred for the Company’s $20,000 bi-weekly obligation to Firstgold during the due diligence period for the Relief Canyon project.
The Company continues to accrue interests on its demand loans which bore interest rates that increased from 9% per annum to 12% per annum effective September 1, 2010, and interests on its estimated flow through indemnity obligation from ineligible Canadian exploration expenditures for flow though purposes.
The flow through financing item in 2010 is for the reduction in the estimated indemnity obligation for ineligible exploration expenditures. In August 2011, the Company paid indemnifications of CAD$37,883 including interests.
In 2010, derivative liabilities were recognized for warrants which have exercise prices stated in Canadian dollars whereas the Company’s functional currency was in U.S. dollars, resulting in a variable amount of cash in terms of its functional currency. Any reduction of the fair values of its derivative liability attributable to unexpired warrants would be recognized as unrealized gains. Effective January 1, 2011, the Company’s functional currency changed from the U.S. dollar to the Canadian dollar whereby there were no longer currency differences between the Company’s exercise prices of its warrants and its functional currency, and thus would not recognize any derivatives for its warrants.
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 9 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
The deferred income tax recovery is a provision for the difference between the accounting basis and tax basis of assets and tax pools, and for the recognition at the date of actual renunciation, by a reduction in the amount included in share capital for the flow-through shares for the deferred income taxes related to the deductions foregone by the Company. In 2009, the Company raised flow-through equity financing from a private placement for approximately CAD$480,000 of which CAD$475,239 were renounced on February 24, 2010. On February 22, 2011, the Company renounced CAD$4,761 in exploration expenditures for flow-through purposes, resulting in a deferred income tax expense of $1,200.
The Company also recognized an unrealized gain of $71,000 in fiscal 2011 for its available-for-sale financial assets which were received for its optioned mineral property interest in Tay-LP with Cap-Ex.
The Company has no sources of operating revenues.
As at December 31, 2011, the Company has mineral property interests which are comprised of the following:
British Columbia (Canada) | Yukon (Canada) | |||||||||||||||||||
(in $000s) | New Polaris | Windfall Hills | Devil's Thumb | Tay-LP | Total | |||||||||||||||
Acquisition Costs: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2010 | $ | 3,605 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 25 | $ | 3,630 | ||||||||||
Additions | - | - | - | 49 | 49 | |||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2010 | 3,605 | - | - | 74 | 3,679 | |||||||||||||||
Additions | - | 67 | 6 | 72 | 145 | |||||||||||||||
Adjustments from change in functional currency | 295 | - | - | - | 295 | |||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2011 | 3,900 | 67 | 6 | 146 | 4,119 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred Exploration Expenditures: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2010 | 8,556 | - | - | 440 | 8,996 | |||||||||||||||
Additions, net of recoveries | 104 | - | - | (55 | ) | 49 | ||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2010 | 8,660 | - | - | 385 | 9,045 | |||||||||||||||
Additions | 166 | 106 | 15 | 48 | 335 | |||||||||||||||
Adjustments from change in functional currency | (541 | ) | - | - | (10 | ) | (551 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2011 | 8,285 | 106 | 15 | 423 | 8,829 | |||||||||||||||
Mineral property interests, December 31, 2011 | $ | 12,185 | $ | 173 | $ | 21 | $ | 569 | $ | 12,948 |
At December 31, 2011, to maintain its interest and/or to fully exercise the options under various property agreements covering its property interests, the Company must incur exploration expenditures on the properties and/or make payments in the form of cash and/or shares to the optionors as follows:
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 10 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Option | Option | Exploration | Advance Royalty | Net Smelter | Number of | |||||||||||||||||||
Payments | Payments | Commitments (1) | Payments | Reduction | Shares | |||||||||||||||||||
(CAD$000s) | (US$000s) | (CAD$000s) | (CAD$000s) | (US$000s) | ||||||||||||||||||||
New Polaris: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net profit interest reduction | 150,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
or buydown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tay-LP: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
October 31, 2012 | $ | 25 | $ | 215 | ||||||||||||||||||||
October 31, 2013 | 850 | 600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual advance royalty payments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
until commercial production | $ | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net smelter reduction from 3% to 1.5% | $ | 1,950 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Windfall Hills: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Atna properties: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
April 12, 2012 | $ | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
April 12, 2013 | 150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
April 12, 2014 | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
April 12, 2015 | 250 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dunn properties: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
April 20, 2012 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
April 20, 2013 | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
April 20, 2014 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
April 20, 2015 | 125 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,110 | $ | 700 | $ | 815 | $ | 25 | $ | 1,950 | 150,000 |
(1) | Exploration commitments for the Tay-LP property are adjusted for management fees of 5% and 10% and exploration expenditures incurred by Cap-Ex. |
These amounts may be reduced in the future as the Company determines which properties to continue to explore and which to abandon.
1.5 Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited)
Quarterly financial information for fiscals 2011 and 2010 is prepared in accordance with IFRS, and all dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
The following table provides selected financial information of the Company for each of the last eight quarters ended at the most recently completed quarter, December 31, 2011:
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 11 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
(in $000s except | 2011 | 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
per share amounts) | Dec 31 | Sept 30 | June 30 | Mar 31 | Dec 31 | Sept 30 | June 30 | Mar 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||||
(Loss) income before | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
discontinued operations and | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
extraordinary items: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(i) Total | $ | (323 | ) | $ | (283 | ) | $ | (280 | ) | $ | (323 | ) | $ | (1,473 | ) | $ | 29 | $ | 84 | $ | (36 | ) | ||||||||||
(ii) Basic per share | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | - | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||
(iii) Fully diluted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
per share | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | - | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||
Net (loss) income: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(i) Total | $ | (323 | ) | $ | (283 | ) | $ | (280 | ) | $ | (323 | ) | $ | (1,473 | ) | $ | 29 | $ | 84 | $ | (36 | ) | ||||||||||
(ii) Basic per share | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | - | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||
(iii) Fully diluted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
per share | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | - | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 13,277 | $ | 13,019 | $ | 14,203 | $ | 14,349 | $ | 13,900 | $ | 13,016 | $ | 13,008 | $ | 12,989 | ||||||||||||||||
Total long-term liabilities | $ | - | $ | 113 | $ | 123 | $ | 123 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||||
Dividends per share | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||||
1.6 Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company is in the development stage and has not yet determined whether its mineral property interests contain reserves. The recoverability of amounts capitalized for mineral property interests is entirely dependent upon the existence of reserves, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing to complete the development and upon future profitable production. The Company knows of no trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that may result in the Company’s liquidity either materially increasing or decreasing at the present time or in the foreseeable future. Material increases or decreases in the Company’s liquidity are substantially determined by the success or failure of the Company’s exploration programs and overall market conditions for smaller mineral exploration companies. Since its incorporation in 1987, the Company has endeavored to secure mineral property interests that in due course could be brought into production to provide the Company with cash flow which would be used to undertake work programs on other projects. To that end, the Company has expended its funds on mineral property interests that it believes have the potential to achieve cash flow within a reasonable time frame. As a result, the Company has incurred losses during each of its fiscal years since incorporation. This result is typical of smaller exploration companies and will continue unless positive cash flow is achieved.
The following table contains selected financial information of the Company’s liquidity:
December 31, | ||||||||
(in $000s) | 2011 | 2010 | ||||||
Cash | $ | 45 | $ | 592 | ||||
Working capital (deficiency) | $ | (577 | ) | $ | (1,149 | ) |
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 12 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Ongoing operating expenses continue to reduce the Company’s cash resources and working capital.
In February 2011, the Company issued a convertible debenture for CAD$300,000 to Effisolar for the interest free loan from Effisolar, which was then converted into 1,282,051 common shares of the Company on March 2, 2011. The funds were then used to acquire the assay laboratory for a total of $600,000 of which $300,000 were previously advanced in December 2010.
In May 2011, the Company entered into an agreement for the sale of assay laboratory for $600,000 plus recovery of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Company and such funds were received in June 2011.
During fiscal 2011, stock options for 299,000 common shares were exercised for proceeds of CAD$32,125 and warrants for 1,313,650 common shares for CAD$198,488, all of which contributed to the Company’s working capital needs during the year.
The Company received $50,000 in royalties from the Sara Kreek project in fiscal 2011, which is the final year of such royalties from the project.
In fiscal 2011, the Company recognized an unrealized gain of $71,000 from its available-for-sale financial assets which were all disposed in January and February 2012 for proceeds of approximately CAD$92,400.
In May 2009, the Company received CAD$62,030 in demand loans from certain directors and an officer of the Company. The loans are repayable on demand and bear an interest rate of 9% per annum which was increased to 12% effective September 1, 2010, and were previously secured by the Company’s shareholdings in Caza at CAD$0.25 per share of Caza which has been replaced by a loan bonus of 12% payable upon repayment effective September 1, 2010. As at December 31, 2011, the Company accrued CAD$19,800 in interests and CAD$7,400 in loan bonuses.
At December 31, 2010, a derivative liability of $1,082,000 for warrants which have exercise prices denominated in Canadian dollars was recognized whereas no derivative liability was recognized due to the change in the Company’s functional currency from U.S. dollars to Canadian dollars effective January 1, 2011. This was a primary factor in the decrease in the Company’s working capital deficiency in 2011.
The working capital deficiency of $577,000 at December 31, 2011 includes the notes payable with accrued interests and accrued loan bonus totalling $88,000 due to certain directors and an officer of the Company and flow-through indemnities of $195,000. In August 2011, the Company did pay indemnifications of CAD$37,883 including interests for ineligible exploration expenditures for flow through purposes which reduced such obligations in 2011 in comparison to 2010.
The Company has entered into a number of option agreements for mineral properties that involve payments in the form of cash and/or shares of the Company as well as minimum exploration expenditure requirements. Under Item 1.4, further details of contractual obligations are provided as at December 31, 2011. The Company will continue to rely upon equity financing as its principal source of financing its projects.
In March 2012, the Company arranged demand loans of up to CAD$200,000 from certain directors and an officer of the Company. The loans are repayable on demand and bear an interest rate of 12% compounded monthly with interest payable semi-annually. Demand loans of CAD$150,000 have been received by the Company.
In March 2012, the Company received proceeds of CAD$23,000 from the exercise of stock options for 220,000 common shares.
1.7 Capital Resources
Item 1.6 provides further details.
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 13 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
On May 31, 2005, the shareholders of the Company approved a shareholder rights plan (the “Plan”), that became effective on April 30, 2005. The Plan is intended to ensure that any entity seeking to acquire control of the Company makes an offer that represents fair value to all shareholders and provides the board of directors with sufficient time to assess and evaluate the offer, to permit competing bids to emerge, and, as appropriate, to explore and develop alternatives to maximize value for shareholders. Under the Plan, each shareholder at the time of the Plan’s adoption was issued one Right for each common share of the Company held. Each Right entitles the registered holder thereof, except for certain “Acquiring Persons” (as defined in the Plan), to purchase from treasury one common share at a 50% discount to the prevailing market price, subject to certain adjustments intended to prevent dilution. The Rights are exercisable after the occurrence of specified events set out in the Plan generally related to when a person, together with affiliated or associated persons, acquires, or makes a take-over bid to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding common shares of the Company. The Rights expire on April 30, 2015.
At the discretion of the Board, certain option grants provide the option holder the right to receive the number of common shares, valued at the quoted market price at the time of exercise of the stock options that represent the share appreciation since granting the options.
1.9 Transactions with Related Parties
Key management includes directors (executive and non-executive) and senior management. The compensation paid or payable to key management for employee services is disclosed in the table below.
Except as disclosed elsewhere in the MD&A, general and administrative costs during 2011and 2010 include:
Net balance receivable (payable) | ||||||||||||||||
($000s) | Year ended December 31, | as at December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||||||||||
Key management compensation: | ||||||||||||||||
Executive salaries and remuneration | $ | 473 | $ | 291 | $ | (14 | ) | $ | - | |||||||
Directors fees | 40 | 39 | (146 | ) | (109 | ) | ||||||||||
Share-based payments | 212 | 116 | - | - | ||||||||||||
$ | 725 | $ | 446 | $ | (160 | ) | $ | (109 | ) | |||||||
Legal fees incurred to a law firm in which a senior officer of the Company is a partner | $ | 72 | $ | 71 | $ | 83 | $ | 62 | ||||||||
Net office, sundry, rent and salary allocations recovered from (incurred to) company(s) sharing certain common director(s) | $ | 55 | $ | 88 | $ | 16 | $ | (4 | ) | |||||||
Amounts which are incurred to related parties are in the normal course of business. The Company shares common office facilities, employee and administrative support, and office sundry amongst companies with certain common director(s), and such allocations to the Company are on a full cost recovery basis. Any balances due to related parties are payable on demand.
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 14 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Details of demand loans from related parties are provided in Item 1.6.
1.10 Fourth Quarter
Items 1.2, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 provide further details for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.
1.11 Proposed Transactions
There are no proposed material asset or business acquisitions or dispositions, other than those in the ordinary course of business and other than those already disclosed in this MD&A, before the board of directors for consideration, and other than those already disclosed in its regulatory and public filings.
1.12 Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgements that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements along with the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ from these estimates and, as such, estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.
Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates relate to determining the recoverability of mineral property interests; the determination of accrued liabilities; accrued site remediation; flow-through obligations and deferred income tax liability; the variables used in the determination of the fair value of stock options granted, warrants issued and derivative liability for warrants; and the recoverability of deferred tax assets. While management believes the estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from those estimates and could impact future results of operations and cash flows.
Acquisition costs of mineral properties and exploration and development expenditures incurred thereto are capitalized and deferred. The costs related to a property from which there is production will be amortized using the unit-of-production method. Capitalized costs are written down to their estimated recoverable amount if the property is subsequently determined to be uneconomic. The amounts shown for mineral properties represent costs incurred to date, less recoveries and write-downs, and do not reflect present or future values.
Pursuant to an audit by the Canada Revenue Agency (the “CRA”) which was completed in June 2010, CRA disallowed approximately CAD$1.01 million in exploration expenditures incurred in 2007 as Canadian exploration expenditures (“CEE”) of which approximately CAD$795,000 as being disqualified for CEE for flow-through purposes. The Company accrued liabilities of approximately CAD$146,300 for estimated indemnities related to the disqualified CEE for flow-through purposes and CAD$51,700 in accrued interests related to the indemnities. Should the estimate change in the future, it may affect future results of operations and cash flows.
1.13 Changes in Accounting Policies including Initial Adoption
International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 15 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
The Company’s Fourth Quarter Report for fiscal 2011 includes the Company’s first annual consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with IFRS for the year ended December 31, 2011.
IFRS and IFRS 1 have been applied in preparing the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, the comparative financial information presented in these consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, and the opening balance sheet under IFRS as at January 1, 2010 which is the date of the Company’s date of transition from Canadian GAAP to IFRS and at December 31, 2010.
(a) IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS 1):
In preparing these consolidated financial statements, the Company has applied IFRS 1, which provides guidance for an entity’s initial adoption of IFRS. IFRS 1 gives entities adopting IFRS for the first time a number of optional exemptions and mandatory exceptions, in certain areas, to the general requirement for full retrospective application of IFRS. The following are the optional exemptions available under IFRS 1 that the Company has elected to apply:
Business combinations
The Company has elected to apply IFRS 3 Business Combinations prospectively to business combinations that occur after the date of transition. The Company has elected this exemption under IFRS 1, which removes the requirement to retrospectively restate all business combinations prior to the date of transition to IFRS.
Share-based payments
The Company elected to not apply IFRS 2 Share-based Payments to equity instruments granted before November 7, 2002 and those granted but fully vested before the date of transition to IFRS. As a result, the Company has applied IFRS 2 for stock options granted after November 7, 2002 that are not fully vested at January 1, 2010.
(b) Adjustments on transition to IFRS:
IFRS has many similarities with Canadian GAAP as it is based on a similar conceptual framework. However there are important differences with regard to recognition, measurement and disclosure. Although adoption of IFRS did not change the Company’s actual cash flows, it did result in changes to the Company’s statements of financial position, statements of comprehensive loss, and statements of changes in shareholders’ equity as set out below:
(i) | Warrants: |
Under Canadian GAAP, the Company classified warrants which were exercisable in Canadian dollars to purchase common shares (a currency other than the Company’s functional currency) as equity instruments. Under IFRS, warrants issued by the Company to purchase common shares at an exercise price which is stated in a currency other than the Company’s functional currency are considered derivative financial liabilities. The exercise price is fixed in Canadian dollars but the Company’s functional currency prior to January 1, 2011 was the U.S. dollar, resulting in a variable amount of cash when the warrants are exercised. Such warrants are required to be measured and recognized at fair value with changes to initial recognition charged to operations. The Company has determined fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Effective January 1, 2011, the Company’s functional currency changed from U.S. dollars to Canadian dollar, and therefore no further derivative liability was recognized for its warrants.
(ii) | Share-based payments: |
Under Canadian GAAP, the Company accounts for forfeitures of stock option as they occur. For IFRS, estimates of forfeitures are initially recognized when stock options are granted and subsequently adjusted for actual forfeitures as they occur. The Company has recognized vesting of stock options on an accelerated grading basis which is similar to IFRS.
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 16 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Under Canadian GAAP, expired unexercised stock options remained in contributed surplus. On transition to IFRS, the Company elected to change its accounting policy for the treatment of share-based payments whereby amounts included in the reserve for share-based payments for expired unexercised stock options are transferred from the reserve for share-based payments to deficit.
(iii) | Income tax: |
Under Canadian GAAP, deferred tax balances are calculated in the currency in which the taxes are paid and then converted to the accounting presentation currency at the current exchange rate, whereas IFRS requires that deferred taxes be determined in an entity’s functional accounting currency by comparing the historic non-monetary accounting basis to the tax basis converted at the current exchange rate. Adjustments arise from this different treatment when an entity’s functional currency differs from that in which the entity calculates and pays tax. The Company’s adjustments for this difference primarily relate to its mineral properties which were maintained in Canadian dollars while the Company’s functional currency prior to January 1, 2011 was the United States dollar.
(d) | Reconciliation from Canadian GAAP to IFRS: |
A reconciliation of the above noted changes is included in these following consolidated statements of financial position and consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the dates noted below. The effects of transition from Canadian GAAP to IFRS on the cash flow are not material; therefore a reconciliation of cash flows has not been presented.
Transitional Consolidated Statement of Financial Position – January 1, 2010
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position Reconciliation – December 31, 2010
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss Reconciliation – Year ended December 31, 2010
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 17 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
(i) | The January 1, 2010 Canadian GAAP consolidated statement of financial position has been reconciled to IFRS as follows: |
January 1, 2010 | ||||||||||||
Canadian | Effect of Transition | |||||||||||
GAAP | to IFRS | IFRS | ||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||||||
Cash | $ | 155 | $ | - | $ | 155 | ||||||
Receivables and prepaids | 193 | 193 | ||||||||||
Royalty receivable - current portion | 50 | 50 | ||||||||||
Total Current Assets | 398 | - | 398 | |||||||||
NON-CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||||||
Mineral properties | 12,626 | 12,626 | ||||||||||
Equipment | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
Royalty receivable - long-term portion | 46 | 46 | ||||||||||
Long-term investments | 143 | 143 | ||||||||||
Total Non-Current Assets | 12,817 | - | 12,817 | |||||||||
Total Assets | $ | 13,215 | $ | - | $ | 13,215 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 607 | $ | - | $ | 607 | ||||||
Notes payable | 63 | 63 | ||||||||||
Flow-through obligation | 377 | 377 | ||||||||||
Derivative liability for warrants | - | 193 | 193 | |||||||||
Total Current Liabilities | 1,047 | 193 | 1,240 | |||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||||||
Share capital | 56,436 | 56,436 | ||||||||||
Contributed surplus | 2,354 | (2,354 | ) | - | ||||||||
Reserve for share-based payments | - | 1,316 | 1,316 | |||||||||
Deficit | (46,622 | ) | 845 | (45,777 | ) | |||||||
Total Shareholders' Equity | 12,168 | (193 | ) | 11,975 | ||||||||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ | 13,215 | $ | - | $ | 13,215 |
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 18 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
(ii) | The December 31, 2010 Canadian GAAP consolidated statement of financial position has been reconciled to IFRS as follows: |
December 31, 2010 | ||||||||||||
Canadian | Effect of Transition | |||||||||||
GAAP | to IFRS | IFRS | ||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||||||
Cash | $ | 592 | $ | - | $ | 592 | ||||||
Receivables and prepaids | 105 | 105 | ||||||||||
Marketable securities | 25 | 25 | ||||||||||
Royalty receivable - current portion | 50 | 50 | ||||||||||
Total Current Assets | 772 | - | 772 | |||||||||
NON-CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||||||
Mineral properties | 12,724 | 12,724 | ||||||||||
Deposit on asset acquisition | 300 | 300 | ||||||||||
Equipment | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||
Royalty receivable - long-term portion | - | - | ||||||||||
Long-term investments | 94 | 94 | ||||||||||
Total Non-Current Assets | 13,128 | - | 13,128 | |||||||||
Total Assets | $ | 13,900 | $ | - | $ | 13,900 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 532 | $ | - | $ | 532 | ||||||
Notes payable | 81 | 81 | ||||||||||
Flow-through obligation | 226 | 226 | ||||||||||
Derivative liability for warrants | - | 1,082 | 1,082 | |||||||||
Total Current Liabilities | 839 | 1,082 | 1,921 | |||||||||
Future income tax liability | 120 | (120 | ) | - | ||||||||
Total Liabilities | 959 | 962 | 1,921 | |||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||||||
Share capital | 57,660 | 25 | 57,685 | |||||||||
Contributed surplus | 2,483 | (2,483 | ) | - | ||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||
Reserve for share-based payments | - | 1,259 | 1,259 | |||||||||
Deficit | (47,212 | ) | 237 | (46,975 | ) | |||||||
Total Shareholders' Equity | 12,941 | (962 | ) | 11,979 | ||||||||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ | 13,900 | $ | - | $ | 13,900 |
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 19 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
(iii) | The Canadian GAAP consolidated statement of comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2010 has been reconciled to IFRS as follows: |
, | December 31, 2010 | |||||||||||
Canadian | Effect of Transition | |||||||||||
GAAP | to IFRS | IFRS | ||||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||
Amortization | $ | 1 | $ | - | $ | 1 | ||||||
Corporate development | 12 | 12 | ||||||||||
Employee and director remuneration | 383 | 383 | ||||||||||
Foreign exchange loss | 43 | 43 | ||||||||||
General and administrative | 308 | 308 | ||||||||||
Shareholder relations | 62 | 62 | ||||||||||
Shar e-based payments | 130 | 13 | 143 | |||||||||
Loss before the undernoted | (939 | ) | (13 | ) | (952 | ) | ||||||
Gain on disposition of long-term investment | 257 | 257 | ||||||||||
Accretion of royalty receivable | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||
Write-off of equipment | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Unrealized loss from derivative warrant liability | - | (913 | ) | (913 | ) | |||||||
Due diligence costs on asset acquisition | (20 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||||||
Interest expense | (14 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||||||
Flow-through financing costs | 150 | 150 | ||||||||||
Loss before income tax | (563 | ) | (926 | ) | (1,489 | ) | ||||||
Future income tax expense | (27 | ) | 120 | 93 | ||||||||
Net loss for the year | (590 | ) | (806 | ) | (1,396 | ) | ||||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income: | ||||||||||||
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||
Comprehensive loss for the year | $ | (580 | ) | $ | (806 | ) | $ | (1,386 | ) | |||
Basic and diluted loss per share | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | ||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 82,446,825 | 82,446,825 |
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 20 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
1.14 Financial Instruments and Other Instruments
The Company classifies its financial instruments as follows:
- | cash as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”), |
- | marketable securities and long term investments as available-for-sale (“AFS”) financial assets, |
- | receivables as loans and receivables, |
- | royalties receivable as loans and receivables, |
- | accounts payable and accrued liabilities, notes payables and flow-through obligations as other financial liabilities, and |
- | derivative liability for warrants as derivative financial liabilities. |
Management of Financial Risk
The Company is exposed in varying degrees to a variety of financial instrument related risks, including credit risk, liquidity risk, and market risk which includes foreign currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risk. The types of risk exposure and the way in which such exposure is managed are provided as follows.
The fair value hierarchy categorizes financial instruments measured at fair value at one of three levels according to the reliability of the inputs used to estimate fair values. The fair value of assets and liabilities included in level 1 are determined by reference to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. Assets and liabilities in level 2 are valued using inputs other than quoted prices for which all significant inputs are based on observable market data. Level 3 valuations are based on inputs that are not based on observable market data.
The fair values of the Company’s receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, notes payable and flow-through obligations approximate their carrying values due to the short terms to maturity. Cash and marketable securities are measured at fair values using level 1 inputs. Disclosure is not made of the fair value of the long-term investments as the shares do not have a quoted market price in an active market. There is no separately quoted market value for the Aztec shares and the fair value cannot be reliably determined. Therefore they are recorded at cost. The fair value of the royalty receivable approximates its carrying value as it was initially recognized at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The royalty receivable is level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as it is based on unobservable inputs. The Company has classified its derivative liability for warrants as derivative financial liabilities and are measured at fair value. All gains and losses are included in operations in the period in which they arise. Derivative liability for warrants is level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of the warrants.
(a) Credit risk:
Credit risk is the risk of potential loss to the Company if the counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations.
The Company's credit risk is primarily attributable to its liquid financial assets including cash. The Company limits exposure to credit risk on liquid financial assets through maintaining its cash with high-credit quality Canadian financial institutions. Any receivables from government usually bear no risk. The royalty receivable is due from an unrelated company, and the Company has not taken any steps to mitigate the credit risk associated with this receivable.
(b) Liquidity risk:
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 21 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they become due.
The Company ensures that there is sufficient capital in order to meet short-term business requirements, after taking into account the Company's holdings of cash and its ability to raise equity financings. The Company will require significant additional funding to meet its short-term liabilities, flow-through obligations and administrative overhead costs, and to maintain its mineral property interests in 2012.
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities are due in less than 90 days, and the notes payables are due on demand.
(c) Market risk:
The significant market risk exposures to which the Company is exposed are foreign currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risk.
(i) Foreign currency risk:
The Company’s mineral properties and operations are in Canada. A certain portion of its operating expenses are incurred in Canadian dollars, and fluctuations in U.S. dollars would impact the cumulative translation adjustment of the Company and the values of its assets and liabilities as its financial statements are stated in U.S. dollars.
At December 31, 2011, the Company is exposed to currency risk for its U.S. dollar equivalent of assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars as follows:
Held in Canadian dollars | ||||
Cash | $ | 32 | ||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (74 | ) | ||
Net assets (liabilities) | $ | (42 | ) |
Based upon the above net exposure as at December 31, 2011 and assuming all other variables remain constant, a 10% depreciation or appreciation of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar could result in a decrease/increase of $4,200 in cumulative translation adjustment in the Company’s shareholders’ equity.
The Company has not entered into any agreements or purchased any instruments to hedge possible currency risks at this time.
(ii) Interest rate risk:
In respect of financial assets, the Company's policy is to invest cash at floating rates of interest in cash equivalents, in order to maintain liquidity, while achieving a satisfactory return. Fluctuations in interest rates impact on the value of cash equivalents. Interest rate risk is not significant to the Company as it has no cash equivalents at period-end and the notes payable are stated at a fixed interest rate.
(iii) | Other price risk: |
Other price risk is the risk that the value of a financial instrument will fluctuate as a result of changes in market prices.
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CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
The Company’s other price risk includes equity price risk, whereby the Company’s investment in marketable securities is subject to market price fluctuations.
1.15 Other MD&A Requirements
1.15.1 Other MD&A Requirements
Additional information relating to the Company are as follows:
(a) | may be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; |
(b) | may be found in the Company’s annual information form; and |
(c) | is also provided in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011. |
1.15.2 Outstanding Share Data
The Company’s authorized share capital consists of unlimited number of common shares without par value.
Changes in the Company’s share capital for the year ended December 31, 2011 are as follows:
Number of Shares | Amount | |||||||
(in $000s) | ||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2010 | 90,985,890 | $ | 57,685 | |||||
Issued: | ||||||||
Conversion of convertible debenture | 1,282,051 | 291 | ||||||
Exercise of stock options | 299,000 | 54 | ||||||
Exercise of warrants | 1,313,650 | 205 | ||||||
Property acquisition | 215,580 | 24 | ||||||
Renunciation of flow-through expenditures | - | (1 | ) | |||||
Balance at December 31, 2011 | 94,096,171 | $ | 58,258 |
At March 23, 2012, there were 94,316,171 common shares issued and outstanding.
At December 31, 2011, the Company had outstanding stock options to purchase an aggregate 10,115,000 common shares as follows:
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CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
December 31, 2011 | ||||||||
Weighted | ||||||||
average | ||||||||
exercise | ||||||||
Number | price | |||||||
of Shares | (CAD$) | |||||||
Outstanding balance, beginning of year | 9,410,000 | $ | 0.31 | |||||
Granted | 2,220,000 | $ | 0.14 | |||||
Exercised | (299,000 | ) | $ | 0.11 | ||||
Forfeited | (16,000 | ) | $ | 0.10 | ||||
Expired | (1,200,000 | ) | $ | 0.69 | ||||
Outstanding balance, end of year | 10,115,000 | $ | 0.24 |
At December 31, 2011, 10,115,000 stock options are outstanding of which 7,267,000 stock options are exercisable.
In March 2012, the Company granted 1,400,000 stock options with an exercise price of CAD$0.10 and which are exercisable for a period of up to one year and are subject to vesting provisions in which 25% of the options vest immediately on the grant date and 25% vest every three months thereafter.
At March 23, 2012, stock options for 10,970,000 common shares remain outstanding of which 7,516,000 stock options are exercisable.
At December 31, 2011, the Company had outstanding warrants as follows:
Exercise | ||||||
Prices | Oustanding at | Oustanding at | ||||
(CAD$) | Expiry Dates | December 31, 2010 | Issued | Exercised | Expired | December 31, 2011 |
$0.15 | April 22, 2011 | 39,410 | - | (31,675) | (7,735) | - |
$0.15 | October 22, 2011 | 202,160 | - | - | (202,160) | - |
$0.15 | April 22, 2011 | 2,319,140 | - | (1,185,975) | (1,133,165) | - |
$0.165 | May 9, 2011 | 128,410 | - | (96,000) | (32,410) | - |
$0.22 | June 13, 2012 | 4,250,000 | - | - | - | 4,250,000 |
6,939,120 | - | (1,313,650) | (1,375,470) | 4,250,000 |
At March 23, 2012, warrants for 4,250,000 common shares are outstanding.
1.16 Outlook
The Company will continue to depend upon equity financings to continue exploration work on its mineral property interests and to meet its administrative overhead costs for the 2012 fiscal year. There are no assurances that capital requirements will be met by this means of financing as inherent risks are attached therein including commodity prices, financial market conditions, and general economic factors. The Company does not expect to realize any operating revenues from its properties in the foreseeable future.
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CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
1.17 Risk Factors
The following is a brief discussion of those distinctive or special characteristics of the Company’s operations and industry that may have a material impact on, or constitute risk factors in respect of, the Company’s future financial performance.
Exploration and Development Risks
There is no assurance given by the Company that its exploration and development programs and properties will result in the discovery, development or production of a commercially viable ore body.
The business of exploration for minerals and mining involves a high degree of risk. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. There is no assurance that the Company’s mineral exploration and development activities will result in any discoveries of bodies of commercial ore. The economics of developing gold and other mineral properties are affected by many factors including capital and operating costs, variations of the grades and tonnages of ore mined, fluctuating mineral market prices, costs of mining and processing equipment and such other factors as government regulations, including regulations relating to royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. Substantial expenditures are required to establish reserves through drilling and other work, to develop metallurgical processes to extract metal from ore, and to develop the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for mining. No assurance can be given that funds required for development can be obtained on a timely basis. The marketability of any minerals acquired or discovered may be affected by numerous factors which are beyond the Company’s control and which cannot be accurately foreseen or predicted, such as market fluctuations, the global marketing conditions for precious and base metals, the proximity and capacity of milling and smelting facilities, mineral markets and processing equipment, and such other factors as government regulations, including regulations relating to royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting minerals and environmental protection. In order to commence exploitation of certain properties presently held under exploration concessions, it is necessary for the Company to apply for exploitation concessions. There can be no guarantee that such concessions will be granted.
Financing Risks
There is no assurance given by the Company that it will be able to secure the financing necessary to explore, develop and produce its mineral properties.
The Company does not presently have sufficient financial resources or operating cash-flow to undertake by itself all of its planned exploration and development programs. The development of the Company’s properties may therefore depend on the Company’s joint venture partners and on the Company’s ability to obtain additional required financing. There is no assurance the Company will be successful in obtaining the required financing, the lack of which could result in the loss or substantial dilution of its interests (as existing or as proposed to be acquired) in its properties as disclosed herein. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on the ability of the Company to raise equity capital financings, the attainment of profitable operations, external financings, and further share issuance to satisfy working capital and operating needs.
Estimates of Mineral Deposits
There is no assurance given by the Company that any estimates of mineral deposits herein will not change.
Although all figures with respect to the size and grade of mineralized deposits, or, in some instances have been prepared, reviewed or verified by independent mining experts, these amounts are historic estimates only and are not compliant with NI 43-101, except for the Company’s New Polaris project which was the subject of a NI 43-101 report dated March 14, 2007, and no assurance can be given that any identified mineralized deposit will ever qualify as a commercially viable mineable ore body that can be legally and economically exploited. Estimates regarding mineralized deposits can also be affected by many factors such as permitting regulations and requirements, weather, environmental factors, unforeseen technical difficulties, unusual or unexpected geological formations and work interruptions. In addition, the grades and tonnages of ore ultimately mined may differ from that indicated by drilling results and other work. There can be no assurance that gold recovered in small-scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in large-scale tests under on-site conditions. Material changes in mineralized tonnages, grades, dilution and stripping ratios or recovery rates may affect the economic viability of projects. The existence of mineralized deposits should not be interpreted as assurances of the future delineation of ore reserves or the profitability of future operations. The refractory nature of gold mineralization at New Polaris may adversely affect the economic recovery of gold from mining operations.
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CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Mineral Prices
There is no assurance given by the Company that mineral prices will not change.
The mining industry is competitive and mineral prices fluctuate so that there is no assurance, even if commercial quantities of a mineral resource are discovered, that a profitable market will exist for the sale of same. Factors beyond the control of the Company may affect the marketability of any substances discovered. The prices of precious and base metals fluctuate on a daily basis, have experienced volatile and significant price movements over short periods of time, and are affected by numerous factors beyond the control of the Company, including international economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations (specifically, the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies), interest rates, central bank transactions, world supply for precious and base metals, international investments, monetary systems, and global or regional consumption patterns (such as the development of gold coin programs), speculative activities and increased production due to improved mining and production methods. The supply of and demand for gold are affected by various factors, including political events, economic conditions and production costs in major gold producing regions, and governmental policies with respect to gold holdings by a nation or its citizens. The exact effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, and the combination of these factors may result in the Company not receiving adequate returns on invested capital or the investments retaining their respective values. There is no assurance that the prices of gold and other precious and base metals will be such that the Company’s properties can be mined at a profit.
Title Matters
There is no assurance given by the Company that it owns legal title to certain of its mineral properties.
The acquisition of title to mineral properties is a very detailed and time-consuming process. Title to any of the Company’s mining concessions may come under dispute. While the Company has diligently investigated title considerations to its mineral properties, in certain circumstances, the Company has only relied upon representations of property partners and government agencies. There is no guarantee of title to any of the Company’s properties. The properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements or transfers, and title may be affected by unidentified and undetected defects. In British Columbia and elsewhere, native land claims or claims of aboriginal title may be asserted over areas in which the Company’s properties are located.
Conflicts of Interest
There is no assurance given by the Company that its directors and officers will not have conflicts of interest from time to time.
The Company’s directors and officers may serve as directors or officers of other public resource companies or have significant shareholdings in other public resource companies and, to the extent that such other companies may participate in ventures in which the Company may participate, the directors of the Company may have a conflict of interest in negotiating and concluding terms respecting the extent of such participation. The interests of these companies may differ from time to time. In the event that such a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the Company’s directors, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from voting for or against any resolution involving any such conflict. From time to time several companies may participate in the acquisition, exploration and development of natural resource properties thereby allowing for their participation in larger programs, permitting involvement in a greater number of programs and reducing financial exposure in respect of any one program. It may also occur that a particular company will assign all or a portion of its interest in a particular program to another of these companies due to the financial position of the company making the assignment. In accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, the directors of the Company are required to act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. In determining whether or not the Company will participate in any particular exploration or mining project at any given time, the directors will primarily consider the upside potential for the project to be accretive to shareholders, the degree of risk to which the Company may be exposed and its financial position at that time.
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CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Uninsured Risks
There is no assurance given by the Company that it is adequately insured against all risks.
The Company may become subject to liability for cave-ins, pollution or other hazards against which it cannot insure or against which it has elected not to insure because of high premium costs or other reasons. The payment of such liabilities would reduce the funds available for exploration and mining activities.
Environmental and Other Regulatory Requirements
There is no assurance given by the Company that it has met all environmental or regulatory requirements.
The current or future operations of the Company, including exploration and development activities and commencement of production on its properties, require permits from various foreign, federal, state and local governmental authorities and such operations are and will be governed by laws and regulations governing prospecting, development, mining, production, exports, taxes, labour standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, mine safety and other matters. Companies engaged in the development and operation of mines and related facilities generally experience increased costs, and delays in production and other schedules as a result of the need to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permits. There can be no assurance that approvals and permits required in order for the Company to commence production on its various properties will be obtained. Additional permits and studies, which may include environmental impact studies conducted before permits can be obtained, are necessary prior to operation of the other properties in which the Company has interests and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary permits that may be required to commence construction, development or operation of mining facilities at these properties on terms which enable operations to be conducted at economically justifiable costs.
Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment or remedial actions. Parties engaged in mining operations may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of the mining activities and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations. New laws or regulations or amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of mining companies, or more stringent implementation of current laws, regulations or permits, could have a material adverse impact on the Company and cause increases in capital expenditures or production costs or reduction in levels of production at producing properties or require abandonment or delays in development of new mining properties.
Reclamation
There is a risk that monies allotted for land reclamation may not be sufficient to cover all risks, due to changes in the nature of the waste rock or tailings and/or revisions to government regulations. Therefore additional funds, or reclamation bonds or other forms of financial assurance may be required over the tenure of the project to cover potential risks. These additional costs may have material adverse impact on the financial condition and results of the Company.
Foreign Countries and Regulatory Requirements
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CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Certain of the Company’s properties have been located in countries outside of Canada, and mineral exploration and mining activities may be affected in varying degrees by political stability and government regulations relating to the mining industry. Any changes in regulations or shifts in political attitudes may vary from country to country and are beyond the control of the Company and may adversely affect its business. Such changes have, in the past, included nationalization of foreign owned businesses and properties. Operations may be affected in varying degrees by government regulations with respect to restrictions on production, price controls, export controls, income and other taxes and duties, expropriation of property, environmental legislation and mine safety. These uncertainties may make it more difficult for the Company and its joint venture partners to obtain any required production financing for its mineral properties.
Currency Fluctuation and Foreign Exchange Controls
The Company maintains a portion of its funds in U.S. dollar denominated accounts. Certain of the Company’s property and related contracts may be denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company’s operations in countries other than Canada are normally carried out in the currency of that country and make the Company subject to foreign currency fluctuations and such fluctuations may materially affect the Company’s financial position and results. In addition, the Company is or may become subject to foreign exchange restrictions which may severely limit or restrict its ability to repatriate capital or profits from its properties outside of Canada to Canada. Such restrictions have existed in the past in countries in which the Company holds property interests and future impositions of such restrictions could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s future profitability or ability to pay dividends.
Third Party Reliance
The Company’s rights to acquire interests in certain mineral properties have been granted by third parties who themselves hold only an option to acquire such properties. As a result, the Company may have no direct contractual relationship with the underlying property holder.
Volatility of Shares Could Cause Investor Loss
The market price of a publicly traded stock, especially a junior issuer like the Company, is affected by many variables in addition to those directly related to exploration successes or failures. Such factors include the general condition of the market for junior resource stocks, the strength of the economy generally, the availability and attractiveness of alternative investments, and the breadth of the public market for the stock. The effect of these and other factors on the market price of the common shares on the TSX and NASD-OTC suggests that the Company’s shares will continue to be volatile. Therefore, investors could suffer significant losses if the Company’s shares are depressed or illiquid when an investor seeks liquidity and needs to sell the Company’s shares.
Possible Dilution to Current Shareholders based on Outstanding Options and Warrants
At December 31, 2011, the Company had 94,096,171 common shares and 10,115,000 outstanding share purchase options and 4,250,000 share purchase warrants outstanding. The resale of outstanding shares from the exercise of dilutive securities could have a depressing effect on the market for the Company’s shares. At December 31, 2011, securities that could be dilutive represented approximately 15.3% of the Company’s issued shares. None of these dilutive securities were exercisable at prices below the December 30, 2011 closing market price of CAD$0.09 for the Company’s shares, which would not accordingly result in dilution to existing shareholders if exercised.
1.18 Controls and Procedures
Canarc Resource Corp. | Page 28 | |
CANARC RESOURCE CORP. Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the Year ended December 31, 2011 (expressed in United States dollars) |
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based upon the evaluation of the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures regarding the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 and this MD&A, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) have concluded that the design and operation of the Company’s internal disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company was made known to others within the Company particularly during the period in which this report and accounts were being prepared, and such controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under regulatory rules and securities laws is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified. Management of the Company recognizes that any controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance, and not absolute assurance, of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgement in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
The CEO and CFO of the Company are responsible for designing internal controls over financial reporting (“ICOFR”) or causing them to be designed under their supervision to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS.
In common with many other smaller companies, the Company has insufficient resources to appropriately review increasingly complex areas of accounting within the accounting function such as those in relation to financial instruments and deferred income tax.
The Company shall engage the services of an external accounting firm to assist in applying complex areas of accounting as needed. In December 2007, the Company has hired a consultant to design and implement internal controls over financial reporting.
Management concluded that the audited consolidated annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 fairly present the Company’s financial position and the results of its operations for the period then ended.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
Except as disclosed above, there were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date the CEO completed his evaluation.
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