UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
[ ]
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
[X]
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year endedSeptember 30, 2007
OR
[ ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 000-23650
CDG Investments Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
CDG Investments Inc.
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
ALBERTA, CANADA
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
#500 - 926 - 5th AVENUE, S.W., CALGARY, ALBERTA, T2P 0N7
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
None
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
Common shares without nominal or par value
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
40,959,855 common shares as at September 30, 2007.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes No X
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer X
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
Item 17 X Item 18
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes X No
3
PART I
In this annual report, unless the context indicates otherwise, the "Company" refers to CDG Investments Inc. (“CDG”). The financial statements and financial information stated herein include only the accounts of the Company.
Glossary of Terms
In addition to the terms defined in this annual report, certain terms used throughout this annual report are defined below:
| |
“Affiliate” | One who, directly or indirectly, either controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the specified person or entity. |
“CDG” | CDG Investments Inc. |
NOTE OF CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION. As noted, the future conduct of the business of CDG is dependent upon a number of factors, and there can be no assurance that CDG will be able to conduct its operations as contemplated herein. Certain statements contained in this report using the terms “may”, “expects to”, and other terms denoting future possibilities, are forward-looking statements. The accuracy of these statements cannot be guaranteed as they are subject to a variety of risks including, but not limited to the possibility that the Company may be unable to acquire a profitable business to generate future earnings. The Company’s only significant asset at year end was cash as it had divested itself of all of its investments. It is important that each person reviewing this report understand the significant risks attendant to the operations of CDG.
Item 1: IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS
Not applicable.
Item 2: OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
Item 3:
KEY INFORMATION
A.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected financial data set forth in the following table is expressed in Canadian dollars. A history of the exchange rates for Canadian dollars in terms of U.S. Dollars follows. This financial information was prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada, the application of which conforms in all material respects for the periods presented with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, except to the extent noted in Note 14 to the Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this annual report. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with and is qualified by such Financial Statements and the Notes thereto.
4
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30
(In $000’S Cdn except for “per/share” and “number of shares” information)
| | | | | |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |
Operating Summary | | | | | |
Revenue | | | | | |
Gain on disposal of investments | $ - | $ 438 | $2,583 | $ 371 | $ - |
Interest | 86 | 104 | 31 | 8 | 8 |
Income (loss) continuing operations | | | | | |
Canadian GAAP | ( 5) | 9,230 | 3,693 | 870 | (805) |
US GAAP | ( 5) | 12,236 | (195) | 1,599 | 2,674 |
Net income (loss) | | | | | |
Canadian GAAP | ( 5) | 9,230 | 3,693 | 870 | (805) |
United States GAAP | ( 5) | 12,236 | (195) | 1,599 | 2,674 |
Financial Status | | | | | |
Total assets | | | | | |
Canadian GAAP | 2,015 | 2,038 | 7,220 | 3,219 | 3,587 |
United States GAAP | 2,015 | 2,038 | 3,959 | 3,544 | 3,189 |
Working capital (deficiency) | | | | | |
Canadian GAAP | 1,707 | 1,712 | 3,498 | 159 | 78 |
United States GAAP | 1,707 | 1,712 | 3,498 | 190 | 78 |
Long term liabilities | | | | | |
Canadian GAAP | - | - | - | 517 | 1,691 |
United States GAAP | - | - | - | 550 | 1,750 |
Shareholder’s equity (net assets) | | | | | |
Canadian GAAP | 1,707 | 1,712 | 6,908 | 2,506 | 1,636 |
United States GAAP | 1,707 | 1,712 | 3,646 | 2,799 | 1,179 |
Capital Stock | | | | | |
- amount Canadian GAAP | 29,544 | 29,544 | 43,120 | 42,644 | 42,644 |
- amount US GAAP | 29,499 | 29,499 | 43,095 | 42,644 | 42,644 |
- number | 40,959,855 | 40,959,855 | 34,753,172 | 28,154,081 | 28,154,081 |
Dividends per share – CDN GAAP | - | 0.02 | - | - | - |
Dividends per share – US GAAP | - | 0.02 | - | - | - |
Net earnings (loss) per common share: | | | | | |
Canadian GAAP | | | | | |
Basic Diluted | 0.00 0.00 | 0.23 0.23 | 0.11 0.10 | 0.03 0.03 | (0.03) (0.03) |
United States GAAP | | | | | |
Basic Diluted | 0.00 0.00 | 0.31 0.30 | 0.00 0.00 | 0.06 0.05 | 0.09 0.08 |
Net earnings (loss) per Common share – continuing operations | | | | | |
Canadian GAAP Basic Diluted |
0.00 0.00 |
0.23 0.23 |
0.11 0.10 |
0.03 0.03 |
(0.03) (0.03) |
United States GAAP Basic Diluted |
0.00 0.00 |
0.31 0.30 |
0.00 0.00 |
0.06 0.05 |
0.09 0.08 |
Exchange Rates
In this annual report, unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars.
5
The exchange rates for Canadian dollars expressed in US dollars as obtained from the Bank of Canada are as follows:
i)
December 19, 2007 - $0.9944
ii)
High and low exchange rates for each month during the previous six months:
| | |
Month | Low | High |
November, 2007 | $0.9992 | $1.0905 |
October, 2007 | $0.9996 | $1.0527 |
September, 2007 | $0.9466 | $1.0069 |
August, 2007 | $0.9298 | $0.9525 |
July, 2007 | $0.9358 | $0.9641 |
June, 2007 | $0.9320 | $0.9452 |
iii)
Average rates for the five most recent financial years:
| | | | | |
Years Ended September 30: | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |
Average rate | .90 | .88 | .82 | .75 | .69 |
B.
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS – Not applicable
C.
REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS – Not applicable
D.
RISK FACTORS
Any person considering the purchase of the Company’s common stock should understand that such purchase and ownership involves a high degree of risk. You should purchase the Company’s common stock only if you can afford a complete loss of your investment. Among the risks that you should consider in determining whether to invest in the Company’s common stock are the following:
Change of Business
During fiscal 2006, the Company sold its remaining investments in their entirety. Prior thereto, the Company had operated as an Investment Company. Management and the Board of Directors are reviewing various businesses that the Company could acquire and carry on as a viable business. Management cannot provide assurances that an active business can be acquired that will provide future profitable operations. There is considerable uncertainty surrounding the future business focus of the Company.
Risk of Non-Compliance with the US Investment Company Act and Risk of Sanctions
The Company has divested itself of all of its investments by September 30, 2006. Prior thereto, the Company may have been considered an “investment company” as that term is defined in the United States’ Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). An investment company is generally a company that is engaged in the business of investing, holding, reinvesting, or trading of investment securities. The 1940 Act requires that investment companies formed under the laws of the United States, or its states, register as such with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and become subject to complex governance rules. The registration requirements do not appear to apply to non-U.S. companies except in the limited case when the non-U.S. company intends to raise capital within the United States – an action that the Company does not intend to take. Furthermore, as an inv estment company in Canada, the Company was subject to regulation under Canadian law and the Company believes that U.S. regulation would be redundant and potentially incompatible with its obligations under Canadian law. Conversations with the staff of the SEC indicate that they can offer no clear guidance.
6
Should the SEC attempt to impose the provisions of the 1940 Act on the Company, the Company’s shareholders may lose their ability to trade its stock in the over-the-counter market in the United States. In addition, the SEC may attempt to appoint a receiver for the Company’s affairs or impose other sanctions. The Company intends to vigorously resist classification as an investment company in the United States, and to take advantage of any exemptions or exceptions from application of the 1940 Act. The necessity of asserting any such resistance, or making any claim of exemption, could be time consuming and costly, or even prohibitive, given the Company’s limited resources. In addition, there is no assurance that the Company would prevail in its efforts to contest such investment company classification.
Market and Price Volatility
The Company’s common stock is vulnerable to pricing and purchasing actions that are beyond its control. Volatile market price and trading volume for the Company’s common stock make it difficult to profit from an investment in the Company’s common stock. Low volume of trading and market volatility may result in an inability to compile adequate information before engaging in trading activities, execution delays, and executions at prices significantly different from the market price quoted when an order is entered. The securities markets themselves have from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that may be unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result, shareholders may suffer market losses during periods of volatility in price and volume. In addition, the realization of any of the risks described in these “Risk Factors ” could have a significant and adverse impact on such market prices.
Classification as a Penny Stock and Decreased Liquidity
The Company’s common shares currently have a market price of less than $5.00 (US) and, pursuant to the Securities Enforcement Remedies and Penny Stock Reform Act of 1990, its equity securities are be classified as “penny stock”. Since the common shares are classified as “penny stock” the common shares are subject to Rules 15g-2 through 15g-9 (the “Penny Stock Rules”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Penny Stock Rules impose additional reporting, disclosure and sales practice requirements on brokers and dealers before they can recommend the common shares for purchase by their customers, and require that such brokers and dealers make a special suitability determination for their customers, and require that such brokers and dealers make a special suitability determination for each purchaser and obtain the purchaser’s written consent to the purchase o r sale of the common shares.
The additional risk disclosures and documentation imposed by the Penny Stock Rules could have an adverse effect on the market for and/or the valuation of the Company’s common shares.
Competition with Other Companies
Other companies with greater financial resources and/or expertise are in competition with the Company for new business opportunities. The Company may not be able to compete with these other companies and may be limited in the business opportunities it can pursue. If the Company is unable to identify viable business opportunities, it may not generate a sufficient return, if any, on its capital.
Thinly Traded Public Market
The Company’s shares trade on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board system (the “OTCBB”). The Company has only 1,090 registered holders of its common shares, 267 of whom were residents of the United States, as at December 19, 2007, and its shares are thinly traded. There can be no assurance that a stable market for the Company’s common shares will ever develop or, if it should develop, be sustained. It should be assumed that the market for the Company’s common shares will continue to be highly illiquid, sporadic and volatile. The Company is required to maintain its status as a "reporting issuer" under the Exchange Act, in order to be quoted on the OTCBB. The Company is also listed on the CNQ-Canadian Trading and Quotation System Inc. (“CNQ”) exchange in Canada, and its shares are thinly traded. There can be no assurance that a stable market for the Company’s common shares will
7
ever develop or, if it should develop, be sustained. It should be assumed that the market for the Company’s common shares will continue to be highly illiquid, sporadic and volatile.
Dealings with Associated Companies and Conflicts of Interest
The Company is associated through common directors, common officers and common shareholdings with certain companies. Persons who are not willing to rely on the discretion and judgment of management and the boards of directors of the Company and the associated companies should not consider a purchase of the Company’s securities. See “Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Transactions."
Certain of the Company’s directors are also directors, officers or shareholders of other Companies. Such associations may give rise to conflicts of interest from time to time. Such a conflict poses the risk that the Company may enter into a transaction on terms which place the Company in a worse position than if no conflict existed. The directors and officers of the Company are aware of the existence of laws governing accountability of directors and officers for corporate opportunity and requiring disclosures by directors of conflicts of interest and the Company will rely upon such laws in respect of any directors’ and officers’ conflicts of interest or in respect of any breaches of duty by any of its directors or officers. All such conflicts must be disclosed by such directors or officers in accordance with theCompany Act (Alberta) (the “Company Act”). Generally, the Company Act requires a directo r with a direct or indirect interest in a contract or transaction to “disclose the nature and extent of the director’s interest at a meeting of the directors.” A director who has an interest in such a transaction is accountable to the corporation for which the director serves for any profit the director receives as a result of the transaction unless the director has previously disclosed the interest in accordance with the Company Act, the Board of Directors subsequently approves the transaction or contract, and the interested director does not vote on the approval, or “the contract or transaction was reasonable and fair to the Company at the time it was entered into, and after full disclosure of the nature and extent of the director’s interest, it is approved by special resolution.”
If a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the Board of Directors, any director in a conflict will disclose his interest and abstain from voting on such matter. In determining whether or not the Company will participate in any project or opportunity, the Board of Directors will primarily consider the degree of risk to which the Company may be exposed and its financial position at that time.
The Company has not adopted a written policy governing conflicts of interest. See “Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions”.
The Company may be deemed to be a “Passive Foreign Investment Company”
The Company may be deemed to be a “Passive Foreign Investment Company” (“PFIC”). See “Item 10: Additional Information - Taxation.” If the Company is deemed to be a PFIC, a United States holder of the Company’s common shares would be required to pay an interest charge together with tax calculated at maximum tax rates on certain “excess distributions” (defined to include certain dividends from a PFIC and any gain on the sale of stock of a PFIC) unless such holder made an election either to (1) include in his or her taxable income his or her pro rata share of the PFIC’s ordinary earnings and net capital gains under the Qualified Electing Fund rules or (2) mark to market his or her Company common shares at the end of each taxable year as set forth in Section 1296 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The elections require certain conditions be met such as filing on or before the due date, as extended, for filing the shareholder’s income tax return for the first taxable year to which the election will apply.
Income Taxes
The determination of the Company’s income and other tax liabilities are subject to audit and potential reassessment after the lapse of considerable time. Accordingly, actual income tax liabilities or expenses may differ from estimates.
8
Item 4:
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
1. Legal and commercial name – CDG Investments Inc.
2.
Incorporation date – October 12, 1979
3.
Incorporated under the Business Corporations Act of Alberta, Canada (the “ABCA”)
-Address/Telephone:
Suite 500, 926-5th Ave. S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
T2P 0N7, Phone 403-233-7898.
Name and Business Change – In May 2002, the Company changed its name from Golden Rule Resources Ltd. to CDG Investments Inc. In connection with the name change, the business of the Company was changed to that of an investment company, concentrating on the mineral exploration sector. There was no change in management or a change in control in connection with the name change. The Company is continuing to investigate opportunities to restructure and refocus its business.
4.
Significant changes or events
THE FOLLOWING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OR IMPORTANT EVENTS OCCURRED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS:
a)
Year ended September 30, 2007
There were no significant changes or important events during the 2007 fiscal year. The Company’s operations consisted of investing surplus cash in interest-earning short-term bank instruments.
b)
Year ended September 30, 2006 – Corporate Restructuring
At the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held during the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company received shareholder approval for the restructuring of its business. In anticipation of, and pursuant to the restructuring, the Company distributed cash and a significant portion of its investments to the Company’s shareholders both by way of dividends and returns of capital as described in (c) and (d) below. By September 30, 2006, the Company had disposed of all of its investments, both through distributions and sales in the open market, and had ceased to be an Investment Company.
c)
Year ended September 30, 2006 – Dividend Issued
During the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company distributed to its shareholders 5,204,329 of its shares in Manson Creek, and 7,286,300 of its shares in Northern Abitibi by way of a dividend. In addition to this share dividend, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.01 per share for a total cash dividend of $404,000. The cash and share dividends were payable to shareholders of record on November 16, 2005. Immediately subsequent to the share dividend, the Company held a 2% interest in each of Manson Creek and Northern Abitibi. Consequently, effective the dividend distribution date, the Company ceased to equity-account for these two investments.
d)
Year ended September 30, 2006 – Return of Capital Distribution
During the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company distributed 13,652,898 of its shares in Tyler Resources Inc. (“Tyler”) and $2,867,190 in cash as a return of capital. The total value of the distribution, consisting of one share of Tyler for each three CDG common shares and $0.07 Cdn. per CDG common Share was $0.3533 Cdn. The value ascribed to each share of Tyler was $0.85 per share Cdn. The shares and cash were distributed to shareholders of record on April 28, 2006. Since the distribution of Tyler shares represented a spin-off or restructuring, it was valued at the carrying
9
value of the Tyler investment on the distribution date, which was the fair value of the investment at the time.
e)
Year ended September 30, 2006 – Severance
During the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company terminated its employees, and the contract of its former Chief Executive Officer. Severance payments associated therewith aggregated $77,420 and these are included in General and Administrative Expenses for the year ended September 30, 2006.
f)
Year ended September 30, 2006 – Sale of Remaining interest in Waddy Lake Resources Inc.
Pursuant to an agreement entered into in fiscal 2004 the Company sold 49% of its 100% share position in Waddy Lake Resources Inc., (Waddy Lake), for nominal consideration, and granted an option to acquire an additional 1% of the issued and outstanding Waddy Lake shares for nominal consideration.
Pursuant to the agreement the Company was to receive $800,000 over four years: $200,000 upon execution of the agreement, (received), and $200,000 in each of June 2005, (received), 2006 and 2007. This represented the Company’s only claim to the assets of Waddy Lake. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company received both the June 30, 2006 payment and the discounted value of the June 30, 2007 payment, ($395,000 in total for both years). Further the Company sold its remaining 51% position in Waddy Lake for proceeds of $5,800. The combined receipt of $400,800 was recorded as “Gain on Sale of Interest in Waddy Lake Resources Inc.” during the year ended September 30, 2006.
g)
Year ended September 30, 2006 – Sale of Royalty Interest
When the Company was changing its business to that of an Investment Company, it sold the Jolu Mill in 2003 and retained a royalty that would be payable if the purchaser should commence to process ore at this location. Pursuant to the sale agreement, the purchaser agreed to pay the Company $10 per tonne of ore processed through the Jolu Mill, to a maximum of $400,000. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the purchaser acquired the royalty from the Company for proceeds of $130,000, the entirety of which is reflected as a gain.
h)
Year-ended September 30, 2005 – Conversion of Debentures
During the year ended September 30, 2005, Convertible Debentures in the amount of $550,000 were converted into 5,499,091 common shares and 5,499,091 share purchase warrants. Warrants were exercised to purchase 500,000 common shares at $0.11 per share. The remaining 4,999,091 warrants were exercised to purchase 4,999,091 common shares at $0.12 per share during the year ended September 30, 2006. (See also Item 7, B Related Party Transactions).
i)
Year ended September 30, 2005 – Sale of Golden Band Resources Inc. shares
During the year ended September 30, 2005 the Company sold a significant portion of its investment in Golden Band Resources Inc. At September 30, 2004, the Company held 12,361,266 common shares of Golden Band representing approximately 25% of the outstanding shares on that date. The investment in Golden Band had been carried at cost during fiscal 2004 because the Company had only one of six directors on Golden Band’s board of directors, did not share common officers and did not have the ability to exert significant influence over operating, exploration or investment decisions.
During fiscal 2005, the Company acquired an additional 834,599 common shares of Golden Band by exercising warrants and sold 12,802,468 common shares of the Company in the open market.
10
During the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company sold its remaining 393,397 shares in Golden Band.
5. Principal capital expenditures and divestitures
The following is a description of principal capital expenditures and divestitures during the last three fiscal years:
The Company did not obtain debt financing for any of its capital expenditures during the years in question.
Year ended September 30, 2007
There were no significant capital expenditures and divestitures.
Year ended September 30, 2006
There were no significant capital expenditures. See “Item 4. Information on the Company – History and Development - Significant Changes or Events” regarding divestitures, to include interests in other companies.
Year ended September 30, 2005
There were no significant capital expenditures. See “Item 4. Information on the Company – History and Development - Significant Changes or Events” regarding divestitures.
6. Takeover offers- Not applicable.
B.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
The Company
In recent years, the Company’s business had consisted of holding investments in primarily mineral exploration companies. The Company was able to exercise significant influence over three of these exploration companies during fiscal 2005 and a portion of 2006. Management determined that shareholders of the Company would better realize the fair value of the Company’s assets through their distribution to the shareholders. As a result, during the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company distributed substantially all of its investments in Northern Abitibi Mining Corp. and Manson Creek Resources Ltd. to shareholders by way of a dividend in kind and paid an additional cash dividend. Further, the Company distributed substantially all of its Tyler Resources Inc. shares as a return of capital which was supplemented with a cash return of capital.
After investment distributions to shareholders and sales in the open market, the Company had disposed of all of its investments by September 30, 2006. Throughout the year ended September 30, 2007, Management evaluated numerous possible business acquisitions with which the Company can move forward.
Investment Sales
The following tables summarize the investment sale proceeds and purchase costs for the years ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005, as well as the gain (loss) on disposition of these investments for financial statement purposes:
11
| | | |
2006 Investment | Number of Shares Or Units |
Proceeds on Disposal |
Gain (loss) on Disposal |
Golden Band | | | |
Disposals | 393,397 | $ 115,370 | $ 46,342 |
Manson Creek | | | |
Disposals | 694,719 | 90,328 | 67,078 |
Northern Abitibi | | | |
Disposals | 709,126 | 37,644 | 26,222 |
Tyler Resources | | | |
Disposals | 494,054 | 403,768 | 298,668 |
Total 2006 | | $ 647,110 | $ 438,310 |
The above summary does not include the shares in Manson Creek and Northern Abitibi that were distributed to shareholders as a dividend, nor does it include the shares in Tyler distributed to shareholders as a return of capital.
| | | | |
2005 Investment | Number of Shares Or Units |
Investment purchases |
Proceeds on Disposal |
Gain (loss) on Disposal |
Golden Band | | | | |
Exercise Warrants | 834,599 | $179,041 | | |
Disposals | (12,802,468) | | $3,212,146 | $1,701,216 |
Manson Creek | | | | |
Exercise Warrants | 500,000 | 75,000 | | |
Disposals | (500,000) | | 100,243 | 92,385 |
Tyler Resources | | | | |
Private placement | 400,000 | 500,000 | | |
Purchase in market | 5,000 | 4,800 | | |
Disposals | (475,000) | | 748,099 | 699,173 |
Aloak Corp. | | | | |
Disposals | (4,200,000) | | 64,645 | 43,643 |
RSX Energy Inc. | | | | |
Disposals | (90,000) | | 121,717 | 47,017 |
Total 2005 | | $758,841 | $4,246,850 | $2,583,434 |
C.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Company has no subsidiaries.
D.
PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT
The Company entered into a sublease agreement with Manson Creek Resources Ltd., a company related by virtue of certain common officers and directors, effective January 1, 2002, as amended October 1, 2005, whereby the Company agreed to pay its20% share of base lease costs plus lease operating costs until the termination of the lease on December 31, 2006. Effective June 1, 2006, the Company terminated its sublease with Manson Creek Resources Ltd. and assigned its claim for prepaid final months’ lease payments in the amount of $6,241 to the company that assumed its sublease.
The Company has no property as of the date of this Annual Report.
12
Item 5:
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
GENERAL
With the sale of the Company’s Saskatchewan property portfolio to Golden Band, effective November 7, 2002, the Company became largely a holding company for investments in mineral exploration corporations. Prior thereto, the Company had been in the business of exploring mineral properties in Canada and abroad. During the year ended September 30, 2004, the sale of the Company’s last remaining mineral property interest completed the Company’s transformation to an investment company with the goal of investing in primarily mineral exploration corporations. With the Company’s status as an investment company, its primary source of income was the sale of investments during fiscal 2004, 2005 and 2006. During fiscal 2006, the Company sold or distributed all of its investments. As a result, the Company was no longer an investment company at September 30, 2006. The Company’s future business is as yet unknown, as management and the Board of Directors continue to evaluate possible new business opportunities.
The following discussion of the results of operations of the Company for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005 should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the Company and related notes included therein.
The Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP, the application of which, in the case of the Company, conforms in all material respects with US GAAP for the periods presented except for the differences referred to in Note 14 of the financial statements of the Company included herein. The noon rate of exchange on December 19, 2007, reported by the United States Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for the conversion of Canadian dollars into United States dollars was CDN$1=US$0.9944, (US$1 = CDN $1.0056).
A.
OPERATING RESULTS
Years ended September 30, 2007, September 30, 2006, September 30, 2005
The Company had a net loss of $5,000 in the year ended September 30, 2007 and earnings in the comparative years; (2006 - $9,230,000, 2005 - $3,693,000). The more significant categories are summarized below:
| | | | |
| Year Ended September 30, 2007 | Year Ended September 30, 2006 | Year Ended September 30, 2005 | Footnote |
Gain on disposal of investments | $ - | $ 438,310 | $ 2,583,434 | a |
General and administrative expenses | (91,049) | (536,286) | (482,916) | b |
Debenture interest | - | - | (12,308) | c |
Equity in loss of investees | - | (26,800) | (629,321) | d |
Realized change in fair value of investment |
- |
8,720,106 |
- |
e |
Gain on dilution of equity investments | - | - | 2,003,811 | f |
Gain on sale of interest in Waddy Lake Resources Inc. |
- |
400,800 |
200,000 |
g |
Gain on sale of royalty interest | - | 130,000 | - | h |
Interest income | 86,118 | 103,848 | 30,690 | i |
Net earnings (loss) | $ (4,931) | $ 9,229,978 | $ 3,693,390 | |
13
a.
Gain on Disposal of Investments
The gain on disposal of investments for the comparative years is comprised of the following:
| | | | |
Year ended | September 30, 2006 | September 30, 2005 |
Investment | Number of Shares |
Gain | Number of Shares |
Gain |
Golden Band Resources Inc. | 393,397 | $ 46,342 | 12,802,468 | $ 1,701,216 |
Manson Creek Resources Ltd. | 694,719 | 67,078 | 500,000 | 92,385 |
Northern Abitibi Mining Corp. | 709,126 | 26,222 | - | - |
Tyler Resources Inc. | 494,054 | 298,668 | 475,000 | 699,173 |
Aloak Corp. | - | - | 4,200,000 | 43,643 |
RSX Energy Inc. | - | - | 90,000 | 47,017 |
Total | | $ 438,310 | | $2,583,434 |
Note that the number of shares shown disposed of for Manson Creek, Northern Abitibi and Tyler Resources exclude those distributed as dividends and returns of capital.
b. General and Administrative expenses
2007 compared to 2006
The Company experienced a significant decrease in General and Administrative Expenses of $445,000 from 2006 to 2007. The more material variances are discussed below.
During fiscal 2006, costs associated with the dividend distribution and return of capital distribution, including legal costs, transfer agent costs and distribution costs, aggregated $173,000 with no counterpart in fiscal 2007. Severance payments in fiscal 2006 aggregated $78,000, (2007 – Nil). Reporting to Shareholder costs decreased $25,000 as a result of the annual general meeting that would normally be held in the spring of 2007 being postponed to fiscal 2008. Salaries and benefits after recoveries during fiscal 2006 aggregated $32,000. There were no salaries paid during fiscal 2007 as the Company ceased to have employees in December, 2005. Instead, during the current year, the Company paid a related company for the use of employee’s services in the amount of $10,000. This resulted in a net decrease of $22,000. Lease costs were NIL in fiscal 2007 as the Company terminated its offi ce lease in fiscal 2006. This resulted in a decrease in expenses of $20,000.
Audit fees, administrative consulting fees, legal and directors fees decreased $93,000 in aggregate as a reflection of the limited activities undertaken by the Company in the current year.
2006 compared to 2005
Overall General and Administrative Expenses increased by $53,000 from 2005 to 2006. The more material variances are discussed below.
Costs associated with the dividend distribution and return of capital distribution, including legal costs, transfer agent costs and distribution costs, aggregated $173,000 in fiscal 2006 with no counterpart in fiscal 2005. Severance payments in fiscal 2006 aggregated $78,000, (2005 – Nil).
These increased expenses were offset by decreases in certain other expenses. In fiscal 2005, the Company accrued an additional $114,000 for lease arrears pertaining to formerly owned mineral properties. No further accruals were required in fiscal 2006. During 2005, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $64,000, (2006 – Nil). There were no options granted in fiscal 2006, (2005 – 200,000).
c. Debenture Interest
Debentures were converted into common shares near the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2005 hence there was limited interest expense during the year ended September 30, 2005, and none in either fiscal 2006 or fiscal 2007.
14
d. Equity in Loss of Investees
In fiscal 2006 and 2005, the Company recorded its share of earnings (loss) of equity investees and increased or reduced the carrying value of the investment in an equal amount. The equity in loss of investees was comprised of the Company’s share of the losses of Manson Creek, Northern Abitibi and Tyler Resources as follows:
| | | | |
Year Ended: | September 30, 2007 | September 30, 2006 | September 30, 2005 | Footnote |
Manson Creek Resources Ltd. | $ - | $ ( 5,300) | $( 316,382) | i |
Northern Abitibi Mining Corp. | - | ( 1,700) | ( 20,108) | ii |
Tyler Resources Inc. | - | ( 19,800) | ( 292,831) | iii |
Total | $ - | $ ( 26,800) | $( 629,321) | |
i.
Manson Creek wrote-off properties in fiscal 2005, (the Company’s share - $240,000), while there were no such write-offs during 2006. Further, Manson Creek recorded stock option compensation expense of $130,000 during 2005, (the Company’s share - $32,500). Effective November 30, 2005, after disposing of significantly all of its investment, the Company ceased to account for Manson Creek on the equity basis, hence the limited share of loss in fiscal 2006. By September 30, 2006, the Company had no investment in Manson Creek, hence no equity in earnings/loss for the year ended September 30, 2007.
ii.
Effective November 30, 2005, after disposing of significantly all of its investment, the Company ceased to account for Northern Abitibi on the equity basis, hence the limited share of loss in fiscal 2006. By September 30, 2006, the Company had no investment in Northern Abitibi, hence no equity in earnings/loss for the year ended September 30, 2007.
iii.
Effective November 18, 2005, the Company ceased to equity-account for its investment in Tyler, coincident with its relinquishment of operational control over Tyler at the same time as having less that a 20% interest in Tyler. As a result, the Company’s share of loss in Tyler during fiscal 2006 covered a period of less than two months. The Company had no investment in Tyler during fiscal 2007, hence no equity in earnings/loss of the company for the current year.
e.
Realized Change in Fair Value of Investment
Tyler Resources Inc. shares were being carried in the Company’s books at their fair value immediately prior to their distribution as a return of capital during fiscal 2006. The transaction was recorded at the carrying value of the investment on the distribution date at which time the previously booked unrealized gains were reversed and the realized change in fair value was recorded.
f.
Gain on Dilution of Equity Investments
The gain on dilution of equity investments in the 2005 fiscal year pertained to the Company’s investments in Tyler Resources Inc., Manson Creek Resources Ltd., and Northern Abitibi Mining Corp. The Company’s interests in these corporations were diluted when the investees issued capital stock to outsiders during the year. The Company’s share of the additional assets introduced to the investee companies exceeded the cost of the Company’s interest surrendered, therefore a gain was recognized.
g.
Gain on Sale of Interest in Waddy Lake Resources Inc.
Refer to note 6 to the financial statements. A portion of the Company’s investment in Waddy Lake Resources Inc. was sold during fiscal 2004 for nominal consideration plus $200,000 per year over four years. At the time of the transaction the Company determined that it would not record a receivable for the three $200,000 payments not yet received on the transaction date, since collection was considered uncertain, and determined that these payments would be recorded on an “as received” basis. The fiscal 2005 gain represented the receipt of one such $200,000 payment. The fiscal 2006 gain represented the 2006 installment payment in addition to the discounted value of the final payment that was to have been received in June, 2007, as well as a nominal amount for the sale of the remaining interest in Waddy Lake Resources Inc. As all investments and loans receivable from Waddy Lake had been written-off in a prior year, the full amount of each year’s receipts was reflected as a gain.
h.
Gain on Sale of Royalty Interest
See note 7 to the financial statements. The Company sold a royalty interest that was carried at a nominal value, for proceeds of $130,000, resulting in a gain equal to the proceeds.
15
i.
Interest Income
Interest income increased from fiscal 2005 to 2006 due to the progressively higher average cash balances that resulted from the numerous investment sales during fiscal 2005 and 2006. As significant cash was paid out to shareholders through dividends and returns of capital in fiscal 2006, the Company experienced reduced average cash balances during fiscal 2007 and hence reduced interest income.
B.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
| | | |
| September 30, |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
Cash and cash equivalents | $1,970,250 | $1,993,452 | $3,704,632 |
Working capital | $1,707,052 | $1,711,983 | $3,497,909 |
The Company’s working capital position at September 30, 2007 was $1,707,000, (2006 - $1,712,000, 2005 - $3,498,000).
The sale of investments contributed $Nil, (2006 - $647,000, 2005 - $4,247,000), cash to the Company and the acquisition of investments utilized $Nil, (2006 - $Nil, 2005 - $759,000) cash. The investments sold during the years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 are summarized under Operating Results above. Golden Band Resources Inc. shares were acquired in 2005 pursuant to the exercise of warrants. The fiscal 2005 Golden Band purchases aggregated $179,000. In addition the Company acquired 500,000 common shares of Manson Creek Resources Ltd. during fiscal 2005 for $75,000 pursuant to the exercise of warrants and acquired 400,000 common shares and 400,000 warrants of Tyler Resources Inc. for $500,000 as well as 5,000 shares for $5,000.
Cash operating expenses, including debenture interest, exceeded interest income by $23,000 in fiscal 2007, (2006 - $358,000, 2005 - $286,000).
In fiscal 2007 $Nil was received for the sale of the Company’s investment in Waddy Lake Resources Inc., (2006 - $401,000, 2005 - $200,000). During fiscal 2007, the Company received $Nil for the sale of a royalty interest, (2006 - $130,000, 2005 - $Nil).
During the year ended September 30, 2006, 4,999,091, (2005 - 500,000), warrants were exercised for proceeds of $600,000, (2005 - $55,000). The warrants were issued pursuant to the conversion of debentures into units comprised of common shares and share purchase warrants. Further, during fiscal 2006 1,275,000, (2005 - 600,000), stock options were exercised for net proceeds of $140,000, (2005 - $66,000).
During fiscal 2006, the Company distributed cash to shareholders by way of a dividend, ($404,000) and a return of capital, ($2,867,000). There were no such transactions during fiscal 2007 and 2005.
Management feels that the Company has sufficient liquid resources to fund its current limited operating expenses. However, future profitable operations are dependent upon management finding a viable business for the Company.
Borrowings
There were no borrowings at the end of fiscal 2007. At September 30, 2004 the Company owed $550,000 to convertible debenture holders. The due date of the convertible debentures was December 17, 2005. The convertible debentures bore interest at 6% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 31 and September 30 and were secured by a floating charge over substantially all of the assets of the Company. In addition, the debentures were convertible into units comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant at $0.10 per unit until December 17, 2004 and $0.11 per unit from December 18, 2004 to December 17, 2005. See “Item 4. Information on the Company – A. History and Development – Significant Changes or Events – Year ended September 30, 2005 – Conversion of Debentures”.
16
During fiscal 2005, the full $550,000 of debentures was converted into 5,499,091 common shares and 5,499,091 warrants. During fiscal 2005, 500,000 warrants were exercised at $0.11 per share for $55,000. The remaining 4,999,091 warrants were exercised during the year ended September 30, 2006 at $0.12 per share for total consideration of $599,891.
The Company maintains its cash in Canadian currency and invests excess cash in Bankers’ Acceptances of a duration less than ninety days, as required.
The Company does not utilize any financial instruments for hedging purposes.
There are no material commitments for capital expenditures as of September 30, 2007.
C.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES
Not applicable
D.
TREND INFORMATION
During the year-ended September 30, 2004 the Company sold its remaining exploration property. Thereafter the Company became exclusively an Investment Company. Further the Company ceased to consolidate Waddy Lake Resources Inc. pursuant to the investment sale described in item 4(A)(4)(f). Certain amounts in the statement of operations that were associated with these two transactions are considered non-recurring. With the disposition of all remaining investments during the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company is no longer an Investment Company. It is therefore expected that any future business to be transacted in the Company will be something other than the purchase and sale of investments. As a result, the future competitive environment and any related trend information is indeterminate as of the date of filing of this annual report.
However, the Company does anticipate that future recurring operating items will, in all likelihoodnot include, investment-related income/loss items – equity in earnings (loss) of Investees, gain (loss) on sale of investments, realized change in fair value of investments, dilution gains (losses) pertaining to equity accounted investments and write-down of investments.
E.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company does not have any material off balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
F.
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.
The Company has no contractual obligations as of September 30, 2007.
G. SAFE HARBOR
Except for historical facts, all information required by Item 5 E and 5 F of this Item 5 is deemed to be a “forward-looking statement” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United State Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and the accuracy of these statements cannot be guaranteed as they are subject to a variety of risks.
17
Item 6: DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A.
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT (see table below)
B.
COMPENSATION (see table below)
| | | | |
Name, Age and Present Position with the Corporation | Professional Degrees and Present Principal Occupation and Previous Business Experience | Period as Senior Management or Director | Shares Owned(2)(3)(4) | Annual Compensation |
Gregory H. Smith Director and Chief Financial Officer Age 60 | C.A. – Institute of Chartered Accountants (Alberta) – 1975 and B.Com. – University of Calgary – 1970.
Self-employed Chartered Accountant. President of Oakridge Financial Management Inc., Chief Financial Officer and Director of CDG Investments Inc., Maglin Furniture Systems Ltd. and Okalla Corp. Director of Armistice Resources Ltd. and Tyler Resources Inc. | Since March 27, 1997 | 2,546,216 or 6.22% of total issued and outstanding |
$800 |
Robert G. Ingram (1) Director and Chief Executive Officer Age 64 | C.A. – Institute of Chartered Accountants (Alberta) – 1967 And B.Com. – University of Alberta – 1965. Self-employed Chartered Accountant. Director and President of Southesk Energy Ltd., Director and President of Uncas Production Corporation and Director and President of First Yellowhead Equities Inc., all private companies. Director of Golden Band Resources Inc., Santoy Resources Ltd. and Equitech Corporation all public companies. | Director since September 24, 1981, Chief Executive Officer since May 19, 2006 | 1,496,000 or 3.65% of the total issued and outstanding held directly. Mr. Ingram is also the President and Director of Uncas Production which holds 1,780,000 or 4.35% and First Yellowhead Equities Inc. which holds 4,259,582 or 10.4% | $600 |
Calvin Fairburn (1) Director Age 74
| BSAM-Advanced Management 1972; P.Eng.-APPEGA 1960 and B.Sc. Eng. University of Saskatchewan – 1957.
Self-employed Professional Engineer. Over 45 years experience in the Petroleum and Natural Gas and Agriculture/ Farming Industries. Director of Buffalo Oil Company Limited from 1993-1998. | Since March 6, 2003 | 430,200 or 1.05% of the total issued and outstanding | $800 |
18
| | | | |
Name, Age and Present Position with the Corporation | Professional Degrees and Present Principal Occupation and Previous Business Experience | Period as Senior Management or Director | Shares Owned(2) (3)(4) | Annual Compensation |
Kerry Brown(1) Director Age 51 | C.A. – Institute of Chartered Accountants (Alberta) – 1982 and B.Com. – University of Alberta – 1979.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Equity Corporation, an angel capital company, since it's inception in 1992. Chairman of McCoy Corporation, a TSE listed company since 1995. Chairman of Equitech Corporation and Selient Inc., both listed on the TSX. Director of Innovotech Inc. listed on the TSX and First Yellowhead Equities Inc. a private Company. | Since February 28, 2005 | 1,220,575 or 2.97% of the total issued and outstanding | $ 300 |
Barbara O’Neill Secretary Age 41 |
Secretary of the Company, and Tyler Resources Inc., Manson Creek Resources Ltd., Okalla Corp. and Northern Abitibi Mining Corp. |
Since June 28, 1993 |
75,000 or 0.18% |
$Nil(5) |
Notes:
(1)
Messrs. Fairburn, Ingram and Brown constitute the Audit Committee of the Company. The Company does not have an Executive Committee.
(2)
The approximate number of shares of the Company carrying the right to vote in all circumstances beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction is exercised by each proposed nominee as of December 19, 2007.
(3)
Options held by Directors and Officers outstanding as at December 19, 2007:
| | | |
Option Holder | Number of Common Shares | Exercise Price | Expiry Date |
| | | |
Kerry Brown | 100,000 | $0.33 | February 27, 2008 |
(4)
Where persons listed on this table have the right to obtain additional shares of common stock within 60 days from December 19, 2007, through the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, these additional shares are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of common stock owned by such persons, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage owned by any other person. Based on 40,959,855 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 19, 2007.
(5)
Ms. O’Neill is no longer employed by the Company, however a corporation related by virtue of a common director employs her and bills the Company for services provided by Ms. O’Neill to the Company. This related corporation charged the Company $8,000 for the time that Ms. O’Neill devoted to Company business during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.
As of December 19, 2007, the Company does not have any plans that require the Company to contribute to, or to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits to directors and officers.
All of the Company’s shareholders, including officers and directors if they own shares, have the same voting rights.
19
See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transaction – Related Party Transactions”.
C.
BOARD PRACTICES
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors functions independently of management because half of the members are non-management. The Board has determined that two of its four Directors are “independent” as that term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers. These directors are Kerry Brown and Calvin Fairburn. Messrs. Ingram and Smith are not considered to be “independent” directors because they are officers of the Corporation.
All directors hold office until the next annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company and until their successors have been elected and qualified. Officers of the Company serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. See the table under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees - Compensation”.
Audit Committee
The Company’s Audit Committee is comprised of three directors, Kerry Brown, Calvin Fairburn and Robert Ingram. Kerry Brown and Calvin Fairburn are considered to be “independent” as that term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers. The Board of Directors, after each annual shareholders meeting must appoint or re-appoint an audit committee.
The audit committee must review the annual and interim financial statements of the Company before they are approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors must review, and if considered appropriate, approve the annual and interim financial statements of the Company before presentation to the shareholders of the Company.
Orientation and Continuing Education
At present, each new director is given an outline of the nature of the Company’s business, its corporate strategy, and current issues with the Corporation. New directors are also required to meet with management of the Corporation to discuss and better understand the Corporation’s business and policies. As each director has a different skill set and professional background, orientation will be tailored to the particular needs and experience of each director.
Continuing education is provided through relevant reading materials, Board meeting presentations and discussions to ensure the directors maintain the knowledge and skill necessary to meet their obligations as directors. In addition, management of the Corporation makes itself available for discussion with all Board members.
Ethical Business Conduct
To encourage and promote a culture of ethical business conduct, the Board of Directors has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics applicable to all members of the Corporation including directors, officers, consultants and employees. Each director, officer, consultant and employee of the Corporation receives a copy of the code of business conduct and ethics. See “Item 16B. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics”.
In addition, the Board of Directors monitors the ethical conduct of the Corporation to ensure that it complies with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, such as those of relevant securities commissions, stock exchanges and theABCA. The Board of Directors believes that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Corporation’s governing corporate legislation and common law, as well as the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on the individual directors’ participation in decisions of the Board of Directors in which the director has an interest, have been sufficient to ensure that the Board of Directors operated independently of management and in the best interest of the Corporation.
20
The Board of Directors has also adopted a “Whistleblower Policy” wherein employees, directors, officers or consultants of the Corporation are provided with a mechanism by which they can raise concerns in a confidential, anonymous process. See “Item 16B. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics”.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of three directors, Kerry Brown, Calvin Fairburn and Robert Ingram. Kerry Brown and Calvin Fairburn are considered to be “independent” directors as that term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers.
The Nominating and Governance Committee develops the Corporation’s approach to governance issues in general and is responsible for establishing the processes for assessing the effectiveness of the Board as a whole, the Committees of the Board, and each individual Director.
The Nominating and Governance Committee identifies, recruits, nominates, endorses and recommends appointment of new Directors based on the needs of the Board. Generally, new nominees for Directors must have a track record in general business management, special expertise in an area of strategic interest to the Corporation, the ability to devote the time required, shown support for the Corporation’s mission and strategic objectives, and a willingness to serve.
Compensation
The Board has a Compensation Committee comprised of three directors Kerry Brown, Calvin Fairburn and Robert Ingram. Kerry Brown and Calvin Fairburn are considered to be “independent” directors as that term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers. The Board is responsible for reviewing and approving the position description for the President, which shall include his authorities and accountabilities; the corporate goals and objectives for which the President shall be responsible; to monitor the President’s performance relative to these goals and objectives and to formally evaluate his performance at least annually.
The Compensation Committee is also responsible for reviewing the President’s recommendations respecting compensation of other senior executives of the Corporation, to ensure such arrangements reflect the responsibilities and risk associated with each position. When evaluating compensation, the Compensation Committee considers: (i) recruiting and retaining executives critical to the success of the Corporation and the enhancement of shareholder value; (ii) providing fair and competitive compensation compared to the remuneration paid by other reporting issuers similarly placed within the same business as the Corporation; (iii) balancing the interest of management and the Corporation’s shareholders; (iv) rewarding performance, both on an individual basis and with respect to operations in general. In order to achieve these objectives, the compensation paid to the Corporation’s executive officers consists of a base salary or billing rate and from time to time may consist of an incentive in the form of stock options.
The Compensation Committee conducts a review with regards to directors’ compensation once a year. To make its recommendation on directors’ compensation, the Board of Directors takes into account the types of compensation, the amounts paid to directors of comparable publicly traded companies and risk of personal liability. At September 30, 2007, the Corporation did not have a standard arrangement pursuant to which directors of the Corporation are compensated by the Corporation for their services in their capacity as directors except for receiving $500 for a directors meeting in person and $300 for a directors meeting by phone. In addition, from time to time directors receive grants of stock options, under the Corporation’s stock option plan.
D.
EMPLOYEES
The Company currently has no employees. All services provided by individuals are either provided on a contract basis or are billed by a related company that employs individuals who provide certain administrative services. During fiscal 2005, and to January 1, 2006, the Company employed three persons on a full time basis, and from January 1, 2006 to June 1, 2006 as well as throughout fiscal 2004 and 2003 employed two persons on a full-time basis. None of the Company's employees are represented by a labor union. Corporations in which certain of the
21
Company's officers or directors are shareholders have provided direct administrative services at usual professional rates. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions - Related Party Transactions”.
The Company utilized the services of one contractor during fiscal 2007.
E. SHARE OWNERSHIP
1.
Directors’ and Officers’ Options. See the table under “Item 6B:Compensation”.
2.
Employee/Officers Stock Options. The Company has adopted a 2005 Stock Option plan, pursuant to which up to 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares are reserved for issuance. Under the plan, the options that have been granted expire at the earlier of five years from the grant date, the date at which the Directors determine, or 60 days from the date from which the optionee ceases to be a director, officer, employee or consultant. Options are granted at the fair value of the shares around the grant date or greater amount determined by the directors.
Pursuant to the Stock Option plan of the Company, employees/consultants, and officers had been granted options. None are outstanding as at December 19, 2007, (exclusive of directors’ and officers’ options summarized above).
Item 7:
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
1.
To the knowledge of the directors and senior officers of the Company, as of December 19, 2007, no persons or corporations beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or exercised control or direction over 5% or more of the votes attached to all outstanding shares of the Corporation which have the right to vote in all circumstances, except as follows:
| | |
As at December 19, 2007 |
Shareholder | Number of Common Shares (i) | % interest (ii) |
Gregory H. Smith | 2,546,216 | 6.22 |
First Yellowhead Equities (iii) | 4,259,582 | 10.40 |
Uncas Production (iii) | 1,780,000 | 4.35 |
Robert Ingram (iii) | 1,496,000 | 3.65 |
(i)
Includes all options and warrants held by each individual.
(ii)
Where persons listed on this table have the right to obtain additional shares of common stock within 60 days from December 19, 2007, through the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, these additional shares are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of common stock owned by such persons, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage owned by any other person. Based on 40,959,855 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 19, 2007.
(iii)
Mr. Ingram is the President and a director of the Company of First Yellowhead Equities and Uncas Production.
All of the Company’s major shareholders have equal voting rights.
2.
As of December 19, 2007, the Company had 1,090registered holders of its common shares, 267 of whom were residents of the United States. The total shareholdings of such United States resident shareholders as at December 19, 2007 were 6,598,718 common shares, representing 16.3% of the total issued and outstanding capital of the Company. These do not include an indeterminable number of persons who hold their shares in 'street name’ through broker-dealers or other beneficial holders. The Company does not know how many beneficial shareholders it has in the United States, but management believes there are approximately 730 such shareholders.
22
3.
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, the Company is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another corporation(s), by any foreign government or by any other natural or legal person(s), severally or jointly. The Company believes that the day-to-day business operations and affairs of the Company are controlled by its Board of Directors.
4.
The Company has no knowledge of any arrangements, the operation of which may, at a date subsequent to the date of this annual report, result in a change of control of the Company.
5.
The following significant changes occurred in the percentage share ownership of the major shareholders during the past three years:
Robert Ingram: In 2005, Robert Ingram owned 3.69% of the Company’s common stock directly. An additional 10.5% was held by First Yellowhead Equities Inc. and 4.15% was held by Uncas Production Corp.; Mr. Ingram is the President and Director of each companies. These interests increased during November 2005 due to Mr. Ingram exercising 350,000 options for 350,000 common shares and exercised 500,000 warrants for 500,000 common shares. First Yellowhead exercised 1,999,091 warrants for 1,999,091 common shares and Uncas Production Corp. exercised 1,000,000 warrants for 1,000,000 common shares. In prior years, the shares owned by Uncas and First Yellowhead were included in Mr. Ingram’s totals.
6.
None of the Company’s shareholders have different voting rights.
B.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Other than as disclosed below, for the year ended September 30, 2007 and the period from October 1, 2007 to the date of this filing, the Company has not entered into any transactions or loans between the Company and any (a) enterprises that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control or are controlled by, or are under common control with, the Company; (b) associates; (c) individuals owning, directly or indirectly, an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives them significant influence over the Company, and close members of any such individuals' family; (d) key management personnel and close members of such individuals' families; or (e) enterprises in which a substantial interest in the voting power is owned, directly or indirectly, by any person described in (c) or (d) or over which such a person is able to exercise significant influence.
For purposes of this section, an “associate” is an unconsolidated enterprise in which the Company has a significant influence or which has significant influence over the Company. “Significant influence” over an enterprise is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the enterprise but is less than control over those policies. Shareholders (including the Company) beneficially owning a 10% interest in the voting power of a company are presumed to have a significant influence on the company. This section also includes transactions between the Company and any enterprise that has a member of key management in common with the Company.
All related party transactions and loans, in accordance with the preceding discussion, during the last fiscal year and the period from October 1, 2007 to December 19, 2007 are as follows:
1.
During the year ended September 30, 2007, Manson Creek, a company related by virtue of a common officer, charged the Company for its share of certain administrative expenses incurred during the year that aggregated $1,000.
2. During the year ended September 30, 2007 a company related by virtue of a director and an officer billed the Company for its share of the administrative salaries of individuals whose services were also used by the Company as well as for miscellaneous office expenses. During the year ended September 30, 2007, these expenses aggregated $12,000.
23
There were no loans made by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to, or for the benefit of, any of the persons noted above during the year ended September 30, 2007, nor during the period from October 1, 2007 to December 19, 2007.
Conflicts of Interest
See “Item 3: Key Information - Risk Factors - Conflict of Interest”.
The following table identifies, as of the date of this filing, the name of each director of the Company and any public reporting company, for which such director currently serves as an officer or director:
| | | |
Name of Director | Name of Company | Position | Term of Service |
Gregory H. Smith | CDG Investments Inc.
Armistice Resources Ltd. Okalla Corp.
Tyler Resources Inc. | Director CFO Director Director CFO Director | March 1997 – Present February 2001 – Present November 1987 – Present March 2003 – Present February 2001 – Present December 2000 – Present |
Robert G. Ingram | CDG Investments Inc.
Santoy Resources Ltd. Golden Band Resources Equitech Corporation | Director CEO/President Director Director Director | Sept. 1981 – Present May 19, 2006 - Present March 1990 – Present Jan. 26 2004 – Present July 2004 -Present |
Calvin Fairburn | CDG Investments Inc. | Director | March 2003- Present |
Kerry Brown | CDG Investments Inc. McCoy Bros Inc. Equitech Corporation Selient Inc. Innovotech Inc. | Director Chairman/Director Chairman/Director Chairman Director | February 2005 -Present Oct 1997-Present March 2001-Present February 2001-Present January 2001-Present |
Barbara O’Neill | CDG Investments Inc. Manson Creek Resources Ltd. Tyler Resources Inc. Northern Abitibi Mining Corp. | Secretary Secretary Secretary Secretary | June 1993 to present May 1993 to present August 1998 to present May 1993 to present |
C.
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Not applicable.
Item 8:
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The financial statements are attached to and form part of this annual report. See Part III, Item 17. No significant change has occurred since the date of the annual financial statements included herein.
Legal Proceedings
There are no legal proceedings in progress, nor were there any during the year ended September 30, 2007.
Dividend Policy
The Company did not pay or declare a dividend during the year ended September 30, 2007.
During the year ended September 30, 2006 the Company distributed 5,204,329 of its shares in Manson Creek, and 7,286,300 of its shares in Northern Abitibi to shareholders of the Company by way of a dividend. In addition to this
24
dividend in kind the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.01 per share for a total cash dividend of $404,000. The cash and share dividends were payable to shareholders of record on November 16, 2005. The Company had not paid any dividends on its common shares from inception to September 30, 2005.
Any decision to pay dividends on its common shares in the future will be made by the Board of Directors on the basis of earnings, financial requirements, shareholder value considerations and other conditions that may exist at that time.
Item 9:
OFFER AND LISTING
LISTING DETAILS
The following is the price history of the Company’s stock on the OTC Bulletin Board (the “OTCBB”) under the symbol “CDGEF” and the CNQ-Canadian Trading and Quotation System Inc. (“CNQ”) from May 2004 under the symbol “CDGI”:
a)
for the five most recent full financial years the annual high and low market prices:
| | | | | |
OTC Bulletin Board Year ended September 30, | 2007 US$ | 2006 US$ | 2005 US$ | 2004 US $ | 2003 US$ |
High | $0.061 | $0.39 | $0.35 | $0.170 | $0.120 |
Low | $0.015 | $0.04 | $0.05 | $0.035 | $0.009 |
| | | | |
CNQ Year ended September 30, | 2007 Cdn$ | 2006 Cdn$ | 2005 Cdn$ | 2004(1) Cdn$ |
High | $0.065 | $0.450 | $0.50 | $0.14 |
Low | $0.010 | $0.035 | $0.03 | $0.04 |
(1) The Company began trading on the CNQ in May 2004.
b)
for the two most recent full fiscal years, the high and low market prices for each full financial quarter.
| | |
OTC Bulletin Board | Sale Price |
| CDGEF (formerly GLDUF) |
Quarter Ended | | |
Fiscal 2007 | Low US$ | High US$ |
September 30, 2007 | $0.023 | $0.045 |
June 30, 2007 | $0.019 | $0.061 |
March 31, 2007 | $0.015 | $0.045 |
December 31, 2006 | $0.020 | $0.040 |
Fiscal 2006 | Low US$ | High US$ |
September 30, 2006 | $0.04 | $0.055 |
June 30, 2006 | $0.04 | $0.390 |
March 31, 2006 | $0.18 | $0.310 |
December 31, 2005 | $0.21 | $0.330 |
25
| | |
CNQ | Sale Price |
| CDGI |
Quarter Ended | | |
Fiscal 2007 | Low Cdn$ | High Cdn$ |
September 30, 2007 | $0.02 | $0.035 |
June 30, 2007 | $0.02 | $0.065 |
March 31, 2007 | $0.01 | $0.040 |
December 31, 2006 | $0.01 | $0.050 |
Fiscal 2006 | Low Cdn$ | High Cdn$ |
September 30, 2006 | $0.035 | $0.05 |
June 30, 2006 | $0.035 | $0.45 |
March 31, 2006 | $0.200 | $0.34 |
December 31, 2005 | $0.210 | $0.36 |
c)
for the most recent six months the high and low market prices for each month during the previous six months:
| | |
OTC Bulletin Board | | |
Month Ended | Low US$ | High US$ |
November, 2007 | $0.027 | $0.045 |
October, 2007 | $0.030 | $0.045 |
September, 2007 | $0.028 | $0.034 |
August, 2007 | $0.023 | $0.041 |
July, 2007 | $0.030 | $0.045 |
June, 2007 | $0.019 | $0.061 |
| | |
CNQ | | |
Month Ended | Low Cdn$ | High Cdn$ |
November, 2007 | $0.015 | $0.015 |
October, 2007 | $0.025 | $0.025 |
September, 2007 | $0.025 | $0.035 |
August, 2007 | $0.020 | $0.030 |
July, 2007 | $0.020 | $0.020 |
June, 2007 | $0.020 | $0.065 |
These above quotations reflect inter-dealer prices without retail mark-up, markdown, or commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
The OTCBB is smaller and less liquid than the major securities markets in the United States. The trading volume of the Company’s shares on the OTCBB has been volatile. Consequently, shareholders in the United States may not be able to sell their shares at the time and at the price they desire.
The CNQ is smaller and less liquid than the major securities markets in Canada and the trading volume of the Company’s shares has been volatile. Consequently, shareholders may not be able to sell their shares at the time and at the price they desire.
MARKETS
The Company commenced listing on the CNQ effective May 18, 2004.
26
The Company is also listed on the OTCBB. If the Company fails to remain current in its filings with the SEC, or if the Company decides to terminate its registration with the SEC, the Company would not qualify to be listed on the OTCBB and its shareholders may not be able to sell their shares in the United States.
Item 10: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
1.
Company’s Objects and Purposes
The Company was incorporated in Alberta, Canada under the ABCA on October 12, 1979 and was assigned corporate access number 20205811. The Company prepares and makes its own corporate registry filings withAlberta Registrar of Companies.
At the Annual & Special Meeting on March 21, 2002, the shareholders approved a change in the Company’s business from that of a Natural Resources Company to that of an Investment Company and a change in name from Golden Rule Resources Ltd. to CDG Investments Inc.
2.
Directors
a)
Director’s power to vote on a proposal, arrangement or contract in which the director is materially interested:
According to the Company’s By-Law No. 1, except as required by the ABCA, no director is obliged to make any declaration or disclosure of interest or refrain from voting.
b)
Director’s power, in the absence of an independent quorum, to vote compensation to themselves or any members of their body: in accordance with By-Law No. 1 and the Articles of Association, the directors will be paid such remuneration for their services to the Company as the Board of Directors from time to time determines. There is no specification regarding an “independent quorum” although a quorum is required for any meeting.
c)
Borrowing Powers
Without limiting the powers of the Company as set forth in the ABCA, the Board of Directors may from time to time cause the Company to:
1)
borrow money on credit of the Company,
2)
to the extent permitted by the ABCA, give guarantees on behalf of the Company to secure the performance of any present or future indebtedness or other obligation of another person,
3)
issue, reissue, sell or pledge bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness or guarantee of the Company, whether secured or unsecured, and
4)
charge, mortgage, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise create a security interest in any or all property of the Company, currently owned or subsequently acquired, to secure any present or future indebtedness or other obligation of the Company.
To the extent permitted by the ABCA, the Board of Directors may from time to time delegate to a committee, or to one or more of the directors and officers of the Company, all or any of the powers conferred on the Board of Directors to such extent and in such manner as the Board of Directors from time to time determines.
d)
Retirement
27
There is no specification in the Company’s Articles of Association or Charter or By-laws that indicate an age limit regarding retirement or non-retirement.
e)
Directors Share ownership
A director is not required to be a shareholder of the Company in accordance with the “Articles of Association”.
f)
Additional Directors
The Articles of Association, as amended, authorize the directors, between annual general meetings, to appoint one or more additional directors of the Company to serve until the next annual general meeting, given the number of directors added does not at any time exceed 1/3 of the number of directors who held office at the expired of the last annual general meeting.
3.
Rights, Preferences, Restrictions of Shares
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares without nominal or par value in accordance with Articles of Amendment dated April 30, 1987. All of the following pertains to common shares:
a)
Dividend Rights
Subject to the rights of persons, if any, entitled to shares with special rights as to dividends, all dividends declared shall be paid to the shareholders in proportion to the number of shares held by them. All dividends unclaimed for six years after having been declared may be forfeited by the Directors for the benefit of the Company.
b)
Voting Rights
On a show of hands every member personally present and every duly appointed proxy or representative of a member attending the meeting shall have one vote, and on a poll every member, proxy or representative attending the meeting and entitled to vote shall have one vote for each share of which he is the holder, proxy or representative.
At the first annual general meeting and at every succeeding annual general meeting all of the Directors however appointed or elected shall retire from office. A retiring Director shall retain office until the dissolution of the meeting at which his successor is elected. A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-election. The Company’s directors do not stand for re-election at staggered intervals.
c)
Rights to share in the Company’s profits
There are no rights assigned pursuant to the Company’s Articles or By-Laws that are in addition to those assigned by the ABCA.
d)
Rights to share in surplus
There are no rights assigned pursuant to the Company’s Articles or By-Laws that are in addition to those assigned by the ABCA.
e)
Redemption Provisions
There are no redemption provisions in the Articles or By-Laws.
f)
Sinking Fund Provisions
28
There are no sinking fund provisions in the Articles or By-Laws.
g)
There are no provisions for liability to further capital calls in the By-Laws or Articles.
h)
There are no provisions discriminating against any existing or prospective holder of such securities as a result of such shareholder owning a substantial number of shares.
4.
In order to change the rights of the holders of capital stock the Company would have to create another class of shares and have the holders exchange their shares for those of the other class. The Company, is, however, only authorized to issue common shares at this time. Conditions to change are not more significant than is required by law. If the Company wishes to amend the Articles it must receive Shareholder approval and then file the amended Articles with Alberta Corporate Registry.
5.
In accordance with the ABCA:
The directors of a corporation shall call an annual meeting of shareholders to be held not later than fifteen months after holding the last annual meeting and may, at any time, call a special meeting of shareholders. Notice of the time and place of the meeting shall be communicated to shareholders of record entitled to vote, directors and auditors not less than 21 days and not more than 50 days before the meeting.
The Company does not limit who may attend its annual meetings to shareholders, directors and auditors.
A notice of record date advising of the Company’s annual general meeting and the date for which the determination of shareholders is to be fixed must be issued seven days in advance of the record date. The notice of meeting, information circular, financial statements and proxy are to be mailed to the shareholders not less than 25 days prior to the meeting date. A quorum for the transaction of business at a general meeting is two shareholders present in person or represented by proxy representing a minimum of 5% of the issued voting shares in the Company.
Only members who are registered holders of the Company’s shares at the close of business on the record date (a date which is not more than 50 days, nor less than 35 days prior to the date of the meeting) who either attend the meeting or who have completed and delivered a form of proxy in the manner and subject to the provisions described above shall be entitled to vote or to have their shares voted at the meeting.
On a show of hands, every person who is present and entitled to vote shall have one vote. Whenever a vote by show of hands shall have been taken upon a question, unless a ballot thereon is so required or demanded, a declaration by the Chairman of the meeting that the vote upon the question has been carried or carried by a particular majority or not carried, an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of or against any resolution or other proceeding in respect of the said question, and the result of the vote so taken shall be the decision of the members upon the said question.
No business shall be transacted at a general meeting unless the requisite quorum shall be present at the commencement of the meeting.
6.
There are no known limitations on the rights to own securities, including the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights except that, in accordance with the ABCA, the Company is prohibited from holding shares in itself and subsidiaries are also prohibited from acquiring shares of the Company and except as provided in the Investment Canada Act, (the “ICA”).
Management of the Company considers that the following general summary fairly describes those material provisions of the ICA pertinent to an investment by an American investor in the Company.
The ICA requires a non-Canadian making an investment which would result in the acquisition of control of a Canadian business, the gross value of the assets of which exceeds certain threshold levels or the business activity of
29
which is related to Canada’s cultural heritage or national identity, to either notify, or file an application for review with the Investment Review Division of Industry Canada, the federal agency created by the ICA.
The notification procedure involves a brief statement of information about the investment of a prescribed form, which is required to be filed with Industry Canada by the investor at any time up to 30 days following implementation of the investment. It is intended that investments requiring only notification will proceed without government intervention unless the investment is in a specific type of business activity related to Canada’s cultural heritage and national identity. If an investment is reviewable under the ICA, an application for review in the form prescribed is normally required to be filed with Industry Canada prior to the investment taking place and the investment may not be implemented until the review has been completed and the Minister responsible for Investment Canada is satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada. If the Minister is not satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada , the non-Canadian must not implement the investment or, if the investment has been implemented, may be required to divest himself of control of the business that is the subject of the investment.
The following investments by non-Canadians are subject to notification under the ICA:
(1)
an investment to establish a new Canadian business; and
(2)
an investment to acquire control of a Canadian business that is not reviewable pursuant to the ICA.
The following investments by a non-Canadian are subject to review under the ICA:
(1)
direct acquisitions of control of Canadian businesses with assets of $5 million or more unless the acquisition is being made by an American investor;
(2)
direct acquisitions of control of Canadian businesses with assets of $265,000,000 or more by an American investor;
(3)
indirect acquisitions of control of Canadian businesses with assets of $5 million or more if such assets represent more than 50% of the total value of the assets of the entities, the control of which is being acquired, unless the acquisition is being made by an American investor;
(4)
indirect acquisitions of control of Canadian businesses with assets of $265,000,000 or more by an American investor if such assets represent more than 50% of the total value of the assets of the entities, the control of which is being acquired;
(5)
indirect acquisitions of control of Canadian businesses with assets of $50 million or more even if such assets represent less than 50% of the total value of the assets of the entities, the control of which is being acquired, unless the acquisition is being made by an American investor in which case there is no review; and
(6)
an investment subject to notification that would not otherwise be reviewable if the Canadian business engages in the activity of publication, distribution or sale of books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers audio or video music recordings, or music in print or machine-readable form.
Generally, an acquisition is direct if it involves the acquisition of control of the Canadian business or of its Canadian parent or grandparent and an acquisition is indirect if it involves the acquisition of control of a non- Canadian parent or grandparent of an entity carrying on the Canadian business. Control may be acquired through the acquisition of actual or de jure voting control of a Canadian corporation or through the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the Canadian business. No change of voting control will be deemed to have occurred if less than one-third of the voting control of a Canadian corporation is acquired by an investor.
An American, as defined in the ICA includes an individual who is an American national or a lawful, permanent resident of the United States, a government or government agency of the United States, an American-controlled corporation, limited partnership, trust or joint venture and a corporation, limited partnership, trust or joint venture that is neither American-controlled or Canadian-controlled of which two-thirds of its board of directors, general partners or trustees, as the case may be, are any combination of Canadians and Americans.
The higher thresholds for Americans do not apply if the Canadian business engages in activities in certain sectors such as oil, natural gas, uranium, financial services (except insurance), transportation services or media activities.
30
The ICA specifically exempts certain transactions from either notification or review. Included among the category of transactions is the acquisition of voting shares or other voting interests by any person in the ordinary course of that person’s business as a trader or dealer in securities. Given the nature of the Company’s business and the size of its operations, management does not believe the Investment Canada Act would apply to an investment in the Company’s shares by a U.S. investor.
7.
There are no provisions in the Company’s Articles of Association, Charter or By-Laws that would have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control of the Company and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries/Investees.
8.
There are no By-Law provisions governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed; however, any person who beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the Company’s voting shares is considered an insider, and must file an insider report with the Securities Commission at www.sedi.ca within ten days of becoming an insider disclosing any direct or indirect beneficial ownership of, or control over direction over securities of the Company. In addition, if the Company itself holds any securities, the Company must disclose such ownership.
9.
Except for the Company’s quorum requirements, certain requirements related to related party transactions, the approval of amendments to the Company’s articles, forfeiture of dividends, voting by a show of hands, and disclosures by certain shareholders of their ownership, which are discussed above, there are no significant differences in the law applicable to the Company, in the areas outlined above, in Alberta, Canada versus the United States. In most states in the United States, a quorum must consist of a majority of the shares entitled to vote. Some states allow for a reduction of the quorum requirements to less than a majority of the shares entitled to vote. Having a lower quorum threshold may allow a minority of the shareholders to make decisions about the Company, its management and activities. Additionally, in the United States, a director may not be able to vote on the approval of any transaction in which the director has an interest. Generally, most states in the United States require amendments to a company’s articles of incorporation to be approved by at least a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares. Some states, or some older corporations, may require approval of amendments by 2/3 of the votes cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares. Under the laws applicable to the Company, an amendment to the articles could be approved by less than a majority of the outstanding shares, which would allow a minority of the Company’s shareholder to change the Company’s articles. In addition, in the United States voting by separate voting groups may be required on the approval of any such amendments. Generally, in the United States, unclaimed dividends are required to be turned over to the appropriate state authorities for holding on behalf of the recipient of the dividend, rather than being forfeited for the benefit o f the Company. Also, in the United States, shareholder votes are usually conducted by ballot rather than a show of hands. Voting by a show of hands may cause inaccurate results. The Company’s common shares are registered with the SEC under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. As a result, under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, shareholders beneficially owning more than five percent (5%) of the Company’s common shares may be required to make filings with the SEC relating to their ownership of the Company’s common shares.
10.
The conditions imposed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association governing changes in capital are not more stringent than is required by law.
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
There have been no material contracts entered into in the two immediately preceding years other than in the ordinary course of business with the exception of:
1.
Sale Agreement with Golden Band Resources Inc. dated April 27, 2006. See “Item 4. Information on the Company – History and Development - Significant Changes or Events – Year Ended September 30, 2006 – Sale of Royalty Interest”.
31
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
There is no law or governmental decree or regulation in Canada that restricts the export or import of capital including the availability of cash and cash equivalents for use by the Company’s group, or affects the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of common shares of the Company, other than withholding tax requirements (see E, Taxation, below).
TAXATION
Material Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences
Management of the Company considers that the following discussion fairly describes the material Canadian federal income tax consequences applicable to a holder of Common Stock of the Company who is a resident of the United States and who is not a resident of Canada and who does not use or hold, and is not deemed to use or hold, his shares of Common Stock of the Company in connection with carrying on a business in Canada (a “non-resident shareholder”).
This summary is based upon the current provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “ITA”), the regulations thereunder (the “Regulations”), the current publicly announced administrative and assessing policies of Revenue Canada, Taxation and all specific proposals (the “Tax Proposals”) to amend the ITA and Regulations announced by the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof. This description is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal income tax consequences and, except for the Tax Proposals, does not take into account or anticipate any changes in law, whether by legislative, governmental or judicial action.
Dividends
Dividends paid on the common stock of the Company to a non-resident will be subject to withholding tax. The Canada-U.S. Income Tax Convention (1980) (the “Treaty”) provides that the normal 25% withholding tax rate is reduced to 15% on dividends paid on shares of a corporation resident in Canada (such as the Company) to residents of the United States, and also provides for a further reduction of this rate to 5% where the beneficial owner of the dividends is a corporation which is a resident of the United States which owns at least 10% of the voting shares of the corporation paying the dividend.
Capital Gains
In general, a non-resident of Canada is not subject to tax under the ITA with respect to a capital gain realized upon the disposition of a share of a corporation resident in Canada that is listed on a prescribed stock exchange. For purposes of the ITA, the Company is listed on a prescribed stock exchange. Non-residents of Canada who dispose of shares of the Company will be subject to income tax in Canada with respect to capital gains if:
(a)
the non-resident holder;
(b)
persons with whom the non-resident holder did not deal at arm’s length; or
(c)
the non-resident holder and persons with whom the non-resident holder did not deal with at arm’s length,
owned not less than 25% of the issued shares of any class or series of the Company at any time during the five-year period preceding the disposition. In the case of a non-resident holder to whom shares of the Company represent taxable Canadian property and who is resident in the United States, no Canadian taxes will be payable on a capital gain realized on such shares by reason of the Treaty unless the value of such shares is derived principally from real property situated in Canada. However, in such a case, certain transitional relief under the Treaty may be available.
32
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a general discussion of certain possible U.S. federal income tax consequences, under current law, to a U.S. Holder (as hereinafter defined) of common shares of the Company. This discussion is of a general nature only and does not take into account the particular facts and circumstances, with respect to U.S. federal income tax issues, of any particular U.S. Holder. In addition, this discussion does not cover any state, local or foreign tax consequences.
The following discussion is based upon the sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department under the Code (the “Treasury Regulations”), published Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) rulings, published administrative positions of the IRS and court decisions that are currently applicable, any or all of which could be materially and adversely changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time and which are subject to differing interpretations. This discussion does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any proposed legislation which, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time.
This discussion is for general information only and it is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any U.S. Holder or prospective U.S. Holder of shares issued by CDG, and no opinion or representation with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences to any such U.S. Holder or prospective U.S. Holder is made. Accordingly, U.S. Holders of common shares issued by the Company should consult their own financial advisor, legal counsel or accountant regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences.
U.S. Holders
As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” means a holder of common shares issued by the Company who is (i) a citizen or individual resident of the U.S., (ii) a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S. or of any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate whose income is taxable in the U.S. irrespective of source or (iv) a trust subject to the primary supervision of a court within the U.S. and control of a U.S. fiduciary as described in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code. If a partnership or other “pass-through” entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds shares issued by CDG, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the partners or owners of such partnership or other pass-through entity generally will depend on the status of such partners or owners and the activities of such partnership or pass-through entity.
Persons Not Covered
This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to persons (including persons who are U.S. Holders) subject to special provisions of U.S. federal income tax law, including (i) persons who are tax-exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and other tax-deferred accounts, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, or brokers, dealers or traders in securities, (ii) persons who have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar, (iii) persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, (xi) persons who own their common shares as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion transaction, constructive sale or other arrangement involving more than one position, (iv) persons who acquired their common shares through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services, (v) persons that own an interest in a n entity that owns common shares, (vi) persons who own, exercise or dispose of any options, warrants or other rights to acquire common shares, (vii) persons who are partners or owners of partnerships or other pass-through entities such as corporations subject to Subchapter S of the Code, (viii) persons who own their common shares other than as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, or (ix) persons directly or indirectly owning 10% or more of the total voting power or the total value of the outstanding shares of CDG.
Dividend may be Eligible for Reduced Tax Rate. In general, a dividend received by U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts from “qualified foreign corporations,” as defined in Section 1(h)(11) of the Code, generally are taxed at the same preferential tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains. Although not free from doubt, the Company
33
would appear to meet the definition of a “qualified foreign corporation,” as defined in Section 1(h)(11) of the Code as a result of the U.S. Canada income tax treaty if, however, the Company is not a Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”). The Company has not determined whether it meets the definition of a PFIC. A corporation that is properly described as a PFIC (defined below), along with other foreign corporations given special status under the Code, for its taxable year during which it pays a dividend, or for its immediately preceding taxable year, will not be treated as a “qualifying foreign corporation” and dividends received by U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at ordinary income tax rates (and not at the preferential tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains).
Dividends not Eligible for Dividends Received Deduction. Dividends paid by the Company generally will not be eligible for the “dividends received deduction” allowed to corporate shareholders receiving dividends from certain U.S. corporations. The availability of the dividends received deduction is subject to several complex limitations that are beyond the scope of this discussion, and U.S. Holders of shares issued by the Company should consult their own financial advisor, legal counsel or accountant regarding the dividends received deduction.
Dividends Paid to Shareholder who Made QEF Election may be Exempt From Tax. Generally, shareholders are not subject to additional income taxation on distributions made by a PFIC to the extent of the shareholder’s basis in the Company’s shares if a Qualified Electing Fund (“QEF”) election is in effect. (Please see the “QEF Election” discussion below.) A shareholder’s basis in this situation is usually equal to the cost of purchasing the shares plus the amount of the Company’s income that was reported on the shareholder’s return pursuant to the QEF election less any prior distributions made by the Company to the shareholder. Again, these rules are subject to several exceptions that are beyond the scope of this discussion.
U.S. Holders of shares issued by the Company should consult their own financial advisor, legal counsel or accountant regarding whether dividends paid by the Company to them will be exempt from federal income tax if a QEF election is made.
Disposition of Shares
General Rule. A U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss upon the sale or other taxable disposition of shares issued by the Company equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received, and (ii) the shareholder’s tax basis in the shares. This gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year.
Reduced Tax Rate. Preferential tax rates apply to long-term capital gains of U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains for a U.S. Holder that is a corporation. Sales of PFIC stock are not eligible for the reduced long-term capital gains rates that are usually applicable to sales of stock unless the shareholder made a QEF election regarding such shares.
CDG may be a Passive Foreign Investment Company
General Discussion. The Company has not determined whether it meets the definition of a PFIC, within the meaning of Sections 1291 through 1298 of the Code for the current year and any prior years. The Company may or may not qualify as a PFIC in subsequent years due to changes in its assets and business operations. A U.S. Holder who holds stock in a foreign corporation during any year in which such corporation qualifies as a PFIC is subject to numerous special U.S. federal income taxation rules and may elect to be taxed under two alternative tax regimes. The following is a discussion of these three sets of special rules applied to U.S. Holders of shares issued by the Company if it is determined that the Company meets the definition of a PFIC.
Definition of PFIC. In general, Section 1297 of the Code defines a PFIC as a corporation that is not formed in the U.S. and, for any taxable year, either (a) 75% or more of its gross income is “passive income” or (b) the average percentage, by fair market value, of its assets that produce or are held for the production of “passive income” is 50% or more. “Passive income” includes, for example, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties, certain gains from the sale of stock and securities, and certain gains from commodities transactions. For purposes of the PFIC income
34
test and the assets test, if a foreign corporation owns (directly or indirectly) at least 25% by value of the stock of another corporation, such foreign corporation shall be treated as if it (a) held a proportionate share of the assets of such other corporation, and (b) received directly its proportionate share of the income of such other corporation. Also, for purposes of such PFIC tests, passive income does not include any interest, dividends, rents or royalties that are received or accrued from a “related” person to the extent such amount is properly allocable to the income of such related person which is not passive income. A person is “related” with respect to a foreign corporation if such person “controls” the foreign corporation or is controlled by the foreign corporation or by the same persons that control the foreign corporation. For these purposes, “control” means ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock possessing more than 50% of the total voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote or of the total value of stock of a corporation.
Generally Applicable PFIC Rules. If a U.S. Holder does not make a timely election to be taxed in conformity with the Mark-to-Market rules (as described below) or the QEF rules (as described below) during a year in which it holds (or is deemed to have held) shares issued by the Company while it is a PFIC (a “Non-Electing U.S. Holder”), then special taxation rules under Section 1291 of the Code will apply to (i) gains realized on the disposition (or deemed to be realized by reasons of a pledge) of his common shares and (ii) certain “excess distributions” (generally, distributions received in the current taxable year that are in excess of 125% of the average distributions received during the three preceding years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period) by CDG.
A Non-Electing U.S. Holder generally would be required to pro rate all gains realized on the disposition of his common shares and all excess distributions on his common shares over the entire holding period for the common shares. All gains or excess distributions allocated to prior years of the U.S. Holder would generally be taxed at the highest tax rate for each such prior year applicable to ordinary income, and such Non-Electing U.S. Holder also would be liable for interest on the foregoing tax liability for each such prior year calculated as if such liability had been due with respect to each such prior year.
If the Company is a PFIC for any taxable year during which a Non-Electing U.S. Holder holds shares issued by CDG, then it will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such common shares, even if it ceases meeting the definition of a PFIC. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder may terminate this deemed PFIC status by electing to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules discussed above for Non-Electing U.S. Holders) as if such common shares had been sold on the last day of the last taxable year for which it was a PFIC.
Mark-to-Market Election. In general, U.S. Holders who hold, actually or constructively, marketable stock (as specifically defined in the Treasury Regulations) of a foreign corporation that qualifies as a PFIC may annually elect to mark such stock to the market (a “mark-to-market election”). If such an election is made, such U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to the special taxation rules of Section 1291 discussed above. However, if the mark-to-market election is made by a Non-Electing U.S. Holder after the beginning of the holding period for the PFIC stock, then the Section 1291 rules will apply to certain dispositions of, distributions on and other amounts taxable with respect to the Company’s common shares. A U.S. Holder who makes the mark-to-market election will include in income for the taxable year for which the election was made an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market val ue of the Company’s common shares as of the close of such tax year over such U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in such common shares.
QEF Election. In general, a U.S. Holder who makes a timely QEF election (an “Electing U.S. Holder”) regarding his shares issued by the Company will be subject, under Section 1293 of the Code, to current U.S. federal income tax for any taxable year in which the Company qualifies as a PFIC on his pro rata share of the Company’s (i) “net capital gain” (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), which will be taxed as long-term capital gain to the Electing U.S. Holder and (ii) “ordinary earnings” (the excess of earnings and profits over net capital gain), which will be taxed as ordinary income to the Electing U.S. Holder, in each case, for the shareholder’s taxable year in which (or with which) the Company’s taxable year ends, regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed.
Generally, shareholders do not make a QEF election unless they have sufficient information to determine their proportionate shares of a corporation’s net capital gain and ordinary earnings. The Company has not calculated these amounts for any shareholder and do not anticipate making these calculations in the foreseeable future.
35
The PFIC rules are very complicated, and U.S. Holders should consult their own financial advisor, legal counsel or accountant regarding the PFIC rules, including the advisability of and procedure for making a QEF election or a mark-to-market election, and how these rules may impact their U.S. federal income tax situation.
Foreign Tax Credit
A U.S. Holder who pays (or has withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax with respect to the ownership of shares issued by the Company may be entitled, at the option of the U.S. Holder, to either receive a deduction or a tax credit for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to such foreign tax paid or withheld. There are significant and complex limitations that apply to the foreign tax credit, among which is the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of the U.S. Holder’s U.S. income tax liability that the U.S. Holder’s “foreign source” income bears to his or its worldwide taxable income. In applying this limitation, the various items of income and deduction must be classified as either “foreign source” or “U.S. source.” Complex rules govern this classification process.
The availability of the foreign tax credit and the application of the limitations with respect to the foreign tax credit are fact specific, and each U.S. Holder of common shares issued by the Company should consult their own financial advisor, legal counsel or accountant regarding the foreign tax credit rules.
Information Reporting; Backup Withholding
Certain information reporting and backup withholding rules may apply with respect to certain payments related to shares issued by CDG. In particular, a payor or middleman within the U.S., or in certain cases outside the U.S., will be required to withhold 28% (which rate is scheduled for periodic adjustment) of any payments to a U.S. Holder regarding dividends paid by CDG, or proceeds from the sale of, such common shares within the U.S., if a U.S. Holder has not furnished its correct taxpayer identification number (generally on Form W-9) or otherwise fails to comply with, or establish an exemption from, the backup withholding tax requirements. Any amounts withheld under the U.S. backup withholding tax rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
U.S. Holders should consult their own financial advisor, legal counsel or accountant regarding the information reporting and backup withholding rules applicable to the Company’s shares.
DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
Any documents referred to herein may be examined at the Company’s offices at 500, 926-5th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The Company’s documents publicly filed with the SEC may also be viewed and inspected at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies may also be obtained from the SEC at prescribed rates.
Item 11: QUANTITIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is not subject to material foreign currency rate risk, as the Company’s only significant asset is cash held in Canadian currency and the Company does not have liabilities, expenses or revenues denominated in foreign currencies. Interest rate risk does not play a large role either, due to the short-term nature of interest-bearing deposits.
Item 12: DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Not applicable.
36
Item 13: DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
The Company is in arrears on certain leases payable to the Saskatchewan Government, pertaining to the Komis mine, in the amount of approximately $235,000 including accrued interest. This amount is reflected in the current liabilities in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.
Item 14: MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
There have been no modifications to the constituent instruments defining the rights of the holders of the Common shares. The rights evidenced by the Common Shares have not been materially modified or qualified by the issuance or modification of any other class of securities or debt.
Item 15: CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including Mr. Ingram, who is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Smith, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act as of September 30, 2007. Based upon that evaluation, Mr. Ingram and Mr. Smith, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and the Company’s principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 16: RESERVED
Item 16A: AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Robert Ingram, CA, chairman of the audit committee is the Company’s audit committee financial expert. This determination is based on his experience and active employment as a Chartered Accountant and his educational background in accountancy. Mr. Ingram is not considered to be an “independent director” as that term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers. The other members of the audit committee are Messrs. Fairburn and Brown each of whom is considered to be an “independent director” as that term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers.
Item 16B:
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
The Board of Directors has adopted a “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics” (the “Code”) for the directors, officers and employees of the Corporation. A person or company may obtain a copy of the Code free of charge, by contacting the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation at Suite 500, 926 – 5th Avenue, SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0N7, (403) 233-7898. The Board of Directors has also implemented a whistleblowers policy (the “Whistleblower Policy”) whereby the Corporations legal counsel receives, retains, investigates and acts on complaints and concerns regarding (a) accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters, including those regarding the
37
circumvention or attempted circumvention of internal accounting controls or that would otherwise constitute a violation of the Corporation’s accounting policies (an “Accounting Allegation”); (b) compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (a “Legal Allegation”); and (c) retaliation against employees who make Accounting Allegations or Legal Allegations (a “Retaliatory Act”). Any Report that is made directly to management, whether openly, confidentially or anonymously, shall be promptly reported to the Corporations legal counsel, will be reviewed by legal counsel and any Report, whether made to management or will be reviewed by legal counsel, who may, in his discretion, consult with any member of management who is not the subject of the allegation and which may have appropriate expertise to assist legal counsel. The identity of any person or group who makes a Report anonymously will not, unless required by a judicia l or other legal process, be revealed by any member of legal counsel and will remain confidential and legal counsel shall not make any effort, or tolerate any effort made by any other person or group, to ascertain the identity of any such person. The Whistleblower Policy forms part of the Corporation’s employee handbook.
Item 16C:
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Audit Fees
In each of fiscal years 2007 and 2006, for the aggregate professional services rendered by the principal accounting firm for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and review of financial statements and other statutory and regulatory filings, the Company paid the sum of $40,000 and $31,000, respectively.
Audit-Related Fees
In each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2006, the Company paid no amounts in respect of assurance and related services by the principal accounting firm that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements outside of those fees disclosed above under “Audit Fees” above.
Tax Fees
In each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2006, the Company paid $Nil and $Nil, respectively, for tax compliance (review of corporate tax returns) rendered by the Company’s principal accounting firm.
All Other Fees
The Company did not pay any amounts in respect of other products or services provided by the Company’s principal accounting firm in the 2007 and 2006 fiscal years other than those set forth above.
Board Approval
The services rendered by the Company’s principal accounting firm were approved by the audit committee prior to the engagement. Approval was based on an evaluation of past services and the need for these services in the current period, comparative analysis of rates and availability of service staff and management’s recommendation. Each service was specifically evaluated and approved before an engagement was undertaken.
Principal Accounting Firm Hours
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, the percentage of hours expended on the Company’s principal accounting firm’s engagement to audit the Company’s financial statements for the 2007 fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accounting firm’s full-time, permanent employees was less than or equal to 50%.
Item 16D:
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
Not Applicable.
38
Item 16E:
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 and the period from October 1, 2007 through December 19, 2007, there have been no purchasers of the Company’s shares or other units of any class of the Company’s equity securities registered by the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act made by or on behalf of the Company or any “affiliated purchaser”.
For purposes of this Item 16E, the term “affiliated purchaser” means:
1.
A person acting, directly or indirectly, in concert with the Company for the purpose of acquiring the Company’s securities; or
2.
An affiliate who, directly or indirectly, controls the Company’s purchases of such securities, whose purchases are controlled by the Company, or whose purchases are under common control with those of the Company; Provided, however, that "affiliated purchaser" shall not include a broker, dealer, or other person solely by reason of such broker, dealer, or other person effecting purchases under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act on behalf of the Company or for its account, and shall not include an officer or director of the Company solely by reason of that officer or director's participation in the decision to authorize Rule 10b-18 purchases by or on behalf of the Company.
PART III
Item 17: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
See the Financial Statements listed in Item 19 hereof and filed as part of this annual report.
These financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada and are expressed in Canadian dollars. Such financial statements contain a discussion of the material variations in the accounting principles, practices and methods used in preparing the financial statements from the principles, practices and methods generally accepted in the United States. For a history of exchange rates in effect for Canadian dollars as against U.S. dollars, see “Item 3: Key Information – A. Selected Financial Data - Exchange Rates.”
Item 18
: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Not applicable. See “Item 17: Financial Statements”.
Item 19: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(a) Financial Statements
Balance Sheets of the Company for the years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, and Statements of Operations, and Cash Flow for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 2007.
(b) Exhibits
1.1
Articles and Memorandum, as amended (1)
2.1
6% Convertible Debentures (1)
4.1
2005 Stock Option Plan (2)
4.2
Royalty Interest Sale Agreement dated April 27, 2006.(3)
12.1
Certification of Robert Ingram pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
12.2
Certification of Gregory Smith pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
39
13.1
Certification of Robert Ingram pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.2
Certification of Gregory Smith pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(1)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 20-F annual report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2004. File Number 000-23650.
(2)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 20-F annual report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2006. File Number 000-23650.
(3)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 20-F annual report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 2006. File Number 000-23650.
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
DATED at Calgary, Alberta, this 4th day of January, 2008.
CDG INVESTMENTS INC.
“Robert Ingram”
_________________________
By:
Robert Ingram
Chief Executive Officer
40