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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ON JUNE 30, 1999
FORM 20-F
[ ] REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
OR
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______________ TO _______________
Commission file number 0-22617
Minco Mining & Metals Corporation
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
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(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
Province of British Columbia, Canada
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(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Suite 1200 - 543 Granville Street, Vancouver, B. C., Canada V6C 1X8
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each Name of each exchange
class on which registered
N/A N/A
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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
Common Shares without par value
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(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
N/A
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(Title of Class)
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. N/A _________________
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 which financial statement item the registrant has
elected to follow: Item 17 X Item 18
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(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST
FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents
and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan
confirmed by a court.
Yes _____ No _____ Not applicable
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Except as otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are presented in Canadian
dollars. As of June 28, 1999, the exchange ratio of Canadian dollars into United
States dollars was $1.485 Canadian to $1.00 United States dollar.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I........................................................................................6
Item 1. Description of Business...............................................................6
Introduction..........................................................................6
Background............................................................................6
Intercorporate Relationships..........................................................7
The PCR Agreement.....................................................................9
The Teck-Cominco Agreements..........................................................12
Temco Option Agreement...............................................................12
The FGEB Co-operation Agreement......................................................13
Financing............................................................................14
Immediate Business Plan..............................................................15
Risk Factors.........................................................................16
People's Republic of China - Background Information..................................20
Legal Framework for Chinese-Foreign Co-operative Joint Ventures......................24
Item 2. Description of Property..............................................................27
General..............................................................................27
Independent Consultants' Reports.....................................................27
The Chapuzi Property.................................................................28
Acquisition...................................................................28
Location and Description......................................................29
Exploration and Development History...........................................30
Geology and Mineral Deposits..................................................31
Proposed Exploration and Development Program..................................32
Emperor's Delight Property...........................................................33
Acquisition...................................................................33
Location and Description......................................................35
Exploration and Development History...........................................36
Geology and Mineral Deposits ................................................36
Proposed Exploration and Development Program..................................37
Lengkou Properties...................................................................39
Acquisition...................................................................39
Exploration and Development History...........................................39
Geology and Mineral Deposits..................................................40
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Exploration and Development Plan..............................................40
Changba-Lijiagou Property............................................................40
Acquisition...................................................................40
Location and Description......................................................41
Exploration and Development History...........................................42
Geology and Mineral Deposits..................................................42
Proposed Exploration and Development Program..................................43
Stone Lake Property..................................................................44
Acquisition...................................................................44
Location and Description......................................................45
Exploration and Development History...........................................45
Proposed Exploration and Development Program..................................46
Crystal Valley Property..............................................................46
Acquisition...................................................................46
Location and Description......................................................47
Exploration and Development History...........................................47
Geology and Mineral Deposits..................................................47
Other Chinese Properties of the Registrant...........................................48
Tian Shan (or "Heavenly Mountains") Properties...............................48
Xifanping Property............................................................51
White Silver Mountain Property................................................51
Savoyardinski Gold Project, Kyrgyzstan...............................................52
Acquisition...................................................................52
Location and Description......................................................52
Geology and Mineral Deposits..................................................53
Exploration and Development Plan..............................................53
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 53
Item 4. Control of Registrant 53
Performance Shares or Escrow Securities..............................................54
Item 5. Nature of Trading Market 56
Item 6. Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders 57
People's Republic of China...........................................................57
Canada 57
Item 7. Taxation. 58
People's Republic of China...........................................................59
Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations...........................................59
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United States Tax Considerations.....................................................60
Item 8. Selected Financial Data 62
Financial Information................................................................62
Exchange Rates.......................................................................64
Item 9. Management's Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition & Results of
Operations...........................................................................64
General..............................................................................64
Liquidity and Capital Resources......................................................65
Results of Operations................................................................65
Expenditures on Properties of the Registrant.........................................67
Outlook..............................................................................68
2000.................................................................................68
Item 9A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk..........................69
Item 10. Directors and Officers of Registrant................................................69
Item 11. Compensation of Directors and Officers..............................................71
Item 12. Options to Purchase Securities from Registrant or Subsidiaries......................71
Item 13. Interest of Management in Certain Transactions......................................72
Part II......................................................................................74
Item 14. Description of Securities to be Registered..........................................74
Part III.....................................................................................75
Item 15. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.....................................................75
Item 16. Changes in Securities and Changes in Security for Registered Securities.............75
Item 17. Financial Statements................................................................75
Item 18. Financial Statements................................................................75
Financial Statements and Exhibits............................................................75
Exhibit Index........................................................................76
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PART I
ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS.
INTRODUCTION
Minco Mining & Metals Corporation ("the Registrant") is a British Columbia
corporation, the stock of which is traded on the Vancouver Stock Exchange
(trading symbol MMM), engaged in the acquisition of base and precious metal
mineral projects in the People's Republic of China ("China"). THE REGISTRANT HAS
NO AFFILIATION WITH 3M CORPORATION. The Registrant's wholly-owned subsidiary,
Triple Eight Mineral Corporation ("Temco"), is a British Virgin Islands
corporation also engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral projects
in China.
At present, none of the properties in which the Registrant has rights have a
known body of commercial ore, nor are any of such properties at the commercial
development or production stage and all such properties are in the exploration
stage. The Registrant has not generated a cash flow from operations. These facts
increases the uncertainty and risks faced by investors. (See "Risk Factors" and
Item 2 - "Properties of the Registrant," below.)
Several major mining companies have had a presence in the country, some for the
past ten years, including Australian companies BHP Limited and CRA Limited, the
Canadian Company Barrick Power Corporation, and US company Newmont Mining. It is
believed that all of these companies have looked, or are looking at gold and/or
base metal projects and have conducted some exploration work in joint venture
with Chinese Partners. However, all of these companies have yet to establish
producing operations in the country.
BACKGROUND
The Registrant was incorporated under the laws of the Province of British
Columbia on November 5, 1982, under the name "Caprock Energy Ltd." Effective
September 14, 1989, the Registrant changed its name to "Consolidated Caprock
Resources Ltd.", consolidated its share capital on the basis of one new share
for every five old shares and increased its authorized capital to 20,000,000
common shares without par value. At some time prior to February 8, 1993, the
Registrant had become inactive and had no significant operations or assets.
Current management acquired its interest in the Registrant as a result of a
series of transactions in February 1993. At that time, the Registrant was a
"shell corporation;" it had been declared inactive and trading of its shares had
been suspended on the Vancouver Stock Exchange. The assets, management and
activities of the Registrant since February 8, 1993, have no continuity with its
assets, management or activities prior to that time. Current management has no
information regarding
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activities of the Registrant prior to February, 1993, except that shown in
official records, shareholder records and audited financial statements for such
prior periods.
Effective February 8, 1993, the Registrant changed its name to its current name,
consolidated its share capital on the basis of one new share for every three old
shares and increased its authorized capital to 20,000,000 common shares without
par value. In February, 1993, the Registrant issued 69,445 of its common shares
to three creditors, including Mr. Tsaparas, the Company's current Chairman, in
exchange for cancellation for unpaid debts totaling $37,250. The Registrant was
reinstated as an active company on the Vancouver Stock Exchange.
On February 19, 1996, the remainder of the current management acquired its
interests in the Registrant pursuant to three agreements, the "PCR Agreement,"
and the "Teck-Cominco Agreements," described below (See Item 1 "The PCR
Agreement" and "The Teck-Cominco Agreements."). The purpose of the PCR
Agreement, was to transfer PCR's assets to a publicly traded company. Effective
July 8, 1996 the Registrant increased its authorized capital to 100,000,000
common shares without par value.
The Registrant completed two private placements of its securities in 1995 and
1996, involving a total investment of $9,660,000, followed by a registration on
the Vancouver Stock Exchange of the securities issued in the last such private
placement. Such investments also involved contractual alliances with certain
other major Canadian mining companies and the acquisition of various interests
in mineral projects located in China.
INTERCORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS
The Registrant has one wholly-owned subsidiary, Triple Eight Mineral Corporation
("Temco"), a corporation organized on September 1, 1995 under the laws of the
British Virgin Islands and having a statutory office at Arawak Chambers, P.O.
Box 173, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The Registrant initially
acquired a 60% equity interest in Temco pursuant to the PCR Agreement and later
acquired the balance of the equity interest from China Clipper Gold Mines. See
"The PCR Agreement" below. Temco has the right to acquire a 55% equity interest
in a Chinese company, Chengde Huajia Mining Industry Co. Ltd. ("Huajia"), which
has been incorporated for the purpose of conducting the joint venture business
in respect to the Emperor's Delight Property (see Item 2 - "The Emperor's
Delight Property," below).
The following chart sets forth the Registrant's corporate structure, including
its subsidiary, their jurisdiction of incorporation, and the various mineral
properties held by each of them:
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Minco Mining
and Metals
Corporation
(British Columbia)
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100% owned Option to Option to Option to earn Letter 80% joint 80% joint
earn up to earn up to 76% interest of Intent venture venture
75% interest 60% interest interest interest
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Triple Eight Chapuzi Changba-Lijiagou West Tian Shan Xifangping White Savoyardinsky
Mineral Property Property Property Property Silver Property
Corporation (Mianning (Cheng (Xinjiang (Sichuan Mountain krgizstan
(British County, County, Uygur Province Property
Virgin Islands) Sichuan Gansu Autonomous Gansu
Province) Province Region, Province
Xinjiang
Province)
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Option to earn Exclusive Exclusive
up to 55% right to right to
interest negotiate negotiate
joint joint
venture venture
agreement agreement
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Chengde Huajia Stone Lake Crystal
Mineral Property Valley
Industry Co., (Hebei Property
Ltd. (China) Province) (Hebei
Province
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Emperor's Lengkou
Delight Property
Property (Hebei
(Chongli Province)
County, Hebei
Province
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THE PCR AGREEMENT
On February 19, 1996, the Registrant entered into an agreement with Pacific
Canada Resources, Inc. ("PCR"). PCR was a private company controlled by Ken Cai
and Donald Hicks, both of whom became directors of the Registrant upon
completion of the transaction. Prior to that time, PCR, Ken Cai and Donald Hicks
were not affiliated with the Registrant. Pursuant to the PCR Agreement, the
Registrant acquired rights to PCR's entire portfolio of base and precious metal
property agreements and acquisition rights in China, some of which were held
directly and some of which were held by PCR's subsidiary, Temco. At that time,
Temco was operated as a joint venture, and China Clipper Gold Mines, Ltd.
("China Clipper"), a publicly traded Ontario corporation, held a forty percent
equity interest in Temco. On February 27, 1997, the Registrant purchased all of
China Clipper's beneficial interest in Temco for $175,000, which was believed to
be the fair market value at the time. As a result, all co-venture relationships
between the parties ended and all of China Clipper's interests and other rights
that it may have held in respect to joint venture businesses were transferred to
the Registrant. Prior to selling its interest in Temco, China Clipper had
contributed certain amounts to the capital of the joint venture or its
operations. See "Item 2 - Emperor's Delight Property". PCR currently has no
operations or assets and has no relationship to the Registrant except pursuant
to the PCR Agreement.
Pursuant to the PCR Agreement, PCR assigned to the Registrant all of its
interests in and to the following agreements:
1. A Co-operation Agreement regarding certain mineral deposit properties,
dated November 24, 1994 between PCR, Patrician Gold Mines Ltd. and the
First Geoexploration Bureau of Ministry of Metallurgical Industry. The
interests of Patrician Gold Mines Ltd. were subsequently assigned to China
Clipper and later assigned to Temco. See "The "FGEB Co-operation Agreement"
below.
2. A Joint Venture Contract dated December 25, 1995 between Geoexploration
Corporation of the First Geoexploration Bureau ("GEC-FGEB"), a subsidiary
of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry of the government of China, and
Temco regarding the exploration and development of the Emperor's Delight
Property (the "Emperor's Delight Joint Venture Agreement.") See Item 2 -
"The Emperor's Delight Property."
3. An Option Agreement (the "Temco Option Agreement") dated March 3, 1995
between PCR and Orient Gold Mines Ltd. (the predecessor of China Clipper).
The Registrant has succeeded to the interests of Orient Gold Mines, Ltd.,
as well as its remaining obligations thereunder, by its acquisition of all
the equity interest in Temco.
The Registrant's interests in the FGEB Co-operation Agreement and the Emperor's
Delight Joint Venture Agreement are held through the Registrant's subsidiary
Temco and are subject to the terms and conditions of the Temco Option Agreement.
See "Temco Option Agreement", below.
The PCR Agreement also granted the Registrant exclusive rights of first refusal
to all agreements relating to base and precious metal properties located in
China acquired by PCR over the succeeding four years. In consideration of the
transfer, the Registrant issued 7,280,000 common shares to PCR, 2,400,000 of
which were restricted for a period of one year and are now free trading. The
2,400,000
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shares not subject to escrow restrictions were issued at a deemed value of $0.97
per share on the basis of a valuation of the Emperor's Delight Property by
A.C.A. Howe International Limited dated March 14, 1995. The balance of 4,800,000
shares are subject to the terms of an Escrow Agreement dated February 19, 1996
and will only be released upon the Registrant satisfying certain earn out
requirements more particularly described in Item 4 below under the subheading
"Performance Shares or Escrow Securities." At the time of the transaction, the
shares issued to PCR (including the escrowed shares) represented 66% of the
issued and outstanding shares of the Registrant. As of July 21, 1998, PCR holds
6,767,500 shares of the Registrant, representing approximately 43% of the
currently outstanding shares.
The escrowed shares are subject to an earn-out at the rate of $0.97 per share,
based on three mechanisms: First: (i) the valuations of the properties acquired,
as determined by a qualified independent consultant; that is, if an independent
valuation of a mineral property interest acquired by the Registrant from PCR
were to place a value of $3,000,000 on such property, then shares equal to the $
3,000,000 valuation divided by the $0.97 per share earn out price, or 3,092,783
shares, would be released from escrow. Second one share for each $1.81 of
expenditures on exploration or development of the properties (not including
general administrative expenses); for example, an expenditure of $500,000 on
exploration or development on such a property will trigger the release of
276,243 shares from escrow to PCR. Third, one share will be released from escrow
for each $0.97 of cumulative cash flows from the properties. For example, a
$1,000,000 cumulative cash flow will trigger the release of 1,030,982 shares
from escrow.
As further consideration for the PCR Agreement, the Registrant agreed to
reimburse PCR for a total of $97,800 in legal, accounting and consulting fees
paid by PCR. Included in this amount is a total of $75,800 in consulting fees
paid to Kaisun Group (Canada) Inc. and 1066098 Ontario Inc., private companies
controlled by Ken Cai and Donald Hicks, respectively.
Under the PCR agreement, PCR has the right to designate two (out of five)
directors of the Registrant and upon enlargement of the board to seven members,
one new member is to be a nominee of PCR. See Item 10 and Item 13, below.
The Temco acquisition has been treated by the Registrant as a reverse take-over
for accounting purposes. In a reverse take over, the nominal surviving
corporation is generally a "shell" corporation with no significant assets or
operations and the corporation merged into it generally possesses the only
significant assets or operations. See "Financial Statements" attached hereto as
Item 17.
THE TECK-COMINCO AGREEMENTS
Simultaneously, and in connection with the PCR agreement, the Registrant and PCR
entered into separate, but related agreements respectively dated February 19,
and February 20, 1996 (collectively the "Teck-Cominco Agreements") with Teck
Corporation ("Teck") and Cominco Ltd. ("Cominco"), which are both major public
Canadian mining companies traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Pursuant to
these agreements, Teck and Cominco each invested $500,000 in the Registrant, and
received 625,000 units, each unit consisting of one common share of the
Registrant and one fifth of a non-transferable common share purchase warrant,
each whole share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional
common share at a price of $1.20 on or before February 20, 1997 or
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$1.38 on or before February 20, 1998. The shares purchased by Teck and Cominco
were "restricted shares" under the rules of the British Columbia Securities
Commission until February 20, 1997. See Item 14. Teck exercised its warrants
prior to February 20, 1997. The warrants issued to Cominco are still
exercisable, at a price of $1.38 per share, but the exercise date has been
extended until June 30, 1999.
As partial consideration for the investments by Teck and Cominco, they received
"earn-in rights" as to the Non-Chinese Interest ("NCI") in any two mineral
property rights acquired by the Registrant or PCR in China, after the date of
the Teck-Cominco Agreements until March 1, 2004. The Non-Chinese Interest with
respect to a property represents the direct or indirect interest in a property
that is available for a non-Chinese entity or a foreigner to acquire under
Chinese Law.
The earn-in rights provide that upon the Registrant or PCR procuring a base or
precious metal project, and after preliminary work by the Registrant, Teck and
Cominco shall first determine whether such project is to be governed by the
Teck-Cominco Agreements. If they determine that it is to be so governed, the
project shall automatically be transferred by PCR to the Registrant at cost and
Teck and Cominco shall hold Earn-In Rights in respect to such property. If Teck
and Cominco determine that the project is not to be governed by the Teck-Cominco
Agreements, the Registrant shall thereafter have the right to elect whether or
not to have the project assigned to it at cost.
If Teck and Cominco determine that a base or precious metal project is to be
governed by the Teck-Cominco Agreements, their Earn-In Rights shall be
exercisable in one of two ways, depending on whether the project is determined
to be a "development property" or an "exploration property" under the
Teck-Cominco Agreements, which determination is made solely by Teck and Cominco.
If determined to be a development property, Teck and Cominco shall have the
right to acquire 70% of the Non-Chinese interest in such property and to become
the operator of the project by completing, at their sole cost, any further
project work and the final feasibility report on the project. Teck and Cominco
must then arrange for 70% of the costs required to be provided by the
non-Chinese parties to place the property into commercial production. Upon
completion of all of the foregoing, Teck and Cominco shall be deemed to have
exercised their earn-in rights in respect to the development project.
If a project is determined to be an exploration property, Teck and Cominco shall
have the right to acquire 51% of the non-Chinese interest in such exploration
property and to become the operator of programs on the property. To earn this
51% interest, Teck and Cominco must fund the final feasibility study on the
project and arrange for all financing required to be provided by the non-Chinese
parties to place the property into commercial production, as determined in the
feasibility study. Upon completion of all of the foregoing, Teck and Cominco
shall be deemed to have exercised their earn-in rights in respect to the
exploration project.
Each property for which Teck or Cominco have exercised an Earn-In Right shall be
governed by its own separate joint venture agreement which will include a
provision that if the Registrant's interest is diluted to 10% or less, such
interest will be converted to a 1% net smelter return royalty. The agreements
further provide that Cominco (in the case of a base metal property) or Teck (in
the case of a precious metal property) shall be the designated operator of the
property on behalf of the joint venture which shall be formed to exploit any
such property.
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The Teck-Cominco Agreements contain provisions under which Teck and Cominco
agree, subject to certain limitations, not to increase their collective share
holdings in the Registrant beyond 20% of the common shares, nor to reduce them
beyond 50% of their initial ownership, which limitations expire upon certain
changes in control of the Registrant. As of June 30, 1999 Teck holds 1,125,000
common shares (7.15% of the outstanding shares) and Cominco owns 625,000 common
shares (3.97% of the total outstanding shares). Teck and Cominco have a right of
first refusal to purchase common shares of the Registrant in any future
offerings, so as to maintain their percentage ownership of the Registrant.
After Teck and Cominco have exercised their earn-in rights in an aggregate of
two projects procured by PCR or the Registrant, Teck and Cominco shall have
further preferential rights of first refusal in respect to further properties
identified by PCR or the Registrant for a period of three years after the
exercise of their earn-in rights. These preferential rights of purchase will
apply only in circumstances where PCR or the Registrant, if the Registrant has
elected to acquire a project identified by PCR, intend to offer an interest to
third parties or have received an offer to purchase, earn or acquire an interest
in such properties from third parties. The Registrant is required to notify Teck
and Cominco of its intent to sell an interest in such a project to a third
party, and provide Teck and Cominco all information which the Registrant
possesses with respect to the project as well as the terms of the proposed sale,
and Teck and Cominco may, within thirty days purchase such interest on the terms
which the Registrant had proposed to accept from a third party.
On June 15, 1998, Teck exercised its earn-in rights with respect to the White
Silver Mountain Project (see Item 2 - Description of Property) under which it
can acquire 70% of the Registrant's interest in the White Silver Mountain
Project by purchasing 375,000 common shares of the Registrant at a price of
$2.00 per share, which occurred on July 10, 1998, and by exercising warrants to
purchase 125,000 common shares of the Registrant at a price of $3.00 per share,
within one year, and funding all of the Registrant's obligations on the property
up to the point of production. As a part of the transaction, warrants were
issued to Teck allowing it to buy an additional 125,000 shares at a price of
$2.00 per share, for one year, and warrants to buy a further 125,000 shares at a
price of $3.45 per share for two years. Cominco has "back-in rights" with
respect to this project to earn up to a 20% working interest in the property up
to the pre-feasibility stage by repaying Teck and the Registrant one and
one-half times the total project expenditures up to the date of exercise of its
rights and thereafter funding its pro-rata share of feasibility and development
costs. If Cominco exercises these back in rights, the Registrant would be
reduced to a 19% carried interest.
The rights of Teck and Cominco under the Teck-Cominco Agreements shall only
apply to projects secured by PCR or the Registrant on or before March 1, 2004.
Prior to the Teck-Cominco Agreement and the PCR Agreement, Mr. Cai, the
Registrant's current Chief Executive Officer had done some consulting work for
Teck, however there were other pre-existing relationships between Minco or PCR
and either Teck or Cominco. Teck and Cominco did not invest in PCR in connection
with the Teck-Cominco Agreements.
TEMCO OPTION AGREEMENT
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Pursuant to the Temco Option Agreement, PCR granted China Clipper's predecessor,
Orient Gold Mines Ltd., an option to earn a 40% equity interest in Temco by
expending $500,000 on the Chinese mineral properties which are the subject
matter of the GEC-FGEB Co-operation Agreement. China Clipper completed its
earn-in obligation and held 40% of the issued shares of Temco prior to these
shares being purchased by the Registrant in February of 1997.
The terms of the Temco Option Agreement provided that in order to maintain its
60% interest, the Registrant had the obligation to fund 40% of further
expenditures on the mineral properties underlying the GEC-FGEB Co-operation
Agreement until a total of $8,000,000 had been spent by the parties (excluding
the initial $500,000 expended by China Clipper). In order to maintain its 40%
interest, China Clipper had the obligation to fund 60% of further expenditures
until $8,000,000 in total has been spent. The GEC-FGEB Co-operation Agreement
further provides that 20% of such expenses shall be deemed to be credited to the
Registrant for the purposes of calculating each party's respective interests in
Temco until such time as $8,000,000 in total has been spent. Subsequent to the
expenditure of $8,000,000, each party was to contribute based on its pro rata
interests in Temco. If either party had diluted down to less than a 20% equity
interest in Temco pursuant to a standard dilution formula, such diluted party
would have relinquished its remaining equity interest and received as
consideration therefor a 12.5% net profits royalty interest and a lump sum of
$100,000 also payable from net profits.
As the initial project being undertaken by Temco involves the Emperor's Delight
Property, China Clipper's funding obligations corresponded to the timing of
Temco's obligations to fund expenditures under the Emperor's Delight Joint
Venture Agreement. Pursuant to this Agreement, as at December 31, 1996, China
Clipper had paid U.S.$396,000 to Temco as part of its U.S.$2,640,000 exploration
commitment on the Emperor's Delight Property.
On February 27, 1997, the Registrant entered into an agreement with China
Clipper wherein its joint venture business with China Clipper was terminated by
mutual agreement. The Registrant purchased all of China Clipper's beneficial
interest in Triple Eight Mineral Corporation ("Temco") for $175,000. In so
doing, Temco became wholly-owned by the Registrant and, incidental thereto, all
co-venture relationships between the Registrant and China Clipper ended and all
of China Clipper's interests and other rights that it may have held in respect
to joint venture business were transferred to the Registrant.
THE FGEB CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT.
A cooperation agreement was entered into regarding certain mineral properties,
dated November 24, 1994, between PCR, Patrician Gold Mines, Ltd., and the First
Geoexploration Bureau of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry ("GEC-FGEB"),
the interests of Patrician Gold Mines Ltd., having been subsequently assigned to
China Clipper Gold Mines, Ltd., and then to Temco. Under the FGEB Co-operation
Agreement, a framework was established for the negotiation of joint venture
agreements in respect to each of the Emperor's Delight, Stone Lake and Crystal
Valley Properties (See Item 2 - Properties of the Registrant, below.
In setting up a joint venture to operate a mining venture in China, the general
procedure involves three levels of agreements. The first level of agreement is a
Letter of Intent or a Memorandum of
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Understanding, which sets forth broad areas of "mutual co-operation". The second
level of agreement is a more detailed Co-operation Agreement which outlines the
essential terms of the joint venture which ultimately will be formed. The third
level of agreement is a Joint Venture Contract which sets out the entire
agreement among the parties and contemplates the establishment of a "Chinese
Legal Person", a separate legal entity. See Item 1 "Legal Framework for
Chinese-Foreign Co-operative Joint Ventures" below.
At present, a joint venture agreement has been finalized only in respect to the
Emperor's Delight Property which is described in greater detail below. See Item
2 - "Emperor's Delight Property." This agreement supersedes the FGEB
Co-operation Agreement insofar as it relates to the Emperor's Delight Property.
The Registrant is still negotiating the terms of possible joint venture
agreements with FGEB in respect to each of the Stone Lake and Crystal Valley
Properties, which negotiations were originally expected to be concluded in 1997.
However, there is no assurance that such joint venture agreements will ever be
concluded.
Pursuant to the terms of the FGEB Co-operation Agreement, the Registrant has the
exclusive right to negotiate joint venture agreements on behalf of Temco with
GEC-FGEB in respect to the Stone Lake and Crystal Valley Properties, with such
right enduring for so long as the parties continue to negotiate in good faith.
Such joint venture agreements will require GEC-FGEB to contribute to the joint
ventures the exploration interests in the properties and the required
exploration and development permits, as well as all technical data available to
GEC-FGEB in respect to such mineral properties. Temco is required to contribute
certain technology as well as capital for the further exploration and
development of the subject properties. The joint venture agreements will entitle
Temco to earn no less than a 55% undivided interest in any joint venture
involving a gold property and a 60% undivided interest in any joint venture
involving a base metals property.
The extent of the capital contributions required to be made by Temco under the
to-be-negotiated new joint venture agreements will be a function of: (i) the
total amount of capital expended by GEC-FGEB, other levels of Chinese government
and other Chinese legal entities (the "Chinese Entities") on the subject
properties prior to the date of finalization of a joint venture agreement; and,
(ii) the percentage interest in the joint venture which Temco may earn. For
example, if the Chinese Entities have expended the equivalent of U.S.$400,000
and if Temco is granted the right to earn a 60% interest in the joint venture,
then the amount required to be expended by Temco in order to earn the 60%
interest will be U.S.$600,000. After Temco has earned its initial equity
interest in the joint venture, each party to the joint venture will be required
to contribute additional capital based on their respective pro rata interests,
with standard dilution provisions applicable to non-contributing parties.
It is possible that any final joint venture agreements concluded will vary from
the terms set out in the FGEB co-operation Agreement, but the extent and nature
of any such variations cannot be predicted.
FINANCING
On June 27, 1996, the Registrant completed a private placement of 3.2 million
Special Warrants at a price of $2.55 per Special Warrant, for gross proceeds of
$8,160,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one half of a
non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each whole share purchase
warrant entitled the holder to acquire one additional common share at a price of
$2.55 per
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share until one year after the date of issuance of the warrant upon exercise of
the Special Warrant. The expiration date of such warrants was subsequently
extended until 4:30 P.M. on June 30, 1998. Special Warrants were automatically
exercised without payment of further consideration five days after issuance of a
receipt for a final prospectus by the British Columbia Securities Commission,
relating to the qualification of the common shares, on December 20, 1996. Upon
such qualification, the common shares became freely tradable in British
Columbia; prior to such date they were "restricted securities" under the rules
of the British Columbia Securities Commission.
See Item 14.
Proceeds of this private placement financing, as well as the earlier investments
by Teck and Cominco are intended to be used for exploration and for development
expenditures (only when and if warranted) in connection with the Registrant's
mineral projects located in China, for working capital, and for acquisition of
additional projects. See "Immediate Business Plan," below.
On July 10, 1998, the Registrant completed a private placement of $375,000
common shares to Teck Corporation at a price of $2.00 per share. Proceeds of
this placement will be expended entirely on the White Silver Mountain Project.
The placement also included warrants to purchase 125,000 common shares at a
price of $2.00 per share for one year and a further 125,000 common shares at a
price of $3.45 per share for two years. See "The Teck-Cominco Agreements" above.
IMMEDIATE BUSINESS PLAN
For the first six months of 1998, the Registrant's business plan was to conduct
exploration activities, as discussed in Item 2 below, with respect to each
individual property. Where results of exploration warrant, the Registrant will
proceed on a property-by-property basis to take further steps toward the final
creation of a joint venture for each such property. Proposed budgets for
exploration work with respect to each property are discussed in Item 2 below.
The Registrant believes that the proceeds of its 1996 private placements of
special warrants together with possible contributions pursuant to the
Teck-Cominco Agreement will be sufficient to fund such work for the first six
months of 1998. The Registrant may also enter into various agreements with other
companies under which these companies may fund various portions of exploration
or development work for a specific property and will earn interests in such
properties to be negotiated at the time. Such arrangements already exist in
connection with the Teck-Cominco Agreement; except for these arrangements, no
such other agreements have been entered into, and there can be no guarantee that
any such other agreements will be concluded on advantageous terms, or at all.
For the balance of 1998, the Registrant plans to focus mainly on exploring the
White Silver Mountain polymetallic property in Gansu, China. Here, a Phase I
diamond drilling program will be carried out to test the down dip and plunge
continuation of the base metal deposits in the Xialtieshan Mine. A surface
program of detailed mapping and compilation work will attempt to outline new
prospective zones that will later be tested by geophysics and/or additional
diamond drilling programs. The initial programs of this project are budgeted as
$750,000 and are expected to be completed in the latter half of 1998. Pending
successful outcomes from Phase I, a Phase II program of diamond drilling will be
initiated with Teck Corporation being the operator of the project. Under this
scenario, the Registrant will incur no further costs from this project while
maintaining a 24% carried interest, in accordance with the participation
agreement announced June 15, 1998. Management believes that this project has the
greatest potential to add shareholder value in the short term.
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The next most significant property interest is the Changba-Lijiagou lead-zinc
project. As soon as the diamond drill core from this project is made available,
the Registrant will conduct a program of geological due diligence. This work
will involve a re-logging of selected drill cores as well as a re-assay of
selected mineralized zones to test the geological and grade model used in the
current resource estimates. This work must be carried out before advancing the
preliminary feasibility study.
If access is granted to some of the target areas defined by the 1997 grassroots
exploration program in the Tian Shan Belt, follow-up trenching and sampling will
be carried out.
In addition to the above, the Registrant will be actively pursuing new
acquisitions, focusing on precious and base metal projects during 1998. Work on
projects other than White Silver Mountain is expected to cost in the range of
$100,000 to $150,000.
RISK FACTORS
The business of the Registrant is subject to a number of significant risk
factors associated with the business of mineral exploration generally, the fact
that the Registrant is in the exploration stage, specific factors relating to
the financial and competitive position of the Registrant, and the fact that all
its prospects are located in China. The following discussion identifies various
risks in these categories, some of which are discussed at greater length
elsewhere herein. The order in which the various risks is discussed in not
intended to indicate their relative importance or likelihood of occurrence, nor
should it be assumed that all possible risks are discussed. These factors should
be kept in mind when reviewing all the information contained herein.
1. MINERAL EXPLORATION INDUSTRY. The Registrant is engaged in the exploration
for minerals which involves a high degree of geological, technical and economic
uncertainty, because of the inability to predict future mineral prices, as well
as the difficulty of determining the extent of a mineral deposit and the
feasibility of extracting it without the expenditure of considerable money.
2. EXPLORATION STAGE. The Registrant is in the exploration stage, none of the
properties in which it has interests are currently in commercial production, and
none of them contain proven reserves. In order to obtain more reliable
information on which to base decisions about possible development of a prospect,
it is necessary to expend significant time and money, and many of such prospects
will turn out not to be worth further development. The Registrant may thus
expend significant amounts of financing and effort on any or all of its
properties without finding proven reserves or reaching a stage of commercial
production.
3. FINANCING. Although the Registrant believes that it has sufficient financing
to conduct its currently planned programs of exploration on existing prospects,
it does not have sufficient financial resources available to undertake
additional exploration or development programs. Further exploration or
commercial development, if warranted, would require additional financing. There
can be no assurance that needed future financing will be available in a timely
or economically advantageous manner, or at all.
4. TECK-COMINCO AGREEMENTS. The Teck-Cominco Agreements grant those companies
the right ("earn-in rights") to become the operators of an aggregate of two
future properties of the Registrant,
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on terms advantageous to them, as well as rights of first refusal to acquire
interests in other future projects for a period of three years after exercise of
their earn-in rights. The existence of these rights may inhibit the Registrant's
ability to obtain financing on future projects. See "The Teck-Cominco
Agreements" above.
5. MINERAL PRICES. The prices which the Registrant can obtain for any minerals
produced from any of its prospects will generally be subject to fluctuations in
the world commodity prices for any such minerals. Such fluctuations are neither
predictable nor controllable by the Registrant. Specific factors relating to the
Registrant's business, the quality of any minerals produced and factors peculiar
to doing business in China may reduce the prices obtainable below those
prevailing on the world market.
6. COMPETITION. The Registrant competes and will compete with other companies
for the acquisition of mineral concessions and other interests. Many of such
companies are large established companies with greater financial, technical and
management resources than the Registrant.
7. POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Certain of the Registrant's officers and
directors serve as officers, directors or employees of other mineral resource
companies, and to the extent that such other companies may compete for or
participate in mineral prospects in which the Registrant may have such
interests, such persons may have a conflict of interest. PCR, Teck and Cominco
have the right to name persons to the Registrant's Board of Directors. While PCR
is not otherwise engaged in seeking or developing mineral properties in China,
both Teck and Cominco may do so. A situation could arise where a director named
by Teck or Cominco would face a conflict of interest if the Registrant and Teck
or Cominco were in competition for a property. See "The PCR Agreement" and "the
Teck-Cominco Agreements," above.
8. UNINSURED HAZARDS. The Registrant may become liable for hazards against
which it is not insured, either because insurance is unobtainable, or not
available at an economic cost.
9. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS. Existing and possible future legislation could create
significant additional uninsured or uninsurable liabilities, and/or cause
additional expense and delay in the activities of the Registrant.
10. ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES. As substantially all of the assets of the
Registrant and its subsidiary, as well as the Registrant's jurisdiction of
incorporation and the residences of its officers and directors are located
outside of the United States, it may be difficult or impossible to enforce
judgments granted by a court in the United States against the assets of the
Registrant and its subsidiaries or the directors and officers of the Registrant
resident outside of the United States.
11. RISKS RELATED TO DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA. Various matters which are
specific to doing business in China may create additional risks or increase the
degree of such risks associated with the Registrant's activities. Such factors,
some of which are discussed at greater length below (See "Doing Business in
China",) are:
Governmental Approvals. The establishment, operation and terms of the joint
ventures through which any particular mineral property is to be explored or
operated are all subject to obtaining
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Chinese governmental approvals at various levels and for particular matters,
including mining rights, importation of equipment, hiring of labor,
environmental regulations and the like. Depending on the scope of the operation,
its location, and the particular issues involved, the level of government from
which approvals must be sought and the process involved will vary. Neither the
time required, the costs involved (both of which could be significant), nor the
ultimate probability of obtaining any such approvals can be predicted.
Gold Prices and Sales. In addition to fluctuations in the world price
and demand for gold, any gold produced in China must be sold to the people's
Bank of China. Discounts to the world price of gold have been applied to these
sales to the People's Bank of China. Up to the end of 1993 domestic producers
were paid 40% of the world market price for gold. From 1994 to the present,
domestic producers are being paid 90% of the world market price for gold. This
could change unfavorably in the future.
Currency Prices and Convertibility. China's currency, the Renminbi
("RMB"), is not freely convertible into foreign currency. China's central bank
publishes daily the RMB exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and other major
international currencies, largely but not entirely, based on supply and demand
of foreign currency. In recent years, there has been significant devaluation of
the RMB against the U.S. dollar. Economic and legal restrictions on the
availability of foreign currency and the right to repatriate funds may adversely
affect the performance of the Registrant when measured in terms of U.S. dollars.
All established joint venture companies operating in China register as members
of a "swap market." Through the operation of the swap markets, profits generated
in China can be repatriated with no limitations. There are certain tax
incentives, however, to reinvesting profits in China.
Environmental Regulations. The Registrant's operations are subject to
environmental regulations promulgated by various Chinese government agencies
from time to time. Although Chinese environmental regulations are currently
apparently less stringent than those in the United States, this fact may change.
Violation of existing or future Chinese environmental rules may result in
various fines and penalties. The Changba-Lijiagou Project may present a
particular risk as the environmental conditions in the smelter town of Baiyin
are appalling by North American standards. The cost of compliance with existing
or future environmental regulations may adversely affect the results of
Registrant's operations.
Politics of China. The Registrant's investments may be adversely
affected by political, economic and social uncertainties in the China. Although
the Chinese central government has pursued economic reform policies for the past
18 years and has repeatedly reiterated its commitment to such policies, no
assurance can be given that it will continue to pursue those policies or that
any such policies, including, but not limited to, laws regarding taxation, may
not be significantly and adversely altered, especially in the event of a change
of leadership, social or political disruption or unforeseen circumstances
affecting China's political, economic and social structure. The possibility of
such changes, and their unpredictability may be exacerbated by the
authoritarian, one party nature of the Chinese regime.
Legal System. Despite considerable activity in recent years to develop
the Chinese legal system and to protect rights of foreign enterprises, China
does not yet have a comprehensive system of laws.
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In addition, enforcement, operation and interpretation of existing laws
may be uncertain, sporadic or inconsistent. China's judiciary is relatively
inexperienced in enforcing laws that do exist, leading to a higher than usual
degree of uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation. Even where adequate
law exists in China, it may be impossible to obtain swift and equitable
enforcement of such law, or to obtain enforcement of the judgment by a court of
another jurisdiction. The interpretation of the laws of China may be subject to
policy changes reflecting domestic political changes. The ability of the Chinese
judiciary to review or control administrative agencies or their actions is
uncertain.
Economic Planning. The economy of China is a planned economy subject to
five year plans, with national economic goals adopted by the central government.
At present, China's Economic and Trade Office has emphasized greater
decentralization and utilization of market forces for allocation of resources.
The central government has repeatedly said that economic development will follow
a model of market economy under socialism. It is expected that China will
continue to strengthen economic ties with foreign countries and that development
in China will follow market forces, but there can be no guarantee of that.
Title Matters. The Registrant's interests in all its prospects are
subject to the Mineral Resources Law of China enacted March 19, 1986 and amended
effective January 1, 1997, which provides that "Mineral resources shall be owned
by the State." and "The State's ownership of mineral resources shall be
exercised by the State Council." Title investigation is difficult or impossible
in China and thus the level of title investigation in respect to most, or all,
of the Registrant's properties has been limited. Although the Registrant is not
aware of any specific title defects, this should not be construed as a guarantee
of title. Title to the properties may be affected by undetected defects such as
unregistered agreements or transfers.
Surveys. Some of the properties in which the Registrant has an interest
have not been surveyed, and their actual extent and location may therefore be in
doubt. Some of the Registrant's property interests include exploration rights
over large specified tracts of ground. These tracts of ground are defined by
latitude and longitude coordinates on a map, but have not been surveyed on the
ground. In the event of a discovery, surveys would immediately be conducted. For
more advanced properties like the White Silver Mountain project, detailed
coordinate information defines the outer perimeter of the property with surveyed
mining permit boundaries circumscribed. The ultimate tenure on exploration and
mining rights exists when property rights are defined in a fully approved
foreign joint venture. These conditions currently exist for the Chapuzi property
and the property interests of the Huajia joint venture. The joint venture on the
White Silver Mountain project is expected to be fully approved by the Fall of
1998. There could be serious consequences for the Registrant if the central
government of China were to claim mineral resources believed to form part of the
Company's joint venture portfolio. However, the central government of China has
a stated policy to attract foreign investment to the mining industry and has
taken years to restructure its mining laws and regulations to conform to western
standards in order to create the right climate for foreign investment. Any move
to dispute rights to a deposit granted to a foreign joint venture would damage
international business relations generally and would seriously threaten the
investment climate in this sector, and is thus, in the opinion of the
Registrant's management, unlikely to occur.
Reliability of Information. The information herein regarding China, its
government, economy and industries has been obtained from a variety of Chinese
government and industry officials and sources.
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Independent verification of this information is not available. Official
statistics in relation to China, including its economy and industries may also
be produced on a basis different from that used in more developed countries or
countries with different political systems. If such official statistics are
materially inaccurate, or not easily comparable to those of the United States,
the present and future economic prospects of China, including its economy and
industries, as well as the prospects for the Registrant's business, could be
materially and adversely affected. Much of the information on which the
Registrant and its consultants have based their decisions regarding the
Registrant's mineral prospects is also based on information provided by Chinese
governmental officials, geologists and mining engineers, and cannot be
independently confirmed. Accordingly, the reliability of geological and mineral
information regarding the properties, the costs of labor, operation and
construction may be less than if it were based on information independently
obtained by the Registrant.
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA - BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The following is a general description of China's governmental organization,
currency regulation, foreign investment in China and the history of gold mining
therein and has been compiled by the Registrant from various sources:
General Information
The People's Republic of China is located in the eastern part of Asia. It is
bordered by fourteen countries, including India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and
Russia. It has an area of 9,561,000 square kilometers with an estimated
population, as at 1994, of over 1.17 billion people. The language is mainly
Putonghua (Mandarin) with several local dialects.
Governmental Organization
China is a centralized state power. China's Head of State is its President. The
Central Government of China is organized pursuant to the Constitution of China,
the most recent form of which was adopted by the National People's Congress (the
"NPC") in December, 1982, with amendments made in 1988 and 1992.
The unicameral NPC is the "highest organ of state authority" and exercises
legislative power in the country. About 3,000 members of the NPC are elected by
the provinces, autonomous regions, those municipalities which are directly under
the Central Government, and the armed forces. The NPC meets once a year, and
when it is not in session it exercises its powers through its Standing Committee
with some 250 members.
Local people's congresses are established at various levels, including within
provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, counties, districts, towns and
townships. Local people's congresses are "local organs of state power". They are
empowered to promulgate local laws, rules and regulations and to approve local
economic plans and budgets. In addition, they elect governors, mayors and other
local government heads.
The State Council is the "executive agency" of the NPC, and in effect, the
cabinet. It usually has 15 members, composed of the Premier, Deputy Premiers,
State Councilors and a Secretary-General.
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There are over 40 ministries and commissions, including the People's Bank of
China, as well as a number of important state-owned corporations under the
authority of the State Council. The State Council has the authority to
promulgate administrative rules, orders and regulations, and to rescind or amend
administrative rules, orders and regulations issued by administrative agencies
at both the central and provincial government levels. The State Council also
prepares and supervises the implementation of national economic plans and
budgets and co-ordinates the administrative agencies at both the central and
provincial government levels.
The Chinese Communist Party (the "CCP") has a constitutional role in the
government organization of China. Although the state and the CCP structures are
technically separate, there is a considerable overlap between the
decision-making functions of the state organs and the CCP organs. In practice,
the NPC has never acted as the true source of power. It approves decisions made
by the Communist Party. Basically China's political structure remains that of an
authoritarian one-party state.
Currency
The Chinese currency is the Renminbi yuan ("RMB" or "Rmb"). It is not freely
convertible although the Chinese government has emphasized that full
convertibility is the long-term goal. Full convertibility, probably after some
transitional period, will be a condition precedent to membership in the World
Trade Organization, for which China has applied. The People's Bank of China,
China's central banking authority, publishes the Renminbi exchange rate against
the U.S. dollar every day based on the trading price between the two currencies
of the previous day on the Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange Market established in
Shanghai in 1994. In addition, the People's Bank of China publishes the Renminbi
exchange rates against other major foreign currencies. Designated banks
participate on the Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange Market through a computer network
connected with major cities in China. Foreign exchange is administered by the
State Administration of Exchange Control (SAEC), and its local branch offices,
all of which are subject to the supervision of the People's Bank of China. The
SAEC has established regulations relating to outward remittance by foreign
investors of their share of net profits or dividends and final repatriation of
their investments, in foreign currency. Subject to payment of applicable taxes,
foreign investors may remit out of China, in foreign exchange, profits or
dividends derived from a source within China. However, foreign-invested
enterprises are required to secure their own sources of foreign exchange, and
the foreign exchange adjustment Centers (commonly known as Swap Centers) may be
used for this purpose. The Swap Centers were established to assist foreign
investment enterprises to balance their foreign currency income and expenses by
converting surplus local currency earnings into foreign exchange and vice versa
without their having to wait for central allocation. The central foreign
exchange adjustment center is in Beijing and other centers have been established
in the coastal cities, Special Economic Zones and other major cities,
municipalities and autonomous regions. Remittance by foreign investors of any
other amounts (including, for instance, principal and interest on debt and
proceeds of sale arising from a disposal by a foreign investor of any of its or
his investments in China) out of China is subject to the approval of the SAEC.
Foreign Investment
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China is in the process of developing a comprehensive system of laws for the
development of a market-oriented economy. Since 1979, a significant number of
laws and regulations dealing with foreign investment and matters related to
foreign investment have been promulgated.
The Constitution authorizes and encourages foreign investment and protects the
"lawful rights and interests" of foreign investors in China. The Civil Procedure
Law of China (the "Civil Procedure Law"), effective April 9, 1991, provides that
if there is a conflict between the provisions of international treaties, to
which China is a signatory, and domestic Chinese law, the treaty provisions will
prevail. In addition, the Foreign Economic Contract Law of China (the "FECL"),
effective July 1, 1985, provides that matters not covered by Chinese law will be
dealt with by reference to international practices.
Direct foreign investment in China usually takes the form of equity joint
ventures ("EJVs"), co-operative joint ventures ("CJVs") and wholly foreign-owned
enterprises. These investment vehicles are collectively referred to as foreign
investment enterprises ("FIEs").
An EJV is a Chinese legal person and consists of at least one foreign party and
at least one Chinese party. The EJV generally takes the form of a limited
liability company. It is required to have a registered capital, to which each
party to the EJV subscribes. Each party to the EJV is liable to the EJV up to
the amount of the registered capital subscribed by it. The profits, losses and
risks of the EJV are shared by the parties in proportion to their respective
contributions to the registered capital. There are also rules and regulations
governing specific aspects of EJVs or FIEs, including capital contribution
requirements, debt-equity ratio, foreign exchange control, labor management,
land use and taxation.
Unlike an EJV, a CJV may be, but need not be, incorporated as a separate legal
entity. The relationship between the parties is contractual in nature. The
rights, liabilities and obligations of the parties are governed by the CJV
contract, as is each party's share of the goods produced or profits generated. A
CJV is considered a legal person with limited liability.
The establishment of FIEs requires the approval of various Chinese government
authorities. Generally speaking, the approval authority is determined on the
basis of the total amount of investment involved and the location of the project
in question. The State Council must approve any foreign investment projects
having an investment of U.S. $100 million or more. The State Planning Commission
and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation are authorized by
the State Council to approve foreign investment projects of less than U.S.$100
million. Provincial authorities, usually the provincial commissions of foreign
trade and economic co-operation, are also authorized to approve projects up to
certain pre-determined amounts.
Tax System
Foreign investment enterprises and their employees are subject to a variety of
taxes in China. Each tax levied is based on a separate law. The most significant
taxes imposed are income tax, value added tax, business tax, consumption tax,
land appreciation tax, real estate tax, vehicle and vessel license tax, stamp
duties and customs duties. Various tax incentives are provided under the income
tax law and regulations.
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The Law of China on income tax of Chinese-Foreign Joint Ventures and
Foreign-Capital Enterprises stipulates that foreign enterprises and joint
ventures shall be taxed at a standard rate of 30% plus a local tax of 3%. In
addition, Chinese mining enterprises are required to pay a mineral compensation
fee which, for gold mining, is up to 4% of income from gold sales.
The Chinese government has recently announced that it plans to reform the
existing Chinese tax system (including the value added tax) and particularly its
tax preference policies applicable to foreign enterprises. The aim of such
future reforms will be to unify and simplify China's existing tax system. No
timetable for implementing such reforms has been announced by the Chinese
government nor has any legislation been introduced.
Inflation and the Chinese Government Austerity Plan
The Chinese economy has experienced rapid growth which has led to a significant
growth in money supply and rising inflation. In September, 1993, total money
supply had grown by 34% on an annual basis. The average inflation rate in the
first quarter of 1995 was recorded at an annualized rate of approximately 23%.
In order to control inflation, the Chinese government reinstated controls on
bank credits, limits on loans for fixed assets and restrictions on state bank
lending. This austerity plan, first announced in June of 1993, seemed to have
been relaxed during the last quarter of 1993. In early 1994, the Chinese
government announced that it intended to reimpose its austerity measures,
including a ban on fixed asset investments.
The Chinese government announced in March of 1994 that the People's Bank of
China will begin examining all loans made for fixed asset investments and any
financial institutions which have exceeded their lending quota or granted loans
to non-state planned projects, unapproved development zones or real estate
speculators, will be strictly punished. The Registrant does not believe that
these recent announcements should have a material effect on the business of the
Registrant.
With the return of Hong Kong completed without dislocation in mid 1997. the
Chinese economy, under "moderately tight" fiscal and monetary policies is in the
process of switching to a stable growth path. The inflation rate during 1997 was
3.5%, with growth in GDP maintained at a rate of 9%. Following a year of low
export growth (1%) in 1996, China's exports rebounded in 1997 with growth of
approximately 19% with imports rising by 6.6% in the same period. Economic
forecasts for 1998 predict that growth will be lead more by domestic demand than
by exports. In October of 1997, interest rates were lowered for the first time
in fourteen months, and this is expected to cause investment in fixed assets and
private consumption to grow during 1998. Because of government economic
policies, the declining values of Southeast Asian currencies are not expected to
have a serious adverse effect of China's exports, and the country's exports are
forecast to maintain a double digit growth rate in 1998. The net effect of the
Chinese government's current fiscal and monetary policies is expected to be an
inflation rate of 5.2% with a growth rate of 9.0% for 1998.
Gold Mining in China
Gold has been produced in China for over 4,000 years. In 1994, China was the
world's 6th largest producer of gold at a reported 130 tonnes, immediately
following Canada which was then the fifth
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largest producer of gold. It is presumed that early Chinese production was from
placer deposits, and placer reserves still account for over 15% of China's total
gold reserves. Gold mining is currently active in all of China's provinces, with
over 460 official operations. However, only 40 of these have reported annual
production over 10,000 ounces of gold and only 10 have facilities capable of
processing over 500 tonnes of ore per day.
The Chinese mining industry has traditionally been closed to foreign
participation. However, a change in the Mineral Resources Law has been
implemented by China's Central Government which permits foreign participation.
The regulation of mining, including gold mining, in China is in a state of
evolution from a totally planned, state-controlled condition to free market
conditions as experienced in developed and most developing countries. Ultimate
control is in the hands of the State Council. Policy is developed for the State
Council by its State Planning Commission ("SPC"). The State Gold Bureau ("SGB"),
a branch of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry ("MMI"), regulates the gold
mining industry.
The Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources ("MGMR"), which formerly
administered geological exploration and also carried out exploration through its
own personnel, has been replaced by the new Ministry of Lands and Mineral
Resources. There are at present over one million people engaged in mineral
exploration, including petroleum exploration, in China, of which over 400,000
are employed by MGMR and its provincial affiliates.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR CHINESE-FOREIGN CO-OPERATIVE JOINT VENTURES.
The following is a general description of the legal framework for Sino-foreign
co-operation joint ventures pursuant to which the business of the Registrant is
carried on in China or will be regulated. This description has been compiled by
the Registrant from various sources.
Legal Framework
Each of the various joint venture entities through which the Registrant will
carry on business in China has been or will be formed under the laws of China as
a Chinese-foreign co-operative joint venture enterprise and is or will be a
"legal person" with limited liability. All joint ventures entered into, or to be
entered into, by the Registrant must be approved by both the Ministry of Foreign
Trade and Economic Co-operation ("MOFTEC") and the State Planning Commission
("SPC") in Beijing or their provincial bureaus. Such approvals have not yet been
obtained by the Registrant except for its Emperor's Delight Property.
The establishment and activities of each of the Registrant's joint venture
entities are governed by the Law of the People's Republic of China on
Chinese-foreign Co-operative Joint Ventures and the regulations promulgated
thereunder (the "China Joint Venture Law"). As with all Chinese-foreign
co-operative joint venture enterprises, the Registrant's joint venture
enterprises will be subject to an extensive and reasonably well-developed body
of statutory law relating to matters such as establishment and formation,
distribution of revenues, taxation, accounting, foreign exchange and labor
management.
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On January 1, 1997, an amendment to the Mineral Resources Law of China became
effective. Among other things, the amended law deals with foreign ownership of
Chinese mines and mineral rights, and allows, under some circumstances, the
transfer of exploration rights and mining rights. Pursuant to this law, new
regulations were made effective on February 12, 1998. These new regulations have
effectively removed the limitations formerly imposed on foreign investment in
gold mining. Some of these restrictions included confining foreign companies to
low grade and/or metallurgically difficult deposits.
Restructuring within central government bureaucracies dealing with resources has
resulted in the formation of one new ministry, the Ministry of Lands and Mineral
Resources, which replaces the old Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources,
State Bureau of Land Administration, State Bureau of Oceanic Administration and
the State Bureau of Survey. This new ministry administers a new computerized
central land registry established in Beijing. This change has streamlined the
application for exploration and mining permits so that a maximum 40 day response
time is now guaranteed.
Under existing laws, in order to form a mining joint venture, foreign companies
must complete three levels of agreements which are subject to approval by
various government authorities depending upon the scale of the proposed
investment and the mineral commodities involved in the project. Larger projects
are submitted to Provincial or Central government authorities and smaller
projects are submitted to Local government authorities.
In general, the first level of agreement is a Letter of Intent or a Memorandum
of Understanding, which sets forth broad areas of "mutual co-operation". The
second level of agreement is a more detailed Co-operation Agreement which
outlines the essential terms of the joint venture which ultimately will be
formed. The third level of agreement is a Joint Venture Contract which sets out
the entire agreement among the parties and contemplates the establishment of a
"Chinese Legal Person", a separate legal entity.
Before a joint venture can be created, an assessment or feasibility study of the
proposed joint venture must be prepared and approved by the State Planning
Commission (the "SPC"). Therefore, upon completing a Co-operation Agreement, the
parties prepare a feasibility study of the proposed joint venture and submit
this feasibility study along with the Co-operation Agreement to the SPC for what
may be described as an approval in principle, the granting of which depends upon
whether the proposed project broadly conforms to the economic policy issued by
the government and any prescribed regulations. As part of this approval process,
the SPC consults with the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources (the "MGMR")
and with the government agency directly concerned with the specific mineral
commodity; for example, in the case of gold, with the Gold Bureau of the
Ministry of Metallurgical Industry.
Upon receiving this approval in principle, the parties then negotiate and
prepare a Joint Venture Contract and then submit it to the Ministry of Foreign
Trade and Economic Co-operation ("MOFTEC") which approves the specific terms of
all Joint Venture Contracts between Chinese and foreign parties. Within one
month after the receipt of a certificate of approval from MOFTEC, a joint
venture must register with the State Administration of Industry and Commerce
(the "SAEC"). Upon registration of the joint venture, a business license is
issued to the joint venture. The joint venture is officially established on the
date on which its business license is issued. Following the receipt of
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its business license, the joint venture applies to MGMR to approve and grant to
the joint venture its exploration permits and/or mining licenses. As part of
this approval process, the MGMR consults with the military authorities to
confirm that no military reserves lie within the areas of interest.
Governance and Operations
Governance and operations of a Sino-foreign co-operative joint venture
enterprise are governed by the Chinese Joint Venture Law and by the parties'
joint venture agreement and the Articles of Association of each joint venture
entity. Pursuant to relevant Chinese laws, certain major actions of the joint
venture entity require unanimous approval by all of the directors present at the
meeting called to decide upon actions such as: amendments to the joint venture
agreement and the Articles of Association; increase in, or assignment of, the
registered capital of the joint venture; a merger of the joint venture with
another entity; or the termination and dissolution of the joint venture
enterprise.
Term
Under the joint venture agreement, the parties will agree to a term of the joint
venture enterprise from the date a business license is granted. However, the
term may be extended with the unanimous approval of the board of directors of
the joint venture entity and the approval of the relevant Chinese governmental
entities.
Employee Matters
Each joint venture entity is subject to the Chinese-Foreign Co-operative Joint
Venture Enterprise Labor Management Regulations. In compliance with these
regulations, the management of the joint venture enterprise may hire and
discharge employees and make other determinations with respect to wages,
welfare, insurance and discipline of its employees.
Generally, in the joint venture agreement, the standard of salary, social
welfare insurance and traveling expenses of senior management will be determined
by the board of directors of the joint venture entity. In addition, the joint
venture will establish a special fund for enterprise development, employee
welfare and incentive fund, and a general reserve. The amount of after-tax
profits allocated to the special funds is determined at the discretion of the
board of directors on an annual basis.
Distributions
After provision for a reserve fund, enterprise development fund and employee
welfare and incentive fund, and after provision for taxation, the profits of a
joint venture enterprise will be available for distribution to the Registrant
and the relevant Chinese governmental entity, such distribution to be authorized
by the board of directors of the joint venture entity.
Assignment of Interest
Under joint venture agreements and the Chinese Joint Venture Law, any assignment
of an interest in a joint venture entity must be approved by the relevant
governmental authorities. The China Joint
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Venture Law also provides for pre-emptive rights and consent of the other party
for proposed assignments by one party to a third party.
Liquidation
Under the Chinese Joint Venture Law and joint venture agreements, the joint
venture entity may be liquidated in certain limited circumstances including the
expiry of its term or any term of extension, inability to continue operations
due to severe losses, failure of a party to honor its obligations under the
joint venture agreement and Articles of Association in such a manner as to
impair the operations of Chinese governmental entitles and force majeure.
Resolution of Disputes
In the event of a dispute between the parties, attempts will be made to resolve
the dispute through friendly consultation. This is the practice in China and the
Registrant believes that its relationship with Chinese governmental entities is
such that it will be able to maintain a good working relationship with respect
to the operations of its joint venture enterprises. In the absence of a friendly
resolution of any dispute, the parties have agreed or will agree that the matter
will first be referred to the Foreign Economics and Trade Arbitration Commission
of China Council ("FETAL") for the Promotion of International Trade for
Arbitration. Awards of FETAL are enforceable in accordance with the laws of
China before Chinese courts. Resort to Chinese courts to enforce a joint venture
contract or to resolve disputes between the parties over the terms of the
contract is permissible. However, the parties may jointly select another
internationally recognized arbitration institution to resolve disputes.
Expropriation
The Chinese Joint Venture Law also provides that China generally will not
nationalize and requisition enterprises with foreign investment. However, in
special circumstances where demanded by social public interest, enterprises with
foreign investment may be requisitioned by legal procedures, but appropriate
compensation will be paid.
Division of Revenues
Revenues derived from operating joint ventures, once all necessary
agreements, permits and licenses are obtained, will be divided between the
Registrant and the Chinese governmental entity or entities which are parties to
the joint venture according to the terms of each individual joint venture, which
terms will vary from project to project. The Registrant will be subject to
various taxes on its revenues. See Item 8 "Taxation - People's Republic of
China."
ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY.
GENERAL
The bulk of the Registrant's properties are located in China, and these fall
into two general groups: the Chapuzi, West Tian Shan and Xinjiang properties
were acquired by direct negotiations and agreements between the Registrant and
the Chinese authorities concerned. The Emperors' Delight,
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Changba-Lijiagou, Stone Lake and Crystal Valley properties were acquired in
connection with the PCR Agreement. See Item 1 - "The PCR Agreement" above. The
Registrant also has one agreement pertaining to a property located in
Kyrgyzstan.
In setting up a joint venture to operate a mining venture in China, the general
procedure involves three levels of agreements. The first level of agreement is a
Letter of Intent or a Memorandum of Understanding, which sets forth broad areas
of "mutual co-operation". The second level of agreement is a more detailed
Co-operation Agreement which outlines the essential terms of the joint venture
which ultimately will be formed. The third level of agreement is a Joint Venture
Contract which sets out the entire agreement among the parties and contemplates
the establishment of a "Chinese Legal Person", a separate legal entity. See Item
1 "Legal Framework for Chinese-Foreign Co-operative Joint Ventures" above.
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS' REPORTS
The Emperor's Delight, Stone Lake and Crystal Valley Properties are the subject
matter of a geological report prepared by A.C.A. Howe International Limited
("A.C.A. Howe") entitled, "Evaluation Report on the Crystal Valley, Stone Lake
and Emperor's Delight Gold Projects, Hebei Province, The People's Republic of
China" dated March 13, 1995 and as updated by two reports, also prepared by
A.C.A. Howe, entitled "Valuation of the Emperor's Delight Joint Venture
Property, Hebei Province, The People's Republic of China", dated November 15,
1995 and "Update of Work Performed on the Emperor's Delight, Crystal Valley and
Stone Lake Properties" dated December 9, 1996 (collectively the "A.C.A. Howe
Report"). The descriptions which follow in this section concerning these
properties have been prepared on the authority of A.C.A. Howe International
Limited. A.C.A. Howe International Limited was commissioned by PCR (Pacific
Canada Resources, Inc.) to evaluate the potential of the various properties to
host viable mineral deposits. Furthermore, the consulting firm was also mandated
by PCR to assess the fair value of the Emperor's Delight Property for the
purpose of defining the amount required to be spent for earn-in purposes.
The Chapuzi Property is the subject of an independent consultant's report
titled "Chapuzi Gold Occurrence Report for Minco Mining and Metals
Corporation" prepared by H.A. Simons Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta dated December,
1996 (the "H.A. Simons Report"). The descriptions that follow are based
primarily on these reports and on observations made during a site visit made
to the property in July of 1995 by management of the Registrant. The
description which follows in this Item 2 concerning the Chapuzi Property has
been prepared on the authority of H.A. Simons Ltd. and, in some cases, are
extracts from the H.A. Simons Report.
The Changba-Lijiagou Property is the subject matter of two reports prepared by
H.A. Simons Ltd. entitled "Technical Site Visit to Smelters and Mine Facilities
of Baiyin Non-Ferrous Metals Corporation, GANSU Province, People's Republic of
China" dated December, 1995 and "Proposed Development Strategy for the Changba
Lijiagou Underground Mine" dated December 9, 1996 (collectively, the "CBLG
Technical Reports"). The description which follows in this Item 2 concerning the
Changba-Lijiagou Property has been prepared using information from the CBLG
Technical Reports.
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Much of the information contained in the Consultants' Reports is based on
information provided by Chinese governmental officials, geologists and mining
engineers. Accordingly, the reliability of geological and mineral information
regarding the properties, the costs of labor, operation and construction
provided by Chinese government officials, geologists and mining engineers cannot
be assured.
THE CHAPUZI PROPERTY
No proven or probable reserves have been found on the property as a result of
the exploration performed to date.
Acquisition
The Registrant acquired its interest in the Chapuzi Property pursuant to an
agreement (the "Chapuzi Agreement") resulting from negotiations with the
Sichuan Bureau of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources (the
"MGMR-Sichuan"). The Chapuzi Property is the subject of a report prepared by
H.A. Simons Ltd. dated December, 1996 (the "H.A. Simons Report").
Pursuant to the Chapuzi Agreement, the Registrant and MGMR-Sichuan agreed to
create a joint venture in respect to the exploration and development of the
Chapuzi Property located in Mianning County, Sichuan Province. Under the Chapuzi
Agreement, MGMR-Sichuan has designated the Panxi Geological Investigation
Institute of Xichang, Sichuan Province ("Panxi"), as its representative in the
joint venture. The joint venture shall be conducted through a joint venture
corporation to be incorporated pursuant to the Joint Venture Law of China. The
original Co-operation Agreement was entered into between the Registrant and
MGMR-Sichuan dated July 7, 1995, as amended October 11, 1995 and supplemented by
a new Co-operation Agreement dated July 27, 1996. The final joint venture
agreement has not yet been negotiated and approved, pending completion of a
final feasibility study.
As its contribution to the joint venture, the Registrant has agreed to provide
all funding required for the exploration and development of the Chapuzi
Property. In addition, the Registrant will serve as operator of all exploration
and development programs to be conducted by the joint venture. MGMR-Sichuan and
Panxi have agreed to transfer all their rights and interests in and to the
Chapuzi Property, make available certain exploration and mining equipment as
well as local technicians and other necessary personnel, at wages consistent
with prevailing local market conditions, provide all necessary geological
information and arrange for all necessary regulatory and governmental approvals
required for the joint venture.
Upon expending the sum of Cdn. $5,000,000, the Registrant shall have earned a
51% equity interest in the joint venture corporation. If the Registrant finances
the construction of a mine and plant on the Chapuzi Property, its equity
interest in the joint venture corporation will, effective on the commencement of
commercial production from such mine and plant, be increased to 75%. The Chapuzi
Agreement further provides that all funds advanced by the Registrant to the
joint venture corporation shall be treated as non-interest bearing loans, to be
repaid to the Registrant from profits of the joint venture corporation prior to
any annual pro-rata distribution of income to the joint
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venture partners. Once the loans are paid, profits will be distributed annually
based upon the equity shares held in the joint venture corporation.
The Chapuzi Agreement further provides that if the Registrant advances less than
Cdn. $5,000,000 to the joint venture and if a final feasibility report obtained
by the Registrant concludes that it is uneconomic to construct a mine and plant
on the Chapuzi Property, then the Registrant's equity interest in the joint
venture corporation shall be determined as that percentage which is equal to 51%
multiplied by a fraction in which the numerator is the amount of funds expended
by the Registrant and the denominator is Cdn. $5,000,000. Thereafter,
MGMR-Sichuan and Panxi shall have the right to enter into an agreement with any
third party to continue exploration and development work on the Chapuzi Property
provided that such third party first reimburses the Registrant for all prior
expenditures made by the Registrant. No title opinion or survey in respect to
the Chapuzi Property has been obtained by the Registrant.
The following information respecting the Chapuzi Property was derived from the
H.A. Simons Report which report relied heavily on a report prepared by the
Sichuan Bureau of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources dated April 3,
1995 and entitled "Brief Introduction of Chapuzi Gold Deposit, Mianning County,
Sichuan Province".
Location and Description
The 120 square kilometer Chapuzi Property is located within Mianning County,
Sichuan Province, approximately 350 kilometers southwest of Chengdu, the
provincial capital. The property is located west of the Yangtze Platform at an
elevation of about 3,000 meters in a region of moderate to strong local relief.
To get to this property one can travel from Beijing to Chengdu and on to Xichang
by regular scheduled flights. From Xichang there is a 150 kilometer drive on
paved roads to the Mofangou Hydroelectric Power Station at the southern end of
the property, approximately a five hour journey. The paved road ends after
crossing the Yalong River. To get to the area of interest on the property one
needs to go by horseback up mountain trails used by the local subsistence level
farmers - a journey of approximately five to six hours. A new 25 Megawatt
hydroelectric power station is being constructed approximately 5 kilometers
north of the Mofangou Power Station.
The known gold deposits on the property are hosted in moderately to strongly
altered basic volcanic rocks of the Permian age Chapuzi formation. Gold is
associated with pyrite mineralization within the altered volcanic rocks which
may be related to a broad brittle-ductile shear zone that trends north-south
through the area. The property covers a 20 kilometer stretch of the prospective
zone. The target is a shear-hosted gold deposit within the volcanic rocks of the
Chapuzi Formation.
Exploration and Development History
Gold deposits were first discovered in the area in 1961 after follow-up work on
a regional geochemical anomaly was initiated by a division of MGMR-Sichuan.
MGMR-Sichuan has carried out regional geological mapping and geochemical
surveying at a scale of 1:200,000 and more detailed geochemical surveying at a
1:50,000 scale. Between 1977 and 1983, more detailed work,
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including 58,200 cubic meters of trenching, 1,420 meters of underground
cross-cutting and 2,770 meters of diamond drilling, has resulted in the
delineation of the resources on the property. Detailed geological maps, at a
scale of 1:2,000, showing drill hole sand trench locations were complied at this
stage. During this time some metallurgical testing was performed by the
MGMR-Sichuan on the mineralization. MGMR-Sichuan's conclusions from all their
work completed to date is that the known mineralization is amenable to open pit
mining methods and to heap leach extraction methods.
Due to a lack of capital and the fact that the deposit had a relatively low
grade (2.68 grams/tonne), no further work was completed by the MGMR-Sichuan on
the property since 1983. Some small-scale illegal recovery of gold from
development dumps has been carried out intermittently by local farmers.
The Registrant began paying for and supervising work on the property in 1995.
Work completed by the Registrant to date includes: a site visit evaluation of
the property by H. A. Simons in July 1995; comparison of the Chinese gold
analytical results for 100 samples from the property with those obtained by fire
assay in Vancouver, Canada in 1995; soil geochemical survey over the southern
thirty three square kilometers of the property in the Fall of 1996; follow-up
trenching on gold anomalies in soil during the Summer of 1997; induced
polarization/resistivity test profiles over the main deposit and over the
southern gold anomalies to be completed in 1997.
The Chapuzi Property does not contain a known body of commercial ore and the
Registrant's proposed work program is an exploratory search for ore only.
Geology and Mineral Deposits
Tectonically the Chapuzi Property is located in front of the Muli-Yanyuan nappe
zone to the west of the Yangtze Platform. On the property, gold mineralization
is hosted by structurally altered, metasomatized basic volcanic rocks
intercalated with volcanic tuffs and dolomitic marbles of the Permian age
Chapuzi Formation. The host Chapuzi Formation rocks occupy a zone, approximately
two kilometers wide by fifty kilometers long, which forms the core of a
north-trending synclinal structure. This north-south structural trend is the
dominant feature on the property.
On the Chapuzi Property, two mineralization types are present; (1) gold-bearing,
polymetallic sulphide, quartz vein mineralization and (2) disseminated,
gold-bearing, pyrite and carbonate mineralization. Within the vein type
mineralization minerals are mainly pyrite and limonite with secondary
tetrahedrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and bornite in a
gangue of ferroan dolomite and quartz. Within the disseminated pyrite-gold
mineralization the only sulphide present is pyrite in a
quartz/sericite/carbonate altered host rock. This latter type of gold
mineralization is by far the most important on the property. The gold occurs as
native, fine-grained lamellar and platy grains situated within cracks in the
pyrite and limonite crystals or occupying sites between quartz and limonite
crystals. Gold grain size range from 0.01 - 0.02 mm.
The mineralized lenses that make-up the known deposits on the Chapuzi Property
appear as lenticular shaped zones, which dip 30~ to 50~ to the west, that are
parallel to the fabric in the host rock. Twenty-nine individual mineralized
bodies have been identified to date within a 7.0 kilometer
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long by 1.2 kilometer wide zone. The length of individual lenses can vary from
several tens of meters to 330 meters and their width can vary from about 2 to 40
meters. Of those mineralized zones that have been investigated at depth the down
dip continuity has ranged from 10 to 160 meters.
The known mineralized zones on the Chapuzi Property are subdivided into seven
main blocks from north to south: Sujiaping, Maidigen, Qiankuangbao, Yangliuwan,
Baimachang, Jinchuan and Lagushan. The Maidigen block has been systematically
explored with 40 meter spaced surface trenching, two underground adits, at the
2,960 meter and 2,920 meter elevations, and fourteen 40 to 80 meter spaced
diamond drill holes. The Sujiaping, Yangliuwan and the Baimachang blocks have
been covered by 80 meter spaced trenches across the mineralized zone. The
Jinchuan and an area south of Lagushan has been trenched at 100 meter intervals.
The Qiankuangbao block which covers a gold-bearing, polymetallic vein type
lead-zinc deposit in the footwall of the main disseminated gold-pyrite
mineralization has been systematically explored by 40 meter spaced trenching and
some underground openings.
Surface trenching has been the main exploration tool used to date. Of the seven
blocks the two southern areas, Jinchuan and Lagushan, have been tested along
strike by 100 meter spaced trenches. The Sujiaping, Yangliuwan and Baimachang
blocks have trenches spaced at 80 meters, while the Maidigen and Qiankuangbao
blocks have trenches spaced at 40 meters. Examination of outcrop shows very
prominent, continuous channel samples cut approximately 10 cm wide and 5 cm deep
into the exposure.
Fourteen diamond drill holes have been completed for a total of 2,771.9 meters.
Ten of the holes are within a 300 meter strike length, on four cross sections,
in the most northerly Maidigen block. The holes are on cross-sections spaced
approximately 80 meters apart and the holes are drilled between 40 and 80 meters
apart along the sections.
Proposed Exploration and Development Program
The Registrant believes that the mineralized material known to exist on the
Chapuzi Property would not be sufficient in itself to justify construction of a
mine at Chapuzi. Consequently the Registrant has initiated field programs to
evaluate the potential of the remainder of the property.
The Registrant has allocated $700,000 from the proceeds of its private placement
financings to conduct such work programs.
The registrant initiated and paid for a Phase I work program to help evaluate
the southern 33 square kilometers of the property, centered over the Chapuzi
Formation, begun in September, 1996. Previous regional geochemical surveys in
this area had defined soil anomalies in gold, copper, lead, zinc and arsenic.
The Phase I work program consisted of the collection of 4,611 soil samples and
259 rock samples on a more detailed 100 meters by 20 meters grid, centered over
the two kilometer wide prospective zone. These samples were analyzed for gold,
arsenic, antimony and zinc. Five gold anomalous zones were defined by this work,
with associated anomalies in arsenic and antimony. The cost of the initial
programs was $114,216. Phase II work programs consisting of the opening of five
trenches across the anomalous zones and later geophysics surveys (Induced
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Polarization) were initiated as a follow-up. The new trenches were continuously
sampled by digging into the bedrock to a 20-80 cm. depth. A total of 257 samples
of 10 m. length were taken and analyzed. Trenches #1., 2 and 3 returned
significant anomalies in gold and most of these had associated anomalous values
in arsenic and antimony. A subsequent re-assay on all of the analyses exceeding
100 ppb gold (i.e., exceeding 0.1 gram per tonne) revealed that the highest
sample value assayed 1.80 grams per tonne. The anomalous zone defined by the
detailed geochemistry and by the follow-up trenching is approximately 2,000 m.
long and up to 140 m. wide. In order to define the zone at depth in preparation
for a diamond drilling program an IP survey was defined. A total of 3,000 lineal
meters of IP survey was laid out over the known mineralization zone in the
northern part of the property and the newly discovered zone in the southern part
of the property. The survey was recently completed. The results are being
interpreted and will play a leading role in planning a diamond drilling program.
Any diamond drilling generated by this work will likely be expanded to include a
program to upgrade information regarding known deposits of mineralized material.
The complete Phase II Budget is as follows:
PHASE II PROGRAM BUDGET
Geological and Metallurgical consulting $50,000
Trenching program 57,000
Geophysics/IP surveys 25,000
Diamond drilling 350,000
Aditing/Underground investigation 150,000
Travel, accommodation, field equipment and 30,000
transport, report preparation
Contingency 38,000
--------
TOTAL PHASE II PROGRAM $700,000
========
To December 31, 1996, the Registrant has spent approximately $288,617 on the
investigation and exploration of the Chapuzi Property, as follows:
Expenditures AMOUNT
------------ --------
Property Investigation(1) $135,201
Geological Consulting 26,600
Travel and Accommodation 7,198
Miscellaneous 5,402
Geochemical Survey & Assay 4,2161
--------
TOTAL $288,617
========
(1) Expensed in the year ended December 31, 1996
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The Chapuzi Property does not contain a known body of commercial
minerals and the Registrant's proposed work program is an exploratory search
only.
EMPEROR'S DELIGHT PROPERTY
No proven or probable reserves have been found on the property as a result of
the exploration performed to date.
Acquisition
The Registrant acquired its interests in the Emperor's Delight Property pursuant
to the PCR Agreement. See Item 1, "the PCR Agreement". PCR held its interest in
the Emperor's Delight Property through its 60% interest in Temco, which was
operated as a joint venture. The Registrant initially acquired this 60% interest
and later acquired the remaining 40% in Temco from China Clipper Gold Mines,
Ltd., an unaffiliated party, on February 27, 1997, for $175,000. By this
purchase, all co-venture relationships between the parties ended and all of
China Clipper's interests and other rights that it may have held in respect to
the joint venture business were transferred to the Registrant. The Registrant
intends to expend a material portion of the net proceeds of its 1996 private
placements on such property.
The Emperor's Delight Property is the subject matter of a report prepared by Dr.
Wayne Ewert of A.C.A. Howe International Limited dated March 13, 1995 and
updated pursuant to an addendum dated December 9, 1996.
Joint Venture Agreement
The Emperor's Delight Property is the subject matter of the Emperor's Delight
Joint Venture Agreement between Temco and GEC-FGEB, a subsidiary of the Ministry
of Metallurgical Industry. The parties agreed that the total initial investment
and registered capital of the Joint Venture is U.S.$8,000,000. GEC-FGEB has
contributed the exploration rights it holds in respect to the Emperor's Delight
Property as well as all geological data and research results relating thereto,
having a total deemed value of U.S.$3,600,000 (as determined by negotiations
between Temco and GEC-FGEB) and representing a 45% interest in the Joint
Venture. Temco has agreed to fund expenditures up to U.S.$4,400,000 on or before
five years from the date on which the Business License for the Joint Venture was
issued, in order to earn a 55% interest in the Joint Venture. After the
investment of the initial total of U.S.$8,000,000, further expenditures will be
made by both parties to the extent of their interests in the Joint Venture.
Failure by a party to contribute its pro rata share of expenditures will result
in a dilution of such party's interests. If a party's interest in the Joint
Venture is diluted to a 10% interest or less, such party's interest shall be
converted to a 10% carried interest. At any particular point in time, Temco's
beneficial interest will be equal to the 55% multiplied by a fraction in which
the numerator is the total expenditures made by Temco to date and the
denominator is U.S.$4,400,000. GEC-FGEB's interest at such point in time will be
100% minus Temco's beneficial interest.
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Notwithstanding that Temco's beneficial interest will not fully vest until it
has funded expenditures totaling U.S. $4,400,000 and provided that Temco
contributes expenditures in a timely fashion under the Agreement, Temco has and
shall continue to have a 55% voting interest in the Joint Venture.
Temco has the right at any time to cap its contributions to the Joint Venture by
written election to GEC-FGEB. On the effective date of the election to cap
contributions, the beneficial interest of Temco shall be frozen at the level
calculated at the completion of the last work program towards which Temco has
completed its contribution. The voting interest of Temco in the Joint Venture
shall also be reduced to the percentage level at which its beneficial interest
has been capped. However, Temco's interest shall be subject to dilution if it
fails to contribute its share of expenditures after the effective date of its
election to cap contributions. In addition, an election by Temco to cap its
contributions will not relieve Temco from liability for its share of
expenditures required pursuant to a previously approved work program or budget.
China Clipper previously owned a forty percent interest in Temco, pursuant to an
earlier agreement with PCR under which China Clipper expended $500,000 on behalf
of Temco. In order to maintain its forty percent interest, China Clipper was
required to contribute 60% of expenditures on behalf of Temco, and the
Registrant was required to contribute 40% of such expenditures, up to a total of
$8,000,000, after which time contributions were to be on the basis of respective
beneficial interests. The amount of a party's beneficial interest was subject to
increase or dilution, depending on each party's election to contribute to
certain voluntary expenditures of Temco. As of April 30, 1996, China Clipper had
paid US$ 396,000 to Temco as part of its $2,640,000 exploration commitment on
the Emperor's Delight property.
The Emperor's Delight Joint Venture Agreement also provides Temco with a right
of first refusal with respect to any proposed disposition by GEC-FGEB of the
Wenjiagou Mine which is located adjacent to the Emperor's Delight Property.
Pursuant to the Emperor's Delight Joint Venture Agreement, Temco and GEC-FGEB
have created a co-operative joint venture as a separate legal entity, operating
under Chinese law, the English name of which is Chengde Huajia Mining Industry
Co., Ltd. ("Huajia"). The Board of Directors of Huajia, comprised of four
representatives of Temco and three representatives of GEC-FGEB, is responsible
for establishing and implementing policies and for approving programs and
budgets for the Joint Venture. Huajia has opened an office in Chengde City to
conduct the exploration program on the Emperor's Delight Property. A resident
manager and experienced exploration staff have been seconded from GEC-FGEB to
run the programs under the supervision of Colin McAleenan, the Registrant's Vice
President, Exploration. Funds advanced to Huajia by Temco are advanced into an
investment account maintained by Huajia, the authorized signatures on such
account being the Registrant's President, Ken Cai, and a representative of
GEC-FGEB, signing together. Funds from the investment account are transferred as
required and approved by the Board of Directors of Huajia from time to time into
an operator's account to fund ongoing work on the Emperor's Delight Project. The
term of the Emperor's Delight Agreement is thirty (30) years and may be
extended. It is expected that Huajia will also continue the exploration and
development of the Stone Lake and Crystal Valley properties and pursue other
projects in Hebei Province. See "The Crystal Valley Property" and "The Stone
Lake Property" below.
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No title opinion or survey in respect to the Emperor's Delight Property has been
obtained by the Registrant.
Location and Description
The Emperor's Delight Property covers a 120 square kilometer area located about
130 kilometers northeast of Beijing in north Chengde region, Hebei Province. The
property, which is easily accessible by road, is approximately 30 kilometers
from a railhead. The main targets on the property are Archean lode gold deposits
or porphyry related gold deposits.
The Emperor's Delight Property lies along the northern margin of the Deep Fault
Zone ("DFZ"), a prominent geologic feature of northeast China, and covers
approximately 25 kilometers of strike length of a fracture system extending from
the village of Wenjiagou in the west to the mining camp of Dong Shan in the
east. The principal bedrock of the area consists of a succession of metamorphic
rocks of Archean age which predominate in the northern portion of the property
that host gold mineralization which is thought to predate later-stage volcanic
activity. Volcanic rocks, which are much later in age and lie to the south, host
silver-bearing, base metal mineralization found in veins.
Exploration and Development History
Several narrow lead/zinc veins with high grade silver values were exploited by
the Japanese during the occupation of this part of the country during the 1930s
and 1940s. Some of these workings fall within the Emperors Delight Property,
near the eastern boundaries. Gold was first discovered on the Emperors Delight
Property in 1989 as a result of the follow-up of a regional stream sediment
geochemical survey. A number of geochemical anomalies outlined by this survey
were the basis for originally establishing the Emperors Delight Property. To
date, over thirty gold occurrences, hosted within altered and highly fractured
zones, have been found on the property. The general regional trend of this
mineralization is approximately east-west with two known deposits developed
close to, but outside, the property boundaries, i.e. the northern boundary
(Guzhigou Mine) and the western boundary (Wenjiagou Mine). The Guzhigou Mine was
developed in 1989 and is a 100 tonne per day silver/base metal producer with
minor gold. The Wenjiagou Mine is also a small scale silver/base metal producer,
but with significant gold values. Both of these deposits are narrow vein type
within altered felsic tuffs and breccias. Most of the more recent field work
carried out by the GEC-FGEB concentrated on the HS-141 area, which straddles the
southwest boundary of the property close to the Wenjiagou Mine.
Geology and Mineral Deposits
Regionally the Chengde area hosts base and precious metal mineralization
intimately associated with structural breaks. Archaean age metamorphic rocks
dominate the north portion of the property and have potential to host lode-type,
Archaean gold mineralization. Mesozoic age volcanic rocks dominate the southern
portion of the property and act as potential hosts to secondary, structurally
controlled, silver enriched polymetallic vein mineralization. The Great Wall
Formation, with its overlying sandstone cap, is believed to have acted as
impermeable barrier to rising mineralized fluids along the DFZ. All known
deposits in the region are associated with this formation.
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Within the property boundaries, the following three areas are believed to
represent the best potential for the discovery of commercial quantities of
mineralization:
(1) The Porphyry Showing, is found in an area between the Wenjiagou and Guzhigou
deposits and is characterized by a sequence of highly fractured and carbonate
altered, quartz-eye schists. This altered schist unit (25 meters wide) contains
irregular semi-massive sulphide horizons. The sulphide was sampled and returned
values of 0.029 oz. gold per ton, while the altered schist itself assayed 0.079
oz. gold per ton. Some copper staining is present, but the rocks have not been
analyzed for copper. This showing represents a low grade gold, bulk tonnage
target on the property.
(2) The Yian Tong Shan area is in the central part of the property and contains
at least four vein systems that trend parallel to the DFZ and are characterized
by silver, lead, zinc and gold mineralization. These vein systems define a zone
that is approximately 400 meters wide and 1,500 meters long, containing
individual veins ranging in width from 0.4 to 1.0 meters wide. The individual
veins are spaced from 20 to 30 meters apart with veinlet and disseminated
sulphide mineralization throughout the intervening country rock. These veinlets
are too narrow to be exploited individually. The country rock and sulphide
alteration remains untested in this area The potential for a lower grade bulk
tonnage target is present in the area because of the alteration and
mineralization of the intervening rock mass.
(3) The eastern portion of the property contains a broad zone of mineralization
situated south of the main DFZ. Within this secondary structural feature three
significant zones of mineralization were discovered by stream sediment sampling.
Area I consists of an 1,800 meter long fracture zone maintaining a width of
between 0.5 and 1.0 meter for most of its length. Associated with this fracture
system is a zone of alteration, silification and sericitization of the Mesozoic
volcanic host rock that is 0.5 to 6.-0 meters wide. Within the fracture zone,
mineralization consists of 1 to 3 mm. wide stringers of sulphides at a density
of 6-8 per meter of width. Less frequent and more poorly developed stringers are
present in the alteration envelope. Trench sampling by the GEC-FGEB within the
fracture zone indicates average grades of between 16-40 grams per tonne silver
with no gold and more localized high grade material to 560 grams/tonne silver.
Two known samples of wall-rock yielded gold and silver values. Area II consists
of narrow veins over an 800 meter strike length with grades of up to 49.5 grams
silver per tonne. The mineralization on surface is spotty over this length. Area
III consists of a pair of parallel veins containing semi-massive to massive
pyrite and base metal sulphide mineralization separated by two to three meters
of faulted and altered wallrock. A third vein has been recently discovered 5-10
meters south of the zone and is presently being mined by local farmers. Samples
of this new vein, taken by GEC-FGEB and assayed by them, returned very high
grades of silver and modest gold grades. Samples of this new vein and the
original two veins were taken on a field visit in 1995 by A.C.A. Howe. The high
grade silver values from the new vein were confirmed by XRAL Laboratories in
Toronto, while the other veins returned modest silver values.
Proposed Exploration and Development Program
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A multiphased exploration program is proposed to explore the numerous targets on
the Emperor's Delight Property. The Registrant plans to carry out programs of
exploration largely as recommended in the A.C.A. Howe Report which will be
financed by the Registrant.
As pointed out in the A.C.A. Howe Report the strike extensions of those
structures which give rise to the known mineralized bodies adjacent to the
property (the Guzhigou and Wenjiagou deposits) are prime areas of potential to
host precious and base metals on the Emperor's Delight Property. Also, as
indicated in the A.C.A. Howe Report, the area has only been examined from the
perspective of high-grade vein type mineralization by the local explorers. The
potential for large, lower-grade deposits has not been examined.
With these main considerations in mind, the Registrant has targeted two areas
for more detailed study; the Qiujiayiang Area and the area east of the Guzhigou
Mine.
Qiujiayiang Area (7 km.2)
This area lies east of the Wenjiagou polymetallic mine, overlapping with the
HS-141 detailed study area, and is situated between two major faults. There are
some significant geochemical signatures based on widely spaced sampling. The
purpose of this phase of work is to collect data in sufficient detail to allow
definition of mineralized structures for follow up with diamond drilling and/or
adit entry for underground Investigation. The following work is planned:
o Six profiles will be measured across the structural strike in the area
320 meters apart.
o Samples of bedrock will be taken at 10 meter intervals within each
profile. Where geology dictates, sample spacing will be tightened to 2-5
meters.
o IP surveys will be conducted along each profile.
o Samples of mercury vapor will be collected along each profile.
o A soil sampling grid at 100 meters x 20 meters will be established
outside the central area to provide coverage for a total of 7 km.2 area.
East Guzhigou (4 km.2)
This area contains an extension of the main E-W structure being mined at the
Guzhigou Polymetallic Mine. Work planned here is designed to define the
structure under the overburden and to test a significant strike length of the
zone for mineralization.
o Establish a 100 m x 20 m grid across the main trend.
o IP survey (100 m x 20 m).
o Soil geochemical sampling on the same grid.
All samples collected will be analyzed by atomic absorption methods followed by
a full assay method for values exceeding certain minimum values. A follow-up
diamond drilling program based on positive results is envisaged.
The field work relating to these detailed studies on the aforementioned two
areas of the Emperor's Delight Property has substantially been completed and the
Registrant is currently awaiting analytical
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results of the samples taken during such field work. An evaluation of the
results of the field work program will be completed in 1997 after all analytical
results are obtained by the Registrant. If warranted, an attempt to mobilize a
follow-up drilling program is anticipated later.
To December 31, 1996, on a consolidated basis, the Registrant has spent
approximately $451,392 on exploration of the Emperor's Delight Property, as
follows:
EXPENDITURES AMOUNT
--------
Assaying 39,847
Drilling/Trenching 79,363
Site Vehicles 73,557
Field Office Rent 25,968
Miscellaneous 20,421
Equipment 35,239
Geological Consulting 7,820
Travel and Accommodation 59,856
Labor 55,319
Project Management 10,953
Engineering 16,614
Field-office administration 26,435
--------
TOTAL $451,392
========
The Emperor's Delight Property does not contain a known body of commercial ore
and the Registrant's proposed work program is an exploratory search only.
LENGKOU PROPERTIES
No proven or probable reserves have been found on the property as a result of
the exploration performed to date.
Acquisition
Following reports of significant illegal gold mining activities along a new
trend in Hebei Province, the Registrant, through Huajia, investigated the gold
potential of the region. Four properties were subsequently acquired in the area
by GEC-FGEB on Huajia's behalf. These grassroots exploration projects are to be
legally transferred to the Huajia Joint Venture in 1997. They comprise a total
of over 58 square kilometers.
Exploration and Development History
These properties are on a recently discovered mineralization trend which was
found by the local farmers, rather than by one of the exploration organizations
in China; consequently, there are no
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records of systematic sampling in the area. In 1994-1995, villagers began mining
strongly oxidized material from several points along a northwest trending
structure. The material was easily mined by open pit methods and the very fine
gold was extracted through standard heap leach extraction methods. Zones as wide
as 80 meters were mined by open pit methods and some narrower structures were
mined by underground methods. Past regional geochemical surveys did not reveal
any geochemical gold anomalies in the area. The likely explanation for this
situation is believed to be that the sample preparation methods employed in
these surveys were designed for the more common coarse gold type deposits found
in the region and not the fine gold found in these deposits. A Hong Kong based
company formed a joint venture with one of the local governments in the area and
began acquiring properties along the trend. Huajia established criteria for
locating favorable ground along the 28 kilometer long trend and began to compete
with this company for properties in 1996.
Geology and Mineral Deposits
The gold mineralization located to date along the trend is associated with a
brecciated Proterozic aged limestone unit. The limestone unit belongs to the
Great Wall Formation which is associated with many of the conventional gold
deposits in this part of Hebei Province. The northwest structural trend appears
to be related to a tangential fault to a large Cretaceous aged intrusive body
located to the north-northeast of the area. Each of the four properties is
underlain by coincident, regional northwest trending structures and the
prospective limestone unit.
Exploration and Development Plan
Reconnaissance exploration programs including geological mapping and
lithogeochemical sampling have been completed on each of these properties.
Follow-up geochemical surveys and geophysical surveys are underway on some
target areas within the properties. If results from these surveys are
encouraging, percussion and/or diamond drilling programs will follow. A budget
of $150,000 was allocated to cover the initial exploration expenditures on these
four properties. Any subsequent drilling program will be budgeted separately.
The Lengkou Properties do not contain a known body of commercial ore and the
Registrant's program is an exploratory search only.
CHANGBA-LIJIAGOU PROPERTY
No proven or probable reserves have been found on the property as a result of
the exploration performed to date.
Acquisition
Baiyin Non-Ferrous Metals Company ("Baiyin") is the largest subsidiary of the
China National Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Corporation (CNNC) and in 1994 had
revenues exceeding $500 million. Baiyin is seeking foreign partners with capital
and expertise to expand production at its
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mining and smelting operations, and in response to this the Registrant, through
the PCR Agreement, became involved in the Changba-Lijiagou project.
The Registrant acquired its interest in the Changba-Lijiagou Property pursuant
to the PCR Agreement. See Item 1 - "The PCR Agreement" above. The consideration
payable to PCR by the Registrant for the Changba-Lijiagou, the Stone Lake and
the Crystal Valley Properties consisted primarily of 4,880,000 escrow shares
which will only be released upon the Registrant satisfying certain earn-out
requirements (see Item 4 - "Performance Shares or Escrow Securities").
The Changba-Lijiagou Property is the subject matter of a report prepared by
H.A. Simons, Ltd. entitled "Technical Site Visit to Smelters and Mine
Facilities of Baiyin Non-Ferrous Metals Corporation, GANSU Province, People's
Republic of China" dated December 9, 1996 (the "Simons Report").
The original letter of intent which comprised the CBLG Agreement and which was
assigned to the Registrant pursuant to the PCR Agreement has been replaced by a
Co-operation Agreement dated October 18, 1996 made between the Registrant and
Baiyin (the "CBLG Co-operation Agreement"). Teck Exploration Ltd. which was a
party to the original CBLG Agreement has elected not to become a party to the
CBLG Co-operation Agreement and has waived all interest in the property. Cominco
Ltd., which also had an interest in the properties, has waived all rights to
such interests.
The CBLG Co-operation Agreement, which has recently been amended, grants the
Registrant an exclusive right to acquire a 75% interest from Baiyin in the
Changba-Lijiagou lead-zinc deposits located in Gansu Province, China. Under the
CBLG Co-operation Agreement, Baiyin has agreed to prepare a detailed application
for approval of a joint venture to the appropriate governmental authorities.
After approval of the joint venture, the Registrant will be able to earn a 75%
equity interest in the joint venture company by placing the property in
production at a rate of 3,500 tonnes per day. The amount of capital required is
yet to be determined. Baiyin is contributing the resources defined in the deep
Changba area, the Lijiagou area and the Joint Area (all part of the
Changba-Lijiagou property), the on-site 3,500 tonnes per day mill, the tailings
disposal site and all related infrastructure. It is intended that the parties
will enter into an equity joint venture through a new Chinese limited liability
company. The joint venture agreement, once established, will have a term of 30
years.
A title opinion in respect to the Changba-Lijiagou Property has not been
obtained by the Registrant.
Location and Description
The Changba-Lijiagou lead-zinc deposits are located approximately 350 kilometers
east of Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu Province. This region has
temperate climate. The area attains elevations of approximately 2,000 meters
with local relief of between 800 to 1,000 meters. The hills are vegetated and
terraced and the valleys are fertile.
Infrastructure is generally well developed in the region. Power is made
available to the Changba mill site from the national power grid. Water supply is
plentiful. The town of Changba existed prior
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to the mine but has been enlarged to accommodate the 800 employees and their
families. Services supported by the mine include schools and a hospital.
The deposits consist of a series of moderately to steeply dipping massive and
semi-massive sulphide lenses contained within a Devonian age sequence of
metamorphosed carbonate and clastic rocks. The primary sulphide minerals are
pyrite, sphalerite and galena.
The open pit Changba Mine is located two kilometers south of the concentrator
facilities. A two kilometer haulage tunnel is used to transport the ore to the
concentrator from the pit. The Lijiagou deposits are located less than two
kilometers east of the Changba pit and are expected to be mined by underground
mining methods.
The concentrator comprises a conventional flotation circuit producing selective
lead and zinc concentrates from the treatment of the Changba ore. The present
capacity is being expanded to handle 3,500 tonnes of ore per day. The expansion
forms part of the planned Phase II development. Concentrates are first
transported by truck to a railhead (138 kilometers) and then on to Baiyin's
smelters in Baiyin City, Gansu Province, a total distance of 400 kilometers from
the mine site. The transfer station at the railhead at Tian Shui has an annual
capacity of 200,000 tonnes of concentrate. Baiyin is planning to construct a new
transfer station facility capable of handling 500,000 tonnes per year.
Exploration and Development History
Baiyin has been operating in the area since its foundation in 1943 when it was
exploiting two open pit copper deposits. These open pit copper mines have long
since gone underground and reserves are practically exhausted. Attempts to find
additional copper reserves in the area have failed and more recently Baiyin has
been concentrating on developing the lead-zinc resources of the region.
The Changba-Lijiagou deposits were first drilled in 1966. Since that time a
large database of analytical results from hundreds of diamond drill holes and
underground sampling programs has been built up. These data support the current
reserve calculation. The completion of Phase I of the project development in
1988 entailed the stripping of waste from the Changba pit and the installation
of a flotation milling facility on the site. The production capacity is being
raised from its initial planned 1,500 tonnes per day to 3,500 tonnes per day as
part of the Phase II capital expansion program. The underground reserves at
Lijiagou have not been developed, but form part of the Phase III expansion
expected to be in operation early in the next century.
Geology and Mineral Deposits
The Changba and Lijiagou deposits on the property are either Sedex or
Mississippi Valley type lead-zinc deposits. They bear some similarities to the
lead-zinc deposits of Ireland. These two deposits occur in the Ii Chang Ore
Field, which is a mineralized zone measuring approximately 100 kilometers
east-west by 30 kilometers north-south, and which contains a large number of
similar deposits. At least five of these other deposits are in production and
two of them appear to contain significant reserves. Baiyin only operates the
Changba open pit mine and plans to develop the Lijiagou deposit into an
underground mining operation. The deposits consist of a series of
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stratabound, well banded to disseminated sulphide lenses. Lenses are up to 1,000
meters long, 1 to 70 meters thick and have been traced by drilling to 650 meters
down dip. The mineralization is hosted in metamorphic carbonate and clastic
rocks of mid Devonian age. The rocks have been folded along an east-west axis
and have been metamorphosed to an upper greenschist assemblage. The carbonate
rocks are now marbles and the clastic rocks have been changed to quartz-biotite
schist and quartzite. The deposits are on the north limb of a large antiform
structure, the sulphide-rich lenses have been overturned and maintain southerly
dips of 40 to 85 degrees. The shallower dips are mainly found at Changba, i.e.
in the area of the open pit. The main sulphides are fine to coarse pyrite,
sphalerite and galena in a gangue of quartz, mica and calcite. Other contained
metallic elements are silver, cadmium, gallium, germanium, indium and tellurium.
A series of north-east trending faults cut the stratigraphy in the area of the
Changba mine. One of these faults separates the Changba and Lijiagou deposits.
The Lijiagou deposits appear to be a continuation of the Changba deposits across
this reverse fault. At least ten mineralized zones have been defined at Changba,
however, the bulk of the reserves are contained in Zones I and II. Based on the
estimate made by Baiyin in January 1995, the remaining Minable Reserve for the
Changba deposit is 19,550,000 tonnes, 1.51% lead and 9.29% zinc.
Lijiagou lies along strike to the east of the Changba deposits and consists of
three steeply dipping sulphide lenses. All zones dip at 75 to 80 degrees to the
south. The Minable Reserve for Lijiagou was re-calculated by Baiyin in late 1995
as being 13,560,000 tonnes, 2.10% lead and 12.48% zinc. The exploration
potential in the immediate vicinity of the Changba-Lijiagou deposits is
considered good as both deposits are open down dip. In addition, there is some
evidence that further deposits are located in the area between both deposits.
Illegal mining activity along strike to the east of the Lijiagou deposit bodes
well for exploration potential in this area also.
Proposed Exploration and Development Program
The Registrant has allocated $600,000 from the proceeds of its 1996 private
placements to conduct preliminary assessments of the Changba and Lijiagou
deposits as recommended in the CBLG Technical Report. These pre-feasibility
studies will include evaluation of the accuracy of the current information
regarding deposits of mineralized material, as well as the need for, and the
extent of, an infill diamond drilling program on the deposits. More detailed
recommendations are contained in the report prepared by H.A. Simons Ltd. titled
"Proposed Development Strategy for the Lijiagou Underground Mine":
The recommendations are broken into two groups or phases. The first phase
encompasses those activities which should be undertaken to enable the completion
of a preliminary economic analysis of the property. All costs are estimates
only.
The second group encompasses those activities which would form the logical "next
step" for the investigation of the property, provided the economic analysis is
favorable. No costs have been calculated for the second phase of this work.
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PHASE I
Metallurgical $120,000
Geology $260,000 (including limited diamond drilling
to confirm Baiyin drilling, to
provide core for geotechnical core
logging, ore body definition and
continuity and geological and grade
modeling of the deposit)
Mining $ 70,000
Geotechnical $ 40,000
Revenue Study $ 10,000
Other $ 90,000 (concentrate haulage and
-------- infrastructure studies)
TOTAL $590,000
========
This work is expected to extend over a period of 12 - 18 months. H.A. Simons
Ltd. has just recently started the construction of an economic model of the
project to generate the revenue study.
To December 31, 1996, the Registrant has spent approximately $27,965 on the
exploration and development of the Changba-Lijiagou Property, as follows:
EXPENDITURES AMOUNT
-------
Geological Consulting $10,862
Travel and Accommodation 0
Labor 0
Licenses & Permits 0
Property Investigation 0
Assaying 0
Engineering 17,103
-------
TOTAL $27,962
=======
The Changba-Lijiagou Property is known to contain commercial lead-zinc deposits.
The Registrant's work program is designed to assess the accuracy of the current
estimates regarding such deposits and to identify additional deposits.
STONE LAKE PROPERTY
No proven or probable reserves have been found on the property as a result of
the exploration performed to date.
Acquisition
The Registrant acquired its interest in the Stone Lake Property pursuant to the
PCR Agreement. See Item 1 - "The PCR Agreement" above. The consideration payable
to PCR by the Registrant for the Stone Lake, Changba-Lijiagou and Crystal Valley
Properties consisted primarily of 4,880,000 escrow shares which will only be
released upon the Registrant satisfying certain earn-out
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requirements (see "Item 4 - "Performance Shares or Escrow Securities"). The
Stone Lake Property is the subject matter of a report prepared by Dr. Wayne
Ewert of A.C.A. Howe International Limited dated March 13, 1995 and updated
pursuant to an addendum dated December 9, 1996.
As discussed under the heading "Emperor's Delight Property" above, the
Registrant has certain rights in respect to this property under the FGEB
Co-operation Agreement. This agreement provides Temco with an "exclusive right"
to negotiate and enter into a Joint Venture Contract with GEC-FGEB with respect
to the Stone Lake Property located in Hebei Province, China (as well as the
Emperor's Delight and Crystal Valley prospects) providing for a 55% interest in
the project in favor of Temco. Detailed study of this area has just begun
pursuant to the FGEB Co-operation Agreement. The expenditure requirements on the
Stone Lake Property are to be formulated in a Joint Venture Agreement to be
negotiated with GEC-FGEB in 1997 (for further details regarding the FGEB
Co-operation Agreement see "Emperor's Delight Property"). Although it was
formerly the unwritten policy of the Chinese government that Chinese entities be
given preference over foreign entities in developing high-grade easily mineable
deposits, such as the Stone Lake deposit, new regulations formulated in 1997
pursuant to the new Mineral Resources Law of China removed such restrictions on
foreign investment.
No title opinion or survey in respect to the Stone Lake Property has been
obtained by the Registrant.
Location and Description
The Stone Lake Property lies about 320 kilometers south of Beijing in the
northwest part of Lingshou county, Hebei Province, and is situated about 96
kilometers northwest of Shijiazhuan City, the capital of Hebei province.
Shijiazhuan is a major train station on the Jin-Guan railway and two major
roads, the Shijiazhuan-Datong and Shijiazhuan-Fuping highways, pass within
several kilometers of the property. Secondary roads off these main highways
provide excellent access to the property. The local infrastructure is
acceptable.
The property covers a 120 square kilometer area, consisting of the following
three detailed study sections: Shihu, Tolin, and Dahuang Shang.
The property lies at the central portion of the Taihang mountain chain at an
altitude varying from 600 to 995 meters above sea level. The region is
characterized by medium to low mountainous terrain and a continental, semi-arid
climate. Vegetation is not well developed due to a poor soil cover and
widespread exposure of bedrock. The property covers a 120 square kilometer area
with the focus of work currently on three detailed study areas. Since 1981,
reconnaissance exploration has revealed a large number of quartz vein
structures. Virtually all detailed exploration work, including diamond drilling
and exploration drifting and sampling, has concentrated on two of these
structures, the No. 116 and the No. 101 veins. All of the established resources
on the property are present on these two structures.
Exploration and Development History
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In the early 1980's the GEC-FGEB conducted a regional geological prospecting and
mapping survey over a 35 square kilometer area south of the Mapong intrusive to
search for gold-bearing quartz veins.
From 1981 to 1983, the study identified approximately 23 major vein structures,
including the No. 101 and No. 116 veins, the two most promising structures
discovered to date. Subsequently, the survey area was expanded and a
reconnaissance exploration program was undertaken to document the distribution,
size, quality and quantity of all quartz veins within the 120 square kilometer
area surrounding the Stone Lake Property. A total of over 242 individual vein
structures have been discovered. Only reconnaissance exploration has been
conducted on any of these peripheral veins. Virtually all exploration efforts
have concentrated on delineating potential deposits on the No. 101 and No., 116
veins. Detailed geological, geophysical and geochemical exploration on these two
veins was carried out from 1984 to 1987. Diamond drilling and underground
exploration of veins No. 101 and No. 116 was conducted intermittently from 1988
to 1993.
Proposed Exploration and Development Program
The Stone Lake property does not contain a known body of commercial ore and any
work program on the property will be designed to define such a body. The
property displays significant exploration potential and a multi-phase
exploration program has been recommended by A.C.A. Howe in its evaluation Report
dated March 13, 1995. The Registrant will not expend significant funds, nor will
it allocate further funds to the Stone Lake Property, until such time as it has
had an opportunity to review and assess the new regulations supporting the new
Mineral Resources Law, released in early 1998. The Registrant hopes to see clear
policy by the Chinese government on the exploitation of high-grade, easily
mineable gold deposits by foreign entities. Previously, foreign entities have
been excluded from participating in the exploitation of such deposits.
To December 31, 1996, the Registrant has spent no funds on the acquisition and
exploration of the Stone Lake Property, and it does not currently intend to
spend any such funds during the balance of 1999.
CRYSTAL VALLEY PROPERTY
No performed to date. proven or probable reserves have been found on the
property as a result of the exploration performed to date.
Acquisition
The Registrant acquired its interest in the Crystal Valley Property pursuant to
the PCR Agreement. See Item 1 - "The PCR Agreement", above. The consideration
payable to PCR by the Registrant for the Crystal Valley, the Changba-Lijiagou
and the Stone Lake Properties consisted primarily of 4,880,000 escrow shares
which will only be released upon the Registrant satisfying certain earn-out
requirements (see Item 4 - "Performance Shares or Escrow Securities"). The
Crystal Valley Property is the subject matter of a report prepared by Dr. Wayne
Ewert of A.C.A. Howe International Limited dated March 13, 1995 and updated
pursuant to an addendum dated December 9, 1996.
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As discussed under the heading "Emperor's Delight Property" above, PCR has
certain rights in respect to this property under the GEC-FGEB Co-operation
Agreement. This agreement provides Temco with an "exclusive right" to negotiate
and enter into a Joint Venture Contract with GEC-FGEB with respect to the
Crystal Valley Property in Hebei Province, China (as well as the Emperor's
Delight and Stone Lake prospects) providing for a majority interest in the
project in favor of Temco. The expenditure requirements are to be set forth in a
Joint Venture Agreement to be negotiated with the GEC-FGEB in 1997 (for further
details regarding the FGEB Co-operation Agreement see "Emperor's Delight
Property"). Although it was formerly the unwritten policy of the Chinese
government that Chinese entities be given preference to foreign entities in
developing high-grade easily mineable deposits, such as the Crystal Valley
deposit, new regulations published pursuant to the Mineral Resources Law of
China removed such restrictions on foreign investment.
No title opinion or survey in respect to the Crystal Valley Property has been
obtained by the Registrant.
Location and Description
The Crystal Valley Property consists of a 120 square kilometer area granted to
the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, the Chinese ministry responsible for
much of China's gold production, that is located approximately 110 kilometers
north of Beijing in Chongli County, Hebei Province. Road access to the property
is very good and the local infrastructure such as electricity, water,
transportation and labor is adequate.
The Crystal Valley Property lies in a semi-arid mountainous terrain at an
altitude that varies from 1,000 to 1,600 meters above sea level. The Qinshui
river which lies 1.5 kilometers east of the property provides the area with a
stable, year round water supply. The region has a moderately severe winter
season which produces a maximum freezing depth of 2 meters. Agriculture is the
predominant form of employment in the region although there is a locally diverse
mining and manufacturing base including gold mines, coal mines and large cement
plants, which are all operated by local governments.
Exploration and Development History
Early reconnaissance work in this region (1986) consisted mainly of regional
stream sediment surveys. The results of these surveys indicated that gold
deposits in this region are closely related to the stream sediment anomalies.
The Crystal Valley Property was established as a result of a regional survey in
order to investigate one of the larger anomalies. Based on the magnitude of the
geochemical anomalies, the area is considered to have excellent potential to
host significant gold mineralization. The gold deposits in the region are
generally of vein type, usually associated with the Cretaceous age igneous
intrusive rocks. On the property, the mineralized structures dip at
approximately 70 degrees and are persistent features with strike lengths of up
to 3,000 meters and have average widths of about 13 meters. There have been
twenty such structures identified on the property and no deposit definition work
has been attempted on eighteen of these. Only the No. 2 vein and parts of the
No. 3 Vein, have been fully explored and, in keeping with traditional Chinese
practice, just to a depth of 300 meters. To date a total of over 20 major veins
have been identified
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on the property, with ten of these initially selected for further detailed
evaluation or exploration stage work.
Geology and Mineral Deposits
The Crystal Valley property does not contain a known body of commercial ore and
any work program on the property will be designed to define such a body. The
property displays significant local and regional exploration potential and a
multi-phase exploration program has been recommended by A.C.A. Howe in its
evaluation Report dated March 13, 1995. The Registrant will not expend
significant funds, nor will it allocate further funds to the Crystal Valley
Property, until such time as it has had an opportunity to review and assess the
new regulations supporting the new Mineral Resources Law, released in early
1998. The Registrant hopes to see clear policy by the Chinese government on the
exploitation of high-grade, easily mineable gold deposits by foreign entities.
Previously, foreign entities were excluded from participating in the
exploitation of such deposits.
To December 31, 1996, the Registrant has spent no funds on the acquisition and
exploration of the Crystal Valley Property, and it does not currently intend to
expend any such funds through the balance of 1999..
OTHER CHINESE PROPERTIES OF THE REGISTRANT
No proven or probable reserves have been found on these properties as a result
of the exploration performed to date.
Tian Shan (or "Heavenly Mountains") Properties
The May 27, 1996 Co-operation Agreement with the Xinjiang Bureau of the Ministry
of Geology and Mineral Resources ("MGMR-Xinjiang") gives the Registrant an
exclusive right to choose specific areas, from within six property areas
covering over 36,000 square kilometers of the Tian Shan, or "Heavenly
Mountains", on which to negotiate joint venture agreements.
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of Northwestern China is a neighbor to the
Central Asian Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
This area of Asia, and in particular the geologic terrain known as the Tian Shan
Orogenic Belt, hosts exceptional mineral deposits.
In the Chinese Tian Shan, the six properties cover relatively unexplored ground
which has the same geologic terrain that hosts the mineral deposits in the
neighboring Central Asian Republics. In this region of China, however, very
little mineral exploration has taken place.
The six designated property areas in Tian Shan are defined by the following sets
of coordinate points:
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AREA NAME AREA LATITUDE/LONGITUDE POINTS ON BOUNDARY APPROXIMATE
NUMBER SIZE (KM(2))
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wulansayi 1 N42 degrees 00'00"/E84 degrees 45'00" 11,000
N42 degrees 37'00"/E86 degrees 00'00"
N42 degrees 37'00"/E84 degrees 00'00"
N42 degrees 00'00"/E86 degrees 00'00"
N42 degrees 57'00"/E84 degrees 41'00"
N42 degrees 25'00"/E84 degrees 45'00"
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baluntai 2 N43 degrees 00'00"/E86 degrees 00'00" 2,950
N42 degrees 40'00"/E86 degrees 00'00"
N43 degrees 00'00"/E86 degrees 30'00"
N42 degrees 40'00"/E86 degrees 30'00"
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aikendaban 3 N43 degrees 37'00"/E84 degrees 00'00" 9,200
N43 degrees 00'00"/E84 degrees 00'00"
N43 degrees 00'00"/E86 degrees 00'00"
N43 degrees 20'00"/E86 degrees 00'00"
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kushitai 4 N42 degrees 19'00"/E81 degrees 05'00" 6,750
N42 degrees 36'00"/E82 degrees 00'00"
N43 degrees 13'00"/E82 degrees 45'00"
N42 degrees 26'00"/E82 degrees 00'00"
N42 degrees 41'00"/E82 degrees 45'00"
N42 degrees 45'00"/E81 degrees 05'00"
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Muzhate 5 N42 degrees 46'00"/Ntl. Boundary with Kazakhstan 3,590
N42 degrees 16'00"/Ntl. Boundary with Kazakhstan
N42 degrees 46'00"/E81 degrees 00'00"
N42 degrees 16'00"/E81 degrees 00'00"
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yishijilike 6 N42 degrees 46'00"/Ntl. Boundary with Kazakhstan 2,750
N42 degrees 16'00"/Ntl. Boundary with Kazakhstan
N42 degrees 46'00"/E81 degrees 00'00"
N42 degrees 16'00"/E81 degrees 00'00"
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPROXIMATE TOTAL AREA = 36,240 KM(2)
==========================================================================================
To the best of the Registrant's knowledge, the MGMR-Xinjiang is the single
largest player in Tian Shan and it believes that most of the ground covered by
the six properties is under the control of the MGMR-Xinjiang. The Registrant's
agreement with the MGMR-Xinjiang protects these six areas from encroachment by
other foreign companies. All open ground and existing MGMR-Xinjiang projects
within these areas can be the subject of joint ventures with the Registrant
after the Registrant has reviewed all available Chinese data, generated its own
data and ultimately makes a decision regarding which specific detailed areas are
to be applied for at the 1:10,000 scale. Once the Registrant chooses the
specific detailed project areas, each constituting blocks of approximately
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100 square kilometers area, applications will be filed with the authorities in
Xinjiang and with the Central Government in Beijing. Upon approvals, these areas
will be fully protected and the Registrant can explore for and develop mineral
deposits on the property.
The co-operation agreement gives the Registrant the exclusive right to negotiate
and enter into joint venture contracts wherein the Registrant can earn a 76%
equity interest in joint ventures relating to the specific chosen detailed
project areas by investing yet-to-be defined amounts in these projects. The
amounts will be determined following an independent valuation of the projects
and by negotiations, to be conducted after receiving appropriate governmental
approvals to enter into the joint venture agreements.
The Registrant has agreed to examine all available data and information with
respect to the properties in a timely fashion and confirm to MGMR-Xinjiang its
level of interest in the properties. The Registrant has assembled as much data
as possible on each of the designated areas covered by the agreement. This data
acquisition included: regional scale geochemical data from the MGMR; remote
sensing data from Canadian, American and/or Chinese suppliers; and the
processing of this data to generate new information on these areas. The
Registrant has combined all of the ground information with the satellite remote
sensing data to help choose the specific areas for joint venture agreements with
the MGMR. The Registrant cannot formulate proposals for field programs until it
knows what work has been completed to date. Much of this information will be
available after the Registrant signs the next agreements with the MGMR-Xinjiang.
To date, the Registrant's geologists have extensively reviewed Landsat TM remote
sensing satellite data to help define exploration targets. This work has lead to
the expedient and cost-effective identification of eleven specific detailed
project areas having iron-oxide and clay alteration anomalies; features which
are commonly associated with gold mineralization. Most of these alteration zones
are coincident with structural features (also visible on the Landsat imagery)
and with regional geochemical gold anomalies previously identified by the
MGMR-Xinjiang.
As its contribution in the joint ventures, for a 24% interest, MGMR will
contribute its interest in the properties including the exploration permits for
the properties, and the data and results which have been collected or created to
date on the properties. The Registrant will contribute to the joint ventures
certain advanced equipment and technology for mineral exploration, development
and production phases. After a feasibility study has been conducted, all capital
required will be contributed as to 19% by MGMR-Xinjiang and as to 81% by the
Registrant in order to maintain their respective 24% and 76% equity interest in
each joint venture. The term of the joint ventures shall continue for a period
of thirty years from the date upon which the joint ventures is established.
Preliminary reconnaissance fieldwork commenced on several of the properties in
the summer of 1997. Results from this work are being evaluated. The Registrant
had allocated approximately $250,000 from the proceeds of its 1996 private
placements for investigative costs, but believes that actual costs will exceed
this amount.
No title opinion or survey in respect to the Tian Shan Properties has been
obtained by the Registrant.
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51
To December 31, 1996, the Registrant has spent and deposited for further
expenditures a total of approximately $153,303 for the exploration of the Tian
Shan Properties, as follows:
EXPENDITURES AMOUNT
------------ --------
Deposit $ 68,801
Remote Sensing 22,528
Geological Consulting 31,420
Travel and Accommodation 24,572
Other Expenditures 5,982
--------
TOTAL $153,303
========
Xifanping Property
No proven or probable reserves have been found on the property as a result of
the exploration performed to date.
In October of 1996, the Registrant entered into a Letter of Intent with the
Sichuan Bureau of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources ("MGMR-Sichuan")
regarding the Xifanping copper-gold porphyry project in southwest Sichuan
Province (the "Xifanping Project"). This Letter of Intent marks the second
agreement between the Registrant and MGMR-Sichuan, the first agreement being in
respect to the Chapuzi Property.
The Xifanping Project covers a 50 square kilometer area hosting numerous
porphyry systems and is located about 130 kilometers southwest of the city of
Zichang in south central China. The property is situated within the same
mineralization belt that hosts the Yulong copper porphyry deposit.
Pursuant to the Letter of Intent, the MGMR-Sichuan began a program of detailed
geological mapping, soil sampling and induced polarization surveys to cover the
entire Xifanping Project area. The Registrant is providing consulting and
direction to the programs, which are scheduled for completion in 1997. The
Registrant has until November, 1997 to review all data and make a decision
regarding further participation in this project. If the Registrant elects to
proceed with the project, the Registrant will be granted an exclusive right to
the project. The Registrant anticipates that an agreement similar to the Chapuzi
property agreement may be reached, whereby the Registrant can earn a 75%
interest by placing the property into production.
The Registrant does not intend to expend a material portion of the proceeds of
its 1996 private placements on the Xifanping Project over the next twelve
months.
The registrant holds rights of first refusal on all Sichuan Province projects
owned or generated by the Sichuan Bureau of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral
Resources ("MGMR-Sichuan"). Pursuant to these rights, the Registrant will
conduct, from time to time, project evaluations in the province of Sichuan for
possible acquisitions. The Registrant is also searching for a suitably advanced
gold project in other parts of China.
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White Silver Mountain Property
No proven or probable reserves have been found on the property as a result of
the exploration performed to date.
On November 17, 1997, the Registrant entered into a Co-operation Agreement for
Mineral Exploration and Development with Baiyin Non-Ferrous Minerals Corporation
("Baiyin"). The agreement provides for formation of a joint venture to be 80%
owned by the Registrant to exploit mineral resources in an approximately 35
square kilometer area located in the Baiyin region of Gansu Province, China.
Baiyin will contribute the property, mineral rights on the property(including
discovery rights, exploration permits and privilege mining rights, and data and
results which has bee collected or created to date on the property. The
Registrant can earn its 80% interest by contributing certain advanced equipment
and capital, in an amount not yet determined, necessary to undertake an
exploration program and feasibility study as to one mineral deposit on the
property. The area subject to the agreement includes exploration areas in and
around a number of past and present producing properties in the vicinity of
Baiyin City, but does not include any mineralized body of proven commercial
value. It does cover dip and/or strike extensions of known deposits which have
been or are known producers.
As a result of extensive evaluation, on June 15, 1998, Teck corporation
exercised its earn-in rights to acquire 70% of Minco's interest in this project
by purchasing 375,000 common shares in a private placement at a price of $2.00
per share, agreeing to exercise warrants to purchase an additional 125,000
shares at a price of $3.00 per share within one year and funding all of the
Registrant's obligations on the property up to the point of production. Pending
a successful First Phase program, Teck will become the operator of the property,
and Minco will continue to hold a 24% "carried interest" free of further
development costs and expenses. The planned first phase of work on the project
includes an underground diamond drilling program of 3,600 meters and a surface
exploration program. See Item 1 - The Teck-Cominco Agreements.
SAVOYARDINSKI GOLD PROJECT, KYRGYZSTAN
No proven or probable reserves have been found on the property as a result of
the exploration performed to date.
Acquisition
The Registrant has entered into an agreement with the South Kyrgyz Geological
Expedition ("SKGE") and Magko, a Moscow based mineral exploration company, on a
1,800 square kilometer property abutting the Chinese border in southern
Kyrgyzstan. The joint ownership, with Minco having an 80% interest, SKGE with a
10% interest and Magko with a 10% interest has been granted a License for
Mineral Wealth Usage Rights by the Kyrgyz government, that expires on December
31, 1999. The Registrant has agreed to fund all exploration on the property for
the three year term of the license. The costs of acquiring the permit have been
the payment of US $50,000 for the preparation of the submission to the Kyrgyz
government to support the application for the license, a US $35,000 cash payment
and 35,000 common shares of the Registrant's stock, paid to
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a third party as a finder's fee. Following direct expenditures of US $1,000,000
on the property, an additional 75,000 common shares of the Registrant's stock is
payable; following aggregate expenditures of US $2,000,000 on the property a
final payment of 75,000 common shares of the Registrant's stock is payable as
the finder's fee.
Location and Description
The property is located in the Osh Oblast of South Kyrgyzstan and abuts the
border with China. The region is situated on the northern slopes of the Aleiskii
Range within the Tian Shan Mountain belt. The region has been geologically
mapped to a scale of 1:50,000, completed in 1980, with localized, more detailed
mapping, to the 1:5,000 and 1:2,000 scales. The property does not include the
area of the Savoyardy gold/antimony deposits, which comprises an approximately
five square kilometer mining permit area totally enclosed by the Savoyardinsky
property. The mining permit holder is the Kadamdjai Antimony Combine of
Kyrgyzstan. The area is typically mountainous with maximum elevations to about
3,600 meters. Access from the regional capital of Osh is provided by a
reasonable network of roads through the property. The Registrant sought the
property in 1996 after learning about a substantial gold find on the Chinese
side of the border. The Chinese discovery, a couple of kilometers inside the
border, trends northeast across the border and into Kyrgyzstan. The Registrant
sought and acquired the ground covering the strike extension of the Chinese
discovery.
Geology and Mineral Deposits
The area is underlain by Paleozoic and Mesozoic aged rocks. The Paleozoic rocks
are primarily Silurian to Carboniferous volcanoclastic and carbonate sequences
while the Mesozoic is represented mostly by Lower to Middle Cretaceous
sediments. Jurassic sediments are also present but are poorly represented and
are not considered to have any mineralization potential. The area is subdivided
by northeast trending regional faults. Each of these tectonic zones is
characterized by its own metallogeny. For instance, the Irkesh-Savoyardy belt in
the southeast corner of the property is characterized by the presence of
antimony-gold-polymetallic mineralization. The Cretaceous sediments of the
Oitalsky trough contain copper mineralization within the so-called blue-horizon.
However, there are no known commercial mineral deposits on the property.
Exploration and Development Plan
The Registrant intends to fund an evaluation of the gold potential of the
property. Initially, the efforts will concentrate on locating the extension of
the Chinese deposits across the border. The initial exploration methods to be
used are geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveying
(most likely to be induced polarization methods). These surveys will be
conducted during 1997/1998. If suitable targets are discovered, drilling will
commence in 1998/1999. To maintain the property in good standing, the Registrant
must spend US $180,000 per annum (i.e. US $100 per square kilometer per year).
This will be the exploration budget for each of the first two years of the
program. A separate budget for diamond drilling will be established following
the definition of suitable targets.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
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There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Registrant, or any of its
subsidiaries, is a party to, or to which any of their properties is subject.
ITEM 4. CONTROL OF REGISTRANT.
As far as known to the Registrant, and except as disclosed herein, the
Registrant is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another
corporation(s) or by any foreign government. As disclosed below, Pacific Canada
Resources Inc., a private company controlled by a director and a former director
of the Registrant, owns approximately 43.0% of the issued and outstanding shares
of the Registrant's common stock.
The following table sets forth, as of June 28, 1999 information with respect to
(i) any person who is known to the Registrant to be the owner of more than 10%
of any class of the Registrant's outstanding voting securities and (ii) the
total amount of any class of the Registrant's voting securities owned by the
officers and directors as a group.
TITLE OF CLASS IDENTITY OF HOLDER AMOUNT OWNED PERCENT OF CLASS
-------------- ------------------ ------------ ----------------
Common Shares Pacific Canada 5,917,500(1) 38.0%
Resources Inc.(1)
Common Shares All officers and 6,182,750(2) 39.0%
directors as a
group, (seven
persons)
1. Ken Cai a director and officer of the Registrant, and Donald
Hicks, a former director and officer of the Registrant,
collectively are the beneficial owners of 56% of Pacific Canada
Resources Inc., a private company. See Item 10 and Item 13.
2. Includes Ken Cai's and Donald Hicks's 56% beneficial interest in
shares owned by Pacific Canada Resources, Inc.
PERFORMANCE SHARES OR ESCROW SECURITIES
Currently, there are a total of 5,442,500 common shares of the Registrant held
at Montreal Trust Company of Canada, 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British
Columbia, subject to escrow share restrictions under a Performance Escrow
Agreement dated August 17, 1995 (the "1995 Escrow Agreement") and an Escrow
Agreement dated February 19, 1996 (the "1996 Escrow Agreement"). As of June 28,
1999 , the escrow shares represent 26.7% of the total issued and outstanding
shares of the Registrant.
=======================================================================
NAME OF ESCROW SHAREHOLDER NUMBER OF ESCROW SHARES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PETER TSAPARAS Chairman, Chief Financial 131,250
Officer and Director
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
COLIN MCALEENAN, past Vice-President, 45,000
Explorations and Director
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOTIOS KANDIANIS, Past Director 30,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PETROS TSAPARAS, Past Director 30,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HANS WICK, Director 45,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PACIFIC CANADA RESOURCES INC. 3,930,439
=======================================================================
Each of the holders of escrow shares subject to the 1995 Escrow Agreement
qualify or have in the past qualified as a principal as defined in Local Policy
Statement 3-07 of the British Columbia Securities Commission as they are all
directors or former directors of the Registrant as of the date of receipt of the
escrow shares. In addition, the terms of the 1995 Escrow Agreement provide that
an escrow shareholder who ceased to be a principal, dies or becomes bankrupt,
shall be entitled to retain any escrowed shares then held by him and shall not
be obligated to transfer or surrender the escrowed shares to the Registrant or
any other person. These escrow shares are subject to the direction and
determination of the British Columbia Securities Commission and the Exchange
(the "Regulatory Authorities"). The release of the 1995 Escrow Shares will be
based on expenditures made by the Registrant on the exploration and development
of its mineral properties.
Pursuant to the 1996 Escrow Agreement, 3,930,439 escrow shares are held by
Pacific Canada Resources Inc. ("PCR"), a private Ontario company in respect of
which Ken Cai and Donald Hicks collectively own 56% of the issued and
outstanding shares.
The escrow shares held by PCR hereunder shall be released to PCR, subject in
each case to the prior consent of the Vancouver Stock Exchange, on the following
basis:
1. one escrow share for each $0.97 in the value of the interests in the
mineral properties acquired by the Registrant from PCR pursuant to the
PCR Agreement (the "PCR Properties"), based on a valuation report to be
prepared by a qualified independent consultant, less any expenditures
required to be made by the Registrant, pursuant to the PCR Agreement or
otherwise, in order to earn its interests in the PCR Properties
(provided that all required Chinese governmental approvals in order to
perfect the interests to be acquired by the Registrant hereunder have
been obtained for each of the PCR Properties that are the subject of
the valuation report);
2. one escrow share for each $0.97 in the value of the interest in any new
mineral properties acquired by the Registrant pursuant to the PCR
Agreement or the TCIP Agreements ("New Projects"), such value to be
determined on the same basis and subject to the same provisions as
described in 1 above;
3. one escrow share for every $1.81 expended by the Registrant, PCR, Teck,
Cominco, Temco or any other third party expending monies on exploration
and development of the PCR Properties or of any New Projects, exclusive
of general and administrative expenses,
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56
determined in accordance with the provisions applicable to natural
resources issuers under Local Policy Statement #3-07 of the British
Columbia Securities Commission; and
4. one escrow share for every $0.97 in cumulative Cash Flow, as
hereinafter defined, from the operations of the Registrant on the PCR
Properties and any New Projects and as determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and by reference to the
Registrant's annual audited financial statements, provided that each
PCR Property and each New Project will be considered separately without
taking into account any negative cash flow that may exist in any other
PCR Property or New Project.
For the purposes of the foregoing, "Cash Flow" means net profit for a fiscal
year of the Registrant adjusted for the following add backs: depreciation,
amortization of goodwill, deferred income taxes, and amortization of research
and development costs, plus any other capitalization charges as may be permitted
by the Vancouver Stock Exchange. Cumulative Cash Flow, less any amounts used in
prior escrow share releases, divided by $0.97 per share, equals the total number
of escrow shares which may be released under the 1996 Escrow Agreement in any
twelve-month period.
If all of the escrow shares are not released to PCR within ten years of
issuance, all unreleased escrow shares shall be forfeited by PCR and canceled.
The foregoing escrow shares are held subject to the direction and determination
of the Regulatory Authorities.
The material terms of the 1995 and 1996 Escrow Agreements require that the
escrow shares may not be dealt with in any manner (including transfer or release
from escrow) without the prior consent of the Vancouver Stock Exchange, that the
escrow shares may be voted by the registered holder at all meetings of
shareholders and that the escrow shareholders will have all of the rights,
benefits and ownership of the forgoing escrow shares as they pertain to all
shareholders of the Registrant save and except that while the shares are subject
to the 1995 and 1996 Escrow Agreements, as the case may be, the holders may not
vote the escrow shares on any resolution to cancel such shares and in respect of
such escrow shares and may not receive any dividends or participate in any
distribution of assets by the Registrant.
ITEM 5. NATURE OF TRADING MARKET.
The common shares of the Registrant (the "Common Shares") were listed on the
Vancouver Stock Exchange ("VSE"), in British Columbia, Canada. The common shares
of the Registrant were delisted from the Vancouver on January 29, 1999.
Effective December 12, 1997, the Registrant received a conditional listing for
trading of its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The common shares of
the Registrant began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Ontario Canada in
December, 1998. The Toronto Stock Exchange is open for trading during the hours
of 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time. The trading symbol for the
Common Shares of the Registrant is MMM.
The Registrant's shares are not currently trading on any U.S. stock exchange or
in the over-the-counter market, and accordingly, there is currently no public
market for the common stock of the Registrant in the United States. There can be
no assurance that such a market will develop after the effectiveness of this
registration statement. Since a portion of the Registrant's shares are held
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57
by agents in street name, the Registrant is unaware of how many of its
outstanding common shares are held by United States residents. As of June 28,
1999, the Registrant's share register indicates that 512,390 of the issued and
outstanding shares were held by sixteen shareholders with addresses in the
United States.
The following table sets forth the reported high and low prices for each full
quarterly period, commencing from the first quarter of 1995 for the Common
Shares as quoted on the Vancouver Stock Exchange (Toronto Stock Exchange after
trading began on that exchange in December, 1998).
YEAR AND QUARTER HIGH LOW
---------------- ---- ---
1999 - First Quarter 2.25 0.95
1998 - Fourth Quarter 1.09 0.40
1998 - Third Quarter 1.29 0.50
1998- Second Quarter 1.75 1.10
1998 - First Quarter 2.00 1.20
1997 - Fourth Quarter 1.85 1.15
1997 - Third Quarter 1.60 1.27
1997 - Second Quarter 2.45 1.30
1997 - First Quarter 3.05 1.35
1996 - Fourth Quarter 3.15 2.25
1996 - Third Quarter 3.55 2.50
1996 - Second Quarter 4.20 2.70
1996 - First Quarter 2.84 1.10
1995 - Fourth Quarter 1.30 0.95
1995 - Third Quarter 1.50 1.00
1995 - Second Quarter 1.25 0.70
ITEM 6. EXCHANGE CONTROLS AND OTHER LIMITATIONS AFFECTING SECURITY HOLDERS.
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
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See the discussion in Item 1, under the captions "Risk Factors" "People's
Republic of China - Background Information" and "Legal Framework for
Chinese-Foreign Co-operative Joint Ventures" as to matters involving Chinese
law.
CANADA
There is no law , governmental decree or regulation in Canada that restricts the
export or import of capital, or affects the remittance of dividends, interest or
other payments to a non-resident holder of common shares, other than withholding
tax requirements. Any such remittances to United States residents are subject to
withholding tax. See "Taxation."
There is no limitation imposed by the laws of Canada or by the charter or other
constituent documents of the Registrant on the right of a non-resident to hold
or vote the Common Shares, other than as provided in the Investment Canada Act,
(the "Investment Act"). The following discussion summarizes the principal
features of the Investment Act for a non-resident who proposes to acquire the
common shares. It is general only, it is not a substitute for independent advice
from an investor's own advisor, and it does not anticipate statutory or
regulatory amendments.
The Investment Act generally prohibits implementation of a reviewable investment
by an individual, government or agency thereof, corporation, partnership, trust
or joint venture (each an "entity") that is not a "Canadian" as defined in the
Investment Act (a "non-Canadian"), unless after review, the Director of
Investments appointed by the minister responsible for the Investment Act is
satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada. An
investment in the Common Shares by a non-Canadian other than a "WTO Investor"
(as that term is defined by the Investment Act, and which term includes entities
which are nationals of or are controlled by nationals of member states of the
World Trade Organization) when the Registrant was not controlled by a WTO
Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment
to acquire control of the Registrant and the value of the assets of the
Registrant, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under
the Investment Act, was $5,000,000 or more, or if an order for review was made
by the federal cabinet on the grounds that the investment related to Canada's
cultural heritage or national identity, regardless of the value of the assets of
the Registrant. An investment in the Common Shares by a WTO Investor, or by a
non-Canadian when the Registrant was controlled by a WTO Investor, would be
reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment to acquire control
of the Registrant and the value of the assets of the Registrant, as determined
in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Act was not
less than a specified amount, which for 1996 was any amount in excess of Cdn.
$168 million. A non-Canadian would acquire control of the Registrant for the
purposes of the Investment Act if the non-Canadian acquired a majority of the
Common Shares. The acquisition of one third or more, but less than a majority of
the Common Shares would be presumed to be an acquisition of control of the
Registrant unless it could be established that, on the acquisition, the
Registrant was not controlled in fact by the acquirer through the ownership of
the Common Shares.
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Certain transactions relating to the Common Shares would be exempt from the
Investment Act, including: (a) an acquisition of the Common Shares by a person
in the ordinary course of that person's business as a trader or dealer in
securities; (b) an acquisition of control of the Registrant in connection with
the realization of security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and
not for a purpose related to the provisions of the Investment Act; and (c) an
acquisition of control of the Registrant by reason of an amalgamation, merger,
consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or
indirect control in fact of the Registrant, through the ownership of the Common
Shares, remained unchanged.
ITEM 7. TAXATION.
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
See the discussion in Item 1, under the caption "People's Republic of China
Background Information Tax System" as to matters involving Chinese law.
CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following summarizes the principal Canadian federal income tax
considerations applicable to the holding and disposition of Common Shares in the
capital of the Registrant by a holder of Common Shares who is resident in the
United States of America and not in Canada, and who holds Common Shares solely
as capital property (a "U.S. Holder"). This summary is based on the current
provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"), the regulations
thereunder, all amendments thereto publicly proposed by the government of
Canada, the published administrative practices of Revenue Canada, Customs,
Excise and Taxation, and on the current provisions of the Canada-United States
Income Tax Convention, 1980, as amended (the "Treaty"). Except as otherwise
expressly provided, this summary does not take into account any provincial,
territorial or foreign (including without limitation, any U.S.) tax law or
treaty. It has been assumed that all currently proposed amendments will be
enacted substantially as proposed and that there is no other relevant change in
any governing law or practice, although no assurance can be given in these
respects.
This summary is of a general nature and is not, and should not be construed as,
advice to any particular U.S. Holder as to Canadian tax consequences applicable
to such U.S. Holder. Each U.S. Holder is advised to obtain tax and legal advice
applicable to such U.S. Holder's particular circumstances.
Every U.S. Holder is liable to pay a Canadian withholding tax on every dividend
that is or is deemed to be paid or credited to the U.S. Holder on the U.S.
Holder's Common Shares. The statutory rate of withholding tax is 25% of the
gross amount of the dividend paid. The Treaty reduces the statutory rate with
respect to dividends paid to a U.S. Holder who is a resident of the United
States for the purposes of the Treaty. Where applicable, the general rate of
withholding tax under the Treaty is 15% of the gross amount of the dividend, but
if the U.S. Holder is a company that owns at least 10% of the voting stock of
the Registrant and beneficially owns the dividend, the rate of withholding tax
is 5% for dividends paid or credited after 1996 to such corporate U.S. Holder.
The Registrant is required to withhold the applicable tax from the dividend
payable to the
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U.S. Holder, and to remit the tax to the Receiver General of Canada for the
account of the U. S. Holder.
Pursuant to the Tax Act, a U.S. Holder will not be subject to Canadian capital
gains tax on any capital gain realized on an actual or deemed disposition of a
Common Share, including a deemed disposition on death, provided that the U.S.
Holder did not hold the Common Share as capital property used in carrying on a
business in Canada, and that neither the U. S. Holder nor persons with whom the
U.S. Holder did not deal a arms length (alone or together) owned or had the
right or an option to acquire 25% or more of the issued shares of any class of
the Registrant at any time in the five years immediately preceding the
disposition.
UNITED STATES TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Passive Foreign Investment Companies
The Treaty essentially calls for taxation of shareholders by the shareholder's
country of residence. In those instances in which a tax may be assessed by the
other country, a corresponding credit against the tax owed in the country of
residence is generally available, subject to limitations.
Under Section 1296, of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, a foreign
investment corporation is treated as a passive foreign investment company (a
"PFIC") if it earns 75% or more of its gross income from passive sources or if
50% or more of the value of its assets produce passive income. Each U.S.
shareholder of the Registrant should consult a tax advisor with respect to how
the PFIC rules may affect such shareholder's tax situation. In particular, a
U.S. shareholder should determine whether such shareholder should elect to have
the Registrant be treated as a Qualified Electing Fund if the Registrant is a
PFIC. This might avoid adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences that may
otherwise result from the Registrant should it be treated as a PFIC.
Other Considerations
To the extent a shareholder is not subject to the tax regimes outlined above
with respect to foreign corporations that are PFICs, the following discussion
describes the United States federal income tax consequences arising from the
holding and disposition of the Registrant's Common Shares.
U.S. Holders
As used herein, a "U.S. Holder", includes a holder of Common shares who is a
citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation created or organized in
or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof
and any other person or entity whose ownership of Common Shares is effectively
connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. A U.S.
Holder does not include persons subject to special provisions of federal income
tax laws, such as tax exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans,
financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts,
regulated investment companies, broker-dealers, nonresident alien individuals or
foreign corporations whose ownership of Common Shares is not effectively
connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States and
shareholders who acquired their stock through the exercise of employee stock
options or otherwise as compensation.
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Distribution of Common Shares
U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive dividends)
with respect to the Registrant's Common Shares are required to include in gross
income for United States federal income tax purposes the gross amount of such
distribution to the extent that the Registrant has current or accumulated
earnings or profits, without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from
such distributions. Such Canadian tax withheld may be credited, subject to
certain limitations, against the U.S. Holder's United States federal income tax
liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in computing the U.S. Holder's
United States federal income tax by those who itemize deductions. (See more
detailed discussions at "Foreign Tax Credit" below). to the extent that
distributions exceed current or accumulated earnings and profits of the
Registrant, they will be treated first as a return of capital up to the U.S.
Holder's adjusted basis in the Common shares and thereafter as gain from the
sale or exchange of such shares. Preferential tax rates for the long-term
capital gains are applicable to a U.S. Holder which is an individual, estate or
trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains
for a U.S. Holder which is a corporation.
Dividends paid on the Registrant's Common Shares will not generally be eligible
for the dividends received deduction provided to corporations receiving
dividends from certain United States corporations. A U.S. Holder which is a
corporation may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to a 70% deduction of
the United States source portion of dividends received from the Registrant if
such U.S. Holder owns shares representing at least 10% of the voting power and
value of the Registrant. The availability of this deduction is subject to
several complex limitations which are beyond the scope of this discussion.
Foreign Tax Credit
A U.S. Holder who pays (or has withheld from distribution) Canadian income tax
with respect to the ownership of the Registrant's common shares may be entitled,
at the option of the U.S. Holder, to either a deduction or a tax credit for such
foreign tax paid or withheld. Generally, it will be more advantageous to claim a
tax credit, because a credit reduces United States federal income taxes on a
dollar-for-dollar basis, while a deduction merely reduces the taxpayer's income
subject to tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and generally
applies to all foreign income taxes paid by (or withheld from) the U.S. Holder
during that year. There are significant and complex limitations which apply to
the credit, among which is the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed
the proportionate share of the U.S. Holder's United States income tax liability
that the U.S. Holder's foreign source income bears to his or its worldwide
taxable income. In the determination of the application of this limitation, the
various items of income and deduction must be classified into foreign and
domestic sources. complex rules govern this classification process. There are
further limitations on the foreign tax credit for certain types of income, such
as "passive income", "high withholding tax interest", "financial services
income", "shipping income", and certain other classifications of income. The
availability of foreign tax credit and the application of the limitations on the
credit are fact specific and holders and prospective holders of Common Shares
should consult their own tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances.
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Disposition of Common Shares
A U.S. Holder will recognize gain and loss upon the sale of the Common shares
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 Common Shares. The gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if the shares
are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder, and will be a short-term or
long-term capital gain or loss depending on each U.S. Holder's holding period.
Gains and losses are netted and combined according to special rules in arriving
at the overall capital gain or loss for a particular tax year. Deductions for
net capital losses are subject to significant limitations. For U.S. Holders who
are individuals, any unused portion of such net capital loss may be carried over
to be used in later tax years until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.
For U.S. Holders which are corporations (other than corporations subject to
Subchapter S of the Code), an unused capital loss may be carried back three
years from the loss year and carried forward five years from the loss year to be
offset against capital gains until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.
The foregoing discussion is based upon the sections of the Code, Treasury
Regulations, published Internal Revenue Service rulings, published
administrative positions of the Internal Revenue Service and court decisions
that are currently applicable, any or all of which could be materially adversely
changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time. In addition, this
discussion does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial,
of recently proposed legislation which, if enacted could be applied, possibly on
a retroactive basis, at any time. The foregoing discussion is for general
information only and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be,
legal or tax advice to any holder or prospective holder of the Registrant's
Common Shares and no opinion or representation with respect to the United States
federal income tax consequences is expressed hereby to any such prospective
holders of the Registrant's Common Shares. A holder or prospective holder of the
Registrant's Common Shares should consult his or her own tax advisors about
federal, state local and foreign tax consequences of purchasing, owning and
disposing of the Common Shares of the Registrant.
ITEM 8. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following selected financial information for the fiscal years ended December
31, 1996, 1995, 1994 , 1993 and 1992 are derived from the financial statements
of the Registrant for those years., and should be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and the notes thereto attached to this Registration
Statement. The Registrant's financial statements are prepared in accordance with
Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") and the financial
information presented in the following tables is presented in accordance with
Canadian GAAP. Canadian GAAP conforms to GAAP in the United States in most
respects. The only significant differences which are relevant here are in
calculation of the loss per share. United States GAAP requires escrow shares
which are contingently cancelable to be excluded from the calculation of loss
per share. The loss per share shown in the following tables is accordingly
calculated according to both Canadian and United States GAAP. Total assets,
total liabilities and loss for the following years calculated according to
United States GAAP is not materially different from the amounts determined in
accordance with Canadian GAAP. To date, the Registrant has not paid any cash or
other dividends on its common shares. All amounts are stated in Canadian
dollars.
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Balance Sheet Data at December 31
Temco
Minco After Before ----------------------------------- Consolidated
RTO RTO Minco Before RTO Caprock(3)
---------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------
1996(1) 1995(1) 1995 1994(2) 1993(2) 1992
--------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total assets 8,326,356 39,072 257,186 140,026 102,204 116,010
Total Liabilities 763,008 49,458 99,908 58,550 28,254 92,043
Share Capital 8,662,468 810 3,026,474 2,526,474 2,416,474 2,290,224
Deficit 1,099,120 [1,196] 2,869,196 2,444,998 2,342,524 2,266,257
Operating Statement Data for Years Ended December 31
Temco
Minco After Before ----------------------------------- Consolidated
RTO RTO Minco Before RTO Caprock(3)
---------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------
1996(1) 1995(1) 1995 1994(2) 1993(2) 1992
--------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Revenue 119,190 -- 9,289 2,795 1,400 7,340
Income [loss] [1,087,924] [11,196] [24,198] [102,274] [76,267] [60,672]
Income [loss]
from continuing
operations [1,087,924] [1,196] [424,198] [102,274] [76,267] [160,672]
Income [loss]
from continuing
operations per
common share
(Canadian GAAP) [0.11] [.00] [0.17] [0.04] [0.04] [0.04]
Income [loss]
from continuing
operations per
common share
(United States
GAAP)(4) [0.20] [0.00] [0.18] [0.06] [0.05] [0.05]
- -----------------
(1) In February of 1996, the Registrant completed an acquisition of a 60%
interest in Triple Eight Minerals Corporation, ("Temco") which has been
treated for accounting purposes as a reverse takeover ("RTO"), and the
financial statements for 1996 have been prepared to treat Temco as the
accounting parent. This affects comparability of information for the years
before and after such acquisition. See Item 1 - "The PCR Agreement" and
Item 17 - "Notes to Financial Statements"
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(2) The Registrant was reorganized in 1993, following a period of inactivity.
Such reorganization involved a one-for-three share consolidation, a change
of name and change of management. There is essentially no continuity
between the activities and operations of the Registrant before and after
such reorganization. See Item 1 "Business of the Registrant - Organization
and Subsidiary."
(3) Data represents operations of Minco's predecessor, Consolidated Caprock
Resources, prior to the February 1994 reorganization. See Footnote 2,
above.
(4) The weighted average number of shares for purposes of calculating loss per
share according to United States GAAP was as follows: 1996 - 5,582,498;
1995 - 2,386,900; 1994 - 1,798,593; 1993 - 1,660,873; 1992 - 3,274,284.
EXCHANGE RATES
On June 28, 1999, the rate for Canadian dollars was $1.00 U.S.$1.4850 Cdn.
The following table sets forth, for the periods and dates indicated, certain
information concerning exchange rates of United States dollars and Canadian
dollars:
Year ending 12/31 End of Period Average High Low
----------------- ------------- ------- ---- ---
1993 1.3255 1.2902 1.3390 1.2428
1994 1.4030 1.3664 1.4078 1.3103
1996 1.3655 1.3725 1.4238 1.3285
1996 1.3697 1.3638 1.3822 1.3310
1997 1.4288 1.3849 1.4398 1.3407
1998 1.5375 1.4836 1.5770 1.4075
The high and low figures are selected from weekly average figures reported in
Federal Reserve Bank weekly releases at www.bog.frb.fed.us/releases/
ITEM 9. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
This discussion and analysis of the operating results and the financial position
of the Registrant for each of the three years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and
1994 should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements
and the related Notes included in Item 17.
GENERAL
Since the signing of its first Co-operation Agreement on a property in China in
July of 1995 the Registrant has concentrated on building a portfolio of mineral
projects in the People's Republic of China.
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On February 19, 1996 the Registrant acquired all of the property interests in
China of Pacific Canada Resources Inc., most of whose property interests were
held by Temco, under the terms of the PCR Agreement. Also in February, 1996 the
Registrant closed an Investment and Participation Agreement with Teck
Corporation and Cominco Ltd. See Item 1 - "The PCR Agreement" and "The
Teck-Cominco Agreements". By these transactions, the Registrant acquired
interests in various properties. As part of the Teck-Cominco transaction, the
Registrant received cash investments from two private placements of its common
shares. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources," below, Item 1 - "Recent
Financing" and Item 17 - Notes to Financial Statements.
(a) LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
During 1996, the Registrant maintained adequate liquidity. At year end, the
Registrant had working capital of $7,238,944. Also during 1996, the year end
change in cash or cash position increased from $229,304 to $6,832,801. Operating
and administrative expenses amounted to $1,236,295, and $786,076 was expended on
the exploration and development of the Registrant's Chinese properties.
Financing activities included $8,594,811 (net of share issuance costs) received
from the issuance of 1,250,000 units, each unit comprised of one common share
and one/fifth of a share purchase warrant, pursuant to a private placement
completed in February, 1996; the issuance of 3,200,000 units, each unit
comprised of one common share and one/half of a share purchase warrant, pursuant
to a private placement completed June 26, 1996, an Exchange Offering Prospectus
dated December 20, 1996 qualifying those units issued pursuant to the June 26,
1996 private placement; and the exercise of 148,750 options at a price of $1.00
per common share. After December 31, 1996, and before the end of February, 1997,
125,000 share purchase warrants were exercised at a price of $1.20 per share,
for net proceeds of $150,000.
At February 28, 1997, the Registrant had working capital of approximately
$6,806,604. Management considers that the Registrant had adequate liquidity to
conduct its business activities as planned for 1997.
At December 31, 1998, the Registrant had liquid working capital of approximately
$3,000,000, with no debt. Expenditures for the year totalled $908,000. Expenses
with respect to exploration of the White Silver Mountain project will be funded
by the recent private placement of common shares to Teck corporation, as well as
by Teck's further obligations to exercise warrants and to 100% of Minco's
required expenditures on the property, up to the point of production, after
completion of a successful first phase program. See Item 2 - White Silver
Mountain Property.
The Registrant expects to be going back to the market to raise new funds for
expansion within twelve to eighteen months. The Registrant's capital resources
continue to comprise primarily private investors, consisting of wealthy
individuals, resource investment groups, senior mining companies and public
financing through the facilities of the Vancouver Stock Exchange. There can,
however, be no assurance that the Registrant's future capital requirements can
be met in the long term. The Registrant's access to capital is always dependent
upon future financial market conditions, especially those which pertain to
venture capital situations such as mining exploration companies. There can be no
guaranty that the Registrant will be successful in obtaining future financing,
when necessary, on economically acceptable terms, or at all.
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(b) RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
To date the Registrant has not entered into a final agreement on a producing
property. Consequently, the Registrant has not generated a cash flow from
operations. In management's opinion, given that the nature of the Registrant's
business consists of mineral exploration, development and the evaluation of
resource properties, meaningful financial information consists primarily of the
Registrant's liquidity and solvency. The results of operations of an exploration
company are almost entirely measured by the extent and quality of the
mineralization discovered compared with the related costs of such discoveries.
Estimates of mineralization are not contained in the financial statements.
On November 28, 1996, the Registrant announced that it had revised the
accounting treatment given to its acquisition of various mineral property
interests held in Temco from Pacific Canada Resources, Inc. pursuant to an
agreement dated February 19, 1996 which acquisition included a 60% equity
interest in Triple Eight Mineral Corporation ("Temco"), a British Virgin Island
company. See Item 1 - "Pacific Canada Resources Agreement." For accounting
purposes, the acquisition is now being treated as a reverse take-over, with
Temco being treated as the Registrant's accounting parent. Interim unaudited
financial statements previously issued incorrectly treated Temco as a subsidiary
for accounting purposes. As such, the Registrant retracted its quarterly report
and financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 1996 and for
the six-month period ended June 30, 1996. The change of accounting method
reduced the book value of the Registrant's mineral property interests by
approximately $2,000,000, share capital by approximately $5,000,000 and deficit
by approximately $3,000,000. The Registrant has revised its March 31, 1996 and
June 30, 1996 financial statements to effect these changes and has reissued
them.
In summary, the net effect of treating Temco as the parent instead of treating
it as a subsidiary for accounting purposes is the following: The book value of
the mineral interests owned by Temco were previously recorded at a deemed value
of approximately $2,000,000, the book value of these mineral interests will now
be carried at Temco's cost of $100.00. Similarly, under this revised accounting
treatment, the Registrant's accumulated deficit of approximately $3,000,000 at
the date of the share exchange (February 19, 1996) has been eliminated and
deducted from the Registrant's share capital.
The above changes pertain to accounting procedures only and have no effect as to
the Registrant's current cash position and asset value, nor do they have any
impact on the business of the Registrant. The Registrant's audited financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 1996 show current assets of
$7,460,563, total assets of $8,326,356, current liabilities of $221,619 and
Shareholders' equity of $7,563,348.
General and administrative expenses for 1997 averaged approximately $130,000 per
month. For the first quarter of 1998 this number rose to approximately $150,000
per month. The average for 1997 includes the maintenance of an office in Toronto
which was closed late in the year. Savings resulting from the closure of this
office were overshadowed in the first quarter of 1998 by increases in legal,
listing, filing and auditing fees associated with the acquisition of a listing
on the Toronto
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Stock Exchange in December 1997 and registration under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 in the first quarter of 1998. The 1997 general and administrative
expenses were relatively high, partly as a result of it being the first year of
administering full field exploration work in China and the maintenance of a high
level of new property investigation. Management has the aim of reducing general
and administrative expenses to $100,000 per month for the second half of 1998
and expects to achieve this through more focused project work in China, fewer
and more selective new property investigations, a rationalizing of existing
projects, reduced investor relations consulting and advertising charges and
reductions in the legal, listing, filing and auditing charges. Exploration costs
are expected to be approximately $1,000,000 for the year.
Fiscal 1996 Compared with Fiscal 1995
The Registrant's loss per share of $0.17 per share in 1995 decreased to a loss
per share of $0.11 in fiscal 1996, based on a net loss for the year of
$1,087,924 compared with a net loss of $424,198 in 1995, which resulted from an
increase in the loss and a significant increase in the number of shares
outstanding.. The number of common shares issued and outstanding increased from
2,785,873 in 1995 to 15,202,123 in 1996. Due to increased operating activities
during 1996, general and administrative expenses increased during the year to
$1,236,295 compared to $433,487 in 1995. Interest revenue increased from $8,754
in 1995 to $119,190 in 1996 due to increased cash and cash equivalent balances
resulting from financing activities.
Fiscal 1995 Compared with Fiscal 1994
The Registrant's loss per share of $0.04 in 1994 increased to a loss per share
of $0.17 in fiscal 1995 based on a net loss for the year of $424,198 compared
with a net loss of $102,474 in 1994. The number of common shares issued and
outstanding increased from 2,285,873 in 1994 to 2,785,873 in 1995. Due to
increased operating activities during 1995, general and administrative expenses
increased to $433,487 in 1995, compared to $105,269 in 1994. Interest revenue
increased from $2,795 in 1994 to $8,754 in 1995.
EXPENDITURES ON PROPERTIES OF THE REGISTRANT
The single largest commitment made on mineral properties over the past twelve
months by the Registrant was to the Temco Joint Venture. This joint venture
involved the Geoexploration Corporation of the First Geoexploration Bureau
("GEC-FGEB"), a subsidiary of China's Ministry of Metallurgical Industry (the
"MMI")) as to 45 % and Temco (the Registrant's wholly owned subsidiary) which
holds a 55% interest. Temco and the MMI have formed a co-operative joint venture
enterprise known as Chengde Huajia Mining Industry Co. Ltd. ("Huajia" ) based in
Hebei Province. The issued capital of Huajia is held by MMI with Temco holding
the right to acquire a 55% interest in Huajia upon making certain expenditures
(see "Emperor's Delight Project"). Huajia is to operate the Emperor's Delight
gold-silver project and to acquire and explore additional properties such as
Stone Lake and Crystal Valley gold projects. According to the Chinese
regulations, where capital contributions are to be made in installments, the
first installment must consist of not less than 15% of the total registered
capital, must be contributed within 90 days after the issue of the business
license and is non-refundable. The capital contribution has been made and the
Registrant is the operator of the joint venture.
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As of December 31, 1996, the Registrant and China Clipper Gold Mines Ltd., had
expended $451,392 on the Emperor's Delight Property through Temco. Huajia
received a total of approximately $900,000 from Temco as of December 31, 1996.
Of this amount $537,500 remained unexpended but committed for additional
exploration programs on the Emperor's Delight and/or other properties. See Item
2 - "Emperor's Delight Property".
On the Chapuzi Property a total of $153,416 has been spent on exploration and
metallurgical testing as of December 31, 1996. To fully earn its 51% interest in
the property the Registrant will be required to spend $5,000,000. The Registrant
can earn an additional 24% of the property interest, for a total of 75%, by
spending the funds required to put the property into commercial production (see
Item 2 - "Chapuzi Property").
On the Changba-Lijiagou Property a total of $27,965 has been spent on property
investigation as of December 31, 1996 (see Item 2 - "Changba-Lijiagou
Property").
On the Stone Lake Property no funds were spent on exploration as of December
31,1996 (see Item 2 - "Stone Lake Property").
On the Crystal Valley Property no funds were spent on exploration as of December
31, 1996 (see Item 2 - "Crystal Valley Property").
On the Tian Shan Properties a total of $153,303 has been spent on the property
investigation as of December 31, 1996 (see "Tian Shan Properties").
On the Gala Property no funds were spent on property exploration as of December
31, 1996 (see Item 2 - "Gala Property").
On the Xifanping Property no funds were spent on the property exploration as of
December 31, 1996 (see "Xifanping Property").
OUTLOOK
The Registrant at present has no material income from its operations. The
Registrant's ability to finance the exploration and development of its mineral
properties, to make concession payments and to fund general and administrative
expenses in the medium and long term is therefore dependent upon the
Registrant's ability to secure equity financing. The equity markets for junior
mineral exploration companies are unpredictable. Alternatively, the Registrant
may enter into cost sharing arrangements through joint venture agreements, but
while management believes that the quality of the concessions now held by the
Registrant will attract joint venture partners in the short term and medium
term, there is no guarantee that the terms would be as favorable as management
would like. While as of the date of this Registration Statement, the Registrant
has sufficient working capital to fund the exploration work commitments on the
currently held property concessions for the next two years, it cannot be
determined what the funding requirements will be beyond that time and the
Registrant will require additional financing to meet such requirements.
-68-
69
Year 2000
The Registrant has only a minimal amount of computer equipment, all of it
purchased within the last thirty-six months, and the software being used is of
similarly recent make. After testing, the Registrant believes that its computers
are year 2000 compliant, and does not expect to experience difficulties caused
by its equipment or software. In Canada, the Registrant is not dependent for
vital services on any particular vendor of services or supplies, other than
banks, public utilities and the like, and therefore believes that it will be
affected by Year 2000 problems of suppliers and vendors only to the extent that
society in general is affected, and has made no specific plans to cope with such
problems. The Registrant's own operations in China are not heavily dependent on
computers, and no specific information appears to be available regarding the
possible effect of Year 2000 computer problems on its Chinese vendors and
suppliers, beyond the general statement that Chinese awareness of and
preparation for such problems appears to be behind that of the United States and
Canada.
Exchange Rates and Currency Risks
The Registrant's operations are expected to be conducted largely in China. Its
operations are conducted primarily in Canadian dollars. See Item 1, "Risk
Factors" and "Peoples Republic of China - Background Information" for a
discussion of certain matters relating to the convertibility and repatriation of
the PRC currency. See Item 8 for information relating to exchange rates of
United States and Canadian currency.
ITEM 9A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not Applicable
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF REGISTRANT.
The following table sets forth all current directors and executive officers of
the Registrant, with each position and office held by them in the Registrant,
their terms of office and the period of service as such: Each director's term of
office expires at the next annual general meeting of shareholders.
OFFICER OR TERM OF
NAME POSITIONS HELD DIRECTOR SINCE OFFICE
---- -------------- -------------- --------
Ken Z. Cai President, Chief Executive February, 1996 3 years
Officer and Director
Peter P. Tsaparas Chairman Chief Financial May, 1992 3 years
Officer and Director
Director
Wayne Spilsbury Director February, 1996 1 year
Hans Wick February, 1997 1 year
Robert Callander Director September, 1996 1 year
Mr. Theodore Konyi Director February 1999 4 months
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70
Mr. Peter P. Tsaparas, Dr. Ken Z. Cai., Mr. Colin McAleenan and Mr. Donald Hicks
were elected to their positions as officers and directors pursuant to a
shareholders agreement dated February 19, 1996, between Mr. Tsaparas, Mr.
McAleenan, the Registrant and Pacific Canada Resources, which was entered into
in connection with the PCR Agreement discussed in Item 1 of this Registration
Statement. Pursuant to such shareholders' agreement, which has a term of one
year, the parties bound themselves to vote for Mr. Cai and Mr. Tsaparas as
directors and officers of the Registrant for terms of three years, and to vote
for Mr. McAleenan and Mr. Hicks as directors and officers of the Registrant for
terms of one year. Mr. Tsaparas and Mr. McAleenan served as officers and
directors of the Registrant prior to such agreement. Mr. McAleenan ceased to be
a director of the Registrant on April 27, 1998 and ceased to be an officer on
September 15, 1998. Mr. Tsaparas ceased to be a director and officer of the
Company on June 28, 1999.
Mr. T. Wayne Spilsbury was elected a director of the Registrant pursuant to an
agreement dated February 19, 1996, between the Registrant, Teck Corporation and
Cominco, Ltd., discussed in Item 1 of this Registration Statement. Teck and
Cominco are jointly entitled to name one director of the Registrant pursuant to
the terms of such agreement.
The business background and principal occupations of the Registrant's officers
and directors for the preceding five years are as follows:
Peter P. Tsaparas; Mr. Tsaparas has been a director of the Registrant since May
1, 1992 and holds an Earth Science Degree from the University of Athens, Greece.
Mr. Tsaparas is a Professional Engineer registered with the Professional
Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia with 35 years of exploration
experience in North America and abroad. During the past five years, Mr. Tsaparas
has served as a director of several publicly-traded junior resource companies.
Ken Z. Cai, Mr. Cai holds a Ph.D. in mineral economics from Queens University in
Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Cai is a geologist and has 12 years of experience
as a project geologist in China and North America. He has been largely
responsible for identifying the Registrant's Chinese projects and negotiating
the agreements with Chinese entities resulting in the property rights now held
by the Registrant. During the past five years, Mr. Cai has, in addition to
working as an independent geological consultant, served as a research assistant
at Queens University while completing his Ph.D.
T. Wayne Spilsbury, Mr. Spilsbury holds an M.Sc. in Applied Geology from Queens
University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Spilsbury is a professional geologist
and since 1990 has served as a Vice-President with Teck Exploration Ltd. based
first in Vancouver and subsequently in Singapore. He has worked in the industry
for 23 years.
Robert Callander, Mr. Callander holds an MBA from York University, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada as well as a CFA from the Institute for Investment Management,
Charlotte, Virginia. Mr. Callander has worked for Caldwell Securities Ltd. since
1992 and currently serves as a Vice-
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President with that firm. Prior to his engagement with Caldwell Securities Ltd.,
Mr. Callander served as a corporate finance analyst with Nesbitt Burns. He has
worked in the investment industry for 25 years.
Hans J. Wick, Mr. Wick of Zurich, Switzerland has rejoined the board of
directors of the Company. Mr. Wick, an independent portfolio manager who has
held senior management positions with a Swiss bank, brings to the board an
in-depth knowledge of international finance, particularly as it relates to the
development of mineral resource projects.
Theodore H. Konyi, Mr. Konyi has 15 years experience in the field of finance and
investment, and for the past five years has served as President of Maxwell
Mercantile Inc., a full-service merchant banking company specializing in
corporate finance, investor relations and corporate structuring. During his
career, he has been associated with and played an integral role in the success
of numerous business ventures ranging from oil and gas exploration/development
companies to technology companies specializing in such diverse fields as
construction management software and customs tariff software.
ITEM 11. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
The aggregate direct or indirect remuneration paid to the directors and officers
of the Registrant, as a group during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998,
for service to the Registrant in all capacities, was $231,810. Certain
information about payments to particular officers and directors is set out in
the following table:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name and Principal Position Salary Other annual All Other
compensation Compensation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KEN CAI, President, Chief Executive Officer Nil $8,333/Month Nil
and Director
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PETER P. TSAPARAS, Chairman, Chief Nil $2,000/Month Nil
Financial Officer and Director
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLIN MCALEENAN, Former Vice-President - Nil $7,000/Month Nil
Explorations and Former Director
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DONALD HICKS, former Director and Former Nil $6,600/Month Nil
Vice-President - Corp. Development
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the fiscal year of the Registrant ended December 31, 1998, no amounts
were set aside or accrued by the Registrant or its subsidiaries during such year
to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors and officers of
the registrant, pursuant to any existing plan provided or contributed to by the
Registrant or its subsidiaries.
-71-
72
ITEM 12. OPTIONS TO PURCHASE SECURITIES FROM REGISTRANT OR SUBSIDIARIES.
The following table set forth, as of December 31, 1998, all outstanding options
to purchase common shares of the Registrant, there are no options to purchase
shares of any other class of security:
EFFECTIVE DATE
OPTION EXERCISE --------------
HOLDER NUMBER PRICE FROM TO
- ------ ------ ------- ---- --
Ken Cai 321500 $1.41 3/5/96 Mar 5,06
49500 $1.41 6/20/97 20-Jun-07
Peter Tsaparas 181600 $1.41 3/5/96 Mar 5,06
119000 $1.41 6/20/97 20-Jun-07
Wayne Spilsbury 185000 $1.41 3/5/96 Mar 5,06
Colin McAleenan 138000 $1.41 3/5/96 5-Mar-06
47000 $1.41 6/20/97 20-Jun-07
Robert Callander 97300 $1.41 Oct 8,96 8-Oct-06
Han Wick 93700 $1.41 Mar 6,97 6-Mar-07
Jackson Cheng 75000 $1.50 24-Apr-00
Kelvin Szeto 50000 $1.01 Jan12,99 Jan12-00
50000 $1.41 Jan12,99 Jan12-00
Christine Reynolds 35000 $1.01 Jan12,99 Jan12-00
35000 $1.41 Jan12,99 Jan12-00
Yuguo Zhang 35000 $1.01 Jan12,99 Jan12-00
35000 $1.41 Jan12,99 Jan12-00
Selina Chen 5000 $1.01 Jan12,99 Jan12-00
5000 $1.41 Jan12,99 Jan12-00
Allan Thompson 75000 $1.20 Feb4,99 Feb4-01
75000 $1.41 Feb4,99 Feb4-01
-------
TOTAL 1711200 Jan12-00
-------
WARRANTS Jan12-00
- --------
1600000 $2.00 Dec 31,98
125000 $2.00 9-Jul-99
125000 $3.00 9-Jul-99
125000 $3.45 July9-00
Arbora Portfolio Management
125000 $0.85 Jan15,99 Jan15-00
Butraco Limited 150000 $1.20 Feb4,99 Feb4-00
-------
TOTAL 2250000
-------
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73
ITEM 13. INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.
During 1996, the Registrant entered into an agreement, "the PCR Agreement", with
Pacific Canada Resources Inc., a private corporation controlled by Ken Cai and
Donald Hicks, pursuant to which the Registrant acquired 60% interests in mineral
properties in the People's Republic of China. These mineral interests were held
in Temco, a British Virgin Islands corporation. The consideration paid by the
Registrant to Pacific Canada Resources Inc. for these property interests was
7,280,000 common shares of the Registrant and was established pursuant to arms
length negotiations between the Registrant and Pacific Canada Resources Inc. Of
these shares, 4,880,000 shares are subject to the terms of an escrow agreement
and will only be released upon the Registrant satisfying certain earn out
requirements (see Item 4 - "Performance Shares or Escrow Securities"). The
balance of 2,400,000 shares issued to Pacific Canada Resources Inc. were issued
at a deemed price of $0.97 per share based on a valuation of the Emperor's
Delight Property prepared by A.C.A. Howe International dated March 13, 1995.
These amounts are not reflected in the financial statements because Temco is
treated as the accounting parent; therefore the mineral interests are carried at
Temco's costs. Upon the completion of the acquisition of the 60% interest in the
Chinese mineral properties held in Temco from Pacific Canada Resources Inc., Ken
Cai and Donald Hicks became directors and officers of the Registrant (see Item
10 "Directors and Officers of the Registrant"). In addition, the Registrant
agreed to reimburse PCR for a total of $97,800 in legal, accounting and
consulting fees paid by PCR. This amount was recorded as Temco's liability.
Included in this amount is a total of $75,800 in consulting fees paid to Kaisun
Group (Canada) Inc. and 1066098 Ontario Inc., private companies controlled by
Ken Cai and Donald Hicks, respectively.
During the twelve-month period ended December 31, 1996, the Registrant incurred
the following expenses to its directors or corporations controlled by its
directors:
Accounting - $7,100;
Management fees & Consulting- $292,488;
Salary - $40,300;
Rent - $7,020.
In addition, during 1996, the Registrant was a party to the following agreements
involving its officers and directors:
1. Consulting Agreement dated as of June 25, 1996 between the Registrant
and a private company controlled by Ken Cai, the Registrant's current
President and Chief Executive Officer, under the terms of which such
company receives $8,333 per month in exchange for consulting, management
and supervision services in connection with the development of overall
corporate strategy. The term of the Consulting Agreement expires on June
25, 1999.
2. Consulting Agreement dated as of June 25, 1996 between the Registrant
and Peter Tsaparas, the Registrant's current Chairman and Chief
Financial Officer, under the terms of which the Chairman and Chief
Financial Officer receives $2,000 per month in exchange for consulting,
management and supervision services in connection with the development
of
-73-
74
overall corporate strategy. The term of the Consulting Agreement is
month to month. In addition to this Consulting Agreement, the Registrant
has entered into an Employment Agreement dated November 1, 1996 with the
Chairman and Chief Financial Officer under which the Chairman and Chief
Financial Officer receive $2,000 per month for serving as the
Registrant's Chairman on a part-time basis.
3. Consulting Agreement dated as of June 25, 1996 between the Registrant
and Colin McAleenan, the Registrant's former Vice-President, Exploration
under the terms of which the Vice-President, Exploration receives $7,000
per month in exchange for consulting, management, supervision and
resource exploration and development services. The term of the
Consulting Agreement expired on June 25, 1997.
4. Consulting Agreement dated as of June 25, 1996 between the Registrant
and a private company controlled by Donald Hicks, the Registrant's
former Vice-President, Corporate Development under the terms of which
such company received $6,600 per month in exchange for consulting,
management, supervision and administration services. The term of the
Consulting Agreement expired on December 31, 1996.
PART II
ITEM 14. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.
(a) CAPITAL STOCK TO BE REGISTERED.
The Registrant's common shares without par value are the only class of capital
stock to be registered. Pursuant to an amendment to the Registrant's Articles of
Incorporation adopted June 29, 1996 the Registrant has 100,000,000 common shares
authorized, of which 15,745,390 were issued and outstanding as of December 31,
1998.
Each of the common shares has equal dividend, liquidation and voting rights.
Voters of the common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters
that may be brought before them. Holders of the common shares are entitled to
receive dividends when declared by the Board of Directors from funds legally
available therefor. The common shares are not redeemable, have no conversion
rights and carry no pre-emptive or other rights to subscribe for additional
shares. The outstanding common shares are fully paid and non-assessable.
"Free trading" common shares are not subject to any restrictions on resale, and
can be traded without regulatory approval. Free trading shares are generally
qualified by prospectus and issued to the public.
Shares issued by way of "private placement" to certain investors and not to the
public are usually subject to a one-year holding period and cannot be traded
until the relevant holding period has expired. Once the holding period expires,
the shares would become free trading shares. As of March, 31, 1997, all
previously issued restricted outstanding shares had become free trading. See
Item 1 - "Recent Financing."
-74-
75
4,211,689 of the currently outstanding Common Shares are held in escrow,
subject to release or cancellation upon certain conditions. See Item 4
"Performance Shares or Escrow Securities."
The transfer agent and registrar for the common shares of the Registrant is
Montreal Trust Company of Canada, 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, B. C. V6B 5A1.
(b) DEBT SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
Not applicable
(c) AMERICAN DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS
Not applicable
(d) OTHER SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
Not applicable
PART III
ITEM 15. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
Not applicable
ITEM 16. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND CHANGES IN SECURITY FOR REGISTERED
SECURITIES.
Not applicable
PART IV
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
The following financial statements, prepared under reverse takeover accounting
(See Notes 1 and 2 to the Financial Statements) of the Registrant are attached
to this Registration Statement.:
Consent of Independent Accountants
Auditors' Report
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1996 and 1995 (audited)
Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 1997 and 1996 (unaudited)
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit for the years ending December
31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 (audited)
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit for the nine months ending
September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1996 (unaudited)
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Financial Position for the years ending
December 31, 1996 and December 31,1995 (audited)
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Financial Position for the nine months
ending September 30, 1997 and September 30,1996 (unaudited)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
-75-
76
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
Not applicable
ITEM 19. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
Exhibit Index
*3.(i) Articles of Incorporation and all amendments
*3.(ii) Bylaws
**10.1 Assignment of Contracts and Share Purchase Agreements Between
Registrant and Pacific Canada Resources, Inc., dated February 19,
1996
**10.2 Sale and Purchase Agreement between Registrant and China Clipper
Gold Mines, Ltd., dated February 27, 1997
**10.3 Co-operation Agreement Between Registrant and Baiyin Non-Ferrous
Metals Company dated October 18, 1996 regarding the
Changba-Lijiagou Lead-Zinc Deposit
**10.4 Cooperation Agreement Between Pacific Canada Resources, Inc.,
Patrician Gold Mines, Ltd. and the First Geoexploration Bureau of
Ministry of Metallurgical Industry dated November 17, 1994
**10.5 Joint Venture Agreement between Geoexploration Corporation of the
First Geoexploration Bureau and Triple Eight Minerals Corporation
dated December 25, 1995
**10.6 Cooperation Agreement Between Sichuan Bureau of Geology and Mineral
Resources and Registrant dated July 27, 1996
**10.7 Cooperation Agreement Between Registrant and Bureau of Geology and
Mineral Resources of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region dated May 27,
1996
**10.8 Letter of Intent Among Pacific Canada Resources, Inc., Teck
Exploration Ltd. and Baiyin Non-Ferrous Metals Corporation dated
June 6, 1995
**10.9 Investment and Participation Agreement dated February 20, 1996
Among the Registrant, Teck Corporation and Cominco Ltd.
**10.10 Letter of Intent Between Sichuan Bureau of Geology and Mineral
Resources and Registrant dated October 15, 1996
**10.11 Consulting Agreement dated June 25, 1996 between Registrant and
Kaisun Group Canada, Inc.
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77
**10.12 Consulting Agreement dated June 25, 1996 between Registrant and
Peter Tsaparas
**10.13 Employment Agreement dated November 1, 1996 between Registrant and
Peter Tsaparas
**10.14 Consulting Agreement dated June 25, 1996 between Registrant and
Colin McAleenan
**10.15 Consulting Agreement dated June 25, 1996 between Registrant and
1066098 Ontario, Inc.
**10.16 Stock Option Agreement between Registrant and Petros Tsaparas dated
June 2, 1995. Identical, except for price and number of shares to
stock option agreements entered into between Registrant and other
officers and directors
**10.17 Stock Escrow Agreement dated December 24, 1993 between Montreal
Trust Company of Canada, Consolidated Caprock Resources, Ltd. and
certain shareholders of Consolidated Caprock Resources, Ltd.
**10.18 Performance Shares Escrow Agreement dated August 17, 1995 between
Registrant, Montreal Trust Company of Canada and certain
shareholders of Registrant
***10.19 Assignment dated January 17, 1997 from Magko to Registrant
***10.20 Letter of Intent dated May 13, 1997 between Registrant, Magko and
South Kyrgyz Geological Expedition
***10.21 License dated April 11, 1997 from the Agency for Geology and
Mineral Resources of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to Magko
***10.22 Assignment dated April 17, 1997 between Triple Eight Minerals
Corporation and Geoexploration Corporation of the First
Geoexploration Bureau of the People's Republic of China
***10.23 Agreement dated July 16, 1997 between Registrant and Camden
Financial
***10.24 Cooperation Agreement Dated November 17, 1997 between Registrant
and Baiyin Non-Ferrous Metals Company
23.1 Consents of Independent Accountants
23.2 Consent of Independent Geological Consultant - A.C.A. Howe
International, Limited
23.3 Consent of Independent Geological Consultant - H.A. Simons, Ltd.
-77-
78
* Incorporated herein by reference to exhibits 1a and 1b, respectively,
filed with Registrant's original form 20F filed May 29, 1997, withdrawn
July 21, 1997
** Incorporated herein by reference to exhibits 3a through 3r respectively,
filed with Registrant's original form 20F filed May 29, 1997, withdrawn
July 21, 1997
*** Incorporated herein by reference to Registrant's Registration on Form 29F,
which became effective March 21, 1998
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form 20-F and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to its registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
Minco Mining & Metals Corporation
---------------------------------------------
(Registrant)
/s/ Ken Z. Cai
---------------------------------------------
(Signature)
Ken Z. Cai, President and C.E.O.
---------------------------------------------
(Print name and title of signing officer)
Date: June 30, 1999
------------------
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79
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
INDEX
Auditors' Report
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Consolidated Statement of Operations and Deficit
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Financial Position
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
80
]
ELLIS FOSTER
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
1650 West 1st Avenue
Vancouver, BC Canada V6J 1G1
Telephone: (604) 734-1112 Facsimile: (604) 734-1502
E-Mail: generaldelivery@ellisfoster.bc.ca
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUDITORS' REPORT
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of MINCO MINING & METALS
CORPORATION as at December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995 and the consolidated
statements of operations and deficit and changes in financial position for the
periods then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in Canada. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain
reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the company as at December 31,
1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995 and the results of its operations and the changes in
its financial position for the periods then ended in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in Canada. As required by the Company Act of
British Columbia, we report that, in our opinion, these principles have been
applied on a basis consistent with that of preceding period.
Vancouver, Canada "ELLIS FOSTER"
January 25, 1999 Chartered
Accountants
COMMENTS BY AUDITS FOR U.S. READERS ON CANADA-U.S. GENERALLY ACCEPTED
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in Canada, which conforms with
the GAAP in United States in most respects. The additional disclosures and
reconciliation of financial statement items to conform with U.S. GAAP are
summarized in Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements.
Vancouver, Canada "ELLIS FOSTER"
January 25, 1999 Chartered
Accountants
81
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheet
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
========================================================================================================
Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31
1998 1997 1996 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
CURRENT
Cash and temporary investments $ 2,966,958 $ 4,286,871 $ 6,832,801 $ --
Funds restricted for mineral exploration 213,598 65,329 537,500 --
Accounts receivable 17,630 50,765 21,454 --
Prepaid expenses and deposits 64,017 38,263 68,808 39,072
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3,262,203 4,441,228 7,460,563 39,072
MINERAL INTEREST (Note 3) 1,654,593 1,812,908 786,476 --
CAPITAL ASSETS (Note 4) 264,045 211,329 79,317 --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 5,180,841 $ 6,465,465 $ 8,326,356 $ 39,072
========================================================================================================
LIABILITIES
CURRENT
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 139,554 $ 167,959 $ 221,619 $ 49,458
NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST -- -- 541,389 --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
139,554 167,959 763,008 49,458
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
SHARE CAPITAL (Note 5) 9,613,333 8,872,968 8,662,468 810
DEFICIT (4,572,046) (2,575,462) (1,099,120) (11,196)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,041,287 6,297,506 7,563,348 (10,386)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMITMENTS (Note 8)
$ 5,180,841 $ 6,465,465 $ 8,326,356 $ 39,072
========================================================================================================
APPROVED BY THE DIRECTORS: "Ken Cai" "Peter Tsaparas"
--------- ----------------
Ken Cai Peter Tsaparas
82
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Consolidated Statement of Operations and Deficit
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
=====================================================================================================
Three
Year Year Year Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec 31
1998 1997 1996 1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEREST AND SUNDRY INCOME $ 197,068 $ 265,388 $ 119,190 $ --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSES
Accounting and audit 82,540 64,675 79,809 --
Advertising 20,826 37,814 31,143 --
Amortization 60,132 34,104 23,708 --
Capital tax 15,015 20,612 -- --
Conference 5,409 42,270 50,608 --
Donation 3,800 -- -- --
Entertainment 30,866 48,422 16,939 --
Investor relations - consulting 90,097 147,729 65,087 --
Legal 40,820 53,839 108,170 11,736
Listing, filing and transfer agents 51,841 71,722 24,943 --
Management fees 97,559 95,657 261,845 --
Office and miscellaneous 50,295 96,779 71,192 --
Printing 28,915 74,372 29,223 --
Promotion and government relations 78,206 132,757 59,477 --
Property investigation 129,812 139,390 188,468 --
Rent 138,486 162,143 70,205 --
Salaries and benefits 97,217 170,731 43,496 --
Telephone 55,851 71,926 40,451 --
Travel and transportation 52,811 103,061 93,744 --
Foreign exchange gain (2,254) (16,898) (22,213) --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,128,244 1,551,105 1,236,295 11,736
OPERATING LOSS (931,176) (1,285,717) (1,117,105) (11,736)
MINERAL INTERESTS WRITTEN OFF (Note 6) 1,065,408 191,170 -- --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET LOSS BEFORE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST (1,996,584) (1,476,887) (1,117,105) (11,736)
NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST -- 545 29,181 540
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET LOSS FOR THE PERIOD (1,996,584) (1,476,342) (1,087,924) (11,196)
DEFICIT, beginning of period (2,575,462) (1,099,120) (11,196) --
=====================================================================================================
DEFICIT, end of period $(4,572,046) $(2,575,462) $(1,099,120) $ (11,196)
=====================================================================================================
LOSS PER SHARE $ (0.13) $ (0.10) $ (0.11) $ (0.00)
=====================================================================================================
83
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Financial Position
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
================================================================================================================
Three
Year Year Year Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec 31
1998 1997 1996 1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss for the period $(1,996,584) $(1,476,342) $(1,087,924) $ (11,196)
Items not involving cash:
- amortization 60,132 34,104 23,708 --
- non-controlling interest's share of loss -- (545) (29,181) (540)
- mineral interests written off 1,065,408 191,170 -- --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(871,044) (1,251,613) (1,093,397) (11,736)
Net change in non-cash working capital (21,024) (52,426) 120,971 10,386
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(892,068) (1,304,039) (972,426) (1,350)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Shares issued for acquisition of subsidiary -- -- 66,847 --
Shares issued for cash, net of issuance costs 740,365 158,000 8,594,811 1,350
Shares issued for mineral interest finder's fee -- 52,500 -- --
Exploration fund contributed by
non-controlling interest -- -- 570,570 --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
740,365 210,500 9,232,228 1,350
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of capital assets (130,800) (176,779) (78,816) --
Acquisition of mineral interests -- (104,446) (300) --
Acquisition of non-controlling shareholder's
interest in Temco -- (175,000) -- --
Acquisition of capital assets and mineral
interest in subsidiary -- -- (24,309) --
Deferred exploration costs, excluding
amortization (889,141) (1,468,337) (786,076) --
Decrease (Increase) in funds restricted
for mineral exploration (148,269) 472,171 (537,500) --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1,168,210) (1,452,391) (1,427,001) --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH POSITION (1,319,913) (2,545,930) 6,832,801 --
CASH POSITION, beginning of period 4,286,871 6,832,801 -- --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH POSITION, end of period $ 2,966,958 $ 4,286,871 $ 6,832,801 $ --
================================================================================================================
84
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
Minco Mining & Metals Corporation ("the Company") and its
wholly-owned British Virgin Island subsidiary, Triple Eight Mineral
Corporation ("Temco"). All material inter-company balances have
been eliminated.
Temco was incorporated on September 1, 1995 and commenced active
business on October 1, 1995. As disclosed in Note 2, Temco is the
accounting parent. The consolidated statement of operations includes
Temco's results of operations from October 1, 1995 and the Company's
results of operations from the effective date of the reverse
takeover, being February 19, 1996.
(b) Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of
revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ
from those estimates.
(c) Capital Assets
Amortization is provided as follows:
Motor vehicles 30% per annum, declining-balance basis
Mining equipment 30% per annum, declining-balance basis
Computer equipment 30% per annum, declining-balance basis
Office equipment and furniture 20% per annum, declining-balance basis
Leasehold improvements 20% per annum, straight-line basis
Amortization is provided at half the annual rate during the year of
acquisition except for leasehold improvement.
85
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
(d) Mineral Interests
The Company follows the method of accounting for its mineral
interests whereby all direct costs related to acquisition,
exploration and development are capitalized by property.
Management periodically reviews and obtains independent geologist
reports in determining if adjustments to the carrying values of each
of its mineral properties, on a property-by-property basis, are
required to record those properties at net realizable value. The
ultimate recoverability of the amounts capitalized for the mineral
properties is dependent upon the delineation of economically
recoverable ore reserves, the Company's ability to obtain the
necessary financing to complete their development and realize
profitable production or proceeds from the disposition thereof.
Management's estimates of recoverability of the Company's investment
in various projects have been based on current conditions. However,
it is reasonably possible that changes could occur in the near term
which could adversely affect management's estimates and may result
in future write-downs of capitalized property carrying values.
On the commencement of commercial production, costs will be
amortized on the unit-of-production method over proven and probable
reserves.
The Company does not accrue the estimated costs of maintaining its
mineral interests in good standing.
Ownership in mineral interests involves certain inherent risks due
to the difficulties in determining the validity of certain claims as
well as the potential for problems arising from the frequently
ambiguous conveyancing history characteristic of many mineral
interests. The Company has investigated ownership of its mineral
interests and, to the best of its knowledge, ownership of its
interests are in good standing.
(e) Conduct of Business
At present, the Company conducts its mineral exploration activities
through joint ventures. All of its joint venture agreements require
the Company to spend certain minimum amounts on exploration
expenditures to earn interests in mineral properties. Therefore, on
a project-by-project basis, the Company spends and records 100% of
the exploration expenditures until the interest is earned.
86
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
(f) Property Option Agreements
From time to time, the Company may acquire or dispose of properties
pursuant to the terms of option agreements. Due to the fact that
options are exercisable entirely at the discretion of the optionee,
the amounts payable or receivable are not recorded. Option payments
are recorded as resource property costs or recoveries when the
payments are made or received.
(g) Foreign Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are
translated into Canadian dollars at exchange rates in effect at the
balance sheet date for monetary items and at exchange rates
prevailing at the transaction dates for non-monetary items. Revenues
and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing
during the period except for amortization which is translated at
historical exchange rates. Gain and losses on translation are
included as income for the period.
2. ACQUISITION OF TRIPLE EIGHT MINERAL CORPORATION ("TEMCO")
(a) Pursuant to an assignment of contracts and share purchase agreement
dated February 19, 1996, the Company issued 2,400,000 free-trading
shares and 4,880,000 escrow shares in exchange for 60% of the issued
and outstanding shares of Temco and certain contractual interests.
Temco owns certain contractual rights in respect of the following
mineral properties in China:
(i) Emperor's Delight and Lengkou
(ii) Crystal Valley
(iii) Stone Lake
This transaction resulted in the 60% former shareholder of Temco
owning the majority of the issued and outstanding shares of the
Company. Accounting principles applicable to reverse takeovers have
been applied to record this acquisition using the purchase method of
accounting. Under this basis of accounting, Temco has been
identified as the acquirer and, accordingly, the consolidated entity
is considered to be a continuation of Temco with the net assets of
the Company deemed to have been acquired by Temco for a fair market
value of $66,847.
87
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. ACQUISITION OF TRIPLE EIGHT MINERAL CORPORATION ("TEMCO") (continued)
(a) (continued)
The net assets of the Company acquired by Temco are summarized as
follows:
Cash $ 142,446
Mineral interests 100
Capital assets 24,209
Current liabilities (99,908)
----------------------------------------------------------
$ 66,847
==========================================================
(b) The results of operations of the Company, the accounting subsidiary,
for the period January 1, 1996 to February 19, 1996 are summarized
as follows:
Interest income $ 1,167
----------------------------------------------------------
Expenses
Amortization 893
Filing and listing 3,560
Investor relations 6,935
Professional fees 40,132
Property investigation 2,817
Salaries and benefits 16,317
Management fees 3,333
General administration 17,611
----------------------------------------------------------
91,598
----------------------------------------------------------
Loss for the period $ (90,431)
==========================================================
(c) Pursuant to an assignment of contracts and share purchase agreement
dated March 27, 1997, the Company paid $175,000 in cash to acquire
the remaining 40% of the issued and outstanding shares of Temco and
certain contractual interests as stated above.
Purchase method of accounting has been applied to record the
acquisition. The fair value of net assets acquired are summarized as
follows:
Funds restricted for mineral exploration $ 146,809
Mineral interests (book value $416,128) 50,283
Current liabilities (22,092)
--------------------------------------------------------
$ 175,000
========================================================
88
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. MINERAL INTERESTS
1998 1997 1996 1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emperor's Delight $ 89,316 $ 89,316 $ 451,492 $ --
Lengkou -- 364,811 -- --
Crystal Valley 100 100 100 --
Stone Lake 100 100 100 --
Changba Lijiagou
Lead-Zinc Deposit 134,803 82,696 28,065 --
White-Silver Mountain 623,081 3,700 -- --
Chapuzi 330,218 328,762 153,416 --
Xifanping Gold Deposits -- 47,240 -- --
Heavenly Mountains 436,519 621,367 153,303 --
Savoyardinskii -- 274,816 -- --
Inner Mongolia 40,456 -- -- --
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,654,593 $1,812,908 $ 786,476 $ --
=========================================================================
(a) The Emperor's Delight and Lengkou properties are located in Hebei
Province, China. Pursuant to the Joint Venture Agreement, Temco can
earn a 55% interest in the properties by spending US$4.4 million
over a five-year period.
The Company decided to discontinue further exploration work on the
Lengkou property in 1998.
(b) The Crystal Valley and Stone Lake properties are located in Hebei
Province, China. These projects are subject to the approval of the
appropriate Chinese government authorities.
(c) The Company acquired its rights to the Changba-Lijiagou Lead Zinc
Project located in Ganzu Province, China through the "Cooperation
Agreement Regarding the Development of the Changba Lijiagou Lead
Zinc Deposit" between the Company and Baiyin Non Ferrous Metals
Corporation ("BNMC") signed on November 17, 1997. The Company can
earn a 75% interest in the deposits of Deep Changba, Lijiagou and
the Joint Area by taking the project through development, to
produce 3,500 tonnes of ore per day. Besides the deposits, BNMC is
also contributing the existing 3,500 tonnes per day on site
concentrator and all related infrastructure.
89
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. MINERAL INTERESTS (continued)
(d) The Company acquired its rights to the White Silver Mountain
project located in Gansu Province, China through the "Cooporation
Agreement for Mineral Exploration and Development" between the
Company and Baiyin Non Ferrous Metals Corporation ("BNMC") signed
on November 17, 1997. The project includes exploration ground in
or around a number of past and presently producing properties in
the Baiyin Ore Field located close to the city of Baiyin, Gansu
Province, China. Pursuant to the Joint Venture Agreement signed on
August 28, 1998, the Company will earn an 80% interest in the
entire property by expending not less than US$4.8 million on
exploration work within six years from the date the Joint Venture
business licence was granted.
An option was granted to Teck Corporation ("the Optionee") to
acquire 70% of the Company's interest in the White Silver Mountain
Project. In order to exercise the option, the Optionee must:
(i) subscribe for and complete a private placement of 375,000
shares at a price of $2.00 per share (subscribed and completed
on July 9, 1998). The private placement includes three (3)
sets of share purchase warrants, each warrant entitling the
Optionee to purchase one additional common shares of the
Company at escalating prices as follows:
o 125,000 of the warrants shall be exercisable at a price of
$2.00 per share on or before July 9, 1999;
o 125,000 of the warrants shall be exercisable at a price of
$3.00 per share on or before July 9, 1999; and
o 125,000 of the warrants shall be exercisable at a price of
$3.45 per share on or before July 9, 2000.
(ii) exercise the second warrants on or before their expiry date
(for gross proceeds to the Company of $375,000);
(iii) fund all of the Company's obligations to incur exploration and
development expenditures on the property, pursuant to the
Joint Venture Agreement;
(iv) prepare a preliminary feasibility study on at least one
mineral deposit on the property in form satisfactory to the
Company and Baiyin Nonferrous Metals Company, on or before
June 10, 2001; and
(v) prepare a feasibility study on the same deposit and, in the
event of a positive and bankable feasibility study, arrange
all financing required to place this deposit into commercial
production on or before June 10, 2002.
90
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. MINERAL INTERESTS (continued)
(d) (continued)
The Company must use 100% of the proceeds of the private placement
($750,000) to fund the Phase I diamond drilling and surface
exploration program the project. All proceeds from the exercise of
any warrants, however, will be used by the Company for its general
corporate purposes and will not be applied towards work on the White
Silver Mountain Project. The property interest retained by the
Company will be a carried interest.
(e) The Chapuzi property is located in Sichuan Province, China. The
Company has entered into a cooperative joint venture agreement with
the Sichuan Bureau of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources
on this property.
Pursuant to the agreement, the Company shall have the right to earn
a 51% interest by spending $5 million on exploration and development
in the Chapuzi Gold Deposit. The Company may earn a 75% interest by
placing the project into production.
(f) The Xifanping property is located in Sichuan Province, China.
Initial due diligence studies on the Xifanping project are being
performed. The Company has an exclusive right to negotiate and enter
into a joint venture contract on the Xifanping property, subject to
the approval of the appropriate Chinese government authorities. The
Company decided to discontinue further exploration work on this
property in 1998.
(g) The Heavenly Mountains properties are located in Xinjiang Province,
China. The Company has an exclusive right to negotiate and enter
into a joint venture contract with the Xinjiang Bureau of the
Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources and to invest in certain
mineral properties located in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in
China.
In 1998, the Company abandoned a portion of these properties.
(h) The Savoyardinskii gold/antimony property is located in the
Savoyardinskii area in Karakuldzinskii Region, Osh Oblast, Kyrgyz
Republic. A finder's fee comprising US$35,000 and 35,000 common
shares of the Company was paid and issued in connection with the
acquisition of the property.
The Company abandoned this project in 1998.
(i) The Inner Mongolia property is located in Inner Mongolia Autonomous
Region, China. Pursuant to the Cooperative Joint Venture Agreement,
the Company can earn a 75% interest in the property by spending
around US$2.5 million over a four-year period.
The agreement is subject to the approval of the Chinese government.
91
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CAPITAL ASSETS
1998 1997 1996 1995
---------------------------------------- -------- -------- -----------
Accumulated Net book Net book Net book Net book
Cost Amortization value value value value
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer equipment $ 59,449 $ 32,144 $ 27,305 $ 32,841 $ 26,762 $ --
Office equipment
and furniture 76,272 27,499 48,773 49,290 32,037 --
Leasehold
improvements 25,648 15,389 10,259 15,389 20,518 --
Motor vehicles 59,309 24,020 35,289 50,413 -- --
Mining equipment 189,927 47,508 142,419 63,396 -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$410,605 $146,560 $264,045 $211,329 $ 79,317 $ --
==================================================================================================================
The amount of amortization deferred and included in mineral interests are
as follows:
1998 1997 1996 1995
------- ------- ---- ----
$17,952 $10,664 $ -- $ --
======= ======= ==== ====
92
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. SHARE CAPITAL
(d) Authorized: 100,000,000 common shares without par value
(e) Issued:
Shares Amount
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1995 *2,785,873 $ *810
Shares issued to effect the acquisition of subsidiary plus 7,380,000 66,847
100,000 shares for finder's fee (Note 2a)
Issued of escrow shares at $0.01 per share 437,500 4,375
Issued pursuant to exercise of options at $1.00 per share 146,750 146,750
Issued pursuant to a private placement at $0.80 per share 1,250,000 1,000,000
Issued pursuant to an Exchange Offering Prospectus at 3,200,000 7,441,686
$2.55 per share, net of commission and professional
fees of $718,314
Issued pursuant to exercise of options at $1.00 per share 2,000 2,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1996 15,202,123 8,662,468
Issued pursuant to exercise of warrants at
$1.20 per share 125,000 150,000
Issued pursuant to exercise of options at $1.00 per share 8,000 8,000
Issued for finder's fee at $1.50 per share (Note 3h) 35,000 52,500
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1997 15,370,123 8,872,968
Issued pursuant to a private placement, less share 375,000 740,365
issuance cost of $9,635
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1998 15,745,123 $9,613,333
===================================================================================================
*The number of shares equals the shares outstanding in the Company and
the capital amount equals to the amount of 60% of issued and
outstanding shares of Temco (see Note 2).
(f) As at December 31, 1998, 4,211,689 of the shares issued are held in
escrow, the release of which is subject to the direction of the
regulatory authorities.
93
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. SHARE CAPITAL (continued)
(g) Stock options outstanding at December 31, 1998:
Number of Shares Exercise Price Expiry Date
---------------- -------------- -----------
826,100 $1.41 March 5, 2006
215,500 $1.41 June 20, 2007
97,300 $1.41 October 8, 2006
97,300 $1.41 March 6, 2007
75,000 $1.50 April 24, 2000
---------
1,311,200
=========
(e) Warrants outstanding at December 31, 1998:
Number of Shares Exercise Price Expiry Date
---------------- -------------- -----------
1,600,000 $2.00 June 30, 1999
125,000 $2.00 July 9, 1999
125,000 $3.00 July 9, 1999
125,000 $3.45 July 9, 2000
---------
1,975,000
=========
6. MINERAL INTEREST WRITTEN OFF
In 1997, the Company entered into a cooperation agreement with a
subsidiary of China National Non Ferrous Metals Industry Corporation to
fund 100% of the early stage exploration program in certain mineral
properties located in West Kunlun and West Tian Shan regions of Xinjiang
Province, China. The Company decided to abandon the project after the
early stage exploration program and all related costs of $191,170 have
been written off.
In 1998, the Company has written off partly or in full the related costs
of the following mineral interests:
Lengkou (Note 3a) $ 409,372
Xifanping Gold Deposits (Note 3f) 80,744
Heavenly Mountains (Note 3g) 218,260
Savoyardinskii (Note 3h) 357,032
----------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1,065,408
================================================================
94
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
(a) The Company incurred the following expenses to its directors and
corporations controlled by its directors:
1998 1997 1996 1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accounting $ -- $ -- $ 7,100 $ --
Management fees and salaries 150,011 145,089 275,078 --
Property investigation 13,825 20,536 27,408 --
Rent 12,667 -- 7,020 --
Deferred exploration costs 83,383 108,097 30,302 --
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$259,886 $273,722 $346,908 $ --
=======================================================================================
(b) Included in accounts payable are the following amounts due to a
director and a corporation controlled by a director of the Company:
1998 1997 1996 1995
------- ------- ------- -------
$56,000 $51,632 $49,458 $49,458
======= ======= ======= =======
8. COMMITMENTS
As at December 31, 1998, the Company has commitments in respect of office
leases requiring minimum payments of $148,608 within the next three years,
as follows:
1999 $ 84,142
2000 40,366
2001 24,100
-----------------------------------------------------
$148,608
=====================================================
9. COMPARATIVE FIGURES
Certain comparative figures for prior periods have been reclassified to
conform with the financial statement presentation adopted for 1998.
10. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The fair value of the Company's cash and temporary investments, accounts
receivable and accounts payable and accrued liabilities were estimated to
approximate their carrying values due to the immediate or short term
maturity of the financial instruments. The Company is not exposed to
significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from these
financial statements.
95
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Subsequent to December 31, 1998, the Company issued 250,000 shares at
$0.85 per share for $212,500 and 150,000 shares at $1.00 per share for
$150,000 pursuant to private placements.
12. THE YEAR 2000 ISSUE
The Year 2000 issue arises from the fact that many computer systems
express years by using two digits rather than four, with the assumption
that the first two digits are always "19". Such systems, if not modified
or replaced, could misinterpret the year before and after January 1, 2000
(e.g., read "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000). The results
could range from miscalculations to system failure, causing a temporary
inability to process transactions or engage in normal business activities.
Due to the general uncertainty inherent in the Year 2000 issue, resulting
in part from the uncertainty of the Year 2000 readiness in other parties,
the Company is unable to determine at this time whether the Year 2000
issue will have a material and adverse impact on the Company's operations.
13. RECONCILIATION OF CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with
Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") which conforms
with the GAAP in United States in most aspects. The following present
additional disclosures and reconciliation of financial statement items to
conform with U.S. GAAP:
(a) Cash and Temporary Investments
Under U.S. GAAP, cash and cash equivalent are considered to be cash
and temporary investments with a remaining maturity of three months
or less at the time of purchase. Temporary investments with original
maturities of three months or more would be disclosed as marketable
securities. Under U.S. GAAP, cash and temporary investments, as
presented in the consolidated balance sheet, would be disclosed as
follows:
1998 1997 1996 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalent $ 387,128 $ 192,662 $5,118,866 $ --
Securities available for resale 2,579,830 4,094,209 1,713,935 --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and temporary investments
(per Canadian GAAP) $2,966,958 $4,286,871 $6,832,801 $ --
======================================================================================
96
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. RECONCILIATION OF CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY
ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (continued)
a) Cash and Temporary Investments (continued)
Securities available for sale are mainly Government of Canada
Treasury Bills, debts issued or guaranteed by the Government of
Canada, the Provincial governments in Canada and crown corporations
in Canada and are carried at cost, which are not significantly
different from their market values. There were no material
unrealised gains or losses on securities available for sale.
(b) Impairment of Long-lived Assets
In March 1995, the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board
("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121
("SFAS No. 121"), "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived
Assets and Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of." SFAS No. 121
requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangible
assets being held and used by an entity be reviewed for impairment
by estimating the fair value of future cash flows from use and
disposition of the assets whenever circumstances indicate that the
carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. There was no
effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements of
adopting SFAS No. 121 as required by U.S. GAAP.
(c) Mineral Interests
U.S. GAAP requires that cost of mineral interests not be deferred
and capitalized until there is evidence of economically recoverable
resources. Accordingly, the Company's costs incurred for mineral
interests will not be capitalized for U.S. GAAP purposes as the
Company is at present exploring its properties for economically
recoverable ore reserves. The effect of the write-off is presented
in Notes 13(h) and 13(i).
(d) Loss Per Share
In February 1996, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
128 ("SFAS 128"), "Earnings per Share" was issued by the U.S.
FASB. SFAS No. 128 established standards for computing and
presenting earnings per share ("EPS") and simplifies the existing
standards. This standard replaced the presentation of primary EPS
with a presentation of basic EPS. It also requires the dual
presentation of basic and diluted EPS on the face of the statement
of operations for all entities with complex capital structures and
requires a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the
basic EPS computation to the numerator and denominator of the
diluted EPS computation. There was no effect on the Company's
consolidated financial statements in adopting SFAS No. 128 as
required by U.S. GAAP.
97
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. RECONCILIATION OF CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY
ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (continued)
(e) Escrow Shares
Escrow shares (see Note 5c) may be released, upon application, on
the basis of 15% of the original number of escrow shares for every
$100,000 expended on exploration and development of a resource
property provided that no more than 50% of the original number of
escrow shares may be released in any twelve-month period. In
addition, where administrative expenses exceed 33% of total
expenditures during the period of application, then the release
factor of 15% will be reduced to 7.5% and the percentage of the
original number of escrow shares available for release in any
twelve-month period will be reduced to 25%.
U.S. GAAP requires that the fair value of the shares at the time
they are released from escrow should be recognized as a charge to
income as a compensation expense. In 1998, 1,230,811 shares were
released. The fair value of the shares when they were released was
$1.20 per share. Its effect on the Company's consolidated financial
statements is presented in Note 13(h) and 13(i).
There were no share released from escrow during the other periods as
presented.
As escrow shares are contingently cancellable, they are excluded
from the calculation of weighted average number of shares for
purpose of loss per share under U.S. GAAP. Its effect on the
Company's consolidated financial statements is presented in Note
13(h).
(f) Stock Compensation Expense
In October 1995, the U.S. FASB issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS No. 123"), "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation." SFAS No. 123 establishes financial
accounting and reporting standards for stock-based employee
compensation plans. The statement encourages all entities to adopt a
fair value based method of accounting, but allows an entity to
continue to measure compensation cost for those plans using the
intrinsic value based method of accounting prescribed by APB Opinion
No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." Stock
compensation expense under stock option plan is computed as the
excess between the market value of shares and the option's exercise
price times the number of shares issuable when the option is
granted. The amount is then recognized in the operations statement
over the vesting period. The effect on the Company's consolidated
financial statements on adopting SFAS No. 123 as required by U.S.
GAAP is presented in Notes 13(h) and 13(i).
98
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. RECONCILIATION OF CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY
ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (continued)
(g) U.S. GAAP requires additional disclosures of stock options, as
follows:
Number of Exercise
Shares Price Expiry Date
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1994
and 1995 156,750 $1.00 June 2, 2000
Options granted 1,050,000 $1.85 March 5, 2001
Options granted 100,000 $2.90 October 18, 2001
Options exercised (148,750) $1.00
---------
Balance, December 31, 1996 1,158,000
Options cancelled (1,050,000) $1.85 March 5, 2001
Options cancelled (100,000) $2.90 October 18, 2001
Options granted 215,500 $1.41 June 20, 2007
Options granted 250,000 $1.45 July 16, 2002
Options exercised (8,000) $1.00
Options granted 12,500 $1.34 November 7, 2002
Options granted 38,300 $1.75 December 18, 2002
Options granted 826,100 $1.41 March 5, 2006
Options granted 97,300 $1.41 October 8, 2006
Options granted 97,300 $1.41 March 6, 2007
---------
Balance, December 31, 1997 1,537,000
Option cancelled (250,000) $1.45 July 16, 2002
Option cancelled (12,500) $1.34 November 7, 2002
Option cancelled (38,300) $1.75 December 18, 2002
Option granted 75,000 $1.50 April 24, 2000
---------
Balance, December 31, 1998 1,311,200 (see Note 5d)
=========
99
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. RECONCILIATION OF CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY
ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (continued)
(h) Consolidated operating statement items as per U.S. GAAP, are as
follows:
Three
Year Year Year Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31
1998 1997 1996 1995
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss for the period
(Canadian GAAP) $ (1,996,584) $ (1,476,342) $ (1,087,924) $ (11,196)
Release of escrow shares as
compensation expense (1,476,973) -- -- --
Mineral interests recovery
(written off) 158,315 (1,026,432) (786,476) --
Stock compensation expense (159,365) (159,365) (17,800) --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss for the period (U.S. GAAP) $ (3,474,607) $ (2,662,139) $ (1,892,200) $ (11,196)
==========================================================================================================
Deficit, beginning of
period (Canadian GAAP) $ (2,575,462) $ (1,099,120) $ (11,196) $ --
Mineral interest written off (1,812,908) (786,476) -- --
Stock compensation expense (177,165) (17,800) -- --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deficit, beginning of period
(U.S. GAAP) $ (4,565,535) $ (1,903,396) $ (11,196) $ --
==========================================================================================================
Deficit, end of period (U.S. GAAP) $ (8,040,142) $ (4,565,535) $ (1,903,396) $ (11,196)
==========================================================================================================
Weighted average number of
shares for purposes
of loss per share (U.S. GAAP) 10,749,141 9,869,355 5,582,498 2,386,900
==========================================================================================================
Loss per share (U.S. GAAP) $ 0.323 $ 0.270 $ 0.339 $ 0.005
==========================================================================================================
100
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. RECONCILIATION OF CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY
ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (continued)
(i) Consolidated balance sheet items in accordance with U.S. GAAP are as
follows:
1998 1997 1996 1995
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mineral interest
(Canadian GAAP) $ 1,654,593 $ 1,812,908 $ 786,476 $ --
Mineral interest written off (1,654,593) (1,812,908) (786,476) --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mineral interest (US GAAP) $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
======================================================================================================================
Share capital (Canadian GAAP) $ 9,613,333 $ 8,872,968 $ 8,662,468 $ 810
Release of escrow shares 1,476,973 -- -- --
Stock option compensation 1,350,241 1,350,241 111,000 --
Deferred stock compensation expense (1,013,711) (1,173,076) (93,200) --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share capital (US GAAP) $ 11,426,836 $ 9,050,133 $ 8,680,268 $ 810
======================================================================================================================
(j) Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
The consolidated statement of cash flows, as presented in the
consolidated financial statements is prepared in accordance to U.S.
GAAP.
The Company has the following non-cash investing and financing
activities:
(i) In 1996, 7,280,000 shares of the Company were issued to effect
the exchange for 60% of the issued and outstanding shares of
Temco and the acquisition of the net asset of the Company
under reverse takeover accounting principles (see Note 2a).
100,000 shares were also issued as finder's fee in connection
with the above transaction.
(ii) In 1997, 35,000 shares were issued as finder's fee in
connection with the acquisition of the Savoyardinskii
gold/antimony property.
101
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
==============================================================================================================
Three
Year Year Year Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec 31
1998 1997 1996 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss for the period (Note 13h) $(3,474,607) $(2,662,139) $(1,892,200) $ (11,196)
Items not involving cash:
- amortization 60,132 34,104 23,708 --
- non-controlling interest's shares of loss -- (545) (29,181) (540)
- mineral interests written off 907,093 1,217,602 786,476 --
- stock compensation expense 159,365 159,365 17,800 --
- escrow share compensation 1,476,973 -- -- --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(871,044) (1,251,613) (1,093,397) (11,736)
Changes in non-cash working capital
- securities available for resale 1,514,379 (2,380,274) (1,713,935) --
- funds restricted for mineral exploration (148,269) 472,171 (537,500) --
- accounts receivable 33,135 (29,311) (21,454) --
- prepaid expenses (25,754) 30,545 (29,736) (39,072)
- accounts payable (28,405) (53,660) 72,253 49,458
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
474,042 (3,212,142) (3,323,769) (1,350)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of capital assets (130,800) (176,779) (78,816) --
Acquisition of non-controlling shareholders'
interest in Temco -- (175,000) -- --
Mineral interests acquisition and
exploration costs (889,141) (1,520,283) (786,376) --
Cash balance of subsidiary when acquired -- -- 142,446 --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1,019,941) (1,872,062) (722,746) --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Shares issued for cash, net of issuance costs 740,365 158,000 8,594,811 1,350
Exploration fund contributed by
non-controlling shareholders -- -- 570,570 --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
740,365 158,000 9,165,381 1,350
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENT 194,466 (4,926,204) 5,118,866 --
102
MINCO MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENT,
beginning of period 192,662 5,118,866 - -
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
end of period (Note 13a) $ 387,128 $ 192,662 $ 5,118,866 $ -
==============================================================================================================
103
EXHIBIT INDEX
*3.(i) Articles of Incorporation and all amendments
*3.(ii) Bylaws
**10.1 Assignment of Contracts and Share Purchase Agreements Between
Registrant and Pacific Canada Resources, Inc., dated February 19,
1996
**10.2 Sale and Purchase Agreement between Registrant and China Clipper
Gold Mines, Ltd., dated February 27, 1997
**10.3 Co-operation Agreement Between Registrant and Baiyin Non-Ferrous
Metals Company dated October 18, 1996 regarding the
Changba-Lijiagou Lead-Zinc Deposit
**10.4 Cooperation Agreement Between Pacific Canada Resources, Inc.,
Patrician Gold Mines, Ltd. and the First Geoexploration Bureau of
Ministry of Metallurgical Industry dated November 17, 1994
**10.5 Joint Venture Agreement between Geoexploration Corporation of the
First Geoexploration Bureau and Triple Eight Minerals Corporation
dated December 25, 1995
**10.6 Cooperation Agreement Between Sichuan Bureau of Geology and Mineral
Resources and Registrant dated July 27, 1996
**10.7 Cooperation Agreement Between Registrant and Bureau of Geology and
Mineral Resources of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region dated May 27,
1996
**10.8 Letter of Intent Among Pacific Canada Resources, Inc., Teck
Exploration Ltd. and Baiyin Non-Ferrous Metals Corporation dated
June 6, 1995
**10.9 Investment and Participation Agreement dated February 20, 1996
Among the Registrant, Teck Corporation and Cominco Ltd.
**10.10 Letter of Intent Between Sichuan Bureau of Geology and Mineral
Resources and Registrant dated October 15, 1996
**10.11 Consulting Agreement dated June 25, 1996 between Registrant and
Kaisun Group Canada, Inc.
104
**10.12 Consulting Agreement dated June 25, 1996 between Registrant and
Peter Tsaparas
**10.13 Employment Agreement dated November 1, 1996 between Registrant and
Peter Tsaparas
**10.14 Consulting Agreement dated June 25, 1996 between Registrant and
Colin McAleenan
**10.15 Consulting Agreement dated June 25, 1996 between Registrant and
1066098 Ontario, Inc.
**10.16 Stock Option Agreement between Registrant and Petros Tsaparas dated
June 2, 1995. Identical, except for price and number of shares to
stock option agreements entered into between Registrant and other
officers and directors
**10.17 Stock Escrow Agreement dated December 24, 1993 between Montreal
Trust Company of Canada, Consolidated Caprock Resources, Ltd. and
certain shareholders of Consolidated Caprock Resources, Ltd.
**10.18 Performance Shares Escrow Agreement dated August 17, 1995 between
Registrant, Montreal Trust Company of Canada and certain
shareholders of Registrant
***10.19 Assignment dated January 17, 1997 from Magko to Registrant
***10.20 Letter of Intent dated May 13, 1997 between Registrant, Magko and
South Kyrgyz Geological Expedition
***10.21 License dated April 11, 1997 from the Agency for Geology and
Mineral Resources of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to Magko
***10.22 Assignment dated April 17, 1997 between Triple Eight Minerals
Corporation and Geoexploration Corporation of the First
Geoexploration Bureau of the People's Republic of China
***10.23 Agreement dated July 16, 1997 between Registrant and Camden
Financial
***10.24 Cooperation Agreement Dated November 17, 1997 between Registrant
and Baiyin Non-Ferrous Metals Company
23.1 Consents of Independent Accountants
23.2 Consent of Independent Geological Consultant - A.C.A. Howe
International, Limited
23.3 Consent of Independent Geological Consultant - MRDI Canada (A
division of H.A. Simons, Ltd.)
105
* Incorporated herein by reference to exhibits 1a and 1b, respectively,
filed with Registrant's original form 20F filed May 29, 1997, withdrawn
July 21, 1997
** Incorporated herein by reference to exhibits 3a through 3r respectively,
filed with Registrant's original form 20F filed May 29, 1997, withdrawn
July 21, 1997
*** Incorporated herein by reference to Registrant's Registration on Form 29F,
which became effective March 21, 1998