Bunker Hill Mining Corp. - Quarter Report: 2013 December (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2013
[] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number: 333-150028
LIBERTY SILVER CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada |
| 32-0196442 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
| (IRS Employer Identification Number) |
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181 Bay Street, Suite 2330 Brookfield Place, P.O. Box 848 Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2T3 | ||
(Address of principal executive offices) | ||
888-749-4916 | ||
Registrants telephone number, including area code Copies to: Gary S. Joiner, Esq. Frascona, Joiner, Goodman and Greenstein, P.C. 4750 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80305 Telephone: (303) 494-3000 |
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 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.
[ X ] Yes [ ] No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). [ X ] Yes [ ] No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting Company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting Company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer [ ] | Accelerated filer [ ] |
Non-accelerated filer [ ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting Company) | Smaller reporting Company [ X ] |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell Company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). [ ]Yes [X ] No
As of February 13, 2014 the Issuer had 83,991,945 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements of Liberty Silver Corp., (Liberty Silver, the Company, or the Registrant) a Nevada corporation, included herein were prepared, without audit, pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because certain information and notes normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America were condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the audited financial statements of the Company in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, and all amendments thereto.
LIBERTY SILVER CORP.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)
INTERIM UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: | Page |
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Balance Sheets | 4 |
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Statements of Operations | 5 |
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Statements of Cash Flows | 6-7 |
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Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements | 8-13 |
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Liberty Silver Corp. |
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(An Exploration Stage Company) |
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Balance Sheets |
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| December 31, 2013 | June 30, 2013 | |
As at, | $ | $ | |
| (unaudited) |
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ASSETS |
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Current assets |
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| Cash and cash equivalents | 319,510 | 23,925 |
| Deposit | 10,594 | 10,710 |
| Other | 8,361 | 28,472 |
| Prepaid | 173,097 | 77,783 |
Total current assets | 511,562 | 140,890 | |
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Property and equipment |
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| Furniture and office equipment | 34,732 | 34,732 |
| Accumulated depreciation | (14,634) | (11,160) |
| Mining interests | 2,550,741 | 2,537,549 |
Total property and equipment | 2,570,839 | 2,561,121 | |
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Total assets | 3,082,401 | 2,702,011 | |
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LIABILITIES |
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Current liabilities |
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| Accounts payable | 1,168,650 | 867,952 |
| Accrued liabilities | 563,448 | 408,035 |
| Interest payable | 4,963 | - |
| Loan payable | 605,000 | - |
Total current liabilities | 2,342,061 | 1,275,987 | |
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Total liabilities | 2,342,061 | 1,275,987 | |
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Commitments and contingencies (note 6) | - | - | |
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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
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| Preferred shares, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 preferred shares authorized; |
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| 0 and 0 preferred shares issued and outstanding, respectively | - | - |
| Common shares, $0.001 par value, 300,000,000 common shares authorized; |
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| 83,991,945 common shares issued and outstanding | 83,992 | 83,992 |
| Additional paid-in-capital | 11,466,078 | 10,383,098 |
| Deficit accumulated during the exploration stage | (10,809,730) | (9,041,066) |
Total shareholders equity | 740,340 | 1,426,024 | |
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Total liabilities and shareholders equity | 3,082,401 | 2,702,011 | |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements |
Liberty Silver Corp. |
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(An Exploration Stage Company) |
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Statements of Operations |
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(Unaudited) |
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| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | For the Six Months Ended December 31, | Cumulative during the exploration stage February 20, 2007 (inception) to | ||
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| 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | December 31, 2013 |
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| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
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Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | |
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Operating expenses |
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| Operation and administration | 1,197,249 | 504,919 | 1,502,071 | 1,084,268 | 6,105,439 |
| Exploration | 14,551 | 185,784 | 40,061 | 384,184 | 2,025,877 |
| Legal and accounting | 141,307 | 468,802 | 205,648 | 546,037 | 1,558,791 |
| Consulting | - | 1,830 | 30,000 | 4,746 | 1,132,416 |
| Impairment of mining interests | - | - | - | - | 11,800 |
Total operating expenses | 1,353,107 | 1,161,335 | 1,777,780 | 2,019,235 | 10,834,323 | |
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Income (loss) from operations | (1,353,107) | (1,161,335) | (1,777,780) | (2,019,235) | (10,834,323) | |
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Other income or gain (expense or loss) |
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| Gain (loss) foreign exchange | 26,746 | (4,679) | 13,997 | 4,686 | 28,858 |
| Interest income | - | - | - | - | 1,220 |
| Interest expense | (4,493) | (2) | (4,881) | (82) | (5,485) |
Total other income or gain (expense or loss) | 22,253 | (4,681) | 9,116 | 4,604 | 24,593 | |
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Loss before income tax | (1,330,854) | (1,166,016) | (1,768,664) | (2,014,631) | (10,809,730) | |
Provision for income taxes | - | - | - | - | - | |
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Net loss and comprehensive loss | (1,330,854) | (1,166,016) | (1,768,664) | (2,014,631) | (10,809,730) | |
Loss per common share basic and fully diluted | (0.02) | (0.01) | (0.02) | (0.02) |
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Weighted average common shares | 83,946,921 | 83,300,028 | 83,946,921 | 81,998,357 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements |
Liberty Silver Corp. |
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(An Exploration Stage Company) |
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Statements of Cash Flows |
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(Unaudited) |
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| For the Six Months Ended December 31, | Cumulative during the exploration stage February 20, 2007 (inception) to | |
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| 2013 | 2012 | December 31, 2013 |
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| $ | $ | $ |
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Cash flows from operating activities |
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| Net loss and comprehensive loss | (1,768,664) | (2,014,631) | (10,809,730) | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating |
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| activities: |
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| Valuation of warrants | - | - | 122,824 |
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| Valuation of stock options | 1,082,980 | 279,365 | 2,568,189 |
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| Shares issued to settle contractual obligation | - | - | 416,000 |
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| Shares issued for services | - | - | 110,000 |
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| Depreciation expense | 3,474 | 3,473 | 14,634 |
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| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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| (Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses | (95,314) | 12,497 | (173,097) |
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| (Increase) decrease in deposit | 116 | (213) | (10,594) |
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| (Increase) decrease in other assets | 20,111 | (64,877) | (8,361) |
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| Increase in accounts payable | 300,698 | 202,264 | 1,168,650 |
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| Increase in accrued expenses | 155,413 | 375,573 | 563,448 |
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| Increase in interest payable | 4,963 | - | 4,963 |
Net cash used in operating activities | (296,223) | (1,206,549) | (6,033,074) | ||
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Cash flows from investing activities |
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| Cash used for furniture and equipment | - | - | (34,732) | |
| Cash paid for mining interests | (13,192) | (542,420) | (490,741) | |
Net cash used in investing activities | (13,192) | (542,420) | (525,473) | ||
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Cash flows from financing activities |
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| Proceeds from related party note | - | - | 150,000 | |
| Proceeds from loan payable | 605,000 | - | 605,000 | |
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock | - | 318,293 | 6,345,684 | |
| Issue costs | - | (17,364) | (222,627) | |
Net cash from financing activities | 605,000 | 300,929 | 6,878,057 | ||
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Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 295,585 | (1,448,040) | 319,510 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 23,925 | 1,694,914 | - | ||
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Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | 319,510 | 246,874 | 319,510 | ||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements |
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Liberty Silver Corp. | ||||||
(An Exploration Stage Company) | ||||||
Statements of Cash Flows | ||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||
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| For the Six Months Ended December 31, | Cumulative during the exploration stage February 20, 2007 (inception) to | ||
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| 2013 | 2012 | December 31, 2013 | |
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| $ | $ | $ | |
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Supplemental Disclosures: |
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Cash paid for: |
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Interest | 4,881 | 82 | 5,485 | |||
Income tax | - | - | - | |||
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Non-cash financing activities: |
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Common stock issued to settle related party note | - | - | 150,000 | |||
Common stock issued to acquire mining interests | - | 1,860,000 | 2,060,000 | |||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements |
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Liberty Silver Corp.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Interim Unaudited Financial Statements
For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2013
Note 1 Basis of Presentation
The accompanying interim unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a comprehensive presentation of financial position, results of operations, stockholders deficit or cash flows. It is management's opinion, however, that all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) have been made which are necessary for a fair financial statement presentation. The interim unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K, which contains the annual audited financial statements and notes thereto, together with the Managements Discussion and Analysis, for the year ended June 30, 2013. The interim results for the period ended December 31, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full fiscal year. The interim unaudited financial statements are presented in USD, which is the functional currency.
Note 2 Nature of Operations
Liberty Silver Corp. was incorporated under the laws of the state of Nevada, U.S.A on February 20, 2007 under the name Lincoln Mining Corp. Pursuant to a Certificate of Amendment dated February 11, 2010, the Company changed its name to Liberty Silver Corp. The Companys registered office is located at 1802 N. Carson Street, Suite 212, Carson City Nevada 89701, and its head office is located at 181 Bay Street, Suite 2330, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2T3, and its telephone number is 888-749-4916. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, the Company has no subsidiaries.
The Company was incorporated for the purpose of engaging in mineral exploration activities. On March 29, 2010, the Company entered into an Exploration Earn-In Agreement relating to the Trinity Project located in Pershing County, Nevada. The Company is currently engaged in the exploration of the Trinity Project, and has not yet commenced development stage activities, however, the Company intends to engage in efforts to develop the Trinity Project in the future. Subject to securing adequate financing, the plan of operation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 is to conduct additional mineral exploration activities at the Trinity Silver property. Operations at the Trinity Project will consist of (i) an effort to expand the known mineralized material through drilling, (ii) permitting for operation, if deemed economically viable, (iii) metallurgical studies aimed at enhancing the recovery of the silver and by-product lead and zinc, (iv) engineering design related to potential construction of a new mine, and (v) complete feasibility studies relating to possible re-opening of the historic mine. Exploration of the property will be conducted simultaneously with the mine development in order to locate additional mineralized materials.
Note 3 - Mineral Property
The Company acquired its interest in the Trinity Project through an Exploration Earn-In Agreement. On March 29, 2010, the Company entered into the Earn-In Agreement relating to the Trinity Project with AuEx, Inc., a Nevada company beneficially owned by another Nevada company AuEx Ventures, Inc. AuEx, Inc. held an exclusive interest in the Trinity Project by way of a Minerals Lease and Sublease with Newmont Mining USA Limited, a Delaware corporation who owns or leases the various unpatented mining claims and portions of private land comprising the Trinity Project. As part of a restructuring transaction by AuEx Ventures, Inc., another Nevada company Renaissance Exploration Inc. (Renaissance) was spun out, and on July 1, 2010 AuEx, Inc. assigned all of its interest in the Trinity Project and the Earn-In Agreement to Renaissance, who currently holds a 100% leasehold interest in the Trinity Project. The Minerals Lease and Sublease grants to Newmont, a right of first offer on any transfer of AuEx,
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Inc.s interests in the Trinity Project to any non-affiliate of AuEx, Inc., and also gives Newmont a right to either enter into a joint venture agreement covering the Trinity Project and any other real property interests that AuEx, Inc.
holds or acquires within the Trinity Project, or receive a royalty on all mineral production from such properties. Currently the rights to the Trinity Project are held 100% by Renaissance, pursuant to an assignment of such rights from AuEx, Inc. The Company entered into the Earn-In Agreement providing the Company with a right to earn a 70% undivided interest in rights of Renaissance in the Trinity Project (the 70% Interest).
Under the Earn-In Agreement, the Company may earn-in the 70% Interest in the Trinity Project during a 6-year period in consideration of (1) a signing payment of $25,000, which has been made, (2) an expenditure of a cumulative total of $5,000,000 in exploration and development expenses on the Trinity Project by March 29, 2016, including a minimum of $500,000 which must be expended within one year from the effective date of the Agreement, and (3) completion of a bankable feasibility study on the Trinity Project on or before the 7th anniversary date of the Agreement. Item (1) has been completed by the Company, and the Company has satisfied item (2), and has reported its compliance as of March 29, 2013, which is the end of the third year from the inception of the Earn-in Agreement.
On October 15, 2012, the Company entered into and closed a Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with Primus Resources, L.C. and James A. Freeman (collectively Seller) to acquire unpatented mining claims, Nevada BLM Serial No. 799907, 799908, 799909, 799910, and 799911 covering approximately 100 acres of property located adjacent to the former Trinity Silver mine on the Companys Trinity Project (the Hi Ho Properties). The Hi Ho Properties were previously the only acreage not controlled by the Company or its joint venture partner Renaissance Exploration Inc. in the Trinity Project. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company provided cash consideration of US$250,000 and issued 2,583,333 restricted shares of common stock of the Company to Seller. In addition the Seller was granted a 2% net smelter royalty on future production from the Hi Ho Properties pursuant to the terms of a Deed With Reservation of Royalty Hi Ho Silver Claims.
In conjunction with the entry into the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the Registration Rights Agreement) with Seller, pursuant to which the Company agreed to file a registration statement on Form S-1 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, within thirty (30) days of the closing, which registers the common stock issued to the Seller pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement the Company was obliged to pay Seller additional consideration as follows:
· if the registration statement was declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission by March 1, 2013, Liberty Silver would issue an additional 277,778 Liberty Silver common shares to Primus, thereby increasing the total aggregate number of shares issued to 2,861,111 shares; or
· if the registration statement was not declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) by March 1, 2013, Liberty Silver would pay Primus US$200,000. As well, if the five-day weighted average trading price of Liberty Silvers common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of March 1, 2013 (the Market Price) exceeded US$0.72 per share, Liberty Silver would have issued an additional number of Liberty Silver common shares to Primus equal to (a) 277,778 less (b) US$200,000 divided by the Market Price.
On March 1, 2013, the SEC declared the Companys registration statement, filed on Form S-1, effective and as such, the Company issued an additional 277,778 Liberty Silver common shares to Primus, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
The Trinity Project consists of a total of approximately 10,020 acres, including 5,676 acres of fee land and 253 unpatented mining claims.
The Company has completed some financing transactions, and continues to pursue additional financing opportunities in order to obtain the capital needed to fulfill its obligations under the terms of the Earn-In Agreement. There has been no mining of resources to date.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, the Company had incurred approximately $3,200,000 in exploration expenditures, which were reported under various line items on the statement of operations or capitalized on the
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balance sheet, as appropriate. Approximately $170,000 in exploration expenditures has been incurred to date during the current reporting period.
Note 4 Loan Payable
On November 14, 2013, the Company announced the closing of a $1,210,000 Loan facility (the Loan). The Company intends to use the funds from the Loan for general working capital purposes, thereby affording the Company more time to secure longer term financing for the Trinity Silver Project.
The key terms of the Loan are as follows:
· a total amount of up to $1,210,000 is being advanced to Liberty, of which $100,000 was previously advanced by way of promissory notes subsequent to the signing of a letter of intent relating to the Loan, which promissory notes are superseded by the Loan. Upon closing of the Loan on November 14, 2013 (the Closing Date), $202,500 was advanced to the Company, and a further $302,500 was advanced on December 31, 2013. Pursuant to the terms of the Loan, the Company may further advance up to $302,500 on each of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014;
· the outstanding principal amount bears interest at 11% per annum from date of advance and becomes due and payable in its entirety one year following the Closing Date (the “Maturity Date”). The Company has the option to extend the Maturity Date by six months, with interest payable at 15% per annum accruing on the outstanding principal amount during such extension period;
· the Loan is secured by a charge on all of the assets of the Company; and
· subject to Toronto Stock Exchange approval, if Liberty completes an arms length equity financing of US$500,000 or more at a price of not less than US$0.50 per common share of Liberty (each, a Share), Liberty may require BG to convert the outstanding principal and interest amount of the Loan into equity of Liberty on the same terms and conditions as the equity financing.
The lender pursuant to the Loan is BG Capital Group Ltd. (BG). Effective the Closing Date, BG and certain of its related parties owned 8,609,853 common shares of Liberty and 6,500,000 common share purchase warrants, with each such warrant entitling BG to acquire one common share of Liberty for US$0.65 until December 31, 2013 (the Warrants). As a condition of the Loan, BG consented to the termination of the Warrants for no further consideration. Accordingly, following the closing of the loan facility transaction, BG owned, directly and indirectly, 8,609,853 shares representing approximately 10.3% of the Companys 83,991,945 issued and outstanding common shares on the Closing Date. Other than pursuant to the Loan, the Company does not have any contractual or other relationship with BG.
Note 5 – Capital Stock and Warrants
Authorized
The total authorized capital is as follows:
· 300,000,000 common shares with a par value of $0.001 per common share; and
· 10,000,000 preferred shares with a par value of $0.001 per preferred share
Issued and outstanding
On September 28, 2012, the Company issued 100,000 common shares upon the exercise of 100,000 whole warrants at an exercise price of CDN $0.75 per common share, for gross proceeds of CDN $75,000. The warrants were originally issued pursuant to a private placement offering of 200,000 Units on July 27, 2011. The Units were comprised of one common share and one half of one common share purchase warrant.
On October 3, 2012, the Company issued 300,000 common shares upon the exercise of 300,000 whole warrants at an exercise price of CDN $0.75 per common share, for gross proceeds of CDN $225,000. The warrants were
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originally issued pursuant to a private placement offering of 1,000,000 Units on August 4, 2011. The Units were comprised of one common share and one half of one common share purchase warrant.
On October 15, 2012, in connection with the acquisition of the Hi Ho Properties as described in Note 3 Mineral property, the Company issued 2,583,333 common shares. The common shares were valued at $0.72 per share for a total value of $1,860,000 for the shares.
On November 27, 2012, the Company issued 20,000 common shares upon the exercise of 20,000 whole warrants at an exercise price of $0.65 per common share, for gross proceeds of US $13,000. The warrants were originally issued pursuant to a private placement offering of 2,627,500 Units on December 19, 2011. The Units were comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant.
On March 1, 2013, in connection with the acquisition of the Hi Ho Properties as described in Note 3 Mineral property, the Company issued an additional 277,778 common shares pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
For the above share issuances, the shares were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in reliance upon the exemptions from registration contained in Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. No underwriters were used, nor were any brokerage commissions paid in connection with the above share issuances.
Note 6 Commitments and Contingencies
Effective November 1, 2011, the Company entered into a sub-lease agreement for the lease of premises in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for a term of 54 months. The Company has its head office at these premises, which is approximately 1,400 square feet. The annual base rent commitment for the Toronto head office space is CAD $48,084.
Effective February 8, 2012, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the lease of premises in Sparks, Nevada, USA, for a term of 12 months, and terminating on January 31, 2013. The lease agreement was amended such that the term was extended for a further 24 months, and terminating on January 31, 2015. The Company has its field office at these premises, which is approximately 5,500 square feet. The annual base rent commitment for the Sparks field office space is USD $29,727 for the period from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014, and USD $30,624 for the period from February 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015.
As at December 31, 2013, the Company had a commitment, for the above noted leases, of USD $141,909 remaining.
The following table outlines the remaining lease commitment at the end of the next five fiscal years based on the leases that are currently entered into by the Company:
| Total Lease Commitment |
December 31, 2013 | $141,909 |
June 30, 2014 | $103,356 |
June 30, 2015 | $38,860 |
June 30, 2016 and thereafter | $0 |
On September 16, 2013, the Company announced that it had become aware that the Company and its Chief Executive Officer have been named as defendants in a proposed class action lawsuit filed against Robert Genovese, certain individuals alleged to have collaborated with Mr. Genovese, and an offshore investment firm allegedly controlled by Mr. Genovese. The action contains various claims alleging violations of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and rules thereunder relating to anomalous trading activity and fluctuations in the Companys share price from August through October 2012. The plaintiff purports to bring suit on behalf of all who purchased or otherwise acquired the Companys common shares from April 1, 2008, through and including October 5, 2012.
The original complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on September 12, 2013. An amended complaint (Case No. 9:13-cv-80923-KLR Todd Stanaford a/k/a Jerald Todd
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Stanaford, on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated, vs. Robert Donald Bruce Genovese, William Tafuri, Geoffrey Browne, BG Capital Group LTD., Look Back Investments INC., and Liberty Silver Corporation) was filed on September 27, 2013.
The Companys registered agent in the State of Nevada was served with the original complaint on September 18, 2013, and served with the amended complaint on October 8, 2013. On October 10, 2013, service of the amended complaint was accepted on behalf of the Companys Chief Executive Officer, by counsel representing the Companys Chief Executive Officer.
The Company and its Chief Executive Officer intend to fully investigate the complaint and will undertake a vigorous defense.
Effective December 1, 2012, the Company has deferred payment of salary to certain employees of the Company. Pursuant to agreements reached with such employees, the accrued salary obligation of $366,667 as at September 30, 2013, may, at the sole option of such employees, be settled pursuant to the issuance of common shares or forfeited, within two years from the effective date of the agreements with the various employees. The common shares would be priced at the greater of (i) $0.50 per common share, and (ii) the volume weighted average price of the Companys common shares for the five trading days immediately preceding the date on which the election is made to receive the common shares.
Effective July 1, 2013, ongoing salary obligations have been reduced by $320,000 per annum. Effective October 1, 2013, salary obligations of $216,000 per annum, which would otherwise be settled in cash on a monthly basis, will be settled with 50% in cash and 50% by the issuance of common stock, on a periodic basis, and priced at the greater of (i) $0.50 per common share, and (ii) the volume weighted average price of the Companys common shares for the five trading days immediately preceding the date on which the shares are to be issued.
Additionally, in the normal course of operations, certain other contingencies may arise relating to legal actions undertaken against the Company. In the opinion of management, whether the impact of such potential legal actions would have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, liquidity, or its financial position, cannot be determined in advance.
Note 7 Going Concern
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Company has incurred losses since inception resulting in an accumulated deficit of $10,809,730 and further losses are anticipated in the development of its business. The Company does not have sufficient working capital needed to meet its current fiscal obligations. In order to continue to meet its fiscal obligations in the current fiscal year and beyond the next twelve months, the Company must seek additional financing. This raises substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. Its ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the ability of the Company to generate profitable operations in the future and/or to obtain the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due.
Management has plans to pursue various financing alternatives including, but not limited to, merger and acquisition activity, raising capital through the capital markets and debt financing. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded assets, or the amounts of and classification of liabilities that might be necessary in the event the Company cannot continue in existence.
The ability of the Company to emerge from the exploration stage is dependent upon, among other things, obtaining additional financing to continue operations, explore and develop the mineral properties and the discovery, development, and sale of reserves.
These factors, among others raise substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
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Note 8 Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events for the interim period ended December 31, 2013 through the date that the financial statements were issued, and concluded that there were no other events or transactions occurring during this period that required recognition or disclosure in its interim financial statements.
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ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
SPECIAL NOTE OF CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
CERTAIN STATEMENTS IN THIS REPORT, INCLUDING STATEMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION, ARE WHAT ARE KNOWN AS "FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS", WHICH ARE BASICALLY STATEMENTS ABOUT THE FUTURE. FOR THAT REASON, THESE STATEMENTS INVOLVE RISK AND UNCERTAINTY SINCE NO ONE CAN ACCURATELY PREDICT THE FUTURE. WORDS SUCH AS "PLANS," "INTENDS," "WILL," "HOPES," "SEEKS," "ANTICIPATES," "EXPECTS "AND THE LIKE OFTEN IDENTIFY SUCH FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS, BUT ARE NOT THE ONLY INDICATION THAT A STATEMENT IS A FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT. SUCH FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE STATEMENTS CONCERNING OUR PLANS AND OBJECTIVES WITH RESPECT TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY, AND STATEMENTS WHICH EXPRESS OR IMPLY THAT SUCH PRESENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS WILL OR MAY PRODUCE REVENUES, INCOME OR PROFITS. NUMEROUS FACTORS AND FUTURE EVENTS COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY TO CHANGE SUCH PLANS AND OBJECTIVES OR FAIL TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT SUCH PLANS OR ACHIEVE SUCH OBJECTIVES, OR CAUSE SUCH PRESENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS TO FAIL TO PRODUCE REVENUES, INCOME OR PROFITS. THEREFORE, THE READER IS ADVISED THAT THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSION OF RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IN THE COMPANY'S OTHER FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. NO STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS A GUARANTEE OR ASSURANCE OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE OR FUTURE RESULTS.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
The Corporation
Liberty Silver Corp. was incorporated under the laws of the state of Nevada, U.S.A on February 20, 2007 under the name Lincoln Mining Corp. Pursuant to a Certificate of Amendment dated February 11, 2010, the Company changed its name to Liberty Silver Corp. The Companys registered office is located at 1802 N. Carson Street, Suite 212, Carson City Nevada 89701, and its head office is located at 181 Bay Street, Suite 2330, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2T3, and our telephone number is 888-749-4916.
Current Operations
Overview
We were incorporated for the purpose of engaging in mineral exploration activities, and on May 24, 2007, purchased the Zone Lode mining claim located in Elko County, Nevada, for a purchase price of $10,000. Our objective was to conduct mineral exploration activities on the Zone Lode claim to assess whether it contained economic reserves of copper, gold, silver, molybdenum or zinc. We were not able to determine whether this property contained reserves that were economically recoverable and as a result, ceased to explore this property. The Companys current business operations are focused on exploring and developing the Trinity Silver property located in Pershing County, Nevada (the Trinity Project).
The Company acquired its interest in the Trinity Project through an Exploration Earn-In Agreement (the Earn-In Agreement), discussed below in Item 2 - Properties. On March 29, 2010, the Company entered into the Earn-In Agreement relating to the Trinity Project with AuEx, Inc., a Nevada company providing the Company with a right to
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earn a 70% undivided interest in rights of AuEx, Inc. in the Trinity Project (the 70% Interest); as discussed below, the 70% Interest is subject to the rights and obligations of AuEx, Inc. and its successors and assigns under a Minerals Lease and Sublease between AuEx, Inc. and Newmont Mining USA Limited. AuEx, Inc. is beneficially owned by another Nevada company AuEx Ventures, Inc. AuEx, Inc. held an exclusive interest in the Trinity Project by way of a Minerals Lease and Sublease with Newmont Mining USA Limited, a Delaware corporation who owns or leases the various unpatented mining claims and portions of private land comprising the Trinity Project; the Minerals Lease and Sublease is discussed below. As part of a restructuring transaction by AuEx Ventures, Inc., another Nevada company Renaissance Gold Inc. (Renaissance) was spun out, and on July 1, 2010 AuEx, Inc. assigned all of its interest in the Trinity Project and the Earn-In Agreement to Renaissance, who currently holds a 100% leasehold interest in the Trinity Project pursuant to the Minerals Lease and Sublease. The Companys rights in the Trinity Project are derived from and based upon the rights of Renaissance through the Minerals Lease and Sublease. The Minerals Lease and Sublease grants to Newmont, a right of first offer on any transfer of AuEx, Inc.s interests in the Trinity Project to any non-affiliate of AuEx, Inc., and also gives Newmont a right to either enter into a joint venture agreement covering the Trinity Project and any other real property interests that AuEx, Inc. holds or acquires within the Trinity Project, or receive a royalty on all mineral production from such properties. Currently the rights to the Trinity Project are held 100% by Renaissance, pursuant to an assignment of such rights from AuEx, Inc. The Company entered into the Earn-In Agreement providing the Company with a right to earn a 70% undivided interest in rights of Renaissance in the Trinity Project.
The Trinity Project consists of a total of approximately 10,020 acres, including 5,676 acres of fee land and 253 unpatented mining claims. Under the Earn-In Agreement, the Company may earn-in the 70% Interest in the Trinity Project during a 6-year period in consideration of (1) a signing payment of $25,000, which has been made, (2) an expenditure of a cumulative total of $5,000,000 in exploration and development expenses on the Trinity Project by March 29, 2016, including a minimum of $500,000 which must be expended within one year from the effective date of the Agreement, and (3) completion of a bankable feasibility study on the Trinity Project on or before the 7th anniversary date of the Agreement. Item (1) has been completed by the Company, and the Company has satisfied item (2), and will report its compliance as of March 29, 2013, which is the end of the third year from the inception of the Earn-in Agreement.
Our business operations are currently focused on efforts to explore the Trinity Project. The Company has not yet commenced development stage activities, however, subject to the availability of adequate funding, the Company intends to engage in efforts to develop the Trinity Project in the future. The Company foresees future operations at the Trinity Project consisting of (i) an effort to expand the known mineralized material through drilling, (ii) permitting for operation, if deemed economically viable, (iii) metallurgical studies aimed at enhancing the recovery of the silver and by-product lead and zinc, and (iv) engineering design related to potential construction of a new mine. Exploration of the property will be conducted simultaneously with the mine development in order to locate additional mineralized materials.
Products
The Companys anticipated product will be precious and base metal-bearing concentrates and/or precious metal bullion produced from ores from mineral deposits which it hopes to discover and exploit through exploration and acquisition. The Company anticipates such products will be silver, lead and zinc.
Trinity Project Location
The Trinity Project is located along the west flank of the Trinity Range in Pershing County, Nevada, about 25 miles by road northwest of Lovelock, NV, the county seat. The Trinity Project consists of approximately 10,020 acres, which includes 253 unpatented lode mining claims and portions of nine sections of private land. The specific location of the Trinity Project is discussed in more detail the section entitled Properties herein.
Infrastructure
The Trinity Project is situated in western Nevada, a locale which is host to many metal mines, mining equipment companies, drilling companies, mining and metallurgical consulting expertise, and experienced mining personnel. Its location is accessible by all-weather road through an area of very sparse population. There is no infrastructure on
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the property. All buildings have been removed, all wells have been properly abandoned, and there is no equipment on site. The mine site has been totally reclaimed to the satisfaction of the State of Nevada. The need for power and water would be defined by a feasibility study and mine plan both of which are premature at this point in time.
Government Regulation and Approval
The following permits will be necessary to put the Trinity Project into production.
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|
|
| Permit/notification | Agency |
|
|
|
| - Mine registry | Nevada Division of Minerals |
| - Mine Opening notification | State Inspector of Mines |
| - Solid Waste Landfill | Nevada Bureau of Waste Management |
| - Hazardous Waste Management Permit | Nevada Bureau of Waste Management |
| - General Storm Water Permit | Nevada Bureau of Pollution Control |
| - Hazardous material Permit | State Fire Marshal |
| - Fire and Life Safety | State Fire Marshal |
| - Explosives Permit | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms |
| - Notification of Commencement of Operations | Mine Safety and Health Administration |
| - Radio License | Federal Communications Commission |
All of the Company's drilling operations to date have been on private land and, as a result, have not been subject to U.S. Bureau of Land Management jurisdiction. On private land in Nevada, the Company's activities are regulated by The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and the Nevada Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation (NBMRR) and no permit is needed as long as the disturbance created is less than five acres. Our total disturbance to date has been less than four acres, much of which has already been reclaimed, and as a result, we have not yet applied for a NBMRR permit. However, as a matter of courtesy, we have provided written correspondence to NBMRR to advise them of our activities.
Environmental Regulations
Our current exploration activities and any future mining operations (of which we currently have none planned), are subject to extensive laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment, waste disposal, worker safety, mine construction, and protection of endangered and protected species. We have made, and expect to make in the future, significant expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations. Future changes in applicable laws, regulations and permits or changes in their enforcement or regulatory interpretation could have an adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations. In the event that we make a mineral discovery and decide to proceed to production, the costs and delays associated with compliance with these laws and regulations could stop us from proceeding with a project or the operation or further improvement of a mine or increase the costs of improvement or production.
We anticipate that the following environmental permits will be necessary for our anticipated operations:
§Permit for Reclamation
§Water Pollution Control Permit
§Air Quality Operating Permit
§Industrial Artificial Pond Permit
§Water Rights
The Company anticipates that, subject to the availability of funds or financing, it will begin soliciting bids for the programs necessary to obtain these permits during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. The cost, timing, and work schedules are not yet available.
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Competition
We compete with other mining and exploration companies in connection with the acquisition of mining claims and leases on silver and other precious metals prospects and in connection with the recruitment and retention of qualified employees. Many of these companies are much larger than we are, have greater financial resources and have been in the mining business much longer than we have. As such, these competitors may be in a better position through size, finances and experience to acquire suitable exploration properties. We may not be able to compete against these companies in acquiring new properties and/or qualified people to work on our current Trinity Project, or any other properties we may acquire in the future.
Given the size of the world market for precious metals such as silver and gold relative to the number of individual producers and consumers, we believe that no single company has sufficient market influence to significantly affect the price or supply of precious metals such as silver and gold in the world market.
Employees
The Company currently has six full-time employees, R. Geoffrey Browne, the President and Chief Executive Officer and Director on the Board of Directors, Manish Z. Kshatriya, the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, William Tafuri, the Project Manager for the Trinity Project, H. Richard Klatt, the Vice President of Exploration, and two additional employees.
PROPERTIES
Office Space
The Company has a lease agreement for office space at 181 Bay Street, Suite 2330, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2T3. The telephone number is: 647-749-4916. The monthly base rent is CDN $4,007 (approximately US $4,000). The term of the lease is for fifty-four months and terminates on April 28, 2016.
The Company has a lease agreement for a field office at 808 Packer Way, Sparks, NV 89431. The phone number there is: 775-352-9375. The monthly base rent is USD $2,477.25 plus Common Area Reimbursement of USD $370 and Property Tax of USD $250. The term of the lease is for twenty-four months and terminates on January 31, 2015.
Trinity Project
Trinity Project Location
The Trinity Project is situated approximately 25 road miles north-northwest of Lovelock, Nevada, in Pershing County, Nevada, on the northwest flank of the Trinity Range, in the Trinity mining district. The latitude-longitude coordinates of the mine site are 40o 23 47 N, 118o 36 38 W. The JV area is situated in sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, and 17, Township 29 North, Range 30 East, MDB&M and sections 26-28, 33, 34, and 35, Township 30 North, Range 30 East, MDB&M.
The Trinity Project includes located public and leased/subleased fee land consisting of the following 253 unpatented mining claims and tracts of fee land:
(1)
248 unpatented lode mining claims consisting of: The Seka 1-6, 8-16, 61-64, 73-76, 95-112 claims, the TS 1-18 claims, and the XXX claims located in secs. 4, 10, 16 and 21 in T29N, R30E. The Elm 1-183 in secs. 2, 4, 10, 16 T29N, R30E and secs. 26 28, 34, and 35 in T30N, R30E. The claims are located on public land open to mineral entry, currently valid, and subject to Bureau of land management regulations. The total area covered is approximately 5,120 acres.
(2)
Hi Ho Silver 3, 5, 9, 10, and 11 unpatented lode mining claims located in sec. 10, T29N, R30E MDB&M covering approx. 100 acres.
(3)
Approximately 4,480 acres of fee land leased by Newmont Mining Corp. from Southern Pacific Land Co., and its successors, and from Santa Fe Pacific Minerals Corporation, and its successors located in sections 3,
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5, 11, and 17, Township 29 North, Range 30 East, and sections 27, 33, and 35, Township 30 North, Range 30 East MDB&M.
(4)
Approximately 1,280 acres of fee land owned by Newmont Mining Corp. located in sections 9 and 15, Township 29 North, Range 30 East, MDB&M.
The Companys joint venture area of interest is currently sections 2-5, 8-11, 15-17, and 21 Township 29 North, Range 30 East, MDB&M, and sections, 26-28, 33-35, Township 30 North, Range 30 East, MDB&M. The Companys rights, which apply to all of the above properties include exploration, development, and production of valuable minerals except geothermal, hydrocarbons, and sand/gravel, and also include the authority to apply for all necessary permits, licenses and other approvals from the United States of America, the State of Nevada or any other governmental or other entity having regulatory authority over any part of the Trinity Project.
Each claim filed with the BLM has an associated maintenance fee of $140 per year for each assessment year (which runs from September 1 through August 31). This fee must be paid by midnight on August 31 of each year to maintain the claim's validity for the succeeding assessment year. The fees for the claims comprising the Trinity Project are paid by Renaissance in accordance with the Lease they hold with Newmont. The Company reimburses Renaissance for this expenditure. All of the fees have been paid to the BLM for the 2012-2013 assessment year and all filings are current. We have 253 claims which, based upon current maintenance fees, costs $35,420 per assessment year to maintain.
To protect and verify our claims and interests in the Trinity Project, we have completed examinations of legal title to the property making up the Trinity Project, which we have deemed to be satisfactory. In addition, a Memorandum of Exploration Earn-In Agreement, effective March 29, 2010, has been recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Pershing County, Nevada.
Location and Access
The following maps identify the location and access of the Trinity Project located in Pershing County Nevada:
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Trinity Project Agreements
The Company acquired its interest in the Trinity Project through an Exploration Earn-In Agreement, discussed below. On March 29, 2010, the Company entered into the Earn-In Agreement relating to the Trinity Project with AuEx, Inc., a Nevada company beneficially owned by another Nevada company AuEx Ventures, Inc. AuEx, Inc. held an exclusive interest in the Trinity Project by way of a Minerals Lease and Sublease with Newmont Mining USA Limited, a Delaware corporation who owns or leases the various unpatented mining claims and portions of private land comprising the Trinity Project; the Minerals Lease and Sublease is discussed below. As part of a restructuring transaction by AuEx Ventures, Inc., another Nevada company Renaissance Exploration Inc. (Renaissance) was spun out, and on July 1, 2010, pursuant to a letter agreement by and between AuEx, Inc., Renaissance Exploration, Inc., and Liberty Silver Corp., AuEx, Inc. assigned all of its rights in the Exploration Earn-In Agreement to Renaissance, which currently holds a 100% leasehold interest in the Trinity Project pursuant to the Minerals Lease and Sublease. Pursuant to the letter agreement, all parties consented to the assignment, and as a result, the Companys rights in the Trinity Project under the Earn-In Agreement are enforceable against Renaissance Exploration, Inc., and are derived from and based upon the rights of Renaissance under the Minerals Lease and Sublease; a copy of the Letter Agreement effective July 1, 2010 was filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the Companys S-1 filed on January 24, 2013. Additionally, a Memorandum of Exploration Earn-In effective March 29, 2010, has been recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Pershing County, Nevada.
Lease and Sublease Agreement
Renaissances rights in the Trinity Project are derived through a Minerals Lease and Sublease dated July 29, 2005 (the Lease) by and between Newmont Mining USA Limited, a Delaware corporation (Newmont) and AuEx, Inc., a Nevada corporation.
Consideration
The Lease was granted to Renaissance for the following consideration:
a)
Renaissance agreed to pay Newmont a claim fee reimbursement of $10,955 concurrently with the execution of the Lease (this amount was paid);
b)
Renaissance is required to expend a total of $2,000,000 in ascertaining the existence, location, quantity, quality or commercial value of a deposit of minerals within the Trinity Project on or before the seventh anniversary of the Lease;
c)
Prior to the commencement of any commercial production, Renaissance shall supply Newmont with a feasibility study with respect to the Trinity Project.
In the event the Company does not meet its minimum expenditure obligation in any year, it is obligated under the terms of the Earn-In Agreement to pay the amount of any deficiency to Renaissance Exploration, Inc. During each of the first three years, the Company has exceeded its minimum expenditure obligation and has not been obligated to pay any amounts to Renaissance. The Company had an excess of approximately $133,000 in expenditures over the minimum requirement in the first year, an excess of approximately $162,000 in expenditures over the minimum requirement in the second year, and an excess of approximately $2,856,430 in the third year. The Company has satisfied its entire $5,000,000 expenditure commitment by the end of the third year, when it had incurred a total of approximately $5,652,397. As a result, the Company will not be obligated to pay any deficiency amounts to Renaissance for any future years.
Joint Venture / Royalty
The Lease gives Newmont a right to either enter into a joint venture with Renaissance covering the Trinity Project and any other real property interests that Renaissance holds or acquires within the Trinity Project, or receive a royalty on all mineral production from such properties.
Joint Venture: The Lease contemplates the following schedule with respect to Newmonts rights to enter into a joint venture with Renaissance:
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a)
Before Renaissance spends $5 million and provides a feasibility study, Newmont can elect at any time to enter into a joint venture in which event Newmont would be required to pay all future joint venture expenses up to 250% of the expenditures made by Renaissance as of the date of Newmonts election to enter into the joint venture.
b)
Upon Renaissance spending $5 million, but before the feasibility study, Renaissance shall deliver written notice to Newmont containing a summary of the expenditures made by Renaissance on the Trinity Project. Newmont may thereafter elect to enter into a joint venture by notifying Renaissance in writing of such election within 60 days of Newmonts receipt of Renaissances initial notice. Under the joint venture, Newmont would be required to pay all future joint venture expenses up to 250% of the expenditures made by Renaissance as of the date of Newmonts election to enter into the joint venture.
c)
After Renaissance spending $5 million, but before the feasibility study, at any time after the expiration of the 60 day period identified in section b above, Newmont can elect to enter into a joint venture in which event Newmont would be required to pay Renaissance 50% of the expenditures made in the Trinity Project up to the date of Newmonts election to participate in a joint venture, and all future joint venture expenses up to 200% of such expenditures.
d)
At any time within 60 days after Renaissances delivery of feasibility study, Newmont can elect to enter into a joint venture at which time Newmont would be required to pay Renaissance 200% of expenditures made by Renaissance as of the date of Newmonts election to enter into the joint venture. Additionally, Renaissance can elect to have Newmont finance Renaissances share of the joint venture expenses until the Trinity Project is put into commercial production. Following the commencement of commercial production, Newmont shall be entitled to recover such paid expenses with interest at the London Interbank Offering Rate. If Newmont fails to elect to participate in the Joint Venture within 60 days following the delivery of the feasibility study, Newmonts right to participate in a joint venture shall terminate.
Should Newmont elect to participate in a joint venture with Renaissance, pursuant to the Lease, and its payment terms, Newmont will serve as the manager of the joint venture and own 51% of the joint venture with an option to acquire an additional 14% for additional payments to Renaissance (for a total participating interest of 65%). Pursuant to the Earn-In Agreement, we are entitled to 70% interest in the Trinity Project, subject only to the Newmont interest. Accordingly, if Newmont exercised all of its joint venture options under the Lease, we would own a 35% interest in the Trinity Project.
Royalty: In the event Newmont does not elect to participate in a joint venture, then Newmont shall have the right to receive a royalty on all mineral production from the Trinity Project. Pursuant to the Lease, if Newmont elects to not participate in the joint venture, then Renaissance shall pay to Newmont $1 million and the Lease shall terminate and Newmont shall transfer title to all property comprising the Trinity Project to Renaissance, and thereafter receive a royalty payment of up to 5% of the net smelter returns generated from the properties comprising the Trinity Project.
Buyout Option
The Lease provides Renaissance with a buyout option pursuant to which Renaissance holds the right to purchase Newmonts rights in the Trinity Project through the payment of $1 million to Newmont. In the event Renaissance elects the buyout option, Newmont would transfer title to the Trinity Project to Renaissance through quit claim deed while retaining certain rights in the Trinity Project; such rights may include some form of joint venture or a royalty interest.
Ownership Interest Earn-In Agreement
As noted above, the rights to the Trinity Project are held 100% by Renaissance, pursuant to an assignment of such rights from AuEx, Inc. The Company entered into the Earn-In Agreement providing the Company with a right to earn a 70% undivided interest in rights of Renaissance in the Trinity Project (the 70% Interest), as set out below. The following is intended to be a summary of the material terms of the Earn-In Agreement, and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety, by the full text of the Earn-In Agreement.
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Consideration
The exclusive right to acquire the 70% Interest in the Trinity Project was granted to the Company for the following consideration:
a)
The Company agreed to pay $25,000 upon execution of the Earn-In Agreement (this amount was paid);
b)
In order to obtain the 70% Interest in the Trinity Project, the Company is required to (i) produce a bankable feasibility study by March 29, 2017 and (ii) to expend a minimum of $5,000,000 in exploration on the Trinity Project as follows: $500,000 in the first year; $1,000,000 in the second year; $1,000,000 in the third year; $1,000,000 in the fourth year; $1,000,000 in the fifth year; and $500,000 in the sixth year.
Any excess expenditure in any year shall be carried forward and applied to the subsequent years expenditure requirement, and the Company may accelerate the expenditures at its discretion. If the Company elects not to meet the minimum expenditure obligation during any year but wishes to maintain the Earn-In Agreement in full force and effect, or if it is subsequently determined that the minimum amount was not expended in any given year, the Company shall pay the amount of any deficiency to Renaissance.
In the event the Company does not meet its minimum expenditure obligation in any year, it is obligated under the terms of the Earn-In Agreement to pay the amount of any deficiency to Renaissance Exploration, Inc. During each of the first two years, the Company has exceeded its minimum expenditure obligation and not been obligated to pay any amounts to Renaissance. The Company had an excess of approximately $133,000 in expenditures over the minimum requirement in the first year, and an excess of approximately $162,000 in expenditures over the minimum requirement in the second year and an excess of approximately $2,856,430 in the third year. The Company satisfied its entire $5,000,000 expenditure commitment by March 29, 2013, which was the end of the third year, and as a result, will not be obligated to pay any deficiency amounts to Renaissance for the third year or any future years.
Work Program
The Company shall be the operator and shall have full control over the content of work programs and annual expenditure amounts during the earn-in period, including having the authority to apply for all necessary permits, licenses and other approvals from the U.S., the State of Nevada or any other governmental or other entity having regulatory authority over any part of the Trinity Project.
Joint Venture
Upon the Company having acquired the 70% Interest in the Trinity Project by satisfying the minimum expenditure amounts and producing a bankable feasibility study, the Company and Renaissance shall enter into a formal joint venture agreement, and the Company will be the operator of the joint venture.
At such time as the Company earns the 70% Interest in the Trinity Project, the parties will thereafter participate in expenditures on the Trinity Project in accordance with their respective interests therein, or have their interest diluted in accordance with a straight-line dilution formula, as set forth in the joint venture agreement.
If through dilution the interest of a party is reduced to less than 10%, then that partys participating interest shall automatically be converted to a 3% net smelter returns royalty interest. Should third party claims be acquired with royalties within the area of interest, the 3% royalty described above would be reduced by the amount of such royalty but not below 1%. This reduction does not apply to the royalty described under the heading Royalty upon Termination of Interest below.
Royalty upon Termination of Interest
If the Company elects to terminate its right to earn an interest in the Trinity Project prior to completing a bankable feasibility study by March 29, 2017, but has expended at least $3,000,000, the Company shall be entitled to a 4% net smelter returns royalty capped at twice its expenditure on the Trinity Project.
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Termination
The Company may in its sole discretion terminate the Earn-In Agreement at any time by giving not less than 30 days prior written notice to that effect to Renaissance. Upon expiry of the 30-day notice period, the Earn-In Agreement will be of no further force and effect. Upon such termination, the Company shall have no further obligation to incur expenses on or for the benefit of the Trinity Project and shall have no further obligations or liabilities to Renaissance under the Earn-In Agreement or with respect to the Trinity Project (including without limitation liability for lost profits or consequential damages as a result of an election by the Company to terminate the agreement), other than (a) as set forth below, and (b) to reclaim (in accordance with applicable law) any disturbances of the Trinity Project made by the Company.
At any time the Company may, at its option, terminate its interest in some but less than all of the claims comprising the Trinity Project by written notice to Renaissance, provided that if such notice (or notice of termination of the Earn-In Agreement in its entirety) is received by Renaissance after June 30th of any year, the Company shall remain obligated to pay the claim maintenance fees (and make all filings and recordings required in connection therewith) for those claims to which such termination applies for the upcoming assessment year. To the extent the Company terminates its interest in some but less than all of the claims, the Earn-In Agreement shall remain in full force and effect with respect to the remaining claims.
In the event the Company is in default in the observance or performance of any of the Companys covenants, agreements or obligations under the Earn-In Agreement, Renaissance may give written notice of such alleged default specifying the details of same. The Company shall have 30 days following receipt of said notice within which to remedy any such default described therein, or to diligently commence action in good faith to remedy such default. If the Company does not cure or diligently commence to cure such default by the end of the applicable 30-day period, then Renaissance shall have the right to terminate the Earn-In Agreement by providing 30 days advance written notice to the Company.
Confidentiality
All data and information coming into possession of Renaissance or the Company by virtue of the Earn-In Agreement with respect to the business or operations of the other party, or the Trinity Project generally, shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person not a party thereto without the prior written consent of the other party, except: (a) as required by law, rule, regulation or policy of any stock exchange or securities commission having jurisdiction over a party; (b) as may be required by a party in the prosecution or defense of a lawsuit or other legal or administrative proceedings; (c) as required by a financial institution in connection with a request for financing relating to development or mining activities; or (d) as may be required in connection with a proposed conveyance to a third party of an interest in the Trinity Project or the Earn-In Agreement, provided such third party agrees in writing in a manner enforceable by the other party to abide by all of the applicable confidentiality provisions of the Earn-In Agreement with respect to such data and information.
To the extent either party intends to disclose data or information via press release or other similar format as may be required, the disclosing party shall provide the other party with not less than five business days notice of the text of the proposed disclosure, and the other party shall have the right to comment on the same.
Deed With Reservation of Royalty Hi Ho Silver Claims.
On October 15, 2012, the Company entered into and closed a Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with Primus Resources, L.C. and James A. Freeman (collectively Seller) to acquire unpatented mining claims, Nevada BLM Serial No. 799907, 799908, 799909, 799910, and 799911 covering approximately 100 acres of property located adjacent to the former Trinity Silver mine on the Companys Trinity Project (the Hi Ho Properties). The Hi Ho Properties were previously the only acreage not controlled by the Company or its joint venture partner Renaissance Exploration Inc. in the Trinity Project. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company provided cash consideration of US$250,000 and issued 2,583,333 restricted shares of common stock of the Company to Seller. In addition the Seller was granted a 2% net smelter royalty on future production from the Hi Ho Properties pursuant to the terms of a Deed With Reservation of Royalty Hi Ho Silver Claims.
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In conjunction with the entry into the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the Registration Rights Agreement) with Seller, pursuant to which the Company agreed to file a registration statement on Form S-1 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, within thirty (30) days of the closing, which registers the common stock issued to the Seller pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement the Company was obliged to pay Seller additional consideration as follows:
·
if the registration statement was declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission by March 1, 2013, Liberty Silver would issue an additional 277,778 Liberty Silver common shares to Primus, thereby increasing the total aggregate number of shares issued to 2,861,111 shares; or
·
if the registration statement is not declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission by March 1, 2013, Liberty Silver will pay Primus US$200,000. As well, if the five-day weighted average trading price of Liberty Silvers common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of March 1, 2013 (the Market Price) exceeds US$0.72 per share, Liberty Silver will issue an additional number of Liberty Silver common shares to Primus equal to (a) 277,778 less (b) US$200,000 divided by the Market Price.
The registration statement was declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission on March 1, 2013 and as a result, the Company issued an additional 277,778 Liberty Silver common shares to Primus, thereby increasing the total aggregate number of shares issued to 2,861,111 shares.
Trinity Project Technical Report
In the process of compiling and synthesizing information on the Trinity Project, on February 15, 2011, the Company completed an independently verified mineralized materials estimate on the Trinity Project (the Trinity Project Technical Report); the report was publicly released by the Company on March 2, 2011. The Technical Report for the Trinity mine project was prepared in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) by Mine Development Associates of Reno, Nevada, and has been reviewed by the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Trinity Project Technical Report may be viewed on the Companys website at www.libertysilvercorp.com, and also on www.SEDAR.com, where it has been filed. Mineralized materials defined in the Trinity Project Technical Report are not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Mining history
The following disclosure regarding the mining history of the Trinity Project has been derived from information contained in the Trinity Project Technical Report.
The Trinity Project lies in the Trinity mining district, which had limited production of silver, lead, zinc, and gold from 1864 through 1942, primarily from the east side of the Trinity Range. In the vicinity of the Trinity project, which is located on the west side of the range, there was historic prospecting with unrecorded but presumed minor silver production.
Minor exploration activity took place in the vicinity of the Trinity project in the 1950s, and in the 1960s Phelps Dodge Corporation completed trenching, IP surveying, and limited drilling in the area.
U. S. Borax and Chemical Corp. (Borax) became interested in what is now the Trinity project in 1982 on the basis of reconnaissance geochemical sampling that indicated the presence of anomalous lead and silver in the Willow Canyon area. By 1984, Borax had acquired a property position and had entered into a joint venture with Southern Pacific Land Company (later Santa Fe Pacific Mining, Inc. (SFPM) and still later Newmont Mining Corp. (Newmont), in which Borax was the operator. From 1982 to 1986, Borax and its joint-venture partner explored the property and developed the Trinity mine. Borax operated the open pit heap-leaching mine, through a mining
25
contractor, on behalf of the joint venture from September 3, 1987 to August 29, 1988, with leaching continuing into 1989. During this period, the mine produced about five and a half million ounces of silver from about 1.1 million tons of oxidized ore grading approx. six and a half ounces of silver per ton. Borax drilled and conducted extensive metallurgical testing on the sulfide mineralization, but metal prices at the time were too low to support mining of this material.
In 1984-1985, 1987-1989, and 1990, SFPM conducted exploration and drilling on their property in the vicinity of the joint-venture lands. In 1991, SFPM acquired sole interest in the joint-venture lands, including Boraxs claims, and conducted further exploration through 1992. SFPMs 1990-1992 exploration work concentrated on down-dip and lateral extensions of mineralization underlying the oxide pit and the sulfide mineralization, as well as extensions of mineralization outside the immediate mine area.
There was no exploration on the Trinity property from 1993 to 2005. In August 2005, Renaissance leased the property from Newmont, who had acquired SFPMs Nevada holdings. Under an earn-in agreement with Piedmont Mining Company, Renaissance explored the property from September 2005 through July 2009, including limited drilling in 2006 and 2007 that encountered high-grade silver values below and adjacent to the open pit.
Liberty Silver entered into an earn-in agreement with Renaissance in March, 2010. To date, Liberty Silver has conducted extensive data compilation and has completed geophysical surveys consisting of a magnetotelluric survey, a gravity survey, and an induced polarization survey over portions the project. The company has also drilled approximately 20,000 ft of reverse circulation rotary drilling consisting of 20 holes 18 of which were drilled in the vicinity of the Trinity mine. The database of technical data for the property, developed since 1982, includes the results of soil and rock surveys, geophysical surveys, geologic mapping, lithology logging and multi-element analyses for about 400 drill holes, and metallurgical work, as well as data derived from the previous production of heap-leach silver. The Magnetotelluric Survey was initiated in June of 2010 and completed in August of 2010. The Gravity survey was initiated in February of 2012 completed in March of 2012. The Induced Polarization Survey was initiated in April of 2012 completed in May of 2012. The drill program was started in January of 2012 and completed in April of 2012.
Work Completed by Company & Plan of Operation
As of the date of this Form 10-Q, the Company has completed the following items: (a) a magnetotelluric geophysical survey has been completed; (b) the drill hole database has been digitized; (c) a mineralized material estimate for the original deposit identified in the Earn-In Agreement; in addition, environmental and permitting work has begun, and all of the past geologic data has been compiled.
Past exploration activities consisted of a magnetotelluric survey that was completed in August of 2010, a gravity survey that was completed in March of 2012, an induced polarization survey that was completed in May of 2012 and a drill program that was started in January of 2012 and completed in April of 2012, consisting of 20 reverse circulation holes comprising 22,565 ft of drill hole. The Magnetotelluric Survey was initiated in June of 2010 and completed in August of 2010. The Gravity survey was initiated in February of 2012 completed in March of 2012. The Induced Polarization Survey was initiated in April of 2012 completed in May of 2012. The drill program was started in January of 2012 and completed in April of 2012.
It is estimated that during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, the Company incurred approximately $554,145 in exploration expenses, and that during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, the Company incurred approximately $1,667,497 in exploration expenses, and that during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, the Company incurred approximately $3,234,201 in exploration expenses. These amounts include both direct exploration costs as well as various indirect costs related to exploration and the costs of acquiring mineral properties, which under the terms of the Earn-In Agreement, are included in the calculations for purposes of determining whether the Company has met its minimum annual expenditure commitment.
It is anticipated that additional exploration work will be needed during 2014, although specific plans for this additional work have not yet been finalized. It is currently anticipated that the additional exploration work to be completed will include additional drilling to upgrade the level of confidence in the mineralization and to expand the
26
mineralized area, as well as drilling to collect metallurgical samples. The estimated budget for this additional drilling is approximately $1,500,000. Metallurgical testing, which is budgeted to cost approximately $300,000, is expected to be undertaken for the purpose of defining the estimated silver recovery of the mineralized rock. Engineering design work, budgeted at approximately $500,000, is expected to be undertaken for the purpose of studying the feasibility of developing a mine, and as soon as design work is completed, permitting will need to start. The budget for permitting work is expected to be approximately $100,000. No further geophysical work is currently planned.
Geology and Mineralization of Trinity Project
The following disclosure regarding the Geology and Mineralization of the Trinity Project has been derived from information contained in the Trinity Project Technical Report.
The Trinity Project lies on the western flank of the Trinity Range, one of the generally north-trending ranges formed during Tertiary extension of the Basin and Range Province.
Within the Trinity Range, the basement rocks are comprised of the Middle Triassic to Early Jurassic near-shore deltaic deposits of the Auld Lang Syne Group, which are represented by phyllite, argillite, quartzite, and dirty limestone at the Trinity Project. The best-represented pre-Cenozoic deformation in this portion of the Trinity Range is the Jurassic and Cretaceous Nevadan Orogeny, which resulted in low-grade regional metamorphism, variably directed folding, and thrust faulting. A Cretaceous intrusive episode culminated the Nevadan Orogeny and is exemplified by a Cretaceous granodiorite stock just northeast of the Trinity project.
Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary rocks and Quaternary sediments are abundant in the Trinity project area. There is a thin Tertiary rhyolite sequence along the central north-south axis of the property that includes the mineralized material area. These volcanic rocks overlie the Mesozoic phyllite and argillite, exposed to the east, but are separated by an argillite breccia that is closely associated with faulting. The rhyolite includes interbedded rhyolitic flows, welded tuffs, air-fall tuffs, epiclastic tuffs, and lacustrine deposits. Several rhyolite domes, dikes, and sills have also been identified on the property, some of which may be related to mineralization. Early Tertiary north- to northwest-trending faults are present in the Trinity project area, as are younger north- to northeast-trending normal faults. Late Tertiary and/or Quaternary bench and channel gravel deposits and Quaternary alluvium and outwash unconformably overly the rhyolites and cover the western part of the property.
Rhyolite porphyry, aphanitic rhyolite, and volcaniclastic rocks are the principal host rocks for mineralization in the Trinity mine area. Silicification and quartz-adularia-sericite alteration are associated with the mineralization. Tertiary rhyolitic tuffs and flows were extensively altered and form a halo extending 1.6 miles beyond the main mineralized area. This alteration affected the Auld Lang Syne Group only locally along faults and breccia zones.
Mineralization at the Trinity Project is controlled by a northeast-trending zone of normal faults. Silver, lead, and zinc mineralization occurs in fractures and bedding planes in Tertiary rhyolite in the hanging-wall block of the fault zone. Although mineralization continues downward into the underlying Triassic rocks, it is more tightly constrained to fractures that host higher-grade vein mineralization. The original Trinity silver deposit can generally be divided into two parts: a sulfide zone below the current pit and to the northeast, and an overlying oxide zone. Boraxs mining in the late 1980s focused on a portion of the oxide zone.
Mineralization occurs as oxidized and unoxidized sulfides in veinlets, as fracture-controlled mineralization, and as disseminations within the host rocks, including breccia matrix. Sulfide mineralization consists mainly of pyrite, sphalerite, galena, marcasite, and minor arsenopyrite with various silver minerals, including tetrahedrite-freibergite, pyrargyrite, minor argentite, and rare native silver, with traces of gold, pyrrhotite, stannite, and chalcopyrite. Low-grade lead and zinc have the potential to add value as byproducts.
27
Index of Geologic Terms
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|
TERM | DEFINITION |
Adularia | A variety of transparent or translucent orthoclase. |
Air-fall tuffs | Ash exploded out of a volcano, which falls through the air and settles in beds, called tuffs when consolidated. |
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|
Alluvium | Loose, unconsolidated (not cemented together into a solid rock) soil or sediments |
Aphanitic | Igneous rock in which the grain or crystalline structure is too fine to be seen by the unaided eye |
Argillite | A fine-grained sedimentary rock composed predominantly of indurated muds and oozes. |
Argillization | The replacement or alteration of feldspars to form clay minerals. |
Arsenopyrite | The most prevalent mineral containing the element arsenic. |
Breccia | A rock composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix, which can be either similar to or different from the composition of the fragments. |
Cenozoic | The current and most recent geological era and covers the period from 65.5 million years ago to the present |
Chalcopyrite | A major ore mineral containing copper, iron, and sulfur. |
Cretaceous | A geologic period from 145 to 65 million years ago. |
Deltaic | Pertaining to, or like a delta. |
Dikes | A type of sheet intrusion referring to any geologic body that cuts discordantly across rock structures. |
Domes | A roughly circular mound-shaped protrusion resulting from the slow extrusion of viscous lava from a volcano. |
Epiclastic | Formed at the surface of the earth by consolidation of fragments of preexisting rocks. |
Freibergite | A complex sulfosalt mineral of silver, copper, iron, antimony, arsenic, and sulfur. |
Galena | The natural mineral form of lead sulfide. |
Grandiorite | A visibly crystalline plutonic rock composed chiefly of sodic plagioclase, alkali feldspar, quartz, and subordinate dark-colored minerals. |
Hydrothermal | Relating to or produced by hot water, especially water heated underground by the Earth's internal heat. |
Jurassic | The geologic period that extends from about 200 to 145 million years ago. |
Lacustrine | Of or relating to lakes. |
Metal Sulfides | A group of minerals containing both metals and sulfur. |
Mesozoic | A geologic era that extends from 251 to 65 million years ago |
Mineral | A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific |
Mineralization | The act or process of mineralizing. |
Miocene | A geological epoch that extends from about 23.8 to 5.3 million years ago. |
Nevadan Orogeny | A major mountain building event that took place along the western edge of ancient North America between the mid to late Jurassic. |
Ore | Mineralized material that can be mined and processed at a positive cash flow. |
Orthoclase | A variety of feldspar, essentially potassium aluminum silicate, which forms igneous rock. |
Oxidized | A process whereby the sulfur in a mineral has been removed and replaced by oxygen. |
Phyllite, | A type of foliated metamorphic rock primarily composed of quartz, muscovite mica, and chlorite |
Pliocene | The geologic epoch that extends from about 5.3 million to 1.8 million years ago. |
Porphyry | A variety of igneous rock consisting of large-grained crystals suspended in a fine grained matrix |
Pyrargyrite | A sulfosalt mineral consisting of silver, arsenic, and sulfur. |
Pyrite | A very common sulfide mineral consisting of iron and sulfur found in a wide variety of geological occurrences. Commonly known as Fools Gold |
Pyrrhotite | An unusual iron sulfide mineral with a variable iron content. |
Quartzite | A hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone |
Rhyolite | A fine-grained volcanic rock, similar to granite in composition |
Sercitization | A hydrothermal or metamorphic process involving the introduction of, alteration to, or replacement by white, fine-grained potassium mica. |
Silicification | A hydrothermal or metamorphic process involving the introduction of, alteration to, or replacement by silica. |
Sills | A tabular sheet intrusion that has intruded between older layers of sedimentary rock, beds of volcanic lava or tuff. |
Sphalerite | A mineral containing zinc and sulfur. |
Stannite | A mineral containing copper, iron, tin, and sulfur. |
Sulfides | Sulfide minerals are a class of minerals containing sulfur with sulfide (S2−) as the major anion. |
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|
Tetrahedrite | A sulfosalt mineral containing copper, antimony, and sulfur. |
Triassic | A geologic period that extends from about 251 to 200 million years ago. |
Volcanic | A rock formed from magma erupted from a volcano. |
Volcaniclastic | Volcanic material which been transported and reworked through mechanical action, such as by wind or water. |
Welded tuffs | Rock composed of compacted volcanic ejected materials. |
Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events for the interim period ended December 31, 2013 through the date that the financial statements were issued, and concluded that there were no other events or transactions occurring during this period that required recognition or disclosure in its interim financial statements.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis provides information that we believe is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our results of operation and financial condition for the three and six months ended December 31, 2013 as compared to the three and six months ended December 31, 2012. Unless otherwise stated, all figures herein are expressed in U.S. dollars, which is the functional currency of the Company.
Results of Operations for the three months ended December 31, 2013 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2012.
Revenue
During the three-month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company generated no revenue.
Operating expenses
During the three month period ended December 31, 2013, the Company reported total operating expenses of $1,353,107 compared to $1,161,335 during the three month period ended December 31, 2012, an increase of $191,772, or approximately 17%. The increase in operating expenses is due to an increase of $692,330 in operation and administration expenses. The increase in these expenses was partially offset by the total decrease of $500,558 in consulting expenses, exploration expense, and legal and accounting expense.
Operation and administration expense increased by $692,330 to $1,197,249 during the period ended December 31, 2013, as compared to an expense of $504,919 reported during the period ended December 31, 2012. The net increase in operation and administration expense was primarily due to the non-cash increase in the stock based compensation expense. During the period, certain officers and directors of the Company cancelled or forfeited their previously issued stock options, and as a result, any unamortized value attributed to those previously issued and
29
vested stock options, was expensed upon cancellation. Stock options that had not vested were forfeited, which did not impact the results of the current period. The increase in the non-cash stock based compensation expense was partially offset by the decrease in: salary expense; printing expense; travel expense; and various other operational expenses as a result of decreased operational activity in the Company during the period.
Exploration expense decreased by $171,233 to $14,551 during the period ended December 31, 2013, as compared to an expense of $185,784 reported during the period ended December 31, 2012. During the period ended December 31, 2013, the Company was not engaged in an exploration program and only incurred expenses to maintain its property in good standing, as compared to the period ended December 31, 2012 when the Company incurred expenses related to its exploration program.
Legal and accounting expense decreased by $327,495 to $141,307 during the period ended December 31, 2013, as compared to a legal and accounting expense of $468,802 reported during the period ended December 31, 2012, when the Company was in the midst of dealing with the halt of trading of its shares..
Consulting expense decreased by $1,830 to $0 during the period ended December 31, 2013.
Net loss and comprehensive loss
The Company had a net loss and comprehensive loss of $1,330,854 for the three months ended December 31, 2013, compared to a net loss and comprehensive loss of $1,166,016, for the three months ended December 31, 2012, a change of $164,838 or approximately 14%. The increase in net loss and comprehensive loss was due to a net increase in operating expenses as described above and partially offset by the foreign exchange fluctuations.
Results of Operations for the six months ended December 31, 2013 compared to the six months ended December 31, 2012.
Revenue
During the six-month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company generated no revenue.
Operating expenses
During the six month period ended December 31, 2013, the Company reported total operating expenses of $1,777,780 compared to $2,019,235 during the six month period ended December 31, 2012, a decrease of $241,455, or approximately 12%. The decrease in operating expenses is due to decreases in exploration expense, and legal and accounting expense. The decrease in these expenses was partially offset by the increase in operation and administration expense, and consulting expense.
Exploration expense decreased by $344,123 to $40,061 during the period ended December 31, 2013, as compared to an expense of $384,184 reported during the period ended December 31, 2012. During the period ended December 31, 2013, the Company was not engaged in an exploration program and only incurred expenses to maintain its property claims in good standing, as compared to the period ended December 31, 2012 when the Company incurred expenses related to its exploration program.
Legal and accounting expense decreased by $340,389 to $205,648 during the period ended December 31, 2013, as compared to a legal and accounting expense of $546,037 reported during the period ended December 31, 2012, when the Company was in the midst of dealing with the halt of trading of its shares.
Operation and administration expense increased by $417,803 to $1,502,071 during the period ended December 31, 2013, as compared to an expense of $1,084,268 reported during the period ended December 31, 2012. The net increase in operation and administration expense was primarily due to the non-cash increase in the stock based compensation expense. During the period, certain officers and directors of the Company cancelled or forfeited their previously issued stock options, and as a result, any unamortized value attributed to those previously issued and vested stock options, was expensed upon cancellation. Stock options that had not vested were forfeited, which did not impact the results of the current period. The increase in the non-cash stock based compensation expense was
30
partially offset by the decrease in: corporate development expense; salary expense; printing expense; travel expense; and various other operational expenses as a result of decreased operational activity in the Company during the period.
Consulting expense increased by $25,254 to $30,000 during the period ended December 31, 2013, as compared to an expense of $4,746 reported during the period ended December 31, 2012. During the period ended December 31, 2013, the Company engaged the services of a consultant to assist the Company with its business strategy.
Net loss and comprehensive loss
The Company had a net loss and comprehensive loss of $1,768,664 for the six months ended December 31, 2013, compared to a net loss and comprehensive loss of $2,014,631, for the six months ended December 31, 2012, a change of $245,967 or approximately 12%. The decrease in net loss and comprehensive loss was due to a net decrease in operating expenses as described above and by the foreign exchange fluctuations.
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company does not have sufficient working capital needed to meet its current fiscal obligations. In order to continue to meet its fiscal obligations in the current fiscal year and beyond the next twelve months, management is considering various financing alternatives including, but not limited to, merger and acquisition activity, raising capital through the equity markets and debt financing.
In order to acquire a 70% interest in the Trinity Project, the Company is required to incur $5,000,000 in exploration expenditures over a six-year period from March 29, 2010, the date of the Earn-In Agreement, to March 29, 2016. In addition, by the end of March 29, 2017, the Company is required to produce a bankable feasibility study. As of March 29, 2013, the end of the third year following the date of the Earn-In Agreement, the Company had incurred approximately $5,652,397 in expenditures related to the Trinity Project, and therefore has satisfied the $5,000,000 exploration expenditure commitment. The Company is currently considering various financing alternatives, as described above, with the objective to raise approximately $5,000,000 to fund additional work to complete the bankable feasibility study and to fund ongoing working capital. The additional work will consist of engineering and metallurgical testing, confirmation drilling, and an update of the National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate.
The primary source for capital for the Company is the equity markets. Management plans to continue its canvassing efforts of investors and financial institutions to invest capital in the Company through private placement offerings of common shares or units consisting of common shares and warrants. The terms and pricing of any such financing would be determined in the context of the markets. The Company has not entered into an agency agreement or arrangement with any financial institution or investor group to raise capital at this time.
In such an event where the Company is not successful at raising capital through the issuance of capital stock, the Company may consider raising capital by the issuance of debt. However, unless the appropriate features, such as convertible options, are attached to the debt instruments, this form of financing is less desirable until such time as the Company may be in a position to reasonably foresee the generation of cash flow to service and repay debt.
On November 14, 2013, the Company closed a $1,210,000 loan facility with BG Capital Group Ltd. The loan bears interest at the rate of 11% per annum for the first twelve months. The Company may extend the one-year term of the loan for an additional six months at the rate of 15% per annum during the extended term. The loan is secured by a charge on all of the Companys assets. Subject to regulatory approval, the Company may cause the lender to convert the outstanding debt to common shares of the Company, should the Company complete an arms length equity financing of $500,000 or more, at a price of not less than $0.50 per common share. The Company intends to use the funds from the Loan for general working capital purposes, thereby affording the Company more time to secure longer term financing for the Trinity Silver Project.
31
Further, on an ongoing basis, management will review potential merger or acquisition targets to determine if certain synergies exist for the Company and if the potential target would strengthen the Companys financial position. Management does not currently have any merger or acquisition target identified, and any such discussions are at the very preliminary stages.
In the event that the Company raises some funds, but, due to difficult capital market conditions or other factors, is not successful at raising all funds needed to complete the bankable feasibility study and fund ongoing working capital, management plans to reduce overhead and maintain the Trinity Project under a care and maintenance program, until such time as the capital markets improve for junior exploration companies. Management believes that this option is available to it, without jeopardizing its interest in the Trinity Project, due to the accelerated pace at which it has incurred exploration expenditures in relation to the timeline for the minimum expenditure commitment prescribed in the Earn-In Agreement.
On November 10, 2011, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement (the Subscription Agreement) with Look Back Investments, Inc. (Investor), pursuant to which the Investor acquired Subscription Receipts (Subscription Receipts) for U.S. $0.50 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of U.S. $3,250,000; the gross proceeds of U.S. $3,250,000 (the Escrow Proceeds) were held in escrow pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Receipt. Each Subscription Receipt entitled the Investor to receive one unit (a "Unit") from the Company without payment of any additional consideration upon conditional approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange for the listing of the common shares of the Company. Each Unit consists of one share of common stock of the Company and one common stock purchase warrant (a Warrant); each Warrant is exercisable at a price of US $0.65 per share at any time until 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on December 31, 2013. On December 19, 2011, each Subscription Receipt was automatically converted for no additional consideration, into one Unit of the Company as a result of the Companys receipt of notice that its common stock was accepted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol, LSL, effective as of December 22, 2011. On December 19, 2011, the Escrow Proceeds were delivered to the Company from the escrow agent.
Additionally, on December 19, 2011, the Company completed a private placement offering, pursuant to which the Company raised a total of US $1,313,750 through the sale of 2,627,500 Units at a purchase price of US $0.50 per Unit; there were no underwriting discounts or commissions paid. Each Unit consisted of one share of common stock of the Company and one common stock purchase warrant (a Warrant). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one share of common stock at a price of US $0.65 for a period of two years following the date of the closing of the financing.
Effective September 28, 2012, the Company issued 100,000 common shares upon the exercise of 100,000 whole warrants for gross proceeds of CDN$75,000.
Effective October 3, 2012, the Company issued 300,000 common shares upon the exercise of 300,000 whole warrants for gross proceeds of CDN$225,000.
Effective November 27, 2012, the Company issued 20,000 common shares upon the exercise of 20 whole warrants for the gross proceeds of US$13,000.
Effective December 19, 2013, 3,900,000 vested stock options were cancelled, and 150,000 non-vested stock options were forfeited. Further, the Company granted 200,000 stock options at an exercise price of $0.10 each.
Effective December 21, 2013, 300,000 vested stock options had expired.
As at December 31, 2013, there were 2,800,000 stock options outstanding, which may be exercised at various exercise prices, for gross proceeds of $1,970,000, however the exercise prices of these stock options exceed the market price of the Companys shares.
As at December 31, 2013, there were 500,000 warrants outstanding, which may be exercised at various exercise prices, for gross proceeds of $315,000, however the exercise prices of these warrants exceed the market price of the Companys shares.
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Current Assets and Total Assets
As of December 31, 2013, the unaudited balance sheet reflects that the Company had: i) total current assets of $511,562, as compared to total current assets of $140,890 at June 30, 2013, an increase of $370,672, or approximately 263%; and ii) total assets of $3,082,401, as compared to total assets of $2,702,011 at June 30, 2013, an increase of $380,390, or approximately 14%. The increase in current and total assets was primarily due to proceeds advanced from the loan facility.
Total Current Liabilities and Total Liabilities
As of December 31, 2013, the unaudited balance sheet reflects that the Company had total current liabilities and total liabilities of $2,342,061, compared to total current liabilities and total liabilities of $1,275,987 at June 30, 2013, an increase of $1,066,074 or approximately 84%. The increase in current and total liabilities was due to an increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and the advances made from the loan facility and interest payable thereon.
Cash Flow for the interim periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012
During the six months ended December 31, 2013 cash was primarily used to fund operations. The Company reported a net increase in cash during the six months ended December 31, 2013 as compared to a net decrease in cash for the six months ended December 31, 2012. See below for additional discussion and analysis of cash flow.
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|
|
|
| For the six months ended December 31, | ||
| 2013 |
| 2012 |
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities | (296,223) |
| (1,206,549) |
Net cash used in investing activities | (13,192) |
| (542,420) |
Net cash from financing activities | 605,000 |
| 300,929 |
|
|
|
|
Net Change in Cash | 295,585 |
| (1,448,040) |
During the six months ended December 31, 2013, net cash used in operating activities was $296,223, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $1,206,549 during the six months ended December 31, 2012. The decrease in net cash used in operating activities of $910,326 is due to a net loss and comprehensive loss of $1,768,664 during the six months ended December 31, 2013, compared to a net loss and comprehensive loss of $2,014,631 in the comparative period, and non-cash items of $1,086,454 reported during the six months ended December 3, 2013 compared to non-cash items of $282,838 being reported during the comparative period. These items, which resulted in the reduced amount of cash used for operating activities, were partially offset by the effects of the net changes in working capital items, which resulted in a reduced cash outflow of $385,987 during the six months ended December 31, 2013, compared to net changes in working capital items, which resulted in a decrease in cash outflow of $525,244 during the comparative period.
During the six months ended December 31, 2013, cash used for investing activities was $13,192 in connection with certain direct costs associated with the October 2012 acquisition of mining interests when the Company used $542,420 for investing activities during that comparative period.
During the six months ended December 31, 2013, net cash from financing activities was $605,000, compared to net cash from financing activities of $300,929 during the six months ended December 31, 2012. During the current period, the Company had advanced a total of $605,000 of the $1,210,000 available to it from the loan facility, as
33
described in the Companys financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2013. During the comparative period, the Company issued common stock for net proceeds of $300,929.
Going Concern
These interim unaudited financial statement filings have been prepared on the going concern basis which assumes that adequate sources of financing will be obtained as required and that the Companys assets will be realized and liabilities settled in due course of business. Accordingly, the interim unaudited financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability of assets and classification of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should the Company not be able to continue as a going concern.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Securities and Exchange Commission defines the term disclosure controls and procedures to mean a Company's controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the issuers management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company maintains such a system of controls and procedures in an effort to ensure that all information which it is required to disclose in the reports it files under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified under the SEC's rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to principal executive and principal financial officers to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the objectives of timely alerting them to material information required to be included in the Companys periodic SEC reports and of ensuring that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified. The Companys chief executive officer and chief financial officer also concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to provide reasonable assurance of the achievement of these objectives.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the period ended December
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31, 2013, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
On September 16, 2013, the Company announced that it had become aware that the Company and its Chief Executive Officer have been named as defendants in a proposed class action lawsuit filed against Robert Genovese, certain individuals alleged to have collaborated with Mr. Genovese, and an offshore investment firm allegedly controlled by Mr. Genovese. The action contains various claims alleging violations of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and rules thereunder relating to anomalous trading activity and fluctuations in the Companys share price from August through October 2012. The plaintiff purports to bring suit on behalf of all who purchased or otherwise acquired the Companys common shares from April 1, 2008, through and including October 5, 2012.
The original complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on September 12, 2013. An amended complaint (Case No. 9:13-cv-80923-KLR Todd Stanaford a/k/a Jerald Todd Stanaford, on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated, vs. Robert Donald Bruce Genovese, William Tafuri, Geoffrey Browne, BG Capital Group LTD., Look Back Investments INC., and Liberty Silver Corporation) was filed on September 27, 2013.
The Companys registered agent in the State of Nevada was served with the original complaint on September 18, 2013, and served with the amended complaint on October 8, 2013. On October 10, 2013, service of the amended complaint was accepted on behalf of the Companys Chief Executive Officer, by counsel representing the Companys Chief Executive Officer.
The Company and its Chief Executive Officer intend to fully investigate the complaint and will undertake a vigorous defense.
Neither the Company nor its property is the subject of any other pending legal proceedings, and no other such proceeding is known to be contemplated by any governmental authority. The Company is not aware of any other legal proceedings in which any director, officer or affiliate of the Company, any owner of record or beneficially of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, or any associate of any such director, officer, affiliate or security holder of the Company, is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
None.
ITEM 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
None.
ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
The recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Act) requires the operators of mines to include in each periodic report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission certain specified disclosures regarding the Companys history of mine safety. The Company is currently in the exploration
35
phase and does not operate mines at any of its properties, and as such is not subject to disclosure requirements regarding mine safety that were imposed by the Act.
ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS.
(a)
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
31.1
Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.
SCH XBRL Schema Document.
101
INS XBRL Instance Document.
101.
CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.
LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.
PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
101.
DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
By: /s/ Manish Z. Kshatriya
Manish Z. Kshatriya, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Date: February 13, 2013
By: /s/ R. Geoffrey Browne
R. Geoffrey Browne, Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 13, 2013
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