UR-ENERGY INC - Quarter Report: 2018 March (Form 10-Q)

United States

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

 

 

 

Commission File Number: 001-33905

 

UR-ENERGY INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

10758 West Centennial Road, Suite 200
Littleton, Colorado 80127
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 720-981-4588

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☑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).

Yes ☑   No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.:

 

Large accelerated filer ☐                     Accelerated filer ☑               Non-accelerated filer ☐             Smaller reporting company ☐

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐No ☑

 

As of May 3, 2018, there were 146,715,824 shares of the registrant’s no par value Common Shares (“Common Shares”), the registrant’s only outstanding class of voting securities, outstanding.

 

 

UR-ENERGY INC.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we use the terms “Ur-Energy,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” or the “Company” we are referring to Ur-Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. Throughout this document we make statements that are classified as “forward-looking.” Please refer to the “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section below for an explanation of these types of assertions.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

This report on Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable United States (“U.S.”) and Canadian securities laws, and these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "may," "potential," "intends," "plans" and other similar expressions or statements that an action, event or result "may," "could" or "should" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative thereof or other similar statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability to maintain controlled, steady-state operations at Lost Creek; (ii) anticipated production of Lost Creek for 2018 and timing for bringing on the additional header house in Mine Unit 2; (iii) the timing and outcome of permitting and regulatory approvals of the amendment for uranium recovery at the LC East project; (iv) the ability to complete additional favorable uranium sales agreements including spot sales if the market warrants and production inventory is available; (v) the potential of our exploration and development projects; (vi) the timing and outcome of applications for regulatory approval to build and operate an in situ recovery mine at Shirley Basin; (vii) the outcome of our forecasts and production projections; (viii) resolution of the continuing challenges within the uranium market, including supply and demand projections; (ix) the outcome of the Department of Commerce Section 232 investigation, including whether the Secretary of Commerce will make a recommendation to the U.S. President, and the nature of the recommendation, whether the President will act on the recommendation and, if so, the nature of the action and remedy; (xii) the expected benefits of the proposed remedies in the trade action; and (xiii) the expected impacts of any remedial measures from the Section 232 action on U.S. production and the U.S. uranium mining industry. Additional factors include, among others, the following: future estimates for production; capital expenditures; operating costs; mineral resources; recovery rates; grades; market prices; business strategies and measures to implement such strategies; competitive strengths; estimates of goals for expansion and growth of the business and operations; plans and references to our future successes; our history of operating losses and uncertainty of future profitability; status as an exploration stage company; the lack of mineral reserves; risks associated with obtaining permits and other authorizations in the U.S.; risks associated with current variable economic conditions; challenges presented by current inventories and largely unrestricted imports of uranium products into the U.S.; our ability to service our debt and maintain compliance with all restrictive covenants related to the debt facility and security documents; the possible impact of future debt or equity financings; the hazards associated with mining production; compliance with environmental laws and regulations; uncertainty regarding the pricing and collection of accounts; the possibility for adverse results in potential litigation; uncertainties associated with changes in law, government policy and regulation; uncertainties associated with a Canada Revenue Agency or U.S. Internal Revenue Service audit of any of our cross border transactions; adverse changes in general business conditions in any of the countries in which we do business; changes in size and structure; the effectiveness of management and our strategic relationships; ability to attract and retain key personnel; uncertainties regarding the need for additional capital; sufficiency of insurance coverages; uncertainty regarding the fluctuations of quarterly results; foreign currency exchange risks; ability to enforce civil liabilities under U.S. securities laws outside the U.S.; ability to maintain our listing on the NYSE American and Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”); risks associated with the expected classification as a "passive foreign investment company" under the applicable provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

risks associated with our investments and other risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated March 2, 2018.

 

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Disclosure of Mineral Resources

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all resource estimates included in this Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (“CIM Definition Standards”). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.

 

Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and resource information contained in this Form 10-Q may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, the term “resource” does not equate to the term “‘reserves.” Under SEC Industry Guide 7, mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. SEC Industry Guide 7 does not define and the SEC’s disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning “measured mineral resources,” “indicated mineral resources” or “inferred mineral resources” or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute “reserves” by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors should also understand that “inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an “inferred mineral resource” will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated “inferred mineral resources” may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an “inferred mineral resource” exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable to information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.

 

NI 43-101 Review of Technical Information: James A. Bonner, Ur-Energy Vice President Geology, P.Geo. and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this Form 10-Q.

 

PART I

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Ur-Energy Inc.

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.

 

Approved by the Board of Directors

 

/s/ Jeffrey T. Klenda, Chairman of the Board              /s/ Thomas Parker, Director

Ur-Energy Inc.

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

 

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars except for share data)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Ur-Energy Inc.

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity

 

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars except for share data)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.

 

Ur-Energy Inc.

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

 

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.

 

1.Nature of Operations

 

Ur-Energy Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on March 22, 2004 under the laws of the Province of Ontario. The Company was continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act on August 8, 2006. Headquartered in Littleton, Colorado, the Company is an exploration stage mining company, as defined by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Industry Guide 7. The Company is engaged in uranium mining and recovery operations, with activities including the acquisition, exploration, development and production of uranium mineral resources located in Wyoming. As of August 2013, the Company commenced uranium production at its Lost Creek Project in Wyoming.

 

Due to the nature of the uranium mining methods used by the Company on the Lost Creek Property, and the definition of “mineral reserves” under National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”), which uses the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) Definition Standards, the Company has not determined whether the properties contain mineral reserves. However, the Company’s “Amended Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Lost Creek Property, Sweetwater County, Wyoming,” February 8, 2016 (“Lost Creek PEA”), outlines the potential viability of the Lost Creek Property. The recoverability of amounts recorded for mineral properties is dependent upon the discovery of economic resources, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing to develop the properties and upon attaining future profitable production from the properties or sufficient proceeds from disposition of the properties.

 

 

2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of presentation

 

These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements do not conform in all respects to the requirements of United States generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”) for annual financial statements. The unaudited interim financial statements reflect all normal adjustments which in the opinion of management are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016. We apply the same accounting policies as in the prior year other than as noted below.  The year-end balance sheet data were derived from the audited financial statements and certain information and footnote disclosures required by US GAAP have been condensed or omitted.

 

New accounting pronouncements which may affect future reporting

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize all leases on the balance sheet, including operating leases, unless the lease is a short-term lease. ASU 2016-02 also requires additional disclosures regarding leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for interim periods and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018.  As at March 31, 2018, the Company’s only leases are for vehicles, equipment, and office space in one location.  The Casper office and copier leases are the only leases currently remaining in effect as of the date of implementation of the standard.  We have gathered the necessary information for proper disclosure of that lease once the ASU is effective. 

We will continue to monitor any new leases to ensure that we have all the information necessary to handle the transition to the new standard and properly report the transactions.  We do not anticipate the new standard will affect our net income materially, but will result in additional fixed assets and the related lease liabilities.

 

New accounting pronouncements which were implemented this year

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” The amendments in ASU 2014-09 affect any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., insurance contracts or lease contracts). This ASU superseded the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance, and creates a Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of the promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company adopted Topic 606 effective January 1, 2018. .  The Company purchases and produces U₃O₈ and recognizes revenue at point of sale so revenue will continue to be recognized at that point under the new standard.  The adoption of the new standard had no impact on either our current or prior revenue recognition processes or reporting, which, electing the retrospective basis for implementing the standard, results in no changes to prior financial reporting.  In addition, there is no change in our revenue recognition treatment in the current period.

Our revenues are primarily derived from the sale of U₃O₈ under either long-term (delivery in typically two to five years) or spot (immediate delivery) contracts with our customers. The contracts specify the quantity to be delivered, the price or specific calculation method of the price, payment terms and the year(s) of the delivery. There may be some variability in the dates of the delivery or the quantity to be delivered depending on the contract, but those issues are addressed before the delivery date.  On the date of the delivery, we receive notice from the storage facility of the transfer of material at which point we invoice the customer and record the sale. 

We also receive a small amount of revenue from disposal fees. We have contracts with our customers which specify the type and volume of material which can be disposed. Monthly, we invoice those customers based on deliveries of material to the disposal site by the customer. Materials are measured and categorized at the time of delivery and verified by the customer. We recognize the revenue when the invoice is prepared at the end of the month in which the material was received.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-1, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Topic 825). The amendments in this ASU supersede the guidance to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values into different categories (that is, trading or available-for-sale) and require equity securities (including other ownership interests, such as partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures, and limited liability companies) to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income. The amendments allow equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values to be remeasured at fair value either upon the occurrence of an observable price

change or upon identification of an impairment. The amendments also require enhanced disclosures about those investments. The amendments improve financial reporting by providing relevant information about an entity’s equity investments and reducing the number of items that are recognized in other comprehensive income. The Company adopted the amended Topic 825 effective January 1, 2018.  The adoption of this guidance had no effect on our financial statements or other financial reporting.

 

 

3.Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents consist of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Inventory

 

The Company’s inventory consists of the following:

 

 

 

In conjunction with our lower of cost or net realizable value calculations, the Company reduced the inventory valuation by $98 for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

 

 

5.    Restricted Cash

 

The Company’s restricted cash consists of the following:

 

 

 

The bonding requirements for reclamation obligations on various properties have been agreed to by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (“WDEQ”), the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) as applicable.  The restricted money market accounts are pledged as collateral against performance surety bonds which are used to secure the potential costs of reclamation related to those properties. Surety bonds providing $27.0 million of coverage towards specific reclamation obligations are collateralized by $7.5 million of the restricted cash at March 31, 2018. 

 

6.  Mineral Properties

 

The Company’s mineral properties consist of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

Lost Creek Property

 

The Company acquired certain Wyoming properties in 2005 when Ur-Energy USA Inc. purchased 100% of NFU Wyoming, LLC. Assets acquired in this transaction include the Lost Creek Project, other Wyoming properties and development databases.  NFU Wyoming, LLC was acquired for aggregate consideration of

$20 million plus interest. Since 2005, the Company has increased its holdings adjacent to the initial Lost Creek acquisition through staking additional claims and additional property purchases and leases. 

 

There is a royalty on each of the State of Wyoming sections under lease at the Lost Creek, LC West and EN Projects, as required by law. Other royalties exist on certain mining claims at the LC South, LC East and EN Projects. Currently, there are no royalties on the mining claims in the Lost Creek, LC North or LC West Projects.

 

Pathfinder Mines

 

The Company acquired additional Wyoming properties when Ur-Energy USA Inc. closed a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with an AREVA Mining affiliate in December 2013. Under the terms of the SPA, the Company purchased Pathfinder Mines Corporation (“Pathfinder”) to acquire additional mineral properties. Assets acquired in this transaction include the Shirley Basin mine, portions of the Lucky Mc mine, machinery and equipment, vehicles, office equipment and development databases. Pathfinder was acquired for aggregate consideration of $6.7 million, a 5% production royalty under certain circumstances and the assumption of $5.7 million in estimated asset reclamation obligations.  At June 30, 2016, the royalty expired and was terminated.

 

7.Capital Assets

 

The Company’s capital assets consist of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.Notes Payable

 

On October 15, 2013, the Sweetwater County Commissioners approved the issuance of a $34.0 million Sweetwater County, State of Wyoming, Taxable Industrial Development Revenue Bond (Lost Creek Project), Series 2013 (the “Sweetwater IDR Bond”) to the State of Wyoming, acting by and through the Wyoming State Treasurer, as purchaser. On October 23, 2013, the Sweetwater IDR Bond was issued and the proceeds were in turn loaned by Sweetwater County to Lost Creek ISR, LLC pursuant to a financing agreement dated October 23, 2013 (the “State Bond Loan”). The State Bond Loan calls for payments of interest at a fixed rate of 5.75% per annum on a quarterly basis commencing January 1, 2014. The principal is payable in 28 quarterly installments commencing January 1, 2015 and continuing through October 1, 2021.

 

Deferred loan fees include legal fees, commissions, commitment fees and other costs associated with obtaining the financing. Those fees amortizable within 12 months of March 31, 2018 are considered current.

 

The following table lists the current (within 12 months) and long term portion of the Company’s debt instrument:

 

 

 

Schedule of payments on outstanding debt as of March 31, 2018:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.Asset Retirement and Reclamation Obligations

 

Asset retirement obligations ("ARO") relate to the Lost Creek mine and Pathfinder projects and are equal to the present value of all estimated future costs required to remediate any environmental disturbances that exist as of the end of the period discounted at a risk-free rate. Included in this liability are the costs of closure, reclamation, demolition and stabilization of the mines, processing plants, infrastructure, aquifer restoration, waste dumps and ongoing post-closure environmental monitoring and maintenance costs.

 

At March 31, 2018, the total undiscounted amount of the future cash needs was estimated to be $26.9 million. The schedule of payments required to settle the ARO liability extends through 2033.

 

The restricted cash as discussed in note 5 is related to the surety bonds which provide security to the governmental agencies on these obligations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.Shareholders’ Equity and Capital Stock

 

Stock options

 

In 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the adoption of the Company's stock option plan (the “Option Plan”). The Option Plan was most recently approved by the shareholders, including certain amendments, on May 18, 2017. Eligible participants under the Option Plan include directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. Under the terms of the Option Plan, stock options granted prior to the May 2017 amendment generally vest with Option Plan participants as follows: 10% at the date of grant; 22% four and one-half months after grant; 22% three months after grant; 22% thirteen and one-half months after grant; and the balance of 24% eighteen months after the date of grant. Following the May 2017 amendment of the Option Plan, future grants of options will vest over a three-year period: 33.3% on the first anniversary, 33.3% on the second anniversary, and 33.4% on the third anniversary of the grant. The term of options remains unchanged.

 

Activity with respect to stock options is summarized as follows:

 

 

The exercise price of a new grant is set at the closing price for the shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) on the trading day immediately preceding the grant date so there is no intrinsic value as of the date of grant. The fair value of options vested during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $0.2 million.

 

As of March 31, 2018, outstanding stock options are as follows:

 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of the options in the preceding table represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value for stock options with an exercise price less than the Company’s TSX closing stock price of Cdn$0.77 as of the last trading day in the period ended March 31, 2018, that would have been received by the option holders had they exercised their options as of that date.  The total number of in-the-money stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2018 was 2,874,875. The total number of in-the-money stock options exercisable as of March 31, 2018 was 2,059,127.

 

We elect to estimate the number of awards expected to vest in lieu of accounting for forfeitures when they occur.   

 

Restricted share units

 

On June 24, 2010, the Company’s shareholders approved the adoption of the Company’s restricted share unit plan (the “RSU Plan”).  The RSU Plan was approved by our shareholders most recently on May 5, 2016.

 

Eligible participants under the RSU Plan include directors and employees of the Company. RSUs in a grant redeem on the second anniversary of the grant.  Upon RSU vesting, the holder of an RSU will receive one common share, for no additional consideration, for each RSU held.

 

Activity with respect to RSUs is summarized as follows:

 

 

As of March 31, 2018, outstanding RSUs are as follows:

 

 

As of March 30, 2018, one of our directors retired.  Under the terms of our RSU Plan, his 62,000 outstanding RSUs automatically vest.  The compensation committee will determine if he will receive stock or cash for the units redeemed in accordance with the redemption dates as set forth in the Plan. 

 

Warrants

 

The following represents warrant activity during the period ended March 31, 2018:

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2018, outstanding warrants are as follows:

 

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

Share-based compensation expense was $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 

As of March 31, 2018, there was approximately $0.9 million of total unrecognized compensation expense (net of estimated pre-vesting forfeitures) related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Option Plan and $0.6 million under the RSU Plan. The expenses are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years and 1.4 years, respectively.

 

Cash received from stock options exercised totaled less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 

Fair value calculations

 

The initial fair value of options and RSUs granted is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for options and the intrinsic pricing model for RSUs.  There were no RSUs granted in either the three months ended March 31, 2018 or the three months ended March 31, 2017, nor were there any options

granted in the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The assumptions used for the options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2018 were as follows:

 

 

 

The Company estimates expected volatility using daily historical trading data of the Company’s Common Shares, because this is recognized as a valid method used to predict future volatility. The risk-free interest rates are determined by reference to Canadian Treasury Note constant maturities that approximate the expected option term. The Company has never paid dividends and currently has no plans to do so.

 

Share-based compensation expense is recognized net of estimated pre-vesting forfeitures, which results in recognition of expense on options that are ultimately expected to vest over the expected option term. Forfeitures were estimated using actual historical forfeiture experience.

 

12.  Sales

 

Sales have been derived from U₃O₈ being sold to domestic utilities, primarily under term contracts, as well as to a trader through spot sales.

 

Disaggregation of Revenues

 

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by revenue source and type of revenue for each revenue source

 

Sales consist of:

 

 

The names of the individual companies have not been disclosed for reasons of confidentiality.

 

13.Supplemental Information for Statement of Cash Flows

 

Cash per the Statement of Cash Flows consists of the following:

 

 

 

 

14.Financial Instruments

 

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash, deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities and notes payable. The Company is exposed to risks related to changes in interest rates and management of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments.