Real-time Form 4 intelligence. Smarter insider tracking.
YoY shift: Neutral
Year-over-year tone shift - average net-tone change across Risk Factors and MD&A vs the prior 10-K. This filing is 0.08pp more bullish than last year's.
Why YoY instead of absolute: the LM lexicon has ~6.6× more negative words than positive (legal/risk-disclosure language is heavy on hedging), so every 10-K reads bearish on raw tone. Year-over-year change strips that bias and surfaces the actual shift in management's framing.
Tone shift by section
The two components the gauge averages: how Risk Factors and MD&A each shifted in net tone versus last year's 10-K. The headline above is their average, so a green needle over a soft section just means the other section carried it.
Risk Factors
+0.00pp
Flat
Net-tone change vs last year's 10-K.
MD&A
+0.15pp
Flat
Net-tone change vs last year's 10-K.
Per-snippet highlights
Sentence-level sentiment highlighting with category and subcategory filters is coming once the snippet-scoring pipeline lands. For now, dig into the actual section text on the Sections tab.
Language change vs prior 10-K
Risk Factors (Item 1A) - words with the biggest YoY frequency increase
Negative rising
slow+1
Positive rising
No words rose this year.
Risk Factors (Item 1A)
13,096 words
Item 1A. Risk Factors
We are subject to those financial risks generally associated with early-stage enterprises. Since we have sustained losses since inception, we will require financing to fund our development activities and to support our operations and will independently seek additional financing. However, we may be unable to obtain such financing. We are also subject to risk factors specific to our business strategy and the mining and exploration industry.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR COMPANY AND INDUSTRY
The following are certain risk factors that could affect our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows. These risk factors should be considered along with the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K because these factors could cause our actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. The following discussion is not an all-inclusive listing of risks, although we believe these are the more material risks that we face. If any of the following occur, our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be affected. We the reader to keep these risk factors in mind and refrain from attributing certainty to any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report.
Language change vs prior 10-K
MD&A (Item 7) - words with the biggest YoY frequency increase
Negative rising
abandoned+2
Positive rising
gain+2
gains+1
MD&A (Item 7)
2,592 words
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K constitute “forward-looking statements”. These statements, identified by words such as “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “should,” “expect” and similar expressions include our expectations and objectives regarding our future financial position, operating results and business strategy. These statements reflect the current views of management with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or , or industry results, to be materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include those set forth under this caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. We do not intend to update the forward-looking information to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting such forward-looking information. We advise you to carefully review the reports and documents we file from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
We own passive interests in mining properties, and it is difficult if not impossible for us to ensure properties are developed or operated in our best interest.
Aside from properties controlled within our exploration project accelerator, we are not and will not be directly involved in the exploration, development, and production of minerals from, or the continued operation of, the mineral projects underlying royalties, streams and similar interests that are or may be held by us. The exploration, development and operation of such properties is determined and carried out by third party owners and operators and any revenue that may be derived from our asset portfolio will be based on any production by such owners and operators. Third party owners and operators will generally have the power to determine the manner in which the properties are exploited, including decisions regarding feasibility, exploration and development of such properties or decisions to commence, continue or reduce, or suspend or discontinue production from a property.
The interests of third-party owners and operators and our interests may not always be aligned. As an example, it will usually be in our interest to advance development and production on properties as rapidly as possible, in order to maximize near-term cash flow, while third party owners and operators may take a more cautious approach to development, as they are exposed to risk on the cost of exploration, development and operations. Likewise, it may be in the interest of owners and operators to invest in the development of, and emphasize production from, projects or areas of a project that are not subject to royalties, streams or similar interests that are or may be held by us.
Our inability to control or influence the exploration, development, or operations for the properties in which we hold or may hold royalties, streams and similar interests may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the owners or operators may take action contrary to our policies or objectives; be unable or unwilling to fulfill their obligations under their agreements with us; or experience financial, operational, or other difficulties, including insolvency, which could limit the owner or operator’s ability to advance such properties or perform its obligations under arrangements with us.
We may not be entitled to any compensation if the properties in which we hold or may hold royalties, streams and similar interests discontinue exploration, development or operations on a temporary or permanent basis.
The owners or operators of the projects in which we hold interests may, from time to time, announce transactions, including the sale or transfer of the projects or of the operator itself, over which we have little or no control. If such transactions are completed, it may result in a new operator, which may or may not explore, develop or operate the project in a similar manner to the current operator, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. The effect of any such transaction on us may be difficult or impossible to predict.
None of our royalty and other interests are on currently producing properties and these and any future royalty, streaming or similar interests we acquire, particularly on development stage properties, are subject to the risk that they may never achieve production.
None of the properties underlying our royalty and other interests are in production nor do they have established mineral reserves. These and any future royalty, streaming or similar interests we acquire may not achieve production or produce any revenues. While the discovery of gold deposits may result in substantial rewards, few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Major expenditures may be required to locate and establish mineral reserves, to develop metallurgical processes and to construct mining and processing facilities at a particular site. It is impossible to ensure that exploration or development programs planned by the owners or operators of the properties underlying royalties, streams and similar interests that are or may be held by us will result in profitable commercial mining operations. Whether a mineral deposit will be commercially viable depends on several factors, including cash costs associated with extraction and processing; the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; mineral prices, which are highly cyclical; government regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use and environmental protection; and political stability. The exact effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted but the combination of these factors may result in one or more of the properties underlying our current or future interests not receiving an adequate return on invested capital. Accordingly, there can be no assurance the properties underlying our current or future interests will be brought into a state of commercial production.
The failure of any of the properties underlying our interests to achieve production on schedule or at all would have a material adverse effect on our asset carrying values or the other benefits we expect to realize from our royalties and other interests or the acquisition of royalty interests, and potentially our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
We have limited or no access to data or the operations underlying our existing or future royalty and other interests.
We are not, and will not be, the owner or operator of any such properties underlying our existing or future royalties, streams and similar interests and have no input in the exploration, development, or operation of such properties. Consequently, we have limited or no access to related exploration, development, or operational data or to the properties themselves. This could affect our ability to assess the value of such interests. This could also result in delays in cash flow from that anticipated by us, based on the stage of development of the properties underlying our existing or future royalties and similar interests. Our entitlement to payments in relation to such interests may be calculated by the royalty payors in a manner different from our projections and we may not have rights of audit with respect to such interests. In addition, some royalties, streams, or similar interests may be subject to confidentiality arrangements that govern the disclosure of information with regard to such interests and, as a result, we may not be in a position to publicly disclose related non-public information. The limited access to data and disclosure regarding the exploration, development, and production of minerals from, or the continued operation of, the properties in which we have an interest may restrict our ability to assess value, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We attempt to mitigate this risk by building relationships with various owners, operators, and counterparties, in order to encourage information sharing which we believe increases transparency.
We are subject to many of the risks faced by the owners and operators of our existing or future royalty and other interests.
To the extent that they relate to the exploration, development, and production of minerals from, or the continued operation of, the properties in which we hold or may hold royalties, streams or similar interests, we will be subject to the risk factors applicable to the owners and operators of such mines or projects.
Mineral exploration, development and production generally involves a high degree of risk. Such operations are subject to all of the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of metals, including weather related events, unusual and unexpected geology formations, seismic activity, environmental hazards and the discharge of toxic chemicals, explosions and other conditions involved in the drilling, blasting and removal of material, any of which could result in damage to, or destruction of, mines and other producing facilities, damage to property, injury or loss of life, environmental damage, work stoppages, delays in exploration, development and production, increased production costs and possible legal liability. Any of these hazards and risks and other acts of God could shut down such activities temporarily or permanently. Mineral exploration, development and production is subject to hazards such as equipment failure or failure of retaining dams around tailings disposal areas, which may result in environmental pollution and consequent liability for the owners or operators thereof. The exploration for, and development, mining, and processing of mineral deposits involves significant risks that even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate.
We may fund future acquisitions or other material transactions with equity or debt financings which could increase our debt service, further leverage our assets and/or result in dilution to existing shareholders.
In the ordinary course of business, we engage in a continual review of opportunities to acquire royalties, streams, or similar interests, to establish new royalties, streams or similar interests on operating mines, to create new royalties, streams or similar interests through financing mine development or exploration, or to acquire companies that hold royalty interests. We currently, and generally at any time, have acquisition opportunities in various stages of active review, including, for example, our engagement of consultants and advisors to analyze particular opportunities, analysis of technical, financial, legal and other confidential information, submission of indications of interest and term sheets, participation in preliminary discussions and negotiations and involvement as a bidder in competitive processes. We may consider obtaining debt commitments for acquisition financing. In the event that we choose to raise debt capital to finance any acquisition, our leverage may be increased. We may also issue common shares to fund acquisitions. Issuances of common shares could dilute existing shareholders and may reduce some or all of our per share financial measures.
Any such acquisition could be material to us. All transactions include risks associated with our ability to negotiate acceptable terms with counterparties. In addition, any such acquisition or other transaction may have other transaction-specific risks associated with it, including risks related to the completion of the transaction, the project, its operators, or the jurisdictions in which the project is located, and other risks discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. There can be no assurance that any acquisitions completed will ultimately benefit us.
The volatility in gold and other commodity prices may have an adverse impact on the value of our royalty interests.
The value of our royalty interests and the potential future development of the projects underlying our interests are directly related to the market price of gold and other commodity prices. Market prices may fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control or that of any mining company, including metal supply, industrial and jewelry fabrication, investment demand, central banking economic policy, expectations with respect to the rate of inflation, the relative strength of the dollar and other currencies, interest rates, gold purchases, sales and loans by central banks, forward sales by metal producers, global or regional political, trade, economic or banking conditions, and a number of other factors.
Volatility in gold prices is demonstrated by its annual high and low prices over the past decade as reported by the London Bullion Market Association:
Gold
($/ounce)
Calendar Year
High
Low
Declines in market prices could cause an operator to cease or slow down exploration and development activities, reduce, suspend, or terminate production from an operating project or construction work at a development project, which would negatively impact our ability to obtain revenues from our interests in the future. A price decline may result in a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our future growth is to a large extent dependent on our acquisition strategy and our ability to identify and negotiate the purchase of additional assets.
As part of our business strategy, we will seek to purchase or otherwise acquire gold and other precious metal royalties, streams or similar interests from third-party natural resource companies and others. In pursuit of such opportunities, we may fail to select appropriate acquisition targets or negotiate acceptable arrangements, including arrangements to finance acquisitions. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify and complete any acquisition, transaction, or business arrangement that we pursue on favorable terms or at all, or that any acquisition, transaction or business arrangement completed will ultimately benefit us.
If we are unable to continually identify and acquire additional assets on terms that are favorable to us, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
Our operating results and ability to generate revenue could be adversely impacted if we experience challenges with our existing assets, including our royalty interests.
Problems concerning the existence, validity, enforceability, terms or geographic extent of our royalty interests could adversely affect our business and revenues, and our interests may similarly be materially and adversely impacted by change of control, bankruptcy or the insolvency of operators.
Defects in or disputes relating to the royalty interests we hold or acquire may prevent us from realizing the anticipated benefits from these interests and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Material changes could also occur that may adversely affect management’s estimate of the carrying value of our royalty interests and could result in impairment charges. While we seek to confirm the existence, validity, enforceability, terms and geographic extent of the royalty interests we acquire, there can be no assurance that disputes or other problems concerning these and other matters or other problems will not arise. Confirming these matters is complex and is subject to the application of the laws of each jurisdiction to the particular circumstances of each parcel of mining property and to the agreement reflecting the royalty interest. Similarly, in many jurisdictions, royalty interests are contractual in nature, rather than interests in land, and therefore may be subject to risks resulting from change of control, bankruptcy or insolvency of operators, and our royalty interests could be materially restricted or set aside through judicial or administrative proceedings. We often do not have the protection of security interests that could help us recover all or part of our investment in a royalty interest in the event of an operator’s bankruptcy or insolvency.
Operators may interpret our existing or future royalty or other interests in a manner adverse to us or otherwise may not abide by their contractual obligations, and we could be forced to take legal action to enforce our contractual rights.
Royalty interests are generally subject to uncertainties and complexities arising from the application of contract and property laws in the jurisdictions where the mining projects are located. Operators and other parties to the agreements governing our existing or future royalty or other interests may interpret our interests in a manner adverse to us or otherwise may not abide by their contractual obligations, and we could be forced to take legal action to enforce our contractual rights. We may or may not be successful in enforcing our contractual rights, and our revenues relating to any challenged royalty interests may be delayed, curtailed or eliminated during the pendency of any such dispute or in the event our position is not upheld, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Disputes could arise, challenging, among other things, methods for calculating the royalty interest, various rights of the operator or third parties in or to the royalty interest or the underlying property, the obligations of a current or former operator to make payments on royalty interests, and various defects or ambiguities in the agreement governing a royalty interest.
We depend on the services of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, management, and other key employees; the loss of any key employee, coupled with an inability to replace the key employee, could harm our operating results.
We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our key executive management personnel. We are entirely dependent on the efforts of Alan Day, our CEO, and chairman of the board of directors, and Jeffrey Cocks, our CFO and director. The loss of services of key members of management or other key employees could disrupt the conduct of our business and jeopardize our ability to maintain our competitive position in the industry. From time to time, we may also need to identify and retain additional skilled management and specialized technical personnel to efficiently operate our business. The number of persons skilled in the acquisition, exploration and development of royalty interests is limited and there is competition for such persons. Recruiting and retaining qualified executive management and other key employees is critical to our success and there can be no assurance of such success. If we are not successful in attracting and retaining qualified personnel, our ability to execute our business model and growth strategy could be affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
Certain of our directors and officers also serve as directors and officers of other companies in the mining sector, which may cause them to have conflicts of interest.
Certain of our directors and officers also serve as directors and officers of, or have significant shareholdings in, other companies involved in natural resources investment, exploration, development and production and, to the extent that such other companies may engage in transactions or participate in the same ventures in which we participate, or in transactions or ventures in which we may seek to participate, they may have a conflict of interest in negotiating and concluding terms with respect to such participation. In cases where our directors and officers have an interest in other companies, such other companies may also compete with us for the acquisition of royalties, streams or similar interests. Such potential conflicts of interests of our directors and officers may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our limited operating history makes our business prospects extremely speculative.
Nevada Canyon is an exploration company and has no history of operations, mining or refining mineral products. As such, we are subject to many risks common to such enterprises, including under-capitalization, cash shortages, limitations with respect to personnel, financial and other resources and lack of revenues. There is no assurance that we will be successful in achieving a return on an investment for investors in the Common Shares and Nevada Canyon’s likelihood of success must be considered in light of its early stage of operations.
There can be no assurance that our properties or any property we may obtain in the future will be successfully placed into production, produce minerals in commercial quantities or otherwise generate operating earnings. Advancing projects from the exploration stage into development and commercial production requires significant capital and time and will be subject to the successful completion of further technical studies, permitting requirements and the construction of mines, processing plants, roads and related works and infrastructure. We will continue to incur losses until mining-related operations successfully reach commercial production levels and generate sufficient revenue to fund continuing operations.
We will likely need additional capital in order to finance our business plans and there is no guarantee we will have access to that capital on favorable terms, or at all.
Part of our business plan is to focus on exploring for minerals and we intend to use our working capital to carry out such exploration. Other than the current cash, and our investment in WRR shares, we have no secured source of financing, including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and no assurance that acceptable additional funding will be available to us for the further exploration and development of our projects. We have incurred net losses in the past and likely will incur losses in the future and will continue to incur losses until and unless we can derive sufficient revenues from our mineral projects. These conditions, including other factors described herein, create a material uncertainty regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.
It is likely that the development and exploration of our assets will require substantial additional financing. Further exploration and development of our assets and/or other properties acquired by us may be dependent upon our ability to obtain acceptable financing through equity or debt, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain adequate financing in the future or that the terms of such financing will be acceptable. Failure to obtain such additional financing could result in the delay or indefinite postponement of further exploration and development of our projects, and we may become unable to carry out our business objectives.
We currently rely on only a limited number of properties, and our inability to increase and diversify our assets could harm our operating results.
Our material property interests consist of the Loman Property and the Agai-Pah Property, which are located in Nevada and the Belshazzar Property, which is located in Idaho. As a result, unless we acquire additional property interests and diversify our asset base, any adverse developments affecting these properties would have a material adverse effect upon us and would materially and adversely affect the potential mineral resource production, profitability, financial performance and results of our operations. While we may seek to acquire additional mineral properties in accordance with our business objectives, there can be no assurance that we will be able to identify suitable additional mineral properties or, if we do identify suitable properties, that we will have sufficient financial resources to acquire such properties or that such properties will be available on terms acceptable to us or at all and that we will be able to successfully develop such properties and bring such properties into commercial production.
The properties in which we hold interests are all in the early stages of exploration and development and, as such, they may never produce sufficient income to be profitable to us.
We are a junior exploration company focused primarily on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties located in Nevada. Our properties have no established mineral reserves due to the early stage of exploration at this time. Any reference to potential quantities and/or grade is conceptual in nature, as there has been insufficient exploration to define any mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of any mineral resource. Quantities and/or grade described in this Annual Report should not be interpreted as assurances of a potential resource or reserve, or of potential future mine life or of the profitability of future operations.
The exploration and development of mineral deposits involves a high degree of financial risk over a significant period of time. A few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines, and there is no assurance that any of our projects can be mined profitably. Substantial expenditures are required to establish mineral resources and reserves through drilling, to develop metallurgical processes to extract the metal from the ore and in the case of new properties, to develop the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for mining. It is impossible to ensure that our current exploration and development programs will result in profitable commercial mining operations. Our profitability will be, in part, directly related to the cost and success of its exploration and development programs, which may be affected by a number of factors. Substantial expenditures are required to establish mineral resources and reserves that are sufficient to support commercial mining operations and to construct, complete and install mining and processing facilities on those properties that are actually developed.
No assurance can be given that any particular level of recovery of minerals will be realized or that any potential quantities and/or grade will ever qualify as a mineral resource or reserve, or that any such mineral resource or reserve will ever qualify as a commercially mineable (or viable) deposit which can be legally and economically exploited.
Where expenditures on a property have not led to the discovery of mineral resources or reserves, incurred expenditures will generally not be recoverable.
LAND TITLE AND ROYALTY RISKS
There are many uncertainties, including, but not limited to, title matters; as a result, any defects in title could cause us to lose certain rights in the properties we own.
There are uncertainties as to title matters in the mining industry. Any defects in title could cause us to lose rights in our mineral properties and jeopardize our business operations. Our mineral property interests currently consist of unpatented mining claims located on lands administered by the United States Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (the “BLM”), Nevada State Office, to which we only have possessory title. Because title to unpatented mining claims is subject to inherent uncertainties, it is difficult to determine the ownership of such claimsconclusively. These uncertainties relate to such things as sufficiency of mineral discovery, proper location and posting and marking of boundaries, proper and timely payment of annual BLM claim maintenance fees, the existence and terms of royalties, and possible conflicts with other claims not determinable from descriptions of record.
The present status of our unpatented mining claims located on public lands allows us the right to mine and remove valuable minerals, such as precious and base metals, from the claims conditioned upon applicable environmental reviews and permitting programs. We are also allowed to use the surface of the land solely for purposes related to mining and processing the mineral-bearing ores. However, legal ownership of the land remains with the United States. We remain at risk that the mining claims may be forfeited either to the United States or to rival private claimants due to failure to comply with statutory requirements. Prior to 1993, a mining claim locator who was able to prove the discovery of valuable, locatable minerals on a mining claim, and to meet all other applicable federal and state requirements and procedures pertaining to the location and maintenance of federal unpatented mining claims, had the right to prosecute a patent application to secure fee title to the mining claim from the federal government. The right to pursue a patent, however, has been subject to a moratorium since October 1993, through federal legislation restricting the BLM from accepting any new mineral patent applications. If we do not obtain fee title to our unpatented mining claims, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain compensation in connection with the forfeiture of such claims.
Pending federal legislation may materially curtail or in some cases eliminate certain rights we have in our assets.
In recent years, members of the United States Congress have repeatedly introduced bills which would supplant or alter the provisions of the General Mining Act of 1872 , a United States federal law that authorizes and governs prospecting and mining for economic minerals, such as gold, platinum, and silver, on federal public lands. Such bills have proposed, among other things, to either eliminate the right to a mineral patent, impose a federal royalty on production from unpatented mining claims, render certain federal lands unavailable for the location of unpatented mining claims, afford greater public involvement in the mine permitting process, provide for citizen suits, and impose new and stringent environmental operating standards and mined land reclamation requirements in addition to those already in effect. Such proposed legislation could change the cost of holding unpatented mining claims and could significantly impact our ability to develop mineralized material on unpatented mining claims. Currently, all of our mining claims are on unpatented claims. Although we cannot predict what legislative changes might occur, the enactment of these proposed bills could adversely affect the potential for development of our mining claims, the economics of any mines that we bring into operation on federal unpatented mining claims, and as a result, adversely affect our financial performance.
Challenges to our mineral property interests may have adverse effects on assets including, but not limited to, a reduction in our interest, divertingvaluable resources and management time, and a requirement that we compensate other persons.
There may be challenges to title to the mineral properties in which we hold a material interest. If there are title defects with respect to any properties, we might be required to compensate other persons or to reduce our interest in the affected property. Furthermore, in any such case, the investigation and resolution of these issues would divert our management’s time from ongoing exploration and development programs. Title insurance generally is not available for mining claims in the U.S. and our ability to ensure that we have obtained secure claim to individual mineral properties may be limited. We may be subject to prior unregistered liens, agreements, transfers or claims, including native land claims and title may be affected by, among other things, undetecteddefects. In addition, we may be unable to operate the properties as permitted or to enforce our rights with respect to our properties. The failure to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including a failure to pay taxes or annual BLM claim maintenance fees may invalidate title to portions of our properties. We may incur significant costs related to defending the title to our properties. A successful claim contesting title to a property may cause us to compensate other persons, or to reduce our interest in the affected property or to lose our rights to explore and, if warranted, develop that property. This could result in us not being compensated for our prior expenditures relating to the property. Also, in any such case, the investigation and resolution of title issues would divert management’s time from ongoing exploration and, if warranted, development programs.
We could face expensive and time-consuming challenges related to defects in title.
The ownership and validity or title of unpatented mining claims and concessions can at times be uncertain and may be contested. We also may not have, or may not be able to obtain, all necessary surface rights to develop a property. We have taken reasonable measures, in accordance with industry standards for properties at the same stage of exploration as that of our properties, to ensure proper title to our properties. However, there is no guarantee that title to any of our properties will not be challenged or impugned.
Interpretations of royalty agreements and unfulfilled contractual obligations of certain third parties that we rely on could force us to take legal action that would be expensive and time consuming.
Royalty interests in our properties, and any other royalty interests in respect of our properties which may come into existence, may be subject to uncertainties and complexities arising from the application of contract and property laws in the jurisdictions where the mining projects are located. Operators and other parties to the agreements governing the royalty interests in Nevada, or other royalty interests, may interpret their interests in a manner adverse to us, and we could be forced to take legal action to enforce our rights. Challenges to the terms of the royalty interests in Nevada or the existence of other royalties could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Disputes could arise with respect to, among other things:
The existence or geographic extent of the royalty interests;
The methods for calculating royalties;
Third party claims to the same royalty interest or to the property on which a royalty interest exists, or the existence of additional royalties on the same property;
Various rights of the operator or third parties in or to a royalty interest;
Production and other thresholds and caps applicable to payments of royalty interests;
The obligation of an operator to make payments on royalty interests;
Various defects or ambiguities in the agreement governing a royalty interest; and
Disputes over the interpretation of buy-back rights.
Breaches of contracts with third parties could result in expensive litigation.
Parties to contracts do not always honor contractual terms and contracts themselves may be subject to interpretation or technical defects. Accordingly, there may be instances where we would be forced to take legal action to enforce our contractual rights. Such litigation may be time consuming and costly and there is no guarantee of success. Any pending proceedings or actions or any decisions determined adversely to us may have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition.
Our exploration operations are highly regulated and our inability to comply with certain regulations would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Our exploration operations are subject to government legislation, policies and controls relating to prospecting, development, production, environmental protection, including plant and animal species, and more specifically including the greater sage-grouse, mining taxes and labor standards. In order for us to carry out our activities, various licenses and permits must be obtained and kept current. There is no guarantee that the Company’s licenses and permits will be granted, or that once granted will be maintained and extended. In addition, the terms and conditions of such licenses or permits could be changed and there can be no assurances that any application to renew any existing licenses will be approved. There can be no assurance that all permits that we require will be obtainable on reasonable terms, or at all. Delays or a failure to obtain such permits, or a failure to comply with the terms of any such permits that we have obtained, could have a material adverse impact on us We may be required to contribute to the cost of providing the required infrastructure to facilitate the development of our properties and will also have to obtain and comply with permits and licenses that may contain specific conditions concerning operating procedures, water use, waste disposal, spills, environmental studies, abandonment and restoration plans and financial assurances. There can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with any such conditions and non-compliance with such conditions may result in the loss of certain of our permits and licenses on properties, which may have a material adverse effect on us. Future taxation of mining operators, and the timing thereof, cannot be predicted with certainty so planning must be undertaken using present conditions and best estimates of any potential future changes. There is no certainty that such planning will be effective to mitigate adverse consequences of future taxation on us.
The volatility of the global financial markets may have a negative effect on our ability to raise money which could harm our operating results.
Recent global financial conditions have been characterized by increased volatility and access to public financing, particularly for junior mineral exploration companies, has been negatively impacted. These conditions may affect our ability to obtain equity or debt financing in the future on terms favorable to us or at all.
Market events and conditions, including the disruptions in the international credit markets and other financial systems, in China, Japan and Europe, along with political instability in the Middle East and Russia and falling currency prices expressed in United States dollars have resulted in commodity prices remaining volatile. These conditions have also caused a loss of confidence in global credit markets, excluding the United States, resulting in the collapse of, and government intervention in, major banks, financial institutions and insurers and creating a climate of greatervolatility, tighter regulations, less liquidity, widening credit spreads, less price transparency, increased credit losses and tighter credit conditions. Notwithstanding various actions by governments, concerns about the general condition of the capital markets, financial instruments, banks and investment banks, insurers and other financial institutions caused the broader credit markets to be volatile and interest rates to remain at historical lows. These events are illustrative of the effect that events beyond the Company’s control may have on commodity prices. Access to public financing has been negatively impacted by sovereign debt concerns in Europe and emerging markets, as well as concerns over global growth rates and conditions. If such conditions continue, our operations could be negatively impacted.
Global financial conditions could suddenly and rapidly destabilize in response to future events, as government authorities may have limited resources to respond to future crises. Future crises may be precipitated by any number of causes, including natural disasters, pandemics, geopolitical instability, changes to energy prices or sovereign defaults.
Any sudden or rapid destabilization of global economic conditions could negatively impact our ability to obtain equity or debt financing or make other suitable financing arrangements. Increased levels of volatility and market turmoil can adversely impact our operations and the value and the price of the Common Stock of the Company could be adversely affected.
Changes in the market price of gold, silver and other metals, which in the past has fluctuated widely, will affect the profitability of our operations and financial condition.
Our profitability and long-term viability depend, in large part, upon the market price of gold, copper, silver and other metals and minerals which may be produced from our mineral claims, and from which we may derive revenues under any agreement we may enter into with a company that conducts mining operations on our claims. The market price of gold and other metals is volatile and is impacted by numerous factors beyond our control, including:
sales by central banks and other holders, speculators, and producers of gold and other metals in response to any of the below factors;
the relative strength of the U.S. dollar and certain other currencies;
interest rates;
global or regional political, financial, or economic conditions;
supply and demand for jewelry and industrial products containing metals; and
expectations with respect to the rate of inflation.
A material decrease in the market price of gold and other metals could affect the commercial viability of our mineral claims and any of our future anticipated development and production assumptions if any. Lower gold prices could also adversely affect our ability to finance future development of our mining claims, all of which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that the market price of gold and other metals will remain at current levels or that such prices will improve.
Many of our assumptions regarding our operating results are based on mineral resource estimates by third parties; if those estimates are materially inaccurate for any reason, our actual operating results could also be materially effected.
Mineral resource estimates will be based upon geological data supplied by our personnel, confirmed and calculated by independent qualified persons (geologists and engineers). These estimates are inherently subject to uncertainty and are based on geological interpretations and inferences drawn from drilling results and sampling analyses and may require revision based on further exploration or development work. The estimation of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. As a result of the foregoing, there may be material differences between actual and estimated mineral reserves, which may impact the viability of our projects and have a material impact on us.
The grade of mineralization which may ultimately be mined may differ from the indicated by drilling results and such differences could be material. The quantity and resulting valuation of mineral reserves and mineral resources may also vary depending on, among other things, mineral prices (which may render mineral reserves and mineral resources uneconomic), cut-off grades applied and estimates of future operating costs (which may be inaccurate). Production can be affected by such factors as permitting regulations and requirements, weather, environmental factors, unforeseen technical difficulties, unusual or unexpected geological formations and work interruptions. Any material change in quantity of mineral resources, mineral reserves, grade, or stripping ratio may also affect the economic viability of any project undertaken by us. In addition, there can be no assurance that mineral recoveries in small scale, and/or pilot laboratory tests will be duplicated in a larger scale test under on-site conditions or during production. To the extent that we are unable to mine and produce as expected and estimated, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
There is no certainty that any of the mineral resources identified on any of our properties will be realized, that any mineral resources will ever be upgraded to mineral reserves, that any anticipated level of recovery of minerals will in fact be realized, or that an identified mineral reserve or mineral resource will ever qualify as a commercially mineable (or viable) deposit which can be legally and economically exploited. Until a deposit is actually mined and processed, the quantity of mineral resources and mineral reserves and grades must be considered as estimates only, and investors are cautioned that we may ultimately never realize production on any of its properties.
We may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage, or coverage at all, in order to insure us against the risks of our operations; any uninsured or underinsuredlosses could have a negative impact on our operating results.
Our business is subject to a number of risks and hazards, including adverse environmental conditions, industrial accidents, labor disputes, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground or slope failures, cave-ins, changes in the regulatory environment, natural phenomena such as inclement weather conditions, floods, and earthquakes. Such occurrences could result in damage to mineral properties or production facilities, personal injury or death, environmental damage to our properties or the properties of others, delays in the ability to undertake exploration, monetary losses, and possible legal liability.
We do not currently have insurance and currently do not have any plans to obtain insurance. Insurance against certain risks, including those related to environmental matters or other hazards resulting from exploration, is generally not available to us or to other companies within the mining industry. In addition, we do not carry business interruption insurance relating to our mineral claims. Accordingly, delays in returning to any future exploration could produce a severe near-term impact on our business. Any losses from these events may result in significant costs that could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance, financial position and results of operations.
In conducting our operations, we are required to comply with certain health and safety rules which can be expensive and time consuming.
Our operations are subject to various health and safety laws and regulations that impose various duties on the Company in respect of its operations, relating to, among other things, worker safety and the surrounding communities. These laws and regulations also grant the relevant authorities broad powers to, among other things, close unsafe operations and order corrective action relating to health and safety matters. The costs associated with the compliance with such health and safety laws and regulations may be substantial and any amendments to such laws and regulations, or more stringent implementation thereof, could cause additional expenditure or impose restrictions on, or suspensions of, our operations. We expect to make significant expenditures to comply with the extensive laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment, waste disposal, worker safety, mine development and protection of endangered and other special status species, and, to the extent reasonably practicable, to create social and economic benefit in the surrounding communities near our mineral properties, but there can be no guarantee that these expenditures will ensure our compliance with applicable laws and regulations and any non-compliance may have a material and adverse effect on us.
The costs of compliance with environmental laws and obtaining and maintaining environmental permits and governmental approvals required for construction and/or operation, which currently are significant, may increase in the future and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, future results, and cash flow; any non-compliance with such laws or regulations may result in the imposition of liabilities which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, future results, and cash flow.
All phases of our operations are subject to environmental regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate, certain of which are set forth below. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner which may result in stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors, and employees. These laws address emissions into the air, discharges into water, management of waste, management of hazardous substances, protection of natural resources, antiquities and endangered species and reclamation of lands disturbed by mining operations. The costs associated with compliance with such laws and regulations are substantial. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations and future changes in these laws and regulations may require significant capital outlays and may cause material changes or delays in our operations and future activities. It is possible that future laws, regulations, or more restrictive interpretations of current laws and regulations by governmental authorities could have a significant adverse impact on our properties or some portion of our business, causing us to re-evaluate those activities at that time.
U.S. Federal Laws: CERCLA, and comparable state statutes, impose strict, joint and several liabilities on current and former owners and operators of sites and on persons who disposed of or arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances found at such sites. It is not uncommon for the government to file claims requiring cleanup actions, for reimbursement for government-incurred cleanup costs, or for natural resource damages, or for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damageallegedly caused by hazardous substances released into the environment. RCRA, and comparable state statutes, govern the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste and authorize the imposition of substantial fines and penalties for noncompliance, as well as requirements for corrective actions. CERCLA, RCRA and comparable state statutes can impose liability for clean-up of sites and disposal of substances found on exploration, mining and processing sites long after activities on such sites have been completed.
CAA, as amended, restricts the emission of air pollutants from many sources, including mining and processing activities. Our mining operations may produce air emissions, including fugitive dust and other air pollutants from stationary equipment, storage facilities and the use of mobile sources such as trucks and heavy construction equipment, which are subject to review, monitoring and/or control requirements under the CAA and state air quality laws. New facilities may be required to obtain permits before work can begin, and existing facilities may be required to incur capital costs in order to remain in compliance. In addition, permitting rules may impose limitations on our production levels or result in additional capital expenditures in order to comply with the rules.
NEPA requires federal agencies to integrate environmental considerations into their decision-making processes by evaluating the environmental impacts of their proposed actions, including issuances of permits to mining facilities, and assessing alternatives to those actions. If a proposed action could significantly affect the environment, the agency must prepare a detailed statement known as an EIS. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), other federal agencies, and any interested third parties will review and comment on the scoping of the Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) and the adequacy of and findings set forth in the draft and final EIS. This process can cause delays in the issuance of required permits or result in changes to a project to mitigate its potential environmental impacts, which can in turn impact the economic feasibility of a proposed project.
CWA, and comparable state statutes, impose restrictions and controls on the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an analogous state agency. The CWA regulates storm water from mining facilities and requires a storm water discharge permit for certain activities. Such a permit requires the regulated facility to monitor and sample storm water run-off from its operations. The CWA and regulations implemented thereunder also prohibit discharges of dredged and fill materials in wetlands and other waters of the United States unless authorized by an appropriately issued permit. The CWA and comparable state statutes provide for civil, criminal, and administrative penalties for unauthorized discharges of pollutants and impose liability on parties responsible for those discharges for the costs of cleaning up any environmental damage caused by the release and for natural resource damages resulting from the release.
SDWA and the Underground Injection Control (“UIC”) program promulgated thereunder, regulate the drilling and operation of subsurface injection wells. The EPA directly administers the UIC program in some states and in others the responsibility for the program has been delegated to the state. The program requires that a permit be obtained before drilling a disposal or injection well. Violation of these regulations and/or contamination of groundwater by mining related activities may result in fines, penalties, and remediation costs, among other sanctions and liabilities under the SDWA and state laws. In addition, third party claims may be filed by landowners and other parties claimingdamages for alternative water supplies, property damages, and bodily injury.
Nevada Laws : At the state level, mining operations in Nevada are also regulated by the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Protection. Nevada state law requires mine operators to hold Nevada Water Pollution Control Permits, which dictate operating controls and closure and post-closure requirements directed at protecting surface and ground water.
Other Nevada regulations govern operating and design standards for the construction and operation of any source of air contamination and landfill operations. Any changes to these laws and regulations could have an adverse impact on our financial performance and results of operations by, for example, requiring changes to operating constraints, technical criteria, fees or surety requirements.
Our industry is highly competitive, and we will be at a competitive disadvantage for assets and financial resources relative to larger, better funded companies in the same space.
The mining industry is highly competitive in all of its phases, both domestically and internationally. Our ability to acquire properties and develop mineral resources and reserves in the future will depend not only on our ability to develop our present properties, but also on our ability to select and acquire suitable producing properties or prospects for mineral exploration, of which there is a limited supply. We may be at a competitive disadvantage in acquiring additional mining properties because we must compete with other individuals and companies, many of which have greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than us. We may also encounter competition from other mining companies in our efforts to hire experienced mining professionals. Competition could adversely affect our ability to attract necessary funding or acquire suitable producing properties or prospects for mineral exploration in the future. Competition for services and equipment could result in delays if such services or equipment cannot be obtained in a timely manner due to inadequate availability and could also cause scheduling difficulties and cost increases due to the need to coordinate the availability of services or equipment. Any of the foregoing effects of competition could materially increase project development, exploration or construction costs, result in project delays and generally and adversely affect us and our business and prospects.
The price of our Common Stock depends on many factors that could materially change or fluctuate resulting in volatility and unpredictability.
The market price of the Common Stock could be subject to significant fluctuations due to various factors and events, including any regulatory or economic changes affecting the Company’s operations, variations in the Company’s operating results, developments in the Company’s business or its competitors, or changes in market sentiment towards the Common Stock. Investors should be aware that the value of the Common Stock may be volatile and investors may, on disposing of the Common Stock, realize less than their original investment or may lose their entire investment.
The Company’s operating results and prospects from time to time may be below the expectations of market analysts and investors. In addition, stock markets from time to time suffer significant price and volume fluctuations that affect the market price of the securities listed thereon and which may be unrelated to the Company’s operating performance. These factors include macroeconomic developments and political environments in North America and globally and market perceptions of the attractiveness of particular industries. As at the date hereof, there remains a significant amount of uncertainty and economic disruption caused by COVID-19 that has increased market and share price volatility and had a catastrophic impact on access to capital and liquidity. Any of these events could result in a decline in the market price of the Common Stock. The Common Stock may, therefore, not be suitable as a short-term investment. In addition, the market price of the Common Stock may not reflect the underlying value of the Company’s net assets. The price at which the Common Stock will be traded and the price at which investors may realize their shares will be influenced by a large number of factors, some specific to the Company and its proposed operations, and some which may affect the business sectors in which the Company operates, including the pervasive and ongoing impact of COVID-19. Such factors could also include the performance of the Company’s operations, variations in operating results, announcements by the Company (i.e. disappointing results of exploratory drilling, the incurrence of environmental liabilities or other material developments), announcements of material developments by the Company’s competitors, involvement in litigation, large purchases or sales of the Common Stock, liquidity or the absence of liquidity in the Common Stock, limited trading volume, the prices of gold and other precious metals, legislative or regulatory changes relating to the business of the Company, the Company’s ability to raise additional funds, other material events and general financial market and economic conditions. In the event that the occurrence of any of these events causes the price of the Common Stock to decrease, investors may be forced to sell their shares at a loss.
The failure of our current or future strategic partners and joint venture partners to meet their obligations could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
We may in the future enter into partnerships, option agreements and/or joint ventures as a means of acquiring additional property interests or to fully exploit the exploration and production potential of its assets. The failure of any partner to meet its obligations to us or other third parties, or any disputes with respect to third parties’ respective rights and obligations, could have a material adverse effect on our rights under such agreements. We may also be unable to exert direct influence over strategic decisions made in respect of properties that are subject to the terms of these agreements, which may have a materially adverse impact on the strategic value of the underlying mineral claims. Furthermore, in the event we are unable to meet our obligations or share of costs incurred under agreements to which it is a party, the Company may have its property interests subject to such agreements reduced as a result or face the termination of such agreements.
We sell additional equity and/or issue additional equity in order to acquire additional assets; any issuance of equity could result in significant dilution to our existing shareholders.
We believe that we are adequately financed to carry out our exploration and development plans for the next 12-month period. However, financing the development of a mining operation through to production, should feasibility studies show it is recommended, would be expensive and we would require additional capital to fund development and exploration programs and potential acquisitions. We cannot predict the size of future issuances of Common Stock or the issuance of debt instruments or other securities convertible into Common Stock in connection with any such financing. Likewise, we cannot predict the effect, if any, that future issuances and sales of our securities will have on the market price of its Common Stock. If we raise additional funds by issuing additional equity securities, such financing may substantially dilute the interests of existing shareholders. Sales of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock, or the availability of such Common Stock for sale, could adversely affect prevailing market prices for our securities and a securityholder’s interest in us.
Because the climate has an effect on our operations and the ability for our assets, present or future, to maximize their potential, the impact of climate change and expensive regulations related to climate change could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Climate change could have an adverse impact on our operations. The potential physical impacts of climate change on our operations are highly uncertain and would be particular to the geographic circumstances in areas in which we operate. These may include changes in rainfall and storm patterns and intensities, water shortages, changing sea levels and changing temperatures. These changes in climate could have an impact on the cost of development or production on Nevada Canyon’s mines and adversely affect the financial performance of our operations.
Regulations and pending legislation governing issues involving climate change could result in increased operating costs, which could have material adverse effect on our business. A number of governments or governmental bodies have introduced or are contemplating regulatory changes in response to climate and its potential impacts. Legislation and increased regulation regarding climate change could impose significant costs on us, our venture partners and our suppliers, including costs related to increased energy requirements, capital equipment, environmental monitoring and reporting and other costs to comply with such regulations. Any adopted climate change regulations could also negatively impact our ability to compete with companies situated in areas not subject to such regulations. Given the emotion, political significance and uncertainty around the impact of climate change and how it should be dealt with, we cannot predict how legislation and regulation will affect its financial condition, operating performance and ability to compete. Furthermore, even without such regulation, increased awareness and any adverse publicity in the global marketplace about potential impacts on climate change by us or other companies in the natural resources industry could harm our reputation.
Through no fault of our own, we could be involved in expensive and time-consuming litigation that could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
We may become involved in disputes with other parties in the future which may result in litigation. The results of litigation cannot be predicted with certainty. If we are unable to resolve these disputesfavorably, it may have a material adverse impact on the ability to carry out our business plan.
Influence of third-party stakeholders.
Some of the lands in which we hold an interest, or the exploration equipment and roads or other means of access in which we intend to utilize in carrying out our work programs or general business mandates, may be subject to interests or claims by third party individuals, groups or companies. In the event that such third parties assert any claims, our work programs may be delayed even if such claims are not meritorious. Such delays may result in significant financial loss and loss of opportunity for us.
Expensive and time consuming internal financial controls may or may not be effective in ensuring that transactions are authorized and properly recorded and reported; any inadvertentfailure of our internal financial controls could result in undue time, resources and expense that could harm our operating results.
Internal controls over financial reporting are procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are properly authorized, assets are safeguarded againstunauthorized or improper use, and transactions are properly recorded and reported. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance with respect to the reliability of financial reporting and financial statement preparation. Though we intend to put into place a system of internal controls appropriate for our size, and reflective of our level of operations, there are limited internal controls currently in place. We have a very limited history of operations and have not made any assessment as to the effectiveness of our internal controls. If we identify material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, if we are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting when required, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of the Common Stock could be negatively affected. We also could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which the securities are listed, the Commission, or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock
An active market in which investors can resell their Common Stock may not develop which could adversely affect an investor’s ability to sell their Common Stock.
We cannot predict the extent to which an active market for our Common Stock will develop or be sustained, or how the development of such a market might affect the market price of our Common Stock. Even if a trading market develops, investors may not be able to resell their Common Stock at or above the initial acquisition price. Investors are cautioned that if an active market for our Common Stock does not arise, investors may not be able to resell their Common Stock or may be forced to do so at a loss.
The market price of our Common Stock will likely be volatile as significant price fluctuations are common in what the Securities and Exchange Commission deems is a “penny stock.”
The trading price of the stock and the price at which we may sell stock in the future are subject to fluctuations in response to any of the following:
Limited trading volume in the Common Stock;
Quarterly variations in operating results;
Involvement in litigation;
General financial market conditions;
The prices of gold and other precious metals;
Announcements by us of, for example, disappointing results of exploratory drilling, the incurrence of environmental liabilities or other material developments;
Announcements of material developments by our competitors;
Our ability to raise additional funds;
Changes in government regulations; and
Other material events.
In the event that the occurrence of any of these events causes the price of our Common Stock to decrease, investors may be forced to sell their shares at a loss.
Currently authorized and future issuances of Preferred Stock, which rank senior to our Common Stock for the purposes of dividends and liquidating distributions will, and any future issuances of debt securities, which would rank senior to our Common Stock upon our bankruptcy or liquidation may, adversely affect the level of return you may be able to achieve from an investment in our Common Stock.
Currently Authorized Preferred Stock may have preference on bankruptcy over the Common Stock and holders of potentially future issued Preferred Stock are entitled to receive from the assets of the Company in priority to the holders of Common Stock on a liquidation, dissolution, winding up or other distribution of assets of the Company. In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by offering debt securities or additional Preferred Stock. Upon a potential bankruptcy or liquidation, holders of our debt securities or Preferred Stock, and lenders with respect to other borrowings we may make, may receive distributions of our available assets prior to any distributions being made to holders of our Common Stock. Because our decision to issue debt securities or Preferred Stock in any future offering, or borrow money from lenders, will depend in part on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of any such future offerings or borrowings. Holders of our Common Stock must bear the risk that any future offerings we conduct or borrowings we make may adversely affect the level of return they may be able to achieve from an investment in our Common Stock, upon bankruptcy or otherwise.
Our Common Stock is subject to penny stock rules making it more difficult to trade our Common Stock, all of which would adversely affect the value of the Common Stock.
The Commission has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks. Penny Stocks are generally equity securities with a price per share of less than $5.00, other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or authorized for quotation on certain automated quotation systems, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, before effecting a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document containing specified information. In addition, the penny stock rules require that, before effecting any such transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, a broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive (i) the purchaser’s written acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk disclosure statement; (ii) a written agreement to transactions involving penny stocks; and (iii) a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the trading activity in the secondary market for our Common Stock, and therefore shareholders may have difficulty selling their Common Stock.
FINRA sales practice requirements may limit a shareholder’s ability to buy and sell our stock.
In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, FINRA has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative, low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. The FINRA requirements may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our Common Stock, which may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in our Common Stock. As a result, fewer broker-dealers may be willing to make a market in our common stock, reducing a shareholder’s ability to resell our Common Stock.
Our management has broad discretion as to the use of certain of the net proceeds generated from our equity financing, which means that investors will need to rely on the judgment of our management regarding the use of proceeds.
Our management has broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds designated to fund our capital expenditures on existing mineral properties, acquire additional acreage leaseholds, acquire additional producing properties and associated leaseholds, or for general corporate purposes, which are subject to change in the future, and which may change in response to the proceeds raised pursuant to the purchase rights or exercise of the warrants, if any. Accordingly, you will have to rely upon the judgment of our management with respect to the use of these proceeds. Our management may spend a portion or all of the net proceeds from any equity financing in ways that holders of our Common Stock may not desire or that may not yield a significant return or any return at all. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business. Pending their use, we may also invest the net proceeds from an offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.
We are a reporting issuer under the Exchange Act and are considered a smaller reporting company, exempting us from certain disclosure requirements and potentially making our Common Stock less attractive to potential investors.
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act defines a “smaller reporting company” as an issuer that is not an investment company, an asset-backed issuer, or a majority-owned subsidiary of a parent that is not a smaller reporting company and that:
● Had a public float of less than US$250 million as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of shares of its voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates by the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average of the bid and asked prices of common equity, in the principal market for the common equity; or
● In the case of initial registration statement under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, for shares of its common equity, had a public float of less than US$250 million as of a date within 30 days of the date of the filing of the registration statement, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of such shares held by non-affiliates before the registration plus, in the case of a Securities Act registration statement, the number of such shares included in the registration statement by the estimated public offering price of the shares; or
● In the case of an issuer whose public float as calculated under the foregoing paragraphs of this definition was zero or less than $700 million, had annual revenues of less than US$100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available.
We believe that we are a smaller reporting company, and as such that we are not required and may not include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section in our proxy statements; we will provide only two years of financial statements; and we need not provide the table of selected financial data. We also will have other “scaled” disclosure requirements that are less comprehensive than issuers that are not smaller reporting companies. These “scaled” disclosure requirements make our Common Stock less attractive to potential investors, which could make it more difficult for our shareholders to sell their Units.
W e are taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes which means we will be subject to a material amount of entity-level taxation which would reduce and/or eliminate cash that otherwise may be used to make dividends.
We will pay U.S. federal income tax on our tax income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 21%, and will pay state and local income tax at varying rates, including the Nevada Net Proceeds Tax. Distributions will generally be taxed again as corporate dividends (to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits), and no income, gains, losses, deductions, or credits will flow through to you. In addition, changes in current state law may subject us to additional entity-level taxation by individual states. Because of state budget deficits and other reasons, several states are evaluating ways to subject corporations to additional forms of taxation. We will be subject to a material amount of entity-level taxation, which will result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to our shareholders.
A non-US holder of our Common Stock, Warrants, or Warrant Shares will be treated as having income that is “effectively connected” with a United States trade or business upon the sale or disposition of our Common Stock, Warrants, or Warrant Shares unless (i) our Common Stock is regularly traded on an established securities market and (ii) the non-U.S. holder did not meet certain ownership thresholds during the applicable testing period.
A non-US holder of our Common Stock, Warrants, or Warrant Shares generally will incur U.S. Federal income tax on any gain realized upon a sale or other disposition of our Common Stock to the extent our Common Stock constitutes a “United States real property interest” (“USRPI”), under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”). A USRPI includes stock in a “United States real property holding corporation.” We are and expect to continue to be for the foreseeable future, a “United States real property holding corporation.”
Under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. holder is taxed on any gain realized upon a sale or other disposition of a USRPI as if such gain were “effectively connected” with a United States trade or business of the non-U.S. holder. A non-U.S. holder thus will be taxed on such a gain at the same graduated rates generally applicable to U.S. persons. In addition, a non-U.S. holder would have to file a U.S. federal income tax return reporting that gain. A non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation and not entitled to treaty relief or exemption also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax on such gain.
However, if our Common Stock and Warrant Shares are regularly traded on an established securities market (the “Regularly Traded Exception”), then gains realized upon a sale or other disposition of our Common Stock or Warrant Shares will not be treated as gains from the sale of a USRPI, as long as the non-U.S. holder did not own: (i) more than 5% of our Common Stock at any time during the five-year period preceding the sale or other disposition or, if shorter, the non-U.S. holder’s holding period for its Common Stock; (ii) Warrants with a fair market value on the date acquired by such holder greater than the fair market value on that date of 5% of our Common Stock; or (iii) aggregate equity securities of the Company with a fair market value on the date acquired in excess of 5% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on such date. Our Common Stock currently trades on the OTC Pinks. At this time, it is uncertain whether our Common Stock will continue to be considered as being regularly traded on an established securities market in the U.S. Accordingly, we can provide no assurances that the Common Stock, Warrants or Warrant Shares will meet the Regularly Traded Exception at the time a non-U.S. holder purchases such securities or sells, exchanges, or otherwise disposes of such securities. In the event that our Common Stock or Warrant Shares do not meet the Regularly Traded Exception, then gains recognized by a non-U.S. holder upon a sale or other disposition of our Common Stock or Warrant Shares will be subject to tax under FIRPTA unless an exemption applies. Since the Warrants are not expected to be listed on a securities market, the Warrants are unlikely to qualify for the Regularly Traded Exception.
Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited which would effect our ability to take full advantage of the tax benefits of carryforwards.
Under Section 382 and related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change” (generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by value) in its equity ownership over a three-year period), the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. We may in the future experience, an “ownership change.” Thus, our ability to utilize carryforwards of our net operating losses and other tax attributes to reduce future tax liabilities may be substantially restricted. At this time, we have not completed a study to assess whether an ownership change under Section 382 of the Code may occur in the foreseeable future, or whether there have been due to the costs and complexities associated with such a study. Therefore, we may not be able to take full advantage of these carryforwards for federal or state tax purposes.
The tax treatment of corporations or an investment in our Common Stock, Warrants or Warrants Shares could be subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes and differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis.
The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of corporations, including us, or an investment in our Common Stock, Warrants and Warrant Shares may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time, members of Congress and the President propose and consider substantive changes to the existing U.S. federal income tax laws that affect corporations. Any modification to the U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be retroactively applied and could make it more difficult or impossible to meet our cash flow needs for operations, acquisitions or other purposes. We are unable to predict whether any of these changes or other proposals will be enacted. However, it is possible that a change in law could affect us, and any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our Common Stock, Warrants or Warrant Shares.
For all of the foregoing reasons and others set forth herein, an investment in our securities in any market that may develop in the future involves a high degree of risk.
achievements
Results of Operations
General
The inclusion of supplementary analytical and related information herein may require us to make estimates and assumptions to enable us to fairly present, in all material respects, our analysis of trends and expectations with respect to our results of operations and financial position taken as a whole. Actual results may vary from the estimates and assumptions we make.
Results of Operation
Years ended December 31,
Changes between
the periods
Operating expenses
Consulting fees
Director and officer compensation
Exploration expense
Gain on sale of mineral property interest
General and administrative
Investor awareness and marketing
Professional fees
Transfer agent and filing fees
Total operating expenses
Other income (expense)
Fair value gain on equity investments
Foreign exchange loss
Interest income
Total other income
Net loss
Revenues
We had no revenues for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. Due to the exploration rather than the production nature of our business, we do not expect to have significant operating revenue in the foreseeable future.
Operating expenses
Our operating expenses increased by $34,627 or 1%, to $3,994,012 as compared to $3,959,385 for the year ended December 31, 2024. Our largest expense item was associated with exploration expenses, which totaled $1,622,044 and included $1,596,258 we incurred under the Earn-in Agreement with Walker River, of which $202,835 represented the note and interest receivable from Walker River that was converted to exploration expense. Our second-largest expense was associated with director and officer compensation of $795,688, which represented a decrease of $892,783 from the $1,688,471 we incurred during the year ended December 31, 2024. The director and officer compensation included $679,021, associated with vested portion of options to acquire up to 1,800,000 common shares at $0.83 expiring on September 10, 2028, which we granted to our new directors and the president during the year ended December 31, 2025, under our Stock Option Plan and $116,667 recorded as the fair value of 166,667 shares we issued to our VP of Operations in 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the director and officer compensation was associated with the vesting of shares that we issued to our three directors on December 30, 2021, and with shares we granted to our VP of Operations on February 24, 2023.
During the same period, we incurred $656,283 in investor awareness and marketing expenses, which during the year ended December 31, 2025, decreased by $881,092, from $1,537,375 we incurred during the year ended December 31, 2024. Our professional fees increased by $173,131 to $261,962, these fees included $164,833 related to abandoned offering costs we paid when filing the registration statement on Form S-1 in October 2024, which we later decided not to maintain. Our consulting fees rose by $17,062 to $539,042 as compared to $521,980 we incurred during the year ended December 31, 2024. Transfer agent and filing fees increased by $25,005, reaching $54,963 for the year ended December 31, 2025. General and administrative expenses increased by $27,119 to $84,030 for the same period.
Our operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025, included a $20,000 gain on the sale of our Swales Property in exchange for a 2% NSR and a cash payment of $100,000. We did not have similar transactions during the comparative year ended December 31, 2024.
Other income (expense)
During the year ended December 31, 2025, we recognized a $29,149 gain on fair value of investments in equity securities (2024 – $4,357), which was mainly caused by the increase of market price of WRR Shares from CAD$0.17 per share at December 31, 2024, to CAD$0.24 per share at December 31, 2025, and to a smaller extent due to fluctuation of exchange rates between the US and Canadian dollars. In addition, we earned $234,393 in interest income, which decreased in comparison to $393,334 we earned during the year ended December 31, 2024, as a result of reduced cash balances we held in our bank accounts. During the same period, we recognized a $500 loss due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates (2024 – $16).
Net loss
During the year ended December 31, 2025, we recorded a net loss of $3,730,970, compared to a net loss of $3,561,710 for the year ended December 31, 2024. This increase was mainly due to higher exploration activities and lower interest income. These effects were partly offset by lower investor awareness and marketing expenses, reduced director and officer compensation, and a rise in gains from the fair value of equity investments.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working capital
December 31,
December 31,
Current assets
Current liabilities
Working capital
As of December 31, 2025, we had a cash balance of $5,455,294. Our working capital was $4,100,734, and cash flows used in operations totaled $1,909,016 for the year ended December 31, 2025.
During the year ended December 31, 2025, our operations were funded with cash on hand. The cash that we had on hand at December 31, 2025, was generated from the issuance of 12,499,343 Units under the offering statement on Form 1-A (the “Offering”) for net cash proceeds of $9,598,012, which we closed during the year ended December 31, 2023, from exercise of warrants we issued as part of the Offering, and to a smaller extent, cash generated from sale of shares under the registration statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”).
Due to the exploration rather than the production nature of our business, our operating activities do not generate cash flows and cannot satisfy our cash requirements. However, we believe that the cash we were able to generate from the Offering will allow us to support our operations, including our planned exploration programs and the general day-to-day business activities for the next 12-month period. We will continue to look for opportunities to generate additional cash through future equity or debt financings.
During the year ended December 31, 2025, net cash used in operating activities increased by $954,734 or 100%, to $1,909,016 for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared with $954,282 for the comparative period in 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2025, we used $2,150,096 to cover our cash operating costs, which were determined by reducing our net loss of $3,730,970 by non-cash items included in the net loss of $1,580,874. This use of cash was, in part, offset by a decrease in our prepaid expenses of $133,397, by a $102,683 increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and a $5,000 increase in related party payables.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we used $954,282 in our operating activities. Of this amount, we used $1,310,654 to cover our cash operating costs, which were determined by reducing the net loss of $3,561,710 the Company incurred during the year by non-cash items included in the net loss of $2,251,056. This use of cash was in part offset by a $348,232 decrease in prepaid expenses and $8,140 increase in accounts payable.
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
During the year ended December 31, 2025, we recognized a $29,149 gain on the revaluation of the fair value of our investment in WRR Shares and a $20,000 gain on the sale of our interest in Swales Property. Additionally, we recognized $116,667 on vesting of shares awarded to our VP of Operations, $466,667 on vesting of shares awarded to our consultants in accordance with the agreements executed in February 2023, and $679,021 related to the fair value of options granted to our president and directors that vested during the period. A further $202,835 was associated with converting the remaining receivable under the note and interest receivable from Walker River into eligible exploration expenditures under the Earn-in Agreement with Walker River, and $164,833 in professional fees, which were related to abandoned offering costs we paid when filing the registration statement on Form S-1 in October 2024, which we later decided not to maintain.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we recognized a $4,357 gain on revaluation of fair value of our investments in WRR Shares. In addition, we recognized $988,470 in director and CEO compensation associated with the par-value shares we distributed to our directors and CEO on December 30, 2021, $700,000 and $466,668 we recorded on vesting of shares awarded to our VP of Operations and our consultants, respectively, in accordance with the agreements we executed in February of 2023, and $100,275 we recorded on issuance of 35,000 shares to our consultant for investor awareness and marketing services.
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
During the year ended December 31, 2025, we spent $20,000 to make an option payment on the Swales Property, which was initially accrued at December 31, 2024, and $40,000 to make option payments on our Agai-Pah and Belshazzar Properties. This use of funds was offset by $100,000 we received on the sale of our interest in the Swales Property.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we spent $20,000 to make an option payment on the Swales Property, which was initially accrued at December 31, 2023, $325,000 to acquire NSR on Lapon Canyon Project, $150,000 to acquire NSR on Pikes Peak Project, $1,500,000 to exercise our option to acquire 1% production royalty on the Olinghouse Project. In addition, we paid $20,000 for our option on Agai-Pah Property and $20,000 for our option on Belshazzar Property. In addition, we advanced to Walker River Resources, LLC $200,000 in exchange for a promissory note for a maximum of $500,000. The principal amount advanced under the note payable accumulates interest at a rate of 12% per annum.
Net cash provided by financing activities
During the year ended December 31, 2025, we issued 180,000 shares for total proceeds of $288,149 under the Registration Statement.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we issued 455,375 shares for total proceeds of $546,450 on exercise of the Warrants issued as part of the Offering, which the Company closed in its fiscal 2023 year. Of this amount, $18,000 was received during the year ended December 31, 2023. In addition, we recorded an additional $600 as obligation to issue shares on the exercise of the Warrants. We paid $2,999 in share issuance costs associated with exercise of these Warrants. We paid $45,000 in future share issuance costs associated with the registration statement on Form S-1 we filed with the SEC in October of 2024.
Going Concern
At December 31, 2025, we had a working capital surplus of $4,100,734 and cash on hand of $5,455,294, which is sufficient to support our current plan of operations, including exploration programs, for the next 12-month period. Our investment in equity security is represented by 511,750 WRR Shares valued at $89,611.
To support our operations beyond the 12-month period, we are planning to continue actively pursuing other means of financing our operations, including equity and/or debt financing. In October of 2024, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC, which was made effective November 8, 2024. Under the registration statement, we could sell up to an additional $25,000,000 shares of our common stock, of which we sold 180,000 shares during the year ended December 31, 2025. We decided not to maintain the registration statement.
Given the current market and industry conditions, we cannot be sure that we will be able to procure additional funding. If operating difficulties or other factors (many of which are beyond our control) delay our realization of revenues or cash flows from operations, we may be limited in our ability to pursue our business plan. Moreover, if our resources from obtaining additional capital or cash flows from operations, once we commence them, do not satisfy our operational needs or if unexpected expenses arise due to unanticipated pressures or if we decide to expand our business plan beyond its currently anticipated level or otherwise, we will require additional financing to fund our operations, in addition to anticipated cash generated from our operations. Additional financing might not be available on terms favorable to us, or at all. If adequate funds were not available or were not available on acceptable terms, our ability to fund our operations, take advantage of unanticipatedopportunities, develop or enhance our business or otherwise respond to competitive pressures would be significantly limited. In a worst-case scenario, we might not be able to fund our operations or to remain in business, which could result in a total loss of our stockholders’ investment. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our stockholders would be reduced, and these newly issued securities might have rights, preferences, or privileges senior to those of existing stockholders.
Impact of Inflation
We believe that inflation has had a negligible effect on operations over the past fiscal year.
Capital Expenditures
During the year ended December 31, 2025, we used $20,000 to make an option payment on the Swales Property, which was initially accrued at December 31, 2024, and an additional $40,000 to make option payments for our Agai-Pah and Belshazzar Properties.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we used $20,000, to make an option payment on the Swales Property, which was initially accrued at December 31, 2023, $325,000 to acquire NSR on Lapon Canyon Project, $150,000 to acquire NSR on Pikes Peak Project, $1,500,000 to exercise our option to acquire 1% production royalty on the Olinghouse Project. In addition, we paid $20,000 for our option on Agai-Pah Property and $20,000 for our option on Belshazzar Property.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
Pronouncements
We have implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect, and that may impact our financial statements and do not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
