FG Filed by Filing Services Canada Inc. 403-717-3898
May 11,
2012
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
20-F/A
Amendment
No. 1
o
|
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
OR
x
|
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
o
|
for
the fiscal year ended December 31,
2011
|
OR
o
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For the
transition period from _______________ to _______________
OR
o
|
SHELL
COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
o
|
Date
of event requiring this shell company
report__________________
|
Commission
file number 000-51411
EMGOLD
MINING CORPORATION
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
|
BRITISH
COLUMBIA, CANADA
|
(Jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
Suite
1400, 570 Granville Street
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, V6C 3P1
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
Sargent
H. Berner
Suite
1400, 570 Granville Street
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, V6C 3P1
Tel:
(604) 687-4622 Fax: (604) 687-4212
|
(Name,
Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact
Person)
|
Securities
registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:
Title
of each class
|
|
Name
of each exchange on which registered
|
None
|
|
None
|
Securities
registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:
Common
Shares without par Value
|
(Title
of class)
|
Securities
for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Act:
Indicate
the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or
common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
58,714,504
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes o No
þ
If this
report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the
registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes o No
þ
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
Yes þ No
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this
chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes þ No
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act.
Large
Accelerated Filer o Accelerated
Filer o Non-Accelerated
Filer þ
Indicate
by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the
financial statements included in this filing:
U.S.
GAAP
o
International
Financial Reporting Standards
as issued
by the International Accounting
Standard
Board þ
Other o
If
“Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by a
check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to
follow.
Item
17 o Item
18 o NOT APPLICABLE
If this
is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell
company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES o
NO
þ
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This Form
20-F/A includes revisions to Item 3.A., “Selected Financial Data” (to clarify
that information based on US GAAP is not comparable to information prepared in
accordance with IFRS); Item 16F, “Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant”;
and Item 18, “Financial Statements” (to include the consolidated financial
statements of the Company that were previously included under Item 17, with
revisions to Footnote 1 and a revised Independent Auditors’ Report); and to add
Exhibit 15.5. In all other respects, this Form 20-F/A is unchanged from the
report as originally filed on April 30, 2012.
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain
statements in this Annual Report under the captions “Risk Factors”, “Business
Overview”, “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and “Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” and elsewhere in this Annual Report
and the documents attached as exhibits constitute “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the United States securities laws. Some
forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as “believes,”
“anticipates,” “intends” or “expects.” These forward-looking
statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about
future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of its
business and the industry in which it operates. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors,
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company,
or industry results to be materially different from any future results,
performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or
update forward-looking statements in respect of actual results, performance or
achievements. Such factors include, among others, the
following: general economic and business conditions, which will,
among other things, impact demand for gold and other metals; industry capacity;
the ability of the Company to implement its business strategy; changes in, or
the unintentional failure to comply with, government regulations (especially
safety and environmental laws and regulations); changes in the uses of gold and
other metals; gold and commodity price volatility; increased competition; mining
risks; exploration programs not being successful; inability to obtain financing;
inability to obtain or, cancellation of, government permits; changes to
regulations and mining law; increased reclamation obligations; title defects
with respect to properties; risks associated with international operations; and
foreign exchange and currency fluctuations.
Conversion
of metric units into imperial equivalents is as follows:
Metric units
|
|
Multiply by
|
|
Imperial units
|
Hectares
|
|
2.471
|
|
=
acres
|
Metres
|
|
3.281
|
|
=
feet
|
Kilometres
|
|
0.621
|
|
=
miles (5,280 feet)
|
Grams
|
|
0.032
|
|
=
ounces (troy)
|
Tonnes
|
|
1.102
|
|
=
tons (short) (2,000 lbs)
|
grams/tonne
|
|
0.029
|
|
=
ounces (troy)/ton
|
CAUTIONARY
NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS
This
Annual Report uses the terms "measured resources" and "indicated
resources." We advise U.S. investors that while such terms are
recognized and permitted under Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission does not recognize them. U.S. investors are
cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these
categories will ever be converted into reserves.
This
Annual Report may use the term “inferred resources.” We advise U.S.
investors that while such term is recognized and permitted under Canadian
regulations, it is not recognized by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. “Inferred resources” have a significant amount of
uncertainty as to their existence, and uncertainty as to their economic and
legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an
inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher
category. Under Canadian rules estimates of inferred mineral
resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic
studies. U.S.
investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an inferred
resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
S.E.C.
Industry Guide 7
|
|
National
Instrument 43-101
|
Reserve: That part of a
mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or
produced at the time of the reserve determination. The United
States Securities and Exchange Commission requires a final or full
Feasibility Study to be completed in order to support either Proven or
Probable Reserves and does not recognize other classifications of
mineralized deposits. Note that for industrial mineral properties, in
addition to the Feasibility Study, “sales” contracts or actual sales may
be required in order to prove the project’s commerciality and reserve
status.
|
|
Mineral Reserve: The
economically mineable part of a Measured or Indicated Mineral Resource
demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility study. This
study must include adequate information on mining, processing,
metallurgical, economic and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at
the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be
justified.
|
Proven Reserves:
Reserves for which a quantity is computed from dimensions revealed
in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are
computed from the results of detailed sampling of the sites for
inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the
geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral
content of reserves are well established.
|
|
Proven Mineral Reserve:
The economically mineable part of a Measured Mineral Resource
demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility study. This
study must include adequate information on mining, processing,
metallurgical, economic, and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at
the time of reporting, that economic extraction is
justified.
|
Probable Reserves:
Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed
from information similar to that used for proven reserves, but the sites
for inspection, sampling and measurement are farther apart or are
otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance,
although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume
continuity between points of observation.
|
|
Probable Mineral Reserve:
The economically mineable part of an indicated, and in some
circumstances, a Measured Mineral Resource, demonstrated by at least a
Preliminary Feasibility Study. This study must include adequate
information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and other
relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic
extraction can be justified.
|
Glossary
of Abbreviations
|
|
AA
|
Annexation
Application
|
Ag
|
Silver
|
Au
|
Gold
|
Ba
|
Barium
|
Co |
Cobalt |
IP
|
Induced
Polarization geophysical survey
|
NSR
|
Net
smelter returns royalty
|
ton
|
Short
ton (2,000 pounds)
|
tonne
|
Metric
ton (1000 kilograms - 2204.62
pounds)
|
VLF
|
Very
low frequency electromagnetic geophysical
survey
|
VMS
|
Volcanogenic
massive sulphide
|
All
currency amounts in this Annual Report are stated in United States dollars
unless otherwise indicated.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
GLOSSARY
OF ABBREVIATIONS
|
5
|
PART
1
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
IDENTITY
OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
|
7
|
|
|
|
ITEM
2.
|
OFFER
STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
|
7
|
|
|
|
ITEM
3.
|
KEY
INFORMATION
|
7
|
|
|
|
ITEM
4.
|
INFORMATION
ON THE COMPANY
|
18
|
|
|
|
ITEM
4A.
|
UNRESOLVED
STAFF COMMENTS
|
40
|
|
|
|
ITEM
5.
|
OPERATING
AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
|
40
|
|
|
|
ITEM
6.
|
DIRECTORS,
SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
|
53
|
|
|
|
ITEM
7.
|
MAJOR
SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
|
66
|
|
|
|
ITEM
8.
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
67
|
|
|
|
ITEM
9.
|
THE
OFFER AND LISTING
|
67
|
|
|
|
ITEM
10.
|
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
|
69
|
|
|
|
ITEM
11.
|
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
|
79
|
|
|
|
ITEM
12.
|
DESCRIPTION
OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
|
79
|
|
|
|
PART
II
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
ITEM
13.
|
DEFAULTS,
DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
|
80
|
|
|
|
ITEM
14.
|
MATERIAL
MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
|
80
|
|
|
|
ITEM
15.
|
CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
|
80
|
|
|
|
ITEM
16A
|
AUDIT
COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
|
81
|
|
|
|
ITEM
16B.
|
CODE
OF ETHICS
|
81
|
|
|
|
ITEM
16C.
|
PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
|
81
|
|
|
|
ITEM
16D.
|
EXEMPTIONS
FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
|
82
|
|
|
|
ITEM
16E.
|
PURCHASES
OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED
PURCHASERS
|
82
|
|
|
|
ITEM
16F.
|
CHANGE
IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
|
82
|
|
|
|
ITEM
16G.
|
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
|
82
|
|
|
|
ITEM
16H.
|
MINE
SAFETY DISCLOSURE
|
82
|
|
|
|
PART
III
|
|
83
|
|
|
|
ITEM
17.
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
|
83
|
|
|
|
ITEM
18.
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
|
83
|
|
|
|
ITEM
19.
|
EXHIBITS
|
83
|
|
|
|
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
|
84
|
|
|
GLOSSARY
OF GEOLOGIC AND MINING TERMS
|
85
|
|
|
SIGNATURES
|
90
|
PART 1
ITEM
1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS,
SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS
(a)
|
Directors
and Senior Management
|
This form
20-F is being filed as an annual report under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended and as such, there is no requirement to provide any information
under this item.
This form
20-F is being filed as an annual report under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended and as such, there is no requirement to provide any information
under this item.
This form
20-F is being filed as an annual report under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended and as such, there is no requirement to provide any information
under this item.
ITEM
2. OFFER STATISTICS AND
EXPECTED TIMETABLE
This form
20-F is being filed as an annual report under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended and as such, there is no requirement to provide any information
under this item.
ITEM
3. KEY
INFORMATION
A.
|
Selected
Financial Data
|
The
selected financial data of Emgold Mining Corporation (“Emgold” or the “Company”)
for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 was derived from the
Company’s consolidated financial statements as audited by MSCM LLP, Chartered
Accountants for 2011 and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Accountants for
the years 2010 and 2009, as indicated in the audit report included elsewhere in
this Annual Report. The financial reporting represents consolidated
reporting for Emgold’s 100% subsidiary companies Emgold U.S. Corporation
(“Emgold U.S.”), Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation (“IMMC”), and Golden Bear
Ceramics Company (“GBC”).
The
selected consolidated statement of financial position data as of December 31,
2008 and 2007, and the selected consolidated statement of income data and the
selected consolidated statement of cash flows data set forth below for the years
ended December 31, 2008and 2007 are derived from our audited consolidated
financial statements not included in this Annual Report. Our consolidated
financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010
have been prepared in conformity with IFRS. We adopted IFRS effective as of and
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 by applying IFRS 1: First Time
Adoption of International Reporting Standards. Our consolidated financial
statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010 were originally
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States, or US GAAP, and were restated in accordance with IFRS for
comparative purposes only. The selected consolidated statement of financial
position data as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and the selected
consolidated statement of income data and the selected consolidated statement of
cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were
derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this
Annual Report and were prepared in conformity with US GAAP. The information
based on US GAAP is not comparable to information prepared in accordance with
IFRS.
In
accordance with rule amendments adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, or SEC, which became effective on March 4, 2008, we do not provide a
reconciliation to US GAAP for financial information prepared in accordance with
IFRS. The selected financial information as of and for the years ended December
31, 2011 and 2010 set forth below should be read in conjunction with, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to “Item 5. Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects” and our audited consolidated financial statements and the
notes thereto.
At the
Annual and Special General Meeting of its shareholders held on September 18,
2009, the shareholders approved a special resolution to alter the Company’s
authorized share structure by consolidating all of the issued and outstanding
common shares without par value, of which 168,972,873 common shares were then
issued on the basis of ten (10) pre-consolidation common shares for one (1)
post-consolidation common share. After adjusting for rounding,
16,894,310 common shares were issued and outstanding after giving effect to this
consolidation. The issued and outstanding Class A preference shares
were consolidated on the same basis, resulting in 398,483 Class A preference
shares, after consolidation. The share consolidation of the common
shares without par value and the Class A preference shares was effective
December 21, 2009. All periods presented have been retroactively
adjusted to reflect this reverse split.
The
Company has not declared any dividends on its common shares since incorporation
and does not anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable
future. The present policy of the Company is to retain future
earnings for use in its operations and the expansion of its
business.
Amount
in conformity with IFRS:
(United
States Dollars)
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Selected
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,198,166 |
|
|
$ |
2,207,283 |
|
|
|
|
1,543,237 |
|
|
|
661,707 |
|
|
|
|
6,800,722 |
|
|
|
6,629,389 |
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
42,817,739 |
|
|
|
41,490,268 |
|
Equity
component of convertible preference shares
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
1,219,617 |
|
|
|
1,271,008 |
|
|
|
|
(50,183,149 |
) |
|
|
(47,845,089 |
) |
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Equipment
and mineral property interests
|
|
$ |
1,053,339 |
|
|
$ |
1,120,075 |
|
Shareholders’
equity (deficiency)
|
|
|
654,929 |
|
|
|
1,545,576 |
|
Number
of outstanding common shares
|
|
|
58,714,504 |
|
|
|
38,552,444 |
|
No cash
or other dividends have been declared on common shares.
|
|
For
the years ended December 31,
|
|
Selected
Consolidated Statement of Income Data
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
and other income
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
1,030,920 |
|
|
|
402,596 |
|
|
|
|
1,307,140 |
|
|
|
670,491 |
|
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Write-down
of mineral property interests
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Loss
according to financial statements
|
|
|
(2,338,060 |
) |
|
|
(1,073,087 |
) |
Loss
per share – basic and diluted
|
|
|
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
(0.05 |
) |
Amount
in comformity with US GAAP:
(United
States Dollars)
Selected
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
Data
|
|
December
31, |
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,136,369 |
|
|
|
1,642,605 |
|
|
|
6,506,695 |
|
|
|
|
1,925,709 |
|
|
|
626,549 |
|
|
|
743,797 |
|
|
|
|
38,792,139 |
|
|
|
39,109,658 |
|
|
|
38,877,347 |
|
|
|
|
4,711,378 |
|
|
|
4,286,347 |
|
|
|
2,972,267 |
|
|
|
|
112,355 |
|
|
|
1,936,339 |
|
|
|
3,049,862 |
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
|
|
(577,454 |
) |
|
|
(577,454 |
) |
|
|
(577,456 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(44,206,549 |
) |
|
$ |
(43,863,334 |
) |
|
$ |
(38,559,122 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment
and mineral property interests
|
|
|
1,096,514 |
|
|
|
1,044,553 |
|
|
|
1,217,013 |
|
Shareholders’
equity (deficiency)
|
|
|
(789,340 |
) |
|
|
1,016,056 |
|
|
|
5,762,898 |
|
Number
of outstanding common shares
|
|
|
16,894,310 |
|
|
|
15,751,987 |
|
|
|
15,648,987
|
|
|
|
For
the years ended December 31,
|
|
Selected
Consolidated Statement of Income Data
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
Investment
and other income
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
218,688 |
|
|
|
2,060,237 |
|
|
|
1,928,483 |
|
|
|
|
1,175,520 |
|
|
|
2,586,625 |
|
|
|
3,188,134
|
|
|
|
|
92,340 |
|
|
|
447,809 |
|
|
|
629,148 |
|
Write-down
of mineral property interests
|
|
|
75,169 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Loss
according to financial statements
|
|
|
(1,561,717 |
) |
|
|
(5,094,671 |
) |
|
|
(5,745,765 |
) |
Loss
per share – basic and diluted
|
|
|
(0.09 |
) |
|
|
(0.32 |
) |
|
|
(0.56 |
) |
B.
|
Capitalization
and Indebtedness
|
Not
applicable.
C.
|
Reasons
for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
|
Not
applicable.
Financial Risk
Factors
Readers
should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below before
deciding whether to invest in shares of the Company’s common stock.
Emgold currently
has no source of operating cash flow and has a history of operating
losses.Emgold
currently has no revenue from operations and all of its mineral property
interests are in the exploration or development stages. The Company
does not expect to receive significant revenue from operations at any time in
the near future, and Emgold has had no prior years’ history of earnings or
operating cash flow. Neither Emgold nor its predecessors have paid
dividends on their shares since incorporation and the Company does not
anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future.
Emgold
has no source of revenue other than interest income, shares from the Lease and
Option to Purchase Agreement on the Rozan Property. There is
potential to convert shares and warrants from the Lease and Option to Purchase
Agreement on the Rozan Property to cash in the future. A mining
project can typically require ten to twenty years or more between discovery,
definition, development and construction and as a result, no production revenue
is expected from any of the Company’s exploration properties for at least 4
years. All of Emgold’s short to medium-term operating and exploration expenses
must be paid from its existing cash position or external
financing. At December 31, 2011, Emgold had working capital of
$651,840, compared to a working capital of $527,753 at December 31,
2010. Working capital is defined as current assets less current
liabilities. In January 2012, after failing to meet its work
commitments on the Rozan Property, Valterra announced that it has elected to
terminate the Agreement with the Company.
Emgold may be
unable to obtain the funds necessary to expand exploration. If
Emgold’s exploration and research and development programs are successful,
additional capital will be required to place the Idaho-Maryland Project (“I-M
Project”) into commercial production. To date, the only sources of
funds that have been available to the Company are from the sale of equity
capital or the offering by the Company of an interest in its properties to be
earned by another party or parties carrying out further development
thereof. Emgold presently does not have sufficient financial
resources to undertake all of the Company’s plans as outlined in previous
periods, and requires additional financing to complete the permitting of the I-M
Project and start the engineering studies to enable the I-M Project to enter the
feasibility stage of development. In spite of the current relatively
high market price of gold, the market conditions in the junior mining and
exploration sector are very depressed and therefore it is very difficult raising
additional capital. Emgold has been successful in the past in
obtaining financing through the sale of equity securities, but as an exploration
stage company, it may be difficult to obtain adequate financing in the future or
financings with favourable terms. If Emgold fails to obtain
additional financing on a timely basis, the Company could forfeit its interest
in its mineral property interests, dilute its interests in the properties and/or
reduce or terminate operations. Exploration programs would have to be
prioritized to fit within cash availability.
Currently
the Company is reviewing strategies for equity financings and joint ventures
that may be able to carry the Company through the next year of
operations. The financings, if completed, could result in dilution of
the Company’s shares. Funds from any financing will be used primarily
for permitting at the I-M Project and general working
capital. Separate financing is being pursued for GBC and the
development of recycled stone and ceramic processing facilities as part of the
I-M Project or for a plant located elsewhere. Financing may also be
pursued to fund exploration on Emgold’s other exploration properties including
the Buckskin Rawhide Project, NV, the Stewart Property B.C., and the Rozan
Property, B.C. The Rozan Property is currently under a lease and
option to purchase agreement with Valterra Resource Corporation and currently
has no funding requirements.
Changes in the
market prices of gold, which have fluctuated widely, will affect our operations
and can negatively impact the economic viability of the mineral
properties. Emgold has no history of mining or current source
of revenue. The Company is exploring for gold, and historically, the
prices of the common shares of junior mining companies are very
volatile. This volatility may be partly attributed to the volatility
of gold prices, and also to the success or failure of the Company’s exploration
programs. The market price of gold may not remain at current levels. In
particular, an increase in worldwide supply and consequent downward pressure on
prices may result over the longer term from increased gold production from mines
developed or expanded as a result of current metal price levels.
The
ability to raise funds for exploration and development in a venture capital
company is affected by factors such as the price of gold, a factor over which
the Company has no control. Annual average, high and low gold prices
since 2000 are shown below, demonstrating the fluctuation in the price of
gold. Metals prices also affect the rate of return of a mining
property that reaches the development stage over the longer term.
Year
|
|
Average
Price per ounce (US$)
|
|
High
Price per ounce (US$)
|
|
Low
Price per ounce (US$)
|
2000
|
|
279.11
|
|
312.70
|
|
264.10
|
2001
|
|
271.04
|
|
293.25
|
|
255.95
|
2002
|
|
309.73
|
|
349.30
|
|
277.75
|
2003
|
|
363.38
|
|
416.25
|
|
319.90
|
2004
|
|
409.72
|
|
454.20
|
|
375.00
|
2005
|
|
444.74
|
|
536.50
|
|
411.10
|
2006
|
|
603.46
|
|
725.00
|
|
524.75
|
2007
|
|
695.39
|
|
841.10
|
|
608.40
|
2008
|
|
871.96
|
|
1011.25
|
|
712.50
|
2009
|
|
972.35
|
|
1212.50
|
|
810.00
|
2010
|
|
1224.53
|
|
1421.00
|
|
1058.00
|
2011
|
|
1568.59
|
|
1895.00
|
|
1319.00
|
Fluctuations in
the world markets, including the TSX Venture Exchange, can have a negative
impact on the Company’s share price, can have a negative impact on the
availability of capital for investment in junior mining companies, and can
negatively impact the Company’s ability to raise funds. The
world markets are currently being affected by a major recession in the U.S.,
a deficit crisis in the U.S., high oil prices, political turmoil in
he Middle East, a European debt crisis, and other international economic and
political factors. Over the past several years, there have been major
fluctuations in the markets caused by the housing mortgage crisis in the U.S.,
bail out of several major banks world-wide, bail out of Freddie Mac and Fannie
Mae in the U.S., bail out of several major automobile manufacturers world-wide,
and bail out of several countries in the world such as Greece. This
has caused record deficits in several countries, including the
U.S. These crises, which have occurred over a multi-year period, have
affected the Company’s ability to raise capital and have negatively impacted the
stocks of many junior exploration companies. It is likely there will
be future turmoil in the world markets over the next several years, and this
uncertainty may negatively impact the Company’s ability to raise necessary
capital and advance the I-M Project.
Emgold
may not be able to find equity investment to further fund GBC to build a
recycled stone and ceramics processing facility using commercially available
technology to process mine waste at the I-M Project.
Emgold
has developed and is planning to use commercially available technology in
connection with the operation of the I-M Project to process development rock
(rock mined to access the gold ore) and mine tailings (the remains of the gold
ore after the gold has been removed). Permitting of the I-M Project
includes a 1,200 ton per day recycled stone and ceramics, processing facility,
which may be the first commercial plant of its kind. This technology is being
developed in Emgold’swholey owned subsidiary, GBC. The Company is in the process
of converting GBC into and independent operating entity. The Company
has decided to finance GBC and its recycled stone and ceramics processing
facility separately from Emgold, if possible, to allow GBC to pursue
opportunities for growth on a global basis and construct a series of production
plants.
If the
Company is unable to obtain equity or some other form of financing to develop
the recycled stone and ceramics processing facilities, the proposed use of such
facilities at the I-M Project may be at risk. The I-M Project is not
dependent on the use of a recycled stone and ceramics plant and the expected
alternative would be to dispose of 100% of the mine tailings from the I-M
Project as underground backfill (mine tailings used to backfill the voids
created by gold and industrial mineral (aggregate) mining).
If
suitable financing is obtained, GBC plans to complete a detailed feasibility
study and basic engineering by utilizing independent consultants to design the
first commercial plant. GBC will not be able to conduct further
research and development or prepare marketing and feasibility studies until it
has independently raised sufficient financing for that purpose.
Environmental and Regulatory
Risk Factors
Emgold may be
unable to obtain necessary permits for the I-M Project. IMMC has
submitted applications to acquire a Conditional Mine Use Permit (“CMUP”) and
other entitlements to allow the Company to dewater, explore, construct, operate,
and reclaim the Idaho-Maryland Mine in Grass Valley, CA. The Company
expects to complete the EIR, the CMUP, and other entitlements in mid-2013,
subject to financing. The Company has a proactive community outreach
program to inform local residents and decision makers and stakeholders about the
I-M Project and its benefits to the region, as well as to obtain their input and
incorporate it into the project permitting. Additional environmental
investigations may be required as a part of the permitting process and for the
future development of the surface properties for the purposes of mining and
milling of ore. Currently the Company believes that the expected date
and time frame for obtaining the permits is reasonable providing the Company is
able to maintain adequate funding through the permitting
process. Obtaining or reviewing governmental permits is a complex and
time consuming process. The duration and success of efforts to obtain
and renew permits are contingent upon variables not within the Company’s
control. Delays or failure to obtain the CMUP, or the expiry,
revocation or failure by us to comply with the terms of any such permits we have
obtained would adversely affect our business.
Compliance with
environmental regulations could affect future profitability and timeliness of
operations. The current and anticipated future operations of
the Company, including development activities and commencement of production on
its properties, require operating permits from various federal, state, and local
governmental authorities. Companies engaged in the development and
operation of mines and related facilities generally experience increased costs,
and delays in production and other schedules as a result of the need to comply
with applicable laws, regulations and permits as well as the effects of
inflation and the availability of mining specific goods and
services.
The
Company’s exploration activities and its potential mining and processing
operations are subject to various laws governing land, air and water use, the
protection of the environment, prospecting, development, production, commodity
prices, exports, taxes, labour standards, occupational safety and health, waste
disposal, toxic substances, mine safety and other matters. Emgold
believes it is in substantial compliance with all material laws and regulations
which currently apply to its activities. There is no assurance that
the Company will be able to obtain all permits required for exploration,
development and construction of mining facilities and conduct of mining
operations on reasonable terms or that new legislation or modifications to
existing legislation, would not have an adverse effect on any exploration or
mining project which the Company might undertake.
Readers
are cautioned that the CMUP is required in order to dewater the existing mine
workings at the I-M Project and to construct a decline to conduct underground
exploration and complete feasibility work. A production decision must
be made before the mine can go into production.
The I-M
Project could have “growth inducing impacts” The Company will need to address
those impacts associated with growth due to industrial development proximate to
an urban center. The Company believes that it has defined and
disclosed the extent of and can mitigate the potential impacts in all of these
areas in ways satisfactory to all of its stakeholders. Where required
and agreed, local jurisdictions may receive direct compensation for the cost of
improving roadway intersections and expanding services to accommodate potential
increased demands on social services and local infrastructure.
The I-M
Project contains areas that have been impacted by historic mining activities and
clean up of historic tailings will be required. The Company currently
leases this property and is not conducting any mining operations, therefore no
reclamation liability has been accrued. As part of the CMUP process,
the Company has completed test work to characterize the historic tailings and
will be entering into agreements with the California Department of Toxic
Substance Control who will be the Lead Agency overseeing the cleanup of historic
tailings on site. The Company worked with the California Regional
Water Quality Control Board and has remediated the location where two historic
fuel tanks were removed by the previous owners of the land. Costs for
clean up and short and long term liabilities for cleanup of the site are being
addressed with State and local agencies. Should the economics of site
cleanup of historic mine tailings on site become prohibitive, the Company could
elect not to complete the purchase of this property and discontinue the
project. However, information available at this time indicates that
clean up of the site can be completed in a reasonable and economic fashion, and
this clean up will be a benefit to the local community in the long
term.
California
is in the process of implementing a number of rules related to air quality and
green house gas emissions through the California Air Resources Board. These
regulations are ultimately expected to lead to cap-and-trade legislation. While
this new legislation is being addressed as part of the permitting process for
the I-M Project, it is unknown how this legislation will impact operating and
capital costs of the project and such impacts, as a worst case, could result in
the I-M Project not being economically viable. It is expected that as part of
the CMUP process, IMMC will be required to mitigate any air quality impacts that
may result from the I-M Project. The scope and cost of these mitigations are
unknown at this time.
Specific
to U.S. properties, costs involved in complying with various government
environmental regulations vary by operation and regulatory
jurisdiction. Typically, surface sampling does not require any
permits. Agency review and approval for exploration drilling and
access construction can vary from several hundred dollars to several thousands
of dollars, depending upon the level of activity. Permitting and
environmental compliance costs vary, depending upon the level of activities
proposed and the sensitivity of the areas where mineral activities are
proposed. As a general rule, these costs make up 12% or less of the
total cost of an exploration or development program.
In
addition, certain types of operations related to the opening and operation of
the mine will require the submission and approval of environmental impact
assessments. Environmental assessments of proposed projects carry a
heightened degree of responsibility for companies and directors, officers and
employees. The cost of compliance with changes in governmental
regulations has a potential to reduce or eliminate the profitability of
operations. For example, if the Company is unable to obtain required
permits, and the reasons that the permits cannot be obtained are deemed to be
financially insurmountable, the development of the I-M Project would be
curtailed, and operations in Grass Valley, California would cease.
On the
Federal, State or Provincial or County level, regulations deal with
environmental quality and impacts upon air, water, soils, vegetation and
wildlife, as well as historical and cultural resources. Approval must
be received from the applicable departments before exploration can begin, and
will also involve ongoing monitoring of operations. For the I-M
Project, the City acts as the Lead Agency and is responsible for representing
other regulatory agencies during the permitting process. If
operations result in negative effects upon the environment, government agencies
will usually require the Company to carry out remedial actions to correct the
negative effects.
Information
about the I-M Project is distributed at community events. Issues of
concern to the community are addressed and communicated to all interested
parties at public workshops and meetings, community events as well as through
local news media, direct mail-outs, circulars and brochures. A
website, devoted to the I-M Project, www.idaho-maryland.com,
provides general I-M Project information, permitting documentation and addresses
community concerns regarding the expected impact of dewatering existing mine
workings, underground development, exploration and the possible operation of a
mine on the community and the environment.
The
Company may be required to post reclamation bonding in California to ensure that
areas will be reclaimed after exploration. Reclamation bonds are also
required in British Columbia, and have all been posted. The
exploration activity in British Columbia to date has been limited to drilling,
and as such, the reclamation bonds posted are nominal. If exploration
activity is carried out on the Buckskin Rawhide Project in Nevada, a reclamation
bond will also be required for any such work.
Failure to comply
with environmental and reclamation rules could result in
penalties. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations
and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions, including orders
issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be
curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures,
installation of additional equipment or remedial actions. Parties
engaged in mining operations may be required to compensate those suffering loss
or damage by reason of the mining activities and may have civil or criminal
fines or penalties imposed for violation of applicable laws or
regulations. Environmental legislation provides for restrictions and
prohibitions on spills, releases or emissions of various substances produced in
association with certain mining industry operations, such as seepage from
tailings disposal areas, which would result in environmental
pollution. A breach of such legislation may result in the imposition
of fines and penalties. At present, the Company has estimated that no
funds are required for reclamation at the I-M Project, as reclamation related to
a drilling program is normally defined in the drilling permit and completed at
the end of the program. The Company is not conducting any mining
operations, therefore no reclamation liability has been accrued. To
date Emgold has been successful in obtaining all permits that it has applied for
and believes it has a good working relationship with local
regulators. The Company and its employees have been engaged in the
exploration and development of mineral properties for many
years. Currently, the operations of the Company have been limited to
exploration and permitting. To date, no mining activity has yet been
undertaken by the Company.
Risk Factors Associated with
Mining and Exploration
Emgold’s
exploration and development efforts may be unsuccessful in locating viable
mineral resources. Resource exploration and development is a
speculative business, characterized by a number of significant risks, including,
among other things, unprofitable efforts resulting not only from the failure to
discover mineral deposits but also from finding mineral deposits, which, though
present, are insufficient in quantity and quality to return a profit from
production.
There is
no certainty that the expenditures to be made by the Company on the exploration
of its properties and prospects as described herein, in particular, the I-M
Project, will result in discoveries of mineralized material in commercial
quantities.
Emgold may not be
able to market the minerals acquired or discovered by the Company due to factors
beyond the control of the Company. The marketability of
minerals acquired or discovered by the Company may be affected by numerous
factors which are beyond the control of the Company and which cannot be
accurately predicted, such as market fluctuations, the proximity and capacity of
milling facilities, mineral markets and processing equipment, and such other
factors as government regulations, including regulations relating to royalties,
allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental
protection, the combination of which factors may result in the Company not
receiving an adequate return on investment capital.
Other Risk
Factors
Emgold’s title to
mineral property interests may be challenged. Although Emgold
has completed a review of titles to its mineral interests and has had two title
opinions prepared on the I-M Project, it has not obtained title insurance or any
formal legal opinion with respect to all of its properties and there is no
guarantee of title. The mineral properties may be subject to prior
unregistered agreements or transfers or native land claims, and title may be
affected by undetected defects. Emgold’s mineral property interests
include mineral claims in British Columbia and Nevada, which have not been
surveyed, and therefore, the precise area and location of such claims or rights
may be in doubt. As there are unresolved native land claim issues in
British Columbia, the Company’s properties and prospects in this jurisdiction
may be affected in the future.
Currency
fluctuations between the United States dollar and the Canadian dollar may affect
Emgold’s financial position and results. Many of Emgold’s
principal financial obligations are in United States dollars, which make it
subject to foreign currency fluctuation and such fluctuations may materially
affect its financial position and results. In fiscal 2011, the
Company received $1,375,094, net of issue costs, from the issuance of 20,055,770
common shares in private placements. The Company’s consolidated
financial statements are reported in United States dollars and the functional
currency of the Company is United States dollars.
We may not be
able to insure certain risks which could negatively impact our operating
results. In the course of exploration, development and
production of mineral properties, certain risks, and in particular, unexpected
or unusual geological and operating conditions including rock bursts, unusual or
unexpected formations, formation pressures, cave-ins, land-slides, fires,
explosions, flooding and earthquakes, power outages, labour disruptions, and the
inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment or labour may
occur. It is not always possible to fully insure against such risks
and the Company may decide not to take out insurance against such risks as a
result of high premiums or other reasons. Should such liabilities
arise, they could reduce or eliminate any future profitability and result in
increasing costs and a decline in the value of the securities of the
Company.
U.S. investors
may not be able to enforce their civil liabilities against the Company or its
directors, controlling persons and officers. It may be
difficult to bring and enforce suits against the Company. The Company
is a corporation incorporated in British Columbia under the Business Corporations Act (British
Columbia) and, consequently, there is a risk that Canadian courts may not
enforce judgements of U.S. courts or enforce, in an original action, liabilities
predicated directly upon U.S. federal securities laws. A majority of
the Company’s directors and officers are residents of Canada and a substantial
portion of the Company’s assets are located outside of the United
States. Consequently, it may be difficult for United States investors
to effect service of process upon those directors or officers who are not
residents of the United States, or to realize in the United States upon
judgements of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities under
United States securities laws. It is unlikely that an original action
could be brought successfully in Canada against any of such persons or the
Company predicated solely upon such civil liabilities under the U.S. Securities
Act.
Emgold’s
directors and officers serve as directors and officers of other publicly traded
junior resource companies. Some of the directors and officers
of Emgold serve as officers and/or directors of other resource exploration
companies and are engaged and will continue to be engaged in the search for
additional resource opportunities on their own behalf and on behalf of other
companies, and situations may arise where these directors and officers will be
in direct competition with Emgold. Such potential conflicts, if any,
will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant provisions of British
Columbia corporate and common law. In order to avoid the possible
conflict of interest which may arise between the directors’ duties to Emgold and
their duties to the other companies on whose boards they serve, the directors
and officers of Emgold expect that participation in exploration prospects
offered to the directors will be allocated among or between the various
companies that they serve on the basis of prudent business judgement and the
relative financial abilities and needs of such companies.
Emgold is
dependent on its ability to recruit and retain key
personnel. Emgold has relied on and may continue to rely upon
consultants and others for exploration, development and technical
expertise. The Company strongly depends on the business and technical
expertise of its management and key personnel. As the Company’s
operations expand additional general management and human resources will be
required. It may be difficult for Emgold to continue to find and
retain the services of qualified personnel.
Risks associated
with the commercialization of the stone and ceramics products. Emgold’s
management and consultants have identified possible areas of risk concerning the
commercialization of the recycled stone and ceramic building materials to be
produced from mine development rock and tailings from the I-M Project or other
similar operations. It will be necessary to address the remediation
of these risks during the marketing and feasibility phases of the process and
product development. Risks that may apply to the commercialization of
the recycled stone and ceramics products include developing distribution
networks, defining markets, and sales prices for the products. The
capital and operating costs for a production plant will need to be determined as
part of the feasibility process.
Risks Relating to an
Investment in the Securities of the Company
The Company could
be deemed a Passive Foreign Investment Company which could have negative
consequences for U.S. investors. Potential investors who are
U.S. taxpayers should be aware that Emgold expects to be a passive foreign
investment company (“PFIC”) for the current fiscal year, appears to have been a
PFIC in prior years and may also be a PFIC in subsequent years. If
Emgold is a PFIC for any year during a U.S. taxpayer’s at least certain holding
period, then such U.S. taxpayer generally will be required to treat any
so-called “excess distribution” received on its common shares, or any gain
realized upon a disposition of common shares, as ordinary income and to pay an
interest charge on a portion of such distribution or gain, unless the taxpayer
makes a qualified electing fund (“QEF”) election or a mark-to-market election
with respect to the shares of Emgold. In certain circumstances, the
sum of the tax and the interest charge may exceed the amount of the excess
distribution received, or the amount of proceeds of disposition realized, by the
taxpayer. A U.S. taxpayer who makes a QEF election generally must
report on a current basis its share of Emgold’s net capital gain and ordinary
earnings for any year in which Emgold is a PFIC, whether or not Emgold
distributes any amounts to its shareholders. A U.S. taxpayer who
makes the mark-to-market election generally must include as ordinary income each
year the excess of the fair market value of the common shares over the
taxpayer’s tax basis therein. U.S. taxpayers are advised to seek the
counsel of their professional tax advisors.
The liquidity of
our shares in the United States markets may be limited or more difficult to
effectuate because we are a “Penny Stock” issuer. Emgold’s
stock may be subject to U.S. “Penny Stock” rules which may make the stock more
difficult for U.S. shareholders to trade on the open market. The SEC has adopted
rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in
“penny” stocks. Penny stocks are equity securities with a price of
less than $5.00 per share (other than securities registered on certain national
securities exchanges provided that current prices 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, prior to effecting a transaction in a penny
stock not otherwise exempt from such rules, to deliver a standardized risk
disclosure document prepared by the SEC that provides information about penny
stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market.
In
addition, the Penny Stock Rules require that prior to a transaction in a penny
stock not otherwise exempt from such rules the broker-dealer must make a special
written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the
purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written acknowledgment of the receipt of a
risk disclosure statement, a written agreement to transactions involving penny
stocks, and a signed and dated copy of a written suitability
statement. At the present market prices, Emgold’s common shares will
(and in the foreseeable future are expected to continue to) fall within the
definition of a penny stock. Accordingly, United States
broker-dealers trading in Emgold’s shares will be subject to the Penny Stock
Rules. Rather than complying with those rules, some broker-dealers
may refuse to attempt to sell penny stock. As a result, shareholders
and their broker-dealers in the United States may find it more difficult to sell
their shares of Emgold, if a market for the shares should develop in the United
States.
Emgold’s stock
price may limit its ability to raise additional capital by issuing common
shares. The low price of Emgold’s common stock also limits
Emgold’s ability to raise additional capital by issuing additional
shares. There are several reasons for these
effects. First, the internal policies of certain institutional
investors prohibit the purchase of low-priced stocks. Second, many
brokerage houses do not permit low-priced stocks to be used as collateral for
margin accounts or to be purchased on margin. Third, some brokerage
house policies and practices tend to discourage individual brokers from dealing
in low-priced stocks. Finally, broker’s commissions on low-priced
stocks usually represent a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions
on higher priced stocks. As a result, Emgold’s shareholders pay
transaction costs that are a higher percentage of their total share value than
if Emgold’s share price were substantially higher.
The market for
the Company’s stock has been subject to volume and price volatility which could
negatively affect a shareholder’s ability to buy or sell the Company’s
shares. The market for the common shares of the Company may be
highly volatile for reasons both related to the performance of the Company or
events pertaining to the industry as well as factors unrelated to the Company or
its industry.
In 2007
and continuing, the U.S. credit markets began to experience serious disruption
due to a deterioration in residential property values, defaults and
delinquencies in the residential mortgage market (particularly, sub-prime and
non-prime mortgages) and a decline in the credit quality of mortgage backed
securities. These problems led to a slow-down in residential housing market
transactions, declining housing prices, delinquencies in non-mortgage consumer
credit and a general decline in consumer confidence. These conditions have
continued, causing a loss of confidence in the broader U.S. and global credit
and financial markets and resulting in the collapse of, and government
intervention in, major banks, financial institutions and insurers and creating a
climate of greater volatility, less liquidity, widening of credit spreads, a
lack of price transparency, increased credit losses and tighter credit
conditions. Notwithstanding various actions by the U.S. and foreign
governments, concerns about the general condition of the capital markets,
financial instruments, banks, investment banks, insurers and other financial
institutions caused the broader credit markets to further deteriorate and
venture stock markets to decline substantially. In addition, general economic
indicators have deteriorated, including declining consumer sentiment, increased
unemployment and declining economic growth and uncertainty about corporate
earnings. There has been some improvement to date, but economic
factors in Europe may cause further deterioration in economic
indicators. Potential exists for interest rate increases as the U.S.
deficit grows, which may further slow economic recovery.
These
unprecedented disruptions in the current credit and financial markets have had a
significant material adverse impact on a number of financial institutions and
have limited access to capital and credit for many companies. These
disruptions could, among other things, make it more difficult for us to obtain,
or increase our cost of obtaining, capital and financing for our
operations. The Company’s access to additional capital may not be
available on terms acceptable to it or at all.
Significant
potential equity dilution and end of lock-ups. A summary of
Emgold’s diluted share capital is as follows: Emgold has 2,872,665
stock options outstanding (at December 31, 2011), which are exercisable at
prices ranging from Cdn$0.175 to Cdn$0.25 per share which is above the current
market price for the Company’s shares and are not likely to be exercised before
expiry but will likely act as an upside damper on the trading range of Emgold’s
shares. As a consequence of the passage of time since the date of
their original sale and issuance, there are no shares of Emgold remaining
subject to hold period restrictions in Canada or the United States as of
December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011, there were
38,508,401 warrants exercisable at a weighted average exercise price
of $0.27. The resale of outstanding shares from the exercise of
dilutive securities would have a depressing effect on the market for Emgold’s
shares if there is a significant increase in the Company’s share
price. Dilutive securities based on the trading range of Emgold’s
common shares at December 31, 2011, including the 38,508,401 warrants
and underlying warrants, and the 2,872,665 stock options above, collectively
represent approximately 70% of Emgold’s issued shares as at December 31,
2011.
ITEM
4. INFORMATION ON THE
COMPANY
A.
|
History
and Development of the Company
|
The legal
and commercial name of the Company, which is the subject of this Form 20-F, is
“Emgold Mining Corporation”.
The
Company’s executive office is located at:
Suite
1400 – 570 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1
Telephone: (604)
687-4622
Facsimile: (604)
687-4212
E-Mail: info@emgold.com
Website: www.emgold.com
The
contact person in Vancouver is Sargent H. Berner, Non-Executive
Chairman.
The
Company does not have an agent in the United States, and accordingly, the
mailing address of the Company is the Company’s executive office at the address
noted above.
The
Company’s fiscal year end is December 31.
The
Company’s common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol
“EMR”. They also trade on the OTCQB under the symbol “EGMCF” in the
United States, and since January 2006 have traded on the Frankfurt market under
the symbol “EML”.
Emgold
Mining Corporation (“Emgold” or the “Company”) was originally incorporated under
the Company Act (British Columbia) as 361869 BC Ltd. on March 17,
1989. The Company’s name was changed to HLX Resources Ltd. (“HLX”) on
July 19, 1989. On August 31, 1989, HLX was amalgamated with four
mineral exploration companies - Eastern Mines Ltd. (incorporated March 10,
1980), Gallant Gold Mines Ltd. (incorporated January 18, 1979), Silver Sceptre
Mines Ltd. (incorporated March 10, 1980) and Standard Gold Mines Ltd.
(incorporated February 6, 1980). Eastern Mines Ltd., Silver Sceptre
Mines Ltd. and Standard Gold Mines Ltd. originally had exploration properties in
the Terrace Bay area of Ontario. Gallant Gold Mines Ltd. originally
had exploration properties in the Rossland-Trail area of British
Columbia. After the amalgamation, the resulting company continued to
be named HLX Resources Ltd.
On March
30, 1992, HLX changed its name to Emperor Gold Corporation at which time a
special resolution of the shareholders was passed to consolidate the common
shares on a five old for one new common share basis and to increase the
authorized share capital from 10,000,000 common shares without par value and
50,000,000 first preference shares without par value, to 50,000,000 common
shares without par value and 50,000,000 first preference shares without par
value. The Company’s memorandum and articles were amended to reflect
this change. On August 12, 1997, the Company’s memorandum and
articles were again amended as the Company changed its name to Emgold Mining
Corporation. The name was changed due to the fact that there was an
unrelated mining company with a very similar name to the Company, with offices
in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In fiscal
2002, the Company’s share capital was increased from 100,000,000 to 550,000,000
shares without par value, divided into 500,000,000 Common Shares without par
value and 50,000,000 First Preference Shares without par value, each share
having attached thereto the special rights and restrictions set out in the
Articles of the Company. The Company was continued under the Business
Corporations Act in British Columbia in June 2005, and the authorized share
capital of the Company was changed to an unlimited number of common shares
without par value and an unlimited number of first preference
shares.
At the
Annual and Special General Meeting of its shareholders held on September 18,
2009, the shareholders approved a special resolution to alter the Company’s
authorized share structure by consolidating all of the issued and outstanding
common shares without par value, of which 168,972,873 pre-consolidation common
shares were issued, on the basis of ten (10) pre-consolidation common shares to
one (1) post-consolidation common share. After adjusting for
rounding, 16,894,310 common shares, post-consolidation, remained issued and
outstanding. The issued and outstanding Class A preference shares
were consolidated on the same basis, resulting in 398,483 Class A preference
shares, after consolidation. The share consolidation of the common
shares without par value and the Class A preference shares was effective
December 21, 2009. All periods presented have been retroactively
adjusted to reflect this reverse split.
On
September 10, 2010, Emgold converted the 398,483 Class A preference shares to
common shares. No Series A preference shares remain issued
outstanding. In addition, the Company issued 2,813,575 Units of the
company in satisfaction of accrued and unpaid dividends associated with the
Series A preference shares, totalling approximately CAD$517,151. Each
Unit consisted of one common share and one non-transferable common share
purchase warrant. The warrant exercise price is US $0.35 per warrant
share, up to September 9, 2015.
The
Company is in the business of acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral
properties. For the past three completed financial years, and since
1993, the Company has been principally engaged in permitting and developing the
I-M Project located near the City of Grass Valley (the “City”) in Nevada County,
California, U.S.A. The Company originally acquired the rights to the
I-M Project in August 1993. Over the next five years, significant
expenditures were made on the I-M Project. An Environmental Impact
Report was successfully completed to dewater and explore the Idaho-Maryland Mine
and a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit
obtained. However, in the late 1990’s, with a decreasing gold price,
it became impossible to raise capital to continue with the exploration the I-M
Project. Gold prices continued to drop and the Company wrote-down the
property for a nominal carrying value of $1 in 1999. The lease option
to purchase agreement on the I-M property and mineral rights was eventually
dropped. Permits to dewater the mine were cancelled or
expired.
Emgold
remained interested in the I-M Project and continued to pursue various financing
alternatives. In fiscal 2002, the Company renegotiated the terms and
conditions of a lease option to purchase agreement with the owners of the
Idaho-Maryland property and mineral rights. Details of expenditures
relating to the Idaho-Maryland property and mineral rights are included in Item
4 under “Property, Plant and Equipment” and “Idaho-Maryland Project – History of
the Property”. Emgold incorporated a 100 percent owned Nevada
Corporation subsidiary company, the Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation (the
“IMMC”), to hold and develop the I-M Project. Activities and
expenditures related to the I-M Project are completed through this
subsidiary.
In 2003,
Emgold acquired the licensing rights to a ceramics technology and changed the
name of its second 100 percent owned Nevada Corporation subsidiary company, then
called Holly Corporation, to Golden Bear Ceramics Company
(“GBC”). Emgold recognized the potential application of the hot
vacuum extrusion technology for the I-M Project (to eliminate the requirement
for surface tailings and waste rock disposal) and as a business opportunity for
processing a wide range of mineral waste materials to produce high quality
recycled stone and ceramic building materials on a global
basis. Emgold initiated work to commercialize the technology and to
set up a research and development facility in Grass Valley, CA. GBC
has since determined that it will be able to produce high quality stone and
ceramic building materials from mine development rock and tailings from the I-M
Project or other similar operations by using equipment and technology available
in the commercial market place. GBC will need to find markets for its
stone and ceramics products and construct a facility to produce such products
from a wide variety of siliceous waste materials and raw materials, including
mine tailings, fly ash and other waste materials, that would otherwise be
disposed of in landfills, into high-strength, low-porosity, industrial stone and
ceramic building products such as, floor tile, roof tile, brick, construction
materials and other industrial and commercial products. Emgold is now
planning to use commercially available technology not proprietary to Ceramext,
LLC in connection with the operation of the I-M Project, and the licensing
agreement with Ceramext, LLC has been terminated.
In 2005,
Emgold commenced permitting of the I-M Project with acceptance of its Permit
Applications by the City of Grass Valley, Nevada County, California (the
“City”). The I-M Project is being permitted according to the
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), the California Surface Mining and
Reclamation Act (“SMARA”), and other applicable federal, state, and local
legislation. The City has been designated to be the Lead Agency
in the permitting process. The City commenced work to complete the
permitting process for the Project, which was divided into three
phases: Phase 1 is the Master Environmental Assessment, Phase 2 is
the Initial Study and Phase 3 is the Environmental Impact Report. The
City will then need to approve a Conditional Use Permit for the I-M
Project. Currently, permitting is in Phase 3 and it is expected that
the Environmental Impact Report will be certified and the CUP and other
entitlements granted by mid-2013, subject to financing.
Emgold
also has additional mineral properties: the Rozan (fully vested), optioned to
Valterra Gold Corporation in January 2010, the Stewart property (fully vested),
and the Buckskin-Rawhide property in Nevada (under option). All the
Canadian properties are located in the Nelson mining district north of Ymir in
south-eastern British Columbia, Canada. Details of
property payments and expenditures with respect to these properties are outlined
in Part 4 of this report under “Exploration Projects, British Columbia
Properties”. Exploration expenditures on the Rozan, Stewart and Jazz
properties resulted in a net recovery of $5,351 in fiscal 2010. The
Company is currently considering its options with respect to its properties and
exploration activity is planned on the Stewart and Buckskin Rawhide Properties
in 2012.
General
(i)
|
Nature of Company:
Emgold has historically been a mineral exploration company. The Company is
focussed on the permitting and development of the historic Idaho-Maryland
Mine, located in Grass Valley, CA. The Idaho-Maryland Mine was
the second largest underground gold mine in California, producing 2.4
million ounces of gold between 1862 and 1956. The I-M Project
is adjacent to the historic Empire Mine, which was the first mine operated
by Newmont Mining Corporation. The Empire Mine produced 5.8
million ounces of gold from 1850 to 1956, and was the largest gold mine in
California. The Grass Valley District produced over 17 million
ounces of gold. Emgold believes the I-M Project to be one of
the largest underground gold exploration targets in North America with
potential to become a significant high grade producing
mine. Plans are to construct a 2,400 ton per day underground
gold mine and gold processing facility, and establish Emgold as a mid-tier
producing company.
|
Emgold
also has a portfolio of early-stage mineral exploration projects in British
Columbia that contain tungsten, molybdenum, silver, gold, and other
mineralization. These properties have been drilled by a number of
companies over the years, with further work being completed by Emgold since
their acquisition. The Company has optioned the Rozan property to
Valterra Gold Corporation. The company has an early stage gold and
silver exploration project called the Buckskin-Rawhide Property in Nevada, under
a lease and option to purchase agreement with Nevada Sunrise LLC.
For
several years, Emgold, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, GBC, has been
developing a process to convert mineral wastes and other siliceous materials to
stone and ceramic building products. Emgold originally intended to
apply this process as a method to deal with development rock and mine tailings
from the I-M Project and to eliminate the need for surface tailings impoundments
and waste dumps associated with a traditional gold mine. Emgold
successfully developed the process to a pilot plant stage using commercially
available equipment. Since that time, the Company has determined that
the use of commercially available equipment will enable GBC to readily
manufacture 100 percent recycled “green” stone and ceramic building products
from mineral wastes. Emgold is currently seeking funding to finance
GBC, to allow it to expand independently of the I-M Project.
(ii)
|
Principal
Markets: Not
Applicable.
|
(iii)
|
Seasonality: Not
Applicable.
|
(iv)
|
Raw
Materials: Not
Applicable.
|
(v)
|
Marketing
Channels: Not
Applicable.
|
(vi)
|
Dependence: Not
Applicable.
|
(vii)
|
Competitive Position:
Not Applicable.
|
(viii)
|
Material Effect of Government
Regulation: The Company’s exploration activities and its
potential mining and processing operations are subject to various laws
governing land use, the protection of the environment, prospecting,
development, production, contractor availability, commodity prices,
exports, taxes, labour standards, occupational safety and health, waste
disposal, toxic substances, mine safety and other matters. The
Company believes it is in substantial compliance with all material laws
and regulations which currently apply to its activities. There
is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain all permits
required for exploration, any future development and construction of
mining facilities and conduct of mining operations on reasonable terms or
that new legislation or modifications to existing legislation, would not
have an adverse effect on any exploration or mining project which the
Company might undertake.
|
Idaho-Maryland Mining
Corporation
The
Company is seeking to reopen the historical Idaho-Maryland Mine (also referred
to as “I-M Project”, or the “Idaho-Maryland”, in this Annual Report), in
accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and
regulations. Readers are cautioned that a Conditional Mine Use Permit
(“CMUP”) is required in order to remove water from the existing mine workings at
the I-M Project and to conduct underground exploration and complete a
feasibility study.
The
Company formally applied to the City of Grass Valley (“City”) for the CMUP on
February 9, 2005, and theProject Applications were received as substantially
complete on May 24, 2005. Following this, the City completed the
Master Environmental Assessment (“MEA”) in June 2006. The next phase
was the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study (“NOP” and “IS”) which was
completed on January 8, 2008. The Company then made modifications and
clarifications and completed a 2007 Revised Project Applications, which was
accepted by the City in May 2007.
The
preparation of the EIR was commenced by the City in June 2008. The Draft EIR was
completed in October, 2008. The public hearings related to the Draft
EIR were completed in January 2009. . The Draft EIR was positive,
with air quality identified as the only concern that could not be successfully
mitigated due to the fact that Nevada County is a non-attainment area for ozone
related gases due to ozone blowing into the Sierra Foothills from the Bay and
Sacramento area several days during the year. After meeting with
various public agencies in the first half of 2009, the Company elected to make
several improvements to the I-M Project based on its internal review and
analysis of public comment. The primary reasons for the revisions were to ensure
the clean up of historic tailing on the Idaho-Maryland site will be included and
adequately analyzed in the EIR and to reduce potential air quality impacts
identified in the 2008 Draft EIR.
The
Company’s 2011 Revised Project Application was accepted by the City in May,
2011. Subsequently, the City completed a competiive bid process and elected to
retain a new consultant to complete the EIR process. A Revised Draft EIR will
now be completed, with public comment, followed by completion of the Final EIR.
The Final EIR is expected to take approximately 12 months from commencement of
the work. Emgold is currently raising funds to allow the permitting process to
move forward. The Company estimates the budget to be $2.5 million to complete
the CMUP process, excluding corporate overhead costs.
The
Company has a mining lease and option to purchase agreement (the “BET
Agreement”) for the I-M Project. The BET Agreement covers the lease and purchase
of approximately 2,750 acres of mineral rights and 93 acres of surface rights
associated with the Idaho-Maryland Project. Emgold owns certain other mineral
and surface rights associated with the Project. The BET Agreement has
been extended from February 1, 2011, for an additional two years to February 1,
2013. Lease payments during the extension period will be $30,000 per quarter.
The Company has the ability to exercise the purchase option of the BET Agreement
at any time while the option agreement remains in good standing. At
December 31, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all the terms of the BET
Agreement.
Under the
previous lease agreement, Emgold was to make quarterly option payments of
$30,000 beginning on February 1, 2009, until January 31, 2010. For the period
from February 1, 2010, to January 31, 2011, the quarterly option payments were
to increase to $60,000 per quarter. The BET Group has agreed to defer 50 percent
of the quarterly lease payment for 2010, amounting to $30,000 per quarter. The
amount of the deferral, totaling $120,000, will be added to the purchase price
of the Property, the first installment of which becomes due on February 1, 2013
in the event that the Company exercises its option to purchase the I-M property.
The deferral of $120,000 will be subject to interest calculated at 5.25%
compounded annually
During
the year the Company extended its lease and option to purchase agreement on the
Idaho-Maryland Project property with the BET Group for an additional two years
to February 1, 2013. All lease payments related to the agreement are current as
at December 31, 2011. Payments for the extension period will be $30,000 per
quarter. Fifty per cent of the quarterly payments for 2010 were deferred,
lowering the quarterly payments from $60,000 to $30,000 per
quarter. The deferred balance of $120,000, subject to an interest
rate of 5.25%, will be added to the purchase price of the property and mineral
rights, the first purchase payment being due February 1, 2013.
The Final
EIR is anticipated by the Company during 2013 and it is expected that the CMUP
may be issued by the City within 120 days of the EIR being
completed. There are a variety of operating permits and agreements
that will also be required with various regulatory agencies to operate the
mine.
There is
no guarantee that the City of Grass Valley will approve the project or that
other agencies will approve the permits necessary to operate. However, two
gold mines (the Mesquite Mine operated by New Gold Inc. and the Briggs Mine
operated by ATNA Resources Ltd.) have recently returned to operation in
California. Sutter Gold Mining Inc. is currently obtaining permits to
operate the Sutter Gold Mine and Golden Queen Mining Company Ltd is in the
process of obtaining permits to open the Soledad Mountain Project in
California.
An EIR
for the Idaho-Maryland Project was previously completed in 1995 to dewater and
explore the mine with Nevada County as the Lead Agency. Emgold believes
there is no technical reason to prevent the mine from being permitted and the
risk is the political uncertainty of permitting in the United States and the
State of California with constantly evolving regulations at all levels of
government that may impact the permitting requirements at some future
date. In particular, potential legislation from the California Air
Resources Board and the Federal EPA related to carbon emissions and potential
cap and trade rules may have an effect on mining operations in the
U.S.
Information
about the I-M Project is distributed at community events. Issues of
concern to the community are addressed and communicated to all interested
parties at public workshops and meetings and community events as well as through
local news media, direct mail-outs, circulars and brochures. A
website devoted to the I-M Project, www.idaho-maryland.com,
provides general I-M Project information and permitting documentation and
addresses community concerns regarding the expected impact of dewatering
existing mine workings, underground development, exploration and the possible
operation of a mine on the community and the environment. The Company
has participated in public workshops held during the preparation of the draft
EIR.
In
addition to its interest under the BET Agreement, IMMC owns 45 acres of the
former sawmill site adjacent to the Idaho-Maryland property above, and the two
properties encompass the 102 acres known as the Idaho-Maryland
site. The company also owned 7 acres known as the Round Hole
site. IMMC also owns the subsurface mineral rights of 70% of the
Dana-Christopher Columbus patented mining claims and 100% of the Golden Gate
West and Golden Gate East subsurface patented mining claims, totalling about 30
acres. These properties are contiguous and are part of the current
I-M Project and consist of only subsurface mineral rights.
The
Idaho-Maryland site has sufficient surface rights to construct a portal and
shaft for underground access, gold milling and recycled stone and ceramic
manufacturing facilities, aggregate crushing and screening plant, maintenance
facilities, tile storage areas, a Mining Education Center and an administrative
site. The New Brunswick site will be primarily used for dewatering
the mine. The Company’s plan is to use the Round Hole Shaft as a ventilation
shaft and emergency access way for the I-M Project during
operations.
The
existing mine workings are currently flooded with approximately 2,500 acre-feet
of ground water, or approximately 500 million gallons of water. In
order to conduct underground exploration, the mine workings must be pumped out
or “dewatered”. The Company anticipates pumping water to surface up
to a maximum rate of 12 acre-feet per day for approximately 9 to 12 months to
complete the dewatering, if the pumping is conducted 24 hours a day and
depending on the local precipitation and the water flow in the receiving
waterway. The water will be transferred via pipeline to the
Idaho-Maryland site, treated, and pumped into the adjoining Wolf
Creek. The timeframe will lengthen accordingly if pumping is not
constant over the 24-hour period.
The
Company may consider mining and toll milling of gold ore should sufficient gold
bearing ore be mined during the initial stages of underground exploration and
development. A positive feasibility study may need to be completed
and a production decision must be made before the mine can go into
production. The outcome of this feasibility work and receipt of the
CMUP will have a direct impact on the ability of the Company to put the I-M
Project into production.
The
long-term development plan for the I-M Project includes underground exploration
to define further resources possibly leading to staged construction and
operation of up to a 2,400 Short Tons Per Day (“STPD”) underground gold mine and
mill, a 1,200 STPD manufacturing plant for recycled stone and ceramic building
materials, as well as a 365 STPH aggregate crushing and screening
plant. The recycled stone and ceramics plant would be designed to
process development rock and gold mine tailings as feedstock to produce
high-quality recycled stone and ceramic building materials, to reduce the
effective cost of gold production and to mitigate the environmental impact of
the proposed mining operations. The aggregate crushing and screening
plant would be used to process development rock to make a series of aggregate
products for sale into the local and regional market.
Golden Bear Ceramics
Company
Emgold,
through GBC, has developed a recycling technology because of its potential to
provide a tailings management strategy for the I-M Project while contributing a
significant revenue stream to the mine. The Company believes there is
also a global business opportunity to process a wide range of siliceous waste
and naturally occurring materials and to produce high quality stone and ceramic
building materials. The recycled stone and ceramics technology has
been demonstrated on a laboratory and pilot plant basis. It has been
possible to perform forming operations on a wide variety of silicate materials
at elevated temperatures. Stone and ceramic materials of high
quality, strength, and very low porosity have been produced. The
process production volume has not yet been scaled up and therefore, cannot be
considered commercialized. The Company has determined that the use of
commercially available equipment should enable GBC to readily manufacture 100
percent recycled “green” stone and ceramic building products from mineral
wastes. These materials will qualify for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (“LEED”) credits..
The
Company is continuing to seek capital investment to commercialize its
products. If the Company were able to obtain investment to develop
GGC, additional marketing studies, a feasibility study, and basic engineering
would need to be completed independently of the mining operations. It
is anticipated that these studies could be completed within 12 to 14 months from
financing.
C.
|
Organizational
Structure
|
The
Company has three direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, Idaho-Maryland
Mining Corporation (formerly Emperor Gold (U.S.) Corp.), Golden Bear Ceramics
Company (formerly Holly Corporation (U.S.)) and Emgold (U.S.) Corporation
(“Emgold US”), all incorporated in the State of Nevada. Unless the
context otherwise requires, references herein to the “Company” or “Emgold”
include the subsidiaries of the Company. Emgold U.S.
holds the Golden Bear subsidiary.
D.
|
Property,
Plant and Equipment
|
The
Company has mineral exploration interests in four properties: the I-M Project
(California), the Stewart (British Columbia), the Rozan (British Columbia)
property and the Buckskin-Rawhide (Nevada). The Company’s principal property is
the I-M Project, which is comprised of three separate areas: the Idaho-Maryland,
New Brunswick and Round Hole sites.
In 2004,
the Company entered into a joint venture with a private, non-related company to
acquire approximately 45 acres adjacent to other properties under option by the
Company in Grass Valley, California. The Company’s share of the
purchase price was $542,500 plus legal costs. The property was
initially acquired to complement the I-M Project, as the combined 102 acre site
would be suitable for mining, milling and ceramic manufacturing
facilities. The Company and its arm’s-length partner have since
terminated the joint venture, and the Company’s portion of the title has been
transferred to the Company’s name. The land is expected to be used
for buildings that may be needed for construction of mining operations including
storage areas, access for vehicular traffic and to provide buffer zones to
isolate the mine from adjacent properties. Development of the site is
subject to review and approval of the City.
In 2004,
the Company entered into a three-year lease and option to purchase agreement for
approximately 2.75 acres of land and a 44,750 square foot building located in
Grass Valley, California. Effective April 1, 2007, the lease and
option to purchase agreement was renewed until December 2010. The
lease was terminated in February 2010 and the Company has moved to new office
space in Grass Valley, California and the equipment used for Golden Bear has
been placed into storage. Subsidiary company administration and
geological personnel are all housed in the same office premises.
None of
the Company’s projects has known reserves, and all proposed programs are
exploratory in nature. The I-M Project has National Instrument 43-101
compliant mineral resources in Measured, Indicated, and Inferred
categories.
Idaho-Maryland
Project
Surface and Mineral
Rights
The I-M
Project is located 1.5 miles east of downtown Grass Valley, Nevada County,
within the State of California. The property comprises approximately
2,800 acres of subsurface mineral rights and 146 acres of surface
rights. The surface rights are centered around three of the historic
mine shafts at the properties. The properties comprise the 102 acre
Idaho-Maryland site, the 37 acre New Brunswick site, and the 7 acre Round Hole
site. The mineral rights are severed from the surface rights at
variable depths from surface, with all mineral rights being contiguous below 200
ft from surface. Most of the property is located in the City of Grass
Valley, but the New Brunswick property is located in Nevada County adjacent to
the City.
History of the
Property
The Grass
Valley mining district is one of the most productive and famous mining districts
in the State of California. The mines in the district were known as
the “Northern Mines” and were not part of the Mother Lode gold
belt. The first and second largest underground gold producing mines
in the state, the Empire and Idaho-Maryland, are located adjacent to one another
within the district. Placer gold was first found in Wolf Creek,
adjacent to the Idaho-Maryland mine, in 1848. Gold-bearing quartz was
discovered at Gold Hill in 1850. The original claim on the
Idaho-Maryland mine was staked in 1851 and high-grade gold mineralization was
discovered in 1861, with the commencement of mining in 1863. It has
been estimated that over the approximately 106 years of gold mining activity in
the Grass Valley district from 1850 to 1956, a total of 17 million ounces of
gold were produced. The district is still considered the fifth
largest gold-producing area in the United States, although most of the mines
have not been in production since 1956. The Idaho-Maryland mine
yielded an estimated 2,383,000 ounces of gold from 5,546,000 short tons for a
recovered grade of 0.43 ounces of gold per short ton. The
Idaho-Maryland area was mined only to the 3,280-foot level while its neighbour,
the Empire Mine, was systematically mined to the 5,000-foot level.
The
claims around the deposit were consolidated in 1915 to form the Idaho-Maryland
mine. Metals Exploration Company of New York acquired control of the
property, dewatered the mine, deepened the Idaho shaft to 2,000 ft and moved the
Union Hill stamp mill to the Idaho shaft area. Full production,
however, was never achieved in the 1920’s. Control over the property
changed in 1926 when Errol MacBoyle and Edwin Oliver created holdings that
included the Idaho-Maryland, Brunswick, and Morehouse
mines. Production commenced the same year. From 1926 to
1942 the Idaho Mine produced 650,000 ounces of gold from 1.1 million tons of
ore. The Brunswick Mine restarted production in 1934 after deepening
its shaft to 3,460 ft and constructing a 750 STPD mill. The mines
were closed in 1942, due to the enactment of the Federal War Production Boards
Limitation Order L-208, and were reopened again in 1945. Production
was hampered by depleted operating funds, rising costs, skilled labour
shortages, and negligible exploration and underground development
work. Gold mining ceased at the Idaho-Maryland mine in 1954, being
briefly replaced by government-subsidized tungsten production until
1957. Mining activity stopped altogether in 1957. At the
time of closure, Idaho-Maryland Industries, Inc. owned the mine. In
1963 Idaho-Maryland Industries, Inc. executed a Quit Claim Deed to William and
Marian Ghidotti. Ownership of the mineral rights eventually passed to
Mary Bouma, Erica Erickson, and William Toms (referred to as the BET Group) in
1983.
In August
1993, Emgold originally leased, with an option to purchase, the initial four
land parcels in Grass Valley, California from the BET Group, the unrelated
owners of the properties. Until 1999, the Company held interests in
four land parcels in Grass Valley, California (collectively referred to herein
as the “I-M Project”) through its subsidiary, IMMC. The four parcels
were comprised of the subsurface (generally below 200 feet mineral rights to
2,745 acres of land and the surface rights to three parcels, one of 37 acres
surrounding the 3,281 foot deep New Brunswick shaft, one of 80 acres adjacent to
and south of the New Brunswick shaft (the “Brunswick Millsite”) and one of 13
acres surrounding the Round Hole Shaft.
The
Company held a 100% interest in the Round Hole Shaft until December
2000. It also held a lease and option to purchase a 100% interest in
the other three land parcels, which expired. These land parcels were
held as security for a convertible debenture held by Frank A. Lang and a
convertible debenture held by Lang Mining Corporation, a private company
controlled by Frank A. Lang. As the Company and the debenture holders
could not come to mutually acceptable terms for an extension to the convertible
debentures, which expired on June 8, 2000, the convertible debentures were
cancelled and the land held as security was transferred to a private company
controlled by Frank A. Lang. In June 2009, the Company announced it
had reached an agreement with Frank A. Lang to re-purchase approximately 7.13
acres of the original land parcels that were transferred to Mr. Lang’s private
company in 2000 and the land transfer was completed in 2010. The
subject acreage is located at the intersection of Idaho-Maryland and Brunswick
Roads in Grass Valley, CA, and overlies part of the mineral rights associated
with the I-M Project and is the location of the historic Round Hole
Shaft. The agreement to re-purchase was conducted by way of share
issuance.
Emgold
had incurred significant expenditures on the property prior to
1999. Under Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and the
policy of the Company, the status of the property was reviewed and the Company
recorded a write-down in its interest in the I-M Project of $6,982,016 to a
nominal carrying value of $1. Gold prices were low, and it was
difficult to raise capital for exploration of mineral properties. In
2002 Emgold changed its accounting policy with respect to exploration and
development expenditures, whereby such costs are expensed until a
pre-feasibility or feasibility study has been completed that indicates a
property is economically feasible. Acquisition costs relating to
option payments, land payments and share issuances are capitalized, until the
mineral property is determined to be uneconomic or is advanced by disposition,
or further development. During the year ended December 31, 2011,
$775,500 (2010 - $670,657) was expended by the Company on exploration and
permitting activities on the I-M Project.
In fiscal
2002, the Company renegotiated the 1993 lease and option to purchase agreement
with the owners of the Idaho-Maryland mineral rights and certain surface
properties in the Grass Valley Mining District, California. This is
called the BET Agreement. The initial term of the BET Agreement was
five years, commencing on June 1, 2002, and ending on May 31,
2007. The owners granted to the Company the exclusive right and
option to purchase all of the leased property. The property is
subject to a 3% Net Smelter Royalty (“NSR”) from production if the property is
still being leased. Any royalty payments made prior to exercising the
purchase option may be deducted from the purchase price. Lease
payments of $25,500 were payable quarterly commencing May 1, 2004, and
continuing until February 1, 2007.
In
February 2007, for a one-time payment of $75,000, the Company negotiated an
extension to the BET Agreement whereby the term of the exercise date was
extended from May 31, 2007, to December 31, 2008, with quarterly lease payments
of $75,000. In 2009, the BET Agreement was extended to run from
February 1, 2009 to February 1, 2011 with quarterly payments of $30,000 in year
one and quarterly payments of $60,000 in year two. In 2010, the BET
Agreement was extended to run an additional two years from February 1, 2011 to
February 1, 2013. Quarterly lease payments will be $30,000 per
quarter.
In 2010,
as part of negotiations for the extension of the BET Agreement, the BET Group
agreed to defer fifty percent of the quarterly leases payments for 2010,
amounting to $30,000 of the $60,000 per quarter outlined above. The amount of
the deferral, totaling $120,000, will be added to the purchase price of the
Property, of which the first installment comes due on February 1, 2013 in the
event that the Company exercises its option to purchase the I-M
property. The deferral of $120,000 will be subject to interest
calculated at 5.25% compounded annually, Should the company elect to
cancel the BET Agreement or not complete the purchase of the property, this
deferred amount will remain due to the BET Group.
All other
conditions of the original agreement, including the option purchase price and
NSR remain unchanged. The quarterly lease payments are being expensed
in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as holding costs.
Provided
that payments are kept current, the Company may purchase the property at any
time. The purchase price at January 31, 2012 would be $5,846,037, and
is increased by 3% each lease-year. The Company has capitalized a
total of $1,035,163 in Mineral Property Interests, of which $747,219 relate to
Idaho-Maryland acquisition costs. Additional properties have been
acquired for a total of $287,944.
Accessibility, Climate,
Local Resources, Infrastructure and Physiography
The I-M
Project is within the area of influence of the city of Grass Valley as defined
in their 2020 General Plan. Both Grass Valley and Nevada City are
Sierra Nevada foothill communities located approximately 20 miles north of
Auburn and approximately 55 miles northeast of Sacramento. Highway 49
and Highway 20 connect the Grass Valley/Nevada City area
regionally.
Geological
Setting
The I-M
Project and the Grass Valley Mining District are situated in the northern
portion of the Sierra Nevada Foothills Gold Belt, a geographic area containing
many historic gold mines. This belt averages 50 miles in width and
extends for 320 miles in a north-northwest orientation along the western slope
of the Sierra Nevada range. The location of the Sierra Nevada
Foothills Gold Belt coincides closely with a zone of metamorphic rocks and
regional faults known as the outcrop area of the Sierra Nevada Foothills
Metamorphic Belt.
Exploration
Historic
Drilling
Until the
mine closed in the 1950’s exploratory and delineation diamond drilling regularly
took place. Historically, eleven hundred holes totalling
230,000 ft were diamond drilled. Hole traces have been input
into the geological database, as have the historical assay, stope, and geology
various plans and drawings. No historical drill logs have been found
in the historical information.
Down hole
surveys were not conducted in early drilling, and deviation of the drill holes
was common. Recorded in the geology monthly reports were experiences
such as driving an underground heading on a drill hole only to find that the
hole soon curved significantly from the planned orientation. The
deviation was not consistent, and so could not be predicted. This
observation was one of the main reasons a technical report prepared for the
Company by AMEC Americas Limited (“AMEC”) recommended that mineral resources
defined by drilling alone should be classified as inferred mineral
resources. No core was preserved from past mining operations at the
Idaho-Maryland Mine.
Sampling
and Analysis
The I-M
Project contains a historic database with over 100,000 assays. The
historic assays, which are almost exclusively for gold, were done on samples
taken from underground workings (walls and backs from drifts and crosscuts,
walls from raises). Sample quality can be inferred by the
reconciliation of historic production records to underground sample
data. These studies, as well as a recent investigation on
mill-to-resource prediction, show that the resource or reserve estimates
consistently underestimated the amount of gold produced by milling, a
discrepancy most likely reflective of sample size influence rather than
laboratory technique. Gold deposits with coarse gold areas are best
sampled with large sample sizes, which was not common practice when the mine was
in production. Therefore, any estimates made using this historic data
should include comparisons with values unadjusted and adjusted for the regular
underreporting of grade (i.e., call factor). It is believed that the
comprehensive set of assay plans, supported by records of muck car stope samples
and mapped geology data, as well as the detailed historical production records,
all support the integrity of the assay data for the Idaho-Maryland
Mine. These data are deemed suitable for use in mineral resource
estimation, and have been utilized in the reports prepared for the Company by
AMEC.
Gold
Exploration
The gold
exploration program has consisted of an extensive geologic evaluation of the
historical mine records plus additional diamond drilling from
surface. This rather unique program was possible because of the
excellent and comprehensive preservation of the historical Idaho-Maryland mine
and mill records. This data is exhaustive and essentially complete,
although without any historical drill data, and has been used to generate a
consistent, property-wide structural geology model and vein set definition and
chronology. Un-mined mineralization was identified along underground
workings and in historical diamond drill holes. Interpretation of the
updated geologic model defined new vein sets and extensions of known vein
sets. This data has been entered into a three-dimensional computer
model using MineSight® software to help with interpretations.
Emgold
believes that there is significant potential to identify substantial additional
gold resources on the I-M Project, and intends to continue with an ongoing gold
exploration program. Once dewatering and access to the mine is
achieved it is planned to establish underground drilling stations for further
drill testing of key gold target areas, plus definition and expansion of known
gold resources.
Gold Mineral Resource and
Mineral Reserve Estimates
In 2002,
Emgold completed a NI 43-101 Technical Report (required by regulatory
authorities in Canada) on the Idaho-Maryland Mine. This report was
prepared by AMEC. The report summarized Measured, Indicated, and
Inferred Mineral Gold Resources for the I-M Project. The resources
for the I-M Project were estimated under the direction of Mark Payne (Registered
Geologist 7067, State of California) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of
NI 43-101, using traditional longitudinal sections, hand calculations and 3-D
geologic models by commercial mine planning software (Vulcan® and
MineSight®). AMEC's review concentrated on the geologic
interpretation of the mineralization controls, the most critical factor in the
resource estimate. Historic production information was also used in
establishing confidence in continuity of mineralization. The mineral
resource classification logic was also examined. A cut-off
grade of 0.1 oz/ton was used in this estimate.
In 2004,
as part of a NI-43-101 Preliminary Assessment of the industrial mineral resource
(see below), the gold resources for the I-M Project were
increased. This report was also prepared by
AMEC. The resources for the I-M Project were estimated under the
direction of Mark Payne (Registered Geologist 7067, State of California) and a
Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101, using traditional longitudinal
sections, hand calculations and 3-D geologic models by commercial mine planning
software (Vulcan® and MineSight®). The same methodology, cut-off
grade, and gold price were used as in the 2002 Technical Report.
In 2007,
a subsequent small increase in the resource numbers was estimated under the
direction of Robert Pease, Professional Geologist (California), Chief Geologist
for the I-M Project, and a Qualified Person in accordance with NI 43-101 in
Canada. This resource increase represented only an additional 50,000
inferred ounces over and above the 2002 NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared by
AMEC, or approximately 5%, and was announced by Emgold in a March 1, 2007, press
release. The same methodology, cut-off grade, and gold price were
used in the 2007 resource calculation as in the 2002 and 2004 Technical Reports
to keep the methodology consistent with past reports. The resource
cut off grade used in all reposts is calculated as follows:
Cut off
grade = mining cost/(mill recovery gold price) = $35/(0.93 x $375) = 0.1
opt.
The gold
price has risen significantly since the original 2002 report and it is
anticipated that further resource estimates will be updated with the current
gold price and lower cut off grade. The mineral resource
classification of the I-M Project deposits used methods consistent with the CIM
definitions referred to in NI 43-101. Measured mineral resources are
supported only in areas exposed by underground development and estimated from
detailed underground sampling. The gold resources for the I-M Project
are summarized in the following table:
Cautionary
Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured and Indicated
Resources
This
section uses the terms “measured” and “indicated resources.” We
advise U.S. investors that while those terms are recognized and required by
Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not
recognize them. U.S.
investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits
in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
Summary
Idaho-Maryland Gold Mineral Resource, March 1, 2007
Classification
|
True
Thickness
(ft)
|
Tonnage
(ton)
|
Gold
Grade
(oz/ton)
|
Gold
Grade
w/
MCF
(oz/ton)
|
Idaho-Maryland
Resources²
|
|
|
|
|
Measured
Mineral Resource ¹
|
13.3
|
271,000
|
0.22
|
0.31
|
Measured
Mineral Resource ²
|
70.7
|
831,000
|
0.15
|
0.15
|
Indicated
Mineral Resource
|
8.1
|
489,000
|
0.35
|
0.50
|
Measured
+ Indicated Mineral Resources
|
41.1
|
1,666,000
|
0.22
|
0.28
|
1. MCF =
Mine Call Factor (not applicable to Waterman Group resources).
2.
Idaho-Maryland measured resources are split into two categories: 1) the Eureka,
Idaho, Dorsey, and Brunswick Groups, and 2) the Waterman Group (stock work/slate
type ore).
Cautionary
Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Inferred Resources
This
section uses the term “inferred resources.” We advise U.S. investors
that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize
it. “Inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to
their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal
feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred
Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under
Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis
of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare
cases. U.S.
investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource
exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
Classification
|
True
Thickness
(ft)
|
Tonnage
(ton)
|
Gold
Grade
(oz/ton)
|
Gold
Grade
w/MCF
(oz/ton)
|
Idaho-Maryland
Resources²
|
|
|
|
|
Inferred
Mineral Resources
|
9.1
|
2,573,000
|
0.27
|
0.39
|
Mine
Call Factor
The mine
“call” factor was determined from the historical mining information and was used
while the mine was in operation to predict the head grade of ore fed to the
mill. Historically the planned mill feed tonnage and gold grade
rarely matched the actual results. This was a result of a variety of
factors that could be resolved by adjusting the planned production by a constant
number. This number or factor is called the multiplier factor or mine
call factor. Commonly, these deposit types typically under-predict
the gold produced. Causes include poor sampling of high-grade
material, inconsistent assaying procedures for the high-grade samples and, in
places, the use of too low a bulk density number for the ore. Prior
studies have included a detailed investigation into historic mine-mill
reconciliation at the Idaho-Maryland mine. Analysis of data from
later years (1950 to 1952), where the records of mine and mill production were
kept in some detail and were traceable to parts of the mine, were examined and
two factors were calculated: a "model" (underground sampling) to
"mine" (muck car sampling) factor, equal to 1.21, and a "mine" to
"mill" factor, calculated to be 1.19. The total Mine Call Factor is
equal to 1.44. AMEC reviewed the work done by previous studies and
has agreed with their results. The use of the Mine Call Factor can be
used to establish a relationship between the historic underground channel
samples and expected production. This factor should only be used on
the nugget vein system data.
Industrial Minerals Resource
and Mineral Reserve Estimates
When
Emgold acquired the rights to a potential ceramics technology in 2003, the
Company realized that the I-M Project may host mineral resources suitable as
feedstock for the process and potentially for aggregate
production. Initial investigations of the meta-volcanic rock
commenced in June 2004 with a geotechnical drilling program designed to obtain
data for the design of a mine access ramp. Geological information
from this program was also analyzed to determine if the rock excavated during
ramp construction would be suitable feedstock for the ceramics
technology. The analysis included surface geologic mapping, outcrop
sampling, sampling of the diamond drill core, and testing of samples to assess
their suitability for ceramics manufacture. The result of these
analyses was the definition of a large volume of igneous rocks of similar
composition that were considered satisfactory as an industrial mineral resource
suitable for ceramics manufacture. The industrial rocks are
adequately defined by core drilling, but further testing, marketing, and
production of ceramic products using the ceramics technology, and the beginning
of underground development will be necessary to upgrade this industrial rock
into reserves. Sales contracts or actual sales may be required in
order to prove the commerciality of the stone and ceramics products to bring the
resource into reserve status. No further core drilling of the
meta-volcanics is planned until access is developed underground.
The 2004
Preliminary Assessment presents industrial minerals (ceramics feedstock)
resources and gold resources for the I-M Project. The industrial
minerals resource was delineated by seven geotechnical core holes drilled at
inclinations of 40° and 45°, one exploration core hole, seven surface sample
sites, and certain geologic data from historical underground mine
drifts. The average top boundary of the resource is 200 ft below the
ground surface (due to depth of mineral rights). Drill hole spacing
ranged from 80 ft to 1,200 ft. The lower boundary of the resource is
based on the bottom of the drill holes. The west boundary is where the amount of
gabbro and ultramafic rocks begins to increase. The east boundary is
based on the limit of geotechnical drilling and surface sampling.
Since the
initial acquisition of the ceramics technology, the Company has determined that
production of recycled stone and ceramics products is possible using
commercially available equipment. Additionally, more advanced
equipment, which may be applied by the Company to produce high quality stone and
ceramics building products from mine wastes, has since been developed by
ceramics equipment producers and is readily available for sale.
Measurement
uncertainty and impairment assessments
Emgold is
currently in the exploration stage on its mineral property interests, and has
expensed its exploration costs. The mineral property costs that are
capitalized relate to mineral property acquisition costs. At December
31, 2011, the carrying value of mineral property interests was
$1,035,163. Of this, $747,219 was related to surface rights and two
minor mining claims related to the Idaho-Maryland Property. The
balance of the costs relate to the Rozan, Stewart and Bucksin
properties. To the extent that the cumulative exploration amounts
expensed to date were significantly in excess of the property carrying value and
in the absence of negative exploration results or a decision to abandon the
property management has concluded that the fair values of the properties is at
least equal to or greater than its book value. The Company also used
an overall global valuation test, and compared the market capitalization to its
net book value at December 31, 2011, as well as an assessment as to what
premium, if any, would be reasonable and concluded that no property impairment
charges were identified.
In
addition, the Company re-evaluates the carrying values of property, plant and
equipment when events or changes in circumstance indicate that carrying values
may not be recoverable. If it is determined that the estimated net
recoverable amount based on non-discounted cash flows is less than the carrying
value, a write-down to the estimated fair value is made by a charge to
earnings. Where estimates of future cash flows are not available and
where other conditions suggest impairment, management assesses whether the
carrying value can be recovered.
As at
December 31, 2011, the Company also determined that impairment indicators
existed based on the Company’s ability to raise financing and significant
changes in a property’s work program. The Company completed an
impairment assessment for each of its mineral property interests.
It is
management’s opinion that the carrying amount of the exploration properties is
supported by recent exploration expenditures in excess of the properties
carrying value and the Company’s near-term exploration plans. Although
management believes that estimates applied in these impairment assessment are
reasonable, such estimates are subject to significant uncertainties and
judgments.
Mine Planning and
Scheduling
The
Company is currently reviewing underground exploration opportunities and
developing several mining scenarios to optimize access to gold resources for
drilling and potential conversion to proven and probable mining
reserves.
Metallurgy
AMEC
reviewed the mill operating statistics for 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1941, and
1947. Results indicate stable overall gold recoveries and
metallurgical response to gravity, flotation, and cyanidation, with overall gold
recoveries ranging from 93.8% to 97.2%.
Tungsten
was processed using gravity and flotation methods in the 1950s.
Overall
gold recovery using modern technology should result in gold recoveries
consistent with those achieved in the early milling circuits at the
Idaho-Maryland mill. However, it can be expected that gold recovery from
the gravity separation portion of the recovery plant using modern gravity
technology may exceed the recoveries attained (i.e., average 65%) in the 1930s
and 1940s. Test work to determine the maximum total gold recovery
potential using gravity separation, flotation concentration and cyanidation has
been recommended. The gold recovery from gravity separation
using modern technology may be approximately 80% to 85%, with overall recovery
including flotation concentration and cyanide recovery consistent with
historical recoveries of 93.8% to 97.2%. This information is provided in
detail in the Company’s November 2002 NI 43-101 Technical Report and is
discussed again in the November 2004 NI 43-101 Preliminary Assessment Technical
Report.
Capital Cost
Estimation
Estimation
of capital costs for the I-M Project is ongoing and will be available upon
completion of initial underground exploration and the preparation of a
feasibility study.
Operating Cost
Estimation
Estimation
of operating cost for the I-M Project is ongoing and will be available upon
completion of initial underground exploration and the preparation of a
feasibility study.
Project
Schedule
The CMUP
is expected to be completed in mid-2013, subject to financing. It is
anticipated that construction of the I-M Project will be conducted in three
Phases as outlined in the Project Application with reclamation occurring in a
fourth phase. After completion of the CMUP, financing activities will
occur for Phase 1 of the project, consisting of dewatering, mine rehabilitation,
development, and exploration. By 2013-14, it is expected that final
operating permits for the mine will be obtained and engineering work for Phase 1
will commence, along with obtaining operating permits and conducting initial
site work.
Golden
Bear Ceramics Company
Technology
Development
Emgold
initially licensed the worldwide rights to the Ceramext® technology pursuant to
a World Wide License Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated September 17, 2003
between the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary GBC, and Ceramext,
LLC. The agreement was entered into because of the apparent potential
of the hot vacuum extrusion process to provide an effective tailings management
strategy for the I-M Project while potentially contributing a significant
revenue stream to the mine if utilized at the I-M Project. However,
GBC has since determined that it has access to commercially available technology
not proprietary to Ceramext, LLC that may be used for the further development of
its recycling and stone and ceramics product business.
Emgold
provided advance royalty payments, as per the Agreement, up to and including the
December 21, 2008, payment. The March 2009 payment was not made and
the Agreement was terminated as of May 7, 2009. The Company has
continued to work to separate GBC from Emgold, and intends to provide minimal
financial resources to its subsidiary until the potential separation is
completed and GBC is independently financed.
GBC
designed and operated a pilot plant in Grass Valley, California. GBC,
subject to financing, is planning to complete marketing studies, a feasibility
study and basic engineering of a production plant for converting mine tailings
and other industrial waste materials into high quality recycled stone and
ceramics products on a commercial basis. In 2005, the Company
completed an initial ceramics marketing study. This comprehensive
report is assisting the Company in planning aesthetics, distribution channels,
market segmentation and other factors that will impact product development costs
and the initial phases of the Company’s marketing
strategy. Additional marketing and distribution definition and
studies were conducted in fiscal 2006 and are planned to be on-going in the
future as products advance, subject to financing of GBC as a separate
entity.
In 2007
and 2008, the development of the stone and ceramics products by Golden Bear was
limited to patenting and financing activities while the Company focused on the
permitting process for the I-M Project, the likely location of the first
commercial manufacturing facility. Should sufficient funding be
obtained and the schedule for the I-M Project be delayed, the Company would
consider construction of a first commercial plant at a location other than the
I-M Project. GBC has been able to source equipment from outside
sources to further the development the proposed recycled stone and ceramics
products using commercially available technology.
I-M Project and the Use of
Waste Materials for the Production of Stone and Ceramics
Products
Materials
from the I-M Project geotechnical-drilling program and from surface exposures
have been evaluated for their suitability for commercial
exploitation. These have included historic Idaho-Maryland mine
tailings and a variety of metamorphosed volcanic and intrusive igneous rocks
derived from core samples and other exploration work. The goal was to
determine which of the materials that will be processed during mine development
and during ultimate gold processing may be suitable for use in manufacturing
ceramic products.
The raw
materials from the I-M Project processed and evaluated by GBC appear to be fully
suitable for commercial use using commercially available
equipment. Exploration for resource definition, early mining
activities and partial mining operations may commence before a recycled stone
and ceramics plant is constructed and operational on site.
In
November 2004, a Preliminary Assessment for the I-M Project was prepared by AMEC
using Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources from the Idaho-Maryland
Mine to evaluate the production of high quality stone and ceramic building
materials. Although the report is preliminary in nature, it
identifies the necessary activities for staged development of the I-M Project
and includes estimated capital and operating costs that may allow the historic
mine to return to production as a gold and ceramics producer. The
Preliminary Assessment describes the staged development of the I-M Project to
produce 1,200 to 2,400 tons per day (‘tons/d’) of ore and development
rock. The development rock and tailings could then be used to produce
from 160 million to 320 million equivalent square feet of ceramic tile per
year.
The
current plan deviates from the Preliminary Assessment with respect to the
maximum ceramics production rate. The ceramics production is now
planned to occur in staged with initial production set at 200 STPD then
increasing to 1,200 STPD in 200 STPD increments. This translates into
a maximum ceramic tile production of 160 million equivalent square feet of
ceramic tile produced from 1,200 STPD of development rock and
tailings. It is anticipated that a new Preliminary Assessment for the
I-M Project will be completed to further describe the new plans once sufficient
working capital is available.
Successful
application of the recycled stone and ceramics manufacturing facility is
expected to consume up to half of the tailings from the I-M Project with the
other half returning underground as backfill. Excess development rock
will crushed, screened, and sold off site as aggregate. This
eliminates the requirement for long-term surface storage of these
materials. The successful production and sales of recycled stone and
ceramic building materials would allow IMMC to continue with exploration of
additional gold targets, and pre-production development, with the objective of
defining an economic gold reserve while generating positive cash
flow. The ultimate combination of a gold mine and processing
facility, recycled stone and ceramics manufacturing facility, and aggregate mine
and processing facility would greatly enhance the economic viability of the I-M
Project and allow it to withstand fluctuations in metal prices that often impact
a stand alone gold mine. If the recycled stone and ceramics plant
does not get financed or the market is smaller than expected, the mine can
operate by increasing aggregate production and placing up to 100% of the mine
tailings underground.
Exploration
Projects, British Columbia Properties
The
Company has two early-stage exploration projects in British Columbia,
Canada. The locations are shown on the map below, with details of the
projects following.
Exploration
activities on the Rozan and Stewart properties have been planned and carried out
under the supervision of Linda Dandy, P.Geo, and Perry Grunenberg, P. Geo both
“Qualified Persons” for the purpose of NI 43-101, “Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects”.
Stewart Property, British
Columbia
The
Stewart Property in British Columbia is without known mineral resources and
reserves and the proposed programs are exploratory in nature.
Property
Location and Geology
Pursuant
to an option agreement entered into in 2001 and completed in 2008, the Company
acquired the rights to 9 mineral claims located at latitude 49°14’N and longitude
117°20’W in the
Nelson Mining Division near Ymir, British Columbia. Currently the
property consists of 28 claims totalling 5,789 hectares.
The
property has been subject to an exploration activity by numerous companies over
the years, many focusing on different metals. In 2001 Emgold
conducted soil geochemistry sampling to verify prior historic work, and in 2003
Emgold added airborne geophysics (magnetics, resistivity, and
electromagnetics). In 2005 Emgold completed a 6-hole diamond drill
program totaling 404.5 meters (1,327 feet) of NQ size core and in 2006 five more
holes were drilled. That program included rock and soil sampling and the results
indicated that further work on the property was warranted and that other areas
of the property were deemed to have potential for tungsten, and silver-lead-zinc
mineralization.
In 2007,
Emgold conducted a trenching and diamond drill program over several areas of the
property. A total of 28 trenches and 30 diamond drill holes (3,338 meters or
10,950 feet of drilling) were completed on the property, and 339 trench samples
along with 1,285 BTW size core samples were obtained and shipped to a laboratory
in Vancouver B. C. for analysis. The results of this program further defined the
presence of molybdenum, tungsten and gold mineralization on the property, and
produced more evidence that Stewart has significant exploration
potential.
In 2010,
The Company drilled 19 diamond drill holes (2,526 meters or 8,287 feet) of NQ
size core. The drilling focused on the Stewart Moly Zone with the goal of
defining and expanding the Zone. Both high grade and low grade molybdenum
mineralization was identified, with the presence of potential by-product metals
gold and rhenium.
In
December 2011, the Company completed a Cdn$767,750(2010-$500,00) flow-through
financing to conduct exploration activities on the Stewart and Rozan Properties
during 2012.
Option
Agreement
Pursuant
to an option agreement entered into in 2001 and completed in 2008, the Company
acquired a 100% right, title and interest in and to the Stewart property by
making payments totalling Cdn$104,000 and issuing 260,000 common shares, subject
only to a 3% NSR payable to the optionors. The Company has the right
to purchase 66⅔% of the NSR for the sum of Cdn$1,000,000 and has the first right
of refusal to purchase the remaining 33⅓%.
Exploration
Activity
In fiscal
2011, Emgold incurred $503,544 compared to a recovery of (2010 – $4,154) and
compared to a recovery of (2009 - $7,611) in exploration expenditures on the
Stewart property. In fiscal 2008, summary reports of the work program
in fiscal 2007 were completed. No exploration
activity was carried out in fiscal 2009
Prior to
year end 2011, the Company raised Cdn$767,750 in flow through funding to be used
to complete exploration work in fiscal year 2012.
Rozan Gold Property, British
Columbia
The
Rozan Gold Property in British Columbia is without known mineral resources and
reserves and the proposed programs are exploratory in nature.
Option
Agreement and Location
In 2000
the Company acquired 100% of the rights to the Rozan Gold Property, a prospect
located south of the community of Nelson in the Red Mountain area of south
eastern British Columbia. The Company earned its interest in the
property by making stepped payments totalling Cdn$100,000 and issuing 200,000
common shares. In fiscal 2006 the claims were transferred to the
Company. The property is subject to a 3% NSR. The Company
has the right to purchase 2/3 of the NSR for the sum of Cdn$1,000,000 and has
the first right of refusal to purchase the remaining 1/3. Currently
the property consists of 32 mineral claims totalling 1,950 acres.
In
December 2010, the Company entered into a Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement
(the “Agreement”) with Valterra Resource Corporation
(“Valterra”). The Agreement calls for cumulative work commitments of
$1,000,000 over five years, with a commitment of $50,000 in 2010, $200,000 in
2011, and $250,000 in each of years 3 to 5. The term of the Agreement
is for a period of 5 years, with property payments of cash, common shares and
five-year warrants to be made by Valterra to the Company during the lease as
follows:
Period
|
Cdn$
|
Shares
|
5
Year Warrants
|
Signing
|
Nil
|
50,000
|
50,000
|
Year
1
|
$30,000
|
50,000
|
50,000
|
Year
2
|
$30,000
|
50,000
|
50,000
|
Year
3
|
$40,000
|
50,000
|
50,000
|
Year
4
|
$40,000
|
50,000
|
50,000
|
Year
5
|
$60,000
|
100,000
|
100,000
|
Total
|
$200,000
|
350,000
|
350,000
|
Upon
completion of the lease payments and work commitments, Valterra will acquire the
Rozan Property, subject to an underlying NSR. Valterra will use its
best efforts to complete a NI 43-101 resource estimate for the property by Year
5, subject to results obtained from exploration and development
work.
Under the
agreement with Valterra, should the Company elect to acquire two thirds of the
NSR currently held by the original optionors, or a 2% NSR, Valterra will have 30
days to exercise an option to obtain half of this interest (a 1% NSR) for
Cdn$500,000. The Company will use this payment as part of the
required payment to acquire the 2% NSR from the original optionors and will then
transfer the 1% NSR to Valterra. Should Valterra elect not to
exercise its option at this time, it shall retain a further option to acquire
the 1% NSR from the Company at a future date for Cdn$750,000. The
Company will retain its first right of refusal with the original optionors to
acquire the remaining 1% of their NSR, should they elect to sell it to a third
party. Should the Company obtain this 1% NSR, Valterra shall have
first right of refusal if the Company elects to sell it to a third
party.
In
January 2011, Emgold and Valterra agreed to an amendment to the agreement
whereby Valterra requested, and Emgold agreed, to accept securities of Valterra
in satisfaction of the Year 1 cash payment of Cdn$30,000. In February 2011
Emgold received the shares and warrants as specified in the agreement, and
600,000 units of Valterra in satisfaction of the Cdn$30,000 cash payment. One
unit of Valterra is comprised of one common share of Valterra and one warrant to
acquire one additional share at an exercise price of Cdn$0.10 per share for a
period of 24 months from the date of issue.
Subsequent
to the year ended December 31, 2011, The Rozan Property was returned to Emgold’s
ownership when Valterra was unable to meet its work commitments for 2011. In
December 2011, expecting the return of the property, Emgold completed a Cdn $
767,750 flow-through financing to conduct exploration activites on the Stewart
and Rozan properties during 2012.
Exploration
Activity
An
initial work program on the Rozan property was completed in fiscal 2000, and
exploration programs required for assessment purposes and under the terms of the
option agreement have been completed each year. In 2000, Emgold collected 169
soil samples and 19 rock chip samples, conducted a magnetometer geophysical
survey and diamond drilled two BQ size holes to test a granodiorite ridge
hosting sheeted stockwork veining and a second hole to test the Main
Vein.
In 2003,
Emgold retained Furgo Airborne Surveys Corp. who flew 161 line kilometres along
NE-SW oriented flight lines using a DIGHEM V EM-MAG geophysical system to cover
the Rozan property. The survey identified 167 anomalies, with 88 traceable to
discrete bedrock sources often indicative of conductive sulphides and
several discrete weak conductors where located.
During
2004, the Company completed follow up soil sampling over the airborne anomalies.
A total of 333 soil samples and 9 rock samples were collected. Several
correlations were discovered between areas of anomalous magnetic and
electromagnetic features, areas of mineralized veining, and alteration mapped
during prospecting, as well as with gold-in-soil geochemical
anomalies.
During
2007, a single drill hole of 107.29 meters(352 feet) in length was completed on
the property. This drill hole was designed to test the northern strike extension
to the gold-bearing Rozan Main Vein. Further testing along the Main
Vein, and within the stock work mineralized zone to the east was postponed due
to weather limitations.
In fiscal
2009, the property was optioned to Valterra. In 2010, Valterra conducted
topographical and geophysical compilation studies and re-logged, resampled and
catalogued the historic drill core.
In 2011,
all previous soil sampling campaigns on the property were digitally compiled
into a single database (1,637 samples) by Valterra and tied to corrected UTM,
NAD83 co-ordinates based on available grid stations identified/found from the
old grid. The historic soil geochemical data was scanned and optically
recognized using analytical certificates from assessment and company reports.
Valterra conducted geological mapping (approximately two square kilometres)
which indicated that the Jurassic aged Nelson Intrusions consisting of
granodiorite and porphyritic diorite extend further north than previously
thought, expanding the potential for further precious and base mineralization
within and adjacent to the intrusives and Elise Formation mafic to intermediate
tuffaceous rocks. The mapping also discovered that the Mount Verde fault
consists of an approximately 200 meter (656 foot) wide breccia zone with local
zones of extensive shearing. Coincident with the Mount Verde fault is spotty but
strongly anomalous gold and molybdenum in soils. Also in 2011, Valterra
conducted soil sampling comprising approximately 150 samples, to infill a gap in
the historic soil sampling coverage and to expand the soil survey to the north.
Results of the 2011 soil sampling compiled with previous soil samples has
defined an area 1.8 by 1.6 kilometers (1.1 by 1.0 miles) in size with several
gold anomalies based on a 55 part per billion gold grade contour. The gold in
soil anomaly appears to have two preferential orientations being NW-SE and
NE-SW. The northwest orientation is related to the contact between Elise
Formation tuffaceous rocks to the west and granodiorite to the east. Gold values
in soils ranged from 0.300 to 2.625 parts per billion. Mapping was completed for
gold, arsenic, molybdenum, iron, tungsten and manganese. Assaying was done by
Acme Labs of Vancouver, an independent laboratory, following standard laboratory
procedures, with standard quality control measures (Payne, C.,
2011).
A total
of 10 gold anomalies were identified by Valterra in 2011. A NW-SE trending gold
soil anomaly (Target A) extends for some 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) and is up to
200 meters (656 feet) wide(true width is unknown). Along the surface trace of
the Mount Verde fault there is a strong anomaly (Target B) indentified by gold,
tungsten, arsenic, and manganese in the soils. The remaining gold soil anomalies
are generally NE-SW oriented and are considered related to high grade or sheeted
quartz vein gold mineralization(most of which remain unexplained) on the
property.
Of the NE
‘trends’, three Trends C, D and G appear to be the most significant. Trends C
and D are two sub-paralles NE trending gold in soil anomalies located within
granodiorite and may suggest that the seeted quartz vein system located at the
NE end of the soil anomalies extends some 500 meters (1,640 feet) further to the
SW. Trend G appears to originate at the historic Rozan workings and extends some
450 meters (1,476 feet) to the SW.
In fiscal
2011, Emgold recovered $ Nil as compared to a recovery of (2010 – $1,197); and
recovery of (2009 – $4,551) in exploration expenditures on the Rozan
property.
Buckskin Rawhide Property,
Nevada
In 2009,
the Company entered into a lease and option to purchase agreement to acquire the
rights to the Buckskin Rawhide mineral claims, a gold prospect located near
Fallon, Nevada.
The
Buckskin Rawhide Property is adjacent to the Rawhide Mining Company’s Rawhide
Mine. The Rawhide Mine, formally known as Denton Rawhide Mine, was owned and
operated by Kennecott Minerals Company (“Kennecott”) from 1988 to 2009. It
produced 1.5 million ounces of gold and 12.4 million ounces of
silver(Muntean,2010). In 2010, Rawhide Mines was acquired by Rawhide Mining
Company (“RMC”). They continue to produce gold from historic heap leach pads,
remaining after Kennecott ceased mining activity in 2003 due to low metal
prices. RMC is currently evaluating reopening the mine, to take advantage of
today’s high metal prices.
The
Property is also adjacent to the Regent exploration property owned by Pilot Gold
Corporation. Pilot Gold was formed after the acquisition of Fronteer Gold by
Newmont Mining Corporation. The Regent property was previously explored and
drilled by Kennecott in the 119’s. Since its formation, Pilot Gold has been
conducting exploration on the property, including drilling with the goal of
defining a potential NI 43-101 compliant resource.
The
Buckskin Rawhide property was previously explored and drilled by Kennecott
Minerals, including over 27 drill holes. Results indicate the
potential for high grade mineralized gold/silver veins and bulk minable
disseminated gold/silver zones. The development alternatives would
include advancing the Buckskin Rawhide Property as a standalone gold/silver
exploration project or combining it with other existing properties in the
region.
In 2010,
Emgold completed rock chip sampling and grab sampling of the Black Eagle vein
area of the Buckskin Rawhide Property. Sampling results were announced in
Emgold’s January 12, 2011 news release and included very high grade chip
samples, including the best sample averaging 9.00 ounces per ton gold and 17.58
ounces per ton silver. A high-grade mineralized shoot was delineated in the
Black eagle vein, about 300 feet in strike length. Emgold believes the property
has potential for discovery of both high-grade and bulk disseminated gold and
silver mineralization.
In 2011,
Emgold continued sampling of the Black Eagle Fault. The Company expanded the
Buckskin Rawhide Property by staking 6 claims totalling 120 acres. The Company
also announced initial results of surface sampling of the Chicago Mountain area.
A bulk disseminated gold exploration target, called the Chicago Mountain Bulk
Disseminated Target, was identified being approximately 4,000 feet long by 400
feet wide. A total of 105 historic grab samples in the target area averaged 0.04
ounces per ton gold. Emgold has taken 15 samples in this target area to date,
with average grades of 0.02 ounces per ton gold. Ten reverse circulation drill
holes were drilled by Kennecott historicall in the mineralized area, with the
average grade of mineralization in the holes being 0.008 ounces per ton gold and
mineralization to a depth of 165 feet ( and open to expansion at
depth).
Option
Agreement and Location
Emgold
Mining Corporation (Emgold) has a lease and option to purchase agreement to
acquire 100% of the part of the Buckskin Rawhide Property from Nevada
Sunrise LLC, a private company located at Auburn, California. The
Nevada Sunrise property comprises 715 acres of unpatented mineral
lode claims and is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM). The terms of this agreement were disclosed in an Emgold news
release dated December 1, 2009. In addition, Emgold owns 6 claims totalling 120
acres.
Part of
the Buckskin Rawhide Property is currently 75% owned by Nevada Sunrise LLC, a
private Nevada company and 25% owned by Maurice and Lorraine Castagne. Emgold
has agreed to lease the property from Nevada Sunrise LLC, subject to the
following payments:
Year
|
Advance
Royalty Payment
|
2009
|
US$10,000
(1)
|
2010
|
US$10,000
(1)
|
2011
|
US$10,000
(1)
|
2012
|
US$20,000
(1)
|
2013
|
US$40,000
(1)
|
2014
|
US$60,000
(2)
|
2015
|
US$60,000
(2)
|
2016
|
US$60,000
(2)
|
2017
|
US$60,000
(2)
|
2018
|
US$60,000
(2)
|
2019
|
US$60,000
(2)
|
Note: (1)
Lease payments may be paid in either cash or Emgold common shares based on an
average price of shares traded during the calendar month prior to the payment
due date. (2) Lease payments may be paid in Emgold common at
the discretion of Nevada Sunrise based on an average price of shares traded
during the calendar month prior to the payment due date.
During
the lease period, Emgold may conduct exploration and, if warranted, complete a
NI43-101 compliant feasibility study. On completion of the feasibility study,
Emgold may acquire 100% ownership of the property by paying Nevada Sunrise an
additional amount of US$250,000 which Nevada Sunrise is required to use to
purchase the retained 25% interest from Maurice and Lorraine Castagne as per an
underlying property agreement, and to transfer that title to Emgold. Upon
commercial production and after acquisition of 100% interest in the property by
Emgold, Nevada Sunrise will be entitled to a 2.5 percent Net Smelter Royalty on
production from the property.
Subsequent
to year end December 31, 2011, Emgold acquired 420 acres of mineral claims fro
Jeremy Wire, to expand the Buckskin Rawhide Property further. These claims are
under a separate Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement.
Cash
Expenditures
Emgold’s
principal cash capital expenditures (there have been no material divestitures)
over the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, are as
follows:
Year
|
Mineral
Property Interests (Cumulative)
|
Equipment
(Cumulative)
|
(i)
Amounts Deferred (capitalized or invested)
|
2011
|
1,035,163
|
18,176
|
2010
|
1,087,420
|
32,655
|
2009
|
1,067,707
|
28,807
|
ii)
Amounts expensed
Exploration
Expenses in the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011
|
775,500
|
503,544
|
|
|
28,096
|
1,307.140
|
2010
|
670,657
|
(4,154)
|
(1,197)
|
|
5,185
|
670,491
|
2009
|
1,187,628
|
(7,611)
|
(4,551)
|
54
|
0
|
1,175,520
|
2008
|
2,521,005
|
41,266
|
23,734
|
620
|
0
|
2,586,625
|
2007
|
2,349,453
|
714,656
|
111,255
|
12,770
|
0
|
3,188,134
|
Golden
Bear Costs expensed in the five fiscal years ended December 31,
2010:
|
|
|
|
2011
|
0
|
2010
|
0
|
2009
|
92,340
|
2008
|
447,809
|
2007
|
629,148
|
The
principal capital expenditures currently anticipated for the year ending
December 31, 2012, are as follows:
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities, including related parties
|
$504,016
|
Capital
lease
|
--
|
|
|
Idaho-Maryland
property lease
|
120,000
|
Mineral
property option payments
|
30,000
|
Exploration
and Permitting
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
|
$3,654,016
|
The
Company is examining various financing alternatives including reorganizations,
mergers, sales of assets, or other form of equity financing to achieve its
plans. There is no assurance, however, that any such activity will
generate funds that will be available for operations in fiscal
2012.
ITEM
4A.
UNRESOLVED STAFF
COMMENTS
Not
applicable.
ITEM
5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL
REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The
following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the audited
consolidated financial statements of Emgold Mining Corporation for the years
ended December 31, 2011 and2010 and the related notes
thereto. Emgold’s consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards. We adopted IFRS effective as of and for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2011 by applying IFRS 1: First Time Adoption of International
Reporting Standards.
Overview
Emgold is
a mineral exploration company with no producing properties and consequently has
no current operating income or cash flow. All of Emgold’s short to
medium-term operating and exploration cash flow must be derived from external
financing. Emgold expects to raise additional financing to continue
its planned exploration, permitting and development of its I-M Project and to
separately finance the commercialization of its recycled stone ceramics
business. Additional financing will be raised for its early stage
exploration projects.
Critical
accounting policies and changes in accounting policies
The
preparation of financial statements requires management to establish accounting
policies, estimates and assumptions that affect the timing and reported amounts
of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. These estimates are
based upon historical experience and on various other assumptions that
management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, and require
judgment on matters which are inherently uncertain. A summary of the
Company’s significant accounting policies is set out in Note 2 of the Company’s
consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010,
and 2009.
Recent
accounting pronouncements
A Summary
of recent accounting pronouncements issued which may affect the Company in the
future are set out in Note 3 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements
for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and for IFRS.
The
Company transitioned to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) on
January 1, 2011 and will no longer be required to prepare reconciliation to US
GAAP. Accordingly, the Company has not assessed the impact of adopting recent US
accounting pronouncements with an application date of January 2, 2011 or beyond
on its financial statements and disclosures.
Year
Ended December 31, 2011 (“fiscal 2011”) Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2010
(“fiscal 2010”)
Emgold’s
loss in fiscal 2011 was $2,338,060, or a loss per share of $0.06, compared to a
loss of $1,073,087, or a loss per share of $0.05 in fiscal 2010. This
includes $1,307,140 in exploration costs incurred in fiscal 2011, compared to
$670,491 incurred in fiscal 2010. Emgold’s accounting policy is to
expense exploration costs until the Company reaches the development stage on its
mineral property interests.
During
fiscal 2011 the Company earned interest income of $Nil on excess cash balances
compared to $261 in fiscal 2010. In fiscal 2011, the Company has had
no excess cash to invest in short term investments resulting in the decrease. In
fiscal 2011, the Company received $1,000 from the sale of equipment with a book
value of $Nil as compared to 2010 where the company sold equipment with a book
value of $Nil for $48,788.
Amortization
expenses relating to general and administrative activities increased from
$14,214 in fiscal 2010 to $14,478 in fiscal 2011.
Accretion
expenses decreased from $4,471 in fiscal 2010 to $Nil in fiscal
2011. The debt portion of the convertible preference shares was
accreted over ten years from inception such that the Canadian dollar expense
would decline each year; however, this was offset by changes in the foreign
exchange rate between the Canadian and U.S. dollar.
During
fiscal 2010, the Company settled $152,034 in debt by the issuance of 608,135
common shares at a deemed value of $0.25 per common share. This resulted in a
gain of $ 77,197, due to the difference in fair value of the common shares at
the time of issuance of $0.12 and the deemed value of $0.25 per
share.
In
addition, the 394,843 preference shares were converted to common shares on a one
for one ratio. Also, the Company issued 2,813,575 warrants with an exercise
price of $0.35, exercisable for five years, formed part of the debt settlement,
and were valued at $479,587, using a Black-Scholes model, at a volatility of
170.6%, and expected life of five years, no dividend and a discount rate of
2.56%. This has been recorded as a cost of the settlement of the conversion of
the preference shares, and the resulting gain on the settlement of the
convertible preference shares and accrued dividends was $155,869.
The
Company shares services on a full cost recovery basis including rent, certain
accounting and administrative salaries and overhead with three other public
companies. Quorum Management and Administrative Services Inc.
(“Quorum”), a private company held jointly by the Company and two other public
companies, provides services to these public entities currently sharing office
space and other services with the Company. The companies each hold a
one/third interest in Quorum and also have certain common directors and are
related parties of Emgold. The Company advanced three months of funds
to Quorum for future services. Quorum held this advance as a deposit
for each shareholder company as working capital. As at December 31,
2008, it was concluded that amounts advanced may not be recoverable in full,
based on the financial position of Quorum and its corresponding ability to
continue to provide services to the Company. Consequently, a
provision of $321,839 was recorded. Since the allowance was recorded,
Quorum has provided services. Recovery of $77,045 was recorded
against this provision in 2009. At December 31, 2010, the Company determined
that the full amount of the Quorum provision remaining of $124,605 was
recoverable, and this amount was recorded as a recovery in the statement of
operations. In fiscal 2011 Quorum provided services to Emgold
totalling $186,109 compared to $136,396 in fiscal 2010. A
distribution of income from Quorum in fiscal 2011 resulted in a credit to Emgold
in the amount of $48,083.
The
Company has stopped all further development of the Ceramext® Process but has
paid advance royalties and intellectual property protection costs through to the
end of December 31, 2008 (“fiscal 2008”). In May 2009, the Agreement
was terminated, and the advance technology royalties were not
paid. There were no costs incurred in fiscal 2010 or fiscal
2011.
Foreign
exchange losses decreased from a loss of $57,480 in fiscal 2010 to a gain of
$40,297 in fiscal 2011. Fluctuations in currency affected operations
to a greater degree in fiscal 2011 due to volatility in the Canada and United
States exchange rates and the changes in the United States dollar relative to
the Canadian dollar, than in fiscal 2010. In the past, the Company
has held most of its excess cash and short-term investments in Canadian dollars
while the majority of the Company’s expenses are denominated in U.S.
dollars. Much of the loss in 2010 relates to the preference shares
and related accrued interest which are denominated in Canadian
dollars.
Finance
expense decreased from $32,413 in fiscal 2010 to $Nil in fiscal
2011. The finance expense in 2010 relates to interest on the
convertible preference shares which are denominated in Canadian dollars and vary
as exchange rates fluctuate. A debt settlement of common shares has settled all
unpaid accrued interest, and the preference shares have also been converted to
common shares. No interest will be accrued or paid in future periods. Interest
was also being accrued on promissory notes payable entered into by the Company
with directors, officers and investors to provide working capital. The
promissory notes and all accrued interest have been repaid to the directors,
officers and investors from the proceeds of the private placement
financing.
Legal,
accounting and audit fees increased from $99,012 in fiscal 2010 to $175,381 in
fiscal 2011, due to higher legal fees related to various proposed financings and
general corporate issues, higher audit fees for fiscal 2010 than had been
accrued and accounting fees related to the conversion to IFRS.
Management
and consulting fees decreased $26,129 from $68,763 in fiscal 2010 to $42,634 in
fiscal 2011. Consulting fees paid or accrued and payable to two
private companies, each controlled by an officer and director of the Company,
have decreased for one and discontinued for another, due to changes in officers
(consolidation of the CEO and COO positions) and renegotiation of lower fees
with the officers. The Company has discontinued payment of quarterly
directors’ fees to independent directors until it is in a better financial
position.
Office
and administration expenses decreased $78,892 from $168,903 in fiscal 2010 to
$90,011 in fiscal 2011. Administrative expenses include telephone,
courier and other direct costs. The expense decreased compared with
the previous period as a result of various fluctuations in other direct costs as
a result of sharing of office space as well as various cost cutting initiatives
such as a reduction in the amount of corporate office space used by Company
personnel. In California, the Company moved to smaller warehouse and
office premises in February 2010. In addition, a distribution of
income from Quorum in fiscal 2011 resulted in a credit to Emgold in the amount
of $48,083.
Salaries
and benefits increased by $34,445 from $178,913 in fiscal 2010 to $213,358 in
fiscal 2011 as a result of paralegal consulting and increased head office
personel.
Shareholder
communications costs decreased $20,070 from $82,272 in fiscal 2010 to $62,202 in
fiscal 2011. These costs include dissemination of news releases,
transfer agent, regulatory and filing fees as well as fees associated with the
maintenance of the Company’s website. The decrease relates primarily
to a reduction in investor relations activity compared with the previous
period.
Stock-based
compensation of $45,812 in fiscal 2011 relates to stock options granted to
directors and officers of the Company. The stock option expense was
calculated using a Black-Scholes option valuation model, using a risk free rate
of 2.2%, and expected life of 3.8 years, and an estimated volatility of 112.3%.
The fair value per option grant was Cdn$0.18 for each of the stock options
granted at a price of Cdn$0.25, with an expiry date of March 17, 2015. Stock
based compensation of $300,647 in fiscal 2010 relates to re-valuations of stock
options granted to directors and officers of the Company.
Travel
expense decreased $1,179 from $1,179 in fiscal 2010 to $Nil in fiscal
2011. The Company has reduced the number of trips to destinations
other than the United States and reduced the extent of travel from Grass Valley,
California to Vancouver, BC in order to reduce expenses.
Year
Ended December 31, 2010 (“fiscal 2010”) Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009
(“fiscal 2009”)
Emgold’s
loss in fiscal 2010 was $1,073,087, or a loss per share of $0.05, compared to a
loss of $2,385,996, or a loss per share of $0.14 in fiscal 2009. In
late 2009 and 2010, the Company took significant steps to reduce its corporate
overhead and project costs due to the Recession that commenced in early
2009.
During
fiscal 2010 the Company earned interest income of $261 on excess cash balances
compared to $1,537 in fiscal 2009. The decrease was due to interest
earned on significantly lower average cash balances held in fiscal 2010 compared
to fiscal 2009 as well as reduced interest rates.
General and administrative
expenses:
Amortization
expenses relating to general and administrative activities decreased from
$30,813 in fiscal 2009 to $14,214 in fiscal 2010. The decrease relates to
certain hardware and software used in administrative activities, being fully
amortized in 2008.
Foreign
exchange losses decreased $145,332 from a loss of $185,807 in fiscal 2009 to a
loss of $46,475 in fiscal 2010. The decrease is a result of a
reduction in U.S. expenses in 2010 requiring decrease need to exchange
funds. The Company holds most of its cash and short-term investments
in Canadian dollars while the majority of the Company’s expenses are denominated
in U.S. dollars. The Company does not hedge its foreign exchange
exposure.
Finance
expense decreased from $57,995 in fiscal 2009 to $32,413 in fiscal
2010. The finance expense relates to interest on the convertible
preference shares which are denominated in Canadian dollars and vary as exchange
rates fluctuate. The preference shares were converted to common
shares in third quarter of 2010, eliminating the associated interest after that
date.
Legal,
accounting and audit fees decreased $98,965 from $197,977 in fiscal 2009 to
$99,012 in fiscal 2010. In 2009, the company experienced higher legal
costs that occurred as part of a share consolidation that occurred in the last
quarter of the year.
Management
and consulting fees decreased $42,346 from $111,109 in fiscal 2009 compared to
$68,763 in fiscal 2010. Included in consulting fees is $20,775 (2009
- $52,953) paid to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd., a private company controlled by
an officer and director of the Company. In fiscal 2010, consulting
fees of $47,988 (2009 - $52,964) were also paid to 759924 Ontario Ltd., a
private company controlled by an officer and director of the Company. The
Company entered into consulting fee agreements effective August 1, 2007,
resulting in payments of Cdn$14,000 per month to these private companies
controlled by two of the directors of the Company throughout
2008. The contract with Kent Avenue Consulting was terminated in 2010
and the payments to 759924 Ontario Ltd. were reduced in 2010 as part of the
Company’s cost cutting measures.
Office
and administration expenses decreased $68,330 from $237,233 in fiscal 2009 to
$168,903 in fiscal 2010. Administrative expenses include telephone,
courier and other direct costs. The expense decreased compared with
the previous year as a result of various fluctuations in other direct costs as a
result of sharing of office space as well as various cost cutting initiatives
such as a reduction in the amount of corporate office space, project office
space, and warehouses space used by Company personnel in Vancouver and Grass
Valley..
Salaries
and benefits increased by $6,904 from $172,009 in fiscal 2009 to $178,913 in
fiscal 2010 primarily as a result of paralegal consulting fees and increased
personnel in its head office.
Shareholder
communications costs decreased $37,806 from $120,078 in fiscal 2009 to $82,272
in fiscal 2010. These costs include dissemination of news releases,
transfer agent, regulatory and filing fees as well as fees associated with the
maintenance of the Company’s website. The decrease relates primarily
to a reduction in investor relations activity compared with the previous
year. In April 2008, to the Company retained King James Capital
Corporation, an investor relations consulting firm, who was contracted Cdn$5,000
per month effective April 2008. This contract was terminated in 2010 reducing
investor relations costs for that year.
Stock-based
compensation increased $299,684 from $963 in fiscal 2009 to $300,647 in fiscal
2010. The increase relates to stock options granted in fiscal 2010 at
a price of Cdn $0.25, with an expiry date of March 17, 2015. Travel
expense decreased $136 from $1,315 in fiscal 2009 to $1,179 in fiscal
2010. The Company has reduced the number of trips to destinations
other than the United States and reduced the extent of travel from Grass Valley,
California to Vancouver, BC in order to conserve cash balances.
Research and development
expenses:
In fiscal
2008 the Company incurred $447,809 in expenditures directly related to the
maintenance of the Ceramext® process compared to $92,340 in fiscal
2009. The Company’s expenditures related to the development of the
Ceramext® process are currently limited to permitting of a manufacturing
facility as part of the I-M Project, advance royalties, and intellectual
property protection costs. In May 2009, the agreement with Ceramext,
LLC was terminated. Fiscal 2008 expenses include $11,696 in site
costs related primarily to the warehouse rental for the pilot plant and
laboratory equipment, amortization expenses relating to equipment of $180,839,
Ceramext® technology royalties of $160,000 and engineering costs of $33,778
which include management time and planning related to the development of a
business plan for the potential separation of the Golden Bear as a separate
business entity.
Exploration expenses –
Idaho-Maryland Project:
Direct
exploration expenditures on the I-M Project increased $104,843 from $670,657 in
fiscal 2010 to $775,500 in fiscal 2011. The Company’s primary focus
continues to be the completion of the final phase of the three-phase permitting
process. Site activities and geological and geochemical costs include
the ongoing digitization and evaluation of historical data, mine modeling and
scheduling, cost modeling, geologic modeling, engineering and environmental
studies, and permitting.
Planned
expenses in fiscal 2012 for the I-M Project include the activities associated
with the continuing application process for a CMUP, on-going geologic
investigations and exploration, financing and public outreach
activities.
Exploration expenses –
Buckskin Rawhide Property, Nevada
Exploration
expenditures on the Buckskin Rawhide Property increased by $22,911 from $5,185
in fiscal 2010 to $28,096 in fiscal 2011.
Exploration expenses -
British Columbia Properties
Exploration
expenditures on the Stewart Property increased by $507,698 from a recovery of
$4,154 in fiscal 2010 to an expense of $503,544 in fiscal 2011. In
December 2010, the Company completed a Cdn$500,000 flow-through financing to
conduct exploration activities on the Stewart Property during 2011.
B.
|
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
|
Financial Conditions for
year ended December 31, 2011
Historically,
the Company’s sole source of funding is and has been the issuance of equity
securities for cash, primarily though private placements to sophisticated
investors and institutions. The Company has issued common shares
pursuant to private placement financings and the exercise of warrants and
options.
The
current market conditions, the challenging and inhospitable funding environment
and the low price of the Company’s common shares make it difficult to raise
funds through private placements of shares. In addition the Company
must endeavour to minimize dilution to existing shareholders. There
is no assurance that the Company will be successful with any financing
ventures. Please refer to Item 3 – Key Information – section D - Risk
Factors in this document.
At
December 31, 2011, the Company had working capital of $651,840, defined as
current assets less current liabilities, compared with working
capital of $527,753 at December 31, 2010. The Company’s consolidated
financial statements were prepared using International Financial Reporting
Standards applicable to a going concern. Several adverse conditions
cast substantial doubt on the validity of this assumption – see “Going Concern”
disclosure below. When the Company has unused cash, it primarily
invests its unused cash in guaranteed investment certificates which are
redeemable in full after 30 days with interest or in treasury
bills. There have been no investments in commercial
paper. Where the initial term of the guaranteed investment
certificate is greater than 90 days it is recorded as a short-term
investment.
Operations
for the year ended December 31, 2011, have been funded primarily from private
placement financings and loans from related parties.
Potential Restrictions on
Transfer of Funds by Subsidiaries
The
Company’s three subsidiaries are Nevada incorporated
corporations. There are no currency restrictions on transfer of funds
from the United States to Canada.
The
Company currently has no source of operating cash flow and has a history of
operating losses. Emgold currently has no revenue from operations and
all of its mineral property interests are in the exploration or development
stages. The Company does not expect to receive significant revenue
from operations at any time in the near future, and Emgold has had no prior
years’ history of earnings or operating cash flow. Neither Emgold nor
its predecessors have paid dividends on their shares since incorporation and the
Company does not anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future.
Investing
Activities
As at
December 31, 2011, Emgold has capitalized $1,035,163 (2010 - $1,087,420)
representing costs associated with the acquisition of its mineral property
interests in California and British Columbia.
The
Company entered into an agreement to acquire 7.13 acres of land known as the
"Whisper Property". Under the terms of the agreement, the Company
issued 280,823 (post-consolidation) common shares to the seller for the purchase
of the Whisper Property at a deemed market price of Cdn$0.55 on the date of
filing. No common shares were issued as bonuses, finder's fees or
commissions in connection with this transaction. The common
shares have been issued from treasury but have not been distributed to the
seller pending title searches and final documentation.
A vehicle
at a cost of $38,834 was purchased in fiscal 2006 and was financed through a
capital lease, payable at $697 monthly. Current lease obligations are
$Nil for fiscal 2011.
Capital
Resources
At
December 31, 2011, Emgold’s working capital, defined as current assets less
current liabilities, was $651,840, compared to a working capital of $527,753 at
December 31, 2010. The Company’s continued operations are dependent
upon the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry on planned
operations. Currently, the Company does not have sufficient working
capital to carry on planned operations, and will have to cease operations, if it
is unable to raise funds for general corporate maintenance.
At
December 31, 2011, the Company had 58,714,504 common shares issued and
outstanding and nil Class A preference shares. During the year ended December
31, 2010, the holders of its issued and outstanding Series A Preference Shares
agreed to convert all of the Series A Preference Shares and related accrued
interest and dividends into common shares of the Company in return for the
receipt of 2,813,575 units of the Company. Each unit comprised one common share
and one purchase warrant. Each share purchase warrant was exercisable at a price
of $0.35, with an expiry date of September 9, 2015. The fair value of the
2,813,575 shares issued as part of the units total and the 394,843 shares issued
upon conversion of debt totalled $ 589,725. The warrants were valued at $
497,587 using the Black-Scholes method and the following assumptions: a
volatility of 170.6%, an expected life of five years, no dividend and discount
rate of 2.56. The total gain arising was $ 174,197 of which $ 155,869 and $
18,328 have been recorded in the statements of operations and equity,
respectively. The common shares market value was less than the $ 90,902
preference share value and the difference of $ 18,328 was recorded in
contributed surplus.
Additional
financing will be required in fiscal 2012 in order for the I-M Project and the
Company to move forward as scheduled. The Company currently does not
have sufficient working capital for the next full year of operations and will
therefore need to raise additional capital to continue operations, as it
currently has no source of revenue. Such financing may be achieved
through the exercise of share purchase warrants and through the issuance of
common shares, or other forms of financing.
Share
Capital
At
December 31, 2011 the Company had 58,714,504 common shares issued and
outstanding.
The
Company’s continued operations are dependent upon the Company’s ability to
obtain sufficient financing to carry on planned
operations. Currently, the Company does not have sufficient working
capital to carry on planned operations, and will have to cease operations, if it
is unable to raise funds for general corporate maintenance.
2011
In
November, 2011 the Company completed the first tranche of a non-brokered private
placement which comprised 11,620,000 units at a price of CDN$0.10 per
unit. Each unit consists of one common share of the Company and one
non-transferable share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each warrant
entitles the holder to purchase, for a period of 24 months, one additional Share
at a price of CDN$0.15.
Finder’s
fees of CDN$53,600 and 536,000 Finder’s Warrants were awarded in relation to the
first tranche of the financing. Each Finder’s Warrant entitles the
holder to purchase, for a period of 24 months, one common share of the Company
at a price of CDN$0.15.
In
December, 2011 the Company completed the second tranche of a non-brokered
private placement which comprised 2,530,000 units at a price of CDN $0.10 per
unit. Each unit consists of one common share of the Company and one
non-transferable purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each warrant
entitles the holder to purchase, for a period of 24 months, one additional share
at a price of CDN $0.15.
Finder’s
fees of CDN $3,200 and 32,000 Finder’s Warrants were awarded in relation to the
second tranche of the financing. Each Finder’s Warrant entitles the
holder to purchase, for a period of 24 months, one common share of the Company
at a price of CDN $0.15.
In
December, 2011 the Company completed a non-brokered private placement of
flow-through units for gross proceeds of Cdn$767,750. A total of
5,905,769 units were issued at a price of CDN $0.13 per unit. Each
unit consists of one “flow-through” common share of the Company and one half of
one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a
“Warrant”). Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase, for a
period of 18 months, one additional common share of the Company at a price of
CDN $0.20 per share.
Finder’s
fees of Cdn$49,920 and 383,999 finder’s warrants were awarded in relation to the
flow-through financing. 269,230 of the finder’s warrants entitles the
holder to purchase, for a period of 18 months, one additional common share of
the Company at a price of Cdn$0.15 and 114,769 at a price of Cdn$0.20 for a
period of 18 months.
The
Shares issued in connection with these non-brokered private placement, including
any issued on the exercise of the Warrants, will be subject to a minimum hold
period of four months.
2010
In April
2010, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement raising gross
proceeds of $ 750,000. A total of 3,000,000 units were issued at a
price of $0.25 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share of the Company
and one non-transferable share purchase warrant. Each warrant
entitles the holder to purchase, for a period of 24 months, one additional
common share of the Company at a price of $0.35. The shares and warrants issued
in connection with this non-brokered private placement are subject to a minimum
hold period of four months. Finder’s fees of $76,797 and 192,000 finder’s
warrants were awarded in relation to the financing. The finder’s warrants have
the same terms as the warrants included in the units sold to purchasers except
for and exercise price of $ 0.25. The finders warrants and share purchase
warrants were valued using a Black Scholes option pricing model using the
following assumptions: weighted average risk free interest rate of 1.78%,
volatility factors of 89% and an expected life of 2 years. The total value
ascribed to the finder’s warrants and share purchase warrants was
$198,869.
On
September 24, 2010, the Company completed a first tranche of a private
placement, which comprised 5,203,856 units at a price of $0.14, comprising one
common share and one warrant, exercisable for $0.35 for a period of 24 months.
Finder’s fees of $15,680 and 112,000 finder’s warrants were awarded in relation
to the first tranche of the financing. The finder’s warrants have the same terms
as the warrants included in the units sold to purchasers. The finder’s warrants
and share purchase warrants were valued using a Black Scholes option pricing
model using the following assumptions: weighted average risk free interest rate
of 1.35%, volatility factors of 94% and an expected life of 2 years. The total
value ascribed to the finder’s warrants and share purchase warrants was
$149,353.
On
October 14, 2010, the Company closed the second and final tranche of the
non-brokered private placement of 7,296,142 units. Finder’s fees of $75,673 and
540,491 finder’s warrants were paid in relation to the second tranche of the
financing. Each finder’s warrant entitles its holder to purchase, for a period
of 24 months, one additional common share of the Company at a price of US$0.35.
In total, 12,499,998 units were issued at the price of $0.14 per unit to raise
gross proceeds of approximately $1,750,000. The shares, the warrants, the
finder’s warrants and any common shares issued on exercise of the warrants or
the finder’s warrants were subject to a minimum hold period of four months. The
finder’s warrants and share purchase warrants were valued using a Black –Scholes
option pricing model using the following assumptions: weighted average risk free
interest rate of 1.35%, volatility factors of 92% and an expected life of 2
years. The total value ascribed to the finder’s warrants and share purchase
warrants was $319,133.
On
December 22, 2010, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement
financing of 2,272,727 flow-through units at a price of Cdn$0.22 per unit for
gross proceeds of Cdn $500,000. Each unit consists of one flow-through common
share and one-half of one transferable non-flow-through share purchase warrant,
totalling 1,136,363 warrants. Each warrant is exercisable for a period of two
years from the date of issue at a price of Cdn$0.30 per share. The proceeds will
be used for exploration projects in British Columbia. Finder’s fees of
Cdn$35,000 and 159,000 finder’s warrants were awarded in relation to the
financing. Each finder’s warrant entitles its holder to purchase, for a period
of 2 years, one additional common share of the Company at a price of US
$0.30. The Finders Warrants and share purchase warrants were valued
using a Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following assumptions:
weighted average risk free interest ate of 1.38%, volatility factors of 99% and
an expected life of 2 Years. The total value ascribed to the Finders Warrants
and share purchase warrants was $103,022.
A
finder’s fee of Cdn$35,000 was paid in association with this financing. In
addition, the Company has issued 159,090 warrants to the finder, which will
entitle the finder to acquire the number of common shares of the Company at a
price of Cdn$0.23 per share at any time, subject to a hold period, and from time
to time, on or before December 21, 2012.
On March
5, 2009, the Company completed a private placement of 501,500 units at a price
of $0.40 per unit, for gross proceeds of $200,600. Each unit was
comprised of one fully paid and non-assessable common share of the Company and
one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each common share
purchase warrant entitles the holder to subscribe for one common share for a
period of 24 months following the date of issue, exercisable in the first year
at $1.20, and in the second year at $1.60. The share purchase
warrants were valued using a Black-Scholes pricing model using the following
assumptions: weighted average risk free interest rate of 1.0%, volatility
factors ranging from 121% - 123% and an expected life of two
years. The value attributable to the transferable common share
purchase warrants was $0.10 per warrant.
On April
9, 2009, the Company completed an additional closing of 10,000 units at a price
of $0.40 per unit, for gross proceeds of $4,000. Each unit was
comprised of one fully paid and non-assessable common share of the Company and
one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each common share
purchase warrant entitles the holder to subscribe for one common share for a
period of 24 months following the date of issue, exercisable in the first year
at $1.20, and in the second year at $1.60. The share purchase
warrants were valued using a Black-Scholes pricing model using the following
assumptions: weighted average risk free interest rate of 1.0%, volatility
factors ranging from 123% - 125% and an expected life of two
years. The value attributable to the transferable common share
purchase warrants was $0.10 per warrant.
On
November 4, 2009, the Company completed a financing of 350,000 units at a price
of $0.50 per unit, for gross proceeds of $175,000. Each unit was
comprised of one fully paid and non-assessable common share of the Company and
one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each common share
purchase warrant entitles the holder to subscribe for one common share for until
November 4, 2011. Each warrant is exercisable in the first year at
$1.20, and in the second year at $1.60. The share purchase warrants
were valued using a Black-Scholes pricing model using the following assumptions:
weighted average risk free interest rate of 1.0%, volatility factors ranging
from 139% - 141% and an expected life of two years. The value
attributable to the transferable common share purchase warrants was $0.20 per
warrant. A finder’s fee of $5,500 was paid for services rendered in
introducing certain subscribers to the offering.
Subsequent
to December 31, 2009, the Company has settled $152,034 in liabilities by the
issuance of 608,135 common shares at a deemed value of $0.25 in a debt
settlement.
The
Company continues to pursue various methods to reduce its current liabilities,
including additional debt settlements, divestiture of assets and additional
equity investment.
2008
During
the year-ended December 31, 2008, share capital increased $165,817 through the
exercise of 94,250 warrants with exercise prices ranging from Cdn$1.10 to
Cdn$1.50 and through the exercise of 8,750 options at an exercise price of
Cdn$1.50.
The
securities offered have not been registered under the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States
absent registration or an available exemption from the registration
requirements.
Options and
Warrants
2011
For the
twelve months ended December 31, 2011, a total of 405,700 incentive stock
options previously granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants of
the Company with exercise prices ranging from Cdn$1.00 to Cdn$10.00 were
repriced to Cdn$0.175 per share. The expiry dates, ranging from October 12, 2011
to July 12, 2014, remain unchanged. During the twelve months ended
December 31, 2011 a total of 65,500 options expired and 175,833 were cancelled
or forfeited.
2010
In April
2010, the Company issued 3,000,000 share purchase warrants relating to a private
placement. Each warrant entitles the holder to subscribe for one
common share for a period of 24 months following the date of issue, exercisable
at $0.35. Finder’s warrants totalling 192,000 were awarded in relation to the
financing. The finder’s warrants have the same terms as the warrants included in
the units sold to purchasers except for and exercise price of Cdn$0.25. The
shares and warrants issued in connection with this non-brokered private
placement are subject to a minimum hold period of four months.
In
October 2010, the Company closed a private placement in which a total of
12,499,998 units were issued at the price of $0.14 per unit. In total
652,491 finder’s warrants were awarded in relation to the private placement.
Each unit is comprised of one common share and one warrant, exercisable for $
0.35 for a period of 24 months. The finder’s warrants have the same terms as the
warrants included in the units sold to purchasers. The shares, the warrants, the
finder’s warrants and any common shares issued on exercise of the warrants or
the finder’s warrants were subject to a minimum hold period of four
months.
In
December 2010, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement financing
of 2,272,727 flow-through units at a price of Cdn$ 0.22 per unit. Each unit
consists of one flow-through common share and one-half of one transferable
non-flow-through share purchase warrant, totalling 1,136,363 warrants. Each
warrant is exercisable for a period of 24 months from the date of issue at a
price of Cdn $0.30 per share. Finder’s warrants totalling 159,090 were awarded
in relation to the financing. Each finder’s warrant entitles the holder to
purchase, for a period of 24 months, one additional common share of the Company
at a price of Cdn $0.22
During
the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company granted a total of 2,078,998
incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the
Company. A total of 559,998 are exercisable over a five year period expiring
March 17, 2015, and a further 1,500,000, expiring December 8, 2015, are all
exercisable at a price of Cdn$ 0.25, in accordance with the Company’s 10%
rolling stock option plan.
In
addition, a total of 648,300 incentive stock options granted to directors,
officers, employees and consultants of the Company with exercise prices ranging
from Cdn$1.00 to Cdn$10.00 were re-priced to Cdn$0.175 per share. The expiry
dates, ranging from October 12, 2011 to July 12, 2014, remain
unchanged.
2009
During
fiscal 2009, 8,175,134 warrants and underlying warrants, exercisable at prices
ranging from Cdn$1.10 to Cdn$1.50 expired unexercised. In addition,
17,000 stock options exercisable at Cdn$2.50, expired unexercised, and 150,000
options with exercise prices of Cdn$1.20 to Cdn$2.90 were
forfeited. In March and April 2009, 511,500 share purchase warrants
relating to a private placement were issued. Each warrant entitles
the holder to subscribe for one common share for a period of 24 months following
the date of issue, exercisable in the first year at $1.20, and in the second
year at $1.60. In November 2009, 350,000 shares purchase warrants,
related to a private placement were issued. Each warrant entitles the
holder to subscribe for one common share for a period of 24 months following the
date of issue, exercisable in the first year at $1.26, and in the second year at
$1.60.
Subsequent
to December 31, 2009, the Company granted a total of 559,998 incentive stock
options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company,
exercisable over a five-year period expiring March 17, 2015, at a price of
Cdn$0.25 per share, in accordance with the Company's 10% rolling stock
option.
2008
During
2008, 18,739,823 warrants exercisable at prices ranging from Cdn$0.26 to
Cdn$0.50, expired, unexercised. In addition, 1,158,000 stock options exercisable
at prices ranging from Cdn$0.15 to Cdn$1.00 were cancelled and 87,500 stock
options were exercised by an officer of the Company with an exercise price of
$0.15. In 2008, 942,500 warrants were exercised at prices ranging
from Cdn$0.11 to Cnd$0.15.
Financing
Activities
Golden
Bear has been looking at various alternatives to implement Golden Bear’s
business plan as noted at Item 4 above. Using the pilot-plant
facility in Grass Valley, the Company has produced stone and ceramic tiles that
were installed in a home/office building constructed by a development partner in
the research process.
Further
financing will be required to advance the I-M Project and for general and
administrative costs, in order to complete the permitting
process. This could involve joint venture, equity financing, sale of
assets, or other forms of financing.
Going
Concern
At
December 31, 2011, the company has a working capital surplus,however,
substantial additional financing will be required to continue permitting
activities at the required level to obtain the CMUP
by 2013. Executive salaries are being deferred
voluntarily, together with Board remuneration and management and consulting
fees, until such time as new financing is available. The need to
raise working capital directly impacts the ability of the Company to undertake
planned exploration programs or advance permitting activities relating to the
Idaho-Maryland project. Sufficient work has been undertaken on all of
the Company’s current mineral property interests in Canada for several years,
but if the Company is unable to perform additional exploration work in future
years or with exploration partners, it may be necessary to write-down additional
mineral property interests in future periods, and there is substantial doubt as
to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, without restructuring
or some form of joint venture with respect to the I-M Project. If
additional working capital is not raised, the Company might have to terminate
its lease on the Buckskin Rawhide Property in Nevada or the Koegel Rawhide
Property in Nevada.
The
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is contingent on its ability to
obtain additional financing. The current equity and financial market
conditions, the challenging environment for raising monies, and the low price of
the Company’s common stock make it difficult to obtain additional funding by
private placements of shares. There is no assurance that the Company
will be successful with any financing ventures. It is dependent upon
the continuing financial support of shareholders and obtaining financing to
continue exploration and/or development of its mineral property
interest. While the Company is expending its best efforts to achieve
its plans by examining various financing alternatives including reorganizations,
mergers, sales of assets, or other form of equity financing, there is no
assurance that any such activity will generate funds that will be available for
operations.
The
consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the
recoverability and classification of recorded assets, or the amounts of, and
classification of liabilities that would be necessary if the going concern
assumption were not appropriate. Such adjustments could be
material.
Plans for
2012
The
Company continues to focus on the permitting required for the I-M Project in
Grass Valley. The I-M Project is entering the final stages of the
permitting process and is requiring a substantial amount of the Company's
financial and management resources.
Upon
obtaining the necessary financing to continue the permitting process for the I-M
Project, it is estimated that the Company may require approximately $180,000 -
$220,000 per month in working capital to operate the Company over the subsequent
year, including environmental monitoring, permitting, legal, and engineering
costs associated with obtaining the CMUP, as well as corporate
administration. This excludes existing accounts payable and any
financing costs or exploration work on other properties. Should the
Company not obtain sufficient financing to continue the permitting for the I-M
Project, the Company would be forced to terminate the BET Agreement and
potentially abandon the Idaho-Maryland Project, as least in the short
term. In that situation, the Company would require between $60,000
and $140,000 per month in working capital to operate the Company over the
subsequent year, assuming the Company was placed in a holding pattern until
capital markets improved. The estimated direct cost for environmental
monitoring, permitting and community relations costs leading to award of the
CMUP on the I-M Project is contingent on the progress made by the City of Grass
Valley and its consultants in completing a Revised Draft EIR and Final EIR, as
well as other permit applications. The I-M project will also be
impacted by the Company’s ability to raise additional funds to advance through
the final stages of the permitting process which could result in potential
delays to the permitting process as well as additional costs.
Additional
environmental investigations are required as a part of the permitting process
and for the future development of the surface properties for the purposes of
underground exploration and possible mining and milling of
ore. Currently the Company believes that the time frame for
completing the EIR and obtaining the Conditional Mine Use Permit is
approximately 12 months providing the Company is able to obtain adequate funding
through the permitting process. The Company has engaged numerous
independent consultants to assist with preparation of information required to
obtain the CMUP.
The
Company continues to expand the resource at the I-M Project and develop new
exploration targets. When the Company obtains the CMUP, the Company
plans to conduct underground exploration leading to the completion of a
feasibility study for a 2,400 STPD underground gold mine mill. The
Company has been performing remediation activities on an on-going
basis. As such, management feels that there is no significant
reclamation liability outstanding on properties owned by the
Company. In addition much of the exploration activities in California
relates to the digitization of historical information. No drilling
has been conducted since 2004, and reclamation related to drilling was completed
at that time.
Readers
are cautioned that the CMUP is required in order to dewater the existing mine
workings at the I-M Project and to construct access to the underground to
conduct underground exploration and complete feasibility work. A
production decision must be made before the mine can go into gold
production.
The
Company is in the process of exploring its mineral property interests and has
not yet determined whether its mineral property interests contain mineral
reserves that are economically recoverable. The Company’s continuing
operations and the underlying value and recoverability of the amounts shown for
mineral property interests are entirely dependent upon the existence of
economically recoverable mineral reserves, the ability of the Company to obtain
the necessary financing to complete the exploration and development of the
mineral property interests and on future profitable production or proceeds from
the disposition of the mineral property interests.
Although
40 gold mines have been permitted for operations in California since the CEQA
legislation was enacted in the 1960s, there seems to remain a general perception
in the mining industry that it is not possible to permit a mine in California
and this has seriously impeded the Company’s efforts to obtain required and
timely equity financing. The number of gold mines permitted and put
into production is only a small fraction of the other mineral and metal mining
production in California. According to the United States Bureau of
Economic Analysis, California’s Gross State Product (“GSP”) for mining in 2007
was nearly $5.5 billion while for comparison Nevada’s GSP for mining in 2007 was
only $2.7 billion. Permits applied for by the Company since its
acquisition of the I-M Project have been obtained to date. However,
there remains a perception that California is not a hospitable or significant
mining jurisdiction and this has made it extremely difficult for the Company to
obtain adequate financing for the permitting of the I-M Project, causing delays
in anticipated timing of the permit schedule.
Preference
shares, issued
|
|
Number
of Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
Equity
portion of Class A Convertible Preference
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares, December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributed
Surplus
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
Equity
portion of Class A Convertible Preference
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Shares,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December
31, 2011
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
Debt
portion of Class A Preference Shares
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance,
beginning of year
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
727,674 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accretion
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
4,471 |
|
Realized
foreign exchange loss
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
12,185 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(100,657 |
) |
Unrealized
foreign exchange loss
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
Allocated
gain on conversion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(643,673 |
) |
Transferred
to equity
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
Balance,
end of year
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
During
the year ended December 31, 2010, the holders of the Company’s issued and
outstanding Series A Preference Shares agreed to convert all of the Series A
Preference shares and related accrued interest and dividends into common shares
of the Company in return for the receipt of 2,813,575 units of the Company. Each
unit comprised one common share and one purchase warrant. Each share purchase
warrant was exercisable at a price of Cdn $0.35, with an expiry date of
September 9, 2015. The fair value of the 2,813,575 shares issued as part of the
units total and the 394,843 shares issued upon conversion of debt totalled $
589,725. The warrants were valued at $479,587 using a Black-Scholes method and
the following assumptions: a volatility of 170.6%, an expected life of five
years, no dividend and a discount rate of 2.56. The total gain arising was $
174,197 of which $ 155,869 and $ 18,328 have been recorded in the statements of
operations and equity, respectively. The common shares market value was less
than the $ 90,902 preference share value and the difference of $ 18,328 was
recorded in contributed surplus.
.
Contractual
Obligations in 2011
See Item
5 (f) for a table of contractual obligations at December 31, 2010.
Gold
Prices
As a
natural resource exploration company, Emgold’s activities are cyclical as metals
prices have traditionally been cyclical in nature. The recent trend for metals
prices has been somewhat volatile for gold and silver. From a
historical perspective Emgold has strategically focused its exploration
activities on potential gold-based prospects. The mineral exploration
industry had been through a very difficult period with low prices for both
precious and base metals over the period from 1999 to 2004. During this period,
the gold price increased to an average of $409.72 and has increased annually
since. The lack of interest in minerals over the earlier period led
to low market capitalizations for many exploration companies and large
corporations found it was easier to expand by purchasing companies or mines
rather than exploring for them. This led to downsizing of large
company exploration departments and many mining industry professionals left the
industry. As a result of these trends, there are fewer good gold and
silver projects in the exploration and development stages and a significant
shortage of experienced engineers and geoscientists in the mining
industry. With improving metal prices and increasing demand,
especially from Asia, supply difficulties may occur in the future and there is a
discernible need for good exploration projects based on sound geological
work.
See the
risk section for average, high and low gold prices to the date of the filing of
this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
Market for Stone and
Ceramics
The
markets for stone and ceramic tile are very large and well
established. The United States imports approximately 80% of the tile
sold in its markets. This is the largest regional disparity in the
world. Two-thirds of tile production in North America is in Mexico,
whereas production in the U.S. is only slightly over 1% of world
production. Most of the tile imported into the U.S. comes from
Mexico, Europe (Italy) and Asia. Tile use is particularly strong in
California, Florida, Texas, and Arizona.
The
recent housing and banking crisis (and recession) has resulted in a major drop
in residential and commercial construction and renovation. U.S. tile
consumption has decreased as follow: 2006 – 3.3 million sq. ft., 2007
– 2.7 million sq. ft., 2008 – 2.3 million sq. ft., 2009 – 1.9 million sq. ft.,
2010 – 2.0 million sq. ft. The green market in building products
however continues to rise. In many jurisdictions, including
California, use of green building products like GBC’s tile products is being
legislated.
D.
|
Off-balance
sheet arrangements
|
The
Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are
reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company’s financial
condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of
operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is
material to investors.
E.
|
Tabular
disclosure of contractual
obligations
|
F.
|
The
following table summarizes the Company’s short-term and long-term
obligations as at December 31, 2011:
|
|
|
January
1, 2012, to December 31, 2012
|
|
|
1-2
years
|
|
|
2-3
years
|
|
|
3-4
years
|
|
|
4-5
years
|
|
|
5th
and subsequent years
|
|
|
Total
(to
5 years)
|
|
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities, including related parties
|
|
$ |
463,984 |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
463,984 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Idaho-Maryland
property lease (1)
|
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
Mineral
property option payments (1)
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
603,984 |
|
|
$ |
160,000 |
|
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,003,984 |
|
(1)
Mineral property option payments are made at the option of the Company; however
non-payment of mineral property leases may result in forfeiture of Emgold’s
rights to a particular property. The Company has several
discretionary payments that may be made. The Company holds an option
to purchase the Idaho-Maryland mine. The option exercise price at
February 1, 2013 would be $6,154,717, and increases by 3% each
lease-year. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company
extended the lease and option agreement from February 1, 2011, for an additional
two years to February 1, 2013.
Safe
Harbour
See above
– “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”
ITEM
6. DIRECTORS,
SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A.
|
Directors
and Senior Management
|
The
following table lists the directors and senior management of the
Company. The directors have served in their respective capacities
since their election and/or appointment and will serve until the next annual
general meeting or until a successor is duly elected, unless the office is
vacated in accordance with the Articles of the Company. Messrs.
Berner and Yurichuk were appointed as Co-Chairmen and Co-Chief Executive
Officers on July 25, 2007. Mr. Watkinson was appointed the Company’s
VP, Operations from June 22, 2006 to July 25, 2007, and was subsequently
appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Company on July 25, 2007, and President
of the Company on October 16, 2007. Shannon Ross, Chief Financial
Officer and Corporate Secretary resigned from both roles subsequent to year-end
2007 and was replaced by Jonathan Fogg as Chief Financial Officer and Rodrigo
Romo as Corporate Secretary in April 2008. In the first quarter of
2009, Jonathan Fogg resigned from the role of Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, and Ken Yurichuk resigned as Co-Chief Executive Officer and was
appointed as Chief Financial Officer, making Mr. Berner the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company. In May 2010, Mr. Watkinson was appointed as
President and Chief Executive Officer, merging the Chief Operating Officer and
Chief Executive Officer positions, and Mr. Berner was appointed Non-Executive
Chairman.
Name
and Position
|
|
Other
Principal Directorships
|
|
Shares
Beneficially Owned as at April 26, 2012
|
|
%
Of
Issued
And
Outstanding
|
|
Principal
Business Activities Outside the Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sargent
H. Berner – Non-Executive Chairman of the Board since May 2010, Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman to May 2010
|
|
Aurizon
Mines Ltd., Cream Minerals Ltd., ValGold Resources Ltd., Sultan Minerals
Ltd., Enterprise Energy Resources Ltd., Olivut Resources Ltd., Palo Duro
Energy Inc., Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd., Thor Explorations
Ltd.
|
|
43,967
|
|
.0748%
|
|
Businessman;
President, Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth
Yurichuk, Chief Financial Officer and was Co-Chairman of the Board (to
February 2009)
|
|
ValGold
Resources Ltd.., Paragon Minerals Corporation, Matrix Management
Fund.
Director
or senior officer of an insider of: Mavrix Resource Fund 2004 –
II Limited Partnership, Mavrix Resource Fund 2004 Limited Partnership and
Mavrix Explore 2006 – 1 FT Limited Partnership-
|
|
5,000
|
|
.0085%
|
|
Partner,
Bobot&Yurichuk, Chartered Accountants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven
J. Wilkinson, Director
|
|
ValGold
Resources Ltd., Faircourt Resource Fund Limited Partnership, HMZ Metals
Inc, Pacific Stratus Energy Limited
|
|
200,000
|
|
.3401%
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer, ValGold Resources Ltd., Chairman of HMZ Metals
Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William
J. Witte - Director, (Chief Executive Officer to July 25 2007), President,
CEO and Director of Golden Bear Ceramics Company
|
|
ValGold
Resources Ltd.
|
|
57,504
|
|
.0978%
|
|
Businessman
and Mining Consultant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
Watkinson – President and Chief Executive Officer and
Director
|
|
None
|
|
18,800
|
|
.0320%
|
|
None
|
Sargent
Berner, Director, is a graduate of the University of British Columbia where he
received his B.A. in 1963 and his LL.B. in 1966, and the London School of
Economics, London, England where he received the degree of Master of Laws in
1967. From 1968 to 1976 he served as a full-time Assistant and
Associate Professor of the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia
and practised corporate, securities and natural resources law as an associate
and/or partner in the Vancouver law firm of DuMoulin Black from 1976 to
2006. He provides consulting services to the Company through his
company, Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd.
Kenneth
R. Yurichuk is a Chartered Accountant and senior partner in the public
accounting firm Bobot&Yurichuk LLP, Chartered Accountants,
Toronto. Mr. Yurichuk has been in public practice for over 30 years
and has served as both director and officer of private and publicly-traded
corporations involved in a wide range of businesses including mining, real
estate development, investment and manufacturing. In addition, Mr.
Yurichuk is a director of Matrix Fund Management Fund and served as a director
and officer of the General Partners for several Contrarian Resource Fund Limited
Partnerships and Mavrix Fund Limited Partnerships. Mr. Yurichuk holds a Bachelor
of Commerce degree as well as the CA designation. He provides consulting
services through his company 759924 Ontario Ltd., a private
company.
Stephen
J. Wilkinson is President and Chief Executive Officer of ValGold Resources Ltd.
Mr. Wilkinson was President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Northern
Orion Explorations Ltd. during its successful restructuring over the period from
1999 to 2002 and from 1996 to 1999, he was the Vancouver based mining analyst
for RBC Dominion Securities Inc., responsible for small capitalization and gold
and base metal companies. Mr. Wilkinson holds an MBA from Clarkson
University, Potsdam New York, a M.Sc. (Geology) from Carleton University and
B.Sc. (Geology) from the University of Western Ontario.
William
(Bill) J. Witte, P.Eng, Director, has been an officer and director of the
Company since June 1999. From 1995 to joining the Company in 1999,
Mr. Witte was self-employed. From 1992 to 1995 he was an engineering
manager and project manager, with Fluor Daniel Wright Inc. Mr. Witte
has more than 30 years of mining, engineering, business, and entrepreneurial
experience. He holds degrees in both Civil (University of Nevada,
Reno 1976) and Mechanical Engineering (University of Arizona 1978), and is a
registered Professional Engineer in the Province of British
Columbia. His mining and engineering experience covers not only all
aspects of mine exploration, process research and development, and operations,
but also engineering, construction and corporate management. Mr.
Witte has been responsible for various aspects of the financing, construction,
design and operation of over 200 mining and technology projects around the
world.
David
Watkinson, P. Eng. brings over 25 years of professional engineering experience
in underground and open pit mine development, including mine permitting,
engineering, feasibility, construction, and operations to Emgold. In addition,
he has extensive experience in project management, having taken projects from
grass roots start-up to successful operating status. Mr. Watkinson
has been responsible for management of large capital projects and operations in
Canada, the United States and the Philippines. He has held
progressively senior positions with Placer Dome Inc., Kinross Gold Corporation,
Thyssen Mining Construction and Vulcan Materials Company. Mr. Watkinson holds a
B.Sc. in Applied Science, Mining Engineering, from Queen's University in
Kingston, Ontario (1985) and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the
Province of Ontario.
Technical
Consultants and Employees
William
S. Watters, P.E. Chief Mining Engineer, has 26 years of engineering and
supervisory experience in underground mines and tunnels. His
background includes supervision of underground miners working in industrial
minerals, coal and gold mines as well as in tunnel construction
management. His engineering involvement has been in the design and
commissioning of continuous haulage systems used in underground mining, and he
also has experience in the design of ventilation networks, dewatering systems,
and electrical distribution for underground mines as well as mine planning and
surveying. He has an extensive background in underground mining and
tunnelling safety and is a certified safety representative in the state of
California. His educational degrees and licenses include: B.S. Mining
Engineering, University of Nevada – Reno; State of Wyoming Registered
Professional Engineer-Mining; State of California Registered Professional
Engineer-Civil.
Robert R.
Pease, R.G. Chief Geologist, has over 30 years of diversified experience in
mineral development and engineering geology in the mining and construction
industries. Mr. Pease has an extensive background in mother lode,
Sierra Nevada, and basin-range geology applied to industrial minerals and gold,
naturally occurring asbestos, surface and underground geologic mapping, drilling
and sampling in difficult conditions, fracture-controlled ground water, and
engineering geology. Mr. Pease has also conducted market research
analyses of industrial minerals. He has developed reclamation plans
for mining projects, and has conducted annual inspections of mines in Nevada
County as the consultant for that lead agency under SMARA. He has
written documents requiring approval by government agencies, such as application
documents for mining projects and hazardous materials plans. Mr.
Pease is a Registered Geologist in California and holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in
Geology from University of Nevada.
Patricia
Nelson, an environmental consultant to the Company, manages the permitting and
environmental compliance programs for the Company. She was an
employee of the Company from 2005 to 2007. She has over 30 years of
experience managing and directing multidisciplinary environmental projects for
government, industry, and utility organizations that involved regulatory
compliance, natural resource development and hazardous waste management. In
addition, she has experience directing field work and construction projects;
developing and implementing public participation programs; and conducting
project specific environmental negotiations among government and industry
stakeholders. She has a Bachelor of Science from the University of California at
Berkeley, a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of San
Francisco, and is a Certified Mediator from John F. Kennedy University. Ms.
Nelson is also a Registered Environmental Assessor (REA) in California and has
extensive hazmat training.
Jim Wood,
MSc, P.G., Manager, Material Sciences is currently a consultant to the Company
and responsible for all test work and SPC on feed materials and final
products. Jim was an employee of the Company from 2005 to
2007. He has 24 years of experience in the field of geological
materials research. He has performed microscopic studies of rock and
mineral materials using various analytical techniques including X-ray
Diffraction mineral analysis, Polarized Light Microscopy and use of the Scanning
Electron Microscope/Microprobe. Jim has worked for Unocal at their
Science and Technology Research Center as a mineralogist. He has also
been a forensics consultant on construction materials failure for a number of
leading geotechnical consulting firms. He holds a B.S. degree in
Earth Science from California State University, Long Beach and a M.S degree in
Geology from California State University at Los Angeles. He is a
registered Professional Geologist in California.
Family
Relationships
There are
no family relationships among any of the persons named above.
Arrangements
There are
no arrangements or understandings regarding the selection of any of the persons
named above.
Compensation of Executive
Officers
“Named
Executive Officer” (“NEO”) means each of the following individuals:
(a) a
Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) or one who acted in a capacity similar to a
chief executive officer, for any part of the financial year ended December 31,
2011;
(b) a
Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) or one who acted in a capacity similar to a
chief financial officer, for any part of the financial year ended December 31,
2011;
(c) each
of the three most highly compensated executive officers, or the three most
highly compensated individuals acting in a similar capacity, other than the CEO
and CFO, at the end of the most recently completed financial year whose total
compensation was, individually, more than $150,000 for that financial year;
and
(d) each
individual who would be a NEO under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the
individual was neither an executive officer of the Company, nor acting in a
similar capacity, as at the financial year ended December 31, 2011.
The
Company has four Named Executive Officers. The following disclosure
sets out the compensation that the Board intended to pay, make payable, award,
grant give or otherwise provide to each NEO and director for the financial year
ended December 31, 2011.
Compensation and Discussion
Analysis
Compensation
of Directors and NEOs
The
Company’s Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee (“CGCC”) has
responsibility for reviewing compensation for the Company’s directors and senior
management.
The
independent directors are encouraged to meet at any time they consider necessary
without any members of management including the non-independent directors being
present. The Company's auditors, legal counsel and employees may be
invited to attend. The independent directors exercise their
responsibilities for independent oversight of management through a strong
CGCC. The Board has appointed Stephen J. Wilkinson as Chairman of the
Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee to assist the Board in being
effective, cohesive and independent from management.
To
determine compensation payable, the CGCC reviews compensation paid for directors
and NEOs of companies of similar size and stage of development in the mineral
exploration industry and determines an appropriate compensation reflecting the
need to provide incentive and compensation for the time and effort expended by
the directors and senior management while taking into account the financial and
other resources of the Company. In setting the compensation, the CGCC
annually reviews the performance of the NEOs in light of the Company's
objectives and considers other factors that may have impacted the success of the
Company in achieving its objectives and financial resources.
The
Company’s compensation policies and its stock option plan (the “Stock Option
Plan”) are intended to assist the Company in attracting, retaining and
motivating Directors, officers and employees of the Company and of its
subsidiaries and to closely align the personal interests of such Directors,
officers and employees with those of the shareholders by providing them with the
opportunity, through stock options, to acquire shares in the capital of the
Company.
Option
Based Awards
The Board
of Directors of the Company implemented a stock option plan (the "Plan") effective April 29,
2005, as amended, which was approved by the TSX Venture Exchange and the
shareholders of the Company and ratified by shareholders at the Company's 2006
Annual General Meeting. The number of Shares which may be issued
pursuant to options previously granted and those granted under the Plan is a
maximum of 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares at the time of the
grant. In addition, the number of Shares which may be reserved for
issuance to any one individual may not exceed 5% of the issued Shares on a
yearly basis or 2% if the optionee is engaged in investor relations activities
or is a consultant. Under Exchange policy, all such rolling stock
option plans which set the number of common shares issuable under the plan at a
maximum of 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares must be approved and
ratified by shareholders on an annual basis.
The
purpose of the Plan is to allow the Company to grant options to Directors,
officers, employees and consultants, as an incentive for performance, and as an
opportunity to participate in the success of the Company. The
granting of such options is intended to align the interests of such persons with
that of the shareholders. Options will be exercisable over periods of
up to five years as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company and are
required to have an exercise price no less than the closing market price of the
Company’s Shares prevailing on the day that the option is granted less a
discount of up to 25%, the amount of the discount varying with market price in
accordance with the policies of the Exchange. Pursuant to the Plan,
the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize the issue of options to
Directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and its
subsidiaries or employees of companies providing management or consulting
services to the Company or its subsidiaries. The Plan contains no
vesting requirements, but permits the Board of Directors to specify a vesting
schedule in its discretion. The Plan provides that if a change of
control, as defined therein, occurs, all shares subject to option shall
immediately become vested and may thereupon be exercised in whole or in part by
the option holder.
At
December 31, 2011, a total of 5,871,450 shares of Emgold were reserved for share
incentive options to be granted at the discretion of Emgold’s board of directors
to eligible optionees (the “Optionees”), of which 2,872,665 were outstanding
under the plan at December 31, 2011.
During
the year ended December 31, 2011, 65,500 stock options with an exercise price of
Cdn$0.175 expired, unexercised and 175,833 stock options, with an average
exercise price of Cdn$0.21 were forfeited.
The Board
of Directors generally grants options to corporate executives further to the
recommendation of the CGCC. As part of its annual work plan, the CGCC
reviews, among other things, executive compensation and makes appropriate
recommendations to the Board regarding such compensation, including but not
limited to the grant of options. Options may be granted at other
times of the year to individuals commencing employment with the
Company.
Summary Compensation
Table
The
compensation paid to the NEOs during the Company’s most recently completed
financial year ended December 31, 2011, is as set out below:
Name and
principal position held during fiscal 2009
|
Year
|
Salary
(1)
($)
|
Share-based
awards
($)
|
Option-based
awards
($)
|
Non-equity
incentive plan compensation(3)
($)
|
Pension
value
($)
|
All
other compensation (2)
($)
|
Total
compensation
(3)
($)
|
Annual
incentive plans
|
Long-term
incentive
plans
|
Sargent
H. Berner Chairman and –CEO (4)
|
2011
2010
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
NIL
|
20,098
37,863
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
21,000
|
20,098
58,863(4)
|
Kenneth
R. Yurichuk(5)
Chief Financial Officer
|
2011
2010
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
47,220
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
NIL
|
|
|
David
G. Watkinson(6)
President
& COO
|
2011
2010
|
185,000
185,000
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
127,630
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
NIL
|
NIL
NIL
|
185,000
312,630
|
Notes:
(1)
|
Includes the
dollar value of cash and non-cash base salary earned during a financial
year covered.
|
(2)
|
Includes
any health, dental, parking, group plan insurance benefits and
professional fees paid by the Company on behalf of the
NEOs.
|
(3)
|
These
amounts include all amounts set out in table from for each
NEO.
|
(4)
|
Consulting
fees were paid directly to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd., a private company
controlled by a director, Sargent H.
Berner.
|
(5)
|
Consulting
fees were paid directly to 759924 Ontario Ltd., a private company
controlled by a director, Kenneth Yurichuk. The amount shown as earned in
2011, $7,709 is accrued and had not been paid at year end December 31,
2011.
|
(6)
|
Of
the total salary, $185,000 was accrued to David G. Watkinson for services
as President and CEO for the year ended December 31, 2011, and was unpaid
at December 31, 2011.
|
Emgold
and its subsidiaries have consulting contracts with Sargent H. Berner and
Kenneth Yurichuk. Compensation of Cdn$7,000 was paid monthly to Kent
Avenue Consulting Ltd., a private company controlled by Sargent H. Berner
effective October 1, 2007 and to 759924 Ontario Ltd., a private company
controlled by Kenneth Yurichuk effective August 1, 2007. Prior to the
commencement of the contracts, the Company paid Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd.
Cdn$36,500 in consulting fees for the period from January 1, 2007 – September
30, 2007, under an agreement with Quorum. Consulting fees paid to
Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd. and 759924 Ontario Ltd. were reduced to Cdn$5,512 in
January 2009 and at December 31, 2011 a balance of $7,709 remains accrued and
payable to 759924 Ontario Ltd.
As part
of its annual work plan, the CGCC reviews, among other things, executive
compensation and makes appropriate recommendations to the Board regarding such
compensation.
Incentive Plan
Awards
Outstanding
Share-based Awards and Option-based Awards
The
following table sets out all share-based awards and option-based awards
outstanding as at the financial year ended December 31, 2011, for each
NEO:
|
Option-based
Awards
|
Share-based
Awards (2)
|
Name
|
Number
of securities underlying unexercised options
(#)
|
Option
exercise price
($)
|
Option
expiration date
|
Value
of unexercised in-the-money options (1)
($)
|
Number
of shares or units of shares that have not vested
(#)
|
Market
or payout value of share-based awards that have not vested
($)
|
Sargent
H. Berner
|
18,000
|
0.175
|
19-Nov-2013
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
15,000
|
0.175
|
12-July-2014
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
150,000
|
0.175
|
11-Dec-2012
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
93,333
|
0.25
|
17-Mar-2015
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
100,000
|
0.25
|
8-Dec-2015
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Kenneth
R. Yurichuk
|
150,000
|
0.175
|
11-Dec-2012
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
93,333
|
0.25
|
17-Mar-2015
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
100,000
|
0.25
|
8-Dec-2015
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
David
G. Watkinson
|
100,000
|
0.175
|
11-Dec-2012
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
50,000
|
0.175
|
12-May-2013
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
93.333
|
0.25
|
17-Mar-2015
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
600,000
|
0.25
|
8-Dec-2015
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Notes:
(1)
|
The
closing market price of the Company’s shares on the TSX Venture Exchange
was Cdn$0.13 per share on December 31,
2011.
|
(2)
|
The
Company does not have Incentive Plan Awards other than option-based
awards.
|
|
Incentive
Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the
Year
|
The
following table sets out all incentive plans (value vested or earned) during the
financial year ended December 31, 2011, for each NEO:
Name
|
Option-based
awards – Value vested during the year
($)
|
Share-based
awards – Value vested during the year(2)
($)
|
Non-equity
incentive plan compensation – Value earned during the year (2)
($)
|
Sargent
H. Berner
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Kenneth
R. Yurichuk
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
David
G. Watkinson
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Notes:
The
Company does not have Incentive Plan Awards in place other than option-based
awards
Discussion
Equity-settled
share-based payments for directors, officers and employees are measured at fair
value at the date of grant and recorded as compensation expense in the
consolidated financial statements. The fair value determined at the grant date
of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed over the vesting period
based on the Company’s estimate of shares that will eventually
vest. The number of forfeitures likely to occur is estimated on grant
date and adjusted to actual. Any consideration paid by directors, officers,
employees and consultants on exercise of equity-settled share-based payments is
credited to share capital. Shares are issued from treasury upon the
exercise of equity-settled share-based instruments. Compensation expense on
stock options granted to non-employees is measured at the earlier of the
completion of performance and the date the options are vested using the fair
value method and is recorded as an expense in the same period as if the Company
had paid cash for the goods or services received.
When the
value of goods or services received in exchange for the share-based payment
cannot be reliably estimated, the fair value is measured by use of a
Black-Scholes valuation model. The expected life used in the model is adjusted,
based on management’s best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability,
exercise restrictions, and behavioural considerations.
See
“Option Based Awards” and “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans” for further information on the Stock Option
Plan.
The
Company does not have Incentive Plan Awards, pursuant to which cash or non-cash
compensation intended to serve as an incentive for performance (whereby
performance is measured by reference to financial performance or the price of
the Company’s securities) was paid.
Pension Plan
Benefits
Defined
Benefit Plan or Defined Contribution Plan
The
Company has no pension plans for NEOs that provide for payment or benefits at,
following, or in connection with retirement.
Deferred
Compensation Plans
The
Company has no deferred compensation plan for NEOs.
Termination and Change in
Control Benefits
The
Company and its subsidiaries have no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement
that provides for payment to an NEO at, following or in connection with any
termination (whether voluntary, involuntary or constructive), resignation,
retirement, a change in control of the Company or a change in an NEO’s
responsibilities, with the exception of the following:
The
contract of David G. Watkinson, by the Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation,
provides for payment to Mr. Watkinson of a minimum severance allowance
equivalent to six (6) month’s salary in the event of termination by the Company
without cause. Additionally, the contract provides for payment to Mr.
Watkinson of a severance allowance equivalent to a minimum of six (6) month’s
salary in the event of an acquisition or takeover by another company or other
similar form of transaction.
Director
Compensation
Directors
are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors may award special remuneration to
any director undertaking any special services on behalf of the Company other
than services ordinarily required of a director. This is subject to
recommendation by the Compensation and Corporate Governance
committee. As indicated herein, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer who also serve as directors of the Company received
compensation for their services through consulting contracts. In
addition, the independent directors, Robin A. W. Elliott and Stephen J.
Wilkinson each received Cdn$10,000 as quarterly compensation.
Directors’
fees totalling $NIL (2010 – $NIL; 2009 – $52,424) were also paid or are accrued
and payable to two independent directors of the Company which were included in
salaries and benefits.
Director
Compensation Table
The
following table sets out all amounts of compensation provided to the directors
who are not NEOs for the Company’s most recently completed financial
year:
Name
|
Fees
earned
(Cdn$)
|
Share-based
awards
($)
|
Option-based
awards
($)
|
Non-equity
incentive plan compensation
($)
|
Pension
value
($)
|
All
other compensation
($)
|
Total
(Cdn$)
|
William
J. Witte
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
45,408
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
Stephen
J. Wilkinson
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
Outstanding
Share-based Awards and Option-based Awards
The
following table sets out all option-based awards outstanding as at the financial
year ended December 31, 2011, for each director, excluding a director who is
already set out in disclosure for a NEO for the Company:
|
Option-based
Awards
|
Share-based
Awards
|
Name
|
Number
of securities underlying unexercised options
(#)
|
Option
exercise price
($)
|
Option
expiration date
|
Value
of unexercised in-the-money options (1)
($)
|
Number
of shares or units of shares that have not vested (2)
(#)
|
Market
or payout value of share-based awards that have not vested (2)
($)
|
William
J. Witte
|
60,000
|
0.175
|
19-Nov-2013
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
20,000
|
0.175
|
12-July-2014
|
25,000
|
0.175
|
11-Dec-2012
|
|
93,333
|
0.25
|
17-Mar-2015
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
0.25
|
8-Dec-2015
|
|
|
|
Stephen
J. Wilkinson
|
5,000
|
0.175
|
19-Nov-2013
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
1,000
|
0.175
|
12-July-2014
|
100,000
|
0.175
|
11-Dec-2012
|
|
93,333
|
0.25
|
17-Mar-2015
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
0.25
|
8-Dec-2015
|
|
|
|
Notes:
(1)
|
The
closing market price of the Company’s shares on the TSX Venture Exchange
was $0.13 per share on December 31,
2011.
|
(2)
|
The
Company does not have Incentive Plan Awards in place other than
option-based awards.
|
Incentive
Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the Year
The
following table sets out all incentive plans (value vested or earned) during the
financial year ended December 31, 2011, for each director, excluding a director
who is already set out in disclosure for a NEO for the Company:
Name
|
Option-based
awards – Value
vested
during the year(1)
($)
|
Share-based
awards – Value
vested
during the year(3)
($)
|
Non-equity
incentive plan
compensation
– Value earned during the year (3)
($)
|
William
J. Witte
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Stephen
J. Wilkinson
|
NIL
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Notes:
(1)
|
The
aggregate dollar value that would have been realized if the options had
been exercised on the vesting date, based on the difference between the
market price of the underlying securities at exercise and the exercise
price of the options on the vesting
date.
|
(2)
|
Under
the terms of the Company’s stock option plan, all options vest upon the
grant date. The Company does not have Incentive Plan Awards in place other
than option-based awards.
|
Securities
Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
|
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants
and rights
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
|
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column
(a))
|
Plan
Category (1)
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders (2)
|
3,113,998
|
$0.36
|
741,246
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
NIL
|
Total
|
3,113,998
|
|
741,246
|
(1)
|
The
only “equity compensation plan” in place is the Company’s stock option
plan. See “Option Based Awards”
above.
|
(2)
|
As
at December 31, 2011.
|
Indebtedness
of Directors and Executive Officers
None of
the director, executive officer, or associate of any such person, has been
indebted to the Company at any time during the most recently completed financial
year.
Aggregated Options Exercises
During the Most Recently Completed Financial Year
During
the year ended December 31, 2011, there were no Company stock options
exercised.
All
directors were elected at the, annual general and special meeting and have a
term of office expiring at the next annual general meeting of
Emgold. All officers have a term of office lasting until their
removal or replacement by the Board of Directors.
An
“unrelated” director under the TSX governance guidelines is a director who is
independent from management and is free from any interest and any business or
other relationship which could materially interfere with his or her ability to
act in the best interest of the Company other than interests arising from
shareholding. Where a company has a significant shareholder, in
addition to a majority of “unrelated” directors, the Board should include a
number of directors who do not have interest or relationships with either the
Company or the significant shareholder. Mr. Stephen Wilkinson is an
independent director. As such, the number of directors is
five. Mr. William Witte is related due to holding an executive
position in the Company’s subsidiary, Golden Bear Ceramics Company.
Except as
noted herein, no director and/or executive officer has been the subject of any
order, judgment, or decree of any governmental agency or administrator or of any
court or competent jurisdiction, revoking or suspending for cause any license,
permit or other authority of such person or of any corporation of which he is a
director and/or executive officer, to engage in the securities business or in
the sale of a particular security or temporarily or permanently restraining or
enjoining any such person or any corporation of which he is an officer or
director from engaging in or continuing any conduct, practice or employment in
connection with the purchase or sale of securities, or convicting such person of
any felony or misdemeanour involving a security or any aspect of the securities
business or of theft or of any felony. In fiscal 2008 and 2009,
Sargent H. Berner, William J. Witte, Kenneth Yurichuk and Stephen J. Wilkinson
were directors of a company subject to a Management Cease Trade Order for
failure to file financial statements in a timely manner. The
financial statements were filed and the Management Cease Trade Order was
lifted.
There are
no director’s services contracts with the Company providing for benefits upon
termination of employment. Emgold and its subsidiaries have no
compensatory plan or arrangement in respect of compensation received or that may
be received by the directors of the Company in its most recently completed or
current financial year to compensate such directors in the event of termination
as director (resignation, retirement, change of control) or in the event of a
change in control. There are no arrangements or understandings with
any two or more directors or executive officers pursuant to which he was
selected as a director or executive officer. Other than as disclosed
herein, there is no compensation paid to outside directors other than
stock-based compensation.
The
following information is provided with respect to the Company’s directors, and
members of its administrative, supervisory or management body and includes the
date of expiration of the current term of office and the period during which the
person has served in that office.
Name
|
|
Position(s)
with Company
|
|
Term
of Office/Period of Service
|
William
J. Witte
|
|
Director
Chair
– Environmental, Health and Safety Committee
|
|
Director:
June 1999 – Present, Executive Vice President: May 1999 - July 2002,
President and CEO: July 2002 – July 2007, President and CEO of Golden Bear
Ceramics Company: July 2007 – Present.
|
Sargent
H. Berner
|
|
Non-Executive
Chairman
|
|
Director:
May 1991 – Present, Co-CEO: July 2007 – February 2009, Co-Executive
Chairman: July 2007 – Present, CEO: February 2009 – May 2010.
Non-Executive Chairman – May 2010 - Present
|
Stephen
J. Wilkinson
|
|
Director
Chair
– Audit Committee
|
|
Director:
June 2007 – Present.
|
Robin
A. W. Elliott
|
|
Former
Director
|
|
Director:
June 2006 – September 2009
|
Kenneth
Yurichuk
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
Director:
June 2006 to Present, Co-CEO: July 2007 – February 2009, Co-Executive
Chairman: 2007 – May 2010 Chief Financial Officer: February 2009 -
Present:
|
David
Watkinson
|
|
Director
and President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Director:
October 2007 – Present, Vice-President Operations: June 2006 – July 2007,
Chief Operating Officer: July 2007 – May 2010, President: October 2007 –
Present; Chief Executive Officer: May 2010 - Present.
|
I.
Rodrigo A. Romo
|
|
Former
Corporate Secretary
|
|
Corporate
Secretary: April 2007 – November 2009
|
Jonathan
Fogg
|
|
Former
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer: April 2008 – February
2009.
|
Audit
Committee
William
J. Witte, Kenneth Yurichuk and Stephen J. Wilkinson are currently the members of
Emgold’s audit committee. The audit committee is appointed annually
by the directors of Emgold at the first meeting of the board held after Emgold’s
annual general meeting. The primary function of the audit committee
is to review the financial statements of Emgold before they are submitted to the
board for approval. The Committee is also available to assist the
board if required with matters relating to the appointment of Emgold’s auditor
and the overall scope and results of the audit, internal financial controls, and
financial information for publication for various purposes.
Corporate Governance and
Executive Compensation Committee
Members
of the Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Wilkinson, Yurichuk and
Witte. The committee was formed for making recommendations to the
board with respect to developments in the area of corporate governance, the
practices of the board, and appropriate candidates for nomination to the board
and for evaluating the performance of the board.
Environmental, Health and
Safety Committee
Emgold’s Board of Directors has an Environmental, Health
and Safety Committee (“EHS Committee”) responsible for monitoring and reviewing
environmental, safety and health policies and
programs. Occupational health and safety and responsible
environmental stewardship is recognized by Emgold as among the highest corporate
priorities at all stages of our activities. The members of the EHS
Committee work with management on a regular basis to provide guidance and input
to insure both short and long term planning, development and compliance with the
Company’s policies. The members of the EHS Committee are William J. Witte, David
G. Watkinson and Kenneth R. Yurichuk.
At
December 31, 2011, Emgold had 3 full time employees. Emgold Mining
Corporation, the parent company, employs none of these employees. The
employees are employed by Emgold’s subsidiary, Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation
in California. Emgold and its subsidiaries also contract staff on an
as-needed basis, but usually not more than one or two individuals on a periodic
basis. Emgold Mining Corporation administrative functions are
primarily provided through Quorum Management and Administrative Services Inc.
(“Quorum”).
See Item
6A. – “Directors and Senior Management”.
The
following table sets forth, as at December 31, 2011, all stock options held by
the directors and members of senior management of the Company, including the
title and amount of securities called for by the options, the exercise price and
expiration date of the options.
Stock
Options Held by Directors and Senior Management as at December 31,
2011
Name
and Title of Option Holder
|
Number
of Shares Underlying Options
|
Title
of Class
|
Exercise
Price (Cdn$)
|
Expiry
Date
|
William
J. Witte, Director
|
60,000
|
Common
|
0.175
|
November
19, 2013
|
20,000
|
Common
|
0.175
|
July
12, 2014
|
25,000
93,333
100,000
|
Common
Common
Common
|
0.175
0.25
0.25
|
December
11, 2012
March
17, 2015
December
8, 2015
|
Subtotal
|
298,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sargent
H. Berner
Director,
and Non-Executive Chairman
|
18,000
|
Common
|
0.175
|
November
19, 2013
|
15,000
|
Common
|
0.175
|
July
12, 2014
|
150,000
93,333
100,000
|
Common
Common
Common
|
0.175
0.25
0.25
|
December
11, 2012
March
17, 2015
December
8, 2015
|
Subtotal
|
376,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth
Yurichuk
Director,
Chief Financial Officer
|
150,000
93,333
100,000
|
Common
Common
Common
|
0.175
0.25
0.25
|
December
11, 2012
March
17, 2015
December
8, 2015
|
Subtotal
|
343,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
Watkinson
President
and Chief Executive Officer, Director
|
100,000
|
Common
|
0.175
|
December
11, 2012
|
50,000
93,333
600,000
|
Common
Common
Common
|
0.175
0.25
0.25
|
May
12, 2013
March
17, 2015
December
8, 2015
|
Subtotal
|
843,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen
J. Wilkinson, Director
|
5,000
|
Common
|
0.175
|
November
19, 2013
|
1,000
|
Common
|
0.175
|
July
12, 2014
|
100,000
93,333
100,000
|
Common
Common
Common
|
0.175
0.25
0.25
|
December
11, 2012
March
17, 2015
December
8, 2015
|
Subtotal
|
299,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
2,160,665
|
Common
|
|
|
ITEM
7. MAJOR
SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The
Company is a publicly owned corporation, incorporated in the province of British
Columbia, the shares of which are owned by residents of the United States,
residents of Canada and other foreign residents. To the extent known
by the directors and executive officers of the Company, the Company is not
directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another corporation. To
the extent known by the directors and executive officers of the Company as at
December 31, 2011, there are no holders of 5% or more of the common shares of
Emgold.
All
shareholders, including major and/or controlling shareholders have the same
voting rights with respect to the issued common shares.
Emgold’s
securities are recorded on the books of its transfer agent in registered form,
however, the majority of such shares are registered in the name of
intermediaries such as brokerage houses and clearing houses on behalf of their
respective brokerage clients, and Emgold does not have knowledge of or access to
information about the beneficial owners thereof. To the best of its
knowledge, Emgold is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a
corporation or foreign government. As of December 31, 2011, Emgold
had authorized an unlimited number of common shares without par value of which
58,714,504 were issued and outstanding.
As of
March 31, 2012 there were 102 registered shareholders of record
holding a total of 58,814,504 common shares of Emgold. To the best of
Emgold’s knowledge there were 55 registered shareholders of record with
registered addresses in Canada, 46 shareholders of record with registered
addresses in the United States and one shareholder of record with a registered
address in other countries holding approximately 52,088,760 (89%), 6,475,744
(11%) and 250,000 (0%) of the outstanding common shares,
respectively. Shares registered in intermediaries are assumed to be
held by residents of the same country in which the clearing-house was
located.
To the
best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no arrangements in place the
operation of which may result in a change of control of the
Company.
B.
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
No
director or senior officer, and no associate or affiliate of the foregoing
persons, and no insider has or has had any material interest, direct or
indirect, in any transactions, or in any other proposed transaction between
January 1, 2011, and the date hereof, except as noted below.
In the
year ended December 31, 2011, $186,109 (2010 - $136,396; 2009 - $141,356) in
management, administrative, geological and other services were provided by
Quorum Management and Administrative Services Inc. (“Quorum”), a private company
held jointly by the Company and other public companies, to provide services on a
full cost recovery basis to the various public entities currently sharing
certain personnel costs, office space, and overhead with the
Company. Currently, the Company has a one/third interest in
Quorum. The Company advanced three months of funds to Quorum for
future services. Quorum held this advance as a deposit for each
shareholder company as working capital. As at December 31, 2008, we
concluded that amounts advanced may not be recoverable in full, based on the
financial position of Quorum at that time and its corresponding ability to
continue to provide services to the Company. Consequently, a
provision of $321,839 was recorded. Since the allowance was recorded,
Quorum has continued to provide services. A recovery of $77,045 was
recorded in 2009. At December 31, 2010, the Company determined that
the full amount of the Quorum provision remaining of $124,605 was recoverable,
and this amount was recorded as a credit in the statement of
operations.
Consulting
fees of $42,634 (2010 –$47,988; 2009 – $52,964) were paid or are accrued and
payable to 759924 Ontario Ltd., a private company controlled by a director,
Kenneth Yurichuk.
Consulting
fees of $Nil (2010 –$20,775; 2009 – $52,953) were paid or are accrued and
payable to Kent Avenue Consulting Ltd., a private company controlled by a
director, Sargent H. Berner.
Directors’
fees totalling $Nil (2010 – $NIL; 2009 – $52,424) were also paid or are accrued
and payable to two independent directors of the Company which were included in
salaries and benefits.
Related
party balances are non-interest bearing and are due on demand, with no fixed
terms of repayment. Transactions with related parties are recorded at
the exchange amount, being the price agreed between the parties.
C.
|
Interests
of Experts and Counsel
|
Not
applicable.
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
A.
|
Consolidated
Statements and Other Financial
Information
|
See “Item
17 Financial Statements”. The consolidated financial statements as
required are attached as an exhibit and are found immediately following the text
of this Annual Report. The audit report of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, independent Chartered Accountants, is included immediately preceding the
consolidated financial statements.
Legal
Proceedings
Emgold is
not involved in any litigation or legal proceedings and to Emgold’s knowledge no
material legal proceedings involving Emgold or any of its subsidiaries are
presently anticipated to be initiated.
Dividend
Policy
Emgold
has not paid any dividends on its outstanding common shares since its
incorporation and does not anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable
future. All funds of Emgold are being retained for exploration and
development of its projects.
There are
no significant changes of financial conditions since the most recent audited
financial statements included within this Annual Report. Interim
financial statements are incorporated into the financial statements included
herein.
ITEM
9.
THE OFFER AND LISTING
A.
|
Offer
and listing details
|
Trading
Markets
The table
below lists the high and low prices for common shares of the Company for the
past five years and for the current fiscal year to April 25, 2012.
TSX
Venture Exchange: EMR – Trading in Canadian Dollars
(post-consolidation, prior years adjusted to reflect
consolidation)
|
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
($)
|
($)
|
|
Annual
|
|
|
|
2012
(to April 25)
|
0.14
|
0.07
|
|
2011
2010
|
0.29
0.42
|
0.07
0.12
|
|
2009
|
0.80
|
0.20
|
|
2008
|
2.80
|
0.20
|
|
2007
|
3.50
|
1.10
|
|
TSX
Venture Exchange: EMR – Trading in Canadian
Dollars
|
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
($)
|
($)
|
|
Calendar
2011
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
0.29
|
0.12
|
|
Second
Quarter
|
0.15
|
0.11
|
|
Third
Quarter
|
0.15
|
0.08
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
0.19
|
0.07
|
|
Calendar
2010
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
|
0.42
0.26
0.30
0.28
|
0.22
0.12
0.13
0.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calendar
2009
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
0.60
|
0.40
|
|
Second
Quarter
|
0.70
|
0.30
|
|
Third
Quarter
|
0.90
|
0.50
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
0.70
|
0.40
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calendar
2008
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
2.80
|
1.30
|
|
Second
Quarter
|
2.20
|
1.40
|
|
Third
Quarter
|
1.70
|
0.60
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
0.90
|
0.20
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calendar
2007
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
3.50
|
2.60
|
|
Second
Quarter
|
3.20
|
1.60
|
|
Third
Quarter
|
2.00
|
1.10
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
2.00
|
1.10
|
|
|
|
|
|
Month
ended
|
|
|
|
March
31, 2012
|
0.11
|
0.09
|
|
February
29, 2012
|
0.12
|
0.11
|
|
January
31, 2012
|
0.11
|
0.10
|
|
December
31, 2011
|
0.13
|
0.11
|
|
November
30, 2011
|
0.14
|
0.12
|
|
The high,
low and closing price of the Company’s common stock on April 25, 2012, was
Cdn$0.08Cdn$0.08and Cdn$0.08, respectively. The Company’s common
stock is issued in registered form.
Not
applicable.
The
shares of Emgold have traded in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange (formerly the
Canadian Venture Exchange and successor to the Vancouver Stock Exchange) since
August 31, 1989, (symbol-EMR).
Not
applicable.
Not
applicable.
Not
applicable.
ITEM
10.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Not
applicable.
B.
|
Memorandum
and Articles of Association
|
Emgold’s
corporate constituting documents comprising Articles of Association and
Memorandum are registered with the British Columbia Registrar of Companies under
Corporation No. 361869. The Company was continued under the Business
Corporations Act in British Columbia in June 2005. A copy of the
Notice of Article and Articles have been filed as an exhibit to filings in prior
periods
Emgold’s
Articles do not specify objects or purposes. Under British Columbia
law, a British Columbia corporation has all the legal powers of a natural
person. British Columbia corporations may not undertake certain
limited business activities such as operating as a trust company or railroad
without alterations to its form of articles and specific government
consent.
2.
|
Directors – Powers and
Limitations
|
Emgold’s
articles do not specify a maximum number of directors (the minimum under British
Columbia law for a public company is three). Shareholders at the
annual shareholders meeting determine the number of directors annually and all
directors are elected at that time. There are no staggered
directorships. Under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act
(“BCA”) directors are obligated to abstain from voting on matters in which they
may be financially interested after fully disclosing such
interest. Directors’ compensation is not a matter on which they must
abstain. Directors must be of the age of majority (18), and meet
eligibility criteria including not being mentally infirm, not having any
undischarged bankruptcies and having no fraud related convictions in the
previous five years. There is no mandatory retirement age either
under Emgold’s Articles or under the BCA.
Directors’
borrowing powers are not generally restricted where the borrowing is in Emgold’s
best interests, but the directors may not authorize Emgold to provide financial
assistance for any reason where Emgold is insolvent or the providing of the
guarantee would render it insolvent. Directors need not own any
shares of Emgold in order to qualify as directors.
The
Articles specify the number of directors shall be the number of directors fixed
by shareholders annually, or the number that are actually elected at a general
shareholders meeting. Shareholders at the annual shareholders’
meeting determine the number of directors annually and all directors are elected
at that time. Under the Articles the directors are entitled between
successive annual general meetings to appoint one or more additional directors
but not more than one-third of the number of directors fixed at a shareholders
meeting or actually elected at the preceding annual shareholders’
meeting. Directors automatically retire at the commencement of each
annual meeting but may be re-elected thereat.
Under the
Articles, a director who is in any way directly or indirectly interested in a
proposed contract or transaction, or who holds any office or possesses any
property whereby directly or indirectly a duty might be created which would
conflict with his duty or interest as a director, shall declare the nature and
extent of such interest in such contract or transaction. A director
shall not vote in respect of any such contract or transaction and if he should
vote, his vote shall not be counted, but he may be counted in the quorum present
at the meeting. Similarly, under the BCA directors are obligated to
abstain from voting on matters in which they may be financially interested after
fully disclosing such interest.
3.
|
Descriptions of
rights, preferences and restrictions attaching to each class of
shares
|
Common
Shares
Emgold
has authorized an unlimited number of common shares without par
value. All common shares rank pari passu for the payment of dividends
and distributions in the event of wind-up.
Some of
the significant provisions under British Columbia law and Emgold’s Articles
relating to the common shares may be summarized as follows:
Capital Increases and Other
Changes
Authorized
capital increases as well as other changes to the constituting documents require
the approval of the majority of votes of shareholders at a duly convened
meeting.
Certain
changes such as amalgamations, re-domiciling, and creation of new classes of
shares may also give rise to dissent rights (the right to be paid the “fair
value” for their shares in cash if the matter is proceeded with).
Shares Fully
Paid
All
Emgold shares must, by applicable law, be issued as fully paid for cash,
property or services. They are, therefore, non-assessable and not
subject to further calls for payment.
Pre-emptive
Rights
There are
no pre-emptive rights applicable to Emgold which provide a right to any person
to participate in offerings of Emgold’s securities
Liquidation
All
common shares of Emgold participate rateably in any available assets in the
event of a winding up or other liquidation, subject to the prior rights of First
Preference Shares.
No Limitation on Foreign
Ownership
There are
no limitations under Emgold’s Articles or in the BCA on the right of persons who
are not residents of Canada or foreign shareholders to hold or vote common
shares. (See also “Exchange Controls”)
Dividends
Dividends
may be declared by the Board out of available assets and are paid rateably to
holders of common shares. No dividend may be paid if Emgold is, or
would thereby become, insolvent.
Voting
Rights
Each
Emgold common share is entitled to one vote on matters to which common shares
ordinarily vote including the election of directors, appointment of auditors and
approval of corporate changes. There are no cumulative voting rights
applicable to Emgold. At an annual meeting of shareholders, subject
to the BCA, general meeting resolutions are decided by a show of hands, or upon
request, by a poll. A simple majority is required to pass an ordinary
resolution.
Shareholder
Meetings
Shareholders’
meetings are governed by the Articles of Emgold but many important shareholder
protections are also contained in the Securities Act (British Columbia) and the
BCA. The Articles provide that Emgold will hold an annual
shareholders’ meeting, will provide at least 21 days’ notice and will provide
for certain procedural matters and rules of order with respect to the conduct of
the meeting. The Securities Act (British Columbia) and the BCA
superimpose requirements that generally provide that shareholder’ meetings
require not less than a 60 day notice period from initial public notice and that
Emgold makes a thorough advanced search of intermediary and brokerage registered
shareholdings to facilitate communication with beneficial shareholders so that
meeting proxy and information materials can be sent via the brokerages to
unregistered but beneficial shareholders. The form and content of
information circulars and proxies and like matters are governed by the
Securities Act (British Columbia) and the BCA. This legislation
specifies the disclosure requirements for the proxy materials and various
corporate actions, background information on the nominees for election for
director, executive compensation paid in the previous year and full details of
any unusual matters or related party transactions. Emgold must hold
an annual shareholders meeting open to all shareholders for personal attendance
or by proxy at each shareholder’s determination. The meeting must be
held within 15 months of the previous annual shareholders’ meeting. A
quorum for a shareholders’ meeting is two members or proxy holders
present.
Change in
Control
Emgold
has not implemented any shareholders’ rights or other “poison pill” protection
against possible take-overs. Emgold does not have any agreements,
which are triggered by a take-over or other change of control. There
are no provisions in its articles triggered by or affected by a change in
outstanding shares which gives rise to a change in control. There are
no provisions in Emgold’s material agreements giving special rights to any
person on a change of control.
Insider Share Ownership
Reporting
The
articles of Emgold do not require disclosure of share
ownership. Share ownership of director nominees must be reported
annually in proxy materials sent to Emgold’s shareholders. There are
no requirements under British Columbia corporate law to report ownership of
shares of Emgold but the Securities Act (British Columbia) requires disclosure
of trading by insiders (generally officers, directors and holders of 10% of
voting shares) within 10 days of the trade. Controlling shareholders
(generally those in excess of 20% of outstanding shares) must provide seven days
advance notice of share sales.
Securities Act (British
Columbia)
This
statute applies to Emgold and governs matters typically pertaining to public
securities such as continuous quarterly financial reporting, immediate
disclosure of material changes, insider trade reporting, take-over protections
to ensure fair and equal treatment of all shareholders, exemption and resale
rules pertaining to non-prospectus securities issuances as well as civil
liability for certain misrepresentations, disciplinary, appeal and discretionary
ruling maters. All Emgold shareholders regardless of residence have
equal rights under this legislation.
Future Capital
Calls
The
directors of the Company do not have any liability for future capital
calls.
Preference
Shares
Emgold
has authorized an unlimited number of preference shares without par value of
which none are outstanding as at December 31, 2011 (see section B – Liquid and
Capital Resources of Item 5 – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects).
The
following is a summary of each material contract, other than contracts entered
into in the ordinary course of business, to which Emgold or any member of the
Emgold group is a party, for the two years preceding the date of this
document.
1.
|
Until
February 2010, the Company had a lease and option to purchase agreement
for a 44,750 square foot building located in Grass Valley,
California. Minimum lease payments were $21,928 per month and
increased by the Cost of Living Adjustment for all urban consumers in the
San Francisco-Oakland area, annually up to April 1, 2010. The
Company had an option to purchase, and the purchase price, if exercised in
fiscal 2009, would be $3.56 million, at the end of fiscal 2009, with an
additional increase in 2010. The Company’s lease was to expire
December 2010, but after negotiations with the owner of the property the
lease was terminated in February
2010.
|
2.
|
A
five-year lease (as amended) initially had a term ending on May 31, 2007,
with the owners of the Idaho-Maryland Mine at lease payments of $25,500
quarterly on February, May, August and November 1st. The
owners granted to the Company the exclusive right and option to purchase
all of the leased property. The property is subject to a 3% net
smelter royalty from production if the property is still being
leased. Any royalty payments made prior to exercising the
purchase option may be deducted from the purchase price. In
February 2007, for a one-time payment of $75,000, the Company negotiated
an extension to the initial amended lease, whereby the exercise date was
extended to December 31, 2008. The Company agreed to a
quarterly lease payment of $75,000 beginning on May 1, 2007, and
continuing for the term of the revised lease. The Company
further amended the mining lease and option to purchase as follows: the
payments, commencing on February 1, 2009, were reduced to $30,000 per
quarter during fiscal 2009. Commencing with the February 1,
2010, payment, quarterly payments are to be $60,000 through to the end of
the extended term, which is February 1, 2011. All other
conditions of the original agreement, including the option purchase price
and NSR remain unchanged. The quarterly lease payments are
being expensed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as holding
costs, but are accrued and have not been paid due to the financial
constraints of the Company.
|
|
The
Company extended its lease and option to purchase agreement on the
Idaho-Maryland Project property with the BET Group for and additional two
years to February 1, 2013. All lease payments related to the agreement are
current as at December 31, 2010. Payments for the extension period will be
$30,000 per quarter. Fifty per cent of the quarterly payments for 2010
were deferred, lowering the quarterly payments from $60,000 to $30,000 per
quarter. The deferred balance of $120,000, subject to an interest rate of
5.25%, will be added to the purchase price of the property and mineral
rights, the first purchase payment being due February 1,
2013.
|
3.
|
The
Company signed an agreement with Ceramext, LLC, a private company
controlled by Ross Guenther, to develop and use the Ceramext®
process. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company obtained
the worldwide rights, subject to a monthly royalty of 3% of the gross
sales revenue derived from the sales of physical products
produced. The Company has since determined that commercially
available technology not proprietary to Ceramext, LLC may be used for the
further development of its recycling and stone and ceramics product
business and the agreement was terminated in May
2009.
|
The
Company is not aware of any Canadian federal or provincial laws, decrees or
regulations that restrict the export or import of capital, including foreign
exchange controls, or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other
payments to a non-resident holder of Common Shares, other than withholding tax
requirements. Any such remittances to United States residents are
generally subject to withholding tax, however no such remittances are likely in
the foreseeable future. See “Taxation”, below.
There is
no limitation imposed by the laws of Canada or by the charter or other
constituent documents of Emgold on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote
the Common Shares, other than as provided in the Investment Canada Act (the
“Investment Act”). The following discussion summarizes the material
features of the Investment Act for a non-resident who proposes to acquire the
Common Shares. It is general only, it is not a substitute for
independent advice from an investor’s own advisor, and it does not anticipate
statutory or regulatory amendments. Emgold does not believe the
Investment Act will have any effect on it or on its non-Canadian shareholders
due to a number of factors including the nature of its operations and Emgold’s
relatively small capitalization.
The
Investment Act generally prohibits implementation of a “reviewable” investment
by an individual, government or agency thereof, corporation, partnership, trust
or joint venture (each an “entity”) that is not a “Canadian” as defined in the
Investment Act (a “non-Canadian”), unless after review the Director of
Investments appointed by the minister responsible for the Investment Act is
satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to
Canada. The size and nature of a proposed transaction may give rise
to an obligation to notify the Director to seek an advance ruling. An
investment in Emgold’s Common Shares by a non-Canadian other than a “WTO
Investor” (as that term is defined in the Investment Act and which term includes
entities which are nationals of or are controlled by nationals of member states
of the World Trade Organization) when Emgold was not controlled by a WTO
Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment
to acquire control of Emgold and the value of the assets of Emgold, as
determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment
Act, was over a certain figure, or if an order for review was made by the
federal cabinet on the grounds that the investment related to Canada’s cultural
heritage or national identity, regardless of the value of the assets of
Emgold. An investment in the Common Shares by a WTO Investor, or by a
non-Canadian when Emgold was controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable
under the Investment Act if it was an investment to acquire control of Emgold
and the value of the assets of Emgold, as determined in accordance with the
regulations promulgated under the Investment Act, was not less than a specified
amount, which for 2009 is Cdn$295 million. A non-Canadian would
acquire control of Emgold for the purposes of the Investment Act if the
non-Canadian acquired a majority of the Common Shares. The
acquisition of less than a majority but one-third or more of the Common Shares
would be presumed to be an acquisition of control of Emgold unless it could be
established that, on the acquisition, Emgold was not controlled in fact by the
acquirer through the ownership of the Common Shares.
The
foregoing assumes Emgold will not engage in the production of uranium or own an
interest in a producing uranium property in Canada, or provide any financial
service or transportation service, as the rules governing these businesses are
different.
Certain
transactions relating to the Common Shares would be exempt from the Investment
Act, including:
a)
|
an
acquisition of the Common Shares by a person in the ordinary course of
that person’s business as a trader or dealer in
securities,
|
b)
|
an
acquisition of control of Emgold in connection with the realization of
security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and not for a
purpose related to the provisions of the Investment Act,
and
|
c)
|
an
acquisition of control of Emgold by reason of an amalgamation, merger,
consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate
direct or indirect control in fact of Emgold, through the ownership of the
Common Shares, remained unchanged.
|
ALL
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT
TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING THE COMMON SHARES OF THE
COMPANY.
Material Canadian Federal
Income Tax Consequences for United States Residents
The
following summarizes the material Canadian federal income tax consequences
generally applicable to the holding and disposition of Common Shares by a holder
(in this summary, a “U.S. Holder”) who, (a) for the purposes of the Income Tax
Act (Canada) (the “Tax Act”), is not resident in Canada, deals at arm’s length
with Emgold, holds the Common Shares as capital property and does not use or
hold the Common Shares in the course of carrying on, or otherwise in connection
with, a business in Canada, and (b) for the purposes of the Canada-United States
Income Tax Convention, 1980 (the “Treaty”), is a resident solely of the United
States, has never been a resident of Canada, and has not held or used (and does
not hold or use) Common Shares in connection with a permanent establishment or
fixed base in Canada. This summary does not apply to traders or
dealers in securities, limited liability companies, tax-exempt entities,
insurers, financial institutions (including those to which the mark-to-market
provisions of the Tax Act apply), or any other U.S. Holder to which special
considerations apply.
This
summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act including all
regulations thereunder, the Treaty, all proposed amendments to the Tax Act, the
regulations and the Treaty publicly announced by the Government of Canada to the
date hereof, and the current administrative practices of the Canada Customs and
Revenue Agency. It has been assumed that all currently proposed
amendments will be enacted as proposed and that there will be no other relevant
change in any governing law or administrative practice, although no assurances
can be given in these respects. This summary does not take into
account provincial, U.S., state or other foreign income tax law or
practice. The tax consequences to any particular U.S. Holder will
vary according to the status of that holder as an individual, trust,
corporation, partnership or other entity, the jurisdictions in which that holder
is subject to taxation, and generally according to that holder’s particular
circumstances. Accordingly, this summary is not, and is not to be
construed as, Canadian tax advice to any particular U.S. Holder.
Dividends
Dividends
paid or deemed to be paid to a U.S. Holder by Emgold will be subject to Canadian
withholding tax. Under the Treaty, the rate of withholding tax on
dividends paid to a U.S. Holder is generally limited to 15% of the gross amount
of the dividend (or 5% if the U.S. Holder is a corporation and beneficially owns
at least 10% of Emgold’s voting shares). Emgold will be required to
withhold the applicable withholding tax from any such dividend and remit it to
the Canadian government for the U.S. Holder’s account.
Disposition
A U.S.
Holder is not subject to tax under the Tax Act in respect of a capital gain
realized on the disposition of a Common Share in the open market unless the
share is “taxable Canadian property” to the holder thereof and the U.S. Holder
is not entitled to relief under the Treaty. A Common Share will be
taxable Canadian property to a U.S. Holder if, at any time during the 60 months
preceding the disposition, the U.S. Holder or persons with whom the U.S. Holder
did not deal at arm’s length alone or together owned, or had rights to acquire,
25% or more of Emgold’s issued shares of any class or series. If the
shares of Emgold constitute taxable Canadian property to the holder, the holder
may be subject to Canadian income tax on the gain. The taxpayer’s taxable
capital gain or loss from a disposition of the share is the amount, if any, by
which the proceeds of disposition exceed (or are exceeded by) the aggregate of
the adjusted cost base and reasonable expenses of
disposition. One-half of the capital gain is included in income and
one-half of the capital loss is deductible from capital gains realized in the
same year. Unused capital losses may be carried back three taxation
years or forward indefinitely and applied to reduce capital gains realized in
those years. It should be noted that Canada requires a withholding
tax on the gross proceeds of a sale of taxable Canadian property by a
non-resident. The withholding tax may be reduced on completion of a
Clearance Certificate Request. If the disposition of the share is
subject to tax in Canada, the non-resident must also file a Canadian income tax
return reporting the disposition.
A U.S.
Holder whose Common Shares do constitute taxable Canadian property, and who
might therefore be liable for Canadian income tax under the Tax Act, will
generally be relieved from such liability under the Treaty unless the value of
such shares at the time of disposition is derived principally from real property
situated in Canada. The value of Emgold’s common shares is not
currently derived principally from real property situated in
Canada.
United States Tax
Consequences
United States Federal Income
Tax Consequences
NOTHING
CONTAINED IN THIS SUMMARY CONTAINING ANY U.S. FEDERAL TAX ISSUE IS INTENDED OR
WRITTEN TO BE USED, AND IT CANNOT BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING U.S. TAX
PENALTIES UNDER THE CODE.
The
following is a discussion of material United States federal income tax
consequences, under current law, generally applicable to a U.S. Holder (as
hereinafter defined) of common shares of Emgold. This discussion does
not address all potentially relevant federal income tax matters and it does not
address consequences peculiar to persons subject to special provisions of
federal income tax law, such as those described below as excluded from the
definition of a U.S. Holder. In addition, this discussion does not
cover any state, local or foreign tax consequences. (see “Taxation –
Material Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences for United States Residents”
above) for Canadian tax consequences. Accordingly, we strongly recommend
that holders and prospective holders of common shares of Emgold consult their
own tax advisors about the specific federal, state, local, and foreign tax
consequences to them of purchasing, owning and disposing of common shares of
Emgold, based upon their individual circumstances.
The
following discussion is based upon the sections of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations, published Internal Revenue
Service (“IRS”) rulings, published administrative positions of the IRS and court
decisions that are currently applicable, any or all of which could be materially
and adversely changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time and which
are subject to differing interpretations. This discussion does not consider the
potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any proposed legislation,
which, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any
time.
U.S.
Holders
As used
herein, a “U.S. Holder” means a holder of common shares of Emgold who is a
citizen or individual resident of the United States, a corporation created or
organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political
subdivision thereof, an estate whose income is taxable in the United States
irrespective of source or a trust subject to the primary supervision of a court
within the United States and control of a United States fiduciary as described
Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code. This summary does not address the
tax consequences to, and U.S. Holder does not include, persons subject to
specific provisions of federal income tax law, such as tax-exempt organizations,
qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and other
tax-deferred accounts, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate
investment trusts, regulated investment companies, broker-dealers, non-resident
alien individuals, persons or entities that have a “functional currency” other
than the U.S. dollar, shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax,
shareholders who hold common shares as part of a straddle, hedging or conversion
transaction, and shareholders who acquired their common shares through the
exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for
services. This summary is limited to U.S. Holders who own common
shares as capital assets, within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and
who own (directly and indirectly, pursuant to applicable rules of constructive
ownership) no more than 5% of the value of the total outstanding stock of
Emgold. This summary does not address the consequences to a person or
entity holding an interest in a shareholder or the consequences to a person of
the ownership, exercise or disposition of any options, warrants or other rights
to acquire common shares. In addition, this summary does not address special
rules applicable to persons holding common shares through a
partnership.
Distribution on Common
Shares of Emgold
Subject
to the rules discussed under “Passive Foreign Investment Company” below, in
general, U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive
dividends) with respect to common shares of Emgold are required to include in
gross income for United States federal income tax purposes the gross amount of
such distributions, equal to the U.S. dollar value of such distributions on the
date of receipt (based on the exchange rate on such date), to the extent that
Emgold has current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under
United States federal income tax principles), without reduction for any Canadian
income tax withheld from such distributions. Such Canadian tax
withheld may be credited, subject to certain limitations, against the U.S.
Holder’s federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in
computing the U.S. Holder’s federal taxable income by those who itemize
deductions. (See more detailed discussion at “Foreign Tax Credit”
below). To the extent that distributions exceed current and
accumulated earnings and profits of Emgold, they will be treated first as a
return of capital up to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in the common shares
and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of
property. Preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains are
applicable to a U.S. Holder, which is an individual, estate or
trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term
capital gains for a U.S. Holder, which is a corporation.
In the
case of foreign currency received as a dividend that is not converted by the
recipient into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder will have a
tax basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of
receipt. Generally any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale
or other disposition of the foreign currency, including the exchange for U.S.
dollars, will be ordinary income or loss. However, an individual
whose realized gain does not exceed $200 will not recognize that gain, provided
that there are no expenses associated with the transaction that meet the
requirements for deductibility as a trade or business expense (other than travel
expenses in connection with a business trip) or as an expense for the production
of income.
Under
current Treasury Regulations, dividends paid on Emgold’s common shares, if any,
generally will not be subject to information reporting and generally will not be
subject to U.S. backup withholding tax. However, dividends and the
proceeds from a sale of Emgold’s common shares paid in the U.S. through a U.S.
or U.S. related paying agent (including a broker) will be subject to U.S.
information reporting requirements and may also be subject to the 28% U.S.
backup withholding tax, unless the paying agent is furnished with a duly
completed and signed Form W-9. Any amounts withheld under the U.S.
backup withholding tax rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against the
U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required
information is furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Tax
Credit
A U.S.
Holder who pays (or has withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax with
respect to the ownership of common shares of Emgold may be entitled, at the
option of the U.S. Holder, to either receive a deduction or a tax credit for
such foreign tax paid or withheld. Generally, it will be more
advantageous to claim a credit because a credit reduces United States federal
income taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis, while a deduction merely reduces the
taxpayer’s income subject to tax. This election is made on a
year-by-year basis and generally applies to all foreign taxes paid by (or
withheld from) the U.S. Holder during that year. There are
significant and complex limitations which apply to the credit; among which is
the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of
the U.S. Holder’s United States income tax liability that the U.S. Holder’s
foreign source income bears to his or its worldwide taxable income. In the
determination of the application of this limitation, the various items of income
and deduction must be classified into foreign and domestic
sources. Complex rules govern this classification process. In
addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect to specific
classes of income such as “passive category income”, and “general category
income.” Dividends distributed by Emgold will generally constitute
“passive category income” or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, “general
category income” for these purposes. The availability of the foreign
tax credit and the application of the limitations on the credit are fact
specific, and U.S. Holders of common shares of Emgold should consult their own
tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances.
Disposition of Common Shares
of Emgold
Subject
to the rules discussed under “Passive Foreign Investment Company” below, in
general, U.S. Holders will recognize gain or loss upon the sale of common shares
of Emgold equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount of cash
plus the fair market value of any property received, and (ii) the
shareholder’s tax basis in the common shares of Emgold. Preferential
tax rates apply to long-term capital gains of U.S. Holders, which are
individuals, estates or trusts. In general, gain or loss on the sale
of common shares of Emgold will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common
shares are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder and are held for more
than one year. Deductions for net capital losses are subject to
significant limitations. For U.S. Holders, which are not
corporations, any unused portion of such net capital loss may be carried over to
be used in later tax years until such net capital loss is thereby
exhausted.
For U.S.
Holders that are corporations (other than corporations subject to Subchapter S
of the Code), an unused net capital loss may be carried back three years and
carried forward five years from the loss year to be offset against capital gains
until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.
Passive Foreign Investment
Company
United
States income tax law contains rules governing “passive foreign investment
companies” (“PFIC”) which can have significant tax effects on U.S. Holders of
foreign corporations. These rules do not apply to non-U.S. Holders.
Section 1297 of the Code defines a PFIC as a corporation that is not formed in
the United States if, for any taxable year, either (i) 75% or more of its gross
income is “passive income,” which includes interest, dividends and certain rents
and royalties or (ii) the average percentage, by fair market value (or, if the
corporation is not publicly traded and either is a controlled foreign
corporation or makes an election, by adjusted tax basis), of its assets that
produce or are held for the production of “passive income” is 50% or
more. Emgold appears to have been a PFIC for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2009, and at least certain prior fiscal years. In
addition, Emgold may qualify as a PFIC in future fiscal years. We strongly recommend that each U.S.
Holder consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect such U.S.
Holder’s tax situation.
Each U.S.
Holder who holds stock in a foreign corporation during any year in which such
corporation qualifies as a PFIC is subject to United States federal income
taxation under one of three alternative tax regimes at the election of such U.S.
Holder. The following is a discussion of such alternative tax regimes
applied to such U.S. Holders of Emgold.
A U.S.
Holder who elects to treat Emgold as a qualified electing fund (“QEF”) will be
subject, under Section 1293 of the Code, to current federal income tax for any
taxable year to which the election applies in which Emgold qualifies as a PFIC
on his pro rata share of Emgold’s (i) “net capital gain” (the excess of net
long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), which will be taxed as
long-term capital gain, and (ii) “ordinary earnings” (the excess of earnings and
profits over net capital gain), which will be taxed as ordinary income, in each
case, for the shareholder’s taxable year in which (or with which) Emgold’s
taxable year ends, regardless of whether such amounts are actually
distributed. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common shares will be
increased by any such amount that is included in income but not
distributed.
The
procedure a U.S. Holder must comply with in making an effective QEF election,
and the consequences of such election, will depend on whether the year of the
election is the first year in the U.S. Holder’s holding period in which Emgold
is a PFIC. If the U.S. Holder makes a QEF election in such first
year, i.e., a “timely” QEF election, then the U.S. Holder may make the QEF
election by simply filing the appropriate documents at the time the U.S. Holder
files his tax return for such first year. If, however, Emgold
qualified as a PFIC in a prior year during the U.S. Holder’s holding period,
then, in order to avoid the Section 1291 rules discussed below, in addition to
filing documents, the U.S. Holder must elect to recognize under the rules of
Section 1291 of the Code (discussed herein), any gain that he would otherwise
recognize if the U.S. Holder sold his stock on the qualification
date. The qualification date is the first day of Emgold’s first tax
year in which Emgold qualified as a QEF with respect to such U.S.
Holder. For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder who makes (i)
a timely QEF election, or (ii) an untimely QEF election and the above-described
gain-recognition election under Section 1291 is referred to herein as an
“Electing U.S. Holder.” A U.S. Holder who holds common shares at any
time during a year of Emgold in which Emgold is a PFIC and who is not an
Electing U.S. Holder (including a U.S. Holder who makes an untimely QEF election
and does not make the above-described gain-recognition election) is referred to
herein as a “Non-Electing U.S. Holder.” An Electing U.S. Holder
(i) generally treats any gain realized on the disposition of his Emgold
common shares as capital gain; and (ii) may either avoid interest charges
resulting from PFIC status altogether, or make an annual election, subject to
certain limitations, to defer payment of current taxes on his share of Emgold’s
annual realized net capital gain and ordinary earnings subject, however, to an
interest charge. If the U.S. Holder is not a corporation, any
interest charge imposed under the PFIC regime would be treated as “personal
interest” that is not deductible.
In order
for a U.S. Holder to make (or maintain) a valid QEF election, Emgold must
provide certain information regarding its net capital gains and ordinary
earnings and permit its books and records to be examined to verify such
information. Emgold intends to make the necessary information
available to U.S. Holders to permit them to make (and maintain) QEF elections
with respect to Emgold. We strongly recommend that each
prospective U.S. Holder consult a tax advisor regarding the availability of, and
procedure for making, the QEF election.
A QEF
election, once made with respect to Emgold, applies to the tax year for which it
was made and to all subsequent tax years, unless the election is invalidated or
terminated, or the IRS consents to revocation of the election. If a
U.S. Holder makes a QEF election and Emgold ceases to qualify as a PFIC in a
subsequent tax year, the QEF election will remain in effect, although not
applicable, during those tax years in which Emgold does not qualify as a
PFIC. Therefore, if Emgold again qualifies as a PFIC in a subsequent
tax year, the QEF election will be effective and the U.S. Holder will be subject
to the rules described above for Electing U.S. Holders in such tax year and any
subsequent tax years in which Emgold qualifies as a PFIC. In
addition, the QEF election remains in effect, although not applicable, with
respect to an Electing U.S. Holder even after such U.S. Holder disposes of all
of his or its direct and indirect interest in the shares of
Emgold. Therefore, if such U.S. Holder reacquires an interest in
Emgold, that U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules described above for
Electing U.S. Holders for each tax year in which Emgold qualifies as a
PFIC.
In the
case of a Non-Electing U.S. Holder, special taxation rules under Section 1291 of
the Code will apply to (i) gains realized on the disposition (or deemed to
be realized by reasons of a pledge) of his Emgold common shares and
(ii) certain “excess distributions,” as defined in Section 1291(b), by
Emgold.
A
Non-Electing U.S. Holder generally would be required to pro rate all gains
realized on the disposition of his Emgold common shares and all excess
distributions on his Emgold common shares over the entire holding period for the
common shares. All gains or excess distributions allocated to prior
years of the U.S. Holder (excluding any portion of the holder’s period prior to
the first day of the first year of Emgold (i) which began after December 31,
1986, and (ii) for which Emgold was a PFIC) would be taxed at the highest tax
rate for each such prior year applicable to ordinary income. The
Non-Electing U.S. Holder also would be liable for interest on the foregoing tax
liability for each such prior year calculated as if such liability had been due
with respect to each such prior year. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder that is not a
corporation must treat this interest charge as “personal interest” which, as
discussed above, is wholly non-deductible. The balance, if any, of
the gain or the excess distribution will be treated as ordinary income in the
year of the disposition or distribution, and no interest charge will be incurred
with respect to such balance. In certain circumstances, the sum of the tax and
the PFIC interest charge may exceed the amount of the excess distribution
received, or the amount of proceeds of disposition realized, by the U.S.
Holder.
If Emgold
is a PFIC for any taxable year during which a Non-Electing U.S. Holder holds
Emgold common shares, then Emgold will continue to be treated as a PFIC with
respect to such Registrant common shares, even if it is no longer definitionally
a PFIC. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder may terminate this deemed PFIC
status by electing to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules
discussed above for Non-Electing U.S. Holders) as if such Emgold common shares
had been sold on the last day of the last taxable year for which it was a
PFIC.
Effective
for tax years of U.S. Holders beginning after December 31, 1997, U.S. Holders
who hold (actually or constructively) marketable stock of a foreign corporation
that qualifies as a PFIC may elect to mark such stock to the market annually (a
“mark-to-market election”). If such an election is made, such U.S.
Holder will generally not be subject to the special taxation rules of Section
1291 discussed above. However, if a Non-Electing U.S. Holder makes
the mark-to-market election after the beginning of the holding period for the
PFIC stock, then the Section 1291 rules will apply to certain dispositions of,
distributions on and other amounts taxable with respect to Emgold common
shares. A U.S. Holder who makes the mark-to market election will
include in income for each taxable year for which the election is in effect an
amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the common
shares of Emgold as of the close of such tax year over such U.S. Holder’s
adjusted basis in such common shares. In addition, the U.S. Holder is
allowed a deduction for the lesser of (i) the excess, if any, of such U.S.
Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares over the fair market value of
such shares as of the close of the tax year, or (ii) the excess, if any, of
(A) the mark-to-market gains for the common shares in Emgold included by
such U.S. Holder for prior tax years, including any amount which would have been
treated as a mark-to-market gain for any prior tax year but for the Section 1291
rules discussed above with respect to Non-Electing U.S. Holders, over
(B) the mark-to-market losses for shares that were allowed as deductions
for prior tax years. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common
shares of Emgold will be adjusted to reflect the amount included in or deducted
from income as a result of a mark-to-market election. A
mark-to-market election applies to the taxable year in which the election is
made and to each subsequent taxable year, unless Emgold common shares cease to
be marketable, as specifically defined, or the IRS consents to revocation of the
election. A U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election by filing IRS
Form 8621. No view is expressed regarding whether common shares of
Emgold are marketable for these purposes or whether the election will be
available.
Under
Section 1291(f) of the Code, the IRS has issued Proposed Treasury Regulations
that, subject to certain exceptions, would treat as taxable certain transfers of
PFIC stock by Non-Electing U.S. Holders that are generally not otherwise taxed,
such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at
death. Generally, in such cases the basis of Emgold common shares in the hands
of the transferee and the basis of any property received in the exchange for
those common shares would be increased by the amount of gain
recognized. Under the Proposed Treasury Regulations, an Electing U.S.
Holder would not be taxed on certain transfers of PFIC stock, such as gifts,
exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at
death. The transferee’s basis in this case will depend on the manner
of the transfer. In the case of a transfer by an Electing U.S. Holder upon
death, for example, the transferee’s basis is generally equal to the fair market
value of the Electing U.S. Holder’s common shares as of the date of death under
Section 1014 of the Code. The specific tax effect to the U.S. Holder
and the transferee may vary based on the manner in which the common shares are
transferred. We
strongly recommend that each prospective U.S. Holder of Emgold consult a tax
advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect his or its tax
situation.
Certain
special, generally adverse, rules will apply with respect to Emgold common
shares while Emgold is a PFIC unless the U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF
election. For example under Section 1298(b)(6) of the Code, a U.S.
Holder who uses PFIC stock as security for a loan (including a margin loan)
will, except as may be provided in regulations, be treated as having made a
taxable disposition of such shares.
F.
|
Dividends
and Paying Agents
|
Not
applicable.
Not
applicable.
Exhibits
attached to this Form 20-F are also available for viewing at the offices of
Emgold, Suite 1400, 570 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia
V6C 3P1 or on request of Emgold at 604-687-4622. Copies of
Emgold’s financial statements and other continuous disclosure documents required
under the British Columbia Securities Act are available
for viewing on the Internet at www.SEDAR.com.
I.
|
Subsidiary
Information
|
Not
applicable.
ITEM
11.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
A. Quantitative
Information About Market Risk
As at
December 31, 2011, the Company has the following foreign denominated balances,
which are recorded at the U.S. dollar amount and are subject to foreign exchange
risk:
|
Canadian
currency amount
|
U.S.
currency amount
|
Canadian
dollars
|
|
|
Cash
|
876,831
|
862,174
|
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
(165,393)
|
(162,628)
|
|
|
|
B. Qualitative
Information About Market Risk
Transaction Risk and
Currency Risk Management
Emgold’s
current operations do not employ financial instruments or
derivatives. Currently the Company has no long-term debt other than
the Class A preference shares, or source of revenue as the Company is in the
resource exploration and early development stage on its mineral property
interests.
Exchange Rate
Sensitivity
The
majority of Emgold’s operations are in the United States, but its administrative
operations are in Canada. The Company is affected by exchange rate
risk, as the equity financings by the Company to date have been denominated in
Canadian dollars. Excess cash is invested primarily in United States
dollar denominated investments and may be affected by exchange rate risk for
Canadian dollar expenditures. In future, it will be necessary to do
further equity or other forms of financing. The funds may be received
in either Canadian or U.S. dollars. Funds received in U.S. dollars
will likely remain in U.S. dollars and be used for expenditures in U.S. dollars,
to reduce exchange risk. The risk that the Company is subject to will
be if expenses are incurred in Canadian dollars, with large fluctuations in the
Canadian-U.S. dollar exchange rate at that time of the
transaction. The Company’s potential near-term exchange risk
associated with fluctuation of exchange rates is not believed to be
material. Exchange gain in fiscal 2011 was $40,297 on $2.3million in
expenditures, a nominal amount
Interest Rate Risk and
Equity Price Risk
Emgold
has been equity financed and does not have any debt that is subject to interest
rate change risks.
Commodity Price
Risk
While the
value of Emgold’s resource properties can always be said to relate to the price
of precious metals and the outlook for same, Emgold currently does not have any
operating mines and hence does not have any hedging or other commodity based
risk respecting its operations.
ITEM
12.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Not
applicable.
PART II
ITEM
13.
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
During
fiscal 2003, the Company entered into an agreement to issue 394,843 Class A
Convertible Preference Shares in full satisfaction of an aggregate Cdn$789,686
of indebtedness owing to related parties.
During
the year ended December 31, 2010, the holders of its issued and outstanding
Series A Preference Shares agreed to convert all of the Series A Preference
Shares and related accrued interest and dividends into common shares of the
Company in return for the receipt of 2,813,575 units of the Company. Each unit
was comprised of one common share and one purchase warrant. Each share purchase
warrant was exercisable at a price of Cdn $0.35, with an expiry date of
September 9, 2015.
The
394,843 Class A Convertible Preference Shares were converted to common shares at
September 9, 2010, at a ratio of one preference share to one common share. The
fair value of the 2,813,575 shares issued as part of the units total and 394,843
shares issued upon conversion of debt totaled Cdn $589,725. The Company has
applied EIC 96 “Accounting for the early extinguishment of convertible
securities” in determining the accounting value and treatment of the gain
arising on settlement of the Preference Shares. The total gain arising was
$174,197 of which $155,869 and $18,328 have been recorded in the statement of
operations and equity, respectively. The common shares market value was less
than the $90,902 preference share value and the difference of $18,328 was
recorded in contributed surplus.
ITEM
14.
|
MATERIAL
MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
|
Not
applicable.
ITEM
15. CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
a) Disclosure
controls and procedures.
Management
is responsible for designing, establishing and maintaining a system of internal
controls over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance that the
financial information prepared by the Company for external purposes is reliable
and has been recorded, processed, and reported in an accurate and timely manner
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Management
is also responsible for designing, establishing, and maintaining a system of
disclosure controls and procedures. Disclosure controls and
procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that material items
requiring disclosure by the Company are identifies and reported in a timely
manner.
b) Management’s annual report
on internal control over financial reporting
The Chief
Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of
the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and assessed the design and the
operating effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting as of April 19, 2012. Based on that assessment, management
concluded that, as at April 19, 2012, the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting is effective at December 31, 2011, to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation
of financial statements for external reporting purposes. There was no change in
the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred in the
fourth quarter of 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial
reporting.
c) Changes in internal controls
over financial reporting.
There was no other change in the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this
Annual Report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. We
have engaged in, and are continuing to engage in, efforts to improve our
internal control over financial reporting and disclosures and procedures related
to substantially all areas of our financial statements and
disclosures.
ITEM
16A. AUDIT
COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERTS
The
members of the audit committee are Messrs William J. Witte, Kenneth Yurichuk and
Stephen J. Wilkinson. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined
that it has more than one “audit committee financial expert” serving on its
Audit Committee. Mr. Stephen J. Wilkinson was a financial analyst and
has a MBA, and Mr. Kenneth R. Yurichuk is a partner in a chartered public
accounting firm in Canada. Mr. Yurichuk is not independent, based
upon the tests for independence set forth in National Instrument 52-110 (“NI
52-110”), due to his position as the Company’s Chief Financial
Officer. Mr. Wilkinson is an independent, based upon the tests for
independence set forth in NI 52-110, audit committee financial
expert.
ITEM
16B.
CODE OF ETHICS
The
Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Company’s chief
executive officer, the chief financial officer and other members of senior
management. The Company’s Code of Ethics is attached as an exhibit to
this Form 20-F. There have been no amendments to the code of ethics
and no waivers during the year ended December 31, 2011, and to the date of this
Form 20-F.
ITEM
16C.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The
following table discloses the aggregate fees billed for each of the last two
fiscal years for professional services rendered by the Company’s audit firm for
various services
|
Years ended December
31,
|
Services:
|
2011
(Cdn$)
|
2010
(Cdn$)
|
Audit
FeesA
|
89,329
|
$ 71,000
|
Audit-Related
Fee
(1)
|
5,775
|
--
|
Tax
Fees
|
2,485
|
--
|
All
Other Fees (2)
|
28,250
|
--
|
Total
Fees
|
$ 125,839
|
$ 71,000
|
(i)
|
“Audit-Related
Fee” includes services that are traditionally performed by the
auditor. These audit-related services include review of SEC
documentation and audit or attest services not required by legislation or
regulation.
|
(ii)
|
Canadian
Public Accounting Board and IFRS conversion
fees.
|
From time
to time, management of the Company recommends to and requests approval from the
audit committee for non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s
auditors. The audit committee routinely considers such requests at
committee meetings, and if acceptable to a majority of the audit committee
members, pre-approves such non-audit services by a resolution authorizing
management to engage the Company’s auditors for such non-audit services, with
set maximum dollar amounts for each itemized service. During such
deliberations, the audit committee assesses, among other factors, whether the
services requested would be considered “prohibited services” as contemplated by
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and whether the services
requested and the fees related to such services could impair the independence of
the auditors. All of the non-audit related services provided by the
Company’s audit firm were pre-approved by the audit committee.
During
the year ended December 31, 2011, all of the services described above under
“Principal Accountant Fees and Services” under the captions “Audit-Related
Fees”, “Tax Fees”, and “All Other Fees” were approved by the Audit Committee
pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
ITEM
16D.
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT
COMMITTEES
Not
applicable.
ITEM
16E.
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND
AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
Not
applicable.
ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
Effective January 11, 2012, the Company’s former auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, resigned at the request of the Company and the Company appointed MSCM LLP as its new auditors.
The former auditors’ report on the financial statements for the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. The decision to change auditors was recommended and approved by the Company’s Audit Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.
During the 2010 and 2009 fiscal years and the subsequent interim period that preceded the former auditors’ dismissal, there was no disagreement with the former auditors on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreement, if not resolved to the satisfaction of the former auditors, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with their report. None of the reportable events described in Item 16F(a)(1)(v) occurred during the period in which the former auditors served as the Company’s auditors.
However, without qualifying their opinion, the former auditors included an explanatory paragraph in their report on the Company’s financial statements for the 2010 and 2009 fiscal years which referenced a footnote in the financial statements disclosing conditions and matters indicating the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company has provided its former auditors with a copy of this disclosure and has requested that the former auditors furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether they agree with the above statements, and if not, stating the respects in which they do not agree. A copy of that letter from the former auditors dated May 11, 2012 is filed as an exhibit to this Form 20-F/A.
Prior to January 11, 2012, the date that MSCM LLP was retained as the auditors of the Company, the Company did not consult MSCM LLP regarding:
(1) Either: The application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and either a written report was provided to the Company or oral advice was provided that the new auditors concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or
(2) Any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) and the related instructions to that item) or a reportable event (as described in Item 16F(a)(1)(v)).
ITEM
16G.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Not
applicable.
ITEM
16H.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not
applicable.
PART III
ITEM
17.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Not
Applicable. See Item 18.
ITEM
18.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Independent Auditor’s
Report
|
|
F-1
|
|
Consolidated Statements of
Financial Position as at December 31, 2011 and 2010
|
|
F-1
|
|
Consolidated Statements of
Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2010 and
2010
|
|
F-1
|
|
Consolidated Statements of
Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2011 and
2010
|
|
F-1
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash
Flows for the years ended December 31, 2011 and
2010
|
|
F-1
|
|
Notes to the Consolidated
Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and
2010
|
|
|
|
ITEM
19.
EXHIBITS
Index
to Exhibits
The
following exhibits are filed with this Annual Report on Form 20-F in respect of
the current year or are incorporated by reference.
Exhibit
Number
|
Description
|
|
|
F-1
|
|
F-2***
|
Quarterly and Annual Report for the Three Months and Year
Ended December 31, 2011.
|
1.1*
|
Articles
and Memorandum of Emgold Mining Corporation; originally incorporated as
361869 B.C. Ltd. on March 17, 1989 and, as refilled on Form 6-K
0001137171-10-000084 on February 8, 2010.
|
2.1*
|
2005
Stock Option Plan (10% Rolling) – June 8, 2005.
|
4.1*
|
World
Wide License Agreement with Ceramext, LLC dated September 17,
2003.
|
4.2*
|
Standard
Industrial Lease - Gross and Lease Addendum and Option Agreement with
Mediation/Arbitration of Disputes attachment - dated April 7, 2004, with H
& D Shluker Family Trust.
|
4.3*
|
Standard
Industrial/Commercial Single-Tenant Lease – dated March 1, 2007, Lease
Addendum –dated April 1, 2007, and Option Agreement – dated March 21,
2007, with H & D Shluker Family Trust.
|
4.4*
|
Option
Agreement on the Jazz Property (formerly Dog Claim Group) dated March 15,
2004, with Mr. M.A. Kaufman.
|
4.5*
|
Amended
lease agreement between Mary Bouma, Erica Erickson, and William Toms and
the Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation, dated January 26,
2007.
|
4.6*
|
Amended
lease agreement between Mary Bouma, Erica Erickson, and the William Toms
Estate and the Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation, executed February 6,
2009.
|
4.7*
|
Mining
Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement on the Rozan Property, between
Emgold Mining Corporation and Valterra Resource Corporation, dated January
13, 2010.
|
4.8*
|
Mining
Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement between Nevada Sunrise, LLC, and
Emgold Mining Corporation, dated November 24, 2009.
|
5.1*
|
United
States Patent No.: US 6,547,550 B1, dated April 15, 2003
(Guenther).
|
8.1*
|
List
of subsidiaries.
|
11.1*
|
Code
of Ethics.
|
12.1
|
|
12.2
|
|
13.1
|
|
13.2
|
|
15.1*
|
Preliminary
Assessment Technical Report dated November 22, 2004, prepared by AMEC
Americas Limited.
|
15.2*
|
Letter
dated June 22, 2007, from the City of Grass Valley referencing the
acceptance of the applications for the Idaho-Maryland Mine – Annexation
Application (05PLN-10), Prezone Application (05PLN-11, General Plan
Amendment Application (05PLN-12), Use Permit Application (05PLN-13),
Development Review Application (05DRC-05).
|
15.3**
|
Interim
Consolidated Financial Statements for Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
and 2009.
|
15.4**
|
Quarterly
Management Discussion and Analysis for Three Months Ended March 31,
2010.
|
15.5
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
|
|
|
|
* These
exhibits have been previously filed with the Company’s registration
statement on Form 20-F under Accession Number 0001137171-05-001000 on July
1, 2005 or in subsequent Form 20-F filings, as
applicable.
|
|
** Previously
filed via Form 6-K on EDGAR on June 7, 2010.
|
|
*** Previously
filed as an exhibit to this Form 20-F on April 30, 2012
|
|
|
|
END
OF EXHIBITS
|
Glossary
of Geologic and Mining Terms
Anomaly
|
Any
deviation from normal. Examples would include geologic features
or concentrations of metal noticeably different than surrounding features
or metals.
|
Arsenopyrite
|
A
sulphide of arsenic and iron.
|
Assay
|
An
analysis to determine the presence, absence or quantity of one or more
components.
|
Axis
|
An
imaginary hinge line about which the fold limbs are bent. The
axis of a fold can be at the top or bottom of the fold, can be tilted or
horizontal.
|
Batholith
|
An
intrusion, usually granitic, which has a large exposed surface area and no
observable bottom. Usually associated with orogenic
belts. Of a large, deep-seated rock intrusion, usually granite,
often forming the base of a mountain range, and uncovered only by uplifted
erosion.
|
Bed
|
The
smallest division of a stratified rock series, marked by a well-defined
divisional plane from its neighbours above and below; an ore deposit,
parallel to the stratification, constituting a regular member of the
series of formations.
|
Bedding
|
Condition
where planes divide sedimentary rocks of the same or different
lithology.
|
Bedrock
|
Solid
rock exposed at the surface of the earth, or overlain by surficial
deposits.
|
Breccia
|
Rock
made up of angular fragments in a matrix of finer-grained material or
cementing material.
|
Brecciated
|
Rock
broken up by geological forces.
|
Bulk
sample
|
A
very large sample, the kind of sample to take from broken rock, or from
gravels and sands when testing placer
deposits.
|
Calcite
|
Calcium
carbonate, a mineral found in limestone, chalk and marble and metamorphic
rocks.
|
Chalcopyrite
|
Copper
iron sulphide mineral and an important ore of
copper.
|
Chip
sample
|
A
sample composed of discontinuous chips taken along a rock surface across a
given line.
|
Claim
|
That
portion of public mineral lands, which a party has staked or marked out in
accordance with provincial or state mining laws, to acquire the right to
explore for the minerals under the
surface.
|
Contact
|
The
place or surface where two different kinds of rocks come
together.
|
Crystalline
|
Means
the specimen is made up of one or more groups of
crystals.
|
Cut-off
grade
|
The
minimum grade of mineralization used to establish quantitative and
qualitative estimates of total
mineralization.
|
Deposit
|
A
natural occurrence of a useful mineral or ore in sufficient extent and
degree of concentration to invite
exploitation.
|
Diabase
|
Igneous
hypabyssal rocks that are transitional from volcanic to
plutonic. The name is applied differently in different parts of
the world leading to considerable
confusion.
|
Diamond
drill
|
A
type of rotary drill in which the cutting is done by abrasion using
diamonds embedded in a matrix rather than by percussion. The
drill cuts a core of rock which is recovered in long cylindrical
sections.
|
Diamond
drill hole
|
A
method of obtaining a cylindrical core of rock by drilling with a diamond
impregnated bit.
|
Dilution
|
Results
from the mixing in of unwanted waste rock with the ore during
mining.
|
Dip
|
The
angle at which a stratum or drill hole is inclined from the
horizontal. Alternatively, a geological measurement of the
angle of maximum slope of planar elements in
rocks.
|
Displacement
|
Relative
movement of rock on opposite side of a fault; also known as
dislocation.
|
Fault
|
A
fracture or fracture zone along which there has been displacement of the
sides relative to one another parallel to the
fracture. Alternatively, a break in the continuity of a body of
rock.
|
Feasibility
study
|
Engineering
study to determine if a mineral property can be developed at a profit, and
which methods should be used to develop
it.
|
Feldspar
|
A
group of aluminum silicate minerals closely related in chemical
composition and physical properties. There are two major
chemical varieties of feldspar: the potassium aluminum, or potash
feldspars and the sodium-calcium-aluminum, or plagioclase
feldspars.
|
Felsic
|
Light-coloured
silicate minerals, mainly quartz and feldspar, or an igneous rock
comprised largely of felsic minerals (granite,
rhyolite).
|
Folds
|
Flexures
in bedded or layered rocks. They are formed when forces are applied
gradually to rocks over a long period of
time.
|
Footwall
|
The
mass of rock that lies beneath a fault, an ore body, or a mine working;
the top of the rock stratum underlying a vein or bed of
ore.
|
Fracture
|
Breaks
in a rock, usually due to intensive folding or
faulting.
|
Gangue
|
Term
used to describe worthless minerals or rock waste mixed in with the
valuable minerals.
|
Geochemical
anomaly
|
An
area of elevated values of a particular element in soil or rock samples
collected during the preliminary reconnaissance search for locating
favourable metal concentrations that could indicate the presence of
surface or drill targets.
|
Geochemical
survey
|
A
systematic measure of the abundance of different elements in rock, soil,
water, etc.
|
Geochemistry
|
Study
of chemical elements in rocks or
soil.
|
Geological
mapping
|
Surveys
defining the surface distribution of rock varieties, age relationships and
structural features.
|
Geophysics
|
The
study of the physical properties of rocks, minerals, and mineral
deposits.
|
Gouge
|
Soft,
pulverized mixture of rock and mineral material found along shear (fault)
zones and produced by the differential movement across the plane of
slippage.
|
Grab
sampling
|
A
random sample of mineralized rock with no statistical validity, taken
simply to check the type of
mineralization.
|
Grade
|
The
concentration of each ore metal in a rock sample, usually given as weight
percent. Where extremely low concentrations are involved, the
concentration may be given in grams per tonne (g/t) or ounces per ton
(oz/t). The grade of an ore deposit is calculated, often using
sophisticated statistical procedures, as an average of the grades of a
very large number of samples collected from throughout the
deposit.
|
Granite
|
An
intrusive igneous rock consisting essentially of alkali feldspar and
quartz, plus micas and accessory
minerals.
|
Graphite
|
A
soft black form of native carbon.
|
Grid
|
A
network composed of two sets of uniformly spaced parallel lines, usually
intersecting at right angles and forming squares, superimposed on a map,
chart, or aerial photograph, to permit identification of ground locations
by means of a system of coordinates and to facilitate computation of
direction and distance and size of geologic, geochemical or geophysical
features.
|
and
footwall
|
Terms
used in reference to faults when mining along a fault, your feet would be
in the footwall side of the fault and the other side would be “hanging”
over your head. The rock mass above a fault plane, vein, lode,
ore body, or other structure, the underside of the country rock overlying
a vein or bed of ore.
|
concentrate
sample
|
A
sample of heavy minerals collected from stream gravels and concentrated by
panning.
|
Hectare
|
A
square of 100 metres on each side; 10,000 square metres or 2.471
acres.
|
Host
rock
|
The
rock within which the ore deposit
occurs.
|
Igneous
|
Rock
formed by the cooling of molten silicate
mineral.
|
(I.P.)
method
|
A
geophysical method used to measure various electrical responses to the
passage of alternating currents of different frequencies through
near-surface rocks or to the passage of pulses of
electricity.
|
Intermediate
|
An
igneous rock made up of both felsic and mafic minerals
(diorite).
|
Intrusion
|
General
term for a body of igneous rock formed below the earth’s
surface.
|
Intrusive
rock
|
Any
igneous rock solidified from magma beneath the earth’s
surface.
|
agreement
|
An
agreement where the parties agree to the terms on which a property will be
explored, developed, and mined.
|
Mafic
|
A
term used to describe ferromagnesian minerals. Rocks composed mainly of
ferromagnesian minerals are correctly termed
melanocratic.
|
Magma
|
Naturally
occurring molten rock material, generated within the earth and capable of
intrusion and extrusion, from which igneous rocks have been derived
through solidification and related processes. It may or may not
contain suspended solids (such as crystals and rock fragments) and/or gas
phases.
|
Massive
|
Implies
large mass. Applied in the context of hand specimens of, for
example, sulphide ores; it usually means the specimen is composed
essentially of sulphides with few, if any, other
constituents.
|
Melange
|
A
body of rock characterized by a lack of internal continuity of contacts or
strata and by the inclusion of fragments and blocks of all sized and
sometimes various types, embedded in a fine-grained
matrix.
|
metamorphic
|
A
rock that has been altered within the earth’s crust by physical and
chemical processes including heat, pressure and
fluids.
|
Meta-sediment
|
A
sediment or sedimentary rock that shows evidence of
metamorphosis.
|
Metavolcanic
|
An
informal term for volcanic rock that shows evidence of
metamorphosis.
|
Mesozoic
|
An
era of geologic time, from the end of the Paleozoic era to the start of
the Cenozoic, or from about 225 to about 50 million years
ago.
|
Mineral
|
A
naturally occurring, inorganic, solid element or compound that possesses
an orderly internal arrangement of atoms and a unique set of physical and
chemical properties.
|
Mineral
claim
|
A
legal entitlement to minerals in a certain defined area of
ground.
|
mineralized
material
|
A
mineralized underground body which has been intersected by sufficient
closely spaced drill holes and / or underground sampling to support
sufficient tonnage and average grade of metal(s) to warrant further
exploration-development work. This deposit does not qualify as
a commercially mineable ore body (reserves), as prescribed under
Commission standards, until a final and comprehensive economic, technical,
and legal feasibility study based upon the test results is
concluded.
|
Mineralization
|
The
concentration of metals and their chemical compounds within a body of
rock.
|
Mining
lease
|
A
claim or number of claims to which the right to mine is
assigned.
|
royalty
|
Means
the amount actually paid to the mine or mill owner from the sale of ore,
minerals and other materials or concentrates mined and removed from
mineral properties. A royalty based on net smelter returns
provides cash flow that is free of any operating or capital costs and
environmental liabilities.
|
Option
agreement
|
An
agreement where the optionee can exercise certain options to increase
contracted interest in a property by making periodic payments to the
optionor or by exploring, developing or producing from the optionor’s
property.
|
Ore
|
A
natural aggregate of one or more minerals which may be mined and sold at a
profit, or from which some part may be profitably
separated.
|
Ore
body
|
A
solid and fairly continuous mass or
ore.
|
Ore
reserve
|
The
measured quantity and grade of all or part of a mineralized body in a mine
or undeveloped mineral deposit for which the mineralization is
sufficiently defined and measured on three sides to form the basis of at
least a preliminary mine production plan for economically viable
mining.
|
Outcrop
|
An
in-situ exposure of bedrock.
|
Paleozoic
|
An
era of geologic time, from the end of the Precambrian to the beginning of
the Mesozoic, or from about 570 to about 225 million years
ago.
|
Pluton
|
Term
for an igneous intrusion, usually formed from
magma.
|
Pyrite
|
Iron
sulphide (FeS2)
|
Qualified
person
|
In
accordance with NI 43-101, a “qualified person” means an individual with
at least five years of experience in mineral exploration, mine development
or operation or mineral project assessment, or any combination of
these. This person must also have experience relevant to the
subject matter of the mineral project, and must be member in good standing
of a professional association.
|
Quartz
|
A
mineral composed of silicon
dioxide.
|
Reclamation
bond
|
Usually
required when mechanized work is contemplated. Used to reclaim
any workings or put right any damage, if your reclamation does not satisfy
the requirements of the
regulations.
|
Reconnaissance
|
A
general examination or survey of a region with reference to its main
features, usually as a preliminary step to a more detailed
survey.
|
mineralization
|
Mineral
deposit formed by replacement of previous
rock.
|
drill
|
A
rotary percussion drill in which the drilling mud and cuttings return to
the surface through the drill pipe.
|
Rock
chip sample
|
A
rock sample consisting of chips collected continuously over a specified
width.
|
Rotary
drilling
|
A
drilling method where a hard-toothed bit rotates at the bottom of a drill
pipe, grinding a hole into the rock. Lubrication is provided by
continuously circulating drilling fluid, which brings the rock cuttings to
the surface.
|
Royalty
interest
|
A
royalty interest is tied to a unit of production, such as tonne of
concentrate or ounce of gold or silver produced. A common form
of royalty interest is the net smelter
return.
|
Sample
|
Small
amount of material that is supposed to be absolutely typical or
representative of the object being
sampled.
|
Schist
|
A
strongly foliated crystalline rock, formed by dynamic metamorphism, that
has well-developed parallelism of more than 50% of the minerals present,
particularly those of lamellar or elongate prismatic habit, e.g. mica and
hornblende.
|
Sedimentary
|
A
rock formed from cemented or compacted
sediments.
|
Sediments
|
Are
composed of the debris resulting from the weathering and break-up of other
rocks that have been deposited by or carried to the oceans by rivers, or
left over from glacial erosion or sometimes from wind
action.
|
Sericite
|
A
fine-grained variety of mica occurring in small scales, especially in
schists.
|
Shaft
|
Vertical
opening downwards.
|
Showing
|
A
rock outcrop revealing the presence of a certain
mineral.
|
Silicate
|
Most
rocks are made up of a small number of silicate minerals ranging from
quartz (SiO2) to
more complex minerals such as orthoclase feldspar (KAlSi3O8) or
hornblende (Ca2Na(Mg,Fe)4(Al,Fe,Ti)Si8)22(OH)2).
|
Soil
sampling
|
Systematic
collection of soil samples at a series of different locations in order to
study the distribution of soil geochemical
values.
|
Sphalerite
|
A
zinc sulphide, ZnS, which may contain some iron and cadmium; the principal
ore of zinc and cadmium.
|
Stock
|
An
igneous intrusive body of unknown depth with a surface exposure of less
than 104 square kilometres. The sides, or contacts, of a stock,
like those of a batholith, are usually steep and broaden with
depth.
|
Stock
work
|
A
mineral deposit consisting of a three-dimensional network of closely
spaced planar or irregular
veinlets.
|
Stope
|
An
excavation in a mine from which ore is, or has been,
extracted.
|
Strike
|
The
bearing, or magnetic compass direction, of an imaginary line formed by the
intersection of a horizontal plane with any planar surface, most commonly
with bedding planes or foliation planes in
rocks.
|
Tailings
|
Material
rejected from a mill after recoverable valuable minerals have been
extracted.
|
Tailings
pond
|
A
pond where tailings are disposed.
|
Trenching
|
The
act of blasting or digging through overburden or outcrop to attend fresh
bedrock for mapping and sampling.
|
Veins
|
The
mineral deposits that are found filling openings in rocks created by
faults or replacing rocks on either side of
faults.
|
Waste
|
Rock
which is not ore. Usually referred to that rock which has to be
removed during the normal course of mining in order to get at the
ore.
|
Workings
|
A
part of a mine, quarry, etc., where work is or has been
done.
|
SIGNATURES
Emgold
Mining Corporation hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned
to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
EMGOLD
MINING CORPORATION
Per:
/s/ David G.
Watkinson
David G.
Watkinson, Chief Executive Officer.
/s/ Kenneth
Yurichuk
Kenneth
Yurichuk, Chief Financial Officer
DATED: May
11,
2012