UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
[ ] REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (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
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
[ ] SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report .................................................
For the transition period from _______________________ to _______________________
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-25827
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not applicable
(Translation of
Registrants name into English)
British Columbia
(Jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
Suite 350, 885 Dunsmuir Street-
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1N5
(Address of principal
executive offices)
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 | Not applicable |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Shares
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
N/A
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the
issuers classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period
covered by the annual report.
55,392,000 Common Shares outstanding as at December 31, 2008
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes [ ] No [X]
If this report is an annual or a 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 [ ] No [X]
Note Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant
required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to file such
reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark 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. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer [ ] Accelerated filer [ ] Non-accelerated filer [X]
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant
has used to prepare the financial statements included in
this filing:
U.S. GAAP [ ] International Financial Reporting Standards as issued Other [X]
If Other has been checked in response to the previous
question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item
the
registrant has elected to follow.
[X] Item 17 [ ] Item 18
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 [ ] No [X]
________
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
__________
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GENERAL
In this Annual Report, references to we, us, our, the Company and Lincoln mean Lincoln Gold Corporation.
We use the United States dollar as our reporting currency. All references in this document to dollars or $ or $ are expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise indicated. References to CDN$ refer to Canadian dollars.
Except as noted, the information set forth is as of December 31, 2008 and all information included in this document should only be considered correct as of such date.
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Much of the information included in includes or is based upon estimates, projections or other forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements include any projections or estimates made by us and our management in connection with our business operations. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, should, expects, plans, anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, potential or continue or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested herein. Such estimates, projections or other forward looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and other factors, including the risks in the section titled Risk Factors below, that may cause our actual results, levels of activities, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution the reader that important factors in some cases have affected and, in the future, could materially affect actual results and cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in any such estimates, projections or other forward looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform those statements to actual results.
The statements contained in Item 4.B. the Business Overview, Item 5 Operating and Financial Review and Prospects and Item 11 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ significantly.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS FORM 20-F
Certain terms used herein are defined as follows:
Term |
Definition |
Andesite |
A dark to grayish colored, fine-grained extrusive volcanic rock that may contain phenocrysts of sodic plagioclase |
Angular Unconformity |
Contact between two groups of rocks where the underlying rocks dip in a different angle that the younger overlying rocks |
Artesian Water |
Ground water under pressure |
Artesian water |
Ground water under pressure |
Carboniferous |
Geologic Period referring to rocks 286 to 360 million years old |
Carlin-type deposit |
Gold deposits hosted in sedimentary rocks with disseminated gold occurring as micron or submicron particles (invisible gold), typically with very little to no silver very large deposits of this type are found in the Carlin Trend in north- central Nevada. |
Caving Ground |
A drilling term that refers to rock formations that break when penetrated by a drill and produce rock fragments that may block the borehole and/or contaminate the drill cuttings |
Caving ground |
A drilling term that refers to rock formations that break when penetrated by a drill and produce rock fragments that may block the borehole and/or contaminate the drill cuttings |
Cove-type deposit |
Gold-silver deposits hosted in sedimentary rocks with significant amounts of precious metals mineralization hosted in veinlets the Cove deposit is located in the northern portion of the Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend. |
Cretaceous |
Geologic Period referring to rocks 66.4 to 144 million years old |
Dacite |
Fine-grained extrusive volcanic rock with the same composition as andesite but having less calcic plagioclase and more quartz |
Devonian |
Geologic Period referring to rocks 360 to 408 million years old |
Dikes and sills |
Generally narrow bodies of igneous rock implaced as magma along faults across bedding (dike) or along zones parallel to bedding (sill) |
Epithermal |
A hydrothermal mineral deposit formed within 1 km of the surface at temperatures of 50°-200°C, occurring mainly as veins |
Geochemical survey |
A sampling program focusing on trace elements that are commonly found associated with mineral deposits common trace elements for gold are mercury, arsenic, and antimony. |
Geologic mapping |
The process of mapping geologic formations, associated rock characteristics and structural features |
Geophysical survey |
The systematic measurement of electrical, gravity, seismic, magnetic, or other properties as a tool to help identify rock type(s), faults, structures and minerals |
Golconda thrust |
A major, flat-lying fault that has transposed older rocks over younger rocks |
Gossanous |
An iron-bearing material that typically overlies a sulfide-bearing mineralized zone it forms by the oxidation and leaching out of sulfur and most metals leaving hydrated iron oxides. |
gpt |
Grams per metric tonne |
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Term |
Definition |
Gravimeter survey |
A survey using a sensitive instrument that can detect density differences in geologic formations |
Hematite breccia |
A rock composed of angular rock fragments with conspicuous iron-oxide minerals in the matrix and fractures |
Intrusive rock |
Any igneous rock (e.g. granite) that was implaced as a magma |
Jurassic |
Geologic Period referring to rocks 144 to 208 million years old |
Lost Circulation |
The loss of drilling fluids through open faults, fractures, and/or permeable rock |
Lost circulation |
The loss of drilling fluids through open faults, fractures, and/or permeable rock |
Magnetometer survey |
A survey using a sensitive instrument that can detect the distortion of the Earths magnetic field by different geologic formations |
Mercury soil gas survey |
A geochemical sampling survey in which mercury vapor is sampled and measured mercury is typically associated with gold deposits in the Great Basin and is a pathfinder for finding gold deposits. |
Metamorphic rock |
Pre-existing rock that has been physically changed by temperature, pressure, shearing stress, or chemical environment, generally at depth in the Earths crust |
Pathfinder elements |
Trace elements that are typically associated with gold deposits common pathfinder elements are mercury, arsenic and antimony. |
Penn-Permian |
Geologic Periods referring to rocks ranging from 245 to 320 million years old |
Permo-Triassic |
Geologic Periods referring to rocks ranging from 208 to 286 million years old |
Quartz Breccia |
Quartz vein material that is broken into angular fragments |
Quartz Stockworks |
A three-dimensional network of planar to irregular quartz veinlets closely enough spaced that the whole mass can be mined |
Reverse-circulation drilling |
A drilling method that minimizes contamination of drill cuttings |
Roberts Mountains Thrust |
A major, flat-lying fault that has transposed older rocks over younger rocks |
Rock-chip sampling |
The process of chipping off rock samples from outcrops for chemical analysis |
Schist |
A metamorphic rock that is highly foliated and readily splits into flakes or slabs commonly due to a high content of mica |
Skarn deposit |
Mineralization formed at the flanks and in contact with intrusive rocks |
Stratigraphy |
The sequence of stratified rocks |
Subcrop |
Bedrock just below the surface and usually contributing weathered rock material to the surficial debris |
Tertiary |
Geologic Period referring to rocks ranging in age from 1.6 to 66.4 million years old |
Thrust sheet |
A block of rock underlain by a flat-lying fault that originated from compressional forces |
Triassic |
Geologic Period referring to rocks 208 to 245 million years old |
Tuff |
A general term for consolidated volcanic ash |
Tuff |
Volcanic ash that has been solidified into rock |
Volcanics |
Generally finely crystalline or glassy igneous rocks ejected explosively or extruded at or near the Earths surface through volcanic action |
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PART I
ITEM 1 IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS
A. Directors and Senior Management
Not applicable.
B. Advisers
Not applicable.
C. Auditor
Not applicable.
ITEM 2 OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
ITEM 3 KEY INFORMATION
A. Selected Financial Data
The following table presents selected financial data derived from our audited financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004. You should read this information in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes and Item 5 - Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
Our independent auditor, Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Accountants, audited our 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005 annual financial statements. Our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (Canadian GAAP). Note 18 to the annual financial statements for 2008, 2007 and 2006 provides descriptions of material measurement differences between Canadian GAAP and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP) as they relate to us and a reconciliation of our financial statements to US GAAP. Our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 have been prepared in accordance with US GAAP
All information provided in the Summary of Financial Information below and in is presented in Canadian dollars (dollars, $ or CAD$) and is in accordance with Canadian GAAP, unless indicated otherwise.
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SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Statement of Operations and Deficit Data |
Years ended December 31 |
||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |
CAD | CAD | CAD | USD | USD | |
Revenues Canadian GAAP US GAAP |
$Nil Nil |
$Nil Nil |
$Nil Nil |
$Nil Nil |
$Nil Nil |
Expenses Canadian GAAP US GAAP |
(2,729,772) (2,729,772) |
(1,163,516) (1,163,516) |
(472,147) (472,147) |
(1,318,543) (1,318,543) |
(1,672,304) (1,672,304) |
Loss for the year Canadian GAAP US GAAP |
(2,683,240) (2,683,240) |
(1,158,990) (1,158,990) |
(469,208) (469,208) |
(1,294,546) (1,294,546) |
(1,691,351) (1,691,351) |
Basic and diluted loss per common share Canadian GAAP US GAAP |
(0.05) (0.05) |
(0.02) (0.02) |
(0.01) (0.01) |
(0.03) (0.03) |
(0.06) (0.06) |
Balance Sheet Data |
As at December 31 | ||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||
CAD | CAD | CAD | USD | USD | USD | USD | |
Canadian GAAP |
Canadian GAAP |
US GAAP |
Canadian GAAP |
US GAAP |
US GAAP |
||
Cash and cash equivalents Working capital (deficit) Resource properties and/or equipment Total assets Total liabilities Shareholders' equity (deficit) |
$ 1,553 (2,517,729) 11,679 199,450 2,527,900 (2,328,450) |
$ 123,201 $ (71,665) 27,602 286,734 310,897 (24,163) |
123,201 $ (71,665) 27,602 286,734 310,897 (24,163) |
21,961 $ (130,363) 4,440 31,294 157,217 (125,923) |
21,961 (130,363) 4,440 31,294 157,217 (125,923) |
$ 132,806 $ 3,457 7,328 151,436 140,651 10,785 |
127,785 (43,959) - 127,785 371,744 (243,959) |
We have paid no dividends on our common shares since incorporation and we do not anticipate doing so for the foreseeable future. The declaration of dividends on our common shares is within the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other factors, our earnings, capital requirements, and the operating and financial condition.
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
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D. Risk Factors
Our securities are highly speculative and subject to a number of risks. You should not consider an investment in our securities unless you are capable of sustaining an economic loss of the entire investment.
The risks associated with our business include:
There is no assurance that the either proposed arrangement transaction with LPT Capital or the private placement transaction to be completed by LPT Capital will complete
We entered into an arrangement agreement with LPT Capital and a wholly owned subsidiary of LPT Capital on January 15, 2009, as subsequently amended. The arrangement agreement contemplates that we would complete a business combination transaction pursuant to a court approved plan of arrangement with LPT Capital whereby LPT Capital would acquire all of our issued and outstanding common shares in exchange for the issue of 23 million post-consolidation common shares of LPT Capital to the shareholder of Lincoln Gold. Completion of this business combination transaction is subject to the completion of a private placement by LPT Capital that would raise not less than $3.38 million. If successfully completed, shareholders of Lincoln Gold would receive common shares of LPT Capital that would be tradable in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange. There is no assurance that either the business combination transaction or the private placement financing will be completed. There is further no assurance that our shareholders will receive common shares of LPT Capital that will be traded on the TSX Venture Exchange.
If we do not obtain additional financing, our business plan will fail.
As of December 31, 2008, we had cash on hand of $1,553 and a working capital deficit of $2,517,729. As of March 31, 2009, we had cash on hand of $30,199 and working capital deficit of $2,735,505. Our business plan calls for us to spend approximately $2,200,000 in connection with the exploration and development of our mineral claims during the next twelve months, the maintenance of our interests in our mineral claims and our general and administrative expenses during the next twelve months. Based on our cash and working capital position, we will require additional financing in the approximate amount of $3,200,000 in order to complete our plan of operations for the next twelve months. We currently do not have any arrangements for financing and we may not be able to obtain financing when required. Obtaining additional financing would be subject to a number of factors, including the market price of gold. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms or conditions of additional financing unavailable to us.
If we are unable to maintain our interests in our Nevada mineral claims, then we will lose our interests in these mineral claims.
We are required to make substantial payments in order to maintain our interests in certain of our Nevada mineral claims. Over the next twelve months, we must make payments totalling approximately $105,000 in lease and option payments in order to maintain our interests in our Pine Grove, La Bufa, and Hannah mineral properties. Our inability to make these payments due to a lack of financing or our determination not to make these payments will result in our losing our interests in these claims. If we are not able to maintain our interests in our mineral claims, then we will not be able to carry out our plan of operations.
Because we have only recently commenced preliminary exploration of our Nevada mineral claims, we face a high risk of business failure and this could result in a total loss of your investment.
We have not begun the initial stages of exploration of our mineral claims, and thus have no way to evaluate the likelihood whether we will be able to operate our business successfully. To date, we have been involved primarily in organizational activities, acquiring interests in mineral claims and in conducting preliminary exploration of mineral claims. We have not earned any revenues and have not achieved profitability as of the date of this prospectus. Potential investors should be aware of the difficulties normally encountered by new mineral exploration companies and the high rate of failure of such enterprises. The likelihood of success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays encountered in connection with the exploration of the mineral properties that we plan to undertake. These potential problems include, but are not limited to, unanticipated problems relating to exploration and additional costs and expenses that may exceed current estimates. We have no history upon which to base any assumption as to the likelihood that our business will prove successful, and we can provide no assurance to investors that we will generate any operating revenues or ever achieve profitable operations. If we are unsuccessful in addressing these risks, our business will likely fail and you will lose your entire investment.
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The mineral resources estimates presented by us for our mineral properties are estimates only and there is no assurance that these resources represent economically recoverable mineralization.
We have included mineral resource estimates that have been made in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101. These resources estimates are classified as indicated resources and inferred resources. We advise investors that while these terms are recognized and required by Canadian securities regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize these terms. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits classified as inferred resources will ever be converted into reserves. Further, inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and 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. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
All amounts of mineral resources are estimates only, and we cannot be certain that any specified level of recovery of metals from the mineralized material will in fact be realized or that our mineral properties or any other identified mineral deposit will ever qualify as a commercially mineable (or viable) reserves of gold or copper in any of our mineral claims that can be economically exploited. Mineralized material, which is not mineral reserves, does not have demonstrated economic viability. In addition, the quantity of mineral reserves and mineral resources may vary depending on, among other things, metal prices. Any material change in the quantity of mineralization, grade or stripping ratio, or metal prices may affect the economic viability of our properties. In addition, we cannot be certain that metal recoveries obtained from small-scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in larger scale tests, under on-site conditions or during production.
Because we do not have any revenues, we expect to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future.
We have never earned revenues and we have never been profitable. Prior to completing exploration on the mineral property, we anticipate that we will incur increased operating expenses without realizing any revenues. We therefore expect to incur significant losses into the foreseeable future. If we are unable to generate financing to continue the exploration of our mineral claims, we will fail and you will lose your entire investment.
We will require significant additional financing in order to continue our exploration activities, pay down debt and also continue our assessment of the commercial viability of our mineral properties.
We will require additional financing in order to carry out our acquisition, exploration and, if warranted, development activities. Failure to obtain such financing on a timely basis could cause us to forfeit our interest in certain properties, miss certain acquisition opportunities, or delay or indefinitely postpone further exploration and, if warranted, development of our projects, which could result in the possible loss of such properties or the reduction or termination of our operations. Even if we achieve revenues, if any such future revenues decrease as a result of lower commodity prices or otherwise, it will affect our ability to expend the necessary capital to replace our reserves or to maintain our production. If cash flow from operations is not sufficient to satisfy our capital expenditure requirements, there can be no assurance that additional debt or equity financing will be available to meet these requirements or be available on favorable terms. We also need to pay down significant amounts of debt that are outstanding at this time.
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If our costs of exploration are greater than anticipated, then we will not be able to complete our planned exploration programs for our mineral claims without additional financing, of which there is no assurance that we would be able to obtain.
We are proceeding with the initial stages of exploration on our mineral claims. We have prepared budgets for our exploration programs. However, there is no assurance that our actual costs will not exceed the budgeted costs. Factors that could cause actual costs to exceed budgeted costs include increased prices due to competition for personnel and supplies during the Nevada summer exploration season, unanticipated problems in completing the exploration programs and delays experienced in completing the exploration program. Increases in exploration costs could result in us not being able to carry out our exploration programs without additional financing. There is no assurance that we would be able to obtain additional financing in this event.
Because of the speculative nature of exploration of mining properties, there is substantial risk that no commercially exploitable minerals will be found and our business will fail.
We are in the initial stages of exploration of our mineral claims, and thus have no way to evaluate the likelihood that we will be successful in establishing commercially exploitable reserves of gold or other valuable minerals on our mineral claims. Potential investors should be aware of the difficulties normally encountered by new mineral exploration companies and the high rate of failure of such enterprises. The search for valuable minerals as a business is extremely risky. We may not find commercially exploitable reserves of gold or copper in any of our mineral claims. Exploration for minerals is a speculative venture necessarily involving substantial risk. The expenditures to be made by us on our exploration programs may not result in the discovery of commercial quantities of ore. The likelihood of success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays encountered in connection with the exploration of the mineral properties that we plan to undertake. Problems such as unusual or unexpected formations and other conditions are involved in mineral exploration and often result in unsuccessful exploration efforts. In such a case, we would be unable to complete our business plan.
Because of the inherent dangers involved in mineral exploration, there is a risk that we may incur liability or damages as we conduct our business.
The search for valuable minerals involves numerous hazards. In the course of carrying out exploration of our mineral claims, we may become subject to liability for such hazards, including pollution, cave-ins and other hazards against which we cannot insure or against which we may elect not to insure. We currently have no such insurance nor do we expect to get such insurance for the foreseeable future. If a hazard were to occur, the costs of rectifying the hazard may exceed our asset value and cause us to liquidate all of our assets, resulting in the loss of your entire investment.
If we discover commercial reserves of precious metals on any of our mineral properties, we can provide no assurance that we will be able to successfully advance the mineral claims into commercial production.
Our mineral properties do not contain any known bodies of ore. If our exploration programs are successful in establishing ore of commercial tonnage and grade on any of our mineral claims, we will require additional funds in order to advance the mineral claims into commercial production. In such an event, we may be unable to obtain any such funds, or to obtain such funds on terms that we consider economically feasible, and you may lose your entire investment.
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As we undertake exploration of our mineral claims, we will be subject to compliance with government regulation that may increase the anticipated time and cost of our exploration program.
There are several governmental regulations that materially restrict the exploration of minerals. We will be subject to the mining laws and regulations as contained in the Nevada Statutes and Nevada Administrative Code as we carry out our exploration programs. We may be required to obtain work permits, post bonds and perform remediation work for any physical disturbance to the land in order to comply with these regulations. While our planned exploration program budgets for regulatory compliance, there is a risk that new regulations could increase our time and costs of doing business and prevent us from carrying out our exploration program.
If we do not find a joint venture partner for the continued exploration of certain of our mineral claims, we may not be able to advance the exploration work.
We may try to enter into joint venture agreements with potential partners for the further exploration and possible production of our mineral claims, particularly where we believe drilling of a mineral claim is warranted. We would face competition from other junior mineral resource exploration companies if we attempt to enter into a joint venture agreement with a partner. The possible partner could have a limited ability to enter into joint venture agreements with junior exploration programs and will seek the junior exploration companies who have the properties that they deem to be the most attractive in terms of potential return and investment cost. In addition, if we entered into a joint venture agreement, we would likely assign a percentage of our interest in the mineral claims to the joint venture partner. If we are unable to enter into a joint venture agreement with a partner, we may not be able to complete certain exploration work on certain of our properties, including planned drilling.
If prices for gold decline, we may not be able to raise any additional financing required to fund our exploration activities in our mineral properties or achieve an adequate return for our shareholders.
Our ability to raise financing to fund our exploration activities and, if warranted, development of our mineral properties will be significantly affected by changes in the market price of gold. The price of gold is determined based on world demand, supply and other factors, all of which are beyond our control. World prices for gold have fluctuated widely in recent years. Future significant price declines could cause investors to be unprepared to finance exploration of gold, with the result that we may not have sufficient financing with which to fund our exploration activities. In this event, we may not be able to carry out planned exploration activities and, if warranted, development of our mineral properties with the result that we may not be able to continue our plan of operations.
If we are able to establish commercially mineable reserves, we must be able to successfully market our natural resources to prospective buyers. The marketability and price of natural resources which we may acquire or discover will be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. Government regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting of natural resources and environmental protection are all factors which may affect the marketability and price of natural resources. The exact effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but any one or a combination of these factors could result in our ability to achieve an adequate return for our shareholders.
The adoption of stricter environmental legislation governing our mineral properties or failure to comply with environmental legislation could increase our costs of exploring and, if warranted, developing these properties and could delay these activities.
We must comply with applicable environmental legislation in carrying out our exploration and, if warranted, development of our mining properties. All phases of the natural resources business present environmental risks and hazards and are subject to environmental regulation pursuant to a variety of international conventions and national, provincial and local laws and regulations. Environmental
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legislation provides for, among other things, restrictions and prohibitions on spills, releases or emissions of various substances produced in association with operations. The legislation also requires that facility sites and mines be operated, maintained, abandoned and reclaimed to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities. Compliance with such legislation can require significant expenditures, and a breach may result in the imposition of fines and penalties, some of which may be material. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner expected to result in stricter standards and enforcement, larger fines and liability and potentially increased capital expenditures and operating costs. The discharge of tailings or other pollutants into the air, soil or water may give rise to liabilities to third parties and may require us to incur costs to remedy such discharge. No assurance can be given that environmental laws will not result in a curtailment of production or a material increase in the costs of production, development or exploration activities or otherwise adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
The presence of unknown environmental hazards on our mineral properties may result in significant unanticipated compliance and reclamation costs that may increase our costs of exploring and, if warranted, developing our mineral properties.
Environmental hazards may exist on our mineral properties which are unknown to us at present and which have been caused by previous or existing owners or operators of the properties. The presence of such environmental hazards may result in us being required to comply with environmental reclamation, closure and other requirements that may involve significant costs and other liabilities. In particular, our operations and exploration activities are subject to Canadian laws and regulations governing protection of the environment. These laws are continually changing and, in general, are becoming more restrictive.
We may be subject to other laws or regulations that could result in increased costs or delays.
We believe we are in substantial compliance with all material laws and regulations which currently apply to our activities. However, failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions there under, 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. An entity engaged in natural resource exploration and development activities may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of its activities and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations.
Amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of natural resources companies, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a material adverse impact on us and cause increases in capital expenditures or, if applicable, production costs, reduction in levels of production at any properties on which we may achieve production, or abandonment or delays in the development of new properties.
In addition, natural resource activities may be affected in varying degrees by political and financial instability, inflation and haphazard changes in government regulations relating to this industry. Any changes in regulations or shifts in political or financial conditions are beyond our control and may adversely affect our business. Our operations may be affected in varying degrees by government regulations with respect to restrictions on production, price controls, export controls, income taxes, expropriation of property, environmental legislation and safety.
We may not be able to obtain all necessary licenses and permits that may be required.
Our operations will require licenses and permits from various governmental authorities. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain all necessary licenses and permits that may be required to carry out our exploration and, if applicable, development projects.
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Limits on equipment availability could delay our operations.
Natural resource exploration and development activities are dependent on the availability of drilling and related equipment in the particular areas where such activities will be conducted. Demand for such limited equipment or access restrictions may affect the availability of such equipment to us and may delay exploration and, if applicable, development activities.
We compete with larger, better capitalized competitors in the mining industry.
The mining industry is competitive in all of its phases, including financing, technical resources, personnel and property acquisition. It requires significant capital, technical resources, personnel and operational experience to effectively compete in the mining industry. Because of the high costs associated with exploration, the expertise required to analyze a projects potential and the capital required to develop a mine, larger companies with significant resources may have a competitive advantage over us. We face strong competition from other mining companies, some with greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than we have. As a result of this competition, we may be unable to maintain or acquire financing, personnel, technical resources or attractive mining properties on terms we consider acceptable or at all.
More specifically, we actively compete for acquisitions, leases, licenses, concessions, claims, skilled industry personnel and other related interests with a substantial number of other companies. Our ability to successfully bid on and acquire additional property rights to participate in opportunities and to identify and enter into commercial arrangements with other parties will be dependent upon developing and maintaining close working relationships with our future industry partners and joint operators and our ability to select and evaluate suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment.
If we were to lose the services of Paul Saxton or other members of our management team, we may be delayed in our plan of operations and our operating expenses may be increased.
Our success is dependent upon the performance of key personnel working in management, supervisory and administrative capacities. These personnel include Paul Saxton, who is our President and Chief Executive Officer. We do not maintain life insurance or key man insurance for such personnel. The loss of the services of senior management or key personnel may result in us being required to identify and engage qualified management personnel who are capable of managing our business activities. We may be delayed in the implementation of our plan of operations and our operating expenses may be increased if we were to lose the services of senior management or key personnel.
Certain of our officers and directors may have conflicts of interests due to their involvement with other companies.
Certain of our directors and officers are also directors and officers of other natural resource companies. Consequently, there exists the possibility for such directors and officers to be in a position of conflict. Any decision made by any of such directors and officers relating to us will be made in accordance with their duties and obligations to deal fairly and in good faith with us and such other companies.
If we lose the services of the independent contractors that we engage to undertake our exploration, then our plan of operations may be delayed or be more expensive to undertake than anticipated.
Our success depends to a significant extent on the performance and continued service of certain independent contractors. We have contracted the services of professional drillers and other contractors for exploration, environmental, construction and engineering services. Poor performance by such contractors or the loss of such services could result in our planned exploration activities being delayed or being more expensive to undertake than anticipated.
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We are subject to many risks that are not insurable and, as a result, we will not be able to recover losses through insurance should such risks occur.
Our involvement in the exploration for and, if applicable, development of natural resource properties may result in us becoming subject to liability for certain risks, and in particular unexpected or unusual geological operating conditions, including rock bursts, cave ins, fires, floods, earthquakes, pollution, blow-outs, property damage, personal injury or other hazards. Although we will obtain insurance in accordance with industry standards to address such risks, such insurance has limitations on liability that may not be sufficient to cover the full extent of such liabilities. In addition, such risks may not be insurable in all circumstances, or, in certain circumstances, we may elect not to obtain insurance to deal with specific risks due to the high premiums associated with such insurance or other reasons. The payment of such uninsured liabilities would reduce the funds available to us for operations. The occurrence of a significant event that we are not fully insured against could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or prospects.
No assurance can be given that insurance to cover the risks to which our activities will be subject will be available at all or at economically feasible premiums. Insurance against environmental risks (including potential for pollution or other hazards as a result of the disposal of waste products occurring from exploration and, if applicable, production) is not generally available to us or to other companies within the industry. The payment of such liabilities would reduce the funds available to us for operations. Should we be unable to fund fully the cost of remedying an environmental problem, we might be required to suspend operations or enter into interim compliance measures pending completion of the required remedy.
Because we have no history of earnings with respect to our mineral exploration business and no foreseeable earnings, we may never achieve profitability or pay dividends.
We have a history of losses and there can be no assurance that we will ever be profitable. We have paid no dividends on our shares since incorporation. We presently have no ability to generate earnings because our mineral properties are in the exploration stage. If we are successful in developing our mineral properties, we anticipate that we will retain future earnings and other cash resources for the future operation and development of our business. We do not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of any future dividends is solely at the discretion of our board of directors, which will take into account many factors including our operating results, financial condition and anticipated cash needs. For these reasons, we may never achieve profitability or pay dividends.
We do not have a history of paying dividends and do not have any intention of paying dividends in the foreseeable future.
Investors cannot expect to receive a dividend on their investment in the foreseeable future, if at all. Accordingly, it is likely investors will not receive any return on their investment in our securities other than possible capital gains.
U.S. investors who obtain judgments against us or our officers or directors for breaches of U.S. securities laws may have difficulty in enforcing such judgments against us and our officers and directors.
We are incorporated under the laws of a province of Canada and the majority of our directors and officers are residents of Canada. Consequently, it may be difficult for United States investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or upon our directors or officers, or to enforce, inside or outside of the United States, any judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A judgment of a U.S. court predicated solely upon such civil liabilities may not be enforceable in Canada by a Canadian court
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if the U.S. court in which the judgment was obtained is determined by the Canadian court not to have had jurisdiction in the matter. Furthermore, an original action might not be able to be brought successfully in Canada against any of such persons or us predicated solely upon such civil liabilities.
Broker-dealers may be discouraged from effecting transactions in our common shares because they are considered a penny stock and are subject to the SECs penny stock rules.
The SEC has adopted rules (the Penny Stock Rules) that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks. Penny stocks are equity securities with a price of less than U.S.$5.00 (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or quoted on the NASDAQ system, 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 particular the statement must contain:
(a) |
a description of the nature and level of risk in the market for penny stocks in both public offerings and secondary trading; | |
(b) |
a description of the broker-dealers duties to the customer and of the rights and remedies available to the customer with respect to a violation to such duties or other requirements of securities laws; | |
(c) |
a brief, clear, narrative description of a dealer market, including bid and ask prices for penny stocks and the significance of the spread between the bid and ask price; | |
(d) |
a toll-free telephone number for inquiries on disciplinary actions; | |
(e) |
the definitions of significant terms in the disclosure document or in the conduct of trading in penny stocks; and | |
(f) |
such other information and be in such form, including language, type, size and format, as the Commission shall require by rule or regulation. |
The broker-dealer must obtain from the customer a written acknowledgement of receipt of the standardized disclosure document.
The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with:
(a) |
the inside bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, or other bid and offer price information for the penny stock if inside bid and offer quotations are not available; | |
(b) |
the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salespersons in the transaction; | |
(c) |
the number of shares to which such bid and ask prices apply, or other comparable information relating to the depth and liquidity of the market for such stock; and | |
(d) |
a monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customers account. |
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 purchasers written acknowledgment of
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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 our 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 our 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 Lincoln, if a market for the shares should develop in the United States.
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ITEM 4 INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
We are a mineral resource exploration company trading on the NASD Over the Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) in the United States under the symbol LGCPF. We own interests in exploration properties located in the State of Nevada and in Mexico.
A. History and Development of the Company
Name
Our legal and commercial name is Lincoln Gold Corporation
Principal Office
Our principal office is located at Suite 350 - 885 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1N5. Our telephone number is (604) 688-7377.
Incorporation and Continuation
Incorporation
The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada as Braden Technologies, Inc. on February 17, 1999. The Company has been engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties since inception.
Lincoln Gold Acquisition
Braden completed the acquisition of Lincoln Gold Corp. (Lincoln Gold) a Nevada corporation effective March 26, 2004. This acquisition was completed by the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Lincoln Gold from the former shareholders of Lincoln Gold. On closing of the acquisition, the Company issued 24,000,000 shares of Common Shares to the shareholders of Lincoln Gold. As a result of this issuance, the number of issued and outstanding shares increased from 11,400,000 shares to 35,400,000 shares, of which approximately 67.80% was owned by the former shareholders of Lincoln Gold upon the completion of the acquisition.
Subsequent to the acquisition of Lincoln Gold, it merged with Lincoln Gold in a parent/ subsidiary merger in April 2004 under Chapter 92A of the Nevada Revised Statutes. The Company completed the change of its name from Braden Technologies Inc. to Lincoln Gold Corporation as part of this merger process.
Continuation to the CBCA
On November 20, 2007, the Company completed a continuation, whereby the Company changed its jurisdiction of incorporation from Nevada to the Canadian federal jurisdiction under the Canada Business Corporation Act (CBCA). The Company is now governed by the provisions of the CBCA and has adopted by-laws consistent with a CBCA company. The Company is a reporting issuer in Canada.
Continuation to the BCBCA
On February 18, 2009, the Company completed a continuation, whereby the Company changed its jurisdiction of incorporation from the Canadian federal jurisdiction to the Province of British Columbia under the British Columbia Business Corporation Act (“BCBCA”). The Company is now governed by the provisions of the BCBCA and has adopted articles consistent with a BCBCA company. The Company is a reporting issuer under the securities laws of the Province of British Columbia.
Subsidiaries
Lincoln has one wholly-owned subsidiary, Minera Lincoln de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which conducts Lincolns mineral exploration activities and operations in Mexico.
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Arrangement Agreement
On January 15, 2009, Lincoln entered into an arrangement agreement with LPT Capital Limited (“LPT”) whereby Lincoln would merge with 0843037 BC Ltd., a subsidiary of LPT (“LPT Sub”), and the shareholders of Lincoln would be issued, in aggregate, 23,000,000 post-consolidation common shares of LPT (the “Arrangement Agreement”). Lincoln would survive the merger with LPT Sub and would continue as a wholly owned subsidiary of LPT. The business combination transaction would be completed pursuant to a court approved arrangement (the “Arrangement”) completed in accordance with the BCBCA. LPT, a British Columbia company, is a capital pool company listed in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange and the completion of the Arrangement would be its qualifying transaction on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “Qualifying Transaction”). Concurrent with and as a condition to the completion of the transaction, LPT will be required to complete a private placement financing for minimum proceeds of $3,380,000. The Qualifying Transaction has been approved in principal by the TSX Venture Exchange (“Exchange”). Lincoln and LPT are presently attempting to complete the private placement financing at the date of this Annual Report to satisfy the condition to the closing of the Arrangement. There is no assurance that either the Qualifying Transaction or the private placement financing will be completed.
The Arrangement Agreement has been subsequently amended on February 16, 2009, April 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009 in order to enable to provide additional time for the completion of the private placement to be completed by LPT as a condition to the closing of the Arrangement. There is no assurance that this private placement financing will be completed by LPT. If the financing is not completed, then the Arrangement will most likely not complete.
Conditions to Closing
The Arrangement is subject to a number of conditions precedent, including:
Approval from the shareholders of Lincoln and LPT was obtained on February 18, 2009. Approval of the British Columbia Supreme Court was obtained on February 20, 2009. The TSX Venture Exchange has accepted the Arrangement as LPT's "Qualifying Transaction", subject only to receipt of customary post-closing filings with TSXV.
Private Placement
Concurrent with the closing of the Arrangement, LPT intends to complete a private placement (the “Private Placement”) to raise minimum proceeds of $3,380,000 to a maximum of $6,000,000 in aggregate through the sale of up to 35,294,117 units of LPT (the “LPT Units”) at a price of $0.17 per LPT Unit. The LPT Units will be comprised of one post-consolidation common share of LPT and a one-half of one LPT Warrant. Each whole LPT Warrant will be exercisable to purchase one post-consolidation common share of LPT for a period of two years at an exercise price of $0.25 per share. LPT may pay a finder’s fee to third parties in connection with the Private Placement in an aggregate amount of 8% of the gross
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proceeds raised under the Private Placement, payable at the election of the finder in cash or post-consolidation common shares of LPT (on the basis of $0.17 per share).
Consolidation of LPT Share Capital
As part of the structuring of the outstanding share capital of LPT in connection with the Arrangement, LPT and Lincoln agreed to a consolidation of LPT's outstanding common shares on a 1 (new) for 1.5 (old) basis (the “Consolidation”). The consolidation will reduce the outstanding number of LPT common shares, prior to completion of the Arrangement, from 6,000,000 common shares to 4,000,000 common shares. The issuance of 23,000,000 post-consolidation common shares of LPT to the shareholders of Lincoln under the Arrangement was negotiated on the basis of the share consolidation having been completed. The completion of the Consolidation is a condition to the closing of the Arrangement.
Debt Settlement
Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, Lincoln has agreed to convert up to $1,088,818.53 of its outstanding debt into common shares of Lincoln prior to the closing of the Arrangement (the “Debt Settlement”). Any Lincoln Shares issued under such debt conversion will then be subject to the exchange, at the exchange ratio, for post-consolidation common share of LPT pursuant to the Arrangement. Lincoln has also sought agreement from certain creditors who do not elect to participate in the debt conversion to postpone repayment of their outstanding debts until a date following the completion of the Arrangement.
Change of Name
If the Arrangement is completed, the corporate name of LPT will be changed to “Lincoln Mining Corporation” and Lincoln will continue as a wholly owned subsidiary of LPT.
Directors and Officers Post-Closing
Under the terms of the Arrangement, LPT's board of directors will consist of four (4) directors upon completion of the Arrangement. The board of directors of LPT will comprise Philip J. Walsh, Paul Saxton, Andrew Milligan and Marc S. LeBlanc. Paul Saxton will be appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer, Herrick Lau will be appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Jeffrey L. Wilson will be appointed Vice-President, Exploration.
Project Summary
Pine Grove, Nevada, USA
The Pine Grove project is located in Lyon County, Nevada. We acquired our interests in the Pine Grove property in 2007, as described below. The Pine Grove property is described in detail below under Properties, Plants and Equipment.
On July 13, 2007, we entered into an agreement with the Wheeler Mining Company (Wheeler) to lease Wheelers 100% owned Wheeler and Wheeler patent claims in Lyon County, Nevada from July 13, 2007 to December 31, 2022 with an exclusive option to renew the lease by written notice to December 31, 2023. If the property is and remains in commercial production by November 1 of each year after 2022, we may renew the lease for a period of one year by delivering written notice to the owner prior to November 15 of that year. We must produce a bankable feasibility study on the properties by July 1, 2009, extended to December 31, 2010,.and obtain all necessary funding to place the properties into commercial production. We must pay a net smelter royalty of 3% (at a gold price of US$450) to 7% (at a gold price of US$701) upon commencement of commercial mining production based on gold prices and the Company must pay a 5% net smelter royalty on metals or minerals other than gold produced and sold from the properties.
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Pursuant to an agreement dated July 30, 2007, we purchased from Harold Votipka (Votipka) the Harvest lode claim, the Winter Harvest lode claim, and the Harvest fraction lode claim, each located within the Pine Grove Mining District in Lyon County, Nevada. The purchase price was US$12,000, which we have paid, and includes a 5% net smelter royalty on production payable to Votipka.
On August 1, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Lyon Grove LLC, (Lyon Grove) to lease the Wilson Mining Claim Group located in Lyon County, Nevada from August 1, 2007 to July 31, 2022, with an option to purchase. We can extend the term of the lease for up to ten additional one year terms providing we are conducting exploration mining activities at the expiration of the term immediately preceding the proposed extension term.
The following lease payments must be made by us:
US$10,000 upon signing the agreement, which we have paid and
US$25,000 prior to each one year anniversary of the lease.
The following work commitments must be made by us:
US$25,000 by August 1, 2008
US$25,000 by August 1, 2009
US$50,000 by August 1, 2010
US$50,000 by August 1, 2011
US$25,000 by August 1, 2012 and each subsequent year
Upon commencement of production, we must pay a net smelter royalty of 3% to 7% based on gold prices.
Lyon Grove retains the right to require us to purchase the property any time after we have made application to permit and develop a mine on the property, subject to our continued obligation to pay the royalties, for US$1,000.
Subsequent to the signing of these agreements we have staked 189 claims and the total area covered is now 6 square miles. A resource estimate has been completed by MineFill Services and this report, which is to NI 43-101 standards, is filed on SEDAR.
La Bufa, Mexico
The La Bufa Project is located in the far southwest corner of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico near the town of Guadalupe y Calvo about 300 kilometers from the city of Chihuahua and 200 kilometers from the town of Hidalgo de Parral. The project is within the Guadalupe y Calvo Mining District and lies within the Sierra Madre Occidental physiographic province. The La Bufa project is comprised of three contiguous mineral concessions totaling approximately 2,291.26 hectares. We hold our interest in the La Bufa Project through our joint venture agreements with Almaden Minerals (Almaden), as described below. La Bufa project is described in detail below under Properties, Plants and Equipment.
We originally entered into a letter of intent dated August 5, 2005 with Almaden to form a joint venture for the exploration and development of the La Bufa property. Almaden controls the property through its wholly owned Mexican subsidiary, Minera Gavilan, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation that holds a 100% interest in the property. The letter of intent was superseded by a joint venture agreement dated April 12, 2007 that we entered into with Almaden and Minera Gavilan. Under the joint venture agreement, we are entitled to earn a 60% interest in the La Bufa property by undertaking an exploration work program on the property aggregating US$3,500,000 and issuing an aggregate of 1,550,000 shares to Almaden as follows:
Exploration expenditures required under work program:
Share issuances to Almaden:
The JDS Property, Nevada, USA
We are the owner of the seventy-seven (77) unpatented lode claims comprising the JDS project which covers approximately 1,540 acres (2.04 sq miles). In 2004 we staked and recorded the mineral claims, which are located in Sections 14, 15, 22, 23 26 & 27 T25N R50E of Eureka County, Nevada. These mineral claims are registered in our name and are not subject to underlying lease payments or royalties. The JDS property is subject only to annual claim maintenance fees payable to the BLM and Eureka County.
In August 2008 the Company entered into an agreement with Carlin Gold US Inc. (Carlin) whereby the property was sold to Carlin in return for a 2% net smelter royalty. Carlin has the option to purchase 1% of the royalty for US$500,000 for each ½ of 1% of the net smelter return.
The Hannah Property, Nevada, USA
The Hannah Property is located approximately 55 miles east of Reno, Nevada in the southern portion of the Trinity Range north of Interstate 80 in Churchill County. Access is east from Reno via Interstate 80 and then north on gravel and dirt roads from Hot Springs Flat to the Property.
We have an option to acquire a 100% interest in the claims comprising the Hannah project, subject to a net smelter royalty, pursuant to an option agreement dated December 24, 2003, as amended January 7, 2007, January 10, 2008, and February 27, 2009 between us and Larry and Susan McIntosh of Gardnerville, Nevada. We have the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Hannah property by making aggregate payments to the McIntoshs in the amount of US$210,000. We may exercise this option at any time prior to the ten year anniversary of the effective date of the agreement, being December 24, 2013. To date US$61,000 has been paid into this option agreement.
In February 2009 the Company amended the Hannah agreement whereby the US$25,000 due on January 10, 2009 would be lowered to US$16,000 and be paid US$1,000 on January 10, 2009 (paid), US$5,000 on April 10, 2009 (paid), US$5,000 on July 10, 2009 and US$5,000 on October 10, 2009. The last payment of US$50,000 due on January 10, 2013 will be increased by an amount such that the total payments made by the Company will total US$210,000.
In February 2009, the Company entered into an option agreement with Enexco International Inc. (Enexco), whereby Enexco can earn a 60% interest in the Hannah property by completing the following within a year:
If Enexco completes all the above items by February 2010, they will have exercised their option and acquired a 60% interest in the property. Enexco has announced that a drill program will commence on the property in June, 2009.
Reporting Issuer Status under Canadian Securities Laws
We are a reporting issuer in Canada under the securities laws of the Provinces of British Columbia, Canada.
Capital Expenditures and Divestitures
Our actual and planned principal capital expenditures since the beginning of our last four fiscal years have been with respect to the acquisition of our mineral property interests and related property and equipment as discussed above.
Takeover Offers
On January 15, 2009 the Company and LPT Capital Limited (LPT) entered into an arrangement agreement whereby 0843037 BC Ltd., a subsidiary of LPT, would acquire 100% of the issued common shares of the Company and in return issue to the Companys shareholders 23,000,000 LPT shares. On February 18, 2009, the Companys shareholders approved and completed the continuation of the Company from federal jurisdiction to British Columbia and also approved the transaction with LPT. On
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February 20, 2009 the Supreme Court of British Columbia entered its final order approving the plan of arrangement. The completion of the transaction will occur in conjunction with LPT completing an equity financing to raise up to $3,380,000.
B. Business Overview
We are engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the State of Nevada and northern Mexico. Our plan of operations for the next twelve months is to conduct exploration of our mineral properties in the State of Nevada and Mexico, concentrating primarily on our Pine Grove and La Bufa properties.
We presently hold interests in two groups of mineral properties in Nevada and one in northern Mexico, as described below:
Name of Property | Location | |
1. | Pine Grove Property | Yerrington, Nevada |
2. | La Bufa | State of Chihuahua, Mexico |
3. | Hannah Property | Churchill County, Nevada |
All of our properties are in the exploration stage. We do not produce, develop or sell any products at this time, have any commercial mining operations, nor do any of our current properties have any known or identified mineral resources or mineral reserves.
Our specific exploration plan for three of our mineral properties, together with information regarding the location and access, history of operations, present condition and geology of each of our properties, is presented below. All of our exploration programs, except the Pine Grove Property, are early stage in nature in that their completion will not result in a determination that any of our properties contains commercially exploitable quantities of mineralization. With respect to the Pine Grove Property, we believe that extra drilling and exploration programs combined with the completion of a feasibility study have the potential to assess whether or not a reserve is present on this property.
Our exploration programs will be directed by our management and will be supervised by Mr. Jeff Wilson, our vice-president of exploration. We will engage contractors to carry out our exploration programs under Mr. Wilsons supervision. Contractors that we plan to engage include project geologists, geochemical sampling crews and drilling companies, each according the specific exploration program on each property. Our budgets for our exploration programs are set forth below.
Projects Update
During 2008 we continued our work at the Pine Grove and La Bufa properties. Our main corporate focus was to keep advancing these properties as they are very important to overall corporate development. No work was carried out at the Hannah Property, Nevada. A number of work items were completed at the Pine Grove including drilling of four holes, road building, mapping and the staking of additional claims. At the La Bufa property we applied for and received our drill permits. Early in 2008, we were able to begin our drill program and 12 holes were completed by early May. All assay results have been received and have been posted on our website. We are in the process of merging with LPT Capital Ltd through a Plan of Arrangement which will give us a TSX-V listing. This situation is ongoing at the time of writing this report. Also during the year we moved our domicile to Canada from Nevada. In 2008, we completed three private placements.
Early in the year management was able to consolidate most of the Pine Grove property. In addition, we staked 89 claims in the area to surround the Wilson, Wheeler, Votipka and Cavanaugh claims.
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Subsequent to year end we staked another 99 claims to double the size of the property increasing the size of the property under our control to 6 square miles. Also, subsequent to year end, we drilled 4 additional large diameter core holes for metallurgical test purposes. The drilling of four metallurgical core holes was completed in early February and the core is being sent to McClelland Labs in Reno where all the test work will be carried out. At present, there are at least 192 surface drill holes in the property to include 29 district exploration holes, 99 holes in the Wheeler deposit, 62 holes in the Wilson deposit, and the 4 metallurgical core holes. There are an additional 17 underground drill holes; all underground workings are collapsed.
We have also been focusing on advancing the La Bufa property. Throughout the latter part of 2007, we carried out systematic exploration and sampling at La Bufa in order to better understand and plan a drill hole program for the property. Once this had been done, we applied to the government agencies and received permission for a 15 hole drill program. ,The drilling started in February of 2008. The large La Bufa gold-silver property (2,291 hectares) is located in the Guadalupe y Calvo mining district in southwestern Chihuahua State. We are looking for the southern extension of the Rosario gold-silver vein system which extends onto the La Bufa property for at least 1600 meters. Core from promising zones of veins and stockwork in a number of holes returned gold and silver values of significance. The Company completed 12 core holes in two-hole fences across the vein system for a total of 6000 meters of drilling. All holes were targeted to reach the 2250 meter level or deeper which was historically productive in the adjacent Rosario mine
No work was completed on the Hannah property in 2008. A number of other properties have been submitted to management but none has been acquired.
Technical Reports
We have received the following NI 43-101 compliant technical reports on our Pine Grove and La Bufa properties during 2007:
technical report on the Pine Grove Property dated September 28, 2007, as amended December 4, 2007, prepared by David M. R. Stone of Minefill Services, Inc., ( the Pine Grove Report) and
geological Report on the La Bufa property dated October 19, 2007, authored by Richard W. Bybee, P. Geo. (the La Bufa Report).
The technical reports include recommended exploration programs on each of our Pine Grove and La Bufa properties.
Plan of Operations
Our plan of operations for the exploration of our mineral properties over the next twelve months includes the following:
we plan to complete the feasibility study on the property including the mine plan and closure plan, gather all the data for permitting, finalize the environmental impact statement, submit the permits to the US Forestry Service, carry out a 25 hole exploration program and update the resource modeling on the property as recommended in the Technical Report of Minefill Services, updated on September 30, 2008, as described below under Section 4.5.1 of this Listing Application,
we plan to complete phase two of drilling, which may include some geophysics work, on the La Bufa property recommended in the Geological Report on the La Bufa property dated October
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19, 2007, and updated on January 5, 2009, authored by Richard W. Bybee, P. Geo., as described below under Section 4.5.1 of this Listing Application.
Our planned exploration expenditures for the next twelve months on our Nevada and Mexican mineral properties, together with amounts due to maintain our interest in these claims, are summarized as follows:
Name of Property | Planned Exploration Expenditure |
Exploration of Pine Grove Property, Nevada |
$1,600,000 |
Exploration of La Bufa Property, Mexico |
$600,000 |
Exploration of Hannah Property, Nevada |
$0 |
Property Acquisitions | $100,000 |
Administration (12 months) And Debt Paydown |
$900,000 |
Total | $3,200,000 |
We had cash of $30,199 and working capital deficit of 2,735,505 as of March 31, 2009. A large portion of this debt will be exchanged for shares in Lincoln at the appropriate time. We will require $3,200,000 in order to carry out our plan of operations over the next twelve months and pay down in cash a significant part of the debt. Accordingly, we require financing of the same magnitude in order to fund our plan of operations for the next twelve months. We plan to complete a further private placement of our securities in order to secure the funds necessary for us to complete our plan of operations for the next twelve months, as outlined above. There is no assurance that this financing will be achieved.
As we have done in the past, we may consider entering into joint venture arrangements to provide the required funding to pursue drilling and advanced exploration of our mineral claims. Even if we determined to pursue a joint venture partner, there is no assurance that any third party would enter into a joint venture agreement with us in order to fund exploration of our mineral claims. If we entered into a joint venture arrangement, we would likely have to assign a percentage of our interest in our mineral claims to the joint venture partner.
Our exploration plans will be continually evaluated and modified as exploration results become available. Modifications to our plans will be based on many factors, including: results of exploration, assessment of data, weather conditions, exploration costs, the price of gold and available capital. Further, the extent of our exploration programs that we undertake will be dependent upon the amount of financing available to us.
Employees
We have no employees and all activities and exploration programs are carried out through contracts with third parties, including geologists, engineers, drilling companies.
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Government Regulation and Environmental Protection Requirements
We will be required to obtain work permits from the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the US Forestry Service for any exploration work on our Nevada mineral properties that results in a physical disturbance to the land. We will not be required to obtain a work permit for any phase of our proposed mineral exploration programs that does not involve any physical disturbance to the mineral claims, such as data compilation, field work and geochemical surveys. We will be required to obtain work permits for all drilling operations that we plan to conduct on our mineral properties. Prior to commencing drilling operations on any of our properties, we must submit a Notice of Intent to Operate to the BLM and post a bond as security for our obligation to complete reclamation activities. We will be required by the Bureau of Land Management to undertake remediation work on any work that results in physical disturbance to the mineral claims, including drilling programs. We estimate that the cost of remediation work for our drilling programs will be approximately $25,000 for each drilling program. The estimated amount of remediation work is included within our budgets for our exploration programs. The actual amount of reclamation cost will vary according to the degree of physical disturbance.
We have made all current Bureau of Land Management filings for our Nevada properties. All claims are in good standing until September 1, 2009. Applicable county fees have also been paid.
The La Bufa property is an exploration concession granted by a branch of the Mexican government and is for a three year terms. Thereafter, the La Bufa property may be converted into an exploitation concession that would have a term of fifty years. The La Bufa property is presently beginning the second year of the term of its exploration concession. An annual fee of $15.72 and $31.62 pesos per hectare is due to the Mexican federal government. The rate increases over time. The total area of the La Bufa exploration concession is 2291.26 hectares. These amounts are subject to change and adjustment by the Mexican authorities.
Competition
We are a junior mineral resource exploration company. We compete with other mineral resource exploration companies for financing and for the acquisition of new mineral properties. Many of the mineral resource exploration companies with whom we compete have greater financial and technical resources than those available to us. Accordingly, these competitors may be able to spend greater amounts on acquisitions of mineral properties of merit, on exploration of their mineral properties and on development of their mineral properties. In addition, they may be able to afford more geological expertise in the targeting and exploration of mineral properties. This competition could result in competitors having mineral properties of greater quality and interest to prospective investors who may finance additional exploration and development. This competition could adversely impact on our ability to achieve the financing necessary for us to conduct further exploration of our mineral properties.
We will also compete with other junior mineral exploration companies for financing from a limited number of investors that are prepared to make investments in junior mineral exploration companies. The presence of competing junior mineral exploration companies may impact on our ability to raise additional capital in order to fund our exploration programs if investors are of the view that investments in competitors are more attractive based on the merit of the mineral properties under investigation and the price of the investment offered to investors.
We will also compete with other junior and senior mineral companies for available resources, including, but not limited to, professional geologists, camp staff, helicopter or float planes, mineral exploration supplies and drill rigs.
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Research and Development Expenditures
We have not spent any amounts on research and development activities since our inception. Our planned expenditures on our exploration programs are summarized under the section of this Registration Statement entitled Description of Properties.
C. Organizational Structure
We are not part of a group and have one wholly-owned subsidiary, Minera Lincoln de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Lincoln Mexico) which was incorporated in Mexico.
D. Property, Plants and Equipment
The following sets forth information relating to our material mineral properties.
Pine Grove Property, Nevada, United States
Ownership Interest
Wheeler Patent and Wheeler Millsite Patent Claims
On July 13, 2007, we entered into an agreement with the Wheeler Mining Company (Wheeler) to lease Wheelers 100% owned Wheeler and Wheeler patent claims in Lyon County, Nevada from July 13, 2007 to December 31, 2022 with an exclusive option to renew the lease by written notice to December 31, 2023. If the property is and remains in commercial production by November 1 of each year after 2022, we may renew the lease for a period of one year by delivering written notice to the owner prior to November 15 of that year. We must produce a bankable feasibility study on the properties by July 1, 2009, extended to December 31, 2010, and obtain all necessary funding to place the properties into commercial production. We must pay a net smelter royalty of 3% (at a gold price of US$450) to 7% (at a gold price of US$701) upon commencement of commercial mining production based on gold prices and the Company must pay a 5% net smelter royalty on metals or minerals other than gold produced and sold from the properties.
Harvest Lode Claim, Winter Harvest Lode Claim and Harvest Fraction Lode Claim
Pursuant to an agreement dated July 30, 2007, we purchased from Harold Votipka (Votipka) the Harvest lode claim, the Winter Harvest lode claim, and the Harvest fraction lode claim, each located within the Pine Grove Mining District in Lyon County, Nevada. The purchase price was US$12,000, which we have paid, and includes a 5% net smelter royalty on production payable to Votipka.
Wilson Mining Claim Group
On August 1, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Lyon Grove LLC, (Lyon Grove) to lease the Wilson Mining Claim Group located in Lyon County, Nevada from August 1, 2007 to July 31, 2022, with an option to purchase. We can extend the term of the lease for up to ten additional one year terms providing we are conducting exploration mining activities at the expiration of the term immediately preceding the proposed extension term.
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The following lease payments must be made by us:
US$10,000 upon signing the agreement, which we have paid and
US$25,000 prior to each one year anniversary of the lease, (the first one having been made).
We advanced to Lyon Grove a loan of $5,000 bearing an interest rate of 5% per annum to be repaid by July 31, 2008. The loan was repaid.
The lease payment made for any one calendar year may be credited against any net smelter royalty due and payable during the same calendar year.
The following work commitments must be made by us:
US$25,000 by August 1, 2008
US$25,000 by August 1, 2009
US$50,000 by August 1, 2010
US$50,000 by August 1, 2011
US$25,000 by August 1, 2012 and each subsequent year
Upon commencement of production, we must pay a net smelter royalty of 3% to 7% based on gold prices.
Lyon Grove retains the right to require us to purchase the property any time after we have made application to permit and develop a mine on the property, subject to our continued obligation to pay the royalties, for US$1,000.
Additional Staked Claims
Subsequent to the signing of these agreements we have staked 189 claims and the total area covered is now 6 square miles.
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List of Mineral Claims Pine Grove Project
Claim Name | BLM Serial # | Type | Area-acres |
LG1 to LG60 (90 claims) | NMC0960776 - NMC0960865 | Unpatented | 1859.504 |
CONTAINS | |||
Wheeler Patent Wheeler Millsite |
Patented Patented |
73.705 4.989 |
|
Wilson Patent | Patented | 33.781 | |
Harvest Lode Winter Harvest Harvest Fraction |
NMC793071 NMC800355 NMC800356 |
Unpatented Unpatented Unpatented |
20.66 20.66 20.66 |
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Location and Access
The Pine Grove project is located 20 miles due south of Yerington, Nevada via State Highway 208 (paved) to the East Walker Road (gravel) to the Pine Grove Canyon drainage. A map showing the location and access to the Pine Grove property is presented below.
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A map showing the location of the claims is below.
History of Operations
In 1969, Quintana Minerals of Houston, Texas reportedly was interested in the copper potential of the property and undertook a program of surface mapping and completed one drill hole. The results of that program are not known, and the log/assays from the one drill hole were not available at the time of writing this report.
In 1981, Lacana Mining Corporation of Toronto, Ontario explored the property for gold. This work consisted primarily of surface mapping. No further details on Lacanas work program or results are available.
In 1988 the property was optioned by Teck Resources of Vancouver, British Columbia. Teck undertook the most extensive exploration program to date, drilling 185 holes for a total of 68,000 feet, and expenditures of US$2.2 million. Teck dropped their option 1992.
Silver Standard briefly explored the property in 1994 but they too subsequently dropped their option.
Present Condition of the Property and Current State of Exploration
While a NI 43-101 has been completed on the property showing resources there are no known reserves on the Pine Grove project, and Lincoln has no plant or equipment on this property.
Geology
The region is dominated by Basin and Range-style, north trending, extensional fault-block mountain ranges separated by alluvium-filled valleys. The ranges have cores of Mesozoic volcanic, sedimentary and intrusive rocks that are in turn overlain by Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks. The Pine Grove Hills occupy a west-dipping structural block that is bounded on the east side by a series of faults, some of which transect the Pine grove District.
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The oldest rocks in the region are a series of middle Triassic to middle Jurassic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks and coeval intrusions that are part of a west facing continental are that extended along the western margin of North America in the middle Mesozoic. The sequence has been divided into four packages by Schweickert and others (1991), consisting of a middle to upper Triassic package sub aerial volcanic rocks, an upper Triassic platform carbonate sequence, an upper Triassic to lower Jurassic basinal sedimentary rock package and a middle calc-alkaline volcanic suite.
North to northwest striking, steeply-dipping faults were active during emplacement of the Mesozoic intrusions. The faults down-drop a large cast-west-trending structural block that includes the Yerington Batholith. Faults within the block often contain dikes of granite porphyry and served as loci for hydrothermal fluids.
The most significant geologic feature in the district is a northwest-striking, northeast-dipping normal fault that juxtaposes Mesozoic intrusive rocks in the footwall against intrusive capped by Tertiary sedimentary rocks in the hanging wall. This structure herein termed the Pine Grove fault is a diffuse, 200 m-wide extensional shear zone that forms part of the eastern boundary of the Pine Grove Hills structural block. The fault originally had a steep dip but has been rotated to nearly flat by regional extension. Numerous parallel dikes occur within the fault and the structure served as the locus for mineralization in the district.
The deposit at Wheeler comprises a elliptical shaped tabular zone measuring some 400 m by 200 m in plan, by about 90 m in thickness. It lies parallel the Pine Grove fault and its attendant dikes, dipping at about 30 degrees to the northeast. The deposit consists of one to three subparallel, irregular zone of anomalous gold mineralization from 3 m to over 15 m thick that anastomose and coalesce.
Two quartz veins were emplaced early in a transitional chlorite-actinolite alteration event. These were followed by sulphide veinlets, fracture coatings and thin quartz veins occupying brittle faults. The first set does not contain appreciable gold mineralization, however, the second does.
Mineralization at Wilson is confined to discrete tabular zones in the granodiorite that dip between 0 and 10 degrees north. Two or three, and in places up to six, separate, stacked mineralized zones from 3 to 20 m thick are separated by thicker, un-mineralized ryholite porphyry and dacite dikes. The deposit is traceable for 150 m down-dip, and the mineralized zones extend virtually flat for at least another 350 m down-dip to the north where gold bearing veins have been encountered in drill holes. The mineralization at Wilson is much less disrupted than at Wheeler due to a lack of significant shearing events. Alteration at Wilson is similar to that found at Wheeler, although the intensity is much weaker.
Resource Classification
Resources are summarized in the tables below for Wilson and Wheeler, respectively. The resources have been classified as Inferred, according the CIM (2005) resource classification standards.
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Inferred Resources |
The following table uses the term inferred resources. Lincoln advises that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian securities regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), 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 preliminary feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. |
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Undiluted Inferred Mineral Resources by Cutoff Grade Wilson
(assays capped at 0.5 opt)
(assays capped at 0.5 opt) Cutoff (opt) |
Tons |
Au (opt) |
Cu (%) |
Au (oz) |
Cu (lbs) |
0.005 | 4,647,000 | 0.018 | 0.0210 | 83,531 | 1,953,000 |
0.010 | 2,738,000 | 0.025 | 0.0234 | 69,744 | 1,284,000 |
0.015 | 1,602,000 | 0.035 | 0.0252 | 56,056 | 807,000 |
Undiluted Inferred Mineral Resources by Cutoff Grade - Wheeler
(assays capped at 0.5 opt)
Cutoff (opt) | Tons | Au (opt) | Cu (%) | Au (oz) | Cu (lbs) |
0.005 | 4,367,000 | 0.059 | 0.0432 | 257,839 | 3,774,000 |
0.010 | 3,321,000 | 0.075 | 0.0465 | 250,236 | 3,087,000 |
0.015 | 2,647,000 | 0.091 | 0.0476 | 241,981 | 2,520,000 |
Interpretation and Conclusions of Report
The Pine Grove district hosts several gold bearing quartz-vein stockwork style deposits emplaced in Mesozoic granitic host rocks. Exploration by Teck Resources in the early 1990s outlined a bulk tonnage low grade gold resource of roughly 2.5 million tons grading 0.06 opt containing 150,000 ounces. These resources are the un-mined remnants from mining carried out in the district in the late 1800s.
The author of the Technical Report has classified the resources as inferred as defined in Section 1.2 and 1.3 of NI43-101.
A re-evaluation of the Teck data by MineFill produced similar results for the Wilson deposit, however, at Wheeler the MineFill estimate was considerably higher in both tons and grade. A detailed review of the drill assays superimposed on the Teck polygons revealed large zones of mineralized material that were not included in the Teck estimate.
There appears to be sufficient resources to justify further exploration at Pine Grove, and recommendations are provided herein. The Wheeler deposit shows the best immediate potential since it contains the bulk of the resources, and hosts a higher grade. A ground reconnaissance of the area surrounding the Wheeler and Wilson mines suggests that there may be additional resources which could be added with additional exploration. During the site visit the author noted a number of caved adits and mine dumps in an adjacent drainage to the north of Wilson.
Recommendations of the Technical Report
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Based on the information compiled to date, the Technical Report concluded that the Pine Grove project appears to offer significant potential for re-activating a historical mining district. The Technical Report further concluded and recommended that, before a decision can be made, additional data collection and verification is warranted. Management has put together a work plan for the next 12 months which includes the following:
Additional Exploration
Lands additional claims - $30,000
Photogrammetry stereo orthophotos and digital topography - $30,000
Reverse circulation drilling(drilling Wilson and Wheeler) - $175,000
(Total = 25 holes for 23,000 ft. at an all-in cost of $20.00/ft. )
Assaying 1800 samples - $35,000
Contract geologists - $100,000
Drill pads and reclamation work - $30,000
GIS work - $10,000
Resource update - $25,000
Sub-Total Budget - $435,000
The objective of this work is to confirm the grades and continuity of mineralization per the Teck drilling and resource estimate, and to test the lateral margins of the deposits at Wilson and Wheeler.
Metallurgical Assessment
• |
Metallurgical investigation of 4 core holes drilled for this purpose - $100,000 | |
o |
Bottle roll tests | |
o |
Column leach tests | |
o |
Environmental characterization |
Feasibility including Mine Plans, Closure Plans | - $500,000 |
Environmental, Archaeological, Water, etc Studies | - $400,000 |
Permitting procedures | - $100,000 |
Miscellaneous Costs | - $65,000 |
Total Cost | - $1,600,000 |
There is no assurance that further exploration or feasibility work will result in a final evaluation that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on this mineral property. Lincoln will require additional financing in order to pursue the work. Lincoln does not have sufficient financing to undertake full
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exploration or studies of these mineral claims at present and there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain the necessary financing.
La Bufa Property, Chihuahua, Mexico
The La Bufa Project is located in the far southwest corner of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico near the town of Guadalupe y Calvo about 300 kilometers from the city of Chihuahua and 200 kilometers from the town of Hidalgo de Parral. The project is within the Guadalupe y Calvo Mining District and lies within the Sierra Madre Occidental physiographic province. The La Bufa project is comprised of three contiguous mineral concessions totaling approximately 2,291.26 hectares and is held by Lincoln Gold through letters of intent to joint venture and joint venture agreements with Almaden Minerals and their wholly owned Mexican subsidiary Minera Gavilan, S.A. de C.V. The La Bufa Property surrounds mineral concessions of approximately 439.24 hectares held by Gammon Gold where the Rosario Vein was discovered in 1836 and where nearly all of the historic production from the district was derived.
Location and Access
The La Bufa exploration concession is located in the southwest extremity of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico and is centered on the small town (mining district) of Guadalupe y Calvo in the Sierra Madre Occidental. The single exploration concession adjoins and surrounds other concessions within the district. Net area is 2,291.26 hectares (approximately 5,661.7 net acres). The nearest commercial airport is in the city of Chihuahua, 480 km by road from the property. All-season vehicle access to the property is excellent. The town of Guadalupe y Calvo is the terminus of the paved, well-maintained Mexico Highway 24 which winds 270 kilometers from mining town of Hidalgo del Parral to the northeast. Access on the concession is via dirt roads. A map showing the location and access to the La Bufa property is presented below.
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The La Bufa Property consists of three contiguous Mexican Exploration Concessions, La Bufa (No. 219036), La Bufa 1 (No. 222724), and La Bufa 2 (No. 223165) totalling 1,916.21 hectares, as follows:
Name | Type | Title | File | Area Hect. | Issued | Expires | Tax Rate | Pesos | US$ |
La Bufa | Explor. | 219036 | 16/31696 | 1040.7594 | 31/Jan/03 | 30-Jan-09 | $6.0100 | $6,256 | $585 |
La Bufa | Explor. | 222724 | 16/32275 | 485.0000 | 27-Aug-04 | 26-Aug-10 | $6.0100 | $2,916 | $273 |
La Bufa | Explor. | 223165 | 16/32529 | 765.5000 | 28-Oct-04 | 27-Oct-10 | $6.0100 | $4,602 | $430 |
The La Bufa Property consists of three contiguous Mexican concessions issued by the Direccion General de Minas in 2003 and 2004 to Minera Gavilan, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican subsidiary controlled 100% by Almaden Minerals Ltd. a publicly traded Canadian junior listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (AMM).
On August 8, 2005, we executed a letter of intent to joint venture the property with Almaden whereby we could earn a 51% interest in the property by undertaking exploration expenditures in the minimum amount of US$2.0 million over 4 years.
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On April 12, 2007, we entered into an option agreement (the Option Agreement) with Almaden to acquire a 60% interest in the La Bufa Property. The Option Agreement supersedes and replaces the August 8, 2005 letter of intent to joint venture the property with Almaden. Under the Option Agreement, we will be entitled to earn a 60% interest in the La Bufa Property by (a) undertaking a work program on the Bufa Property aggregating US$3,500,000 in expenditures for mining work, and (b) issuing an aggregate of 1,550,000 shares of our Common Shares to Almaden pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement.
The US$3,500,000 of expenditures for mining work must be incurred in accordance with the following schedule:
spend US$500,000 in expenditures (which must include drilling) on the La Bufa Property by the first anniversary of the effective date of the Option Agreement (the Effective Date). This obligation is a firm commitment;
spend an additional US$750,000 on the La Bufa Property by the second anniversary of the Effective Date;
spend an additional US$1,000,000 on the La Bufa Property by the third anniversary of the Effective Date; and
spend an additional US$1,250,000 on the La Bufa Property by the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date.
The 1,550,000 shares must be issued in accordance with the following schedule:
150,000 shares within 5 business days from the Effective Date;
200,000 shares on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date;
200,000 shares on or before the second anniversary of the Effective Date; and
1,000,000 shares on or before the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date.
During the term of the Option Agreement, we will be obligated to maintain the La Bufa Property in good standing by completing and filing, or making payment in lieu thereof, of all necessary assessment work on the La Bufa Property and by paying all taxes.
Upon the completion of the expenditure requirements and the share issue requirements as set forth in Option Agreement, we shall be deemed to have earned an undivided 60% interest in the La Bufa Property. Upon our earning an interest in the La Bufa property, all operations shall be conducted by us and Almaden on a joint venture basis. The basic terms of the joint venture are prescribed in the Option Agreement.
We have the right to terminate the Option Agreement by giving Almaden 30 days notice of termination. Upon termination by us, we will have no further obligation to issue any shares or incur any further expenditures for mining work on the La Bufa Property, other than in respect of obligations that had accrued to the date of termination. We have completed the issuance of the initial 150,000 shares, the second issuance of 200,000 shares, and the third issuance of 200,000 shares to Almaden.
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History of Operations
Gold was discovered in the Guadalupe y Calvo district in 1835 with extended periods of production up to 1939. The gold-silver veins were exploited largely by underground operations. A mint was constructed in 1844 by the Mexican government to take advantage of the precious metals production in the district.
Modern exploration work in the district has centered largely in the area of past production which is surrounded completely by the La Bufa concessions. Although the vein system extends beyond the area of the old workings, little exploration work has been conducted. Asarco drilled two angle core holes in the 1970s on La Bufa ground with both holes encountering ore-grade gold and silver. A previous joint venture on the La Bufa Property between Almaden Minerals Ltd. and Grid Capital Corporation resulted in the drilling of five angle core holes (666.15 m) in three locations during December 2004. Hole GUD04-03 returned encouraging gold-silver-lead-zinc assays from multiple, narrow-vein intercepts (Almaden Minerals News Release, Jan. 24, 2005). However, Grid Capital backed out of the joint venture for undisclosed reasons. We have since entered into a new joint venture with Almaden to explore the La Bufa concession.
The La Bufa Property lies within the Guadalupe y Calvo district which is one of many epithermal gold-silver districts in the Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico. The Sierra Madre Occidental is characterized by deeply incised mountains, and has a total relief of about 3,000 meters. Most of the bedrock exposed in the vicinity of Guadalupe y Calvo consists of an upper volcanic series of bedrock which is commonly hundreds of meters in thickness. However, erosional exposures of a lower volcanic series of rock, which is favourable to mineralization and occurs in ranges up to 1,000 meters in thickness, are exposed along the eastern flank and central portions of the northwest-trending Guadalupe River Valley that traverses the La Bufa concession. The contact between the upper and lower volcanic series of rock is rarely exposed.
District mineralization occurs as northwest-trending, epithermal gold-silver-lead-zinc quartz veins and breccia veins with local attending stockworks. The veins occur only in the lower volcanic series. Veins typically range from 1 to 3+ meters in true thickness and are generally steeply dipping but may also have shallow dips. Historic production in the district encountered local mineralized zones measuring tens of meters in thickness. Past mining on the Rosario vein extended for a continuous strike length of over 600 meters on seven levels. The vein system appears to consist of multiple strands and extends south-eastward for a distance of at least 1700 meters across the La Bufa Concession. The main paved road entering the town has a road cut that exposes a 70-meter zone containing multiple quartz veins.
Asarco drill holes on the La Bufa Property encountered encouraging results. Hole H-1 hit 1.4 meters grading 9.0 gram per tonne gold + 324 grams per tonne silver. Hole H-2 hit 1.4 meters grading 6.3 grams per tonne gold + 280 grams per tonne silver. Grid Capital drilled four core holes with their best intercept of 1.6 meters grading 9.0 grams per tonne gold + 447 grams per tonne silver.
Exploration Programs at La Bufa
The La Bufa Property is in the early stage of exploration and presently contains no known gold or silver resources. There is no plant or equipment on the Property. The concessions encompass the town of Guadalupe y Calvo. Potential for gold-silver veins exists primarily along the eastern side of the town in low, forested and brush-covered hills.
In 2006, we conducted aerial photography over the entire district for the purpose of generating a topographic base map suitable for detail geologic mapping. A Mexican survey crew was contracted to survey control points required to produce the topographic maps. However, heavy snow delayed the survey crew from access to the survey area. Surveying of the property was started in 2007. In February 2008 a core drilling program was initiated and completed on the La Bufa gold-silver property (2,291
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hectares) in the Guadalupe y Calvo mining district in southwestern Chihuahua State. Twelve widely spaced angle core holes focused on the El Rosario gold-silver vein system which extends southward onto the La Bufa property from the historic Rosario mine. The exploration holes are generally 100 to 150+ meters apart and most are drilled in two-hole fences at 45°and 60°. Drilling is designed to determine the most favourable portions of the vein system in the southern part of the La Bufa property. Total drilling to date is approximately 4,466 meters with hole LB-DDH-012 still in progress.
Encouraging results have been received from over 300 meters of vein system strike length which remains open to the northwest towards the adjacent Rosario mine (Gammon Gold) over 400 meters away. Twelve drill holes are now present in the Santo Niño zone. Seven holes are from Lincoln Golds drilling program (2008) and five holes are from a previous operator, Grid Capital Corporation (2004). Assays are pending from holes 11 and 12. Gold-silver mineralization occurs in steeply dipping quartz-breccia veins and stockworks hosted in Lower Volcanics (tuffs) which overlie various coarse-grained granitic basement rocks. Results to date suggest that gold-silver mineralization occurs in the upper portion of the vein system.
Once all assays and drill logs are completed, Lincoln Gold will interpret the data and plan a phase 2 exploration program. Phase 2 will include off-set drilling of high-grade intercepts as well as step-out drilling towards the El Rosario mine. The company eagerly waits to initiate drilling in the northwestern portion of the La Bufa property where past surface samples returned assays ranging from1.07 to 4.28 gpt gold and 186 to 838 gpt silver. At least 4 km of potential vein system strike length are present northwest of the Rosario mine.
The Geological Report includes a recommendation that we acquire the El Chapito concession as soon as possible and preferably before any drilling is conducted.
Recommendations of the Geological Report
Based on the scope and the results of exploration activities completed to date on the Property, a two-phase exploration program is recommended. Because the southern La Bufa concession is at a more advanced stage of exploration and drill targets have been identified, phase-1 would consist of a core drilling program that could be initiated as soon as drill contracts can be made, necessary permits obtained and logistical support are in place. A core drilling program of 15 holes averaging 400 meters each is recommended as phase-1 and is considered the minimum required to give a reasonable chance for success. Proposed sites have been plotted on a plan map (below) and two or more holes drilled at different angles of inclination could be completed at selected sites in order to test down-dip continuity of the structures. Surface owners in Guadalupe y Calvo include private landowners and the city government and initial contact with these surface owners has been made in order to secure access permission.
Preliminary metallurgical studies should be included as part of the drilling program and would include bottle roll tests along with thin section and polished section investigations to determine basic mineralogy. Phase-1 of the recommended work program would also consist of continued reconnaissance throughout the concessions, including mapping and sampling in the northern concessions of La Bufa 1 and La Bufa 2. A district-wide structural study using satellite imagery, air photos and verification by ground checks should also be part of this program. In addition, follow-up work by mapping and rock sampling in areas of soil anomalies related to quartz veinlets in altered Upper Volcanic Group rocks at the northern limit of the soil grid is needed. The district-wide reconnaissance, sampling and structural interpretation studies that are recommended should be completed and are not dependent on results of the drilling recommended in the southern portion of the La Bufa concession. The additional reconnaissance and related work could be carried out consecutively during the phase-1 drilling and if drill targets are identified they could be tested during the phase-2 drilling program.
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It is recommended that Phase-2 consist of a greatly expanded core drilling program that would provide a geologic, assay and preliminary metallurgical database of sufficient size and quality to be the basis for initial resource modeling. This phase-2 program would require the drilling of 40-50 holes on approximately 25-meter centers. Initial site planning and land use issues would also be addressed during this phase. The initiation of phase-2 program will be dependent on successful results of phase-1 drilling. Successful drilling results for phase-1 would be defined as the discovery of gold-silver mineralization, along the Santo Niño Vein or parallel structures in the footwall and hanging wall, with potentially economic grades and widths that would justify continued expenditures on the Property.
The anticipated budget over the next 12 months for the next work program recommended on the La Bufa property is set out below:
Activity | Amount/Persons | Time Required | Amount ($US) | |
Drilling | ||||
Drilling | 4,000 meters (10 holes at 400m) | 90 days | 320,000 | |
Drilling Support | 2 geologist, helpers, includes travel | 90 days | 60,000 | |
and field expenses | ||||
Site Facilities | Equipment, Storage and Consumables | 120 | 30,000 | |
Analytical | 1,000 samples | 60 days | 27,000 | |
Metallurgical | 20 samples | 90 days | 15,000 | |
Data Workup | 1 geologist, 1 GIS | 45 days | 30,000 | |
Drilling Total | 492,000 | |||
District | ||||
Reconnaissance | 1 geologist | 40 | 30,000 | |
IP Survey | 5 kilometers | 30,000 | ||
Data Workup | 1 geologist, 1 GIS | 30 | 25,000 | |
District Total | 85,000 | |||
Sub Total | $577,000 | |||
Drilling & IP | Contingency | 23,000 | ||
Total | $600,000 |
We plan plans to complete the exploration program outlined above over the next 12 to 18 months, subject to it achieving the necessary financing.
There are several key factors that can delay completion of the exploration program as follows:
delays in the permit approval process for drilling;
limited availability of core rigs in Mexico;
lack of funding.
Factors that could cause exploration costs to be greater than anticipated are largely from drilling conditions and include the following:
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lost circulation;
artesian water;
stuck drill steel;
drilling in near proximity to the town (special compensation, noise, etc.).
The exploration program is being managed on site by Filiberto Lopez who has extensive experience in Mexico. Our vice-president of exploration, Jeffrey L. Wilson, P. Geol. State of Utah, will oversee the project.
HANNAH PROPERTY, CHURCHILL COUNTY, NEVADA, USA
The Hannah Property is located approximately 55 miles east of Reno, Nevada in the southern portion of the Trinity Range north of Interstate 80 in Churchill County. Access is east from Reno via Interstate 80 and then north on gravel and dirt roads from Hot Springs Flat to the Property.
Lincoln has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the claims comprising the Hannah project, subject to a net smelter royalty, pursuant to an option agreement dated December 24, 2003, as amended January 7, 2007 and January 10, 2008, between us and Larry and Susan McIntosh of Gardnerville, Nevada. Lincoln has the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Hannah property by making aggregate payments to the McIntoshs in the amount of US$210,000. Lincoln may exercise this option at any time prior to the ten year anniversary of the effective date of the agreement, being December 24, 2013. To date US$61,000 has been paid into this option agreement.
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Location and Access
The Hannah Property is located approximately 55 miles east of Reno, Nevada in the southern portion of the Trinity Range north of Interstate 80 in Churchill County. Access is east from Reno via Interstate 80 and then north on gravel and dirt roads from Hot Springs Flat to the Property. A map showing the location of and access to the Hannah property is presented below:
Ownership Interest
The Hannah property is comprised of twenty-three (23) unpatented lode claims covering approximately 460 acres (0.72 sq. miles) in Churchill County, Nevada.
Lincoln has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the claims comprising the Hannah project, subject to a net smelter royalty, pursuant to an option agreement dated December 24, 2003 between us and Larry and Susan McIntosh of Gardnerville, Nevada, as optionors. Lincoln has the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Hannah property by making aggregate payments to the optionors in the amount of US$210,000. Lincoln may exercise this option at any time prior to the ten year anniversary of the effective date of the agreement, being December 24, 2013. Lincoln is obligated to make the following option payments in order to maintain our option agreement in good standing:
Date of Payment | Amount of Option Payment |
December 24, 2003 | US$5,000 (paid) |
January 10, 2005 | US$5,000 (paid) |
January 10, 2006 | US$10,000 (paid) |
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Date of Payment | Amount of Option Payment |
January 10, 2007 | US$15,000 (in quarterly payments) |
January 10, 2008 | US$20,000 (in quarterly payments) |
January 10, 2009 | US$16,000 (US$6,000 paid) |
January 10, 2010 | US$25,000 |
January 10, 2011 | US$25,000 |
January 10, 2012 | US$25,000 |
January 10, 2013 | US$50,000 |
Lincoln will be deemed to have exercised the option upon completion of the above option payments at which time Lincoln will be entitled to a 100% interest in the Hannah property, subject to the payment of a net smelter royalty to the optionors. The net smelter royalty will be calculated as 3% of net smelter returns, as defined in the option agreement, if the price of gold is less than or equal to US$400 per ounce, and 4% of net smelter returns if the price of gold is greater than $400 per ounce. If Lincoln exercises the option, Lincoln will have the right to reduce the net smelter royalty by 1%, up to a maximum of 2%, upon the payment of US$500,000 to the optionors for each 1% of reduction as set out in the table below:
Gold Price (US$ per ounce) |
Net Smelter Royalty payable on execution of the Agreement |
Net Smelter Royalty payable after first payment of US$500,000 |
Net Smelter Royalty payable after second payment of US$500,000 |
Less than or equal to $400 |
3% |
2% |
1% |
Greater than $400 |
4% |
3% |
2% |
If Lincoln completes a positive feasibility study for the development or mining of mineral products on the Hannah property and obtains all government approvals, consents, licenses and permits to construct, develop or operate a mine on the Hannah property prior to January 10, 2013, Lincoln will be obligated purchase the Hannah property prior to the commencement of mining of mineral products. In this event, the purchase price for the Hannah property shall be the sum of all unpaid option payments due to the optionors through January 10, 2013.
Lincoln has the exclusive right to conduct exploration on the Hannah property during the term of the option agreement, provided that Lincoln makes the required option payments. Lincoln is obligated to make all federal and county claim maintenance fees in a timely manner to keep the claims in good standing during the term of the option agreement. In the event that Lincoln does not make any required option payment, then the optionors will be entitled to terminate the agreement and Lincoln will lose our interest in the property. However, Lincoln will not have any obligation to make further option payments in the event of termination due our inability to make any required option payment. Lincoln may surrender its interest in the property and terminate the agreement at its election upon written notice to the optionors. In this event, the optionors will retain all option payments paid pursuant to the agreement.
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Lincoln has paid the BLM and County annual claim maintenance fees that are required to be made. Lincoln is not obligated to complete any minimum exploration expenditures or other work commitment in order to maintain its option on the Hannah property.
In February 2009, the Company entered into an option agreement with Enexco International Inc. (Enexco), whereby Enexco can earn a 60% interest in the Hannah property by completing the following within a year:
If Enexco completes all the above items by February 2010, they will have exercised their option and acquired a 60% interest in the property. Enexco has announced that a drill program will commence on the property in June, 2009.
History of Operations
Various old shafts, adits, and numerous small prospects are on the Hannah Property from prospecting in the early 1900s. Cominco was active in the general area in the 1960s and Chevron drilled three scattered holes on the claim block in the 1980s. None of Chevrons holes tested the Hannah gold target. Four backhoe trenches were dug by Cordex in the late 1990s, however no follow-up work was conducted. NDT Ventures held the property in 2002 but conducted no significant work. A total of 50 soil samples and 329 rock-chip samples have been collected from the property and assayed.
Present Condition of the Property and Current State of Exploration
The Hannah Property is in the early stage of exploration and presently contains no known gold or silver resources. Lincolns current state of exploration consists of geologic mapping, soil and rock-chip sampling, a ground magnetometer survey, and 11 reverse-circulation drill holes (4,815 ft) drilled by the Company in 2005. Shallow ore-grade gold and silver mineralization is present in two adjacent drill holes.
There is no plant or equipment on the Hannah Property other than some scattered remnants of past prospecting. The property consists of barren land with no improvements with the exception of dirt roads.
Lincoln has no formal reports on the Hannah Property. However, Lincoln does have all soil and rock-chip sample maps and results, a preliminary geologic map, a ground magnetometer map, and drill hole logs and assay results from 11 reverse-circulation drill holes.
Lincoln conducted in 2006 a ground magnetometer survey in the vicinity of mineralized drill holes H-1 and H-11 which were drilled in a northwest-trending, highly oxidized shear zone. Results show a magnetic high to the northwest buried under pediment gravels and a magnetic low to the southeast beneath alluvium. The abrupt transition area from low to high magnetic response offers a possible structural intersection between contrasting rocks types. Structural intersections are potential gold-silver targets.
Lincoln would like to conduct offset drilling from the two holes that encountered ore-grade gold-silver mineralization. However, Lincoln is also showing the property to multiple juniors who have expressed potential interest in participating in a joint venture on the Hannah Property. In February Lincoln concluded a joint venture agreement the Hannah Property with Enexco International Inc, see above. It is important to note that there is no work obligation in the property option agreement.
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Owing to this situation, the property may sit idle, provided that Lincoln continues to make the payments required under the option agreement.
Lincolns plan of exploration for the Hannah Property is as follows:
Description of Phase of Exploration |
Description of Exploration Work Required
|
Acquire Joint Venture Partner | Execute an Exploration Agreement with Option to Joint Venture with a potential joint venture partner (a JV Partner) |
Exploration Trenching | JV Partner conducts trenching across target with an excavator |
Phase 2 Drilling | JV Partner drills 5 to 10 angle RC drill holes |
Data Evaluation | Evaluate results |
The anticipated timetable and estimated budget for completion for each stage of exploration is as follows:
Stage of Exploration | Estimated Cost of Completion |
Acquire Joint Venture Partner | $0 |
Exploration Trenching | $0 (Partners Cost) |
Phase 2 Drilling | $0 (Partners Cost) |
Bottle-Roll Metallurgical Tests | $0 (Partners Cost) |
Data Evaluation | $2,000 |
All significant work is expected to be conducted by a joint venture partner using qualified contractors.
Geology
The Hannah Property lies in exotic metamorphic terrain comprised of Triassic metavolcancis (greenstones) and various Cretaceous intrusive rocks and Tertiary lake beds (no formation names). A highly oxidized, northwesttrending, gold-silver-bearing shear zone cuts the metavolcanic rocks and is exposed in an outcrop approximately 50 to 100 ft wide and 300 ft long at the edge of the pediment. Pediment and alluvial gravels cover the shear zone to the northwest and southeast. The altered shear zone consists of hydrothermally altered breccia that contains conspicuous iron-oxides and bleaching. Two drill holes cut the zone. Angle hole H-1 (-45º) encountered 35 ft @ 0.016 opt gold from 40 to 75 ft and angle hole H-2 (-60º) encountered 10 ft @ 0.094 opt gold + 5.1 opt silver from 15 to 25 ft. This mineralization is believed to continue under gravels to the northwest and southeast. Similar, although much narrower, shear zones occur on the property and extend up to 1,200 ft in strike length.
Other Properties
Over the last four years the Company has explored and has joint ventured a number of properties which it has subsequently returned to their original owners or dropped.
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ITEM 4A UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 5 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The following should be read in conjunction with our financial statements, forming a part of , including note 18 to the annual financial statements, which provides reconciliations of material measurement differences between US GAAP and Canadian GAAP, as well as Item 4 Description of Business of .
Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar figures ($) in this Item 5 are presented in Canadian dollars.
Overview
We are an exploration stage company that has not earned revenues from our core business to date. We are currently undertaking the plan of operations described under Item 4 Information on the Company. We will require additional financing to fund this plan of operations.
Going Concern
Our financial statements are prepared on the basis that we will continue operations as a going concern. Given that we have no source of significant revenue, this assumption is subject to the further assumption that there will continue to be investment interest in equity funding to explore our mineral projects. We can give no assurance that we will continue to be able to raise sufficient funds. Should we be unable to continue to do so, we may be unable to realize on the carrying value of our projects and the net realizable value could be materially less than our liabilities, with a potential for total loss to our shareholders.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of commitments and contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the amounts of revenue and expenses reported during the period. A significant area requiring the use of management estimates involved the determination of stock based compensation.
We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis and base them on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Our accounting policies are set out in the notes to the accompanying financial statements.
Mineral property interests
We charge to operations all exploration and development expenses incurred prior to the determination of economically recoverable reserves. These costs would also include periodic fees such as license and maintenance fees and advance royalty payments.
We capitalize direct mineral property acquisition costs and those exploration and development expenditures incurred following the determination that the property has economically recoverable reserves. Mineral property acquisition costs include cash consideration and the fair value of common shares and warrants issued for mineral property interests, pursuant to the terms of the relevant
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agreement. These costs are amortized over the estimated life of the property following commencement of commercial production, or written off if the property is sold, allowed to lapse or abandoned, or when impairment in value has been determined to have occurred. An exploration property is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable.
Stock-Based Compensation
The fair value of stock options granted is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and recorded as stock-based compensation over the vesting period of the stock options.
A. Operating Results
Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements included in Item 17 of this Annual Report. Our results of operations are summarized below.
Years Ended December 31 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||
(Restated - | (Restated - | ||||||||
(CDN$) | CDN$) | CDN$) | |||||||
Exploration Expenses (Note 6) | $ | 2,025,586 | $ | 343,137 | $ | 115,764 | |||
Administrative Expenses | |||||||||
Administrative support | 55,655 | 24,070 | - | ||||||
Amortization | 10,066 | 4,630 | 3,277 | ||||||
Consulting fees | 63,582 | 32,086 | 2,602 | ||||||
Foreign exchange (gain) loss | (26,477 | ) | 4,991 | 2,318 | |||||
Interest expense | 154,735 | 12,690 | 12,132 | ||||||
Investor relations | 65,283 | 162,685 | 145,899 | ||||||
Management fees | 10,488 | 27,773 | 71,248 | ||||||
Office | 46,353 | 34,006 | 32,786 | ||||||
Professional fees | 279,136 | 204,587 | 55,510 | ||||||
Property investigation and due diligence | 4,116 | 5,528 | 4,336 | ||||||
Regulatory and shareholder services | 31,965 | 30,111 | 5,750 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation (Note 9) | - | 262,480 | - | ||||||
Travel and entertainment | 9,284 | 14,742 | 20,526 | ||||||
Loss before other items | (2,729,772 | ) | (1,163,516 | ) | (472,148 | ) | |||
Other items | |||||||||
Interest income | 674 | 4,526 | 2,940 | ||||||
Loss on disposition of equipment | (809 | ) | - | - | |||||
Gain on settlement of debt (Note 8) | 46,667 | - | - | ||||||
Loss before taxes | (2,683,240 | ) | (1,158,990 | ) | (469,208 | ) | |||
Loss and Comprehensive Loss for the year | (2,683,240 | ) | (1,158,990 | ) | (469,208 | ) | |||
Deficit, beginning of year (as restated) | (5,578,953 | ) | (4,419,963 | ) | (3,950,755 | ) | |||
Deficit, end of year | $ | (8,262,193 | ) | $ | (5,578,953 | ) | $ | (4,419,963 | ) |
Basic and diluted loss per common share | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) |
Weighted average shares outstanding | 54,260,915 | 47,172,000 | 42,366,000 |
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Year Ended December 31, 2008 versus Year Ended December 31, 2007
We had no revenues during the year ended December 31, 2008 or the year ended December 31, 2007. We have not generated any revenue from our operations to date.
General and administrative expenses of $704,186 for 2008 were approximately $100,000 lower than the 2007 expenses of $820,379. Exploration expenditures of $2,025,586 for 2008 were significantly higher than the 2007 expenditures of $343,137 which reflects the increased exploration and property acquisition activities as a result of the acquisition and exploration of both the Pine Grove and La Bufa properties. If the 2007 stock-based compensation amount of $262,480 was not included in the 2007 general and administrative expenses then 2008 expenses were higher by approximately $146,000. The main difference between the two years is the amount of interest that has been incurred due to the number of loans and note payables that the Company owes.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Historically, our operations have been financed by advances from related parties and proceeds from issuance of common shares and equity. We anticipate continuing to rely on equity financings to continue our plan of operations.
Cash and Working Capital
Our cash position at December 31, 2008 was $1,553 compared to $123,201 as of December 31, 2007. We had a working capital deficit of $2,517,729 at December 31, 2008, compared to a working capital deficit of $71,665 as of December 31, 2007.
Plan of Operations
We estimate that our total expenditures over the next twelve months will be approximately $3,200,000 as outlined above under the heading Plan of Operations. Based on our planned expenditures and our working capital, we will require a minimum of approximately $3,200,000 to proceed with our plan of operations over the next twelve months, including the partial pay down of short term debt. Of the approximately $2.5M that the company shows as debt at the end of December 2008 about $1.4M will be settled as shares for debt. The other $1.1M will need to be settled in cash. In addition, we anticipate that we will require additional financing in order to pursue our exploration programs beyond the preliminary exploration programs for our mineral properties that are outlined above.
If we are unable to achieve the necessary additional financing, then we plan to reduce the amounts that we spend on our exploration activities and administrative expenses in order to be within the amount of capital resources that are available to us. Specifically, we anticipate that we would defer drilling programs pending our obtaining additional financing.
Financings
In December 2008, in consideration for a loan of US$50,000, the Company issued to the lender 100,000 shares at a value of $2,000.
In August 2008, the Company issued 583,334 shares at a value of $40,833 to settle a US$87,500 liability owing to a former consultant of the Company resulting in a gain of $46,667.
In June 2008 the Company issued a promissory note in the amount of $300,000. In consideration for this loan, the Company issued 450,000 shares valued at $42,750 to the lender.
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In May 2008, the Company completed a private placement of 200,000 units at a price of $0.15 per unit for proceeds of $30,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.20 for a period of two years.
In May 2008, the Company completed a private placement of 400,000 units at a price of $0.20 per unit for proceeds of $80,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.25 for a period of two years. The Company paid finders fees of $30,563 in relation to these two private placements in May 2008.
On January 21, 2008 we completed a private placement of 2,067,000 units, at a price of $0.20 per unit for total proceeds of $413,400. Each unit consists of one share and one-half of one share purchase warrant. Each whole purchase warrant entitles the purchaser to acquire one additional share at a price of $0.25 per share for a for a two year period from the date of the issuance of the warrants. The securities issued in the private placement are subject to a four month hold period under Canadian Securities law expiring May 22, 2008. Finder's fees in cash were paid to a finder in this offering.
In August 2007, we completed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $425,000 upon the issue of 4,250,000 units at $0.10 per unit. We netted $410,000 after costs of $15,000 were deducted. Each unit was comprised of one share and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the investor to purchase one additional share at a price of $0.15 per share for a two year period from the date of the issuance of the warrants.
In May 2007 the Company completed a private placement and issued 3,275,000 units at US$0.10 per unit for proceeds of US$327,500. Each unit consisted of one common share and one share purchase warrant with each warrant exercisable to acquire one common share at US$0.15 per share for a term of two years. The Company incurred share issuance costs of US$19,425 in connection with this private placement.
In April, 2007 the Company issued 210,000 shares of common stock at a value of US$23,850 pursuant to a mineral option agreement of which 60,000 shares with a value of US$9,600 relate to a mineral property payable recorded at December 31, 2006.
In February 2007, the Company issued 666,666 shares to settle a share issuance obligation
During the year ended December 31, 2006, we completed the offering of 1,075,000 units (each a Unit) at a price of $0.20 per Unit for total proceeds of $215,000 on July 27, 2006. We completed this offering pursuant to our Form SB-2 registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the Act). Each Unit comprised of one share, one-half of one Series A Warrant and one whole series B Warrant. Each whole Class A Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one share (each a Class A Warrant Share and together, the Class A Warrant Shares) at $0.35 per share and will expire on the date that is one year from the date of issuance. Each whole Class B Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one share (each a Class B Warrant Share and together, the Class B Warrant Shares) at $1.35 per share and will expire on the date that is four years from the date of issuance. Each of the Class A Warrants and the Class B Warrants are subject to accelerated exercise provisions. We applied the proceeds from this financing for general corporate purposes.
Outstanding Payable
Loan payable
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In November 2008, the Company received loan proceeds of US$50,000 bearing an interest rate of 10% per annum, calculated and compounded monthly and must be repaid on the earlier of the closing of a financing, or the closing of the LPT transaction (Note 1), or April 15, 2009. The Company is currently in default on this loan. The Company pledged certain of the Pine Grove mineral property claims as collateral. The Company issued 100,000 common shares pursuant to this agreement as a financing cost, valued at $2,000. These shares must be equal to post consolidated shares after the LPT transaction so additional shares will need to be issued.
Convertible loan
On March 3, 2008, the Company borrowed convertible loan proceeds of $75,000. The Company also entered into a general security agreement (GSA) whereby the loan is secured by way of general charge over the Companys assets. The Company agreed to repay the principal and interest upon completing a financing of more than $500,000.
The principal amount bears interest at 8% per annum, compounded weekly for the first two weeks, and thereafter at the rate of 24% per annum compounded weekly, payable following the repayment of the principal. At any time that the principal and interest shall remain outstanding, the lender has the right to convert such principal and interest to shares of common stock of the Company at a rate of $0.20 per share. The Company issued 37,500 share purchase warrants in relation to this convertible loan, with each warrant entitling the lender to purchase one common share of the Company at $0.25 per share for a period of two years. The fair value of the warrants was estimated to be $2,479 and has been treated as a transaction cost.
The fair value of the warrants of $2,479 was estimated using the Black Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: i) expected volatility of 93.5%; risk free interest rate of 2.6%; iii) expected weighted average life of 6 months; and iv) no dividend yield. The Company determined that the equity component of the convertible loan was not significant.
On December 18, 2008 a director of the Company paid out the convertible loan indebtedness of $75,000 plus accrued interest of $20,047 totalling $95,047 in return for the assignment of that debt. As part of such payout the third partys general security agreement over the Companys assets was discharged. The $95,047 debt is unsecured and accrues interest at a rate of 5% per annum. This amount is included in the convertible loans from related parties on the balance sheet.
Convertible loans from related parties
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company received convertible loan proceeds of $181,000 from the CEO. The principal amount bears interest at 5% per annum, and has no specific term of repayment. At any time that the principal and interest shall remain outstanding, the lender has the right to convert such principal and interest to shares of common stock of the Company at a rate equal to the average trading price of the stock over the last five days prior to conversion. The Company determined that the equity component of the convertible loan was not significant.
The Company signed an agreement whereby the $181,000 loan would be settled as $10,000 cash and the issuance of 3,420,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT but no later than June 30, 2009, amended to August 31, 2009.
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company received further convertible loan proceeds of $154,047 from a director of the Company of which $95,047 relates to the assumption of convertible loan indebtedness. The principal amount of $25,000 bears interest at 5% per annum until December 31, 2008, and at 10% per annum subsequent to December 31, 2008. The remaining principal amount of $129,047 bears interest at 5% per annum until December 31, 2009, and at 10% per annum subsequent to
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December 31, 2009. At any time that the principal and interest shall remain outstanding, the lender has the right to convert such principal and interest to shares of common stock of the Company at a rate equal to the average trading price of the stock over the last five days prior to conversion. The Company determined that the equity component of the convertible loan was not significant
The Company signed an agreement whereby $59,000 of the loan would be settled with the issuance of 1,180,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT but no later than June 30, 2009, amended to August 31, 2009.
Notes payable
On January 28, 2004, the Company issued a US$200,000 convertible note. The note carried an interest rate of 10% compounded monthly and was due on January 28, 2006.
On September 15, 2005 the Company completed an agreement whereby the Company repaid US$100,000 of the convertible note along with US$35,000 accrued interest and agreed to repay the remaining US$100,000 within sixty days. With the completion of the first payment the conversion feature was cancelled. The note is currently in default and $46,034 of accrued interest is included in the note payable.
The Company signed an agreement whereby the US$100,000 loan would be settled for a cash payment of US$50,000 and the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT but no later than June 30, 2009.
On June 16, 2008 the Company issued a promissory note in return for $300,000. The note bears interest at a rate of 10% per year. The principal and interest are payable at the earliest of June 16, 2009 or when the Company completes a financing of $1,500,000 or greater. In consideration for this loan the Company agreed to issue 450,000 shares to the lender. These shares were issued and were valued at $42,750.
The Company signed an agreement whereby the $300,000 loan would be settled for the issuance of 6,000,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT but no later than June 30, 2009.
On August 20, 2008, the Company issued a promissory note in the amount of $800,000 in return for drilling services accrued in accounts payable. The note is due on demand, any time after February 15, 2009, and accrues interest at 1.5% per month. After demand, the note shall accrue interest at a rate of 2% per month.
The Company signed an agreement whereby the $800,000 loan would be settled for the cash payment of $500,000 and the issuance of 6,000,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT by February 28, 2009 but no later than June 30, 2009, amended to August 31, 2009.
Going Concern
We have not attained profitable operations and are dependent upon obtaining financing to pursue any extensive exploration activities.
Future Financings
We will require additional financing in order to proceed with the exploration of our mineral properties. We plan to complete private placement sales of our common shares in order to raise the funds necessary to pursue our plan of operations and to fund our working capital deficit. Issuances of additional shares
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will result in dilution to our existing shareholders. We currently do not have any arrangements in place for the completion of any private placement financings and there is no assurance that we will be successful in completing any private placement financings.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to stockholders.
C. Research and Development
Not applicable to our business.
D. Trend Information
We consider that our ability to raise additional financing in order to complete our exploration programs and the plan of operations for our mineral properties during our fiscal year 2008 and beyond will be impacted by a number of factors, including the price of gold or other minerals, applicable laws and regulations, political conditions, currency fluctuations, the hiring of qualified people and obtaining necessary services in jurisdictions where the Company operates. The current trends relating to these factors could change at any time and negatively affect the Company's operations and business.
E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
There are no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes of financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources, which individually or in the aggregate is material to our investment.
F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
The following table outlines our current contractual obligations as at December 31, 2008:
Payments due by period | |||||
Total |
Less than 1 year |
1-3 years |
3-5 years |
More than 5 years |
|
Long-term Debt Obligations | $1,798,921 | $1,798,921 | $- | $- | $- |
Capital (Finance) Lease Obligations | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
Operating Lease Obligations | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
Purchase Obligations | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
Other Long-term Liabilities | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
Total | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
G. Safe Harbor
This document may contain forward-looking statements. We desire to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this statement for the express purpose of availing ourselves of the protections of the safe harbor with respect to all forward-looking statements. Several important factors, in addition to the specific factors discussed in connection
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with such forward-looking statements individually, could affect our future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained herein.
We estimated or anticipated future results or other non-historical facts are forward-looking and reflect our current perspective of existing trends and information. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified, and consequently actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the success of our exploration and development activities, environmental and other regulatory requirements, foreign exchange issues, mineral deposit estimates and mineral prices, competition by other mining companies, financing risks, mineral title issues, insider conflicts of interest, political stability issues, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in this report and from time to time in our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Therefore, we wish to caution each reader of this document to consider carefully these factors as well as the specific factors that may be discussed with each forward-looking statement in this document or disclosed in our filings with the SEC as such factors, in some cases, could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed therein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties in addition to the risks referred to in "Risk Factors" under Item 3.D above.
ITEM 6 DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A. Directors and Senior Management
The following table sets forth information relating to our directors and senior management as at the date of :
Name | Position | Age | Position Held Since |
Andrew F. B. Milligan (1) | Director and Chairman of the Board | 85 | April 12, 2004 |
Paul F. Saxton | President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and Director | 63 | April 12, 2004 |
James Chapman | Director | 54 | April 12, 2004 |
Marc LeBlanc (1) | Director | 46 | Feb 28, 2008 |
Nathalie Pilon | Chief Financial Officer | 40 | March 20, 2008 |
Jeffrey L. Wilson | Vice-President - Exploration | 60 | May 12, 2005 |
Mary Martin | Corporate Secretary | 52 | Feb 1, 2008 |
Notes:
(1) Member of Audit Committee and Compensation Committee.
The following is biographical information on each of the persons listed above:
Paul F. Saxton, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and Director
Mr. Saxton was appointed as a director of the Company on March 26, 2004. Our board of directors also appointed Mr. Saxton as our chief executive officer as of March 26, 2004. Paul Saxton is a mining engineer who also holds an MBA from the University of Western Ontario. He has been active in the mining industry since 1969, holding various positions including mining engineer, mine superintendent,
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President and CEO of numerous Canadian mining companies. Following 10 years with Cominco, Paul became Vice President and President of Mascot Gold Mines Ltd., initially working on the design and construction of the Nickel Plate mine in BC. Subsequently Paul became a Vice-President of Corona Corporation where he was responsible for western operations and exploration for the company and was instrumental in the re-opening of the Nickel Plate. In 1989, Paul was appointed Senior Vice President of Viceroy Resource Corporation where he was responsible for obtaining financing and the construction and operations of the Castle Mountain mine in California. As President of Loki Gold Corporation and Baja Gold Inc, Paul was responsible for bringing the Brewery Creek Gold mine into production. Following his departure from Viceroy in 1998, Paul became President of Standard Mining Corp., organizing the company and supervising its exploration activities until 2001, when Standard Mining Corp. was merged with Doublestar Resources Ltd.
Andrew F. B. Milligan, Chairman and Director
Mr. Andrew Milligan was appointed as one of our directors on March 26, 2004. Our board of directors also appointed Mr. Milligan as our chairman as of March 26, 2004. Mr. Milligan is a business executive who has concentrated on mining ventures over the past 25 years. From 1984 to 1986 he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Glamis Gold Ltd. In November 1986 he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Cornucopia Resources Ltd. In 1998 and 1999 Cornucopia disposed of its gold mining interests and subsequently merged with three other companies to form Quest Investment Corporation. Mr. Milligan was a director of Quest until June, 2003. He is currently a director of several mining companies trading on both the American Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange.
James Chapman, Director
Mr. Chapman was appointed as one of our directors on April 12, 2004. Mr. Chapman graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1976 with a B.Sc. Geology degree and has focused on mineral exploration primarily for junior mining companies and consulting groups. This experience has incorporated all aspects of the industry from property evaluation, project generation through implementation and report preparation for owners, clients and regulatory authorities. Since 1982 he has operated as an independent consulting geologist on projects including precious and base metals, uranium, diamonds and phosphate, from reconnaissance level projects to deposit definition drill programs. He is a Qualified Person under Canadian regulations, as defined by National Instrument Policy 43.101.
Marc LeBlanc, Director
Mr. Marc LeBlanc was appointed as a director on March 26, 2008. Mr. LeBlanc has been the VP Corporate Development Mercator Minerals Ltd. since May 2007 and their Corporate Secretary since January 2005. Mr. LeBlanc is currently a member in good standing with the Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries and the British Columbia Paralegal Association and a member of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. Mr. LeBlanc holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Simon Fraser University and an Associates Degree in Legal Studies from Capilano College. Prior to joining the Corporation, Mr. LeBlanc provided consulting services to a number of public mining companies in the areas of corporate finance and regulatory affairs in the review and preparation of offering materials and continuous disclosure filings pursuant to Canadian and US securities legislation and regulation. From 2000 to May 2004, Mr. LeBlanc was employed with a number of Vancouver law firms and was responsible for the preparation and review of all continuous disclosure documents for publicly traded companies listed in North America and Europe and ensuring the maintenance of these companies of the requirements of Canadian and US securities legislation and regulations. Mr. LeBlanc was formerly the Assistant Corporate Secretary of Miramar Mining Corporation and Northern Orion Explorations Ltd. responsible for all corporate and securities filings, disclosure requirements and exchange maintenance with the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Stock Market. Mr. LeBlanc is and has been a director or officer of a number of public mining and industrial companies.
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Nathalie Pilon, Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Pilon is a graduate of the Universite de Sherbrooke and is also a Certified Management Accountant. Ms. Pilon is a financial reporting consultant for a number of listed companies on both Canadian and US exchanges. She focuses on complementing the existing financial teams of various companies by providing expertise in various accounting and financial areas.
Jeffrey L. Wilson, Vice-President - Exploration
Mr. Wilson has been appointed as our Vice President - Exploration on May 25, 2004. Mr. Wilson has twenty-seven years of professional exploration experience in the United States, Mexico and Central America with emphasis on gold. He served as Director of Exploration for Echo Bay Exploration Inc. for eleven years, first in western U.S. and later in Mexico and Central America. He earlier served as Exploration Manager, Western U.S., with Tenneco Minerals Company, with most projects in Nevada. Mr. Wilson earned his MSc. in Geology from the University of Southern California.
Mary Martin, Corporate Secretary
Ms. Martin
Ms. Martin is an Office Administrator who has over 25 years of experience. From 2004 to 2006, she was a Contract Administrator for MacDonald Dettwiler in Richmond, BC. From 2006 to 2007, she was at Mundoro Mining Inc. and was appointed Corporate Secretary. She is currently Office Manager and Corporate Secretary of Lincoln Gold Corporation.
Certain of Lincoln's directors and officers are part-time and serve as officers and/or directors of other resource exploration companies and, as such, are engaged in, and will continue to be engaged in, the search for additional resource opportunities on behalf of such other companies. In particular, the success of Lincoln and its ability to continue to carry on operations is dependent upon its ability to retain the services of certain directors and officers of the Company.
B. Compensation
Executive Compensation
The Corporation has three (3) executive officers. During the Corporations financial year ended December 31, 2008 the aggregate direct remuneration paid or payable to the Corporations executive officers by the Corporation and its subsidiaries, all of whose financial statements are consolidated with those of the Corporation, was $70,067.
Named Executive Officer means each Chief Executive Officer, each Chief Financial Officer and each of the three most highly compensated executive officers, other than each Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, who were serving as executive officers at the end of the most recently completed fiscal year and whose total salary and bonus exceeds $150,000. Mr. Paul Saxton acted as our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during the financial year ended December 31, 2007. None of our executive officers received total compensation exceeding $150,000 during 2008. Accordingly, Mr. Saxton and Ms. Pilon are our only Named Executive Officers. The compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers during the Corporations three most recently completed financial years of December 31 is as set out below:
The following table summarizes the compensation paid by us to our executive officers during our last three fiscal years ended December 31, 2008:
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Summary Compensation Table
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Annual
Compensation |
Long Term Compensation | All Other Compen- sation ($) |
||||
Awards | Payouts | |||||||
Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Other Annual Compen -sation ($) |
Securities Under Options/SA RsGranted (#) |
Shares
or Units Subject to Resale Restrictions ($) |
LTIP Payouts ($) |
|||
Paul F. Saxton President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer |
2008 2007 2006 |
$10,488 $24,174 $20,545 |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil 600,000 Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nathalie Pilon. Chief Financial Officer |
2008 |
Nil |
Nil |
$18,638 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Notes:
(1) Nathalie Pilon was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation on March 26, 2008.
Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards
Long term incentive plan awards (LTIP) means a plan providing compensation intended to motivate performance over a period greater than one financial year. LTIPs do not include option or stock appreciation rights plans or plans for compensation through shares or units that are subject to restrictions on resale. The Corporation did not award any LTIPs to any Named Executive Officer during the most recently completed financial year.
Options
The share options granted to the Named Executive Officers during the financial year ended December 31, 2008 were as follows:
Option Grants During the Most Recently Completed Financial Year
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
Securities Under Options/ Granted (#) |
% of Total Options Granted to Employees in Financial Year |
Exercise or Base Price ($/Security) |
Market Value of Securities Underlying Options on the Date of Grant ($/Security) |
Expiration Date |
No options were exercised by the Named Executive Officers during the financial year ended December 31, 2008. The values of outstanding options at December 31, 2007 were as follows:
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Aggregate Option Exercises During the Most Recently Completed Financial Year and Financial Year-End Option Values
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Name |
Securities Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Aggregate Value Realized ($) |
Unexercised Options/SARs at FY- End (#) Exercisable/ Unexercisable |
Value of Unexercised in-the-Money Options/SARs at FY- End ($) Exercisable/ Unexercisable |
Paul F. Saxton President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer |
Nil |
Not Applicable |
600,000/Nil |
$Nil/$N/A |
Nathalie Pilon, Chief Financial Officer |
Nil |
Not Applicable |
Nil |
$Nil/$N/A |
No share options were repriced on behalf of the Named Executive Officers during the financial year ended December 31, 2008.
Termination of Employment, Change in Responsibilities and Employment Contracts
There is no written employment contract between the Corporation and any Named Executive Officer.
There are no compensatory plan(s) or arrangement(s), with respect to any Named Executive Officer resulting from the resignation, retirement or any other termination of employment of the officers employment or from a change of any Named Executive Officers responsibilities following a change in control.
Compensation of Directors
There are no arrangements under which directors were compensated by the Corporation and its subsidiaries during the most recently completed financial year for their services in their capacity as directors or consultants.
No directors received options under the share option plan in their capacity as a director during the financial year ended December 31, 2008:
Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The Corporation has in place a share option plan initially adopted in 2005 (the Plan). The Plan was amended on September 25, 2007 adjusting the maximum number of Common Shares available to be granted from 2,000,000 Common Shares to 2,500,000 Common Shares. The Plan has been established to provide incentive to qualified parties to increase their proprietary interest in the Corporation and thereby encourage their continuing association with the Corporation. The Plan is administered by the directors of the Corporation. The Plan provides that options will be issued pursuant to option agreements to directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation. All options expire on a date not later than 10 years after the issuance of such option. There are currently options outstanding to purchase an aggregate of 2,450,000 Common Shares.
The following table sets out equity compensation plan information as at the end of the financial year ended December 31, 2008.
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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 | (a) | (b) | (c) |
Equity compensation plans approved by securityholders - |
Nil |
N/A |
Nil |
Equity compensation plans not approved by securityholders (the Plan) |
2,450,000 |
$0.25 |
50,000 |
Total | 2,450,000 | $0.25 | 50,000 |
Indebtedness Of Directors And Executive Officers
No directors, proposed nominees for election as directors, executive officers or their respective associates or affiliates, or other management of the Corporation were indebted to the Corporation as of the end of the most recently completed financial year or as at the date hereof.
Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards
Long term incentive plan awards (LTIP) means a plan providing compensation intended to motivate performance over a period greater than one financial year. LTIPs do not include option or stock appreciation rights plans or plans for compensation through shares or units that are subject to restrictions on resale. The Corporation did not award any LTIPs to any Named Executive Officer during the most recently completed financial year.
Pension, Retirement or Similar Benefits
We do not have any amounts set aside or accrued to provide for pension, retirement or similar benefits.
C. Board Practices
All of our directors are elected annually by the shareholders and hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified, unless they sooner resign or cease to be directors in accordance with our By-Laws. Our last annual meeting was held on June 26, 2008. Our officers are appointed by the Board of Directors.
Directors Service Contracts
None of the service contracts of any of Lincoln's directors contain provisions for benefits upon termination of such director's service.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board has appointed an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee to date.
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Audit Committee
The Board has a charter for the Audit Committee to follow in carrying out its audit and financial review functions. The Audit Committee reviews all financial statements of the Corporation prior to their publication, reviews audits, considers the adequacy of audit procedures, recommends the appointment of independent auditors, reviews and approves the professional services to be rendered by them and reviews fees for audit services. The charter has set criteria for membership which all members of the Audit Committee are required to meet consistent with Multilateral Instrument MI 52-110 and other applicable regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee, as needed, meets separately (without management present) with the Corporations auditors to discuss the various aspects of the Corporations financial statements and the independent audit.
Composition of the Audit Committee
The following are the members of the Committee:
Marc LeBlanc | Independent(1) | Financially literate(1) |
Andrew Milligan | Not Independent(1)(2) | Financially literate(1) |
James Chapman | Independent(1) | Financially literate(1) |
(1) |
As defined by Multilateral Instrument 52-110 (MI 52-110). |
(2) |
Andrew Milligan is not considered independent under MI 52-110 as he is the Chairman of Lincoln. |
Compensation Committee
The Board has adopted a charter for the Compensation Committee. The members of the compensation committee are Andrew F.B. Milligan, and Marc LeBlanc. A majority of the members of the compensation committee are independent members of the board of directors of the Corporation.
The function of the Compensation Committee is to review, on an annual basis, the compensation paid to the Corporations executive officers and to the Directors, to review the performance and compensation paid to the Corporations executive officers and to make recommendations on compensation to the Board. In addition, the Committee will review annually the compensation plans for the Corporations non-executive staff.
Other Board Committees
The Board has no other committees other than the audit committee and the compensation committee.
D. Employees
At the date of filing we had no full-time employees and no part-time employees. We have no labor unions at this time.
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E. Share Ownership
Shares
The shareholdings of our officers and directors are set forth below as at June 19, 2009.
Name of Nominee; Current Position with the Corporation and Province and Country of Residence |
Number of Common Shares |
Percentage of Outstanding Common Shares Owned (1) (2) |
Paul F. Saxton President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and Director British Columbia, Canada |
4,500,000 |
8.1% |
Andrew F. B. Milligan Chairman and Director British Columbia, Canada |
2,223,000 |
4% |
James Chapman Director British Columbia, Canada |
700,000 |
1.3% |
Marc LeBlanc(7) Director British Columbia, Canada |
nil |
0% |
Nathalie Pilon(8) Chief Financial Officer British Columbia, Canada |
nil |
0% |
Jeffrey Wilson VP-Exploration Nevada, USA |
750,000 |
1.3% |
Mary Martin Corporate Secretary British Columbia, Canada |
3,000 |
-% |
Notes
1. |
The information as to Common Shares beneficially owned or controlled is not within the knowledge of the management of the Corporation and has been furnished by the respective nominees. |
2. |
Based on 55,592,000 common shares issued and outstanding as of June 19, 2009. |
Options
Details of the stock options held by our officers and directors are set forth below as at December 31, 2008.
Name and Position | Grant Date | Expiry Date | Exercise Price | Total |
Paul F. Saxton President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and Director British Columbia, Canada |
September 25, 2007
|
September 25, 2010
|
$0.25 |
600,000
|
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Name and Position | Grant Date | Expiry Date | Exercise Price | Total |
Andrew F. B. Milligan Chairman and Director British Columbia, Canada |
September 25, 2007 |
September 25, 2010 |
$0.25 |
300,000 |
James Chapman Director British Columbia, Canada |
September 25, 2007 |
September 25, 2010 |
$0.25 |
300,000 |
Jeffrey Wilson VP-Exploration Nevada, USA |
September 25, 2007 |
September 25, 2010 |
$0.25 |
500,000 |
Mary Martin Corporate Secretary British Columbia, Canada |
September 25, 2007 |
September 25, 2010 |
$0.25 |
50,000 |
Total: | 1,750,000 |
Each option may be exercised to purchase one of our common shares at the exercise price.
Warrants
Details of the share purchase warrants held by our officers and directors are set forth below as at December 31, 2008.
Name and Position | Grant Date | Expiry Date | Exercise Price | Total |
Andrew Milligan Chairman and Director |
May 14, 2007 |
May 14, 2009 Expired |
$0.15 |
450,000 |
Total: | 450,000 |
Each warrant may be exercised to purchase one of our common shares at the exercise price.
Stock Option Plan
On May 28, 2008, our board of directors adopted a new 10% rolling stock option plan (the Option Plan) to replace our 2005 stock option plan, as amended. The New Stock Option Plan was ratified and approved by the shareholders at Lincolns annual general meeting held on June 26, 2008.
Under the Option Plan, a maximum of 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation at the time an option is granted, less Common Shares reserved for issuance under share compensation arrangements of the Corporation other than the Option Plan, will be reserved for options to be granted at the discretion of the Corporations board of directors to eligible optionees (the Optionees). This type of Option Plan is called a rolling plan. During the Corporation's financial year ended December 31, 2007, and to the date of the mailing of this Information Circular, options to purchase an aggregate of 2,450,000 Common Shares have been granted by the Corporation, representing approximately 3.2% of Common Shares outstanding. The Option Plan will be subject to restrictions that provide that insiders may not be, as a group, issued in excess of 10% of the issued Common Shares within any 12 month period. The number of common shares issuable to insiders as a group under the option plan, when combined with common shares issuable to insiders under all of the Corporations other security based compensation plans, may not exceed 10% of the Corporations issued common shares and no exercise price of an option granted to an insider may be reduced nor an extension to the term of an option granted to an insider extended without further shareholders approval.
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The material terms of the Option Plan include the following provisions:
the participants in the Option Plan are the directors, executive officers, employees and other service providers of the Corporation;
the Option Plan is administered by the directors of the Corporation;
the exercise price of stock options granted under the Option Plan, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, shall not be less than the "market price" of the shares (as defined by the policies of the TSX Venture) or, if the shares are not listed for trading on the TSX Venture, then such other exchange or quotation system on which the shares are listed or quoted for trading;
all options granted under the Option Plan expire on a date not later than 5 years after the issuance of such options by the Board;
upon expiry of an option, or in the event an option is otherwise terminated for any reason, without having been exercised in full, the number of shares in respect of the expired or terminated option shall again be available for the purposes of the Option Plan;
if the option holder ceases to be a director of Corporation or its subsidiaries or ceases to be employed by the Corporation or its subsidiaries (other than by reason of death or cause), as the case may be, then the option granted shall expire no later than the (i) the original expiry date of the option, or (ii) the 90th day following the date that the option holder ceases to be a director or ceases to be employed by the Corporation or its subsidiaries, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Option Plan, and in the event of dismissal of the option holder from employment or service for cause, all options held by the option holder, whether or not vested at the date of dismissal, will immediately terminate without any right of the option holder to exercise any of the options;
In the case of the death of an option holder, any vested option held by him at the date of death will become exercisable by the optionees lawful personal representatives, heirs or executors until the earlier of one year after the date of death of the optionholder and the date of expiration of the term otherwise applicable to such option.
options granted pursuant to the Option Plan will be non-assignable and may be subject to vesting provisions determined by the Board;
the Corporation does not offer financial assistance in respect of the exercise of options.
As part of the merger with LPT, as discussed on page 19, all outstanding stock options will be cancelled and the Companys stock option plan will be cancelled. The stock option plan of LPT will continue.
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ITEM 7 MAJOR SHAREHOLDER AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. Major Shareholders Major Shareholders
We are a publicly-held corporation, with our shares held by residents of the United States, Canada and other countries. To the best of our knowledge, no person, corporation or other entity beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or controls more than 5% of our common shares, except as follows:
Title of Class |
Name and residential jurisdiction of Beneficial Owner |
Number of Common Shares |
Percentage of Common Shares(1) |
Common |
Paul F. Saxton(2)
British Columbia, Canada |
5,100,000(2) |
9% |
Common |
Michael
Baybak(3), California, U.S.A. |
3,166,666(3) |
6% |
(1) |
Based on 55,392,000 of our common shares issued and outstanding as of June 1, 2009. Based on beneficial share ownership data as of December 31, 2008. For these purposes, beneficial ownership means the sole or shared power to vote or direct the voting or to dispose or direct the disposition of any security. Unless otherwise indicated, each shareholder listed has sole voting or dispositive power with respect to such common shares. Each of our common shares entitles the holder thereof to one vote. |
(2) |
Consists of 4,500,000 shares held by Mr. Saxton and 600,000 shares that can be acquired by Mr. Saxton upon exercise of options to purchase shares held by Mr. Saxton within 60 days of the date hereof. Mr. Saxton is a director and an officer of the Company. |
(3) |
Windsor Capital Corporation owns directly 2,500,000 shares in the capital of the Company. Michael Baybak beneficially owns a 100% interest in Windsor Capital Corporation. |
Geographic Breakdown of Shareholders
Approximately 42% of our outstanding common shares are held by residents in the United States. There were approximately 30 shareholders of record resident in the United States as of December 31, 2008.
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Transfer Agent
Our securities are recorded in registered form on the books of our transfer agent, ComputerShare, located at Suite 200 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3B9. 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). We do not have knowledge or access to the identities of the beneficial owners of such shares registered through intermediaries.
Control
To the best of our knowledge, we are not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any other corporation, by any foreign government or by any other natural or legal person, severally or jointly.
Insider Reports under the British Columbia Securities Act
Under the British Columbia Securities Act, insiders (generally officers, directors and holders of 10% or more of our shares) were required to file insider reports of changes in their ownership in the first ten days of the month following a trade in our securities. Copies of such reports are available for public inspection at the offices of the British Columbia Securities Commission, 9th Floor, 701 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7Y 1L2 (telephone (604) 899-6500) or at the British Columbia Securities Commission website (www.bcsc.bc.ca). Since 2002, in British Columbia all insider reports must be filed electronically ten days following the date of the trade at www.sedi.ca. The public is able to access these reports at www.sedi.ca.
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 proposed transaction, which in either such case has materially affected or will materially affect us or our predecessors during each of the year ended December 31, 2008 except as follows:
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company paid management fees and consulting fees of $40,941 (2007 $14,827, 2006 $47,937) and rent, included in office, of $2,583 (2007 - $2,901, 2006 - $3,744) to the Vice President of the Company, management fees of $10,488 (2007 - $24,174, 2006 - $23,310) to company owned by the President of the Company and consulting fees of $18,638 (2007 - $nil) to a company owned by the CFO of the Company. In December 2008, the President forgave $39,853 of management fees which is reversed against management fees.
As at December 31, 2008, the Company owed $53,217 (2007 - $1,155) to various directors and officers of the Company which is included in accounts payable. In October 2008, amended subsequent to year-end, the Company signed an agreement whereby $32,020 of the amounts due to directors and officers would be settled through a cash payment of $7,520 and the issuance of 490,000 shares of the Company (see Note 17). At December 31, 2008, the Company owed $43,281 (2007 - $nil) for rent and administrative expenses to a Company which shares a director in common
These transactions are in the normal course of operations and are measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related parties.
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
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ITEM 8 FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
Financial Statements
The financial statements required as part of this Annual Report are filed under Item 17 of this Annual Report.
Legal Proceedings
We are not a party to any legal or arbitration proceedings nor, to our knowledge, are any such proceedings contemplated.
Dividends
We have not paid any dividends on our common shares since incorporation. Our management anticipates that we will retain all future earnings and other cash resources for the future operation and development of our business. We do not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of any future dividends will be at our board of directors discretion after taking into account many factors including our operating results, financial condition and current and anticipated cash needs.
B. Significant Changes
We have not experienced any significant changes since the date of the financial statements included herein except as disclosed in Annual Report.
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ITEM 9 THE OFFER AND LISTING
A. Offer and Listing Details
This Form 20-F is filed as an annual report under the Exchange Act and does not relate to a new offer of securities and accordingly the information called for is not required, other than the price history information below.
The common shares have been quoted on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) in the United States of America since the start of the Company. Over the counter quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. Our common shares are quoted under the symbol LGCPF.
B. Plan of Distribution
This Form 20-F is filed as an annual report under the Exchange Act and does not relate to a new offer of securities and accordingly, the information called for is not required.
C. Markets
Our common shares are traded in United States on the OTCBB.
D. Selling Shareholders
This Form 20-F is filed as an annual report under the Exchange Act and accordingly the information called for in Item 9.D is not required.
E. Dilution
This Form 20-F is filed as an annual report under the Exchange Act and accordingly the information called for in Item 9.E is not required.
F. Expenses of the Issue
This Form 20-F is filed as an annual report under the Exchange Act and accordingly the information called for in Item 9.F is not required.
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ITEM 10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. Share Capital
This Form 20-F is filed as an annual report under the Exchange Act and accordingly the information called for in Item 10.A is not required.
B. Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation
We incorporated on February 17, 1999 as Braden Technologies, Inc. under the laws of the State of Nevada, USA. We changed our name to “Lincoln Gold Corporation” following the completion of our acquisition of and merger with Lincoln Gold Corp., a Nevada corporation, on March 26, 2004 under Chapter 92A of the Nevadas Revised Statutes. On November 20, 2007, we changed our jurisdiction of incorporation from Nevada to the Canadian federal jurisdiction under the Canada Business Corporation Act. On February 28, 2009, we changed our jurisdiction of incorporation from the Canadian federal jurisdiction to the Province of British Columbia under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCBCA”). Our corporate constituting documents are comprised of our Notice of Articles ("Notice of Articles") and our Articles (“Articles”). A copy of the Notice of Articles and Articles are filed with this Annual Report on Form 20-F as exhibits (See Item 19).
The following is a summary of certain material provisions of (i) our Notice of Articles, (ii) our Articles and (iii) certain provisions of the BCBCA applicable to us:
1. Objects and Purposes
Our Articles and Notice of Articles do not specify objects or purposes. We are entitled under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) to carry on all lawful businesses which can be carried on by a natural person.
2. Directors
Director’s power to vote on a proposal, arrangement or contract in which the director is interested.
According to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), a director holds a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction
1. | the contract or transaction is material to the company; |
2. | the company has entered, or proposes to enter, into the contract or transaction; and |
3. | either of the following applies to the director: |
a. | the director has a material interest in the contract or transaction; | |
b. | the director is a director or senior officer of, or has a material interest in, a person who has a material interest in the contract or transaction. |
However, the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) also provides that a director does not hold a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction if:
1. | the situation that would otherwise constitute a disclosable interest arose before the coming into force of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) or, if the company was recognized under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), before that recognition, and was disclosed and approved under, or was not required to be disclosed under, the legislation that: |
a. | applied to the company on or after the date on which the situation arose; and | |
b. | is comparable in scope and intent to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia); | |
2. | both the company and the other party to the contract or transaction are wholly owned subsidiaries of the same corporation; |
3. | the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the other party to the contract or transaction; |
4. | the other party to the contract or transaction is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company; or |
5. | where the director or senior officer is the sole shareholder of the company or of a corporation of which the company is a wholly owned subsidiary. |
The Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) further provides that a director of a company does not hold a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction merely because:
1. | the contract or transaction is an arrangement by way of security granted by the company for money loaned to, or obligations undertaken by, the director or senior officer, or a person in whom the director or senior officer has a material interest, for the benefit of the company or an affiliate of the company; |
2. | the contract or transaction relates to an indemnity or insurance; |
3. | the contract or transaction relates to theremuneration of the director or senior officer in that person’s capacity as director, officer, employee or agent of the company or of an affiliate of the company; |
4. | the contract or transaction relates to a loan to the company, and the director or senior officer, or a person in whom the director or senior officer has a material interest, is or is to be a guarantor of some or all of the loan; or |
5. | the contract or transaction has been or will be made with or for the benefit of a corporation that is affiliated with the company and the director or senior officer is also a director or senior officer of that corporation or an affiliate of that corporation. |
Under our Articles, a director or senior officer who holds a disclosable interest (as that term is under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia)) in a contract or transaction into which we have entered or propose to enter:
1. | is liable to account to us for any profit that accrues to the director or senior officer under, or as a result of, the contract or transaction only if and to the extent provided in the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia); |
2. | is not entitled to vote on any directors’ resolution to approve that contract or transaction, unless all the directors have a disclosable interest in that contract or transaction, in which case any or all of those directors may vote on such resolution; |
3. | if present at the meeting of directors at which the contract or transaction is considered for approval, may be counted in the quorum at the meeting whether or not the director votes on any or all of the resolutions considered at the meeting. |
A director or senior officer who holds any office or possesses any property, right or interest that could result, directly or indirectly, in the creation of a duty or interest that materially conflicts with that individual’s duty or interest as a director or senior officer, must disclose the nature and extent of the conflict as required by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). No director or intended director is disqualified by his or her office from contracting with us either with regard to the holding of any office or place of profit the director holds with us or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, and no contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of us in which a director is in any way interested is invalid merely because:
(1) | a director or senior officer of the company has an interest, direct or indirect, in the contract or transaction; |
(2) | a director or senior officer of the company has not disclosed an interest he or she has in the contract or transaction; or |
(3) | the directors or shareholders of the company have not approved the contract or transaction in which a director or senior officer of the company has an interest. |
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Directors' power, in the absence of an independent quorum, to vote compensation to themselves or any members of their body.
A director or officer, or any person in which a director or officer has an interest, may act in a professional capacity for us, except as our auditor, and the director or officer or such person is entitled to remuneration for professional services as if that director or officer were not a director or officer. The Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) provides that a director of a company does not hold a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction merely because the contract or transaction relates to the remuneration of the director or senior officer in that person’s capacity as director, officer, employee or agent of ours or of an affiliate of ours.
Borrowing powers exercisable by the directors.
Under the Articles, the directors may, on our behalf:
1. | borrow money in such manner and amount, on such security, from such sources and upon such terms, and conditions as they consider appropriate; |
2. | issue bonds, debentures, and other debt obligations either outright or as a security for any liability or obligation of ours or any other person and at such discounts or premiums and on such other terms as they consider appropriate; |
3. | guarantee the repayment of money by any other person or the performance of any obligation of any other person; and |
4. | mortgage, charge, whether by way of specific or floating charge, grant a security interest in, or give other security on, the whole or any part of the present and future assets and undertaking of ours. |
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Retirement and non-retirement of directors under an age limit requirement.
There are no such provisions applicable to us under our Articles, our Notice of Articles or the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).
Number of shares required for a director’s qualification.
Directors need not own any of our shares in order to qualify as directors.
3. Rights, Preferences and Restrictions Attaching to Each Class of Shares
Dividends
Dividends may be declared by the directors from time to time and may be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets or of fully paid shares or of bonds, debentures or other securities, or in any one or more of those ways. All dividends on shares of any class or series of shares must be declared and paid according to the number of such shares held. The Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) provides that no dividend may be paid if we are, or would thereby become, insolvent.
Voting Rights
Each of our shares is entitled to one vote on matters to which common shares ordinarily vote, including the annual election of directors, appointment of auditors and approval of corporate changes, unless special rights and restrictions have been attached to such shares. There are no special rights or restrictions attached to our shares. Directors automatically retire at each annual meeting, and may be elected thereat. There are no staggered directorships among our directors. There are no cumulative voting rights applicable to us.
Rights to Profits and Liquidation Rights
On the liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or other distribution of our assets among our shareholders, the holders of thecommon shares shall participate rateably in equal amounts per share, without preference or distinction, in our remaining assets.
Redemption
We may, subject to special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), if authorized by our directors, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of our shares at the price and upon the terms specified in such resolution. A further condition outlined in our Articles provides that we must not make payment or provide any other consideration to purchase, redeem or to otherwise acquire any of our shares if there are reasonable grounds for believing that we are either insolvent or that making such payment or providing the consideration would render us insolvent.
Sinking Fund Provisions
We have no sinking fund provisions or similar obligations.
Shares Fully Paid
All of our 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.
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Pre-emptive Rights
We have granted a pre-emptive right to Dejour to participate in all of our equity financings to the extent necessary to maintain its equity interest in us.
With respect to the rights, preferences and restrictions attaching to our common shares, there are generally no significant differences between Canadian and United States law as the shareholders, or the applicable corporate statute, will determine the rights, preferences and restrictions attaching to each class of our shares.
4. Changes to Rights and Restrictions to Shares
The Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) provides that a company may, by the type of shareholders’ resolution specified by the articles, or, if the articles do not specify the type of resolution, by a special resolution:
* | create special rights or restrictions for, and attach those special rights or restrictions to, the shares of any class or series of shares, whether or not any or all of those shares have been issued; or |
|
* | vary or delete any special rights or restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, whether or not any or all of those shares have been issued. |
Our Articles provide that, subject to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the rights of the holders of issued shares, we may issue, allot, sell or otherwise dispose of the unissued shares and issued shares held by the Company, at the times, to the persons, including directors, in the manner, on the terms and conditions and for the issue prices (including any premium at which shares with par value may be issued) that the directors may determine. The issue price for a share with par value must be equal to or greater than the par value of the share.
An ordinary resolution is a resolution of shareholders that is approved by a majority of those votes cast at a properly constituted meeting of shareholders. Our Articles provide that a special resolution is a resolution of shareholders that is approved by two thirds (66 2/3%) of those votes cast at a properly constituted meeting of shareholders.
The Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) provides that a company may reduce its capital if it is authorized to do so by a court order, or, if the capital is reduced to an amount that is not less thanthe realizable value of the company’s assets less its liabilities, by a special resolution or court order.
Generally, there are no significant differences between British Columbia and United States law with respect to changing the rights of shareholders as most state corporation statutes require shareholder approval (usually a majority) for any such changes that affect the rights of shareholders.
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5. Meetings of Shareholders
Our Articles provide that unless an annual general meeting is deferred or waived in accordance with the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), the Company must hold an annual general meeting at least once in each calendar year and not more than 15 months after the last annual reference date at such time and place as may be determined by our directors. Shareholder meetings are governed by our Articles but many important shareholder protections are also contained in the Securities Act (British Columbia) (the “BC Securities Act”) and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Our Articles provide that we will provide at least 21 days’ advance written notice of any meeting of shareholders and will provide for certain procedural matters and rules of order with respect to conduct of the meeting. The directors may fix in advance a date, which is no fewer than 21 days prior to the date of the meeting for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at a general meeting.
The BC Securities Act and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) superimpose requirements that generally provide that shareholder meetings require not more than a 60 day notice period from initial public notice and that we make a thorough advance 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 BC Securities Act and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). 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. We must hold an annual shareholder meeting open to all shareholders for personal attendance or by proxy at each shareholder’s determination. The meeting must be held within 13 months of the previous annual shareholder meeting and must present audited statements which are no more than 180 days old at such meeting.
Most state corporation statutes require a public company to hold an annual meeting for the election of directors and for the consideration of other appropriate matters. The state statutes also include general provisions relating to shareholder voting and meetings. Apart from the timing of when an annual meeting must be held and the percentage of shareholders required to call an annual meeting or an extraordinary meeting, there are generally no material differences between Canadian and United States law respecting annual meetings and extraordinary meetings
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6. Rights to Own Securities
There are no limitations under our Articles or in the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) on the right of persons who are not citizens of Canada to hold or vote common shares.
7. Restrictions on Changes in Control, Mergers, Acquisitions or Corporate Restructuring of the Company
Our Articles do not contain any provisions that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control. We have not implemented any shareholders’ rights or other “poison pill” protection against possible take-overs. We do not have any agreements which are triggered by a take-over or other change of control. There are no provisions in our Articles triggered by or affected by a change in outstanding shares which gives rise to a change in control. There are no provisions in our material agreements giving special rights to any person on a change in control.
The Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) does not contain any provisions that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of a company.
Generally, there are no significant differences between British Columbia and United States law in this regard, as many state corporation statutes also do not contain such provisions and only empower a company’s board of directors to adopt such provisions.
8. Ownership Threshold Requiring Public Disclosure
Our Articles do not require disclosure of share ownership. Share ownership of director nominees must be reported annually in proxy materials sent to our shareholders. There are no requirements under British Columbia corporate law to report ownership of our shares, but the BC Securities Act 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. Effective January 31, 2003 all insider trading reports filed by our insiders pursuant to Canadian securities legislation are available on the Internet at www.sedi.ca.
Most state corporation statutes do not contain provisions governing the threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed. United States federal securities laws require a company that is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to disclose in its annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission those shareholders who own more than 5% of a corporation’s issued and outstanding shares.
9. Differences in Law between the US and Canada
Differences in the law between the United States and Canada, where applicable, have been explained above within each category.
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10. Changes in the Capital of the Company
There are no conditions imposed by our Notice of Articles or Articles which are more stringent than those required by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).
C. Material Contracts
For the two years immediately preceding December 31, 2008, there were no material contracts entered into, other than contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, to which we were a party, except as provided below:
Arrangement Agreement among LPT Capital Ltd., Lincoln Gold Corporation and 0843037 B.C. Ltd., dated January 5, 2009,
First Amendment to Arrangement Agreement among LPT Capital Ltd., Lincoln Gold Corporation and 0843037 B.C. Ltd., dated February 16, 2009,
Second Arrangement Agreement among LPT Capital Ltd., Lincoln Gold Corporation and 0843037 B.C. Ltd., dated April 30, 2009, and
Third Arrangement Agreement among LPT Capital Ltd., Lincoln Gold Corporation and 0843037 B.C. Ltd., dated June 30, 2009.
For a description of those contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business refer to Item 4A – History and Development of Company
D. Exchange Controls
We are incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Canada Business Corporations Act. There is no law or governmental decree or regulation in Canada that restricts the export or import of capital, or affects the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of our securities, 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 our Articles on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote his or its common shares, other than as provided in the Investment Canada Act (Canada) (the Investment Act). The following discussion summarizes the material features of the Investment Act for a non-resident who proposes to acquire a controlling number of our common shares. It is general only, it is not a substitute for independent advice from an investors own advisor, and it does not anticipate statutory or regulatory amendments. We do not believe the Investment Act will have any affect on us or on our non-Canadian shareholders due to a number of factors including the nature of our operations and our 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 (i.e. a non-Canadian), unless after review the Director of Investments (the Director) 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 approval for the transaction. An investment in our securities 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 we were not controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment to acquire control of us and the value of our assets, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Act, was over CDN$5 million, or if an order for review was made by the federal cabinet on the grounds that the investment related to Canadas cultural heritage or national identity, regardless of the value of our assets. An investment in our securities by a WTO Investor, or by a non-Canadian when we were controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment to acquire control of us and the value of our assets, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Act, was not less than a specified amount, which for 2007 was CDN$281 million. A non-Canadian would acquire control of us for the purposes of the Investment Act if the non-Canadian acquired a majority of our common shares. The acquisition of less than a majority but one-third or more of our common shares would be presumed to be an acquisition of control of us unless it could be established that, on the acquisition, we were not controlled in fact by the acquirer through the ownership of the common shares.
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Certain transactions relating to our common shares would be exempt from the Investment Act, including:
(a) |
an acquisition of our common shares by a person in the ordinary course of that persons business as a trader or dealer in securities; | |
(b) |
an acquisition of control of us 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 us by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or indirect control in fact of us, through the ownership of our common shares, remained unchanged. |
E. Taxation
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 our 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) and at all relevant times, is not resident in Canada, deals at arms length with us, holds our shares as capital property and does not use or hold our 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) and at all relevant times, 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) our 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 holder in special circumstances.
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 our understanding of the current administrative practice of the Canada 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. The summary does not take into account Canadian provincial, U.S. federal (which follows further below), 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 holders particular circumstances. Accordingly, this summary is not, and is not to be construed as, Canadian tax advice to any particular U.S. Holder. All U.S. Holders are advised to consult with their own tax advisors regarding their particular circumstances. The discussion below is qualified accordingly.
Dividends
Dividends paid or deemed to be paid to a U.S. Holder by us will be subject to Canadian withholding tax. The Tax Act requires a 25% withholding unless reduced under a tax treaty. Under the Treaty, provided that a holder can demonstrate that it is a qualifying U.S. Holder, 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 our voting shares). We will be required to withhold the applicable withholding tax from any dividend and remit it to the Canadian government for the U.S. Holders account.
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Disposition
For purposes of the following discussion, we have assumed that our shares will remain listed on the TSX. A U.S. Holder is not subject to tax under the Tax Act in respect of a capital gain realized on the disposition of our shares in the open market unless the shares are taxable Canadian property to the holder thereof and the U.S. Holder is not entitled to relief under the Treaty. Our shares will be taxable Canadian property to a U.S. Holder (a) 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 arms length alone or together owned 25% or more of our issued shares of any class or series, or (b) in other specific circumstances, including where shares were acquired for other securities in a tax-deferred transaction. If our shares constitute taxable Canadian property to the holder, the holder will (unless relieved under the Treaty) be subject to Canadian income tax on any gain. The taxpayers 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.
A U.S. Holder whose shares do constitute taxable Canadian property, and who would therefore be liable for Canadian income tax under the Tax Act, may be relieved from such liability under the Treaty if the value of such shares at the time of disposition is not derived principally from real property situated in Canada. However, as the application of this potential Treaty relief is quite uncertain, a U.S. Holder to whom Treaty relief may be relevant should consult in this regard with their own tax advisors at the relevant time.
United States Tax Consequences
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a discussion of all material United States federal income tax consequences, under current law, generally applicable to a U.S. Holder (as hereinafter defined) of our common shares. 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 - Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences above). Accordingly, we urge holders and prospective holders of our common shares to consult their own tax advisors about the specific federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them of purchasing, owning and disposing of our common shares, 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 our common shares who is a citizen or individual resident of the United States, a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, an entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof which has elected to be treated as a
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corporation for United States federal income tax purposes (under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701 -3), 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 in 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 our common shares as capital assets and who own (directly and indirectly, pursuant to applicable rules of constructive ownership) no more than 5% of the value of our total outstanding stock. 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 United States persons (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) holding common shares through a foreign partnership or to foreign persons holding common shares through a domestic partnership.
Distribution on Our Common Shares
In general, U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive dividends) with respect to our common shares 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 we have current or accumulated earnings and profits, without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distributions. Such Canadian tax withheld may be credited, subject to certain limitations, against the U.S. Holders federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in computing the U.S. Holders federal taxable income by those who itemize deductions. (See more detailed discussion at Foreign Tax Credit below). To the extent that distributions exceed our current or accumulated earnings and profits, they will be treated first as a return of capital up to the U.S. Holders 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.
Dividends paid on our common shares generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction provided to corporations receiving dividends from certain United States corporations. A U.S. Holder which is a corporation and which owns shares representing at least 10% of our voting power and value may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to a 70% (or 80% if the U.S. Holder owns shares representing at least 20% of our voting power and value) deduction of the United States source portion of dividends received from us (unless we qualify as a passive foreign investment company, as defined
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below). We do not anticipate that we will earn any United States income, however, and therefore we do not anticipate that any U.S. Holder will be eligible for the dividends received deduction.
Under current Treasury Regulations, dividends paid on our 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 our 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. Holders 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 our common shares 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 taxpayers 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. Holders United States income tax liability that the U.S. Holders 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 income, high withholding tax interest, financial services income, shipping income, and certain other classifications of income. Dividends distributed by us will generally constitute passive income or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, financial services 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 our common shares should consult their own tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances.
Disposition of Our Common Shares
In general, U.S. Holders will recognize gain or loss upon the sale of our common shares equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received, and (ii) the shareholders tax basis in our common shares. 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 our common shares 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 that 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.
Other Considerations
Set forth below are certain material exceptions to the above-described general rules describing the United States federal income tax consequences resulting from the holding and disposition of common shares:
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Foreign Investment Company
If 50% or more of the combined voting power or total value of our outstanding shares is held, directly or indirectly, by citizens or residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships or corporations, or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts (as defined by the Code Section 7701(a)(31)), and we are found to be engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities, commodities, or any interest therein, it is possible that we may be treated as a foreign investment company as defined in Section 1246 of the Code, causing all or part of any gain realized by a U.S. Holder selling or exchanging common shares to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain. We do not believe that we currently qualify as a foreign investment company. However, there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a foreign investment company for the current or any future taxable year.
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) 70% 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. We appear to have been a PFIC for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, and at least certain prior fiscal years. In addition, we expect to qualify as a PFIC for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2007 and we may also qualify as a PFIC in future fiscal years. Each of our U.S. Holders is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect such U.S. Holders tax situation.
Each of our U.S. Holders 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 our stock. In addition, special rules apply if a foreign corporation qualifies as both a PFIC and a controlled foreign corporation (as defined below) and a U.S. Holder owns, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote of such foreign corporation (See more detailed discussion at Controlled Foreign Corporation below).
A U.S. Holder who elects to treat us 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 we qualify as a PFIC on his pro rata share of our (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 shareholders taxable year in which (or with which) our taxable year ends, regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed. A U.S. Holders 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. Holders holding period in which we are 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, we qualified as a PFIC in a prior year during the U.S. Holders 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) (i) any gain that he
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would otherwise recognize if the U.S. Holder sold his stock on the qualification date or (ii) if we are a controlled foreign corporation, the U.S. Holders pro rata share of our post-1986 earnings and profits as of the qualification date. The qualification date is the first day of our first tax year in which we 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 either of the above-described gain-recognition elections 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 in which we are a PFIC and who is not an Electing U.S. Holder (including a U.S. Holder who makes an untimely QEF election and makes neither of the above-described gain-recognition elections) 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 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 our 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, we must provide certain information regarding our net capital gains and ordinary earnings and permit our books and records to be examined to verify such information. We intend to make the necessary information available to U.S. Holders to permit them to make (and maintain) QEF elections with respect to us. We urge each U.S. Holder to consult a tax advisor regarding the availability of, and procedure for making, the QEF election.
A QEF election, once made with respect to us, 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 QEF election is made by a U.S. Holder and we cease 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 we do not qualify as a PFIC. Therefore, if we again qualify 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 we qualify 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 our shares. Therefore, if such U.S. Holder reacquires an interest in us, that U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules described above for Electing U.S. Holders for each tax year in which we qualify 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 common shares and (ii) certain excess distributions, as defined in Section 1291(b), by us.
A Non-Electing U.S. Holder generally would be required to pro rate all gains realized on the disposition of his common shares and all excess distributions on his 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 holders period prior to the first day of the first year (i) which began after December 31, 1986, and (ii) for which we were 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.
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If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a Non-Electing U.S. Holder holds our common shares, then we will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such common shares, even if we are 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 common shares had been sold on the last day of the last taxable year for which we were 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 the mark-to-market election is made by a Non-Electing U.S. Holder 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 our 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 our common shares as of the close of such tax year over such U.S. Holders 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. Holders 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 our common shares 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. Holders adjusted tax basis in our common shares 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 our common shares cease to be marketable, as specifically defined, or the IRS consents to revocation of the election. Because the IRS has not established procedures for making a mark-to-market election, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisor regarding the manner of making such an election. No view is expressed regarding whether our common shares 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 our 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 transferees 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 transferees basis is generally equal to the fair market value of the Electing U.S. Holders 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. Each U.S. Holder of our shares is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect his or its tax situation.
Whether or not a U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election with respect to our common shares, certain adverse rules may apply in the event that we are a PFIC and any foreign corporation in which we directly or indirectly hold shares is a PFIC (a lower-tier PFIC). Pursuant to certain Proposed Treasury Regulations, a U.S. Holder would be treated as owning his or its proportionate amount of any lower-tier PFIC shares, and generally would be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such indirectly-held PFIC shares unless such U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election with respect thereto. We do not currently
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have any subsidiaries. If we obtain any subsidiaries, we intend to make the necessary information available to U.S. Holders to permit them to make (and maintain) QEF elections with respect to each subsidiary of ours that is a PFIC.
Under the Proposed Treasury Regulations, a U.S. Holder who does not make a timely QEF election with respect to a lower-tier PFIC generally would be subject to tax (and the PFIC interest charge) on (i) any excess distribution deemed to have been received with respect to his or its lower-tier PFIC shares and (ii) any gain deemed to arise from a so-called indirect disposition of such shares. For this purpose, an indirect disposition of lower-tier PFIC shares would generally include (i) a disposition by us (or an intermediate entity) of lower-tier PFIC shares, and (ii) any other transaction resulting in a diminution of the U.S. Holders proportionate ownership of the lower-tier PFIC, including an issuance of additional common shares by us (or an intermediate entity). Accordingly, each prospective U.S. Holder should be aware that he or it could be subject to tax even if such U.S. Holder receives no distributions from us and does not dispose of its common shares. We strongly urge each prospective U.S. Holder to consult a tax advisor with respect to the adverse rules applicable, under the Proposed Treasury Regulations, to U.S. Holders of lower-tier PFIC shares.
Certain special, generally adverse, rules will apply with respect to our common shares while we are 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.
Controlled Foreign Corporation
If more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all our of shares entitled to vote or the total value of our shares is owned, actually or constructively, by citizens or residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships or corporations, or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts (as defined by the Code Section 7701(a)(31)), each of which own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all of our classes of shares entitled to vote (each, a United States Shareholder), we could be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (CFC) under Subpart F of the Code. This classification would effect many complex results, one of which is the inclusion of certain income of a CFC which is subject to current U.S. tax. The United States generally taxes United States Shareholders of a CFC currently on their pro rata shares of the Subpart F income of the CFC. Such United States Shareholders are generally treated as having received a current distribution out of the CFCs Subpart F income and are also subject to current U.S. tax on their pro rata shares of increases in the CFCs earnings invested in U.S. property. The foreign tax credit described above may reduce the U.S. tax on these amounts. In addition, under Section 1248 of the Code, gain from the sale or exchange of shares by a U.S. Holder of our common shares which is or was a United States Shareholder at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange is treated as ordinary income to the extent of earnings and profits attributable to the shares sold or exchanged. If a foreign corporation is both a PFIC and a CFC, the foreign corporation generally will not be treated as a PFIC with respect to United States Shareholders of the CFC. This rule generally will be effective for taxable years of United States Shareholders beginning after 1997 and for taxable years of foreign corporations ending with or within such taxable years of United States Shareholders. Special rules apply to United States Shareholders who are subject to the special taxation rules under Section 1291 discussed above with respect to a PFIC. Because of the complexity of Subpart F, a more detailed review of these rules is outside of the scope of this discussion. We do not believe that we currently qualify as a CFC. However, there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a CFC for the current or any future taxable year.
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F. Dividends and Paying Agents
This Form 20-F is filed as an annual report under the Exchange Act and accordingly the information called for in Item 10.F is not required.
G. Statement by Experts
This Form 20-F is filed as an annual report under the Exchange Act and accordingly the information called for in Item 10.G is not required.
H. Documents on Display
Exhibits attached to this Annual Report are also available for viewing at our offices, Suite 350, 885 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1N5, or you may request them by calling our office at (604) 688-7377. Copies of our financial statements and other continuous disclosure documents required under securities rules are available for viewing on the internet at www.sedar.com.
I. Subsidiary Information
Not applicable.
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ITEM 11 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
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ITEM 12 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
A. Debt Securities
Not applicable.
B. Warrants and Rights
Not applicable.
C. Other Securities
Not applicable.
D. American Depository Shares
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 13 DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 14 MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
ITEM 15 CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our Companys disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d 15(e) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)), as of December 31, 2008. Based on such evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2008, our Companys disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the identification of material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting described below:
Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting; Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Under the Securities Exchange Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Our controls include policies and procedures that:
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Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors; and
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the annual financial statements or inter financial statements.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statement will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Management conducted an evaluation of the design and operation of the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation.
In performing its assessment, management identified the following material weaknesses: absence of adequate segregation of duties relating to oversight and management of our systems. Our controller who is an outside consultant performs substantially all of our bookkeeping functions and preparation of financial statements and due to a lack of resources, oftentimes her work process and product are not monitored by other qualified management team members. The absence of such adequate segregation of duties may have an affect on the systems which we use in the evaluation and processing of certain accounts and areas and in the posting and recording of journal entries into certain accounts, most notably, our year-end financial statement closing process and debt management process.
In light of the conclusion that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective, our management is in the process of implementing a plan intended to remediate such ineffectiveness and to strengthen our internal controls over financial reporting through the implementation of certain remedial measures, which include:
1. |
Improving the control and oversight of the duties relating to the systems we use in the evaluation and processing of certain accounts and areas and in the posting and recording of journal entries into certain accounts (in which material weaknesses have been identified). We have begun these improvements and expect them to be on-going. | |
2. |
The segregation of duties relating to the processing of accounts and the recording of journal entries into certain accounts. |
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not be able to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis, which may be a product of collusion, failure to abide by controls, error or fraud. In addition, projections of any evaluation of the internal controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that the control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.
In its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, our management identified the following material weaknesses:
During the year end procedures a number of misstatements and disclosure deficiencies were identified in the draft financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 prepared by us. These misstatements and disclosure deficiencies sere subsequently corrected by our management and such corrections are reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Our management determined that
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these adjustments has resulted from control deficiencies because we do not have sufficient accounting and finance personnel with adequately comprehensive accounting knowledge to properly address certain non-routine accounting and financial reporting matters and this control deficiency constitutes a material weakness.
As at December 31, 2007, other areas of control deficiencies that could have resulted in misstatements were noted as follows:
a lack of segregation of duties. Due to the small size of our Company there is no effective way to completely segregate tasks and as a result there is a chance of misstatement. However, managements oversight and approval of transactions and disbursements limits the scope for inappropriate transactions;
the audit committee did not have an independent member with financial expertise.
we had not formalized a code of ethics;
we had not implemented a whistleblower policy.
we did not have any personnel with adequate understanding of US and Canadian tax;
As at December 31, 2008 we have taken actions that rectify many of these areas. They are as follows:
We have appointed an independent director with financial expertise who serves on the audit committee
We have adopted and formalized a code of ethics
We have documented our corporate governance policies
We have adopted a whistleblower policy
Our management has worked and will continue to work to strengthen the Companys internal controls over financial reporting. Except for the actions described above, there was no change to our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 16A AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERTS
The audit committee of our board does have an audit committee financial expert appointed in 2008. We believe that the members of our audit committee are collectively capable of analyzing and evaluating our financial statements and understanding internal controls and procedures for financial reporting.
ITEM 16B CODE OF ETHICS
We have formally adopted a written code of ethics.
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ITEM 16C PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth information regarding the amount billed to us by our independent auditors, Davidson & Company LLP for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
Years ended December 31 | ||
2008 | 2007 | |
Audit Fees: | $40,000 | $53,340 |
Audit Related Fees: | Nil | Nil |
Tax Fees: | $5,000 | $9,500 |
All Other Fees: | Nil | $30,480 |
Total: | $45,000 | $93,320 |
Audit Fees
Audit Fees are the aggregate fees billed by our independent auditor for the audit of our consolidated annual financial statements, reviews of interim financial statements and attestation services that are provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Policy on Pre-Approval by Audit Committee of Services Performed by Independent Auditors
The policy of our Audit Committee is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors during the fiscal year.
ITEM 16D EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
Not applicable.
ITEM 16E PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 17 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following attached financial statements are incorporated herein:
Consolidated Financial Statements of Lincoln Gold Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2008, comprised of the following:
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(a) |
Independent Auditors Report of Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Accountants; |
(b) |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as at December 31, 2008 and 2007; |
(c) |
Consolidated Statements of Operations, Comprehensive Loss and Deficit for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006; |
(d) |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006; |
(e) |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
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ITEM 18 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 17.
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LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION
(An Exploration Stage
Company)
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in
Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated)
For the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2008
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT
To the Shareholders of
Lincoln Gold Corporation
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Lincoln Gold Corporation as at December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss and deficit, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
"DAVIDSON & COMPANY LLP" | |
Vancouver, Canada | Chartered Accountants |
May 15, 2009 | |
(except as to Notes 17 and 18 which | |
are as of July 6, 2009) |
COMMENTS BY AUDITORS FOR U.S. READERS ON CANADA
U.S.
REPORTING DIFFERENCE
In the United States, reporting standards for auditors require the addition of an explanatory paragraph (following the opinion paragraph) to identify when there is a restatement that has a material effect on the comparability of the Companys financial statements such as the restatement described in Note 3(c), or when there is a change in accounting principles that has a material effect on the comparability of the Companys financial statements such as the changes described in Notes 3(a), (b) and (c), or when the financial statements are affected by conditions and events that cast substantial doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, such as those described in Note 2 to the financial statements. Our report to the shareholders dated May 15, 2009 (except as to Notes 17 and 18 which are as of July 6, 2009) is expressed in accordance with Canadian reporting standards which do not permit a reference to such events and conditions in the auditors' report when these are adequately disclosed in the financial statements.
"DAVIDSON & COMPANY LLP" | |
Vancouver, Canada | Chartered Accountants |
May 15, 2009 | |
(except as to Notes 17 and 18 which | |
are as of July 6, 2009) |
1200 - 609 Granville Street, P.O. Box 10372, Pacific Centre,
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7Y 1G6
Telephone (604) 687-0947 Fax (604)
687-6172
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
December 31, | December 31, | |||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||
(Restated - | ||||||
ASSETS | Note 3) | |||||
Current | ||||||
Cash | $ | 1,553 | $ | 123,201 | ||
Receivables | 7,943 | 3,131 | ||||
Loan receivable (Note 6(d)(iii)) | - | 5,000 | ||||
Prepaids and advances | 675 | 107,900 | ||||
10,171 | 239,232 | |||||
Equipment (Note 5) | 11,679 | 27,602 | ||||
Deferred financing costs (Note 17) | 177,600 | 19,900 | ||||
$ | 199,450 | $ | 286,734 | |||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY | ||||||
Current | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 728,979 | $ | 210,897 | ||
Advance from LPT Capital Ltd. (Note 17) | 66,500 | - | ||||
Loan payable (Note 7a) | 59,505 | - | ||||
Notes payable (Note 7d) | 1,329,809 | 100,000 | ||||
Convertible loans from related parties (Note 7c) | 343,107 | - | ||||
2,527,900 | 310,897 | |||||
Shareholders' deficiency | ||||||
Share capital (Note 8) | ||||||
Authorized | ||||||
Unlimited common shares without par value | ||||||
Issued and outstanding | ||||||
55,392,000 (December 31, 2007 - 51,391,666) | 4,276,642 | 3,702,686 | ||||
Share subscriptions received in advance (Note 8) | - | 197,482 | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 3) | (12,990 | ) | (12,990 | ) | ||
Contributed surplus (Note 8) | 1,670,091 | 1,667,612 | ||||
Deficit | (8,262,193 | ) | (5,578,953 | ) | ||
(2,328,450 | ) | (24,163 | ) | |||
$ | 199,450 | $ | 286,734 |
Ability to continue as a going concern (Note 2)
Subsequent
events (Note 17)
On behalf of the Board:
Paul Saxton | Director | Andrew Milligan | Director |
Paul Saxton | Andrew Milligan |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
2
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Consolidated Statements of Operations, Comprehensive Loss and Deficit |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
Years Ended December 31 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||
(Restated - | (Restated - | ||||||||
Note 3) | Note 3) | ||||||||
Exploration Expenses (Note 6) | $ | 2,025,586 | $ | 343,137 | $ | 115,764 | |||
Administrative Expenses | |||||||||
Administrative support | 55,655 | 24,070 | - | ||||||
Amortization | 10,066 | 4,630 | 3,277 | ||||||
Consulting fees | 63,582 | 32,086 | 2,602 | ||||||
Foreign exchange (gain) loss | (26,477 | ) | 4,991 | 2,318 | |||||
Interest expense | 154,735 | 12,690 | 12,132 | ||||||
Investor relations | 65,283 | 162,685 | 145,899 | ||||||
Management fees | 10,488 | 27,773 | 71,248 | ||||||
Office | 46,353 | 34,006 | 32,786 | ||||||
Professional fees | 279,136 | 204,587 | 55,510 | ||||||
Property investigation and due diligence | 4,116 | 5,528 | 4,336 | ||||||
Regulatory and shareholder services | 31,965 | 30,111 | 5,750 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation (Note 9) | - | 262,480 | - | ||||||
Travel and entertainment | 9,284 | 14,742 | 20,526 | ||||||
Loss before other items | (2,729,772 | ) | (1,163,516 | ) | (472,148 | ) | |||
Other items | |||||||||
Interest income | 674 | 4,526 | 2,940 | ||||||
Loss on disposition of equipment | (809 | ) | - | - | |||||
Gain on settlement of debt (Note 8) | 46,667 | - | - | ||||||
Loss and Comprehensive Loss for the year | (2,683,240 | ) | (1,158,990 | ) | (469,208 | ) | |||
Deficit, beginning of year (as restated) | (5,578,953 | ) | (4,419,963 | ) | (3,950,755 | ) | |||
Deficit, end of year | $ | (8,262,193 | ) | $ | (5,578,953 | ) | $ | (4,419,963 | ) |
Basic and diluted loss per common share | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) |
Weighted average shares outstanding | 54,260,915 | 47,172,000 | 42,366,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
Years Ended December 31 | 2008 | 2007 | 2,006 | ||||||
(Restated - | (Restated - | ||||||||
Note 3) | Note 3) | ||||||||
Cash Flows From Operating Activities | |||||||||
Loss for the year | $ | (2,683,240 | ) | $ | (1,158,990 | ) | $ | (469,208 | ) |
Items not affecting cash: | |||||||||
Amortization | 10,066 | 4,630 | 3,277 | ||||||
Loss on disposition of equipment | 809 | - | - | ||||||
Shares issued for mineral property costs | 31,000 | 16,222 | 11,279 | ||||||
Services in exchange for share obligation | - | - | 83,204 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | - | 262,480 | - | ||||||
Non-cash interest expense | 109,985 | - | - | ||||||
Warrants issued for financing cost | 2,479 | - | - | ||||||
Shares issued for financing cost | 44,750 | - | - | ||||||
Gain on settlement of debt | (46,667 | ) | - | - | |||||
Exploration services for note payable | 800,000 | - | - | ||||||
Unrealized foreign exchange | 46,864 | - | - | ||||||
Changes in non-cash working capital items | |||||||||
Increase in receivables | (4,812 | ) | (3,131 | ) | - | ||||
Decrease (increase) in prepaids and advances | 107,225 | (102,193 | ) | 7,471 | |||||
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 450,982 | 155,087 | 19,339 | ||||||
Decrease (increase) in loan receivable | 5,000 | (5,000 | ) | - | |||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (1,125,559 | ) | (830,895 | ) | (344,638 | ) | |||
Cash Flows From Financing Activities | |||||||||
Shares issued for cash | 325,918 | 812,986 | 245,054 | ||||||
Share issue costs | (46,127 | ) | (47,818 | ) | (24,505 | ) | |||
Proceeds from note payable | 300,000 | - | - | ||||||
Proceeds from convertible loans from related parties | 315,000 | - | - | ||||||
Proceeds from loan and advance | 127,072 | - | - | ||||||
Share subscriptions received in advance | - | 197,482 | - | ||||||
Deferred financing costs | (23,000 | ) | (19,900 | ) | - | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 998,863 | 942,750 | 220,549 | ||||||
Cash Flows From Investing Activities | |||||||||
Acquisition of equipment | (11,804 | ) | (27,685 | ) | - | ||||
Proceeds from disposition of equipment | 16,852 | - | - | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 5,048 | (27,685 | ) | - | |||||
Effect of foreign exchange on cash | - | 13,416 | (5,148 | ) | |||||
Change in cash during the year | (121,648 | ) | 97,586 | (129,237 | ) | ||||
Cash, beginning of year | 123,201 | 25,615 | 154,852 | ||||||
Cash, end of year | $ | 1,553 | $ | 123,201 | $ | 25,615 | |||
Supplementary disclosure with respect to cash flows | |||||||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||
Cash paid for income taxes | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - |
Supplementary cash flow information (Note 15)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
1. | NATURE OF OPERATIONS |
Lincoln Gold Corporation (the Company) was incorporated in the State of Nevada, USA, on February 17, 1999 under the name of Braden Technologies Inc. Effective March 26, 2004, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Lincoln Gold Corp., a private company incorporated in the State of Nevada, USA, on September 25, 2003. On April 6, 2004, the Company and its subsidiary, Lincoln Gold Corp., merged to form Lincoln Gold Corporation. |
|
On November 20, 2007, the Company completed a continuation changing its corporate jurisdiction from Nevada to Canada under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA). Unlike the Nevada jurisdiction, the Company chose under the CBCA to not have par value shares and, accordingly, prior period share capital amounts have been restated to reflect this change. In addition, the Company changed its authorized share capital from 100,000,000 shares to unlimited. |
|
The Company is engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties, with the primary aim of developing properties to a stage where they can be exploited for a profit. To date, the Company has not earned any revenues and is considered to be in the exploration stage. |
|
On January 15, 2009 the Company and LPT Capital Limited (LPT) entered into an arrangement agreement (Note 17) whereby 0843037 BC Ltd., a subsidiary of LPT, would acquire 100% of the issued common shares of the Company and in return issue to the Companys shareholders 23,000,000 LPT shares. On February 18, 2009, the Companys shareholders approved and completed the continuation of the Company from federal jurisdiction to British Columbia and also approved the transaction with LPT. On February 20, 2009 the Supreme Court of British Columbia entered its final order approving the plan of arrangement. The completion of the transaction will occur in conjunction with LPT completing an equity financing to raise up to $3,380,000. |
|
2. | ABILITY TO CONTINUE AS A GOING CONCERN |
The Companys annual financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) applicable to a going concern, which assumes that the Company will be able to continue in operation for the foreseeable future and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. Accordingly, these financial statements do not reflect any adjustments in the carrying values of the assets and liabilities, the reported expenses, and the balance sheet classifications used that would be necessary if the going concern assumption were not appropriate. Such adjustments could be material. As at December 31, 2008 the Company has no source of operating cash flow and has an accumulated deficit of approximately $8.3 million. Operations for the year ended December 31, 2008 have been funded primarily from debt and the issuances of capital stock and net changes in working capital balances. The Company has a history of operating losses and has a working capital deficiency of $2,517,729 at December 31, 2008 (2007 $71,665). |
|
As discussed in Note 1, the Company is attempting to complete the LPT transaction and financing to assist in the operations of the Company. |
5
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
3. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
The Company's significant accounting policies are as follows:
Basis of consolidation
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Minera Lincoln de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Lincoln Mexico), from the date of formation. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with Canadian GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates relate to the determination of impairment of assets, stock-based compensation, asset retirement obligations, the useful lives estimate and valuation allowances on future income tax assets. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Presentation
Where applicable, comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with the presentation used in the current year.
Equipment
Equipment is recorded at cost and amortization is provided at a straight line bases over the following periods: Office Equipment five years; computer software two years; computer equipment three years; mining equipment three years and vehicles three years.
Mineral property interests
The Company charges to operations all exploration and development expenses incurred prior to the determination of economically recoverable reserves. These costs would also include periodic fees such as license and maintenance fees and advance royalty payments.
The Company capitalizes direct mineral property acquisition costs and those exploration and development expenditures incurred following the determination that the property has economically recoverable reserves. Exploration costs include exploration license and maintenance fees and advance royalty payments. Mineral property acquisition costs include cash consideration and the fair value of common shares and warrants issued for mineral property interests, pursuant to the terms of the relevant agreement. These costs are amortized over the estimated life of the property following commencement of commercial production, or written off if the property is sold, allowed to lapse or abandoned, or when impairment in value has been determined to have occurred. An exploration property is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable.
Although the Company has taken steps to verify the title to mineral properties in which it has an interest, in accordance with industry practice for the current stage of exploration of such properties, these
6
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
procedures do not guarantee the Companys title. Property title may be subject to unregistered prior agreements or transfers and title may be affected by undetected defects.
7
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
3. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued ) |
Asset retirement obligations
The Company recognizes the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the year in which it is incurred when a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The carrying amount of the related long-lived asset is increased by the same amount as the liability.
Changes in the liability for an asset retirement obligation due to the passage of time will be measured by applying an interest method of allocation. The amount will be recognized as an increase in the liability and an accretion expense in the statement of operations. Changes resulting from revisions to the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows are recognized as an increase or a decrease to the carrying amount of the liability and the related long-lived asset.
The Company does not have any asset retirement obligations.
Loss per share
The Company uses the treasury stock method to compute the dilutive effect of options, warrants and similar instruments. Under this method the dilutive effect on earnings per share is recognized on the use of the proceeds that could be obtained upon exercise of options, warrants and similar instruments. It assumes that the proceeds would be used to purchase common shares at the average market price during the period. For the years presented, this calculation proved to be anti-dilutive.
Loss per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.
Financial instruments recognition and measurement
The Company classifies all financial instruments as either held for trading, available for sale, held to maturity, loans and receivables or other financial liabilities. Financial instruments are required to be measured at fair value on initial recognition. Measurement in subsequent periods depends on the financial instruments classification. Held for trading instruments are measured at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recognized in results of operations. Available for sale instruments are measured at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income. Instruments held to maturity, loans and receivables and other financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost.
The Company classifies its cash as held for trading and receivables as loans and receivables. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities as well as advances, notes and loans payable are classified as other financial liabilities.
Transaction costs relating to the issuance of debt instruments are deducted from the related financial liability and amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the liability.
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity (net assets) from transactions and other events from non-owner sources. Other comprehensive income is defines as revenues, expenses, gains and losses that, in accordance with primary sources of GAAP, are recognized in comprehensive income, but excluded from net income. This would include holding gains and losses from financial instruments classified as available for sale.
8
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
3. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued ) |
Stock-based compensation |
|
The fair value of stock options granted is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and recorded as stock-based compensation over the vesting period of the stock options. |
|
Income taxes |
|
Future income taxes are recorded using the asset and liability method, whereby future tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Future tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted or substantively enacted tax rates expected to apply when the asset is realized or the liability settled. The effect on future tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that substantive enactment or enactment occurs. To the extent that the Company does not consider it more likely than not that a future tax asset will be recovered, it provides a valuation allowance against the excess. |
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Deferred financing costs |
|
Costs directly identifiable with the raising of capital will be charged against the related capital stock. Costs related to shares not yet issued are recorded as deferred financing costs. These costs will be deferred until the issuance of the shares to which the costs relate, at which time the costs will be charged against the related capital stock or charged to operations if the shares are not issued. |
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Adoption of new accounting policies: |
|
The Company adopted the following new accounting policies effective January 1, 2008: |
(a) | Financial instruments |
The AcSB issued CICA Handbook Section 3862, Financial Instruments - Disclosures, which requires an increased emphasis on disclosing the nature and the extent of risk arising from financial statements and how the entity manages those risks. This section, together with Section 3863, Financial Instruments Presentation, replaced Section 3861, Financial Instruments Disclosure and Presentation. Section 3863, Financial Instruments - Presentation establishes standards for presentation of financial instruments and non-financial derivatives. Other than the additional disclosure in Note 14, the adoption of these Sections has had no significant impact on the Companys financial statements. |
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(b) | Capital disclosures |
The AcSB issued CICA Handbook Section 1535, Capital Disclosures, which establishes standards for the disclosure of (i) an entitys objectives, policies and processes for managing capital; (ii) quantitative data about what the entity regards as capital; (iii) whether the entity has complied with any capital requirements; and (iv) if it has not complied, the consequences of such non-compliance. Other than the additional disclosure in Note 13 the adoption of this section has had no significant impact on the Companys financial statements. |
9
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
3. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued ) |
(c) | Foreign currency translation |
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted the Canadian (CA) dollar as its functional and reporting currency, as a significant portion of its expenses, assets, liabilities and financing are denominated in CA dollars. All currency figures reported in these consolidated statements are reported in CA dollars, unless otherwise specified. Prior to January 1, 2008, the Company reported its annual and quarterly consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows in the United States (US) dollar which was also the Companys functional currency at that time. The related financial statements and corresponding notes prior to January 1, 2008 have been restated to CA dollars for comparison to the 2008 financial results. Using the current rate method the result of this change was an opening adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive loss of $12,990. There were no significant exchange gains or losses related to this method to be recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income. Accordingly, there are no material differences between loss and comprehensive loss for the years presented. |
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Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than CA dollar are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates. Non-monetary balance sheet items denominated in currencies other than CA dollar are translated at the rates of exchange in effect at the time the items arose. Revenue and expenses are translated at the exchange rates in effect at the time of the transaction. Gains and losses arising from fluctuations in exchange rates are included in operations |
4. | RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS |
(a) | Goodwill and intangible assets |
The Company will adopt the new standard CICA Handbook Section 3064, Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Section 3064) for its fiscal year beginning January 1, 2009. This Section replaces Section 3062, |
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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and Section 3450, Research and Development Costs. The new Section establishes standards for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of goodwill subsequent to its initial recognition and of intangible assets by profit-oriented enterprises. Standards concerning goodwill are unchanged from the standards included in Section 3062. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this new Section on its consolidated financial statements. |
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(b) | Business combinations, non-controlling interest and consolidated financial statements |
In January 2009, the CICA issued Handbook Section 1582, Business Combinations, 1601, Consolidated Financial Statements and 1602, Non-controlling Interests which replace CICA Handbook Sections 1581, |
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Business Combinations and 1600, Consolidated Financial Statements. Section 1582 establishes standards for the accounting for business combinations that is equivalent to the business combination standard under IFRS. Section 1582 is applicable for the Companys business combinations with acquisition dates on or after January 1, 2011. Section 1601 together with Section 1602 establishes standards for the preparation of consolidated financial statements. Section 1601 is applicable for the Companys interim and annual consolidated financial statements for its fiscal year beginning January 1, 2011. Early adoption of this Section is permitted and all three Sections must be adopted concurrently. |
10
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
4. | RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (continued ) |
(c) | International financial reporting standards (IFRS) |
In addition to the above new accounting pronouncements the Canadian Accounting Standards Board ("AcSB") in 2006 published a new strategic plan that will significantly affect financial reporting requirements for Canadian companies. The AcSB strategic plan outlines the convergence of Canadian GAAP with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) over a five-year transitional period. In February 2008 the AcSB announced that 2011 is the changeover date for publicly-accountable enterprises to use IFRS, replacing Canada's own GAAP. The date is for interim and annual financial statements relating to fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. The transition date of January 1, 2011 will require the restatement for comparative purposes of amounts reported by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2010. While the Company has begun assessing the adoption of IFRS for 2011, the financial reporting impact of the transition to IFRS cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. |
5. | EQUIPMENT |
December 31, 2008 | December 31, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated | Net | Accumulated | Net | |||||||||||||||
Cost | Amortization | Book Value | Cost | Amortization | Book Value | |||||||||||||
Computer equipment | $ | 7,610 | $ | 5,816 | $ | 1,794 | $ | 7,610 | $ | 4,181 | $ | 3,429 | ||||||
Computer software | 1,345 | 1,345 | - | 1,345 | 1,345 | - | ||||||||||||
Mining equipment | 11,804 | 3,431 | 8,373 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Office equipment | 4,225 | 2,713 | 1,512 | 4,225 | 1,868 | 2,357 | ||||||||||||
Vehicle | - | - | - | 23,597 | 1,781 | 21,816 | ||||||||||||
$ | 24,984 | $ | 13,305 | $ | 11,679 | $ | 36,777 | $ | 9,175 | $ | 27,602 |
11
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
6. | MINERAL PROPERTY INTERESTS |
The Companys mineral property interests are comprised of properties located in the United States and in Mexico.
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company incurred exploration expenditures as follows:
United States | Mexico | |||||||||||||||
Hannah | JDS | Pine Grove | La Bufa | Total | ||||||||||||
Exploration and related expenditures | ||||||||||||||||
Option, lease and advance | ||||||||||||||||
royalty payments | $ | 11,030 | $ | - | $ | 58,250 | $ | 31,000 | $ | 100,280 | ||||||
Geochemistry | - | - | - | 476 | 476 | |||||||||||
Contractors | 1,047 | 996 | 64,479 | 92,223 | 158,745 | |||||||||||
Drilling and metallurgical | - | - | 269,895 | 1,259,242 | 1,529,137 | |||||||||||
General administration | - | - | 8,660 | 35,867 | 44,527 | |||||||||||
Geologic mapping and imagery | - | - | 409 | 236 | 645 | |||||||||||
Maintenance | 3,370 | (1,080 | ) | 67,898 | 5,975 | 76,163 | ||||||||||
Field supplies | - | - | 2,220 | 12,903 | 15,123 | |||||||||||
Resource estimation | - | - | 26,439 | - | 26,439 | |||||||||||
Reclamation | (1,383 | ) | - | - | - | (1,383 | ) | |||||||||
Shipping | - | - | - | 401 | 401 | |||||||||||
Travel and accommodation | 263 | 104 | 11,083 | 63,583 | 75,033 | |||||||||||
Total mineral property expenditures | $ | 14,327 | $ | 20 | $ | 509,333 | $ | 1,501,906 | $ | 2,025,586 |
During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company incurred exploration expenditures as follows:
United States | Mexico | ||||||||||||||||||
Hannah | JDS | Jenny Hill | Pine Grove | La Bufa | Total | ||||||||||||||
Exploration and related expenditures | |||||||||||||||||||
Option, lease and advance | |||||||||||||||||||
royalty payments | $ | 16,116 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 34,381 | $ | 15,310 | $ | 65,807 | |||||||
Geochemistry | - | - | - | - | 8,632 | 8,632 | |||||||||||||
Contractors | 4,969 | 144 | 430 | 9,499 | 66,537 | 81,579 | |||||||||||||
General administration | 35 | - | 13 | 6,926 | 29,054 | 36,028 | |||||||||||||
Geologic mapping and imagery | - | - | - | 50 | 21,660 | 21,710 | |||||||||||||
Maintenance | 3,304 | - | - | 47,853 | 15,160 | 66,317 | |||||||||||||
Field supplies | - | - | - | 34 | 434 | 468 | |||||||||||||
Resource estimation | - | - | - | 53,800 | - | 53,800 | |||||||||||||
Shipping | - | - | - | 38 | - | 38 | |||||||||||||
Travel and accommodation | 117 | - | 159 | 1,564 | 6,918 | 8,758 | |||||||||||||
Total mineral property expenditures | $ | 24,541 | $ | 144 | $ | 602 | $ | 154,145 | $ | 163,705 | $ | 343,137 |
12
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
6. | MINERAL PROPERTY INTERESTS (continued ) |
During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company incurred exploration expenditures as follows:
United Sates | Mexico | ||||||||||||||||||
Hannah | JDS | Pine Grove | General | La Bufa | Total | ||||||||||||||
Exploration and related expenditures | |||||||||||||||||||
Option, lease and advance | |||||||||||||||||||
royalty payments | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 22,238 | $ | 22,238 | |||||||
Geochemistry | - | 4,953 | - | - | 31,595 | 36,548 | |||||||||||||
Contractors | 2,562 | 558 | 2,496 | 292 | 12,729 | 18,637 | |||||||||||||
General administration | 36 | 47 | 58 | 73 | 140 | 354 | |||||||||||||
Geophysics | 1,135 | - | - | - | - | 1,135 | |||||||||||||
Maintenance | 14,838 | - | - | - | 2,621 | 17,459 | |||||||||||||
Field supplies | 6 | - | - | - | - | 6 | |||||||||||||
Imagery | - | - | - | - | 17,484 | 17,484 | |||||||||||||
Travel and accommodation | 474 | - | 389 | - | 1,040 | 1,903 | |||||||||||||
Total mineral property expenditures | $ | 19,051 | $ | 5,558 | $ | 2,943 | $ | 365 | $ | 87,847 | $ | 115,764 |
United States
(a) | Hannah Property |
In December 2003, the Company entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in certain unpatented lode claims situated in Churchill County, Nevada, USA. The option agreement called for net smelter royalties of 1% to 4% upon production. Pursuant to the option agreement, the Company is required to make option payments totaling US$210,000 as follows:
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In January 2007 the Company amended the Hannah agreement whereby the US$15,000 due on January 10, 2007 would be paid in equal quarterly installments of US$3,750 (paid). |
In January 2008 the Company amended the Hannah agreement whereby the US$25,000 due on January 10, 2008 would be lowered to US$20,000 and be paid in equal quarterly installments throughout 2008. At December 31, 2008 US$10,000 was paid and the remaining US$10,000 paid subsequent to year-end.
13
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
6. | MINERAL PROPERTY INTERESTS (continued ) |
(b) | Hannah Property (continued ) |
In February 2009 the Company amended the Hannah agreement whereby the US$25,000 due on January 10, 2009 would be lowered to US$16,000 and be paid US$1,000 on January 10, 2009 (paid), US$5,000 on April 10, 2009 (paid), US$5,000 on July 10, 2009 and US$5,000 on October 10, 2009. The last payment of US$50,000 due on January 10, 2013 will be increased by an amount such that the total payments made by the Company will total US$210,000.
In February 2009, the Company then entered into an option agreement with Enexco International Inc. (Enexco), whereby Enexco can earn a 60% interest in the Hannah property by completing the following within a year:
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If Enexco completes all the above items, they will have exercised their option and earned a 60% interest in the property. |
(c) | JDS Property |
In fiscal 2004, the Company acquired, by staking, a 100% interest in certain mineral claims in Eureka County, Nevada, USA.
In August 2008 the Company entered into an agreement with Carlin Gold US Inc. (Carlin) whereby they sold the property to Carlin in return for a 2% net smelter royalty. Carlin has the option to purchase 1% of the royalty for US$500,000 for each ½ of 1% of the net smelter return.
(d) | Jenny Hill Property |
In September 2004, the Company entered into a mining lease and option to purchase agreement comprising certain mineral claims situated in Mineral and Nye Counties, Nevada for a term of seven years. The agreement called for the Company to make option payments $1,500,000 ($45,000 paid) over a seven year period and complete a work program on the property of $50,000 in the first lease year and $100,000 for the second and each subsequent lease year until the option was completed. The agreement was subject to a net smelter return of 2%.
During fiscal 2007, the Company decided not to pursue exploration on this property and terminated the option agreement.
(e) | Pine Grove Property |
During fiscal 2007 the Company entered into three separate agreements with Wheeler Mining Company (Wheeler), Lyon Grove, LLC (Lyon Grove) and Harold Votipka (Votipka) which collectively comprise the Pine Grove Property.
i) | In July 2007 the Company entered into an agreement with Wheeler to lease Wheelers 100% owned mining claims in Lyon County, Nevada from July 13, 2007 to December 31, 2022 with an exclusive option to renew the lease by written notice to December 31, 2023. If the property is and remains in commercial production by November 1 of each year after 2022, the Company may renew the lease for a period of one year by delivering written notice to the owner prior to November 15 of that year. |
14
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
6. | MINERAL PROPERTY INTERESTS (continued ) |
(d) | Pine Grove Property (continued ) |
The Company must produce a bankable feasibility study on the properties by July 1, 2009 (extended to December 31, 2010) and obtain all necessary funding to place the properties into commercial production. The Company must pay a net smelter royalty of 3% - 7% upon commencement of commercial mining production based on gold prices and the Company must pay a 5% net smelter royalty on metals or minerals other than gold produced and sold from the properties.
The following non-refundable advance net smelter royalty payments must be made by the Company:
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ii) | In July 2007 the Company entered into an agreement with Votipka to acquire three claims located within the Pine Grove Mining District in Lyon County, Nevada in return for a payment of US$12,000 (paid in 2007). Upon commencement of commercial production, the Company will pay a 5% net smelter royalty to Votipka. |
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iii) | In August 2007 the Company entered into an agreement with Lyon Grove to lease the Wilson Mining Claim Group located in Lyon County, Nevada from August 1, 2007 to July 31, 2022, with an option to purchase. The Company can extend the term of the lease for up to ten additional one year terms providing the Company is conducting exploration mining activities at the expiration of the term immediately preceding the proposed extension term. |
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The following lease payments must be made by the Company: |
|
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The Company advanced US$5,000 bearing an interest rate of 5% per annum to be repaid by July 31, 2008. The loan and interest was offset against the lease payment due on August 1, 2008. |
The lease payment made for any one calendar year may be credited against any net smelter royalty due and payable during the same calendar year.
The following work commitments must be made by the Company:
|
||
Upon commencement of production the Company must pay a net smelter royalty of 3% - 7% based on gold prices. |
Lyon Grove retains the right to require the Company to purchase the property any time after the Company has made application to permit and develop a mine on the property, subject to the Companys continued obligation to pay the royalties, for US$1,000.
Pursuant to a loan agreement (Note 7a), the Company has pledged certain Pine Grove properties as collateral for a loan that is currently in default.
15
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
6. | MINERAL PROPERTY INTERESTS (continued ) |
Mexico
La Bufa Property
On August 5, 2005, the Company entered into a Letter of Intent with Almaden Minerals Ltd. (Almaden) to form a joint venture for the exploration and development of the La Bufa property, located in Chihuahua, Mexico. Under the Letter of Intent, the Company may acquire a 51% interest in the La Bufa property by spending US$2,000,000 on the property over four years and by issuing 350,000 shares of the Company to Almaden over a five year period (50,000 shares issued at a value of US$10,000 on March 15, 2006). The Company issued 60,000 shares, valued at US$9,600 on April 16, 2007.
On April 12, 2007, the Company entered into an option agreement with Almaden to acquire a 60% interest in the La Bufa property located in Chihuahua, Mexico. This agreement replaces the prior Letter of Intent. The agreement calls for the Company to undertake a work program on the property aggregating US$3,500,000 and issuing an aggregate of 1,550,000 shares as follows:
Work Program: | ||
• | By April 12, 2008 | US$ 500,000 (incurred) |
• | By April 12, 2009 | US$ 750,000 (incurred) |
• | By April 12, 2010 | US$1,000,000 |
• | By April 12, 2011 | US$1,250,000 |
Share issuances: | ||
• | By April 19, 2007 | 150,000 shares (issued April 16, 2007) |
• | By April 12, 2008 | 200,000 shares (issued April 8, 2008) |
• | By April 12, 2009 | 200,000 shares (issued May 4, 2009) |
• | By April 12, 2011 | 1,000,000 shares |
7. | NOTES PAYABLE |
a) | Loan payable |
In November 2008, the Company received loan proceeds of US$50,000 bearing an interest rate of 10% per annum, calculated and compounded monthly and must be repaid on the earlier of the closing of a financing, or the closing of the LPT transaction (Note 1), or April 15, 2009. The Company is currently in default on this loan. The Company pledged certain of the Pine Grove mineral property claims as collateral. The Company issued 100,000 common shares pursuant to this agreement as a financing cost, valued at $2,000. These shares must be equal to post consolidated shares after the LPT transaction so additional shares will need to be issued.
b) | Convertible loan |
On March 3, 2008, the Company borrowed convertible loan proceeds of $75,000. The Company also entered into a general security agreement (GSA) whereby the loan is secured by way of general charge over the Companys assets. The Company agreed to repay the principal and interest upon completing a financing of more than $500,000.
16
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
7. | NOTES PAYABLE (continued ) |
The principal amount bears interest at 8% per annum, compounded weekly for the first two weeks, and thereafter at the rate of 24% per annum compounded weekly, payable following the repayment of the principal. At any time that the principal and interest shall remain outstanding, the lender has the right to convert such principal and interest to shares of common stock of the Company at a rate of $0.20 per share. The Company issued 37,500 share purchase warrants in relation to this convertible loan, with each warrant entitling the lender to purchase one common share of the Company at $0.25 per share for a period of two years. The fair value of the warrants was estimated to be $2,479 and has been treated as a transaction cost.
The fair value of the warrants of $2,479 was estimated using the Black Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: i) expected volatility of 93.5%; risk free interest rate of 2.6%; iii) expected weighted average life of 6 months; and iv) no dividend yield. The Company determined that the equity component of the convertible loan was not significant.
On December 18, 2008 a director of the Company paid out the convertible loan indebtedness of $75,000 plus accrued interest of $20,047 totalling $95,047 in return for the assignment of that debt. As part of such payout the third partys general security agreement over the Companys assets was discharged. The $95,047 debt is unsecured and accrues interest at a rate of 5% per annum. This amount is included in the convertible loans from related parties on the balance sheet.
c) Convertible loans from related parties
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company received convertible loan proceeds of $181,000 from the CEO. The principal amount bears interest at 5% per annum, and has no specific term of repayment. At any time that the principal and interest shall remain outstanding, the lender has the right to convert such principal and interest to shares of common stock of the Company at a rate equal to the average trading price of the stock over the last five days prior to conversion. The Company determined that the equity component of the convertible loan was not significant.
The Company signed an agreement whereby the $181,000 loan would be settled as $10,000 cash and the issuance of 3,420,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT but no later than June 30, 2009 (see Note 17).
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company received further convertible loan proceeds of $154,047 from a director of the Company of which $95,047 relates to the assumption of convertible loan indebtedness noted above in 7b). The principal amount of $25,000 bears interest at 5% per annum until December 31, 2008, and at 10% per annum subsequent to December 31, 2008. The remaining principal amount of $129,047 bears interest at 5% per annum until December 31, 2009, and at 10% per annum subsequent to December 31, 2009. At any time that the principal and interest shall remain outstanding, the lender has the right to convert such principal and interest to shares of common stock of the Company at a rate equal to the average trading price of the stock over the last five days prior to conversion. The Company determined that the equity component of the convertible loan was not significant
The Company signed an agreement whereby $59,000 of the loan would be settled with the issuance of 1,180,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT but no later than June 30, 2009 (see Note 17).
17
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
7. | NOTES PAYABLE (continued ) |
d) | Notes payable |
On January 28, 2004, the Company issued a US$200,000 convertible note. The note carried an interest rate of 10% compounded monthly and was due on January 28, 2006.
On September 15, 2005 the Company completed an agreement whereby the Company repaid US$100,000 of the convertible note along with US$35,000 accrued interest and agreed to repay the remaining US$100,000 within sixty days. With the completion of the first payment the conversion feature was cancelled. The note is currently in default and $46,034 of accrued interest is included in the note payable.
The Company signed an agreement whereby the US$100,000 loan would be settled for a cash payment of US$50,000 and the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT but no later than June 30, 2009 (see Note 17).
On June 16, 2008 the Company issued a promissory note in return for $300,000. The note bears interest at a rate of 10% per year. The principal and interest are payable at the earliest of June 16, 2009 or when the Company completes a financing of $1,500,000 or greater. In consideration for this loan the Company agreed to issue 450,000 shares to the lender. These shares were issued and were valued at $42,750.
The Company signed an agreement whereby the $300,000 loan would be settled for the issuance of 6,000,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT but no later than June 30, 2009 (see Note 17).
On August 20, 2008, the Company issued a promissory note in the amount of $800,000 in return for drilling services accrued in accounts payable. The note is due on demand, any time after February 15, 2009, and accrues interest at 1.5% per month. After demand, the note shall accrue interest at a rate of 2% per month.
The Company signed an agreement whereby the $800,000 loan would be settled for the cash payment of $500,000 and the issuance of 6,000,000 shares of the Company contingent on the completion of the transaction with LPT by February 28, 2009 but no later than June 30, 2009 (see Note 17).
18
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
8. | SHARE CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS |
Number | Share | Contributed | ||||||||
of Shares | Capital | Surplus | ||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2005 | 41,865,000 | $ | 2,593,106 | $ | 1,405,132 | |||||
Shares issued for mineral property | 50,000 | 11,279 | - | |||||||
Private placement | 1,075,000 | 245,054 | - | |||||||
Share issue costs | - | (24,505 | ) | - | ||||||
Balance, December 31, 2006 | 42,990,000 | 2,824,934 | 1,405,132 | |||||||
Shares issued for obligation | 666,666 | 85,434 | - | |||||||
Shares issued for mineral property | 210,000 | 27,150 | - | |||||||
Private placement | 7,525,000 | 812,986 | - | |||||||
Share issue costs | - | (47,818 | ) | - | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | - | - | 262,480 | |||||||
Balance, December 31, 2007 | 51,391,666 | 3,702,686 | 1,667,612 | |||||||
Warrants issued for financing costs | - | - | 2,479 | |||||||
Private placement | 2,067,000 | 413,400 | - | |||||||
Share issue costs | - | (35,375 | ) | - | ||||||
Shares issued for mineral property expenditures | 200,000 | 31,000 | - | |||||||
Private placements | 600,000 | 110,000 | - | |||||||
Share issue costs | - | (30,652 | ) | - | ||||||
Shares issued for financing cost | 550,000 | 44,750 | - | |||||||
Shares issued for debt settlement | 583,334 | 40,833 | - | |||||||
Balance, December 31, 2008 | 55,392,000 | $ | 4,276,642 | $ | 1,670,091 |
Share issuances
In December 2008, in consideration for a loan of US$50,000, the Company issued to the lender 100,000 shares at a value of $2,000.
In August 2008, the Company issued 583,334 shares at a value of $40,833 to settle a US$87,500 liability owing to a former consultant of the Company resulting in a gain of $46,667.
In June 2008 the Company issued a promissory note in the amount of $300,000. In consideration for this loan, the Company issued 450,000 shares valued at $42,750 to the lender.
In May 2008, the Company completed a private placement of 200,000 units at a price of $0.15 per unit for proceeds of $30,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.20 for a period of two years.
In May 2008, the Company completed a private placement of 400,000 units at a price of $0.20 per unit for proceeds of $80,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.25 for a period of two years. The Company paid finders fees of $30,563 in relation to these two private placements in May 2008.
19
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
8. | SHARE CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS (continued ) |
In January 2008, the Company completed a private placement of 2,067,000 units at a price of $0.20 per unit for proceeds of $413,400. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.25 for a period of two years. The Company paid finders fees of $35,375 in relation to this private placement. As at December 31, 2007, the Company had received $197,482 of subscriptions towards this private placement and incurred $19,900 of deferred financing fees.
In August, 2007 the Company completed a private placement and issued 4,250,000 units at US$0.10 per unit for gross proceeds of US$425,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one share purchase warrant with each warrant exercisable to acquire one common share at US$0.15 per share for a term of two years. The Company incurred share issuance costs of US$15,000 in connection with this private placement
In May 2007 the Company completed a private placement and issued 3,275,000 units at US$0.10 per unit for proceeds of US$327,500. Each unit consisted of one common share and one share purchase warrant with each warrant exercisable to acquire one common share at US$0.15 per share for a term of two years. The Company incurred share issuance costs of US$19,425 in connection with this private placement.
In April, 2007 the Company issued 210,000 shares of common stock at a value of US$23,850 pursuant to a mineral option agreement of which 60,000 shares with a value of US$9,600 relate to a mineral property payable recorded at December 31, 2006.
In February 2007, the Company issued 666,666 shares to settle a share issuance obligation.
In July 2006, the Company completed the first tranche of a private placement and issued 1,075,000 units at US$0.20 per unit for net cash proceeds of US$193,500, net of share issuance costs of US$21,500. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one Series A warrant and one whole Series B warrant. Each whole Series A warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share at US$0.35 per share for a term of one year from the issuance date. Each whole Series B warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share at US$1.35 per share for a term of four years from the issuance date. During the 2007 fiscal year, the expiry date of these warrants was extended from July 27, 2007 to January 28, 2008. These warrants have since expired unexercised.
In March 2006, the Company issued 50,000 shares at a value of US$10,000 pursuant to a mineral property option agreement.
9. | STOCK OPTIONS |
In fiscal 2004, the Board of Directors approved the 2004 Stock Option Plan for a maximum of 2,500,000 shares available to be granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants. The stock option exercise price is set at the fair market value of the shares at the date of grant. The term of the stock options, once granted, is not to exceed ten years. The vesting period of the stock options is set at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
On February 23, 2005, the Board of Directors approved the 2005 Stock Option Plan for a maximum of 2,000,000 shares available to be granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants. The stock option exercise price is set at the fair market value of the shares at the date of grant. The term of the
20
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
stock options, once granted, is not to exceed ten years. The vesting period of the stock options is set at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
21
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
9. | STOCK OPTIONS (continued ) |
On September 25, 2007 the Company amended the 2005 Stock Option Plan adjusting the maximum number of shares available to be granted from 2,000,000 to 2,500,000.
The change in stock options outstanding is as follows:
December 31, 2008 | December 31, 2007 | December 31, 2006 | |||||||||||||||||
Weighted | Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||||||||
Average | Average | Average | |||||||||||||||||
Number | Exercise | Number | Exercise | Number | Exercise | ||||||||||||||
Of Options | Price | Of Options | Price | Of Options | Price | ||||||||||||||
At January 1 | 2,450,000 | US$ 0.25 | 2,390,000 | US$ 0.60 | 2,390,000 | US$ 0.60 | |||||||||||||
Granted | - | - | 2,450,000 | 0.25 | - | - | |||||||||||||
Exercised | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
Expired or forfeited | - | - | (2,390,000 | ) | (0.60 | ) | - | - | |||||||||||
At December 31 | 2,450,000 | US$ 0.25 | 2,450,000 | US$ 0.25 | 2,390,000 | US$ 0.60 |
As at December 31, 2008 the following options are outstanding:
Number | Exercise | ||||||
Of Options | Price | Expiry Date | |||||
2,450,000 | US $ 0.25 | September 25, 2010 |
Stock-based compensation
During 2007, the Company granted 2,450,000 fully vested stock options, 2,000,000 to officers and directors and 450,000 to contractors, with a fair value of $262,480 that has been recorded as contributed surplus and stock-based compensation in the results or operations. The fair value of the stock options granted was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model assuming a dividend yield of 0%, expected volatility of 97%, risk free interest rate of 3.99% and weighted average expected life of 3 years. The weighted average grant date fair vale of the stock options granted was $0.10 per option.
22
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
10. | WARRANTS |
As at December 31, 2008 the following warrants are outstanding:
Number | Exercise | ||||||||
Of Warrants | Price | Expiry Date | |||||||
1,075,000 | US | $ | 1.35 | July 27, 2010 | |||||
3,275,000 | US | $ | 0.15 | May 14, 2009 (expired) | |||||
4,250,000 | US | $ | 0.15 | August 23, 2009 | |||||
1,033,500 | $ | 0.25 | January 21, 2010 | ||||||
37,500 | $ | 0.25 | March 3, 2010 | ||||||
200,000 | $ | 0.25 | April 14, 2010 | ||||||
100,000 | $ | 0.20 | May 15, 2010 | ||||||
9,971,000 |
Share purchase warrant transactions are summarized as follows:
Weighted | |||||||
Average | |||||||
Number | Exercise | ||||||
Of Shares | Price | ||||||
Balance, December 31, 2005 | 5,445,000 | $ | 0.46 | ||||
Issued | 1,612,500 | $ | 1.06 | ||||
Expired | (2,300,000 | ) | $ | 0.50 | |||
Balance, December 31, 2006 | 4,757,500 | $ | 0.71 | ||||
Issued | 7,525,000 | $ | 0.16 | ||||
Expired | (3,145,000 | ) | $ | 0.52 | |||
Balance, December 31, 2007 | 9,137,500 | $ | 0.31 | ||||
Issued | 1,371,000 | $ | 0.25 | ||||
Expired | (537,500 | ) | $ | 0.36 | |||
Balance, December 31, 2008 | 9,971,000 | $ | 0.31 |
11. | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company paid management fees and consulting fees of $40,941 (2007 $14,827, 2006 - $47,937) and rent, included in office, of $2,583 (2007 - $2,901, 2006 -$3,744) to the Vice President of the Company, management fees of $10,488 (2007 - $24,174, 2006 -$23,310) to company owned by the President of the Company and consulting fees of $18,638 (2007 -$nil, 2006 - $nil) to a company owned by the CFO of the Company. In December 2008, the President forgave $39,853 of management fees which is reversed against management fees.
23
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
11. | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued ) |
As at December 31, 2008, the Company owed $53,217 (2007 - $1,155) to various directors and officers of the Company which is included in accounts payable. In October 2008, amended subsequent to year- end, the Company signed an agreement whereby $32,020 of the amounts due to directors and officers would be settled through a cash payment of $7,520 and the issuance of 490,000 shares of the Company (see Note 17). At December 31, 2008, the Company owed $43,281 (2007 - $nil) for rent and administrative expenses to a Company which shares a director in common |
|
These transactions are in the normal course of operations and are measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related parties. |
|
12. | INCOME TAXES |
The income tax provision (recovery) shown on the statements of operations differs from the amounts obtained by applying combined federal and provincial statutory rates to the net loss before taxes as follows: |
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||
Loss before income taxes | $ | (2,683,240 | ) | $ | (1,158,990 | ) | $ | (469,208 | ) | |
Effective tax rate | 31.0% | 34.4% | 35.0% | |||||||
Expected tax recovery | $ | (831,805 | ) | $ | (398,602 | ) | $ | (164,518 | ) | |
Deductible items | (6,868 | ) | (46,199 | ) | (44,250 | ) | ||||
Non-deductible items | 1,003,281 | 191,243 | 38,577 | |||||||
Differences in tax rates | (11,989 | ) | - | - | ||||||
Change in valuation allowance | (152,619 | ) | 253,558 | 170,191 | ||||||
$ | - | $ | - | $ | - |
Future income tax assets are calculated as follows:
2008 | 2007 | ||||||
Future income tax assets relate to: | |||||||
Loss carryforwards | $ | 197,000 | $ | 58,000 | |||
Accumulated mineral property expenditures | 759,000 | 227,000 | |||||
Capital assets and other | 10,000 | - | |||||
Financing costs | 22,000 | - | |||||
988,000 | 285,000 | ||||||
Valuation allowance | (988,000 | ) | (285,000 | ) | |||
$ | - | $ | - |
24
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
12. | INCOME TAXES (continued ) |
|
As at December 31, 2008, the Company has non-capital loss carry forwards of $740,000 (2007: $170,000) available to reduce income otherwise taxable in future years expiring through to 2027. |
||
The potential tax benefits related to the loss carry forwards and other temporary differences, the application of which may be restricted, have not been recognized in these consolidated financial statements as management does not consider it likely that such assets will be realized in the carry forward period. Also, the availability of the above deductions for income tax purposes may be restricted if there are future changes in control. |
||
13. | CAPITAL MANAGEMENT |
|
The Company defines its capital as shareholders equity. The Company manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it, based on the funds available to the Company, in order to support the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. The Board of Directors does not establish quantitative return on capital criteria for management, but rather relies on the expertise of the Companys management to sustain future development of the business. |
||
The properties in which the Company currently has an interest are in the exploration stage; as such the Company has historically relied on the equity markets to fund its activities. In addition, the Company is dependent upon external financings to fund activities. In order to carry out planned exploration and pay for administrative costs, the Company will need to raise additional funds. The Company will continue to assess new properties and seek to acquire an interest in additional properties if it feels there is sufficient geologic or economic potential and if it has adequate financial resources to do so. |
||
Management reviews its capital management approach on an ongoing basis and believes that this approach, given the relative size of the Company, is reasonable. |
||
14. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT |
|
(a) | Fair value |
|
The fair value of cash, receivables, advances, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates their carrying value due to the short term nature of the instruments. The fair value of the convertible loans and notes payable have not been determined as no relevant information is available for these types of financial instruments and it is not practicable to do so. The terms and conditions of the loans are detailed in Note 7. |
||
(b) | Foreign exchange risk |
|
The Companys operations in the United States and Mexico expose the Company to foreign exchange risk. The Company is subject to currency risk due to the fluctuations of exchange rates between the Canadian and US dollars, as well as the Canadian dollar and Mexican pesos. |
||
At December 31, 2008, approximately 28% of the Companys accounts payable and accrued liabilities and approximately 12.75% of the Companys loan and notes payable are denominated in US dollars and/or Mexican pesos. For each 10% change in the Canadian dollar against the Mexican peso, a $87,000 gain/loss would arise, and for each 10% change in the Canadian dollar against the US dollar, a |
25
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
$37,650 gain/loss would arise. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments to mitigate this risk. |
||
14. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT (continued ) |
|
(c) | Credit risk |
|
The Companys cash is held in large Canadian financial institutions. The Company does not have any asset-backed commercial paper. The Companys receivables consist of GST receivable due from the Federal Government of Canada. The Company maintains cash deposits with Schedule A financial institutions, which from time to time may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any significant credit losses and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk. |
||
(d) | Interest rate risk |
|
Interest rate risk is the risk the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. Financial assets and liabilities with variable interest rates expose the Company to cash flow interest rate risk. The Company does not hold any financial assets or liabilities with variable interest rates. |
||
(e) | Liquidity risk |
|
The Companys ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on managements ability to raise required funding through future equity issuances and through short-term borrowing. The Company manages its liquidity risk by forecasting cash flows from operations and anticipating any investing and financing activities. Management and the Board of Directors are actively involved in the review, planning and approval of significant expenditures and commitments. |
||
The Companys plan to deal with its current capital deficiency is to settle debt with issuance of shares and to complete the agreement with LPT (see Note 17). |
||
(f) | Price risk |
|
The ability of the Company to explore its mineral properties and the future profitability of the Company are directly related to the market price of precious metals. The Company monitors precious metals prices to determine the appropriate course of action to be taken by the Company. |
26
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
15. | SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE WITH RESPECT TO CASH FLOW |
Significant non-cash transactions for the year ended December 31, 2008 included:
(a) | The Company settled debt of US$87,500 through the issuance of 583,334 common shares with a fair value of $40,833 and recorded a gain on settlement of debt of $46,667. |
|
(b) | The Company applied $19,900 of deferred financing fees to share issue costs and incurred additional costs of $154,600 through accounts payable at year-end. |
|
(c) | The Company issued 987,410 units for share subscriptions of $197,482 received on December 31, 2007 |
Significant non-cash transactions for the year ended December 31, 2007 included:
(a) | The Company issued 60,000 common shares with a fair value of $10,928 to settle accounts payable. |
|
(b) | The Company issued 666,666 common shares to settle share issuance obligation of $85,434. |
|
(c) | The Company issued 150,000 common shares with a fair value of $16,222 for mineral property costs. |
There were no significant non-cash transactions for the year ended December 31, 2006.
16. | SEGMENTED INFORMATION |
The Company has one reportable operating segment, being the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. Geographical information is as follows:
December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
2008 | 2007 | ||||||
Capital assets: | |||||||
Mexico | $ | 8,373 | $ | 21,816 | |||
Canada | 3,306 | 5,786 | |||||
$ | 11,679 | $ | 27,602 |
17. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
(a) LPT Capital Arrangement agreement
On January 15, 2009 the Company entered into an agreement with LPT Capital Ltd. (LPT) whereby 0843037 BC Ltd., a subsidiary of LPT, will acquire 100% of the issued common shares of the Company and in return issue to the Companys shareholders 23,000,000 LPT shares. The outstanding warrants of the Company will be converted into warrants of LPT based on a share exchange ratio. All outstanding options of LPT and the Company will be cancelled with the exception of LPTs agent options.
27
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
17. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (continued ) |
On February 18, 2009, the Companys shareholders approved and completed the continuation of the Company from federal jurisdiction to British Columbia and also approved the qualifying transaction with LPT. On February 20, 2009 the Supreme Court of British Columbia entered its final order approving the plan of arrangement. The completion of the transaction will occur in conjunction with LPT completing an equity financing by way of a public offering to raise up to $3,380,000
LPT has advanced the Company a total of $66,500 which is comprised of an advance of $25,000 and payments of $41,500 on behalf of the Company to settle a portion of its accounts payables.
The Company, as at December 31, 2008, has incurred $177,600 of deferred financing costs in relation to this transaction
(b) Shares for debt
In October 2008, subject to the completion of the LPT agreement by February 28, 2009 further amended in January 2009 to by April 30, 2009 further amended in April 2009 to by June 30, 2009, the Company arranged to settle $1,614,036 of debt for the cash payment of $651,580 and the issuance of 19,259,900 shares of the Company as follows:
Debt | Shares | Cash | |||||||||||
Convertible loans from related parties | $ | 240,000 | 4,600,000 | $ | 10,000 | ||||||||
Notes payable | 400,000 | 7,000,000 | 61,137 | (US$50,000 | ) | ||||||||
Promissory note | 800,000 | 6,000,000 | 500,000 | ||||||||||
Accounts payable - related parties | 32,020 | 490,000 | 7,520 | ||||||||||
Accounts payable | 142,016 | 1,169,900 | 72,923 | ||||||||||
$ | 1,614,036 | 19,259,900 | $ | 651,580 |
If the proposed LPT agreement does not complete by June 30, 2009, the settlement agreements become null and void. Certain of these agreements with debts totaling $1,162,689 were amended to extend the completion date to August 31, 2009.
18. | DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES |
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada (Canadian GAAP). There are no material variations in the accounting principles, practices and methods used in preparing these consolidated financial statements from principles, practices and methods accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP).
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LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
18. | DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (continued ) |
Adoption of new accounting policies
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted the following accounting pronouncements:
SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements which, among other requirements, defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value and also expands disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities. This pronouncement only applies to fair value measurements that are already required. There is no difference between Canadian and US GAAP to the Companys December 31, 2008 consolidated financial statements resulting from the adoption of SFAS 157.
SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 permits entities to choose to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value as of specified dates. Such election, which may be applied on an instrument by instrument basis, is typically irrevocable once elected. As the Company did not elect to adapt the fair value option under this statement, there is no effect on the Companys financial position or results of operations.
Recent accounting pronouncements
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations which changes how business acquisitions are accounted. SFAS 141R requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize all (and only) the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction and establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Certain provisions of this standard will, among other things, impact the determination of acquisition-date fair value of consideration paid in a business combination (including contingent considerations); exclude transaction costs from acquisition accounting; and change accounting practices for acquired contingencies, acquisition-related restructuring costs, in-process research and development, indemnification assets and tax benefits. SFAS No. 141R is effective for business combinations and adjustments to an acquired entitys deferred tax asset and liability balances occurring after December 31, 2008.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statement, an amendment of ARB No. 51, which establishes new standards governing the accounting for and reporting of noncontrolling interests (NCI) in partially owned consolidated subsidiaries and the loss of control of subsidiaries. Certain provisions of this standard indicate, among other things, that NCIs (previously referred to as minority interests) be treated as a separate component of equity, not as a liability; that increases and decreases in the parents ownership interest that leave control intact be treated as equity transactions, rather than as step acquisitions or dilution gains or losses; and that losses of a partially owned consolidated subsidiary be allocated to the NCI even when such allocation might result in a deficit balance. This standard also requires changes to certain presentation and disclosure requirements. SFAS No. 160 is effective beginning January 1, 2009. The provisions of the standard are to be applied to all NCIs prospectively, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which are to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented.
29
LINCOLN GOLD CORPORATION |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
(Expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated) |
18. | DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (continued ) |
In June 2008, the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 07-5, Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entitys Own Stock (EITF 07-5). EITF 07-5 addresses the determination of whether an equity linked financial instrument (or embedded feature) that has all of the characteristics of a derivative under other authoritative U.S. GAAP accounting literature is indexed to an entitys own stock and would therefore meet the first part of a scope exception from classification and recognition as a derivative instrument. The Company plans to adopt the provisions of EITF 07-05 on January 1, 2009, for US GAAP accounting purposes. The Company is currently assessing the effect of the adoption of EITF 07-5 on its consolidated financial statements.
The adoption of these new pronouncements is not expected to have a material effect on the Companys financial position or results of operations.
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ITEM 19 EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number |
Description of Exhibit |
1.01 | Certificate of Continuation, a British Columbia corporation (6) |
1.02 | Notice of Articles of Lincoln Gold Corporation, a British Columbia corporation (6) |
1.03 | Articles of Lincoln Gold Corporation, a British Columbia corporation (6) |
2.01 | Shareholder Rights Plan (4) |
4.01 | 2005 Stock Option Plan, as amended (5) |
4.02 | Option Agreement between the Corporation and Almaden dated April 12, 2007 (1) |
4.03 | Form of Regulation S Subscription Agreement for May 2007 Unit Offering (2) |
4.04 | Lease agreement dated July 13, 2007 between Lincoln Gold Corporation and Wheeler Mining Company (5) |
4.05 | Lease agreement dated August 1, 2007 between Lincoln Gold Corporation and Lyon Grove, PLC (5) |
4.06 | Form of Regulation D Subscription Agreement for August 2007 Unit Offering (3) |
4.07 | Form of Regulation S Subscription Agreement for August 2007 Unit Offering (3) |
4.08 | |
4.09 | |
4.10 | |
4.11 | |
11.01 | Code of Ethics (5) |
12.1 | |
12.2 | |
13.1 | |
13.2 |
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(1) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 18, 2007. |
(2) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 18, 2007. |
(3) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 28, 2007. |
(4) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current report on Form 6-K filed on July 9, 2008. |
(5) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on July 15, 2008. |
(6) | Filed as an Exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 20-F |
__________
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SIGNATURES
The Registrant 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 on its behalf.
LINCOLN GOLD CORP.
Per:
/s/ Paul Saxton
_____________________________________________
Name:
Paul Saxton
Title: President
and Chief Executive Officer
Date: July 14, 2009