[ ] Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
[X] Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
[ ] Transition Report pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from ____________________ to
____________________
[ ] Shell Company Report pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section
12(g) of the Act:
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant
to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
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.
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 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]
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 12 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 has submitted
electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive
Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation
S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such
files).
Yes: [ ] No:
[ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.
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
[X] Other
[ ]
By the International Accounting Standards Board
If Other has been checked in response to previous question,
indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected
to follow.
[ ] 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]
The following is a glossary of symbols that are used in this
annual report to describe our business.
The following is a glossary of terms that are used in this
annual report to describe our business.
In this Annual Report on Form 20-F, references to the
Company, Dorato, we, our and us refer to Dorato Resources Inc. (unless
the context otherwise requires). This Annual Report contains forward-looking
statements and information relating to Dorato that are based on beliefs of our
management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to
us. When used in this document, the words anticipate, believe, estimate,
expect, intend, plan, and project and similar expressions, as they
relate to Dorato or our management, are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report include, but are
not limited to, statements with respect to the future financial or operating
performances of Dorato, its subsidiaries and their respective projects, the
timing and amount of estimated future operating and exploration expenditures,
costs and timing of the development of new deposits, costs and timing of future
exploration, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of
mining operations, environmental risks, reclamation and rehabilitation expenses,
title disputes or claims, limitations of insurance coverage and the timing and
possible outcome of any pending litigation and regulatory matters. Such
statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are
subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could
cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, changes in
general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and
interest rates, the need for additional financing, fluctuations in mineral
prices, operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing,
including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labor disputes or
other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations which may
or may not be insured, changes in business strategy and various other factors,
both referenced and not referenced in this annual report. Should one or more of
these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein.
Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or
review any forward-looking statements or information whether as a result of new
information, future developments or otherwise.
Accordingly, information contained in this Annual Report may
contain descriptions of the companys mineral deposits that may not be
comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the
reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities
laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
PART I
Effective February 1, 2010, the Company adopted International
Financial Reporting Standards (
IFRS
), as issued by the International
Accounting Standards Board. Unless otherwise stated, all information presented
herein has been prepared in accordance with IFRS. Please note that our prior
annual consolidated financial statements were previously prepared in accordance
with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and included a
reconciliation to United States generally accepted accounting principles, which
may not be comparable to IFRS. Please refer to our annual consolidated financial
statements for the years ended January 31, 2010 and 2009 (previously filed with
our Annual Reports on Form 20-F).
ITEM 1.
IDENTITY OF
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
ITEM
2. OFFER
STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
ITEM
3. KEY
INFORMATION
3.A Selected
Financial Data
The summary consolidated financial information set forth below
should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, our consolidated financial statements as of January 31, 2013 and
2012 and for the years ended January 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 together with the
notes thereto, which appear elsewhere in this annual report. These consolidated
financial statements have been audited by Smythe Ratcliffe LLP, Chartered
Accountants.
The financial data set forth in this Annual Report is expressed
in Canadian dollars (
Cdn$, CAD
or $) unless otherwise noted as
reported in US dollars (
US$ or USD
). During our 2010 fiscal year, the
Company changed its reporting currency from the United States dollar to the
Canadian dollar. The change was consistent with our change of business to the
resource sector completed on April 24, 2008 and its continuance of jurisdiction
from Wyoming, United States, to British Columbia, Canada, completed August 21,
2006.
The following financial data summarizes selected financial data
for our company prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) as at January 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the
three fiscal years ended January 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011. Such information is
derived from our consolidated financial statements which were examined by our
independent auditors. The information set forth below should be read in
conjunction with our audited annual consolidated financial statements and
related notes thereto included in this annual report, and with the information
appearing under the heading Item 5 Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects.
|
Years Ended
January 31
IFRS
|
|
2013
Cdn$
|
2012
Cdn $
|
2011
Cdn $
|
Revenue
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
8
|
Years Ended
January 31
IFRS
|
|
2013
Cdn$
|
2012
Cdn $
|
2011
Cdn $
|
Net Loss and comprehensive loss for the
year
|
7,130,314
|
(17,091,671)
|
(13,728,240)
|
Basic and diluted loss per share
|
(0.08)
|
(0.22)
|
(0.20)
|
|
Years Ended
January 31
IFRS
|
|
2013
Cdn $
|
2012
Cdn $
|
2011
Cdn $
|
Total Assets
|
753,401
|
6,563,479
|
21,168,408
|
Total Liabilities
|
1,223,760
|
1,071,974
|
542,783
|
Capital Stock
|
56,461,592
|
55,279,506
|
53,339,099
|
Shareholders Equity (Deficit)
|
(470,359)
|
5,491,505
|
20,625,625
|
The weighted average outstanding shares used to calculate
income (loss) per share for the following fiscal periods are: 85,685,846 for the
year ended January 31, 2013; 75,840,556 for the year ended January 31, 2012;
69,372,422 for the year ended January 31, 2011; 49,819,536 for the year ended
January 31, 2010; and, 24,859,595 for the year ended January 31, 2009.
During the year ended January 31, 2012, the Company changed its
accounting policy for mineral exploration costs from capitalizing to being
included in profit or loss of the year. The following selected financial data as
at January 31, 2010 and 2009 and for the two fiscal years ended January 31, 2010
and 2009 has been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, based on the audited
consolidated financial statements (previously filed with our Annual Reports on
Form 20-F) for the 2010 and 2009 fiscal years, adjusted to reflect the change in
accounting policy.
|
Years Ended January 31
|
|
2010
Cdn $
|
2009
Cdn $
|
Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive
Loss
|
|
|
Net Loss and comprehensive loss for the year
|
(3,605,068)
|
(2,646,137)
|
Change of accounting policy Expenditures on mineral
property interests expensed
|
(4,099,925)
|
(6,384,962)
|
Net Loss and comprehensive loss for the year
|
(7,704,993)
|
(9,031,099)
|
Basic and diluted loss per share
|
(0.15)
|
(0.36)
|
|
Years Ended January 31
|
|
2010
Cdn $
|
2009
Cdn $
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
|
|
Total assets
|
40,834,823
|
19,522,698
|
Change of accounting policy Expenditures on mineral
property interests expensed
|
(10,959,085)
|
(6,859,160)
|
Total assets
|
29,425,738
|
12,663,538
|
Total liabilities
|
387,706
|
421,976
|
Total shareholders equity
|
39,997,117
|
19,100,722
|
Change of accounting policy Expenditures on mineral
property interests expensed
|
(10,959,085)
|
(6,859,160)
|
Total shareholders equity
|
29,038,032
|
12,241,562
|
Total liabilities and shareholders equity
|
29,425,738
|
12,663,538
|
To date, the Company has not generated any cash flow from its
activities to fund on-going activities and cash commitments. The Company has
financed operations principally through the sale of equity securities. The
Company normally maintains sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet the
Companys business requirements and at January 31, 2013, the cash and cash
equivalents balance of $38,081 is insufficient to meet the needs for the coming
year. Therefore, the Company will be required to raise additional capital in
order to fund its operations in fiscal 2014.
Exchange Rate Data
9
The Company maintains its accounts in Canadian dollars. These
consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting
Standards Board.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated,
certain exchange rates based on the noon buying rate in Canadian dollars as
reported by the Bank of Canada. On May 28, 2013, the exchange rate was USD 1.00
per CAD 1.0371. The high and low exchange rates (CAD per USD 1.00) for each
month during the previous six months were as follows:
|
High
|
Low
|
May 2013
|
1.0388
|
1.0017
|
April 2013
|
1.0295
|
1.0054
|
March 2013
|
1.0343
|
1.0145
|
February 2013
|
1.0314
|
0.9952
|
January 2013
|
1.0101
|
0.9815
|
December 2012
|
0.9972
|
0.9825
|
The average, year end, high and low exchange rates (CAD per USD
1.00) for the five most recent financial years were as follows:
|
For Years Ended January
31
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
Average Rate during Year
(1)
|
0.9978
|
0.9907
|
1.0260
|
1.1272
|
1.0849
|
Year End
|
0.9973
|
1.0052
|
1.0022
|
1.0693
|
1.2265
|
High
|
1.0418
|
1.0604
|
1.0778
|
1.2991
|
1.2935
|
Low
|
0.9710
|
0.9449
|
0.9862
|
1.0234
|
0.9765
|
(1) The average exchange rate is based on the average of the
noon buying rates (CAD per USD 1.00) in Canadian dollars as reported by the Bank
of Canada on the last day of each month during such periods.
3.B Capitalization
and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
3.C Reasons
for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
3.D Risk
Factors
The Company, and thus the securities of the Company, should be
considered a speculative investment and investors should carefully consider all
of the information disclosed in this Annual Report prior to making an investment
in the Company. In addition to the other information presented in this Annual
Report, the following risk factors should be given special consideration when
evaluating an investment in any of the Company's securities.
10
Our independent auditors have expressed doubts about our
ability to continue as a going concern.
The report of our independent auditors on our financial
statements for the year ended January 31, 2013 includes a note stating that our
ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to generate
profitable operations in the future and/or to obtain the necessary financing to
meet our obligations and repay our liabilities arising from normal business
operations when they come due. The outcome of these matters cannot be predicted
with any certainty, at this time. We have historically satisfied our capital
needs primarily by issuing equity securities. If we are unable to continue to
fund our operations through the issuance of equity securities we would have to
cease operations.
Risks Associated with Exploration
The Company has no known reserves on its interests in
exploration properties.
The Company has no mineral producing properties and has never
generated any revenue from its operations. The majority of exploration projects
do not result in the discovery of commercially mineable deposits of ore. Only
those mineral deposits that the Company can economically and legally extract or
produce, based on a comprehensive evaluation of cost, grade, recovery and other
factors, are considered resources or reserves. The Company has no known
bodies of commercial ore or economic deposits and has not defined or delineated
any proven or probable reserves or resources on any of its properties. The
Company may never discover any gold, silver or other minerals from mineralized
material in commercially exploitable quantities and any identified mineralized
deposit may never qualify as a commercially mineable (or viable) reserve. In
addition, the Company is in its early stages of exploration and substantial
additional work will be required in order to determine if any economic deposits
exist on the Companys properties. Substantial expenditures are required to
establish ore reserves through drilling and metallurgical and other testing
techniques. No assurance can be given that any level of recovery of the ore
reserves will be realized or that any identified mineral deposit will ever
qualify as a commercial mineable ore body which can be legally and economically
exploited.
The Company faces risks related to exploration and
development, if warranted, of its properties.
The level of profitability of the Company, if any, in future
years will depend to a great degree on gold and silver prices and whether any of
the Companys exploration stage properties can be brought into production. The
exploration for and development of mineral deposits involves significant risks.
It is impossible to ensure that the current and future exploration programs
and/or feasibility studies, if any, on the Companys existing mineral properties
will establish reserves. Whether an ore body will be commercially viable depends
on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the particular attributes
of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; metal
prices, which cannot be predicted and which have been highly volatile in the
past; mining, processing and transportation costs; perceived levels of political
risk and the willingness of lenders and investors to provide project financing;
labour costs and possible labour strikes; and governmental regulations,
including, without limitation, regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties,
land tenure, land use, importing and exporting materials, foreign exchange,
environmental protection, employment, worker safety, transportation, and
reclamation and closure obligations.
The Company is also subject to the risks normally encountered
in the mining industry, such as:
-
unusual or unexpected geological formations;
-
fires, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural
disasters;
-
power outages and water shortages;
-
cave-ins, landslides, and other similar mining hazards;
-
labour disruptions and labour disputes;
-
inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment, or labour;
-
liability for pollution or other hazards; and
-
other known and unknown risks involved in the operation of mines and the
conduct of exploration.
The development of interests in exploration properties is
affected by many factors, including, but not limited to: the cost of operations,
variations in the grade of ore, fluctuations in metal markets, costs of
extraction and processing equipment, availability of equipment and labour, labour costs
and possible labour strikes, and government regulations, including without
limitation, regulations relating to taxes, royalties, allowable production,
importing and exporting of minerals, foreign exchange, employment, worker
safety, transportation, and environmental protection. Depending on the price of
minerals, the Company may determine that it is impractical to commence, or, if
commenced, continue, commercial production. Such a decision would negatively
affect the Companys profits and may affect the value of its equity.
11
The Company relies on a limited number of properties.
The Companys only current properties of interest are the
Cordillera del Condor property located in Amazonas and Cajamarca regions, and
the Deborah property, located in Cajamarca Region, Peru. As a result, unless the
Company acquires additional property interests, any adverse developments
affecting these properties could have a material adverse effect upon our
business and would materially and adversely affect our potential mineral
resource production, profitability, financial performance and results of
operations.
The Companys properties may be subject to unregistered
agreements, transfers or claims and title may be adversely
affected by
undetected defects or aboriginal claims.
The Company has not conducted a legal survey of the boundaries
of any of its properties, and therefore, in accordance with the laws of the
jurisdictions in which these properties are situated, their existence and area
could be in doubt. The Company has obtained only limited formal title reports on
some of its properties and title to all of its properties may be in doubt. The
Companys properties may be subject to unregistered agreements, transfers or
claims and title may be adversely affected by such undetected defects. If title
is disputed, the Company may have to defend its ownership through the courts,
and the Company cannot guarantee that a favourable judgment will be obtained.
Any litigation could be extremely costly to the Company and could limit the
available capital for use in other exploration and development activities. The
Company may require additional financing to cover the costs of any litigation
necessary to establish title. In the event of an adverse judgment with respect
to any of its mineral properties, the Company could lose its property rights and
may be required to cease its exploration and development activities on that
property. Mining operations may also be affected by claims of native peoples,
any of which could have the effect of reducing or preventing the Company from
exploiting any possible mineral reserves on its properties.
Ownership, exploration and development of the Companys
properties are subject to government approvals and
regulations.
All of the interests in exploration property held by the
Company are located in Peru. Those properties within the Cordillera del Condor
are held through option agreements that can only be exercised by the Company
upon receipt of a Supreme Decree from the Peruvian Government, as Peruvian law
requires a Supreme Decree with respect to the Companys properties when the
Company is a foreign entity and its properties are located within 50 kilometers
of the Peruvian national border. The Company has applied for, but not been
issued, the Supreme Decree, and there can be no guarantee that the Supreme
Decree will be issued. The Deborah property is not subject to this rule as it is
farther than 50 kilometers from the border.
The individuals and entities that granted the Company options
pursuant to the option agreements have obtained mining concessions with respect
to the properties covered by each option agreement. There can be no guarantee
that the individuals and entities that granted the Company options will be able
to maintain these mining concessions in good standing, nor is there any
guarantee that the Company will be able to obtain and maintain these mining
concessions.
Peruvian law also requires mining permits and licenses in order
to undertake exploration activities or commence construction or operation of
mine facilities on the Companys properties. An exploration permit is required
when the proposed exploration may have a significant impact on the environment,
people or historical sites. The Company has required and anticipates that it
will continue to require exploration permits in order to undertake exploration
activities on its properties.
12
There can be no guarantee that the Company will be able to
obtain the Supreme Decree and all necessary permits and approvals from the
Peruvian Government or that such approvals, if obtained, will not later be
revoked or amended in a manner adverse to the Company. If the Company is unable
to obtain the Supreme Decree, it will not be able to exercise the options set
forth in its option agreements, and it will be prohibited from owning the
underlying properties. If the Company or its optioners are unable to obtain and
maintain other required approvals, permits and licenses, the Company may be
unable to undertake its intended exploration and development activities on such
properties. Any of these developments could have a material adverse effect on
the Company, and could require the Company to cease exploration and development
activities on all or a portion of its properties, or abandon or dispose of all
or a portion of its properties.
Mining operations are subject to a wide range of additional
government regulations including, but not limited to: restrictions on production
and production methods, price controls, tax increases, expropriation of
property, import and export control, employment laws, worker safety regulations,
environmental protection, protection of agricultural territory or changes in
conditions under which minerals may be marketed. Any failure to comply with such
regulations, adverse changes in such regulations or shifts in political
conditions could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its business,
or if significant enough, could make it impossible to continue to operate in the
country.
Mineral operations are subject to market forces outside of
the Companys control.
The marketability of minerals is affected by numerous factors
beyond the Companys control. These factors include, but are not limited to,
market fluctuations, government regulations relating to prices, taxes,
royalties, allowable production, import restrictions applicable to equipment and
supplies, export controls and supply and demand. One or more of these risk
elements could have an impact on costs of an operation and, if significant
enough, reduce the profitability of the operation and threaten its continuation.
The mining industry is highly competitive.
The business of the acquisition, exploration, and development
of mineral properties is intensely competitive. The Company will be required to
compete, in the future, directly with other corporations that have better access
to potential mineral resources, more developed infrastructure, more available
capital, better access to necessary financing, and more knowledgeable and
available employees than the Company. The Company may encounter competition in
acquiring mineral properties, hiring mining professionals or obtaining mining
resources, such as manpower, drill rigs, and other mining equipment. Such
corporations could outbid the Company for potential projects or produce minerals
at lower costs. Increased competition could also affect the Companys ability to
attract necessary capital funding or acquire suitable producing properties or
prospects for mineral exploration in the future.
Mining and mineral exploration have substantial operational
risks which are uninsured or uninsurable risks.
Exploration, development and mining operations involve various
hazards, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, metallurgical
and other processing problems, unusual or unexpected rock formations, structural
cave-ins or slides, flooding, fires, metal losses and periodic interruptions due
to inclement or hazardous weather conditions. These risks could result in damage
to or destruction of mineral properties, facilities or other property, personal
injury, environmental damage, delays in operations, increased cost of
operations, monetary losses and possible legal liability. The Company may not be
able to obtain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums
or at all. The Company may elect not to insure where premium costs are
disproportionate to its perception of the relevant risks. The payment of such
insurance premiums and of such liabilities would reduce the funds available for
exploration and production activities.
The prices of precious and base minerals and metals
fluctuate widely and may not produce enough revenue to cover the
Companys costs.
Even if commercial quantities of mineral deposits are
discovered, there is no guarantee that a profitable market will exist for the
sale of the metals produced. The Companys long-term viability and profitability
depend, in large part, upon the market price of metals which have experienced
significant movement over short periods of time, and are affected by numerous factors beyond the Companys control,
including international economic and political trends, expectations of
inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, interest rates and global or regional
consumption patterns, speculative activities and increased production due to
improved mining and production methods. The supply of and demand for metals are
affected by various factors, including political events, economic conditions and
production costs in major producing regions. There can be no assurance that the
price of any minerals produced from the Companys properties will be such that
any such deposits can be mined at a profit.
13
Surface rights and access
Although the Company acquires the rights to some or all of the
minerals in the ground subject to the tenures that it acquires, or has a right
to acquire, in most cases it does not thereby acquire any rights to, or
ownership of, the surface to the areas covered by its mineral tenures. In such
cases, applicable mining laws usually provide for rights of access to the
surface for the purpose of carrying on mining activities, however, the
enforcement of such rights can be costly and time consuming. In areas where
there are no existing surface rights holders, this does not usually cause a
problem, as there are no impediments to surface access. However, in areas where
there are local populations or land owners (as with many of the Companys
properties), it is necessary, as a practical matter, to negotiate surface
access. There can be no guarantee that, despite having the right at law to
access the surface and carry on mining activities, the Company will be able to
negotiate a satisfactory agreement with any such existing landowners/occupiers
for such access, and therefore it may be unable to carry out mining activities.
In addition, in circumstances where such access is denied, or no agreement can
be reached, the Company may need to rely on the assistance of local officials or
the courts in such jurisdiction. The Company has not yet been successful in
negotiating any formal surface access agreements.
Risks Associated with Regulatory Requirements
The Company is subject to significant environmental
regulations that can change over time.
The activities of the Company are subject to extensive and
changing environmental legislation, regulation and actions. The Company cannot
predict what environmental legislation, regulation or policy will be enacted or
adopted in the future or how future laws and regulations will be administered or
interpreted. The recent trend in environmental legislation and regulation,
generally, is toward stricter standards and this trend is likely to continue in
the future. This recent trend includes, without limitation, laws and regulations
relating to air and water quality, mine reclamation, waste handling and
disposal, the protection of certain species and the preservation of certain
lands. These regulations may require the acquisition of permits or other
authorizations for certain activities. These laws and regulations may also limit
or prohibit activities on certain lands. Compliance with more stringent laws and
regulations, as well as potentially more vigorous enforcement policies or
stricter interpretation of existing laws, may necessitate significant capital
outlays, may materially affect the Companys results of operations and business,
or may cause material changes or delays in the Companys intended activities.
The Companys operations may require additional analysis in the
future including environmental and social impact and other related studies.
Certain activities require the submission and approval of environmental impact
assessments. Environmental assessments of proposed projects carry a heightened
degree of responsibility for companies and its directors, officers, and
employees. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain or
maintain all necessary permits that may be required to continue its operation or
its exploration of its properties or, if feasible, to commence development,
construction or operation of mining facilities at such properties on terms which
enable operations to be conducted at economically justifiable costs.
The Company is subject to numerous regulatory requirements
which it may not be able to comply with.
The Companys activities are subject to extensive regulations
governing various matters, including management and use of toxic substances and
explosives, management of natural resources, exploration, development of mines,
production and post-closure reclamation, exports, price controls, taxation,
regulations concerning business dealings with indigenous peoples, labour
standards on occupational health and safety, including mine safety, and historic
and cultural preservation.
14
Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may
result in civil or criminal fines or penalties, enforcement actions thereunder,
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, any of
which could result in the Company incurring significant expenditures. The
Company may also be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by
reason of a breach of such laws, regulations or permitting requirements. It is
also possible that future laws and regulations, or more stringent enforcement of
current laws and regulations by governmental authorities, could cause additional
expense, capital expenditures, restrictions on or suspension of the Companys
operations and delays in the exploration and development of its mineral
properties.
Risks Related to Financing
The Company has a history of losses and no revenues, and may
never become profitable.
The Company is a mineral exploration company without operations
and has historically incurred losses. To date, the Company has not recorded any
revenues from its operations nor has the Company commenced commercial production
on any of its properties. The Company does not expect to receive revenues from
operations in the foreseeable future, if at all. The Company expects to continue
to incur losses unless and until such time as properties enter into commercial
production and generate sufficient revenues to fund its continuing operations.
Until such time, the Company will be dependent upon future
financing in order to meet its capital requirements and continue its plan of
operations. Although the Company has raised additional private placement
financing in prior fiscal years, these funds may not be sufficient to undertake
all planned acquisition, exploration, and development programs of the Company.
The Company cannot guarantee that it will obtain necessary financing. The
development of the Companys properties will require the commitment of
substantial resources to conduct the time-consuming exploration and development
of properties. The amounts and timing of expenditures will depend on the
progress of on-going exploration, assessment and development, the results of
consultants analyses and recommendations, the rate at which operating losses
are incurred, the execution of any joint venture agreements with strategic
partners, the Companys acquisition of additional properties and other factors,
many of which are beyond the Companys control. The Company may never generate
any revenues or achieve profitability.
The Company will require additional capital to meet its
capital requirements for 2014 and for future fiscal years.
The Company does not have sufficient financial resources to
undertake all of its planned acquisition and exploration programs for 2013. The
Companys ability to continue its exploration, assessment, and development
activities depends in part on the Companys ability to obtain financing through
joint ventures, debt financing, equity financing, production sharing
arrangements or some combination of these or other means, and ultimately,
commence operations and generate revenue. There can be no assurance that any
such arrangements will be concluded and the associated funding obtained. There
can be no assurance that the Company will commence operations and generate
sufficient revenues to meet its obligations as they become due or will obtain
necessary financing on acceptable terms, if at all. The failure of the Company
to meet its on-going obligations on a timely basis could result in the loss or
substantial dilution of the Companys interests (as existing or as proposed to
be acquired) in its properties. In addition, should the Company incur
significant losses in future periods, it may be unable to continue as a going
concern, and realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in other than
the normal course of business may be at amounts significantly different from
those in the financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Currency fluctuation may affect the Companys operations and
financial stability.
While engaged in the business of exploiting mineral properties,
the Companys operations outside Canada make it subject to foreign currency
fluctuation and such fluctuations may adversely affect the Companys financial
positions and results. Such fluctuations are outside the control of the Company
and may be largely unpredictable. Management may not take any steps to address
foreign currency fluctuations that will eliminate all adverse effects and,
accordingly, the Company may suffer losses due to adverse foreign currency
fluctuations.
Risks relating to an investment in the securities of the
Company
15
The Company is dependent upon key management.
The success of the Companys operations will depend upon
numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control, including (i)
the ability to design and carry out appropriate exploration programs on its
mineral properties; (ii) the ability to produce minerals from any mineral
deposits that may be located on its properties; (iii) the ability to attract and
retain additional key personnel in exploration, marketing, mine development and
finance; and (iv) the ability and the operating resources to develop and
maintain the properties held by the Company. These and other factors will
require the use of outside suppliers as well as the talents and efforts of the
Company and its consultants and employees. There can be no assurance of success
with any or all of these factors on which the Companys operations will depend,
or that the Company will be successful in finding and retaining the necessary
employees, personnel and/or consultants in order to be able to successfully
carry out such activities.
The Companys growth, if any, will require new personnel,
which it will be required to recruit, hire, train and retain.
The Company expects significant growth in the number of
employees required if it determines that a mine at any of its properties is
commercially feasible, it is able to raise sufficient funding and it elects to
develop the property. This growth will place substantial demands on the Company
and its management, and the Companys ability to assimilate new personnel will
be critical to its performance. The Company will be required to recruit
additional personnel and to train, motivate and manage employees. It will also
have to adopt and implement new systems in all aspects of its operations. This
will be particularly critical if the Company decides not to use contract miners
at any of its properties. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to
recruit the personnel required to execute its programs or to manage these
changes successfully.
The Company has limited experience with development stage
mining operations.
The Company has limited experience in placing resource
properties into production, and its ability to do so will be dependent upon
using the services of appropriately experienced personnel or entering into
agreements with other major resource companies that can provide such expertise.
There can be no assurance that the Company will have available the necessary
expertise when and if it places a property into production.
Certain of the Companys directors and officers are also
directors and/or officers and/or shareholders of potential
competitors of
the Company, giving rise to potential conflicts of interest.
Several of the Companys directors and officers are also
directors, officers or shareholders of other companies. Some of the directors
and officers of the Company are engaged and will continue to be engaged in the
search for additional business opportunities on behalf of other corporations,
and situations may arise where these directors and officers will be in direct
competition with the Company. Such associations may give rise to conflicts of
interest from time to time. Such a conflict poses the risk that the Company may
enter into a transaction on terms which could place the Company in a worse
position than if no conflict existed. Conflicts, if any, will be dealt with in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Business Corporations Act
(British Columbia). The Board has resolved that any transaction either at the
Company level or of a subsidiary level, with entities having directors, officers
or significant shareholders in common, must be approved by disinterested Board
members. The Companys directors are required by law to act honestly and in good
faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and to disclose any
interest which they may have in any project or opportunity in respect of which
the Company is proposing to enter into a transaction.
There are risks related to stock market prices and volume
volatility.
The market for the Companys common shares (Common Shares)
may be highly volatile for reasons both related to the performance of the
Company or events pertaining to the industry (i.e., mineral price
fluctuation/high production costs/accidents) as well as factors unrelated to the
Company or its industry. In particular, market demand for products incorporating
minerals in their manufacture fluctuates from one business cycle to the next,
resulting in change of demand for the mineral and an attendant change in the
price for the mineral. The Common Shares can be expected to be subject to
volatility in both price and volume arising from market expectations,
announcements and press releases regarding the Companys business, and changes in estimates and
evaluations by securities analysts or other events or factors. In recent years
the securities markets in the United States and Canada have experienced a high
level of price and volume volatility, and the market price of securities of many
companies, particularly small-capitalization companies such as the Company, have
experienced wide fluctuations that have not necessarily been related to the
operations, performances, underlying asset values, or prospects of such
companies. For these reasons, the price of the Common Shares can also be
expected to be subject to volatility resulting from purely market forces over
which the Company has no control. Further, despite the existence of a market for
trading the Common Shares in Canada and the United States, stockholders of the
Company may be unable to sell significant quantities of Common Shares in the
public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of the
stock.
16
Shareholder interests may be diluted through the granting of
incentive stock options.
Because the success of the Company is highly dependent upon the
performance of its directors, officers and consultants, the Company has granted,
and will in the future grant, to some or all of its directors, officers and
consultants, options to purchase its Common Shares as non-cash incentives. Those
options may be granted at exercise prices below those for the Common Shares
prevailing in the public trading market at the time or may be granted at
exercise prices equal to market prices at times when the public market is
depressed. To the extent that significant numbers of such options may be granted
and exercised, the interests of the other stockholders of the Company may be
diluted.
The Company may be a "passive foreign investment company"
under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, which may
result in material
adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to investors in Common Shares that
are U.S.
taxpayers.
Investors in common shares that are U.S. taxpayers should be
aware that the Company believes it constituted a passive foreign investment
company (PFIC) during the tax year ended January 31, 2013, and may be a PFIC
in the current and future tax years. If the Company is a PFIC for any year
during a U.S. shareholders holding period, then such U.S. shareholder generally
will be required to treat any gain realized upon a disposition of Common Shares,
or any so-called excess distribution received on its Common Shares, as
ordinary income, and to pay an interest charge on a portion of such gain or
distributions, unless the shareholder makes a timely and effective "qualified
electing fund" election (QEF Election) or a "mark-to-market" election with
respect to the Common Shares. A U.S. shareholder who makes a QEF Election
generally must report on a current basis its share of the Company's net capital
gain and ordinary earnings for any year in which the Company is a PFIC, whether
or not the Company distributes any amounts to its shareholders. However, U.S.
shareholders should be aware that there can be no assurance that we will satisfy
record keeping requirements that apply to a qualified electing fund, or that we
will supply U.S. shareholders with information that such U.S. shareholders
require to report under the QEF Election rules, in the event that we are a PFIC
and a U.S. shareholder wishes to make a QEF Election. Thus, U.S.
shareholders may not be able to make a QEF Election with respect to their Common
Shares. A U.S. shareholder who makes the mark-to-market election generally must
include as ordinary income each year the excess of the fair market value of the
Common Shares over the taxpayers basis therein. This paragraph is qualified in
its entirety by the discussion below under the heading Certain United States
Federal Income Tax Considerations. Each U.S. shareholder should consult its own
tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the PFIC rules and the
acquisition, ownership, and disposition of our Common Shares.
Broker-Dealers may be discouraged from effecting
transactions in the Common Shares because they are considered
Penny
Stocks and are subject to the Penny Stock Rules.
Rules 15g-1 through 15g-9 promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) impose sales practice and
disclosure requirements on certain broker-dealers who engage in certain
transactions involving a "penny stock". Subject to certain exceptions, a penny
stock generally includes any equity security that has a market price of less
than US$5.00 per share. The market price of the Common Shares over the year
ended January 31, 2013 and through May 28, 2013 was at all times below US$5.00
and the Common Shares are deemed penny stock for the purposes of the Exchange
Act. The additional sales practice and disclosure requirements imposed upon
broker-dealers may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in the
Common Shares, which could severely limit the market liquidity of the Common
Shares and impede the sale of Common Shares in the secondary market.
17
Under the penny stock regulations, a broker-dealer selling
penny stock to anyone other than an established customer or accredited
investor (generally, an individual with net worth in excess of US$1,000,000 or
an annual income exceeding US$200,000, or US$300,000 together with his or her
spouse) must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and must
receive the purchaser's written consent to the transaction prior to sale, unless
the broker-dealer or the transaction is otherwise exempt.
In addition, the penny stock regulations require the
broker-dealer to deliver, prior to any transaction involving a penny stock, a
disclosure schedule prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating
to the penny stock market, unless the broker-dealer or the transaction is
otherwise exempt. A broker-dealer is also required to disclose commissions
payable to the broker-dealer and the registered representative and current
quotations for the securities. Finally, a broker-dealer is required to send
monthly statements disclosing recent price information with respect to the penny
stock held in a customer's account and information with respect to the limited
market in penny stocks.
It may be difficult to enforce judgements against management
or assets of the Company.
As many of the assets of the Company are located outside of
Canada and the United States, and certain directors and officers of the Company
are resident outside of Canada and/or the United States, it may be difficult or
impossible to enforce judgements granted by a court in Canada or the United
States against the assets of the Company or the directors and officers of the
Company residing outside of such country.
The board of directors is currently comprised of four
directors, only one of whom is independent.
The Board is currently comprised of four directors, only one of
whom is independent. The Company is actively attempting to appoint an additional
independent director to the Board in order to bring the Company into compliance
with the corporate governance rules and regulations that it is subject to in
Canada, however there is no assurance when this will occur, if at all. The lack
of independent directors on the Board may weaken the quality of oversight of the
Companys management and compromise the Boards effectiveness in carrying out
its duties and responsibilities.
Many of the Companys assets are located in countries where
there may be significant political risk.
The Company has mineral properties in Peru. In this country,
mineral exploration and mining activities may be affected in varying degrees by
political or economic instability, expropriation of property and changes in
government regulations such as tax laws, business laws, environmental laws and
mining laws. Any changes in regulations or shifts in political conditions are
beyond the control of the Company and may materially adversely affect its
business, or if significant enough, may make it impossible to continue to
operate in that country. Operations may be affected in varying degrees by
government regulations with respect to restrictions on production, price,
controls, foreign exchange restrictions, export controls, income taxes,
expropriation of property, environmental legislation and mine safety.
As a consequence of general economic conditions the Company
may be faced with an inability to access capital in
order to continue its
operations.
Since 2008, the U.S. credit markets and experienced serious
disruption due to a deterioration in residential property
values,
defaults and delinquencies in the residential mortgage market (particularly,
sub-prime and non-prime
mortgages) and a decline in the credit quality of
mortgage backed securities. These problems have led to a slow-down
on
residential housing market transactions, declining housing prices, delinquencies
in non-mortgage consumer credit
and a general decline in consumer
confidence. These conditions caused a loss of confidence in the broader U.S.
and
global credit and financial markets and resulted in the collapse of,
and government intervention in, major banks,
financial institutions and
insurers and created a climate of greater tighter credit conditions.
Notwithstanding various
actions by the U.S. and foreign governments,
concerns about the general condition of the capital markets, financial
instruments, banks, investment banks, insurers and other financial
institutions caused the broader credit markets to
further deteriorate and
stock markets to decline substantially. In addition, general economic indicators
have
deteriorated, including declining consumer sentiment, increased
unemployment and declining economic growth and
uncertainty about
corporate earnings.
18
While these conditions appear to have improved slightly in
2011 and 2012, unprecedented disruptions in the credit and
financial
markets have had a significant material adverse impact on a number of financial
institutions and have limited
access to capital and credit for many
companies. These disruptions could, among other things, make it more difficult
for the Company to obtain, or increase its cost of obtaining, capital and
financing for its operations. The Companys
access to additional capital
may not be available on terms acceptable to it or at all.
The Company does not intend to pay cash dividends and there
is no assurance that it will ever declare cash dividends.
The Company intends to retain any future earnings to finance
its business and operations and any future growth. Therefore, the Company does
not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
ITEM
4. INFORMATION
ON THE COMPANY
4.A History
and Development of the Company
The Company was incorporated under the laws of the Province of
British Columbia on May 26, 1981 under the name "
Force Energy Ltd.
". On
September 10, 1981, the Company changed its name to "
Force Resources
Ltd.
". On December 1, 1994, the Company subsequently changed its name to
"
Force Technologies Inc.
" in connection with a consolidation of its share
capital on a five old shares for one new share basis. On October 1, 1997, the
Company changed its name to "
Glassmaster Industries Inc.
" in connection
with a split of its share capital on a one old share for two new shares basis.
Effective April 24, 1998, the Company continued its
jurisdiction of registration from British Columbia to the State of Wyoming by
filing a Certificate of Registration and Articles of Continuance in the office
of the Secretary of State of Wyoming.
On January 19, 2000, the Company changed its name to
"
Interlink Systems Inc.
" in connection with a consolidation of its share
capital on a ten old shares for one new share basis. On August 14, 2000, the
Company changed its name to "
iQuest Networks Inc
." in connection with the
acquisition of its interest in iNoize.com Software Ltd. (a company involved in
the development of music transfer software). The Company also concurrently
effected a consolidation of its share capital on a one new share for two old
shares basis.
On October 28, 2003, the Company ceased operations as a company
involved in the development of music transfer software. Also effective October
28, 2003, the Companys shares were consolidated on the basis of one new share
for every four old shares, and the authorized share capital was subsequently
increased from 25,000,000 common shares to 100,000,000 common shares. In
connection with the share consolidation, the Company changed its name to
"
Quest Ventures Inc.
".
At a shareholders meeting held on June 22, 2004, the Companys
shareholders approved a change of our primary business focus to other business
opportunities, including the acquisition, exploration and development of natural
resources properties. At the Companys annual meeting held on July 19, 2005, the
Companys shareholders approved a consolidation of our shares and concurrent
name change. Effective April 24, 2006, the Companys shares were consolidated on
the basis of one new share for each two old shares and the Company also changed
its name to
Dorato Resources Inc.
.
Effective August 21, 2006, the Company continued its
jurisdiction of incorporation into British Columbia from Wyoming. The Company is
governed by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (BCBCA).
On October 18, 2007, the Company commenced its present business
of acquiring and exploring natural resource properties by entering into five
agreements with several Peruvian nationals and a Peruvian company to acquire
options to earn a 100% interest in 70 mineral claims located in Peru and to
acquire certain mining concessions. On April 24, 2008, the TSX Venture Exchange
(the
TSX.V
) accepted for filing the documentation related to these
option contracts, and the Companys listing was transferred from the NEX to the
TSX.V effective April 25, 2008.
19
The Companys head office is located at #2300 1177 West
Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the phone number is (604)
638-5817 and the fax number is (604) 408-7499. The Companys registered and
records office and address for service is #2600 - 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada.
4.B Business
Overview
The Company is a mineral exploration company engaged in the
acquisition, exploration of mineral properties. The Company currently has rights
to acquire interests in a number of mineral properties in Peru. The Company is
in the exploration stage as its properties have not yet reached commercial
production and none of its properties are beyond the preliminary exploration
stage. There are currently no identified mineral resources or mineral reserves
on any of the Companys mineral properties.
The Company has entered into seven option agreements granting
the option to earn a 100% interest in certain mineral claims and mining
concessions located in Peru that we collectively refer to as the Cordillera del
Condor Project (consisting of the Vicmarama Property, Maravilla Property,
Lahaina 1 Property, Lahaina 2 Property, David Property, Marita Property and
Cangaza Property) and one option agreement granting us the option to earn a 100%
interest in the Deborah Property. Peruvian Government approval is required prior
to exercising the options to acquire these properties and [, as described
below,] this approval is in the process of being obtained [for certain of the
properties]. We previously held an additional option agreement related to the
Cordillera del Condor Project, the option agreement for the Afrodita Property,
but we terminated this agreement on April 30, 2012 in order to reduce our
holding costs.
The material terms of our option agreements are as follows:
We
have fulfilled the commercial terms of the option to earn 100% interest in the
Vicmarama Property. In order to earn a 100% interest in the Vicmarama Property,
we agreed to issue a total of 750,000 common shares. 250,000 shares were issued
on TSX-V approval and an additional 250,000 shares were issued on April 16, 2009
and the remaining 250,000 shares were issued on November 17, 2009. We also
agreed to pay US$250,000 as consideration for the Vicmarama Property and the
final instalment of US$50,000 was paid on April 24, 2009. Although the
obligations to exercise the option under this agreement have been met, the
option has not yet been exercised. The exercise of the option is also subject to
receipt of the Supreme Decree to be issued by the Peruvian Government.
We
have fulfilled the commercial terms of the option to earn 100% interest in the
Maravilla Property. In order to earn a 100% interest in the Maravilla Property,
we agreed to issue 1,250,000 common shares, which have been issued. We also paid
US$300,000 as consideration for the Maravilla Property. Although the obligations
to exercise the option under this agreement have been met, the option has not
yet been exercised. The exercise of the option is also subject to receipt of the
Supreme Decree to be issued by the Peruvian Government.
We
have fulfilled the commercial terms of the option to earn a 100% interest in the
Lahaina 1 Property. In order to earn the 100% interest in the Lahaina 1
Property, we issued 3,400,000 common shares. We also paid US$270,000 as
additional consideration for the property. Although the obligations to exercise
the option under this agreement have been met, the option has not yet been
exercised. The exercise of the option is also subject to receipt of the Supreme
Decree to be issued by the Peruvian Government.
We
have fulfilled the commercial terms of the option to earn 100% interest in the
Lahaina 2 Property. In order to earn a 100% interest in the Lahaina 2 Property,
we agreed to issue 1,500,000 common shares, of which 250,000 shares were issued
upon TSX-V approval and an additional 500,000 shares were issued on April 16,
2009. The remaining 750,000 shares were issued on November 17, 2009. We also
agreed to pay US$400,000 as additional consideration for the Lahaina 2 Property,
which has been paid in full. Although the obligations to exercise the option
under this agreement have been met, the option has not yet been exercised. The
exercise of the option is also subject to receipt of the Supreme Decree to be
issued by the Peruvian Government.
20
On June 5, 2009, the Company entered into an assignment/option agreement to earn
a 100% interest in the David Property. In order to earn a 100% interest we
agreed to pay US$66,031 plus an additional consideration of US$5,000 on exercise
of the option/assignment. The exercise of the option will be triggered by
issuance of the Supreme Decree to the Company.
On
June 11, 2010, the Company entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100%
interest in the Marita Property
In order to earn the 100% interest we
will pay US$200,000 within 10 days of TSX-V approval (approved on June 15, 2010
and paid) and issue an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares. 50,000 shares were issued
on July 25, 2011, an additional 200,000 on or before June 15, 2012 and 750,000
on or before June 15, 2013. The exercise of the option is also subject to
receipt of the Supreme Decree to be issued by the Peruvian Government.
We
have fulfilled the commercial terms of the option to earn 100% interest in the
Cangaza Property by making cash payments of US$150,000 and issuing 1,050,000
common shares. Although the obligations to exercise the option under this
agreement have been met, the option has not yet been exercised. The exercise of
the option is subject to receipt of the Supreme Decree to be issued by the
Peruvian Government.
On
September 16, 2011, the Company entered into an option agreement to acquire a
100% interest in the Deborah Gold property, Cajamarca, Peru. Under the terms of
the option agreement, the Company can acquire a 100% interest in the property in
exchange for cumulative payments of US$6,000,000 over a minimum of 5 years. The
detailed terms of the option agreement are summarized in the table below.
Event
|
USD Cash
Payments
|
TSX-V Approval
effective date
|
$50,000 (paid)
|
On commencing drill-testing
drill
date
|
$200,000
|
1 year anniversary of drill date
|
400,000
|
2 year anniversary of drill date
|
600,000
|
3 year anniversary of drill date
|
900,000
|
4 year anniversary of drill date
|
1,200,000
|
5 year anniversary of drill date
|
2,650,000
|
|
6,000,000
|
The option agreement required an immediate payment of $50,000
on receipt of TSX-V approval (Effective Date). This payment was made and the
Company commenced systematic surface exploration of the property in early
February, 2012. A second payment of $200,000 is payable on the commencement of
drilling (Drill Date) and all subsequent payments are tied to this
drill-related anniversary. In addition, a royalty of $4.00 per ounce of gold
produced is payable to the underlying vendors, up to a maximum of $2,000,000.
There was no finders fee paid by the Company in connection with the Option
Agreement.
In April 2012, we terminated our option agreement relating to the Afrodita
Property in the Cordillera del Condor Project in order to reduce our holding
costs. As a result, the Company no longer holds any interest in this property
and as at January 31, 2012, the Companys interest in this property ($7,957,496)
was written off.
During
the year ended January 31, 2013, the Company decided to channel its cash flows
to develop the Deborah Property, as a result a portion of amounts capitalized to
date for all other properties have been written-down to a value of $450,000.
21
Private Placements
On May 25, 2012, the Company closed a non-brokered private
placement financing through the issuance of 13,190,391 shares at a price of
$0.09 per share for total gross proceeds to the Company of $1,187,135 (the
"Offering"). Proceeds from the Offering will be used to finance initial
exploration of its Deborah Gold Property (100% owned) in Cajamarca, Peru and for
general working capital.
Royalty Agreement with Franco-Nevada
On July 18, 2008, the Company entered into a Royalty Option
Agreement with Franco-Nevada Corporation (Franco-Nevada). Pursuant to this
agreement, Dorato granted Franco-Nevada the option to purchase a perpetual
royalty on 100% of the gold and silver produced from a portion of the option
agreement land package covering approximately 417 square kilometers (the
"
Option
"
) which is part but not all of the concessions on
the Lahaina 1 and 2, Maravilla and Vicmarama properties
.
The material
terms of the Option were as follows:
The Option will expire the sooner of: (a) the expiration or termination of the
concessions and surrounding land packages; or (b) sixty days following a
decision to construct a mine;
The
Option may be exercised within sixty days following a decision to construct a
mine by Dorato and/or its successor in interest together with a firm commitment
to finance construction;
The
royalty rate shall be either 1% or 2% of the Net Smelter Return, dependent on
the gold price at the time of the exercise of the Option;
and
The
Option may be exercised at a purchase price equal to the Royalty Net Present
Value which, for the purposes of the Royalty Option Agreement, shall mean the
after tax net present value of the royalty revenue from the production of gold
and silver using the royalty rate and a 7.5% discount rate applied to the base
case model assumptions contained in a feasibility study used to make the
decision to construct the mine.
Amended Royalty Agreement
Dorato and Franco-Nevada entered into a Subscription Agreement
dated March 31, 2009 pursuant to which Franco-Nevada agreed to purchase
2,000,000 units for $0.50 per Unit with each Unit to consist of one common share
and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each full warrant entitles
the holder to purchase one common share of Company at a price of $0.65 per share
until March 31, 2011. As additional consideration for Francos subscription,
Dorato agreed to amend the July 18, 2008 Royalty Option Agreement to expand the
size of the Mineral Property to which Francos royalty will apply to 417 square
kilometers.
Royalty Purchase Agreement
June 22, 2012, Dorato entered into a Royalty Purchase Agreement
with Franco-Nevada whereby Franco-Nevada has been granted a 2% net smelter
return on the Companys mineral properties in Peru in consideration of $350,000
in cash. This Agreement replaces the Royalty Option Agreement between the
parties dated July 18
th
, 2008 and amended March 31
st
,
2009 which the parties mutually agreed to terminate.
Effects of Government Regulation
For a description of the material effects of government
regulation on the Companys business, see the disclosure contained under Item
5.A.
Current State of Operations
Cordilla del Condor and Deborah are grassroots exploration
projects, meaning that there are no existing mine operations within the project
area. The level of exploration across the projects varies from early stage,
where only initial exploration data has been generated, to advanced, where an
initial phase of drilling has been completed.
22
Early stage exploration begins with review of satellite imagery
and existing regional geology maps, followed by airborne geophysical surveys.
Geophysical surveys are rapid assessment tools that help generate targets for
further exploration. At Cordillera del Condor, a helicopter was flown on lines
spaced 400 meters apart. The instruments on the helicopter measured the physical
properties of the rocks on the ground, including magnetic, electromagnetics and
radiometrics. Once that data was reviewed, targets were defined for additional
work on the ground. This includes geological mapping and surface geochemical
sampling of stream sediments, soils and rocks. This sampling helps define areas
for more detailed sampling and mapping. Ultimately, drill targets are defined
based on an assessment of all data collected.
Advanced exploration is focused on initial drill-testing of
these targets. This phase may involve anything from 5 to 50 drill holes
depending on the type of mineral deposit encountered and the level of
information required to make a decision to move forward. The ultimate aim is to
discover a mineral deposit worthy of additional investigation.
Following advanced exploration, a project will move to resource
definition if warranted. Drilling continues to define the deposit and ultimately
an independent third party will calculate an initial resource. A project may go
through several phases of drilling and resource estimation before a decision is
made to move to more advanced studies.
Ultimately, a project would move through three phases of
advanced studies called Preliminary Economic Assessment (also called a scoping
study), Prefeasibility Study and a Feasibility Study. These studies may take
several years. Ultimately on receipt of a positive feasibility study, a company
is in a position to make a production decision this is the final decision to
build a mine and begin development work.
4.C Organizational Structure
The significant subsidiaries of Dorato Resources Inc. are:
|
|
|
Doratos effective
|
|
Country of
|
Principal
|
interest for
|
|
Incorporation
|
Activity
|
2012
and 2011
|
|
|
|
|
Dorato Peru S.A.C.
1
|
Peru
|
Mining company
|
100%
|
Compania Minera
la Luminosa S.A.C.
2
|
Peru
|
Holding company
|
99%
(2011 nil)
|
1.
Dorato Peru S.A.C. (Dorato Peru) was incorporated in Peru on April 25, 2007.
2.
Compañía Minera la Luminosa S.A.C. (Luminosa) was incorporated in Peru on
August 23, 2011. Luminosa holds the exploration rights on the Deborah property.
4.D Property, Plants and Equipment
National Instrument 43-101 Compliance
Except as otherwise indicated, John Drobe, P.Geo., the
Companys Vice-President of Exploration and a Qualified Person as defined by NI
43-101, has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained
in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
Mineral Properties Cordillera del Condor
The Cordillera del Condor property is comprised of mineral
claims and mining concessions, comprising approximately 99,617 hectares, located
in northern Peru. The mineral rights extend along the easterly to
southerly-facing slopes of the Cordillera del Condor, a north-northeast trending
range the summit of which forms the border between Peru and Ecuador. The area is
sparsely populated and covered by tropical rain forest. The mean elevation of
the area is about 1,200 meters above sea level.
23
Map of Mineral Properties, with geology and other mineral
prospects. The area covered by Minera Afrodita concessions ( in which the
Company no longer has any interest) is shown in the cross-hatch pattern in the
map inset.
24
Title information is outlined in the following table.
MINING
RIGHT
|
CODE
|
TITULAR
|
DATE
|
HECTARES
|
LAHAINA 1
|
010257406
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
803.34
|
LAHAINA 2
|
010257506
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
900.00
|
LAHAINA 3
|
010257606
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
900.00
|
LAHAINA 4
|
010257706
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
689.24
|
LAHAINA 5
|
010257806
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
800.00
|
LAHAINA 6
|
010257906
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
975.93
|
LAHAINA 7
|
010258006
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 8
|
010258106
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 9
|
010258206
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 10
|
010258306
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 11
|
010258406
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
900.00
|
LAHAINA 12
|
010258506
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
800.00
|
LAHAINA 13
|
010258606
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
882.51
|
LAHAINA 14
|
010258706
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 15
|
010258806
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 16
|
010258906
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 17
|
010259006
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-06-12
|
800.00
|
LAHAINA 18
|
010459106
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
907.78
|
LAHAINA 19
|
010459206
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
922.46
|
LAHAINA 20
|
010459306
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 21
|
010459406
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
200.00
|
LAHAINA 22
|
010459506
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
956.68
|
LAHAINA 23
|
010459606
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
800.00
|
LAHAINA 24
|
010459706
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
947.89
|
LAHAINA 25
|
010459806
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
973.43
|
LAHAINA 26
|
010459906
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 27
|
010460106
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
1,000.00
|
LAHAINA 28
1
|
010460006
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
951.44
|
MARAVILLA 2
|
010081007
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-12
|
1,000.00
|
MARAVILLA 3
|
010081107
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-12
|
1,000.00
|
MARAVILLA 4
|
010081207
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-12
|
1,000.00
|
MARAVILLA 6
|
010081407
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-12
|
1,000.00
|
MARAVILLA 7
|
010081507
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-12
|
800.00
|
MARAVILLA 8
|
010081607
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-12
|
700.00
|
MARAVILLA 9
|
010081707
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-12
|
700.00
|
MARAVILLA 10
|
010082007
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-12
|
1,000.00
|
MARAVILLA 12
|
010088007
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-17
|
932.08
|
MARAVILLA 13
|
010088107
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-17
|
1,000.00
|
MARAVILLA 14
|
010088207
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-17
|
873.48
|
MARAVILLA 15
|
010088307
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-17
|
907.60
|
MARAVILLA 16
|
010088407
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-17
|
94.85
|
MARAVILLA 17
|
010088507
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-01-17
|
1,000.00
|
MARAVILLA 18
2
|
010406207
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2007-08-01
|
1,000.00
|
VICMARAMA 1
|
010456306
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
400.00
|
VICMARAMA 2
|
010455906
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
815.02
|
VICMARAMA 3
|
010455406
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
1,000.00
|
VICMARAMA 4
|
010455206
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
800.00
|
VICMARAMA 5
|
010455706
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
792.41
|
VICMARAMA 6
|
010455506
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
1,000.00
|
PAMINA
|
010173707
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2007-03-08
|
1,000.00
|
VICMARAMA 8
|
010456106
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
1,000.00
|
________________________________________________
1 All the
Lahaina Mining Rights were part of an Option Transfer Agreement entered into by
Carlos Ballón and Dorato Perú S.A.C. on October 11
th
, 2007.
2 All
the Maravilla Mining Rights were part of an OptionTransfer Agreement entered
into by Carlos Ballón and Dorato Perú S.A.C. on October 11
th
,
2007.
25
MINING
RIGHT
|
CODE
|
TITULAR
|
DATE
|
HECTARES
|
VICMARAMA 9
|
010455806
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
1,000.00
|
VICMARAMA 10
|
010454906
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
900.00
|
VICMARAMA 13
|
010455106
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
808.88
|
VICMARAMA 14
|
010456006
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
674.68
|
VICMARAMA 15
|
010456206
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
1,000.00
|
VICMARAMA 16
|
010455606
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
967.02
|
VICMARAMA 17
3
|
010460206
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLÓN BARRAZA
|
2006-10-27
|
1,000.00
|
MARAVILLA 19
|
010023208
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-01-15
|
1,000.00
|
MARAVILLA 20
|
010023308
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-01-15
|
500.00
|
MARAVILLA 21
|
010023408
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-01-15
|
700.00
|
MARAVILLA 22
|
010023508
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-01-15
|
219.74
|
DAVID B1
|
010326408
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B2
|
010326508
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B3
|
010326608
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B4
|
010326708
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B5
|
010326908
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B6
|
010326808
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
534.11
|
DAVID B7
|
010327008
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B8
|
010327108
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B9
|
010327208
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B10
|
010327308
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B11
|
010327408
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B12
|
010327508
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B13
|
010327608
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B14
|
010327708
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B15
|
010327808
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
556.46
|
DAVID B16
|
010327908
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
800.00
|
DAVID B17
|
010328008
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B18
|
010328108
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B19
|
010328208
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B20
|
010328308
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
1,000.00
|
DAVID B21
4
|
010328408
|
CARLOS ARMANDO BALLON BARRAZA
|
2008-06-02
|
700.00
|
EESM 9
|
010645407
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
997.48
|
EESM 10
|
010645507
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
873.94
|
EESM 11
|
010645607
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
1,000.00
|
EESM 12
|
010645707
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
1,000.00
|
EESM 13
|
010645807
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
1,000.00
|
EESM 14
|
010645907
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
926.45
|
EEMS 15
|
010646007
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
1,000.00
|
EESM 16
|
010646107
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
959.70
|
EESM 17
|
010646207
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
768.97
|
EESM 18
|
010646307
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2007-12-11
|
822.52
|
EESM 21
|
010000508
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2008-01-02
|
254.50
|
EESM 29
|
010330608
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2008-06-03
|
1,000.00
|
EESM 30
|
010330708
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2008-06-03
|
1,000.00
|
EESM 31
|
010330808
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2008-06-03
|
700.00
|
EESM 37
|
010364308
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2008-06-24
|
1,000.00
|
EESM 38
5
|
010364208
|
MICHELLE BERENDSON BERNINZON
|
2008-06-24
|
600.00
|
Alto Cangaza 10
|
010655408
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C.
|
2008-11-19
|
1,000.00
|
Alto Cangaza 11
|
010655208
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
1,000.00
|
Alto Cangaza 12
|
010655308
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
900.00
|
Alto Cangaza 13
|
010655508
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
600.00
|
___________________________________________
3 The Vicmarama
and Pamina Mining Rights were part of an Option Transfer Agreement entered into
by Carlos Ballón and Dorato Perú S.A.C. on October 11
th
, 2007.
4
Maravilla 19, 20, 21, 22 and David Mining Rights were part of an Option Transfer
Agreement entered into by Carlos Ballón and Dorato Perú S.A.C. on June 5, 2009.
5 The EESM Mining Rights were part of a Mineral Option Transfer Agreement
entered into by Michelle Berendson and Dorato Resources Inc. on June
9
th
, 2010.
26
MINING
RIGHT
|
CODE
|
TITULAR
|
DATE
|
HECTARES
|
Alto Cangaza 14
|
010655708
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
1,000.00
|
Alto Cangaza 15
|
010655608
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
1,000.00
|
Rio Cangaza 1
|
010656008
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
500.00
|
Rio Cangaza 2
|
010656108
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
1,000.00
|
Rio Ayambis 1
|
010656208
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
1,000.00
|
Rio Ayambis 2
|
010656308
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
500.00
|
Rio Ayambis 3
|
010656408
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
500.00
|
Rio Ayambis 4
|
010656508
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
800.00
|
Rio Ayambis 5
|
010656608
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2008-11-19
|
327.004
|
Rio Ayambis 6A
|
010006909
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
|
2009-01-13
|
900.00
|
Rio Naraime 1
|
010655908
|
COMPAÑÍA MINERA CANGAZA S.A.C
6
|
2008-11-19
|
400.00
|
DANI
7
|
010194409
|
ELSA LORENA ZUAZO VILLARROEL
|
2009-08-03
|
1,000.00
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
99,617.594
|
On the Ecuador side of the border, historical small-scale,
high-grade, gold production is reported to have exceeded 100,000 ounces (oz.)
per year. Modern exploration on the Ecuadorian side of the border has recently
resulted in the discovery of Kinross Gold Corps Fruta del Norte Gold deposit
(inferred resources of 13.6 million contained ounces gold at 7.23 grams per
tonne (g/t) gold) and Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc.s emerging Jerusalem Gold
deposit in the Chinapintza district (measured & indicated resource of 0.58
million contained ounces gold at 12.4 g/t gold, plus inferred resources of 0.71
million contained ounces at 11.5 g/t gold). With their concessions surrounding
Dynastys concessions, Ecuador Gold & Copper Corp. have reported total
Measured and Indicated resources within their Condor Gold Project (comprising
Los Cuyes, Soledad, and Santa Barbara) of 1.52 million ounces gold (50.4Mt @
0.94 g/t Au), with an additional Inferred Resources of 1.28 million ounces gold
within 28.4 Mt grading 1.4 g/t Au.
In addition to being a major gold belt, the Cordillera del
Condor Belt is a prolific copper-gold porphyry belt, well known for discoveries
like Corriente Resources Inc.s (now CRCC-Tongguan Investment Co., Ltd.) Mirador
copper-gold porphyry deposit (438 million measured & indicated tonnes at
0.61% copper, 0.19 g/t gold, and inferred resources of 235 million tonnes at
0.52% copper, 0.17 g/t gold) and the Mirador Norte copper-gold porphyry deposit
(indicated 171 million tonnes at 0.51% copper, 0.09 g/t gold; and an inferred 46
million tonnes at 0.51% copper, 0.07 g/t gold). There are two additional
porphyry deposits 40 km to the north of Mirador, with Inferred resources of 463
Mt at 0.66 % Cu (Inferred Resource category as per CIM, 2005) at Panantza, and
600 Mt at 0.59 % Cu at San Carlos.
The technical information with respect to the above deposits
was obtained through the respective companies public disclosure documents
available on SEDAR but has not been independently verified by us. Inferred
resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic
considerations applied that would enable them to be categorized as mineral
reserves. As such, there is no certainty that the resources will be converted to
reserves in the future.
In contrast, the Peruvian portion, which geologically comprises
approximately 45-50% of the Cordillera del Condor belt, is mostly unexplored.
Key features on the Peruvian side such as shared geology, structural setting,
proximity and extensions of known mineralized trends as well as numerous placer
and hard-rock gold occurrences indicate that the framework and potential is
present to form very significant gold and copper deposits.
Dorato, through a series of option agreements detailed above,
had the right to earn a 100% interest in approximately 950 square kilometres of
exploration ground. The work program, operated by Minera Afrodita returned
excellent drill and regional results to date, with discoveries of several
significant, gold and copper-bearing systems. However, none of these discoveries
warranted further work to outline resources. Future work will concentrate on
regional geochemical sampling over the remaining 80% of the concessions that to
date still lack surface exploration.
Regional Work Project Pipeline
______________________________________________
6 All the
Compañía Minera Cangaza S.A.C. shares were part of an Option Transfer Agreement
entered with Dorato Perú S.A.C. on December 28
th
, 2009.
7 Dani was part of an Option Transfer Agreement entered into by Lorena Zuazo
and Dorato Perú S.A.C. on December 16
th
, 2009.
27
Phase III regional exploration began in July 2010 using
airborne geophysical data collection to generate initial targets to be followed
up with stream geochemical sampling. The regional airborne geophysical survey
was completed in May, 2011 and collected the same magnetic and electromagnetic
data as the 2008 airborne survey, with an additional radiometric component to
potentially help identify porphyry mineralization. Magnetic, electromagnetic and
radiometric data now covers 115 kilometres of strike length along the belt, or
92 000Ha.
A review of the data has outlined 18 geophysical targets (see
News Release of Dec 6, 2010), including the drill-tested Lucero (T1) and
Cobrecon (T4) targets. Up to July 2011, these new anomalies were being
investigated on the ground with detailed silt and reconnaissance rock sampling
and mapping. The targets were re-prioritized based on the geochemical and
geological results. The targets are likely to shift and more emerge as the
anomalies are ground-proofed and new ideas generated.
The targets are identified based on their anomalous magnetic
and EM signatures. Using Lucero as a model, the magnetic highs with associated
EM conductors are probably due to magnetite-pyrite skarn mineralization. Where
there is skarn, there should be associated porphyry mineralization and possible
sediment-hosted disseminated mineralization.
The first step in verifying the targets as prospective
gold-copper mineralization is to collect close-spaced silt samples and
reconnaissance rock samples from the creeks draining the anomaly. Each target
will be first silt sampled, and then soil and channel rock samples will be
collected from the most geochemically anomalous targets. The most robust soil
and rock sample anomalies will then be drilled. This work was started in the
main concession block, moving south from Cobrecon, but was halted due to social
problems arising near target T12 in May 2011. Consequently the focus has shifted
to the Ponce Atunez block, where exploration activity will not affect any
communities.
Dorato, through Minera Afrodita, collected a total of 1,040
rock samples, 100 stream sediment samples and 857 soil samples during the 2009
program. A further 1,300 rock samples, 8 stream sediment samples, and 870 soil
samples were collected during the 2010 exploration program. Sampling commenced
again in late January 2011, with the continuation of soil and rock sampling at
the Cobrecon (T4) Cu-Au porphyry target, which in April advanced to the drill
stage. Regional targets up to T8 have now been silt sampled, with advance
helipads completed to T13. A few reconnaissance rock and silt samples have also
been collected from the Ponce Atunez block, near targets T16-18. To date there
have been 600 rock, 971 soil, and 80 silt samples collected.
Taricori Gold Veins
The Taricori Gold Zone drill program was completed in late 2010
and no further work is planned by the company, as the project falls entirely
within the Minera Afrodita concession block. The project was advanced through
early-stage exploration to advanced exploration (initial drill-testing). The
drill program discovered high-grade, narrow vein-hosted gold mineralization.
However, the discovery was considered to be of limited size and of limited
potential interest to major mining companies seeking an acquisition opportunity.
For this reason, the next step in the exploration process, resource definition,
was not pursued.
Lucero Skarn and Porphyry
The Lucero discovery, located in the Taricori Block, was
defined initially by coincident magnetic and electromagnetic geophysical
anomalies and anomalous silt geochemistry. Follow-up rock sampling and trenching
(48.9 meters grading 3.97 g/t gold and 0.25% copper) defined a mineralized zone
1,000 by 750 meters in size. Lucero is a 100% grass-roots discovery and was not
previously exposed by informal miners. On completion of early-stage exploration,
Minera Afrodita moved to advanced exploration, completing 25 drill holes
totalling 5,975 meters. The discovery was considered to be of limited size and
of limited potential interest to major mining companies seeking an acquisition
opportunity. For this reason, the next step in the exploration process, resource
definition, was not pursued. The company is seeking a joint venture agreement
with a junior or mid-tier mining company, for whom the discovery could
potentially be of considerable interest. Only a small portion along the western
margin of Lucero is affected by the release of the Minera Afrodita concessions,
including three drill holes (LUC-04, 05 and 07) that did not intersect
significant gold or copper mineralization.
28
Cobrecon Cu-Au Porphyry
AngloGold completed work in this area in 2004-05, under an
option agreement with Minera Afrodita. They explored the northern portion of the
Cobrecon area, which they called Conguime. Their silt sampling outlined a broad
geochemical anomaly, which Afroditas recent silt sampling later corroborated.
Cobrecon comprises three separate target areas. All areas have
undergone early-stage exploration (geophysics, geochemistry, mapping, drill
target generation). The Cobrecon Cu-Au porphyry target contains multiple
anomalies over several kilometres, with the Phase I drilling completed on the
northern anomaly. Zonation of the soil geochemical anomaly suggests three
porphyry systems are present. Two of these, Cobrecon and Cobrecon Sur, are now
well-defined at surface by ridge and crest soil sampling, while the latest
discovery, Cobrecon Este, is open to the south and east, pending further surface
sampling, but appears to be the same size as the other two anomalies based on
the EM anomaly.
The termination of the Minera Afrodita option agreement affects
the Cobrecon area significantly, in that the northern target (Cobrecon) is
divided roughly in half, and the south anomaly (Cobrecon Sur) is reduced by
roughly 75%. Cobrecon Este and anomalous silt samples to the south are
unaffected by the change in concession coverage.
Map of northern Cobrecon target, showing portion returned
to Minera Afrodita (Campana 2 concession).
29
Map of entire Cobrecon area, showing portion returned
to Minera Afrodita (Campana 1 and 2, Hito, and Apu concessions).
Porphyry systems are already known in the Ecuadorian portion of
the Cordillera del Condor range with deposits such as Mirador, Panantza, and San
Carlos (Corriente Resources) to the north, stretching over 40 km north-south
from the border. These are significant deposits, with Mirador and Mirador Norte
containing 609 MT at 0.58% Cu and 0.17 g/t Au Indicated, with additional
Inferred resources of 281 Mt at 0.52% Cu and 0.15 g/t Au. The Panantza and San
Carlos deposits, 40 km to the north of Mirador, contain 463 Mt of Inferred at
0.66 % Cu at Panantza, and 600 Mt at 0.59 % Cu at San Carlos. These are all
classic calc-alkaline Cu-Au porphyries related to the emplacement of Late
Jurassic subvolcanic intrusions into the late Middle Jurassic Zamora granite
batholith. The identical geology occurs at Cobrecon.
Also in Ecuador, and to the south of Taricori and the
Chinapintza District, El Hito and Santa Barbara represent two additional, albeit
weakly mineralized, porphyry systems. The deposits have not been dated but are
probably the same age as the Corriente porphyries, as they occur in the same
rocks. El Hito, situated on the Peruvian border just northwest of and contiguous
with Cobrecon Sur, contains copper mineralization in a coarse-grained quartz
diorite to granodiorite stock. Valerie Gold drilled four core holes in 2000 in
the central part of the deposit on the Ecuadorian side, which returned
intersections up to 300 metres long grading about 0.3% Cu, with minor gold.
Recently, Ecuador Gold & Copper Corp. has drilled five holes at El Hito as
part of a 10,000 metre programme testing four targets in the area, including
nearby Santa Barbara. A March, 2013 news release reported intersections of 244
metres of 0.51% Cu and 1.28 g/t Ag at El Hito.
Santa Barbara is a high-level Cu-Au porphyry-skarn deposit
located about 4 km west of El Hito. Mineralization is described as occurring in
stockwork zones in altered porphyry and within skarn zones in a roof pendant of
Misahualli volcanics. Results of trenching and drilling by Valerie Gold in 2000
indicated significant potential resources of disseminated gold mineralization.
Ecuador Copper & Gold commenced drilling seven holes at Santa Barbara in
August, 2012. In April, 2013, their fourth hole intercepted 430 metres of 0.86
g/t Au and 0.14% Cu. The Santa Barbara South Zone currently hosts an NI 43 101
compliant inferred resource of 21.0 Mt of 1.00 g/t Au (675,000 oz.) while the
Santa Barbara North zone (500m to the northeast), contains a further inferred
resource of 5.0 Mt of 0.90 g/t Au (145,000 oz.). For further details see the Companys web site
at
www.ecuadorgoldandcopper.com
or the June 14, 2012 Technical Report at
www.sedar.com.
30
Deborah Property
On September 28, 2011, the Company announced that it entered
into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Deborah Gold
property, Cajamarca, Peru. The property is located only one hour east of the
city of Cajamarca, with good access via paved and dirt roads, and is nestled
between several major ore deposits including Anglo Americans Michiquillay
Copper-Gold Porphyry, located 6 kilometres to the southwest (631MT of 0.69%
copper, 0.15 g/t gold, and 0.02% moly) and China Minmetals and Jiangxi Copper
Corps El Galeno Copper-Gold Porphyry, located 6 kilometres to the north (661MT
of 0.50% copper, 0.12 g/t gold), though it is not possible to determine if
similar results will be obtained from the property.
Location and Regional Geology, Deborah Project
Regional Context
There are several major, large scale producing mines and
significant development projects in the belt and, more importantly, in the
immediate vicinity of the property. The geology between all local deposits is
similar, with mineralization related to Miocene dacite porphyry stocks intruding
Lower to Upper Cretaceous carbonate and sandstone units, though it is not
possible to determine if the Deborah property will be similar.
The
Michiquillay
deposit (6 kilometres to the southeast)
is controlled by Anglo American Plc., who acquired the deposit in 2007, having
submitted the winning bid in a public auction process. Anglo acquired the
property for $403 million. The deposit hosts 631 Mt grading 0.69% copper, 0.15
g/t gold, with 100200 ppm molybdenum. Exploration and resource definition is
on-going.
31
The
El Galeno
and
Hilorico
deposits are
controlled by Lumina Copper S.A.C., jointly owned by China Minmetals (60%) and
Jiangxi Copper Corp. (40%). Copper Bridge Acquisition Corp (CBAC) acquired the
deposit from Northern Peru Copper Corporation in 2008 for $455M. At the time of
sale, the prefeasibility study estimated probable reserves of 661Mt grading
0.50% copper, 0.12 g/t gold, and 0.013% molybdenum.
The gold breccia at
Hilorico
, 1 kilometre northeast of
Galeno on the adjacent El Molino concession, may be the closest geological
analogue to Deborah property, although this interpretation will have to be
tested by future exploration. Northern Peru Copper completed 13,000 metres of
drilling at Hilorico before the transaction with CBAC in 2008. Historic drill
intersections of note include 213 metres of 1.04 g/t Au and 1.6 g/t Ag, and 82.5
metres of 1.04 g/t Au. According to the 2007 Prefeasibility study (NI 43-101
compliant), the deposit contains Inferred Resources of 19.4MT at 0.65 g/t gold
and 3.3 g/t silver (407,000 ounces using a 0.3g/t gold cut-off in the oxide
zone,), with additional sulphide resources of 21.3MT at 0.93 g/t gold and 4.8
g/t silver (641,000 ounces at 0.5g/t gold cut-off).
The technical information with respect to the above deposits
was obtained through the respective companies public disclosure documents, and
has not been independently verified by us.
Deborah Exploration History
There are numerous exploration and small scale gold production
adits on the Deborah property developed over the last 100 years targeting
gold-rich structures, replacements and breccia bodies. Newmont Peru drilled 13
holes at Deborah in 2006 in the area of historic workings, targeting the down
dip extension of the near vertical
mantos
(bedding parallel layer) of
gold and silver-bearing sulphides and related SE trending breccia zones along
the western edge and in the southeast corner of the concession. A large area of
almost no outcrop in the centre of the property was not drill tested, nor
surface sampled.
The underlying property vendors have provided historical
exploration data from Newmonts exploration drill program. Gold and silver assay
results include:
DRILL HOLE
|
THICKNESS (m)
|
GOLD (g/t)
|
SILVER (g/t)
|
DEB-002
|
9.20
|
1.26
|
2.6
|
DEB-003
|
51.35
|
0.51
|
3.4
|
and
|
44.00
|
0.73
|
12.3
|
DEB-004
|
47.75
|
0.59
|
18.0
|
DEB-005A
|
4.05
|
1.30
|
43.0
|
These holes appear to have targeted breccia in quartzite
adjacent to an area of sulphide veining in the southwest corner of the
concession, where surface channel samples returned anomalous precious metal
values.
Deborah Geology
Thick-bedded to massive quartzite of the Late Jurassic Chicama
Formation and/or Lower Cretaceous Chimu Formation is intruded by hornblende
granodiorite and dacite porphyry, the latter of which forms a large recessively
weathered central stock on the property
Carbonate of the Santa Formation is present in the northeast
corner of the concession, apparently in fault contact across a 1-5m wide
pyrite-bearing breccia. These units are the same as those hosting mineralization
at El Galeno 6 km to the northwest, and Michiquillay 6 km to the southwest.
Exploration Potential
32
The 13 holes drilled by Minera Yanacocha (Newmont) are
concentrated in the area of historic workings, and appear to have targeted the
down dip extension of the near-vertical gold-silver rich replacement bodies and
related southeast trending breccia along the western edge of the concession.
None of the holes were drilled under an extensive recessive zone northeast of
the main quartzite hill, and neither was the area covered in the surface rock
sampling. Part of this area was mapped as dacite porphyry, though it is much
more recessive than the dacite porphyry to the south.
Mineralization at the Galeno porphyry deposit is also recessive
and forms a topographically low area in the surrounding resistive quartzite. The
central recessive zone at Deborah is therefore considered a prospective area, as
this is where highly fractured and mineralized zones might be expected to occur.
The recessive zone is in fact on strike with the tectonic breccia related to the
regional Punre fault, which geologically connects Deborah with the Hilorico
gold-breccia target east of Galeno, and may represent a splay of the structure.
Also, the carbonate could be an important unit in terms of hosting disseminated
mineralization in permeable (decalcified) sandy horizons along strike and
adjacent to the mineralized breccia. This target has yet to be drill tested.
Phase 1 Exploration Completed
The first phase of surface exploration commenced in February
2012 following receipt of approvals for surface access from the land title
holders. Soil lines spaced 100 meters apart, with samples spaced 50 meters apart
were covered a 120 Ha core area of the property. Outcrops within this area were
also chip sampled, mostly over 1-2 meter lengths. Assay results from soils
returned a maximum value of 1.78 g/t gold, with 20% of the soil samples
returning >0.129 g/t gold and 10% returning >0.284 g/t gold. The sampling
has defined two gold anomalies that are approximately 400 meters each in extent
when contoured at the 0.1 g/t gold level. Both anomalies show a strong
correlation with pathfinder elements arsenic and antimony, as well as silver and
lead. Overburden, comprising quartzite talus from the main ridge, covers the
area between the two anomalies and possibly mineralization linking them into a
singular northeast-trending zone.
The central anomaly is a circular feature at the intersection
of northwest- and southwest-trending structures, on the northeast flank of the
main ridge. One artisanal working was discovered, and breccia within this
assayed 0.43 g/t gold over 2 meters. The central anomaly has significantly less
silver than the soil anomaly over the western breccias drilled by Newmont in
2006, suggesting a different type of mineralization. The north-eastern anomaly
abuts the eastern boundary of the concession and is open to the north. One rock
sample from the south edge of the anomaly returned 1.24 g/t gold over 1.5
meters.
The soil samples returned better gold values than the soil
samples, supporting the exploration model that gold mineralization at Deborah is
hosted by recessive, sulphide-rich material that does not crop out well and
remains under-sampled.
33
Work Completed, Gold Soil Anomaly, Deborah Project
Work Plan
The second phase of surface work will be approximately 800
meters of hand-trenching on both central and northeast anomalies, with
additional soil samples to close off the northeast anomaly. Some test pits will
also be excavated in the area of talus to determine depth to bedrock, and
sampled where appropriate. Results from the second phase of work will identify
follow-up drill targets.
Qualified Person and QA/QC
John Drobe, P.Geo., Doratos Vice President of Exploration and
a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, reviews and is
responsible for the scientific and technical information that forms the basis of
all public disclosures. Mr. Drobe is not independent of the Company as he is an
officer and a shareholder.
The Company has Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
protocols in place for all drilling, geophysics, rock, soil, and stream sediment
sampling programs as part of all geochemical sampling, sample preparation,
sample shipping and sample analysis and compilation procedures.
Quality control and quality assurance is implemented in the
field and results are monitored regularly throughout the sampling programs.
Blind certified reference material, certified coarse blank material,
quarter-core duplicates and preparation duplicates are inserted at regular
intervals (1/20) into the sample sequence. On-site personnel rigorously collect
and track samples which are then security sealed and trucked by a third party
shipper to either the ACME affiliate preparation laboratory in Cuenca, Ecuador,
for the Cordillera del Condor project, or to ALS Laboratories in Lima, Peru, for
the Deborah property. Here the samples weights are recorded and the samples are
cross-referenced with the sampling list.
34
For samples sent to ACME, after coarse crushing and pulverizing
to >80% passing 200 mesh, a 250g split is forwarded to ACME Analytical
Laboratories (ACME) in Vancouver, BC, Canada for analysis. ACME's quality
system complies with the requirements for the international standards ISO
9001:2008 and ISO 17025:2005. Samples are analysed for gold by fire assay (30g)
and forty additional elements by four-acid digestion with an ICP-MS finish. Any
sample over 10 g/t gold are re-analysed by gravimetric fire assay (30g) for gold
and silver. Any sample returning over 1% copper, lead or zinc are re-analysed by
the base metal assay method with an ICP-OES finish. Analytical accuracy and
precision are also regularly monitored by the laboratory through the analysis of
reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. In addition,
representative blind duplicate samples are routinely forwarded to an
ISO-compliant third party laboratory for additional quality control.
Soil samples sent to ALS Peru are sieved to passing 180 microns
(80 mesh) and then 25g (gold) and 0.5g (51 element) splits are dissolved using
an aqua-regia digestion, followed by an ICP-MS finish. Rock samples are crushed
to 70% passing 2mm , then 250g are pulverized to 75% passing 75 microns. They
are then analysed for gold by fire assay (25g) and 33 elements by four-acid
digestion with an ICP-AES finish (>1.0g) . The ALS analytical laboratory in
Lima is ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 17025:2005 certified.
ITEM
5.
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The Company is in the business of acquiring, exploring and
evaluating interests in mineral properties. The Companys current property
interests are held for the purposes of exploration for precious and base metals.
5.A
Operating Results
Year ended January 31, 2013 compared to the year ended
January 31, 2012
We incurred a net loss of $7,130,314 for the year ended January
31, 2013, compared to a net loss of $17,091,671 in the prior year. The net loss
was due mainly to the write-down of interests in exploration and evaluation
properties of $5,459,566 (2012 - $7,957,496) resulting from the exploration and
evaluation costs that remain in the central north and south zones as the Company
decided to channel its cash flows to develop the Deborah Property. Other
significant comparative changes offsetting the foreign exchange gain (loss) are
as follows:
Consulting fees of $150,084 compared to $425,926 in the prior
year. The decrease in consulting fees was affected by a change in the method of
accounting for personnel and other administrative costs at our Peruvian
subsidiary, and from efforts to lower consulting fees and use the liquidities
for exploration and evaluation projects.
Exploration and evaluation costs of $990,110 were incurred
during the year compared to $6,601,455 recorded in the prior year. The decrease
is mainly due to less work performed as a result of the poor commodity and
equity markets.
Investor relations expenses of $15,310 compared to $453,199
recorded in the prior year. The decrease is due to effort in lowering marketing
costs. This also includes $nil (2012 - $117,251) of share-based payments.
Professional fees of $102,379 compared to $309,654 recorded in
the prior year. The decreased is due to lower fees associated with mineral
property acquisitions and other regulatory matters.
Regulatory fees of $48,595 (2012 - $40,421) increased due to
the fees and related costs associated with maintaining listing requirements.
Travel expenses of $29,524 were incurred in the year compared
to $121,972 in the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to lower activity.
Wages and benefits of $85,891 were incurred compared to
$512,980 in prior year. The decrease was due to downsizing the administrative
personnel required for our Peruvian mineral projects.
Year ended January 31, 2012 compared to the year ended
January 31, 2011
35
We incurred a net loss of $17,091,671 for the year ended
January 31, 2012, compared to a net loss of $13,728,240 in the prior year. The
increase in the net loss was due mainly to the write-off of interests in
exploration properties of $7,957,496 (2011 - $Nil) resulting from our decision
to terminate the Afrodita option agreement in May 2012 in order to reduce our
holding costs and a foreign exchange loss of $381,245 (2011 foreign exchange
gain of $259,129) resulting from changes in the value of Peruvian currency in
relation to the Canadian dollar. Other significant comparative changes
offsetting the foreign exchange gain (loss) are as follows:
Consulting fees of $425,926 compared to $2,002,486 in the prior
year. The decrease in consulting fees was affected by a change in the method of
accounting for personnel and other administrative costs at our Peruvian
subsidiary, and from efforts to lower consulting fees and use the liquidities
for exploration and evaluation projects. This category also includes $nil (2011
- $1,061,516) of share-based payments.
Exploration and evaluation costs of $6,601,455 were incurred
during the year compared to $9,741,264 recorded in the prior year. The decrease
is mainly due to end of the drilling program on the Cordillera del Condor
project in 2012. This category also includes $nil (2011 - $645,465) of
share-based payments.
Investor relations expenses of $453,199 compared to $852,031
recorded in the prior year. The decrease is due to effort in lowering marketing
costs. This also includes $117,251 (2011 - $289,966) of share-based payments.
Professional fees of $309,654 compared to $476,101 recorded in
the prior year. The decreased is due to lower fees associated with mineral
property acquisitions and other regulatory matters. This category also included
stock-based compensation expenses of $nil (2011 - $36,795).
No property investigation costs were incurred in the year
compared to $37,750 recorded last year.
Regulatory fees of $40,421 (2011 - $108,731) decreased due to
the fees associated with listing the Companys stock in the US OTC market in the
prior year.
Travel expenses of $121,972 were incurred in the year compared
to $270,628 in the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to lower activity.
Wages and benefits of $512,980 were incurred compared to
$139,341 in prior year. The increase was due to increase in administrative
personnel required for our Peruvian mineral projects.
Doratos mineral rights in Peru are currently subject to
regulations that may be subject to change, and may become subject to new
regulations, which could impose significant costs and burdens.
Exploration activities in Peru depend on mining concessions for
exploration and ultimately for exploitation works, obtained from the Geologic,
Mining and Metallurgic Institute (Instituto Geológico Minero Metalúrgico), or
the INGEMMET. In addition, operations in Peru depend on obtaining other
administrative rights, such as provisional permits, from the Ministry of Energy
and Mines, or the MEM, and for exploration rights on the area of a claim. In
Peru, ownership of a mining concession by a foreign entity within 50 kilometres
of the national border is subject to issuance of a Supreme Decree from the
Peruvian Government. All of the Companys option properties are within 50
kilometres of the Peruvian national border. Thus, the Company must obtain a
Supreme Decree from the Peruvian Government in respect of all of the mining
concessions comprising the Companys properties. In addition, the terms of the
option agreements through which the Company holds its property interests require
issuance of a Supreme Decree before the options can be exercised. The Company
has applied for, but not been issued, the Supreme Decree.
Under Perus current regulatory regime, mining concessions for
the exploration and exploitation of minerals have an indefinite term, subject to
compliance by the titleholder with the obligations set forth by the General
Mining Act (Ley General de Minería), or the LGM. Compliance with such
obligations is required to maintain the mining concessions in good standing.
Among such obligations are the payment of an Annual Concession Fee (equivalent
to U.S.$3 per hectare) and compliance with a minimum annual production
target. Failure to pay the Annual Concession Fee for any two consecutive or
non-consecutive years may result in the cancellation of the relevant mining
concession.
36
If the INGEMMET or the MEM revoke or cancel any of Doratos
option concessions, Doratos financial condition and results of exploration
activities could be adversely affected.
On June 24, 2004, the Peruvian Congress approved the Mining
Royalty Law, which established a mining royalty that owners of mining
concessions must pay to the Peruvian government for the exploitation of metallic
and non-metallic resources. This royalty is calculated on a sliding scale with
rates ranging from 1% to 3% over the value of mineral concentrates based on
international market prices. As provided by the Mining Royalty Law, effective
since January 26, 2007, the Peruvian Tax Authority is responsible for the
collection of mining royalties.
There can be no assurance that the Peruvian government will not
impose additional mining royalties or payments in the future or that they will
not have an adverse effect on future operations. Dorato has no mining operations
on the property.
Details of Regulatory and Supervisory Entities
In general terms, the principal regulator of mining activities
in Peru is the Ministry of Energy and Mines, or the MEM, through its General
Bureau of Mining (Dirección General de Minería), or DGM, and its General Bureau
of Mining and Environmental Affairs (Dirección General de Asuntos Ambientales
Mineros), or DGAAM. Other regulatory institutions are the Geological, Mining and
Metallurgical Institute (Instituto Geológico Minero Metalúrgico), or the
INGEMMET; the Supervisory Body of Investment in Energy and Mining (Organismo
Supervisor de la Inversión en Energía Minería), or the OSINERGMIN; and the
Assessment and Environment Supervising Agency (Organismo de Evaluación y
Fiscalización Ambiental), or the OEFA, which was created in 2008 and entered
into operation in 2010.
The DGM is the senior body of the MEM overseeing the mining
industry. It reports directly to the Office of the Vice-Minister of Mining and
is responsible for, among other things, the promotion of mining activities, the
granting of beneficiation, ore transportation and general working concessions,
the proposal of welfare, health and safety regulations.
The DGAAM has the following duties, among others: (i) propose
policy and legal provisions for environmental conservation and protection in the
mining sector; (ii) approve technical standards for the appropriate application
of regulations on environmental conservation and protection to apply to
activities of the mining sector; and (iii) assess environmental and social
impacts derived from activities of the mining sector, establishing the
preventive and corrective measures necessary to control such impacts.
The INGEMMET has the following duties, among others: (i)
process mining claims, grant titles to mining concessions and act on
applications relating to mining rights pursuant to law; (ii) keep the National
Mining Land Register (Catastro Minero); administer and distribute the Annual
Concession Fee, or ACF, and collect any penalties for failure to meet minimum
annual production targets; and (iii) cancel mining claims or mining concessions
pursuant to applicable laws.
The OSINERGMIN supervises and inspects mining activities as
regards matters of mine safety and health. Until July 2010, OSINERGMIN also
oversaw the environmental compliance of mining activities.
Since July 2010, all supervising, inspecting and sanctioning
duties regarding environmental matters have been undertaken by the Organization
for Environmental Assessment (Organismo de Evaluación Ambiental), or the OEFA.
The OEFA is also responsible for proposing to the Ministry of Environment the
scale of penalties applicable to each type of infringement pursuant to the
Environmental Act.
Details of Concessions
37
In accordance with the LGM, mining activities (except
surveying, prospecting and trading) must be performed exclusively under the
concession system. A concession confers upon its holder the exclusive right to
develop a specific exploration activity within a defined area.
Mining concessions confer the right to explore and exploit the
mineralization granted which is within a solid of undefined depth, limited by
vertical planes corresponding to the sides of a square, rectangle or closed
polygon, the vertices of which refer to Universal Transversal Mercator, or UTM,
coordinates. A mining concession is a real property interest independent and
separate from surface land located within the UTM coordinates of the concession.
It is granted by the INGEMMET. Once the claimed area is subject to a mining
concession, the titleholder must register its title with the Public Mining
Registry (Registro de Derechos Mineros) administered by the National
Superintendent of Public Registers (Superintendencia Nacional de Registros
Públicos) where all the agreements, resolutions and acts thereto must also be
registered.
Holders of mining concessions or pending claims for mining
concessions must comply with several obligations, including payment of the ACF,
which is equivalent to U.S.$3.00 per hectare per year. Default in payment of the
ACF for two consecutive or non-consecutive years may result in cancellation of
the relevant concession or claim.
Environmental
During the 1990s, a modern environmental practice that conforms
to the international environmental standards was established and made generally
applicable to most of the mining industry. In 1990, the Environmental Code was
enacted, which established for the first time a legal and institutional system
to preserve the environment. In 1993, the Environmental Protection Regulations
for Mining and Metallurgical Activities were enacted. On October 15, 2005, the
Environmental Act completely repealed and replaced the Environmental Code.
As of July 2010, OEFA, rather than OSINERGMIN, is responsible
for performing periodic Environmental Audits to supervise compliance with the
commitments undertaken in the respective EIAs and/or PAMA.
5.B
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and cash equivalents were $38,081 as at January 31, 2013
compared to $60,151 as at January 31, 2012. As at January 31, 2012 the Company
had a negative working capital of $1,026,906 compared to negative working
capital of $961,191 as of January 31, 2012. On May 25, 2012 the Company closed a
non-brokered private placement of 13,190,391 shares at $0.09 cents per share for
gross proceeds of $1,187,135. Finders fees of $5,049 were paid to certain
finders for part of the private placement. In addition the Company has
negotiated extended payments terms with certain vendors.
However, the report of our independent auditors on our
financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2013 includes a note stating
that our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to
generate profitable operations in the future and/or to obtain the necessary
financing to meet our obligations and repay our liabilities arising from normal
business operations when they become due. At the present time, the Company
anticipates that its current liquidity and capital resources will be sufficient
to fund its planned operations for approximately 4 months. After such time, the
Company expects that it will require additional financing to fund its planned
exploration of our current exploration properties and to continue its operations
(including general and administrative expenses). There is significant
uncertainty that the Company will be able to continue to secure additional
financing in the current equity markets see Risk Factors Insufficient
Financial Resources/Share Price Volatility. The quantity of funds to be raised
and the terms of any proposed equity financing that may be undertaken will be
negotiated by management as opportunities to raise funds arise. No assurance can
be provided that the efforts of management will be successful.
The Company has not entered into any long-term lease
commitments nor is the Company subject to any mineral property commitments other
than those outlined under Note 8 in the Companys audited consolidated financial
statements for the year ended January 31, 2013.
38
The Company has no exposure to any asset-backed commercial
paper. Other than cash held by its subsidiary for their immediate operating
needs in Peru, all of the Companys cash and cash equivalent reserves are on
deposit with a major Canadian chartered bank. The Company does not believe that
the credit, liquidity or market risks with respect thereto have increased as a
result of the current market conditions. However, in order to achieve greater
security for the preservation of its capital, the Company has, of necessity,
been required to accept lower rates of interest which has also lowered its
potential interest income.
The Company has no revenue generating operations from which it
can internally generate funds. To date, the Companys on-going operations have
been predominantly financed by the sale of its equity securities by way of
private placements and the subsequent exercise of share purchase warrants and
options. However, the exercise of warrants/options is dependent primarily on the
market price and overall market liquidity of the Companys securities at or near
the expiry date of such warrants/options (over which the Company has no control)
and therefore there can be no guarantee that any existing warrants/options will
be exercised. In addition, the Company can seek to raise funds through the sale
of interests in its exploration properties, although current market conditions
have substantially reduced the number of potential buyers/acquirers of any such
interest(s). This situation is unlikely to change until such time as the Company
can develop a bankable feasibility study on one of its projects. When acquiring
an interest in exploration properties through purchase or option the Company
will from time to time issue common shares to the vendor or optionee of the
property as partial or full consideration for the property interest in order to
conserve its cash (the majority of the Companys outstanding option agreements
require the issuance of common shares of the Company, as opposed to cash
payments, to the vendors thereof).
In Q3 2011, the Company significantly reduced its staff on the
Cordillera del Condor project, keeping only a few people to run the Taricori
camp in care and maintenance mode. In April 2012, the Minera Afrodita agreement
was terminated to reduce holding costs. The Company is conserving its working
capital to the extent possible while still focusing on the development of its
Peruvian mineral properties.
5.C
Research and Development, Patents and Licences,
etc.
Not applicable.
5.D
Trend Information
None, except as disclosed elsewhere in this report.
5.E
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any material 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.
39
5.F
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual
Obligations
No applicable obligations.
ITEM
6.
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
6.A
Directors and Senior Management
The following table sets out the directors and executive
officers of the Company and all positions and offices held with the Company.
Name
|
Position
|
Age
|
Date of First Election or
Appointment
|
Rowland Perkins
(1)
|
Director, Interim President & CEO
|
60
|
October 31, 2011
|
Gordon Neal
(1)
|
Director
|
58
|
November 9, 2009
|
Carlos Ballon
|
Director
|
53
|
July 20, 2010
|
Anton J. Drescher
(1)
|
Chief Financial Officer & Director
|
56
|
December 1998
|
Marla K. Ritchie
|
Corporate Secretary
|
50
|
July 30, 2008
|
John Drobe
|
Vice President Exploration
|
47
|
November 1
st
, 2010
|
(1) Member of Audit Committee
Anton J. Drescher
(Director) Mr. Drescher has
been a Certified Management Accountant since 1981. He is currently a director of
International Tower Hill Mines Ltd., a public mineral exploration and
development company listed on the TSX and NYSE AMEX (ITH) since 1991, a
director of Trevali Mining Corporation, a public natural resource company listed
on the TSX (TV) since 2007, a director of Corvus Gold Inc., an exploration and
development company listed on the TSX (KOR) since 2010, a director of Dorato
Resources Inc., a public mineral exploration company listed on the TSXV DRI,
since 1996 and recently appointed (2012) Chief Financial Officer of the company,
Director of Kazax Minerals Inc. since 2012, President and Director of Ravencrest
Resources Inc. a publicly trading company trading on the CNSX (RVT) since
2010. Chief Financial Officer and a director of Oculus VisionTech Inc. (OVTI),
a public company listed for trading on the TSXV (OVT) and the OTC Bulletin
Board (OVTZ) since December 1994, which company is involved in watermarking of
film and data. President of Westpoint Management Consultants Limited, a private
company engaged in tax and accounting consulting for business reorganizations
since 1979. President of Harbour Pacific Capital Corp., a private British
Columbia company involved in regulatory filings for businesses in Canada since
1998.
Gordon Neal
(Director)
-
Mr. Neal has more than
thirty years experience in providing corporate finance and corporate governance
services to public companies. He founded Neal McInerney Investor Relations in
1991. Through marketing more than $4 billion in debt and equity financings, the
company grew to be the second largest full service investor relations firm in
Canada with offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles. Clients included; BCE
Inc., Nortel Networks Corporation, Bell Canada, Bell Mobility, Intrawest ULC,
Canaccord Capital Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns, Santa Elina Gold and TVX Gold
Inc.
Mr. Neal was the past Vice President & Corporate
Development of MAG Silver Corp. Mr. Neal was also an advisor on corporate
finance and investor relations to West Timmins Mining Inc. He has raised more
than $400 million for mining and resources companies since 2004. He currently
serves on the board of Rockgate Capital Corp., acts as chairman of Abzu Gold
Ltd. and is a director of Dorato Resources Ltd. and Falco Pacific Resource
Group. Mr. Neal graduated from Dalhousie University with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry
in 1977 and served on its Board of Governors.
Carlos Ballon
(Director) Mr. Ballon is a graduate of
Colorado School of Mines and a very experienced mining engineer. Mr. Ballon
managed the Santander Mine in Peru from 1985 to 1993 before revamping the
project and vending it to Trevali Mining Corporation. More recently he was VP
South America for Corriente Resources Ltd., a director of Thiess South America
(Australia's largest contract miner) where he managed major engineering works at
Tintaya and Yanacocha in Peru and a Manager South America for
Cardero Resource Corp. Mr. Ballon is a director of Stonehouse Construction a
private international multi-discipline project delivery company and a director
of Kazax Minerals Inc., a public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.
40
Rowland Perkins
(Director, Interim President and Chief
Executive Officer) - Mr. Perkins is the President & CEO of ebackup Inc.
(est. 2001); a digital cloud data service provider specializing in Offsite Data
Backup. In addition, Mr. Perkins is also a Director of several other publicly
traded companies; Oculus Visiontech (formerly USA Video Interactive Corporation)
since January 2005, Strikepoint Gold since 2011, Corvus Gold Inc. since 2010 and
was a former Director of International Tower Hill Mines from 2005 to 2010. He is
a graduate of the University of Manitoba (Economics).
Marla K. Ritchie
(Corporate Secretary)
Ms. Ritchie brings over 25 years of experience in public markets working as
a Corporate Administrator and Corporate Secretary for companies specializing in
resource based exploration. Ms. Ritchie became the Companys Corporate Secretary
in July 2008. Between 1992 and 2003, she was a Secretary and the Office
Administrator for Ascot Resources Ltd, Brett Resources Inc, Golden Band
Resources Inc, Hyder Gold Inc., Leicester Diamond Mines Ltd., Loki Gold
Corporation, Oliver Gold Corporation and Solomon Resources Limited, all public
junior natural resource exploration companies. Ms. Ritchie is currently the
Corporate Secretary for the following public companies: Cardero Resource Corp.,
Corvus Gold Inc., International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. and Wealth Minerals Ltd.
John Drobe
(Vice President Exploration) Mr. Drobe is a
geologist with 25 years of experience, specializing in porphyry copper-gold,
epithermal and skarn deposits throughout Latin America. Mr Drobe came to Dorato
from Corriente Resources where he held the position of Chief Geologist and was
responsible for all aspects of exploration and resource definition at the
company's Mirador, Panantza, and San Carlos porphyry copper deposits. Mr. Drobe
is also an officer of Indico Resources Ltd.
Mr Drobe is considered an expert on Cordillera del Condor
geology and his knowledge and experience in this area will add tremendous value
to the company given the substantial amount of high-quality data that has been
collected during the past two years. In addition, Mr Drobe brings considerable
resource modelling experience, which will be invaluable as more discoveries are
made on the Peruvian side of the border.
Carlos Ballon, a Director of the Company has a conflict of
interest as he is the owner of the Lahaina 1 and 2, Maravilla, Vicmarama and
David concessions.
In addition, Mr. Ballon has been paid consulting fees
prior to and since his nomination to the board of directors in July 2010 for his
management responsibilities mostly in Peru (see item 7. B Related party
Transactions).
All of the Companys directors are also directors, officers or
shareholders of other companies that are engaged in the business of acquiring,
developing and exploiting natural resource properties including properties in
countries where we are conducting our operations. Such associations may give
rise to conflicts of interest from time to time. Such a conflict poses the risk
that we may enter into a transaction on terms which place us in a worse position
than if no conflict existed. Our directors are required by law to act honestly
and in good faith with a view to our best interests and to disclose any interest
which they may have in any project or opportunity of the company. However, each
director has a similar obligation to other companies for which such director
serves as an officer or director.
The following table identifies, as of May 28, 2013, the name of
each officer and director and any company (i) which employs such officer or
director, (ii) for which such officer or director currently serves as an officer
or director, or (iii) which is affiliated with such officer or director:
41
Name of Director
|
Name of Company
|
Description of Business
|
Position
|
Anton J. Drescher
|
Oculus VisionTech Inc.
|
Video-on-Demand
|
CFO,
Secretary & Director
|
|
International Tower Hill Mines Ltd.
|
Natural resource
|
Director
|
|
Trevali Mining Corporation
|
Natural resource
|
Director
|
|
Ravencrest Resources Inc.
|
Natural resource
|
CEO
& Director
|
|
Corvus Gold Inc.
|
Natural resource
|
Director
|
|
Kazax
Minerals Inc.
|
Natural resource
|
Director
|
Gordon Neal
|
Balmoral Resources Limited
|
Natural resource
|
Director
|
|
Rockgate Capital Inc.
|
Natural resource
|
Director
|
|
Abzu
Gold Ltd.
|
Natural resource
|
Director
|
Carlos Ballon
|
Kazax
Minerals Inc.
|
Natural resource
|
Director
|
|
Corvus Gold Inc.
|
Natural resource
|
Chairman
|
Rowland Perkins
|
Oculus VisionTech Inc.
|
Video-on-Demand
|
President, CEO & Director
|
|
Strikepoint Gold Inc.
|
Natural resource
|
Director
|
Marla K. Ritchie
|
Cardero Resource Corp.
|
Natural resource
|
Secretary
|
|
Corvus Gold Inc.
|
Natural resource
|
Secretary
|
|
International Tower Hill Mines Ltd.
|
Natural resource
|
Secretary
|
|
Wealth
Minerals Ltd.
|
Natural resource
|
Secretary
|
John Drobe
|
Indico
Resources Ltd.
|
Natural resource
|
COO
|
6.B
Compensation
Executive Compensation
For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2013, the Company paid
or accrued an aggregate of $224,584 in cash compensation to directors and senior
management as a group.
Under applicable Canadian securities laws, the Company is
required to disclose the compensation paid to its CEO, CFO and each of the three
most highly compensated executive officers, or individuals acting in a similar
capacity, as of the end of the Companys most recently completed financial year,
whose total compensation exceeded Cdn $150,000. In the case of the Company, only
the compensation of the individuals serving as Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer as of the end of the Companys most recently completed
financial year is required to be disclosed (collectively, the CEO and CFO, are
referred to as the Named Executive Officers or NEOs). The following table
sets out the compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers for the fiscal
years ended January 31, 2013, January 31, 2012 and January 31, 2011.
Name and
principal
position
|
Fiscal
Year
Ended
|
Salary
(Cdn$)
|
Share-
based
awards
(Cdn$)
|
Option-
based
awards
(Cdn$)
|
Non-equity incentive
plan
compensation
(Cdn$)
|
Pension
value
(Cdn$)
|
All other
compensation
(Cdn$)
|
Total
compensation
(Cdn$)
|
Annual
incentive
plans
|
Long-term
incentive
plans
(5)
|
Rowland Perkins
|
2013
2012
2011
|
Nil
n/a
n/a
|
Nil
n/a
n/a
|
Nil
n/a
n/a
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Keith Henderson
Former President
and Chief Executive
Officer
(1)
|
2013
2012
2011
|
Nil
116,200
(2)
237,540
(2)
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
166,573
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
116,200
404,113
|
Michael Kinley
Former Chief
Financial Officer
(4)
|
2013
2012
2011
|
Nil
30,000
(3)
60,000
(3)
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
81,332
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
30,000
141,332
|
Anton Drescher
Chief Financial
Officer; Former
President and Chief
Executive Officer
(6)
|
2013
2012
|
30,000
24,900
|
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
Nil
|
Nil
10,000
(7)
|
30,000
34,900
|
Anna Ladd
Former Chief
Financial
Officer
(8)
|
2012
|
15,000
|
Nil
|
-
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
15,000
|
42
(1) Keith Henderson resigned as
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on October 31, 2011.
(2) Consulting fees paid to
Acuitas Consulting Ltd (Acuitas), a consulting company owned by Keith J.
Henderson. Acuitas provided management services to the Company comprising all
duties and responsibilities performed by Mr. Henderson as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.
(3) Consulting fees paid to
Winslow Associates Management & Communications Inc.(Winslow), a consulting
company owned by Michael W. Kinley. Winslow provided services to the Company on
a month-to-month contract basis comprised of all duties and responsibilities
performed by Mr. Kinley as Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
(4) Michael Kinley was appointed
Chief Financial Officer of the Company on July 30, 2008, and resigned as Chief
Financial Officer of the Company on July 12, 2011.
(5) "LTIP" or "long term
incentive plan" means any plan that provides compensation intended to motivate
performance to occur over a period greater than one fiscal year, but does not
include option or share-based awards. The Company does not have any such plans.
(6) Anton Drescher was appointed
interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on October 31, 2011
and resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer on March 2, 2012 and was
then appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company March 2, 2012.
(7) Mr. Drescher received $10,000
in directors fees prior to being appointed as an officer of the Company.
(8) Anna Ladd was appointed Chief
Financial Officer of the Company on July 12, 2011, and resigned as Chief
Financial Officer of the Company on March 2, 2012.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2013, no incentive
stock options were granted to the Named Executive Officers.
The Company had no stock option exercises during the fiscal
year ended January 31, 2012 by the NEOs and there are currently no outstanding
stock options in the Company.
The Company does not provide retirement benefits for directors
or senior management.
Director Compensation
Except as noted below, the Company had no arrangements,
standard or otherwise, pursuant to which directors were compensated by the
Company for their services in their capacity as directors, or for committee
participation, involvement in special assignments or for services as a
consultant or expert during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2013.
Except as noted below, none of the Companys current directors
who are not also executive officers have received any manner of compensation for
services provided in their capacity as directors, consultants or experts during
the Companys most recently completed financial year.
Effective December 1, 2008, the Board approved the payment of
an annual retainer and meeting fees to the directors who are not also executive
officers of the Company, in recognition of the fact that service as a director
in an active resource exploration company such as the Company requires a
significant commitment of time and effort, as well as the assumption of
increasing liability. Directors who were not executive officers and did not
receive any consulting fees from the Company received a monthly retainer fee of
$2,000 ($24,000 per annum), plus an additional fee of $500 per Board or
committee meeting attended in person or by conference telephone, with no
additional compensation paid with respect to committee membership. Starting July
2011, in effort to reduce costs of the Company the directors fees were reduced
to $Nil until further notice. The Company has and continues to reimburse
directors for their out-of-pocket costs incurred in attending board meetings.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2013, the persons serving as our
directors who were not also executive officers received the following directors
fees:
43
Name
|
Fees earned
(Cdn$)
(5)
|
Anton Drescher
(2)
|
$Nil
|
Gordon Neal
|
$Nil
|
Carlos Ballon
(3)
|
$Nil
|
Rowland Perkins
(4)
|
$Nil
|
(1)
Anton Drescher received directors fees prior to its nomination as interim CEO
for the months he was a director (February to July 2011). Mr. Drescher also
received fees to act as Interim CEO from November 1, 2011 to March 2, 2012. See
Executive Compensation above and refer to Item 7B 6. Related Party
Transaction.
(2)
Carlos Ballon received consulting fees pursuant an oral agreement. Refer to Item
7B 5. Related Party Transaction.
(4)
Rowland Perkins was appointed as a director of the Company on October 31, 2011.
He receives no compensation as a director.
(5)
Directors were paid for 5 months during the year ending January 31, 2012 to
reduce operational costs.
Directors who are not also executive officers are also eligible
to receive incentive stock options. No incentive stock options were granted
during the financial year ended January 31, 2013 to the directors of the Company
who were not executive officers.
Consulting fees paid or accrued to officers and directors were
as follows:
|
|
|
|
Amount Paid/
|
|
Name of
Director/Officer
|
Position
|
Category
|
|
Accrued
|
|
|
Director, President & Chief
Executive
|
|
|
|
|
Rowland Perkins
|
Officer
|
Consulting Fees
|
$
|
Nil
|
|
Anton Drescher
|
Director and Chief Financial
Officer
|
Consulting Fees
|
$
|
30,000
|
|
Marla Ritchie
|
Corporate
Secretary
|
Consulting Fees
|
$
|
24,000
|
|
John Drobe
|
VP Exploration
|
Consulting Fees
|
$
|
80,908
|
|
Carlos Ballon Barraza
|
Director
|
Consulting Fees
|
$
|
89,676
|
|
6.C
Board Practices
The Board is elected at each annual general meeting of the
shareholders. Each director elected will hold office until the next annual
meeting or until his successor is duly elected or appointed, unless his office
is earlier vacated in accordance with the BCBCA. See Item 6.A Directors and
Senior Management - for dates directors were first elected to the Board. No
director has a service contract with the Company or any of its subsidiaries
providing for benefits upon termination of employment.
Audit Committee
The following directors are on the Audit Committee:
Anton J. Drescher
Gordon
Neal
Rowland Perkins
At the first meeting following each annual general meeting, the
directors must elect an audit committee to hold office until the next annual
general meeting consisting of no fewer than three directors, of whom a majority
must not be officers or employees or a control person, of the Company or of
any affiliate or associate of the Company. A control person means any person
that holds or is one of a combination of persons that holds a sufficient number
of securities of the Company so as to affect materially the control of the
Company or that holds 20% or more of the voting securities of the Company.
44
The primary duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee
are to:
Serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the financial reporting
process and the system of internal controls of Dorato.
Monitor the independence and performance of the auditor of Dorato (the
Auditor) and the internal audit function of Dorato.
Provide an open avenue of communication among the Auditor, financial and senior
management and the Board of Directors.
Before a financial statement that is to be submitted to an
annual general meeting is considered by the directors, it must be submitted to
the Audit Committee for review, and the report of the Audit Committee on the
financial statements must be submitted to the directors thereafter.
The Company has no compensation or remuneration committee.
6.D
Employees
As at January 31, 2013 the Company had no employees. The
Company retains consultants to perform administrative and financial
accounting/bookkeeping services. The Company did not employ temporary employees
during the fiscal year.
6.E
Share Ownership
The following table sets out the beneficial ownership of
Company common shares by the Companys directors and NEOs listed in Item 6.B as
of May 28, 2013.
Name
|
Common Shares Beneficially Owned
(1)
|
Percentage of Class
(2)
|
Anton J. Drescher
(3)
|
1,317,444
|
1.50%
|
Gordon Neal
(4)
|
367,223
|
0.40%
|
Carlos Ballon
(5)
|
9,801,611
|
10.90%
|
Rowland Perkins
|
12,000
|
0.01%
|
All Executive Officers and
Directors as a Group
|
11,498,278
|
12.80%
|
(1)
The Company currently has no outstanding stock options.
(2)
Percentages are based on 89,830,376 common shares outstanding as of May 30,
2013. Common shares subject to stock options and common share purchase warrants
that are exercisable on, or within 60 days after, May 30, 2013 are deemed
outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding such stock
options and common share purchase warrants but are not deemed outstanding for
computing the percentage of any other person.
Incentive Stock Option Plan
At the annual general meeting held on July 30, 2008, the
shareholders approved the 2008 Stock Option Plan of the Company (the Plan).
The purpose of the Plan is to recognize contributions made by
directors, officers, consultants and employees of the Company and to provide for
an incentive for their continuing relationship with the Company.
45
Pursuant to the policies of the TSX.V, we must seek shareholder
approval for the Plan at each annual meeting as the Plan is considered a
Rolling Plan. The Plan was ratified by shareholders at the annual meeting held
July 5, 2012.
The material terms of the Plan are as follows:
1.
Options may be granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants of, and
to the employees of companies providing management services to, the Company and
its affiliates.
2.
The aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to options granted
under the Plan, unless otherwise approved by shareholders, may not exceed that
number which is equal to 10% of the Common Shares issued and outstanding at the
time of the grant.
3.
The number of Common Shares subject to each option will be determined by the
Board, or a duly appointed committee of the Board, provided that the aggregate
number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to options granted to:
(a)
any one person in any twelve month period may not exceed 5% of the issued Common
Shares;
(b)
insiders (directors or officers) during any 12 month period may not exceed 10%
of the Companys issued Common Shares;
(c)
issued to any one insider and his or her associates within any 12 month period
may not exceed 5% of the Companys issued Common Shares;
(d)
any one individual during any 12 month period may not exceed 5% of the Companys
issued Common Shares;
(e)
any one consultant during any 12 month period may not exceed 2% of the Companys
issued Common Shares; and
(f)
all persons employed to provide investor relations activities (as a group) may
not exceed 2% of the Companys issued Common Shares during any 12 month period;
in each case calculated as at the date of grant of the option, including all
other Common Shares under option to such person at that time.
4.
The exercise price of an option may not be set at less than the minimum price
permitted by the TSX.V (currently the closing price of the Common Shares on the
TSX.V on the day prior to an option grant less the maximum discount permitted by
the TSX.V).
5.
Options may be exercisable for a period of up to five years from the date of
grant.
6.
The options are non-assignable and non-transferable. The options can only be
exercised by the optionee as long as the optionee remains an eligible optionee
pursuant to the Plan or within a period of not more than 90 days after ceasing
to be an eligible optionee (30 days in the case of a person engaged in investor
relations activities) or, if the optionee dies, within one year from the date of
the optionees death.
7.
Options granted to consultants engaged to perform investor relations activities
must be subject to a vesting requirement, whereby such options will vest over a
period of not less than 12 months, with a maximum of 25% vesting in any 3 month
period.
8.
On the occurrence of a takeover bid, issuer bid or going private transaction,
the Board will have the right to accelerate the date on which any option becomes
exercisable.
46
As of May 30, 2013 there were no stock options outstanding;
however, the Company may in the future grant options to eligible participants in
accordance with the Plan. Based on the outstanding Common Shares, as at May 30,
2013, options with respect to an additional 8,983,037 Common Shares are
available for grant under the Plan.
There are currently no stock options held by our NEOs and
directors listed in Item 6.B as of May 30, 2013.
ITEM
7.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
7.A
Major Shareholders
As at May 30, 2013, to the knowledge of management, the
following shareholders are the only persons who beneficially own 5% or more of
the issued and outstanding Common Shares:
Identity of Person or Group
|
No. of Shares
Beneficially
|
Percent of Class
(2)
|
Carlos Ballon
|
9,801,611
|
11.0%
|
Franco Nevada Corporation
(4)
|
4,828,167
|
5.0%
|
(2)
Percentages are based on 89,830,376 common shares outstanding as of May 30,
2013. Common shares subject to stock options and common share purchase warrants
that are exercisable on, or within 60 days after, May 30, 2013 are deemed
outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding such stock
options and common share purchase warrants but are not deemed outstanding for
computing the percentage of any other person.
(3)
Based on information provided by Franco Nevada Corporation.
None of the shareholders disclosed above have any voting rights
with respect to their respective Common Shares that are different from any other
holder of Common Shares. All of the Common Shares, both issued and unissued, are
shares of the same class and rank equally as to dividends, voting powers and
participation of powers. Accordingly, there are no special voting powers held by
the Companys major shareholders.
As of May 30, 2013, there were 89,830,376 Common Shares issued
and outstanding. The Companys shareholder list as provided by Computershare
Investor Services, Inc., the Companys registrar and transfer agent, indicates
that the Company had 60 registered shareholders owning Common Shares, of which
37 of these registered shareholders, holding approximately 13,698,936 (15.25%)
Common Shares are residents of the United States, 14 of these registered
shareholders, holding approximately 75,307,440 (83.83%) Common Shares, are
residents of Canada, and 9 of these registered shareholders, holding
approximately 824,000 (0.92%) Common Shares are residents of jurisdictions other
than the United States and Canada.
Control by Foreign Government or Other Persons
To the best of our knowledge, the Company is not directly or
indirectly owned or controlled by another corporation, any foreign government,
or any other natural or legal person, severally or jointly.
Change of Control
As of the date of this Annual Report, there are no arrangements
known to us which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control.
47
7.B
Related Party Transactions
Except as noted below, there have been no transactions or loans
since February 1, 2011 which are material to the Company or a related party, or
are unusual in their nature or conditions, and have been entered into, or are
proposed to be entered into, between the Company and (a) enterprises that
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control or are
controlled by, or are under common control with, the Company; (b) associates;
(c) individuals owning, directly or indirectly, an interest in the voting power
of the Company that gives them significant influence over the Company, and close
members of any such individuals family; (d) key management personnel, that is,
those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and
controlling the activities of the Company, including directors and senior
management of the Company and close members of such individuals families; and
(e) enterprises in which a substantial interest in the voting power is owned,
directly or indirectly, by any person described in (c) or (d) or over which such
a person is able to exercise significant influence. This includes enterprises
owned by directors or major shareholders of the Company and enterprises that
have a member of key management in common with the Company. Close members of an
individuals family are those that may be expected to influence, or be
influenced by, that person in their dealings with the Company. An associate is
an unconsolidated enterprise in which the Company has a significant influence or
which has significant influence over the Company. Significant influence over an
enterprise is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy
decisions of the enterprise but is less than control over those policies.
Shareholders beneficially owning a 10% interest in the voting power of the
Company are presumed to have a significant influence on the company.
1.
Pursuant to an oral agreement, effective as and from December 1, 2008, the
Company retained Acuitas Consulting Ltd. Inc. (Acuitas), a company controlled
by Keith Henderson, the former President and Chief Executive Officer and a
director of the Company, to provide management services to the Company comprised
of all duties and responsibilities performed by Mr. Henderson as President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, at a fee of $12,000 per month. This fee
was increased to $16,600 effective March 1, 2009. The arrangement is without a
fixed term, and is terminable by either party on 30 days notice. The arrangement
terminated effective October 31, 2011
.
During the financial year ended
January 31, 2013, the Company paid Acuitas an aggregate of $Nil (2012 -
$116,200, 2011 - $237,540).
2.
Pursuant to an oral agreement, effective as and from August 1, 2008, the Company
retained Winslow Associates Management & Communications Inc. (Winslow), a
company controlled by Michael W. Kinley, the former Chief Financial Officer of
the Company from July 30, 2008 to July 12, 2011, to provide financial services
to the Company comprised of all duties and responsibilities performed by Mr.
Kinley as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, at a fee of $5,000 per month.
The arrangement was without a fixed term, and terminable by either party on 30
days notice. The arrangement terminated effective August 1, 2011
.
During
the financial year ended January 31, 2013, the Company paid Winslow an aggregate
of $Nil (2012 $30,000, 2011 - $60,000).
3.
Pursuant to an oral agreement, effective as and from July 12, 2011, the Company
retained Anna Ladd, the former Chief Financial Officer of the Company from July
12, 2011, to provide financial services to the Company comprised of all duties
and responsibilities performed by Ms. Ladd as Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, at a fee of $2,500 per month. The arrangement was without a fixed term,
and terminable by either party on 30 days notice. The arrangement terminated
effective March 2, 2012. During the financial year ended January 31, 2013, the
Company paid Ms. Ladd an aggregate of $Nil (2012- $15,000, 2011 - $Nil).
4.
Pursuant to an oral agreement, effective as of and from October 1, 2008, the
Company leases office space and receives administrative services from Cardero
Resource Corp. (Cardero), a company with a certain officer (Marla Ritchie) in
common with the Company. Under the lease, the Company is obligated to pay $4,306
per month in rent (plus utilities). The term of the lease is from April 1, 2011
to March 31, 2021 and is terminable by either party with 30 days notice. Other
administrative services are provided upon request, and invoiced at cost. During
the financial year ended January 31, 2013, the Company paid or accrued
exploration expenditures of $Nil (2012 - $112,305, 2011- $218,508), office and
miscellaneous expenses of $56,049 (2012 - $139,390; 2011 - $35,401),
professional fees of $28,080 (2012 21,840; 2011 - $Nil), regulatory expenses
of $3,950 (2012 - $3,950; 2011 - $3,950), consulting fees of $2,857 (2012 -
$3,000; 2011 - $138,842), travel and promotion expenses of $27,190 (2012 -
$69,112; 2011 - $164,774), prepaid expenses of $Nil (2012 - $Nil; 2011 - $751),
and investor relations expenses of $Nil (2012 - $18,270; 2011 - $9,281) pursuant
to the terms of this agreement.
48
5.
Pursuant to an oral agreement, effective as and from July 20, 2010, the Company
retained Carlos Ballon, who has also served as a Director of the Company since
July 20, 2010, to provide consulting services to the Company at a fee of
US$15,000 (reduced to US$7,500 on July 1, 2011) per month. Pursuant to the
agreement, Mr. Ballon serves as the general manager of the Companys Peruvian
operations. The arrangement is without a fixed term, and terminable by either
party on 30 days notice. During the financial year ended January 31, 2013, the
Company paid or accrued to Mr. Ballon an aggregate of $89,676 (2012- $158,115,
2011 - $107,274).
6.
Pursuant to an oral agreement, effective as and from November 1, 2011, the
Company retained Anton Drescher, the Interim President and Chief Executive
Officer and a director of the Company, to provide management services to the
Company comprised of all duties and responsibilities performed by Mr. Drescher
as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, at a fee of $8,300 per
month. The arrangement is without a fixed term, and is terminable by either
party on 30 days notice. The arrangement terminated effective March 2, 2012
.
During the financial year ended January 31, 2013, the Company paid or
accrued to Mr. Drescher an aggregate of $Nil (2012 - $24,900, 2011 - $Nil).
7.
Pursuant to an oral agreement, effective as and from March 2, 2012, the Company
retained Anton Drescher, the Interim Chief Financial Officer and a director of
the Company, to provide management services to the Company comprised of all
duties and responsibilities performed by Mr. Drescher as Chief Financial Officer
of the Company, at a fee of $2,500 per month. The arrangement is without a fixed
term, and is terminable by either party on 30 days notice. During the financial
year ended January 31, 2013, the Company paid or accrued to Mr. Drescher an
aggregate of $30,000.
7.C
Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
ITEM
8.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
8.A
Consolidated Statements and Other Financial
Information
See the Companys audited consolidated financial statements as
of January 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2013,
2012, and 2011, together with the notes thereto, attached to this annual report.
The Company is not aware of any current or pending material
legal or arbitration proceeding to which we are or are likely to be a party or
of which any of our properties are or are likely to be the subject.
The Company is not aware of any material proceeding in which
any director, senior manager or affiliate is either a party adverse to us or our
subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to us.
The Company has not declared or paid any cash dividends on our
capital stock. The Company does not currently expect to pay cash dividends in
the foreseeable future.
8.B
Significant Changes
On May 25, 2012 the Company closed a non-brokered private
placement of 13,190,391 shares at $0.09 cents per share for gross proceeds of
$1,187,135. Finders fees of $5,049 were paid to certain finders for part of the
private placement. See Note 16 to the Companys annual financial statements.
ITEM
9.
THE OFFER AND LISTING
49
9.A
Offer and Listing Details
The following table discloses the annual high and low sales
prices in Canadian dollars for our common shares for the five (5) most recent
financial years as traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX.V) after April 24,
2009 and the NEX board (NEX) prior thereto:
Year
|
High
|
Low
|
2013
|
$0.095
|
$0.025
|
2012
|
$1.18
|
$0.06
|
2011
|
$1.63
|
$0.53
|
2010
|
$1.35
|
$0.53
|
The following table discloses the high and low sales prices in
Canadian dollars for our common shares for each quarterly period within the two
most recent fiscal years and any subsequent quarterly period as traded on the
TSX.V:
Quarter Ended
|
High
|
Low
|
April 30, 2013
|
$0.075
|
$0.025
|
January 31, 2013
|
$0.095
|
$0.05
|
October 31, 2012
|
$0.01
|
$0.055
|
July 31, 2012
|
$0.01
|
$0.065
|
Apr 30, 2012
|
$0.12
|
$0.07
|
January 31, 2012
|
$0.10
|
$0.06
|
October 31, 2011
|
$0.19
|
$0.08
|
July 31, 2011
|
$0.45
|
$0.15
|
April 30, 2011
|
$1.19
|
$0.34
|
January 31, 2011
|
$1.63
|
$0.93
|
The following table discloses the monthly high and low sales
prices in Canadian dollars for our common shares for the most recent six months
as traded on the TSX.V:
Month
|
High
|
Low
|
May 2013
|
$0.04
|
$0.025
|
April 2013
|
$0.06
|
$0.025
|
March 2013
|
$0.06
|
$0.03
|
February 2013
|
$0.075
|
$0.055
|
January 2013
|
$0.09
|
$0.05
|
December 2012
|
$0.09
|
$0.05
|
The following table discloses the high and low sales prices in
US dollars for our common shares for each quarterly period within the two most
recent fiscal years and any subsequent quarterly period as traded on the OTCQX
International since the listing of our common shares on the OTCQX International
on March 2, 2010: The Company delisted from the OTCQX as at October 31, 2012.
Quarter Ended
|
High
|
Low
|
April 30, 2013
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
January 31, 2013
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
October 31, 2012
|
US$0.1070
|
US$0.0590
|
July 31, 2012
|
US$0.0970
|
US$0.0620
|
April 30, 2012
|
US$0.10
|
US$0.06
|
50
January 31, 2012
|
US$0.10
|
US$0.06
|
October 31, 2011
|
US$0.19
|
US$0.08
|
July 31, 2011
|
US$0.47
|
US$0.17
|
April 30, 2011
|
US$1.20
|
US$0.37
|
January 31, 2011
|
US$1.60
|
US$1.01
|
9.B
Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
9.C
Markets
The Companys common shares are listed on the TSX.V, under the
trading symbol
DRI
. There are currently no restrictions on the
transferability of these shares under Canadian securities laws. We are also
quoted on OTCQX International under the trading symbol
DRIFF
and the
Berlin Stock Exchange Unofficial Regulated Market and the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange under the symbol DO5.
9.D
Selling Shareholders
Not applicable.
9.E
Dilution
Not applicable.
9.F
Expenses of the Issue
Not applicable.
ITEM
10.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
10.A
Share Capital
Not applicable.
10.B
Memorandum and Articles of Association
Effective August 21, 2006, we continued our jurisdiction of
incorporation into British Columbia from Wyoming. Our new form of Articles, as
approved by our shareholders at our annual meeting held on August 9, 2006
(adjourned from July 17, 2006), were adopted on the date of continuation.
Under the
Business Corporations Act
(British Columbia)
we are permitted to conduct any lawful business that we are not restricted from
conducting by our Articles, which does not contain any restriction on the
business we may conduct.
A director who, in any way, directly or indirectly, is
interested in a proposed contract or transaction with us must disclose in
writing the nature and extent of the director's interest at a meeting of
directors and abstain from voting on approval of the matter. Our Articles permit
an interested director to be counted in the quorum and the
Business
Corporations Act
(British Columbia) provides that a director of a company is
not deemed to be interested in a proposed contract or transaction merely because
the proposed contract or transaction relates, among other things, to an
indemnity, liability insurance or the remuneration of a director in that
capacity. Hence, directors can vote compensation to themselves or any of their
members. The board of directors has the power to borrow, issue debt obligations
and to charge our assets on the terms and conditions they consider appropriate,
provided only that such power is exercised bona fide and in our best interests.
There is no mandatory retirement age for directors. A director is not required
to have any share qualification.
51
The Company has only one class of common shares, without any
special rights or restrictions. The dividend entitlement of a shareholder of
record is fixed at the time of declaration by the board of directors. A vested
dividend entitlement does not lapse, but unclaimed dividends are subject to a
statutory six year contract debts limitation. Each common share is entitled to
one vote on the election of each director. There are no cumulative voting
rights, in consequence of which a simple majority of votes at the annual meeting
can elect all of our directors. Each common share carries with it the right to
share equally with every other common share in dividends declared and in any
distribution of our surplus assets after payment to creditors on any winding up,
liquidation or dissolution. There are no sinking fund provisions. All common
shares must be fully paid prior to issue and are thereafter subject to no
further capital calls by us. There exists no discriminatory provision affecting
any existing or prospective holder of common shares as a result of such
shareholder owning a substantial number of shares.
Under the
Business Corporations
Act
(British
Columbia), the rights of shareholders may be changed only by the shareholders
passing a special resolution approved by 2/3 of the votes cast at a special
meeting of shareholders, the notice of which is accompanied by an information
circular describing the proposed action and its effect on the shareholders.
The Board of Directors must call an annual general meeting once
in each calendar year and not later than 15 months after the last such meeting.
The Board may call an extraordinary general meeting at any time. Notice of such
meetings must be accompanied by an information circular describing the proposed
business to be dealt with and making disclosures as prescribed by statute. A
shareholder or shareholders having in the aggregate 5% of our issued shares may
requisition a meeting and the Board is required to hold such meeting within four
months of such requisition. Admission to such meetings is open to registered
shareholders and their duly appointed proxies. Others may be admitted subject to
the pleasure of the meeting.
The Companys Notice of Articles and Articles contain no
limitations on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or
exercise rights on our shares. Except for the
Investment Canada Act
,
which requires certain transactions to be approved by the Minister of Industry
and/or the Minister of Canadian Heritage as being of net benefit to Canada
before they may proceed, there is no limitation at law upon the right of a
non-resident to hold shares in a Canadian company.
There are no provisions in our Notice of Articles and Articles
that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in
control and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or
corporate restructuring involving us or any of our subsidiaries.
There is no provision in our Notice of Articles and Articles
setting a threshold or requiring or governing disclosure of shareholder
ownership above any level. Securities Acts, regulations and the policies and
rules thereunder in the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia and in the
United States, where we are a reporting company, require any person holding or
having beneficial ownership or control or direction of more than 10% of our
issued shares to file insider and other reports disclosing such share
holdings.
10.C
Material Contracts
Each of the following material contracts to which the Company
has been a party for the two years immediately preceding the publication of this
annual report is listed as an exhibit to this annual report and is summarized
elsewhere herein:
1.
Option Agreement with Carlos Ballon Barraza, a director and major shareholder of
our Company, dated October 18, 2007 whereby we were granted the option to earn a
100% interest in the Vicmarama Property.
2.
Option Agreement with Carlos Ballon Barraza, a director and major shareholder of
our Company, dated October 18, 2007 whereby we were granted the option to earn a
100% interest in the Maravilla Property.
52
3.
Option Agreement with Carlos Ballon Barraza, a director and major shareholder of
our Company, dated October 18, 2007 whereby we were granted the option to earn a
100% interest in the Lahaina 2 Property.
4.
Option Agreement with Carlos Ballon Barraza, a director and major shareholder of
our Company, dated October 18, 2007 whereby we were granted the option to earn a
100% interest in the Lahaina 1 Property.
5.
Royalty Agreement between the Company and Franco-Nevada Corporation dated August
18, 2008, as amended March 20, 2009.
6.
First Amendment to the Royalty Agreement between the Company and Franco-Nevada
Corporation dated March 30, 2009.
7.
Option Agreement with Sociedad Minera de Responsabilidad Limitada La Luminose de
Cajamarca (Luminosa) whereby we were granted option agreement to acquire a
100% interest in the Deborah Gold property, Cajamarca, Peru. The Company can
acquire a 100% interest in the property in exchange for cumulative payments of
$6,000,000 over a minimum of 5 years.
10.D
Exchange Controls
There are no governmental laws, decrees or regulations in
Canada relating to restrictions on the export or import of capital, or affecting
the remittance of interest, dividends or other payments to non-resident holders
of our common stock. See Taxation below.
10.E
Taxation
Material Canadian Federal Income Tax
Considerations
The following is a summary of the material anticipated tax
consequences of an investment by an investor not resident or deemed resident in
Canada, under Canadian tax laws and any applicable bilateral income treaty. This
summary does not apply to an investor that carries on, or is deemed to carry on,
an insurance business in Canada or elsewhere or an authorized foreign bank as
defined in the
Income Tax Act
(Canada).
The discussion of Canadian federal income considerations is not
exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal income tax considerations and does
not take into account provincial, territorial or foreign tax considerations. It
is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to
any particular holder of common shares. Prospective purchasers of our common
shares, including non-resident insurers carrying on business in Canada, are
advised to consult with their advisors about the income tax consequences to them
of an acquisition of common shares. The discussion of Canadian federal income
considerations assumes that holders of common shares hold their common shares as
capital property, deal at arm's length and are not affiliated with us, are not
"
financial institutions
" or
"specified financial institutions"
as
defined in the
Income Tax Act
, an interest in which would be a
"tax
shelter investment"
as defined in the
Income Tax Act
, has not made an
election under the
Income Tax Act
to determine their Canadian tax results
in a foreign currency and do not use or hold their common shares in, or in the
course of, carrying on a business in Canada and has not acquired them in one or
more transactions considered to be an adventure in the nature of trade. The
discussion of Canadian federal income considerations is based on the current
provisions of the
Income Tax Act
and the regulations under the
Income
Tax Act
, all proposed amendments to the
Income Tax Act
and the
Act
regulations announced by the Minister of Finance (Canada) as at the date
hereof, the current administrative policies and assessing practices of the
Canada Revenue Agency, and the current provisions of the published
Canada-United States Tax Convention (1980)
. It has been assumed that any
proposed amendments to the
Income Tax Ac
t and the regulations thereto
will be enacted in substantially their present form. This discussion does not
take into account or anticipate any change in law, administrative policy or
assessing practice, whether by legislature, regulatory, administrative,
governmental or judicial decision or action, nor does it take into account the
tax laws of any province or territory in Canada or of any jurisdiction outside
of Canada, which may differ significantly from the Canadian Federal income tax
considerations discussed therein.
53
The anticipated tax consequences may change, and any change may
be retroactively effective. If so, this summary may be affected. Further, any
variation or difference from the facts or representations recited here, for any
reason, might affect the following discussion, perhaps in an adverse manner, and
make this summary inapplicable.
Dividends on our Common Shares
Under the
Income Tax Act
, amounts paid or credited on
account or in lieu of payment of, or in satisfaction of, dividends, including
stock dividends, to holders of our common shares that are resident in a country
other than Canada will be subject to Canadian withholding tax of 25% of the
amount of the dividend. The rate of withholding tax may be reduced in accordance
with the terms of a bilateral income tax treaty between Canada and the country
in which a holder of common shares is resident.
Under the
Canada-United States Tax Convention (1980)
,
when the recipient of a dividend on the common shares is the beneficial owner of
the dividend, does not have a "
permanent establishment
" in Canada, and is
considered to be a resident of the United States and a "qualifying person" under
the
Canada-United States Tax Convention (1980)
, the rate of Canadian
withholding tax on the dividends will generally be reduced to 15% of the gross
amount of the dividends or, if the recipient is a corporation which owns at
least 10% of our voting stock, to 5% of the gross amount of the dividends.
Dividends paid or credited to a holder that is a United States tax-exempt
organization, as described in Article XXI of the
Canada-United States Tax
Convention (1980)
, will not have to pay the Canadian withholding tax.
Disposition of Common Shares
A holder of common shares will not be required to pay tax for a
capital gain on the disposition of a common share unless the common share is
"
taxable Canadian property
" of the holder as defined by the
Income Tax
Act
, and no relief is afforded under the
Canada-United States Tax
Convention (1980)
. A common share will generally be taxable Canadian
property to a holder if the common share is listed on a designated stock
exchange within the meaning of the
Income Tax Act
(which includes the
TSX.V) and at any particular time during the 60-month period that ends at that
time (i) the holder, or persons with whom the holder did not deal at arm's
length (within the meaning of the
Income Tax Act
), or any combination of
these parties, owned 25% or more of the issued shares of any class of our
shares, and (ii) more than 50% of the fair market value of the shares was
derived directly or indirectly from one or any combination of real or immovable
property situated in Canada, Canadian resource properties, timber resource
properties (each as defined in the
Income Tax Act
and options in respect
of or interests in, or for civil law rights in any such properties. Where a
common share is taxable Canadian property to a U.S. resident holder who is a
"qualifying person" for purposes of the
Canada-United States Tax Convention
(1980)
it will generally exempt such holder from tax on the disposition of
the common share provided its value is not, at the time of the disposition,
derived principally from real property situated in Canada. This relief under the
Canada-United States Tax Convention (1980)
may not be available to a U.S.
resident holder who had a "
permanent establishment
" available in Canada
during the 12 months immediately preceding the disposition of the common share
where the common share constitutes business property and where any gain on the
disposition of the share is attributable to such permanent establishment.
Under the
Income Tax Act
, the disposition of a common
share by a holder may occur in a number of circumstances including on a sale or
gift of the share or upon the death of the holder. There are no Canadian federal
estate or gift taxes on the purchase or ownership of the common shares.
Repurchase of Common Shares
If we repurchase our common shares from a holder of our common
shares (other than a purchase of common shares on the open market in a manner in
which shares would be purchased by any member of the public in the open market),
the amount paid by us that exceeds the "
paid-up capital
" of the shares
purchased will be deemed by the
Income Tax Act
to be a dividend paid by
us to the holder of our common shares. The paid-up capital of our common shares
may be less than the holder's cost of its common shares. The tax treatment of
any dividend received by a holder of our common shares has been described above
under "
Dividends on our Common Shares
."
54
A holder of our common shares will also be considered to have
disposed of its common shares purchased by us for proceeds of disposition equal
to the amount received or receivable by the holder on the purchase, less the
amount of any dividend as described above. As a result, the holder of our common
shares will generally realize a capital gain (or capital loss) equal to the
amount by which the proceeds of disposition, net of any costs of disposition and
adjusted for any deemed dividends, exceed (or are exceeded by) the adjusted cost
base of these shares. The tax treatment of any capital gain or capital loss has
been described above under "
Disposition of Common Shares.
"
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general summary of certain U.S. federal
income tax considerations applicable to a U.S. Holder (as defined below) arising
from and relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common
Shares.
This summary is for general information purposes only and does
not purport to be a complete analysis or listing of all potential U.S. federal
income tax considerations that may apply to a U.S. Holder arising from and
relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares. In
addition, this summary does not take into account the individual facts and
circumstances of any particular U.S. Holder that may affect the U.S. federal
income tax consequences to such U.S. Holder, including specific tax consequences
to a U.S. Holder under an applicable tax treaty. Accordingly, this summary is
not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or U.S. federal income
tax advice with respect to any U.S. Holder. Each U.S. Holder should consult its
own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. federal alternative minimum,
U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and foreign tax consequences
relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares.
No legal opinion from U.S. legal counsel or ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) has been requested, or will be obtained,
regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition,
ownership, and disposition of Common Shares. This summary is not binding on the
IRS, and the IRS is not precluded from taking a position that is different from,
and contrary to, the positions taken in this summary. In addition, because the
authorities on which this summary is based are subject to various
interpretations, the IRS and the U.S. courts could disagree with one or more of
the positions taken in this summary.
Scope of this Summary
Authorities
This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code), Treasury Regulations (whether final, temporary, or
proposed), published rulings of the IRS, published administrative positions of
the IRS, the Convention Between Canada and the United States of America with
Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed September 26, 1980, as amended
(the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention), and U.S. court decisions that are applicable
and, in each case, as in effect and available, as of the date of this document.
Any of the authorities on which this summary is based could be changed in a
material and adverse manner at any time, and any such change could be applied on
a retroactive or prospective basis which could affect the U.S. federal income
tax considerations described in this summary. This summary does not discuss the
potential effects, whether adverse or beneficial, of any proposed legislation
that, if enacted, could be applied on a retroactive or prospective basis.
U.S. Holders
For purposes of this summary, the term "U.S. Holder" means a
beneficial owner of Common Shares that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the U.S.;
a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income
tax purposes) organized under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the
District of Columbia;
an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of
its source; or
55
a trust that (a) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the
U.S. and the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions
or (b) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to
be treated as a U.S. person.
Non-U.S. Holders
For purposes of this summary, a non-U.S. Holder is a
beneficial owner of Common Shares that is not a U.S. Holder. This summary does
not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to non-U.S. Holders arising
from and relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common
Shares. Accordingly, a non-U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor
regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal
estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and foreign tax consequences (including
the potential application of and operation of any income tax treaties) relating
to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares.
U.S. Holders Subject to Special U.S. Federal Income Tax
Rules Not Addressed
This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax
considerations applicable to U.S. Holders that are subject to special provisions
under the Code, including the following U.S. Holders: (a) U.S. Holders that are
tax-exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, individual retirement
accounts, or other tax-deferred accounts; (b) U.S. Holders that are financial
institutions, underwriters, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts,
or regulated investment companies; (c) U.S. Holders that are broker-dealers,
dealers, or traders in securities or currencies that elect to apply a
mark-to-market accounting method; (d) U.S. Holders that have a functional
currency other than the U.S. dollar; (e) U.S. Holders that own Common Shares as
part of a straddle, hedging transaction, conversion transaction, constructive
sale, or other arrangement involving more than one position; (f) U.S. Holders
that acquired Common Shares in connection with the exercise of employee stock
options or otherwise as compensation for services; (g) U.S. Holders that hold
Common Shares other than as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221
of the Code (generally, property held for investment purposes); (h) partnerships
and other pass-through entities (and investors in such partnerships and
entities); or (i) U.S. Holders that own or have owned (directly, indirectly, or
by attribution) 10% or more of the total combined voting power of the
outstanding shares of the Company. This summary also does not address the U.S.
federal income tax considerations applicable to U.S. Holders who are: (a) U.S.
expatriates or former long-term residents of the U.S.; (b) persons that have
been, are, or will be a resident or deemed to be a resident in Canada for
purposes of the Income Tax Act; (c) persons that use or hold, will use or hold,
or that are or will be deemed to use or hold Common Shares in connection with
carrying on a business in Canada; (d) persons whose Common Shares constitute
taxable Canadian property under the Income Tax Act; or (e) persons that have a
permanent establishment in Canada for the purposes of the Canada-U.S. Tax
Convention. U.S. Holders that are subject to special provisions under the Code,
including U.S. Holders described immediately above, should consult their own tax
advisor regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S.
federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and foreign tax consequences
relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares.
If an entity that is classified as a partnership (or
pass-through entity) for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Common Shares,
the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such partnership and the partners of
such partnership generally will depend on the activities of the partnership and
the status of such partners (or owners). This summary does not address the tax
consequences to any such partner. Partners of entities that are classified as
partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes should consult their own tax
advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences arising from and
relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares.
Tax Consequences Not Addressed
This summary does not address the, U.S. federal alternative
minimum, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and foreign tax
consequences to U.S. Holders of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of
Common Shares. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the
U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and
local, and foreign tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and
disposition of Common Shares.
56
Tax Status of the Company
On August 21, 2006, the Company continued from its
incorporation in the State of Wyoming to being a British Columbia, Canada
corporation. Section 7874 of the Code was enacted in 2004 to address
transactions whereby U.S. corporations migrate to a foreign jurisdiction to
avoid U.S. federal income tax. Section 7874(b) provides generally that a
corporation that migrates from the U.S. will nonetheless be considered a U.S.
corporation and remain subject to U.S. tax on its worldwide income unless the
migrating entity has substantial business activities in the foreign country to
which it is migrating when compared to its total business activities. The
Company has taken the position that at the time of its continuance to Canada, it
had substantial business activities in Canada when compared to its total
business activities, and that Section 7874(b) of the Code does not apply to
cause the Company to be treated as a U.S. corporation and be subject to U.S.
income tax on its worldwide income. The position taken by the Company may be
challenged by U.S. tax authorities with the result that the Company may be
treated as a U.S. corporation and remain subject to U.S. federal income tax on
its worldwide income. In addition to U.S. income taxes, were Section 7874(b) of
the Code to apply to the Company, the Company could be subject to penalties for
failure to file U.S. tax returns, late fees, and interest on past due taxes. The
remainder of this summary assumes that Section 7874(b) of the Code does not
apply to the Company.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
If the Company were to constitute a passive foreign investment
company under the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code (a PFIC, as defined
below) for any year during a U.S. Holders holding period, then certain
different and potentially adverse rules will affect the U.S. federal income tax
consequences to a U.S. Holder resulting from the acquisition, ownership and
disposition of Common Shares. In addition, in any year in which the Company
constitutes a PFIC, such holder would be required to file an annual report with
the IRS containing such information as Treasury Regulations and/or other IRS
guidelines may require U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors
regarding the requirements of filing such information returns under these rules,
including the requirement to file a IRS Form 8621.
PFIC Status of the Company
The Company generally will be a PFIC if, for a tax year, (a)
75% or more of the gross income of the Company for such tax year is passive
income (the income test) or (b) 50% or more of the value of the Companys
assets either produce passive income or are held for the production of passive
income, based on the quarterly average of the fair market value of such assets
(the asset test). Gross income generally includes all sales revenues less
the cost of goods sold, plus income from investments and from incidental or
outside operations or sources, and passive income generally includes, for
example, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties, certain gains from
the sale of stock and securities, and certain gains from commodities
transactions.
Active business gains arising from the sale of commodities
generally are excluded from passive income if substantially all (85% or more) of
a foreign corporations commodities are stock in trade of such foreign
corporation or other property of a kind which would properly be included in
inventory of such foreign corporation, or property held by such foreign
corporation primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business,
if such gains constitute more than 85% of the corporations total receipts and
certain other requirements are satisfied.
For purposes of the PFIC income test and asset test described
above, if the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the total
value of the outstanding shares of another corporation, the Company will be
treated as if it (a) held a proportionate share of the assets of such other
corporation and (b) received directly a proportionate share of the income of
such other corporation. In addition, for purposes of the PFIC income test and
asset test described above, passive income does not include any interest,
dividends, rents, or royalties that are received or accrued by the Company from
a related person (as defined in Section 954(d)(3) of the Code), to the extent
such items are properly allocable to the income of such related person that is
not passive income.
In addition, under certain attribution rules, if the Company is
a PFIC, U.S. Holders will be deemed to own their proportionate share of the
stock of any subsidiary of the Company which is also a PFIC (a Subsidiary
PFIC), and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on their proportionate
share of (a) a distribution on the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC and (b) a disposition or deemed disposition of the stock
of a Subsidiary PFIC, both as if such U.S. Holders directly held the stock of
such Subsidiary PFIC.
57
The Company believes that it constituted a PFIC during the tax
year ended January 31, 2013, and may be a PFIC in the current and future tax
years. The determination of whether any corporation was, or will be, a PFIC for
a tax year depends, in part, on the application of complex U.S. federal income
tax rules, which are subject to differing interpretations. In addition, whether
any corporation will be a PFIC for any tax year depends on the assets and income
of such corporation over the course of each such tax year and, as a result,
cannot be predicted with certainty as of the date of this document. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge any determination made
by the Company (or a Subsidiary PFIC) concerning its PFIC status or that the
Company (and each Subsidiary PFIC) was not, or will not be, a PFIC for any tax
year. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the PFIC
status of the Company and each Subsidiary PFIC.
Default PFIC Rules Under Section 1291 of the Code
If the Company is a PFIC, the U.S. federal income tax
consequences to a U.S. Holder of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of
Common Shares will depend on whether such U.S. Holder makes an election to treat
the Company and each Subsidiary PFIC as a qualified electing fund or QEF
under Section 1295 of the Code (a QEF Election) or a mark-to-market election
under Section 1296 of the Code (a Mark-to-Market Election). A U.S. Holder that
does not make either a QEF Election or a Mark-to-Market Election will be
referred to in this summary as a Non-Electing U.S. Holder.
A Non-Electing U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules of
Section 1291 of the Code with respect to (a) any gain recognized on the sale or
other taxable disposition of Common Shares and (b) any excess distribution
received on the Common Shares. A distribution generally will be an excess
distribution to the extent that such distribution (together with all other
distributions received in the current tax year) exceeds 125% of the average
distributions received during the three preceding tax years (or during a U.S.
Holders holding period for the Common Shares, if shorter).
Under Section 1291 of the Code, any gain recognized on the sale
or other taxable disposition of Common Shares, and any excess distribution
received on Common Shares, must be ratably allocated to each day in a
Non-Electing U.S. Holders holding period for the respective Common Shares. The
amount of any such gain or excess distribution allocated to the tax year of
disposition or distribution of the excess distribution and to years before the
entity became a PFIC, if any, would be taxed as ordinary income. The amounts
allocated to any other tax year would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at
the highest tax applicable to ordinary income in each such year, and an interest
charge would be imposed on the tax liability for each such year, calculated as
if such tax liability had been due in each such year. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder
that is not a corporation must treat any such interest paid as personal
interest, which is not deductible.
If the Company is a PFIC for any tax year during which a
Non-Electing U.S. Holder holds Common Shares, the Company will continue to be
treated as a PFIC with respect to such Non-Electing U.S. Holder, regardless of
whether the Company ceases to be a PFIC in one or more subsequent tax years. A
Non-Electing U.S. Holder may terminate this deemed PFIC status by electing to
recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code
discussed above) as if such Common Shares were sold on the last day of the last
tax year for which the Company was a PFIC.
QEF Election
A U.S. Holder that makes a QEF Election for the first tax year
in which its holding period of its Common Shares begins, generally, will not be
subject to the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above with respect to
its Common Shares. However, a U.S. Holder that makes a QEF Election will be
subject to U.S. federal income tax on such U.S. Holders pro rata share of (a)
the net capital gain of the Company, which will be taxed as long-term capital
gain to such U.S. Holder, and (b) the ordinary earnings of the Company, which
will be taxed as ordinary income to such U.S. Holder. Generally, net capital
gain is the excess of (a) net long-term capital gain over (b) net short-term
capital loss, and ordinary earnings are the excess of (a) earnings and
profits over (b) net capital gain. A U.S.
58
Holder that makes a QEF Election will be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on such amounts for each tax year in which the Company is a
PFIC, regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed to such U.S.
Holder by the Company. However, for any tax year in which the Company is a PFIC
and has no net income or gain, U.S. Holders that have made a QEF Election would
not have any income inclusions as a result of the QEF Election. If a U.S. Holder
that made a QEF Election has an income inclusion, such a U.S. Holder may,
subject to certain limitations, elect to defer payment of current U.S. federal
income tax on such amounts, subject to an interest charge. If such U.S. Holder
is not a corporation, any such interest paid will be treated as personal
interest, which is not deductible.
A U.S. Holder that makes a QEF Election generally (a) may
receive a tax-free distribution from the Company to the extent that such
distribution represents earnings and profits of the Company that were
previously included in income by the U.S. Holder because of such QEF Election
and (b) will adjust such U.S. Holders tax basis in the Common Shares to reflect
the amount included in income or allowed as a tax-free distribution because of
such QEF Election. In addition, a U.S. Holder that makes a QEF Election
generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale or other taxable
disposition of Common Shares.
The procedure for making a QEF Election, and the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of making a QEF Election, will depend on whether such
QEF Election is timely. A QEF Election will be treated as timely if such QEF
Election is made for the first year in the U.S. Holders holding period for the
Common Shares in which the Company was a PFIC. A U.S. Holder may make a timely
QEF Election by filing the appropriate QEF Election documents at the time such
U.S. Holder files a U.S. federal income tax return for such year.
A QEF Election will apply to the tax year for which such QEF
Election is made and to all subsequent tax years, unless such QEF Election is
invalidated or terminated or the IRS consents to revocation of such QEF
Election. If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election and, in a subsequent tax year,
the Company ceases to be a PFIC, the QEF Election will remain in effect
(although it will not be applicable) during those tax years in which the Company
is not a PFIC. Accordingly, if the Company becomes a PFIC in another subsequent
tax year, the QEF Election will be effective and the U.S. Holder will be subject
to the QEF rules described above during any subsequent tax year in which the
Company qualifies as a PFIC.
U.S. Holders should be aware that there can be no assurances
that the Company will satisfy the record keeping requirements that apply to a
QEF, or that the Company will supply U.S. Holders with information that such
U.S. Holders require to report under the QEF rules, in the event that the
Company is a PFIC and a U.S. Holder wishes to make a QEF Election. Thus, U.S.
Holders may not be able to make a QEF Election with respect to their Common
Shares. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the
availability of, and procedure for making, a QEF Election.
Mark-to-Market Election
A U.S. Holder may make a Mark-to-Market Election only if the
Common Shares are marketable stock. The Common Shares generally will be
marketable stock if the Common Shares are regularly traded on (a) a national
securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, (b) the national market system established pursuant to section 11A
of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, or (c) a foreign securities exchange
that is regulated or supervised by a governmental authority of the country in
which the market is located, provided that (i) such foreign exchange has trading
volume, listing, financial disclosure, and other requirements and the laws of
the country in which such foreign exchange is located, together with the rules
of such foreign exchange, ensure that such requirements are actually enforced
and (ii) the rules of such foreign exchange ensure active trading of listed
stocks. If such stock is traded on such a qualified exchange or other market,
such stock generally will be regularly traded for any calendar year during
which such stock is traded, other than in
de minimis
quantities, on at
least 15 days during each calendar quarter.
A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election with respect
to its Common Shares generally will not be subject to the rules of Section 1291
of the Code discussed above with respect to such Common Shares. However, if a
U.S. Holder does not make a Mark-to-Market Election beginning in the first tax
year of such U.S. Holders holding period for the Common Shares or such U.S. Holder has not made a timely
QEF Election, the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above will apply
to certain dispositions of, and distributions on, the Common Shares.
59
A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will include
in ordinary income, for each tax year in which the Company is a PFIC, an amount
equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of the Common Shares,
as of the close of such tax year over (b) such U.S. Holders tax basis in such
Common Shares. A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will be
allowed a deduction in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such U.S.
Holders adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares, over (b) the fair market value
of such Common Shares (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously
included income as a result of the Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years).
A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election generally
also will adjust such U.S. Holders tax basis in the Common Shares to reflect
the amount included in gross income or allowed as a deduction because of such
Mark-to-Market Election. In addition, upon a sale or other taxable disposition
of Common Shares, a U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will
recognize ordinary income or ordinary loss (not to exceed the excess, if any, of
(a) the amount included in ordinary income because of such Mark-to-Market
Election for prior tax years over (b) the amount allowed as a deduction because
of such Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years).
A Mark-to-Market Election applies to the tax year in which such
Mark-to-Market Election is made and to each subsequent tax year, unless the
Common Shares cease to be marketable stock or the IRS consents to revocation
of such election. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding
the availability of, and procedure for making, a Mark-to-Market Election.
Although a U.S. Holder may be eligible to make a Mark-to-Market
Election with respect to the Common Shares, no such election may be made with
respect to the stock of any Subsidiary PFIC that a U.S. Holder is treated as
owning, because such stock is not marketable. Hence, the Mark-to-Market Election
will not be effective to eliminate the interest charge described above with
respect to deemed dispositions of Subsidiary PFIC stock or distributions from a
Subsidiary PFIC.
Other PFIC Rules
Under Section 1291(f) of the Code, the IRS has issued proposed
Treasury Regulations that, subject to certain exceptions, would cause a U.S.
Holder that had not made a timely QEF Election to recognize gain (but not loss)
upon certain transfers of Common Shares that would otherwise be tax-deferred
(e.g., gifts and exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations). However, the
specific U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder may vary based on
the manner in which Common Shares are transferred.
Certain additional adverse rules will apply with respect to a
U.S. Holder if the Company is a PFIC, regardless of whether such U.S. Holder
makes a QEF Election. For example under Section 1298(b)(6) of the Code, a U.S.
Holder that uses Common Shares as security for a loan will, except as may be
provided in Treasury Regulations, be treated as having made a taxable
disposition of such Common Shares.
Special rules also apply to the amount of foreign tax credit
that a U.S. Holder may claim on a distribution from a PFIC. Subject to such
special rules, foreign taxes paid with respect to any distribution in respect of
stock in a PFIC are generally eligible for the foreign tax credit. The rules
relating to distributions by a PFIC and their eligibility for the foreign tax
credit are complicated, and a U.S. Holder should consult with their own tax
advisor regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit with respect to
distributions by a PFIC.
The PFIC rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult
its own tax advisor regarding the PFIC rules and how the PFIC rules may affect
the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and
disposition of Common Shares.
60
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Acquisition,
Ownership, and Disposition of Common Shares
The following discussion is subject to the rules described
above under the heading Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.
Distributions on Common Shares
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed above, a U.S. Holder that
receives a distribution, including a constructive distribution, with respect to
a Common Share will be required to include the amount of such distribution in
gross income as a dividend (without reduction for any Canadian income tax
withheld from such distribution) to the extent of the current or accumulated
earnings and profits of the Company, as computed for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. A dividend generally will be taxed to a U.S. Holder at ordinary income
tax rates. To the extent that a distribution exceeds the current and accumulated
earnings and profits of the Company, such distribution will be treated first
as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of a U.S. Holder's tax basis in
the Common Shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of such
Common Shares. (See Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares below).
However, the Company may not maintain the calculations of earnings and profits
in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles, and each U.S. Holder
should therefore assume that any distribution by the Company with respect to the
Common Shares will constitute ordinary dividend income. Dividends received on
Common Shares generally will not be eligible for the dividends received
deduction. In addition, the Company does not anticipate that its distributions
will be eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to long-term capital
gains. The dividend rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its
own tax advisor regarding the application of such rules.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed above, upon the sale or
other taxable disposition of Common Shares, a U.S. Holder generally will
recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the
amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received and such U.S.
Holder's tax basis in such Common Shares sold or otherwise disposed of. Subject
to the PFIC rules discussed above, gain or loss recognized on such sale or other
disposition generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of
the sale or other disposition, the Common Shares have been held for more than
one year.
Preferential tax rates apply to long-term capital gain of a
U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate, or trust. There are currently no
preferential tax rates for long-term capital gain of a U.S. Holder that is a
corporation. Deductions for capital losses are subject to significant
limitations under the Code.
Additional Considerations
Additional Tax on Passive Income
Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals, estates or trusts
will be required to pay up to an additional 3.8% tax on, among other things,
dividends and capital gains for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012.
U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any,
of this tax on their ownership and disposition of Common Shares.
Receipt of Foreign Currency
The amount of any distribution paid to a U.S. Holder in foreign
currency, or on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Common
Shares, generally will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of such foreign
currency based on the exchange rate applicable on the date of receipt
(regardless of whether such foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars at
that time). If the foreign currency received is not converted into U.S. dollars
on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder will have a basis in the foreign currency
equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Any U.S. Holder who
receives payment in foreign currency and engages in a subsequent conversion or
other disposition of the foreign currency may have a foreign currency exchange
gain or loss that would be treated as ordinary income or loss, and generally
will be U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. Each U.S.
Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of receiving, owning, and disposing of foreign currency.
61
Foreign Tax Credit
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed above, a U.S. Holder that
pays (whether directly or through withholding) Canadian income tax with respect
to dividends paid on the Common Shares generally will be entitled, at the
election of such U.S. Holder, to receive either a deduction or a credit for such
Canadian income tax paid. Generally, a credit will reduce a U.S. Holders U.S.
federal income tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, whereas a deduction
will reduce a U.S. Holders income subject to U.S. federal income tax. This
election is made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid
(whether directly or through withholding) by a U.S. Holder during a year.
Complex limitations apply to the foreign tax credit, including
the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of
a U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability that such U.S. Holders
foreign source taxable income bears to such U.S. Holders worldwide taxable
income. In applying this limitation, a U.S. Holders various items of income and
deduction must be classified, under complex rules, as either foreign source or
U.S. source. Generally, dividends paid by a foreign corporation should be
treated as foreign source for this purpose, and gains recognized on the sale of
stock of a foreign corporation by a U.S. Holder should be treated as U.S. source
for this purpose, except as otherwise provided in an applicable income tax
treaty, and if an election is properly made under the Code. However, the amount
of a distribution with respect to the Common Shares that is treated as a
dividend may be lower for U.S. federal income tax purposes than it is for
Canadian federal income tax purposes, resulting in a reduced foreign tax credit
allowance to a U.S. Holder. In addition, this limitation is calculated
separately with respect to specific categories of income. The foreign tax credit
rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisor
regarding the foreign tax credit rules.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Under U.S. federal income tax law and Treasury Regulations,
certain categories of U.S. Holders must file information returns with respect to
their investment in, or involvement in, a foreign corporation. For example, new
U.S. return disclosure obligations (and related penalties) are imposed on U.S.
Holders that hold certain specified foreign financial assets in excess of
US$50,000. The definition of specified foreign financial assets includes not
only financial accounts maintained in foreign financial institutions, but also,
unless held in accounts maintained by a financial institution, any stock or
security issued by a non-U.S. person, any financial instrument or contract held
for investment that has an issuer or counterparty other than a U.S. person and
any interest in a foreign entity. U.S. Holders may be subject to these reporting
requirements unless their Common Shares are held in an account at a domestic
financial institution. Penalties for failure to file certain of these
information returns are substantial. U.S. Holders should consult with their own
tax advisors regarding the requirements of filing information returns, including
the requirement to file an IRS Form 8938.
Payments made within the U.S. or by a U.S. payor or U.S.
middleman, of dividends on, and proceeds arising from the sale or other taxable
disposition of, Common Shares generally may be subject to information reporting
and backup withholding tax, at the rate of 28% (and increasing to 31% for
payments made after December 31, 2012), if a U.S. Holder (a) fails to furnish
such U.S. Holders correct U.S. taxpayer identification number (generally on
Form W-9), (b) furnishes an incorrect U.S. taxpayer identification number, (c)
is notified by the IRS that such U.S. Holder has previously failed to properly
report items subject to backup withholding tax, or (d) fails to certify, under
penalty of perjury, that such U.S. Holder has furnished its correct U.S.
taxpayer identification number and that the IRS has not notified such U.S.
Holder that it is subject to backup withholding tax. However, certain exempt
persons, such as corporations, generally are excluded from these information
reporting and backup withholding rules. Any amounts withheld under the U.S.
backup withholding tax rules will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holders
U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or will be refunded, if such U.S.
Holder furnishes required information to the IRS in a timely manner. Each U.S.
Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the information reporting
and backup withholding rules.
62
10.F
Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
10.G
Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
10.H
Documents on Display
Material contracts and publicly available corporate records may
be viewed at our head office located at Suite 2300 1177 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K3.
The Companys reports and other information, including this
annual report and the exhibits thereto, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act, may be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Securities and
Exchange Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549.
Copies of such material may also be obtained from the Public Reference Section
of the Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C.
20549, at prescribed rates. Information may be obtained regarding the Washington
D.C. Public Reference Room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at
1-800-SEC-0330 or by contacting the Securities and Exchange Commission over the
Internet at its website at
http://www.sec.gov
.
10.I
Subsidiary Information
Not applicable.
ITEM
11.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company manages its capital structure and makes adjustments
to it, based on the funds available to the Company, in order to support future
business opportunities. The Company defines its capital as shareholders equity.
The Board 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 Company currently has no source of revenues; as such the
Company is dependent upon external financings or the sale of assets (or an
interest therein) to fund activities. In order to carry future projects and pay
for administrative costs, the Company will spend its existing working capital
and raise additional funds as needed. Management reviews its capital management
approach on an ongoing basis and believes that this approach, given the relative
size of the Company, is reasonable. There were no changes in the Companys
approach to capital management during the year ended January 31, 2013. The
Company is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.
The Company classifies its cash and cash equivalents as
financial assets at fair value through profit or loss; accounts receivable as
loans and receivables; accounts payable and accrued liabilities and due to
related parties as other financial liabilities.
The carrying values of accounts receivable, and accounts
payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values due to the
expected maturity of these consolidated financial instruments. The fair values
of amounts due to related parties have not been disclosed as their fair values
cannot be reliably measured since the parties are not at arms length.
The Companys risk exposure and the impact on the Companys
financial instruments are summarized below:
(a)
Credit risk
In respect to accounts receivable, the Company is not exposed
to significant credit risk as the majority are due from governmental agencies.
63
Concentration of credit risk exists with respect to the
Companys cash as all amounts are held at a single major Canadian financial
institution and a major Peruvian financial institution. The Companys
concentration of credit risk and maximum exposure thereto in Canada follows.
Similar risk in Peru is considered not significant.
Cash and equivalents
|
|
January 31, 2013
|
|
|
January 31, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Held at a major Canadian financial
institution
|
$
|
37,703
|
|
$
|
59,865
|
|
Peruvian financial
institution
|
|
378
|
|
|
286
|
|
|
$
|
38,081
|
|
$
|
60,151
|
|
The credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents is
minimized substantially by ensuring that these financial assets are placed with
major Canadian and Peruvian financial institutions with strong investment-grade
ratings by a primary ratings agency.
(b) Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will encounter
difficulty in satisfying financial obligations as they fall due. The Companys
approach to managing liquidity risk is to provide reasonable assurance that it
will have sufficient funds to meet liabilities when due. The Company manages its
liquidity risk by forecasting cash flows required by operations and anticipated
investing and financing activities. The Company normally maintains sufficient
cash to meet the Companys business requirements and at January 31, 2013, the
cash balance of $38,081 is insufficient to meet the needs for the coming year.
Therefore, the Company will be required to raise additional capital in order to
fund its operations in 2013.
Liabilities as at January 31, 2013 are as follows:
|
|
0 to 3
|
|
|
3 to 6
|
|
|
6 to
12
|
|
|
|
|
Due in
|
|
months
|
|
|
months
|
|
|
months
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
$
|
531,989
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
531,989
|
|
Due to related
parties
|
|
691,771
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
691,771
|
|
|
$
|
1,223,760
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,223,760
|
|
Liabilities as at January 31, 2012 are as follows:
|
|
0 to 3
|
|
|
3 to 6
|
|
|
6 to
12
|
|
|
|
|
Due in
|
|
months
|
|
|
months
|
|
|
months
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
$
|
611,030
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
611,030
|
|
Due to related
parties
|
|
460,944
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
460,944
|
|
|
$
|
1,071,974
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
1,071,974
|
|
(c) Market risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash
flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market
prices. Market risk comprises three types of risk: interest rate risk, foreign
currency risk and other price risk.
i.
Interest rate risk
The Companys cash consists of cash and cash equivalents held
in bank accounts that earn interest at variable interest rates. Future cash
flows from interest income on cash will be affected by interest rate
fluctuations. Due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments,
fluctuations in market rates do not have a significant impact on estimated fair
values.
64
The Company manages interest rate risk by maintaining an
investment policy that focuses primarily on preservation of capital and
liquidity. The interest income earned on cash is minimal; therefore, the Company
is not subject to interest rate risk.
ii.
Foreign currency risk
The Company is exposed to foreign currency risk to the extent
expenditures incurred or funds received and balances maintained by the Company
are denominated in currencies other than the Canadian dollar (primarily United
States dollars (USD) and Peruvian soles (soles)). The Company has net
monetary assets of $14,600 denominated in USD and net monetary liabilities of
$274,000 denominated in soles. For the year ended January 31, 2013, the
Companys sensitivity analysis suggests that a change in the absolute rate of
exchange in USD by 5% will increase or decrease net loss by approximately $800
and a change in the absolute rate of exchange in soles by 7% will increase or
decrease net loss by approximately $19,000. There will be no impact on other
comprehensive loss. The Company has not entered into any foreign currency
contracts to mitigate this risk.
iii.
Other price risk
Other price risk is the risk that the fair or future cash flows
of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices,
other than those arising from interest rate risk or foreign currency risk. The
Company is not exposed to any other price risk.
The Companys operations are not yet exposed to risks
associated with commodity prices, interest rates and credit. Commodity price
risk is defined as the potential loss that the Company may incur as a result of
changes in the fair value of gold, silver, iron, copper or other metals that may
be produced by the Company. Industry wide risks can, however, affect the
Companys general ability to finance exploration, and development of exploitable
resources; however, such effects are not predictable or quantifiable.
ITEM
12.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Not applicable.