UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM 10-Q
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____ to _____
Commission File Number: 1-08733
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE | 85-0212139 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
One West Wetmore Road, Suite 203 | |
Tucson, Arizona | 85705 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(520) 292-0266 | |
Issuer's telephone number |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during
the past 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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes [
] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, non-accelerated filer, and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer [ ] | Accelerated filer [ ] | |
Non-accelerated filer [ ] | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company [X] |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes [
] No [X]
State the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common equity, as of the latest practicable date. 111,677,489 shares of common stock as of September 30, 2010.
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For The Quarterly
Period Ended
September 30, 2010
INDEX
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this quarterly report include, among others, statements regarding our capital needs, business plans and expectations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties regarding our ability to restructure our existing secured credit facility, the market price of copper, availability of funds, government regulations, permitting, common share prices, operating costs, capital costs, outcomes of ore reserve development, recoveries and other factors. Forward-looking statements are made, without limitation, in relation to operating plans, property exploration and development, availability of funds, environmental reclamation, operating costs and permit acquisition. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, will, should, expect, plan, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential or continue, the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating these statements, you should consider various factors, including the risks outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and, from time to time, in other reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
i
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
The following unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of Nord Resources Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary Cochise Aggregates and Materials, Inc. (sometimes collectively referred to as we, us or our Company) are included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q:
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2010 (unaudited) and December 31, 2009 |
F-1 |
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F-3 | |
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F-4 | |
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F-5 | |
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F-6 | |
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Unaudited Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements |
F-8 |
It is the opinion of management the interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 include all adjustments necessary in order to ensure that the condensed consolidated financial statements are not misleading. These condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Except where noted, these interim condensed consolidated financial statements follow the same accounting policies and methods of their application as our Companys audited annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Companys audited annual consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009.
- 1 -
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND DECEMBER 31, 2009
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||
ASSETS | ||||||
Current Assets: | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,276,721 | $ | 1,298,138 | ||
Accounts receivable | 614,626 | 781,393 | ||||
Inventories | 5,686,799 | 15,685,103 | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other | 181,220 | 71,778 | ||||
Total Current Assets | 7,759,366 | 17,836,412 | ||||
Property and Equipment, at cost: | ||||||
Property and equipment | 47,347,932 | 47,227,963 | ||||
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization | (6,394,850 | ) | (4,358,804 | ) | ||
Net Property and Equipment | 40,953,082 | 42,869,159 | ||||
Other Assets: | ||||||
Deposits | 123,090 | - | ||||
Restricted marketable securities | 686,476 | 686,476 | ||||
Stockpiles and ore on leach pads | 20,287,068 | - | ||||
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization | 801,145 | 813,483 | ||||
Total Other Assets | 21,897,779 | 1,499,959 | ||||
Total Assets | $ | 70,610,227 | $ | 62,205,530 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-1
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
AND DECEMBER 31, 2009
(Continued)
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY | ||||||
Current Liabilities: | ||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 4,306,391 | $ | 7,952,694 | ||
Accrued expenses | 6,005,708 | 1,900,720 | ||||
Accrued interest | 1,792,236 | 185,802 | ||||
Current portion of deferred revenue | 54,166 | 306,117 | ||||
Current maturities of senior long-term debt | 12,530,689 | 7,160,394 | ||||
Current maturities of long-term debt | 183,113 | - | ||||
Current maturities of derivative contracts | 8,126,861 | 7,967,695 | ||||
Current maturities of capital lease obligation | 15,808 | 15,808 | ||||
Long-term derivative contracts accelerated due to default | 1,683,329 | - | ||||
Senior long-term debt accelerated due to default | 10,727,136 | - | ||||
Total Current Liabilities | 45,425,437 | 25,489,230 | ||||
Long-Term Liabilities: | ||||||
Derivative contracts, less current maturities | - | 5,101,263 | ||||
Senior long-term debt, less current maturities | - | 16,097,432 | ||||
Long-term debt, less current maturities | 7,140,475 | - | ||||
Capital lease obligation, less current maturities | 14,196 | 27,087 | ||||
Deferred revenue, less current portion | 4,697,077 | 4,544,567 | ||||
Accrued reclamation costs | 164,230 | 157,580 | ||||
Other | 23,845 | 884,987 | ||||
Total Long-Term Liabilities | 12,039,823 | 26,812,916 | ||||
Total Liabilities | 57,465,260 | 52,302,146 | ||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||
Stockholders Equity: | ||||||
Common stock:
$.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares
authorized, 111,677,489 and 110,435,586 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively |
1,116,775 | 1,104,356 | ||||
Additional paidincapital | 121,733,946 | 121,488,765 | ||||
Accumulated deficit | (109,705,754 | ) | (99,620,778 | ) | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | - | (13,068,959 | ) | |||
Total Stockholders Equity | 13,144,967 | 9,903,384 | ||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity | $ | 70,610,227 | $ | 62,205,530 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-2
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009
(Unaudited)
2010 | 2009 | |||||
Net sales | $ | 22,604,645 | $ | 13,118,107 | ||
Costs applicable to sales (exclusive of depreciation, depletion and amortization shown separately below) | 13,345,989 | 10,303,422 | ||||
General and administrative expenses (includes stock based compensation of $216,950 and $318,528, respectively) | 1,572,901 | 2,081,682 | ||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 1,328,262 | 1,043,834 | ||||
Income (loss) from operations | 6,357,493 | (310,831 | ) | |||
Other income (expense): | ||||||
Interest expense | (2,360,840 | ) | (1,450,946 | ) | ||
Unrealized loss on de-designation of cash flow hedges | (13,712,395 | ) | - | |||
Unrealized gain on derivatives classified as trading securities | 3,902,204 | - | ||||
Realized gain (loss) on derivatives classified as trading securities | (4,129,056 | ) | 1,367,595 | |||
Miscellaneous income (expense), net | (142,382 | ) | (7,841 | ) | ||
Total other income (expense) | (16,442,469 | ) | (91,192 | ) | ||
Loss before income taxes | (10,084,976 | ) | (402,023 | ) | ||
Provision for income taxes | - | - | ||||
Net loss | $ | (10,084,976 | ) | $ | (402,023 | ) |
Net loss per basic and diluted share of common stock: | ||||||
Weighted average number of basic and diluted common shares outstanding | 111,720,671 | 70,211,630 | ||||
Basic and diluted loss per share of common stock | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-3
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE
THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009
(Unaudited)
2010 | 2009 | |||||
Net sales | $ | 7,896,253 | $ | 6,521,136 | ||
Costs applicable to sales (exclusive of depreciation, depletion and amortization shown separately below) | 5,676,743 | 4,578,119 | ||||
General and administrative expenses (includes stock based compensation of $102,303 and $70,413, respectively) | 326,505 | 633,750 | ||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 470,321 | 542,158 | ||||
Income from operations | 1,422,684 | 767,109 | ||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||
Interest expense | (874,497 | ) | (673,547 | ) | ||
Unrealized loss on de-designation of cash flow hedge | (319,542 | ) | - | |||
Unrealized loss on derivatives classified as trading securities | (1,914,491 | ) | - | |||
Realized loss on derivatives classified as trading securities | (2,250,972 | ) | (5,642 | ) | ||
Miscellaneous income (expense), net | 5,691 | 4,919 | ||||
Total other income (expense) | (5,353,811 | ) | (674,270 | ) | ||
Income (loss) before income taxes | (3,931,127 | ) | 92,839 | |||
Provision for income taxes | - | - | ||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (3,931,127 | ) | $ | 92,839 | |
Net income (loss) per basic and diluted share of common stock: | ||||||
Weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding | 112,290,583 | 70,511,842 | ||||
Basic income (loss) per share of common stock | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 0.00 | |
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding | 112,290,583 | 71,761,210 | ||||
Diluted income (loss) per share of common stock | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 0.00 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-4
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
CHANGES IN
STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
(Unaudited)
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other Com- | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Paid-in | Accumulated | prehensive | Stockholders | |||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Capital | Deficit | Income (Loss) | Equity | ||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2009 | 110,435,586 | $ | 1,104,356 | $ | 121,488,765 | $ | (99,620,778 | ) | $ | (13,068,959 | ) | $ | 9,903,384 | |||||
Comprehensive income: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (10,084,976 | ) | - | (10,084,976 | ) | ||||||||||
Unrealized mark to market adjustment of cash flow hedges, net | - | - | - | - | (643,436 | ) | (643,436 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized losses from cash flow hedges | - | - | - | - | (2,087,730 | ) | (2,087,730 | ) | ||||||||||
Effective portion of copper hedges transferred to net sales | - | - | - | - | 1,886,237 | 1,886,237 | ||||||||||||
Reclassification of interest rate swap to miscellaneous expense on de- designation of cash flow hedges | - | - | - | - | 13,392,853 | 13,392,853 | ||||||||||||
Reclassification of copper derivatives to miscellaneous expense on de- designation of cash flow hedges | - | - | - | - | 319,542 | 319,542 | ||||||||||||
Effective portion of interest rate swap transferred to interest expense | - | - | - | - | 201,493 | 201,493 | ||||||||||||
Comprehensive income | - | - | - | - | - | 2,983,983 | ||||||||||||
Compensation expense from issuance of stock options | - | - | 71,847 | - | - | 71,847 | ||||||||||||
Compensation expense from issuance of common stock | 484,035 | 4,840 | 49,013 | - | - | 53,853 | ||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options | 451,667 | 4,517 | 36,133 | - | - | 40,650 | ||||||||||||
Common stock issued for deferred stock units | 306,201 | 3,062 | (3,062 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||
Compensation expense from issuance of deferred stock units | - | - | 91,250 | - | - | 91,250 | ||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2010 | 111,677,489 | $ | 1,116,775 | $ | 121,733,946 | $ | (109,705,754 | ) | $ | - | $ | 13,144,967 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-5
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009
(Unaudited)
2010 | 2009 | |||||
Cash Flows From Operating Activities: | ||||||
Net loss | $ | (10,084,976 | ) | $ | (402,023 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 1,328,262 | 1,043,834 | ||||
Accretion expense on accrued reclamation costs | 6,650 | 7,454 | ||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | 203,671 | 179,144 | ||||
Issuance of stock options for services rendered | 71,847 | 221,028 | ||||
Issuance of common stock for services rendered | 53,853 | - | ||||
Issuance of deferred stock units for services rendered | 91,250 | 97,500 | ||||
Gain on sale of hedges-effective portion | - | (992,296 | ) | |||
Gain on sale of hedges-ineffective portion | - | (1,367,595 | ) | |||
Proceeds from settlement of effective hedges | - | 682,093 | ||||
Unrealized loss on de-designation of derivatives as cash flow hedges | 13,712,395 | - | ||||
Unrealized gain on derivatives classified as trading securities | (3,902,204 | ) | - | |||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||
Accounts receivable | 166,767 | (134,185 | ) | |||
Inventories | 10,192,442 | (8,807,715 | ) | |||
Stockpiles and ore on leach pads | (19,594,499 | ) | - | |||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | (109,434 | ) | 276,843 | |||
Deposits | (123,090 | ) | - | |||
Accounts payable | 4,152,121 | 7,730,832 | ||||
Accrued expenses | 4,104,988 | 734,972 | ||||
Accrued interest | 1,606,434 | 941,950 | ||||
Deferred revenue | (99,441 | ) | (62,147 | ) | ||
Other liabilities | (11,158 | ) | (10,634 | ) | ||
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities | 1,765,878 | 139,055 | ||||
Cash Flows From Investing Activities: | ||||||
Decrease in restricted marketable securities | - | 1,533,662 | ||||
Proceeds from sale of ineffective hedges | - | 940,070 | ||||
Capital expenditures | (747,308 | ) | (11,672,112 | ) | ||
Net Cash Used By Investing Activities | (747,308 | ) | (9,198,380 | ) | ||
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: | ||||||
Debt issuance costs | (191,333 | ) | (80,929 | ) | ||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 40,650 | 50,518 | ||||
Proceeds from sale of royalty interest | - | 4,950,000 | ||||
Principal payments on long-term debt | (876,413 | ) | - | |||
Principal payments on capital leases | (12,891 | ) | (5,910 | ) | ||
Net Cash Provided (Used) By Financing Activities | (1,039,987 | ) | 4,913,679 | |||
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents | (21,417 | ) | (4,145,646 | ) | ||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period | 1,298,138 | 4,465,245 | ||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period | $ | 1,276,721 | $ | 319,599 | ||
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: | ||||||
Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||
Interest | $ | 186,584 | $ | 330,234 | ||
Income taxes | - | - |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-6
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
2010 | 2009 | |||||
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities: | ||||||
Common stock issued to settle outstanding claims | $ | - | $ | 200,000 | ||
Accounts payable reclassified to other long-term liabilities | - | 850,000 | ||||
Warrants issued in connection with debt facilities | - | 100,000 | ||||
Common stock issued in exchange for deferred stock units | 3,062 | 790 | ||||
Mark to market of cash flow hedges | (643,436 | ) | (25,530,845 | ) | ||
Change in property and equipment financed by accounts payable | (448,416 | ) | 6,556,614 | |||
Capitalized interest financed by accrued interest | - | 357,660 | ||||
Gain on sale of copper
hedges-effective portion allocated to mine
development costs |
- | (271,897 | ) | |||
Change in depreciation expense allocated to inventory | 194,138 | 972,527 | ||||
Change in depreciation expense allocated to stockpiles and ore on leach pads | 692,569 | - | ||||
Accrued interest capitalized to long-term-debt, less current maturities | - | 612,674 | ||||
Accrued interest capitalized to current maturities of long-term debt | - | 1,225,348 | ||||
Refinancing of accounts payable with long-term debt | 7,350,008 | - | ||||
Refinancing of other long-term liability with long-term debt | 849,992 | - |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-7
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Nord Resources Corporation and Subsidiary (the Company) is a United States based corporation involved in all phases of the mining business including exploration, permitting, developing and operating mining projects. The Companys primary asset is the Johnson Camp Copper Mine (Johnson Camp Mine) located in Arizona. In July 2007, the Company commenced the reactivation of the Johnson Camp Mine. The Company commenced copper cathode production from leaching existing old dumps in January 2008 and commenced mining of new ore upon completion of the reactivation work in January 2009. The Company achieved commercial copper cathode production from newly-mined ore on April 1, 2009 following substantial completion of the testing and development phase.
On July 5, 2010, the Company announced that it is immediately implementing measures to reduce its costs, maximize cash flow, and improve its operating efficiencies. The Company has temporarily suspended the mining and crushing of ore at the Johnson Camp Mine and laid off 43 people, representing approximately half of its workforce at the mine. The Company continues to produce copper through the leaching of ore already in place on its existing pads and the processing the solution through the SX-EW plant. The suspension has resulted in an immediate reduction of costs and has enabled the Company to maximize operating cash flow from the production of copper achieved through continued leaching of ore on the Companys existing pads and the operation of its SX-EW plant. The suspension provides the Company with the opportunity to further evaluate its geological data, continue column leach testing, expand mineralogical classification of the reserve and perform additional drilling as appropriate. The resulting improved database and geologic block model will provide the necessary tools to optimize the mine plan by focusing on higher grade acid-soluble ore.
The accompanying financial information of the Company is prepared in accordance with the rules prescribed for filing condensed interim financial statements and, accordingly, does not include all disclosures that may be necessary for complete financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The disclosures presented are sufficient, in managements opinion, to make the interim information presented not misleading. All adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary so as to make the interim information not misleading, have been made. Results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of results of operations that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2010. The Company recommends that this financial information be read in conjunction with the complete consolidated financial statements included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).
2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amount and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. Such adjustments could be material.
F-8
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in prior periods presented have been reclassified to conform to the current condensed consolidated financial statement presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of our Companys consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires our Companys management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to mineral reserves and the recovery rate of the Johnson Camp Mine that are the basis for future cash flow estimates; reclamation obligations; asset impairment (including longlived assets and investments); valuation allowances for deferred tax assets; disclosures and reserves for contingencies and litigation; and the fair value and accounting treatment of financial instruments. Our Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
The Company is currently in the process of performing a series of tests to further understand the copper recovery rate by rock type at the Johnson Camp Mine. At such time that the these tests are completed and analyzed, there may be a material change in the estimated recovery rate which could materially impact the valuation of inventories and stockpiles and ore on leach pads and consequently, cost of goods sold. It is estimated that these tests and the analysis thereof will be completed during the fourth quarter 2010.
Going Concern
Nedbank, the Companys senior lender, has declined to extend the forbearance agreement with respect to the scheduled principal and interest payments in the amounts of $2,152,951, $2,358,081 and $2,373,679 that were due on March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010 and September 30, 2010, respectively, under the Companys $25,000,000 secured term-loan credit facility with Nedbank. The Company is now in default of its obligations under the Credit Agreement with Nedbank, and the full amount of the outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest must now be included in the Companys current liabilities, together with any additional amounts payable under the Credit Agreement. Accordingly, as of September 30, 2010, the Company has reclassified $10,727,136 of long-term debt to current liabilities within the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Nedbank Capital has also declined to extend the forbearance agreement regarding the Companys failure to make the timely payments for the monthly settlements beginning in March of 2010 through September 30, 2010 in the aggregate amount of $5,000,019 due under the copper derivatives and interest rate swap agreements between the parties. Accordingly, the Company is in default under these agreements and amounts formerly eligible for treatment as amounts payable under long-term derivative contracts must now be brought into current liabilities. Accordingly, as of September 30, 2010, the Company has reclassified $1,683,329 of derivative contracts under its copper derivative and interest rate swap agreements to current liabilities within the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
F-9
The Companys continuation as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to refinance the obligations under the Credit Agreement with Nedbank and the Copper Hedge Agreement with Nedbank Capital, raise additional capital, and on its ability to produce copper to sell at a level where the Company becomes profitable and generates cash flows from operations. The Companys continued existence is dependent upon its ability to resume full operations and achieve its operating plan. If management cannot achieve its operating plan because of sales shortfalls, a reduction in copper prices, or other unfavorable events, the Company may find it necessary to dispose of assets, or undertake other actions as may be appropriate. The Companys ramp-up of production since the commencement of commercial production has been slower than originally forecasted. In July 2010, the Company implemented measures to reduce costs, maximize cash flow, and improve efficiencies. The measures included the temporary suspension of mining and crushing of ore; additional drilling, metallurgical testing and assaying to enhance the understanding of mineralogy and the distribution of acid-soluble grades in the block model; and, updating the mine plan to optimize production and increase operating efficiencies.
The Company is evaluating a variety of alternatives to improve its liquidity. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to improve its liquidity.
3. ADOPTION OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE
In August 2009, the FASB issued guidance on the fair value measurement of liabilities and provided clarification that, in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, a reporting entity is required to measure fair value using one or more of the techniques provided for in this update. The guidance is effective for the first reporting period, including interim periods, beginning after issuance. The Company adopted the provisions of this standard effective January 1, 2010; such adoption did not have a material impact on the Companys condensed consolidated financial statements.
In December 2009, the FASB issued guidance changing how a reporting entity determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated. The determination of whether a reporting entity is required to consolidate another entity is based on, among other things, the other entitys purpose and design; and the reporting entitys ability to direct the activities of the other entity that most significantly impact the other entitys economic performance. The guidance also requires a reporting entity to provide additional disclosures about its involvement with variable interest entities and any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement. A reporting entity will be required to disclose how its involvement with a variable interest entity affects the reporting entitys financial statements. The guidance is effective at the start of a reporting entitys first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009, or January 1, 2010, for a calendar year-end entity. Early application is not permitted. The Company adopted the provisions of this standard effective January 1, 2010, which did not have a material impact on the Companys condensed consolidated financial statements.
In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance improving disclosures about fair value measurements. The guidance requires some new disclosures and clarifies some existing disclosure requirements about fair value measurement as set forth in the ASC. The FASBs objective is to improve these disclosures and, thus, increase the transparency in financial reporting. Specifically, the guidance now requires:
F-10
In addition, the guidance clarifies the requirements of the following existing disclosures:
For purposes of reporting fair value measurements for each class of assets and liabilities, a reporting entity needs to use judgment in determining the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities; and
A reporting entity should provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements.
This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the provisions of this standard on January 1, 2010; such adoption did not have a material impact on the Companys condensed consolidated financial statements.
In February 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-09, Subsequent Events (Topic 855): Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements. The amendments in the ASU remove the requirement for a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filer to disclose a date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in both issued and revised financial statements. Revised financial statements include financial statements revised as a result of either correction of an error or retrospective application of U.S. GAAP. The FASB also clarified that if the financial statements have been revised, then an entity that is not an SEC filer should disclose both the date that the financial statements were issued or available to be issued and the date the revised financial statements were issued or available to be issued. The FASB believes these amendments remove potential conflicts with the SECs literature. All of the amendments in the ASU were effective upon issuance except for the use of the issued date for conduit debt obligors. That amendment is effective for interim or annual periods ending after June 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Companys condensed consolidated financial statements or results of operations.
In July 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2010-20, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses, to enhance the disclosure requirements in FASB ASC 310, Receivables. The amended disclosures are designed to provide more information to financial statement users about the credit quality of a creditors financing receivables and the adequacy of its allowance for credit losses.
Specifically, the amendments require all creditors, including public and nonpublic entities, to disclose information that enables financial statement users to understand the following about a creditors portfolio of financing receivables (for example, loans, trade accounts receivable, notes receivable, and receivables relating to a lessors leveraged, direct financing, and sales-type leases) and its allowance for losses:
The nature of the credit risk inherent in the receivables
How the entity analyzes and assesses credit risk to estimate the allowance for credit losses
The changes and reasons for those changes in both the receivables and the allowance for credit losses
F-11
That amendment is effective for interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2010. Management believes that the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Companys condensed consolidated financial statements or results of operations.
4. MINE DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Costs incurred to get the mine ready for its intended purpose and that provide benefits to future periods, net of the realized value of nominal amounts of copper sold during the development period, are capitalized as mine development costs. Costs incurred upon the attainment of the production stage, which is determined upon the achievement of levels of commercial production that are not a result of the development and testing of the mining process, are expensed as incurred.
Production of Copper from Old Dumps
The Company commenced copper cathode production from leaching old dumps in January 2008 and completed the first copper cathode sale from these operations in February 2008. Accordingly, the attainment of the production stage from residual leaching operations was achieved effective February 1, 2008. Until December 31, 2008, the capitalized costs incurred in the development and testing of the old dumps were being amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected life of production of existing ore on the old dumps which was estimated to be 5 years. In January 2009, management revised its estimate of the expected life of production from the old dumps to 3 years. Consequently the unamortized balance as of December 31, 2008 in the amount of $468,034 is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining 2 years. During the nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company amortized $175,512 and $175,512, respectively, in mine development costs from old dumps to cost of goods sold. During the three month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company amortized $58,504 and $58,504, respectively, in mine development costs from old dumps to cost of goods sold. The balance of the mine development costs for old dumps, net of accumulated amortization, is $58,505 as of September 30, 2010 and is included in property and equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Production of Copper from Mining of New Ore
As a result of the development and testing of mining operations for the production of new ore, the Company began producing a nominal amount of copper cathode from newly-mined ore in February 2009. The Company achieved commercial production from the mining of new ore, which was based upon substantial completion of the testing and development phase, on April 1, 2009. Upon the achievement of commercial production from the mining of new ore, the costs to operate the mine were expensed as incurred and the capitalized mine development costs associated with the production of copper from the mining of new ore commenced being amortized over the life of the mine based on a units of production method which have been estimated at approximately 374,000,000 pounds of copper over the life of the mine. During 2009, the Company capitalized $1,526,317 of mine development costs which was net of revenues in the amount of $470,340 realized from the sale of 280,728 pounds of incidental copper cathode produced during the testing and development phase, and $271,897 from the settlement of copper derivatives related to this nominal production. During the nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company amortized $66,136 and $59,379, respectively, in mine development costs associated with the development and testing of mining operations to obtain new ore. During the three month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company amortized $1,015 and $27,237, respectively, in mine development costs from the development and testing of such mining operations. The balance of the mine development costs, net of accumulated amortization, for development and testing of new ore mining operations is $1,671,646 as of September 30, 2010, which is included in property and equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
F-12
5. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock Options
The Company has granted incentive and non-qualified stock options to its directors under terms of its 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. The Company has also granted non-qualified, non-plan stock options, which have been authorized by the Companys board of directors. Stock options are generally granted at an exercise price equal to or greater than the quoted market price on the date of grant. In October 2010, the Company filed a Form S-8 registration statement which increased the common shares available for distribution under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan from 6,000,000 to 11,000,000.
There are 5,144,421 stock options outstanding at September 30, 2010, of which 781,674 are non-qualified non-plan stock options and 4,362,747 have been issued pursuant to the Companys 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. The outstanding options expire at various dates from 2010 to 2017.
The Company granted 419,000 and 855,000 stock options during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized $22,200 and $71,847, respectively, in compensation expense related to employee stock options that vest over time or those that were cancelled prior to vesting.
The Company granted 100,000 stock options during the three months ended September 30, 2009 and granted 600,000 stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009, the Company recognized $37,913 and 221,028, respectively, in compensation expense related to employee stock options that vest over time or that were cancelled prior to vesting.
As summarized in the following tables, during the three month period ended September 30, 2010, there were 419,000 stock options granted, no stock options were exercised, and 264,585 were cancelled or forfeited. During the nine month period ended September 30, 2010, there were 855,000 stock options granted, 451,667 stock options exercised, and 814,587 cancelled or forfeited.
Weighted | |||||||
Number of | Average | ||||||
Shares | Exercise Price | ||||||
Three months ended September 30, 2010 | |||||||
Options outstanding at June 30, 2010 | 4,990,006 | $ | .53 | ||||
Granted | 419,000 | .10 | |||||
Exercised | - | - | |||||
Cancelled/Forfeited | (264,585 | ) | .12 | ||||
Options outstanding at September 30, 2010 | 5,144,421 | $ | .52 |
F-13
Weighted | |||||||
Number of | Average | ||||||
Shares | Exercise Price | ||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 | |||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2009 | 5,555,675 | $ | .51 | ||||
Granted | 855,000 | .13 | |||||
Exercised | (451,667 | ) | .09 | ||||
Cancelled/Forfeited | (814,587 | ) | .30 | ||||
Options outstanding at September 30, 2010 | 5,144,421 | .52 |
The following table summarizes certain additional information about the Companys total and exercisable stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2010:
Weighted | |||||||||||||
Average | Weighted | ||||||||||||
Remaining | Average | ||||||||||||
Number | Contractual | Exercise | Intrinsic | ||||||||||
Outstanding | Life in Years | Price | Value | ||||||||||
Total stock options | 5,144,421 | 4.3 | $ | .52 | $ | - | |||||||
Exercisable stock | |||||||||||||
options | 4,413,416 | 4.4 | $ | .59 | $ | - |
The closing price of the Companys common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board on September 30, 2010 was $0.06 per share. Accordingly, there was no intrinsic value of total stock options and exercisable stock options as of September 30, 2010.
The following tables summarize the unvested stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2010:
Weighted Average | |||||||
Grant Date | |||||||
Number of Shares | Fair Value | ||||||
Three months ended September 30, 2010 | |||||||
Unvested options outstanding at June 30, 2010 | 838,434 | $ | .09 | ||||
Granted | 419,000 | .06 | |||||
Vested | (288,509 | ) | .07 | ||||
Cancelled/Forfeited | (237,920 | ) | .05 | ||||
Unvested Options outstanding at September 30, 2010 | 731,005 | $ | .09 |
F-14
Weighted Average | |||||||
Grant Date | |||||||
Number of Shares | Fair Value | ||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 | |||||||
Unvested options outstanding at December 31, 2009 | 1,459,998 | $ | .08 | ||||
Granted | 855,000 | .08 | |||||
Vested | (1,322,738 | ) | .08 | ||||
Cancelled/Forfeited | (261,255 | ) | .05 | ||||
Unvested Options outstanding at September 30, 2010 | 731,005 | $ | .09 |
The total grant date fair value of options granted during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 was $26,207 and $68,063. The Company recognizes compensation expense on stock options with a graded vesting schedule on a straight line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in substance, multiple awards. As of September 30, 2010, 731,005 stock options remain unvested, which will result in $15,156 in compensation expense to be recognized over the next three quarters.
On November 26, 2008, John Perry, the Companys former Chief Executive Officer, was granted a total of 450,000 non-qualified stock options, each entitling him to purchase one share of common stock of the Company at a price of $0.09 per share until November 23, 2013, subject to vesting. The options were granted to Mr. Perry pursuant to the Companys 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. The options were to vest in three equal tranches on March 2, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. During the first quarter of 2010, the Board of Directors determined that it is appropriate to accelerate the vesting date of the third tranche of 150,000 options to March 2, 2010, in light of Mr. Perrys significant contributions to the Company as a senior officer and a director. Such acceleration did not have a material impact on the Companys results from operations.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock options granted. As indicated above, there were 419,000 and 855,000 options granted during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The expected forfeiture rates of 10.3% for the options granted in the quarter ending June 30, 2010 and 8% for the options granted in the quarter ending September 30, 2010 were based on the actual forfeitures of stock options due to the termination of one of the employees in the pool and historical employee turnover rates. The expected term of the options granted to employees is estimated using the formula set forth in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 107. The risk-free interest rate is based upon the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of grant and the expected volatility is based on the weighted historical volatility of the Companys common stock and that of its peer group.
The fair values for the stock options granted during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were estimated at the respective dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
Nine months Ended | Nine months Ended | |||
September 30, 2010 | September 30, 2009 | |||
Risk-free interest rate | 0.7% to 1.1% | 1.1% to 1.4% | ||
Expected life | 2.6 to 2.8 years | 2.8 to 3.0 years | ||
Expected volatility | 105% to 106% | 97% to 104% | ||
Expected dividend yield | 0% | 0% |
F-15
Common Stock
During the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2010, the Company issued 484,035 shares of common stock valued at $53,853 to two executives as payment for services previously provided to the Company. The stock grants vested immediately.
Deferred Stock Units
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, certain equity-based fees have been paid to the Companys non-executive directors in the form of awards issued pursuant to the Companys 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. The non-executive directors have limited rights, exercisable within applicable time limits, to elect to have any percentage of such awards, and any percentage of cash fees, payable in deferred stock units. Each of the Companys non-executive directors exercised such rights in respect of the equity-based fees payable to him for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. At the Companys 2010 Annual General Meeting held on June 17, 2010, Sean Harvey did not stand for reelection to the board.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, Douglas Hamilton, the Chairman of the Companys Audit Committee, received 142,857 and 273,626 deferred stock units, respectively; John Cook, the Chairman of the Companys Compensation Committee, received 116,071 and 222,321 deferred stock units, respectively; Stephen Seymour, the Chairman of the Companys Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, received 116,071 and 222,321 deferred stock units, respectively; and T. Sean Harvey received 0 and 81,731 deferred stock units, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized expense of $26,250 and $91,250, respectively, related to the issuance of deferred stock units to its independent directors. The deferred stock units were granted under the 2006 Deferred Stock Unit Plan, which forms part of the Companys 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, 220,872 and 306,201 deferred stock units were converted into shares of the Companys common stock, respectively. As of September 30, 2010, there were 1,227,399 deferred stock units outstanding.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, Douglas Hamilton, the Chairman of the Companys Audit Committee, received 25,974 and 83,968 deferred stock units, respectively; John Cook, the Chairman of the Companys Compensation Committee, received 21,104 and 68,224 deferred stock units, respectively; Stephen Seymour, the Chairman of the Companys Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, received 21,104 and 68,224 deferred stock units, respectively; and T. Sean Harvey received 16,234 and 52,480 deferred stock units, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recognized expense of $32,500 and $97,500, respectively, related to the issuance of deferred stock units to its independent directors. The deferred stock units were granted under the 2006 Deferred Stock Unit Plan, which forms part of the Companys 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, 0 and 78,952 deferred stock units were converted into shares of the Companys common stock, respectively. As of September 30, 2009, there were 665,181 deferred stock units outstanding.
F-16
6. INVENTORY
Inventory is as follows:
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2010 | 2009 | ||||||
Current Assets: | (unaudited) | ||||||
Copper in process | $ | 5,300,656 | $ | 15,072,292 | |||
Finished goods | 37,764 | 64,967 | |||||
Material, supplies and decorative rock | 348,379 | 547,844 | |||||
5,686,799 | 15,685,103 | ||||||
Long-Term Assets: | |||||||
Stockpiles and ore on leach pads | 20,287,068 | - | |||||
$ | 25,973,867 | $ | 15,685,103 |
The Companys inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Copper in process and finished goods inventories are valued using the weighted average cost of production and include all costs of purchase, costs of conversion (direct costs and an allocation of fixed and variable production overheads) and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. The current portion of copper in process inventory is determined based on the expected amounts to be processed within the next 12 months. Inventories not expected to be processed within the next 12 months are classified under longterm assets as stockpiles and ore on leach pads.
As of September 30, 2010, the estimated amount of copper to be processed within the next twelve months is based upon the current state of operations wherein the Company has ceased the mining and crushing of new ore. This estimate is subject to change based upon changes made to the Company’s mining operations.
During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, $2,849,091 and $4,675,851 and $1,265,927 and $4,266,766 respectively, of costs incurred in excess of normal operating costs (costs incurred at a normalized production level of 25,000,000 pounds of copper cathode per annum), or abnormal costs, due to the fact the Company was either ramping up production or running at less than normal operating capacity have been included in costs applicable to sales on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
7. LONG-TERM DEBT
The Company was unable to make the payments of principal in the amounts of $1,790,099 that were due on March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010, respectively and interest payments of $362,852, $567,982 and $583,580 that were due on March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010, respectively, to Nedbank under the terms of the amended and restated credit agreement dated March 31, 2009. The Company is now in default of its obligations under the credit agreement with Nedbank, and the full amount of the outstanding principal of $23,257,825 must now be included in the Companys current liabilities. Accordingly, the Company has reclassified $10,727,136 of long-term debt to current liabilities within its condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010. Given this default, Nedbank has full authority to exercise its rights under the credit agreement, including the acceleration of the full amount due there under and the institution of foreclosure proceedings against the Johnson Camp Mine. In accordance with the credit agreement, upon missing the March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010 principal and interest payments, the interest rate on the outstanding debt and unpaid accrued interest is increased by 3.00% to LIBOR plus 9.06% .
In accordance with the credit agreement, a default on the derivative contracts to which Nedbank is the counterparty would trigger a cross default under the credit agreement which would put Nedbank in a position to pursue any and all remedies under the related derivative contracts and credit agreement. Furthermore, under the credit agreement and derivative contracts, there is a master netting agreement which allows either party to offset an obligation by the other should either party be in default of its obligations. The Company was unable to make the required payments that were due to Nedbank between April 6, 2010 and October 6, 2010 under the terms of its Copper Hedge Agreement. As of September 30, 2010, the total amount due to Nedbank as a result of these missed payments is $4,826,924 and is included in accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Accordingly, the Company is in default under the Copper Hedge Agreement and amounts formerly eligible for treatment as amounts payable under long-term derivative contracts must now be brought into current liabilities. Given this default, the Company has reclassified $1,683,329 of long-term derivative liabilities to current liabilities within its condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010.
F-17
On September 1, 2009, Fisher Sand & Gravel Company, the Companys mining contractor, agreed to defer $850,000 due to it for a period of three years. As of December 31, 2009, this balance is included in other long-term liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Pursuant to that agreement, from April 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011, the Company had agreed to pay Fisher, on a monthly basis, 12% per annum interest on the deferred payments. The Company retained the right to prepay the deferred payments at any time without penalty. As of June 30, 2010, the Company had accrued $110,500 of interest expense related to this debt. On July 29, 2010, the Company reached an agreement with Fisher to convert $8.2 million of unsecured trade payables, including the former note due to Fisher in the amount of $850,000 and the $110,500 accrued interest thereon, into a two-year unsecured note bearing interest on the outstanding principal at the rate of 6% per annum.
Under the Settlement Agreement, Fisher will receive monthly payments on the Note with the amounts based on a formula related to the level of copper sales made by the Company. The key terms of the Note, dated July 28, 2010, are as follows:
o |
Maker: Nord Resources Corporation | |
| ||
o |
Holder: Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., a North Dakota corporation with its principal place of business in Tempe, Arizona | |
| ||
o |
Principal Amount: $8,200,000 | |
| ||
o |
Maturity Date: July 31, 2012 | |
| ||
o |
Interest Rate: The principal sum and any interest outstanding from time to time under the Note shall bear interest at .115% per week. | |
| ||
o |
Payments: Nord shall make weekly payments as set forth below. Payments shall first be applied to interest and then to principal. Payment for any particular week shall be made by the Friday of the following week (or the subsequent business day should any Friday for which payment is due fall on a federal holiday). The first payment shall be for the week beginning on July 26, 2010, and due on August 6, 2010. | |
| ||
o |
Payment Calculation: For any specific week, Nord shall make payments based on the following formulas: |
F-18
If Nord ships four (4) or more loads of copper, the weekly payment shall be:
$100,000 | x | Weekly Realized Price |
$3.00 |
If Nord ships three (3) loads of copper, the weekly payment shall be:
$75,000 | x | Weekly Realized Price |
$3.00 |
If Nord ships two (2) or fewer loads of copper, the weekly payment shall be:
Note Balance | x | .00115 |
"Weekly Realized Price" means the price received by Nord for sales during a given week.
"Note Balance" means the outstanding principal balance of the Note at the beginning of a given week.
As of September 30, 2010, the current maturities of long-term debt and long-term debt, less current maturities in the respective amounts of $183,113 and $7,140,475, are reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of September 30, 2010, the amount within current maturities of long-term debt is based upon the current state of operations wherein the Company has ceased the mining and crushing of new ore. This estimate is subject to change based upon changes made to the Company’s mining operations.
8. SALE OF ROYALTY
On March 31, 2009, the Company sold to Royal Gold (formerly known as IRC Nevada Inc.) a 2.5% net smelter royalty on the mineral production sold from the existing mineral rights at Johnson Camp. The net proceeds of the sale in the amount of $4,950,000 were recorded as deferred revenue and are being amortized to revenue over the life of the mine based on a units of production method. Amounts payable to Royal Gold, which are being calculated based on the revenue generated from the sale of copper, are being expensed in the period incurred. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized $31,547 and $99,441 in revenue and recorded $196,618 and $609,786 in royalty expense related to this royalty within the condensed consolidated statements of operations, respectively. Total deferred revenue is $4,751,243 as of September 30, 2010, of which $54,166 is expected to be amortized to revenue over the next twelve months. This estimate is based upon the total expected copper production for the next twelve months which is based upon the current state of the Company’s operations wherein the mining and crushing of new ore has ceased. This estimate is subject to change based upon changes to the Company’s mining operations. As of September 30, 2010, the total amount owed by the Company under the terms of the royalty agreement is $920,113 and is included in accounts payable on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Furthermore, amounts greater than 30 days past due accrue interest at a rate of 12% per annum for which the Company has accrued $50,774 of interest as of September 30, 2010.
9. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
Copper Price Protection Program
In connection with the credit agreement dated June 28, 2007 with Nedbank, the Company agreed to implement a price protection program with respect to a specified percentage of copper output from the Johnson Camp Mine. The price protection program consists of financial derivatives whereby the Company entered into a combination of forward sale and call option contracts for copper quantities, based on a portion of the estimated production from the Johnson Camp Mine during the term of the loan. These financial derivatives do not require the physical delivery of copper cathode and are expected to be net cash settled upon maturity and/or settlement of the contracts based upon the average daily London Metal Exchange (LME) cash settled copper price for the month of settlement. The program requires no cash margins, collateral or other security from the Company.
F-19
Under ASC guidance for derivative instruments and hedging activities, these contracts are carried on the consolidated balance sheets at their fair value which as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $(9,515,027) and $(12,726,715), respectively. The September 30, 2010 balance includes a credit valuation adjustment of $514,487 which is reported in unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives classified as trading securities within the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2010. From the period of inception of the derivative contracts through March 31, 2010, these contracts were designated as cash flow hedges with changes to the estimated fair value of these contracts being reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). However, due to the Companys inability to make the required payments as the copper derivative contracts matured, the Company reclassified the outstanding hedge contracts from cash flow hedges to trading securities. Consequently, commencing on April 1, 2010, the changes in estimated fair value of these contracts are reflected in unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives classified as trading securities within the condensed consolidated statement of operations. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, the settlements of hedges for 0 and 1,984,161 pounds of copper amounted to $0 and ($1,886,237), respectively, and were classified as effective hedges. Accordingly, these amounts are included in net sales in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, decreases in estimated fair value in the amounts of $0 and ($666,138) were recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
As noted above, as of September 30, 2010, the Company is in default of the related Copper Hedge Agreement as it failed to make the requisite monthly payments (March 31, 2010 through September 30, 2010 settlements) related to the settlement of the derivative contracts. As of September 30, 2010, the total amount owed to Nedbank as a result of these missed payments is $4,826,924. Accordingly, given that the Company is not performing under the terms of the underlying Copper Hedge Agreement, as of April 1, 2010, the Company de-designated 100% of the derivatives previously classified as cash-flow hedges and reclassified the estimated fair value of ($13,392,853) of the derivatives from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to other income (expense), recognizing an unrealized loss for the amount. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized a realized loss of ($2,250,972) and ($4,129,056) on the monthly settlements of a total of 1,984,161 and 3,968,322 pounds of copper for the derivatives now classified as trading securities. The Company also recognized an unrealized loss of ($1,938,869) and an unrealized gain of $3,877,826 during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively, related to the mark to market of the derivatives classified as trading securities. As of September 30, 2010, 100% of the Companys copper derivatives are classified as trading securities with no remaining derivatives classified as cash-flow hedges.
During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009, decreases in fair value in the amount of $6,858,892 and $25,568,592, respectively, were recorded as other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009, contracts representing approximately 0 and 740 metric tons (1,631,444 pounds), respectively, of copper originally designated as cash flow hedges were reclassified to trading securities because the Companys forecasted production of copper during these periods no longer matched its hedged position, and, as such, the underlying derivative contracts were deemed to be ineffective. Accordingly, the realized gains (losses) from the sale of these contracts in the amounts of ($5,642) and $1,367,595 for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively, have been reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income and reported within the condensed consolidated statement of operations as other income. In addition, during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009, the Company transferred ($499,993) and $992,296, respectively, of realized gains (losses) to copper sales and $0 and $271,897, respectively, of realized gains to capitalized mine development costs. These amounts were the result of effective hedges of copper for which the underlying copper contracts were settled during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009, and related to sales of 2,645,093 and 5,271,180 pounds of copper, and 0 and 280,728 pounds of copper from the residual production of copper during the testing and development stage of the mine.
F-20
As of September 30, 2010, the estimated amount of copper production covered by economic hedges (derivatives no longer classified as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes) classified as trading securities was approximately 134% of the total estimated copper production for the three months December 31, 2010 and 166% for the year ending December 31, 2011. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had in place forward contracts of 900 (1,984,161 pounds) and 2,400 (5,291,095 pounds) metric tons for 2010 and 2011, respectively, at a net forward price of $4,549 ($2.06 per pound) and $4,413 ($2.00 per pound) per metric ton for the same periods. The program also includes the purchase of long call options for the same quantities thereby permitting the Company to participate in price increases in the event that copper prices exceed the strike price of the long call options. As of September 30, 2010, the average strike prices of the long call options were $8,309 ($3.77 per pound) and $8,723 ($3.96 per pound) per metric ton for the three month period ending December 31, 2010, and for the year ending December 31, 2011, respectively.
Furthermore, due to the Companys default under the terms of the Copper Hedge Agreement, the Company has reclassified the long-term amount of $1,615,317 to current liabilities, and under the terms of the agreement the Company may be required to unwind these positions prior to their scheduled settlement. Although this estimate is subject to changes in the forward price curve for copper, the estimated amount of the copper derivatives that will settle over the next twelve months in accordance with their normal operating terms stated in the contracts is $8,242,147 ($7,899,710 after proportionate credit valuation adjustment).
Interest Rate Swaps
In November 2008, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to hedge the interest rate risk exposure on its $25 million Nedbank credit facility expiring between 2009 and 2012. Under the interest rate swap contract terms, the Company receives LIBOR and pays a fixed rate of interest of 2.48% . The program requires no cash margins, collateral or other security from the Company. Under the terms of the interest rate swap, settlements began on March 31, 2009 and occur every three months thereafter until the contract expires on September 28, 2012.
Under ASC guidance for derivative instruments and hedging activities, this interest rate swap agreement is carried on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value which was estimated at ($295,163) and ($342,243) as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Until July 1, 2010, this contract was designated as a cash flow hedge with changes in fair value reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). As noted above, the Company continues to be in default on the Nedbank Credit Facility as it failed to make the requisite debt service payments for the period from March 30, 2010 to September 30, 2010. Accordingly, given that the Company is not performing under the terms of the underlying Nedbank Credit Facility. effective July 1, 2010, the Company de-designated 100% of the interest rate swap previously classified as a cash-flow hedge and reclassified the estimated fair value of ($319,542) of the interest rate swap from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to other income (expense), recognizing an unrealized loss for the amount.
F-21
During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized $77,419 and $278,912, respectively, in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009, the Company recognized $107,893 and $251,203, respectively, in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. In addition, changes in fair value in the amounts of ($85,992) and $37,747 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, were reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and as reductions of the liability in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2009.
The September 30, 2010 estimated fair value balance includes a credit valuation adjustment of $18,986 which is reported in unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives classified as trading securities within the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010.
Although this estimate is subject to changes in the forward interest rate curve for LIBOR, as of September 30, 2010, the estimated amount of the interest rate swap derivatives that will settle over the next twelve months in accordance with their normal operating terms stated in the contracts is $238,264 ($227,151 after proportionate credit valuation adjustment). In addition, due to the Companys default under the credit agreement with Nedbank, and therefore, its cross default under the terms of the interest rate swap, the Company has reclassified the long-term amount of $68,012 to current liabilities.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Balance | Balance | ||||||||||||
Sheet | Sheet | ||||||||||||
Location | Fair Value | Location | Fair Value | ||||||||||
As of September 30, 2010 Instruments not designated as hedges under ASC 815: | |||||||||||||
Commodity contracts | Current Liabilities | $ | 9,515,027 | Long-Term Liabilities | $ | - | |||||||
Interest rate swap contracts | Current Liabilities | $ | 295,163 | Long-Term Liabilities | $ | - | |||||||
As of December 31, 2009 Instruments designated as hedges under ASC 815: | |||||||||||||
Commodity contracts | Current Liabilities | $ | 7,653,709 | Long-Term Liabilities | $ | 5,073,006 | |||||||
Interest rate swap contracts | Current Liabilities | $ | 313,986 | Long-Term Liabilities | $ | 28,257 |
Cash-Flow Hedges
The Company utilized derivatives for the purpose of hedging forecasted cash flows related to the sale of copper and debt service requirements. For a derivative instrument designated as a cash-flow hedge, the effective portion of the derivatives gain (loss) is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) and is subsequently recognized in earnings when the hedged exposure is recognized in earnings. Gains (losses) on the derivatives representing either hedged components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness or hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in earnings.
F-22
Effective April 1, 2010, due to the Companys inability to make the required payments as the copper derivative contracts matured, the Company de-designated 100% of its cash flow hedges related to its copper price hedging program and reclassified the estimated fair value to trading securities. Consequently, commencing on April 1, 2010, the changes in fair value of these contracts are reflected in other income (expense) on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Effective July 1, 2010, due to the Companys inability to make the required debt service payments under the Nedbank Credit Facility, the Company de-designated 100% of its cash flow hedges related to its interest rate swap program and reclassified the estimated fair value to trading securities. Consequently, commencing on July 1, 2010, the changes in fair value of these contracts are reflected in other income (expense) on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized the following gains (losses) related to its copper price protection and interest rate swap programs:
Three months ended | |||
September 30, 2010 | |||
Ineffective Portion | |||
Unrealized loss on de-designation of interest rate swap | $ | (319,542 | ) |
Three months ended | |||
September 30, 2009 | |||
Effective Portion | |||
Net loss recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) | $ | (6,935,254 | ) |
Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI into net sales | $ | (499,993 | ) |
Loss recognized in interest expense | $ | (107,893 | ) |
Ineffective Portion | |||
Loss recognized in other income (expense) | $ | (5,642 | ) |
Nine months ended | |||
September 30, 2010 | |||
Effective Portion | |||
Net loss recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) | $ | (643,436 | ) |
Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI into net sales | $ | (1,886,237 | ) |
Loss recognized in interest expense | $ | (201,493 | ) |
Ineffective Portion | |||
Unrealized loss on de-designation of copper hedges | $ | (13,392,853 | ) |
Unrealized loss on de-designation of interest rate swap | $ | (319,542 | ) |
F-23
Nine months ended | |||
September 30, 2009 | |||
Effective Portion | |||
Net loss recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) | $ | (26,540,470 | ) |
Gain reclassified from accumulated OCI into net sales | $ | 992,296 | |
Gain reclassified from accumulated OCI in pre-production costs | $ | 271,897 | |
Loss recognized in interest expense | $ | (251,203 | ) |
Ineffective Portion | |||
Gain recognized in other income (expense) | $ | 1,367,595 |
Nedbank, the counterparty to all of the Companys derivative contracts, is also the senior lender on the Companys long-term debt, for which substantially all of the Companys assets are held as collateral. Accordingly, in accordance with the related credit agreement, a default on the derivative contracts has triggered a cross default under the credit agreement which has put Nedbank in a position to pursue any and all remedies under the related derivative contracts and credit agreement. Furthermore, under the credit agreement and derivative contracts, there is a master netting agreement which allows either party to offset an obligation by the other should either party be in default of its obligations. The Company neither deposited nor holds any collateral related to its derivative financial instruments. In addition, to date the Company has not required any of its counterparties or customers to post collateral.
The Company has failed to make payments due to Nedbank in the amount of $5,000,019 on copper derivative contracts and interest rate swap settlements which matured between April 6, 2010 and October 6, 2010. Accordingly, the Company is in default under these agreements, and amounts formerly eligible for treatment as amounts payable under long-term derivative contracts have been brought into current liabilities as of September 30, 2010.
10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Under ASC guidance for fair value measurements and disclosure, a fair value hierarchy is established that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 |
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities; | |
Level 2 |
Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; | |
Level 3 |
Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity). |
The following table sets forth the Companys financial assets and liabilities within the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 measured at estimated fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy. In light of the fact that the Company is currently in default on its Nedbank Credit Facility and Copper Hedge Agreement, the Company has recorded a credit risk adjustment on both its copper hedge and interest rate swap derivative liabilities as of September 30, 2010. In determining the magnitude of the adjustment, the Company utilized a discount factor of 9.06% on the estimated market values of the settlements as they mature which is consistent with the default rate of interest being charged by Nedbank on the Companys senior long-term debt. As a result, for the three and nine periods ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded a credit risk adjustment of $514,487 and $18,986 on the copper hedge and interest rate swap derivatives, respectively, and recorded a gain in the amount of $533,473 in other income on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. As required by ASC guidance, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
F-24
September 30, 2010 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Derivative contracts copper trading securities, net | $ | (9,515,027 | ) | - | $ | (9,515,027 | ) | - | ||||
Derivative contract interest rate swap contract | (295,163 | ) | - | (295,163 | ) | - |
December 31, 2009 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Derivative contracts copper cash flow hedges, net | $ | (12,726,715 | ) | - | $ | (12,726,715 | ) | - | ||||
Derivative contract interest rate swap contract | (342,243 | ) | - | (342,243 | ) | - |
The Companys derivative instruments, which include forward contracts for the sale of copper (synthetic put structure including forward contracts and call options on copper) and an interest rate swap, are valued using pricing models. The Company generally uses similar models to value similar instruments. Where possible, the Company verifies the values produced by its pricing models to market prices. Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, credit spreads, measures of volatility, and correlations of such inputs. The Companys derivatives generally trade in liquid markets, and as such, model inputs can generally be verified and do not involve significant management judgment. Such instruments are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
11. BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect, if any, of stock options, warrants and other dilutive securities outstanding. Outstanding options, warrants and other dilutive securities to purchase 61,209,281 and 21,665,504, shares of common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the effect of the assumed exercise of these options and warrants would be anti-dilutive. Outstanding options, warrants and other dilutive securities to purchase 61,209,281 and 18,782,357 shares of common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the effect of the assumed exercise of these options and warrants would be anti-dilutive.
F-25
Components of basic and diluted income (loss) per share were as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||
Net income (loss) available for common stock holders | $ | (3,931,127 | ) | $ | 92,839 | |
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock | 112,290,583 | 70,511,842 | ||||
Dilutive effect of warrants and stock options | - | 1,249,368 | ||||
Common stock and common stock equivalents | 112,290,583 | 71,761,210 | ||||
Income (loss) per share: | ||||||
Basic | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 0.00 | |
Diluted | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 0.00 |
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||
Net loss available for common stock holders | $ | (10,084,976 | ) | $ | (402,023 | ) |
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock | 111,720,671 | 70,211,630 | ||||
Dilutive effect of warrants and stock options | - | - | ||||
Common stock and common stock equivalents | 111,720,671 | 70,211,630 | ||||
Loss per share: | ||||||
Basic | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) |
Diluted | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) |
12. CONCENTRATIONS
The Company currently sells 100% of its copper cathode production to Red Kite Explorer Fund Limited under a definitive purchase and sale agreement dated February 2, 2008 with Red Kite, a large, well capitalized and diversified multinational organization; therefore, the credit risk is considered to be minimal.
13. COMMITMENTS
In June 2010, the Company engaged FTI Consulting (FTI), Inc, to provide financial advisory and consulting services. In accordance with the Agreement, the Company agreed to pay FTI an initial fee of $100,000 payable in four equal installments between June 1 and July 15, 2010. In addition, the Company agreed to pay FTI a success fee ranging between from 0.75% to 3.5% of the capital raised for the Company during the twelve month period ending May 31, 2011 as well as certain amounts payable should other specified transactions occur. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had paid FTI the initial fee of $100,000 and a success fee of $191,333 related to the closing of the $8,200,000 promissory note with Fisher Industries.
14. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for the Companys financial instruments are presented in the table below. These calculations are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and significant matters of judgment and do not include income tax considerations. Therefore, the results cannot be determined with precision and cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent market values and may not be realized in an actual sale or settlement of the instruments. There may be inherent weaknesses in any calculation technique, and changes in the underlying assumptions used could significantly affect the results.
F-26
The following table presents a summary of the Companys financial instruments as of September 30, 2010:
Carrying | Estimated Fair | |||||
Amount | Value | |||||
Financial Assets: | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,276,721 | $ | 1,276,721 | ||
Restricted marketable securities | 686,476 | 686,476 | ||||
Accounts receivable | 614,626 | 614,626 | ||||
Financial Liabilities: | ||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 4,306,391 | $ | *** | ||
Accrued expenses | 6,005,708 | *** | ||||
Accrued interest | 1,792,236 | *** | ||||
Long-term debt | 7,323,588 | *** | ||||
Senior longterm debt | 23,257,825 | *** | ||||
Derivative instruments | 9,810,190 | 9,810,190 |
The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, restricted marketable securities and accounts receivable approximate fair value because of the short maturities of these financial instruments. As noted above, the Companys derivatives are carried on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at estimated fair value. As of September 30, 2010, the fair value of the derivatives included a credit valuation adjustment of $533,473.
*** Given the current situation with the Companys senior lender and the related default of the underlying Credit Agreement, as amended, the Company does not believe that an estimate of the fair value of its senior long-term debt can be made without incurring substantial time and resources. Accordingly, an estimate of the fair value of its senior long-term debt as of September 30, 2010 is considered impracticable. In addition, due the current situation with the Companys senior lender and the impact this situation may have on the remaining liabilities of the Company, an estimate of the fair value of accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued interest and long-term debt as of September 30, 2010 is also considered impracticable.
15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On October 6, 2010, the Company issued 137,363 shares of common stock to a director of the Company at a deemed issuance price of $0.07 per share to settle outstanding compensation owed to the director.
On October 13, 2010, the Company filed a Form S-8 Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering an additional 5,000,000 shares of the Companys common stock for use under the Companys 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. The Plan now has 11,000,000 shares of the Companys common stock registered for distribution.
In October 2010 and November 2010, the Company made payments to its senior lender, Nedbank, of $300,000 and $400,000, respectively. These amounts were applied against the Company's obligations with Nedbank including the amounts owed under the terms of the interest rate swap and copper hedge agreements and the senior long-term debt under the related credit agreement, as amended.
F-27
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis
The following discussion of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and related notes for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth below under the heading Risk Factors.
Overview of Our Business
We are a copper mining company. Our principal asset is the Johnson Camp Mine located in Arizona. The Johnson Camp Mine is an integrated open pit copper mine and a production facility that uses the solvent extraction, electrowinning (SX-EW) process. The Johnson Camp Mine includes two open pits, namely the Burro and the Copper Chief bulk mining pits.
We acquired the Johnson Camp Mine from Arimetco, Inc. pursuant to a Sales and Purchase Agreement that had been assigned to us in June 1999 by Summo USA Corporation, the original purchaser, following the completion of certain due diligence work by Summo. Although Arimetco had ceased mining on the property in 1997, we, like Arimetco before us, continued production of copper from ore that had been mined and placed on leach pads, and from 1999 to 2003 we (through our then subsidiary Nord Copper Company) produced approximately 4,490,045 pounds of copper cathode.
On June 5, 2007, we completed an unregistered private placement offering of 30,666,700 special warrants for aggregate proceeds of approximately $23 million (net proceeds of approximately $21.3 million). In addition, we entered into our credit agreement dated as of June 28, 2007 with Nedbank Limited, as administrative agent and lead arranger, which provided for a $25 million secured term loan credit facility. As of September 30, 2010, we had drawn the entire credit facility. All of the funds available under such facility have been used by us to finance the construction, start-up and operation of mining and metal operations at the Johnson Camp Mine.
We commenced copper cathode production from leaching old dumps in January 2008 and completed the first copper cathode sale from these operations in February 2008. We commenced mining of new ore upon completion of the reactivation work in January 2009 and achieved commercial copper cathode production from newly-mined ore on April 1, 2009 and entered the production stage, following substantial completion of the testing and development phase. On July 2, 2010, we temporarily suspended the mining and crushing of new ore. All other operations, including leaching, SX-EW and copper production, are continuing.
On November 5, 2009, we completed an unregistered, brokered private placement of 40 million units (the Units) for total gross proceeds of $12,000,000. In connection with the offering, which was effected in an offshore transaction pursuant to Rule 903 of Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, we paid the placement agent a commission equal to $600,000, or 5% of the gross proceeds of the offering. Each Unit, priced at $0.30, consisted of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of our Company at a price of $0.38 per share until June 5, 2012. The proceeds of the offering were used to make the outstanding debt service payments that were due to Nedbank on September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2009, to purchase approximately $500,000 in additional equipment, to reduce accounts payable, and for general working capital purposes. As of September 30, 2010, none of the warrants issued as part of this private placement have been exercised.
- 2 -
Nedbank Limited, our Companys senior lender, has declined to extend the forbearance agreement with respect to the scheduled principal and interest payments due on March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010 under our Companys $25,000,000 secured term-loan credit facility with Nedbank. We are now in default of our obligations under the amended and restated credit agreement with Nedbank dated March 31, 2009, and the full amount of the outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest as of September 30, 2010 of $25,050,061 must now be included in our Companys current liabilities.
Nedbank has not served our Company with a formal notice of default under the credit agreement, which is a precondition to the exercise of Nedbanks rights upon a default under the credit agreement, including the acceleration of the full amount due there under and institution of foreclosure proceedings against the security. However, in accordance with the credit facility, we have accrued a 3% annual surcharge to the entire amount of the outstanding principal and interest under the credit agreement.
Nedbank Capital has also declined to extend the forbearance agreement regarding our Companys failure to make the outstanding payments of $4,826,924 as of October 6, 2010 under the copper hedge agreement between the parties. Accordingly, although Nedbank Capital has not served our Company with a formal notice of default, we are in default under the copper hedge agreement and $1,615,317 formerly eligible for treatment as amounts payable under long-term derivative contracts as of September 30, 2010 must now be brought into current liabilities.
In connection with the private placement of the Units, in November 2009, we received an exemption from these shareholder approval requirements, on the basis of financial hardship. Reliance on this exemption automatically triggered a TSX de-listing review to confirm that we continued to meet the TSX listing requirements. We were unable to meet the TSX listing requirements and, effective July 30, 2010, our Companys common stock has been delisted from the TSX. Our Companys stock continues to be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB).
In June 2010, the Company engaged FTI Consulting (FTI), Inc, to provide financial advisory and consulting services. In accordance with the Agreement, the Company agreed to pay FTI an initial fee of $100,000 payable in four equal installments between June 1 and July 15, 2010. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay FTI a success fee ranging between from 0.75% to 3.5% of the capital raised for the Company during the twelve month period ending May 31, 2011. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had paid FTI the initial fee of $100,000 and a success fee of $191,333 related to the closing of the $8,200,000 promissory note with Fisher Industries.
On July 5, 2010, the Company announced that it is immediately implementing measures to reduce its costs, maximize cash flow, and improve its operating efficiencies. The Company has temporarily suspended the mining and crushing of ore at the Johnson Camp Mine and laid off 43 people, representing approximately half of its workforce at the mine. The Company continues to produce copper through the leaching of ore already in place on its existing pads and processing the solution through the SX-EW plant. The suspension has resulted in an immediate reduction of costs and has enabled the Company to maximize operating cash flow from the production of copper achieved through continued leaching of ore on the Companys existing pads and the operation of its SX-EW plant. The suspension provides the Company with the opportunity to further evaluate its geological data, continue column leach testing, expand mineralogical classification of the reserve and perform additional drilling as appropriate. The resulting improved database and geologic block model will provide the necessary tools to optimize the mine plan by focusing on higher grade acid-soluble ore.
- 3 -
We entered into a settlement agreement dated July 28, 2010 (the "Settlement Agreement') with Fisher Sand & Gravel Company ("Fisher"), our largest unsecured trade creditor, to convert approximately $8.2 million of payables owing to Fisher and its affiliated company, F5 Equipment Inc., to a two-year unsecured note (the "Note") bearing interest on the outstanding principal and interest at the rate of approximately 6% per annum. Under the agreement, beginning in August 2010, Fisher Sand & Gravel Company began receiving weekly payments on the note that are based on a formula related to the weekly level of copper sales made by the Company as well as the realized price received for the copper sold. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had paid the $200,000 due Fisher at the closing, $876,413 in principal and $80,767 interest. As of September 30, 2010 the remaining principal balance due Fisher is $7,323,587.
Our Operations
Overview
We commenced the reactivation process at the Johnson Camp Mine in late June 2007. Our current reactivation plan includes estimated full production rate of 25 million pounds of copper cathode per annum.
Since reactivating the Johnson Camp Mine and commencing commercial production from newly mined ore in April 2009, we have made considerable progress both in our mining and processing operations. However, during this period, we have also encountered a number of challenges that have caused us to miss our targets with respect to copper output, earnings, and cash flow. Some of the challenges that we incurred are not unusual for a start-up or reactivation of a mining operation, but some were unexpected, such as the failure of a well casing in a primary water supply well in late October 2009 which contributed to several months of lower-than-forecasted flow rates of pregnant leach solution through our SX plant. This, together with unusually dry weather in the last quarter of 2009, resulted in lower-than-expected copper production.
In early January 2010, we placed two new wells into operation at a capital cost of approximately $400,000. This resulted in significantly increased flow rates that now are at the levels that we forecasted as necessary to achieve our production targets. In the first quarter of 2010, however, we experienced periods of heavier-than-usual rainfall, which resulted in dilution of the leach solution and turbidity problems in the solvent extraction plant, again causing some lower-than-expected production.
In addition, forecasting copper production during a ramp-up period is difficult for any reactivation of a leaching operation where residual leaching was previously done for an extended period of time. During residual leaching, copper is extracted from ore that was retained in the pads during normal operations. When new ore is placed on top of these pads, some of this new copper is retained in the old pads until a more steady state is reached. This copper will eventually be extracted over time, but during a ramp-up period, it is difficult to forecast production. During the ramp up, we have underestimated the magnitude of copper that has been retained in the pads.
- 4 -
Due to continued copper recovery issues with the existing leach pads combined with a reduction in the amount of mining activity stemming from inadequate capital, we were unable to become cash flow positive in the second quarter as anticipated. As a result, on July 2, 2010, we temporarily suspended the mining and crushing of new ore operations to increase cash flow with the goal of building a new leach pad. All other operations, including leaching, SX-EW and copper production, are continuing.
Although we are now in default under our credit agreement with Nedbank and our copper hedge agreement with Nedbank Capital, we intend to continue with our operations in the ordinary course, as we aggressively pursue certain opportunities that we have generated to refinance and/or recapitalize our Company.
Our business, and our ability to realize our business objectives and implement our operating plan, are subject to a number of additional risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the heading Risk Factors.
Capital Costs
The initial capital costs to complete the reactivation of the Johnson Camp Mine were approximately $36 million. Such costs relate primarily to: (a) the rehabilitation of solution ponds; (b) refurbishment and a modest expansion of the SX-EW copper production facility; (c) the installation of our primary stage crusher, and the purchase and installation of two secondary stage crushers, an agglomerator and conveying equipment; and (d) other project-related items.
We estimate that we will incur an additional $15 million in capital costs in the next six months, primarily for the construction of a leach pad. These cost figures do not include estimated reclamation bonding requirements, and do not account for inflation, interest and other financing costs. The estimated start-up date for the new pad is subject to the Companys ability to complete our current effort to restructure our capital structure and to obtain additional financing in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Results of Operations Three and Nine months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
The following table sets forth our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared with our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.
- 5 -
Three Months Ended | Nine months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
September | September | Change | September | September | Change | |||||||||||||
30, | 30, | (Increase/ | 30, | 30, | (Increase/ | |||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | Decrease) | 2010 | 2009 | Decrease) | |||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 7,896,253 | $ | 6,521,136 | $ | 1,375,117 | $ | 22,604,645 | $ | 13,118,107 | $ | 9,486,538 | ||||||
Costs applicable to sales (exclusive of depreciation, depletion and amortization shown separately below) | 5,676,743 | 4,578,119 | 1,098,624 | 13,345,989 | 10,303,422 | 3,042,567 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 326,505 | 633,750 | (307,245 | ) | 1,572,901 | 2,081,682 | (508,781 | ) | ||||||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 470,321 | 542,158 | (71,837 | ) | 1,328,262 | 1,043,834 | 284,428 | |||||||||||
Income (loss) from operations |
1,422,684 | 767,109 | 655,575 | 6,357,493 | (310,831 | ) | 6,668,324 | |||||||||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (874,497 | ) | (673,547 | ) | (200,950 | ) | (2,360,840 | ) | (1,450,946 | ) | (909,894 | ) | ||||||
Unrealized loss on de- designation of derivatives |
(319,542 | ) | - | (319,542 | ) | (13,712,395 | ) | - | (13,712,395 | ) | ||||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives classified as trading securities |
(1,914,491 | ) | - | (1,914,491 | ) | 3,902,204 | - | 3,902,204 | ||||||||||
Realized gain (loss) on derivatives classified as trading securities |
(2,250,972 | ) | (5,642 | ) | (2,245,330 | ) | (4,129,056 | ) | 1,367,595 | (5,496,651 | ) | |||||||
Miscellaneous income (expense), net |
5,691 | 4,919 | 772 | (142,382 | ) | (7,841 | ) | (134,541 | ) | |||||||||
Total other income | ||||||||||||||||||
(expense) | (5,353,811 | ) | (674,270 | ) | (4,679,541 | ) | (16,442,469 | ) | (91,192 | ) | (16,351,277 | ) | ||||||
Gain (loss) before income taxes | (3,931,127 | ) | 92,839 | (4,023,966 | ) | (10,084,976 | ) | (402,023 | ) | (9,682,953 | ) | |||||||
Provision for income taxes | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (3,931,127 | ) | $ | 92,839 | $ | (4,023,966 | ) | $ | (10,084,976 | ) | $ | (402,023 | ) | $ | (9,682,953 | ) | |
Basic and diluted income (loss) | ||||||||||||||||||
per share of common stock: | ||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding |
112,290,583 | 70,511,842 | 111,720,671 | 70,211,630 | ||||||||||||||
Basic income (loss)
per share of common stock |
$ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 0.00 | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | |||||||
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding |
112,290,583 | 71,761,210 | 111,720,671 | 70,211,630 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted income (loss)
per share of common stock |
$ | (0.04 | ) | 0.00 | (0.09 | ) | (0.01 | ) |
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Revenue
We commenced production of nominal amounts of copper from newly-mined ore during the testing and development phase of the mine in February and March 2009. We entered the production stage as we achieved commercial copper cathode production from newly-mined ore on April 1, 2009.
In February 2008, we entered into a long-term cathode sales agreement with Red Kite Explorer Fund Limited for 100% of the copper cathode production from the Johnson Camp Mine. The agreement runs through December 31, 2012 with renewable extensions by mutual agreement of both parties. Pursuant to the agreement, Red Kite accepts delivery of the cathodes at the Johnson Camp Mine. Pricing is based on the average daily COMEX price for highgrade copper as determined at the end of the day of settlement.
Due to continued copper recovery issues with the existing leach pads combined with a reduction in the amount of mining activity stemming from inadequate capital, we were unable to become cash flow positive in the second quarter as anticipated. As a result, On July 2, 2010, we temporarily suspended the mining and crushing of new ore operations to increase cash flow with the goal of building a new leach pad. All other operations, including leaching, SX-EW and copper production, are continuing.
We recorded revenues of $7,896,253 (including $31,548 in amortization of deferred revenue) from the sale of 2,393,591 pounds of copper cathode for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and revenues of $22,604,645 (including losses of ($1,866,237) from the settlement of copper hedges and $99,441 in amortization of deferred revenue) from the sale of 7,544,721 pounds of copper cathode for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Revenues during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2010, do not include the impact of copper hedge activity in the amounts of ($2,250,972) and ($4,129,056), respectively, as these hedges were de-designated as cash flow hedges and consequently not included as an element of revenue. The average realized price of copper sold during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2010 was $3.29 and $2.99 per pound, respectively. The average realized price of copper sold during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 would have been $2.35 and $2.44 per pound, respectively, if the copper derivatives would have remained classified as cash flow hedges.
We recorded revenues of $6,521,136 (including $(496,006) from the settlement of copper hedges and $34,863 in amortization of deferred revenue) from the sale of 2,645,093 pounds of copper cathode for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and revenues of $13,118,107 (including $992,296 from the settlement of copper hedges and $62,147 in amortization of deferred revenue) from the sale of 5,271,180 pounds of copper cathode for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Additionally, for the nine month period ended September 30, 2009, revenues earned from the sale of 280,728 pounds of copper cathode produced during the testing and development stage of the mine in the amount of $742,237 (including $271,897 from the settlement of copper hedges) were credited to mine development costs. The average realized price of copper sold during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009 was $2.47 and $2.49 per pound, respectively.
Costs Applicable to Sales
Costs of sales represents the costs incurred in converting the ore present in existing leach pads into salable copper cathodes. The conversion process includes the mining of ore, crushing, conveying and stacking of ore on to the pads, leaching of stockpiles, solvent extraction and electrowinning, and results in the production of copper cathode. The costs include labor, supplies, energy, site overhead costs and other necessary costs associated with the extraction and processing of ore.
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For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we incurred $5,676,743 (including $2,849,091 in abnormal costs due to the under utilization of plant capacity) of costs applicable to sales from the sale of copper. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we incurred $13,345,989 (including $4,675,851 in abnormal costs due to the under utilization of plant capacity) of costs applicable to sales from the sale of copper. The average cost per pound of copper sold during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2010 was $2.37 and $1.77 per pound, respectively. The average cost per pound excluding abnormal costs of copper sold during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 was $1.18 and $1.15 per pound, respectively.
For the three months ended September 30, 2009, we incurred $4,578,119 of costs applicable to sales (including $1,265,927 in ramp up expenses) from the sale of copper. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we incurred $10,303,422 of costs applicable to sales (including $4,266,766 in ramp up expenses) from the sale of copper. Direct costs incurred in the development and testing phase of the ramp up in the amount of $1,841,080 (net of pre-commercial revenue) were capitalized and are being amortized using the units of production method over an estimated 374,000,000 pounds of copper which represents the estimated copper reserve base of the Johnson Camp mine. The average cost per pound of copper sold during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2009 was $1.73 and $1.95 per pound, respectively. The average cost per pound excluding abnormal costs of copper sold during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009 was $1.25 and $1.15 per pound, respectively.
General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses decreased to $326,505 for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $633,750 for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Total compensation decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2010 by $328,336 from the same period in 2009. This decrease was primarily due to a $292,351 reversal in performance incentive bonus accruals.
Our general and administrative expenses decreased to $1,572,901 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $2,081,682 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Total compensation decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 by $383,655 from the same period in 2009. This decrease was primarily due to a $292,351 reversal in performance incentive bonus accruals and a $21,157 decrease in contract labor. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was also due to a $60,006 decrease in professional fees (primarily accounting fees) and a $24,581 decrease in travel expenses.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
Our depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) expenses decreased by $71,837 for the three month period ended September 30, 2010 and increased by $284,428 for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010, as compared to the three and nine months periods ended September 30, 2009. The decrease in the three month period ended September 30, 2010 is primarily due to the suspension of mining new ore discussed above. The increase in the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 was primarily due to the increase in the tons mined and the copper produced in the comparison period to the same period in the prior year when the Company was just beginning the ramp up of mining new ore
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Other Income (Expense)
For the three month period ended September 30, 2010 in comparison to the three month period ended September 30, 2009, other income (expense) decreased by ($4,679,541) primarily resulting from the de-designation of interest rate swaps from cash flow hedges to trading securities ($319,542); the unrealized losses on derivatives classified as trading securities of ($1,914,491) and the realized losses of ($2,250,972) on derivatives classified as trading securities in comparison to the three months ended September 30, 2009. In addition, interest expense increased by $200,950 due primarily to the 3% surcharge on the Nedbank Credit facility resulting from the fact that the Company is in default on the loan and from interest charges of $80,767 on the outstanding balance due on the Fisher Industries Promissory Notes, the companys mining contract.
The decrease in other income (expense) of ($16,351,277) for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 in comparison to the nine month period ended September 30, 2009 was primarily due to the de-designation of copper hedge and interest rates swaps from cash flow hedges to trading securities ($13,712,395); the unrealized gains on derivatives classified as trading securities $3,902,204; the realized losses of ($4,129,056) on derivatives classified as trading securities in comparison to realized gains of $1,367,595 on derivatives classified as trading securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and the $909,894 increase in interest expense resulting from the inclusion of interest for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 versus only two quarters in 2009. Interest incurred during the first quarter of 2009 was capitalized as part of the Companys property and equipment during the development and testing phase of the mine.
Net Income
Operations resulted in net loss of $3,931,127 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to net income of $92,839 for the three months ended September 30, 2009. The increase in net loss between these periods is primarily related to:
A decrease in other income (expense) of ($4,679,541) primarily resulting from the de- designation of interest rates swaps from cash flow hedges to trading securities ($319,542); the unrealized losses of ($1,914,491) and the realized losses of ($2,250,972) in comparison to the three months ended September 30, 2009; offset in part by
An increase in gross margin before depreciation, depletion and amortization of $276,493, primarily resulting from the de-designation of copper hedges previously considered cash flow hedges; and
A decrease to $326,505 in general and administrative expenses primarily due to a $292,351 reduction in performance incentive bonus accruals.
A decrease in depreciation, depletion and amortization in the amount of $71,837 primarily due to the suspension of the mining of new ore on July 2, 2010;
Operations resulted in net loss of $10,084,976 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to net loss of $402,023 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The increase in net loss between these periods is primarily related to:
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A decrease in other income (expense) of ($16,351,277) primarily resulting from the de- designation of copper hedges and interest rate swaps from cash flow hedges to trading securities ($13,712,395); the unrealized gains on derivatives classified as trading securities of $3,902,204; the realized losses of ($4,129,056) on derivatives classified as trading securities in comparison to realized gains of $1,367,595 for the same time period in the prior year and the $909,894 increase in interest expense resulting from the inclusion of interest for the three quarters of 2010 versus only two quarters in 2009. The interest incurred during the first quarter of 2009 was capitalized as part of the Nedbank principal;
An increase in depreciation, depletion and amortization in the amount of $284,428 due to the increase in the amount ore mined and processed; offset in part by
An increase in gross margin before depreciation, depletion and amortization of $6,443,971, primarily resulting from an increase of 2,273,541 in the number of copper cathode pounds sold and the de-designation of copper derivatives previously considered cash flow hedges; and
A decreased to $508,781 in general and administrative expenses primarily due to a $292,351 reduction in performance incentive bonus accruals and a $60,006 decrease in professional fees
Liquidity and Financial Resources
Our Companys continuation as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our obligations on a timely basis, to produce copper at a level where we can become profitable, to pay off existing debt and provide sufficient funds for general corporate purposes, all of which is uncertain. Our condensed consolidated financial statements contain additional note disclosures to this effect, and the condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
We are a party to an amended and restated credit agreement dated as of March 31, 2009 with Nedbank Limited, as the administrative agent and lead arranger, which provided a $25,000,000 secured term loan credit facility used by our Company to finance the reactivation of the Johnson Camp Mine. We have delivered a deed of trust, a collateral account agreement and certain other security agreements that grant to the lenders a first priority lien encumbering all of the real and personal property associated with the Johnson Camp property, including all patented mining claims, fee lands and unpatented mining claims in which we have an interest. Although we made the scheduled principal and interest payment that was due on December 31, 2009 in the approximate amount of $2,200,000, we were unable to make the scheduled principal and interest payments that were due on March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010 in the approximate amounts of $2,150,000, $2,350,000, and $2,375,000, respectively.
Our Company and Nedbank had entered into an unconditional forbearance and extension agreement dated March 30, 2010 and amended on April 22, 2010 that allowed us a forbearance period until May 13, 2010 to negotiate an amendment to our secured credit agreement as it pertains to the March 31, 2010 payment and other terms therein. Nedbank has declined to extend the forbearance agreement, and, although we have not been served with a formal notice of default, we are now in default of our obligations under the credit agreement. As a result, the full amount of the outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest under the credit agreement as of September 30, 2010 must now be included in our Companys current liabilities, together with any additional amounts payable under the credit agreement. Among other consequences, since April 1, 2010, the Company has incurred a 3% interest rate surcharge to the entire amount of the outstanding principal and interest under the credit agreement.
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Nedbank Capital has also declined to extend the forbearance agreement regarding our Companys failure to make the payments under the copper hedge agreement between the parties. The forbearance agreement expired at midnight on May 13, 2010. Accordingly, although Nedbank Capital has not served our Company with a formal notice of default, we are in default under the copper hedge agreement, and amounts formerly eligible for treatment as amounts payable under long-term derivative contracts as of September 30, 2010 must now be brought into current liabilities.
On September 1, 2009, Fisher Sand & Gravel Company (Fisher), the Companys mining contractor and largest unsecured trade creditor, agreed to defer $850,000 due to it for a period of three years. As December 31, 2009, this balance is included in other long-term liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Pursuant to that agreement, from April 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011, the Company had agreed to pay Fisher, on a monthly basis, 12% per annum interest on the deferred payments. The Company retained the right to prepay the deferred payments at any time without penalty. As of June 30, 2010, the Company had accrued $110,500 of interest expense related to this debt. On July 29, 2010, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement with Fisher to convert $8.2 million of unsecured trade payables, including the former note due to Fisher in the amount of $850,000 and the $110,500 accrued interest thereon, into a two-year unsecured note bearing interest on the outstanding principal at the rate of 6% per annum. Under the agreement, beginning in August 2010, Fisher will receive weekly payments on the note that are based on a formula related to the weekly level of copper sales made by the Company as well as the realized price received for the copper sold. Accordingly, as of September 30, 2010, the Company has reclassified $7,233,629, $110,500, and $849,992 of accounts payable, accrued interest and other long-term liabilities, respectively to current maturities of long-term debt and long-term debt, less current maturities in the respective amounts of $183,118 and $7,140,475, as reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
As discussed herein, in order to resume full operations the Company will need to develop and construct a new leach pad at an estimated cost of $15 million. The construction of the pad is subject to our ability to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms. No assurances can be made that the Company will be successful in these endeavours.
Cash and Working Capital
The following table sets forth our cash and working capital (deficiency) as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
As of | As of | |||||
September 30, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | |||||
Cash reserves | $ | 1,276,721 | (1) | $ | 1,298,138 | (1) |
Working capital surplus (deficiency) | $ | (37,666,071) | (2) | $ | (7,652,818) | (3) |
(1) |
Excludes $686,476 in restricted cash being held in conjunction with two letters of credit. |
(2) |
Includes $8,126,861 in current liability portion of derivative contracts, $12,530,689 in current portion of long-term debt, and $1,683,329 and $10,727,136 of long-term derivative liabilities and long-term debt, respectively, that were classified as current liabilities due to our Company defaulting on the related agreements. |
(3) |
Includes $7,967,695 in current liability portion of derivative contracts and $7,362,004 in current portion of long-term debt, capital lease obligations and accrued interest. |
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Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Our cash flows from operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were $1,765,878 and $139,055, respectively. We commenced copper cathode production from leaching existing old dumps in January 2008 and from the mining and producing of new ore in January 2009. We completed the first sale of copper cathode produced from residual leaching operations in February 2008, and the first sale of copper cathode produced from newly mined ore in February 2009. On July 2, 2010, the Company temporarily suspended the mining and crushing of new ore. Our Company has recognized net losses of $10,084,976 and $402,023 for the nine month periods ended September, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The net loss incurred for the nine month period ending 2010 was significantly impacted by the unrealized loss in the amount of $13,712,395 on the de-designation of copper and interest rate swap derivatives as cash flow hedges partially offset by the unrealized gain of $3,902,204 on derivatives classified as trading securities. The cash flows from operating activities were also significantly impacted in both periods by the increase in amount of copper that remains in inventory. Cash used in the mining and processing of inventory amounted to $9,402,057 and $8,807,715 during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Cash used by operating activities was offset by an increase of $9,863,543 and $9,407,754, respectively, in accounts payable, accrued expenses and accrued interest during the nine month periods ending September 30, 2010 and 2009.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Our cash flows from investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were ($747,308) which primarily represents the purchase of equipment used in the Johnson Camp Mine operation and preliminary engineering on a new leach pad.
Our cash flows from investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were ($9,198,380), which primarily reflects capital expenditures of $10,020,795 related to the reactivation of the Johnson Camp Mine during this time period, $1,651,317 (net of $742,237 of copper sold during the period which includes $271,897 of proceeds from the settlement of effective hedges) in mine development costs, $940,070 in proceeds from the sale of ineffective copper hedges, and the reclassification of $1,533,662 from restricted cash and marketable securities to cash and cash equivalents.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Our cash flows from financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was ($1,039,987) compared to $4,913,679 for the same period in 2009.
During the nine month period ended September 30, 2010, our Company realized proceeds in the amount of $40,650 from the exercise of 451,667 stock options. In addition, the Company incurred $191,333 in debt issuance costs related to the closing of the Promissory Note with Fisher Industries and made principal payments thereon of $876,413.
On March 31, 2009, our Company sold to Royal Gold (formerly known as IRC Nevada Inc.) a 2.5% net smelter royalty on the mineral production sold from the existing mineral rights at Johnson Camp. Net proceeds from the sale were $4,950,000 and are being used for working capital during the ramp up of our mining operations.
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During the nine month period ended September 30, 2009, our Company incurred debt issuance costs of $80,929 related to an agreement to amend and restate our credit agreement with Nedbank and realized proceeds in the amount of $50,518 from the exercise of 348,336 stock options. In addition, our Company issued 731,480 warrants valued at $100,000 to Nedbank as a fee to amend and restate the credit agreement.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
We regularly evaluate the accounting policies and estimates that we use to prepare our consolidated financial statements. In general, managements estimates are based on historical experience, on information from third party professionals, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the facts and circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates made by management.
We believe that our critical accounting policies and estimates include the accounting for inventories, marketable securities, longlived assets, valuation of derivatives, stock options and warrants, income taxes, reclamation costs, and accounting for legal contingencies.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amount and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. Such adjustments could be material.
Nedbank, our Companys senior lender, has declined to extend the forbearance agreement with respect to the scheduled principal and interest payment in the approximate amounts of $2,150,000, $2,350,000 and $2,375,000 that were due on March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010, respectively, under our Companys $25,000,000 secured term-loan credit facility with Nedbank. We are now in default of our obligations under the credit agreement with Nedbank, and the full amount of the outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest as of September 30, 2010 must now be included in our Companys current liabilities, together with any additional amounts payable under the credit agreement.
Nedbank Capital has also declined to extend the forbearance agreement regarding our Companys failure to make the payments of under the copper hedge agreement between the parties between April 6, 2010 and October 6, 2010. The forbearance agreement expired at midnight on May 13, 2010. The Company owes a total of $4,826,924 to Nedbank related to these settlements as of September 30, 2010. Accordingly, we are in default under the copper hedge agreement, and amounts formerly eligible for treatment as amounts payable under long-term derivative contracts as of September 30, 2010 must now be brought into current liabilities.
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Our Companys continuation as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to refinance our obligations under the credit agreement with Nedbank and the copper hedge agreement with Nedbank Capital, our ability to raise sufficient capital to construct a new pad and finance working capital requirements, and on our ability to produce copper to sell at a level where the Company becomes profitable and achieves cash flows from operations. Our Companys continued existence is dependent upon its ability to achieve its operating plan. If management cannot achieve its operating plan because of sales shortfalls, a reduction in copper prices, or other unfavorable events, we may find it necessary to dispose of assets, or undertake other actions as may be appropriate. Our Companys ramp up of production since the commencement of commercial production has been slower than originally forecasted. Consequently, our Company has been required to raise additional capital through the sale of equity and the sale of a royalty interest in the Johnson Camp Mine. As of September 30, 2010, our Company had not reached the production level necessary to breakeven from a cash flow perspective.
On July 2, 2010, our Company temporarily suspended its mining and crushing operations at Johnson Camp Mine. In conjunction with the suspension, we laid off 43 people, representing approximately half of its workforce at the mine. Nord will continue to produce copper through the leaching of ore already in place on its existing pads and the ongoing operations of its SX-EW plant. These actions will result in an immediate reduction of our costs and enable us to maximize operating cash flow from the production of copper achieved through continued leaching of ore on our existing pads and the operation of our SX-EW plant. Our production level will slowly decline until the resumption of mining and crushing operations. In addition, the suspension provides us the opportunity to further evaluate our geologic block model data, continue column leach testing, expand mineralogical classification of the reserve and perform additional drilling as appropriate. The resulting improved database and geologic block model are expected to provide us with the necessary tools to optimize our mine plan by focusing on higher grade acid-soluble ore, and should improve the reliability of future copper production. Our Company is also proceeding with the engineering work required to develop a new leach pad. As previously announced, we intend to begin using this pad by late first quarter 2011 subject to the completion of the requisite financing in the fourth quarter of 2010. No assurance can be made that the Company will be able to obtain the requisite financing at commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of our Companys consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires our Companys management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to mineral reserves and the recovery rate of the Johnson Camp Mine that are the basis for future cash flow estimates; reclamation obligations; asset impairment (including longlived assets and investments); valuation allowances for deferred tax assets; disclosures and reserves for contingencies and litigation; and the fair value and accounting treatment of financial instruments. Our Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
The Company is currently in the process of performing a series of tests to further understand the copper recovery rate by rock type at the Johnson Camp Mine. At such time that the these tests are completed and analyzed, there may be a material change in the estimated recovery rate which could materially impact the valuation of inventories and stockpiles and ore on leach pads and consequently, cost of goods sold. It is estimated that these tests and analysis thereof will be completed during the first quarter of 2011.
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Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, our Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Marketable Securities
Restricted marketable securities at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, consist of certificates of deposit (CDs) which are considered held-to-maturity securities and are stated at amortized cost of $686,476 on the consolidated balance sheet. The CDs expire in December 2010. The CDs carried a stated interest rate of .40% per annum. All marketable securities are defined as held-to-maturity securities, trading securities or available-for-sale securities under the applicable guidance related to the accounting for certain investments in debt and equity securities. Management determines the appropriate classification of the Companys investments in marketable debt and equity securities at the time of each purchase and re-evaluates such determination at each balance sheet date. Securities that are bought with the intent and ability to be held to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity securities. Held-to-maturity securities are carried at amortized cost on the consolidated balance sheet until sold. Securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as trading securities and unrealized gains and losses are included in earnings. Debt securities, for which our Company does not have the intent or ability to hold to maturity, and equity securities are classified as available for sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as a separate component of stockholders equity. The cost of investments sold is determined on the specific identification or the first-in, first-out method.
Accounts Receivable
Our Company grants credit to all qualified customers and generally requires no collateral. Accounts receivable are carried at cost less an allowance for losses, if an allowance is deemed necessary. Our Company does not accrue finance or interest charges. On a periodic basis, our Company evaluates its accounts receivable and determines the requirement for an allowance for losses, based upon history of past writeoffs, collections and current credit conditions. A receivable is written off when it is determined that all reasonable collection efforts have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. Management determined that no allowance for losses was required as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
Revenue Recognition
Our Company recognizes revenue from the sale of products, and related costs of products sold, where persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sellers price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. This generally occurs when the customer receives the product or at the time title passes to the customer.
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Inventories
As described below, costs that are incurred in or benefit the production process are accumulated as stockpiles, ore on leach pads and inventories and classified as inventories on the consolidated balance sheet. Inventories are carried at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value represents the estimated future sales price of the product based on current and longterm metals prices, less the estimated costs to complete production and bring the product to sale. Writedowns of inventories, resulting from net realizable value impairments, are reported as a component of income (loss) from operations. The current portion of inventories is determined based on the expected amounts to be processed within the next 12 months. Inventories not expected to be processed within the next 12 months are classified under longterm assets as stockpiles and ore on leach pads. The major classifications of inventories are as follows:
Stockpiles
Stockpiles represent ore that has been mined and is available for further processing. Stockpiles are measured by estimating the number of tons added to the stockpile, the number of contained pounds (based on assay data) and the estimated metallurgical recovery rates (based on the expected processing method). Stockpile ore tonnages are verified by periodic surveys. Costs are allocated to stockpiles based on relative values of material stockpiled and processed using current mining costs incurred up to the point of stockpiling the ore, including applicable overhead, depreciation, depletion and amortization relating to mining operations, and removed at each stockpiles average cost per recoverable unit.
Ore on Leach Pads
The recovery of copper from certain copper oxide ores is achieved through the heap leaching process. Under this method, oxide ore is placed on leach pads where it is treated with a chemical solution, which dissolves the copper contained in the ore. The resulting pregnant solution is further processed in a plant where the copper is recovered. Costs are added to ore on leach pads based on current mining and processing costs, including applicable depreciation, depletion and amortization relating to mining operations are removed from ore on leach pads as pounds are recovered based on the average cost per estimated recoverable pound of copper on the leach pad.
The estimates of recoverable copper on the leach pads are calculated from the quantities of ore placed on the leach pads (measured tons added to the leach pads), the grade of ore placed on the leach pads (based on assay data) and a recovery percentage (based on ore type). In general, leach pads recover the majority of the recoverable pounds in the first year of leaching.
Although the quantities of recoverable copper placed on the leach pads are reconciled by comparing the grades of ore placed on pads to the quantities of copper cathode produced (metallurgical balancing), the nature of the leaching process inherently limits the ability to precisely monitor inventory levels. As a result, the metallurgical balancing process is constantly monitored and estimates are refined based on actual results over time. Variations between actual and estimated quantities resulting from changes in assumptions and estimates that do not result in writedowns to net realizable value are accounted for on a prospective basis.
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Inprocess Inventory
Inprocess inventories represent materials that are currently in the process of being converted to a saleable product. The Company utilizes a solvent extraction electrowinning process to extract the copper from the ore. Inprocess material is measured based on assays of the material fed into the process and the projected recoveries of the respective plants. Inprocess inventories are valued at the average cost of the material fed into the process attributable to the source material coming from the mine, stockpiles and/or leach pads plus the inprocess conversion costs, including applicable depreciation relating to the process facilities incurred to that point in the process.
Finished Goods Inventory
Finished goods represent saleable copper cathodes. Finished goods are valued at the weighted average cost of source material or net realizable value.
Materials and Supplies
Materials and supplies are valued at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Cost includes applicable taxes and freight.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
In connection with the Credit Agreement with Nedbank, our Company is required to maintain a hedging program with respect to a specified percentage of copper output from the Johnson Camp Mine. These contracts are carried on the consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair value. Until March 31, 2010, these contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges with the changes to their fair value reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within the consolidated statement of changes in stockholders equity. Effective, April 1, 2010, due to our Companys inability to fulfill its payment obligations for maturing contracts, we reclassified these contracts to trading securities. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the estimated fair values of the commodity contracts were $(9,513,027) and $(12,726,715), respectively.
During 2008, we entered into a contract to hedge the interest rate risk exposure on its $25 million Nedbank Credit Facility expiring between 2009 and 2012. Under the terms of the interest rate swap contract, our Company receives the three-month United States Dollar London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and pays a fixed rate of interest of 2.48% . The program requires no cash margins, collateral or other security from our Company. The contract is carried on the consolidated balance sheet at its estimated fair value. Until June 30, 2010, as this contract was designated as a cash flow hedge, changes to the fair value of this contract were reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
As noted above, as of September 30, 2010, the Company is in default on the Nedbank Credit Facility as it failed to make the requisite debt service payments for the period between March 30, 2010 and September 30, 2010. As of September 30, 2010, the total amount owed to Nedbank as a result of these missed payments is $25,050,061. Accordingly, given that the Company is not performing under the terms of the underlying Nedbank Credit Facility, as of July 1, 2010, the Company de-designated 100% of the interest rate swap derivatives previously classified as cash-flow hedges and reclassified the estimated fair value of $(319,542) of the derivatives from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to other income (expense), recognizing an unrealized loss for the amount.
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As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the estimated fair value of the interest rate swap derivative liability was $(295,163) and $(342,243), respectively. The increase in fair value (decrease in liability) of $22,701 from December 31, 2009 through June 30, 2010 was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The increase in fair value (decrease in liability) of $24,379 from July 1, 2010, through September 30, 2010 was recorded in other income on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Fair Value Accounting
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance which defined fair value, established a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of this guidance were adopted by our Company on January 1, 2008. In February 2008, the FASB staff issued additional guidance which delayed the effective date of this guidance for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). We adopted those provisions that relate to nonfinancial assets and liabilities on January 1, 2009.
In October 2008, the FASB issued guidance for determining the fair value of a financial asset when the market for that asset is not active. This guidance states that determining fair value in an inactive market depends on the facts and circumstances, requires the use of significant judgment and in some cases, new observable inputs may require significant adjustment based on unobservable data. Regardless of the valuation technique used, an entity must include appropriate risk adjustments that market participants would make for nonperformance and liquidity risks when determining fair value of an asset in an inactive market. This guidance was effective upon issuance and did not have a material impact on our Company.
The guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 |
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities; | |
| ||
Level 2 |
Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; | |
| ||
Level 3 |
Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity). |
The following table sets forth the Companys financial assets and liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 measured at estimated fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy. In light of the fact that the Company is currently in default on its Nedbank Credit Facility and Copper Hedge Agreement, the Company has recorded a credit risk adjustment on both its copper derivative and interest rate swap derivative liabilities as of September 30, 2010. In determining the magnitude of the adjustment, the Company utilized a credit risk adjustment discount factor of 9.06% on the settlements which is consistent with the default rate of interest being charged by Nedbank on the Companys senior long-term debt. As a result, for the three and nine periods ended September 30, 2010, the company recorded a credit risk adjustment of $514,487 and $18,986 on the copper derivative and interest rate swap derivative, respectively, and recorded an unrealized gain in the amount of $533,473 in other income on the condensed consolidated statement of operations. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the estimated fair value measurement.
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Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
September 30, 2010 | ||||||||||||
Instruments Not Designated as Hedges Under ASC 815: | ||||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Derivative contracts copper trading securities, net | $ | (9,515,027 | ) | - | $ | (9,515,027 | ) | - | ||||
Derivative contract interest rate swap contract | $ | (295,163 | ) | - | $ | (295,163 | ) | - | ||||
December 31, 2009 | ||||||||||||
Instruments Designated as Hedges Under ASC 815: | ||||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Derivative contracts copper cash flow hedges, net | $ | (12,726,715 | ) | - | $ | (12,726,715 | ) | - | ||||
Derivative contract interest rate swap contract | $ | (342,243 | ) | - | $ | (342,243 | ) | - |
Our Companys derivative instruments are valued using pricing models, and our Company generally uses similar models to value similar instruments. Where possible, our Company verifies the values produced by its pricing models to market prices. Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, credit spreads, measures of volatility, and correlations of such inputs. Our derivatives generally trade in liquid markets, and as such, model inputs can generally be verified and do not involve significant management judgment. Such instruments are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Our Company includes shipping and handling costs related to the transport of finished goods in operating expenses.
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs are amortized over the life of the related loan as interest expense. During the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2010, we incurred debt issuance costs of $191,333 to pay FTI Consulting for their assistance in the closing of the Fisher Industries Promissory Note. During the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2009, we incurred debt issuance costs of $0 and $80,929. The debt issuance costs incurred are being amortized over the term of the related financing facility using the straightline method, which approximates the effective interest method. Accumulated amortization of debt issuance costs were $768,791 and $565,119 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Unamortized debt issuance costs were $801,145 and $813,483 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are carried at cost. Mineral exploration costs, as well as drilling and other costs incurred for the purpose of converting mineral resources to proven and probable reserves or identifying new mineral resources at exploration, development or production stage properties, are charged to expense as incurred. Development costs are capitalized beginning after the existence of proven and probable reserves have been established. Development costs include costs incurred resulting from mine preproduction activities undertaken to gain access to proven and probable reserves including ramps, permanent excavations, infrastructure, removal of overburden and the substantial completion of the testing phase of the mining and ore processing activities. Additionally, interest expense allocable to the cost of developing mining properties and of constructing new facilities is capitalized until the assets are ready for their intended use.
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Construction in progress represents costs capitalized to refurbish and complete the reactivation of Johnson Camp Mine and to get it ready for its intended use. Such costs relate primarily to: (a) the rehabilitation of solution ponds; (b) refurbishment and a modest expansion of the SX-EW copper production facility; (c) the installation of a primary stage crusher, and the purchase and installation of two secondary stage crushers, an agglomerator and conveying equipment; and (d) other project-related items. In January 2009, upon placing these assets in service and the commencement of production of nominal amounts of copper from newly-mined ore during the testing and development phase of the mine, these costs were reclassified into property and equipment.
Expenditures for replacements and improvements are capitalized. Costs related to periodic scheduled maintenance are expensed as incurred. Depreciation for mining life-of-mine assets, infrastructure and other common costs is determined using the unit-of-production method based on total estimated recoverable proven and probable copper reserves. Development costs and acquisition costs for proven and probable reserves that relate to a specific ore body are depleted using the unit-of-production method based on estimated recoverable proven and probable reserves for the ore body benefited. Depreciation, depletion and amortization using the unit-of-production method is recorded upon extraction of the recoverable copper from the ore body, at which time it is allocated to inventory cost and ultimately included as a component of operating expenses. Other assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of up to 16 years for buildings, 3 to 6 years for machinery and equipment, and 3 to 5 years for mobile equipment.
LongLived Assets
Our Company reviews and evaluates its longlived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the asset carrying value exceeds its fair value. Fair value is generally determined using valuation techniques such as estimated future cash flows. An impairment is considered to exist if total estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the asset. An impairment loss is measured and recorded based on discounted estimated future cash flows. Future cash flows for the Johnson Camp Mine include estimates of recoverable pounds of copper, copper prices (considering current and historical prices, price trends and related factors), production rates and costs, capital and reclamation costs as appropriate, all based upon lifeofmine engineering plans and feasibility studies. Assumptions underlying future cash flow estimates are subject to risks and uncertainties. No impairment losses were recorded during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, or for the year ended December 31, 2009.
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Stock Based Compensation
Our Company accounts for its awards of stock based compensation under the fair value recognition provisions of applicable GAAP. We have granted incentive nonqualified stock options, and deferred stock units to our employees and directors under the terms of our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. Our Company has also granted nonqualified, nonplan stock options, which have been authorized by our Companys board of directors. Stock options are granted at an exercise price equal to or greater than the quoted market price on the date of grant.
Net Loss per Share of Common Stock
Basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect, if any, of stock options and warrants. Outstanding options, warrants and other dilutive securities to purchase 61,209,281 and 21,665,504 shares of common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the effect of the assumed exercise of these options and warrants would be anti-dilutive. Outstanding options, warrants and other dilutive securities to purchase 61,209,281 and 18,782,357 shares of common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the effect of the assumed exercise of these options and warrants would be anti-dilutive.
Income Taxes
Our Company uses the liability method to account for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and amounts reported in the financial statements. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Income tax expense consists of the income tax payable or refundable for the current period and the change during the period in net deferred tax assets and liabilities.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
In addition to net income (loss), accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes in equity during a period, including the effective portion of changes in fair value of derivative instruments that qualify as cash flow hedges.
Reclamation Costs
Reclamation costs are allocated to expense over the life of the related assets and are adjusted for changes resulting from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or amount of the original present value estimate.
We have estimated our asset retirement obligations using an expected cash flow approach, in which multiple cash flow scenarios were used to reflect a range of possible outcomes. We estimated the aggregate undiscounted obligation to be approximately $402,384 for the Johnson Camp Mine. To calculate the estimated fair value of this obligation, the projected cash flows were discounted at our Companys estimated credit-adjusted, risk free interest rate of 10%. The majority of cash expenditures for reclamation and closure activities are expected to occur at the conclusion of production, currently anticipated to be in 2023-2024. Our Company will recognize an increase to the asset retirement obligation concurrent with the impact from mining activity as we mine in the future. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the recorded value of accrued reclamation costs was $164,230 and $157,580, respectively.
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Litigation
Other than as described below under the heading Legal Proceedings, we know of no material, existing or pending legal proceedings against our Company, nor are we involved as a plaintiff in any material proceeding or pending litigation. However, our Company may from time to time be subject to various claims and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. If any adverse decisions or settlements occur, they may have a material adverse effect on our financial position, or results of operations. Litigation is inherently uncertain and we can make no assurance as to the ultimate outcome or effect.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Not applicable.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by our Company is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. Our Chief Executive Officer, Randy Davenport, and our Chief Financial Officer, Wayne Morrison, are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures for our Company.
Our management has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2010 (under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer), pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As part of such evaluation, management considered the matters discussed below relating to internal control over financial reporting. Based on this evaluation, our Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our Companys disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2010.
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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The term internal control over financial reporting is defined as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the registrants principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the registrants board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the registrant;
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the registrant are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the registrant; and
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the registrants assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
A material weakness is defined in Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 5 as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010 that have materially affected, or are likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Other than as set forth below, we know of no material, existing or pending legal proceedings against our Company, nor are we involved as a plaintiff in any material proceeding or pending litigation. There are no proceedings in which any of our directors, officers or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial shareholder, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our interest. The outcome of open unresolved legal proceedings is presently indeterminable. Any settlement resulting from resolution of these contingencies will be accounted for in the period of settlement. We do not believe the potential outcome from any legal proceedings that remain unresolved will significantly impact our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Compliance Order and Stipulated Judgment
As previously disclosed in prior annual reports on Form 10K, the ADEQ issued a Compliance Order on September 7, 2002, requiring our Company to bring the Johnson Camp Mine into compliance with Arizonas aquifer protection laws. Pursuant to the Compliance Order, we entered into a stipulated judgment with the ADEQ which assessed civil penalties against us in the amount of $4,325,000. The stipulated judgment can only be entered should a default notice issued pursuant to the Compliance Order not be cured within 45 days after notice is received. The Compliance Order further provides that any future violations of Arizonas aquifer protection laws would subject us to additional civil penalties, including the entry of the stipulated judgment and the assessment of the civil penalties described in the stipulated judgment. We meet with ADEQ on a regular basis to discuss permitting, submission of required reporting and Notices of Violation (NOVs) that have been previously disclosed.
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On August 15, 2007, the ADEQ declared that all components necessary for the Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) application were received by the ADEQ, at which time the ADEQ commenced its substantive technical review process. Since then, the ADEQ has made subsequent requests for information and we have made additional submissions in response. The most recent request for information is dated July 31, 2009. On October 19, 2009, we submitted our technical response to this request. On April 21, 2010 we received the draft APP and Fact Sheet and submitted our comments. On October 19, 2010, the Company was issued an Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) for the Johnson Camp Mine property.
Patent Infringement Lawsuit
In January 2009, a lawsuit was filed by Corrosion IP Corp. and CTI Southwest, LLC (collectively known as CTI) against our Company alleging that certain containers for corrosive materials purchased by us from Novenco Consultants Limited infringe on three patents held by the plaintiffs, and further alleging that we have infringed on a copyrighted drawing owned by the plaintiffs. We have filed an answer denying all liability and have also filed a Third Party Complaint against Novenco. Prior to our purchase of the containers from Novenco, Novenco assured us that the containers did not infringe on any patents held by others and provided our Company with an indemnification agreement whereby Novenco agreed to indemnify our Company from any damages that might arise from a claim of patent infringement. In June 2010, the Company reached a settlement of all claims with Novenco and CTI. Under the settlement agreement, the Company is obligated to pay CTI a total of $25,000, $3,125 upon the execution of the agreement and $3,125 per month for the subsequent seven months. As of September 30, 2010, the Company owes CTI $15,625.
Complaint by Former Employee
In December 2009, the Company received notice of Complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Arizona alleging discriminatory employment practices by our Company against a former employee in violation of Section 806 of the Corporate Criminal Fraud Accountability Act of 2002, Title VIII of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1514A and Arizona Civil Rights. The Company denies all material allegations set forth in the Complaints and has engaged legal counsel to respond to the Complaints and represent the Company with respect to the investigations. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against these matters and it does not believe that it will be held liable for the alleged claims. The Company also believes that if the former employee is successful, the resulting award of damages (net of insurance reimbursement) against the Company, if any, will not be material to the consolidated financial condition of the Company.
Breach of Contract Lawsuit
In April 2010, a lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona by R.A.M. Enterprise of Arizona (RAM) against our Company alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment regarding services rendered and equipment sold to the Company during 2009 and 2010 in the amount of $221,771. The amount in question has been properly included in accounts payable in the ordinary course of business. In August 2010, the Company reached a settlement with Ram. The Company agreed to pay and paid RAM $82,000 toward the outstanding balance. In addition, the Company agreed to pay the remaining balance at a rate of $5,000 per month until the amount outstanding has been paid. At September 30, 2010, the outstanding balance due RAM was $134,771.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
Much of the information included in this quarterly report includes or is based upon estimates, projections or other forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements include any projections or estimates made by us and our management in connection with our business operations. While these forward looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions, or other future performance suggested herein. We undertake no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of such statements.
Such estimates, projections or other forward looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties as outlined below. We caution readers of this quarterly report that important factors in some cases have affected and, in the future, could materially affect actual results and cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in any such estimates, projections or other forward looking statements. In evaluating us, our business and any investment in our business, readers should carefully consider the following factors.
Risks Related to Our Company
We have a history of losses, and our future profitability will depend on the successful operation of the Johnson Camp Mine, which cannot be assured.
We have a history of losses, and expect to incur losses in the future until we have reached full mining operations and production levels at the Johnson Camp Mine.
We had net loss of ($10,084,976) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and net income of $392,438 for the year ended December 31, 2009. As of September 30, 2010, we had a working capital deficiency of $37,666,071. This deficiency includes current liabilities of $20,657,550 representing the current portions of our long-term debt and derivative contracts, as well as $1,683,329 and $10,727,136 of long-term derivative liabilities and long-term debt, respectively, that were classified as current liabilities due to our Company defaulting on the related agreements.
We have temporarily suspended the mining and crushing of ore at the Johnson Camp Mine, with the result that copper production will slowly decline over time until the resumption of mining and crushing operations.
On July 2, 2010, our Company temporarily suspended the mining and crushing of ore at the Johnson Camp Mine and laid-off 43 people, representing approximately half of its workforce at the mine. Our Company continues to produce copper through the leaching of ore already in place on its existing pads and the ongoing operations of its SX-EW plant. The suspension resulted in an immediate reduction of costs and has enabled our Company to maximize operating cash flow from the production of copper achieved through continued leaching of ore on our existing pads and the operation of our SX-EW plant. It is forecasted that the production level will slowly decline until the resumption of mining and crushing operations.
Our targeted full production rate of 25 million pounds of copper per annum will not be attained until we have transitioned the stacking of ore to the new leach pad, which is not expected to be operational until the end of the first quarter of 2011.
The targeted full production rate of 25 million pounds of copper per annum will not be attained until we have transitioned the stacking of ore to the new leach pad, which is not scheduled to be put into operation until sometime toward the end of the first quarter of 2011. The estimated start-up date for the new pad is subject to our ability to complete our current efforts regarding the Company's capital structure and to obtain additional financing in the 2010 fourth quarter. We cannot provide any assurance that we will ramp up to full production or have successful mining and processing operations on the Johnson Camp property in the future.
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We are dependent upon the success of the Johnson Camp Mine as a source of future revenue and profits, if any. Even if we should be successful in achieving our planned full copper production rate of 25 million pounds of copper per annum, an interruption in operations of the Johnson Camp Mine may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Unforeseen conditions may affect our mining and processing efficiency, and we may not be able to execute the leaching operation as planned if we do not maintain proper control of ore grade.
The parameters used in estimating mining and processing efficiency are typically based on testing and experience with previous operations. Various unforeseen conditions can occur that may materially affect the estimates. In particular, unless proper care is taken to ensure that proper ore grade control is employed and that other necessary steps are taken, we may not be able to achieve production forecasts as planned. In addition, our projected production is based on anticipated copper recoveries at the Johnson Camp Mine that are in excess of historical experience, which may result in an overestimation of our mining and processing efficiency if our actual production does not meet our projected production.
We may never achieve our production estimates since they are dependent on a number of assumptions and factors beyond our control.
We have prepared estimates of future copper production; however, we cannot be certain that we will ever achieve these estimates. Our production estimates depend on, among other things: the accuracy of our reserve estimates; the accuracy of assumptions regarding ore grades and recovery rates; ground conditions and physical characteristics of the mineralization, such as hardness and the presence or absence of particular metallurgical characteristics; the accuracy of estimated rates and costs of mining and processing; and our ability to obtain and maintain all necessary permits at all levels of development and production. We are processing the copper mineralization using Leach-SXEW technology. This technique may not be as efficient or economical as we have projected. Our actual production may vary from our estimates if any of these assumptions prove to be incorrect, and we may never achieve our full production target rate of 25 million pounds of copper per annum.
A major increase in our input costs, such as those related to acid, electricity, fuel and supplies, may have an adverse effect on our financial condition.
Our operations are affected by the cost of commodities and goods such as electrical power, sulfuric acid, fuel, and supplies. Management prepares its cost and production guidance and other forecasts based on its review of current and estimated future costs. A major increase in any of these costs may have an adverse impact on our financial condition. For example, we expect that sulfuric acid and energy, including electricity and diesel fuel, will represent a significant portion of production costs at our operations, and if the costs increase, we could be negatively affected.
Shortages of sulfuric acid, electricity and fuel, may have an adverse effect on our financial condition.
Sulfuric acid supply for SXEW projects in the southwestern U.S. is produced primarily as a smelter byproduct at smelters in the southwest U.S. and in Mexico. We have an agreement in place for a broker of acid to supply us with sulfuric acid through the end of 2010. However, we cannot be assured that the broker will be able to provide us with an adequate supply of sulfuric acid without interruptions and we continue to remain subject to market fluctuations in the price of sulfuric acid.
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Continuation of our mining production is dependent on the availability of a sufficient water supply to support our mining operations.
Our mining operations require water for mining, ore processing and related support facilities. Production at the Johnson Camp Mine is dependent on continuous maintenance of our water rights. Under Arizona law groundwater outside an active management area may be withdrawn and used for reasonable and beneficial use. The character of the water right - that is groundwater versus surface water - may at some point become an issue and may be subject to adjudication to the extent certain water is determined to be surface water. We are not subject to any such adjudication claims at this time. However, we cannot predict our potential involvement in or the outcome of any adjudication proceedings which may occur impacting our water rights and uses.
Production water for the Johnson Camp Mine is currently supplied from three wells controlled or located on the Johnson Camp property and from two wells located on private land adjacent to our property. In late October 2009, the failure of a well casing in one of our wells that provides make-up water for our leaching operation resulted in several months of below forecasted pregnant leach solution flow rates through our SX plant, and copper production was adversely affected. By early January 2010, we had placed two new wells into operation which have resulted in significantly improved pregnant leach solution flow rates that now are at the levels necessary to achieve our production targets. However, it may be necessary to drill additional wells on our property in order to expand our leaching operation or in addition to make additional upgrades to existing wells.
In August 2010, we entered into an agreement with a nearby rancher for the purchase of water from any of his three wells that have a capacity of approximately 500 to 600 gallons per minute which is currently approximately 150% more than is required at this time. The loss of some or all water rights, in whole or in part, or shortages of water to which we have rights could require us to curtail or shut down mining production or could prevent us from pursuing expansion opportunities.
Our estimates of reserves are inherently subject to error, particularly since we have limited operating history on which to base such estimates. Our actual results may differ due to unforeseen events and uncontrollable factors that can have significant adverse impacts.
The Johnson Camp Mine has limited operating history upon which to base estimates of proven and probable ore reserves and estimates of future cash operating costs. Such estimates are, to a large extent, based upon the interpretation of geological data obtained from drill holes and other sampling techniques performed by third parties, the methodologies and results of which we have assumed - but cannot be assured - are reasonable and accurate. In addition, future operating costs are based in part on our operating experience during 2009 and the first half of 2010, which may not be indicative of future costs. Such information and certain other factors, including anticipated tonnage and grades of ore to be mined and processed, the configuration of the ore body, expected recovery rates of the mineral from the ore, interruptions in the operation could affect these project future operating results. Actual cash operating costs and economic returns based upon development of proven and probable ore reserves may differ significantly from those currently estimated. Until reserves are actually mined and processed, the quantity of reserves must be considered only as estimates.
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Our estimates of reserves are based in large part on sampling data produced by third parties and on amounts of metallurgical testing that are less extensive than normal. In addition, our expected copper recovery rates at the Johnson Camp Mine exceed historical experience at the property. There is no assurance that we will be able to meet these expectations and projections at an operational level.
Our expectations with respect to copper recovery rates exceed historical experience at the Johnson Camp Mine since we plan to continue to crush the ore to a smaller size with the expectation of higher copper recoveries. In addition, our projections of copper recovery are based on amounts of metallurgical testing that are less extensive than are commonly used in the industry for evaluating copper oxide deposits. Furthermore, our estimates of ore reserves reflect consumption projections for sulfuric acid and other consumable items that were developed using a limited number of samples taken by the former operators of the mine on the Johnson Camp property that may not be representative of the characteristics of the remaining reserves. There is no assurance that we will be able to meet these expectations and projections at an operational level.
Copper recovery rates for approximately 15% of our estimated total reserves may be less than optimal due to the presence of copper sulfide mineralization below the elevation of 4,560 feet.
Copper sulfide minerals are not as amenable to heap leach recovery techniques as are copper oxides. Since copper sulfide mineralization is evident below an approximate elevation of 4,560 feet in both the Burro and Copper Chief pits of the Johnson Camp Mine, we caution that copper recovery rates for ore anticipated to be mined below that elevation (estimated at approximately 15% of estimated total ore reserves) may be inhibited. In addition, although the column test on the sample of Abrigo ore (a type of copper bearing host rock at the Johnson Camp Mine) taken from an approximate elevation of 4,620 feet that contained 4.49% sulfides exhibiting good copper recoveries, the leaching of copper from ore mined at this depth may be less than optimal.
We have evaluated the commercial viability of the Johnson Camp Mine based on an estimate of ore reserves that is premised on a geologic resource model and estimate previously prepared that was based largely on drilling, sampling and assay data that had been developed by Cyprus Mines Corporation, Arimetco Inc. and Summo U.S.A. Corporation, the accuracy of which cannot be assured.
We have evaluated the commercial viability of the Johnson Camp Mine based on an estimate of ore reserves contained in the feasibility study. The resource model and estimate previously prepared and used as the basis for the feasibility study is based largely on drilling, sampling and assay data that had been developed by the previous operators of the Johnson Camp Mine, Cyprus and Arimetco, and by Summo. The validity of the estimates assumes the accuracy of the underlying drill hole electronic database.
Cyprus, Arimetco and Summo used different approaches to drilling, sampling and assay analysis, with the result that their respective results may not be comparable and thereby increase the risk of an overestimation of ore reserves.
Cyprus Mines Corporation (which owned the Johnson Camp property until 1989, operating under the name Cyprus Johnson Copper Company), Arimetco and Summo each used different approaches to drilling, sampling and assay analysis that may not be comparable to each other. In particular, the soluble copper assay techniques used by Arimetco for ore grade estimation are not directly comparable to the soluble copper assay techniques used by Cyprus. The use of two incomparable approaches by Cyprus and Arimetco may have led to inconsistencies in or the skewing of the data underlying our estimates, thereby increasing the risk of an overestimation of ore reserves at the Johnson Camp Mine, as well as increasing the risk of a material inaccuracy in the feasibility study.
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Limited sampling work has been performed at the Johnson Camp Mine, and Bikerman Engineering & Technology Associates concluded that it is therefore not possible at this time to verify the entire drill hole electronic database used for the current resource model and ore reserve estimates. Bikerman Engineering & Technology Associates has largely assumed the reasonableness and accuracy of the drilling, sampling and assay methodologies and data which constitute a fundamental variable input in the feasibility study.
Bikerman Engineering & Technology Associates reviewed the results of limited sampling work undertaken at the Johnson Camp Mine in 2006 by another engineering company. Bikerman Engineering & Technology Associates has concluded that it is not possible for it to verify the entire original drill hole electronic database used for the current mineral resource model and ore reserve estimates. Consequently, Bikerman Engineering & Technology Associates and we have largely assumed the reasonableness and accuracy of the drilling, sampling and assay methodologies and data. Accordingly, there is a risk that results may vary if additional sampling work is undertaken. This, in turn, could adversely impact the current mineral resource model and ore reserve estimates, as well as increase the risk of a material inaccuracy in the feasibility study.
Our estimate of ore reserves at the Johnson Camp Mine is based on total copper assays rather than on acid soluble copper assays and our expectations with respect to copper recovery are based on results of metallurgical testing that may not be duplicated in larger scale tests under onsite conditions or during production. As a result, there is a risk that we may have overestimated the amount of recoverable copper.
Our estimate of ore reserves at the Johnson Camp Mine is based on total copper assays rather than soluble copper assays. A reserve estimate based on total copper is an indirect measurement of copper recovery through leaching. There can be no assurance that metallurgical recoveries in small scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in larger scale tests under onsite conditions or during production. Accordingly, there is a risk that we may have overestimated the amount of recoverable copper.
We may require additional permits and renewals of permits to continue to operate the Johnson Camp Mine, the availability of which cannot be assured.
Although we have secured a number of permits for the operation of the Johnson Camp Mine, we still need to obtain certain additional permits for long-term operation of the mine. In addition, certain permits will require applications for renewal from time to time during the life of the project and certain permits may be suspended or require additional applications in the event of a significant or substantial change to the Johnson Camp Mine operations or prolonged inactivity. To the extent other approvals are required and not obtained, we may: (i) be prohibited from continuing mining and/or processing operations; (ii) forced to reduce the scale of or all of our mining operations; or (iii) be prohibited or restricted from proceeding with planned exploration or development of mineral properties. For example, we have received our aquifer protection permit (APP); however, the operation of the new leach pad requires the approval of an amendment to the APP.
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We have incurred substantial debt and have granted a security interest in our assets. We are in default of our credit agreement with Nedbank, and Nedbank may take steps to realize upon its security by taking control of all or a portion of our assets.
We are a party to an amended and restated credit agreement dated as of March 31, 2009 with Nedbank Limited, as the administrative agent and lead arranger, which provided a $25,000,000 secured term loan credit facility used by our Company to finance the reactivation of the Johnson Camp Mine. We have delivered a deed of trust, a collateral account agreement and certain other security agreements that grant to the lenders a first priority lien encumbering all of the real and personal property associated with the Johnson Camp property, including all patented mining claims, fee lands and unpatented mining claims in which we have an interest. The lenders would be entitled to realize upon their security interests and seize our assets if we were to be unable to repay or refinance the loans as they become due. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the credit agreement, we are required to meet specified financial tests any time that any loan proceeds remain outstanding under the credit agreement.
As disclosed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, we are now in default of our obligations under the credit agreement. Accordingly, the full amount of the outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest as of September 30, 2010 must now be included in our Companys current liabilities, together with any additional amounts payable under the credit agreement. We are also in default under our copper hedge agreement with Nedbank Capital, and amounts formerly eligible for treatment as amounts payable under long-term derivative contracts as of September 30, 2010 must now be brought into current liabilities.
Our Companys continuation as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to refinance our obligations under the credit agreement with Nedbank. If Nedbank elects to exercise its rights under the credit and copper hedge agreements, it would result in the acceleration of the full amounts due there under and the institution of foreclosure proceedings against the security. Any such actions could force us into bankruptcy or liquidation.
We will require additional financing to resume to full operations at the Johnson Camp Mine, the availability of which cannot be assured.
We estimated that we will incur an additional $15 million in capital costs during the next six months, primarily for the development and construction of a new leach pad that is scheduled to be operational in the latter part of the first quarter of 2011. The estimated start-up date for the new pad is subject to the Companys ability to complete our current effort to restructure our capital structure and to obtain additional financing in the fourth quarter 2010. We also expect to incur expenses in connection with further exploratory drilling on the Johnson Camp property. Our estimated capital costs and operating expenses may change with additional detailed engineering and more operating experience as our mine plan is implemented. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain any additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we fail to obtain the necessary financing when needed, we may not be able to execute our mine plan and we may again be forced to place the Johnson Camp Mine on care and maintenance status.
Our indebtedness, as well as the current global recession, disruption in financial markets and lower copper prices generally, could, among other things, impede our access to capital or increase our cost of capital, which would have an adverse effect on our ability to fund our working capital and other capital requirements.
As of September 30, 2010, the outstanding principal amount of our debt was $23,257,825. The widely reported domestic and global recession, and the unprecedented levels of disruption and continuing illiquidity in the credit markets have had an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition, and if sustained or worsened, such adverse effects could continue or deteriorate. Disruptions in the credit and financial markets have adversely affected financial institutions, inhibited lending and limited access to capital and credit for many companies, including ours. In addition, copper prices have been highly volatile. Over the past two years copper prices have fluctuated in a range between $1.27/lb to $4.08/lb. On September 30, 2010, the spot price of copper on the LME was $3.65/lb. These conditions have made it difficult for us to obtain, or increased our cost of obtaining, capital and financing for our operations and have limited our flexibility to plan for, or react to, changes in our business and the markets in which we operate. If these conditions persist or deteriorate, they could, among other things, make it difficult for us to finance our working capital requirements and service our existing debt.
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If future financing is not available to us when required, as a result of limited access to the credit markets or otherwise, or is not available on acceptable terms, we may not have sufficient working capital for our exploration, development and production programs. We may also be unable to take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures. Any of these circumstances could have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.
Title to the Johnson Camp property may be subject to other claims.
Although we believe we have exercised commercially reasonable due diligence with respect to determining title to the properties that we own or in which we hold an interest, we cannot guarantee that title to these properties will not be challenged or impugned. The Johnson Camp property may be subject to prior unrecorded agreements or transfers or to native land claims and title may be affected by undetected defects. There may be valid challenges to the title of the Johnson Camp property which, if successful, could impair development and/or operations.
The Johnson Camp property consists of 59 patented lode mining claims, 102 unpatented lode mining claims and 617 acres of fee simple lands. The copper processing facilities and the Copper Chief and Burro bulk mining pits that serve as focal points for our mine plan are located on the patented mining claims or fee simple parcels. However, we may in the future mine areas that are on unpatented mining claims. Unpatented mining claims are unique property interests, and are generally considered to be subject to greater title risk than other real property interests because the validity of unpatented mining claims is often uncertain. This uncertainty arises, in part, out of the complex federal and state laws and regulations under the United States General Mining Law, including the requirement of a proper physical discovery of a valuable lode mineral within the boundaries of each claim and proper compliance with physical staking requirements. Also, unpatented mining claims are always subject to possible challenges by third parties or validity contests by the federal government. The validity of an unpatented mining or mill site claim, in terms of both its location and its maintenance, is dependent on strict compliance with a complex body of United States federal and state statutory and decisional law. In addition, there are few public records that definitively determine the issues of validity and ownership of unpatented mining claims.
We do not insure against all risks, and we may be unable to obtain or maintain insurance to cover the risks associated with our operations at economically feasible premiums. Losses from an uninsured event may cause us to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect upon our financial condition.
Our insurance will not cover all the potential risks associated with the operations of a mining company. We may also be unable to obtain or maintain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available or may not be adequate to cover any resulting liability. Moreover, we expect that insurance against risks such as environmental pollution or other hazards as a result of exploration and production may be prohibitively expensive to obtain for a company of our size and financial means. We might also become subject to liability for pollution or other hazards for which insurance may not be available or for which we may elect not to insure against because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from these events may cause us to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect upon our financial condition and results of operations.
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We compete with larger, better capitalized competitors in the mining industry. This may impair our ability to maintain or acquire attractive mining properties, and thereby adversely affect our financial condition.
The mining industry is competitive in all of its phases. We face strong competition from other mining companies in connection with the acquisition of properties producing, or capable of producing, base and precious metals. Many of these companies have greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than us. As a result of this competition, we may be unable to maintain or acquire attractive mining properties on terms we consider acceptable or at all. Consequently, our revenues, operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
We are dependent on our key personnel, and the loss of any such personnel could adversely affect our Company.
Our success depends on our key executives and on certain operating personnel at the Johnson Camp Mine. We face intense competition for qualified personnel, and the loss of the services of one or more of such key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business or operations. Our ability to manage administration, production, exploration and development activities, and hence our success, will depend in large part on the efforts of these individuals. We cannot be certain that we will be able to retain such personnel or attract a high caliber of personnel in the future.
In order to be successful during and after the resumption of full operations, we will have to expand our workforce. We may not be successful in recruiting the necessary personnel, or in managing the new challenges that we will face with any significant growth.
When we are in full operations, we need to maintain a workforce at the Johnson Camp Mine of approximately 80 employees as well as various contractors. This requirement places substantial demands on our Company and our management. We will be required to hire, retain, motivate and manage our employees. We will also have to adopt and implement new systems in all aspects of our operations. We have no assurance that we will be able to retain and recruit the personnel required to execute our programs or to manage these changes successfully.
The actual costs of reclamation are uncertain, and any additional amounts that we are required to spend on reclamation may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
The costs of reclamation included in the feasibility study are estimates only and may not represent the actual amounts which will be required to complete all reclamation activity. It is not possible to determine the exact amount that will be required, and the amount that we will be required to spend could be materially different than current estimates. Reclamation bonds or other forms of financial assurance represent only a portion of the total amount of money that will be spent on reclamation over the life of the Johnson Camp Mine operation. Any additional amounts required to be spent on reclamation may have a material adverse affect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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Our directors and officers may have conflicts of interest.
Some of our directors and officers serve currently, and have served in the past, as officers and directors for other companies engaged in natural resource exploration and development, and may also serve as directors and/or officers of other companies involved in natural resource exploration and development in the future. We do not believe that any of our directors and officers currently has any conflicts of interest of this nature.
Certain legislation, including the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002, may make it difficult for us to retain or attract officers and directors.
We may be unable to attract and retain qualified officers, directors and members of committees of the board of directors required to provide for our effective management as a result of the recent changes in the rules and regulations that govern publiclyheld companies. In particular, the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002 has resulted in a series of rules and regulations by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that increase responsibilities and liabilities of directors and executive officers. The perceived increased personal risk associated with these recent changes, together with the risks associated with our business, may deter qualified individuals from accepting these roles.
There are inherent limitations in all control systems, and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
We are now subject to the ongoing internal control provisions of Section 404 of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002. These provisions provide for the identification of material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting, which is a process to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our internal controls and disclosure controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. In addition, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefit of controls must be relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, in our Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decisionmaking can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Further, controls can be circumvented by individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more persons, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, a control may be inadequate because of changes in conditions, such as growth of the company or increased transaction volume, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of inherent limitations in a costeffective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
In addition, discovery and disclosure of a material weakness, by definition, could have a material adverse impact on our financial statements. If we are unable to assert that our internal controls over financial reporting are adequate, certain customers or suppliers may be discouraged from doing business with us, cause downgrades in our debt ratings leading to higher borrowing costs and affect how our stock trades. This could, in turn, negatively affect our ability to access public debt or equity markets for capital. Further, such an occurrence could make it more difficult for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including director and officer liability insurance, and we may be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage and/or to incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. It could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified personnel to serve on our board of directors, on committees of our board of directors, or as executive officers.
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Our officers and directors, and four shareholders holding 5% or more of our common stock, hold a significant amount of our issued and outstanding stock which may limit nonaffiliated stockholders to influence corporate matters.
On November 5, 2009, we completed an unregistered, brokered private placement of 40 million units for total gross proceeds of $12,000,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one common share purchase warrant exercisable until June 5, 2012. Upon completion of the private placement, Ross Beaty, acting through a wholly-owned holding company, and Riaz Shariff acquired 34,250,000 and 5,750,000 common shares, respectively, representing approximately 31% and 5.2%, respectively, of the outstanding common shares of our Company on a post-closing basis. Under rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Mr. Beaty and Mr. Shariff are also considered to beneficially own the 34,250,000 and 5,750,000 common shares that are issuable upon exercise of the warrants forming part of their respective units, which together with their outstanding common shares, represent approximately 47.3% and 9.9%, respectively, of our Companys issued and outstanding common shares (assuming non-exercise of certain outstanding options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares of our common stock).
In addition, we have two other shareholders who, according to reports filed by them under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, beneficially own 7.9% and 6.1%, respectively, of our issued and outstanding common stock (assuming non-exercise of certain outstanding options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares of our common stock held by persons other than the relevant officer, director or 10% shareholder).
As of September 30, 2010, our officers and directors as a group beneficially own approximately 12.2% of our issued and outstanding common stock (assuming non-exercise of certain outstanding options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares of our common stock).
These factors may limit the ability of our non-affiliated stockholders to influence corporate matters.
Future sales of our common stock may depress our stock price thereby decreasing the value of your investment.
The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur. In addition, these factors could make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future offerings of common stock.
The securities markets in the United States have experienced a high level of price and volume volatility recently, and the market price of our securities has also experienced wide fluctuations. There can be no assurance that continual fluctuations in our share price will not occur.
Recently, the securities markets in the United States have experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and the market price of securities of many companies, including ours, has experienced wide fluctuations in price which have not necessarily been related to operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects. There can be no assurance that fluctuations in our share price will not continue to occur during the foreseeable future.
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If we fail to obtain a listing on an established stock exchange, you may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the disposition of your securities.
We believe that we currently are a United States real property holding corporation under Section 897(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, referred to as a USRPHC, and that there is a substantial likelihood that we will continue to be a USRPHC. Generally, gain recognized by a NonU.S. Holder on the sale or other taxable disposition of common stock should be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at normal graduated U.S. federal income tax rates if we qualify as a USRPHC at any time during the 5year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition of the common stock (or the NonUS. Holders holding period for the common stock, if shorter). Under an exception to these rules, if the common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, the common stock should be treated as stock of a USRPHC only with respect to a NonU.S. Holder that held (directly or under certain constructive ownership rules) more than 5% of the common stock during the 5year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition of the common stock (or the NonUS. Holders holding period for the common stock, if shorter). There can be no assurances that the common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market.
Our reliance on the financial hardship exemption from certain stockholder approval requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange in connection with our recent $12,000,000 private placement triggered an automatic TSX de-listing review. On July 30, 2010, our common stock was delisted from the TSX.
In connection with our $12,000,000 private placement of 40 million Units in November, 2009, we received an exemption from certain shareholder approval requirements under the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX), on the basis of financial hardship. Reliance on this exemption automatically triggered a TSX de-listing review to confirm that we continue to meet the TSX listing requirements. We were unable to meet the financial requirements of the TSX. Therefore, effective July 30, 2010, our common stock was delisted from the TSX.
We have not obtained a tax opinion to the effect that there has not been a change of control either during the time preceding the completion of our unregistered special warrant offering in September 2007, immediately following conversion of the special warrants into the underlying shares of common stock and warrants, or in relation to our unregistered $12 million unit offering that closed in November 2009. If a change in control is deemed to have occurred, our Company may not be able to fully utilize our net operating loss carry forwards.
At December 31, 2009, our Company had federal and state net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $79,600,000 and $15,500,000, respectively. We believe that for the purposes of section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, a change of control occurred on or before November 5, 2009. However, we have not obtained a formal tax opinion to that effect. If any change of control is deemed to have occurred for example, either during the time preceding the completion of our unregistered special warrant offering in September 2007, immediately following conversion of the special warrants into the underlying shares of common stock and warrants, or immediately following the completion of our unregistered $12 million unit offering in November 2009 or if a change of control occurs at any time in the future, our Companys ability to fully utilize its net operating loss carry forwards in computing its taxable income will be limited to an annual maximum of the value of our Company just prior to the change in control multiplied by the long-term tax exempt rate.
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Brokerdealers may be discouraged from effecting transactions in our common shares because they are considered a penny stock and are subject to the penny stock rules. This could severely limit the market liquidity of the shares.
Our common stock currently constitutes penny stock. Subject to certain exceptions, for the purposes relevant to us, penny stock includes any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share. Rules 15g1 through 15g9 promulgated under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, impose sales practice and disclosure requirements on certain brokersdealers who engage in certain transactions involving a penny stock. In particular, a brokerdealer selling penny stock to anyone other than an established customer or accredited investor (generally, an individual with net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or an annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with his or her spouse), must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and must receive the purchasers written consent to the transaction prior to sale, unless the brokerdealer or the transaction is otherwise exempt. A brokerdealer is also required to disclose commissions payable to the brokerdealer and the registered representative and current quotations for the securities. Finally, a brokerdealer is required to send monthly statements disclosing recent price information with respect to the penny stock held in a customers account and information with respect to the limited market in penny stocks.
The additional sales practice and disclosure requirements imposed upon brokerdealers may discourage brokerdealers from effecting transactions in our shares, which could severely limit the market liquidity of the shares and impede the sale of our shares in the secondary market.
In the event that an investment in our shares is for the purpose of deriving dividend income or in expectation of an increase in market price of our shares from the declaration and payment of dividends, the investment will be compromised because we do not intend to pay dividends.
We have never paid a dividend to our shareholders and we intend to retain our cash for the continued development of our business. In addition, pursuant to the terms of our credit agreement with Nedbank, we are restricted from paying dividends or making distributions on shares of our common stock. Accordingly, we do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. As a result, a return on investment will be solely determined by the ability to sell the shares in the secondary market.
Risks Related to Our Industry
The feasibility of our mine plan is based on certain assumptions about the sustainability of the current price of copper. We may be adversely affected by fluctuations in copper prices.
Copper prices fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control such as interest rates, exchange rates, inflation or deflation, fluctuation in the value of the United States dollar and foreign currencies, global and regional supply and demand (including that related to housing), and the political and economic conditions of copper producing countries throughout the world. The aggregate effect of these factors on copper price is impossible to predict. Because mining operations are conducted over a number of years, it may be prudent to continue mining for some periods during which cash flows are temporarily negative for a variety of reasons, including a belief that the low price is temporary and/or the greater expense incurred in closing an operation permanently. The value and price of our common shares, our financial results, and our exploration, development and production activities may be significantly adversely affected by declines in the price of copper and other metals.
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In addition to adversely affecting our share price, financial condition and exploration, development and mining activities, declining metal prices can impact operations by requiring a reassessment of reserve estimates and the commercial feasibility of a particular project. Significant decreases in actual or expected copper prices may mean that a mineral resource which was previously classified as a reserve will be uneconomical to produce and may have to be restated as a resource. Even if the project is ultimately determined to be economically viable, the need to conduct such a reassessment may cause substantial delays in development or may interrupt operations, if any, until the reassessment can be completed.
Our operations involve the exploration, development and production of copper and other metals, with the attendant risks of damage to or loss of life or property and legal liability.
Our operations are subject to all the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of copper and other base or precious metals, including unusual and unexpected geologic formations, seismic activity, pitwall failures, flooding and other conditions involved in the drilling and removal of material, any of which could result in damage to, or destruction of, mines and other producing facilities, damage to life or property, environmental damage and legal liability.
Government regulation impacting the mining industry may adversely affect our business and planned operations.
Our mining, processing, development and mineral exploration activities, if any, are subject to various laws governing prospecting, mining, development, production, taxes, labor standards and occupational health, mine safety, toxic substances, land use, water use, land claims of local people and other matters. New rules and regulations may be enacted or existing rules and regulations may be applied in such a manner as to limit or curtail our exploration, production or development. Amendments to current laws and regulations governing operations and activities of exploration, development mining and milling or more stringent implementation of these laws could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition and cause increases in exploration expenses, capital expenditures or production costs or reduction in levels of production (assuming we achieve production) or require abandonment or delays in development of new mining properties.
Certain groups opposed to mining may interfere with our efforts to reactive the Johnson Camp Mine.
In North America there are organizations opposed to mining, particularly to open pit mines such as the Johnson Camp Mine. Although we intend to comply with all environmental laws and permitting obligations in conducting our business, there is still the possibility that those opposed to the operation of the Johnson Camp Mine will attempt to interfere with the operation of the Johnson Camp Mine, whether by legal process, regulatory process or otherwise. Such interference could have an impact on our ability to operate the Johnson Camp Mine in the manner that is most efficient or appropriate or at all and any such impact would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations are subject to environmental risks and environmental regulation. Our failure to manage such risks or comply with such regulation will potentially expose us to significant liability.
All phases of our operations are subject to federal, state and local environmental regulation. These regulations mandate, among other things, the maintenance of air and water quality standards and land reclamation. They also set forth limitations on the generation, transportation, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner that we anticipate will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for noncompliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. Future changes, if any, in environmental regulation may adversely affect our operations, if any. Environmental hazards may exist on the Johnson Camp property or on properties that we hold or may acquire in the future that are unknown to us at present and that have been caused by previous or existing owners or operators of the properties.
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Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions there under including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment, or remedial actions. Parties engaged in mining operations or in the exploration or development of mineral properties may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of the mining activities and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations.
Our failure to contain or adequately deal with hazardous materials may expose us to significant liability for which we are not insured.
Production, if any, at the Johnson Camp Mine involves the use of hazardous materials. Should these materials leak or otherwise be discharged from their containment systems, we may become subject to liability for hazards or cleanup work that are not covered by our insurance.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On August 5, 2010, we issued 211,539 shares of common stock to one of our directors, Ronald Hirsch, at a deemed issuance price of $0.10 per share to settle outstanding compensation owed to the director. We relied on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) under Rule 506 of Regulation D thereunder.
On August 25, 2010, we issued 272,496 shares of common stock to one of our officers, Wayne Morrison, at a deemed issuance price of $0.12 per share to settle outstanding compensation owed to the officer. We relied on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act under Rule 506 of Regulation D thereunder.
On October 6, 2010, we issued 137,363 shares of common stock to one of our directors, Ronald Hirsch, at a deemed issuance price of $0.07 per share to settle outstanding compensation owed to the director. We relied on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act under Rule 506 of Regulation D thereunder.
We did not issue any other securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, during the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
We have not purchased any of our shares of common stock during the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Our Company was unable to make the payments of principal in the amounts of $1,790,099 that were due on March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010, respectively, and interest payments of $362,852, $567,982, and $583,580 that were due on March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010, respectively, to Nedbank under the terms of the amended and restated credit agreement dated March 31, 2009. Our Company is now in default of its obligations under the credit agreement with Nedbank, and the full amount of the outstanding principal of $23,257,825 and any accrued and unpaid interest must now be included in our current liabilities, together with any additional amounts payable under the credit agreement. Accordingly, our Company has reclassified $10,727,136 of long-term debt to current liabilities within its condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010. Given this default, Nedbank has full authority to exercise its rights under the credit agreement, including the acceleration of the full amount due there under and the institution of foreclosure proceedings against the Johnson Camp Mine. In accordance with the credit agreement, upon missing the March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010 principal and interest payments, the interest rate on the outstanding debt and unpaid accrued interest is increased by 3.00% to LIBOR plus 9.06% .
Given this default, Nedbank has full authority to exercise its rights under the credit agreement, including the acceleration of the full amount due there under and the institution of foreclosure proceedings against the Johnson Camp Mine. Nedbank has not served our Company with a formal notice of default under credit agreement, which is a precondition to such exercise of Nedbanks rights of acceleration and foreclosure. In accordance with the credit agreement, upon missing the March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010 principal and interest payments the interest rate on the outstanding debt and unpaid accrued interest is increased by 3.00% to LIBOR plus 9.06% .
The Company has failed to make payments due to Nedbank in the amount of $5,000,019 on copper derivative contracts and interest rate swap settlements which matured between April 6, 2010 and October 6, 2010. Accordingly, the Company is in default under the copper hedge agreement and interest rate swap agreement, and amounts formerly eligible for treatment as amounts payable under long-term derivative contracts have been brought into current liabilities as of September 30, 2010.
Item 4. (Removed and Reserved)
None.
Item 5. Other Information
Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit | |
Number | Description |
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws | |
3.1 | Certificate of Incorporation (as amended) of Nord Resources Corporation(1) |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Nord Resources Corporation(2) |
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3.3 | Amendment to Amended Certificate of Incorporation (26) |
|
|
Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures |
|
|
|
4.1 | Pages from Amended and Restated Bylaws of Nord Resources Corporation defining the rights of holders of equity or debt securities(1) |
|
|
4.2 | Convertible Promissory Note for $35,000 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Ronald A. Hirsch dated June 29, 2004(1) |
4.3 | Amendment to Convertible Promissory Note dated June 29, 2004 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Ronald A. Hirsch effective November 30, 2005(1) |
4.4 | Convertible Promissory Note for $66,000 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Stephen D. Seymour dated August 19, 2004(1) |
4.5 | Amendment to Convertible Promissory Note dated August 19, 2004 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Stephen D. Seymour effective September 26, 2005(1) |
4.6 | Second Amendment to Convertible Promissory Note dated August 19, 2004 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Stephen D. Seymour effective November 30, 2005(1) |
4.7 | Convertible Promissory Note for $106,000 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Ronald A. Hirsch dated October 4, 2004(1) |
4.8 | Amendment to Convertible Promissory Note dated October 4, 2004 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Ronald A. Hirsch effective September 26, 2005(1) |
4.9 | Second Amendment to Convertible Promissory Note dated October 4, 2004 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Ronald A. Hirsch effective November 30, 2005(1) |
4.10 | Revolving Line of Credit Agreement, between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald A. Hirsch and Stephen Seymour dated June 21, 2005(1) |
4.11 | Security Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald A. Hirsch and Stephen Seymour dated June 21, 2005(1) |
4.12 | Secured Promissory Note ($600,000) between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald A. Hirsch and Stephen Seymour dated June 21, 2005(1) |
4.13 | Second Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald A. Hirsch and Stephen Seymour dated November 8, 2005(3) |
4.14 | Amended and Restated Warrant Certificate issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Auramet Trading, LLC, dated as of October 17, 2005(5) |
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4.15 | Warrant Certificate issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Auramet Trading, LLC, dated April 17, 2006(5) |
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4.16 | Acknowledgement of Ronald A. Hirsch regarding Agreement for Credit Risk Participation dated November, 2005(1) |
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4.17 |
Secured Promissory Note for $3,900,000 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Nedbank Limited dated November 8, 2005(1) |
4.18 |
Deed of Trust, Assignment of Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing among Nord Resources Corporation , First American Title Insurance Company and Nedbank Limited dated November 8, 2005(1) |
4.19 |
Warrant Certificate issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Nedbank Limited, dated May 8, 2006(4) |
4.20 |
Environmental Indemnity Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Nedbank Limited dated November, 2005(1) |
4.21 |
Subordination Agreement among Ronald A. Hirsch, Stephen D. Seymour and Nedbank Limited dated November 8, 2005(1) |
4.22 |
Letter from Nord Resources Corporation to Nedbank Limited regarding conditions subsequent, dated November 8, 2005(1) |
4.23 |
Perfection Certificate completed by Nord Resources Corporation for Nedbank Limited, dated November 8, 2005(1) |
4.24 |
Waiver Agreement and Amendment of Promissory Note between Nord Resources Corporation and Nedbank Limited, dated February 6, 2006(3) |
4.25 |
Letter Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Nedbank Limited, dated May 5, 2006, extending the maturity date of the Secured Promissory Note dated November 8, 2005 in the principal amount of $3,900,000, to May 15, 2006(4) |
4.26 |
Letter Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation, Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour, dated May 5, 2006, extending the maturity date indebtedness under the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Agreement, among Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald A. Hirsch and Stephen Seymour dated November 8, 2005(7) |
4.27 |
Modification Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Nedbank Limited, dated May 15, 2006(5) |
4.28 |
Warrant Certificate issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Nedbank Limited, dated May 15, 2006(5) |
4.29 |
Warrant Certificate issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Auramet Trading LLC, dated May 15, 2006(5) |
4.30 |
Amended and Restated Secured Promissory Note, dated May 31, 2006, payable to Nedbank Limited in the principal amount of $4,900,000(6) |
4.31 |
First Amendment to Deed of Trust, Assignment of Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated May 31, 2006, among Nord Resources Corporation, First American Title Insurance Company and Nedbank Limited(6) |
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4.32 |
Amendment to Subordination Agreement, dated May 31, 2006, made for the benefit of Nedbank Limited by Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour(6) |
4.33 |
Warrant Certificate issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Auramet Trading, LLC, dated May 31, 2006 representing 250,000 common stock purchase warrants(6) |
4.34 |
Letter Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation Nedbank Limited and Auramet Trading, LLC dated August 8, 2006, extending the maturity date of a secured loan in the principal amount of $4,900,000(9) |
4.35 |
Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation, Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour, dated August 14, 2006, extending the maturity date indebtedness under the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Agreement, among Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald A. Hirsch and Stephen Seymour dated November 8, 2005(11) |
4.36 |
Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note for $35,000 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Ronald A. Hirsch dated for reference June 29, 2004(12) |
4.37 |
Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note for $66,000 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Stephen D. Seymour dated for reference August 19, 2004(12) |
4.38 |
Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note for $106,000 issued by Nord Resources Corporation to Ronald A. Hirsch dated for reference October 4, 2004(12) |
4.39 |
Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation, Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour, dated August 17, 2006, extending the maturity date indebtedness under the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Agreement, among Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald A. Hirsch and Stephen Seymour dated November 8, 2005(12) |
4.40 |
Modification Agreement dated September 30, 2006 between Nord Resources Corporation and Nedbank Limited(13) |
4.41 |
Amendment agreement dated September 29, 2006 between Nord Resources Corporation and Stephen Seymour in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference August 19, 2004, in the principal amount of $66,000(15) |
4.42 |
Amendment agreement dated September 29, 2006 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference October 4, 2004, in the principal amount of $106,000(15) |
4.43 |
Amendment agreement dated September 29, 2006 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference June 29, 2004, in the principal amount of $35,000(15) |
4.44 |
Amending agreement dated September 29, 2006 among Nord Resources Corporation, Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour in respect of that certain $600,000 Revolving Line of Credit Agreement and that certain Secured Promissory Note, as previously amended, each dated for reference June 21, 2005(15) |
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4.45 |
Letter Agreement among Nedbank Limited, Nord Resources Corporation and Auramet Trading, LLC dated for reference December 19, 2006 and executed on December 20, 2006(20) |
4.46 |
Amendment agreement dated December 22, 2006 between Nord Resources Corporation and Stephen Seymour in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference August 19, 2004, in the principal amount of $66,000(20) |
4.47 |
Amendment agreement dated December 22, 2006 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference October 4, 2004, in the principal amount of $106,000(20) |
4.48 |
Amendment agreement December 22, 2006 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference June 29, 2004, in the principal amount of $106,000(20) |
4.49 |
Amending agreement dated December 22, 2006 among Nord Resources Corporation, Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour in respect of that certain $600,000 Revolving Line of Credit Agreement and that certain Secured Promissory Note, as previously amended, each dated for reference June 21, 2005(20) |
4.50 |
Letter Agreement among Nedbank Limited, Nord Resources Corporation and Auramet Trading, LLC dated for reference January 11, 2007(21) |
4.51 |
Amendment agreement dated January 15, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Stephen Seymour in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference August 19, 2004, in the principal amount of $66,000(21) |
4.52 |
Amendment agreement dated January 15, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference October 4, 2004, in the principal amount of $106,000(21) |
4.53 |
Amendment agreement dated January 15, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference June 29, 2004, in the principal amount of $35,000(21) |
4.54 |
Amending agreement dated January 15, 2007 among Nord Resources Corporation, Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour in respect of that certain $600,000 Revolving Line of Credit Agreement and that certain Secured Promissory Note, as previously amended, each dated for reference June 21, 2005(21) |
4.55 |
Letter Agreement among Nedbank Limited, Nord Resources Corporation and Auramet Trading, LLC dated for reference January 30, 2007(22) |
4.56 |
Amendment agreement dated January 31, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Stephen Seymour in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference August 19, 2004, in the principal amount of $66,000(22) |
4.57 |
Amendment agreement dated January 31, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference October 4, 2004, in the principal amount of $106,000(22) |
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4.58 |
Amendment agreement dated January 31, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference June 29, 2004, in the principal amount of $35,000(22) |
4.59 |
Amending agreement dated January 31, 2007 among Nord Resources Corporation, Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour in respect of that certain $600,000 Revolving Line of Credit Agreement and that certain Secured Promissory Note, as previously amended, each dated for reference June 21, 2005(22) |
4.60 |
Letter Agreement among Nedbank Limited, Nord Resources Corporation and Auramet Trading, LLC dated for reference February 23, 2007(23) |
4.61 |
Modification Agreement between Nedbank Limited and Nord Resources Corporation dated for reference February 23, 2007(23) |
4.62 |
Amendment agreement dated February 23, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Stephen Seymour in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference August 19, 2004, in the principal amount of $66,000(23) |
4.63 |
Amendment agreement dated February 23, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference October 4, 2004, in the principal amount of $106,000(23) |
4.64 |
Amendment agreement dated February 23, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference June 29, 2004, in the principal amount of $35,000(23) |
4.65 |
Amending agreement dated February 23, 2007 among Nord Resources Corporation, Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour in respect of that certain $600,000 Revolving Line of Credit Agreement and that certain Secured Promissory Note, as previously amended, each dated for reference June 21, 2005(23) |
4.66 |
Term Sheet and Agreement between Nedbank Limited and Nord Resources Corporation dated for reference April 13, 2007(26) |
4.67 |
Letter Agreement among Nedbank Limited, Nord Resources Corporation and Auramet Trading, LLC dated for reference April 17, 2007(26) |
4.68 |
Amendment Agreement dated April 30, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Stephen Seymour in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference August 19, 2004, in the principal amount of $66,000(25) |
4.69 |
Amendment Agreement dated April 30, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference October 4, 2004, in the principal amount of $106,000(25) |
4.70 |
Amendment Agreement dated April 30, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch in respect of Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note dated for reference June 29, 2004, in the principal amount of $35,000(25) |
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4.71 | Amending Agreement dated April 30, 2007 among Nord Resources Corporation, Ronald Hirsch and Stephen Seymour in respect of that certain $600,000 Revolving Line of Credit Agreement and that certain Secured Promissory Note, as previously amended, each dated for reference June 21, 2005(25) |
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4.72 | Special Warrant Indenture among Nord Resources Corporation, Blackmont Capital Inc. and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as special warrant trustee, dated June 5, 2007(27) |
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4.73 | Warrant Indenture between Nord Resources Corporation and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as warrant agent, dated June 5, 2007(27) |
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4.74 | Registration Rights Agreement among Nord Resources Corporation, Blackmont Capital Inc. and Salman Partners Inc. dated June 5, 2007(27) |
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4.75 | Agents Option Certificate issued to Blackmont Capital Inc., dated June 5, 2007 27) |
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4.76 | Agents Option Certificate issued to Salman Partners Inc., dated June 5, 2007 (27) |
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Material Contracts |
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10.1 | Executive Employment Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald A. Hirsch dated January 2, 2004(1) |
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10.2 | Waiver Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald A. Hirsch dated February 15, 2006(3) |
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10.3 | Executive Employment Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Erland Anderson dated January 2, 2004(1) |
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10.4 | Waiver Agreement and Amendment of Employment Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Erland Anderson dated February 15, 2006(3) |
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10.5 | Nord Resources Corporation Stock Option granted to Erland Anderson February 1, 2006(3) |
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10.6 | Executive Employment Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and John Perry dated April 18, 2005(1) |
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10.7 | Waiver Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and John Perry dated February 15, 2006(3) |
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10.8 | Letter Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Nicholas Tintor regarding employment matters dated February 15, 2006(3) |
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10.9 | Option to Purchase the Coyote Springs property from Thornwell Rogers, South Branch Resources LLC and MRPGEO LLC to Nord Resources Corporation dated January 28, 2004(1) |
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10.10 |
First Amendment to Option to Purchase Coyote Springs property among Thornwell Rogers, South Branch Resources LLC, MRPGEO LLC and Nord Resources Corporation dated December 14, 2004(1) |
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10.11 |
Second Amendment to the Terms of Agreement, Option to Purchase the Coyote Springs Property, Graham County, Arizona, between Nord Resources Corporation and Thornwell Rogers, South Branch Resources LLC and MRPGEO LLC, dated January 27, 2006(3) |
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10.12 |
Option to Purchase the Mimbres Property from Thornwell Rogers, South Branch Resources, LLC and MRPGEO, LLC to Nord Resources Corporation dated June 10, 2004(1) |
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10.13 |
Option Agreement between Shirley Bailey and Nord Resources Corporation dated July 19, 2004(1) |
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10.14 |
Debt Conversion between Nord Resources Corporation and Thornwell Rogers dated April 16, 2004(1) |
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10.15 |
Debt Conversion between Nord Resources Corporation and South Branch Resources LLC dated April 16, 2004(1) |
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10.16 |
Debt Conversion between Nord Resources Corporation and MRPGEO, LLC dated April 16, 2004(1) |
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10.17 |
Debt Conversion Agreement between Peifer, Hanson and Mullins P.A. and Nord Resources Corporation dated October 25, 2005(1) |
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10.18 |
Settlement Agreement and General Release between Nord Resources Corporation and W. Pierce Carson dated April 22, 2005(1) |
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10.19 |
Warrant Certificate issuing 250,000 warrants to W. Pierce Carson dated April 22, 2005 (1) |
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10.20 |
Warrant Amendment Agreement between Nord Resource Corporation and Pierce Carson dated October 5, 2006(28) |
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10.21 |
Nord Resources Corporation form of Subscription Agreement for US Investors (2005 private placement)(1) |
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10.22 |
Nord Resources Corporation form of Subscription Agreement for Canadian Investors (2005 private placement)(1) |
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10.23 |
Nord Resources Corporation form of Warrant Certificate for US Purchasers (2005 private placement)(1) |
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10.24 |
Nord Resources Corporation form of Warrant Certificate for Canadian Purchasers (2005 private placement)(1) |
10.25 |
Letter dated October 25, 2005, amending the terms of the 2005 private placement offering(1) |
10.26 |
Letter dated November 15, 2005, amending the terms of the 2005 private placement offering(1) |
10.27 |
Letter dated December 21, 2005, amending the terms of the 2005 private placement offering(1) |
10.28 |
Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine between Nord Resources Corporation and JC Rock, LLC dated December 24, 2004(1) |
10.29 |
Tenth Amendment to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine dated July 31, 2007(27) |
10.30 |
Office Lease between Issa and Henrietta Hallaq, landlords, and Nord Resources Corporation, tenant, dated January 5, 2006(27) |
10.31 |
Confidential Settlement and Release Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation (plaintiff/counterdefendant), and Titanium Resources Group, Ltd. and Edward Wayne Malouf (defendants/counterplaintiffs) dated August 9, 2006(10) |
10.32 |
Settlement Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Nicholas Tintor dated September 29, 2006(14) |
10.33 |
Mutual General Release between Nord Resources Corporation and Nicholas Tintor dated September 29, 2006(14) |
10.34 |
Third Amendment to the Terms of Agreement, Option to Purchase the Coyote Springs Property, Graham County, Arizona among Nord Resources Corporation, Thornwell Rogers, South Branch Resources, LLC and MRGPEO, LLC dated October 17, 2006(16) |
10.35 |
Second Amendment to the Terms of Agreement, Option to Purchase the Mimbres Property, Grant County, New Mexico among Nord Resources Corporation, Thornwell Rogers, South Branch Resources, LLC and MRGPEO, LLC dated October 17, 2006(16) |
10.36 |
Settlement Agreement dated October 18, 2006, between Nord Resources Corporation and TMD Acquisition Corporation(16) |
10.37 |
Assignment Agreement dated October 18, 2006, between Nord Resources Corporation and TMD Acquisition Corporation(16) |
10.38 |
Amended and Restated Waiver Agreement And Amendment of Employment Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Ronald Hirsch dated October 18, 2006(16) |
10.39 |
Amendment of Employment Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Erland Anderson dated October 18, 2006(16) |
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10.40 |
Amendment of Executive Employment Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and John Perry dated October 18, 2006(16) |
10.41 |
Indemnification Agreement dated October 18, 2006 by Stephen Seymour, in his personal capacity, and by Stephen Seymour, Kathie Stevens and Louise Seymour, as Trustees U/A dated 7/27/82 FBO Louise Seymour, in favor of Nord Resources Corporation(16) |
10.42 |
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 23, 2006 by and among Nord Resources Corporation, Platinum Diversified Mining, Inc., Platinum Diversified Mining USA, Inc. and PDM Merger Corp.(17) |
10.43 |
Voting Agreement dated October 23, 2006 among Nord Resources Corp., Platinum Diversified Mining USA, Inc. and Ronald A. Hirsch(17) |
10.44 |
Voting Agreement dated October 23, 2006 among Nord Resources Corp., Platinum Diversified Mining USA, Inc. and Stephen Seymour(17) |
10.45 |
Deposit Escrow Agreement dated October 23, 2006 among Nord Resources Corp., Platinum Diversified Mining USA, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company(17) |
10.46 |
Letter Agreement respecting a performance bonus between Nord Resources Corporation and Ron A. Hirsch dated November 2, 2006(18) |
10.47 |
Letter Agreement respecting a performance bonus between Nord Resources Corporation and Erland A. Anderson dated November 2, 2006(18) |
10.48 |
Letter Agreement respecting a performance bonus between Nord Resources Corporation and John T. Perry dated November 2, 2006(18) |
10.49 |
Amended and Restated Assignment Agreement dated as of October 18, 2006, between Nord Resources Corporation and TMD Acquisition Corporation(19) |
10.50 |
Seventh Amendment to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine dated November 2, 2006(19) |
10.51 |
Settlement Agreement dated March 7, 2007 among Nord Resources Corporation, Platinum Diversified Mining, Inc., Platinum Diversified Mining USA, Inc. and PDM Merger Corp.(24) |
10.52 |
Eighth Amendment to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine dated January 19, 2007(26) |
10.53 |
Ninth Amendment to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine dated as of April 30, 2007(26) |
10.54 |
Agency Agreement among Nord Resources Corporation, Blackmont Capital Inc. and Salman Partners Inc. dated June 5, 2007(27) |
10.55 |
45Form of Subscription Agreement dated June 5, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation and each purchaser of special warrants(27) |
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10.56 |
Credit Agreement dated as of June 28, 2007 between Nord Resources Corporation, Cochise Aggregates and Materials, Inc., Nedbank Limited and the Lenders from time to time party thereto(27) |
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10.57 |
Tenth Amendment to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine dated July 31, 2007(27) |
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10.58 |
Eleventh Amendment to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine dated October 31, 2007(29) |
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10.59 |
Long-Term Cathode Sales Agreement effective February 1, 2008, with Red Kite Explorer Fund Limited (Portions of this document have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a Request for Confidential Treatment filed under 17 C.F.R. 200.80(b)(4) and 240.24b2) (29) |
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10.60 |
Twelfth Amendment to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine dated January 31, 2008(29) |
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10.61 |
Thirteenth Amendment to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine dated April 30, 2008(31) |
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10.62 |
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2008 among Nord Resources Corporation, Cochise Aggregates and Materials Inc., Nedbank Limited and the Lenders from time to time party thereto(30) |
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10.63 |
Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement between the Company and John Perry dated September 9, 2008. (32) |
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10.64 |
Executive Employment Agreement between the Company and Wayne Morrison dated September 9, 2008. (32) |
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10.65 |
Processing Agreement with Texas Canyon Rock & Sand, Inc., dated October 31, 2008 (34) |
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10.66 |
Fourteenth Amendment to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Waste Rock from the Johnson Camp Mine dated November 25, 2008(35) |
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10.67 |
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 31, 2009 among Nord Resources Corporation, Cochise Aggregates and Materials Inc., Nedbank Limited and the Lenders from time to time party thereto(36) |
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10.68 |
Agreement to Purchase Royalty dated as of March 31, 2009 between Nord Resources Corporation and IRC Nevada Inc.(36) |
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10.69 |
Royalty Deed and Assignment of Royalty dated as of March 31, 2009, from Nord Resources Corporation to IRC Nevada Inc.(36) |
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10.70 |
Forbearance Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Nedbank Limited dated March 30, 2010(36) |
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10.71 | Forbearance Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Nedbank Limited dated April 22, 2010(37) |
10.72 | Forbearance Agreement between Nord Resources Corporation and Nedbank Capital Limited dated April 27, 2010(38) |
10.73 | Settlement Agreement among Nord Resources Corporation, Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. and F5 Equipment Inc. dated July 28, 2010(39) |
10.74 | Promissory Note of Nord Resources Corporation dated July 28, 2010 and payable to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. in the principal sum of $8,200,000(39) |
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Subsidiaries of the Issuer |
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21.1 | Subsidiaries of the Issuer: |
Cochise Aggregates and Materials, Inc. (Incorporated in Nevada) |
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Certifications |
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31.1 | |
31.2 | |
32.1 | |
Additional Exhibits |
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99.1 | Nord Resources Corporation Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (8) |
99.2 | Nord Resources Corporation Performance Incentive Plan for the period from July 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008(27) |
Notes
(1) |
Incorporated by reference from our annual report on Form 10KSB for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on January 17, 2006. |
(2) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K dated February 15, 2006, filed with the SEC on February 16, 2006. |
(3) |
Incorporated by reference from our annual report on Form 10KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2006. |
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(4) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2006. |
(5) |
Incorporated by reference from our quarterly report on Form 10QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2006. |
(6) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on May 31, 2006. |
(7) |
Incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 1 to our annual report on Form 10KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on September 30, 2006. |
(8) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on December 6, 2008. |
(9) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2006. |
(10) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2006. |
(11) |
Incorporated by reference from our quarterly report on Form 10QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2006. |
(12) |
Incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 3 to our annual report on Form 10KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on August 23, 2006. |
(13) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on September 28, 2006. |
(14) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on October 2, 2006. |
(15) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on October 4, 2006. |
(16) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on October 23, 2006. |
(17) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on October 25, 2006. |
(18) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on November 7, 2006. |
(19) |
Incorporated by reference from our quarterly report on Form 10QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2006. |
(20) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on December 26, 2006. |
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(21) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on January 16, 2007. |
(22) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on February 5, 2007. |
(23) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2007. |
(24) |
Incorporated by reference from our annual report on Form 10KSB for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2007. |
(25) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2007. |
(26) |
Incorporated by reference from our quarterly report on Form 10QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2007. |
(27) |
Incorporated by reference from our quarterly report on Form 10QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2007. |
(28) |
Incorporated by reference from our Form SB2, filed with the SEC on October 19, 2007. |
(29) | Incorporated by reference from our annual report on Form 10KSB for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the SEC on March 26, 2008. |
(30) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K dated September 30, 2008 and filed with the SEC on July 7, 2008. |
(31) |
Incorporated by reference from our quarterly report on Form 10Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2008. |
(32) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K dated September 9, 2008 and filed with the SEC on September 12, 2008. |
(33) |
Incorporated by reference from our Post Effective No. 3 on Form S-1 dated October 24, 2008 and filed with the SEC on October 24, 2008. |
(34) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K dated October 31, 2008 and filed with the SEC on November 5, 2008. |
(35) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K dated November 25, 2008 and filed with the SEC on November 28, 2008. |
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(36) |
Incorporated by reference from our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and filed with the SEC on March 31, 2009. |
(37) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K dated April 22, 2010 and filed with the SEC on April 23, 2010. |
(38) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8K dated April 27, 2010 and filed with the SEC on April 29, 2010. |
(39) |
Incorporated by reference from our current report on Form 8-K dated July 29, 2010 and filed with the SEC on July 29, 2010. |
(40) |
Filed herewith. |
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION
By: | /s/ Randy L. Davenport | |
Randy L. Davenport | ||
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Chief Executive Officer | ||
Date: | November 12, 2010 | |
By: | /s/ Wayne M. Morrison | |
Wayne M. Morrison | ||
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | ||
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer | ||
Date: | November 12, 2010 |
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