UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 12, 2017


SOLITARIO EXPLORATION & ROYALTY CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Colorado
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
001-32978
(Commission
File Number)
84-1285791
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

4251 Kipling Street, Suite 390
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 534-1030

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

  1  

 

 

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. 

As previously announced on April 26, 2017, Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. (“Solitario”) and Zazu Metals Corporation. (“Zazu”) entered into an Arrangement Agreement (the “Agreement”) providing for the acquisition of Zazu by Solitario (the “Transaction”).    On July 12, 2017, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, Zazu became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solitario. 

Arrangement Agreement

On July 12, 2017, Solitario and Zazu completed the transaction contemplated by the Agreement, pursuant to which Zazu became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solitario.  Pursuant to the Agreement, at the effective time, each issued and outstanding Zazu common share, no par value per share, was converted into the right to receive 0.3572 of a share of common stock of Solitario, par value $0.01 per share.  Solitario issued approximately 19,788,183 shares of its common stock as consideration in the Transaction.  Based on the closing price of Solitario common stock on July 12, 2017, as reported on the NYSE MKT, the aggregate value of the consideration paid or payable to former holders of Zazu’s common shares is approximately $13.7 million. In addition holders of Zazu options to buy Zazu shares of common stock received an aggregate of 1,782,428 replacement options to purchase shares of Solitario common stock.

The requisite approval of the Plan of Arrangement by Zazu shareholders was obtained at a special meeting of the Zazu shareholders held on June 29, 2017.  Solitario’s shareholders approved the issuance of the shares of Solitario common stock necessary to effect the Plan of Arrangement at an annual meeting of the Solitario shareholders held on June 29, 2017. On July 7, 2017, a final order (the “Final Order”) was entered by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (the “Court”) in connection with the Plan of Arrangement.  

The foregoing description of the Agreement and the Transaction contemplated by the Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, reference to the full text of the Agreement, which was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as Exhibit 2.1 to Solitario’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 27, 2017 and is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on 8-K.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 As described in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, on July 12, 2017, Solitario issued approximately 19,788,183 shares of its common stock to the holders of common shares of Zazu. The issuance of the Solitario common stock is exempt from registration under Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“the Securities Act”). Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act exempts the issuance of securities issued in exchange for one or more bona fide outstanding securities, or partly in such exchange and partly for cash, from the registration requirements of the Securities Act where the terms and conditions of such issuance and exchange have been approved by a court of competent jurisdiction, after a hearing upon the fairness of the terms and conditions of such issuance and exchange at which all persons to whom the securities will be issued have the right to appear and receive timely notice thereof. On July 7, 2017, the Court issued the Final Order.

 

The information disclosed under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 3.02 in its entirety.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Changes in Fiscal Year.

 

As previously reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 29, 2017, Solitario shareholders approved an amendment to Solitario’s Articles of Incorporation to change the name of Solitario to “Solitario Zinc Corp.” (the “Amendment”). The Amendment was subject to completion of the Transaction, which occurred on July 12, 2017. The Amendment will be effective July 17, 2017.

  2  

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On July 13, 2017, Solitario issued a press release announcing the closing of the Transaction.

 

The information furnished under this Item 7.01, including the exhibits, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by reference to such filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)List of Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description
     
2.1   Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Arrangement dated April 26, 2017, among Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. and Zazu Metals Corporation  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Solitario’s Form 8-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017.)
3.1 *   Articles of Amendment.
99.1*   Audited financial statements of Zazu as at and for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the unaudited interim financial statements of Zazu as at and for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.
99.2*   Unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet of Solitario and Zazu as of March 31, 2017, and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations of Solitario and Zazu for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and for the year ended December 31, 2016.
99.3*   Press release of Solitario dated July 13, 2017
     

 

  3  

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

July 13, 2017

Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp.
      
By:   /s/ James R. Maronick
    James R. Maronick, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 3.1

 

 

                                        Colorado Secretary of State

Date and Time: 07/07/2017 01:34 PM

Document must be filed electronically.                                              ID Number: 19871594776

Paper documents are not accepted.

Fees & forms are subject to change.                                                       Document number: 20171521906 For more information or to print copies                                                   Amount Paid: $25.00               of filed documents, visit www.sos.state.co.us.

 

ABOVE SPACE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

Articles of Amendment

filed pursuant to §7-90-301, et seq. and §7-110-106 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.)

 

1. For the entity, its ID number and entity name are

 

ID number 19871594776

(Colorado Secretary of State ID number)

Entity name Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp.

2. The new entity name (if applicable) is   Solitario Zinc Corp.

 

3. (If the following statement applies, adopt the statement by marking the box and include an attachment.)

This document contains additional amendments or other information.

 

4. If the amendment provides for an exchange, reclassification or cancellation of issued shares, the attachment states the provisions for implementing the amendment.

 

5. ( Caution : Leave blank if the document does not have a delayed effective date. Stating a delayed effective date has significant legal consequences. Read instructions before entering a date.)

 

(If the following statement applies, adopt the statement by entering a date and, if applicable, time using the required format.)

 

The delayed effective date and, if applicable, time of this document is/are 07/17/2017 02:00 PM

(mm/dd/yyyy hour:minute am/pm)

Notice :

Causing this document to be delivered to the Secretary of State for filing shall constitute the affirmation or acknowledgment of each individual causing such delivery, under penalties of perjury, that such document is such individual's act and deed, or that such individual in good faith believes such document is the act and deed of the person on whose behalf such individual is causing such document to be delivered for filing, taken in conformity with the requirements of part 3 of article 90 of title 7, C.R.S. and, if applicable, the constituent documents and the organic statutes, and that such individual in good faith believes the facts stated in such document are true and such document complies with the requirements of that Part, the constituent documents, and the organic statutes.

This perjury notice applies to each individual who causes this document to be delivered to the Secretary of State, whether or not such individual is identified in this document as one who has caused it to be delivered.

 

6.

 

 

 

The true name and mailing  address of the individual causing the document to be delivered for filing are

Waltz Peter F.

(Last) (First) (Middle) (Suffix)

1401 Lawrence Street

(Street name and number or Post Office Box information)

Suite 2300

Denver CO 80202-2498

(City) (State) (Postal/Zip Code)

United States

(Province – if applicable) (Country – if not US)

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMD_PC       Page 1 of 2                  Rev. 12/20/2016

 

  1  

 

(If the following statement applies, adopt the statement by marking the box and include an attachment.)

This document contains the true name and mailing address of one or more additional individuals causing the document to be delivered for filing.

Disclaimer:

This form/cover sheet, and any related instructions, are not intended to provide legal, business or tax advice, and are furnished without representation or warranty. While this form/cover sheet is believed to satisfy minimum legal requirements as of its revision date, compliance with applicable law, as the same may be amended from time to time, remains the responsibility of the user of this form/cover sheet. Questions should be addressed to the user’s legal, business or tax advisor(s).

AMD_PC Page 2 of 2 Rev. 12/20/2016

 

 

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION

Consolidated Financial Statements

For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in US dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Auditor’s Report

 

To the Shareholders of Zazu Metals Corporation

 

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Zazu Metals Corporation, which comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss, changes in equity and cash flow for the years then ended, and the related notes, which comprise a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

 

Management’s responsibility for the consolidated financial statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Auditor’s responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained in our audits is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers Place, 250 Howe Street, Suite 1400, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3S7 T: +1 604 806 7000, F: +1 604 806 7806

 

“PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership.

  2  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opinion

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Zazu Metals Corporation as at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and its financial performance and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

Emphasis of matter

Without qualifying our opinion, we draw attention to note 1 in the financial statements, which describes matters and conditions that indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about Zazu Metals Corporation’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

 

(signed) “PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP”

 

 

Chartered Professional Accountants

  3  

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION      
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position      
In U.S. dollars      
       
       
     December 31  December 31
  Note  2016  2015
       
Assets      
Current assets      
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 90,463 $ 459,458
Receivables and prepaids                  17,128               36,323
                107,591             495,781
Non-current assets      
Equipment 4               16,956               24,307
 Exploration and evaluation assets 4       15,467,788       15,365,235
Total assets   $ 15,592,335 $ 15,885,323
       
Liabilities      
Current liabilities      
Trade and other payables   $ 26,838 $ 47,236
 Loan payable 5               70,000                        -   
Total liabilities                 96,838               47,236
   
Equity attributable to shareholders      
Share capital 6       43,521,638       43,521,638
Contributed surplus               674,472             674,472
Accumulated share based compensation 7         6,046,000         6,033,000
Accumulated deficit       (34,746,613)     (34,391,023)
Total equity         15,495,497       15,838,087
Total liabilities and equity   $ 15,592,335 $ 15,885,323
       
Approved by the Board of Directors:      
       
"Gil Atzmon" (signed) "Bryan Morris" (signed)  
Gil Atzmon Bryan Morris  
Director Director  
       
Nature of operations and going concern 1    

 

 

Approved by the Board of Directors:

 

"Gil Atzmon" (signed) "Bryan Morris" (signed)

Gil Atzmon Bryan Morris

Director Director

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements

  4  

 

 

 

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION      
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss      
In U.S. dollars      
       
     Year ended  Year ended
     December 31,  December 31,
  Note  2016  2015
       
Expenses      
Depreciation   $ 822 $ 1,556
Audit and accounting                 51,506               69,181
Directors’ fees                 30,089               62,145
Financial advisory fees                          -                  20,723
Insurance                 43,575               45,397
Investor and shareholder relations                   9,158               15,652
Legal fees                   4,957                 1,728
Office, rent and communication                 15,166               35,566
Regulatory and transfer agent                 56,562               57,408
Salaries and benefits               136,498             458,471
Share based compensation 7               13,000             229,400
 Travel                    2,712                 8,745
Loss from operations               364,045         1,005,972
Finance income                   1,418                 1,112
Interest expense                     (921)                (2,458)
Foreign exchange gain (loss)                   7,958             (63,038)
 Loss on disposal of equipment                          -                   (5,728)
Net loss and comprehensive loss attributable to      
the equity holders of the Company   $ (355,590) $ (1,076,084)
       
Basic and diluted loss per share   $ (0.01) $ (0.02)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding         55,398,051       52,776,383

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements

  5  

 

 

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
In U.S. dollars
 

Common

shares

Common

shares

Contributed

Accumulated

share based

Accumulated  
  # $ surplus compensation deficit Total
Balance, January 1, 2015 47,909,051 $ 42,070,409 $ 674,472 $ 5,773,200 $ (33,314,939) $ 15,203,142
Net loss and comprehensive            
loss for the period   -  - - (1,076,084)  (1,076,084)
Share based compensation:            
Charged to operations    - - 229,400 - 229,400
Capitalized to exploration            
  and evaluation assets   - - 30,400 - 30,400
Private placements of shares:            
  Proceeds  7,489,000 1,517,598 - - - 1,517,598
  Share issue costs    (66,369) -  - -  (66,369)
Balance, December 31, 2015 55,398,051 43,521,638 674,472 6,033,000 (34,391,023) 15,838,087
Balance, January 1, 2016 55,398,051 43,521,638 674,472 6,033,000 (34,391,023) 15,838,087
Net loss and comprehensive            
 loss for the year   - - - (355,590) (355,590)
Share based compensation:            
 Charged to operations   - - 13,000 - 13,000
 Capitalized to exploration            
   and evaluation assets   - - - - -
Balance, December 31, 2016 55,398,051 $ 43,521,638 $ 674,472 $ 6,046,000 $ (34,746,613) $ 15,495,497

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements

  6  

 

 

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
In U.S. dollars
    Year ended December 31, Year ended December 31,
  Note 2016 2015
       
Cash flow provided by (used in):      
       
Operating activities      
Loss for the year   $ (355,590) $ (1,076,084)
Adjustments for non-cash items:      
Depreciation                       822                 1,556
Share based compensation 7               13,000             229,400
Loss on disposal of equipment                            -                 5,728
Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)                  (8,362)               66,700
Net changes in non-cash working capital items:      
Decrease in trade and other receivables                 20,279                 2,252
Decrease in trade and other payables               (20,506)             (22,742)
Net cash used in operating activities    (350,357)  (793,190)
       
Financing activities      
Loan proceeds                 70,000                          -
Net cash from financing activities                 70,000         1,451,229
       
Investing activities      
Purchase of exploration and evaluation assets               (96,752)           (398,251)
Purchase of equipment                            -                (1,245)
Net cash used in investing activities               (96,752)           (399,496)
       
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                   8,114             (68,624)
       
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents             (368,995)             189,919
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year               459,458             269,539
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year   $ 90,463 $ 459,458
       
Non-cash transactions:      
Share based compensation capitalized to exploration and evaluation assets     $ 30,400
Equipment depreciation capitalized to exploration and evaluation assets   6,529 9,250
Decrease in trade and other payables related to exploration and evaluation assets  (728)  (198,566)

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements

  7  

 

 

 

1. Nature of operations and going concern

Zazu Metals Corporation (the “Company”) is a Canadian company which is engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties. The Company was incorporated by a Certificate of Incorporation issued pursuant to the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act on November 29, 2006. The address of its registered office is 500 – 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 3P6.

The Company incorporated Zazu Metals (Alaska) Corporation (“Zazu Alaska”), a subsidiary of the Company, in the State of Alaska, United States on January 18, 2007.

The Company and its subsidiary (together, the “Group”) are currently exploring a mineral exploration property located in the State of Alaska, United States and have not yet determined whether their mineral property contains resources that are economically recoverable. The underlying value of the Group’s mineral property and the recoverability of the related deferred costs are dependent on the existence of economically recoverable resources in its mineral property and the ability of the Group to obtain the necessary financing to complete development and upon future profitable production from, or the proceeds from the disposition of, its mineral property.

At December 31, 2016 the Company did not have enough cash on hand to meet its planned expenditures for the next twelve months. The Company plans to pursue financing in the future in order to fund its operations and to continue the advancement of its mineral property but the material uncertainty of raising sufficient funds casts significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company has historically raised funds primarily through the sales of equity securities for cash. While the Company expects that it will obtain funding through an equity funding, or other means depending on market conditions, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain such funding or obtain it on acceptable terms.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of operations. These financial statements do not reflect the adjustments to carrying values of assets and liabilities that would be necessary should the going concern assumption prove to be inappropriate, and these adjustments could be material.

 

 

2. Basis of presentation

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). These consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on March 30, 2017.

 

 

3. Summary of significant accounting policies

The significant accounting policies used to prepare these consolidated financial statements are outlined as follows:

 

Consolidation

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Zazu Alaska. All intercompany transactions, balances, income and expenses have been eliminated on consolidation.

Foreign currency translation

Functional and presentation currency: Items included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the “functional currency”). These consolidated financial statements are presented in US dollars which is the Group’s functional currency.

Transactions and balances: Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Generally, foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of foreign currency transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than an entity’s functional currency are recorded in the statement of loss.

 

  8  

 

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of deposits held with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.

 

Financial instruments

Financial assets and liabilities are recognized when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flows from the assets have expired or have been transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the balance sheet when there is a legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis, or realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

At initial recognition, the Group classifies its financial instruments in the following categories depending on the purpose for which the instruments were acquired:

Loans and receivables: Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. The Group’s loans and receivables are comprised of cash and cash equivalents and interest receivable and are included in current assets due to their short-term nature.

Financial liabilities at amortized cost: Financial liabilities at amortized cost are comprised of trade payables and are included in current liabilities due to their short-term nature.

 

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognized as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of a replaced asset is derecognized when replaced. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to the statement of loss during the period in which they are incurred.

The major categories of property, plant and equipment are depreciated using the declining balance method at the following rates:

 

Exploration equipment 30%
Vehicles 30%
Camp equipment 20%
Computer equipment 45%
Office furniture and equipment 20%

The Group allocates the amount initially recognized in respect of an item of property, plant and equipment to its significant parts and depreciates separately each such part. Residual values, method of amortization and useful lives of the assets are reviewed annually and adjusted if appropriate.

Gains and losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount of the asset and are included as part of other gains and losses in the statement of loss.

 

Exploration and evaluation assets

The Group's intangible assets are the deferred exploration and evaluation expenses associated with the Group's mineral property. Direct mineral property acquisition costs, holding costs, field exploration and field supervisory costs are capitalized. Once the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting the mineral resource has been determined the property will be considered to be a mine under development. Exploration and evaluation assets are also tested for impairment before the assets are transferred to development properties.

  9  

 

Any incidental revenues earned in connection with exploration activities are applied as a reduction to capitalized exploration costs.

When a project is abandoned, sold or considered to be impaired in value, an appropriate charge to other gains and losses in the statement of loss will be made.

 

Impairment of non-financial assets

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are tested for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets that are not amortized are subject to regular impairment tests at the end of each reporting period. The Group’s only long-lived intangible asset is its Lik mineral property. If there is any indication that an asset may be impaired, its recoverable amount is estimated and the carrying value of the asset is written down to its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use. Fair value less costs of disposal is determined as the amount that would be obtained from the sale of the asset in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable and willing parties. Fair value of mineral assets is generally determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of the asset, including any expansion prospects. Value in use is determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of the asset in its present form and from its ultimate disposal. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.

The Group evaluates impairment losses for potential reversals when events or circumstances warrant such consideration.

 

Decommissioning and Restoration Provisions

The Group is subject to various government laws and regulations relating to environmental disturbances caused by exploration and evaluation activities. The Group records the present value of the estimated costs of legal and constructive obligations required to restore the exploration sites in the period in which the obligation is incurred. The nature of rehabilitation activities includes restoration, reclamation and re-vegetation of the affected exploration sites.

The restoration provision generally arises when the environmental disturbance is subject to government laws and regulations. The restoration provision is adjusted at the end of each reporting period for changes to factors including the expected amount of cash flows required to discharge the liability, the timing of such cash flows and the pre-tax risk-free rate. The present value of the estimated costs is capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related mining assets. Over time, the discounted liability is increased for the changes in present value based on current market discount rates and liability specific risks.

Additional environment disturbances or changes in rehabilitation costs will be recognized as additions to the corresponding assets and rehabilitation liability in the period in which they occur.

Leases

Leases which transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks incidental to the ownership of property are accounted for as finance leases. Finance leases are capitalized at the lease commencement at the lower of the fair market value of the leased property and the net present value of the minimum lease payments. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance charge. The property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of the asset’s useful life and the lease term.

All other leases are accounted for as operating leases wherein rental payments are expensed as incurred. The Group only has operating leases for the year ended December 31, 2016.

  10  

 

 

 

Employee benefits

Share-based compensation: The Company has a stock option plan which permits the Company’s Board of Directors to grant stock options to certain employees, directors and consultants. The exercise price, term to expiry and vesting period are determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors but the exercise price may not be lower than the market price of the common shares on the date of grant, less any discount permitted by the Toronto Stock Exchange. The term to expiry is generally five years from the date of grant. The stock options normally vest as follows: one third after 90 days following the date of grant; a further one third after 12 months following the date of grant; and the final one third after 18 months following the date of grant.

Each tranche in an award is considered a separate award with its own vesting period and grant date fair value. Fair value of each tranche is measured at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Compensation expense is recognized over the tranche’s vesting period based on the number of awards expected to vest, by increasing contributed surplus. The number of awards expected to vest is reviewed at least annually, with any impact being recognized immediately.

Termination benefits: The Group recognizes termination benefits when it is demonstrably committed to either terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal, or providing benefits as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary termination. Benefits falling due more than twelve months after the end of the reporting period are discounted to their present value.

 

Income tax

Current tax expense is calculated using income tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is recognized on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and are accounted for using the liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognized for all taxable temporary differences, and deferred tax assets are generally recognized for all deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which those deductible temporary differences can be utilized. Such assets and liabilities are not recognized if the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit.

The carrying amount of any deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period in which the liability is settled or the asset realized, based on income tax rates and income tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflects the tax consequences that would follow from the manner in which the Group expects to recover or settle the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities, and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

Share capital

Common shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issuance of shares are recognized as a deduction from equity.

  11  

 

Earnings per share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing income (or loss) attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The computation of diluted earnings per share assumes the conversion, exercise or contingent issuance of securities only when such conversion, exercise or issuance would have a dilutive effect on earnings per share. The dilutive effect of convertible securities is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the "if converted" method. The effect of potential issuances of shares from the exercise of outstanding options and warrants would be anti-dilutive for the periods presented and accordingly, basic and diluted loss per share are the same.

Critical accounting estimates

The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future that will, by definition, seldom equal actual results. The following are the estimates and judgments applied by management that most significantly affect the Group's financial statements. These estimates and judgments have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.

Exploration and evaluation assets: The carrying value of the Group's mineral property is reviewed by management quarterly, or whenever events or circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recovered. If impairment is determined to exist, the carrying value will be written down to the recoverable amount.

 

Accounting standards issued but not yet applied

The IASB has issued new and amended standards and interpretations which have not yet been adopted by the Group. The following is a brief summary of the new and amended standards and interpretations which may impact the Group in the future:

IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments: IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”) replaces IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (“IAS 39”). IFRS 9 uses a single approach to determine whether a financial asset is measured at amortized cost or fair value, replacing the multiple rules in IAS 39. The approach in IFRS 9 is based on how an entity manages its financial instruments in the context of its business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. The new standard also requires a single impairment method to be used, replacing the multiple impairment methods in IAS 39. The Group is required to adopt IFRS 9 effective January 1, 2018.

IFRS 16 – Leases: The IASB has issued IFRS 16, Leases, which is effective for annual periods commencing on or after January 1, 2019. This new standard eliminates the classification of leases as either operating leases or finance leases and introduces a single lessee accounting model which requires the lessee to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of longer than 12 months. Early adoption is permitted provided IFRS 15 has already been adopted or is applied from the same date. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

  12  

 

 

4. Equipment and exploration and evaluation assets

 

 

Lik

Mineral

Property

 

 

Equipment

Opening net book value at January 1, 2015 $ 15,125,900 $ 39,596
Additions 239,335 1,245
Loss on disposal of equipment - (5,728)
Depreciation for the year - (10,806)
Net book value at December 31, 2015 $ 15,365,235 $ 24,307

 

Cost

 

$ 15,365,235

 

$ 307,336

Accumulated depreciation - (283,029)
Net book value at December 31, 2015 $ 15,365,235 $ 24,307

 

 

Lik

Mineral

Property

 

 

Equipment

Opening net book value at January 1, 2016 $ 15,365,235 $ 24,307
Additions 102,553 -
Depreciation for the period - (7,351)
Net book value at December 31, 2016 $ 15,467,788 $ 16,956

 

Cost

 

$ 15,467,788

 

$ 307,336

Accumulated depreciation - (290,380)
Net book value at December 31, 2016 $ 15,467,788 $ 16,956

 

Lik Property

The Group is participating in the exploration and development of the Lik property through a joint arrangement with Teck American, Inc. (“Teck American”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Teck Resources Limited. The Group acquired its interest in the joint arrangement in June 2007 by making a cash payment of $20 million and granting a 2% net proceeds royalty.

The Group is the operator of the joint arrangement and holds a 50% interest in the project. The Group has the right to form a joint venture with Teck American and increase its interest to 80% by incurring qualifying exploration expenditures on or before January 27, 2018. The terms of the joint arrangement are governed by the Lik Block Agreement, signed in 1983, which specified an amount of $25.0 million of qualifying expenditures to be adjusted annually for inflation, and which amount is currently estimated to be approximately $42.2 million. As of December 31, 2016 a total of $21.9 million has been incurred in exploration expenditures pursuant to the terms of the Lik Block Agreement. If the qualifying expenditures are not made before January 2018, the Group remains as operator and its interest stays at 50%.

Once the Group satisfies this expenditure obligation, Teck American has a onetime election to (i) maintain the 20% interest which shall become a participating interest pursuant to a joint venture agreement with a pro rata sharing of the pre-existing 1% net profits interest, or (ii) transfer its interest in exchange for a 2% net smelter return royalty interest such that the Group would become the holder of a 100% undivided interest in the Lik property subject only to the pre-existing 1% net profits interest, the 2% net proceeds royalty and the 2% net smelter return royalty.

  13  

 

Acquisition and deferred exploration expenditures made by the Group are as follows:

 

 

 

Balance

December 31,

2015

 

2016

Expenditures

Balance

December 31,

2016

Deferred exploration      
Administration and insurance $ 641,986 $ 41,899 $ 683,885
Assays/analysis 800,347 15,825 816,172
Camp, freight and logistics 1,922,042 7,472 1,929,514
Drilling 4,118,746 4,327 4,123,073
Engineering and other studies 3,586,896 16,042 3,602,938
Environmental 2,442,328 - 2,442,328
Geological 941,596 9,488 951,084
Reclamation 30,000 7,500 37,500
Share based compensation 605,200 - 605,200
  15,089,141 102,553 15,191,694
Acquisition 20,276,094 - 20,276,094
Write-downs (20,000,000) - (20,000,000)
Total deferred property expenditures $ 15,365,235 $ 102,553 $ 15,467,788

 

 

 

5. Loan payable

 

In order to provide working capital while a larger financing was pursued, the Group’s Chief Executive Officer loaned the Group $70,000 in October 2016. This loan is unsecured and payable on demand, with interest calculated at 6% per year and paid monthly. See also notes 10 – Related party transactions and 14 – Subsequent Events.

 

 

6. Share capital

 

The Company’s common shares began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on December 19, 2007 under the symbol “ZAZ” and on the OTCQX exchange in the United States on July 28, 2014 under the symbol “ZAZUF”. Beginning December 1, 2016 the Company’s common shares ceased trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company’s common shares ceased trading on the OTCQX exchange on December 31, 2016.

 

The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares with no par value and an unlimited number of Special Voting Shares with no par value. At December 31, 2016 the Company had 55,398,051 shares (2015 – 55,398,051 shares) issued and outstanding.

  14  

 

 

 

7. Stock options and share based compensation

 

 

 

Number of options

Average

exercise price

(CDN$)

Opening balance at January 1, 2015 4,390,000 $ 0.67
Granted 600,000 0.25
Balance at December 31, 2015 4,990,000 $ 0.62

 

 

Opening balance at January 1, 2016

 

 

4,990,000

 

 

$ 0.62

Balance at December 31, 2016 4,990,000 $ 0.62

 

The stock options outstanding at December 31, 2016 expire as follows:

 

 

 

Expiry Date

Number

outstanding

Exercise price

(CDN$)

Vested and

exercisable

 

May 2018

 

1,000,000

 

0.80

 

1,000,000

November 2018 1,190,000 0.70 1,190,000
May 2019 2,200,000 0.60 2,200,000
August 2020 600,000 0.25 400,000
Total stock options outstanding 4,990,000   4,790,000

 

Under the terms of the employment agreements between the Group and its senior officers, an officer’s unvested stock options will vest immediately and become exercisable if the agreement is terminated by the Group, or if the officer so elects within 120 days of a change of control of the Group.

The Company recognizes stock based compensation over the vesting period of the underlying options using the fair value calculated by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Option pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including expected price volatility. Changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, and therefore the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the Company’s stock options granted and/or vested during the period.

  15  

 

 

 

8. Income taxes

A reconciliation of income taxes at statutory rates is as follows:

 

 

Year

Ended

December 31,

2016

Year

ended December 31,

2015

Accounting loss before taxes $ 355,590 $ 1,076,084
Tax recovery at the statutory rate of 26% (2015 – 26%) $ 92,500 $ 279,800
Share based compensation and other non deductible costs (3,700) (60,400)
Deduction for share issue costs 21,600 18,900
Effect of changes in tax rates, foreign exchange and other 71,900 (543,200)
Unrecognized deferred tax assets (182,300) 304,900
Income tax expense $ - $ -

 

Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences in the recognition of income and expenses for financial reporting and tax purposes. The significant components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

 

 

December 31,

2016

December 31,

2015

Non-capital losses $ 3,005,700 $ 2,814,200
Equity issue costs 23,100 26,200
Total unrecognized deferred income tax assets $ 3,028,800 $ 2,840,400

 

The Group has approximately CDN$15,400,000 of non-capital losses for Canadian tax purposes and $98,200 of non-capital losses for US tax purposes that expire between 2026 and 2036. Certain of the Group’s losses are restricted in their use

 

 

9. Compensation of key management

 

The remuneration of directors and other members of key management personnel included:

 

 

Year

Ended

December 31,

2016

Year

ended December 31,

2015

Salaries, consulting fees and directors’ fees $ 120,090 $ 453,395
Short-term employee benefits 37,837 44,329
Stock based compensation 13,000 259,800
Total compensation of key management $ 170,927 $ 757,524

 

Key management personnel were not paid post-employment benefits, termination benefits or other long-term benefits during the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

  16  

 

 

 

10. Related party transactions

Related parties and the nature of the Group’s transactions with them are:

 

Related party Nature of transactions
Gil Atzmon Loan
Peterson McVicar LLP (1) Legal fees
Lincoln Mining Corp. (2) Office rent

 

(1) A company owned or controlled by one of the Company’s directors

(2) A company whose officer and director is a director of the Company

 

In October 2016 Gil Atzmon, the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, loaned the Group $70,000. This loan is unsecured and payable on demand, with interest calculated at 6% per year and paid monthly.

 

The Group incurred fees and expenses with the above mentioned related parties. Related party transactions also include directors’ fees and are in the ordinary course of business, occurring on terms that are similar to those of transactions with unrelated parties.

 

 

Year

Ended

December 31,

2016

Year

ended December 31,

2015

Interest on loan from Chief Executive Officer $ 921 $ 2,458
Legal fees expensed 4,957 1,728

Legal fees capitalized to exploration and

evaluation assets

 

-

 

808

Legal fees recorded as a share issue cost - 6,293
Office rent - 11,530
Directors’ fees 30,089 62,145
Total related party transactions $ 35,967 $ 84,962

 

At the period end, the Group had the following outstanding balances payable to related parties:

 

 

December 31,

2016

December 31,

2015

Loan from Chief Executive Officer $ 70,000 -
Loan interest 268 -
Directors’ fees 6,876 $ 20,660
  $ 77,144 $ 20,660

  17  

 

 

11. Commitments

The following is a summary of the Group’s contractual obligations and commitments as at December 31, 2016:

 

 

 

 

Total

 

2017

2018 –

2020

2021 –

2022

2023 and

beyond

 

Lik project

 

$ 12,000

 

$ 12,000

 

-

 

-

 

-

Office operation leases 1,819 1,819 - - -

 

The Group has entered into employment agreements with its senior officers for an aggregate of $7,500 per month effective January 1, 2016. These agreements can be terminated by the Group at any time, or by the officer within 120 days of a change of control of the Group, subject to the payment of the greater of (i) a lump sum amount ranging from $25,000 to

$30,833, and (ii) the minimum payment prescribed by applicable employment standards legislation. At such time any outstanding stock options will immediately vest and, upon the officer’s request, the Group will provide an interest free loan for up to six months to exercise any stock options, with the shares held by the Group as collateral. Salary amounts are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

The Department of Natural Resources of the State of Alaska requires the Group, as operator of the Lik project, to post a

$250,000 bond to cover any future reclamation activities necessary upon the abandonment of the mining claims that make up the project. The Group has contracted with a surety bond company to provide this bond.

 

 

 

12. Financial instruments

The Group’s financial instruments are classified into the following categories and the following table shows their carrying values.

 

 

December 31,

2016

December 31,

2015

Loans and receivables (1) $ 90,497 $ 459,727
Financial liabilities at amortized cost 96,838 47,236
(1) Consists of:    
Cash and cash equivalents – US currency 71,279 227,245
Cash and cash equivalents – CDN currency 19,184 232,213

 

The carrying values of all of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities reasonably approximate their fair values. The Group is exposed to certain financial risks, including currency risk, liquidity risk and credit risk.

Capital Risk Management

The Group’s objectives of capital management are intended to safeguard the entity's ability to support the Group’s normal operating requirements on an ongoing basis, continue the development and exploration of its mineral properties and support any expansionary plans.

The capital structure of the Group consists of equity attributable to shareholders. The Group manages the capital structure and makes adjustments in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the Group’s assets.

  18  

 

To effectively manage the entity’s capital requirements, the Group has in place a planning and budgeting process to help determine the funds required to ensure the Group has the appropriate liquidity to meet its operating and growth objectives. The Group has historically relied on the issuance of shares to develop the project and will most likely be obliged to do so again in the future.

Currency risk

The Group’s financial assets and liabilities consist of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and trade payables, some of which are denominated in Canadian dollars. The Group is exposed to financial gain or loss as a result of foreign exchange movements by the Canadian dollar against the US dollar.

In addition to costs denominated in US dollars, the Group also incurs general and administrative costs denominated in Canadian dollars. Accordingly, the Group’s general and administrative costs are affected by changes in the foreign exchange rate of the Canadian dollar. The Group has elected not to hedge its exposure to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar.

 

The Group was exposed to currency risk through the following assets and liabilities denominated in Canadian dollars:

 

 

December 31,

2016

(CDN$)

December 31,

2015

(CDN$)

Loans and receivables $ 25,759 $ 321,384
Financial liabilities at amortized cost (15,542) (64,144)

 

Based on the net exposures in the preceding table as at December 31, 2016, and assuming that all other variables remain constant, a 10% appreciation or depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar would result in an increase/decrease of $800 (2015 – $18,600) in the Group’s net loss.

 

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the potential that the Group will be unable to meet its obligations as they come due because of an inability to liquidate assets or obtain adequate funding. The Group manages liquidity risk through the management of its capital structure. The Group manages and makes adjustments to the capital structure as opportunities arise in the marketplace or as and when funding is required. Historically the Group’s primary source of funding has been the sale of equity securities for cash. The Group is not in commercial production on the Lik property and, accordingly, it does not generate cash from operations. See Note 1 for going concern discussion.

Trade and other payables are all due within the current operating period.

 

Credit risk

The Group’s credit risk arises from the non-performance by counterparties to fulfill their contractual obligations. The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk is limited to its cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables.

The Group mitigates its credit risk on its cash and cash equivalents by maintaining its funds in bank and investment accounts in one of Canada’s largest financial institutions that holds a Standard & Poor’s senior debt credit rating of AA-.

The maximum credit risk exposure at December 31, 2016 is limited to the carrying value of the cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables at the period end.

  19  

 

 

 

13. Segment reporting

The Group currently operates in one business segment, being the exploration and development of mineral properties. The Group’s non-current assets at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 by geographic areas are as follows:

 

  Canada United States Total
Non-current assets at December 31, 2015 $ 1,828 $ 15,387,714 $ 15,389,542
Non-current assets at December 31, 2016 1,005 15,483,739 15,484,744

 

 

14. Subsequent event

In March 2017, the Chief Executive Officer loaned the Group an additional $30,000. This loan is unsecured and payable on demand, with interest calculated at 6% per year and paid monthly and is intended to provide working capital while a larger financing is pursued.

  20  

 

 

 

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION

Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the 3 months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 Unaudited

(in US dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  21  

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION      

Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited)

In U.S. dollars

   
  Note

March 31,

2017

 

December 31,

2016

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

  $64,879

 

 

$ 90,463

Receivables and prepaids   10,647 17,128

 

Non-current assets

  75,526 107,591
Equipment 4 15,690 16,956
Exploration and evaluation assets 4 15,472,697 15,467,788
Total assets   $15,563,913 $ 15,592,335

 

 

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables   $ 20,549 $ 26,838
Loans payable 5 100,000 70,000
Total liabilities   120,549 96,838

 

 

Equity attributable to shareholders

Share capital

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

43,521,638

 

 

 

43,521,638

Contributed surplus   674,472 674,472
Accumulated share based compensation 7 6,046,600 6,046,000
Accumulated deficit   (34,799,346) (34,746,613)
Total equity   15,443,364 15,495,497
Total liabilities and equity   $15,563,913 $ 15,592,335

 

Nature of operations and going concern

 

1

   

 

 

 

 

Approved by the Board of Directors:

 

"Gil Atzmon" (signed) "Bryan Morris" (signed)

Gil Atzmon Bryan Morris

Director Director

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements

  22  

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION      
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)      
In U.S. dollars      
       
   

For the 3

Months ended

March 31,

For the 3

Months ended

March 31,

  Note 2017 2016
Expenses      
Depreciation   $ 113 $ 206
Audit and accounting   - 7,355
Directors’ fees   7,548 7,390
Insurance   10,781 11,233
Investor and shareholder relations   174 132
Office, rent and communication   2,849 4,650
Regulatory and transfer agent   11,354 16,246
Salaries and benefits   14,514 36,376
Share based compensation 7 600 4,100
Travel   3,734 -
Loss from operations   51,667 87,688
Finance income   33 552
Interest expense 5 (1,045) -
Foreign exchange gain (loss)   (54) 10,220
Net loss and comprehensive loss attributable to      
the equity holders of the Company   $ (52,733) $ (76,916)

 

 

Basic and diluted loss per share

 

 

 

$ 0.00

 

 

$ 0.00

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

 

 

55,398,051

 

55,398,051

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements

  23  

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(Unaudited)            
In U.S. dollars            
 

 

Common

 

Common

 

 

Accumulated

   
  shares shares Contributed share based Accumulated  
  # $ surplus compensation Deficit Total

 

Balance, January 1, 2016

 

55,398,051

 

$ 43,521,638

 

$ 674,472

 

$ 6,033,000

 

$ (34,391,023)

 

$ 15,838,087

Net loss and comprehensive            
loss for the period   - - - (76,916) (76,916)
Share based compensation:            
Charged to operations   - - 4,100 - 4,100
Balance, March 31, 2016 55,398,051 $ 43,521,638 $ 674,472 $ 6,037,100 $ (34,467,939) $ 15,765,271

 

 

 

Balance, January 1, 2017

 

 

 

55,398,051

 

 

 

$ 43,521,638

 

 

 

$ 674,472

 

 

 

$ 6,046,000

 

 

 

$ (34,746,613)

 

 

 

$ 15,495,497

Net loss and comprehensive            
loss for the year   - - - (52,733) (52,733)
Share based compensation:            
Charged to operations   - - 600 - 600
Balance, March 31, 2017 55,398,051 $ 43,521,638 $ 674,472 $ 6,046,600 $ (34,799,346) $ 15,443,364

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements

  24  

 

 

ZAZU METALS CORPORATION      
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow      
(Unaudited)      
In U.S. dollars      
       
   

For the 3

months ended

March 31,

For the 3

months ended

March 31,

  Note 2017 2016
Cash flow provided by (used in):      
Operating activities      
Loss for the period   $ (52,733) $ (76,916)
Adjustments for non-cash items:      
Depreciation   113 206
Share based compensation 7 600 4,100
Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)   35 (9,457)
Net changes in non-cash working capital items:      
Decrease in trade and other receivables   6,523 5,156
Decrease in trade and other payables   (6,328) (16,326)
Net cash used in operating activities   (51,790) (93,237)

 

Financing activities

     
Loan proceeds 5 30,000 -
Net cash from financing activities   30,000 -

 

Investing activities

     
Purchase of exploration and evaluation assets   (3,756) (13,115)
Net cash used in investing activities   (3,756) (13,115)

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(38)

 

10,919

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(25,584)

 

(95,433)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   90,463 459,458
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 64,879 $ 364,025

 

 

Non-cash transactions:

     
Equipment depreciation capitalized to exploration and evaluation assets   1,153 1,632
Increase (decrease) in trade and other payables related to exploration and evaluation assets - 8,210

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements

  25  

 

 

 

1. Nature of operations and going concern

Zazu Metals Corporation (the “Company”) is a Canadian company which is engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties. The Company was incorporated by a Certificate of Incorporation issued pursuant to the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act on November 29, 2006. The address of its registered office is 500 – 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 3P6.

The Company incorporated Zazu Metals (Alaska) Corporation (“Zazu Alaska”), a subsidiary of the Company, in the State of Alaska, United States on January 18, 2007.

The Company and its subsidiary (together, the “Group”) are currently exploring a mineral exploration property located in the State of Alaska, United States and have not yet determined whether their mineral property contains resources that are economically recoverable. The underlying value of the Group’s mineral property and the recoverability of the related deferred costs are dependent on the existence of economically recoverable resources in its mineral property and the ability of the Group to obtain the necessary financing to complete development and upon future profitable production from, or the proceeds from the disposition of, its mineral property.

At March 31, 2017 the Company did not have enough cash on hand to meet its planned expenditures for the next twelve months. The Company plans to pursue financing in the future in order to fund its operations and to continue the advancement of its mineral property but the material uncertainty of raising sufficient funds casts significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company has historically raised funds primarily through the sales of equity securities for cash. While the Company expects that it will obtain funding through an equity funding, or other means depending on market conditions, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain such funding or obtain it on acceptable terms.

These condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of operations. These financial statements do not reflect the adjustments to carrying values of assets and liabilities that would be necessary should the going concern assumption prove to be inappropriate, and these adjustments could be material.

 

 

2. Basis of presentation

These condensed interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

These condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). These condensed interim consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on May 18, 2017.

 

 

3. Summary of significant accounting policies

The Group prepares its audited consolidated annual financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by IASB. These condensed interim consolidated financial statements follow the same accounting policies and methods of application as our most recent annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with our most recent audited consolidated annual financial statements.

  26  

 

 

 

4. Equipment and exploration and evaluation assets

 

  Lik mineral property Equipment
Opening net book value at January 1, 2016 $ 15,365,235 $ 24,307
Additions 102,553 -
Depreciation for the year - (7,351)
Net book value at December 31, 2016 $ 15,467,788 $ 16,956

 

Cost

 

$ 15,467,788

 

$ 307,336

Accumulated depreciation - (290,380)
Net book value at December 31, 2016 $ 15,467,788 $ 16,956

 

 

Opening net book value at January 1, 2017

 

 

$ 15,467,788

 

 

$ 16,956

Additions 4,909 -
Depreciation for the period - (1,266)
Net book value at March 31, 2017 $ 15,472,697 $ 15,690

 

Cost

 

$ 15,472,697

 

$ 307,336

Accumulated depreciation - (291,647)
Net book value at March 31, 2017 $ 15,472,697 $ 15,690

 

Lik Property

The Group is participating in the exploration and development of the Lik property through a joint arrangement with Teck American, Inc. (“Teck American”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Teck Resources Limited. The Group acquired its interest in the joint arrangement in June 2007 by making a cash payment of $20 million and granting a 2% net proceeds royalty.

The Group is the operator of the joint arrangement and holds a 50% interest in the project. The Group has the right to form a joint venture with Teck American and increase its interest to 80% by incurring qualifying exploration expenditures on or before January 27, 2018. The terms of the joint arrangement are governed by the Lik Block Agreement, signed in 1983, which specified an amount of $25.0 million of qualifying expenditures to be adjusted annually for inflation, and which amount is currently estimated to be approximately $43.1 million. As of March 31, 2017 a total of $21.9 million has been incurred in exploration expenditures pursuant to the terms of the Lik Block Agreement. If the qualifying expenditures are not made before January 2018, the Group remains as operator and its interest stays at 50%.

Once the Group satisfies this expenditure obligation, Teck American has a onetime election to (i) maintain the 20% interest which shall become a participating interest pursuant to a joint venture agreement with a pro rata sharing of the pre-existing 1% net profits interest, or (ii) transfer its interest in exchange for a 2% net smelter return royalty interest such that the Group would become the holder of a 100% undivided interest in the Lik property subject only to the pre-existing 1% net profits interest, the 2% net proceeds royalty and the 2% net smelter return royalty.

Acquisition and deferred exploration expenditures made by the Group are as follows:

  27  

 

 

 

 

Balance

December 31,

2016

 

2017

Expenditures

Balance

March 31,

2017

Deferred exploration      
Administration and insurance $ 683,885 $ 353 $ 684,238
Assays/analysis 816,172 3,403 819,575
Camp, freight and logistics 1,929,514 396 1,929,910
Drilling 4,123,073 757 4,123,830
Engineering and other studies 3,602,938 - 3,602,938
Environmental 2,442,328 - 2,442,328
Geological 951,084 - 951,084
Reclamation 37,500 - 37,500
Share based compensation 605,200 - 605,200
  15,191,694 4,909 15,196,603
Acquisition 20,276,094 - 20,276,094
Write-downs (20,000,000) - (20,000,000)
Total deferred property expenditures $ 15,467,788 $ 4,909 $ 15,472,697

 

 

 

5. Loan payable

 

In order to provide working capital while a larger financing was pursued, the Group’s Chief Executive Officer loaned the Group $70,000 in October 2016 and $30,000 in March 2017. These loans are unsecured and payable on demand, with interest calculated at 6% per year and paid monthly. See also note 9 – Related party transactions.

 

 

6. Share capital

 

The Company’s common shares began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on December 19, 2007 under the symbol “ZAZ” and on the OTCQX exchange in the United States on July 28, 2014 under the symbol “ZAZUF”. Beginning December 1, 2016 the Company’s common shares ceased trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company’s common shares ceased trading on the OTCQX exchange on December 31, 2016.

 

The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares with no par value and an unlimited number of Special Voting Shares with no par value. At March 31, 2017 the Company had 55,398,051 shares (2016 – 55,398,051 shares) issued and outstanding.

  28  

 

 

 

7. Stock options and share based compensation

 

  Number of options

Average

exercise price

(CDN$)

Opening balance at January 1, 2016 4,390,000 $ 0.62
Balance at December 31, 2016 4,990,000 $ 0.62

 

 

Opening balance at January 1, 2017

 

 

4,990,000

 

 

$ 0.62

Balance at March 31, 2017 4,990,000 $ 0.62

 

The stock options outstanding at March 31, 2017 expire as follows:

 

 

 

Expiry Date

Number

outstanding

Exercise price

(CDN$)

Vested and

exercisable

 

May 2018

 

1,000,000

 

0.80

 

1,000,000

November 2018 1,190,000 0.70 1,190,000
May 2019 2,200,000 0.60 2,200,000
August 2020 600,000 0.25 600,000
Total stock options outstanding 4,990,000   4,990,000

 

Under the terms of the employment agreements between the Group and its senior officers, an officer’s unvested stock options will vest immediately and become exercisable if the agreement is terminated by the Group, or if the officer so elects within 120 days of a change of control of the Group.

The Company recognizes stock based compensation over the vesting period of the underlying options using the fair value calculated by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Option pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including expected price volatility. Changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, and therefore the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the Company’s stock options granted and/or vested during the period.

 

 

8. Compensation of key management

 

The remuneration of directors and other members of key management personnel included:

 

  3 months ended March 31, 2017 3 months ended March 31, 2016
Salaries, consulting fees and directors’ fees $ 18,082 $29,890
Short-term employee benefits 2,844 11,372
Stock based compensation 600 4,100
Total compensation of key management $ 21,526 $ 45,362

  29  

 

 

Key management personnel were not paid post-employment benefits, termination benefits or other long-term benefits during the periods ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016.

 

 

9. Related party transactions

Related parties and the nature of the Group’s transactions with them are:

 

Related party Nature of transactions
Gil Atzmon Loan

 

In October 2016 and March 2017 Gil Atzmon, the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, loaned the Group $70,000 and $30,000 respectively. These loans are unsecured and payable on demand, with interest calculated at 6% per year and paid monthly.

 

The Group incurred fees and expenses with the above mentioned related party. Related party transactions also include directors’ fees and are in the ordinary course of business, occurring on terms that are similar to those of transactions with unrelated parties.

 

  3 months ended March 31, 2017 3 months ended March 31, 2016
Interest on loan from Chief Executive Officer $ 1,045 -
Directors’ fees 7,548 $ 7,390
Total related party transactions $ 8,593 $ 7,390

 

At the period end, the Group had the following outstanding balances payable to related parties:

 

  March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
Loan from Chief Executive Officer $ 100,000 $ 70,000
Interest on loan from Chief Executive Officer 275 268
Directors’ fees 6,937 6,876
Total related party transactions $ 107,212 $ 77,144

 

 

10. Commitments

The following is a summary of the Group’s contractual obligations and commitments as at March 31, 2017:

 

 

  Total 2017

2018 –

2020

2021 –

2022

2023 and

beyond

 

Lik project

 

$ 37,000

 

$ 37,000

 

-

 

-

 

-

Office operation leases 1,049 1,049 - - -

  30  

 

The Group has entered into employment agreements with its senior officers for an aggregate of $3,500 per month effective January 1, 2017. These agreements can be terminated by the Group at any time, or by the officer within 120 days of a change of control of the Group, subject to the payment of the greater of (i) a lump sum amount ranging from $25,000 to

$30,833, and (ii) the minimum payment prescribed by applicable employment standards legislation. At such time any outstanding stock options will immediately vest and, upon the officer’s request, the Group will provide an interest free loan for up to six months to exercise any stock options, with the shares held by the Group as collateral. Salary amounts are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

The Department of Natural Resources of the State of Alaska requires the Group, as operator of the Lik project, to post a

$250,000 bond to cover any future reclamation activities necessary upon the abandonment of the mining claims that make up the project. The Group has contracted with a surety bond company to provide this bond.

 

 

11. Financial instruments

The Group’s financial instruments are classified into the following categories and the following table shows their carrying values.

 

  March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
Loans and receivables (1) $ 64,879 $ 90,497
Financial liabilities at amortized cost 120,549 96,838
(1) Consists of:    
Cash and cash equivalents – US currency 62,023 71,279
Cash and cash equivalents – CDN currency 2,856 19,184

 

The carrying values of all of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities reasonably approximate their fair values. The Group is exposed to certain financial risks, including currency risk, liquidity risk and credit risk.

Capital Risk Management

The Group’s objectives of capital management are intended to safeguard the entity's ability to support the Group’s normal operating requirements on an ongoing basis, continue the development and exploration of its mineral properties and support any expansionary plans.

The capital structure of the Group consists of equity attributable to shareholders. The Group manages the capital structure and makes adjustments in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the Group’s assets.

To effectively manage the entity’s capital requirements, the Group has in place a planning and budgeting process to help determine the funds required to ensure the Group has the appropriate liquidity to meet its operating and growth objectives. The Group has historically relied on the issuance of shares to develop the project and will most likely be obliged to do so again in the future.

Currency risk

The Group’s financial assets and liabilities consist of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and trade payables, some of which are denominated in Canadian dollars. The Group is exposed to financial gain or loss as a result of foreign exchange movements by the Canadian dollar against the US dollar.

In addition to costs denominated in US dollars, the Group also incurs general and administrative costs denominated in Canadian dollars. Accordingly, the Group’s general and administrative costs are affected by changes in the foreign exchange rate of the Canadian dollar. The Group has elected not to hedge its exposure to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar.

 

  31  

 

The Group was exposed to currency risk through the following assets and liabilities denominated in Canadian dollars:

 

  March 31, 2017 December 31, 2017
  (CDN$) (CDN$)
     
Loans and receivables $ 3,801 $ 25,759
Financial liabilities at amortized cost (11,781) (15,542)

 

Based on the net exposures in the preceding table as at March 31, 2017, and assuming that all other variables remain constant, a 10% appreciation or depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar would result in an increase/decrease of $600 (2016 – $800) in the Group’s net loss.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the potential that the Group will be unable to meet its obligations as they come due because of an inability to liquidate assets or obtain adequate funding. The Group manages liquidity risk through the management of its capital structure. The Group manages and makes adjustments to the capital structure as opportunities arise in the marketplace or as and when funding is required. Historically the Group’s primary source of funding has been the sale of equity securities for cash. The Group is not in commercial production on the Lik property and, accordingly, it does not generate cash from operations. See Note 1 for going concern discussion.

Trade and other payables are all due within the current operating period.

 

Credit risk

The Group’s credit risk arises from the non-performance by counterparties to fulfill their contractual obligations. The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk is limited to its cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables.

The Group mitigates its credit risk on its cash and cash equivalents by maintaining its funds in bank and investment accounts in one of Canada’s largest financial institutions that holds a Standard & Poor’s senior debt credit rating of AA-.

The maximum credit risk exposure at March 31, 2017 is limited to the carrying value of the cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables at the period end.

 

 

12. Segment reporting

The Group currently operates in one business segment, being the exploration and development of mineral properties. The Group’s non-current assets at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 by geographic areas are as follows:

 

  Canada United States Total
Non-current assets at December 31, 2016 $ 1,005 $ 15,483,739 $ 15,484,744
Non-current assets at March 31, 2017 892 15,487,495 15,488,387

 

 

  32  

 

13. Subsequent events

In April 2017 the Group and Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. (NYSE:XPL; TSX:SLR) ("Solitario") entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") pursuant to which Solitario will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Company (the "Zazu Shares") by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Canada Business Corporations Act.

Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, holders of Zazu Shares ("Zazu Shareholders") will receive, on closing, 0.3572 of a common share of Solitario (the "Exchange Ratio") in exchange for each Zazu Share held. Following the completion of the Arrangement, former Zazu Shareholders are expected to hold approximately 34% of the issued and outstanding shares of the combined company and the Group will be entitled to nominate two directors to be appointed to the board of directors of the combined company.

The Arrangement Agreement includes customary provisions, including with respect to non-solicitation, a right granted to Solitario to match superior proposals and fiduciary-out provisions, as well as representations, covenants and conditions which are customary for transactions of this nature. In addition, the Group and Solitario have each agreed to pay a termination fee in the amount of US$0.75 million to the other party upon the occurrence of certain termination events.

Shareholders of both Solitario and the Company will be asked to approve the Arrangement at upcoming shareholder meetings in June 2017. The Arrangement is also subject to applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions.

After signing the Arrangement Agreement, Solitario will provide the Company with interim debt financing in May 2017 by means of a secured convertible debenture issued by Zazu in the principal amount of US$1.5 million (the "Debenture"). The Debenture will be secured by way of a general security and pledge agreement and will bear interest at a rate of 5% per annum. If the Arrangement Agreement is terminated prior to the effective date of the Arrangement, all principal amounts outstanding and any interest payable thereon will become payable two years following the issuance of the Debenture. In certain circumstances, the Debenture is convertible at the option of Solitario into Zazu Shares at a price of US$0.22 per Zazu Share.

Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp

PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2017

(Unaudited - Expressed in U.S. Dollars)

On April 26, 2017, Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. (“Solitario” or the “Company”) and Zazu Metals Corporation (“Zazu”) entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) pursuant to which Solitario will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Zazu (the “Transaction”) by way of a plan of arrangement (the “Plan of Arrangement”). Pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement, Solitario will acquire each common share of Zazu from Zazu’s shareholders in exchange for 0.3572 of a share of Solitario common stock (the “Exchange Ratio”).

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the three month period ended March 31, 2017 combines the historical consolidated statements of operations of Solitario and Zazu, giving effect to the acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2016. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2017 combines the historical consolidated balance sheets of Solitario and Zazu, giving effect to the acquisition as if it had occurred on March 31, 2017. The historical consolidated financial information has been adjusted in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements to give effect to pro forma events that are (i) directly attributable to the acquisition, (ii) factually supportable, and (iii) with respect to the statement of operations, expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with (i) the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements; (ii) the historical financial statements of Solitario and the accompanying notes in Solitario’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016; (iii) the historical financial statements of Zazu and the accompanying notes in Zazu’s annual audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 ; (iv) the unaudited condensed financial statements of Zazu and accompanying notes for the three months ended March 31, 2017; and (v) additional information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, the Proxy Statement filed by Solitario with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 23, 2017.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been presented for informational purposes only. The pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of what the combined company’s financial position or results of operations actually would have been had the acquisition been completed as of the dates indicated. Since the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been prepared based on preliminary estimates, the final amounts recorded at the date of the acquisition may differ materially from the information presented. These estimates are subject to change pending further review of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. In addition, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not intend to project the future financial position or operating results of the combined company.

 

  1  

 

 

Table of Contents

SOLITARIO EXPLORATION & ROYALTY CORP.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET

As of March 31, 2017

Historical

 

                     
(in thousands of US dollars)   Solitario As of
March 31,
2017
  Zazu As
of March 31,
2017
  Pro Forma
Adjustments
(Note 4)
      Pro Forma
Combined
Assets                                    
Current Assets                                    
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 91     $ 65                 $ 156  
Short-term investments     14,989       —                     14,989  
Investments in marketable equity securities     1,685       —                     1,685  
Prepaid expenses and other     72       11                   83  
Total Current Assets     16,837       76                   16,913  
                                     
Mineral properties     46       15,473       (15,197 )   (a)     15,010  
                      14,688     (c)        
Other assets     609       15                   624  
Total Assets   $ 17,492     $ 15,564     $ (509 )       $ 32,547  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                                    
Current Liabilities                                    
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   $ 116     $ 121                 $ 237  
Shareholders’ Equity                                    
Common stock, par value $0.01, 100,000,000 authorized shares, 38,685,189 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017     387       —         148     (b)   $ 535  
Additional paid in capital     55,784       50,242      

(50,242)

14,693 

93 

    (d)
(b)
(b)
    70,570  
Deficit
    (39,414 )     (34,799 )    

49,996 

(15,197)

    (d)
(a)
    (39,414 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     619                           619  
Total Shareholders’ Equity     17,376       15,443       (509 )         32,310  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity   $ 17,492     $ 15,564     $ (509 )       $ 32,547  

 

  2  

 

 

 

Table of Contents

SOLITARIO EXPLORATION & ROYALTY CORP.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Year Ended December 31, 2016

 

                 
(in thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts)   Solitario
Year Ended
December 31, 2016
  Zazu
Year Ended
December 31, 2016
  Pro Forma
Adjustments
(Note 4)
      Pro Forma
Combined
Cost, expense and other                                
Exploration expense     628               103           731
Depreciation and amortization     5                             5
General and administrative     2,163       364                     2,527
Property abandonment and impairment     13                             13
Total cost, expense and other     2,809       364       103             3,276
Other income (expense)                                
Interest income (expense) – net     44       1                     45
Gain (loss) on marketable securities     40                             40
Gain on derivative instruments     672                             672
    Other income (loss)     (10 )     8                     (2)
Total other income (expense)     746       9                     755
                                 
Net Loss before income tax     (2,063 )     (355 )     (103 )           (2,521)
Income tax benefit (expense)     353                             353
Net Loss     (1710 )     (355 )     (103 )           (2,168)
Other comprehensive income                                
Unrealized gain on marketable equity securities     601                             601
Total Comprehensive Loss for the Period   $ (1,109 )   $ (355 )   $ (103 )           $(1,567)
Loss per Common Share                                
Basic and diluted   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.01 )                   $(0.03)
Weighted Average Number of Common                                
Shares Used in Per Share Calculations                                
Basic and diluted (000’s)     38,906       55,398       19788             58,694

 

  3  

 

 

 

Table of Contents

SOLITARIO EXPLORATION & ROYALTY CORP.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

   

                 
(in thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts)   Solitario Three Months  Ended March 31, 2017   Zazu
Three Months
March 31, 2017
  Pro Forma
Adjustments
(Note 4)
      Pro Forma
Combined
Cost, expense and other                                
Exploration expense     151               5           156
Depreciation and amortization     1                             1
General and administrative     300       52                     352
                                 
Total cost, expense and other     452       52       5             509
Other income (expense)                                
Interest income (expense) – net     46       (1 )                   45
Gain (loss) on marketable securities     221                             221
Gain on derivative instruments     172                             172
                                 
Total other income (expense)     439       (1 )                   438
                                 
Net Loss before income tax     (13 )     (53 )     (5 )           (71)
Income tax benefit (expense)                                
Net Loss     (13 )     (53 )     (5 )           (71)
Other comprehensive loss                                
Unrealized loss on marketable equity securities     (93 )                           (93)
Total Comprehensive Loss for the Period   $ (106 )   $ (53 )   $ (5 )           $(164)
Loss per Common Share                                
Basic and diluted   $ (0.00 )   $ (0.00 )                   $(0.00)
Weighted Average Number of Common                                
Shares Used in Per Share Calculations                                
Basic and diluted (000’s)     38,692       55,398       19788             58,480

 

  4  

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Note -1 Basis of presentation

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are based on Solitario’s and Zazu’s historical consolidated financial statements as adjusted to give effect to the acquisition of Zazu. The unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and year ended December 31, 2016 give effect to the Zazu acquisition as if it occurred on January 1, 2016. The unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2017 gives effect to the Zazu acquisition as if it had occurred on March 31, 2017.

These unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements have been compiled from:

 

  a) The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet combines Solitario’s balance sheet as of March 31, 2017 and Zazu’s balance sheet of March 31, 2017.
  b) The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 combines Solitario’s statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 and Zazu’s statement of operation for the year ended December 31, 2016.
  c) The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 combines Solitario’s statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and Zazu’s statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements also do not reflect any cost savings, operating synergies or revenue enhancements that the combined company may achieve as a result of the acquisition, the total expected costs to integrate the operations of Solitario and Zazu, or the total expected costs necessary to achieve such cost savings and operating synergies.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the historical presentation of Zazu to conform to the presentation used in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements. These reclassifications have no impact on the historical operating loss, total assets, liabilities or shareholders’ equity reported by Solitario or Zazu. Upon consummation of the acquisition, further review of Zazu’s financial statements may result in additional revisions to Zazu’s classifications to conform to Solitario’s presentation.

Note 2 – Accounting Policies

Upon consummation of the Agreement, Solitario will continue the review of Zazu’s accounting policies. As a result of that review, Solitario may identify differences between the accounting policies of the two companies that, when conformed, could have a material impact on the combined financial statements. At this time, Solitario is not aware of any differences that would have a material impact on the combined financial statements, except as follows.

Zazu’s prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). Under IFRS, acquisition and exploration expenditures on mineral properties, less recoveries in the pre-production stage, are deferred until such time as the properties are put into commercial production, sold, or become impaired. On the commencement of commercial production, the deferred costs are charged to operations on the unit-of-production method based upon estimated recoverable proven and probable reserves. General exploration expenditures are charged to operations in the period in which they are incurred.

Under U.S. GAAP, acquisition costs are capitalized, but exploration costs are not considered to have the characteristics of property, plant and equipment and, accordingly, are expensed prior to the company determining that economically proven and probable mineral reserves exist, after which all such costs are capitalized.

 

  5  

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Set out below are the material adjustments to Zazu’s mineral properties and deficit as at March 31, 2017, and to operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016 in order to conform to U.S. GAAP:

 

(in thousands of US dollars)        
Mineral Properties       As at March 31,
2017
IFRS                       $15,473
Deferred exploration costs prior to the establishment of proven and probable reserves                       (15,197)
U.S. G.A.A.P                       $276
                 
Statement of Operations     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2017
            Year Ended December 31, 2016
Net Loss based on IFRS           $ 53         $355
Deferred exploration costs prior to the establishment of proven and probable reserves             5         103
Net Loss based on U.S. G.A.A.P           $ 58         $458

Note 3 – Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation

The acquisition of Zazu by Solitario has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805. Further, under the acquisition method, the purchase price is allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values, with any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired recorded as goodwill.

The estimated consideration is approximately $14,934,000 based on the (i) value of Solitario shares to be exchanged for Zazu shares based upon Solitario’s closing share price of $0.75 on May 22, 2017 as quoted on the NYSE-MKT for a value of $14,841,000 and (ii) the estimated value of $93,000 for the Replacement Options based upon a Black-Scholes model using a price of one share of common stock of Solitario of $0.75, a grant date of June 30, 2017, a volatility of 55%, and a risk-free interest rate of 1%. The value of the merger consideration will fluctuate based upon changes in the share price of Solitario’s common stock and the number of Zazu’s common shares outstanding on the closing date.

The following table summarizes the components of the estimated consideration

  Solitario shares:

     
Shares eligible for conversion     55,398,051  
Common stock exchange ratio per share     0.3572  
Equivalent new shares issued (par value $0.01)     19,788,184  
Solitario common stock price on May 22, 2017   $ 0.75  
Estimated purchase price, shares   $ 14,841,000  

Solitario options:

     
Zazu options eligible for exchange     4,990,000  
Option exchange ratio per share     0.3572  
Equivalent Solitario options to be granted     1,782,428  
Term of options (average years)     1.3  
Solitario share price   $ 0.75  
Average exercise price ($2.24 - $0.70)   $ 1.74  
Expected volatility     55 %
Average value per option share   $ 0.05  
Estimated purchase price, options   $ 93,000  

  6  

 

The estimated purchase price, including the value of Solitario shares and the estimated value of the Replacement Options, will be computed using the price of a share Solitario common stock on the closing date, therefore the estimated purchase price will fluctuate with the market price of a share of Solitario common stock until the Transaction is closed. As a result, the final purchase price could differ significantly from the current estimate, which could materially impact pro forma financial statements.

The following table provides sensitivities to changes in purchase price due to changes in the per share price of Solitario common stock:

 

Share consideration sensitivity                
    Price of Solitario
Common
Stock
  Exchange Ratio   Calculated per Share
Value of
Zazu Common Stock
  Share Purchase Price
(000’s)
  As of May 22, 2017     $ 0.75       0.3572     $ 0.268     $ 14,841  
  Increase of 10%     $ 0.83       0.3572     $ 0.296     $ 16,424  
  Decrease of 10%     $ 0.68       0.3572     $ 0.243     $ 13,456  

 

 

Option consideration sensitivity for change in Solitario share price only:            
    Price of Solitario
Common
Stock
  Exchange Ratio   Black-Scholes Valuation
(000’s)
As of May 22, 2017   $ 0.75       0.3572     $ 93  
Increase of 10%   $ 0.83       0.3572     $ 123  
Decrease of 10%   $ 0.68       0.3572     $ 67  
                         

 

The following represents the preliminary allocation of the total purchase price to the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:

 

  7  

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

     
Total Purchase Price   $ 14,934  
Cash and cash equivalents     65  
Other current assets     11  
Other assets     15  
Mineral properties (under IFRS)     15,473  
Total identifiable assets   $ 15,564  
Accounts payable     (121 )
Net identifiable assets   $ 15,443  
Deficiency of purchase price over historical assets acquired     (509 )
Adjustment to mineral properties for U.S. GAAP   $ 15,197  
Pro forma adjustment to mineral property acquisition costs   $ 14,688  

Net tangible assets were valued at their respective carrying amounts as management believes that these amounts approximate their current fair values.

Note 4 – Pro forma adjustments

The pro forma adjustments are based on our preliminary estimates and assumptions that are subject to change. The following adjustments have been reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information:

 

  a. To adjust mineral property exploration costs that were capitalized under IFRS, but would have been expensed under U.S. GAAP (see Note 2). The effect of this adjustment at March 31, 2017 is to reduce the carrying value of mineral property interest by $15,197,000 and increase deficit by $15,197,000. The effect of this adjustment for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is to increase exploration expense by $5,000. The effect of this adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2016 is to increase exploration expense by $103,000.

 

  b. To record the issuance of: (i) 19,788,184 common shares of Solitario with a par value of $0.01 in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Zazu pursuant to the Agreement; recorded at fair value of $14,841,000 (see Note 3), and to (ii) to record the estimated value of $93,000 for the Replacement Options granted to Zazu option holders using a Black-Scholes model (See Note 3).

 

  c. Record the estimated excess of the consideration over the assets, as adjusted to US GAAP as of March 31, 2017 (See Note 3).

 

  d. Record the elimination of the net assets of Zazu and the net equity of Zazu as of March 31, 2017.

 

  e. Pro forma loss per share, basic and diluted, includes the addition of 19,788,000 shares of common stock which will be issued in conjunction with the closing of the Agreement (Note 3). The following adjustments represent the changes to basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding:

 

                         
 (in thousands of shares) Historical Weighted
Average Shares - Basic
and Diluted
    Share Issuance     Pro Forma Weighted
Average Shares - Basic
and Diluted
   
Year ended December 31, 2016   39,906       19,788       58,694    
Three months ended March 31, 2017   38,692       19,788       58,480    
  f. Solitario has not provided for any income tax benefit related to the operating losses of Zazu due to insufficient evidence to indicate on a more likely than not basis such benefits could be realized.
                             

 

 

 

 

July 13, 2017

 

Solitario Completes Acquisition of Zazu Metals

and Its Interest in the Lik Zinc Project

 

DENVER, COLORADO & VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. (NYSE MKT:XPL; TSX:SLR) (" Solitario ") and Zazu Metals Corporation (TSXV:ZAZ) (" Zazu ") are pleased to announce that Solitario has completed its acquisition of Zazu Metals Corporation (“Zazu”) pursuant to the plan of arrangement (“Arrangement”) previously announced on April 27, 2017. The Arrangement was approved by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) on July 7, 2017, after overwhelming approval by both Solitario and Zazu shareholders on June 29, 2017 (see Solitario’s press release dated June 29, 2017).

 

Key investment highlights of the Zazu acquisition include:

 

· The combination creates an exciting new zinc-focused company with two advanced high-grade zinc projects that more than triples the Company’s measured, indicated and inferred zinc equivalent resources.
- Solitario goes from a company with just over 361 million pounds of attributable zinc-equivalent in the measured and indicated resource category to one with over 2.76 billion pounds of attributable zinc-equivalent.
- The inferred resource category increases from approximately 970 million pounds of attributable zinc-equivalent to 1.7 billion pounds of attributable zinc-equivalent.
· Reduces development risks as both projects are located in favorable jurisdictions with experienced zinc producing joint venture partners.
· Increases the Company’s exploration potential upside.
· Reduces shareholder risk by diversifying Solitario’s asset base.

 

Important upcoming news for Solitario will be the completion of the Bongará Zinc Project Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”). The Company engaged SRK Consulting in January to complete the PEA, which is being jointly funded by Solitario and its joint-venture partner Minera Milpo (“Milpo”). Completion of the PEA remains on-track for the end of July 2017.

 

Chris Herald, President and CEO of Solitario stated, “The Zazu acquisition is transformational and highly accretive as it more than triples our total attributable high-grade zinc-dominant resources. This enhances our leverage to the current positive zinc price environment. With our large resource base and strong balance sheet, Solitario now stands apart from others in the emerging zinc developers’ space. ”

  1  

 

Solitario welcomes Mr. Gil Atzmon and Mr. Joshua Crumb, to the Board of Directors of Solitario. Mr. Atzmon and Mr. Crumb, former members of Zazu’s Board of Directors, bring valuable experience in the mining industry and the Lik project and we expect to benfit greatly from their addition to Solitario’s Board of Directors. In addition, upon the completion of the Arrangement and to better reflect our focus on zinc assets, shareholders of Solitario voted in favor of a name change to Solitario Zinc Corp. The name change will become effective on July 17.

Solitario Company-wide Resources

Lik Mineral Resource Estimate (100% basis) – December 31, 2013

 

Location (Cut-off)       Ag % Zn-Equivalent Zn-Equivalent
Indicated–Open Pit Mt % Zn % Pb Grams/t Grade* Millions Pounds
   Lik South  (5%) 16.85 8.0 2.7 50 11.9 4,432
   Lik North  (5%) 0.44 10.0 2.8 59 14.2 138
Indicated-Underground            
  Lik South  (7%) 0.69 8.0 3.2 51 12.4 188
  Lik North  (7%) 0.13 8.9 2.9 38 12.7 36
   Sub-Total 17.29 8.1 2.7 50 12.0 4,795
             
Inferred-Open Pit            
   Lik South  (5%) 0.74 7.7 1.9 13 9.9 161
   Lik North  (5%) 2.13 8.9 2.9 46 12.9 604
Inferred –Underground            
  Lik South  (7%) 0.51 7.0 1.6 11 8.7 98
  Lik North  (7%) 1.96 9.2 3.0 46 13.2 572
   Sub-Total 5.34 8.7 2.7 38 10 1,436
             
CIM Definitions were followed for Mineral Resources
Mineral Resources were estimated using an average long-term zinc price of $1.20/lb., lead price $1.20 per pound and silver price of $27/oz.
A density value of 3.5 g/cubic cm.

*Zinc-Equivalent Grade based upon the following metal prices: $1.00 Zn, $0.90 Pb and $20 Ag

Source: Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report – Zazu Metals Corporation, Lik Deposit Alaska, USA dated April 23, 2014 and effective march 3, 2014, prepared by Robert L. Matter and Tony Loschiavo, P. Eng. (JDS Energy and Mining, Inc.), Neil Gow, P. Gee. (Roscoe Postle Associates, Inc.) and Michael Travis, PE (Travis Peterson Environmental Consulting, Inc.)

 

 

Bongara Mineral Resource Estimate (100% basis) – June 5, 2014

 

Category       Ag % Zn-Equivalent Zn-Equivalent
   Mt % Zn % Pb Grams/t Grade Millions Pounds
   Measured 1.43 13.0 1.9 19 15.5 486
   Indicated 1.35 12.5 1.7 17 14.7 439
   Sub-Total 2.78 12.8 1.8 18 15.1 925
             

  2  

 

Inferred 9.07 10.9 1.2 12 12.4 2,488

Source: The Mineral Resource Statement and Technical Report for the Bongará Zn-Pb-Ag Deposit, Amazonas Department, Peru, was prepared on behalf of Solitario by SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc. (“SRK”), an independent and internationally recognized mining engineering firm.

Notes:

1. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be converted into Mineral Reserves;

2. Mineral resources are reported to a Net Smelter Return zinc-equivalent (ZnEq%) cut-off grade based on metal price assumptions, metallurgical recovery assumptions, mining costs, processing costs, general and administrative (G&A) costs, and NSR factors. Mining costs, processing, G&A, and transportation costs total US$51.30/t. Please see Solitario News Release dated June 23, 2014 for details.

3. Resulting cutoff grades used in this resource statement were 4.1% ZnEq for sulfide, 5.0% ZnEq for oxide, and 4.5% ZnEq for mixed material types.

4. Zinc equivalency for reporting in situ contained metal resources above was calculated using: ZnEq (%) = Zn (%) + 1.0 * PB (%) + 0.03 * Ag (g/t).

5. Density was calculated based on material types and metal grades. The average density in the mineralized zone was 2.91 g/cm3 as a function of the zinc and lead sulfide mineral content.

6. Mineral Resources as reported are undiluted.

7. Mineral resource tonnage and contained metal have been rounded to reflect the precision of the estimate, and numbers may not add due to rounding.

 

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Resources: This news release uses the terms “Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources.” The Company advises U.S. investors that while these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize the terms. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources will ever be converted into Reserves. Inferred Resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of a measured, indicated or inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally minable.

This release has been reviewed for accuracy by Walter Hunt, Chief Operating Officer of Solitario, who is a “qualified person” as that term is defined in NI 43-101.

 

About Solitario

 

Solitario is a U.S. based zinc exploration company traded on the NYSE MKT ("XPL") and on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("SLR"). With the Zazu acquisition, Solitario now holds a 50% operating interest in the Lik zinc-lead-silver deposit in Northwest Alaska, which is large tonnage, high-grade and potentially open pittable. Teck Resources Limited is a 50% partner with Solitario in the Lik deposit, with Solitario acting as the project manager. Zazu completed a positive PEA on the Lik deposit in 2014.

 

Solitario’s other core asset is a 39% interest in the advanced, high-grade, Bongará zinc project located in northern Peru. The project has a significant mineral resource and Solitario is fully carried to production by its joint venture partner Milpo, one of the largest zinc producers in Peru. Since inception of the Bongará joint venture in 2006, the Brazilian conglomerate Votorantim and its subsidiary, Milpo, have funded 100% of project expenditures. Milpo will earn a 70% interest in the project by continuing to solely fund all project expenditures and committing to place the project into production based upon a positive feasibility study. After earning 70%, and at the request of Solitario, Milpo has further agreed to finance Solitario's 30% participating interest for construction. Solitario will repay the loan facility through 50% of its net cash flow distributions.

 

  3  

 

Solitario also holds an 85% interest in the Chambara exploration project in Peru (Milpo holds the remaining 15%), a 7.5% equity interest in Vendetta Mining, two exploration properties in Peru, and one royalty in each of Peru, Brazil, the United States and Mexico.

 

Additional information about Solitario is available online at www.solitarioxr.com

The TSX and NYSE MKT have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION at SOLITARIO, CONTACT:

Debbie Mino-Austin

Director, Investor Relations

(800) 229-6827

Christopher E. Herald

President & CEO

(303) 534-1030

 

 

Cautionary Language

 

None of the NYSE MKT, the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the TSX Venture Exchange have passed upon the merits of the proposed Arrangement and have neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. None of the NYSE MKT, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange nor their regulation service providers accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

 

  4  

 

Forward-looking Statements

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (and the equivalent under Canadian securities laws), that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical fact. They are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and address activities, events or developments that Solitario expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, and are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s expectation of the projected timing and outcome of engineering studies; expectations regarding the receipt of all necessary permits and approvals to implement a mining plan, if any, at Bongará; the potential for confirming, upgrading and expanding zinc, lead and silver mineralized material at Bongará; future operating and capital cost estimates may indicate that the stated resources may not be economic; estimates of zinc, lead and silver grades provided are not diluted mining grades and the predicted or actual mining grade could be substantially lower; estimates of recovery rates for the three types of mineralization, sulfide, oxide and mixed could be lower than estimated for establishing the cutoff grade; and other statements that are not historical facts; risks associated with our funding partner’s (Votorantim Metais) ability to finance continued development and potential construction of the Bongará project. Although Solitario management believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, risks relating to risks that Solitario’s exploration and property advancement efforts will not be successful; risks relating to fluctuations in the price of zinc, lead and silver; the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities; uncertainties concerning reserve and resource estimates; availability of outside contractors in connection with Bongará and Lik projects, and other activities; uncertainties relating to obtaining approvals and permits from governmental regulatory authorities and country risks of operations both inside and outside of the United States; the possibility that environmental laws and regulations will change over time and become even more restrictive; and availability and timing of capital for financing the Company’s exploration and development activities, including uncertainty of being able to raise capital on favorable terms or at all; as well as those factors discussed in Solitario’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) including Solitario’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other SEC filings (and Canadian filings) including, without limitation, its latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to factors referenced in Solitario's other continuous disclosure filings, which are also available at www.sedar.com . Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Solitario does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. The Company does not intend to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.