U. S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
__________________ _______
FORM 20-F
_________________________
[ ]
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
[X]
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2007
[ ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
[ ]
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 16(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report
For the transition period from ______________ to ___________________.
Commission File Number 000-50634
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION
(Exact name of Company as specified in its charter)
ALBERTA, CANADA
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
Suite 404 1688 152nd Street
South Surrey, BC
V4A 4N2
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Shares, without Par Value
(Title of Class)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: NONE
The number of outstanding Common Shares as of August 31, 2007 was
86,748,493.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
[ ] Yes
[ X ] No
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. [ ] Yes [X ] No
Indicate by check mark whether the Company (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Company was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days .
[X ]Yes [ ]No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer [ ]
Accelerated filer [ X ]
Non-accelerated filer [ ]
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Company has elected to follow.
Item 17 [X]
Item 18 [ ]
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). [ ] Yes [ X ] No
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether the Company has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
NOT APPLICABLE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources
Foreign Private Issuer Filings
Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors
Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Capitalization and Indebtedness
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
History and Development of the Company
Lake Victoria Goldfield Properties
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
Operating Results
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Research and Development, Patents and License, etc.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
Directors, Senior Management and Employees
Directors and Senior Management
Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
- ii -
Interest of Experts and Counsel
Con solidated Statements and Other Financial Information
Articles of Association and Bylaws
T axation
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
Audit C ommittee Financial Expert
Code of Eth ics
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured
and Indicated Mineral Resources
The Company advises U.S. Investors that while the terms measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources (see: Glossary of Technical Terms Canadian Terminology herein) are recognized and required by Canadian securities regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves.
Currency
All references to dollar amounts are expressed in the lawful currency of Canada, unless otherwise specifically stated.
Foreign Private Issuer Filings
As a foreign private issuer registered under section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), the Company is subject to section 13 of the Exchange Act, and is required to file Annual Reports on Form 20-F and Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K with the Commission. However, the Company is exempt from the proxy rules under section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the short-swing profit rules under section 16 of the Exchange Act.
1
Glossary of Technical Terms
Ag |
The elemental symbol for silver. |
alteration |
Usually referring to chemical reactions in a rock mass resulting from the passage of hydrothermal fluids. |
andesite |
Volcanic rock, low in quartz content, generally fine grained and moderately dark coloured. |
anomalous |
A value, or values, in which the amplitude is statistically between that of a low contrast anomaly and a high contrast anomaly in a given data set. |
anomaly |
Any concentration of metal noticeably above or below the average background concentration. |
assay |
An analysis to determine the presence, absence or quantity of one or more components. |
Au |
The elemental symbol for gold. |
background |
Traces of elements found in sediments, soils, and plant material that are unrelated to any mineralization and which come from the weathering of the natural constituents of the rocks. |
BLEG |
Acronym for bulk leach extractable gold sampling. |
chalcedony |
Very fine crystalline quartz which may be massive or banded (agate). |
chalcopyrite |
Copper sulfide mineral. |
Cretaceous |
The geologic period extending from 135 million to 63 million years ago. |
Cu |
The elemental symbol for copper. |
dyke |
A tabular body of igneous rock that has been injected while molten into a fissure. |
epidote |
Calcium, aluminum, iron silicate mineral commonly occurring in hydrothermally altered carbonate-bearing rocks. |
fault |
A fracture in a rock where there has been displacement of the two sides. |
Fe |
The elemental symbol for iron. |
fracture |
Breaks in a rock, usually due to intensive folding or faulting. |
gossan |
Decomposed rock or vein material of reddish or rusty colour resulting from oxidized pyrites. |
grab sample |
A sample of selected rock chips collected at random from within a restricted area of interest. |
grade |
The concentration of each ore metal in a rock sample, usually given as weight percent. Where extremely low concentrations are involved, the concentration may be given in grams per tonne (g/t or gpt) or ounces per ton (oz/t). The grade of an ore deposit is calculated, often using sophisticated statistical procedures, as an average of the grades of a very large number of samples collected from throughout the deposit. |
2
HLEM |
Horizontal loop electromagnetic survey, a form of geophysical survey used in the exploration for minerals. |
hectare or ha |
An area totalling 10,000 square metres. |
highly anomalous |
An anomaly which is 50 to 100 times average background, i.e. it is statistically much greater in amplitude. |
hydrothermal |
Hot fluids, usually mainly water, in the earth's crust which may carry metals and other compounds in solution to the site of ore deposition or wall rock alteration. |
IP |
Induced polarization survey, a form of geophysical survey used in the exploration for minerals. |
intrusive |
A rock mass formed below earth's surface from magma which has intruded into a pre-existing rock mass. |
JV |
Joint Venture |
kilometres or km |
Metric measurement of distance equal to 1,000 metres (or 0.6214 miles). |
mill |
A facility for processing ore to concentrate and recover valuable minerals. |
mineral reserve |
That part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. |
mineralization |
Usually implies minerals of value occurring in rocks. |
net smelter or NSR royalty |
Payment of a percentage of net mining profits after deducting applicable smelter charges. |
ore |
A natural aggregated of one or more minerals which may be mined and sold at a profit, or from which some part may be profitably separated. |
outcrop |
An exposure of rock at the earth's surface. |
overburden |
A general term for any material covering or obscuring rocks from view. |
Pb |
The elemental symbol for lead. |
porphyry |
Rock type with mixed crystal sizes, i.e. containing larger crystals of one or more minerals. |
ppm or parts per million |
A unit of measurement which is 1000 times larger than parts per billion (i.e. ppb); 1 ppm is equivalent to 1000 ppb, and is also equivalent to 1 gram/tonne. |
prefeasibility study and preliminary feasibility study |
Each mean a comprehensive study of the viability of a mineral project that has advanced to a stage where mining method, in the case of underground mining, or the pit configuration, in the case of open pit mining, as been established, and which, if an effective method of mineral processing has been determined, includes a financial analysis based on reasonable assumptions of technical, engineering, operating, economic factors, and the evaluation of other relevant factors which are sufficient for a qualified person, acting reasonably, to determine if all or part of the mineral resource may be classified as a mineral reserve. |
propylitic |
A rock alteration assemblage comprising calcite, epidote, chlorite, pyrite and other minerals, found typically in the periphery of a hydrothermal system. |
pyrrhotite |
A bronze coloured mineral of metallic lustre that consists of ferrous sulfide and is attracted by a magnet. |
pyrite |
Iron sulfide mineral. |
3
4
measured mineral resource |
That part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimates is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough to confirm both geological grade and continuity. |
mineral reserve |
A mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a Measured or Indicated mineral resource demonstrated by at least a preliminary feasibility study. This study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of the reporting, that economic extraction can be justified. A mineral reserve includes diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when the material is mined. Mineral resources are sub-divided in order of increasing confidence into probable and proven mineral reserves. A probable mineral reserve has a lower level of confidence than a proven mineral reserve. The term mineral reserve does not necessarily signify that extraction facilities are in place or operative or that all governmental approvals have been received. It does signify that there are reasonable expectations of such approvals. |
mineral resource |
The estimated quantity and grade of mineralization that is of potential economic merit. A resource estimate does not require specific mining, metallurgical, environmental, price and cost data, but the nature and continuity or mineralization must be understood. Mineral resources are sub-divided in order of increasing geological confidence into inferred, indicated, and measured categories. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an indicated mineral resource. An indicated mineral resource has a higher level of confidence than an inferred mineral resource, but has a lower level of confidence than a measured mineral resource. A mineral resource is a concentration or occurrence of natural, solid, inorganic or fossilized organic material in or on the Earth's crust in such form and quantity and of such grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
5
Part I
Item 1.
Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors
A.
Directors and Senior Management :
Not Applicable.
B.
Advisers
Not Applicable.
Item 2.
Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not Applicable.
Item 3.
Key Information
A.
Selected Financial Data
The following tables set forth and summarize selected consolidated financial data for the Company prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (Canadian GAAP). For each of the last five fiscal years, the tables also summarize certain corresponding information prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). Canadian GAAP, as applied to the Company, materially differs from U.S. GAAP, as set forth in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements of the Company. Unless stated otherwise, reference to dollar amounts shall mean Canadian dollars.
For each of the years in the five year period ended August 31, 2007, the information in the tables was extracted from the more detailed audited financial statements of the Company.
The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Item 5, Operating and Financial Review and Prospects and in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Annual Report. The Companys fiscal period ends on August 31 of each year.
The following is a summary of certain selected financial information for the Companys five most recently completed fiscal years (in Canadian dollars, except number of shares):
Canadian GAAP |
|||||
For the Fiscal Year ended August 31, |
|||||
|
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
$ -- |
$ -- |
$ -- |
$ -- |
$ -- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
(3,921,469) |
(4,326,722) |
(2,931,063) |
(1,616,364) |
(3,014,778) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted
|
(0.05) |
(0.05) |
(0.04) |
(0.02) |
(0.04) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
Balance sheet: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working Capital |
1,546,075 |
2,838,273 |
1,388,906 |
1,918,901 |
2,092,912 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets |
25,421,472 |
24,891,967 |
22,257,683 |
22,092,373 |
21,424,565 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Assets |
24,742,582 |
24,176,291 |
21,875,226 |
21,298,136 |
20,318,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share Capital |
54,113,279 |
51,397,278 |
44,839,796 |
42,145,471 |
39,423,971 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
86,748,493 |
86,241,075 |
84,776,054 |
82,464,037 |
80,191,542 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit |
(32,026,589) |
(28,105,120) |
(23,778,398) |
(20,847,335) |
(19,230,971) |
U.S. GAAP |
|||||
|
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003
|
Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
$ -- |
$ -- |
$ -- |
$ -- |
$ -- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
(6,071,773) |
(5,683,081) |
(3,610,911) |
(2,779,514) |
(5,457,815) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted loss per share |
(0.07) |
(0.07) |
(0.04) |
(0.03) |
(0.07) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance sheet: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working Capital |
1,546,075 |
2,838,273 |
1,388,906 |
1,918,901 |
2,092,912 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets |
9,540,917 |
11,161,716 |
9,883,791 |
10,248,223 |
10,761,265 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Assets |
8,862,027 |
10,446,040 |
9,501,334 |
9,604,092 |
9,787,106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share Capital |
59,213,178 |
54,902,206 |
48,408,552 |
44,900,399 |
42,178,899 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
86,748,493 |
86,241,075 |
84,776,054 |
82,464,037 |
80,191,542 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit |
(50,662,072) |
(44,590,299) |
(38,907,218) |
(35,296,307) |
(32,516,793) |
Exchange Rates
The Companys accounts are maintained in Canadian dollars. In this Annual Report, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated. The following table sets forth information as to the period end, average, the high and the low exchange rate for Canadian Dollars (CDN) and U.S. Dollars for the periods indicated based on the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in Canadian Dollars as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (Canadian dollar = US$1):
7
The following table sets forth the high and low exchange rate for the past six months. As of August 31, 2007, the exchange rate was CDN $1.0560 for each US$1.
Month |
High |
Low |
October 2007 |
1.0000 |
0.9496 |
September 2007 |
1.0546 |
0.9959 |
August 2007 |
1.0754 |
1.0497 |
July 2007 |
1.0689 |
1.0372 |
June 2007 |
1.0727 |
1.0579 |
May 2007 |
1.1136 |
1.1024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
B.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not Applicable.
C.
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not Applicable.
D.
Risk Factors
In addition to other information presented in this Annual Report, the following should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company and its business. This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. The Companys actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report. The management of the Company have identified the following risk factors, listed in the view of management in order from most significant to least significant:
We have incurred net losses since our inception and expect losses to continue. We have not been profitable since our inception. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, we had a net loss of $3,921,469 and an accumulated deficit on August 31, 2007 of $32,026,589. The Company has not generated revenues from operations during fiscal year 2006 and does not expect to generate revenues from operations until one or more of its properties are placed in production. There is a risk that none of the Companys properties will be placed in production, and that the Companys operations will not be profitable in the future.
Our exploration activities are highly speculative and involve substantial risks. All of the Companys properties are in the exploration stage and no proven mineral reserves have been established. The Companys exploration work may not result in the discovery of mineable deposits of ore in a commercially economical manner. There may be limited availability of water, which is essential to milling operations, and interruptions may be caused by adverse weather conditions. The Companys operations are subject to a variety of existing laws and regulations relating to exploration and development, permitting procedures, safety precautions, property reclamation, employee health and safety, air quality standards, pollution and other environmental protection
8
controls. The Companys exploration activities are subject to substantial hazards, some of which are not insurable or may not be insured for economic reasons.
We cannot accurately predict whether commercial quantities of ores will be established. Whether an ore body will be commercially viable depends on a number of factors beyond the control of the Company, including the particular attributes of the deposit such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure, as well as mineral prices and government regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. We cannot accurately predict the exact effect of these factors, but the combination of these factors may result in a mineral deposit being unprofitable. The Company has no mineral producing properties at this time. The Company has not defined or delineated any proven or probable reserves or resources on any of its properties. Although the mineralized material estimates included herein have been carefully prepared by the Company, or, in some instances have been prepared, reviewed or verified by independent mining experts, these amounts are estimates only and there is a risk that a particular level of recovery of gold or other minerals from mineralized material will not in fact be realized or that an identified mineralized deposit, if any, will not ever qualify as a commercially mineable or viable reserve.
We may not be able to establish the presence of minerals on a commercially viable basis. Our ability to generate revenues and profits is expected to occur through exploration of our existing properties as well as through acquisitions of interests in new properties. We will need to incur substantial expenditures in an attempt to establish the economic feasibility of mining operations by identifying mineral deposits and establishing ore reserves through drilling and other techniques, developing metallurgical processes to extract metals from ore, designing facilities and planning mining operations. The economic feasibility of a project depends on numerous factors beyond our control, including the cost of mining and production facilities required to extract the desired minerals, the total mineral deposits that can be mined using a given facility, the proximity of the mineral deposits to a user of the minerals, and the market price of the minerals at the time of sale. Our existing or future exploration programs or acquisitions may not result in the identification of deposits that can be mined profitably.
Our competition is intense in all phases of our business. The Company competes with many companies possessing greater financial resources and technical facilities than itself for the acquisition of mineral interests, as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees.
Our exploration activities are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations. Laws and regulation govern the development, mining, production, importing and exporting of minerals; taxes; labor standards; occupational health; waste disposal; protection of the environment; mine safety; toxic substances; and other matters. We require licenses and permits to conduct exploration and mining operations. Amendments to current laws and regulations governing operations and activities of mining companies or more stringent implementation thereof could have a substantial adverse impact on the Company. Applicable laws and regulations will require the Company to make certain capital and operating expenditures to initiate new operations. Under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to close an operation once it is started until a particular problem is remedied or to undertake other remedial actions.
We have uninsurable risks. We may be subject to unforeseen hazards such as unusual or unexpected formations and other conditions. The Company may become subject to liability for pollution, cave-ins or hazards against which it cannot insure or against which it may elect not to insure. The payment of such liabilities may have a material, adverse effect on the Companys financial position.
We depend on key management personnel . The success of the operations and activities of the Company is dependent to a significant extent on the efforts and abilities of its management including James E. Sinclair, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Regina Kuo-Lee, Chief Financial Officer and Jonathan Deane, President. Investors must be willing to rely to a significant extent on their discretion and judgment. We do not have employment contracts with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer. We maintain key-man life insurance on the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer but not on the Chief Financial Officer or President of the Company.
9
We depend on consultants and engineers for our exploration programs. The Company has relied on and may continue to rely upon consultants for exploration development, construction and operating expertise. Substantial expenditures are required to construct mines, to establish ore reserves through drilling, to carry out environmental and social impact assessments, to develop metallurgical processes to extract the metal from the ore and, in the case of new properties, to develop the exploration infrastructure at any suite chosen for exploration. We may not be able to discover minerals in sufficient quantities to justify commercial operation, and we may not be able to obtain funds required for exploration on a timely basis.
We are subject to the volatility of metal and mineral prices. The economics of developing metal and mineral properties are affected by many factors beyond our control including, without limitation, the cost of operations, variations in the grade ore or resource mined, and the price of such resources. The market prices of the metals for which we are exploring are highly speculative and volatile. Depending on the price of gold or other resources, the Company may determine that it is impractical to commence or continue commercial production. The price of gold has fluctuated widely in recent years. The price of gold and other metals and minerals may not remain stable, and such prices may not be at levels that will make it feasible to continue the Companys exploration activities, or commence or continue commercial production.
Our business activities are conducted in Tanzania. Our mineral exploration activities in Tanzania may be affected in varying degrees by political stability and government regulations relating to the mining industry and foreign investment in that country. The government of Tanzania may institute regulatory policies that adversely affect the exploration and development (if any) of the Companys properties. Any changes in regulations or shifts in political conditions in this country are beyond the control of the Company and may adversely affect its business. Investors should assess the political and regulatory risks related to the Companys foreign country investments. Our operations may be affected in varying degrees by government regulations with respect to restrictions on production, price controls, export controls, foreign exchange controls, income taxes, expropriation of property, environmental legislation and mine safety.
We may not have clear title to our properties. Acquisition of title to mineral properties is a very detailed and time-consuming process, and the Companys title to its properties may be affected by prior unregistered agreements or transfers, or undetected defects. Several of the Companys prospecting licenses are currently subject to renewal by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals of Tanzania. In result, there is a risk that we may not have clear title to all our mineral property interests, or they may be subject to challenge or impugned in the future.
We have requirements for and there is an uncertainty of access to additional capital. At August 31, 2007, the Company had cash of $1,602,270 and working capital of $1,546,075. The Company will continue to incur exploration costs to fund its plan of operations and intends to fund its plan of operations from working capital and equity subscriptions from the Companys Chairman and C.E.O. Ultimately, the Companys ability to continue its exploration activities depends in part on the Companys ability to commence operations and generate revenues or to obtain financing through joint ventures, debt financing, equity financing, production sharing agreements or some combination of these or other means.
We have no cash flow from operations and depend on equity financing for our operations. The Companys current operations do not generate any cash flow. Any work on the Companys properties may require additional equity financing. If the Company seeks funding from existing or new joint venture partners, its project interests will be diluted. If the Company seeks additional equity financing, the issuance of additional shares will dilute the current interests of the Companys current shareholders. We may not be able to obtain additional funding to allow the Company to fulfill its obligations on existing exploration properties. Our failure to obtain such additional financing could result in delay or indefinite postponement of further exploration and the possible partial or total loss of the Companys potential interest in certain properties or dilution of the Companys interest in certain properties.
10
Conflicts of interest may arise among our board of directors. Marek J. Kreczmer, Ulrich E. Rath, Anton Esterhuizen and Norman Betts, directors of the Company, are also directors, officers, or shareholders of other companies that are similarly engaged in the business of acquiring, developing, and exploiting natural resource properties. Mr. Kreczmer is President and CEO of NWT Uranium Corp. a Canadian company exploring for uranium in Canada and Niger and precious metals in Mexico. He is a director of Hana Mining Inc., a Canadian company exploring for minerals in Botswana. Mr. Kreczmer is also a Director of Soho Resources Corp., a Canadian company developing a gold deposit in Mexico. Mr. Ulrich Rath is the President and CEO and Director of Chariot Resources Ltd., a junior resource company focused on the exploration, acquisition and development of copper and precious metal mineral deposits in the Andes region of Latin America. Mr. Esterhuizen is the Managing Director of Pangea Exploration (Pty.) Ltd., a South African company exploring for minerals in Africa and South America. He is also a Director of NWT Uranium Corp. Dr. Betts serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Starfield Resources Inc. and as a director and member of the Audit Committee of Adex Mining Inc. Such associations may give rise to conflicts of interest from time to time if the Company were to enter into negotiations to acquire an interest in a mineral project in which their other companies hold an interest, or the Company were to enter into negotiations to sell or joint venture an interest in its mineral properties to any of these companies. The directors of the Company are required to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and disclose any interest which they may have in any project or opportunity of the Company. If a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the board of directors, any director in a conflict will disclose his interest and abstain from voting on such matter.
Penny stock rules may make it more difficult to trade the Companys common shares. The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted regulations which generally define a penny stock to be any equity security that has a market price, as defined, less than US$5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than US$5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. Our securities may be covered by the penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell to persons other than established customers and accredited investors such as, institutions with assets in excess of US$5,000,000 or an individual with net worth in excess of US$1,000,000 or annual income exceeding US$200,000 or US$300,000 jointly with his or her spouse. For transactions covered by this rule, the broker-dealers must make a special suitability determination for the purchase and receive the purchasers written agreement of the transaction prior to the sale. Consequently, the rule may affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and also affect the ability of our investors to sell their shares in the secondary market.
Failure to Maintain Effective Internal Controls Could Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Operations. We are required to document and test our internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, and commencing with the Companys 2007 fiscal year, a report by our independent Auditors addressing these assessments. During the course of our testing we may identify material weaknesses which we may not be able to remediate for our annual compliance with the requirements of Section 404. If we fail to achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Moreover, effective internal controls are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to help prevent financial fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and operating results could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and the trading price of our stock could drop significantly.
Item 4.
Information on the Company
A.
History and Development of the Company
The Company was originally incorporated under the corporate name 424547 Alberta Ltd . in the Province of Alberta on July 5, 1990, under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta). The name was changed to Tan Range Exploration Corporation on August 13, 1991. The name of the Company was again changed to
11
Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation on February 28, 2006. The Company is also registered in the Province of British Columbia as an extra provincial company under the Company Act (British Columbia).
The principal executive office of the Company is located at Suite 404 1688 152nd Street, South Surrey, BC V4A 4N2, Canada, and its telephone number is (604) 536-7873. Mr. Sinclair, Chairman and CEO is located at 93 Benton Hill Road, Sharon, Connecticut, 06069, U.S.A., telephone number (860) 364-1830.
The Company is a mineral resource company with exploration stage properties, which means that the Company is engaged in the search for mineral deposits and that the properties are not in development or production.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Estimates of
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources
As an Alberta corporation, the Company is subject to certain rules and regulation issued by Canadian securities administrators. The Company files this Annual Report as its Annual Information Form (AIF) with the British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario Securities Commissions via the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR). Under the AIF, the Company is required to provide detailed information regarding its properties including mineralization, drilling, sampling and analysis, security of samples and mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates. Further, the Company describes its properties utilizing mining terminology such as measured mineral resources and indicated mineral resources that are required by Canadian regulations but are not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For clarification, the Company has no properties that contain reserves as defined by either the SEC or Canadian regulations, and is providing the following information on inferred mineral resources, in part, in order to meet its requirements under National Instrument 43-101 adopted by the Canadian securities administrators. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves.
In January 2007 the Company concluded an option royalty agreement with Sloane Developments Ltd. (Sloane), a UK-based company for its Itetemia and Luhala gold projects. Under the option agreement, the Company granted Sloane the right to earn a beneficial interest ranging from 90% to 100% in ten (10) prospecting licenses in the Lake Victoria greenstone belt of Tanzania. Six (6) of these licenses comprise the Luhala Project (all for a 100% interest) while the remaining four (4) licenses constitute the Itetemia Project (all for a 90% interest) which is adjacent to Barricks Bulyanhula gold mine.
The Itetemia Property, located in Tanzania, consists of eight (8) contiguous prospecting licenses. One prospecting licence is subject to a 3% net smelter royalty. The Company has a 90% interest in one of the other prospecting licences which is subject to a 2% royalty interest. The Companys Itetemia Property contains an inferred mineral resource of 500,000 tonnes grading 7 g/t gold, using a 2 g/t gold cut-off (see page 25 herein for further details).
In November 2004, Barrick advised the Company that it was returning the Itetemia properties which were covered by an option and joint venture agreement dated May 31, 1999 as amended April 24, 2001 between the Company and Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick). Barrick was granted the exclusive option to earn an undivided 60% interest in the Itetemia Project. In exchange for the option, Barrick agreed to provide funding to the Company totalling $4,000,000, which has been completed.
The Luhala property, also located in Tanzania, consists of six (6) contiguous prospecting licenses. The Luhala property was the focus of an exploration program under an option agreement dated April 25, 1999 with Newmont Overseas Exploration Limited (Newmont). Newmont terminated their option on the property during the year 2000.
The Kigosi Project area encompasses approximately 1,078 square miles and includes nineteen (19) prospecting licenses. RC drilling continued on the Companys Kigosi property during fiscal 2007. The Company previously discovered three new gold occurrences on the Kigosi Property (forming a part of the
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Companys Lake Victoria Goldfield Properties held through its subsidiary, Tanzania American International Development Corporation (Tanzam). See Lake Victoria Goldfield Properties for further details.
The Company currently has royalty agreements with three industry partners covering 17 prospecting licences; one of these prospecting licences are under agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation; 5 prospecting licenses with MDN Inc. (MDN) (formerly Northern Mining Explorations); and 11 with Sloane Developments Inc.
At the present time, the Companys land position totals 136 prospecting licenses in the Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt and Kabanga/Kagera Nickel Belt regions of Tanzania covering an area of approximately 10,000 square kilometres.
Significant Acquisitions and Significant Dispositions
The Companys principal capital expenditures and divestitures (including interests in other companies and amounts invested) for the last three fiscal years are described as follows:
In 2003 the Company signed a royalty and option agreement covering prospecting licenses in the Lake Victoria goldfields area of Tanzania with MDN. There are currently 5 prospecting licensees subject to this agreement. Under the agreement, MDN holds the right to earn 100% of the Companys underlying interest in the licenses for an up-front cash payment of US$80,000, plus US$1.8 million in option payments and US$1.5 million in property expenditures over the five year life of the agreements. MDN must also complete a feasibility study and make a production decision by December 31, 2009 and achieve production within 18 months or be subject to cash penalties in lieu of royalty payments. By agreement between the parties dated January 9, 2007, in consideration for extending the production decision date from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2009, MDN issued 125,000 common shares of MDN to the Company. The Company retains the right to escalating net smelter royalties on commercial production that are tied to the price of gold and range from 0.5% below US$250 per ounce to a maximum of 2% at US$380 per ounce.
In April 2005 the RC/RAB drill rig purchased by the Company was delivered and drilling commenced shortly thereafter. The Company purchased the drill rig primarily for availability and custom design for function. Presently, the availability in Tanzania for contract exploration drilling is tight. Further, the Company believes that its operators of the equipment will be of a higher quality than those services provided by an unrelated contractor.
Also during fiscal 2005, the Company acquired additional prospecting licenses, including licenses covering an area of 4,434 sq.km. in the Kabanga Nickel region. In October 2006 the Company reported it had prioritized exploration targets on its holdings in the Kibara Nickel Belt following an examination of historical data.
The Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the Agreement) with Ashanti Goldfields Cayman Limited (Ashanti) dated September 26, 2006 for the repurchase of its rights to the Kigosi property, including all related camp and equipment, along with the purchase of a non-associated property, the Dongo, from Ashanti in a transaction valued at US$900,000. The price of the acquisition will be satisfied by the issuance to Ashanti a total of 180,058 common shares of the Company, in two tranches and subject to certain conditions consisting of (i) the issuance and allotment of 160,052 common shares to be issued in consideration of the transfer to the Company of the Kigosi Rights, as defined in the Agreement and (ii) subject to receipt of ministerial consent from the Tanzanian government to the transfer from Ashanti to the Company of the Dongo Rights, as defined in the Agreement, the issuance and allotment to Ashanti of 20,006 common shares of the Company.
In January 2007 the Company concluded an option royalty agreement with Sloane for its Itetemia and Luhala gold projects. Under the option agreement, the Company granted Sloane the right to earn a beneficial interest ranging from 90% to 100% in ten (10) prospecting licenses in the Lake Victoria greenstone belt of
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Tanzania. Six (6) of these licenses comprise the Luhala Project (all for a 100% interest) while the remaining four (4) licenses constitute the Itetemia Project (all for a 90% interest) which is adjacent to Barricks Bulyanhula gold mine.
The earn-in portion of the agreement includes prescribed annual cash payments, firm exploration expenditures and a minimum amount of diamond drilling metreage over the life of the agreement. In addition, Tanzanian Royalty will receive a sliding scale net smelter royalty for any mineral discovery that achieves commercial production. The exploration component of the option agreement calls for a work commitment of $US1 million within a two-year period of which $400,000 will be expendable in the first year and the remaining amount in the second. Further provisions in the agreement call for the completion of a bankable feasibility study and the announcement of a production decision before the fifth anniversary of the agreement and the achievement of commercial production before the seventh anniversary.
Further, in May 2007, the Company entered into a Management Services Agreement with Sloane. Under the Management Services Agreement, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty will carry out field and exploration work on the Kisunge and Shilalo Hills targets within the Luhala Project Area and similar work at the Golden Horseshoe Reef Project (Itetemia). The majority of the exploration work will consist of RC and diamond drilling along with limited ground geophysics. In addition, Tanzanian Royalty has agreed to assist with grassroots exploration on other licenses in the agreement subject to the availability of staff and equipment.
The Companys exploration activities during the 2007 fiscal year continued on the Companys properties located throughout the Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt. Drilling with the Companys RC/RAB drill were conducted primarily on the Kigosi property.
There were no significant property acquisitions during the period.
For the year ended August 31, 2007 the Company reported a net loss of $3,921,469. A total of $1,265,033 of mineral properties and deferred exploration expenses was written off relating to abandoned mineral properties. The Companys total capital lease obligation as at August 31, 2007 is $112,707. The Company incurred deferred exploration expenditures of $3,130,712 (net) during the year ended August 31, 2007.
B.
Business Overview
The Company is a natural resource company, which since its incorporation has engaged in the acquisition of interests in and the exploration of natural resource properties. The Company commits its own resources to the initial evaluation of mineral properties and in select situations, if and when warranted, the Company will enter into joint venture agreements with other corporations to further the exploration of such properties, in exchange for annual rental/option payments and post-production royalty payments. At present, the Companys natural resource activities do not generate any income from production.
The Companys general area of interest has been in the exploration of gold properties, with a primary focus on exploring for gold properties in Tanzania. At the present time, the Company is exploring 136 mineral resource properties in the Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt and Kabanga/Kagera Nickel Belt regions of Tanzania. Tanzania remains the prime focus of the Companys activities. Other corporations, including Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick), Ashanti Goldfields Limited (Ashanti Goldfields), MDN, and Newmont Overseas Exploration Corporation have funded some of the work on the Companys properties in this area since 1999 under option arrangements, with the exception of properties explored by subsidiary company Tanzania American International Development Corporation 2000 Limited (Tanzam) which were privately funded. The Company currently has royalty agreements with three industry partners covering 17 prospecting licences; one of these prospecting licences are under agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation; 5 prospecting licenses with MDN Inc.; and 11 with Sloane Developments Inc.
In the Companys view, this joint venture (JV) and royalty strategy offers investors leverage to gold prices with lower risk and shareholder dilution. Future production royalties from any producing properties
14
discovered by the Companys joint venture partners (JV Partners) would provide the Company with a direct interest in the mines cash flow, with exposure to any benefits from new discoveries and production growth, but without the capital obligations, and environmental and social liabilities, associated with direct ownership.
Plan of Operations
Exploration Activities
All of the properties in which the Company holds an interest are in the exploration stage only. Mineral exploration and development involves a high degree of risk and few properties, which are explored, are ultimately developed into producing mines. There is no assurance that the Companys mineral exploration activities will result in any discoveries of commercial bodies of ore. The long-term profitability of the Companys operations will be in part directly related to the cost and success of its exploration programs, which may be affected by a number of factors beyond the control of the Company.
By way of general description of the Companys operating activities, the Companys business operations involve using known or published geological and geophysical data to locate mineral resource properties meriting further exploration or development. Once identified, the Company must stake and apply for registration to title of the mineral properties, or negotiate the acquisition of such properties from any third party owners. Upon registration or acquisition of title, the Company then designs a program of preliminary exploration which can involve grid mapping, geophysical and magnetic surveying, geochemical surveying, geological sampling, grab sampling, assaying and other forms of prospecting as circumstances may require. Based on the preliminary results, mineral properties are ranked according to merit for further exploration work, which may involve further mapping, more detailed geophysical and geochemical surveying, and trenching to identify potential drill targets. If mineralization is indicated which merits further investigation, drill targets are selected, and a diamond drilling program for underground sampling and assaying will commence.
Based on the drilling program results, the Company will develop models of the underlying geology and mineralized zones for more detailed testing. After further drilling, some mineralized zones may be classified as inferred or indicated mineral resources. With sufficient infill drilling, these inferred or indicated mineral resources can be confirmed as a measured mineral resource, upon which a pre-feasibility study can be prepared by a qualified, independent mining engineer or geologist to determine whether mining activities are economic in the circumstances of the particular property. A pre-feasibility study must be completed under the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 in Canada in order for mineral reserves to be designated. A final or bankable feasibility study must be completed for the designation of reserves under the SECs Industry Guide 7. If the bankable feasibility study is favorable, the Company can then use the feasibility study to seek out the necessary financing from a merchant banker or other financial institution for mine construction and development. A further mine feasibility study would be prepared to confirm the appropriate mining method based on the metallurgical studies of the ore, and to develop a mining plan.
At any point along this plan of operation, the Company may seek to interest larger mining companies in its mineral properties, which show potential for further development. It is highly unlikely that the Company would pursue any particular property through to mineral production by itself. By exploring and developing properties to a point where major mining companies are interested, the Company will leave the risk of mine development and operations to those companies, while retaining a carried interest or royalty from any future production.
During 2007 fiscal year, the Company continued evaluation of all prospecting licenses in its portfolio with a view of offering some of them for royalty agreements to other mining companies. The evaluation of their potential comprises geological mapping, soil sampling and geophysical interpretations.
The Company continued its efforts for the farming-out of identified properties for royalty agreements with other mining companies, and continue to examine and review other exploration opportunities in Tanzania.
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Exploration
The Companys principal exploration properties are currently all located in the United Republic of Tanzania, Africa. The government of Tanzania is a stable, multi-party democracy. Mineral exploration in Tanzania is affected by local climatic, political, and economic conditions. The Companys properties have year round access, although seasonal winter rains from December to March may result in flooding in low lying areas, which are dominated by mbuga (black organic rich laustrine flood soils). Further, most lowland areas are under active cultivation for corn, rice, beans and mixed crops by subsistence farmers. As a result, the area has been deforested by local agricultural practices for many years. The seasonal rains and deforested areas can create a muddy bog in some areas, which can make access more difficult, and could impede or even prevent the transport of heavy equipment to the Companys mineral properties at certain times of the year between December to March.
Competition
The mining industry in which the Company is engaged is in general, highly competitive. Competitors include well-capitalized mining companies, independent mining companies and other companies having financial and other resources far greater than those of the Company. The Company competes with other mining companies in connection with the acquisition of gold and other precious metal properties. In general, properties with a higher grade of recoverable mineral and/or which are more readily mineable afford the owners a competitive advantage in that the cost of production of the final mineral product is lower. Thus, a degree of competition exists between those engaged in the mining industries to acquire the most valuable properties. As a result, the Company may eventually be unable to acquire attractive gold mining properties.
Dependence on Customers and Suppliers
The Company is not dependent upon a single or few customers or supplier for revenues or its operations.
Governmental Regulations
The Companys mineral interests in Tanzania are initially held under prospecting licenses granted pursuant to the Mining Act, 1998 (Tanzania) for a period of up to three years, and are renewable two times for a period of up to two years each. We must pay annual rental fees for our prospecting licenses based on the total area of the license measured in square kilometres, multiplied by US$20.00 per sq. km. There is also an initial one-time preparation fee of US$200.00 per license. Upon renewal, we pay a renewal fee of US$200.00 per license. Renewals of our prospecting licenses can take many months and even years to process by the regulatory authority in Tanzania.
All prospecting licenses in Tanzania also require the holder to expend funds in the employment and training of Tanzanian personnel, which expenditures typically amount to US$5,000 per year, and in exploration expenditures, which are set out in the Mining Act, 1998 (Tanzania). At each renewal, at least 50% of our licensed area must be relinquished. If the Company wishes to keep the relinquished one-half portion, it must file a new application for the relinquished portion.
We must hold a mining license to carry on mining activities, and a mining license will only be granted to the holder of a prospecting license over the area. A mining license is granted for a period of 25 years or the life of the mine. It is renewable for a period not exceeding 15 years. We do not hold any mining licenses, only prospecting licenses. Prospecting and mining license holders must submit regular reports in accordance with mining regulations. Upon commercial production, the government of Tanzania imposes a royalty on the gross value of all production at the rate of 3% of all gold produced. The applicable regulatory body in Tanzania is the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.
In July 1999, environmental management and protection regulations under the Mining Act, 1998 (Tanzania) came into force. An environmental impact statement and an environmental management plan must accompany special mining license, mining license and gemstone mining license applications for mineral rights.
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In addition to the establishment of environmental regulations, the Tanzanian Government has improved management procedures for effective monitoring and enforcement of these regulations by strengthening the institutional capacity, especially in the field offices. The Government has provided rules for the creation of reclamation funds to reinstate land to alternative uses after mining and it has developed guidelines for mining in restricted areas, such as forest reserves, national parks, sources of water and other designated areas. These regulations have not had any material adverse effect on the Companys operations, which are exploration in nature at this time.
C.
Organization Structure
The Company has the following four subsidiaries:
Name of Subsidiary |
Jurisdiction of Incorporation |
Percentage &Type of Securities Owned or Controlled by Company |
|
Voting Securities Held |
Non-Voting Securities |
||
Itetemia Mining Company Limited (1) |
Republic of Tanzania, Africa |
90% (common) |
n/a |
Lunguya Mining Company Ltd. (2) |
Republic of Tanzania, Africa |
60% (common |
n/a |
Tancan Mining Company Limited (Tancan) |
Republic of Tanzania, Africa |
100% (common) |
n/a |
Tanzania American International Development Corporation 2000 Limited (Tanzam) |
Republic of Tanzania, Africa |
100% (common) |
n/a |
(1)
The remaining 10% interest is held by State Mining Corporation.
(2)
The remaining 40% interest is held by Northern Mining and Consultancy Company Ltd.
D.
Property, Plant and Equipment
The Companys business is the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties, with a primary focus on exploring for gold properties in Tanzania. The Company funds its activities by way of the sale and issuance of its securities to accredited investors. The Company also obtains operating funds through sales of and options to sell its various mineral property interests to other parties, retaining a royalty interest. The Companys properties are without a known body of commercial ore, with no established reserves, and the Companys activities to date on such properties have been exploratory in nature.
Itetemia Property
In January 2007 the Company concluded an option royalty agreement with Sloane for its Itetemia gold project. Under the option agreement, the Company granted Sloane the right to earn a beneficial interest in licenses constituting the Itetemia Project.
The following discussion regarding the geological information on the Itetemia Property is summarized from a technical report prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101F1 dated May 2, 2001 entitled, Independent Review of the Itetemia Project, Lake Victoria Greenstone Region, Tanzania by Michael J. Michaud, M.Sc. P. Geo. of Steffen Robertson and Kirsten Consulting (Canada) Inc. (the Itetemia Report). The reader is referred to the complete text of the Itetemia Report, which is available online at www.sedar.com , filed on March 10, 2003 under the heading, Engineering Report and Certificate of Qualifications.
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Property Description and Location
The Itetemia Property currently consists of eight (8) contiguous prospecting licenses, covering approximately 79 km 2 . The eight (8) prospecting licenses now comprising the Itetemia Property are held in the names of the following companies and expire as indicated:
Prospecting License |
Name Of Holder |
Date Granted |
Last Renewal Application |
Expiry Date |
Ngula North
|
|
|
|
|
Itetemia
PL 3308/05 |
Tancan |
May 18, 2004 June 14, 2005 |
n/a |
June 14, 2008 |
Ngula
|
|
|
|
|
Itetemia North
4515/07 |
Tancan |
June 26, 2007 |
n/a |
June 26, 2010 |
*
While the licenses have expired, the Company has applied for a renewal and has no reason to believe that such renewal applications will not be granted in the ordinary course.
The Itetemia and Ngula prospecting licenses have been renewed twice, each time for a period of two years. The rental payments and minerals permitted to be pursued under such licenses are summarized below:
**
Second renewal annual rental fees = US$50/sq.km.
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19
Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources, Infrastructure and Physiography
The Itetemia Property is located in the Mwanza Region of the Lake Victoria Greenstone Region, Tanzania, approximately 90 kilometres by air southwest of the city of Mwanza, situated on the south shore of Lake Victoria. The property is accessed via local roads from Geita or by plane from Mwanza to an airstrip accommodating the neighbouring Bulyanhulu Mine, owned by Barrick. The Barrick airstrip is 3.75 km west of the western boundary of the Itetemia prospecting license, and approximately 4 km northeast of the Nyamykonze village. Local resources are available at Mwanza, located on the southern shore of Lake Victoria.
The topography in the region and on the property consists of large flat-lying areas surrounded by numerous small hills. The hills have elevations of up to 100 m above local terrain. The hills are thickly vegetated and access is only possible along cut lines. Little outcrop exists on the property. The climate is similar to the rest of the region. The rainy season starts in November and lasts to the middle of April, but precipitation is irregular from one season to another. The dry seasons are usually hot. Mwanza, located along the southern shore of Lake Victoria, can, and has, provided limited supplies for mining and exploration operations in the area. Dwellers in the area of the Itetemia Project, such as the neighbouring Nyamykonze village, are traditionally subsistence farmers and ranchers, and have limited mining experience from the Bulyanhulu operation and numerous small scale activities. Water for the purpose of mining and processing is not readily available in the region; however, a pipeline from Lake Victoria built by Barrick for its Bulyanhulu Mine, provides an adequate supply.
The large, relatively flat terrain surrounding the known gold mineralization may be suitable for potential tailings and waste rock storage and for heap leach pads and a potential processing plant. Electric power is available via the national grid within 5 km; due to the unreliability of such power, alternative forms of residual or back-up power would be necessary for mining or processing operations, such as diesel power generation used by Barrick at its Bulyanhulu mine.
Ownership
Prior Ownership
Only two of the prospecting licenses comprising the Itetemia Property, namely, Itetemia and Itetemia North, were previously held by third parties. With respect to the Itetemia prospecting license, the interest of the Company was acquired from State Mining Corporation of Tanzania (Stamico) pursuant to a joint venture agreement dated July 12, 1994 (the Stamico Venture Agreement). The Stamico Venture Agreement obligated the Company to make two initial payments of Tsh1,000,000 and US$7,200, both of which were satisfied. With respect to the Itetemia North prospecting license, the interest of the Company was acquired from RSR (Tanzania) Limited by agreement dated April 20, 1995 (the RSR Royalty Agreement). The RSR Royalty Agreement obligated the Company to pay a sum of US$35,000, which payment was made.
The Companys Interest
Prior to the Barrick Venture Agreement (defined below), four of the prospecting licenses comprising the Itetemia Property, namely, Itetemia Village, Mwingilo, Ngula and Itetemia East, were indirectly 100% held by the Company; in the case of the Itetemia North prospecting license, the Company held an indirect 100% interest therein, through Tancan, subject only to the 2% NSR Royalty payable pursuant to the RSR Royalty Agreement. In the case of the Itetemia prospecting license, Tancan acquired its interest pursuant to the Stamico Venture Agreement, as amended June 18, 2001 and July 2005, which provides, among other things, that:
1.
Tancan had to pay Stamico, on execution of the Stamico Venture Agreement, the sum of US$7,200 (as an advance against the 2% gross revenue royalty) and TS1,000,000.
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2.
Tancan and Stamico were to form a joint venture company for the purpose of holding the prospecting license that shall be held 10% by Stamico (with no obligation to contribute) and 90% by Tancan, which was effected through the formation of Itetemia Mining Co.
3.
Stamico is entitled to acquire an additional 20% interest in the joint venture company by paying a sum equal to 20% of the cost of placing the property into commercial production based on the feasibility study submitted to the Government of Tanzania for such purpose.
4.
Tancan shall assist Stamico in raising the required capital to exercise the right referred to in (3) above.
5.
Tancan was to expend the sum of US$25,000 in the first year and US$50,000 annually thereafter in relation to the training of Tanzanian personnel.
6.
Upon commencement of commercial production, Stamico shall receive a 2% gross revenue royalty, which shall be increased to a 2.5% gross revenue royalty should a mine on the Itetemia prospecting license produce recoverable gold in excess of 12 grams per tonne.
7.
Tancan shall pay to Stamico, as an advance against the 2% gross revenue royalty, the sum of US$7,200 on or before every anniversary of the Stamico Venture Agreement up until the development phase, upon and after which the annual sum of US$10,000 shall be paid as an advance against such royalty.
8.
Tancan shall show preference to Stamico for the provision of local materials and services during the period of mining operations.
9.
As amended July 2005, Tancan shall pay to Stamico the sum of US$15,000 on or before July 12 of 2006 and 2007 and ending upon commercial production, provided that commercial production commences by December 31, 2007, failing which the aforementioned payment shall be revisited. The Company does not expect to commence commercial production by December 31, 2007. Future payment negotiations between the Company and Stamico will commence in December 2007.
10.
Tancan may assign its rights under the agreement, subject to the prior written consent of Stamico.
By an option and joint venture agreement dated May 31, 1999 as amended April 24, 2001 between the Company and Barrick (the Barrick Venture Agreement), Barrick agreed to provide funding to the Company totalling $4,000,000. On November 23, 2004 Barrick advised that they would return the Itetemia Prospecting Licences (with the exception of PL 2374/03 which is held under an agreement with Barrick Exploration Africa Limited (the BEAL) to the Company.
History
The exploration history of the Itetemia Property from 1988 to 2007 may be summarized as follows:
Itetemia Exploration History Synopsis
Year |
Operator |
Work Performed |
1988 1992 |
BRG, a Tanzanian-German Corporation |
First modern exploration program conducted, consisting of geological mapping, ground geophysics, magnetometer, horizontal loop electromagnetic (HLEM), pulse electromagnetic, and induced polarization (IP) surveys, trenching and sampling. |
1993 |
Stamico |
Continued BRGs work and completed an air photo interpretation of the region, resulting in the identification of a northerly trenching gold bearing structure. |
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Year |
Operator |
Work Performed |
1994 |
Stamico |
Completed regional geological mapping, and geochemical soil sampling on the northern and southwestern portions of the licensed area. |
1995 |
Tancan |
Detailed soil sampling in several areas confirmed strong gold anomalies along the northwest trend. A 100 m long trench trending northwesterly was dug, returning anomalous grades of gold. Pangea drilled six reverse circulation (RC) holes by mistake on the southwest corner of Itetemia. Tancan also begins first RC drilling program consisting of 4 holes totalling 374 m, in the southwest corner, but subeconomic intersections were recovered. |
1996 |
Geodass (under contract to Pangea and Tancan) |
Airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys completed over Itetemia, Itetemia North and Ngula prospecting licenses. A magnetic survey was conducted on the Golden Horseshoe Reef and 25 kms of IP which further defined the reef and extended the reef for more than one kilometre. |
1996 |
Tancan |
Next phase of RC drilling continued with 39 holes totalling 3,596 m (Oct. 95 to July 96) covering the main HLEM anomalies. Most of the conductors were explained by the presence of argillite horizons, containing 1-50% sulphides. |
1997 |
Tancan |
A fence of 66 RC holes totalling 2,188 m were drilled in the southern portion of the license. |
1998 |
Tancan |
A further 14 RC holes were drilled totalling 1,350 m in the southwest portion to test several IP anomalies, the best results returned 0.65 g/t Au over 9.0 m and 1.1 g/t Au over 8.0 m, respectively. A second phase of 14 RC holes totalling 831 m, were drilled in the area of the Golden Horseshoe Reef to test IP anomalies and the south eastern extension of the reef near the granite contact. Holes RC-65 and RC-66 intersected 0.7 g/t Au over 5.0 m, respectively, west of the reef.
|
1999-2000 |
Tancan |
A rotary air blast (RAB) drilling program of 151 holes totalling 6,660 m, in seven fences were drilled; the northwestern extension of the Golden Horseshoe Reef was intersected, returning 0.28 g/t Au over 33 m. |
2001 |
Tancan |
1,100 metres drilled to evaluate down dip potential of gold mineralization in the Golden Horseshoe Reef (GHR) deposit. |
2002-2004 |
Barrick |
Exploration program carried out by Barrick. |
2005 |
Tancan |
Reviewed reports received from Barrick detailing the exploration work they conducted on the property to November 2004. |
2006 |
Tancan |
In-house evaluation. 4-hole diamond drill program |
22
Year |
Operator |
Work Performed |
2007 |
Sloane Developments Ltd. |
Planned 2000 m RC drill program and 3000 m infill diamond drilling program |
Geology
Regional
The Lake Victoria area contains 12 Archean Nyanzian greenstone belts which are surrounded by and have been interrupted by numerous granitic intrusions. The Nyanzian belts comprise a volcano-sedimentary sequence composed of mafic to felsic volcanics (lavas and tuffs), BIF and shales. The greenstone belts have been grouped into locally distinct geographic regions. One of these regions is the Southwest Mwanza Region which includes a large area south of town of Mwanza, located on the south shore of Lake Victoria. There are five greenstone belts in the Southwest Mwanza Region, one of which is the Ushirombo belt. The Ushirombo belt is an east-west trending belt, the eastern end of which is located approximately 25 km west of the southern end of Smith Sound on Lake Victoria. The eastern end of the belt is arcuate in shape and trends northerly tangential to the northwestern flank of the Siga Hills.
Property
The Itetemia Property is underlain by the northerly trending eastern portion of the Ushirombo Nyanzian greenstone belt. Granite underlies the eastern and northern portions of the property. The greenstone/granite contact trends northerly through the east-central portion of the Itetemia prospecting license and through the central portion of the Itetemia East prospecting license onto the Itetemia Village license; at which point, the contract tends westerly through the Mwingilo license cutting the northeast corner of the Ngula license. Sixty percent of the Itetemia, Itetemia North and Ngula licenses are underlain by the Nyanzian greenstone belt. The remaining 40% is underlain by granite. Granite variably underlies 90 to 100% of the Itetemia East, Itetemia Village and Mwingilo prospecting licenses. The mbuga soil covers 10 to 40% of the property.
Lithology
The lithologies encountered on the Itetemia and Itetemia North prospecting licenses can be divided into three volcano-sedimentary domains: (i) Northeast Domain, (ii) Central Domain and (iii) Southwest Domain. The granite truncates these domains to the east. The Northeast Domain is composed of basalt, felsic flows, thick to thin sequences of argillite and dykes/sill of gabbro. The domain is up to 3 km thick, exhibits a north to north-northeasterly trend and has numerous extensive HLEM conductors. The conductors are related to argillite dominantly located in one horizon at the top of the sequence. A massive sulphide unit/zone is situated at the bottom of this horizon marking change in the volcanism.
Mineralization
The sulphide mineralization encountered on the Itetemia Property comprise massive to semi-massive, stringers, veins and veinlets, disseminated and nodular mineralization. The types of mineralization are (i) sulphides associated with volcanism activity; (ii) remobilized sulphides associated with deformation (shear hosted); and (iii) sulphides associated with sedimentation. The gold and metallic contents associated with this mineralization are variable and the relation between the grades and the mineralized type is not well known at this stage.
The massive to semi-massive sulphide mineralization seems to be related to volcanism. It occurs in two areas on the Property. One area is located in the northern part of the licenses and has been intersected by the hole ITDD-06. More than 30 m. of sulphides were intersected at the contact between a QFP and an argillite horizon
23
separating two pillowed basalts. The sulphide content ranges from 10 to 90% pyrrhotite, 2 to 5% pyrite, trace to 5% sphalerite, trace to 1% copper.
The Golden Horseshoe Reef mineralization occurs as massive sulphide veins locally ranging from 15-30 cm wide. Sulphides dominantly appear in veins/veinlets less than 5 cm wide in felsic volcanic rocks. Five to thirty percent pyrite-pyrrhotite is common over sections of 1 to 15 m along the holes. They are sub-concordant and parallel to the schistosity. The strong shearing at the Golden Horseshoe Reef probably represents a remobilization of the sulphides.
Mineral Resource Estimation
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Estimates of
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources
This section uses the terms mineral resource and inferred mineral resource. We advise U.S. investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
In 1998, Minestart Management Inc. (Minestart) was retained by Tancan to prepare a mineral resource estimation for the Golden Horseshoe Reef. The mineral resource was calculated based on 13 diamond drill holes which were drilled at 25 m. intervals along strike for approximately 300 m. and to a depth of approximately 50 m. The mineral resource was calculated using polygons on cross-sections incorporating a 2 g/t gold cutoff and a constant bulk density of 2.7 tonnes/cubic metre. Minestart estimated the mineral resource for the Golden Horseshoe Reef to be 500,000 tonnes grading 7 g/t gold. As an integral part of its review, the Company hired Steffen, Robertson and Kirsten Consulting (Canada) Inc. (SRK) to review the mineral resource estimate prepared by Minestart, and SRK provided the following observations:
·
SRK believes there is a need for more near-surface and down-dip information in order to better define the controls on the mineralization and the geometry of the mineralized horizon. With respect to the density, SRK notes that the bulk density was used for estimating the bulk tonnage. Given the climate and the weathering environment, the density of sulfide rich rocks and volcanics could vary considerably and based on their experience it may be required to weigh the assays during compositing and estimating the bulk tonnage of the mineralized and unmineralized zones.
·
With respect to the 2.0 g/t cutoff grade used in the estimation, SRK believes that initially, it might be possible to mine the reef by way of a very narrow and shallow open pit. However, it is more likely that given the higher grade mineralization, narrow widths and current limited strike length the Golden Horseshoe Reef would be more amenable to underground mining methods. As such, the cutoff grade of 2.0 g/t gold initially used to estimate the mineral resource may be too low.
·
With respect to the diamond drilling core recovery, SRK considers the NQ size to be appropriate and that it has been appropriately split using a diamond saw. The split core remains in good condition and is stored on-site in a proper facility. The rock quality is very good. The core recovery is excellent.
SRK believes the mineral resource estimation prepared by Minestart to be an inferred mineral resource as defined by standards set by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (see: Glossary of Technical Terms Canadian Terminology at page 5 herein).
Exploration
During fiscal 2007 and prior to the option agreement with Sloane, the Company carried out limited exploration work at Itetemia.
24
Subsequent to the option agreement with Sloane, the two parties entered into a Management Services Agreement whereby a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty will carry out field and exploration work on the Kisunge and Shilalo Hills targets within the Luhala Project Area and similar work at the Golden Horseshoe Reef at Itetemia.
The majority of the exploration work will consist of reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling along with limited ground geophysics. Exploration crews were mobilized to the Itetemia Project in August 2007 and drilling commenced in mid-September. The drill program is scheduled to include at least 2,000 metres of RC drilling and 3,000 metres of infill diamond drilling. It is designed to improve the confidence level of the gold grades encountered in previous drill programs within the Golden Horseshoe Reef down to the 200 metre level.
The sulphide mineralization encountered on the Itetemia property is comprised of massive to semi-massive, stringers, veins and veinlets, along with disseminated and nodular mineralization. Sulphide veins locally range in thickness from 15-30 centimetres.
The Company has incurred total net costs (after any recoveries and write offs) of $6,316,844 on the Itetemia Property to August 31, 2007.
THE ITETEMIA PROPERTY IS WITHOUT KNOWN MINERAL RESERVES AND ANY PROPOSED PROGRAM IS AN EXPLORATORY SEARCH FOR ORE.
Luhala Property
In January 2007 the Company concluded an option royalty agreement with Sloane for its Luhala gold project. Under the option agreement, the Company granted Sloane the right to earn a 100% beneficial interest six of its licenses comprising the Luhala Project.
The following discussion regarding both the Luhala and Lunguya Properties below is summarized from a revised technical report prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101F dated February 28, 2003, revised June 2007, entitled, Report on the 2002 Exploration of the Luhala Concessions and the Lunguya Concessions, Lake Victoria Goldfields District, North-Central Tanzania by Dr. Jim L. Oliver, Ph.D., P. Geo. (the Revised Luhala and Lunguya 2002 Report). The reader is referred to the complete text of the Revised Luhala and Lunguya 2002 Report, which is available at www.sedar.com , filed on August 13, 2007 under the heading, Other.
Property Description and Location
The Luhala property is located in Misungwi District of Mwanza Region of Tanzania (see property location map) . It lies approximately 70 kilometres south of the city of Mwanza. The Luhala property consists of six (6) prospecting licenses (namely, Luhala PL 1451/00, Luhala PL 2519/04, Luhala PL 3315/05, Shilalo PL 4575/07, Ngobo PL 1559/00 and Sima PL 1560/00). These prospecting licenses are in good standing with respect to required filings and payments with the Government of Tanzania.
The Company has a 100% interest in the Luhala prospecting license, and has the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Ngobo and Sima prospecting licenses by making a series of payments to the property holder, Widescope Promotion Ltd. (Widescope), totaling US$120,000 over six years for the Ngobo license and US$84,000 over six years for the Sima license, which payments have now been completed. Widescope retains a 2% net smelter returns royalty on both the Ngobo and Sima licenses, which the Company may buy back, in each case, one-half (i.e. 1%) for US$1,000,000. For the Shilalo license, the Company has earned the right to acquire a 100% interest by having made a series of payments to the property owner totaling US$16,000. The Shilalo property owner retains a 2% net smelter return royalty, of which the Company may buy back one-half (i.e.1%) for US$250,000.
25
Each of the prospecting licenses forming the Luhala property has the following mandatory annual work and rental payments:
* First renewal annual rental fees = US$30/sq.km.
** Second renewal annual rental fees = US$50/sq.km.
***
While the license has expired, the Company has applied for a new license and has no reason to believe that such new licence will not be granted in the ordinary course.
The Luhala property covers an area of approximately 74 square kilometres. The target on the Luhala property is gold stockwork mineralization associated with felsic rock units in dilational structures.
Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources, Infrastructure and Physiography
Access to the Luhala Property is via the main Mwanza Shinyanga road, which is a single lane, good to excellent quality, asphalt highway. Approximately 45 kms south of Mwanza, a dirt road from a junction at the settlement of Manawa, leads southwest to the town of Misasi. The property has year round access, although seasonal winter rains, December to March, may result in flooding in low lying areas which are dominated by mbuga (black organic rich laustrine flood soils). Most lowland areas are under active cultivation, corn, rice, beans and mixed crops, by subsistence farmers. Low scrub and thorn bushes cover the small hills. The area has been, for many years, deforested by local agricultural practices.
At Luhala, the mean elevation is approximately 1,200 m above sea level, with a series of small sub-rounded hills, rising up to one hundred metres above the surrounding plain. These hills are typically formed by either resistive iron formations or felsic volcanic rocks. Mafic volcanic rocks weather recessively and are typically only exposed in trenches through well formed laterite profiles. Laterite development is extensive with brick-red laterites overlying weak mottled zones and saprolites at a depth of approximately 3-5 ms. Deep weathering penetrates 45 - 60 ms vertically within the subsurface.
An enthusiastic and competent labor force is available through the surrounding villages, and local people have been routinely hired during the trenching, drilling and soil sampling programs conducted on this property. However, no other significant infrastructure is available.
History
Luhala has had a significantly more protracted exploration history than Lunguya, beginning with the initial exploration by the then Tanganyikan Geological Survey in 1947. The exploration history of Luhala may be summarized as:
26
LUHALA EXPLORATION HISTORY SYNOPSIS
Year |
Operator |
Work Performed |
1947 |
Tanganyikan
|
Underground adit, Shilalo West |
1960s |
Unknown |
Minor test pits and trenches |
1994 |
Tan Range |
Grab sampling and panning, Luhala Hills |
1996 |
Tan Range |
Airbourne magnetic survey, 505 m diamond drilling in two drill holes |
1997 |
JCI/Tan Range |
MMI survey, 5,700 samples collected, geological mapping and sampling, 243 grab samples, gradient array IP over Luhala Hills, 5 DDHs for 549 m |
2000 |
Newmont/Tan Range |
251 Rotary Air Blast (RAB) drill holes |
2001 |
Tan Range |
10 DDHs, 1204 m, trenching and sampling, 32 RAB holes, totaling 1969 m. Regional mapping |
2002 |
Tancan |
Property mapping. |
2003 |
Tancan |
Updated geological model |
2004 |
Tancan |
Trenching Kisunge hill, 14 RC holes drilled on new model on Kisunge Hill. |
2005 |
Tancan |
Re-logged all drill holes and trenches. Drill preparation. |
2006 |
Tancan |
Diamond drilling, RC drilling |
2007 |
Sloane Developments Inc. |
Follow-up exploration planning |
Geology
Luhala is found within the eastern portion of the Buhungukira Belt, a local place name assigned to one to the eight greenstone belts in the Lake Victoria District. These rocks are believed to be the eastern continuation of the Geita Greenstone Belt and consist of dominantly Upper Nyanzian rock sequences.
In the Luhala area, the predominant structural grain is dominated by an early deformational event which has deformed all supracrustal rocks into tight, south to southwest plunging, west overturned, synforms and antiforms. The short limbs of these folds may have east-west strikes and modest, 40 degree south dips. The long limbs of these folds have north to northeast strikes and generally much steeper, 60 80 degree, and east dips.
At Luhala, three principal mineralized zones have been identified. These include Kisunge Hill, Shilalo South, and Shilalo West. All of the three principal mineralized areas are linked by a common southwest plunging antiform, the limbs of which are separated by 500 to 800 ms and converge just south of Line 6200 E and 3800 N. Mineralization to Kisunge Hill is associated with a chert felsic volcanic contact. As Shilalo South, structurally controlled gold mineralization closely tracks the position of a massive to locally well-bedded chert or cherty iron formation. The results of diamond drilling in Shilalo West strongly outline the importance of the felsic volcanic - chert structural sites and gold association. For example, borehole LSD 08A is collared in the hangingwall to the Shilalo West mineralized zone, traverses the host rhyolite-chert lithology, and terminates in the footwall. This borehole intersected significant gold mineralization of 3.55 g/t Au over 5 m near the hangingwall contact of the felsic volcanic rocks, and is mineralized repeatedly at over one gram ranges throughout much of the felsic host interval, which in this borehole is over 35 metres thick.
The felsic volcanic rock package at Shilalo West once again presents an excellent structural site for the development of dilatant sites and gold mineralization. As at Shilalo South, a well defined planar, brittle-ductile structural zone was not identified at Shilalo West. Gold distribution is likely related to volumes of extensional and shear extensional veinlets, which are developed within the felsic volcanic rocks at or near, the felsic volcanic red tuff contact.
27
Exploration
At Luhala, three principal mineralized zones have been identified: Kisunge Hill, Shilalo South, and Shilalo West. Gold mineralization is associated with zones of diffuse silicification, localized around small scale fractures within competent chert and felsic volcanic rock units. There has been no exploration work carried out on the Luhala Property during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.
In January 2007 the Company concluded an option royalty agreement with Sloane for its Luhala gold project. Under the option agreement, the Company granted Sloane the right to earn a 100% beneficial interest six of its licenses comprise the Luhala Project. Subsequent to that agreement, the two parties entered into a Management Services Agreement whereby a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty will carry out field and exploration work on the Kisunge and Shilalo Hills targets within the Luhala Project Area
The Company has incurred total net costs (after any recoveries) of $4,233,154 on the Luhala Property to August 31, 2007.
Mineralization
At Luhala, gold mineralization is associated with zones of diffuse silicification, localized around small cm and mm scale fractures within competent chert and felsic volcanic rock units. Major discordant vein structures are not identified and planar high strain zones are absent.
No specific gravity data have been calculated for any of the rocks cored in these intervals and without strong cross sectional control, no reliable resource estimates for any of the principal mineralized zones at Kisunge, Shilalo South and Shilalo West may be calculated.
Drilling
The Phase 7 drill program at Luhala was completed in August 2006 and consisted of nine diamond drill holes aggregating 991 metres. All the holes tested the eastern limb of the Kisunge Main Zone. Among the better intercepts reported from this program was 3.07 metres grading 6.87 g/t. Within this intercept was a 1.44 metres interval averaging 10.95 g/t. Invaluable structural information was obtained from the Phase 7 diamond drilling program which will be utilized in the planning process for follow-up exploration.
THE LUHALA PROPERTY IS WITHOUT KNOWN MINERAL RESERVES AND ANY PROPOSED EXPLORATION PROGRAM IS AN EXPLORATORY SEARCH FOR ORE.
Lunguya Project Area
Property Description and Location
The Lunguya Property is located in the Kahama District of Tanzania (see property location map) , and the Companys interest therein is held indirectly through Tanzam. The Lunguya Property is situated in the Lake Victoria Greenstone Belts, approximately 100 kms by air to the southwest of Mwanza and about 15 kms south of Bulyanhulu. The Lunguya Property consists of ten (10) prospecting licenses (namely, the Lunguya 1766/01, 4594/07 and 2828/04, Lunguya East 1887/02 and 3273/05, Shilela North 2059/02 and 4074/06, Shilela 2472/04 and Lunguya West 2193/03 and 4273/07). These prospecting licenses are in good standing with respect to required filings and payments with the Government of Tanzania.
With respect to Lunguya PL 1766/01 in January, 2003, a Shareholders Agreement was entered into wherein a new company, Lunguya Mining Company Limited (LMC), was created to form a joint venture between Northern Mining and Consultancy Company Limited (NMCCL), Tanzam and LMC. Tanzam has a 60% shareholding and NMCCL has the remaining 40% shareholding in LMC.
28
The Lunguya Property currently covers an area of 297 square kilometres. There are no work requirements, and property payments on each of licenses are as follows:
* First renewal annual rental fees = US$30/sq.km.
** Second renewal annual rental fees = US$50/sq.km.
Through prospecting and mining option agreements, the Company has options to acquire interests ranging from 60% to 75% in the eight (8) licenses. To maintain the options, the Company is required to make certain expenditures and fund all exploration costs of the properties. At Shilela North, through a Prospecting and Mining Option Agreement signed by Tanzam dated June 25, 1999, the Company has a right to obtain a 70% working interest in this project and no royalties are required. The payment schedule is identical at Shilela. At Lunguya East, the Company can earn up to a 70% interest and no royalty is required.
Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources, Infrastructure and Physiography
The Lunguya Property can be reached by plane from Mwanza to an airstrip accommodating Bulyanhuylu or by road via Geita up to the Bulyanhulu/Kahama road intersection. From Kahama, the property is located approximately 8 kms to the south, toward Lunguya village. Secondary roads and trails traverse the property. The Nyamakwenge Reef, located in the northeastern part of the property, can be accessed using a 12 kms dirt tract passing to the north of the property. Climate and elevation are similar to the Luhala Property.
Very little outcrop (less than 1%) has been identified at Lunguya. The entire property is flat and covered largely by granitic sands and grey orange laterities derived from granitic sources. Like Luhala, Lunguya is actively cultivated, but also is being actively mined by a few score artisanal miners along the trend of the Nyamakwenge Reefs. No significant infrastructure, power or water is available on site. However, the entire infrastructure of the region including electricity, air transport, health clinics, schools, and improved road networks, have been greatly improved due to the proximity to Barricks Bulyanhulu mine, some 20 kms to the north.
History
Exploration in the Lunguya area has had a much briefer history than the exploration of the Luhala area. Reconnaissance overviews of this area are documented, but no significant historical exploration activities are known to the Company. The license was acquired by the Company in 2001 and a program of bulk leach extractable gold (BLEG) sampling, geological mapping, rock sampling, reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling was initiated.
29
Geology
The very limited outcrop exposures on the Lunguya concession necessitate development of a geological and interpretive environment largely based on geophysical interpretations.
Regionally, Lunguya is located near the eastern terminus of the inner volcanic arc, lower Nyanzian, of the Sukumaland Greenstone belt. The succession is dominated by tholeiitic volcanic rocks containing lesser felsic tuffaceous rocks and argillaceous horizons cut by thin quartz porphyry dykes and sills. The thick, banded iron formation and felsic flows characteristic of the outer arc Upper Nyanzian sequence are absent. Most of the map scale granite greenstone contacts strike north-south. No information is available with respect to the orientation of sub-surface contacts.
At Lunguya, all currently known, auriferous structural zones track at an oblique angle, the eastern granodiorite-mafic volcanic contact. Auriferous veins strike at 020 ° to 030 ° with the dominant intrusive volcanic contact trending at approximately 360 ° . On the property scale, two 330 ° trending fault structures are interpreted to offset the Lunguya vein into two fault repeated vein segments, having strike lengths of approximately 180 and 300 m. A few score artisanal miners have exploited these veins to a depth not exceeding 30 vertical ms subsurface. A second set of auriferous reefs, the Nyikoboko Reefs, are located 12 kilometres to the south. This area is associated with a smaller set of largely inactive artisanal dumps and workings.
Based on the aeromagnetic data a new model has been proposed whereby a large NS trending shear zone is believed to exist below a thick black cotton soil (mbuga) cover. The thin veins associated with the Nyikoboko and Nyamakwengwe reefs probably represent secondary structures from the main shear. This idea has been tested using biogeochemistry and results are pending.
Exploration
There were no exploration activities carried out on the Lunguya property during fiscal 2007.
The Company has deferred total net costs (after any recoveries and write offs) of $2,834,740 on the Lunguya Property to August 31, 2007.
Mineralization
Lunguya is a mineralized brittle ductile strain zone, developing internal to a major granite-greenstone contact. Gold is associated with one fault offset vein which is likely broken into two segments, the Western and Eastern reefs. Lesser veins are also present. Initial sampling of artisanal vein waste dumps indicated the presence of well mineralized dump samples. The site contained greater than 200 of these small pits-shafts ranging from 1 to 20 metres deep.
Diamond drill and RC programs at Lunguya have demonstrated excellent geological continuity of the Nyamakwenge West and East Reefs but weaker continuity of grade. The difficulty in obtaining representative gold grades from small core samples of vein material containing coarse particulate gold is a well documented phenomenon. Significant assays obtained during the 2002 diamond drill program at Lunguya are summarized in Table 2 of the Revised Luhala and Lunguya 2002 Report. Widths in these boreholes are approximately true widths and the boreholes have been collared roughly perpendicular to the strike and dip of the mineralized structural zones.
30
Drilling
Two programs of drilling where initiated on the Lunguya property during 2002. This included a seven hole RC program totaling 535 metres completed in late August 2002. A follow-up diamond drill program consisting of 1175 metres, in 18 boreholes was completed in November and December of 2002.
Core recovery measurements where made on site by geotechnician of the Company. RC boreholes (LGRC 01 07) utilized the same grid system as the diamond drill program. The location of all drill collars were marked with concrete monuments. Drilling was concentrated on the Lunguya Reefs (11 boreholes) with three boreholes completed on the Nyikoboko Reefs. A series of geological cross-sections and plans (Figures 10 to Figure 18 in the Revised Luhala and Lunguya 2002 Report), summarize the results of these programs. Both RC and diamond drill data are combined on these sections. Drill collar locations for 12 diamond holes and 7 RC holes on the Nyamakwenge Reefs are shown on Figure 9 of the Revised Luhala and Lunguya 2002 Report. Drill logs for diamond drill holes are compiled on Appendix III and for RC holes in Appendix IV of the Revised Luhala and Lunguya 2002 Report. Assay results for diamond drill holes are compiled in Appendix V and RC assay data in Appendix VI of the Revised Luhala and Lunguya 2002 Report.
THE LUNGUYA PROPERTY IS WITHOUT KNOWN MINERAL RESERVES AND ANY EXPLORATION PROGRAM IS AN EXPLORATORY SEARCH FOR ORE.
Tulawaka Project Area
The Tulawaka Project is located in the Biharamulo District of Kagera Region of Tanzania and is approximately 160 kilometres west-southwest of Mwanza. The Tulawaka Project consists of nine (9) prospecting licenses, including six (6) licenses held through Tanzam. These prospecting licenses are in good standing with respect to required filings and payments with the Government of Tanzania. The Company has incurred $955,269 in total costs on the Tulawaka Project to August 31, 2007. Two of the Tulawaka prospecting licences are under option to MDN.
The Tulawaka Project covers an area of approximately 206 square kilometres. The property lies on an east-west magnetic trend, between the Kakindu gold discovery (Ashanti) and the Tuluwaka gold discovery (Pangea). RAB (rotary air blast) drilling on the Mnekezi property intersected mineralized chert sequences which included intersections of 5 metres @ 0.26 grams/tonne gold, 3 metres @ 0.24 grams/tonne gold and 1 metre @ 0.37 grams/tonne gold. Much of this project has been joint ventured to MDN.
Exploration
Some notable exploration successes were reported during the report period by MDN Inc. which has a number of licenses under option from Tanzanian Royalty in the Tulawaka area of Tanzania. In September and October of 2006, MDN tested several gold targets on its 102.9 km² Nyantimba licenses 15 kilometres north of the Tulawaka gold mine. A total of 53 RC holes were drilled as a follow-up to the previous year's rotary air blast (RAB) program which produced a significant discovery of mineralization in the Viyonza zone. Assay results from the 2,689 metres of drilling included 2.0 metres grading 35.95 g/t, 3.0 metres averaging 17.15 g/t and 2.0 metres of 13.18 g/t.
A second discovery of mineralization was made by MDN on ground optioned from Tanzanian Royalty in the Mnezeki area 20 kilometres east of the Tulawaka Gold Mine. This discovery returned one of the highest grade gold intercepts reported from the region in recent years: 30.08 g/t gold over 6.0 metres. Further assay results were reported by MDN from the Mnezeki area in August 2007 including 8.0 metres averaging 2.41 g/t. A total of 1,736 metres of RC drilling and 1,252 metres of RAB drilling have been completed on the Mnezeki Project.
31
The Company has deferred total net costs (after any recoveries and write offs) of $876,756 on the Tulawaka Property to August 31, 2007.
THE TULAWAKA PROPERTY IS WITHOUT KNOWN MINERAL RESERVES AND ANY EXPLORATION PROGRAM IS AN EXPLORATORY SEARCH FOR ORE.
Lake Victoria Goldfield Properties
The following discussion regarding the Lake Victoria Goldfield Properties below is summarized in part from a technical report prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101F dated March 21, 2002 entitled, Project Technical Review on 52 Prospecting Licenses, Lake Victoria Goldfields Tanzania by Stephen R. McMullan, P. Geo. of Poseidon Geophysics (Pty) Ltd. (the 52 PL Report). The reader is referred to the complete text of the 52 PL Report, which is available at www.sedar.com , filed on March 28, 2002 under the heading, Technical Reports.
Property Description and Location
Tanzam, a mineral investment company wholly-owned by the Company, currently holds various interests in 136 prospecting licenses in the Lake Victoria Goldfields Belts of north-western Tanzania (the LVGB) in order to explore for economic mineral deposits.
Tanzam engaged Geodass (Pty) Limited of Johannesburg, South Africa (now Fugro Airborne Surveys (Pty) Limited) to undertake and manage an integrated mineral exploration program in the LVGB in August 1999. The exploration program was designed primarily to explore for gold mineralisation, without bias for mode of occurrence. Other commodities including base metals, diamonds and industrial minerals were also considered and suitable exploration methods were adopted for a multi-commodity approach.
As of the date hereof, Tanzam holds interests in the following licenses:
32
Book # |
Licence Holder/Partner |
Tanzam% |
Project Area |
Old PL# |
New PL# |
Sq Km |
157 |
Y. Shekwavi (Bazo Enterprises) |
65% |
Kigosi |
1/2 PL 1775/01 |
2927/04 |
19.80 |
17 |
Afrigold Limited |
65% |
Kigosi |
1796/01 |
1796/01 |
21.43 |
|
Afrigold Limited |
65% |
Kigosi |
1/2 PL 1796/01 |
Appl. 4271 |
21.8 |
149 |
Hasanet Ltd. (Afrigold Limited) |
65% |
Kigosi |
1/2 PL 1796/01 |
2925/04 |
41.82 |
18 |
Martedo Investment |
65% |
Kigosi |
2449/04 |
R-824 |
17.14 |
|
Martedo Investment |
65% |
Kigosi |
2449/04 |
Appl. 4835 |
17.1 |
19 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Kigosi |
2191/03 |
2191/03 |
73.99 |
192 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Kigosi |
1/2 PL 2191/03 |
PL 4278/07 |
73.41 |
20 |
Abbys Mining Co |
65% |
Kigosi |
1854/2001 |
1854/2001 |
33.93 |
|
Abbys Mining Co |
65% |
Kigosi |
1/2 PL 1854/01 |
Appl. 4539 |
33 |
159 |
Tanzam (Abbys Mining Co.) |
65% |
Kigosi |
1/2 PL 1854/01 |
3178/05 |
86.38 |
21 |
Madaba Minerals Ltd. |
70% |
Lunguya |
1887/02 |
1887/02 |
42.42 |
|
Madaba Minerals Ltd. |
70% |
Lunguya |
1/2 PL 1887/02 |
Appl. 4818 |
|
164 |
Tanzam (Madaba Minerals Ltd.) |
70% |
Lunguya |
Relinquished 1/2 1887/02 |
3273/05 |
42.42 |
24 |
Tanzam (Charles Shumbi) |
70% |
Kigosi |
1762/01 |
1762/01 |
8.64 |
204 |
Tanzam (Charles Shumbi) |
70% |
Kigosi |
1762/01 |
4610/07 |
8.642 |
96 |
Tanzam (Charles Shumbi) |
70% |
Kigosi |
1/2 PL 1762/01 |
2833/04 |
17.29 |
28 |
Northern Mining and Consultancy |
60% |
Lunguya |
1766/01 |
1766/01 |
17.855 |
203 |
Northern Mining and Consultancy |
60% |
Lunguya |
1/2 PL 1766/01 |
PL 4594/07 |
17.86 |
93 |
Lunguya Mining Company (Tanzam & Northern Mining and Consultancy) |
60% |
Lunguya |
1/2 PL 1766/01 |
2828/04 |
35.71 |
29 |
Tanzam(Reapa Bus. Assoc. Inc.) |
65% |
Mbogwe |
1942/02 |
HQ-G15039 |
77.15 |
|
Tanzam(Reapa Bus. Assoc. Inc.) |
65% |
Mbogwe |
1942/02 |
HQ-P15582 |
|
174 |
Tanzam (Reapa Bus. Assoc) |
65% |
Mbogwe |
1/2 PL 1942/02 |
3495/05 |
77.15 |
30 |
Tanzam (Abbys Mining Co.) |
65% |
Lunguya |
2193/03 |
2193/03 |
40.57 |
191 |
Tancan (Abbys Mining Co.) |
65% |
Lunguya |
1/2 PL 2193/03 |
PL 4273/07 |
40.57 |
31 |
Tanzam (Abbys Mining Co.) |
65% |
Mbogwe |
2194/03 |
2194/03 |
69.73 |
190 |
Tancan (Abbys Mining Co.) |
65% |
Mbogwe |
1/2 PL 2194/03 |
4272/07 |
68.44 |
32 |
Tanzam (Abbys Mining Co.) |
65% |
Mbogwe |
2195/03 |
2195/03 |
82.29 |
189 |
Tancan (Abbys Mining Co.) |
65% |
Mbogwe |
1/2 PL 2195/03 |
PL 4274/07 |
78.87 |
33 |
JSN Limited |
70% |
Itetemia |
1300/99 |
2374/03 |
6.57 |
34 |
Dalles & Shamwada |
65% |
Biharamulo |
2510/04 |
HQ-G15020 |
102.9 |
|
Dalles & Shamwada |
65% |
Biharamulo |
2510/04 |
HQ-P15389 |
|
35 |
Germina Lukuvi |
65% |
Kanegele |
1815/01 |
1815/01 |
9.254 |
|
Germina Lukuvi |
65% |
Kanegele |
1/2 PL 1815/01 |
Appl. 4321 |
9.48 |
36 |
Zahabu Investments |
70% |
Lunguya |
2059/02 |
2059/02 |
17.12 |
183 |
Tanzam (Zahabu Investments) |
70% |
Lunguya |
1/2 PL 2059/02 |
4074/06 |
17.14 |
37 |
Fenites Limited |
70% |
Lunguya |
1307/99 |
2472/04 |
51.25 |
|
Fenites Limited |
70% |
Lunguya |
1307/99 |
Appl. 4921 |
|
38 |
Afrigold Limited |
70% |
Mbogwe |
2455/04 |
Appl. 4834 |
143.4 |
|
Afrigold Limited |
70% |
Mbogwe |
1/2 PL 2455/04 |
Appl. 4833 |
|
42 |
JSN Limited |
65% |
Kanegele |
2056/02 |
2056/02 |
11.37 |
184 |
Tanzam (JSN Limited) |
65% |
Kanegele |
1/2 PL 2056/02 |
4075/06 |
11.77 |
43 |
Afrigold Limited |
65% |
Kanegele |
2502/04 |
HQ-G15018 |
51.41 |
|
Afrigold Limited |
65% |
Kanegele |
1/2 PL 2502/04 |
HQ-P15349 |
|
33
Book # |
Licence Holder/Partner |
Tanzam% |
Project Area |
Old PL# |
New PL# |
Sq Km |
45 |
Sigo Gems |
65% |
Kigosi |
1853/2001 |
1853/2001 |
5.466 |
|
Sigo Gems |
65% |
Kigosi |
1/2 PL 1853/01 |
Appl. 4516 |
5.5 |
162 |
Tanzam (Sigo Gems) |
65% |
Kigosi |
1/2 PL 1853/01 |
3181/05 |
11 |
50 |
Tamo Geo-Consult |
80% |
Ushirombo |
1401/99 |
1401/99 |
38.09 |
81 |
Tanzam (Tamo Geo-Consult) |
80% |
Ushirombo |
2466/04 |
R-845 |
74.60 |
|
Tanzam (Tamo Geo-Consult) |
80% |
Ushirombo |
1/2 PL 2466/04 |
Appl. 4913 |
|
180 |
Barrick (Tanzam) (Tamo Geo-Consult) |
80% |
Ushirombo |
1/2 PL 1401/99 |
3073/05 |
36.60 |
53 |
Tangulf Express Ltd. |
85% |
Majimoto |
2070/02 |
2070/02 |
25.41 |
182 |
Tanzam (Tangulf Express Ltd.) |
85% |
Majimoto |
1/2 PL 2070/02 |
4073/06 |
25.41 |
54 |
RSR (T) Ltd. |
90% |
Mwadui |
2513/04 |
HQ-G15021 |
8.381 |
|
RSR (T) Ltd. |
90% |
Mwadui |
1/2 PL 2513/04 |
HQ-P15476 |
|
55 |
RSR (T) Ltd. |
85% |
Kanegele |
2514/04 |
HQ-G15022 |
59.42 |
|
RSR (T) Ltd. |
85% |
Kanegele |
1/2 PL 2514/04 |
HQ-P15475 |
|
56 |
Teddy & Co. |
90% |
Igunga |
2541/04 |
HQ-G15040 |
58.23 |
|
Teddy & Co. |
90% |
Igunga |
1/2 PL 2541/04 |
HQ-P15568 |
|
57 |
Hasanet Limited |
90% |
Mwadui |
2285/03 |
2285/03 |
51.44 |
196 |
Hasanet Limited |
90% |
Mwadui |
1/2 PL 2285/03 |
4515/07 |
51.08 |
58 |
State Mining Co. |
80% |
Nzega |
2576/04 |
HQ-G15099 |
103.8 |
|
State Mining Co. |
80% |
Nzega |
1/2 PL 2576/04 |
HQ-P16107 |
|
60 |
F. Mjasambu & Partners |
90% |
Mwadui |
2701/04 |
HQ-G15183 |
28.44 |
|
F. Mjasambu & Partners |
90% |
Mwadui |
1/2 PL 2701/04 |
HQ-P16785 |
|
61 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Mwadui |
2704/04 |
HQ-G15180 |
14.75 |
|
Tanzam |
100% |
Mwadui |
1/2 PL 2704/04 |
HQ-P16789 |
|
62 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Mwadui |
2705/04 |
HQ-G15181 |
128.3 |
|
Tanzam |
100% |
Mwadui |
1/2 PL 2705/04 |
HQ-P16786 |
|
63 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Kabanga |
PLR 2707/04 |
Appl. R-722 |
198.4 |
64 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Kabanga |
2708/04 |
HQ-G15182 |
64.04 |
|
Tanzam |
100% |
Kabanga |
1/2 PL 2708/04 |
HQ-P16788 |
|
65 |
Abbys Mining Co. |
90% |
Kanegele |
2688/04 |
HQ-G15164 |
13.71 |
|
Abbys Mining Co. |
90% |
Kanegele |
1/2 PL 2688/04 |
HQ-P16587 |
|
66 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Kabanga |
PLR 2827/04 |
4586/07 |
146.2 |
67 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Kabanga |
PLR 2831/04 |
R-741 |
113.7 |
68 |
Hydro-Geos Consulting |
90% |
Mwadui |
PLR 2813/04 |
R-738 |
200 |
69 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Kabanga |
PLR 2706/04 |
|
193.6 |
70 |
Assalaam Almasi |
85% |
Mwadui |
|
2843/04 |
72.0 |
71 |
Givex Company Limited |
90% |
Kibara |
|
2785/04 |
90.96 |
73 |
B. Nguka |
85% |
Kanagele |
|
3098/05 |
57.42 |
74 |
Tanzam (Tamo Geo-Consult) |
80% |
Ushirombo |
1/2 PL 1402/99 |
3102/05 |
21.81 |
75 |
F.Mbaga |
85% |
Kibara |
|
2931/04 |
127.50 |
76 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Igunga |
|
3112/05 |
26.26 |
77 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Mwadui |
|
3113/05 |
22.70 |
78 |
Mdabwa/Yusufu |
90% |
Kibara |
|
3146/05 |
103.0 |
150 |
RSR (Tanzania) Limited |
85% |
Mwadui |
2462/04 |
Appl. 4918 |
51.43 |
151 |
F. Mbaga |
85% |
Nzega |
|
2930/04 |
64.35 |
156 |
Tanzam |
100% |
Kabanga |
PLR 2966/04 |
R-802 |
192.4 |
158 |
B. Nguka |
85% |
Mwadui |
|
3172/05 |
99.70 |
34
As of the date hereof, Tancan holds interests in the following prospecting licenses:
Book # |
License Holder |
Tancan% |
Project Area |
Old PL# |
New PL# |
Sq Km |
101 |
Itetemia Mining Co. Ltd. |
90% |
Itetemia |
1450/00 |
Appl. 4914 |
9.287 |
166 |
Tancan (Itetemia Mining Co. Ltd.) |
90% |
Itetemia |
1/2 PL 1450/00 |
3308/05 |
9.287 |
84 |
Itetemia Mining Co. Ltd. |
90% |
Itetemia |
2523/04 |
HQ-G15024 |
18.57 |
|
Itetemia Mining Co. Ltd. |
90% |
Itetemia |
1/2 PL 2523/04 |
HQ-P15478 |
|
102 |
Tancan |
100% |
Luhala |
1451/00 |
Appl. 4922 |
13.93 |
169 |
Tanzam (Tancan) |
100% |
Luhala |
1/2 PL 1451/00 |
3315/05 |
13.93 |
83 |
Tancan |
|
Luhala |
2519/04 |
HQ-G15023 |
27.865 |
|
Tancan |
|
Luhala |
1/2 PL 2519/04 |
HQ-P15477 |
|
104 |
Tancan |
100% |
Itetemia |
2038/02 |
2038/02 |
8.574 |
194 |
Tancan |
100% |
Itetemia |
1/2 PL 2038/02 |
4517/07 |
8.573 |
106 |
Tancan |
100% |
Itetemia |
1612/00 |
HQ-P16413 |
2.91 |
85 |
Tancan |
100% |
Itetemia |
2578/04 |
HQ-G15061 |
5.82 |
108 |
Widescope Promotion |
100% |
Luhala |
1559/00 |
HQ-P15927 |
6.0 |
109 |
Widescope Promotion |
100% |
Luhala |
1560/00 |
HQ-P15928 |
10.29 |
110 |
Tancan |
100% |
Luhala |
1/2 PL 2297/03 |
4575/07 |
1.895 |
|
Tancan |
100% |
Luhala |
1/2 PL 2297/03 |
HQ-P15138 |
|
113 |
Dia Consult Ltd. |
100% |
Tulawaka |
2473/04 |
R-846 |
54.01 |
|
Dia Consult Ltd. |
100% |
Tulawaka |
1/2 PL 2473/04 |
Appl. 4919 |
|
98 |
Dia Consult Ltd. |
100% |
Tulawaka |
1/2 PL 427/96 |
2803/04 |
55.76 |
124 |
Charles Shumbi |
90% |
Kanagele |
1375/99 |
4552/07 |
5.26 |
92 |
Tancan (Charles Shumbi) |
90% |
Kanagele |
2699/04 |
HQ-G15184 |
5.415 |
|
Tancan (Charles Shumbi) |
90% |
Kanagele |
1/2 PL 2699/04 |
HQ-P16787 |
|
99 |
Tancan (Charles Shumbi) |
90% |
Kanagele |
Relinquished 1/2 (1st renewal) |
2883/04 |
10.5 |
125 |
Mega Deposit Explorers |
90% |
Kigosi |
PLR 2019/02 |
PL 3507/05 |
180.0 |
72 |
Tancan (Mega Deposit Explorers) |
90% |
Kigosi |
3070/05 |
Appl. 4790 |
315.2 |
|
Tancan (Mega Deposit Explorers) |
90% |
Kigosi |
1/21 PL 3070/05 |
Appl. 4791 |
|
130 |
Dismas Calist |
90% |
Shinyanga |
2217/03 |
2217/03 |
62.3 |
131 |
Makweba/Kusundwa |
90% |
Tulawaka |
2295/03 |
2295/03 |
17.47 |
132 |
Eb-Hance Co. |
90% |
Kibara |
2308/03 |
2308/03 |
26.83 |
206 |
Eb-Hance Co. |
90% |
Kibara |
1/2 PL 2308/03 |
4606/07 |
28.52 |
133 |
Mussah Mussah |
90% |
Nyanzaga North |
2279/03 |
2279/03 |
18.18 |
35
The total land area currently held under license is approximately 10,000 km 2 .
History
Prior to Tanzams acquisition of the original fifty-two prospecting licenses (PL), little systematic work using modern exploration methods had been undertaken on the licenses. Tanzam acquired the licenses through negotiation with local vendors and prospectors, and by direct application to the Geological Survey (Madini), within the Mineral Resources Department of the Ministry of Water, Energy and Minerals of Tanzania.
Tanzams interest in the prospecting licenses is variable, depending on the agreements with the individual vendors. However, it is common to all agreements with the vendors that Tanzam has exclusive rights to sell the project to a third party without restraint. Compensation to the vendors remains the responsibility of Tanzam.
Tanzam has granted to BEAL an option to acquire all of the right, title and interest held by Tanzam in prospecting license PL 2374/03.
If such option is exercised, Tanzam is entitled to (i) certain payments after the Commercial Production Date (as defined) with respect to the first mine constructed by BEAL on any property covered by the license; and (ii) a 1.5% net smelter return (which may, in certain circumstances, be reduced).
36
Mineralisation
Lake Victoria Goldfields Belt
The Lake Victoria Goldfields have produced the greatest proportion of Tanzanias mineral wealth and are still the most fertile and prospective for gold exploration. Ninety percent of Tanzanias gold production to 1991 had come from the district and new production is likely. Significant gold resources have been discovered in the Lake Victoria Goldfields in the last decade by other third parties.
Artisanal Gold Mining
Official estimates indicate that artisanal gold mining in Tanzania produces 8 to 15 tonnes of gold per annum. Black market dealers have previously purchased most of this production, but Meremeta (a state-owned gold company) has set up regional buying centres to capture most of this production. The net benefit is both to the State in gaining foreign currency, and to the artisanal miners who can sell gold at set prices based on world commodity markets.
Historically, artisanal miners have only operated on a cash basis, i.e. where the gold grade was less than approximately 40g/t, the artisanals could not profitably mine the ore. Artisanals actively explored the Lake Victoria Goldfields, and have discovered several significant deposits that are currently being developed commercially by other mining companies.
Geology
Tanzania is underlain by the Tanzanian Craton, a crustal block of predominately Archaean (>2,500 Ma) rocks surrounded and overlain by younger sediments and mobile belts. It is one of the core blocks of Africa, and is essentially a continuation of the Congo Craton.
The Lake Victoria Goldfields consist of a granite greenstone terrain that extends northwards into SW Kenya. The internal stratigraphy of the greenstone belts is reasonably well constrained. It consists of a lower, essentially mafic, volcanic unit in which ultramafic rocks are rare, overlain by chemical and classic sediments and then felsic volcanics. This assemblage is called the Nyanzian Group. The Nyanzian Group is unconformably overlain by a classic sedimentary sequence, also Archean, known as the Kavirondian Group. These sediments contain clasts of all Nyanzian lithogies, some of which appear to have been deformed before erosion. In addition they contain debris of some granitoids. However, the main period of granitoid emplacement post-dates the Kavirondian. Although there was early tectonism, the main pervasive deformation post-dates the bulk of the granites, imparting a foliation to all these lithogies. Some Archaean granitoids of the Belt appear to pot-date this foliation. Further discussion on the regional and local geology is set out above, under the section on Geology for the Itetemia Property.
Exploration
Kigosi Project
The Kigosi Property forms part of the greenschist-amphibolite facies metamorphic belts of the Kigosi-Miyabi Granite-Greenstone Terrain situated in the southwestern Sukumaland Greenstone Belt. The terrain is bounded to the south by the Kigosi-Haneti Granitoid Tectonic Zone of extensive granite intrusions and deep-seated lineaments.
The Kigosi Project was the primary focus of the Companys exploration activities during the 2007 reporting year. After repurchasing its rights to Kigosi from AngloGold Ashanti in September 2006, the Company conducted a detailed assessment of the exploration database received from AngloGold Ashanti which was accumulated over roughly a three year period. Follow-up exploration began at Kigosi in November 2006 with the implementation of selected IP traverses over artisanal workings in two highly prospective areas, Luhwaika and Igunda. Drilling commenced later in the same month. A few holes were lost after encountering artisanal
37
mine workings which are common throughout the region. In addition, mechanical difficulties with the drill rig slowed progress as did heavy rain which denied access to the Igunda prospect.
Assay results from the first six RC holes confirmed the Companys initial expectations for the Kigosi property. Drilling within the Luhwaika Main Reef indicated that the reef dipped gently towards the southwest with a true thickness of 1-2 metres. The mineralization is hosted within a sheared, highly silicified and sericitized granite, with gold values ranging from 1.11 to 6.13 g/t. The Luhwaika West Reef, located approximately 200 metres to the southwest of the Luhwaika Main Reef, returned gold values ranging from 3.51 to 11.63 g/t across a true thickness of 2-3 metres.
Drilling at Kigosi resumed the second week of March 2007, and despite several delays because of mechanical problems with the drill rig, the program has been proceeding almost continuously since that time. The programs objective was to test the strike continuity of the Luhwaika reef system which had never been drilled before. It also provided the Company with an opportunity to evaluate surrounding gold-in-soil and geophysical anomalies. On July 13, 2007 a daily record of 261 metres was reported by drill crews, the majority of whom are indigenous Tanzanians.
Results from the Phase 2 RC drilling program at Kigosi were released in early June and confirmed the presence of two previously interpreted vein systems along with high grade gold values. The program consisted of 109 holes aggregating 4,057 metres and focused on an area immediately adjacent to artisanal workings within the Luhwaika prospect area. Drilling within the Luhwaika Main Reef indicates a dip of -22 degrees towards the southwest and a true thickness of 1-2 metres. Mineralization is hosted by a sheared, highly silicified and sericitized granite with gold values ranging up to 23.0 g/t (0.67 oz/t). The Luhwaika West Reef, which sub-outcrops approximately 200 metres to the southwest of the Luhwaika Main Reef, is essentially a mineralized quartz vein, dipping 30 degrees to the southwest with a true thickness of 2-3 metres and with gold values ranging up to 11.63 g/t (0.34 oz/t).
Subsequent to year-end, the Company announced results from a Phase 3 drill program at Kigosi which confirmed the presence of several high grade gold shoots within two previously established shear zones. Among the higher grade gold intercepts reported was 2.0 metres grading 34.25 g/t; 2.0 metres at 7.25 g/t; 2.0 metres averaging 6.65 g/t (0.2 oz/ton); 1.0 metre averaging 13.15 g/t; and 1.0 metre grading 7.31 g/t. The objective of the Phase 3 program was to test the strike continuity of the Luhwaika reef system to the southeast, infill drill the mineralization previously identified towards the northwest, and establish the controls and trends for gold mineralization that extends along a strike length of 900 metres.
A total of 126 holes aggregating 5,362 metres were completed. The two shear zones hosting the high grade shoots were traced along a strike length of 1.2 kilometres. Both shear zones remain open towards the northwest where an Induced Polarization (IP) survey indicates they could extend for at least 4.0 kilometres along strike.
The Company has incurred total net costs (after any recoveries) of $4,061,498 on the Kigosi Project to August 31, 2007.
Kanagele Project
Limited exploration work was carried out on the Kanagele Project during the year ended August 31, 2007.
The Company has incurred total net costs (after any recoveries) of $1,140,999 on the Kanagele Property to August 31, 2007.
38
Ushirombo Project Area
During fiscal 2007, the Company re-evaluated work previously conducted by BEAL on its remaining Ushirombo licences. In-house gradient IP surveys across known soil anomalies and artisinal workings were carried out. Some 31,500 metres of IP lines were surveyed. In addition, in-fill soil sampling was carried out. The Company has incurred total net costs (after any recoveries) of $123,333 which has been written off, on the Ushirombo Property to August 31, 2007.
Diamond Analytical Results
Analytical results were received from eight 50 kilogram kimberlite samples that were sent in for micro-diamond analysis in the latter part of 2006. These samples were collected from RC drilling over eight separate kimberlites that were discovered on two of the Company's diamond licenses. Receipt of the analytical results took much longer than expected because of the heavy backlog of work in diamond laboratories worldwide.
Two of the eight sample composites returned very low quantity (one from each sample) micro diamonds while the remaining six were non-diamondiferous. These results indicate that none of these pipes will be of economic interest and no further work will be conducted on them. Nonetheless, the Company intends to evaluate other licenses in its portfolio that are prospective for diamonds.
THE LAKE VICTORIA GOLDFIELDS PROPERTIES ARE WITHOUT KNOWN MINERAL RESERVES AND ANY EXPLORATION PROGRAM IS AN EXPLORATORY SEARCH FOR ORE.
Kabanga/Kagera Nickel Belt
Three years ago, management recognized that base metal prices - especially nickel - were destined to move substantially higher based on demand from China which has been industrializing at a pace that is arguably without historical precedent.
With this positive demand outlook as an economic driver, the Company applied for open ground within the Kabanga Nickel Belt that was considered to be favorable for hosting magnetic anomalies or differences in the earths magnetic field. These magnetic anomalies are often associated with economic mineral deposits, one of which has been discovered in the belt to date.
The Kabanga Nickel Belt hosts the Kabanga nickel deposit (Barrick Gold/Xstrata plc) which is presently in the feasibility stage and was discovered by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) during the 1970s. The actual discovery was made following a comprehensive geochemical and geophysical program that identified a chain of coincident airborne magnetic and geochemical anomalies within a 20-30 kilometres wide northeasterly trending belt that extends for over 200 kilometres.
The prospecting licenses acquired by the Company cover an area of approximately 4,434 square kilometres within the Kibara Fold Belt of northwestern Tanzania. One of the prospecting licenses is located within a zone of two parallel magnetic highs that extends down to the Kabanga Nickel deposit, while another license hosts a 50 kilometres long magnetic anomaly whose geophysical signature is of similar intensity to the Kabanga nickel deposit. Moderate nickel-in-soil anomalies are evident on some of the licenses as well.
Early in the reporting year following a detailed examination of historical data from the prospecting licenses, the Company began prioritizing exploration targets on its holdings in the Kabanga Nickel Belt. However, before the Company initiated exploration work on its holdings, a Chinese corporate entity and a number of international mineral explorers expressed interest in joint venturing the prospecting licenses. Several parties have been evaluating technical data from the properties with a view to formalizing an agreement that
39
would see staged exploration work conducted on prospective areas within our core nickel holdings.
THE KABANGA/KAGERA NICKEL BELT PROPERTIES ARE WITHOUT KNOWN MINERAL RESERVES AND ANY EXPLORATION PROGRAM IS AN EXPLORATORY SEARCH FOR ORE.
The Company has deferred total net costs of $22,459,627 on all properties to August 31, 2007.
Biogeochemistry
A key component in the Companys optimization of its exploration process is the deployment of biogeochemistry (BGC) techniques in its field programs. One of the major problems confronting mineral explorers in the Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt - and for that matter in most other greenstone belts in the world - is the presence of deep overburden which frequently masks the existence of favorable host rocks for gold, diamonds and other mineral commodities.
Biogeochemical protocols have been developed relating to the selection and analysis of sample materials and specially-trained crews have been put into the field to gather samples for analysis. In addition, a biogeochemistry laboratory has been established in Mwanza for the preparation of sample materials which are then sent to independent laboratories. The BGC program has now been completed and follow-up programs in the form of soil sampling and auguring are presently underway.
Item 5.
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
This discussion and analysis of the operating results and the financial position of the Company for the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes attached hereto.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company is in the process of exploring its mineral properties and has not yet determined whether these properties contain mineral deposits that are economically recoverable. The recoverability of the amounts shown for mineral properties and related deferred costs are dependent upon the existence of economically recoverable reserves, securing and maintaining title and beneficial interest in the properties, obtaining necessary financing to explore and develop the properties, and upon future profitable production or proceeds from disposition of the mineral properties.
In accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, acquisition costs and exploration and development costs relating to mineral properties are deferred until the properties are brought into production, at which time they are amortized on a unit-of-production basis, or until the properties are abandoned or sold or management determines that the mineral property is not economically viable, at which time the deferred costs are written off. Option payments on mineral properties are exercisable at the discretion of the Company and, accordingly, are only recognized as paid.
Amounts recovered from third parties to earn an interest in the Companys mineral properties are applied as a reduction of the deferred exploration costs. The amounts shown as deferred expenditures and property acquisition costs represent net costs to date, less amounts amortized and/or written off, and do not necessarily represent present or future values.
Overhead costs directly related to exploration are allocated to the mineral properties explored during the year and are deferred and amortized using the same method applied to property-specific exploration costs. All other overhead and administration costs are expensed in the year they are incurred.
For the purposes of United States generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP), the Company expenses all exploration expenditures made prior to commercially mineable deposits being identified. Property
40
acquisition costs are capitalized as incurred and are subject to impairment analysis on occurrence of a triggering event. See Note 11(a) of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.
The Consolidated Financial Statements utilize estimates and assumptions principally regarding mineral properties, going concern and future income taxes and stock-based compensation, that reflect managements expectations at the date of preparation. Events or circumstances in the future, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, may impact these expectations and accordingly could lead to different assumptions and estimates from those utilized. Factors that could impact the estimates and assumptions that were made at the date of preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements have been previously discussed under the heading Risk Factors.
A.
Operating Results
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and operating results of the Company for the three years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes to the financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP. The discussion and analysis set for the below covers the results measured under Canadian GAAP. Material differences between the application of Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP to the Companys audited financial statements exist as described in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 compared to fiscal year ended August 31, 2006
The loss before income tax in 2007 was $3,921,000 a $406,000 decrease from last years loss before income taxes of $4,327,000. The major reason for the decreased loss before income taxes in 2007 was due to decreases of write off of mineral properties and deferred exploration costs of $425,000, professional fees of $106,000, transfer agent and listing fees of $76,000, partially offset by an increase in stock-based compensation expense of $103,000, and directors fees of $199,000.
During the year, the fee payable to the Companys auditors increased by $130,000 due to new internal control audit requirements. This was offset by a decrease in legal fees of $212,000. The decreased legal fees were a result of no associated costs relating to the issuance of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and no legal proceedings in current year. The 2007 foreign exchange loss of $125,000 is consistent with that of 2006. Net interest earned was $20,000 for the year ended August 31, 2007, a decrease of $2,000 from 2006. Transfer agent and listing fees decreased from $205,000 in 2006 to $129,000 in 2007 due to fewer private placements during 2007. In 2007, the directors fees increased by $199,000 from $180,000 to $379,000 due to issuance of new RSUs and a 25% increase for directors fees.
For the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company did not record any income tax expense or recovery.
Fiscal year ended August 31, 2006 compared to fiscal year ended August 31, 2005
The loss before income tax in 2006 was $4,327,000; a $748,000 increase from last years loss before income taxes of $3,579,000. The major reason for the higher loss before income taxes in 2006 was due to increases of write off of Mineral properties and deferred exploration costs of $60,000, professional fees of $338,000 and $134,000 in stock-based compensation expense. During the year, professional fees increased as the Company was engaged in litigation which amounted to $243,000; year end audit fees increased by $40,000 and legal fees relating to the issuance of the RSUs was approximately $50,000. Property investigation costs decreased to $24,000 from $134,000 due to a concentrated effort in drilling properties owned. The 2006 foreign exchange loss of $140,000 is consistent with that of 2005. Net interest earned was $23,000 for the year ending August 31, 2006, an increase of $34,000 from 2005 due to higher cash balances in 2006. The increase in Transfer Agent and Listing fees from $140,000 for the year ended August 31, 2005 to $205,000 is largely due to the listing on the American Stock Exchange. The increase in Salaries and Benefits from $691,000 for the year
41
ending August 31, 2005 to $765,000 for the current year is a result of both a larger staff to accommodate the operation of the drill rig and a higher wage level to remain competitive with local salary scales.
The Company recorded a non-cash future income tax recovery of $648,000 during the year ended August 31, 2005 due to additional tax basis accumulating in Tanzania in excess of the carrying value of mineral properties and deferred exploration costs. No such recovery was recorded in the current year, resulting in a loss for the year of $4,327,000 compared to a loss of $2,931,000 in the prior year.
Inflation
Historically, inflation has not affected the Companys business in the current locations where it is doing business and the Company does not expect it to affect the Companys operations in the future.
Foreign Exchange
The Companys financial assets and liabilities consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and other receivables, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities and obligations under the capital lease, of which some are held in different currencies. The Company does not engage in any hedging activities relating to these foreign denominated assets and liabilities.
B.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company had $1,602,000 in cash at August 31, 2007, compared to $3,175,000 as at August 31, 2006. The Company had working capital of $1,546,000 at August 31, 2007, compared to $2,838,000 at August 31, 2006. Although the Company believes it has enough resources through working capital and share subscription agreements to finance operations for its 2008 fiscal year, ultimately the Company will need to obtain additional financing to sustain operations at the present rate of activity. Historically, the Company has raised funds through equity financing, entering into joint venture or royalty agreements with other mining companies, and the exercise of options and warrants to fund its operations. The Companys funding requirements by major expenditure category, listed in order of priority are:
(a)
exploration work,
(b)
new property investigations, and
(c)
general and administrative costs.
Exploration work and new property investigations can generally be deferred until adequate capital resources are available, and general and administrative costs can be reduced during periods when funding is not available.
At this time, the Company has no operating revenues, and does not anticipate any operating revenues unless the Company is able to find, acquire, place in production and operate a profitable mining property.
On February 8, 2005, the Company completed the twenty-fourth (24) tranche of a twenty-four (24) tranche private placement pursuant to a Subscription Agreement dated March 5, 2003 made between the Company and James E. Sinclair, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company for the purchase of 2,137,629 common shares for $2,950,000.
On June 20, 2005 the Company completed a $1,000,000 private placement pursuant to a separate Subscription Agreement between the Company and James E. Sinclair, Chairman and C.E.O. for 819,000 common shares at a price of $1.221 per share.
42
On September 30, 2005 the Company completed a $950,000 private placement pursuant to a separate Subscription Agreement with James E. Sinclair, the Companys Chairman and C.E.O. for the purchase of 442,478 common shares at a price of $2.147 per share.
On February 23, 2006 the Company completed a US$1.25 million private placement pursuant to a separate Subscription Agreement between the Company and James E. Sinclair, Chairman and C.E.O. for 183,440 common shares at a price of C$7.844 per share.
On March 8, 2006 the Company completed a US$1.25 million private placement pursuant to a Subscription Agreement between the Company and Guild Investment Management, Inc. for 215,820 common shares at a price of C$6.667 per share.
On May 12, 2006 the Company completed a $1,000,000 private placement pursuant to a separate Subscription Agreement between the Company and James E. Sinclair, Chairman and C.E.O. for 107,124 common shares at a price of $9.335 per share.
On August 8, 2006 the Company entered into private placement subscription agreement with James E. Sinclair, the Companys Chairman and C.E.O. for the purchase of an aggregate of $3,000,000 worth of common shares of the Company in eight separate quarterly tranches of $375,000 each. The initial quarterly period commenced February 1, 2007. As at November 13, 2007 the Company has completed three (3) of the eight (8) tranche private placement:
(a)
May 28, 2007 66,254 common shares at a price at a price of $5.66 per share;
(b)
August 14, 2007 63,345 common shares at a price of $5.267 per share;
(c)
November 13, 2007 63,993 common shares at a price of$5.86 per share.
On February 13, 2007, the Company completed the eighth (8) tranche of an eight (8) tranche private placement pursuant to a Subscription Agreement dated January 13, 2005 made between the Company and James E. Sinclair, the Companys Chairman and C.E.O. for the purchase of 976,353 common shares for $3,000,000.
On October 26, 2007 the Company completed a private placement pursuant to a subscription agreement dated October 11, 2007 with James E. Sinclair, the Companys Chairman and C.E.O. for the purchase of 347,222 common shares at a price of $5.76 per share.
Mineral Property Projects:
As at August 31, 2007 amounts capitalized in respect of mineral properties were $22,459,627 an increase from August 31, 2006 when the balance was $20,593,948, and an increase from August 31, 2005 when the balance was $19,739,275.
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, the Company capitalized mineral property exploration costs of $3,130,712 (net of option payments received of $411,333 on its mineral resource properties. The Company wrote off $1,265,033 in exploration expenditures on areas abandoned in the year ended August 31, 2007.
For information on the Companys commitments for property and rental payments, refer to Item 4.
C.
Research and Development, Patents and License, etc.
Not Applicable.
43
D.
Trend Information
No known trend.
E.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no material off balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Companys financial condition.
F.
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
The following table sets out the Companys known contractual obligations as of the latest fiscal year end:
Contractual Obligations |
Payments Due by Period |
||||
Total |
Less than
|
2-3 years |
4 years |
More than
|
|
Capital Lease |
US$127,866 (1) |
US$44,829 |
US$83,037 |
Nil |
Nil |
(1)
Includes finance charges
Item 6.
Directors, Senior Management and Employees
A.
Directors and Senior Management
The following is a list of the Companys current directors and officers. The directors named below were all re-elected by the Companys shareholders on February 26, 2007.
Name, Municipality of Residence and Position With the Company |
Principal occupation or employment and, if not a previously elected director, occupation during the past
|
Served as a Director Continuously Since |
James E. Sinclair
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Chairman and CEO of the Company |
April 30, 2002 |
Victoria Luis
Director, Former Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary |
Corporate Accountant of the Company; Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company to August 31, 2006 |
April 30, 2002 |
Regina Kuo-Lee Toronto,Ontario Chief Financial Officer |
Chief Financial Officer of the Company since September 2006; Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance of Trimin Capital Corp. from 2004 to January 2006; Controller of Tektronix Canada Inc. 2003 to 2004; Controller of Evertz Microsystems Inc. 2000 to 2002. |
Not a Director |
44
Name, Municipality of Residence and Position With the Company |
Principal occupation or employment and, if not a previously elected director, occupation during the past
|
Served as a Director Continuously Since |
Jonathan G. Deane
Director, President
|
President of the Company since 2004; Exploration Manager of the Company since 1996 |
September 1, 2006 |
Marek J. Kreczmer
Director |
President, CEO and Director of NWT Uranium Corp. |
July 24, 1991 |
Ulrich E. Rath
Director |
President and CEO and Director of Chariot Resources Ltd. |
October 7, 2003 |
Anton Esterhuizen
Director |
Managing Director, Pangea Exploration (Pty) |
January, 2001 |
William Harvey
Director |
Psychologist |
April 30, 2002 |
Rosalind Morrow
|
Lawyer; Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP |
October 20, 2003 |
Dr. Norman Betts
|
Associate Professor, Faculty of Business Administration, University of New Brunswick and a Chartered Accountant |
January 4, 2005 |
Florian Ngunangwa Dar es Salaam, Tanzanian Vice President East Africa |
Vice President East Africa of the Company |
Not a Director |
Joseph Kahama Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Senior Vice President |
President, Tanzania American International Development Corporation 2000 Limited |
Not a Director |
Helen Hansen Corporate Secretary |
Office Manager of the Company |
Not a Director |
Directors and Senior Management
James E. Sinclair
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mr. Sinclair became Chairman and CEO of the Company following the Companys acquisition in April, 2002 of Tanzam, a Tanzanian gold exploration company formerly controlled by the Sinclair family. Mr. Sinclair, aged 66, devotes his full time to the business and affairs of the Company.
45
Mr. Sinclair is a precious metals specialist and a commodities and foreign currency trader. His past experience includes that of founder of the Sinclair Group of Companies (1977), which offered full brokerage services in stocks, bonds, and other investment vehicles. The companies, which operated branches in New York, Kansas City, Toronto, Chicago, London and Geneva, were sold in 1983. Mr. Sinclair served as a Precious Metal Advisor to Hunt Oil and the Hunt family from 1981 to 1984 for the liquidation of their silver position. Mr. Sinclair was a general partner and member of the executive committee of two New York Stock Exchange firms and also President of Sinclair Global Clearing Corporation (Commodity clearing firm) and Global Arbitrage (derivative dealer in metals and currencies). Mr. Sinclair was President of James Sinclair Financial Research SARL in Luxembourg. Mr. Sinclair held the position of Chairman of Sutton Resources from 1989 to 1995.
Mr. Sinclair is the author of numerous magazine articles and three books, which deal with a variety of investment subjects, including precious metals, trading strategies and geopolitical events and their relationship to world economics and the markets.
Victoria Luis, M.B.A., CSCPA and AICPA Member
Corporate Accountant and Director
Mrs. Luis focuses her energies and experience on strategic planning and other corporate issues. Prior to her association with the Company, she was a board member of Tanzam in addition to being its Chief Financial Officer, a position she also held with an associated company, Sinclair Financial. Before joining Tanzam, Mrs. Luis held various management positions with General Electric Capital Corporation where she was part of a team that facilitated the amalgamation of companies acquired by GE. She earned her Masters of Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting in 1998 and her Bachelors of Science in Finance in 1990. Ms. Luis, aged 38, devotes her full time to the business and affairs of the Company.
Regina Kuo-Lee, C.A.
Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Kuo-Lee was appointed Chief Financial Officer effective September 1, 2006. Ms. Kuo Lee, a Chartered Accountant, has more than 16 years experience in the accounting field, more recently as CFO and Vice President of Finance for Trimin Capital Corp., a management company with large equity interests in operating businesses. She also has several years experience as a Controller in the technology sector and worked as an internal auditor in the brokerage industry after four years with Deloitte & Touche, Chartered Accountants in Toronto. Ms. Kuo-Lee, aged 41, devotes her full time to the business and affairs of the Company.
Jonathan G. Deane, M.Sc. (Geol.), B.Sc. (Honors)
Director and President
Mr. Jonathan G. Deane was appointed to the Board of Directors effective September 1, 2006. Mr. Deane retains his position as President of the Company, including responsibility for all its exploration activities in Tanzania. Prior to his association with the Company, he held various positions with Gold Fields Namibia, including Senior Exploration Geologist, from 1988 to 1994 and Senior Mine Geologist with Otjihase Copper Mine, Central Namibia from April, 1994 to July, 1996. Mr. Deane, aged 46, devotes his full time to the business and affairs of the Company.
Marek J. Kreczmer, M.Sc. (Geol.), B.Sc. (Geol.)
Director
Mr. Kreczmer is President and CEO of NWT Uranium Corp. a Canadian company exploring for uranium in Canada and Niger and precious metals in Mexico. He is a director of Hana Mining Inc., a Canadian company exploring for minerals in Botswana. Mr. Kreczmer is also a Director of Soho Resources Corp., a Canadian company developing a gold deposit in Mexico. Mr. Kreczmer was the President of the Company since its inception in 1991until December 31, 2003. He established the Company's operating subsidiary in Tanzania,
46
Tancan Mining Company Limited (Tancan). Mr. Kreczmer has initiated, formed and operated several exploration joint ventures with senior gold companies. He is responsible for representing the Company's interests in various management and technical committees required to operate these joint ventures, and is currently the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Company.
Mr. Kreczmer has an extensive background in the mineral exploration business. He was a project geologist for two leading Canadian explorers, Cameco and Granges Exploration. The exploration focus for these companies included base metals, uranium and gold. His responsibilities included all aspects of administering the exploration budget, on-site field management, and the set-up and establishment of an exploration team to deal with specific project objectives. Mr. Kreczmer, aged 56, devotes approximately 10% of his time to the business and affairs of the Company.
Ulrich E. Rath
Director
Mr. Rath has a wide range of experience in the mining industry, and has specific experience in South Africa and Peru. Currently Mr. Ulrich Rath is the President and CEO and Director of Chariot Resources Ltd., a junior resource company focused on the exploration, acquisition and development of copper and precious metal mineral deposits in the Andes region of Latin America. As the former President, CEO and Director of Chimera Gold Corp. (previously known as EAGC Ventures). Ulrich Rath was responsible for facilitating the $US67 million acquisition of gold operations in the East Rand region of South Africa that now produce more than 200,000 ounces gold per annum. Subsequently, the Board of Chimera agreed to a 1:1 merger with Bema Gold Corp. He was formerly CEO and director of Compania Minera Milpo a medium sized Peruvian zinc mining company. Mr. Rath was also formerly Vice-President, Corporate Development, for Rio Algom Ltd. from December 1992 to October 1998. Rio Algom Ltd. was a U.S. reporting issuer, whose common shares were listed on the American Stock Exchange. Mr. Rath, aged 61, devotes approximately 10% of his time to the business and affairs of the Company.
Anton Esterhuizen
Director
Mr. Esterhuizen is an experienced geologist working extensively in Africa. Among his career highlights, he is credited with the discovery and evaluation of the Xstrata Group's world-class, high-grade Rhovan vanadium deposit in South Africa, the re-evaluation of the sizeable Burnstone gold deposit, also in South Africa, and a number of Tanzanian gold deposits, including the Tulawaka deposit, which attracted major players into Tanzania. He is responsible for the discovery of a number of titanium-zirconium mineral sand deposits including the world class Corridor Sands deposit in Mozambique and the Kwale deposit in Kenya. At present, Mr. Esterhuizen is Managing Director of Pangea Exploration (Pty) Limited in Johannesburg and a director of Northwestern Mineral Ventures Inc. Mr. Esterhuizen is a fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa and the first recipient of the Des Pretorius Memorial Award for outstanding work in economic geology in Africa. He also received the Dreyer Award from the Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration Inc. for outstanding achievements in applied economic geology. Mr. Esterhuizen, aged 56 devotes approximately 5% of his time to the business and affairs of the Company.
Dr. William Harvey, B.A., Ph.D.
Director
Dr. Harvey is a Clinical Psychologist, who for over thirty years has served as a consultant and technical expert on matters relating to substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion to a wide variety of private and governmental programs and agencies in the United States. These include the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention, and the National Mental Health Association. Formerly, an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Sociology at Washington University, his current academic affiliation is that of Senior Research Scientist at the
47
Missouri Institute of Mental Health. He continues to be involved in the formulation of new programs and policies aimed at the betterment of society. The Sinclair family has already made a significant donation to a private trust, The Tanzanian Relief Fund, which in turn has funded the hospital at Bulyanhulu. Dr. Harvey will expand the role which the Company has at the local level to ensure that stakeholder interests are addressed. Dr. Harvey, aged 74, devotes approximately 10% of his time to the business and affairs of the Company.
Rosalind Morrow , B.A., B.Ed., LL.B .
Director
Ms. Morrow specializes in corporate and securities law with a particular emphasis on financings, including government and structured finance, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. She has advised Canadian and international corporations in a number of major projects in the financial, communications and resource sectors. Ms. Morrow devotes approximately 10% of her time to the business and affairs of the Company.
Dr. Norman Betts, Ph.D.
Director
Dr. Betts is an associate professor, Faculty of Business Administration, University of New Brunswick (UNB) and a Chartered Accountant Fellow (FCA). Dr. Betts serves as a Chair of the board of directors Starfield Resources Inc. and as a director and member of the audit committees of Tembec Inc, New Brunswick Power Corporation, Export Development Canada, Adex Mining Inc and Rtica Corporation and as a director and officer of Chairman Capital Corporation, a capital pool corporation. He is a co-chair of the board of trustees of the UNB Pension Plan for Academic Employees and is a director of the Nature Conservancy for the Atlantic region. He is a former Finance Minister and Minister of Business New Brunswick with the Province of New Brunswick. He was awarded a PhD in Management from the School of Business at Queens University in 1992. Dr. Betts devotes approximately 10% of his time to the business and affairs of the Company.
Penalties or Sanctions
No directors or officers of the Company, or a shareholder holding a sufficient number of securities of the Company to affect materially the control of the Company has:
(a)
been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to Canadian securities legislation or by a Canadian securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a Canadian securities regulatory authority; or
(b)
been subject to an other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision;
except for Mr. James E. Sinclair who entered into a settlement agreement dated July 22, 1998 with the British Columbia Securities Commission and paid a fine of $2,000 in connection with the issuance of a news release and proxy circular prepared in connection with a proxy contest for Sutton Resources Ltd. (Sutton), a reporting issuer of which Mr. Sinclair was a director, which contained a statement which was not accurate, since the statement was not properly qualified to distinguish between the acquisition cost and current market cost of the Sutton shares in question.
Personal Bankruptcies
No director or officer of the Company, or a shareholder holding a sufficient number of securities of the Company to affect materially the control of the Company, or a personal holding company of any such persons has, within the 10 years before the date of this Annual Report, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or
48
compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets of the director or officer.
Conflicts of Interest
There is no existing material conflict or interest between the Company or its subsidiaries and a director or officer of the Company or its subsidiaries. However, certain directors and officers of the Company are and may continue to be involved in the mining and mineral exploration industry through their direct and indirect participation in corporations, partnerships or joint ventures which are potential competitors. Situations may arise in connection with potential acquisitions and investments where the other interests of these directors and officers may conflict with the interests of the Company. As required by law, each of the directors of the Company is required to act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. Any conflicts which arise shall be disclosed by the directors and officers in accordance with the Business Corporation Act (Alberta) and they will govern themselves in respect thereof to the best of their ability with the obligations imposed on them by law.
B.
Compensation
The Company has three (3) executive officers, namely James E. Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Regina Kuo-Lee, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and Jonathan G. Deane, President of the Company.
The following table sets forth particulars concerning the compensation since their appointments of the executive officers, as defined in Form 51-102F6 prescribed by the Regulations under the Securities Act of the Province of Alberta, for the Companys last three fiscal years ended August 31, 2007:
Name and Principal Position
|
Fiscal Year
|
Annual Compensation |
Long Term Compensation |
All Other Compen-
|
||||
Salary
|
Bonus
|
Other Annual Compen-
|
Awards |
Shares or Units Subject to Resale Restrictions
|
Payouts |
|||
/SARs Granted (#)
|
LTIP Payouts
|
|||||||
James E. Sinclair,
|
2007 2006 2005 |
Nil Nil $36,861 |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil $6,250 $10,000 |
N/A N/A Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Regina Kuo-Lee, Chief Financial Officer |
2007 2006 2005 |
$90,000 $9,800 N/A |
$7,500 Nil N/A |
Nil Nil N/A |
4,480 Nil N/A |
Nil Nil N/A |
$4,500 N/A N/A |
Nil N/A N/A |
Jonathan G. Deane,
|
2007 2006 2005 |
$115,113 $118,071 $125,973 |
$6,304 $4,658 Nil |
$4,700 $5,450 $6,000 |
11,201 6,964 Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
$5,748 $5,907 $6,299 |
Nil Nil Nil |
The Company has not set aside or accrued any funds for pension, retirement or similar benefits.
Long Term Incentive Plan Awards to Named Executive Officers
The Company has made long-term incentive plan awards during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, to executive officers of the Company. See Restricted Stock Unit Plan and Employee Share Ownership Plan.
49
Options (including Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)) and SARs Exercised by Named Executive Officers
The following options were exercised during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 by the named executive officers:
Name
|
Securities
|
Aggregate
|
Unexercised
|
Value of
/SARs
($)
|
James E. Sinclair,
|
Nil |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Regina Kuo-Lee, Chief Financial Officer |
N/A |
N/A |
4,480 |
$24,998 |
Jonathan Deane,
|
N/A |
N/A |
18,165 |
$112,531 |
Directors Fees, Restricted Stock Unit Plan, Stock Option Plan and Employee Share Ownership Plan
The Restricted Stock Unit Plan (the RSU Plan) was approved by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting held February 27, 2006. The Board of Directors has implemented the RSU Plan under which employees and outside directors are compensated for their services to the Company. Annual compensation for outside directors is $62,500 per year, plus $6,250 per year for serving on Committees, plus $3,125 per year for serving as Chair of a Committee. At the election of each individual director, up to one- third of the annual compensation may be received in cash, paid quarterly. The remainder of the directors annual compensation (at least two-thirds, and up to 100%) will be awarded as Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) in accordance with the terms of the RSU Plan and shall vest within a minimum of one (1) year and a maximum of three (3) years, at the election of the director, subject to the conditions of the RSU Plan with respect to earlier vesting.
At the election of each Director, Directors fees of $102,473 were paid to directors during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007. Under the RSU Plan, outside directors were granted 63,545 RSUs during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.
In addition to these arrangements, directors are also compensated by the Company for their services in their capacity as directors under a Stock Option Plan (the Plan). The Plan is administered by the Companys Board of Directors and options are granted at their discretion. The number of shares reserved and available for issue under the Plan shall not exceed 8,144,132 or such greater number of shares as may be determined by the Board and approval, if required, by the shareholders of the Company and by any relevant stock exchange or other regulatory authority. Options must expire no later than five years from the date such options are granted. As of April 3, 2003, the Board resolved that the Company will not grant any further options under the Plan and that upon exercise or expiration of all stock options currently outstanding, the Plan be terminated. The last of the remaining stock options outstanding under the Plan were exercised and the Plan has terminated.
Restricted Stock Unit Plan
The RSU Plan was approved by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting held February 27, 2006. The RSU Plan is intended to enhance the Corporations and its Affiliatesability to attract and retain highly qualified officers, directors, key employees and other persons, and to motivate such officers, directors, key employees and
50
other persons to serve the Corporation and its Affiliates and to expend maximum effort to improve the business results and earnings of the Corporation, by providing to such persons an opportunity to acquire or increase a direct proprietary interest in the operations and future success of the Corporation. To this end, the RSU Plan provides for the grant of restricted stock units. Any of these awards of restricted stock units may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward attainment of annual or long-term performance goals in accordance with the terms of the RSU Plan. Any such performance goals are specified in the Award Agreement.
Employee Share Ownership Plan
By an agreement dated May 1, 2003, the Company appointed Olympia Trust Company of Calgary, Alberta, as trustee (the Trustee) to manage and administer an employee share ownership plan (ESOP). Under the ESOP, eligible employees, directors, and consultants can elect to contribute up to 30% of their salary or compensation on a monthly basis for investment by the Trustee in shares of the Company. The Company will contribute funds equal to 100% of the employees contribution up to an amount equal to 5% or less of the employees salary. The Company will contribute funds equal to 50% of the employees contribution for the next 6% to 30% inclusive of the employees salary. All share purchases will be at market prices at the time of purchase, through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange using registered representatives. During fiscal 2007, eleven participants, together with Company contributions, have purchased 20,480 common shares under the ESOP. The average monthly participant contributions are $5,373 and the Companys matching contribution is $5,318 per month.
Employment Agreements
There are currently no service or employment contracts with directors or officers of the Company, except for the employment contract dated June 8, 2004 with Jonathan Deane, which provides for a remuneration of US$375 per day, on an after tax basis, and payable monthly, plus employee benefits including accommodation and board in Mwanza at the Companys staff house.
C.
Board Practices
The directors of the Company serve a one year term and are elected at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders. At the last Annual General Meeting, held on February 26, 2007, the shareholders elected James E. Sinclair, Marek J. Kreczmer, Victoria Luis, Anton Esterhuizen, William Harvey, Rosalind Morrow, Norman Betts, Ulrich E. Rath and Jonathan Deane as directors. The officers of the Company are elected by the Board serve at the pleasure of the Board.
The Company has an audit committee (the Audit Committee) consisting of Ulrich E. Rath, William Harvey and Dr. Norman Betts. The roles and responsibilities of the audit committee have been specifically defined as described below under Audit Committee Information, and include responsibilities for overseeing management reporting on internal control. The audit and compensation committee has direct communication channels with the external auditors.
The Company also has a compensation committee (the Compensation Committee) comprised of Ulrich E. Rath, William Harvey and Dr. Norman Betts. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the compensation paid to directors, management, and employees based on such factors as time commitment, comparative fees paid by other companies in the industry in North America and Africa, level of responsibility and the Companys current position as an exploration company with limited operating revenue.
The Company also has a nominating committee (the Nominating Committee) comprised of Ulrich E. Rath, William Harvey and Dr. Norman Betts. The Nominating Committee considers the size of the Board each year when it considers the number of directors to recommend to shareholders for election at the annual meeting of shareholders, taking into account the number required to carry out the Boards duties effectively and to maintain a diversity of view and experience. When a vacancy on the Board arises, the independent directors of the Nominating
51
Committee will be encouraged to bring forward any potential nominees that have the necessary skills and knowledge to serve on the Corporations Board.
The Company has a Technical Committee comprised of Marek J. Kreczmer (Chairman), Ulrich E. Rath, Anton Esterhuizen, and Jonathan Deane. The Technical Committee reviews the definitive exploration policy for the Company and reports directly to the Board of Directors.
AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION
Under Multilateral Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees (MI 52-110) reporting issuers in those jurisdictions which have adopted MI 52-110 are required to provide disclosure with respect to its Audit Committee including the text of the Audit Committees Charter, composition of the Committee, and the fees paid to the external auditor. The Company is a reporting issuer in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario. MI 52-110 has not been adopted in B.C., but it has been adopted in Alberta and Ontario. Accordingly, the Company provides the following disclosure with respect to its Audit Committee:
1. The Audit Committees Charter
1.0
Purpose of the Committee
1.1
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its oversight of the integrity of the Corporation's financial statements and other relevant public disclosures, the Corporation's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to financial reporting, the external auditors' qualifications and independence and the performance of the internal audit function and the external auditors.
2.0
Compensation
2.1
The adequacy and form of director and officer compensation is reviewed on an annual basis by the Board. The Audit Committee recommends to the Board any adjustments to the compensation payable to directors, officers, and senior staff. The Audit Committee meet to discuss salary and bonus incentive matters as required.
3.0
Members of the Audit Committee
3.1
All of the members of the Audit Committee must be "financially literate" as defined under MI 52-110, Audit Committees , having sufficient accounting or related financial management expertise to read and understand a set of financial statements, including the related notes, that present a breadth and level of complexity of the accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Corporation's financial statements.
3.2
The Audit Committee shall consist of no less than three Directors.
3.3
All of the members of the Audit Committee shall be "independent" as defined under MI 52-110.
4.0
Relationship with External Auditors
4.1
The external auditors are the independent representatives of the shareholders, but the external auditors are also accountable to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee.
4.2
The external auditors must be able to complete their audit procedures and reviews with professional independence, free from any undue interference from the management or directors.
52
4.3
The Audit Committee must direct and ensure that the management fully co-operates with the external auditors in the course of carrying out their professional duties.
4.4
The Audit Committee will have direct communications access at all times with the external auditors.
4.5
The Audit Committee will ensure the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law.
4.6
The Audit Committee will recommend to the Board of Directors policies for the Corporations hiring of employees or former employees of the external auditors who participated in any capacity in the audit of the Corporation.
5.0
Non-Audit Services
5.1
The external auditors are prohibited from providing any non-audit services to the Corporation, without the express written consent of the Audit Committee. In determining whether the external auditors will be granted permission to provide non-audit services to the Corporation, the Audit Committee must consider that the benefits to the Corporation from the provision of such services, outweighs the risk of any compromise to or loss of the independence of the external auditors in carrying out their auditing mandate.
5.2
Notwithstanding section 5.1, the external auditors are prohibited at all times from carrying out any of the following services, while they are appointed the external auditors of the Corporation:
(i)
acting as an agent of the Corporation for the sale of all or substantially all of the undertaking of the Corporation; and
(ii)
performing any non-audit consulting work for any director or senior officer of the Corporation in their personal capacity, but not as a director, officer or insider of any other entity not associated or related to the Corporation.
6.0
Appointment of Auditors
6.1
The external auditors will be appointed each year by the shareholders of the Corporation at the annual general meeting of the shareholders.
6.2
The Audit Committee will nominate the external auditors for appointment, such nomination to be approved by the Board of Directors.
7.0
Evaluation of Auditors
7.1
The Audit Committee will review the performance of the external auditors on at least an annual basis, and notify the Board and the external auditors in writing of any concerns in regards to the performance of the external auditors, or the accounting or auditing methods, procedures, standards, or principles applied by the external auditors, or any other accounting or auditing issues which come to the attention of the Audit Committee.
8.0
Remuneration of the Auditors
8.1
The remuneration of the external auditors will be determined by the Board of Directors, upon the annual authorization of the shareholders at each general meeting of the shareholders.
53
8.2
The remuneration of the external auditors will be determined based on the time required to complete the audit and preparation of the audited financial statements, and the difficulty of the audit and performance of the standard auditing procedures under generally accepted auditing standards and generally accepted accounting principles of Canada.
9.0
Termination of the Auditors
9.1
The Audit Committee has the power to terminate the services of the external auditors, with or without the approval of the Board of Directors, acting reasonably.
10.0
Funding of Auditing and Consulting Services
10.1
Auditing expenses will be funded by the Corporation. The auditors must not perform any other consulting services for the Corporation, which could impair or interfere with their role as the independent auditors of the Corporation.
11.0
Role and Responsibilities of the Internal Auditor
11.1
At this time, due to the Corporation's size and limited financial resources, the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall be responsible for implementing internal controls and performing the role as the internal auditor to ensure that such controls are adequate.
12.0
Oversight of Internal Controls
12.1
The Audit Committee will have the oversight responsibility for ensuring that the internal controls are implemented and monitors, and that such internal controls are effective.
13.0
Continuous Disclosure Requirements
13.1
At this time, due to the Corporation's size and limited financial resources, the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation is responsible for ensuring that the Corporation's continuous reporting requirements are met and in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
14.0
Other Auditing Matters
14.1
The Audit Committee may meet with the Auditors independently of the management of the Corporation at any time, acting reasonably.
14.2
The Auditors are authorized and directed to respond to all enquiries from the Audit Committee in a thorough and timely fashion, without reporting these enquiries or actions to the Board of Directors or the management of the Corporation.
15.0
Annual Review
15.1
The Audit Committee Charter will be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee to assess the adequacy of this Charter.
16.0
Independent Advisers
16.1
The Audit Committee shall have the power to retain legal, accounting or other advisors to assist the Committee.
54
17.0
Reports of Fraud and Misconduct
17.1
The Audit Committee will review, investigate and evaluate all reports of fraud and misconduct. Refer to the Corporations Whistle Blower Policy and Procedures.
18.0
Changes in Accounting Policies
18.1
The Audit Committee will review and maintain Accounting Policies including the selection, documentation and changes in Accounting Policies.
19.0
Nominating Committee
19.1
The Nominating Committee considers the size of the Board of Directors each year when it considers the number of directors to recommend to shareholders for election at the annual meeting of shareholders, taking into account the number required to carry out the Boards duties effectively and to maintain a diversity of view and experience. When a vacancy on the Board arises, the independent directors of the Nominating Committee will be encouraged to bring forward any potential nominees that have the necessary skills and knowledge to serve on the Corporations Board.
2. Composition of the Audit Committee
Following are the members of the Audit Committee:
Ulrich Rath |
Independent (1) |
Financially literate (2) |
William Harvey |
Independent (1) |
Financially literate (2) |
Norman Betts (Chair) |
Independent (1) |
Financial expert (3) |
(1) A member of an audit committee is independent if the member has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company, which could, in the view of the Board of Directors, reasonably interfere with the exercise of a members independent judgment.
(2) An individual is financially literate if he has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Companys financial statements.
(3) An Audit Committee Financial Expert must possess five attributes: (i) an understanding of GAAP and financial statements; (ii) the ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves; (iii) experience preparing auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the registrants financial statements, or experience actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities; (iv) an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting; and (v) an understanding of audit committee functions.
3. Relevant Education and Experience
Dr. Betts is the Chair of the Committee. He is the former Minister of Finance of New Brunswick and current Associate Professor of Business Administration, University of New Brunswick; Mr. Rath is the President and CEO of a Canadian resource company; and Dr. William Harvey is a psychologist and businessman.
4.- 6. Reliance on Certain Exemptions
At no time since the commencement of the Companys most recently completed financial year has the Company relied on the exemption in Section 2.4 of MI 52-110 (De Minimis Non-audit Services), Section 3.3(2) (Controlled Companies), Section 3.6 (Temporary Exemption for Limited and Exceptional Circumstances), or an exemption from MI 52-110, in whole or in part, granted under Part 8 of Multilateral Instrument 52-110. Nor has
55
the Company relied on Section 3.8 (Acquisition of Financial Literacy) of MI 52-110.
7. Audit Committee Oversight
At no time since the commencement of the Companys most recently completed financial year was a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor not adopted by the Board of Directors.
8. Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee is authorized by the Board of Directors to review the performance of the Companys external auditors and approve in advance the provision of services other than auditing and to consider the independence of the external auditors, including a review of the range of services provided in the context of all consulting services bought by the Company. The Audit Committee is authorized to approve in writing any non-audit services or additional work which the Chairman of the Audit Committee deems is necessary, and the Chairman will notify the other members of the Audit Committee of such non-audit or additional work and the reasons for such non-audit work for the Committees consideration, and if thought fit, approval in writing.
9. External Auditor Service Fees
The fees billed by the Companys external auditors in each of the last two fiscal years for audit and non-audit related services provided to the Company or its subsidiaries (if any) are as follows:
Financial Year EndingAugust 31 |
Audit Fees |
Audit Related Fees |
Tax Fees |
Non-Audit Fees |
2007 |
Canada - $150,000 Tanzania US$5,000 |
$16,250 Nil |
Nil Nil |
$57,400 Nil |
2006 |
Canada - $80,000 Tanzania US$5,000 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
D.
Employees
The Company has one (1) full time employee located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, one (1) full time employee located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 46 full time employees located in Mwanza, Tanzania, and two (2) full time employees located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Company also contracts three or more persons on a full time or part time basis as dictated by the exploration activities on its properties. The full time and temporary employees of the Company as at the most recent fiscal year end can be grouped according to main category of activity and geographic location as follows:
Location |
Category |
Full Time Employees |
Temporary Employees |
Full Time Consultants |
Part Time Consultants |
Vancouver, Canada |
Administration |
1 |
Nil |
Nil |
1 |
Toronto, Canada |
Administration |
1 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Mwanza, Tanzania |
Administration |
3 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Exploration |
43 |
Nil |
2 |
1 |
|
Dar es Salaam,
|
Administration |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
Nil |
Exploration |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
56
Location |
Category |
Full Time Employees |
Temporary Employees |
Full Time Consultants |
Part Time Consultants |
Connecticut, USA |
Administration |
Nil |
Nil |
2 |
1 |
Exploration |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
E.
Share Ownership
The following table sets forth the share ownership of the directors and officers of the Company as of August 31, 2007:
Options Granted to Directors and Officers During the Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2007
No stock options were granted to directors or officers during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, or subsequent thereto, to the date of this Annual Report. As of April 3, 2003, the Board resolved that the Company will not grant any further options under the Stock Option Plan and that upon exercise or expiration of all stock options currently outstanding, the Stock Option Plan be terminated. The last of the remaining stock options outstanding under the Stock Option Plan were exercised and the Stock Option Plan has been terminated.
Outstanding Stock Options
There are no outstanding stock options held by directors and officers of the Company.
RSUs Granted to Directors and Officers During the Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2007:
Name |
No. of RSUs |
Date of Grant |
Vesting Period (1) |
Expiration Date |
Victoria Luis |
7,616 |
April 26, 2007 |
1 year |
April 26, 2008 |
Jonathan G. Deane |
11,201 |
April 26, 2007 |
3 years |
April 26, 2010 |
Marek J. Kreczmer |
8,587 |
April 26, 2007 |
1 year |
April 26, 2008 |
Ulrich E. Rath |
9,095 |
April 26, 2007 |
1 year |
April 26, 2008 |
Anton Esterhuizen |
10,170 |
April 26, 2007 |
1 year |
April 26, 2008 |
William Harvey |
8,289 |
April 26, 2007 |
1 year |
April 26, 2008 |
Rosalind Morrow |
11,201 |
April 26, 2007 |
3 years |
April 26, 2010 |
Norman Betts |
8,587 |
April 26, 2007 |
1 year |
April 26, 2008 |
Helen Hansen |
4,480 |
April 26, 2007 |
3 years |
April 26, 2010 |
Regina Kuo-Lee |
4,480 |
April 26, 2007 |
3 years |
April 26, 2010 |
57
Joseph Kahama |
5,600 |
April 26, 2007 |
3 years |
April 26, 2010 |
RSUs held by officers and
|
89,306 |
|
(1) Subject to the conditions of the RSU Plan with respect to earlier vesting
Outstanding RSUs
RSUs granted to directors and officers during fiscal year 2007 are outstanding as at August 31, 2007.
The following RSUs granted to Directors during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006 vested during fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 and shares were issued on April 11, 2007:
Name |
No. of Shares |
Date of Grant |
Vesting Period |
Expiration Date |
Marek J. Kreczmer |
5,501 |
April 11, 2006 |
1 year |
April 11, 2007 |
Ulrich E. Rath |
2,368 |
April 11, 2006 |
1 year |
April 11, 2007 |
Anton Esterhuizen |
5,989 |
April 11, 2006 |
1 year |
April 11, 2007 |
William Harvey |
5,223 |
April 11, 2006 |
1 year |
April 11, 2007 |
Rosalind Morrow |
7,660 |
April 11, 2006 |
1 year |
April 11, 2007 |
Norman Betts |
5,501 |
April 11, 2006 |
1 year |
April 11, 2007 |
Item 7.
Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
A.
Major Shareholders
As far as it is known to the Company, it is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any other corporation or by the Canadian Government, or any foreign government. The Company has no knowledge of any arrangements which at a subsequent date would result in a change of control. All of the Companys issued common shares rank equally as to voting rights, dividends, and any distribution of assets on winding-up or liquidation.
As of August 31, 2007, the Company knows of no person who owned more than five (5%) of the outstanding shares of each class of the Companys voting securities.
The following table sets out the portion of common shares of the Company held by registered shareholders in Canada, the United States of America, and all other countries by total number of holders, total shareholdings, percentage of total issued shares, and percentage of total holders as at August 31, 2006:
Jurisdiction
|
Number of Shareholders |
Number of Common Shares |
Percentage of Total Issued Shares |
Percentage of Total Holders |
United States |
280 |
36,508,891 |
42.10% |
77.60% |
Canada |
61 |
50,032,191 |
57.67% |
16.90% |
Other Countries |
20 |
207,411 |
0.23% |
5.50% |
TOTAL |
361 |
86,748,493 |
100% |
100% |
58
B.
Related Party Transactions
Financing
On October 26, 2007 the Company completed a private placement pursuant to a subscription agreement dated October 11, 2007 with James E. Sinclair, the Companys Chairman and C.E.O. for the purchase of 347,222 common shares at a price of $5.76 per share.
On February 13, 2007, the Company completed the eighth (8) tranche of an eight (8) tranche private placement pursuant to a Subscription Agreement dated January 13, 2005 made between the Company and James E. Sinclair, the Companys Chairman and C.E.O. for the purchase of 976,353 common shares for $3,000,000.
On August 8, 2006 the Company entered into private placement subscription agreement with James E. Sinclair, the Companys Chairman and C.E.O. for the purchase of an aggregate of $3,000,000 worth of common shares of the Company in eight separate quarterly tranches of $375,000 each. The initial quarterly period commenced February 1, 2007. As at November 13, 2007 the Company has completed three (3) of the eight (8) tranche private placement:
(a)
May 28, 2007 66,254 common shares at a price at a price of $5.66 per share;
(b)
August 14, 2007 63,345 common shares at a price of $5.267 per share;
(c)
November 13, 2007 63,993 common shares at a price of$5.86 per share.
On May 12, 2006 the Company completed a $1,000,000 private placement pursuant to a separate Subscription Agreement between the Company and James E. Sinclair for 107,124 common shares at a price of $9.335 per share.
On February 23, 2006 the Company completed a US$1.25 million private placement pursuant to a separate Subscription Agreement between the Company and James E. Sinclair for 183,440 common shares at a price of $7.844 per share.
On September 30, 2005 the Company completed a $950,000 private placement pursuant to a separate Subscription Agreement with the Companys Chairman and C.E.O. for the purchase of 442,478 common shares at a price of $2.147 per share.
On June 20, 2005 the Company completed a $1,000,000 private placement pursuant to a separate Subscription Agreement between the Company and James E. Sinclair for 819,000 common shares at a price of $1.221 per share.
On February 8, 2005, the Company completed the twenty-fourth (24) tranche of a twenty-four (24) tranche private placement pursuant to a Subscription Agreement dated March 5, 2003 made between the Company and James E. Sinclair, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company for the purchase of 2,137,629 common shares for $2,950,000.
On January 30, 2004 the Company completed a $1,000,000 private placement pursuant to a separate Subscription Agreement dated January 5, 2004 between the Company and James E. Sinclair for 622,278 common shares at a price of $1.607 per share.
AMEX COMPANY GUIDE SECTION 110 DISCLOSURE:
The Company entered into a private placement and subscription agreement with Mr. Sinclair, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of August 8, 2006 (the "Subscription Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreement, Mr. James E. Sinclair has agreed to purchase and the Company has agreed to issue to Mr. Sinclair, CDN. $3,000,000 worth of common shares in the capital of the
59
Company in eight quarterly instalments commencing with the quarter ended April 30, 2007 (the "Private Placement"). The price per common share in respect of each quarterly instalment will be equal to the five-day weighted average trading price of the Companys common shares for the last five consecutive trading days of each quarterly period immediately preceding the relevant closing date or the closing price on the last trading day of the particular quarter, whichever is greater.
Pursuant to the terms of the AMEX Company Guide, because shares are being issued to a director and officer of the Company, the Company would be required to obtain shareholder approval for the Private Placement. However, unlike the AMEX Company Guide, the TSX Company Manual requires shareholder approval of a private placement that involves more than 10% of the shares of the issuer being issued to a director or officer in any six month period. Since the Private Placement does not involve the issuance of more than 10% of the shares of the Company to Mr. Sinclair during any six month period, shareholder approval is not required under the TSX Company Manual. The Company will proceed with the Private Placement in compliance with the TSX Company Manual and accordingly will not be seeking shareholder approval. This approval requirement is the only significant difference between the requirements of the AMEX Company Guide and the TSX Company Manual in respect of the Private Placement.
Other Financing
On March 8, 2006 the Company completed a US$1.25 million private placement pursuant to a Subscription Agreement between the Company and Guild Investment Management, Inc. for 215,820 common shares at a price of $6.667 per share.
Other
During the year ended August 31, 2007, $207,947 (2006 - $190,887; 2005 - $44,813) was paid or payable by the Company to certain directors or entities affiliated with the directors. The Company engages a legal firm for professional services in which one of the Companys directors is a partner. During the year ended August 31, 2007, the legal expense charged by this firm was $82,404, of which $11,000 remains payable at year end. In addition to RSU, directors were paid cash $102,473 (2006 - $90,687; 2005 - $92,986) for director fees.
Accounts receivable include advances to related parties of $Nil (2006 Nil; 2005 - $46,000), which consisted of funds advanced to officers and directors for exploration and corporate activities conducted in the normal course of business. As of the date of this report, this receivable has been received.
C.
Interest of Experts and Counsel
Not Applicable.
Item 8.
Financial Statements
A.
Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
This Annual Report contains the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005 with the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, comprised of:
(a)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 31, 2007 and 2006;
(b)
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit for the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005;
(c)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005; and
(d)
Notes to the consolidated financial statements.
60
Dividend Policy
The Company has never paid dividends and does not intend to in the near future.
Litigation
As at August 31, 2007 there were no legal proceedings which may have or have had a significant affect on the Companys financial position or profitability.
B.
Significant Changes
None.
Item 9.
The Offering and Listing
A.
Offering and Listing Details
The common stock of the Company was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol TNX on October 29, 2001, and prior to that date the Companys common stock was listed on the Canadian Venture Exchange, now known as the TSX Venture Exchange.
The common stock of the Company was listed on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) under the symbol TRE on May 12, 2005.
As at August 31, 2007 there were 280 registered shareholders in the United States holding 42.1% of the Companys outstanding common stock, representing approximately 78% of the total number of shareholders. The Companys Common stock is issued in registered form and the percentage of shares reported to be held by registered holders in the United States is taken from the records of the Computershare Trust Company of Canada in the City of Vancouver, the registrar and transfer agent for the common stock.
The number of registered shareholders resident in the United States is attributed as to 2 .8% to directors and officers of the Company who are United States residents; a further 0.9% held by United States residents who are immediate family members of a director and officer of the Company; and the balance of 38.40% are United States residents who have purchased shares in the secondary market, through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange or American Stock Exchange.
The high and low prices expressed in Canadian dollars on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the Companys common stock for the last six months and for each quarter for the last three fiscal years:
|
Toronto Stock Exchange (Canadian Dollars) |
|||
Last Six Months |
High |
Low |
Volume |
|
October 2007 |
$6.02 |
$4.99 |
2,085,314 |
|
September 2007 |
$6.05 |
$5.05 |
1,528,257 |
|
August 2007 |
$6.38 |
$4.76 |
2,169,330 |
|
July 2007 |
$5.42 |
$4.78 |
1,246,680 |
|
June 2007 |
$5.75 |
$4.72 |
1,641,805 |
|
May 2007 |
$5.98 |
$5.15 |
905,844 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006-2007 |
High |
Low |
Volume |
|
Fourth Quarter ended August 31, 2007 |
$6.38 |
$4.72 |
5,057,815 |
61
|
American Stock Exchange (US Dollars) |
|||
Last Six Months |
High |
Low |
Volume |
|
October 2007 |
$6.61 |
$5.09 |
8,517,400 |
|
September 2007 |
$6.05 |
$4.80 |
6,585,600 |
|
August 2007 |
$6.10 |
$4.71 |
8,896,000 |
|
July 2007 |
$5.21 |
$4.51 |
4,517,500 |
|
June 2007 |
$5.47 |
$4.52 |
6,171,100 |
|
May 2007 |
$5.39 |
$4.78 |
4,777,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006-2007 |
High |
Low |
Volume |
|
Fourth Quarter ended August 31, 2007 |
$6.10 |
$4.51 |
19,584,600 |
|
Third Quarter ended May 31, 2007 |
$5.76 |
$4.78 |
16,972,200 |
|
Second Quarter ended February 28, 2007 |
$7.22 |
$4.94 |
21,306,700 |
|
First Quarter ended November 30, 2006 |
$7.24 |
$4.44 |
29,923,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005-2006 |
High |
Low |
Volume |
|
Fourth Quarter ended August 31, 2006 |
$8.20 |
$6.18 |
26,997,700 |
|
Third Quarter ended May 31, 2006 |
$8.87 |
$5.70 |
52,771,300 |
|
Second Quarter ended February 28, 2006 |
$7.24 |
$3.30 |
74,499,700 |
|
First Quarter ended November 30, 2005 |
$3.57 |
$1.82 |
46,454,200 |
62
|
|
|
|
|
|
American Stock Exchange (US Dollars) |
|||
2004-2005 |
High |
Low |
Volume |
|
Fourth Quarter ended August 31, 2005 |
$1.76 |
$0.85 |
12,680,000 |
|
Third Quarter ended May 31, 2005* (*Commenced trading May 12, 2005) |
$0.92 |
$0.73 |
1,271,000 |
B.
Plan of Distribution
Not Applicable.
C.
Markets
The Companys common stock is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol TNX and on the American Stock Exchange under the trading symbol TRE.
D.
Selling Shareholders
Not Applicable.
E.
Dilution
Not Applicable.
F.
Expenses of the Issue
Not Applicable.
Item 10.
Additional Information
A.
Share Capital
As of April 3, 2003, the Board resolved that the Company authorize for issuance up to a maximum 91,000,000 common shares, subject to further resolutions of the Company's Board of Directors, from time to time. Of the 91,000,000 common shares authorized, without par value, 86,748,493 shares were issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2007.
Each of the common shares has equal dividend, liquidation and voting rights. Voters of the common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters that may be brought before them. Holders of the common shares are entitled to receive dividends when declared by the Board from funds legally available therefor. The common shares are not redeemable, have no conversion rights and carry no pre-emptive or other rights to subscribe for additional shares. The outstanding common shares are fully paid and non-assessable.
The following table reconciles the total number of shares outstanding for the last three fiscal years:
|
No. of Shares |
Amount |
Total Outstanding at August 31, 2004 |
82,464,037 |
$42,145,471 |
Add: Stock Options Exercised for cash |
107,500 |
$ 69,325 |
63
|
No. of Shares |
Amount |
Issued for cash |
2,204,517 |
$ 2,625,000 |
Total Outstanding as at August 31, 2005 |
84,776,054 |
$44,839,796 |
Add: Stock Options Exercised for cash |
292,500 |
$ 229,675 |
Issued for cash |
793,468 |
$5,513,979 |
Issued for share subscription previously received |
379,053 |
$ 813,828 |
Total Outstanding as at August 31, 2006 |
86,241,075 |
51,397,278 |
Add: Stock Options Exercised for cash |
75,000 |
$59,250 |
Issued for cash |
129,599 |
$750,000 |
Issued for share subscription previously received |
110,525 |
$750,000 |
Issued pursuant to Restricted Stock Unit Plan |
32,242 |
$231,627 |
Isuued for mineral property acquisition |
160,052 |
$925,124 |
Total Outstanding as at August 31, 2007 |
86,748,493 |
$54,113,279 |
Due to the issuance of 20,000,000 common shares for the acquisition of Tanzam in April, 2002, more than 10% of the total outstanding shares have been issued for non-cash consideration within the last five years.
Shares are issued by the Company with the regulatory acceptance of the Toronto Stock Exchange and American Stock Exchange, upon resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company. There are a total of 86,748,493 common shares issued and a further 467,758 common shares reserved for issuance under outstanding RSUs as at August 31, 2007.
B.
Articles of Association and Bylaws
The Company was originally incorporated under the corporate name 424547 Alberta Ltd . in the Province of Alberta on July 5, 1990, under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta).
The Articles of 424547 Alberta Ltd. were amended on August 13, 1991 as follows:
·
the name of the Company was changed to Tan Range Exploration Corporation;
·
the restriction on the transfer of shares was removed; and
·
a new paragraph regarding the appointment of additional directors was added as follows:
(b)
The Directors, may, between annual general meetings, appoint one or more additional directors of the Company to serve until the next annual general meeting, but the number of additional Directors shall not at any time exceed one-third (1/3) of the number of Directors who held office at the expiration of the last annual meeting of the corporation.
The Company was registered in the Province of British Columbia as an extra provincial company under the Company Act (British Columbia) on August 5, 1994.
The Articles of the Company were further amended on February 15, 1996 as follows:
·
the provisions of the Articles authorizing the issue of Class B Voting shares, Class C
Non-Voting shares and Class D Preferred shares were deleted;
64
·
Class A voting shares were redesignated as Common shares; and
·
a provision was added to allow meetings of shareholders to be held outside Alberta in either of the cities of Vancouver, British Columbia or Toronto, Ontario.
The Articles of the Company were further amended on February 28, 2006 as follows:
·
the name of the Company was changed to its present name, Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation.
Common Shares
All issued and outstanding common shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Each holder of record of common shares is entitled to one vote for each common share so held on all matters requiring a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors. The holders of common shares will be entitled to dividends on a pro-rata basis, if and when as declared by the board of directors. There are no preferences, conversion rights, preemptive rights, subscription rights, or restrictions or transfers attached to the common shares. In the event of liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the holders of common shares are entitled to participate in the assets of the Company available for distribution after satisfaction of the claims of creditors.
The rights of shareholders cannot be changed without a special resolution of at least 2/3 of the votes cast by the shareholders who voted in respect of the resolution, and separate classes of shareholders are entitled to separate class votes. Any such alteration of shareholders rights would also require the regulatory acceptance of the Toronto Stock Exchange. There are no provisions of the Companys Articles or Bylaws that would have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change of control of the Company, and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition, or corporate restructuring involving the Company (or any of its subsidiaries).
Powers and Duties of Directors
The directors shall manage or supervise the management of the affairs and business of the Company and shall have authority to exercise all such powers of the Company as are not, by the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) or by the Articles or Bylaws, required to be exercised by the Company in a general meeting.
Directors will serve as such until the next annual meeting. In general, a director who is, in any way, directly or indirectly interested in an existing or proposed contract or transaction with the Company whereby a duty or interest might be created to conflict with his duty or interest director, shall declare the nature and extent of his interest in such contract or transaction or the conflict or potential conflict with his duty and interest as a director. Such director shall not vote in respect of any such contract or transaction with the Company in which he is interested and if he shall do so, his vote shall note be counted, but he shall be counted in the quorum present at the meeting at which such vote is taken. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, directors shall have the right to vote on determining the remuneration of the directors.
The directors may from time to time on behalf of the Company: (a) borrow money in such manner and amount from such sources and upon such terms and conditions as they think fit; (b) issue bonds, debentures and other debt obligations; or (c) mortgage, charge or give other security on the whole or any part of the property and assets of the Company.
At least one-quarter of the directors of the Company should be persons ordinarily resident in Canada and all must be at least 18 years of age. There is no minimum share ownership to be a Director. No person shall be a Director of the Company who is not capable of managing their own affairs; is an undischarged bankrupt or who is a person who is not an individual.
65
Shareholders
An annual general meeting shall be held once in every calendar year at such time and place as may be determined by the directors. A quorum at an annual general meeting and special meeting shall be two shareholders or one or more proxy holder representing two shareholders, or one shareholder and a proxy holder representing another shareholder. There is no limitation imposed by the laws of Canada or by the charter or other constituent documents of the Company on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote the common shares, other than as provided in the Investment Canada Act , (the Investment Act) discussed below under Item 10. Additional Information, D. Exchange Controls.
In accordance with Alberta law, directors shall be elected by an ordinary resolution which means (a) a resolution passed by the shareholders of the Company in general meeting by a simple majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy, or (b) a resolution that has been signed by all shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution.
Under Alberta law certain items such as an amendment to the Companys articles or entering into a merger, requires approval by a special resolution, which means (a) a resolution passed by a majority of not less than 2/3 of the votes cast by the shareholders of the Company who, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company (b) a resolution consented to in writing by every shareholder of the Company who would have been entitled to vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the Company, and a resolution so consented to is deemed to be a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the Company.
C.
Material Contracts
The following are the material contracts of the Company (other than contracts in the ordinary course of business) entered into within the last two years:
66
Date |
Names of Parties |
Description of General Nature of the Contract |
Consideration Paid; Terms and Conditions |
August 8, 2006 |
James E. Sinclair and the Company |
Subscription Agreement for purchase of $3,000,000 worth of common shares over a two year period, in 8 separate quarterly tranches commencing February 1, 2007 |
The pricing of each quarterly tranche will be based on the weighted average trading price of the Companys common shares for the last five consecutive trading days of each quarterly period. |
May 2, 2006 |
James E. Sinclair and the Company |
Subscription Agreement for purchase of 107,124 common shares |
$9.335 per share for a total of $1,000,000 |
January 25, 2006 |
James E. Sinclair and the Company |
Subscription Agreement for purchase of 183,440 common shares |
$7.844 per share for a total of $1,438,903.36 (US$1,250,000) |
January 25, 2006 |
Guild Investment Management, Inc. and the Company |
Subscription Agreement for purchase of 215,820 common shares |
$6.667 per share for a total of $1,438,871.94 (US$1,250,000) |
September 7, 2005 |
James E. Sinclair and the Company |
Subscription Agreement for purchase of 442,478 common shares |
$2.147 per share for a total of $950,000 |
June 20, 2005 |
James E. Sinclair and the Company |
Subscription Agreement for purchase of 819,000 common shares |
$1.221 per share for a total of $1,000,000 |
January 13, 2005 |
James E. Sinclair and the Company |
Subscription Agreement for purchase of $3,000,000 worth of common shares over a two year period, in 8 separate quarterly tranches commencing February 1, 2005 |
The pricing of each quarterly tranche will be based on the weighted average trading price of the Companys common shares for the last five consecutive trading days of each quarterly period. |
D.
Exchange Controls
Canada
There is no law, governmental decree or regulation in Canada that restricts the export or import of capital or affects the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of common shares other than withholding tax requirements. Any such remittances to United States residents are subject to withholding tax. See Taxation.
There is no limitation imposed by the laws of Canada or by the charter or other constituent documents of the Company on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote the common shares, other than as provided in the Investment Act. The following discussion summarizes the principal features of the Investment Act for a non-resident who proposes to acquire the common shares.
The Investment Canada Act generally prohibits implementation of a reviewable investment by an individual, government or agency thereof, corporation, partnership, trust or joint venture (each an entity) that is not a Canadian as defined in the Investment Canada Act (a non-Canadian), unless after review, the Director of Investments appointed by the minister responsible for the Investment Canada Act is satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada. An investment in the common shares by a non-Canadian other than a WTO Investor (as that term is defined by the Investment Canada Act, and which term includes entities which are nationals of or are controlled by nationals of member states of the World Trade Organization)
67
when the Company was not controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Canada Act if it was an investment to acquire control of the Company and the value of the assets of the Company, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Canada Act, was $5,000,000 or more, or if an order for review was made by the federal cabinet on the grounds that the investment related to Canadas cultural heritage or national identity, regardless of the value of the assets of the Company. An investment in the common shares by a WTO Investor, or by a non-Canadian when the Company was controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Canada Act if it was an investment to acquire control of the Company and the value of the assets of the Company, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Canada Act was not less than a specified amount, which as specified in 2005 was any amount in excess of $237 million. A non-Canadian would acquire control of the Company for the purposes of the Investment Canada Act if the non-Canadian acquired a majority of the common shares. The acquisition of one third or more, but less than a majority of the common shares would be presumed to be an acquisition of control of the Company unless it could be established that, on the acquisition, the Company was not controlled in fact by the acquirer through the ownership of the common shares.
Certain transactions relating to the common shares would be exempt from the Investment Canada Act, including: (a) an acquisition of the common shares by a person in the ordinary course of that persons business as a trader or dealer in securities; (b) an acquisition of control of the Company in connection with the realization of security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and not for a purpose related to the provisions of the Investment Canada Act; and (c) an acquisition of control of the Company by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or indirect control in fact of the Company, through the ownership of the common shares, remained unchanged.
Foreign Investments and Exchange in Tanzania
The Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) issues certificates of Approval to Foreign and Local Companies wishing to invest in Tanzania. Possession of Certificate of Approval entitles the investor to the following Tax Incentives under the Income Tax Act.
(i)
maximum Corporate Tax Rate of 30% (Residents and Non Residents)
(ii)
Withholding Tax on Dividends = 10%
(iii)
Withholding Tax on Interest = 10%
(iv)
50% write off of capital expenditure incurred during the year of expenditure of the project.
(v)
Carry forward of losses for unlimited period of time.
In 1992, the stringent foreign exchange legislation was repealed and the restriction on foreign commercial banks abolished. Any person whether resident or not may establish foreign currency accounts with any of the commercial banks and transfer foreign currency outside Tanzania without restriction. The Bank of Tanzania regulates commercial banks and approves the establishment of offshore foreign currency accounts by residents. There are no controls on foreign exchange rates or interest rate on loans and overdrafts.
E.
Taxation
Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following summarizes the principal Canadian federal income tax consequences applicable to the holding and disposition of common shares in the capital of the Company by a United States resident, a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, an entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, which has elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an estate whose income is taxable in the U.S. irrespective of source, or a trust subject to primary supervision of a court within the U.S. and control of a U.S. fiduciary, and who holds common shares solely as capital property and who owns (directly and indirectly) no more than 5% of the value of the total outstanding stock of the Company (a U.S. Holder). This summary is based on the current provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada)
68
(the Tax Act), the regulations thereunder, all amendments thereto publicly proposed by the government of Canada, the published administrative practices of Canada Revenue Agency, and on the current provisions of the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention, 1980, as amended (the Treaty). Except as otherwise expressly provided, this summary does not take into account any provincial, territorial or foreign (including without limitation, any U.S.) tax law or treaty. It has been assumed that all currently proposed amendments will be enacted substantially as proposed and that there is no other relevant change in any governing law or practice, although no assurance can be given in these respects.
Each U.S. Holder is advised to obtain tax and legal advice applicable to such U.S. Holders particular circumstances.
Every U.S. Holder is liable to pay a Canadian withholding tax on every dividend that is or is deemed to be paid or credited to the U.S. Holder on the U.S. Holders common shares. The statutory rate of withholding tax is 25% of the gross amount of the dividend paid. The Treaty reduces the statutory rate with respect to dividends paid to a U.S. Holder for the purposes of the Treaty. Where applicable, the general rate of withholding tax under the Treaty is 15% of the gross amount of the dividend, but if the U.S. Holder is a corporation that owns at least 10% of the voting stock of the Company and beneficially owns the dividend, the rate of withholding tax is 5% for dividends paid or credited after 1996 to such corporate U.S. Holder. The Company is required to withhold the applicable tax from the dividend payable to the U.S. Holder, and to remit the tax to the Receiver General of Canada for the account of the U. S. Holder.
Pursuant to the Tax Act, a U.S. Holder will not be subject to Canadian capital gains tax on any capital gain realized on an actual or deemed disposition of a common share, including a deemed disposition on death, provided that the U.S. Holder did not hold the common share as capital property used in carrying on a business in Canada, and that neither the U. S. Holder nor persons with whom the U.S. Holder did not deal a arms length (alone or together) owned or had the right or an option to acquire 25% or more of the issued shares of any class of the Company at any time in the five years immediately preceding the disposition.
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is, in the opinion of the Company after consultation with its professional advisors, a discussion of material United States federal income tax consequences, under current law, generally applicable to a U.S. Holder (as defined above) of common shares of the Company. This discussion does not address all potentially relevant federal income tax matters and it does not address consequences peculiar to persons subject to special provisions of federal income tax law. In addition, this discussion does not cover any state, local or foreign tax consequences. (See Taxation Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences above). Accordingly, holders and prospective holders of common shares of the Company are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the specific federal, state, local, and foreign tax consequences to them of purchasing, owning and disposing of common shares of the Company, based upon their individual circumstances.
The following discussion is based upon the sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), Treasury Regulations, published Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rulings, published administrative positions of the IRS and court decisions that are currently applicable, any or all of which could be materially and adversely changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time and which are subject to differing interpretations. This discussion does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any proposed legislation which, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time.
Passive Foreign Investment Company.
The Company believes that it could be a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) for United States federal income tax purposes with respect to a U.S. Holder (as defined above). The Company will be a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder if, for any taxable year in which such U.S. Holder held the Companys shares, either (i) at least 75% of the gross income of the Company for the taxable year is passive income, or (ii) on average, at
69
least 50% of the Companys assets are attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. In each case, the Company must take into account a pro rata share of the income and the assets of any corporation in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the stock by value (the look-through rules). Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents (other than rents and royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business and not derived from a related person), annuities, and gains from assets that produce passive income. As a publicly traded corporation, the Company would apply the 50% asset test based on the value of the Companys assets.
Because the Company may be a PFIC, unless a U.S. Holder who owns shares in the Company (i) elects (a section 1295 election) to have the Company treated as a qualified electing fund (a QEF) (described below), or (ii) marks the stock to market (described below), the following rules apply:
1.
Distributions made by the Company during a taxable year to a U.S. Holder who owns shares in the Company that are an excess distribution (defined generally as the excess of the amount received with respect to the shares in any taxable year over 125% of the average received in the shorter of either the three previous years or such U.S. Holder's holding period before the taxable year) must be allocated ratably to each day of such shareholders holding period. The amount allocated to the current taxable year and to years when the Company was not a PFIC must be included as ordinary income in the shareholders gross income for the year of distribution. The remainder is not included in gross income but the shareholder must pay a deferred tax on that portion. The deferred tax amount, in general, is the amount of tax that would have been owed if the allocated amount had been included in income in the earlier year, plus interest. The interest charge is at the rate applicable to deficiencies in income taxes. For a U.S. Holder that is not a corporation, the interest charge is wholly non-deductible.
2.
The entire amount of any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of the shares will be treated as an excess distribution made in the year of sale or other disposition and as a consequence will be treated as ordinary income and, to the extent allocated to years prior to the year of sale or disposition, will be subject to the interest charge described above.
A shareholder that makes a section 1295 election will be currently taxable on his or her pro rata share of the Companys ordinary earnings and net capital gain (at ordinary income and long term capital gains rates, respectively) for each taxable year of the Company, regardless of whether or not distributions were received. The shareholders basis in his or her shares will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed income. Distributions of income that had previously been taxed will result in a corresponding reduction of basis in the shares and will not be taxed again as a distribution to the shareholder.
A shareholder may make a section 1295 election with respect to a PFIC for any taxable year of the shareholder (shareholders election year). A section 1295 election is effective for the shareholders election year and all subsequent taxable years of the shareholder. Procedures exist for both retroactive elections and filing of protective statements. Once a section 1295 election is made it remains in effect, although not applicable, during those years that the Company is not a PFIC. Therefore, if the Company re-qualifies as a PFIC, the section 1295 election previously made is still valid and the shareholder is required to satisfy the requirements of that election. Once a shareholder makes a section 1295 election, the shareholder may revoke the election only with the consent of the Commissioner. Nevertheless, the Commissioner in his discretion may invalidate or terminate a section 1295 election applicable to a shareholder, if the shareholder and the Company fail the annual reporting requirements of the section 1295 election.
If a shareholder makes the section 1295 election for the first taxable year of the Company as a PFIC that is included in the shareholders holding period of the PFIC shares, the PFIC qualifies as a pedigreed QEF with respect to the shareholder. If a QEF is an unpedigreed QEF with respect to the shareholder, the shareholder is subject to both the non-QEF and QEF regimes. Under the proposed regulations, a PFIC that qualifies as a pedigreed QEF with respect to the shareholder would be taxed currently on his or her share of the PFICs earnings and profits, whether distributed or not. On the other hand, a PFIC that qualifies as an unpedigreed QEF
70
with respect to the shareholder would be taxed currently on his or share of the PFICs earnings and profits, whether distributed or not, during the period the PFIC shares qualify as a QEF; and would be taxed under the excess distribution and interest charge rules during the period the PFIC shares do not qualify as a QEF. Certain elections are available which enable shareholders to convert an unpedigreed QEF into a pedigreed QEF thereby avoiding such dual application.
A shareholder making the section 1295 election must make the election on or before the due date, as extended, for filing the shareholders income tax return for the first taxable year to which the election will apply. A shareholder must make a section 1295 election by completing a Form 8621, Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund (the Form); attaching said Form to its federal income tax return; and reflecting in the Form the information provided in the PFIC Annual Information Statement or if the shareholder calculated the financial information, a statement to that effect. The PFIC Annual Information Statement must include the shareholders pro rata shares of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the PFIC for the PFICs taxable year or information that will enable the shareholder to calculate its pro rata shares. In addition, the PFIC Annual Information Statement must contain information about distributions to shareholders and a statement that the PFIC will permit the shareholder to inspect and copy its permanent books of account, records, and other documents of the PFIC necessary to determine that the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the PFIC have been calculated according to federal income tax accounting principles. A shareholder may also obtain the books, records and other documents of the foreign corporation necessary for the shareholder to determine the correct earnings and profits and net capital gain of the PFIC according to federal income tax principles and calculate the shareholders pro rata shares of the PFICs ordinary earnings and net capital gain. In that case, the PFIC must include a statement in its PFIC Annual Information Statement that it has permitted the shareholder to examine the PFICs books of account, records, and other documents necessary for the shareholder to calculate the amounts of ordinary earnings and net capital gain. A shareholder that makes a Section 1295 election with respect to a PFIC held directly or indirectly, for each taxable year to which the Section 1295 election applies, must comply with the foregoing submissions.
Because the Companys stock is marketable under section 1296(e), a U.S. Holder may elect to mark the stock to market each year. In general, a PFIC shareholder who elects under section 1296 to mark the marketable stock of a PFIC includes in ordinary income each year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock as of the close of the taxable year over the shareholders adjusted basis in such stock. A PFIC shareholder is also generally allowed an ordinary deduction for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the PFIC stock over the fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. Deductions under this rule, however, are allowable only to the extent of any net mark to market gains with respect to the stock included by the PFIC shareholder for prior taxable years. While the interest charge regime under the PFIC rules generally does not apply to distributions from and dispositions of stock of a PFIC where the U.S. Holder has marked to market, coordination rules for limited application will apply in the case of a U.S. Holder that marks to market PFIC stock later than the beginning of the shareholder's holding period for the PFIC stock, unless the PFIC stock was a QEF with respect to the U.S. Holder.
Special rules apply with respect to the calculation of the amount of the foreign tax credit with respect to excess distributions by a PFIC or current income inclusions under a QEF.
Distribution on Common Shares of the Company
In general, U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive dividends) with respect to common shares of the Company are required to include in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes the gross amount of such distributions, equal to the U.S. dollar value of such distributions on the date of receipt (based on the exchange rate on such date), to the extent that the Company has current or accumulated earnings and profits, without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distributions. Such Canadian tax withheld may be credited, subject to certain limitations, against the U.S. Holders federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in computing the U.S. Holders federal taxable income. (See more detailed discussion at Foreign Tax Credit below). To the extent that distributions exceed current or
71
accumulated earnings and profits of the Company, they will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital up to the U.S. Holders adjusted basis in the common shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of property. Preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains are applicable to a U.S. Holder which is an individual, estate or trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains for a U.S. Holder which is a corporation.
In the case of foreign currency received as a dividend that is not converted by the recipient into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Generally any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale or other disposition of the foreign currency, including the exchange for U.S. dollars, will be ordinary income or loss. However, an individual whose realized gain does not exceed $200 will not recognize that gain, provided that there are no expenses associated with the transaction that meet the requirements for deductibility as a trade or business expense (other than travel expenses in connection with a business trip) or as an expense for the production of income.
Dividends paid on the common shares of the Company generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction provided to corporations receiving dividends from certain United States corporations. A U.S. Holder which is a corporation and which owns shares representing at least 10% of the voting power and value of the Company may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to a 70% (or 80% if the U.S. Holder owns shares representing at least 20% of the voting power and value of the Company) deduction equal to the United States source portion of dividends received from the Company (unless the Company qualifies as a passive foreign investment company (a PFIC) as defined above). The Company does not anticipate that it will earn any U.S. source income, however, and therefore does not anticipate that any U.S. Holder which is a corporation will be eligible for the dividends received deduction.
Foreign Tax Credit
A U.S. Holder who pays (or has withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax with respect to the ownership of common shares of the Company may be entitled, at the option of the U.S. Holder, to either receive a deduction or a tax credit for such foreign tax paid or withheld. Generally, it will be more advantageous to claim a credit because a credit reduces United States federal income taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis, while a deduction merely reduces the taxpayers income subject to tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and generally applies to all foreign taxes paid by (or withheld from) the U.S. Holder during that year. There are significant and complex limitations which apply to the credit, among which is the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of the U.S. Holders United States income tax liability that the U.S. Holders foreign source income bears to his or its worldwide taxable income. In the determination of the application of this limitation, the various items of income and deduction must be classified into foreign and domestic sources. Complex rules govern this classification process. In addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income such as passive income, high withholding tax interest, financial services income, shipping income, and certain other classifications of income. Dividends distributed by the Company will generally constitute passive income or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, financial services income for these purposes. The availability of the foreign tax credit and the application of the limitations on the credit are fact specific, and U.S. Holders of common shares of the Company should consult their own tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances. U.S. Holders should be aware that recently enacted legislation eliminates the financial services income category for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006. Under the recently enacted legislation, the foreign tax credit limitation categories are limited to passive category income and general category income.
Disposition of Common Shares of the Company
In general, U.S. Holders will recognize gain or loss upon the sale of common shares of the Company equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received,
72
and (ii) the shareholders tax basis in the common shares of the Company. Preferential tax rates apply to long-term capital gains of U.S. Holders which are individuals, estates or trusts. In general, gain or loss on the sale of common shares of the Company will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common shares are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder and are held for more than one year. Deductions for net capital losses are subject to significant limitations. For a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate, or trust, capital losses may be used to offset capital gains and up to US$3,000 of ordinary income and any unused portion of net capital loss may be carried over to be used in later taxable years until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted. For U.S. Holders that are corporations (other than corporations subject to Subchapter S of the Code), an unused net capital loss may be carried back three years and carried forward five years from the loss year to be offset against capital gains until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.
Controlled Foreign Corporations.
Sections 951 through 964 and Section 1248 of the Code relate to controlled foreign corporations (CFCs). A foreign corporation that qualifies as a CFC will not be treated as a PFIC with respect to a shareholder during the portion of the shareholders holding period after December 31, 1997, during which the shareholder owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of the Company (a 10% Shareholder) and the corporation is a CFC. A CFC is a foreign corporation where more than 50% of the corporations voting stock or value is owned by U.S. shareholders on any day during the foreign corporations taxable year. The PFIC provisions continue to apply in the case of PFIC that is also a CFC with respect to shareholders that are not 10% Shareholders.
The 10% Shareholders of a CFC are subject to current U.S. tax on their pro rata shares of certain income of the CFC and their pro rata shares of the CFCs earnings invested in certain U.S. property. The effect is that the CFC provisions may impute some portion of such a corporations undistributed income to certain shareholders on a current basis and convert into dividend income some portion of gains on dispositions of stock, which would otherwise qualify for capital gains treatment.
The Company does not believe that it will be a CFC. It is possible that the Company could become a CFC in the future. Even if the Company were classified as a CFC in a future year, however, the CFC rules referred to above would apply only with respect to 10% Shareholders.
U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.
Payments made within the United States, or by a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman, of dividends or proceeds arising from certain sales or other taxable dispositions of the common shares of the Company are generally subject to the information reporting requirements of the Code. Dividends may be subject to backup withholding at the rate of 28% unless the holder provides a taxpayer identification number on a properly completed Form W-9 or otherwise establishes an exemption. U.S. Holders that are corporations generally are excluded from these information reporting and backup withholding tax rules.
The amount of any backup withholding will not constitute additional tax and will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. Holder's federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Filing of Information Returns.
Under a number of circumstances, a U.S. Holder acquiring shares of the Company may be required to file an information return. In particular, any U.S. Holder who becomes the owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the shares of the Company will be required to file such a return. Other filing requirements may apply, and U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning these requirements.
73
Tanzania
Taxation
Tax in Tanzania is levied on the income of any person which is deemed to have accrued in or was derived in Tanzania, in the case of individuals, if he was resident in Tanzania during the year of income for periods amounting in aggregate to 183 days or more; or if he was in the United Republic in that year of income and each of the two proceeding years of income for periods averaging more than 122 days in each such year of income. The annual income tax threshold is TShs. 960,000 per annum or TShs. 80,000 per month. Income Tax Rates vary from NIL up to 30%. Prevailing corporate income tax rate is 30%.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
Taxable Supplies |
Rate |
Supply of goods and services in Mainland Tanzania |
20% |
Import of goods and services in Mainland Tanzania |
20% |
Export of goods and services from Mainland Tanzania |
0% |
VAT registrable threshold is TShs. 40 Million (or about US$30,000 at prevailing exchange rates).
Withholding Tax
Withholding tax is charged at the rates specified below:
|
Resident |
Non-Resident |
Dividend |
10% |
10% |
Interest |
10% |
10% |
Royalties |
0% |
15% |
Management Fees |
0% |
15% |
Professional Fees |
5% |
15% |
Rent, Premium for Use of Property |
10% |
15% |
Pension/Retirement Annuity |
10% |
15% |
Special Rates for Persons Engaged in Mining Operations Rates
|
Resident |
Non-Resident |
Technical Services to Mining Operations |
5% |
15% |
Management Fee |
5% |
15% |
Interest on Loans* |
0% |
0% |
Companies listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange enjoy a preferential withholding tax on 5% on dividends. |
|
|
*
In respect of mining companies having loans acquired at arms length before July 1, 2001. 10% applies to interest on all other loans.
Capital Gains Tax
0% applies to capital gains on the sale of shares listed at the DSM Stock Exchange. 10% applies to capital gains by individuals, 30% applies to capital gains by corporations.
74
Stamp duty
Stamp duty is chargeable on various legal documents and agreements, e.g. transfer of shares, issue of shares.
Customs Duty
Customs duties are charged on imported goods. Customs duty rates vary from 0% to 25%.
Mining Sector
The Tax Incentives and Investment allowances are designed to encourage industrial growth and attract foreign investments. They are granted for capital expenditure on hotels and manufacturing and mining operations. The allowance is a deduction in computing taxable income.
For Companies investing in the Mining Industries (Mineral mining Rights Holders) specific tax incentives are applicable to their investments. These are:-
(i)
100% write off of capital expenditure in the year of Income of expenditure.
(ii)
Indefinite carry forward of losses.
(iii)
15% additional Capital Expenditure on unredeemed qualifying Capital Expenditure for Mining Operators who had entered into Agreement with the Government before 1 st July 2001, under the Mining Acts.
(iv)
Withholding tax on dividends and branch profits at 10%
(v)
Withholding tax on interest at 10%
(vi)
Corporate tax rate maximum at 30%
The government of Tanzania also imposes a royalty on the gross value of all production equal to 5% for diamonds and 3% for all gold produced.
Double Taxation Agreement
Tanzania has a tax treaty to prevent double taxation with Canada, Denmark, Finland, India, Italy, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden and Zambia. Tanzania is also in the process of negotiating treaties with several countries including Belgium, Burundi, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritius, Pakistan, Rwanda.
F.
Dividends and Paying Agents
Not Applicable.
G.
Statement by Experts
Not Applicable.
H.
Documents on Display
The Company will file annual reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document that we file at the Commissions Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the Public Reference Rooms. The Securities and Exchange Commission also maintains a website, www.sec.gov, where you may obtain our reports. We also file certain reports with the Canadian Securities Administrators that you may obtain through access of the SEDAR website, www.sedar.com.
Copies of the Companys material contracts are kept in the Companys administrative headquarters.
75
I.
Subsidiary Information
Not Applicable.
Item 11.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company is exposed to market risk, primarily related to foreign exchange and metals prices (gold in particular). The Company uses the Canadian dollar as its reporting currency, but the Company converts Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars, and then U.S. dollars to Tanzanian schillings. The Company is therefore exposed to foreign exchange movements in Tanzania where the Company is incurring costs in conducting exploration activities. Most of the Companys exploration work is conducted in U.S. dollars; however, some general and administrative expenses are paid in Tanzanian schillings.
The following table sets forth the percentage of the Company's administrative expense by currency for the year ended August 31, 2007.
By Currency
|
2007 |
Canadian Dollar |
35% |
U.S. Dollar |
40% |
Tanzanian Schilling |
25% |
Total: |
100% |
Such administrative expense by currency may change from time to time, but it has been roughly the same year to year. Further, the Company incurred net exploration costs of $3,170,712 and $2,545,075 for the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, which are primarily paid in U.S. dollars.
The Company has not entered into any material foreign exchange contracts to minimize or mitigate the effects of foreign exchange fluctuations on the Company's operations. Based on prior years, the Company does not believe that it is subject to material foreign exchange fluctuations. However, no assurance can be given that this will continue to be true in the future.
The Company has no long-term debt, therefore, the Company does not believe that the interest rate market risk to be material. The Company has a fixed rate capital lease obligation outstanding in the amount of $127,866.
The market prices of most precious metals, including gold, have generally increased over the past three years, but are subject to market fluctuations based primarily on supply and demand.
The following table sets out the cumulative average prices of gold for the past five years, based on the London Metals Market afternoon price fix in U.S. dollars:
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 (Average to August 31) |
$363.38 |
$409.72 |
$444.74 |
$603.46 |
$660.41 |
76
Item 12.
Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
Not Applicable.
Part II
Item 13.
Defaults, Dividend Arrears and Delinquencies
None.
Item 14.
Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
None.
77
Item 15.
Controls and Procedures
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 there has been no change in the Companys internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The Companys management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2007. In making this assessment, the Companys management used the criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Boards Auditing Standard No. 5 defines a material weakness as a control deficiency, or a combination of control deficiencies, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. The company identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2007:
·
The Company has limited accounting personnel with expertise in generally accepted accounting principles to enable effective segregation of duties over transaction processes with respect to the recording of journal entries and to allow for appropriate monitoring of financial reporting matters and controls. Specifically, certain personnel with financial transaction initiation and reporting responsibilities had incompatible duties that allowed for the creation, review and recording of journal entries, note disclosures and certain account reconciliations without adequate independent review and authorization. This material weakness primarily affects equity, foreign exchange, inventory and the financial reporting process including consolidation, financial statement preparation and related note disclosures.
Our independent auditor, KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in the report on Form 20-F, has issued an audit report on the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Their audit report appears with the Financial Statements.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
Subsequent to August 31, 2007, the Company has undertaken steps to remediate the material weakness described above:
·
Management is reviewing the current assignment of responsibilities and is taking steps to improve the segregation. In addition, Management will identify and may hire additional accounting resources where required to redistribute and eliminate overlapping of duties. Management will review existing mitigating controls, and if appropriate implement changes to internal controls over financial reporting whereby more effective mitigating controls will be adopted.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Companys management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as of the end of the period covered in this report, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedure (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) and determined that, as a
78
result of the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting described above, as of August 31, 2007 our disclosure controls and procedures are not effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.
Inherent Limitations of Disclosure Controls and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Item 16.
[Reserved]
Item 16 A.
Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Companys audit committee financial expert is Dr. Norman Betts, who is an independent director, as defined under MI 52-110 and as defined pursuant to National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Rule 4200(a)(15) (as such definition may be modified or supplemented). The Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated that the designation of an audit committee financial expert does not make that person an expert for any purpose, impose any duties, obligations, or liability on that person that are greater than those imposed on members of the audit committee and board of directors who do not carry this designation, or affect the duties, obligations, or liabilities of any other member of the audit committee.
Item 16 B.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that applies to the Companys directors, officers, employees and consultants. In addition, the Company has a Code of Ethical Conduct for Financial managers that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller and other persons performing similar functions. A copy of our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and Code of Ethical Conduct for Financial Managers can be found on our website at www.TanzanianRoyaltyExploration.com . The Company will report any amendment or wavier to the code of ethics on our website within five (5) days.
Item 16 C.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The independent auditor for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 and 2006 was KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants. The following summarizes the significant professional services rendered by KPMG LLP to the Company for the year ended August 31, 2007:
Financial Year EndingAugust 31 |
Audit Fees |
Audit Related Fees |
Tax Fees |
Non-Audit Fees |
2007 |
Canada - $150,000 Tanzania US$5,000 |
$16,250 Nil |
Nil Nil |
$57,400 Nil |
2006 |
Canada $80,000 Tanzania - US$5,000 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Item 16 D.
Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Not Applicable.
79
Item 16 E.
Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
Not Applicable.
Part III
Item 17.
Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and are expressed in Canadian dollars. The consolidated financial statements attached have been reconciled to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. See Item 8 (A).
Item 18.
Financial Statements
Not Applicable.
Item 19.
Exhibits
(a)
Exhibits
(4)(a)
-
Subscription Agreement dated October 11, 2007 between the Company and James E. Sinclair.
(4)(b)
-
Option and Royalty Agreement dated January 25, 2007 between the Company and Sloane Developments Ltd.
12.1
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
12.2
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
13.
Certificate under section 906.
80
SIGNATURE
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
Dated:
November 27, 2007
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION
By:
signed James E. Sinclair
James E. Sinclair,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
81
Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
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KPMG LLP Chartered Accountants PO Box 10426 777 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver BC V7Y 1K3 Canada |
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Telephone (604) 691-3000 Fax (604) 691-3031 Internet www.kpmg.ca |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors of Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation (the Company) as of August 31, 2007 and 2006 and the related consolidated statements of operations and deficit, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 2007. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of August 31, 2007 and 2006 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 2007 in conformity with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Canadian generally accepted accounting principles vary in certain significant respects from US generally accepted accounting principles. Information relating to the nature and effect of such differences is presented in note 11 to the consolidated financial statements. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated November 6, 2007 expressed an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
Chartered Accountants
Vancouver, Canada November 6, 2007 |
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KPMG LLP Chartered Accountants PO Box 10426 777 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver BC V7Y 1K3 Canada |
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Telephone (604) 691-3000 Fax (604) 691-3031 Internet www.kpmg.ca |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors of Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation
We have audited Tanzanian Royalty Explorations (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Managements Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
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Page 2
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weakness has been identified and included in management's assessment: the Company has limited accounting personnel with expertise in generally accepted accounting principles to enable effective segregation of duties with respect to the financial reporting matters and controls. Specifically, certain personnel with financial transaction initiation and reporting responsibilities had incompatible duties that allowed for the creation, review and recording of journal entries, note disclosures and certain account reconciliations without adequate independent review and authorization. This material weakness primarily affects equity, foreign exchange, inventory and the financial reporting process including consolidation, financial statement preparation and related note disclosures. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of August 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations and deficit, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 2007. This material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated November 6, 2007, which expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, because of the effect of the aforementioned material weakness on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, the Company has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. We do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on managements statements referring to corrective actions taken after August 31, 2007, relative to the aforementioned material weakness in internal control over financial reporting.
Chartered Accountants
Vancouver, Canada November 6, 2007 |
1
2
3
4
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
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2. |
Significant accounting policies (continued): |
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(c) |
Cash and cash equivalents: |
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Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on deposit with banks or highly liquid short-term interest-bearing securities with maturities at purchase dates of three months or less when acquired. |
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(d) |
Short-term investments: |
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Interest-bearing securities having a term to maturity in excess of three months but less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Short-term investments are stated at the lower of cost and market value. |
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(e) |
Inventory: |
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Inventory consists of supplies for the Companys drilling rig and is stated at the lower of cost and replacement cost. |
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(f) |
Mineral properties and deferred exploration costs: |
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The Company holds various positions in mineral property interests, including prospecting licences, reconnaissance licences, and options to acquire mining licences or leases. All of these positions are classified as mineral properties for financial statement purposes. |
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Acquisition costs and exploration costs, including option payments, relating to mineral properties are deferred until the properties are brought into production, at which time they will be amortized on a unit-of-production basis, or until the properties are abandoned, sold or to be sold or management determines that the mineral property is not economically viable, at which time the unrecoverable deferred costs are written off. Option payments arising on the acquisition of mineral property interests are exercisable at the discretion of the Company and are recognized as paid or payable. |
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Amounts recovered from third parties to earn an interest in the Companys mineral properties are applied as a reduction of the mineral property and deferred exploration costs. |
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Overhead costs directly related to exploration are allocated to the mineral properties explored during the year and are deferred and are to be amortized using the same method applied to property-specific exploration costs. All other overhead and administration costs are expensed in the year they are incurred. |
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Under CICA Handbook Section 3061, Property, Plant and Equipment , for a mining property, the cost of the asset includes exploration costs if the enterprise considers that such costs have the characteristics of property, plant and equipment. Emerging Issue Committee Abstract 126, Accounting by Mining Enterprises for Exploration Costs , (EIC-126) states that a mining enterprise that has not established mineral reserves objectively, and therefore does not have a basis for preparing a projection of the estimated cash flow from the property, is not precluded from considering the exploration costs to have the characteristics of property, plant and equipment. EIC-126 also sets forth the EICs consensus that a mining enterprise in the development stage is not required to consider the conditions in Accounting Guideline No. 11 Enterprises in the Development Stage (AcG 11) regarding impairment in determining whether exploration costs may be initially capitalized. |
5
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
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6
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
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2. |
Significant accounting policies (continued): |
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(i) |
Income taxes: |
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The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, future income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement carrying values of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases (temporary differences) and loss carry forwards, and are measured using the enacted or substantively enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences are likely to reverse. Future tax benefits, such as non-capital loss carry forwards, are recognized if realization of such benefits is considered more likely than not. |
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(j) |
Asset retirement obligation: |
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The Company recognizes the fair value of a future asset retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which it incurs a legal obligation associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that results from the acquisition, construction, development, and/or normal use of the assets if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The Company concurrently recognizes a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset that is depreciated over the life of the asset. The fair value of the asset retirement obligation is estimated using the expected cash flow approach that reflects a range of possible outcomes discounted at a credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Subsequent to the initial measurement, the asset retirement obligation is adjusted at the end of each period to reflect the passage of time and changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation. Changes in the obligation due to the passage of time are recognized in income as an operating expense using the interest method. Changes in the obligation due to changes in estimated cash flows are recognized as an adjustment of the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset that is depreciated over the remaining life of the asset. |
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The Company has determined that it has no material asset retirement obligations as at August 31, 2007 and 2006. |
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(k) |
Loss per share: |
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Loss per share has been calculated using the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding. Shares held in escrow subject to performance conditions for release are considered contingently issuable shares and are excluded from the weighted average number of shares used in calculating loss per share prior to their eligibility for release. All outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, special warrants and share purchase warrants, all of which could potentially dilute basic loss per share, have not been included in the computation of diluted loss per share because to do so would be anti-dilutive. |
7
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
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2. |
Significant accounting policies (continued): |
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(l) |
Financial instruments: |
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The Companys financial assets and liabilities consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and other receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities and obligations under capital lease. The fair value of the Companys financial assets and liabilities is estimated to approximate their carrying value due either to the short-term to maturity or the existence of interest rates that approximate market rates. |
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(m) |
Use of estimates: |
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The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Areas requiring the use of estimates and measurement uncertainties include the valuation and impairment of value of mineral properties and deferred exploration costs, the determination of stock-based compensation expense and the determination of future income taxes. Actual results may differ from managements estimates. |
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(n) |
Segmented information: |
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The Companys principal operations are located in Tanzania. The Company conducts its business in a single operating segment being the investment in and exploration of mineral properties. All mineral properties (note 3) and equipment and leasehold improvements are situated in Tanzania (note 4). |
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(o) |
Comparative figures: |
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Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with the financial statement presentation adopted for the current year. |
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3. |
Mineral properties and deferred exploration costs: |
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The Company acquires gold or other precious metal concessions through its own efforts or through the efforts of its subsidiaries. All of the Companys concessions are located in Tanzania. |
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For each concession granted in Tanzania under a prospecting or a reconnaissance licence, the Company is required to carry out a minimum amount of exploration work before a mining licence can be granted for further development. Commencing with the new mining act issued in Tanzania in 1998, a prospecting licence is issued for a period of up to three years and renewable two times for a period up to two years each. At each renewal at least 50% of the remaining area is relinquished. A reconnaissance licence is issued for two year and renewed for a period not exceeding a year. All prospecting licences are granted subject to an annual rental fee of not more than US$50 per square kilometer payable to the government of Tanzania, a minimum exploration work commitment, and employment and training of Tanzanians. In addition, the government of Tanzania imposes a royalty on the gross value of all production at the rate of 3% of all gold produced. |
8
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
9
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
3. |
Mineral properties and deferred exploration costs (continued): |
||
|
The Company assessed the carrying value of mineral properties and deferred exploration costs as at August 31, 2007 and recorded a write-down of $1,265,033. |
||
|
(a) |
Itetemia Project: |
|
|
|
The Itetemia property consists of eight (2006 - seven) contiguous prospecting licences. Collectively, the Company refers to these concessions as the Itetemia Project. |
|
|
|
One prospecting licence is subject to a 3% net smelter royalty. |
|
|
|
The Company acquired a 90% interest in another of the prospecting licences through an agreement with the State Mining Corporation (Stamico) dated July 18, 1994. Stamico retains a 2% royalty interest as well as a right to earn back an additional 20% interest in the prospecting licence by meeting 20% of the costs required to place the property into production. The Company retains the right to purchase one-half of Stamicos 2% royalty interest in exchange for US$1,000,000. |
|
|
|
The Company is required pay to Stamico an annual option fee of US$15,000 for each of 2006 and 2007 and US$20,000 each year thereafter. |
|
|
|
One of the licenses is subject to an option agreement with Barrick Exploration Africa Ltd. (BEAL) (note 3(k)). |
|
|
|
In January 2007 the Company concluded an option royalty agreement with Sloane Developments Ltd. (Sloane), a UK-based company for its Itetemia and Luhala gold projects. Under the option agreement, the Company granted Sloane the right to earn a beneficial interest ranging from 90 to 100% in ten prospecting licenses in the Lake Victoria greenstone belt of Tanzania by incurring $1 million in expenditures on the licenses on or before the second anniversary date. Six of these licenses comprise the Luhala Project (all 100%) while the remaining four licenses constitute the Itetemia Project (all 90%). |
|
|
(b) |
Luhala Project: |
|
|
|
The Luhala property consists of six (2006 - six) contiguous prospecting licences. Collectively, the Company refers to these concessions as the Luhala Project. |
|
|
|
During the years ended August 31, 2001 and 2000, the Company entered into option agreements to acquire three additional licences, named Shilalo, Ngobo and Sima. For Shilalo, the Company has made payments totaling US$16,000, for Ngobo, the Company has made payments totalling US$120,000, and for Sima, has made payments totaling US$84,000 in order to maintain the options. The vendor in each case retains a 2% net smelter return royalty, of which the Company may buy back, in each case, one-half (i.e., 1%) for US$1,000,000. |
|
|
|
For the Shilalo licence, the vendor retains a 2% net smelter return royalty, of which the Company may buy back one-half (i.e., 1%) for US$250,000. |
|
|
|
During the year ended August 31, 2007, the Company did not abandon any licenses and therefore no write off was taken for this property (2006 - $37,994). |
|
|
|
Luhala forms part of the agreement entered into with Sloane (note 3(a)). |
10
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
3. |
Mineral properties and deferred exploration costs (continued): |
||
|
(c) |
Kigosi: |
|
|
|
The Kigosi property consists of nineteen (2006 - fourteen) prospecting licences. During the year ended August 31, 2004, the Company reclassified certain licenses from the Ushirombo and Ushirombo West with deferred costs of $286,762 (note 3(g)) to the Kigosi property. The Company has a 100% interest in two of the licences and, through prospecting and mining option agreements entered into in the 2003 fiscal year has options to acquire between 51% to 90% interests in the other seventeen licences. The Company must make payments totalling US$162,000 over eight years (US$70,000 paid to date with the balance required as follows: 2008 - US$20,000; 2009 - US$22,000; 2010 - US$24,000, 2011 - US$26,000) and is required to fund all costs of exploration of the properties in order to maintain the options. |
|
|
|
During the year ended August 31, 2007, the Company abandoned certain licences in the area and wrote off $77,479 (2006 - $34,401) of costs related to the abandoned area. |
|
|
|
On July 21, 2003, the Company entered into an agreement with Ashanti Goldfields (Cayman) Limited (Ashanti), granting Ashanti the option to acquire the total rights, titles and interests of the Company in the prospecting licences in the Kigosi area, save and except for a royalty varying between 0.5% to 2% of net smelter returns, depending on the market price of gold, to be paid by Ashanti to the licence owners. |
|
|
|
The Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Ashanti dated September 26, 2006 for the repurchase of its rights to the Kigosi property, including all related camp and equipment, along with the purchase of a non-associated property, the Dongo, from Ashanti. |
|
|
|
The acquisition will be satisfied by the issuance to Ashanti a total of 180,058 common shares of the Company in two tranches and subject to certain conditions set out below. The two tranches consist of ( i ) the issuance of 160,052 common shares which were issued in consideration of the transfer to the Company of the Kigosi Rights, as defined in the Agreement, and ( ii ) subject to receipt of ministerial consent from the Tanzanian government to the transfer from Ashanti to the Company of the Dongo Rights, as defined in the Agreement, the issuance to Ashanti of 20,006 common shares of the Company. As at August 31, 2007, the issuance of 20,006 common shares remains outstanding. |
|
|
(d) |
Lunguya: |
|
|
|
The Lunguya property consists of ten (2006 - eight) prospecting licences. Through prospecting and mining option agreements the Company has options to acquire interests ranging from 60% to 75% in the ten licences. To maintain the options, the Company is required to meet certain expenditure requirements and fund all exploration costs of the properties. |
11
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
3. |
Mineral properties and deferred exploration costs (continued): |
||
|
(e) |
Kanagele: |
|
|
|
The Kanagele property consists of ten (2006 - ten) prospecting licences. In 2002, the Company entered into an option agreement requiring payments totaling US$72,000 over eight years (US$39,000 paid to date) in exchange for a 90% interest in three prospecting licence and an option to purchase the remaining 10% upon production decision. In 2004, the Company entered into an option agreement for one prospecting license requiring payments of US$145,000 (US$46,000 paid to date) over nine years. The Company has options to acquire a 65% interest in the other seven licences acquired through prospecting and option agreements. The Company is required to fund all exploration costs of the properties. |
|
|
|
In 2005, the Company entered into two agreements for two prospecting licenses for an 85% interest requiring payments of US$173,000 over six years (US$57,000 paid to date). |
|
|
|
During the year ended August 31, 2007, the Company did not abandon any licences in the area, therefore no write off was taken (2006 - $291,480). |
|
|
(f) |
Tulawaka: |
|
|
|
The Tulawaka property consists of eight (2006 - nine) prospecting licences. The Company owns four of the licences and has options to acquire interests ranging from 65% to 90% in the other four licences through prospecting and option agreements. Two licences are subject to an option agreement with MDN Inc. (MDN) (formerly Northern Mining Explorations Ltd.) (note 3(l)). |
|
|
|
During the year ended August 31, 2003, the Company entered into a prospecting mining option agreement to acquire a 90% interest in a prospecting license. The Company must make payments of US$117,000 over eight years, (US$42,000 paid to date with the balance required as follows: 2008 - US$13,000; 2009 - US$14,000; 2010 - US$15,000; 2011 - US$16,000; 2012 - US$17,000) and is required to fund all exploration costs of property to maintain its option. |
|
|
|
During the year ended August 31, 2007, the Company abandoned certain licences in the area and wrote-off $54,210 (2006 - $423,377) of costs related to the abandoned area. |
|
|
(g) |
Ushirombo: |
|
|
|
The Ushirombo property consists of four prospecting licences (2006 - four). The Company holds 100% interest in one of these licences and through prospecting and option agreements has options to acquire interests ranging from 65% to 80% in the other three licences. The Company is required to fund all exploration costs of the properties. |
|
|
|
During the year ended August 31, 2007, the Company abandoned certain licences in the area and wrote-off $123,333 (2006 - $363,970) of costs related to the abandoned area. |
|
|
|
|
12
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
13
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
3. |
Mineral properties and deferred exploration costs (continued): |
|||||||
|
(k) |
Joint venture with Barrick Exploration Africa Ltd. (BEAL): |
||||||
|
|
BEAL had the option to acquire the total rights, titles and interests of the Company in prospecting licences in various properties, herein called the BEAL project. In exchange for this option, BEAL paid US$100 to the Company. To maintain and exercise the option, BEAL was required to incur US$250,000 in exploration and development costs on the BEAL project within a year of closing the agreement (completed), and thereafter, BEAL must expend US$50,000 each year for each retained prospecting licence. In addition, BEAL must make the following annual payments to the Company for each retained prospecting licence: |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
December 2006 and subsequent years |
|
|
US$40,000 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Within thirty days after commercial production, BEAL must pay the Company US$1,000,000 and an additional US$1,000,000 on each of the next two years. BEAL will also pay the owner of the licence 1.5% of net smelter returns. |
||||||
|
|
The Company has received from BEAL notices of relinquishment for all rights, titles, and interests in all but one prospecting license included in the option agreement. |
||||||
|
|
As at August 31, 2007, the one remaining prospecting licences in the BEAL project, is located at Itetemia. |
||||||
|
(l) |
Option Agreement with MDN Ltd. (MDN): |
||||||
|
|
On January 20, 2003, as amended on March 18, 2003 and January 9, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with MDN granting MDN the exclusive option to acquire the total rights, titles and interests of the Company in certain prospecting licences. To maintain and exercise the option, MDN must make annual payments for each retained prospecting licence, incur minimum exploration and development expenditures and certain drilling requirements, undertake all obligations of the Company in respect of the licences and complete a feasibility study by December 31, 2009. Upon exercise of the option, the Company shall retain a net smelter return royalty fluctuating between 0.5% to 2% depending on the price of gold. |
||||||
|
|
As at August 31, 2007, of the five prospecting licences optioned to Northern, three are located in Biharamulu and two are located in Tulawaka. |
14
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
15
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
16
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
17
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
18
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
7. |
Share capital (continued): |
|||
|
(b) |
Issued common shares, options and share subscriptions (continued): |
||
|
|
On September 30, 2005 the Chairman and CEO completed a private placement subscription agreement for 442,478 common shares of the Company at $2.147 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $950,000 to the Company. |
||
|
|
Also during the year ended August 31, 2006, a third party purchased 215,820 common shares at $6.667 per share for gross proceeds to the Company of $1,458,872. |
||
|
|
On August 8, 2006 the Company entered into a private placement subscription agreement with the Chairman and CEO for the purchase of an aggregate of $3,000,000 worth of common shares of the Company in eight separate quarterly tranches of $375,000 each. The initial quarterly period commenced February 1, 2007. From February 1 to August 31, 2007, 129,599 shares were issued for proceeds of $750,000 to the Company and at August 31, 2007 there are six tranches that have not been issued. |
||
|
|
On February 13, 2007, the Company completed a private placement subscription agreement with the Companys chairman and CEO for the sale of $3,000,000 worth of common shares in eight separate quarterly closings. The sales price of the common shares was equal to the five day weighted average trading price for the last five consecutive trading days of each quarter immediately preceding the closing date. As at August 31, 2007, the Company had issued 129,599 shares for cash proceeds of $750,000 pursuant to this agreement. As at August 31, 2007, the Company received $2,344,971 (2006 - $750,000) from the Chairman and CEO pursuant to this private placement subscription agreement for which shares had not been issued. These funds were recorded as share subscriptions received at August 31, 2007. |
19
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
20
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
8. |
Related party transactions: |
||
|
In addition, to related party transactions disclosed elsewhere in these consolidated financial statements, during the year ended August 31, 2007, $207,947 (2006 - $190,887; 2005 - $44,813) was paid or payable by the Company to certain directors or entities affiliated with the directors. The Company engages a legal firm for professional services in which one of the Companys directors is a partner. During the year ended August 31, 2007, the legal expense charged by this firm was $82,404, of which $11,000 remains payable at year end. In addition to RSUs, directors were paid cash $102,473 (2006 - $90,687; 2005 - $92,986) for director fees. |
||
|
|
||
9. |
Commitments: |
||
|
In addition to the property payments committed to by the Company to maintain options in certain prospecting and mining option agreements (note 3), the Company is committed to rental payments of approximately $13,200 for premises in 2008 |
||
|
|
||
10. |
Subsequent events: |
||
|
Subsequent to August 31, 2007, the Company issued 347,222 common shares at a price of $5.76 per share, to the chairman and CEO of the Company for consideration of $2,000,000 pursuant to a private placement subscription agreement date October 11, 2007. |
||
|
On November 13, 2007, the third tranche of the $3 million private placement with the Companys Chairman and CEO was completed for the purchase of 63,993 common shares at a price of $5.86 per share. |
||
|
|
||
11. |
Reconciliation between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles: |
||
|
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (Canadian GAAP). A description of United States generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) and rules prescribed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that result in material measurement differences from Canadian GAAP follows: |
||
|
(a) |
Mineral property and deferred exploration cost: |
|
|
|
Under Canadian GAAP, the Company capitalizes mineral property acquisition and exploration costs as described in note 2(f). |
|
|
|
For US GAAP purposes, exploration and land use costs (including option payments) on mineral properties are expensed as incurred for US GAAP purposes, until commercially minable deposits are determined to exist within a particular property. Property acquisition costs are capitalized as incurred and are subject to impairment analysis on occurrence of a triggering event, which is effectively a negative event that differs from the Companys original expectations made at the time of the acquisition. Such acquisition costs will be amortized on a unit of production basis once production commences. |
|
|
|
|
21
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
11. |
Reconciliation between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles (continued): |
||
|
(a) |
Mineral property and deferred exploration cost (continued): |
|
|
|
For Canadian GAAP purposes, cash flows relating to mineral property exploration and land use costs are reported as investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. For US GAAP purposes, these costs would be characterized as operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. |
|
|
|
During the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company wrote down mineral property and deferred exploration costs in its consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP (note 3). The mineral property exploration costs incurred would previously have been expensed for US GAAP and, as such, have been added back to loss from operations under US GAAP for the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006. |
|
|
(b) |
Income taxes: |
|
|
|
As described in note 2(i), the Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. This is consistent with the method used for US GAAP purposes. However, differences to amounts recorded for future income taxes arose in prior years on the application of US GAAP to the financial statements due to the differences in accounting for mineral property exploration and land use costs under the different GAAPs. |
|
(c) |
Stock-based compensation: |
||
|
|
The Company adopted the recommendations of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants with respect to the accounting for stock-based compensation on September 1, 2002. The Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (SFAS 123) became effective for US GAAP purposes for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1995. The Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123R, Share-Based Payments (SFAS 123R) became effective for the Company commencing September 1, 2005. SFAS 123R replaces SFAS 123 and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB Opinion No. 25). |
|
|
|
As allowed by SFAS 123, the Company continued to follow the intrinsic value principles of APB Opinion 25, up to August 31, 2005, in measuring compensation expense for employee options. Under the intrinsic value method, compensation cost is the excess, if any, of the quoted market value of the stock at the measurement date, which is generally the grant date, over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. The application of APB 25 resulted in compensation expense of $61,850 being recognized for stock-based compensation plans for employees prior to August 31, 2001, and no material expense for any of the other periods presented up to August 31, 2005. On September 1, 2005, the Company adopted SFAS 123R for US GAAP purposes, which requires the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments to be based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The accounting for employee awards under SFAS 123R is similar to the Companys accounting policy for Canadian GAAP purposes, and, as such, a GAAP difference does not arise during the year ended August 31, 2006 and there is no cumulative effect on adoption on September 1, 2005. |
22
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
23
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
|
|
( iii ) Deficit: |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Deficit, under Canadian GAAP |
$ |
(32,026,589) |
$ |
(28,105,120) |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Adjustment for stock-based compensation for employees (note 11(c)) |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Adjustment for stock-based compensation for non-employees (note 11(c)) |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Adjustment for escrow shares (note 11(c)) |
|
(2,300,000) |
|
(2,300,000) |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Adjustment for mineral property exploration costs (note 11(a)) |
|
(15,880,555) |
|
(13,730,251) |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Deficit, under US GAAP |
$ |
(50,662,072) |
$ |
(44,590,299) |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
( i v ) Loss and loss per share: |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Years ended August 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Loss for the year, under Canadian GAAP |
$ |
(3,921,469) |
$ |
(4,326,722) |
$ |
(2,931,063) |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Adjustment for mineral property exploration costs (note 11(a)) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Adjustment for future income taxes (note 11(b)) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Loss for the year, under US GAAP |
$ |
(6,071,773) |
$ |
(5,683,081) |
$ |
(3,610,911) |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Basic and diluted loss per share, under US GAAP |
$ |
(0.07) |
$ |
|
$ |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding |
|
86,486,098 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
24
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
11. |
Reconciliation between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles (continued): |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
(d) |
Reconciliation (continued): |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
( v ) Cash flows: |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Years ended August 31, |
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Cash used in operating activities, under Canadian GAAP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Adjustment for mineral properties and deferred exploration (note 11(a)) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Cash used in operating activities, under US GAAP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Cash used in investing activities, under Canadian GAAP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Adjustment for mineral properties and deferred exploration (note 11(a)) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities, under US GAAP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
(e) |
Recent pronouncements: |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
( i ) |
In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainties and Income Taxes (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainties in income taxes and under SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes by defining a criteria that an individual tax position must meet for any part of the benefit of that position to be recognized in an enterprise's financial statements. Additionally, it provides guidance on measurement, derecognition, classification, interests and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company has not yet determined the effects of adopting FIN 48. |
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
( ii ) |
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has not yet determined the effect of adoption of SFAS 157. |
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
25
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION (An Exploration Stage Company) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Expressed in Canadian dollars)
Years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 |
|
11. |
Reconciliation between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles (continued): |
||||
|
(e) |
Recent pronouncements (continued): |
|||
|
|
( ii ) |
In February 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 159 The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities including and amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 FAS 159 which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value at specified election dates. A business entity is required to report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. This statement is expected to expand the use of fair value measurement, FAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years, and is applicable beginning in the Companys first quarter ended November 30, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that FAS 159 will have on its consolidated financial statements. |
26
EXHIBIT 12.1
CERTIFICATIONS
I, James E. Sinclair, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The Company's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The Company's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of the Company's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: November 27, 2007
signed James E. Sinclair
James E. Sinclair,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
EXHIBIT 12.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Regina Kuo-Lee, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The Company's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The Company's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of the Company's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Date:
November 27, 2007
signed Regina Kuo-Lee
Regina Kuo-Lee,
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Exhibit 13
CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
(SUBSECTIONS (a) AND (b) OF SECTION 1350, CHAPTER 63 OF
TITLE 18,UNITED STATES CODE)
Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation (the Company), does hereby certify with respect to the Annual Report of the Company on Form 20-F for the year ended August 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Form 20-F) that, to the best of their knowledge:
(1)
the Form 20-F fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)
the information contained in the Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Dated:
November 27, 2007
signed James Sinclair
James E. Sinclair,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
signed Regina Kuo-Lee
Regina Kuo-Lee,
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
PRIVATE PLACEMENT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT is made on the 11th day of October, 2007.
BETWEEN: |
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION , of Suite 404-1688 152nd Street, South Surrey, British Columbia, V4A 4N2
(the Issuer) |
OF THE FIRST PART |
AND: |
JAMES E. SINCLAIR , of 99 Amenia Union Road, Sharon, Connecticut, U.S.A., 06069 Telephone: (860) 364-1830 E-mail: tnxchairman108@aol.com
(the Purchaser) |
OF THE SECOND PART |
WHEREAS: |
A. The Issuers common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange (collectively, the Exchanges) and the Issuer is subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the Exchanges and each of the British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario Securities Commissions (collectively, the Commissions);
B. The Purchaser currently holds 2,748,663 common shares of the Issuer.
THE PARTIES to this Agreement agree as follows:
1. | SUBSCRIPTION |
1.1 | The Purchaser hereby subscribes for and agrees to purchase from the Issuer 347,222 |
common shares in the capital stock of the Issuer (the Shares), at a price of CAD$5.76 per Share, which is the greater of the five-day weighted-average trading price of the Issuers common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the period ended October 10, 2007 of $5.657 and the closing price of the Issuers common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on October 10, 2007 of $5.76.
1.2 This is a subscription only and will not become an agreement between the Issuer and the Purchaser until this subscription is accepted, in writing, by the Issuer. A reference to this Subscription Agreement or this Agreement in this subscription refers to this subscription and the agreement formed on acceptance by the Issuer. The Purchaser waives the necessity for the Issuer to communicate acceptance of this subscription and acknowledges that this subscription will become a binding agreement on acceptance by the Issuer.
- 2 - |
1.3 The Purchaser shall pay for the Shares upon its execution of this Subscription Agreement by delivery in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.2 below, or shall make payment in such other manner as is acceptable to the Issuer, failing which the Issuer shall have the right to rescind this Subscription Agreement, in addition to any other legal rights it may have.
2. | ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
2.1 | The Purchaser acknowledges, represents and warrants, as at the date hereof and as at |
the Closing Date, that: |
(a) | no prospectus has been filed by the Issuer with the Commissions in connection with the issuance of the Shares, the issuance is exempted from the prospectus requirements of the Securities Act of British Columbia and the Securities Act of Alberta and the Securities Act of Ontario and the respective rules and regulations thereto (hereinafter collectively referred to as the Applicable Securities Laws), and that: | |
(i) | the Purchaser is restricted from using most of the civil remedies available under the Applicable Securities Laws; | |
(ii) | the Purchaser may not receive information that would otherwise be required to be provided to the Purchaser under the Applicable Securities Laws; and | |
(iii) | the Issuer is relieved from certain obligations that would otherwise apply under the Applicable Securities Laws; | |
(b) | the Purchaser is purchasing the Shares as principal for its own account and not for the benefit of any other person and not with a view to the resale or distribution of all or any of the Shares; and if the Purchaser is a portfolio manager as defined under the Applicable Securities Laws, the Purchaser understands that it is deemed by the Applicable Securities Laws to be acting as principal when it purchases or sells as an agent for accounts that are fully managed by it; | |
(c) | if applicable, the Purchaser will execute and deliver to the Issuer for filing with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Corporate Placee Registration Form, and any equivalent or other form required by the American Stock Exchange; | |
(d) | the Purchaser is either one or more of the following: | |
(i) | an accredited investor as defined under Multilateral Instrument 45-103 (if applicable, the Purchaser has signed and delivered to the Issuer an Accredited Investor Certificate); | |
(ii) | a director, senior officer or control person of the Issuer, or of an affiliate of the Issuer; | |
- 3 - |
(iii) | a spouse, parent, grandparent, brother, sister or child of a director, senior officer or control person of the Issuer, or of an affiliate of the Issuer; |
(iv) | a close personal friend of a director, senior officer or control person of the Issuer, or of an affiliate of the Issuer; |
(v) | a close business associate of a director, senior officer or control person of the Issuer, or of an affiliate of the Issuer; |
(vi) | a person or company that is wholly-owned by any combination of persons or companies described in sub-paragraphs (ii) to (v) above; |
(vii) | an employee, senior officer or director of the Issuer, provided that the Purchaser has not been induced to purchase the Shares by expectation of employment or continued employment, or otherwise required by the Issuer to purchase the securities; |
(viii) | a resident of British Columbia and acknowledges receipt of an Offering Memorandum in the required form, and if applicable the Purchaser has signed and delivered to the Issuer a risk acknowledgment (the Acknowledgment); or |
(ix) | a resident of Alberta and acknowledges receipt of an Offering Memorandum in the required form, and the Purchaser has signed and delivered to the Issuer the Acknowledgment, and either the Purchaser is an eligible investor as defined under Multilateral Instrument 45- 103, or the aggregate acquisition cost of the Shares being purchased does not exceed $10,000; |
(e) | the Purchaser is purchasing the Shares under the exemption from prospectus requirements available under section 74(2)(4) of the BC Act and the Purchaser is not a syndicate, partnership or other form of unincorporated entity or organization created solely to permit the purchase of the Shares by a group of individuals whose individual share of the aggregate acquisition cost of the Shares is not less than $97,000 (Cdn.); |
(f) | the representations, warranties and statements of fact made by the Purchaser herein, and in the Acknowledgment and the Corporate Placee Registration Form (if either or both are required) are true and correct as of the date hereof and will be true on the Closing Date; |
(g) | the Shares were not offered to the Purchaser through an advertisement in printed media of general and regular paid circulation, radio or television; |
(h) | the offer made by this subscription is irrevocable and requires acceptance by the Issuer and the approval of the Exchanges; |
- 4 - |
(i) | the Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 , as amended. Accordingly, any offer or sales in the United States or to such nationals or residents thereof must be pursuant to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 , as amended, or an exemption therefrom. The Issuer does not make any representation with respect to, nor has it assumed any responsibility for, the registration of the Shares or the availability of any such exemption; and the Issuer does not make any representation as to when, if at any time, the Shares may be resold in the United States or to such nationals or residents thereof; | |
(j) | this subscription has not been solicited in any manner contrary to Applicable Securities Laws or the United States Securities Act of 1933 , as amended; | |
(k) | no person has made to the Purchaser any written or oral representation: | |
(i) | that any person will resell or repurchase any of the Shares; | |
(ii) | that any person will refund the purchase price of any of the Shares; or | |
(iii) | as to the future price or value of any of the Shares; or | |
(l) | the Purchaser is not a control person of the Issuer as defined in the Applicable Securities Laws and will not become a control person by virtue of the purchase of the Shares and does not intend to act in concert with any other person to form a control group; | |
(m) | the Purchaser has no knowledge of a material fact or material change (as those terms are defined in the Applicable Securities Laws) in the affairs of the Issuer that has not been generally disclosed to the public, save knowledge of this particular transaction; | |
(n) | the purchase of the Shares has been privately negotiated and arranged and the Purchaser or his agent has been invited and afforded the opportunity to conduct a review of all of the Issuers affairs and records in order that the Purchaser may be properly and fully aware of all of the facts relevant to the Issuers affairs; | |
(o) | the Purchaser has sought and obtained independent legal advice regarding the purchase and re-sale of the Shares under the Applicable Securities Laws; | |
(p) | the Toronto Stock Exchange requires that the Shares must be unconditionally held for a period of four (4) months from the Closing Date; | |
(q) | unless the Purchaser is otherwise exempted under the Applicable Securities Laws, the Shares must be unconditionally held for a period of four (4) months from the Closing Date, except as may be otherwise permitted by the Applicable Securities Laws and, if the Purchaser is a resident of a jurisdiction | |
- 5 - |
other than British Columbia, the Shares may be subject to additional re-sale restrictions; and if the Purchaser is a resident of the United States of America, the Shares will be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the United States Securities Act of 1933 ;
(r) | resale of the Shares will be subject to additional resale restrictions beyond the hold periods described immediately above if: | |
(i) | the Purchaser is an insider of the Issuer, other than a director or officer, and has not filed all insider trading reports or personal information forms required to be filed under the Applicable Securities Laws; | |
(ii) | the Purchaser is a director or officer of the Issuer and has not filed all insider trading reports or personal information forms required to be filed under the Applicable Securities Laws or the Issuer has not filed all records required to be filed under Part 12 (continuous disclosure) of the Applicable Securities Laws; | |
(iii) | the Purchaser is, or subsequently becomes, a control person within the meaning of the Applicable Securities Laws; | |
(iv) | any unusual effort is made to prepare the market or create a demand for the securities; or | |
(v) | an extraordinary commission or consideration is paid in respect of the trade; | |
(s) | the certificates representing the Shares will contain a legend or legends denoting restrictions on transfer as referred to herein and, where applicable, the resale restrictions under Rule 144 of the United States Securities Act of 1933 ; | |
(t) | the Purchaser has the legal capacity and competence to enter into and to execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement and to take all actions required pursuant hereto, and the Purchaser is duly incorporated and validly subsisting under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and all necessary approvals by its directors, shareholders and others have been given to authorize execution of this Subscription Agreement on behalf of the Purchaser; | |
(u) | the entering into of this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in the violation of any of the terms and provisions of any law applicable to, or the constating documents of, the Purchaser or of any agreement, written or oral, to which the Purchaser may be a party or by which the Purchaser is or may be bound; and | |
- 6 - |
(v) | this Subscription Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and constitutes a valid obligation of the Purchaser legally binding upon the Purchaser and enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms. |
2.2 The representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments of the Purchaser contained in this Subscription Agreement are made by the Purchaser with the intent that they may be relied upon by the Issuer in determining the Purchasers eligibility to purchase the Shares hereunder and the Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify the Issuer against all losses, claims, costs, expenses and damages or liabilities which it may suffer or incur, caused or arising from its reliance thereon and the Purchaser further agrees that by accepting the Shares, the Purchaser shall be representing and warranting that such representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments are true as at the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if they had been made by the Purchaser at the Closing Date and that they shall survive the purchase by the Purchaser of the Shares and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any subsequent disposition by the Purchaser of the Shares.
2.3 The Issuer represents and warrants as at the date hereof and as at the Closing Date, that:
(a) | the Issuer and its subsidiaries, if any, are valid and subsisting corporations duly incorporated and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of their incorporation; |
(b) | the Issuer will reserve or set aside sufficient Shares in the treasury of the Issuer to issue the Shares; |
(c) | the Issuer is a reporting issuer as defined under the Applicable Securities Laws, and is not on the list of defaulting issuers maintained by the Commissions; |
(d) | the Issuer is a qualifying issuer, as that term is defined under Multilateral Instrument 45-106, and has filed a current Annual Information Form with the Commissions; |
(e) | the Issuer shall use its best efforts to diligently seek and obtain the acceptance for filing of this Subscription Agreement by the Exchanges and will make all filings necessary to obtain the exemptions from registration and prospectus requirements available under the Applicable Securities Laws respectively in respect of the transaction contemplated hereby; |
(f) | the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Issuer does not and will not conflict with and does not and will not result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of its constating documents or any agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party; |
(g) | this Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Issuer and constitutes a valid obligation of |
- 7 - |
the Issuer legally binding upon it and enforceable in accordance with its terms;
3. | CLOSING DATE |
3.1 | The closing of the transaction contemplated by this Subscription Agreement will take |
place within five business days of the receipt by the Issuer of final acceptance for filing by the Exchanges of this Subscription Agreement (the date of closing being referred to herein as the Closing Date).
3.2 Upon execution of this Subscription Agreement, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Issuer a certified cheque or bankers draft for the total purchase price of the Shares or wire transfer the funds to a mutually acceptable escrow agent.
3.3 On the Closing Date, the Issuer will deliver to the Purchaser, against payment for the Shares, the certificate representing the Shares registered in the name of the Purchaser or the Purchasers nominee.
3.4 On the Closing Date, the Issuer will deliver to the Purchaser such copies of approvals or other documents as the Purchaser may reasonably request.
3.5 The acknowledgments, representations and warranties of the Purchaser and the Issuer herein shall survive the Closing Date.
4. | HOLD PERIODS |
4.1 | The Purchaser acknowledges that the Shares may not be traded in British Columbia |
or Ontario for a period of four months from the date hereof, except as may be otherwise permitted by the Applicable Securities Laws, and that the Shares are also subject to a four (4) month hold period under the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange. The certificates representing the Shares will contain a legend denoting the restrictions on transfer imposed by the Applicable Securities Laws and the Exchanges, and where applicable, Rule 144 of the United States Securities Act of 1933 . The Purchaser agrees to sell, assign or transfer the Shares only in accordance with the requirements of the Applicable Securities Laws and the Exchanges.
5. | POWER OF ATTORNEY |
5.1 | Effective upon the acceptance by the Issuer of this Agreement, the Purchaser: |
(a) | irrevocably appoints the President or Secretary of the Issuer (the Attorney) as the Purchasers attorney and agent, with full power of substitution, to execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, make, file, amend and record when and as necessary, any instrument, pooling agreement, acknowledgment, undertaking, direction or other document required to be filed by the Issuer or the Purchaser with any competent securities regulatory authority or stock exchange in connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares, or necessary, in the opinion of the Attorney, to complete or perfect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation, |
- 8 - |
any required corrections or insertions necessary to complete the attached form of Corporate Placee Registration Form and Acknowledgment if required under the Applicable Securities Laws;
(b) | declares that the power of attorney hereby granted is irrevocable and will survive the death, incapacity or bankruptcy of the Purchaser and will extend to and bind the Purchaser and the Purchasers heirs, assigns, executors, trustees in bankruptcy or other legal representatives or successors; and |
(c) | agrees to be bound by any representations made or actions taken by the Attorney if such representations or actions are made or taken in good faith and in accordance with the power of attorney hereby granted, and the Purchaser waives any and all defences which may be available to the Purchaser to deny, contest, or disaffirm any such representations or actions. |
6. | MISCELLANEOUS |
6.1 | Upon acceptance of the subscription contained herein by the Issuer, this Subscription |
Agreement shall constitute a valid and binding agreement between the parties, subject only to the approval thereof by the Exchanges.
6.2 The parties to this Subscription Agreement will execute and deliver all such further and other deeds, documents and assurances, and will perform all such further and other acts as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Issuer, be necessary for the purposes of giving effect to or perfecting the transaction contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.
6.3 This Subscription Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and there are no representations, warranties or collateral agreements, express or implied, other than as expressly set forth herein.
6.4 The parties to this Subscription Agreement may amend this Subscription Agreement only in writing.
6.5 Time is of the essence of this Subscription Agreement and will be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Interpretation Act (British Columbia).
6.6 This Subscription Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of British Columbia and the parties hereby irrevocably attorn to the jurisdiction of the Courts of such Province.
6.7 A party to this Subscription Agreement will give all notices to or other written communications with the other party to this Subscription Agreement concerning this Subscription Agreement by hand or by registered mail addressed to the address given above.
6.8 This Subscription Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and is binding upon the parties to this Subscription Agreement and their successors and permitted assigns.
- 9 - |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed and delivered this Subscription Agreement on the date first above written.
Purchaser: |
signed | signed by James E. Sinclair |
Witness | JAMES E. SINCLAIR |
99 Amenia Union Road, | |
Sharon, Connecticut, U.S.A., 06069 | |
Address |
ACCEPTED BY the Issuer as of and from the date first above written.
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION
signed by Regina Kuo-Lee, CFO |
By: |
Authorized Signatory |
CORPORATE OFFICE:
VANCOUVER OFFICE:
93 Benton Hill Road
Suite 1400-355 Burrard Street
Sharon, CT
Vancouver, B.C.,
U.S.A. 06069
Canada
V6C 2G8
Phone: (860) 364-1830
Phone: (604) 669-5598
Fax : (860) 364-0673
Fax : (604) 669-8915
www.TanzanianRoyaltyExploration.com
January 25, 2007
Sloane Developments Ltd
Penthouse Suite, Analyst House
Peel Road
Douglas, Isle of Man, IMI4LZ
Attn:
Mr. Christian Schaffalitzky
Dear Sirs:
RE:
Those Agreements copied in Schedule A attached hereto (the Underlying Agreements) concerning those mineral properties located in Tanzania, and more particularly described in Schedule "A" attached hereto (collectively the "Licenses")
Further to our discussions, we confirm that Tanzania American International Development Corporation 2000 Ltd and Tancan Mining Company Ltd, are wholly owned subsidiaries of Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation (collectively Tanzanian Royalty) who is prepared to grant Sloane Developments Ltd, (the Optionee) an option to acquire an interest in the Licenses, through the assumption of all rights and obligations under the Underlying Agreements, pursuant to the following terms and conditions of this letter agreement and in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises, covenants and agreements herein contained and the sum of $2 now paid by each party to the other (the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged):
1.
INTERPRETATION
1.1
Capitalized words and phrases shall have the meanings given thereto in Schedule B hereto.
2.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1
Each party represents and warrants to the other that:
(a)
it is a body corporate duly incorporated, organized and validly subsisting under the laws of its incorporating jurisdiction and it has full power and
- 2 -
authority to carry on its business and to enter into this Agreement and any agreement or instrument referred to or contemplated by this Agreement;
(b)
neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor any of the agreements or transactions referred to herein or contemplated hereby, will conflict with, result in the breach of or accelerate the performance required by any agreement to which it is a party;
(c)
the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the agreements and transactions contemplated hereby will not violate or result in the breach of laws of any jurisdiction applicable or pertaining thereto or of its constating documents;
(d)
that it has the capacity to enter into and perform this Agreement and all transactions contemplated herein and that all corporate and other actions required to authorize it to enter into and perform this agreement have been properly taken;
(e)
that it is unaware of any material facts or circumstances which have not been disclosed in this Agreement and which should be disclosed to the other Party in order to prevent the representations in this article 2 from being materially misleading.
2.2
Tanzanian Royalty represents and warrants to the Optionee that:
(a)
the Properties are properly and accurately described in Schedule A attached hereto;
(b)
Tanzanian Royalty has the right to obtain or has been vested with:
(i)
an undivided 100% beneficial right, title and interest in and to License PL 1559/2000 pursuant and subject to that Underlying Agreement with Widescope Promotion Limited, dated May 3, 2000. Note there is a Net Smelter Royalty option to purchase;
(ii)
an undivided 100% beneficial right, title and interest in and to License PL 1560/2000 pursuant and subject to that Underlying Agreement with Widescope Promotion Limited, dated June 20, 2000. Note there is a Net Smelter Royalty option to purchase;
(iii)
an undivided 100% beneficial right, title and interest in and to License PL 2297/2003 in the name of Tancan Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty. Note there is a Net Smelter Royalty option to purchase;
(iv)
an undivided 100% beneficial right, title and interest in and to PL 1451/2000, in the name of Tancan Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty;
(v)
an undivided 100% beneficial right, title and interest in and to PL 3315/2005, in the name of Tanzanian American International
- 3 -
Development Corporation 2000 Limited (Tanzam 2000), a subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty;
(vi)
an undivided 100% beneficial right, title and interest in and to PL 2519/2004, in the name of Tancan Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty;
(vii)
an undivided 90% beneficial right, title and interest in and to License PL 1450/2000 in the name of Itetemia Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty and pursuant and subject to that Underlying Agreement with Stamico dated, July 12, 1994 amended June 18, 2001 and July 5, 2005.
(viii)
an undivided 90% beneficial right, title and interest in and to License PL 3308/2005 in the name of Tancan Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty and pursuant and subject to that Underlying Agreement with Stamico dated, July 12, 1994 amended June 18, 2001 and July 5, 2005.
(ix)
an undivided 90% beneficial right, title and interest in and to License PL 2523/2004 in the name of Itetemia Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty and pursuant and subject to that Underlying Agreement with Stamico dated, July 12, 1994 amended June 18, 2001 and July 5, 2005.
(x)
an undivided 100% beneficial right, title and interest in and to License PL 2038/2002 in the name of Tancan Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of Tanzanian Royalty. Note this PL is subject to a 2% Net Smelter Royalty.
(c)
other than Tanzanian Royalty and the parties to the Underlying Agreements, no person has any proprietary or possessory right to the Properties and no person is entitled to any royalty or other payment in the nature of rent or royalty on any Mineral Products;
(d)
all taxes and other applicable payments, and all other acts, have been made to maintain the Properties in good standing, including those set forth in section 33 of The Mining Act, 1998 (Tanzania);
(e)
to the best of its information, conditions on and relating to the Properties are in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and orders relating to environmental matters;
(f)
to the best of its information and belief, Tanzanian Royalty covenants that there are no outstanding or threatened actions, investigations, suits or claims that would affect its right, title or interest in or to the Properties; and
(g)
to the best of its information and belief, Tanzanian Royalty covenants that the Properties are free and clear of all recorded and unrecorded liens, charges and encumbrances.
- 4 -
(h)
Tanzanian Royalty has delivered to the Optionee all relevant information concerning title to the Properties;
(i)
all statutory work on the Properties has been performed in a manner consistent with the laws and regulations in effect at the relevant time and all filings required in order to maintain the mining rights in good standing have been properly and timely recorded or filed with the appropriate governmental agencies;
(j)
there is no judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any court, governmental department, commission, agency, instrumentally or arbitrator and no claim, suite, action, litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding in progress, pending or threatened against or relating to, and affecting the Properties which prevents or which seeks to prevent Tanzanian Royalty from entering into this Agreement and performing its obligations hereunder and the transactions contemplated hereby;
(k)
Tanzanian Royalty has full authority to grant, sell, assign, and transfer to the Optionee the mining rights attaching to the Properties, as contemplated by this Agreement.
2.3
The representations and warranties hereinbefore set out are conditions on which the parties have relied in entering into this Agreement and will survive for a period of two years after the Effective Date and each party will indemnify and save the other parties harmless from all loss, damage, costs, actions and suits arising out of or in connection with any breach of any representation or warranty made by it and contained in this Agreement.
3.
FIRST OPTION
3.1
Tanzanian Royalty hereby gives and grants to the Optionee the sole and exclusive option (Option) to acquire a 100% right, title and interest in and to the Properties, save and except for the Royalty. In order to exercise the Option, the Optionee shall:
(a)
make cash payments to Tanzanian Royalty, or its nominee, as follows:
(i)
US$100,000 on or before the 30 th day subsequent to the Effective Date;
(ii)
US$100,000, plus US$10,000 for each License held in excess of one, on or before that date which is 12 months subsequent to the Effective Date;
(iii)
US$120,000, plus US$15,000 for each License held in excess of one, on or before that date which is 24 months subsequent to the Effective Date;
(iv)
US$120,000, plus US$20,000 for each License held in excess of one, on or before that date which is 36 months subsequent to the Effective Date;
- 5 -
(v)
US$140,000, plus US$25,000 for each License held in excess of one, on or before that date which is 48 months subsequent to the Effective Date;
(vi)
US$140,000, plus US$30,000 for each License held in excess of one, on or before that date which is 60 months subsequent to the Effective Date;
(vii)
US$150,000, plus US$35,000 for each License held in excess of one, on or before that date which is 72 months subsequent to the Effective Date;
(b)
incur Expenditures aggregating US$1,000,000 on or before the second anniversary of the Effective Date, as follows:
(i)
US$400,000 on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date; and
(ii)
US$600,000 (in the aggregate) on or before the second anniversary of the Effective Date;
(c)
complete the following Diamond Drilling Metres on or before the third anniversary of the Effective Date:
(i)
5,000 Diamond Drilling Metres on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date;
(ii)
10,000 Diamond Drilling Metres (in the aggregate) on or before the second anniversary of the Effective Date; and
(iii)
15,000 Diamond Drilling Metres (in the aggregate) on or before the third anniversary of the Effective Date; and
(d)
complete a Bankable Feasibility Report, and make a positive production decision, on or before the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date;
(e)
commence Commercial Production on or before the seventh anniversary of the Effective Date.
- 6 -
4.
EXPENDITURES
4.1
If the Optionee has not incurred the requisite Expenditures to maintain the Option in good standing during any period then the Optionee may pay to Tanzanian Royalty, within 10 days following the expiry of such period, the amount of the deficiency and such amount shall thereupon be deemed to have been Expenditures incurred by the Optionee during such period. Tanzanian Royalty understands and agrees that the amounts to be spent within the periods referred to in Section 3.1(b) are cumulative amounts and that, accordingly, Expenditures incurred in a particular period in excess of the amount of Expenditures required to be incurred to maintain the Option in good standing during such period shall be carried over and included in the aggregate amount of Expenditures for the next subsequent period or periods, as the case may be.
4.2
Within 60 days following each anniversary of the Effective Date, the Optionee shall deliver to Tanzanian Royalty a statement showing in reasonable detail the Expenditures incurred by the Optionee during the annual period just expired (ending the last anniversary of the Effective Date) and the aggregate Expenditures incurred to the end of such period and Tanzanian Royalty shall have 45 days from the time of receipt of such statement to question the accuracy thereof in writing, failing which such statement shall be deemed to be correct and unimpeachable thereafter. If a statement delivered pursuant to this Section 4.2 is questioned by Tanzanian Royalty:
(a)
Tanzanian Royalty shall have 60 days from the time of delivery of the statement to have the statement audited by a firm of international repute; and
(b)
the audited results shall be final and determinative of the amount of Expenditures incurred for the audited period;
provided that if such audit discloses a deficiency in the amount of Expenditures required to be incurred to maintain its option in good standing, then the Optionee may pay to Tanzanian Royalty the amount of such deficiency within 30 days following receipt of notice of such audited results, whereupon such amount shall be deemed to have been Expenditures incurred during the audited period. The costs of the audit shall be borne by the Optionee if the statement shows a deficiency of greater than 10%; otherwise the costs shall be borne by Tanzanian Royalty.
- 7 -
5.
MINING ACTIVITIES
5.1
Should the Optionee exercise the Option, then Tanzanian Royalty shall be entitled to the Royalty on the terms and condition of the Royalty Agreement attached as Schedule C, to which they agree to be bound. The Royalty shall be in addition to all other compensation provided hereunder.
5.2
The Optionee shall have the absolute discretion as to the manner in which Commercial Production shall be achieved, provided, however, that if the Mine is producing at a rate of less than 50,000 Gold Ounces on or before the eighth anniversary of the Effective Date, then the Optionee shall pay to Tanzanian Royalty a sum equal to US$X, where X equals the result when the Gold Ounces are deducted from 50,000 and then multiplied by US$25.
5.3
The Optionee shall use its best endeavours to keep the Properties free and clear of all third party miners. The Optionee shall be liable to Tanzanian Royalty for all Mineral Products removed by such miners. This clause will not apply to PL 3308/2005 where there are currently illegal miners exploiting the Golden Horseshoe Reef. It will be the responsibility of Tanzanian Royalty to remove these miners before any pre-feasibility work commences on this reef.
6.
OPERATIONS AND TERMINATION
6.1
During the Option Period, the following shall apply, subject to the laws of Tanzania and the terms and conditions of the Licenses:
(a)
The Optionee, along with its employees, agents and independent contractors, shall have the sole and exclusive right and option to:
(i)
enter upon the Properties and have exclusive and quiet possession thereof;
(ii)
do such prospecting, exploration, development or other mining work thereon and thereunder as Optionee in its sole discretion may consider advisable; and
(iii)
bring and erect upon the Properties such facilities as the Optionee may consider advisable.
(b)
The Optionee shall:
(i)
conduct all work on or with respect to the Properties in material compliance with all applicable federal, provincial and local laws, rules, orders and regulations, an indemnify and save Tanzanian Royalty, as well as its directors, officers, employees and agents, harmless from any and all claims, suits or actions made or brought against them as a result of work done by the Optionee on or with respect to the Properties;
(ii)
provide Tanzanian Royalty with a status report on a quarterly basis in respect of field operations, which report shall include all analyses, assay results and other factual information acquired or learned during such quarter;
- 8 -
(iii)
provide Tanzanian Royalty with a technical report on a yearly basis within 60 days of each anniversary of the Effective Date, which report shall interpret all analyses, results and factual information acquired or learned during the annual period just expired (as of the last anniversary of the Effective Date);
(iv)
arrange for liability insurance in keeping with industry standards and, upon request, provide evidence of such insurance to Tanzanian Royalty;
(v)
provide Tanzanian Royalty with draft copies of all pre-feasibility, feasibility and other studies or reports prepared by or for the benefit of the Optionee; and
(vi)
make available to Tanzanian Royalty such information as may be necessary, from time to time, to enable Tanzanian Royalty to meet with investors or potential investors to describe operations on the Properties and all results therefrom.
(c)
Tanzanian Royalty and its respective authorized agents:
(i)
may enter upon the Properties to inspect the Properties and activities conducted by the Optionee thereon, provided reasonable notice is first given to the Optionee, the Optionee is then active on the Property and such inspections occur during normal business hours;
(ii)
shall keep the Properties in good standing by the doing of all work and the filing of all necessary reports and by the doing of all other acts and things and making all other payments which may be necessary in that regard (including the timely renewal or reapplication for all Licenses and other forms of mineral properties embraced by the Properties as and when required), provided all necessary cooperation and assistance in doing so is provided by the Optionee and, where applicable, the License holder and all reasonable expenses borne by Tanzanian Royalty in doing so are reimbursed by the Optionee promptly upon notice with reasonable evidence thereof;
(iii)
shall make available to the Optionee and its representatives all records and files in the possession of either of them relating to the Properties, and permit the Optionee and its representatives at its own expense to take abstracts therefrom and make copies thereof; and
(iv)
shall promptly provide the Optionee with any and all notices and correspondence from government agencies in respect of the Properties; and
(d)
Tanzanian Royalty and the Optionee shall each use its best efforts to keep the Properties free and clear of all liens, charges and encumbrances.
- 9 -
6.2
If any party (a Defaulting Party) is in default of any requirement herein set forth, including those set forth in Section 3.1, the party affected by such default shall give written notice to the Defaulting Party specifying the default and the Defaulting Party shall not lose any rights under this Agreement should it cure the default within 30 days after the receipt of such notice of default by the appropriate performance. If the Defaulting Party fails within such period to cure any such default, then:
(a)
Prior to the exercise of the Option where such Defaulting Party is the Optionee, the Option shall terminate; and
(b)
In all other circumstances, the affected party shall be entitled to seek any remedy it may have on account of such default, including a claim for damages or injunctive relief.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may terminate the Option of any or all Properties at any time by giving 30 days advance notice in writing to Tanzanian Royalty subject to Clause 6.1
6.3
In the event of the termination of the Option, the Optionee shall:
(a)
leave the Properties in good standing for a minimum of three (3) months under all applicable legislation, free and clear of all liens, charges and encumbrances arising from this Agreement or its operations hereunder and in a safe and orderly condition;
(b)
deliver to Tanzanian Royalty a comprehensive, interpretative report on all work carried out by the Optionee in a form in keeping with industry standards;
(c)
remove from the Properties within three (3) months of the effective date of termination all facilities erected, installed or brought upon the Properties by or at the instance of the Optionee, unless the consent of Tanzanian Royalty is obtained to the contrary.
7.
TRANSFERS AND ASSIGNMENTS
7.1
No party (Sellor) shall sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of (Sell) all or any portion of its right, title and interest in and to the Properties or its rights and obligations under this Agreement (Interest), except:
(a)
Pursuant to an agreement in which the consideration is expressed in lawful money of Canada or the United States of America;
(b)
As a single transaction not directly or indirectly part of some other sale or purchase or agreement of any nature whatsoever; and,
(c)
Otherwise in accordance with this Section 7.
If the Sellor receives a bona fide offer from a third party to Sell all or any portion of its Interest (Offered Interest) and intends to accept such offer (the Offer), the Sellor, prior to accepting the Offer, shall give notice in writing to the other parties (the Potential
- 10 -
Preemptors) of the Offer together with a copy of the Offer, which shall be in written form (the Notice). A Notice shall be deemed to constitute an offer (1 st Offer) by the Sellor to the Potential Preemptors to Sell the Offered Interest on the terms and conditions set out in the Notice and shall be open for acceptance by the Potential Preemptors for a period of 60 days from the date of its receipt by the Potential Preemptors. Such Notice shall clearly identify the person or person making the Offer and include such information as is known by the Sellor about such person or persons. If one of the Potential Preemptors gives notice to the Sellor electing to accept the 1 st Offer within the 60 day period, such acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement of purchase and sale between the Sellor and the Potential Preemptor in respect of the Offered Interest on the terms and conditions set out in the Notice. If more than one Potential Preemptor elects to accept the 1 st Offer, then each of them shall acquire, and pay for, the Offered Interest in proportion to their respective Interests. If no Potential Preemptor accepts the 1 st Offer within the 60 day period, the Sellor may complete a sale and purchase of the Offered Interest to the person or persons making the Offer on the terms and conditions set out in the Notice and such sale and purchase shall be completed within 100 days of the expiration of the right of the Potential Preemptors to accept the 1 st Offer provided for in this Section 7.1, failing which the Sellor must again comply with the provisions of this Section 7.1 in respect to a sale and purchase of the Offered Interest. Nothing in this Section 7 shall prevent a party from soliciting offers from third parties to purchase its Interest, provided, however, that no party shall make offers to third parties to Sell its Interest if the effect of such an offer would avoid the application of the provisions of this Section 7.1.
7.2
The Sellor may Sell all or any portion of its Interest to an Affiliate of the Sellor. For purposes of clarity, such sale, transfer, assignment or disposal is not subject to Section 7.1, provided, however, that if control over such Affiliate is transferred to a third party within 30 days or if such transaction is merely an attempt at avoiding the provisions of Section 7.1, then the provisions of Section 7.1 shall be deemed to apply to such transaction and such transaction shall have no effect, unless the Potential Preemptors subsequently decline to exercise their right to acquire the Offered Interest pursuant to Section 7.1.
7.3
Should the Sellor Sell only a portion of its Interest to a third party (New Party), the Sellor and the New Party shall be deemed to be one continuing party for purposes of this Agreement and the Sellor shall be deemed to be such continuing party and shall act as an agent for the New Party hereunder.
7.4
This Agreement shall be binding upon and enure to the benefit of the parties successors and permitted assignees, provided, however, that any assignment by the Sellor of all or any portion of its rights or obligations hereunder shall include a provision whereby the New Party agrees to abide by the terms of this Agreement, including the provision of this Section 7, and assume all of the liabilities and obligations of the Sellor under this Agreement, whether accruing before or becoming due after such assignment. The Sellor and New Party shall execute such agreements or documents as may be reasonably required in this regard by the other parties to this Agreement. No assignment shall serve to release or discharge the Sellor from any of the said liabilities or obligations, unless all of the rights and obligations of the Sellor have been assigned to the New Party and the other parties have released the Sellor.
7.5
Subsequent to the exercise of the Option, Section 7.1 shall no longer have effect.
- 11 -
7.6
Notwithstanding the foregoing part of this Section 7 and in addition to the other obligations imposed upon the Optionee pursuant to this Section 7, the Optionee shall not Sell all or any portion of its Interest to a New Party, unless the New Party passes the Financial Test. The Financial Test shall be passed by the New Party where its:
(a)
assets net of liabilities are in excess of C$25,000,000; and
(b)
gross revenues are in excess of C$100,000,000;
and the New Party is not then contemplating bankruptcy, liquidation, dividends in-kind or any other transaction or event that would substantially affect its ability to assume the obligations hereunder.
7.7
For purposes of this Article 7, Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation, Tanzanian American International Development Corporation 2000 Limited and Tancan Mining Company Limited shall be treated as one party and Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation shall act as agent for the others.
7.8
It is understood and agreed that the transfer of control over the Optionee to a party that is not a shareholder of the Optionee at present (or does not have a sufficient shareholding to control the Optionee at present) will not constitute a Sale for purposes of this Article 7.
8.
GENERAL
8.1
Upon the exercise of the Option, Tanzanian Royalty shall execute such documents as may be reasonably necessary to transfer the Properties into the name of the Optionee, subject to the Underlying Agreements. Prior to the exercise of the Option, the Optionee shall take all such actions as may be necessary to notify applicable governmental agencies of this Agreement, and register the agreement with all applicable registries, and all costs in respect thereof shall be borne by the Optionee and constitute Expenditures.
8.2
The Optionee shall have the right at any time to remove from this Agreement any portion of the Properties by delivering a notice to Tanzanian Royalty, which notice shall list the license or other mineral property that the Optionee wishes to remove (Infertile Property). Infertile Property shall be in good standing for at least twelve months beyond the date of such notice and free and clear of all liens, charges and encumbrances arising from the operations of the Optionee.
8.3
No party shall disclose Confidential Information to a third party, unless the disclosure is believed to be required by law or a regulatory authority having jurisdiction or the disclosure is consented to by the other party (Non-Disclosing Party); consent of the Non-Disclosing Party shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Where disclosure is believed to be required by law or a regulatory authority having jurisdiction, a copy of the information to be disclosed shall be provided to the Non-Disclosing Party in advance of its disclosure. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(a)
either party may disclose Confidential Information to a bank or other financial institution for purposes of arranging financing or securing credit and to a third party that has evidenced a bona fide interest in acquiring all or
- 12 -
a portion of such partys right, title or interest in or to the Properties, provided such third party agrees in writing to keep such information confidential for a period of time of not less than two years; and
(b)
it is understood and agreed that a party shall not be liable to the other party for the fraudulent or negligent disclosure of information by any of its employees, agents or contractors, provided that such party has taken reasonable steps to ensure the preservation of the confidential nature of such information.
8.4
Each party should be responsible for the acts of its representatives. The parties hereto agree that they and each of them shall execute all documents and do all acts and things within their respective powers to carry out and implement the provisions and intent of this Agreement.
8.5
Any notice, direction or other communication required, permitted or otherwise given hereunder (Communication) shall be in writing and shall be delivered or mailed as follows:
(a) if to Tanzanian Royalty :
Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation
93 Benton Hill Road
Sharon, Connecticut
USA
06069
Attention : Mr. James Sinclair
Fax : +1 860 364 0673
(b)
if to the Optionee:
Sloane Developments Ltd.
Penthouse Suite, Analyst House
Peel Road
Douglas, Isle of Man, IMI4LZ
Attention: Mr. Christian Schaffalitzky
Fax : +353 1 4971762
A Communication shall, if delivered, be deemed to have been given and received on the day it was delivered and, if mailed, be deemed to have been given and received on the fourth business day following the day of mailing, except in the event of a disruption of postal services in which event such notice shall be deemed to be received only when actually received. Any party may at any time give notice to the other parties of a change of address of the party giving such notice and, from and after the giving of such notice, the address or addresses therein specified (not to exceed two) shall be deemed to be the address of such party for the purpose of giving notice hereunder.
8.6
In this Agreement, headings have been inserted for ease of reference and may not accurately describe the provisions that follow them. Consequently, headings shall not be used for purposes of interpreting this Agreement.
- 13 -
8.7
All references to monies hereunder are to funds of the United States of America. All payments to be made to any party hereunder shall be mailed or delivered to such party at its address for notice purposes or to the account of such party at such bank or banks in Canada as such party may designate from time to time by notice. All payments to be made to Tanzanian Royalty shall be made to Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation or its nominee.
8.8
Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, if either party is prevented from or delayed in performing any obligations under this Agreement by any cause, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable, beyond its reasonable control including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, acts of war or conditions arising out of or attributable to war, whether declared or undeclared, riot, civil strife, insurrection or rebellion, fire, explosion, earthquake, storm, flood or other adverse weather condition (an Event of Force Majeur), then the time for the observance of the condition or performance of the obligation in question shall be extended for a period equivalent to the period the Event of Force Majeur persists or remains in effect. A party claiming an Event of Force Majeur shall promptly notify the other party to that effect and shall take and continue to take all reasonable steps to remove or remedy the cause of the prevention or delay insofar as it is reasonably able to do so and as soon as possible.
8.9
This Agreement provides for an option only and nothing herein contained shall be construed as obligating the Optionee to do any acts or make any payment hereunder and any act or acts or payment or payments as shall be made hereunder shall not be construed as obligating the Optionee to do any further act or make any further payment.
8.10
No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be binding, unless evidenced in writing executed by the Party against whom waiver is claimed. Any waiver shall extend only to the particular breach so waived and shall not limit any rights with respect to any future breach. Time is of the essence of this Agreement.
8.11
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. It supersedes and revokes all previous writings and all proposals, negotiations, representations, agreements, commitments and communications between the parties. An amendment or variation of this Agreement shall only be binding upon a party if evidenced in writing and executed by that party.
9.
ARBITRATION
9.1
Any dispute or conflict between the parties concerning this Agreement, including a question regarding its existence, validity or termination, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the rules of the London Court of International Arbitration, which rules are deemed to be incorporated herein by reference. The number of arbitrators shall be one, the place of hearing shall be London, England and the language used in the proceedings shall be English. The arbitration procedure shall be done under the laws of England and Wales.
9.2
Resorting to arbitration shall not prevent the Parties from directly petitioning a Court having jurisdiction for injunctive relief or special recourses.
- 14 -
9.3
The arbitrator shall have the power to make determinations with respect to the costs, expenses and fees which it may incur. The Parties waive their right to contest any decision of the arbitration tribunal in this regard and agree to pay any amounts so determined upon demand.
9.4
Unless the arbitration award provides otherwise, the arbitration costs shall be shared equally by the Parties.
9.5
The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
If the foregoing terms and conditions, and the attached schedules which form a part of this Letter of Intent, accurately set out our mutual understandings, please indicate your acceptance by signing this letter where indicated below and returning to us the enclosed copy duly signed on or before 4:30 p.m. on January 31, 2007 .
Yours very truly,
Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation
Per:
signed James Sinclair
Terms and conditions approved as of the date first above written.
Sloane Developments Ltd.
Per:
signed Christian Schaffalitzky
- 15 -
SCHEDULE A
LICENSES
Luhala Project:
102 |
Luhala |
1451/00 |
A |
03 0 06'13" |
33 0 02'30" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 06'13" |
33 0 05'00" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 07'50.5" |
33 0 05'00" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 07'50.5" |
33 0 02'30" |
13.93 sq.km. |
83 |
Luhala |
2519/04 |
A |
03 0 06'13" |
33 0 00'00" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 06'13" |
33 0 02'30" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 09'28" |
33 0 02'30" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 09'28" |
33 0 00'00" |
27.865 sq.km. |
169 |
Luhala |
3315/05 |
A |
03 0 07'50.5" |
33 0 02'30" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 07'50.5" |
33 0 05'00" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 09'28" |
33 0 05'00" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 09'28" |
33 0 02'30" |
13.93 sq.km. |
108 |
Luhala |
1559/00 |
A |
03 0 05'30" |
33 0 03'30" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 05'30" |
33 0 07'00" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 06'00" |
33 0 07'00" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 06'00" |
33 0 03'30" |
6.0 sq.km. |
109 |
Luhala |
1560/00 |
A |
03 0 09'00" |
33 0 05'00" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 09'00" |
33 0 06'00" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 12'00" |
33 0 06'00" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 12'00" |
33 0 05'00" |
10.29 sq.km. |
110 |
Luhala |
2297/03 |
A |
03 0 06'00" |
33 0 00'00" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 06'00" |
33 0 05'00" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 06'13" |
33 0 05'00" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 06'13" |
33 0 00'00" |
3.72 sq.km. |
- 16 -
Itetemia Project Area:
101 |
I Itetemia |
1450/00 |
A |
03 0 12'30" |
32 0 30'50" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 12'30" |
32 0 31'55" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 15'00" |
32 0 31'55" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 15'00" |
32 0 30'50" |
9.287 sq.km. |
84 |
Itetemia |
2523/04 |
A |
03 0 10'00" |
32 0 30'50" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 10'00" |
32 0 33'00" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 12'30" |
32 0 33'00" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 12'30" |
32 0 30'50" |
18.57 sq.km. |
166 |
Itetemia |
3308/05 |
A |
03 0 12'30" |
32 0 31'55" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 12'30" |
32 0 33'00" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 15'00" |
32 0 33'00" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 15'00" |
32 0 31'55" |
9.287 sq.km. |
104 |
Itetemia |
2038/02 |
A |
03 0 09'00" |
32 0 30'00" |
|
|
|
|
B |
03 0 09'00" |
32 0 32'30" |
|
|
|
|
C |
03 0 10'00" |
32 0 32'30" |
|
|
|
|
D |
03 0 10'00" |
32 0 30'00" |
8.574 sq.km. |
- 17 -
- 18 -
SCHEDULE B
DEFINED TERMS
Affiliate means, in respect of a party hereto, a corporation with which that party is affiliated within the meaning of section 1 of the Securities Act (Ontario).
Agreement means the letter agreement to which this Schedule is attached, including all written amendments and modifications hereof, and all schedules hereto.
Bankable Feasibility Report means a technical report to be prepared by the Optionee or a contractor or contractors employed by the Optionee for purposes of assessing the viability of establishing a Mine on the Property, which report shall be based upon the exploration and development work performed prior to the date of such report and which shall consider, in good faith, the following elements:
(a)
the results of such exploration and development work, including analyses of a proposal for mining Mineral Products; proposed mining, milling and production rates; a proposal for placement of facilities; a proposal for waste treatment and handling; the estimated recoverable reserves of Mineral Products, and the estimated mineral composition and content thereof; a general conceptual analysis of the permitting and environmental liability implications of the proposal; appropriate metallurgical tests to project the efficiency of proposed extraction, recovery and, if applicable, processing techniques; and such other analyses as deemed appropriate by the Optionee; and
(b)
general estimates of capital costs for the development and start-up of a Mine and, if proposed, of a mill and other processing and ancillary facilities, which cost estimates shall include:
(i)
reasonable estimates of all material expenditures required to purchase, construct and install all material, machinery, equipment and facilities and infrastructure (including contingencies) required to bring a Mine into Commercial Production;
(ii)
reasonable estimates of material expenditures required to perform all other related work required to commence Commercial Production of Mineral Products (including reasonable estimates of working capital requirements, if any);
(iii)
reasonable estimates of all other material direct and indirect expenditures and general and administrative expenses that may be required for an evaluation of the proposed production levels;
which capital cost estimates shall include a timing schedule showing the estimated time when all such material costs will likely be incurred;
(iv)
a general estimate of the annual expenditures required for the first year of operations after completion of the capital program described above, and for subsequent years of operations, including estimates of annual production, administrative, operating and maintenance expenditures, taxes (other than income taxes), working capital funding requirements, royalties (if any), material equipment leasing or material supply contract expenditures, expansion or modification of capital requirements, work commitments, and all other anticipated material costs of operations, which estimate shall also include a general estimate of the number of employees required to conduct operations;
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(v)
a review of the nature, extent and rated capacity of the mining equipment and a proposed production schedule;
(vi)
a development plan showing the proposed development of all orebodies, with associated process facilities, waste disposal facilities, infrastructures and services and the timing thereof; and
(vii)
such other information as the Optionee deems appropriate.
(c)
Commercial Production shall be deemed to have commenced the first day following any period of 40 consecutive days during which ore has been processed in 30 of those 40 days at a rate of production equal to 66% of the initial design-rated capacity or, if no milling facilities are located on the Property, the first day following any period of 40 consecutive days during which ore has been produced from the Property on a reasonably regular basis for the purpose of earning profit.
(d)
Confidential Information means all information and data prepared by, provided to or acquired by a party, which is marked « Confidential » or is stated to be confidential or is by its nature intended to be confidential relating to the Property, and all analyses, compilations, data, studies, documents or other information derived therefrom, other than information or data which a party is able to establish: (i) was readily available to the public at the time such information was made available to that party; (ii) became readily available to the public after the time such information was made available to that party other than as a result of disclosure by a party in contravention of this Agreement; or (iii) became available to a party on a non-confidential basis from a third party provided such third party was not bound by confidentiality obligations relating thereto.
(e)
Construction means every kind of work carried out in accordance with a Bankable Feasibility Report to prepare the Property for production.
(f)
Diamond Drilling Metres means metres of diamond drilling, provided, however, that where drilling has been completed using techniques other than diamond drilling then the aggregate Expenditures Incurred in respect of such drilling shall be divided by the then per metre cost of diamond drilling in such region to arrive at the number of Diamond Drilling Metres thereby completed.
(g)
Effective Date means the date this Agreement is signed.
(h)
Expenditures shall include all expenditures and costs made or incurred by the Optionee or its Affiliates or assigns relating directly or indirectly to the Property, including the Overhead Fee, but excluding expenditures and costs relating to head office management, regional offices not solely dedicated to the Property, technology and facilities held by the Optionee for general application in respect of its projects, professional services (including legal, accounting and tax advisors) and other matters normally considered to be covered by an overhead fee, provided, however, that where Expenditures are charged by an Affiliate of the Optionee for services rendered such Expenditures shall not exceed the fair market value of the services rendered.
(i)
Option has the meaning given thereto in Section 3.1.
(j)
Option Period means the period of time prior to the exercise of the Option.
(k)
Optionee means Sloane Developments Ltd.
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(l)
Mine means the workings established and assets acquired, including development headings, plant and concentrator installations, infrastructure, housing, airport and other facilities, in order to bring the Property into Commercial Production.
(m)
Mineral Products means any and all ores (and concentrates derived therefrom), minerals (precious and base, metallic and nonmetallic) and any other products in, on or under the Property or resulting therefrom which may be lawfully explored for, mined and sold.
(n)
Overhead Fee means 10% of all Expenditures (other than the Overhead Fee) during the period prior to the completion of a Bankable Feasibility Report and 3% of all Expenditures (other than the Overhead Fee) thereafter.
(o)
Property means the Licenses, along with all substitute and successor properties.
(p)
Royalty has the meaning given thereto in Schedule C attached to the Agreement.
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SCHEDULE C
ROYALTY AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, DATED JANUARY 25, 2007
BETWEEN:
TANZANIAN ROYALTY EXPLORATION CORPORATION
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SLOANE DEVELOPMENTS LTD.
WITNESSETH THAT:
AND WHEREAS Tanzanian Royalty and Sloane Developments agreed to enter into this Agreement (the Royalty Agreement ) upon the exercise of an option granted to Sloane Developments by Tanzanian Royalty;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby agree, in consideration for the sum of $2 (the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged), as follows:
1.
Grant of Royalty:
Sloane Developments (referred to as the Payor , collectively with its successors or assignees) hereby agrees to grant, transfer and convey to Tanzanian Royalty (referred to as the Payee , collectively with its successors or assignees) a royalty (the Royalty ) in respect of all Mineral Products that may be produced from the [property description] ( Property ). It is the parties intention that the Royalty be construed as an interest in land.
2.
Definitions :
The Royalty shall be calculated on a monthly basis. The following words shall have the following meanings:
(i)
Commercial Production shall be deemed to have commenced the first day following any period of 40 consecutive days during which ore has been processed in 30 of those 40 days at a rate of production equal to 66% of the initial design-rated capacity or, if no milling facilities are located on the Property, the first day following any period of 40 consecutive days during which ore has been produced from the Property on a reasonably regular basis for the purpose of earning profit;
(ii)
Fair market value shall be determined by using, for gold, the monthly average price of gold which shall be calculated by dividing the sum of all London Bullion Market Association P.M. Gold Fix prices reported for the month in question by the number of days for which such prices were quoted and, for silver, the monthly average price of silver, which shall be calculated by dividing the sum of all New York Commodity Exchange ( COMEX ) prices reported for silver quoted by and at the closing of COMEX
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for the month in question by a number of days for which such prices were quoted, less, in each case, an amount reasonably equivalent to the deductions permitted by section 2(vii); fair market value for all other Mineral Products shall be determined by reference to the monthly average price of such commodity as quoted on the London Metal Exchange or, should such exchange not provide a quotation for the relevant mineral product, a similarly transparent commodity market, less, in either case, an amount reasonably equivalent to the deductions permitted by section 2(vii);
(iii)
Gross Revenue shall mean the aggregate of the following amounts received in each monthly period from Sales:
(A)
all revenue received by the Payor in such period from Sales; and
(B)
any proceeds of insurance received in such period due to losses or damages in respect to Mineral Products;
provided, that no such revenues or proceeds arising from activities prior to the commencement of Commercial Production shall give rise to Gross Revenue;
(iv)
Maintenance Shutdowns shall mean any period of time during which production of Mineral Products has ceased from the Property due to maintenance, capital equipment alterations or other similar reasons, other than those periods of time exceeding 20 consecutive days of shutdown time;
(v)
Mineral Products shall mean anything derived from the Property of value, whether on or in the Property (and including any tailings thereon), including precious, base and industrial minerals, aggregates, hydrocarbons and any other naturally forming product or derivative thereof;
(vi)
Net Smelter Returns shall mean Gross Revenue less all Permissible Deductions in respect of Mineral Products derived from the Property;
(vii)
Permissible Deductions shall mean the aggregate of the following charges (to the extent not previously deducted or accrued in computing Gross Revenue) that are paid in each monthly period:
(A)
sales charges levied by any arms length sales agent in respect to the Sale of Mineral Products;
(B)
transportation costs incurred in respect to the transportation of Mineral Products from the Property to the place of beneficiation, processing or treatment including shipping, freight, handling and forwarding expenses;
(C)
all costs, expenses and charges of any nature whatsoever which are either paid or incurred by the Payor in connection with the refinement or beneficiation of Mineral Products after leaving the Property, including all weighing, sampling, assaying and representation costs, metal losses, any umpire charges and any penalties charged by the processor, refinery or smelter; and
(D)
all insurance costs in respect of Mineral Products; and
(E)
all government mineral royalties prescribed by law;but,
(F)
excluding, for purposes of clarity, any milling costs and royalties or other payments payable to third parties;
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provided that where a cost or expense otherwise constituting a Permissible Deduction is incurred by the Payor in a transaction with a party with whom it is not dealing at arms length (as that term is defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)), such costs or expenses may be deducted, but only as to the lesser of the actual cost incurred by the Payor or the fair market value thereof considering the time of such transaction and under all the circumstances thereof;
(viii)
Property shall include all forms of mineral title into which the Property may be converted by process of law or otherwise, including mining agreements and leases;
(ix)
Royalty shall mean the following percentage of Net Smelter Returns depending upon the applicable Gold Price:
Gold Price
Percentage of Net Smelter Returns Payable as Royalty
Below $250.0
0.5%
$250 - $269.9
0.7%
$270 - $289.9
0.8%
$290 - $309.9
0.9%
$310 - $329.9
1.0%
$330 - $339.9
1.1%
$340 - $349.9
1.2%
$350 - $359.9
1.3%
$360 - $369.9
1.4%
$370- $379.9
1.5%
above $380.0
2.0% and
(x)
Sales shall mean sales of Mineral Products, provided, however, that where Mineral Products have been produced from the Property and not sold within a period of 90 days, then such Mineral Products shall be deemed to have been sold and the Fair Market Value thereof shall be used for determining the Net Smelter Returns therefrom.
3.
Payment Timing .
The Royalty shall be calculated and paid within 30 days after the end of each quarter. Settlement sheets, if any, and a statement setting forth calculations in sufficient detail to show how the payment was derived (the Statement ) shall be submitted with the payment. In the event that final amounts required for the calculation of the Royalty are not available within the time period referred to in this section 3, then provisional amounts shall be established, the Royalty shall be paid on the basis of such provisional amounts and positive or negative adjustments shall be made to the payment within the following 30 days, as necessary. All Royalty payments shall be considered final and in full satisfaction of all obligations of the Payor with respect thereto, unless the Payee delivers to the Payor a written notice (the Objection Notice ) describing and setting forth a specific objection to the calculation thereof within 360 days after receipt by the Payee of the Statement or revised Statement, as the case may be. If the Payee objects to a particular Statement as herein provided, the Payee shall, for a period of 90 days after the Payors receipt of such Objection Notice, have the right, upon reasonable notice and at a reasonable time, to have the Payors accounts and records relating to the calculation of the Royalty in question audited by the auditors of the Payee. If such audit determines that there has been a deficiency or an excess in the payment made to the Payee, such deficiency or excess will be resolved by adjusting the next monthly Royalty payment(s) due hereunder. The Payee shall pay all the costs and expenses of such audit unless a deficiency of [5]% or more of the amount due is determined to exist; otherwise the Payor shall pay such costs. All books and records used and kept by the Payor to calculate the Royalty due hereunder shall be kept in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. Failure on the part of the Payee to make claim against the Payor for
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adjustment in such 360 day period by delivery of an Objection Notice shall conclusively establish the correctness and sufficiency of the Statement and Royalty payment for such month.
4.
Right to Take in Kind :
The Payee may give notice to the Payor at any time indicating its desire to receive the Royalty in the form of one of the Mineral Products produced from the Property, provided:
(i)
the Payor does not have to comply with this provision for a period of 12 months;
(ii)
the Payor may stockpile Royalty taken in kind on the Property and, upon such stockpiling, title and risk shall transfer to the Payee; and
(iii)
the Payee shall bear all costs of insurance, storage, transportation, treatment and any other costs incurred subsequent to it taking title thereto.
5.
Registration Against Title :
The Payor shall register the Royalty against title to the Property and the Payee shall execute any necessary, but reasonable, documentation to this effect, provided, however, that the Payee shall not be obligated to incur any registration costs. The Payor shall ensure that notice of the Royalty is maintained against title to the Property at all times. Should the Payor fail to comply with the terms of this section 5, the Payee may register notice of the Royalty on title and all costs associated therewith, including costs in respect of legal counsel, shall be borne by the Payor.
6.
Reversionary Interest Upon Default :
Should the Payor fail to pay the Royalty in accordance with this Royalty Agreement ( Default ), then the Payee may give notice to the Payor ( Default Notice ). Within 10 days of its receipt of a Default Notice, the Payor may deny the Default and refer the matter to its auditors for review or, alternatively, acknowledge the Default. Should the Payor refer a Default to its auditors, it shall provide them with all material information necessary to determine whether or not a Default has occurred. The auditors shall report on any Default within a period of 90 days. Should:
(i)
the Payor acknowledge a Default (or fail to respond to a Default Notice within the requisite 10 day period), but fail to correct the Default within a period of 30 days following a Default Notice;
(ii)
the auditors report that a Default has occurred, but the Payor fail to correct the Default within a period of 30 days following such report; or
(iii)
the auditors fail to report within a period of 90 days after being referred a Default and the Payor fail, within a further 30 days, to commence proceedings before a court for relief from such failure;
then the Payee may give notice ( Vesting Notice ) to the Payor that it wishes to have the Property transferred to it. In addition, the Payee shall have the right to give a Vesting Notice at any time after the thirtieth anniversary (30 th ) of this Royalty Agreement. Upon receipt of a Vesting Notice, the Payor and the Payee shall execute documentation granting, transferring and conveying all of the Payors right, title and interest in and to the Property to the Payee. The Payor hereby appoints the Payee its attorney, and grant the Payee all necessary powers of attorney, to effect such grant, transfer and conveyance on its behalf. The Payee may forfeit and abandon its reversionary rights and interest upon notice to the Payor at any time.
7.
Failure to Produce :
Should the Payor commence Commercial Production, but then cease to produce Mineral Products from the Property for a cumulative period of time equal to 24 months, whether or not consecutive, but excluding Maintenance Shutdowns:
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(i)
the Payor shall forfeit the Property to the Payee; and
(ii)
the provisions of section 6 hereof shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to such forfeiture.
8.
Hedging and Related Trading :
All profits and losses resulting from the Payor engaging in any commodity futures trading, option trading, metals trading, gold loans or any combination thereof, and any other hedging transactions with respect to Mineral Products (collectively, Hedging Transactions ) are specifically excluded from calculations of the Royalty pursuant to this Royalty Agreement, it being understood by the parties that both the Payor and Payee may engage in speculative hedging trading activities for their own account. All Hedging Transactions by the Payor and all profits or losses associated therewith, if any, shall be solely for the Payors account, irrespective of whether or not Mineral Products are delivered in fulfilment of such obligations. When necessary to give effect to the provisions of this section 8, Gross Revenue from Mineral Products subject to Hedging Transactions by the Payor shall be determined by reference to the Fair Market Value of such Mineral Products.
9.
Commingling :
No commingling of the Mineral Products may occur with products produced from other properties without the consent of the Payee.
10.
Transfers of Property :
The Payor shall not grant, transfer or convey the whole or any portion of its right, title and interest in and to the Property ( Interest ) to a third party ( New Party ), unless the New Party enters into an agreement with the Payee and Payor agreeing to assume, jointly and severally with the Payor, the obligations of the Payor hereunder. Where the Payor is transferring all of its Interest to a New Party, the Payor may request that the Payee release the Payor from its obligations hereunder, which request may be unreasonably refused unless the New Party passes the Financial Test. The Financial Test shall be passed by the New Party where its:
(i)
assets net of liabilities are in excess of C$25,000,000; and
(ii)
gross revenues are in excess of C$100,000,000;
and the New Party is not then contemplating bankruptcy, liquidation, dividends in-kind or any other transaction or event that would substantially affect its ability to assume the obligations hereunder. In no event shall the Payor be granted a royalty or other interest in the nature of rent or royalty from the Property upon a grant, transfer or conveyance to a New Party. For purposes of clarity, neither party owes the other a right of first refusal or any other pre-emptive right and, subject to the terms of this Royalty Agreement, each is free to grant, transfer or convey all or any portion of its Interest, or its rights under this Royalty Agreement, to a third party.
11.
Abandonment :
The Payor shall be obligated to maintain the Property in good standing. Should the Payor wish to abandon the Property or any portion thereof (the Infertile Property ) it shall give notice to the Payee ( Notice of Infertility ). Upon receipt of a Notice of Infertility, the Payee may give notice to the Payor ( Notice of Transfer ) electing to have transferred to the Payee the Infertile Property that the Payor no longer wishes to retain. The Payee shall be responsible for all such transfer costs. Should the Payee fail to give a Notice of Transfer to the Payor within 30 days of its receipt of a Notice of Infertility or fail to pay for all transfer costs when required, then the Payor may abandon the Infertile Property without any liability whatsoever to the Payee. In the event that the Payor abandons Infertile Property and either the Payor or any of its affiliates subsequently acquires an interest, direct or indirect, in the Infertile Property, then the Payor shall be liable to the Payee hereunder as if the Infertile Property continued to form part of the Property hereunder.
12.
Notices:
All notices, statements, reporting documents and other communications required, permitted or otherwise given hereunder ( Notices ) shall be deemed to have been
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properly given if delivered by registered mail, postage prepaid, to each of the parties at the following addresses:
Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation
93 Benton Hill Road
Sharon, Connecticut
USA
06069
Attention : Mr. James Sinclair
if to the Optionee:
Sloane Developments Ltd
Penthouse Suite, Analyst House
Peel Road
Douglas, Isle of Man, IMI4LZ
Attention: Mr. Christian Schaffalitzky
or such other address or addresses (not to exceed two) as a party may in writing designate. Every Notice so given shall be deemed to be received on the fourth day of business following the date of mailing or the first day of business following the date of a facsimile transmission, provided that (i) in the event of an interruption of postal service at any time prior to the deemed receipt of any Notice sent by mail such Notice shall be deemed to be received on the fourth business day following the resumption of normal postal service, unless earlier delivered or actually received, and (ii) any Notice sent by facsimile transmission shall be followed within one day by a Notice sent by mail.
13.
Interpretation :
This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Canada and, subject to section 14, the parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction of Canadian Courts. In this Royalty Agreement, headings have been inserted for ease of reference and may not accurately describe the provisions that follow them. Consequently, headings shall not be used for purposes of interpreting this Royalty Agreement. This Royalty Agreement constitutes the whole of this agreement concerning the payment of royalty to the Payee and replaces any prior agreements between the parties with respect thereto. There are no warranties, representations or other agreements between the parties in connection with Royalty, except as specifically set forth herein. In this Royalty Agreement, the singular encompasses the plural and vice versa , and the masculine encompasses the feminine and vice versa .
14.
Arbitration :
The parties hereto shall endeavour to resolve any dispute or interpretative issue arising in relation to this Royalty Agreement amicably and without recourse to the courts. Subject to section 3 and failing such resolution, any dispute concerning this Royalty Agreement, including the failure to pay Royalty or the computation of Royalty, shall be determined by an independent technical arbitrator to be chosen by the President of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IMMM) of the United Kingdom or his or her nominee. Arbitration should be done in accordance with Canadian laws. Such arbitrator shall be a person:
(i)
experienced in conducting arbitration proceedings; and
(ii)
familiar with mining concepts and processes.
The arbitrator shall be appointed within a period of 60 days of either party giving notice to the President of the IMMM, which notice shall be copied to the other party; failing which, either party may apply for the appointment of same. The arbitrator shall forthwith establish procedural rules to govern the conduct of the arbitration taking into account the significance of the issues in dispute and the intention of the parties in entering into this Royalty Agreement that arbitration be concluded as quickly as possible. In all cases, the arbitrator shall seek to resolve disputes within a
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period of 45 days.
15.
Diamonds :
For the purpose of this Royalty Agreement, 2% Gross Overriding Royalty shall mean:
(i)
2% (two percent) of the gross sales revenue (i.e. gross proceeds) derived from the sale of diamonds produced or originating from the Property less the costs of sorting, cleaning, valuing, polishing and government taxes; or,
(ii)
2% (two percent) of the rough diamonds produced from the Property which in kind delivery shall be representative of the sizes and colours of all diamonds produced during the relevant time period, which shall be confirmed by an independent party mutually agreed upon by the parties;
but not both. The Payee shall be entitled to elect on or before November 30 of each applicable calendar year after the commencement of Commercial Production whether or not to receive payment of the 2% Gross Overriding Royalty pursuant to Section 15(i) or (ii); failing any such election, payment shall be made pursuant to Section 15(i).The provisions of Sections 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of this Royalty Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the 2% Gross Overriding Royalty.
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED THIS 25TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2007
Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation
Per:
signed James Sinclair
Per:
Sloane Developments Ltd.
Per:
signed Christian Schaffalitzky
Per: