UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 40-F

 

 

OR

 

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

 

Commission file number: 001-31880

 

YAMANA GOLD INC.

 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

150 York Street

Suite 1102

Toronto, Ontario M5H 3S5

(416) 815 0220

(Address and Telephone Number of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

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

 

For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this form:

 

x   Annual Information Form

x   Audited Annual Financial Statements

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:  668,416,987

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by filing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). If “Yes” is marked, indicate the filing number assigned to the Registrant in connection with such Rule.        o  Yes                x   No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.           x   Yes              o   No

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

Yamana Gold Inc. (the “Company” or the “Registrant”) is a Canadian issuer eligible to file its annual report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) on Form 40-F pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system of the Exchange Act .  The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act.  Equity securities of the Company are accordingly exempt from Sections 14(a), 14(b), 14(c), 14(f) and 16 of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 3a12-3.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This annual report on Form 40-F and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements concern the Company’s anticipated results and developments in the Company’s operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future.  These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

 

Statements concerning reserves and mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed, and in the case of mineral reserves, such statements reflect the conclusion based on certain assumptions that the mineral deposit can be economically exploited.  Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “estimates” or “intends”, or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by  the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:

 

·                 risks related to our history of losses;

 

·                 risks related to our potential need for and ability to obtain additional financing;

 

·                 risks related to uncertainty in our ability to fund the development of our mineral properties or the completion of further exploration programs;

 

·                 risks related to differences between U.S. and Canadian practices for reporting resources and reserves;

 

·                 risks related to our reserves and resources figures being estimates based on interpretations and assumptions which may result in less mineral production under actual conditions than is currently estimated;

 

·                 risks related to changes in the market price of gold, silver, and other minerals which in the past has fluctuated widely and which could affect the profitability of our operations and financial condition;

 

·                 risks related to currency fluctuations;

 

·                 risks related to the inherently dangerous activity of mining, including conditions or events beyond our control;

 

·                 risks related to governmental regulations;

 

·                 risks related to our primary properties, including political, economic, and regulatory instability;

 

·                 risks related to uncertainty in our ability to obtain and maintain certain permits necessary to our current and anticipated operations;

 

·                 risks related to our business being subject to environmental laws and regulations which may increase our costs of doing business and restrict our operations;

 

·                 risks related to our land reclamation requirements for our properties which may be burdensome;

 

·                 uncertainty relating to our ability to attract and maintain qualified management to meet the needs of our anticipated

 

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growth and risks relating to our ability to manage our growth effectively;

 

·                 risks related to our mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers, or claims and other defects in title;

 

·                 risks related to our history of losses, which we may continue to incur in the future;

 

·                 risks related to increased competition that could adversely affect our ability to attract necessary capital funding or acquire suitable producing properties for mineral exploration in the future; and

 

·                 risks related to our officers and directors becoming associated with other natural resource companies which may give rise to conflicts of interests.

 

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking statements. Some of the important risks and uncertainties that could affect forward-looking statements are described further in the exhibits attached to this annual report.  Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change.  Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

 

NOTE TO UNITED STATES READERS-

DIFFERENCES IN UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN REPORTING PRACTICES

 

The Company is permitted, under a multi-jurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States, to prepare this annual report in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States.  The Company prepares its financial statements, which are filed with this report on Form 40-F, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting practices (“GAAP”), and they may be subject to Canadian auditing and auditor independence standards.  They may not be comparable  to financial statements of United States companies.  Significant differences between Canadian GAAP and United States GAAP are described in Note 34 of the comparative audited consolidated financial statements of the Company.

 

CURRENCY

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts in this annual report on Form 40-F are in United States dollars.  The exchange rate of Canadian dollars into United States dollars, on December 31, 2007, based upon the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers payable in Canadian dollars as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, was U.S.$1.00= CDN$0.9881.

 

RESOURCE AND RESERVE ESTIMATES

 

The Company’s Annual Information Form (“AIF”) filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws.  The terms “mineral reserve”, “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum’ (the “CIM”) - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended. These definitions differ from the definitions in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Industry Guide 7 (“SEC Industry Guide 7”) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Under SEC Industry Guide 7 standards, a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical average price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority.

 

In addition, the terms “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC.  Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.  “Inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable.  Disclosure of

 

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“contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

 

Accordingly, information contained in this report and the documents incorporated by reference herein containing descriptions of our mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM

 

The Company’s AIF for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 40-F.

 

AUDITED ANNUAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Audited Annual Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, including the report of the independent auditor with respect thereto, are filed as Exhibit 99.3 and incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 40-F.  For a reconciliation of important differences between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles, see Note 34 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

The Company’s management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) is filed as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 40-F.

 

Tax Matters

 

Purchasing, holding, or disposing of securities of the Registrant may have tax consequences under the laws of the United States and Canada that are not described in this annual report on Form 40-F.

 

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

At the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operations of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a – 15(e) and Rule 15d – 15(e) under the Exchange Act).  The evaluation included documentation review, enquiries and other procedures considered by management to be appropriate in the circumstances.  Based on that evaluation the CEO and the CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and (ii) material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Company’s financial reporting for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

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 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.

 

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of

 

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controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation.  Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007.

 

Management excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial reporting of and Meridian Gold Corp. and Northern Orion Resources Inc. which were acquired on October 12, 2007 and October 13, 2007, respectively, and whose financial statements respectively constitute 56% and 15% of net assets, 54% and 15% of total assets, 11% and 1% of revenues, and 15% and  1% of net income (loss) of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

As this report is required for U.S. reporting purposes, the Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 of the Exchange Act, and the Company is a “large accelerated filer”, the Company is required to provide an auditor’s attestation report on internal control over financial reporting.  The Company’s independent registered chartered accountants, Deloitte & Touche LLP, have issued an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007.  The auditor’s report is filed in Exhibit 99.3 and is incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 40-F.

 

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

During the period covered by this annual report on Form 40-F, no changes occurred in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

No significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses, were made as a result of the evaluation.

 

The Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that its disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures will prevent all error and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.  These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.  Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control.  The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and is required to describe its practices and policies with regard to corporate governance with specific reference to the TSX guidelines on an annual basis by way of a corporate governance statement contained in the company’s annual report or information circular. The Company is also listed on the London Stock Exchange (“LSE”) and complies with LSE rules related to corporate governance and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and additionally complies as necessary with the rules and guidelines of NYSE as well as the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company reviews its governance practices on an ongoing basis to ensure it is in compliance. The Company is complying with applicable new and revised rules and regulations, introduced pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the United States, by the SEC and NYSE, as well as changes arising from discussions between the TSX and Ontario Securities Commission, within the timeframes specified as the revisions and new requirements come into effect.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has separately designated standing Compensation, Corporate Governance and Nominating and Sustainability Committees.  The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that all the members of the Compensation, Corporate Governance and Nominating and Sustainability Committees are independent, based on the criteria for independence and unrelatedness prescribed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, section 10A(m)(3), and the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

 

Corporate governance relates to the activities of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), the members of which are elected by and are accountable to the shareholders, and takes into account the role of the individual members of management who are appointed by the Board and who are charged with the day to day management of the Company.  The Board is committed to sound corporate governance practices which are both in the interest of its shareholders and contribute to effective and efficient decision making.

 

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Canadian National Instrument 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines (“NP 58-201”) establishes corporate governance guidelines which apply to all Canadian public companies.  The Company has reviewed its own corporate governance practices in light of these guidelines.  In certain cases, the Company’s practices comply with the guidelines; however, the Board considers that some of the guidelines are not suitable for the Company at its current stage of development and therefore these guidelines have not been adopted.  National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices mandates disclosure of corporate governance practices.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has a separately designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act and satisfies the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 10A-3.  The Company’s Audit Committee is comprised of Victor H. Bradley, Richard Graff, Nigel Lees and Patrick Mars, all of whom, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, are independent (as determined under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual) and are financially literate.

 

Audit Committee Financial Experts

 

Both Victor Bradley and Richard Graff are financial experts, in that they have an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements; are able to assess the general application of accounting principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves; have experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that entail accounting issues of equal complexity to the Company’s financial statements (or actively supervising another person who did so); have an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and an understanding of audit committee functions.

 

The members of the Audit Committee do not have fixed terms and are appointed and replaced from time to time by resolution of the board of directors.

 

The Audit Committee meets with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Company’s independent auditors to review and inquire into matters affecting financial reporting, the system of internal accounting and financial controls, as well as audit procedures and audit plans.  The Audit Committee also recommends to the Board of Directors the auditors to be appointed.  In addition, the Committee reviews and recommends to the board of directors for approval the annual financial statements, the Management Discussion and Analysis, and undertakes other activities required by regulatory authorities.

 

Audit Committee Charter

 

The Company’s Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.yamanagold.com or in print to any shareholder who provides the Company with a written request.

 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES – INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP acted as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.  See page 91 of the Registrant’s Annual Information Form, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 for the total amount billed to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP for services performed in the last two fiscal years by category of service (for audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and all other fees) in Canadian dollars.

 

PRE-APPROVAL OF AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES PROVIDED BY
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

See page 91 of the Registrant’s Annual Information Form incorporated by reference to this document as Exhibit 99.1

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET TRANSACTIONS

 

The information provided under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” contained in Exhibit 99.2 as filed with this annual report on Form 40-F contains the Company’s disclosure of its off-balance sheet financing arrangements and is incorporated by reference herein.  The Company does not have any  relationships with unconsolidated special purpose entities.

 

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CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Board has adopted a written Code of Conduct by which it and all officers and employees of the Company abide.  In addition, the Board, through its meetings with management and other informal discussions with management, encourages a culture of ethical business conduct and believes the Company’s high caliber management team promotes a culture of ethical business conduct throughout the Company’s operations and is expected to monitor the activities of the Company’s employees, consultants and agents in that regard.  The Board encourages any concerns regarding ethical conduct in respect of the Company’s operations to be raised, on an anonymous basis, with the Chairman and CEO, the Lead Director, or another Board member as appropriate.

 

It is a requirement of applicable corporate law that directors and senior officers who have an interest in a transaction or agreement with the Company promptly disclose that interest at any meeting of the Board at which the transaction or agreement will be discussed and, in the case of directors, abstain from discussions and voting in respect to same if the interest is material.  These requirements are also contained in the Company’s Articles, which are made available to the directors and senior officers of the Company.

 

All amendments to the code, and all waivers of the code with respect to any of the officers covered by it, will be posted on the Company’s website, submitted on Form 6-K and provided in print to any shareholder who requests them.  The Company’s Code of Conduct is located on its website at www.yamanagold.com.

 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

The information provided under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Contractual Obligations “ contained in Exhibit 3 as filed with this annual report on Form 40-F contains the Company’s disclosure of contractual obligations and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

NOTICES PURSUANT TO REGULATION BTR

 

There were no notices required by Rule 104 of Regulation BTR that the Registrant sent during the year ended December 31, 2007 concerning any equity security subject to a blackout period under Rule 101 of Regulation BTR.

 

UNDERTAKING

 

The Company undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises; or transactions in said securities.

 

CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

 

The Company filed an Appointment of Agent for Service of Process and Undertaking on Form F-X with respect to the class of securities in relation to which the obligation to file this Form 40-F arises.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

 

 

	YAMANA GOLD INC.
	By:	/s/ Peter Marrone
	Name:	Peter Marrone
	Title:	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Date: March 31, 2008

 

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EXHIBITS
99.1		Annual Information Form of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2007
99.2		Management’s Discussion and Analysis
99.3		Annual Financial Statements
99.4		Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13(a)-14(a) or 15(d)-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
99.5		Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.6		Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Chartered Accountants
99.7		Consent of B. Nicholls
99.8		Consent of E. Muñoz
99.9		Consent of M. Alfaro
99.10		Consent of J. P. Gonzalez
99.11		Consent of Dr. M. Godoy
99.12		Consent of E. Cintra
99.13		Consent of R. Petter
99.14		Consent of R. Mello
99.15		Consent of K. Kolin
99.16		Consent of M. Rossi
99.17		Consent of M. Hester
99.18		Consent of A. Ebrahimi
99.19		Consent of R. Simpson
99.20		Consent of P. de Mark
99.21		Consent of G. Walker
99.22		Consent of C. Moore
99.23		Consent of G. Vos
99.24		Consent of G. Giroux
99.25		Consent of J. Pearson
99.26		Consent of D. Rennie
99.27		Consent of H. Agnerian
99.28		Consent of D. Lister
99.29		Consent of J. McAra
99.30		Consent of M.A. de Ruijter

 

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