UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F/A
AMENDMENT NO. 2
(SEE "SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS ON PAGE 2
FOR A SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE FORM 20-F)
[ ] REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
OR
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934.
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934.
For the transition period from___________ to___________
Commission File Number: 0-24443
INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of Company as specified in its charter)
ONTARIO, CANADA
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
SUITE 2101, 885 WEST GEORGIA STREET, VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA V6C 3E8
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
NONE
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
COMMON STOCK WITHOUT PAR VALUE
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section
15(d) of the Act:
NONE
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the Company's classes of
capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual
report:
ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING
TITLE OF CLASS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
-------------- ------------------------
Common Stock, Without Par Value 79,635,066 common shares
Indicate by check mark whether the Company (1) has filed all reports required to
be filed during the preceding 12 months (or 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.
YES [X] NO [ ]
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Company has elected to
follow:
ITEM 17 [X] ITEM 18 [ ]
1
SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS
This Amendment No. 2 to Form 20-F makes the following amendments to the
Company's Form 20-F for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004:
o The Auditors' Report on page F-1 has been replaced with the form of
Auditors' Report published in the Company's Annual Report to
Shareholders, which includes a reference that the audit was also
conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). An incorrect version of the
Auditors' Report was inadvertently included with the Form 20-F.
o Item 15(d) has been amended to state that there has been no changes in
the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred
during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's
internal control over financial reporting. The Form 20-F contained a
similar statement that incorrectly limited this conclusion to the
period subsequent to February 10, 2005, the date of the Form 20-F.
In all other respects, the Form 20-F remains unchanged.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Except for the statements of historical fact contained therein, the information
under the headings "Item 4 - "Information on the Company," "Item 5 - "Operating
and Financial Review and Prospects," "Item 11 - Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosure About Market Risk," and elsewhere in this Form 20-F constitutes
forward looking statements ("Forward Looking Statements") within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such Forward Looking Statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ
materially from any future results, performance or achievements projected or
implied by such Forward Looking Statements. Such factors include, among others,
exploration risks, the ability of the Company to develop the alternate feed
business, dependence on a limited number of customers, limited operating
history, government regulation and policy risks, environmental risks,
reclamation obligations, and the other factors set forth in the section entitled
"Risk Factors".
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ALTERNATE FEED Material or residues from other processing facilities
that contain uranium in quantities or forms that are
either uneconomic to recover or cannot be recovered at
these other facilities, but can be recovered either alone
or in conjunction with other co-products at the Company's
facilities;
BLM Means the United States Department of Interior Bureau of
Land Management;
CCD CIRCUIT The counter-current decantation circuit at the White Mesa
Mill, in which uranium-bearing solution is separated from
waste solids;
COMPANY The Company and all of its subsidiaries, including
Fortress, on a consolidated basis;
CONVERSION A process whereby the purified uranium obtained in the
refining process is converted into forms suitable for
making nuclear fuel (UO2) or for enrichment (UF6);
DOE United States Department of Energy;
$ Means United States dollars and "CDN $" means Canadian
dollars;
ENRICHMENT A process whereby the U-235 isotope content is increased
from the natural level of 0.711% to a concentration of 3%
to 5% as required in fuel for light water reactors;
EPA Means the United States Environmental Protection Agency;
FEE LAND Means private land;
FORTRESS Fortress Minerals Corp., a subsidiary of the Company, the
shares of which are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange;
FUSRAP Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program;
GPT Grams per tonne;
HECTARE Measurement of an area of land equivalent to 10,000
square meters or 2.47 acres;
2
ISL OR IN SITU LEACH In situ leach mining is solution mining that is confined
to mineralized horizons and does not involve excavation
and removal of mineralized rock or subsequent processing
of such rock through a mill to recover uranium. Rather,
the mineralized material is mined by using groupings of
wells completed in the mineralized horizons to inject
leach solution, which is recovered in production wells.
The leaching solution selectively dissolves uranium
mineralization, and the solution is then processed to
recover contained uranium.
KM Kilometer, a measurement of distance equivalent to 1,000
meters or 0.62 miles;
METER Meter, a measurement of distance equivalent to 39.37
inches;
MINERALIZATION Means a natural aggregate of one or more metallic
minerals;
MINERAL DEPOSIT OR
MINERALIZED MATERIAL Is a mineralized body which has been delineated by
appropriately spaced drilling and/or underground sampling
to support a sufficient tonnage and average grade of
metal(s). Such a deposit does not qualify as a reserve
until a comprehensive evaluation based upon unit cost,
grade, recoveries, and other material factors conclude
legal and economic feasibility;
NI 43-101 National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects, promulgated by the Canadian Securities
Administrators;
NRC The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
NSR ROYALTY An acronym for Net Smelter Returns Royalty, which means
the amount actually paid to the mine or mill owner from
the sale of ore, minerals and other materials or
concentrates mined and removed from mineral properties.
This type of royalty provides cash flow that is free of
any operating or capital costs;
PARTIALLY DEVELOPED With respect to properties, means properties that contain
workings from previously operating mines that were shut
down due to a lack of economic feasibility of the
remaining mineralized material at the time the properties
were shut down;
PPB Parts per Billion;
REFINING A process whereby yellowcake is chemically refined to
separate the uranium from impurities to produce purified
uranium;
RESERVE That part of a mineral deposit which can be economically
and legally extracted or produced at the time of the
reserve determination;
SAG MILL The semi-autogenous grinding mill at the White Mesa Mill
in which the uranium ore is ground prior to the leaching
process;
TAILINGS Waste material from a mineral processing mill after the
metals and minerals of commercial value have been
extracted;
TON A short ton (2,000 pounds);
TONNE A metric tonne (2,204.6 pounds);
UDEQ State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality;
3
URANIUM OR U Means natural uranium; 1% U=1.18% U(3)O(8);
UF(6) Means natural uranium hexafluoride, produced by
conversion from U(3)O(8) , which is not yet enriched or
depleted;
U(3)O(8) Triuranium octoxide;
V2O5 Vanadium pentoxide;
WHITE MESA MILL Means the 2,000 ton per day uranium mill, with a vanadium
or other co-product recovery circuit, located near
Blanding, Utah that is owned by the Company's subsidiary,
IUC White Mesa, LLC. Also referred to as the "Mill;"
YELLOWCAKE Means the concentrate powder produced from uranium
milling, or from an in situ leach facility. Yellowcake
typically contains approximately 90% U(3)O(8) from
conventional mineralized material.
PART I
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not Applicable.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not Applicable.
4
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
A. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data of
International Uranium Corporation (the "Company" or "IUC") for the periods ended
September 30, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000, and was prepared in accordance
with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("Canadian GAAP"). The
table also summarizes certain corresponding information prepared in accordance
with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). This
selected consolidated financial data includes the accounts of the Company and
its subsidiaries. All amounts stated are in United States dollars:
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
FISCAL YEAR ENDED FISCAL YEAR ENDED FISCAL YEAR ENDED FISCAL YEAR ENDED FISCAL YEAR ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30 SEPTEMBER 30 SEPTEMBER 30 SEPTEMBER 30 SEPTEMBER 30
2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Revenues $ 2,424,456 $ 12,550,018 $ 6,830,137 $ 809,763 $ 16,060,172
Net income (loss)
Canadian GAAP $ (2,186,679) $ 5,533,152 $ 184,990 $ (2,822,876) $(15,244,651)
US GAAP $ (7,400,858) $ 4,295,067 $ (353,907) $ (2,822,876) $ (4,552,890)
Basic/diluted
income(loss) per
equity share
Canadian GAAP $ (0.03) $ 0.08 $ - $ (0.04) $ (0.23)
US GAAP $ (0.10) $ 0.06 $ (0.01) $ (0.04) $ (0.07)
Total assets
Canadian GAAP $ 38,387,555 $ 25,616,252 $ 32,379,270 $ 36,017,455 $ 33,152,084
US GAAP $ 38,452,180 $ 24,991,779 $ 32,063,607 $ 36,040,689 $ 33,175,318
Net Assets
Canadian GAAP $ 20,532,482 $ 10,124,496 $ 4,122,420 $ 3,920,034 $ 6,733,099
US GAAP $ 19,597,107 $ 8,570,748 $ 3,806,757 $ 3,943,268 $ 6,756,333
Capital stock
Canadian GAAP $ 50,305,480 $ 37,935,533 $ 37,466,609 $ 37,449,213 $ 37,439,402
US GAAP $ 49,960,859 $ 37,319,563 $ 36,850,639 $ 36,633,243 $ 36,623,432
Number of shares 79,635,066 68,970,066 65,735,066 65,600,066 65,525,066
outstanding
Dividends declared $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
B. CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
Not Applicable.
5
C. REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not Applicable.
D. RISK FACTORS
The following risk factors should be considered in connection with any
investment in the Company.
NATURE OF MINERAL EXPLORATION AND MINING
The Company is engaged in exploration activity for uranium in Canada and
Mongolia, and through the Company's subsidiary Fortress Minerals Corp.
("Fortress"), for precious and base metals in Mongolia. The exploration and
development of mineral deposits involves significant financial and other risks
over an extended period of time, which even a combination of careful evaluation,
experience and knowledge may not eliminate. While discovery of a uranium,
precious or base metal deposit may result in substantial rewards, few properties
which are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Major expenses
are required to establish reserves by drilling and to construct mining and
processing facilities at a site. The Company's exploration properties are all at
the exploration stage and do not contain any reserves at this time. It is
impossible to ensure that the current or proposed exploration programs on
properties in which the Company has an interest will result in the delineation
of mineral deposits or in profitable commercial mining operations.
The operations of the Company are subject to the hazards and risks normally
incident to exploration, development and production of uranium, precious and
base metals, any of which could result in damage to life or property,
environmental damage and possible legal liability for such damage. While the
Company may obtain insurance against certain risks, the nature of these risks
are such that liabilities could exceed policy limits or could be excluded from
coverage. There are also risks against which the Company cannot insure or
against which it may elect not to insure. The potential costs which could be
associated with any liabilities not covered by insurance, or in excess of
insurance coverage, or compliance with applicable laws and regulations may cause
substantial delays and require significant capital outlays, adversely affecting
the future earnings and competitive position of the Company and, potentially its
financial viability.
Whether a uranium, precious or base metal deposit will be commercially viable
depends on a number of factors, some of which are: the particular attributes of
the deposit, such as its size and grade; costs and efficiency of the recovery
methods that can be employed; proximity to infrastructure; financing costs; and
governmental regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes,
royalties, infrastructure, land use, importing and exporting of gold and
environmental protection. The effect of these factors cannot be accurately
predicted, but the combination of these factors may result in the Company not
receiving an adequate return on its invested capital.
VOLATILITY AND SENSITIVITY TO PRICES, COSTS AND EXCHANGE RATES
Because a significant portion of the Company's revenues have been derived from
the sale of uranium and vanadium in the past, the Company's net earnings can be
affected by the long- and short-term market price of U(3)O(8) and V(2)O(5).
Uranium and vanadium prices are subject to fluctuation. The prices of uranium
and vanadium have been and will continue to be affected by numerous factors
beyond the Company's control. With respect to uranium, such factors include the
demand for nuclear power, political and economic conditions in uranium producing
and consuming countries, uranium supply from secondary sources and uranium
production levels and costs of production.
During fiscal 2004, U(3)O(8) prices started at $12.20 per pound U(3)O(8) in
September 2003, and then increased to $20.00 per pound in September 2004 and to
$21.00 per pound in February 2005. Vanadium prices also continued to strengthen
throughout the fiscal year, starting in the $3.00 to $3.75 per pound V(2)O(5)
range and ending the year in the $5.00 to $6.50 per pound V(2)O(5) range. By the
end of January, 2005 V(2)O(5) prices have posted even stronger gains to $9.00
per pound V(2)O(5).
IMPRECISION OF MINERAL DEPOSIT ESTIMATES
6
Mineral deposit figures included in this document for uranium and vanadium are
estimates, and no assurances can be given that the indicated levels of recovery
will be realized. Such estimates are expressions of judgment based on knowledge,
mining experience, and analysis of drilling results and industry practices.
Valid estimates made at a given time may significantly change when new
information becomes available. While the Company believes that the mineral
deposit estimates included in this document are well established and reflect
management's best estimates, by their nature, mineral deposit estimates are
imprecise and depend upon statistical inferences which may ultimately prove
unreliable. Furthermore, none of the Company's mineral deposits are considered
reserves, and there can be no assurances that any of such deposits will ever be
reclassified as reserves. Mineral deposit estimates included here have not been
adjusted in consideration of these risks and, therefore, no assurances can be
given that any mineral deposit estimate will ultimately be reclassified as
reserves.
MINING AND MILLING RISKS AND INSURANCE
The mining and milling of uranium and uranium-bearing materials is a capital
intensive commodity business and is subject to a number of risks and hazards.
These risks are environmental pollution, accidents or spills, industrial
accidents, labor disputes, changes in the regulatory environment, natural
phenomena (such as inclement weather conditions, underground flooding and
earthquakes), and encountering unusual or unexpected geological conditions.
Depending on the size and extent of the event, the foregoing risks and hazards
could result in damage to, or destruction of, the Company's mineral properties,
personal injury or death, environmental damage, delays in or cessation of
production from the Company's Mill, mines or in its exploration or development
activities, monetary losses, cost increases which could make the Company
uncompetitive, and potential legal liability. In addition, due to the
radioactive nature of the materials handled in uranium mining and milling,
applicable regulatory requirements result in additional costs that must be
incurred by the Company on a regular and ongoing basis.
The Company maintains insurance against certain risks that are typical in the
uranium industry. As of February 14, 2005, this includes approximately
$49,300,000 of real and personal property insurance coverage for the White Mesa
Mill and mining properties, $3,000,000 of business interruption insurance for
the White Mesa Mill caused by fire or other insured casualty, and $6,000,000 of
general liability insurance per occurrence. Although the Company maintains
insurance in amounts it believes to be reasonable, such insurance may not
provide adequate coverage in the event of certain unforeseen circumstances.
Insurance against certain risks (including certain liabilities for environmental
pollution or other hazards as a result of production, development or
exploration), is generally not available to the Company or to other companies
within the uranium mining and milling business.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
The Company is required to comply with environmental protection laws and
regulations and permitting requirements, and the Company anticipates that it
will be required to continue to do so in the future. The material laws and
regulations that the Company must comply with are the Atomic Energy Act, Uranium
Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 ("UMTRCA"), Clean Air Act, Clean
Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Federal Land Policy Management Act, National
Park System Mining Regulations Act, and the State Mined Land Reclamation Acts or
State Department of Environmental Quality regulations, as applicable. The
Company complies with the Atomic Energy Act, as amended by UMTRCA, by applying
for and maintaining an operating license from the State of Utah. Uranium milling
operations must conform to the terms of such licenses, which include provisions
for protection of human health and the environment from endangerment due to
radioactive materials. The licenses encompass protective measures consistent
with the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.. The Company utilizes specific
employees and consultants in order to comply with and maintain the Company's
compliance with the above laws and regulations.
Although the Company believes that its operations are in compliance, in all
material respects, with all relevant permits, licenses and regulations involving
worker health and safety as well as the environment, the historical trend toward
stricter environmental regulation may continue. The uranium industry is subject
not only to the worker health and safety and environmental risks associated with
all mining businesses, but also to additional risks uniquely associated with
uranium mining and milling. The possibility of more stringent regulations exists
in the areas of worker health and safety, the disposition of wastes, the
decommissioning and reclamation of mining and milling sites, and other
environmental matters, each of which could have a material adverse effect on the
costs or the viability of a particular project.
7
The Company has detected some chloroform contamination in the perched
groundwater zone at the Mill site. The contamination appears to have resulted
from the operation of a temporary laboratory facility that was located at the
site prior to and during construction of the Mill facility, and septic
drainfields that were used for laboratory and sanitary wastes prior to
construction of the Mill's tailings cells. See "Item 8. Financial Information -
Legal Proceedings." The source and extent of this contamination are currently
under investigation, and interim measures have been instituted in order to
contain the contamination and to pump contaminated groundwater into the Mill's
tailings cells. A final corrective action plan has not yet been developed.
Although investigations to date indicate that this contamination appears to be
contained in a manageable area, the scope and costs of remediation have not yet
been determined and could be significant.
RECLAMATION OBLIGATIONS
As owner and operator of the White Mesa Mill and numerous uranium and
uranium/vanadium mines, and for so long as the Company remains owner thereof,
the Company is obligated to eventually reclaim such properties. Most but not all
of these reclamation obligations are bonded, and cash and other assets of the
Company have been reserved to secure this bonded amount. Although the Company's
financial statements contain, as a liability, the Company's current estimate of
the cost of performing these reclamation obligations, and the bonding
requirements are generally periodically reviewed by applicable regulatory
authorities, there can be no assurance or guarantee that the ultimate cost of
such reclamation obligations will not exceed the estimated liability contained
on the Company's financial statements. In addition, effective January 20, 2001,
the BLM implemented new Surface Management (3809) Regulations pertaining to
mining operations conducted on mining claims on public lands. The new 3809
regulations impose additional requirements for permitting of mines on federal
lands and may have some impact on the closure and reclamation requirement for
Company mines on public lands. If more stringent and costly reclamation
requirements are imposed as a result of the new 3809 rules, the amount of
reclamation bonds held by the Company may need to be increased. See "Item 4.
Information on the Company - Reclamation."
MONGOLIAN PROPERTIES
The Company owns an interest in a Mongolian uranium joint venture, which owns
uranium properties and is undertaking a uranium exploration program in Mongolia.
The Company's subsidiary Fortress is also undertaking a precious and base metals
exploration program in Mongolia. As with any foreign operation, these Mongolian
properties and interests may be subject to certain risks, such as adverse
political and economic developments in Mongolia, foreign currency controls and
fluctuations, as well as risks of war and civil disturbances. Other events may
limit or disrupt activities on these properties, restrict the movement of funds,
result in a deprivation of contract rights or the taking of property by
nationalization or expropriation without fair compensation, increases in
taxation or the placing of limits on repatriations of earnings. No assurance can
be given that current policies of Mongolia or the political situation within
that country will not change so as to adversely affect the value or continued
viability of the Company's interest in these Mongolian assets.
ABILITY TO DEVELOP ALTERNATE FEED BUSINESS
A major focus of the Company is the continuing development of the alternate
feed, uranium-bearing waste recycling business. The alternate feed business has
helped to offset Mill and mine standby costs, but has not itself generated
sufficient revenues to result in sustained profitability for the Company. In
order for the Company to become profitable solely from this business the Company
must be able to: A) identify a sufficient number of contracts that would be
profitable for the Company; B) be successful in winning a sufficient number of
these contracts in the face of competition from other facilities; and C) receive
these contracts in a time frame and have sufficient backlog of such contracts to
allow the Mill to operate at a sufficient rate to more than cover its costs of
production, any standby costs that are incurred between Mill runs, and other
corporate overheads. While the Company has had considerable success to date in
this initiative, the Company has not to date developed a sufficient backlog of
alternate feed business to result in sustained profitable operations for the
Company. Developing this backlog will be a prerequisite if the Company is to be
profitable in the future solely from this business. There can be no guarantee or
assurance that the Company will be successful in developing the necessary
backlog, or that the Urizon joint venture will be successful (see "Urizon Joint
Venture"), or that the Company will otherwise be successful at this business
initiative.
DEPENDENCE ON LIMITED NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS
8
The Company's main alternate feed contracts to date have come from, and future
contracts are expected to come from, a limited number of government and private
sources. The loss of any of the Company's customers could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial performance. Factors which may affect
the Company's clients include change in government policies and the availability
of government funding, and variations in environmental regulations and
competition from direct disposal and other competitors. The loss of any of the
Company's largest customers or curtailment of purchases of recycling services by
such customers along with the inability to replace such customers with new
customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
condition and results from operations.
RELIANCE ON ALTERNATE FEED INCOME; DEPENDENCE ON ISSUANCE OF LICENSE AMENDMENTS
A significant portion of the Company's expected revenues and income over the
next several years is expected to result from processing alternate feed
materials through the White Mesa Mill. The Company's ability to process
alternate feeds is dependent upon obtaining amendments to its Mill license.
There can be no assurance that such license amendments will be issued by
applicable regulatory authorities. See "Item 4. Information on the Company -
Alternate Feed Processing" and "Item 8. Financial Information - Legal
Proceedings."
Although the Company believes that alternate feed sources will continue to
generate income for the Company in the foreseeable future, there can be no
guarantees or assurance that this will be the case.
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
The Company's success will largely rely on the efforts and abilities of certain
key employees. Certain of these individuals have significant experience in the
uranium and radioactive waste recycle/disposal industry. The number of
individuals with significant experience in this industry is small. While the
Company does not foresee any reason why such key employees will not remain with
the Company, if for any reason they do not, the Company could be adversely
affected. The Company has not purchased key man life insurance for any of these
individuals.
LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY
The Company began its business in May 1997, following the acquisition of assets
from the Energy Fuels group of companies (See "Item 4: Information on the
Company - History and Development of the Company"). As a result, the Company has
had a limited history of operations. There can be no assurance that the
Company's operations will be profitable.
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION AND POLICY RISKS
Mining and milling operations and exploration activities, particularly uranium
mining and milling in the United States and alternate feed processing
activities, are subject to extensive regulation by state and federal
governments. Such regulation relates to production, development, exploration,
exports, taxes and royalties, labor standards, occupational health, waste
disposal, protection and remediation of the environment, mine and mill
reclamation, mine and mill safety, toxic substances and other matters.
Compliance with such laws and regulations has increased the costs of exploring,
drilling, developing, constructing, operating and eventual closure of the
Company's Mill, mines and other facilities. It is possible that, in the future,
the costs, delays and other effects associated with such laws and regulations
may have an impact on the Company's decisions as to whether to operate the Mill,
existing mines and other facilities or, with respect to exploration and
development properties, whether to proceed with exploration or development.
Furthermore, future changes in governments, regulations and policies, could
materially adversely affect the Company's results of operations in a particular
period or its long-term business prospects.
Worldwide demand for uranium is directly tied to the demand for energy produced
by the nuclear electric industry, which is also subject to extensive government
regulation and policies. The development of mines and related facilities is
contingent upon governmental approvals which are complex and time consuming to
obtain and which, depending upon the location of the project, involve various
governmental agencies. The duration and success of such approvals are subject to
many variables outside the Company's control. In addition, the international
marketing of uranium is subject to governmental policies and certain trade
restrictions, such as those imposed by the suspension agreements entered into by
the United States with certain republics of the former CIS and the agreement
between the United States and Russia related to the supply of Russian Highly
Enriched Uranium ("HEU") into the United States.
9
URANIUM INDUSTRY COMPETITION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE RESTRICTIONS
The international uranium industry is highly competitive in many respects,
including the supply of uranium. The Company markets uranium to utilities in
direct competition with supplies available from a relatively small number of
Western World uranium mining companies, from certain republics of the former CIS
and from excess inventories, including inventories made available from
decommissioning of military weapons. To some extent, the effects of the supply
of uranium from the former CIS republics are mitigated by a number of
international trade agreements and policies, including suspension agreements
entered into by the United States with certain republics of the former CIS,
including Russia, that restrict imports into the United States market. In
addition, in January 1994, the United States and Russia signed a 20-year
agreement to convert HEU from former Russian nuclear weapons to an enrichment
level suitable for use in nuclear power plants. During 1995, the United States
also amended its suspension agreements with the Republics of Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan, which increased the limit on the supply of uranium from those
republics into the United States for a 10-year period. The European Community
also has an informal policy limiting annual consumption of uranium sourced from
the former CIS republics. These agreements and any similar future agreements,
governmental policies or trade restrictions are beyond the control of the
Company and may affect the supply of uranium available in the United States,
which is the largest market for uranium in the world.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Certain of the directors of the Company also serve as directors of other
companies involved in natural resource exploration and development, and
consequently there exists the possibility for such directors to be in a position
of conflict. Any decision made by such directors involving the Company will be
made in accordance with the duties and obligations of directors to deal fairly
and in good faith with the Company and such other companies. In addition, such
directors must declare, and refrain from voting on, any matter in which such
directors may have a conflict of interest. The Company believes that no material
conflicts of interest currently exist. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and
Related Party Transactions - Related Party Transactions" and "Item 6. Directors
Senior Management and Employees - Board Practices."
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
The Company is engaged primarily in uranium exploration and in the business of
recycling uranium-bearing waste products at its White Mesa uranium Mill as an
alternative to the direct disposal of these waste products. In addition, the
Company sells uranium recovered from these operations. The Company also sells
vanadium and other metals that can be produced as a co-product with uranium. The
Company owns several uranium and uranium/vanadium mines that have been shut down
pending further improvements in commodity prices. See "Current Operations". In
addition, the Company's subsidiary Fortress is engaged in precious and base
metal exploration in Mongolia. See "Mongolian Precious and Base Metals
Properties."
The Company is the product of an amalgamation under the Business Corporations
Act (Ontario) (the "Act") of two companies; namely, International Uranium
Corporation, incorporated on October 3, 1996 under the laws of the Province of
Ontario pursuant to the Act, and Thornbury Capital Corporation, incorporated
under the laws of the Province of Ontario by Letters Patent ("Thornbury") on
September 29, 1950. The amalgamation was made effective on May 9, 1997, pursuant
to a Certificate of Amalgamation dated that date. The amalgamated companies were
continued under the name "International Uranium Corporation." The Company
operates under the Act.
The head office of the Company is located at 2101 - 885 West Georgia Street,
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6C 3E8, telephone number 604-689-7842. The Company's
United States operations are headquartered at Suite 950, 1050 Seventeenth
Street, Denver, CO 80265, telephone number 303-628-7798. The registered office
of the Company is located at Suite 2100, Scotia Plaza, 40 King Street West,
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3C2, telephone number 416-869-5300.
10
The Company entered the uranium industry in May 1997 by acquiring substantially
all of the uranium producing assets of Energy Fuels Ltd., Energy Fuels
Exploration Company, and Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. (collectively "Energy
Fuels"). The Company raised Cdn $47.25 million through a special warrant private
placement and used cash of approximately Cdn $29.3 million ($20.5 million) to
purchase the Energy Fuels' assets. Energy Fuels was a uranium producer with
properties in the United States and Mongolia.
The Energy Fuels' assets acquired included several developed mines that were
shut down, several partially developed properties and exploration properties
within the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming and South Dakota, as well
as the 2,000 ton per day White Mesa Mill near Blanding, Utah. The White Mesa
Mill is a fully permitted dual circuit uranium/vanadium mill. In addition to the
U.S. properties, the Company also acquired a 70% interest in a joint venture
with the government of Mongolia and a Russian geological concern to explore for
uranium mineralization in Mongolia.
Due to deteriorating commodity prices at the time and other factors, the Company
ceased its uranium mining and exploration activities in 1999, and shut down all
of its mines and its Mongolian uranium joint venture. However, as a result of
recent increases in uranium prices, the Company has acquired and staked uranium
exploration properties in Canada and commenced exploration on certain of those
properties in early fiscal 2004. The Company has also recommenced its uranium
exploration program in Mongolia. In addition, the Company is currently
evaluating the possibility of recommencing certain of its U.S. mining activities
if uranium prices continue to increase.
The Company's subsidiary Fortress is undertaking a precious and base metals
exploration program in Mongolia. See "Exploration for Precious and Base Metals
in Mongolia."
In addition to its uranium and base and precious metals exploration programs,
the Company continues to devote significant resources to the development of the
alternate feed, uranium-bearing waste recycling business. While the Company has
had considerable success to date in this initiative, and the alternate feed
business has helped to offset Mill and mine standby costs, the Company has not
to date developed a sufficient backlog of alternate feed business to result in
sustained profitable operations for the Company solely from this business.
Developing this backlog will continue to be a major focus of the Company. See
"Alternate Feed Processing."
SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL ASSETS OF THE COMPANY
UNITED STATES ASSETS
The Company's principal assets in the United States are the following:
- the White Mesa Mill, a 2,000 ton per day uranium and vanadium
processing plant near Blanding, Utah. See "White Mesa Mill."
- the Arizona Strip uranium properties, in north central Arizona. See
"Arizona Strip."
- the Colorado Plateau uranium properties, straddling the southwestern
Colorado and Utah border. See "Colorado Plateau District."
- the Bullfrog project, a uranium deposit in south central Utah. See
"Other U.S. Mineral Properties."
- various uranium waste processing contracts and joint venture
contracts. See "Alternate Feed Processing" and "Urizon Joint
Venture."
11
CANADIAN ASSETS
In Canada, the Company has the following assets:
- an option to earn a 75% interest in the Moore Lake uranium
exploration property.
- an option to earn a 75% interest in the Lazy Edward Bay uranium
exploration property.
- an option to earn a 75% interest in the Crawford Lake and Brown Lake
exploration projects, subject to signing of formal agreements.
- a 100% interest in the Key Lake South, Perpete Lake, Ford Lake and
Johnstone Lake uranium exploration properties
In addition, the Company has staked additional exploration ground in the
Athabasca Basin. See "Canadian Uranium Exploration Properties."
MONGOLIAN PROPERTIES
The Company has the following assets in Mongolia:
- a 70% interest in the Gurvan-Saihan Joint Venture. The other parties
are the Mongolian Government as to 15% and Geologorazvedka, a
Russian geological concern, as to the remaining 15%. As of February
14, 2005, the Gurvan-Saihan Joint Venture holds 1.774 million
hectares of uranium exploration properties in Mongolia. See
"Mongolian Uranium Property."
- Six exploration licenses, totaling 607,700 hectares as of February
14, 2005, which are wholly owned by the Company through it's
subsidiary International Uranium Mongolia, XXK.
- A 58.24% share ownership interest in Fortress. Fortress holds gold
and base metals exploration properties, totaling 4.5 million
hectares, as of February 14, 2005. See "Mongolian Precious and Base
Metals Properties." Fortress is a Canadian corporation whose shares
are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (ticker symbol: FST), and
have traded in the range of Cdn$0.20 to Cdn$0.65 per share between
June 28, 2004 and January 31, 2005, with the total volume of shares
traded during that period being 8,119,600 shares.
PRINCIPAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND DIVESTITURES
The Company's principal capital expenditures during the last three fiscal years
were $5,806,847 for mineral property exploration. $2,309,178 was spent on
Canadian uranium exploration, $3,444,593 was spent on Fortress' precious and
base metals exploration program in Mongolia, and $53,076 was spent on Mongolian
uranium exploration. The Company expended $454,653 during the last three fiscal
years primarily on plant and equipment for its U.S. operations. In addition, the
Company contributed $1,500,000 in cash together with its technology license to
the Urizon Joint Venture. During this same time period the Company raised
proceeds of approximately $335,203 from the sale of surplus mining equipment,
resulting in a net gain of $274,119. In addition, due to a significant
deterioration in the market price of uranium and vanadium during the period
1999-2002, the Company wrote off its investment in its Mongolian uranium joint
venture and U.S. mining properties at that time. However, with continued upward
pressure on world uranium prices throughout fiscal 2004, the Company recommenced
its uranium exploration program in Mongolia (See "Mongolian Uranium Property"),
and is currently evaluating the possibility of recommencing certain of its U.S.
mining activities if uranium prices continue to increase.
The Company expects to finance the development of the alternate feed business,
which continues to be a major focus of the Company in the United States, through
internal sources, and its uranium exploration program in Canada and Mongolia
through the issuance of equity by the Company. To this end, the Company raised
gross proceeds of Cdn $12.25 million through the issuance of equity in the first
quarter of fiscal 2004 and Cdn $5,000,000 through the issuance of equity in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2004. Fortress's precious and base metals exploration
program in Mongolia will continue to be funded through the issuance of equity by
Fortress. To that end, Fortress raised gross
12
proceeds of Cdn $1,995,000 through the issuance of equity in fiscal 2004. See
"Canadian Uranium Exploration Properties," "Mongolian Precious and Base Metals
Properties" and "Financing Activities."
HISTORY OF URANIUM MINING OPERATIONS
The Company commenced conventional uranium/vanadium mining operations at its
Sunday Mine Complex in November 1997 and at its Rim Mine in January 1998 after
completion of minor development activities. These properties are located in the
Colorado Plateau District of western Colorado and eastern Utah, and contain high
grades of vanadium along with uranium.
To supplement its own production, the Company implemented a mill-feed purchase
program under which it intended to purchase feed for the Mill from many small
independent mines in the Uravan district of the Colorado Plateau mining region.
Unfortunately, this program did not materialize to the degree hoped, as the
independent miners found that their operations were not economic at then current
commodity prices, due to new regulatory and environmental licensing requirements
that had come into effect since they last operated.
The Company continued the mining of uranium and vanadium-bearing material from
its Sunday and Rim Mine complexes in the Colorado Plateau district until
mid-1999. At that time, the Company elected to suspend mining operations as a
result of continued weak uranium and vanadium prices and the expectation at that
time that these conditions would not improve for the next several years. The
shut down of the mines took several months to complete, and the process of
putting the mines on standby was completed in November 1999. Due principally to
the lack of success of the Company's mill-feed purchase program, the tonnage
ultimately delivered to the Mill was less than originally expected.
Approximately 87,250 tons of material, with a U(3)O(8) grade of 0.28% and a
V(2)O(5) grade of 1.9% were mined from the Company's mines and independent
mines. All of the material was shipped to the White Mesa Mill, and the Company
commenced the milling of this material in June, 1999. The conventional mill run
was much shorter than originally anticipated, which impacted operating
efficiencies and, ultimately, unit production costs. In addition, certain
operational problems were encountered with the vanadium circuit which had not
operated since 1990, resulting in lower realized recoveries. Nevertheless, the
milling of the material was completed in October of 1999 and the Company
recovered approximately 487,000 pounds of U(3)O(8) in concentrates and
approximately 2.0 million pounds of vanadium.
Due to deteriorating commodity prices at the time and other factors, the Company
placed all of its U.S. mines on standby in fiscal 1999. The Company had also
written-off the carrying value of its U.S. mineral properties for the same
reason in fiscal 1999, and closed its Colorado Plateau mining office in fiscal
1999 and Arizona mining office in fiscal 2000. Uranium prices have since
improved, and the Company has initiated a uranium exploration program in Canada
(See "Canadian Uranium Exploration Properties"), and has recommenced its
Mongolian uranium exploration program (See "Mongolian Exploration Properties").
In addition, the Company is currently evaluating the possibility of recommencing
certain of its U.S. mining activities if uranium prices continue to increase.
B. BUSINESS OVERVIEW
CURRENT OPERATIONS
Due to deteriorating commodity prices at the time and other factors, the Company
ceased its uranium mining and exploration activities in 1999/2000, and shut down
all of its mines and its Mongolian uranium joint venture, pending significant
improvements in commodity prices. During that time period, the Company focused
its resources primarily on the continuing development of the alternate feed,
uranium-bearing waste recycling business, and the Company initiated a precious
and base metals exploration program in Mongolia, which is currently being
undertaken by the Company's subsidiary Fortress. See "Alternate Feed Processing"
and "Mongolian Precious and Base Metals Properties." Uranium prices have risen
significantly since late fiscal 2003. As a result of these increases in uranium
prices, the Company acquired and staked uranium exploration properties in the
Athabasca Region of Saskatchewan, Canada, which presently accounts for nearly
one-third of the world's annual uranium production, and commenced exploration on
certain of those properties in early fiscal 2004. See "Canadian Uranium
Exploration Properties." The Company has also recommenced its uranium
exploration program in Mongolia. See "Mongolian Exploration Properties". In
addition, the Company is currently evaluating the possibility of recommencing
certain of its U.S. mining activities if uranium prices continue to increase.
13
In addition to its uranium exploration program, the Company will continue to
devote significant resources to the continuing development of the alternate
feed, uranium-bearing waste recycling business. See "Alternate Feed Processing."
To keep overhead and stand-by expenditures at a minimum, the Company continues
to staff the White Mesa Mill with a crew of 16 personnel, down from previous
levels of 20 to 25 personnel while on standby. Staffing at the Mill will
increase during fiscal 2005 with the next Mill run, which is expected to
commence in late second or early third quarter of fiscal 2005. See "White Mesa
Mill: Current Condition and Operating Status".
ALTERNATE FEED PROCESSING OVERVIEW
During fiscal 2004, the Company continued to receive uranium bearing materials
under its existing contract with Cameco Corporation, and small quantities of
materials under its existing Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program
("FUSRAP") contract for the Linde site, near Buffalo, New York. During fiscal
2004 the Company received approximately 3,400 tons of material from the Linde
site, which together with material received from that site in previous fiscal
years totals approximately 117,600 tons of material received from that site.
There is a possibility that the Company may receive additional quantities of
material from the Linde site. In addition, in fiscal 2004, the Company received
approximately 5,400 tons of material from a commercial metals producer, and to
date in fiscal 2005, the Company has received approximately 260 tons of monazite
sands from Heritage Minerals Inc. in New Jersey. As of December 31, 2004, the
Mill has approximately 44,800 tons of alternate feed material from these three
sites that, along with the Cameco materials received at the Mill to date, will
be processed during the next mill run, which is expected to commence in the
second or third quarter of fiscal 2005.
The Company intends to continue to devote significant resources to the
development of the alternate feed, uranium-bearing waste recycling business.
While the Company has had considerable success to date in this initiative, and
the alternate feed business has helped to offset Mill and mine standby costs,
the Company has not to date developed a sufficient backlog of alternate feed
business to result in sustained profitable operations for the Company solely
from this business. Developing this backlog will continue to be a major focus of
the Company. See "Alternate Feed Processing."
Process milling of alternate feeds and related activities generated revenues of
$420,646, which was 17% of the Company's fiscal 2004 revenues. Alternate feed
processing activities in fiscal 2004 consisted primarily of the receipt,
sampling and analysis of Linde materials and materials from a commercial metals
processor. In the case of the Linde materials, the Company receives a recycling
fee as these materials are delivered, which is recorded as deferred revenue
until the material is processed, at which time it becomes revenue. In the case
of the materials from the metals processor, the Company receives a materials
receipt fee on receipt of the materials, which is recorded as revenue, and a
recycling fee which is recorded as deferred revenue until the material is
processed, at which time it becomes revenue. In fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004,
process revenues from alternate feed production and related activities were,
$6,830,137, $12,415,001 and $420,646, respectively, representing, 100%, close to
100% and 17% of total revenues for those periods. The remaining revenues
received during those periods were derived from the sale of vanadium black
flake, which was produced during the 1999 conventional ore mill run, and from
engineering services the Company provided, on a cost plus basis to a related
company, which was reclaiming a mine site in the U.S. There were no sales of
uranium in fiscal 2004. As mentioned below (see "Marketing"), the Company has
sold all of its uranium inventory and uranium contracts, and all but
approximately 65,000 pounds of its vanadium inventories. It is therefore
expected that future operating revenues will be primarily from the Company's
alternate feed business, or, if commodity prices improve enough to justify
production from the Company's U.S. uranium properties, from future uranium and
vanadium production.
On August 16, 2004, the State of Utah assumed primary regulatory authority over
the Mill, from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
URANIUM EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
As a result of recent increases in uranium prices, the Company acquired
interests in and staked uranium exploration properties in Canada in early fiscal
2004, and commenced exploration on certain of those properties in fiscal 2004.
The total amount expended by the Company on the acquisition and exploration of
Canadian exploration properties was $2,309,178. See "Canadian Uranium
Exploration Properties" and "The Uranium Industry."
14
Due to the depressed uranium market at the time and then current market
forecasts, the Company shut down the field operations at the Gurvan-Saihan Joint
Venture in fiscal 2000, which is the Company's uranium development and
exploration program in Mongolia. The decision was also made in fiscal 2000 to
reduce the carrying value of the Company's investment in the Gurvan-Saihan Joint
Venture by $10,963,248. See "Mongolian Uranium Property." The Company's office
in Ulaanbaatar was downsized during fiscal 2000 but was maintained, and has been
utilized to support the Company's subsidiary, Fortress', precious and base
metals exploration program in Mongolia. See "Mongolian Precious and Base Metals
Properties." However, with higher uranium prices, the Company restarted uranium
exploration for the Gurvan-Saihan Joint Venture in fiscal 2004, spending $53,076
on field work during the period. See "Mongolian Uranium Properties". In
addition, the Company initiated a property acquisition and uranium exploration
program in late fiscal 2004 on properties acquired 100% for the benefit of the
Company, through the Company's wholly owned subsidiary International Uranium
Mongolia, XXK.
MARKETING
Given the depressed uranium market at the time and then continued forecasted
weakness in the uranium market, the Company decided to sell its entire uranium
inventory along with its remaining uranium sales contracts in fiscal 2000. The
Company did not produce or sell any uranium in fiscal 2004. However, the Company
did sell all of its inventory of 417,748 pounds of vanadium blackflake, for net
proceeds of $1,582,628. The Company continues to hold approximately 65,000
pounds of vanadium, as vanadium pregnant liquor. Over the past six months,
vanadium prices have improved and are currently trading in the range of $9.00 to
$9.50 per pound V(2)O(5). The Company is continuing to evaluate opportunities to
sell its remaining inventory.
MOAB TAILINGS PROJECT INITIATIVE
The Moab tailings pile contains an estimated 12 million tons of mill tailings,
mill debris, contaminated soils, and cover material, located near Moab Utah,
approximately 90 miles north of the White Mesa Mill. The location of the
tailings pile, adjacent to the Colorado River and an environmentally sensitive
wetlands, as well as the ongoing contamination of groundwater due to seepage of
pollutants into the River, have lead DOE to investigate several alternatives for
final remediation of the pile. In December 2002, the DOE announced the
initiation of an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") for the remediation of
the tailings pile, in which it will evaluate several alternatives, including the
relocation of the Moab tailings pile to the White Mesa Mill by slurry pipeline.
In May 2003, the Company presented the White Mesa option for inclusion in the
DOE's EIS. A draft EIS was published for public comment in November, 2004, and
will remain open for comment until February 18, 2005. Contrary to normal
practice, the draft EIS does not state a recommended or preferred option. See
"Moab Tailings Project."
PRECIOUS AND BASE METALS EXPLORATION PROGRAM
During fiscal 2002 the Company commenced an exploration program for precious and
base metals in Mongolia. On June 23, 2004, the Company sold its Mongolian
precious and base metals assets to Fortress, in consideration of a majority
share ownership interest in Fortress. Fortress is a public company traded on the
Toronto Venture Exchange. As of February 14, 2005, Fortress' land holdings for
the precious and base metals exploration program total 4.5 million hectares.
During fiscal 2004, the Company expended $1,085,631 on field campaigns of
geologic mapping, geophysical surveys, sampling and data analysis, and drilling
on certain of the properties, up until June 23, 2004, the date of acquisition of
those properties by Fortress. From June 24, 2004 to September 30, 2004, Fortress
expended an additional $463,899 on its precious and base metals exploration
program in Mongolia. See "Mongolian Precious and Base Metals Properties."
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
In order to fund exploration work on the Company's Canadian uranium properties
(see "Canadian Uranium Exploration Properties") the Company completed private
placements of 2.0 million common shares at a price of Cdn $1.10 per share, on
November 12, 2003 and 1,250,000 common shares at a price of Cdn $4.00 per share
on September 21, 2004, and realized gross proceeds of Cdn $2,200,000 and
$5,000,000, respectively. Because the proceeds from the issuance of these shares
will be used solely for exploration on eligible Canadian mineral properties,
these shares, which are regular common shares, are considered "flow-through"
shares for Canadian income tax purposes. Under Canadian income tax rules, a
flow-through share is a mechanism whereby the flow-through share investor is
entitled to deduct certain Canadian exploration and development expenditures
incurred by the Company, and the Company renounces its ability to deduct such
expenditures.
15
On December 16, 2003, the Company completed a private placement offering for a
total of 6,700,000 common shares at a price of Cdn $1.50 per share, and realized
gross proceeds of Cdn $10,050,000. Net proceeds of the offering are used towards
uranium exploration as well as for general working capital purposes.
In addition to the foregoing, on September 1, 2004, the Company's subsidiary
Fortress completed a private placement of 4,987,500 units at a price of Cdn
$0.40 per unit for gross proceeds of Cdn $1,995,000. Each unit consists of one
common share and one-half common share purchase warrant, each whole warrant
entitling the holder to purchase one additional share of Fortress for a period
of twenty-four months from closing of the placement at a price of Cdn $0.50 per
share for the first year and Cdn $0.60 per share in the second year. Certain
selling agents were issued warrants entitling them to purchase 249,375 common
shares in aggregate, exercisable until September 1, 2005 at a price of Cdn $0.50
per share. These funds are used for exploration in Mongolia and for Fortress'
general working capital purposes.
ALTERNATE FEED PROCESSING
Commissioned in 1980, the White Mesa Mill has processed conventionally mined
mineralized material for the recovery of uranium and vanadium for many years. In
addition, the Company's State of Utah Radioactive Materials License gives the
Company the right to process other uranium-bearing materials known as "alternate
feeds," pursuant to an Alternate Feed Guidance adopted by the NRC in 1995 and
amended in 2000. Alternate feeds are uranium-bearing materials, which usually
are classified as waste products to the generators of the materials. Requiring a
routine amendment to its license for each different alternate feed, the Company
can process these uranium-bearing materials and recover uranium, in some cases,
at a fraction of the cost of processing conventional ore, alone or together with
other valuable metals such as niobium, tantalum and zirconium. In other cases,
the generators of the alternate feed materials are willing to pay a recycling
fee to the Company to process these materials to recover uranium and then
dispose of the remaining byproduct in the Mill's licensed tailings cells, rather
than directly disposing of the materials at a disposal site. This gives the
Company the ability to process certain alternate feeds and generate earnings
that are largely independent of uranium market prices. By working with the
Company and taking the recycling approach, the suppliers of alternate feed
materials can significantly reduce their remediation costs, as there are only a
limited number of disposal sites for uranium-bearing materials in the United
States.
As of February 14, 2005, the Mill has received fourteen license amendments,
authorizing the Mill to process seventeen different alternate feed materials. As
of February 14, 2005, the Mill has recovered approximately 1,125,000 pounds of
U(3)O(8) from processing alternate feed materials. Of these amendments, eight
involve the processing of feeds provided by nuclear fuel cycle facilities and
private industry and one has involved the processing of DOE material. These nine
feed materials have been relatively high in uranium content and relatively low
in volume. The remaining five amendments have been to allow the Mill to process
uranium-bearing soils from former defense sites, known as Formerly Utilized
Sites Remedial Action Program ("FUSRAP") sites, which are being remediated by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the "Corps"). These materials are typically
relatively low in uranium content but relatively high in volume. The Company has
received and processed approximately 52,000 tons of FUSRAP material from the
Ashland 2 site, approximately 172,830 tons of FUSRAP material from the Ashland 1
site and approximately 78,390 tons of FUSRAP material from the Linde site, all
near Buffalo, New York. In addition, another 39,000 tons of Linde material is
currently stockpiled at the Mill, which will be processed during the next Mill
run. Previously, material excavated from FUSRAP sites was only directly disposed
of at one of the few direct disposal sites in the country, and at considerable
cost. The Corps, charged with the task of reducing the cost of this remediation
program, awarded these contracts to the Company to recycle the materials and
recover uranium before disposing of the resulting tailings in the Mill's
tailings cells. By processing these soils through the Mill for the recovery of
uranium, the Company was able to allow the Corps to clean up these sites at less
cost than would have been incurred had the disposal-only option been used.
As of February 14, 2005 the Company estimates that there are potentially several
hundred thousand tons of uranium-bearing soils and materials located at FUSRAP
and similar sites. It is anticipated that these uranium-bearing soils will be
excavated over the next several years and then transported to either a disposal
only facility or in some cases to a recycling facility, like the White Mesa
Mill.
Even though there are significant volumes of materials estimated under the
government programs, nuclear fuel cycle facilities and private industry will
remain an important part of the Company's alternate feed program over the
16
foreseeable future. For example, the second alternate feed campaign completed in
fiscal 1999 involved an alternate feed material that the Company acquired under
a contract with a nuclear fuel cycle facility. The high-grade uranium content of
this material resulted in the production of 160,000 pounds of uranium. The
Company continues to receive alternate feeds under this contract. As well, the
Company will continue to be an outlet for smaller private companies seeking
recycling as an alternative to direct disposal.
Government remediation projects, such as those involving the clean-up of FUSRAP
sites, are generally well known in the industry. Each such project typically
takes several years to characterize and to obtain all agency approvals required
in order to proceed to remediation. Once the project reaches the remediation
stage, and government funding has been allocated to the project, it typically is
put out to tender for sealed bids, and site remediation, transportation and
disposal/recycling facility contracts are then awarded. This process typically
takes several months to complete. Once contracts are awarded, actual remediation
could last for months to years, depending on the size of the project and
government funding priorities. Depending on the project, there are typically
three to five qualified disposal/recycling facilities that will bid on each
contract. There are also other government sources of alternate feed materials
that are not on any particular schedule or program for remediation. These are
not as well known in the industry, and it is incumbent upon the Company to
identify these. These types of contracts may be sole-source or may be subject to
public tender, depending on the circumstances. While some private industry
contracts relate to private sites that must be remediated under regulatory order
or directive within set time frames and in many respects resemble government
remediation contracts in scope and timing, most private industry contracts are
not well publicized and need not be remediated within any set time period. It is
incumbent upon the Company to identify these types of contracts. Most of these
types of contracts are sole-source. As of February 14, 2005, the Company has
been successful in obtaining approximately 33% of the contracts that were issued
under competitive bids and approximately 65% of all contracts the Company
sought.
While the progress made to date is considerable, there have been regulatory
uncertainties associated with this uranium recycling business. As noted, the
Company's license gives the Company the right, with appropriate amendments, to
process alternate feeds. These amendments are granted under the rules and
regulations of the State of Utah. Some of the Company's alternate feed projects
have been challenged in the past by the State of Utah, a commercial disposal
company and other parties. As of February 14, 2005, the Company's White Mesa
Mill has been granted fourteen license amendments for processing alternate feeds
out of fourteen requests, and the Company has successfully defended all
challenges before the NRC, to date.
The 2000 legal dispute between the Company and the State of Utah has been
resolved, and the Company now works closely and in cooperation with the Utah
Department of Environmental Quality ("UDEQ") on all Mill regulatory matters. The
State of Utah became an Agreement State for the regulation of uranium mills in
Utah on August 16, 2004, and at that time assumed primary regulatory
jurisdiction over the Mill.
In conducting its alternate feed business to date, the Company has not been
dependent on patents or technological licenses or new manufacturing processes
(other than those that have been developed by the Company as necessary),
although it has been dependent upon entering into commercial contractual
relations with generators of alternate feed materials. Costs of processing
alternate feed materials are dependent upon costs of raw materials and labor,
which in the case of some reagents, while readily available, can be volatile.
However, volatility in the cost of such materials has not significantly impacted
costs of processing alternate feeds to date.
The Company intends to continue to devote significant resources to the
development of the alternate feed, uranium-bearing waste recycling business. The
Company expects that revenues from recycling uranium-bearing materials can
continue to help offset Mill and mine standby costs, and, potentially, result in
sustained profitable operations for the Company. As noted above, there are
potentially several hundred thousand tons of this type of material in the U.S.
However, in order for the Company to become profitable solely as a result of
this business the Company must be able to: A) identify a sufficient number of
contracts that would be profitable for the Company; B) be successful in winning
a sufficient number of these contracts in the face of competition from other
facilities; and C) receive these contracts in a time frame and have sufficient
backlog of such contracts to allow the Mill to operate at a sufficient rate to
more than cover its costs of production, any standby costs that are incurred
between Mill runs, and other corporate overheads. While the Company has had
considerable success to date in this initiative, and the alternate feed business
has helped to offset Mill and mine standby costs, the Company has not to date
developed a sufficient backlog of alternate feed business to result in sustained
profitable operations for the Company solely from this business. Developing this
backlog will continue to be a major focus of the Company. Given the timeframes
17
inherent in bidding for and being awarded government contracts and identifying
and securing commercial contracts for alternate feed materials, this could take
a matter of years to achieve.
URIZON JOINT VENTURE
In November, 2002 the Company formed a 50/50 joint venture company, "Urizon
Recovery Systems, LLC", with Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. ("NFS") to pursue the
development of a new, alternate feed program (the "USM Ore Program") for the
Company's White Mesa Mill that, if successful, could result in the Mill
producing two to three million pounds of yellowcake per year over at least a
three-year period.
NFS is a privately owned corporation with operations based in Erwin, Tennessee.
Since 1957, NFS has been a leader in the process development and production of
specialty nuclear fuels for commercial power, research reactors and naval
reactors. NFS is the supplier of highly enriched uranium fuel materials for the
U.S. Government. NFS has also developed and implemented the process for
recycling highly enriched uranium material into lower commercial enrichments.
This process supports the U.S government's program for downblending surplus
material from the weapons program into fuel for nuclear power reactors. In
addition, NFS is involved as a contractor at DOE facilities.
The USM Ore Program that Urizon is pursuing involves the development of a
process and construction of a plant at NFS' facility in Erwin, Tennessee, for
the blending of contaminated low enriched uranium with depleted uranium to
produce a natural uranium ore ("USM Ore"). The USM Ore will then be further
processed at the Mill to produce conventional yellowcake.
The primary source of feed for Urizon will be the significant quantities of
contaminated materials within the DOE complex. Throughout the DOE complex, there
are a number of streams of low enriched uranium that contain various
contaminants. These surplus nuclear materials often require additional
processing in order to meet commercial fuel cycle specifications. Urizon's USM
Ore Program will provide a solution to DOE that will enable DOE to deal with the
material, while at the same time recycling the material as a valuable energy
resource for reintroduction into the nuclear fuel cycle.
Blending low enriched uranium with depleted uranium to make a reconstituted
natural uranium ore that can be returned to the nuclear fuel cycle as yellowcake
has never been accomplished before. This program will allow DOE to deal with its
surplus low enriched uranium and depleted uranium in a cost effective manner,
while providing for the recovery of valuable energy resources that would
otherwise be lost through direct disposal of the materials, and, at the same
time providing a source of alternate feed materials for the Company's White Mesa
Mill.
The process is capable of recycling thousands of metric tons of surplus
materials within the DOE Complex. A preliminary report by the DOE in 2000 stated
there were 4,700 metric tons of contained surplus low enriched uranium at 28
sites across the DOE Complex, which would yield approximately 6 million pounds
of yellowcake, as well as other sources of materials suitable for the program.
The first phase of the project is the preparation and submittal of a request for
an amendment to the Mill's license. Assuming receipt of regulatory approvals,
construction of the blending facility at NFS' site in Erwin, Tennessee could be
completed within two years of submittal. Commercial production would be expected
to last three to six years or longer depending on the amount of DOE materials
that are available.
Application testing was conducted from 2002 to 2004. Pursuant to its agreement
with NFS, the Company contributed $1.5 million to the joint venture in December
2002 to be used in connection with this project. The success of the program will
depend on DOE's support of the program as a means to disposition these surplus
nuclear materials within the DOE complex. An unsolicited proposal was submitted
by NFS to DOE in April 2003 for funding of this program. The DOE informed Urizon
in early 2004 that it was not prepared to accept the proposal at that time due
to funding considerations and other DOE priorities. The DOE is in the process of
choosing a contractor who will manage the disposition of the materials that
would be the feedstock for the Urizon program, in conjunction with the closure
of an existing DOE site. The Joint Venture currently expects that a decision
will be made by DOE in fiscal 2005 as to how it intends to proceed on this
matter, and that the joint venture will have an opportunity to propose the
Urizon Program as a suitable disposition option for this feedstock. In the
interim, the Company will not be submitting its license amendment application
until the path forward is further defined.
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MOAB TAILINGS PROJECT
The Company has submitted a technical and financial proposal to the DOE to
relocate the Moab uranium mill tailings to the White Mesa Mill.
The Moab Uranium mill tailings pile, which is now under the control of the DOE,
is located at the former Atlas Minerals Corporation site, approximately three
miles north of Moab, Utah, which is approximately 90 miles north of the White
Mesa Mill. The Moab tailings pile contains an estimated 12 million tons of mill
tailings, mill debris, contaminated soils and cover material. The location of
the tailings pile, adjacent to the Colorado River and an environmentally
sensitive wetlands, as well as the ongoing contamination of groundwater and
seepage of pollutants into the river, has lead DOE to investigate several
alternatives for final remediation of the pile.
One alternative is to remediate the tailings on-site through the use of an
engineered rock armor cover. Although this appears to be initially less costly,
a number of federal and state agencies, local business interests, downstream
water users, and environmental groups are objecting to this final closure
alternative. Concerns raised by some of the more than 30 million downstream
users of the Colorado River focus on the risk of continued long-term
contamination of site groundwater and the Colorado River, as well as actual
long-term costs for monitoring and maintenance. In addition to the remediation
in-place alternative, DOE is currently evaluating alternatives for relocating
the pile to the Mill using a slurry pipeline or to other potential relocation
sites using alternative transportation methods.
The Company believes that relocation of the Moab tailings to the White Mesa Mill
has many economic, technical, and environmental advantages over in-place final
closure or relocation to a new, unproven disposal site. The Company believes
that relocating the tailings via slurry pipeline to the White Mesa Mill will
enhance long-term environmental, social, and aesthetic values as well as public
health and safety. Engineering on the project to date by the Company and
Pipeline Systems Inc. indicates that utilization of proven pipeline technology,
which has a long history of safe operations, will be the least disruptive to the
local communities and will enable the relocation to be completed faster.
Although the White Mesa option is currently estimated by DOE to be the highest
cost option, there are a number of factors that still need to be considered by
the DOE, including the long term use of the pipeline, which the Company believes
will make the White Mesa option competitive with the other options being
considered by DOE.
In December 2002, DOE initiated the process to complete an environmental impact
statement aimed at evaluating several alternatives for remediation of the site,
including the White Mesa Mill option. In November, 2004, DOE published a draft
environmental impact statement for public comment. The draft EIS will remain
open for comment until February 18, 2005. Contrary to original expectations, the
draft EIS does not state a recommended or preferred option. Implementation of
any alternative chosen by DOE will be subject to receipt of funding from the
U.S. Congress. If the Company is chosen by the DOE, as the preferred alternative
and permitting and funding have been obtained, relocation of the pile will take
several years to complete.
THE URANIUM INDUSTRY
Although the Company has placed all of its uranium mines on standby and has sold
all of its uranium inventories and supply contracts, it has begun a significant
uranium exploration program in Canada and produces uranium from the processing
of alternate feed materials. With the current higher uranium prices and the
improvement in long term uranium market fundamentals, the Company has
recommenced its Mongolian uranium exploration program, and, is currently
evaluating the possibility of recommencing certain of its U.S. mining
activities. For these reasons, the Company has included a brief description of
the uranium industry.
OVERVIEW
Commercial nuclear power generation began just over forty years ago and now
generates as much global electricity as was produced forty years ago by all
sources. The low operating cost of nuclear power combined with the increased
focus on climate change could result in increased electricity production from
nuclear generators in various areas of the world.
There are 103 nuclear reactors in the United States and a total of 438
worldwide, operating in 31 countries representing a total world nuclear capacity
of 364.7 gigawatts. A further 27 reactors with a capacity of 21.6 gigawatts are
under construction in 10 countries and an additional 37 reactors are either on
order or planned. With
19
the only significant commercial use for uranium being nuclear fuel for nuclear
reactors, it follows that reactor requirements will be the key component in the
uranium market.
URANIUM SUPPLY AND DEMAND
The world's nuclear power reactors require about 174 million pounds of uranium
per year. As nuclear power capacity increases, the uranium fuel requirement also
increases. Demand for uranium can be supplied through either primary production
(newly mined uranium) or secondary sources (inventories and alternate
production). Secondary sources are of particular importance to the uranium
industry when compared to other commodity markets.
Over the three-year period 2000-2002, primary uranium production averaged 95.2
million pounds of uranium. In 2003, primary production declined to 92.4 million
pounds due to production problems at the McArthur River and Olympic Dam
production centers. Canada and Australia currently account for over half the
world's production. The United States production only represented about 2% or
2.0 million pounds uranium. During the last decade, takeovers, mergers and
closures have consolidated the uranium production industry. In 2003, eight
companies accounted for almost 80% of primary production.
Primary production presently supplies only 57% of the requirements of nuclear
power generators. The remaining supply is from secondary sources, which include
inventories held by producers and utilities, government inventories, and uranium
recycled from government stockpiles. The recycling of Highly Enriched Uranium
("HEU") from Russia is a unique subset of secondary sources of supply. Surplus
fissile military materials are converted from HEU into low enriched uranium
("LEU") suitable for use in nuclear reactors. In February 1993, the United
States and Russia entered into an agreement (the "Russian HEU Agreement") which
provided for the United States to purchase 500 metric tons of Russian HEU over a
20-year period. In April 1996, the USEC Privatization Act gave Russia the
authority to sell Russian natural uranium derived from the LEU (referred to as
the "HEU Feed") in the United States over the 20-year period under certain
defined quotas. The USEC Privatization Act provides a framework for the
introduction of this Russian HEU Feed into the U.S. commercial uranium market.
Russia has been selling this HEU Feed through long term supply agreements with
various producers and other companies involved in the nuclear fuel cycle.
Based upon recent assessments of future secondary uranium supply, the scheduled
uranium production forecast and forecasted nuclear generating capacity, there
appears to be a growing deficit of available uranium supplies to meet expected
uranium needs beginning as soon as 2006. By the year 2010, that deficit may
increase to over 25 million pounds U(3)O(8) per year and, without additional
supply, could potentially reach almost 50 million pounds U(3)O(8) by 2015. These
estimates are subject to a number of assumptions about future events and the
anticipated deficit could change if the assumptions are incorrect.
URANIUM PRICES
Most of the countries that use nuclear-generated electricity do not have a
sufficient domestic uranium supply to fuel their nuclear power reactors, and
their electric utilities secure a substantial part of their required uranium
supply by entering into medium-term and long-term contracts with foreign uranium
producers and other suppliers. These contracts usually provide for deliveries to
begin one to three years after they are signed and to continue for several years
thereafter. In awarding medium-term and long-term contracts, electric utilities
consider, in addition to the commercial terms offered, the producer's or
supplier's uranium reserves, record of performance and cost competitiveness, all
of which are important to the producer's or supplier's ability to fulfill
long-term supply commitments. Under medium-term and long-term contracts, prices
are established by a number of methods, including base prices adjusted by
inflation indices, reference prices (generally spot price indicators but also
long-term reference prices) and annual price negotiations. Many contracts also
contain floor prices, ceiling prices, and other negotiated provisions which
affect the amount paid by the buyer to the seller. Prices under these contracts
are usually confidential.
Electric utilities procure their remaining requirements through spot and
near-term purchases from uranium producers and other suppliers. These other
suppliers typically source their uranium from organizations holding excess
inventory, including utilities, producers and governments.
The spot market is the market for uranium that may be purchased for delivery
within one year. Over the last nine years, annual spot market demand averaged
just under 20 million pounds U(3)O(8) or about 12% of the annual world
20
consumption. In 2004, the total volume was 18.2 million pounds U(3)O(8), which
was down from the 2003 level of 21.8 million pounds. Historically, spot prices
have been more volatile than long-term contract prices, increasing from $6.00
per pound in 1973 to $43.00 in 1977, and then declining from $40.00 in 1980 to a
low of $7.25 in October of 1991. From this low in 1991, the spot price increased
to $16.50 in June 1996. The primary reasons for this increase were trade
restrictions limiting the free flow of uranium from the former CIS republics
into the Western world markets, the Nuexco bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the
United States Bankruptcy Code and related defaults on deliveries, and the
reluctance of uranium producers and inventory holders to sell at low spot price
levels. The drop in spot demand in the following four years along with Russian
HEU Feed sold under the USEC Privatization Act largely contributed to a
relatively steady drop in prices to $7.40 in September 2000. Prices remained
depressed as a result of weak demand, falling to $7.10 in January 2001, but, due
to moderate increases in demand and production problems at the McArthur River
and Olympic Dam operations, prices rose to $12.25 by September 2003. Another
major impact to the market occurred in early November 2003, as a result of
Russia attempting to terminate a long term contract for the supply of HEU Feed
with Globe Nuclear Services and Supply GNSS, Limited ("GNSS"). Litigation is
on-going between GNSS and the Russians over this termination, and it is not
possible to predict the outcome of such litigation or the long term effect of
this development on the market.
The uranium spot price started 2004 at $14.50 per pound U(3)O(8). Throughout the
year, due to limited availability of material and the concerns regarding the
GNSS/Tenex dispute, the uranium spot price rose steadily to end 2004 at $20.70
per pound, a twenty year high. As of January 24, 2005, the spot price increased
further to $21.00 per pound U(3)O(8). While the spot uranium price reflects
near-term market conditions (usually involving delivery within 12 months or less
of contracting), the term market provides much more information regarding the
general state of the natural uranium market. By way of definition, the reported
term uranium price reflects the initial base price under a newly-negotiated
multi-year uranium agreement with deliveries commencing 12-24 months in the
future and extending for 3-4 years thereafter. The annual volume of transactions
in the spot market reflects less than 10% of aggregate transactions of uranium.
The remaining 90% is bought and sold under multi-year agreements between nuclear
utilities and uranium producers. The term uranium price has undergone an even
more pronounced increase over the past two years, rising from just under
US$11.00 per pound U(3)O(8), to US$26.00 per pound U(3)O(8) by the end of
January 2005.
Future uranium prices will depend largely on the amount of incremental supply
made available to the market from the remaining excess inventories, HEU Feed
supplies, including the final resolution of the dispute between GNSS and Russia,
other stockpiles and increased or new production from other uranium producers.
COMPETITION
Uranium production is international in scope and is characterized by a
relatively small number of companies operating in only a few countries. In 2003,
four (4) companies, Cameco, Compagnie Generales des Matieres Nucleaires
("Cogema"), WMC Limited and Energy Resources of Australia Ltd. ("ERA"), produced
approximately 55% of total world output. Most of Western World production was
from Canada and Australia. In 2002, Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan also
supplied significant quantities of uranium into Western World markets. The
Canadian uranium industry has in recent years been the leading world supplier,
producing nearly 30% of the world supply.
THE VANADIUM MARKET
The following is a brief summary of the vanadium market.
The Company produces and sells vanadium as a co-product of the production of
uranium from the Colorado Plateau District ores. As of February 14, 2005, the
Company holds an inventory of approximately 65,000 pounds V2O5 as vanadium
pregnant liquor.
Vanadium is an essential alloying element for steels and titanium, and its
chemical compounds are indispensable for many industrial and domestic products
and processes. The principal uses for vanadium are: (i) carbon steels used for
reinforcing bars; (ii) high strength, low alloy steels used in construction and
pipelines; (iii) full alloy steels used in castings; (iv) tool steels used for
high speed tools and wear resistant parts; (v) titanium alloys used for jet
engine parts and air frames; and (vi) various chemicals used as catalysts.
Principal sources of vanadium are (i) titaniferous magnetites found in Russia,
China, Australia and South Africa; (ii) sludges and fly ash from the refining
and burning of U.S., Caribbean and Middle Eastern oils; and (iii) uranium
21
co-product production from the Colorado Plateau. While produced and sold in a
variety of ways, vanadium production figures and prices are typically reported
in pounds of an intermediate product, vanadium pentoxide, or V(2)O(5). The White
Mesa Mill is capable of producing three products, ammonium metavanadate ("AMV")
and vanadium pregnant liquor ("VPL"), both intermediate products, and vanadium
pentoxide ("flake", "black flake", "tech flake" or "V(2)O(5)"). The majority of
sales are as V(2)O(5), with AMV and VPL produced and sold on a request basis
only.
In the United States, vanadium is produced through processing petroleum
residues, spent catalysts, utility ash, and vanadium bearing iron slag.
Historically, the most significant source of production has been as a byproduct
of uranium production from ores in the Colorado Plateau District, accounting for
over half of historic U.S. production. Vanadium in these deposits occurs at an
average ratio of six pounds of vanadium for every pound of uranium, and the
financial benefit derived from the byproduct sales have helped to make the mines
in this area profitable in the past. Low prices for both uranium and vanadium in
recent years have forced producers in the Colorado Plateau District to place
their facilities on standby. However, increases in the price of both of these
metals since third quarter 2003 have given rise to renewed interest in these
facilities.
The market for vanadium has fluctuated greatly over the last 20 years. During
the early 1980s, quoted prices were in the range of $3.00 per pound, but
increased exports from China and Australia, coupled with the continued economic
recession of the 1980s drove prices to as low as $1.30 per pound. Prices
stabilized in the $2.00 - $2.45 per pound range until perceived supply problems
in 1988 caused by cancellation of contracts by China and rumors of South African
production problems resulted in a price run-up of unprecedented magnitude,
culminating in an all time high of nearly $12.00 per pound in February of 1989.
This enticed new producers to construct additional capacity and oversupply
problems again depressed the price in the early 1990s to $2.00 per pound and
below. Late in 1994, a reduction in supplies from Russia and China, coupled with
concerns about the political climate in South Africa and a stronger steel market
caused the price to climb to $4.50 per pound early in 1995. In the beginning of
1998, prices had climbed to a nine-year high of $7.00 caused by supply being
unable to keep pace with record demand from steel and aerospace industries.
However, during the second half of 1998, prices began to decline to $5.42 per
pound by September 1998 and $2.56 per pound in December 1998. This was due to
sudden decreases in Far East steel production, along with suppliers from Russia
and China selling available inventories at low prices in order to receive cash.
Since that time, prices fell dramatically to a range of $1.20 to $1.50 per pound
V(2)O(5) due in part to the difficult economic conditions being experienced
throughout the Pacific Rim and new sources of supply. In the third quarter of
2003 vanadium prices started to increase due to increased steel consumption and
the shutdown of an Australian primary producer. This trend continued through
fiscal 2004. Prices began fiscal 2004 in the range of $2.00 to $2.50 per pound
V(2)O(5) and increased to $5.00 to $6.00 per pound V(2)O(5) by year end. This is
due to increased steel demand, particularly driven by the strong Chinese
economy. This trend is continuing with vanadium prices, as of the end of
February, 2005, nearly doubling to the range of $9.00 to $9.50 per pound
V(2)O(5).
World demand will continue to fluctuate in response to changes in steel
production. However, the overall consumption is anticipated to increase as
demand for stronger and lighter steels grows, augmented by the demand created by
new applications, such as the vanadium battery.
Vanadium has been largely producer-priced historically, but during the 1980s,
this came under pressure due to the emergence of new sources. As a result,
merchant or trader activity gained more and more importance. Prices for the
products that are produced by the Company are based on weekly quotations of the
London Metal Exchange ("LME"). Historically, vanadium production from the White
Mesa Mill has been sold into the world-wide market both through traders, who
take a 2% to 3% commission for their efforts and, to a lesser extent, through
direct contacts with domestic converters and consumers. While priced in U.S.
dollars per pound of V(2)O(5), the product is typically sold by the container,
which contains nominally 40,000 pounds of product packed in 55 gallon drums,
each containing approximately 550 pounds of product. Typical contracts will call
for the delivery of one to two containers per month over a year or two to a
customer with several contracts in place at the same time. Pricing is usually
based on the LME price and may include floor and ceiling price protection for
both the producer and seller. Spot sales are also made based on the current LME
quote.
22
C. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Company conducts its business through a number of subsidiaries. A diagram
depicting the organizational structure of the Company and its subsidiaries,
including the name, country of incorporation and proportion of ownership
interest is included as Exhibit 1.1 to this Form 20-F.
All of the Company's U.S. assets are held through the Company's wholly owned
subsidiary International Uranium Holdings Corporation. International Uranium
Holdings Corporation ("IUH") holds its uranium mining and milling assets through
a series of Colorado limited liability companies: the White Mesa Mill through
IUC White Mesa LLC; the Colorado Plateau mines through IUC Colorado Plateau LLC,
IUC Sunday Mine LLC and IUC Properties LLC; the Arizona Strip properties through
IUC Arizona Strip LLC; and the Bullfrog and other exploration properties through
IUC Exploration LLC. All of the U.S. properties are operated by International
Uranium (USA) Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Uranium
Holdings Corporation.
The Company's 70% interest in the Gurvan-Saihan Joint Venture in Mongolia is
held through International Uranium Company (Mongolia) Ltd, which is wholly owned
by International Uranium (Bermuda I) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company. In addition to its interest in the Gurvan-Saihan Joint Venture, the
Company also holds its own uranium properties in Mongolia. These properties are
held by International Uranium Mongolia, XXK, a Mongolian entity, which is also
wholly owned by International Uranium Company (Mongolia) Ltd. The Company's
precious and base metals exploration properties are held through Mongol
Resources Exploration, XXK and Shiveengol XXK, both Mongolian entities, which
are wholly owned by Fortress, a Canadian corporation, and its wholly owned
subsidiaries, Fortress Minerals (Bermuda) Ltd., a Bermuda company and Fortress
(Cayman) Corp., a Cayman company. The Company owns 58.24% of the 49,331,338
(60,399,463 on a fully diluted basis) issued and outstanding shares of Fortress
as at September 30, 2004.
The Company's Canadian uranium exploration properties are held through
International Uranium (Sask) Corporation, an Ontario corporation that is wholly
owned by the Company.
The Company's 50% interest in Urizon Recovery Systems, LLC is held through IUC
Recovery LLC, which is owned as to 1% by IUH and as to 99% by IUH's wholly owned
subsidiary, International Uranium Recovery Corporation.
D. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
The following is an overview of the properties held by the Company as of January
31, 2005:
CANADIAN URANIUM EXPLORATION PROPERTIES
The Company acquired interests in two uranium exploration properties in the
southeastern sector of the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan,
Canada in early fiscal 2004, and commenced exploration on certain of those
properties in fiscal 2004, as described below. The Company has also signed a
letter of intent to earn an interest in a third uranium property, which is
subject to signing of formal agreements and regulatory approval. In addition,
the Company has staked additional ground in the Athabasca Basin region in fiscal
2004, bringing its total staked and optioned land position to over 408,000
hectares in this area.
The Athabasca Basin region hosts the world's richest uranium reserves. This
region fuels well over 10% of the United States' electrical power needs and
accounts for approximately one-third of the world's uranium production. The
locations of the Company's properties relative to existing mines are illustrated
on the following figure.
To assist and advise the Company on the acquisition, exploration and development
of prospective uranium exploration properties in Canada, the Company has formed
a Uranium Exploration Advisory Committee. Heading the committee is Dr. Klaus
Lehnert-Thiel, P. Eng., P. Geo., an exploration geoscientist with over 30 years
of operations and management experience on uranium, gold, diamond and base
metals projects, predominantly in Canada. Considered an expert in the uranium
field, Dr. Lehnert-Thiel began his work in the Athabasca Basin of northern
Saskatchewan in the late 1960's where he was in charge of large integrated
exploration programs during the uranium exploration boom in the area following
the discovery of the Rabbit Lake mine. In the early 1970's, Dr. Lehnert-Thiel
joined Uranerz Exploration and Mining Limited and was part of the Key Lake
discovery team. The
23
other members of the committee are Ron Netolitzky and Rick Bailes. Messrs.
Netolitzky and Bailes bring a wealth of uranium exploration, Athabasca Basin,
and economic geology experience to the team.
There can be no assurance that the Company will develop any minable deposits
from its exploration properties, or that any minable deposits developed by the
Company from these properties would have uranium grades comparable to the
existing mines in the area.
MOORE LAKE PROJECT
On December 15, 2003, the Company entered into an option agreement with JNR
Resources Inc. ("JNR") under which the Company acquired the option to earn up to
a 51% interest in the Moore Lake project by making aggregate investments and
expenditures of Cdn $2.2 million over two years, of which Cdn $2,000,000
represent exploration expenditures and $200,000 represent subscriptions for
equity in JNR. The Company may earn an additional 24% interest in the project by
making further aggregate exploration expenditures of Cdn $2.0 million and
subscriptions for equity in JNR of $200,000 within a four year time period. The
project is subject to a 2.5% NSR royalty in favor of Kennecott Canada
Exploration Inc. ("Kennecott"), which can be bought down to a 1.25% NSR royalty
for an expenditure of Cdn $1 million. The Company continues to make exploration
expenditures on the project and expects to earn its 75% interest in the project
by the end of fiscal 2005.
Property Description and Location
The Moore Lake property comprises 11 contiguous claims totaling approximately
36,000 hectares, which includes additional ground to the northeast and the
southwest of the pre-existing Moore Lake property that was staked in fiscal
2004. The property is located in the La Ronge Mining District of Saskatchewan.
The project lands are located in the southeastern portion of the Athabasca
basin. The location of the Moore Lake project is indicated on the following
figure.
24
[MAP]
Ownership and Status
JNR owns a 50% interest in the property with an option to acquire the remaining
50% of the property from Kennecott upon expending Cdn $2 million on the
property, pursuant to an amended joint venture agreement with Kennecott. The
expenditures made by the Company under its option agreement with JNR will
satisfy these expenditure requirements, with the result that the expenditures
made by the Company in earning its 51% interest in the project will result in
JNR earning Kennecott's 50% interest in the property.
Physiography and Accessibility
The claims are accessible by float/ski equipped aircraft or by winter road
originating at km 38 of the McArthur River Road, approximately 20 km west of the
property. The property may be worked year round.
Geological Setting
Regional Geology The Athabasca Basin is an extensive sedimentary basin of Middle
Proterozoic age located primarily in northeast Saskatchewan, extending into
Alberta and occupying over 100,000 square kilometers. The basin is comprised
primarily of flat lying unmetamorphosed sandstones of the Athabasca Group, with
a maximum thickness of over 1,500 meters in its central portion.
The Rae (western portion) and eastern Hearne (eastern portion) provinces of the
Churchill Structural province underlie the Athabasca, separated by a major
structural suture, the Snowbird Line. The Rae and Hearne provinces are highly
deformed and metamorphosed and are comprised of Archean gneisses containing
infolded keels of Proterozoic metasedimentary and plutonic rocks. The Hearne
province in turn, is subdivided into the western Mudjatic and eastern Wollaston
domains based upon their tectonic settings, with the Mudjatic exhibiting a
sinuous
25
arcuate character and the Wollaston comprising broad linear metasedimentary
belts wrapped around granitic Archean domes.
Property Geology The property is underlain by 200 meters to 350 meters of
Proterozoic Athabasca Group sandstone and conglomerates of the Manitou Falls A,
B and C formation. These units unconformably overlie Aphebian rocks of the
Wollaston Lithostructural Domain and Archean granites.
The Moore Lake property is cut by numerous east-west and northeast striking
fault systems, either in conjunction with, or independent of, graphitic
conductors on the property. In addition to these, a notable feature on the
property is the existence of an Archean granite dome in the southwestern portion
of the claims. This dome is mantled on its margins by graphitic metapelites and
is proximal to several significant fault systems. This setting is highly
analogous to that encountered at Key Lake and at several other unconformity type
uranium deposits in the Athabasca basin. A large diabase sill complex, the Moore
Lake Complex, exists along the northeast portion of the property.
Deposit Types
The main deposit type being explored for is an unconformity type uranium deposit
for which the Athabasca Basin is noted. These deposits occur at the unconformity
between the Athabasca formation and basement rocks, primarily in the Wollaston
and Mudjatic Domains but also in other lithostructural domains underlying the
Athabasca basin. The mineralization is spatially associated with graphitic
metasedimentary units in the basement and is typically located along major
structural zones that act as conduits for hydrothermal mineralizing fluids. The
deposits are commonly enriched in copper, nickel, lead, cobalt and boron.
Although the deposits are very large with respect to grade and contained
uranium, the footprint of the deposits is small in relation to most other
economic ore bodies. They are therefore difficult to identify and require
relatively closely spaced drilling in order to evaluate their potential.
Exploration for these deposits typically involves the identification of
graphitic conductors and structure using electromagnetics, magnetics and gravity
surveys, followed up by diamond drilling.
Exploration History
Historic Exploration On The Property. Uranium exploration in the Moore Lakes
area has been carried out periodically throughout the past 30 years. In 1986 and
subsequent years airborne geophysics surveys over the property were followed up
by ground geophysics, magnetometer and lake sediment surveys. These surveys
identified several basement conductors on the property, several of which were
drill tested with 13 holes (3,703 meters).
In the spring of 2000, a joint venture consisting of JNR and Kennecott carried
out a geophysics program on the property. An initial diamond drilling program of
five holes (1,682 meters) identified significant uranium mineralization (0.442
e% U(3)O(8) / 9.20 meters) at the Maverick Zone. Follow up drilling (9 holes,
2,958 meters) was carried out in the summer of 2000. This drilling confirmed the
presence of a significant structural zone and an intense hydrothermal system
associated with the Maverick Zone, along with highly enriched trace element
geochemistry, most notably boron, nickel and uranium.
In 2001, Kennecott became operator of the Moore Lake project. An extensive
airborne and ground geophysical program took place during the winter of
2000-2001. Three new areas of interest were identified by this work: Raratonga,
Venice and Puka Puka.
The exploration program carried out on the Moore Lake property in 2002 consisted
primarily of diamond drilling accompanied by additional geophysics on the
Maverick Zone. A total of 2,257 meters in seven holes were completed on the
property, five on the Maverick Zone with one follow up hole drilled on the Puka
Puka prospect. In October 2002, Kennecott decided to discontinue exploration on
the property and granted JNR the option to earn a 100% interest in the property.
See "Ownership and Status."
2004 Exploration Program. In fiscal 2004, the Company and JNR conducted winter
and summer exploration programs on the Moore Lake property. During the winter
drilling campaign, a total of 6,747 meters were completed in 19 diamond drill
holes. The results not only expanded the extent of the known high grade uranium
zone but also significantly expanded the extent of the mineralizing system
associated with the high grade Maverick Zone to at
26
least 800 meters northeast of the discovery hole, ML-25. The first eight holes
(ML-28 to ML-35) of the 2004 winter program focused primarily on the high grade
Maverick Zone and returned two new high grade uranium intercept holes ML-29 and
ML-35. Hole ML-29, based on probe results, returned a grade equivalent of 1.3%
U(3)O(8) over 7.5 meters, including 2.3 meters of 3.6% U(3)O(8). Within the
higher grade core there was one continuous 0.5 meter sample that assayed 7.91%
U(3)O(8), as well as 3.65% nickel, 1.6% copper, 0.9% cobalt, 0.7% zinc, 0.35%
total rare earths and 5 g/t silver. The presence of high levels of these
"pathfinder" elements is significant in that this association is unique and
common to the larger unconformity uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin.
Hole ML-35 intersected 11.1 meters of uranium mineralization, including 5.5
meters that assayed 1.61% U(3)O(8), of which a 1.5 meter interval graded 5.3%
U(3)O(8), and a 0.7 meter lost core interval returned a grade equivalent of
2.69% U(3)O(8) based on probe results. The next 11 holes were largely of a
reconnaissance nature and focused on identifying the extent of the mineralizing
system for further follow up in fiscal 2005.
The summer program was completed in late October, 2004 and consisted of 33 holes
(ML-47 to ML-71 and ML-501 to ML-508), totaling 12,437 meters. Phase 1 of the
summer program focused on better defining the grade and extent of the main
mineralized lens at the Maverick zone. The results included a number of
high-grade intersections: 4.03% eU(3)O(8) over 10.0 meters (including 19.96%
eU(3)O(8) over 1.4 meters in ML-61); 5.14% U(3)O(8) over 6.2 meters (ML-55) and
4.01% eU(3)O(8) over 4.7 meters (ML-48).
Phase 2 of the summer program was largely focused on the Maverick structural
corridor, to the northeast and southwest of the main zone. A number of
geological holes were also drilled to better define the lithological and
structural geology of the corridor itself. Eight holes tested the corridor to
the northeast of the main zone. They were drilled on section with drill holes
from the winter program, ranging from 175 to 1,075 meters northeast of the
discovery hole, ML-25. All of the holes were strongly altered, structurally
disrupted and returned highly anomalous geochemistry, specifically uranium and
boron. The best result was from ML-501, an angle hole that tested the corridor
475 meters northeast of ML-25 and assayed 0.26% U(3)O(8) over 5.0 meters. The
Company considers these results very encouraging, particularly given that the
individual sections are 150 meters apart.
Five holes tested the structural corridor to the southwest of the main zone over
a distance of 400 meters. These holes also returned highly anomalous geochemical
results, which in combination with the geology suggests they were either too far
into the footwall or the hanging wall of the mineralized system. Multiple
graphitic horizons and structures are also evident in this southwest direction.
The best result was from ML-57 which was collared 30 meters southeast of ML-03
and ML-29 and assayed 0.648% U(3)O(8) over 2.5 meters. This intersection was
hosted entirely by sandstone and is similar in character to that of ML-49 (2.41%
U(3)O(8) over 4.5 meters).
The geological holes have better defined the lithological and structural geology
of the Maverick structural corridor. The most interesting of these holes was
ML-507, which was collared 100 meters south of the main mineralized lens and
also targeted an EM conductor interpreted to be present at a depth in excess of
500 meters. Although it did not intersect significant radioactivity, multiple
graphitic horizons, some of which were structurally disrupted and altered, were
intersected at vertical depths of between 540 and 630 meters.
Mineralization
The most significant uranium mineralization identified on the property to date
has been found at the Maverick Zone. This mineralization is found along a
northeast trending, southerly dipping conductor-fault system that wraps around a
core of Archean granite and continues along an east-west trend. This system has
been found to be highly deformed and has been affected by a large, intense
hydrothermal system. This system is accompanied by clay replacement and
secondary hematite in the basement rocks, as well as clay alteration and
bleaching of the overlying Athabasca sandstone.
The mineralization identified to date has been located primarily within the
altered basement rocks of the Maverick Zone, although the mineralization
identified in the discovery hole (0.442 % U(3)O(8) / 9.20 meters, calculated
from downhole radiometrics) was identified in both the sandstone and basement
rocks, near the unconformity.
The Raratonga, Venice and Puka Puka prospects have yet to be fully explored at
this time and are still high priority exploration targets. Prospective
electromagnetic conductors, gravity and magnetic features as well as encouraging
geochemistry and geological features from drilling were identified in all of
these areas.
27
Proposed Exploration Program
The Company is very pleased with the results of its fiscal 2004 exploration
program on the Moore Lake property and has approved an extensive program for the
winter of 2004-2005. Currently underway, this program will include 200
kilometers of line cutting and/or re-establishing several grids in the general
Maverick area and property wide. This will be followed up with a combination of
ground electromagnetics ("EM") and magnetics, gravity surveys and an extensive
3D seismic survey, similar to that used in the oil and gas industry, over the
Maverick structural corridor. A diamond drilling program comprising 15,000
meters and utilizing 3 drills commenced in January 2005. It will focus on: (a)
following up the anomalous results along the structural corridor, northeast and
southwest of the main Maverick mineralized zone. (b) testing geophysically
defined targets on newly gridded areas along the corridor, and (c) testing a
number of targets that were identified by the 2002 winter program on four
regional grids, as well as newly defined targets.
LAZY EDWARD BAY PROJECT
On December 15, 2003, the Company entered into a Mining Option Agreement with
JNR under which the Company was granted the option for a period of two years to
acquire a 75% interest in the Lazy Edward Bay Project, in consideration for
which the Company would expend Cdn $500,000 to carry out two winter exploration
programs.
The Lazy Edward Bay project is comprised of three mineral claims in the Cree
Lake area of the Northern Mining District, Saskatchewan, which were acquired by
staking in December 1999 as part of a joint venture with Kennecott. The location
of the property is indicated on the foregoing figure.
The Lazy Edward Bay project area has been explored since 1969, with the bulk of
the work performed between 1977 and 1989 by a joint venture consisting of
Uranerz Exploration and Mining and SMDC (later to be Cameco). These exploration
programs included an extensive range of geophysical, geochemical and geological
techniques. Seventy three diamond-drill holes totaling 12,916 meters were
drilled in the project area during this period, mainly to test several
conductors at depth. Although several of these holes intersected notable
structure, alteration and geochemistry along extensive conductive systems, the
best uranium value obtained was 0.077%.
In the winter of 2000-2001, the JNR-Kennecott joint venture completed
geophysical programs that outlined several targets of note on the property. Of
the three targets drilled on the property, the best results were obtained along
the Horse Conductor, where significant faulting and desilicification occurs over
a minimum of 2 km of strike length. Enrichment of uranium pathfinder elements
such as copper, nickel, cobalt, vanadium and boron, as well as uranium (0.01%)
occur in the basement rocks along the entire Horse Conductor.
In March of 2002, the JNR-Kennecott joint venture carried out a two hole 172
meter diamond drilling program on the Lazy Edward Bay project. The drilling was
focused on the Blanchard Bay and Tommy Davis Bay areas in the eastern portions
of the property. Both holes intersected anomalous nickel, boron and uranium in
the sandstone column, with anomalous nickel and vanadium values in the basement
rocks peripheral to conductive systems.
CRAWFORD LAKE PROJECT
On January 8, 2004, the Company signed a letter of intent to earn up to a 75%
interest in the Crawford Lake uranium property from Phelps Dodge Corporation of
Canada, Limited, through total aggregate expenditures of Cdn $2.5 million over a
period of 4 years. First year expenditures will be Cdn $250,000, of which Cdn
$150,000 is a firm commitment. Crawford Lake is a 12,979 hectare uranium
property located in the heart of the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan.
Historic work on the Crawford Lake project has defined a large-scale, intense
alteration zone within what appears to be an extensive hydrothermal system.
During the winter of 1997, three diamond drill holes were completed at Crawford
Lake for a total of 1,157 meters on a conductor in the northern sector of the
property. Extensive alteration, extending from approximately 100 meter depth
almost all the way down to the unconformity was encountered. This zone shows
strong friability with matrix dissolution, bleaching, argillitization and
disseminated pyrite mineralization.
Upon signing formal agreements, the Company intends to perform a geophysical and
geochemical review of this project, followed by a drilling program.
28
OTHER PROPERTIES
In fiscal 2004, the Company staked additional ground in the Athabasca Basin,
bringing its total staked and optioned land position to over 408,000 hectares,
as indicated on the foregoing map. With this newly acquired land package
combined with existing properties, the Company has one of the largest
exploration programs in the Athabasca Basin.
Included in this additional ground is the Company's 100% owned Key Lake South
project, located southwest of Moore Lake. The Company is planning a ground
geophysical and a drill program on this property during the 2005 winter program.
On the remainder of the properties, the Company is evaluating the work done on
the projects by previous operators in order to develop exploration programs for
the summer 2005 program. The Company may also evaluate joint venture
opportunities on select properties.
WHITE MESA MILL
OVERVIEW
The White Mesa Mill, a fully permitted uranium mill with a vanadium co-product
recovery circuit, is located in southeastern Utah near the Colorado Plateau
District and the Arizona Strip. The Mill is approximately six (6) miles south of
the city of Blanding, Utah. Access is by state highway.
Construction of the White Mesa Mill started in 1979, and conventionally mined
uranium mineralized material was first processed in May 1980. The Mill cost $40
million to construct. With inflation, more stringent permitting requirements,
and the lack of suitable sites, the cost of constructing a facility such as the
White Mesa Mill, if possible, would be considerably more than that amount today.
The Mill is in compliance with NRC, State of Utah and EPA standards.
During mining, uranium mineralized material is received at the Mill and
stockpiled. The material is initially fed to an 18-foot diameter SAG Mill, then
stored in slurry form in one of the two pulp storage tanks. The Mill utilizes a
two-stage leach process where overflow solution from the No. 1 CCD Thickener is
combined, in an "acid kill" step, with feed from the pulp storage tanks. The
slurry from this first stage leach is then separated in the pre-leach thickener,
with the solids going to the second stage leach and the clarified solution going
to the solvent extraction circuits. Concentrated sulfuric acid, steam, and an
oxidizer are added in the second stage leach. This slurry is subsequently fed to
the 8-stage CCD Circuit where the underflow is discharged to tailings. In full
operation, the Mill employs approximately 100 people.
CURRENT CONDITION AND OPERATING STATUS
The Mill recommenced milling in June 2002 and operated through May 2003,
following a period of standby that commenced in November 1999. During that
period of standby, the Mill had been receiving and stockpiling alternate feed
materials from the Ashland 1 and Linde FUSRAP sites, as well as other alternate
feed materials. During the most recent Mill run, the Mill processed 266,690 tons
of alternate feed materials from the Ashland 1, Linde, Heritage and Molycorp
sites, of which 178,352 tons were processed in fiscal 2003. The Mill is
currently on standby until a sufficient stockpile of alternate feed materials or
other ores have been accumulated at the Mill to justify an efficient Mill run.
As of February 14, 2005, 45,117 tons of alternate feed materials from the Linde
FUSRAP and Heritage sites and from a commercial metals processor are in
stockpile at the Mill. While on standby, the Mill is maintained in good
operating condition and is capable of commencing a Mill run at any time without
the need for regulatory approvals or any significant capital expenditures.
The next Mill run is currently expected to commence in late second or early
third quarter of fiscal 2005, at which time the Linde, Heritage and other
materials currently in stockpile, as well as the Cameco alternate feed materials
that have been accumulating at the Mill since 1999, will be processed. The
Company estimates that these materials contain in excess of 485,000 pounds of
U(3)O(8) .
29
INVENTORIES
As of February 14, 2005, there were no inventories of U(3)O(8) at the Mill. As
of that date, there were approximately 65,000 pounds of vanadium, as vanadium
pregnant liquor, located at the Mill.
TAILINGS
Synthetic lined cells are used to contain tailings and, in one case, solutions
for evaporation. There is sufficient volume available, as of February 14, 2005,
for approximately another 117,000 tons of tailings solids, after taking into
account materials that are expected to be received under existing contracts.
Thereafter, Cell No. 4A can be utilized after it is relined. Difficulties have
been encountered with damage to the seams in the liner for Cell No. 4A, due to
working of the liner by thermal stress, since it has not been used since 1990
and has been exposed to full sunlight for several years. This cell does not
contain any tailings solids, although it does contain some crystallized tailings
solutions that were deposited in the cell in 1990. Cell 4A must be relined
before it can receive tailings. The Company has commenced removal of these
crystals from Cell 4A and is depositing them in Cell 3, in preparation for
repair of Cell 4A. After Cell No. 4A is relined, approximately 2,000,000 tons of
tailings solids can be disposed of in Cell No. 4A before an additional cell will
be needed.
The Environmental Statement for the Mill permits that three additional
forty-acre tailings cells may be added to provide a total tailings capacity for
the Mill of approximately 10 million tons.
REQUIRED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Other than routine maintenance, the only significant capital project anticipated
over the next three years with respect to operations of the White Mesa Mill is
the relining of tailings Cell No. 4A, at an estimated cost of
$1,500,000-$3,000,000. In addition, if Cell No. 4A is put into use, the
reclamation obligation for the Mill would increase by approximately $1,000,000,
which would require an increase in the Mill's reclamation bond by that amount.
It is not expected that these expenditures will be required during fiscal 2005.
RECENT OPERATIONS
Since January of 1995, the Mill has completed several campaigns: the processing
in 1995 and 1996 of approximately 200,000 tons of stockpiled mineralized
material, mainly from the Arizona Strip Mines; the processing in 1996 of an
alternate feed source; the processing in 1997 of three alternate feed sources;
the processing in 1998 of uranium-bearing tantalum residues for a major tantalum
producer; the processing in 1999 of two alternate feed sources and an 87,250 ton
conventional mill run; and, in 2002 and 2003 the Company processed 266,900 tons
from four different alternate feed sources. The next Mill run is expected to
commence in the second or third quarter of fiscal 2005.
CLOSURE
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION OF THE COMPANY'S CURRENT PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OPERATION
OF THE MILL CONSTITUTES FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF FEDERAL
SECURITIES LAWS. SEE "SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS."
In the future, should the Company choose to shut down and close the Mill, it
would be subject to certain closure costs. The estimate of closure costs for the
Mill was revised by the Company after discussion with the NRC, prior to
transition of regulatory authority to UDEQ. These estimated closure costs are
summarized as follows:
30
WHITE MESA MILL CLOSURE COSTS
CATEGORY
--------
Mill dismantling and decommissioning $ 1,599,054
Tailings cell #2 Reclamation 1,161,790
Tailings cell #3 Reclamation 1,630,429
Tailings cell #4A Reclamation 81,913
Tailings cell #1 Reclamation 1,333,377
Miscellaneous - management, hygiene, radiation, etc. 2,018,304
-----------
Direct Costs 7,824,867
Contractors' Profit 782,487
Contingency 1,173,730
Licensing and bonding 156,496
Long term care fund 681,315
-----------
TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS $10,618,895
===========
Since September 30, 2004, the Mill's reclamation estimate and bonding
requirement increased from $10,336,283 to $10,618,895.
SEQUENTIAL RECLAMATION
As each tailings cell is filled with tailings, the water is drawn off and pumped
to the evaporation pond and the tailings solids allowed to dry. As each cell
reaches final capacity, reclamation will begin with the placement of interim
cover over the tailings. Additional cells are excavated into the ground, and the
overburden is used to reclaim previous cells. In this way there is an ongoing
reclamation process.
GROUND WATER DISCHARGE PERMIT
Although the Mill is designed as a facility that does not discharge to
groundwater, the Company is finalizing a Groundwater Discharge Permit with UDEQ,
which is required for all similar facilities in the State of Utah, and
specifically tailors the implementation of the State groundwater regulations to
the Mill site. The State of Utah requires that every operating uranium mill in
the State have a Groundwater Discharge Permit, regardless of whether or not the
facility discharges to groundwater. It is expected that the Groundwater
Discharge Permit for the Mill will be finalized and implemented during the
second quarter of fiscal 2005.
SUMMARY OF MINERALIZED MATERIAL DEPOSITS
The following is a summary of the Company's estimates of the uranium and
vanadium contained in mineral deposits (not confirmed to be compliant with NI
43-101 requirements) on the Company's properties, as of January 31, 2005:
Conventional Mines
Project Mineralized Tons %U(3)O(8) %V(2)O(5)
------- ---------------- --------- ---------
Arizona Strip Mines(1,4)
Arizona 1 80,000 0.652
Canyon 108,000 0.903
Pinenut 110,000 0.427
-------- -----
Total Arizona Strip 298,000 0.660
Colorado Plateau(2,4) 1335,600 0.208 1.234
Bullfrog Project(3,4) 1937,000 0.334
31
In-Situ Leach Projects(5)
Mineralized Tons % U(3)O(8)
Mongolia JV 21,672,000 0.052
1) The reported mineralized tons for the Arizona Strip mines include
extraction dilution losses (which includes mining dilution and
mining recovery losses).
2) The reported mineralized tons for the Colorado Plateau mines include
extraction dilution losses (which includes mining dilution and
mining recovery losses).
3) The reported mineralized tons for the Bullfrog Project do not
include extraction dilution losses.
4) Processing of uranium bearing material in a uranium/vanadium
recovery mill normally results in recovery of approximately 94% to
98% of the contained uranium and 70% to 80% of the contained
vanadium. Milling Recovery losses are not included in the foregoing
table.
5) Total uranium recovery from ISL projects is normally in the range of
70% to 75% of the in place mineralization. These recovery losses are
not incorporated in the foregoing figures for the Company's ISL
projects.
The Company mined uranium and vanadium-bearing mineralized material from its
Sunday and Rim Mine complexes in the Colorado Plateau District from November
1997 to mid-1999. In mid-June, 1999, the Company elected to suspend mining
operations as a result of weak uranium and vanadium prices and the expectation
at that time that these conditions would not improve for the next few years. The
Company also wrote off the carrying value of its mineral properties for the same
reason. At this time, the Company has not performed the necessary studies to
classify the mineralized material as "reserves"; hence none of the above
properties are considered to contain "reserves" at this time but should be
classified as "mineral deposits."
The Company recommenced its uranium exploration program in Mongolia in fiscal
2004 and is currently evaluating the possibility of recommencing certain of its
U.S. mining activities.
COLORADO PLATEAU DISTRICT
OVERVIEW
The Uravan mineral belt in the Colorado Plateau (the "Colorado Plateau
District") has a lengthy mining history, with the first shipment of mined
materials made to France in 1898. World War II brought increased attention to
the uranium mineralization in the Uravan area, and by the 1950s this district
was one of the world's foremost producers of both uranium and vanadium.
Production continued more or less uninterrupted until 1984 when low uranium
prices forced the closure of all operations. Production resumed in 1987, but
once again ceased in 1990. Total historical production from the Union Carbide
mines in the Uravan area (many of which were later purchased by Energy Fuels,
and hence the Company) is reported at 47 million pounds of U(3)O(8) and 273
million pounds of vanadium, yielding an overall ratio of V(2)O(5)/U(3)O(8) of
5.79.
EXPLORATION POTENTIAL
The uranium mineralization found in the Colorado Plateau was deposited in
alluvial fans by braided streams. The shape and size of the mineralized lenses
are extremely variable. As a result, exploration and mining have historically
involved conducting exploration to find a lense and then following its erratic
path, with little additional surface exploration drilling other than development
drilling in the course of following the lense. This is unlike other types of
mining where mineralization is almost completely delineated by surface
explorative drilling prior to mining.
The unusual nature of these deposits has therefore traditionally resulted in a
limited amount of resources being dedicated to delineate reserves prior to
mining. Traditionally, there will be some reserves that have been delineated at
the beginning of each year, uranium will be mined during the year and
approximately the same amount of reserves will remain delineated at the end of
the year. This pattern has persisted since the 1940s.
Based on this history of production from the Colorado Plateau, the Company
believes, that with high enough commodity prices, the potential to continue this
pattern of production exists and that additional mineral deposits will be
delineated each year that mining continues.
Presently mineral deposits estimated to contain approximately 1,335,600 tons
with an average grade of 0.208% U(3)O(8) and 1.234% V(2)O(5) have been
identified by the Company in its Colorado Plateau properties. These estimates
32
take into account extraction dilution losses, but do not include milling
recovery losses, which are estimated to be 2% to 6% for uranium and 20% to 30%
for vanadium.
GEOLOGY
The Company's properties in this geographic area are typical uranium-vanadium
deposits of the Colorado Plateau type located in the southern end of the Uravan
mineral belt. The rocks of the Colorado Plateau are predominately sedimentary
ranging in age from Precambrian to Tertiary and, although uranium mineralization
occurs in sediments of different ages, the most important deposits of the Uravan
belt occur in the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic Morrison Formation.
The Salt Wash Member consists of light gray to light brown sandstones
interbedded with red-green siltstones and mudstones. The sandstones, which are
generally fine-grained and well to moderately sorted, are considered to have
been deposited as alluvial fans by braided streams. The mineralization occurs in
the lenticular sandstone deposits as tabular, elongate bodies generally parallel
to the bedding following the paleo-channels. Fine-grained uraninite is the
dominant uranium mineral accompanied by lesser amounts of coffinite. The chief
vanadium mineral is montrosite. In the oxidized parts of the deposits, the
distinctive yellow colored uranyl-vanadate mineral, carnotite, is common.
Individual deposits are small, varying in length from a few hundred to several
thousand feet and in width from a hundred to a thousand feet. Thickness varies
from a few inches to several tens of feet, but generally average between two to
five feet. Mines often contain several such mineralized deposits. The host
sediments are generally flat lying to low dipping with little structural
deformation.
OPERATIONS
The Company's principal mining complexes in the Colorado Plateau District
consist of the Deer Creek, Thunderbolt, Sunday, and East Canyon (Rim) zones. The
bulk of the mineral deposits in the Colorado Plateau District are contained in
three areas: the Sunday Mine Complex; the Deer Creek complex, which includes the
La Sal and Pandora mines; and, the East Canyon Area, which includes the Rim
Mine. All of these areas have developed, permitted mines that have been shut
down, pending further improvement in commodity prices. The location of these
mines is indicated on the following figure.
33
[MAP]
The Company commenced conventional mining operations at its Sunday Mine Complex
in November 1997 and at its Rim Mine in January 1998 after completion of mine
development activities. The Company continued the mining of uranium and vanadium
bearing materials from these mines until mid-1999. During this mining campaign a
total of approximately 81,500 tons of mineralized material with a U(3)O(8) grade
of 0.28% and a V(2)O(5) grade of 1.9% was recovered from these mines. This
mineralized material, together with approximately 5,750 tons of mineralized
material from independent mines, was milled at the White Mesa Mill during the
period June 1999 to November 1999, to recover approximately 487,000 pounds of
U(3)O(8) and 2.0 million pounds of V(2)O(5). At that time, the Company elected
to suspend operations at these mines as a result of continued weak uranium and
vanadium prices and the expectation at that time that these conditions would not
improve for the next several years. The shutdown of the mines took several
months to complete and was completed in November 1999. The mines continue to
remain in a shutdown status; however, the Company is evaluating re-commencing
mining operations pending further increases in the uranium price.
Due to the shutdown of mining operations on the Colorado Plateau, the Company
closed its field office in Dove Creek, Colorado in 1999.
34
ARIZONA STRIP
OVERVIEW
The Arizona Strip is an area bounded on the north by the Arizona/Utah state
line; on the east by the Colorado River and Marble Canyon; on the West by the
Grand Wash cliffs; and on the south by a mid-point between the city of Flagstaff
and the Grand Canyon. The area encompasses approximately 13,000 square miles.
The Arizona Strip is separate and distinct from the Colorado Plateau District.
The two mining districts are located approximately 200 air miles (310 road
miles) apart and have been historically administered as two separate mining
camps.
The Company owns four mines in the Arizona Strip, all of which have been shut
down pending further improvement in commodity prices.
Since 1980, when mine development first began at Hack Canyon II, the Arizona
Strip has produced in excess of 19 million pounds of uranium, from seven mines,
each of which was owned and operated by Energy Fuels. Of these mines, Hack
Canyon I, II, and III, Pigeon and Hermit are mined out and have been reclaimed;
Pinenut, Kanab North, Canyon and Arizona 1 have remaining mineral deposits but
have been placed on shut down status pending improvements in commodity prices.
Mineralized material from the Arizona Strip mines can be hauled by truck from
the mine sites to the White Mesa Mill. The Arizona 1 Mine is 307 road miles, and
the Canyon Mine is 316 road miles from the Mill.
Due to the shutdown of mining activities and the Company's initiatives to reduce
the holding costs of its U.S. mineral properties, the Company sold its field
office in Fredonia Arizona, effective March 31, 2000.
MINE DEVELOPMENT
The mineral deposits occur in collapsed breccia pipes and range from 1,000 to
1,800 feet below surface with a mineralized interval of up to 600 feet thick.
Each of the mines in the Arizona Strip consists of one breccia pipe. The pipes
typically are 200 to 400 feet in diameter. Within this envelope, the mineral
deposits can be at times massive but often are irregular and discontinuous.
A 1,000 to 1,600 foot deep shaft is generally required to access the deposits.
In the case of the Hack Canyon I, II, and III mines, access was obtained through
declines driven from nearby canyons.
BACKGROUND GEOLOGY
Breccia pipes are collapse features created by cavern dissolution in the Redwall
Limestone, some 3,000 feet below present day surface. Overlying sediments
fracture as the cavern size increases and ultimately collapse forming a
pipe-like structure, which is filled with the rubble of the sediments. Uranium
mineralization occurs in this brecciated rock.
Uranium mineralization is hosted by the breccia in a sand, silt, and clay
matrix. The principal uranium mineral, pitchblende, occurs primarily in the
matrix, filling voids between sand grains and replacing rock fragments. Pyrite
is the principal gangue mineral. Calcite and gypsum are common cementing
minerals. Copper, lead and zinc minerals may also be present.
Nearly always, the pipe is haloed by alteration or a zone of bleaching resulting
from the partial removal of red iron minerals from formations surrounding the
pipe. "Ring fractures" are often seen at the pipe margins. These fractures may
also be an important host for associated mineralization and reserves.
DESCRIPTION
The Arizona Strip properties consist of four developed and partially developed
mines, being the Arizona 1, Canyon, Pinenut and Kanab North mines, all of which
have been shut down. The Arizona Strip properties are estimated to contain in
total approximately 298,000 tons with an estimated average grade of
approximately 0.66% U(3)O(8). These estimates take into account extraction
dilution losses, but do not include milling recovery losses which are estimated
to be 2% to 6% for uranium. The location of these mines is indicated on the
following figure:
35
[MAP]
The Company is currently evaluating re-commencing mining operations on the
Arizona Strip pending further increases in the uranium price.
OTHER U.S. MINERAL PROPERTIES
In addition to the mineral properties on the Colorado Plateau and the Arizona
Strip, the Company also acquired the Bullfrog property from Energy Fuels.
BULLFROG PROPERTY
The Bullfrog property is located in eastern Garfield County, Utah, 20 miles
north of Bullfrog Basin Marina on Lake Powell, about 40 air miles south of
Hanksville, Utah, and 125 miles from the White Mesa Mill.
36
More than 2,200 rotary drill holes have been completed on the Bullfrog property.
There are no surface or underground workings or infrastructure on the property.
The location of the Bullfrog property is indicated on the figure under the
heading "Colorado Plateau District - Operations."
In 1993, Energy Fuels personnel calculated an in-place mineral deposit of
1,937,000 tons at a grade of 0.334% U(3)O(8). A higher grade portion of the
deposit was estimated by Energy Fuels to contain 1,300,000 tons at a grade of
0.417% U(3)O(8). These estimates do not take into account extraction dilution
losses or milling recovery losses.
MONGOLIAN PROPERTIES
COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Mongolia is a landlocked nation bounded by Russia to the north and China to the
east, south, and west. With an area of more than 1.5 million sq. km. (world's
7th largest country) and population of about 2.6 million people, Mongolia has
one of the lowest population densities in the world. The landscape includes
forested mountain ranges in the north, desert and low mountains in the south,
high mountains in the west, and vast steppes in the east. The climate is
continental with hot summers and long harsh winters.
Mongolia's population is relatively homogeneous in its ethnicity, language and
religion. More that 60% of the population is below the age of 30, and about one
third live in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar while most of the remainder live
as nomadic herdsmen throughout the country.
In 1921, Mongolia came under the influence of the Soviet Union, which dominated
the politics, economy and infrastructure of the country until 1990 when
Mongolia's transition to democracy and a free market economy was begun.
Since 1991, Mongolia has been on a course to implement comprehensive economic
reforms to develop a sustainable, independent economy. One of the primary
objectives of this program has been to encourage direct foreign investment to
stimulate growth of the economy; several laws have been enacted to support this
program.
The primary industries and sources of foreign trade in Mongolia are agriculture
and mineral products. Mongolia is one of the "last frontiers" for mineral
exploration. Large mineral deposits are located along geologic systems that
trend through Mongolia, but exploration in Mongolia is still in early stages. An
increasing number of mining and exploration companies are active in Mongolia.
Among the reasons for this increased attention are:
- The geology is considered by many to be highly prospective for large
mineral deposits
- The country is under-explored
- The Government has demonstrated its commitment to developing the
mineral sector by attracting foreign investment
- Appropriate laws have been enacted to encourage foreign investment
- Proximity to major metal markets in China, Japan, and South Korea.
Mongolia is an exporter of copper and molybdenum, a leading producer of
fluorspar, and an increasingly important gold producer. Mongolia possesses one
of the most progressive mineral regimes in Asia. The Mineral Law of Mongolia was
adopted in 1997 and provides a transparent licensing system that encourages
investment in this sector.
The Mineral Law allows any Mongolian citizen, foreign citizen or entity, or
legal person to hold any number of mineral exploration licenses, each up to
400,000 hectares. An exploration license holder is afforded the exclusive right
to conduct exploration within the license for up to seven years, the exclusive
right to obtain a mining license for any part of the exploration license, and
the right to transfer or pledge any part of an exploration license.
Mining license holders have the exclusive right to engage in mining within the
license for 60 years, with an additional 40 year extension allowed. A gross
royalty of 2.5% of the sales value of products sold is payable to the
Government.
37
MONGOLIAN URANIUM PROPERTY
Background and Property Descriptions
The Company owns a 70% interest and is the managing partner in the Gurvan Saihan
Joint Venture; the other participants in the Joint Venture are the Mongolian
government and a Russian state geological concern, each as to 15%. The Joint
Venture was formed in 1994, and originally held five concessions in Mongolia:
the Choir, Hairhan, Gurvan Saihan, Ulzit and Undershilin depressions. Following
several years of active exploration and pilot testing, the program was placed on
temporary standby in 2000 due to the continuing decline of world uranium prices
at that time.
As a result of recent increases in uranium prices, the Company resumed uranium
exploration for the Joint Venture in fiscal 2004. This involved acquiring new
exploration licenses in known prospective areas, adjusting the area held under
the five original Joint Venture concessions (including dropping the Undershilin
depression in its entirety), and conducting geologic data acquisition and review
and field reconnaissance on new license areas. As of September 30, 2004, the
Joint Venture held a total of 11 exploration licenses, encompassing 1.211
million hectares. As of February 14, 2005, the Joint Venture had acquired 5
additional licenses, totaling 607,700 hectares, bringing the Joint Venture total
to 16 licenses covering 1.774 million hectares.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company established a 100% owned
Mongolia business entity to conduct uranium exploration, solely for the account
of the Company and independent from the Joint Venture, in frontier areas in
Mongolia. As of September 30, 2004, the new entity, International Uranium
Mongolia XXK, had submitted applications for four exploration licenses. These
licenses were issued in November, and as of February 14, 2005, the new entity
controlled 546,000 hectares and had applications pending on additional license
areas.
The uranium exploration licenses currently held by the Company, through the
Joint Venture, and through International Uranium Mongolia, XXK, are shown on the
following figure:
38
[MAP]
Exploration licenses in Mongolia are held under the Mineral Law of Mongolia,
enacted in 1997. The Mineral Law provides for secure rights for exploration, and
although no work commitments are required, annual license fee payments are
required, and these escalate through the allowable 7-year term of exploration
licenses. The Joint Venture holds four of its exploration areas under a Mineral
Agreement between the Joint Venture and the government of Mongolia. The Mineral
Agreement grants the Joint Venture unique terms for these four areas, and
although they have been assigned exploration licenses for purposes of land
management by the government, these areas are exempt from many of the provisions
of the Mineral Law regarding property holdings for exploration.
On both the Joint Venture properties and the solely held Company properties,
data acquisition and review were conducted during the last quarter of fiscal
2004. This review work was followed by field investigation of several new target
areas. This work is the basis for planning an expanded exploration program in
2005, which will include geologic prospecting, radiometric surveys, and
reconnaissance drilling on a number of new target areas.
Geology
Uranium mineralization has been discovered in Cretaceous sediments in the south
central region of Mongolia. These deposits are hosted by fluvial, alluvial, and
lacustrine sediments where uranium is associated with carbonaceous sandstone,
siltstone, and clay. The prospective sedimentary basins ("depressions") are
related to a large regional tectonic belt that extends in an arc from northeast
Mongolia to southwest Mongolia. Intrusion of granitic plutons, volcanic
activity, and structural deformation took place along this belt. Many of the
intrusive granites are anomalously high in uranium, and are the likely source of
uranium, which was later mobilized through weathering processes and subsequently
concentrated in sedimentary basins.
After active tectonism subsided, sedimentary basins formed along regional fault
zones and rifts. During Cretaceous times, sediments were deposited under humid,
tropical conditions, which formed thick sequences of carbonaceous,
39
reduced sediments. In later Cretaceous times, the climate became continental and
drier, and sediments from this period are often oxidized and weathered.
The Company's exploration properties, both under the Joint Venture as well as
the properties held 100% for the Company's interest, lie within this tectonic
belt through south-central Mongolia. The properties cover many prospective
basins with identified uranium anomalies and sediments of favorable age and
composition for uranium mineralization.
Prior to the entry of the Company in Mongolia, joint Russian-Mongolian
geological expeditions conducted regional uranium reconnaissance and drilling,
including resource delineation drilling on the Haraat deposit in the Choir
Depression. Following its formation in early 1994, the Joint Venture expanded
exploration into its other licensed areas, including the Hairhan Depression
where an important uranium discovery was made in late 1996.
The focus of Company exploration programs in Mongolia has been on
sediment-hosted deposits that can be exploited by In Situ Leach ("ISL")
technology. The Company, through the Gurvan Saihan Joint Venture, has conducted
two ISL pilot tests - one each at the Haraat deposit and at the Hairhan deposit.
These tests have confirmed that the geology and hydrology of the Company's
uranium properties are favorable for ISL development.
Exploration
Since the Joint Venture's inception in 1994, it has invested over $10 million in
exploration on its concessions. To date, the early Joint Venture programs
included resource delineation and confirmation drilling in areas where past
Russian work had defined uranium resources in sediments. Joint Venture work
increased in the 1996 - 1998 time frame when drilling and ISL pilot testing were
conducted at both the Haraat deposit in the Choir Depression and the Hairhan
deposit in the Hairhan Depression. Initial stage exploration, including
car-borne spectrometric gamma surveys and reconnaissance drilling, was also
conducted in other Joint Venture license areas.
During the period from 1994 through 1998, the Joint Venture completed 147,000
meters of exploration, resource delineation, and ISL test drilling. Drilling was
conducted in all five of the original license areas, with the bulk of the work
being done at the Hairhan and Haraat deposits. Gamma spectrometric surveys,
totaling over 16,000 line kilometers, were conducted in all of the Joint Venture
original concession areas as well as a number of areas which were licensed in
1997 and which were subsequently reacquired by the Joint Venture in 2004.
Due to the continuing deterioration of world uranium prices in the late 1990's
and into the early 2000's, the Joint Venture work was placed on "standby", and
all of its exploration expenditures to that date were written off. The Joint
Venture's property holdings were preserved however, and the Joint Venture was
maintained.
Starting in early 2004, the Joint Venture began ramping up to resume uranium
exploration in Mongolia as the world uranium market entered a period of stronger
prices. Exploration licenses were obtained in areas known to be prospective
based on past Joint Venture investigations in the late 1990's. Based on this
past work and the reacquisition of key licenses, the Joint Venture now has
several targets areas ready for initial drilling in the 2005 summer drilling
season.
Mineralization
Delineation drilling has been conducted at both the Haraat and Hairhan deposits.
Uranium mineralization at Haraat occurs at depths from surface to about 120
meters. The identified mineral deposits occur as sinuous lenses and bedded
mineralization localized along paleo river channels. Much of this mineralization
occurs above the natural water table and is not considered suitable for
exploitation by ISL under industry standard practices.
Mineral deposit estimates (not confirmed to be compliant with NI 43-101
requirements) prepared by the Company for Haraat total 2,461 metric tonnes
uranium ("MTU") in zones below the natural water table. In addition, mineral
deposits totaling over 14,000 MTU have been delineated in horizons above the
water table.
At Hairhan, mineralization ranges from 10 to 120+ meters deep and averages 60 to
80 meters. The Hairhan deposit is compact with multiple, stacked mineralized
horizons in area of approximately 2 kilometers by 1.5 kilometers. All
mineralization of interest at Hairhan is below the natural water table. Mineral
deposit estimates (not confirmed to be compliant with 43-101 requirements)
prepared by the Company for Hairhan total 6,226 MTU. The combined
40
delineated mineralization at Hairhan and Haraat total 8,687 MTU suitable for ISL
exploitation.
ISL Pilot Testing
In 1996 the Joint Venture conducted an ISL Pilot Test at Haraat. This test
confirmed that the identified mineral deposit is amenable to ISL. Further
testing is required at Haraat to provide definitive criteria for feasibility
analysis.
A limited scale ISL test was conducted at Hairhan in 1998. This test was
directed specifically toward determining optimal leaching conditions. By
incorporating operational experience from test work at Haraat, the ISL leach
test at Hairhan successfully demonstrated that ISL is applicable at Hairhan. The
test results, including important viability factors such as uranium production
headgrade, acid consumption, projected recovery factors, leaching time, and
production well flow rate, provide a solid basis for designing a commercial
demonstration projection at Hairhan.
The exploration successes at Hairhan and Haraat, combined with the ISL test work
results, confirm the potential for development of commercially viable uranium
deposits on the Company's properties in Mongolia.
MONGOLIAN PRECIOUS AND BASE METALS PROPERTIES
Mongolia has a variety of favorable environments for deposits of copper, gold
and related metals and has become the focus of worldwide exploration concerns
seeking to test its under-explored potential.
In early 2002, the Company initiated a regional exploration effort in Mongolia
for precious and base metals. In June, 2004, the Company sold its precious and
base metals properties to Fortress, in consideration of a majority share
ownership position in Fortress. See "Organizational Structure". While the
Company has one representative on the board of directors of Fortress, the
Company's precious and base metals exploration program in Mongolia is now
conducted and managed by Fortress.
Program Overview
Through the Gurvan Saihan uranium joint venture, the Company has operated in
Mongolia for over ten years and has particular geologic and operating expertise
in the country, offering a competitive advantage for the precious and base
metals exploration program. Building on its existing foundation in Mongolia, the
Company, through Fortress, has established a significant land position in
Mongolia for base and precious metals exploration. Land acquisition has been
guided by a concentrated reconnaissance program, including review of available
geologic and metallogenic data and analysis of geophysical data and satellite
imagery.
As of September 30, 2004, Fortress controlled 3.6 million hectares under its
precious and base metals exploration program. The precious and base metals
exploration property holding is up from 3.5 million hectares held at this time
last year. As of February 14, 2005, Fortress controls exploration licenses,
totaling 4.5 million hectares.
Work to date on the precious and base metals properties has involved field
reconnaissance, including review of available geologic and metallogenic data,
and analysis of geophysical data and satellite imagery, and an exploration
drilling program that was conducted on certain of the properties in the 2003 and
2004 field seasons. Total gross program expenditures, including capitalized
exploration expenditures, for fiscal 2004 were $1,909,971 as compared to
$1,360,410 in fiscal 2003.
Fortress' priority project is the Burleg River gold project located in the Huvs
Region, northern Mongolia. Fortress has two further properties, Teltiin
(gold-copper) and Oyuut Uul (gold), which are scheduled for drilling in 2005,
and a number of other properties, including the Shiveen Gol property. Fortress'
properties are described below, and shown in the following Figure. All of these
properties are at the exploration stage. The properties contain no known mineral
deposits at this time and have no workings or infrastructure.
41
[MAP]
Burleg River
The Burleg River property is located in Huvsgul Aimag, Northern Mongolia,
approximately 650 km northwest of the capital of Ulaanbaatar. The property
comprises approximately 120 km(2) (12,000 hectares).
Local geology consists of Proterozoic age chlorite-sericite schists with
interbedded "black shales" (low grade black fissile schists) of the Hug terrain
(part of the Trans-Baikalian fold belt that extends northeast into Russia).
Mineralization is typically black shale hosted gold, sometimes with platinum, or
sediment hosted gold.
Historic work includes some limited studies that had been performed by the
Mongolian government. 1:50,000 scale geologic mapping and regional geochemistry
conducted by the Mongolian government in 2000 discovered numerous gold in stream
anomalies throughout the prospect and the region. In 2003, the Company carried
out a number of stream sediment sampling campaigns. In 2004, the Company and
Fortress completed mapping and geochemical sampling throughout a 120 km(2)
stream gold anomaly, as well as collected 200 rock chip, 400 soil and 50 stream
sediment samples. The 2004 program identified abundant "black shales" in accord
with Sukhoi Log-type (i.e., model deposit in Siberia in similar setting as
Burleg River) stratigraphy, and an orientation survey identified a 2km by 300m
soil gold anomaly (up to 0.49 gpt gold in soils).
The 2005 work program on this property is expected to include an instantaneous
potential ("IP") geochemical survey, excavation of trenches to define drill
targets, followed by 2000 meters of combination reverse circulation and core
drilling.
Erdenet Belt
Fortress has two projects in the Erdenet Belt area of Mongolia: the Teltiin
property and the Oyuut Uul property.
42
Teltiin. The Teltiin property comprises 40 km(2) (4,000 hectares) and is located
approximately 250 km northwest of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and 90 km northeast
of the active Erdenet porphyry copper mine.
Local geology consists of alkali-rich syenite, and lesser granodiorite,
monzonite and diorite dikes that intrude andesitic to rhyolitic volcanic rocks
of presumed Permian age. Target mineralization is porphyry copper-gold.
Previous studies by a joint Soviet and Mongolian team consisted of IP and soil
geochemical surveys. A total of 12 core holes were drilled. All but one drill
hole was drilled in the phyllic shell of the alteration zone. One hole drilled
within the potassic core intercepted 9 meters of 0.7% copper (the hole was lost
at 11 meters). During 2004, the Company and Fortress completed 1:5,000 scale
geologic mapping over 80 km(2), excavated 1,200 meters of mechanized trenches,
completed a 56 km(2) ground magnetics survey and 51.5 line-km of IP surveys (150
meter dipole spacings), and conducted geochemical sampling of 300 rock chip
samples and 400 soil samples.
Geochemical sampling to date indicates strong gold and copper mineralization
within potassically altered rocks. To date, maximum concentrations of 1.69 gpt
gold, 151 ppm silver, and 4.72% copper have been found. The gold-copper
association includes 5 samples containing more than 0.5 gpt gold and greater
than 1% copper, including chip sample 9178 containing 1.3 gpt gold and 4.72%
copper from potassically altered porphyry. Alteration characteristics,
geochemical results, and geophysical vectors define a drill target along the
eastern margin of the prospect beneath a 2 km(2) valley.
The work program for 2005 is expected to include a 2,000 meter combination
reverse circulation and core drill program.
Oyuut Uul. The Oyuut Uul property comprises some 60 km(2) (6,000 hectares) and
is located approximately 225 km north-northwest of the capital Ulaanbaatar, and
70 km northeast of the Teltiin property.
Local geology consists of Triassic to Jurassic age quartz porphyry diorite and
granodiorite that intrude andesite porphyries and tuffs of presumed Permian age.
Alteration suites include silicification and advanced argillic alteration.
Target mineralization is epithermal gold.
Little work had been completed on this property prior to its staking by
Fortress. In 2004, Fortress completed 1:10,000 scale geologic mapping over a 100
km(2) area, a 34 km(2) ground magnetics survey, 31 line-km of IP surveys (50 and
150 meter dipole spacings), and geochemical sampling of 75 rock chip samples and
200 soil samples.
Geologic mapping indicates a silicified cap localized along a northeast trending
regional fault underlain by rocks displaying advanced argillic alteration.
Geochemical sampling of these strongly leached, silicified and argillized cap
rocks show elevated copper and gold concentrations (0.9% copper and 147 ppb in
rock chips) that are associated with a strong chargeability anomaly.
Incorporation of geochemical and geophysical character with alteration mapping
indicates the presence of an epithermal gold target underlying the silicified
cap rocks exposed on surface.
Fortress plans to conduct a 2,000 meter combination reverse circulation and core
drill program on this property in 2005.
Shiveen Gol
The Shiveen Gol property is comprised of some 21 km(2) (2,100 hectares) and is
located in Uvs Aimag in northwest Mongolia, approximately 1,100 km west of the
capital Ulaanbaatar.
Local geology consists of Devonian age metadiorites and andesites intruded by
abundant granites and quartz monzonites of Triassic age localized along a distal
ring fault/dike complex associated with the Triassic age Shiveen Gol Caldera
Complex. Mineralization is iron oxide copper gold.
Numerous ancient Chinese workings of unknown age occur throughout the prospect.
A geologic study of the Shiveen Gol prospect was completed by a
Russian/Mongolian team in 1991. This investigation included geologic mapping,
rock and soils geochemical sampling, and ground geophysical surveys. The study
resulted in discovery of a large combined magnetic susceptibility/induced
polarization geophysical anomaly in the Shiveen Gol Prospect area, and
identification of a large stream copper anomaly throughout the area. The Company
recognized the iron
43
oxide copper gold ("IOCG") character of the prospect and in 2003 conducted
extensive geochemical rock and soil geochemistry, IP surveys and magnetic
surveys to characterize the mineral system. Additionally, the entire Shiveen Gol
complex was mapped at the 1:25,000 scale. This work concluded with three drill
holes drilled into the Shiveen Gol prospect all of which intercepted copper
mineralization. In 2004, the Company and Fortress completed 1:5,000 scale
mapping and geochemical sampling throughout the 21 km(2) prospect and eight
combination RC/Diamond drill holes for a total of 1721 meters.
Five of the holes drilled in 2004 intercepted anomalous but localized copper
mineralization. The results were all subeconomic, with the best results being 10
meters of 0.32% copper, 14 meters of 0.23% copper (including 2.2 meters of 0.86%
copper) and 4 meters of 0.51% copper. No significant gold intercepts were
reported, the highest value recorded was 2.5 meters of 0.25 gpt of gold with no
associated copper.
Further interpretation of these results by an external consultant and in-house
geologists, incorporating the 2003 drilling results, will determine whether it
is recommended that Fortress carry out additional work at Shiveen Gol in 2005 in
the areas covered by post-mineral gravels.
Other Properties.
Fortress holds a number of other properties, including Tsagaan Tolgoi (gold and
copper), on which approximately 300 rock chip samples have been collected to
date from several gold and copper-gold prospects, and the Gobi Altai region
(gold and copper), on which approximately 150 rock chip samples were collected
during reconnaissance completed in September 2004.
PERMITTING
As discussed above, due to deteriorating commodity prices and other factors in
1999, the Company shut down all of its uranium mines. The Company intends to
keep those properties on a shut down status indefinitely, pending further
improvements in commodity prices.
The permitting status of the various mines is set out below.
SUNDAY MINE COMPLEX
The Sunday Mine Complex is fully permitted for its mining activities. Recent
changes in the laws of Colorado could give rise to additional future permitting
requirements.
In recent years, the State of Colorado passed a law that provides that the
Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology ("DMG") can determine that a mine is a
Designated Mining Operation (a "DMO") if it is a mining operation at which
"toxic or acidic chemicals used in extractive metallurgical processing are
present on site or acid- or toxic-forming materials will be exposed or disturbed
as a result of mining operations." If a mine is determined to be a DMO, the most
significant result is the requirement that it submit an Environmental Protection
Plan (an "EPP"). The EPP must identify the methods the operator will utilize for
the protection of human health, wildlife, property and the environment from the
potential toxic- or acid-forming material or acid mine drainage associated with
the operations. The EPP must be submitted to the DMG for review, and after a
public hearing, a decision must be made within 120 days of the submission of a
complete application, unless the application is considered to be complicated,
which would extend the deadline to 180 days.
In 1995, DMG notified Energy Fuels that it believed the Sunday Mine Complex was
a DMO, because of the potential that storm water could come in contact with the
low grade waste rock on site. Energy Fuels disputed this assertion. Testing was
performed on the waste rock. In November 1996, the DMG advised Energy Fuels that
the test results of the average uranium content of the waste dumps at the mine
sites satisfied the DMG that the Sunday Mine Complex is not a DMO. However, the
DMG also advised that its determination could change if site conditions or
circumstances change. As of February 14, 2005, the Company has not been notified
of any additional permitting requirements relating to its mining activities at
the Sunday Mine Complex.
During 2004 the Company completed submittal of updated permit-related maps and
records to ensure that historical mine operations, as conducted under valid
permits, are properly documented. The DMG will use the updated site information
to review reclamation bond amounts in fiscal 2005.
44
OTHER COLORADO PLATEAU MINES
The Rim, Van 4 and certain other Colorado Plateau mines are also permitted for
mining.
ARIZONA STRIP MINES
The Canyon Mine is the first mine to be permitted in the portion of the Arizona
Strip that is south of the Grand Canyon. The Canyon Mine is located on federal
lands administered by the United States Forest Service and is approximately 18
miles south of the Grand Canyon. The plan of operations submitted by Energy
Fuels in 1984 for development and operation of the mine generated significant
public comment resulting in the preparation of an environmental impact statement
by the United States Forest Service. The United States Forest Service for the
State of Arizona approved the plan set forth by Energy Fuels and issued all
necessary federal and state permits and approvals. The Havasupai Indian Tribe
and others filed appeals. The United States Forest Service for the State of
Arizona and Energy Fuels prevailed on all appeals. During the permitting
process, Energy Fuels constructed all the necessary service facilities at the
mine site. Energy Fuels agreed with the United States Forest Service not to
implement underground development during the environmental impact statement
process. Energy Fuels did not resume underground development at the mine site
after the appeals were decided due to the decrease in uranium prices at that
time.
In 1992, the State of Arizona updated its laws relating to groundwater issues,
requiring that an Aquifer Protection Permit be obtained. In April 2001 the
Company was notified by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality that the
Aquifer Protection Permit application for the Canyon Mine had lapsed. If the
Company desires to resume the permitting effort in the future, a new application
will be required.
As with the Canyon Mine, the Pinenut and Kanab North mines require that Aquifer
Protection Permits be obtained. As with the Canyon Mine Aquifer Protection
Permit application, the applications for the Pinenut and Kanab North mines have
also lapsed. In the event that resumption of mining is contemplated in the
future, sufficient lead time will need to be allowed to secure the necessary
Aquifer Protection Permits for these mines. The Arizona 1 Mine currently has an
Aquifer Protection Permit and is fully permitted for mining.
RECLAMATION
The Company is responsible for the environmental and reclamation obligations
relating to all of its existing mines and assets, as well as for all reclamation
and environmental obligations associated with all mined out, inactive, reclaimed
or partially reclaimed mines and properties acquired from Energy Fuels.
The total amount of the estimated reclamation liability is approximately $12.3
million with restricted cash and marketable securities of approximately $12.1
million securing the liability, as of September 30, 2004. All of the Company's
mines and the White Mesa Mill were permitted through either state or federal
authorities. As a part of the permit requirements, reclamation and
decommissioning bonds are in place to cover the estimated cost of final project
closures. The major cost is for closure of the White Mesa Mill and tailings
cells, which is estimated at approximately $10.6 million. The Company has posted
a reclamation bond to the State of Utah for that amount.
Although the Company's financial statements contain as a liability the Company's
current estimate of the cost of performing these reclamation obligations, and
the bonding requirements are generally periodically reviewed by applicable
regulatory authorities, there can be no assurance or guarantee that the ultimate
cost of such reclamation obligations will not exceed the estimated liability
contained on the Company's financial statements.
In addition, effective January 20, 2001, the BLM implemented new Surface
Management (3809) Regulations pertaining to mining operations conducted on
mining claims on public lands. The new Regulations impose significant
requirements on permitting of operations and on plans for reclamation and
closure of mining operations on public lands. The new Regulations were
challenged by industry and a revised final rule was issued on December 31, 2001.
The new 3809 regulations impose additional requirements on permitting of mines
on federal lands and may have some impact on the closure and reclamation
requirements for Company mines on public lands. However, the final rule deleted
many of the onerous conditions that were included in the initial version of the
new regulations. The Secretary of the Interior noted that many of the revisions
that were made in the final rule were dictated by limitations and enforceability
restrictions under the current law.
45
Final closure and reclamation plans will continue to be developed by the state
regulatory authorities and the BLM in those states where the Company has
permitted mines. Although the ultimate impact on reclamation bonds held by the
Company is yet to be determined, substantial increases in final reclamation
requirements, and hence the associated reclamation bonds posted by the Company,
are not expected beyond the normal bond increases required due to escalation.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of
the Company for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2004, 2003, and 2002,
should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the
Company and accompanying notes. THIS DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD LOOKING
STATEMENTS - SEE "SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS." The
Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles in Canada. Note 17 of the consolidated
financial statements provides a discussion of the differences between Canadian
and United States accounting principles and practices affecting the Company.
SELECTED ANNUAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
($000, except per share amounts) 2004 2003 2002
-------------------------------- ------ ------ ------
Revenues 2,424 12,550 6,830
Net (loss) income for the year (2,187) 5,533 185
Basic (loss) income per share (0.03) 0.08 -
Total assets 39,388 25,616 32,379
Total long-term liabilities 16,296 14,630 12,365
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FISCAL 2004 VERSUS FISCAL 2003
IUC recorded a net loss of $2,186,679 ($0.03 per share) for the year ended
September 30, 2004, compared with net income of $5,533,152 (0.08 per share) for
2003, reflecting primarily the fact that the Mill was operating in fiscal 2003
but has been on standby throughout fiscal 2004. Results for 2004 included, a
gain on change of percentage interest in Fortress of $548,549, representing the
Company's proportionate share of the increase in Fortress' net assets resulting
from the issuance of equity by Fortress during the period, and minority interest
of $134,219, representing the minority interest's proportionate share of
Fortress' loss for the period since acquisition. In addition, the Company
recorded a gain of $585,133 for the recovery of future income taxes, which
relates to 2.0 million flow-through shares the Company issued on November 30,
2003 and a foreign exchange gain of $242,059. For 2003, results included mineral
property write-downs of $118,081, a $579,926 gain on the sale of short-term
investments, a $210,603 gain on the sale of land and equipment, and a $79,000
gain on the disposition of the "other asset" (see Fiscal 2003 versus Fiscal
2002).
REVENUES
Revenues for fiscal 2004 of $2,424,456 consisted of revenues from vanadium
sales, process milling fees generated under the Company's alternate feed
processing agreements, and fees from engineering services. Revenues for fiscal
2004 decreased $10,125,562 or 81% as compared to $12,550,018 in fiscal 2003. The
decrease was due to the fact that the Mill was on stand-by during fiscal 2004.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2004 the Company sold its inventory of
vanadium black flake, which was produced during the 1999 conventional ore mill
run, leaving an ending inventory of approximately 65,000 pounds of vanadium, as
vanadium pregnant liquor. The Company is evaluating opportunities to sell this
inventory.
As the Mill is currently on stand-by, alternate feed processing activities
during fiscal 2004 consisted primarily of the receipt of material from the Linde
site and from another commercial metals producer. The Company receives a
46
recycling fee for a majority of its alternate feed materials once they are
delivered to the Mill. A portion of the fees for the Linde materials, equal to
the costs that are incurred receiving materials, is recognized as revenue, while
the remaining recycling fees are recorded as deferred revenue until the material
is processed at which time they are recorded as revenue. With respect to the
materials from the commercial metals producer, the Company received a materials
receipt fee on receipt of the materials, representing approximately 22% of the
total fees from that producer, which is recorded as revenue, and a recycling
fee, representing the remaining 78% of the fees from that producer, which is
recorded as deferred revenue until the material is processed, at which time it
becomes revenue. Revenue recognized from receiving alternate feed material
during fiscal 2004 was $420,646. In addition to the material receipt and
recycling fees, the Company will retain any uranium recovered from these
materials, which can be sold in subsequent periods, at which time the revenue
from the sales will be recorded.
Revenue from engineering services of $421,182 during fiscal 2004 is for services
the Company provided, on a cost plus basis to a related company, which was
reclaiming a mine site in the U.S.
In addition to the foregoing alternate feed materials, the Company continues to
receive deliveries of alternate feed materials from another uranium producer
under a long-term arrangement. While the Company will not receive a processing
fee for this particular alternate feed material, it will produce uranium from
these materials, which will then be sold. As of September 30, 2004, there were
approximately 7,200 tons of these materials at the Mill, containing
approximately 485,800 lbs of uranium. Revenues will be recognized as recovered
uranium is sold. Materials received from other uranium producers or private
industry sources tend to be relatively high in uranium content but relatively
small in volume as compared to materials from the Linde project.
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
2004
($000, except per share amounts) 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr Full Year
-------------------------------- ------- ------- ---------- ------- ---------
Vanadium sales - 1,583 - - 1,583
Process milling revenue 31 - - 390 421
Engineering services revenue 359 62 - - 421
Total revenue 390 1,645 - 390 2,425
Net income (loss) (1,166) (455) (1,198((1) 632 (2,187)
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share (0.02) (0.01) (0.02) 0.01 (0.03)
(1) In preparing the financial statements for the year ended September
30, 2004, the Company determined that the transfer of mineral
properties to Fortress should be accounted for at book value. In the
3rd quarter 2004 interim financial statements, the Company had
incorrectly recorded a loss on the transaction of $478,839. This
summary table reflects the corrected net loss for the third quarter
of fiscal 2004.
2003
($000, except per share amounts) 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr Full Year
-------------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ---------
Process milling revenue 4,274 4,818 3,281 42 12,415
Engineering services revenue - - - 135 135
Total revenue 4,274 4,818 3,281 177 12,550
Net income (loss) 2,266 2,545 1,126 (404) 5,533
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share 0.03 0.04 0.02 (0.01) 0.08
IUC recorded net income of $632,242 ($0.01 per s hare) for the three months
ended September 30, 2004, compared with a net loss of $403,373 (0.01 per share)
for same period in fiscal 2003. Results for the three months ended September 30,
2004 included a gain on change of percentage interest in Fortress of $548,549,
representing the Company's proportionate share of the increase in Fortress' net
assets resulting from the issuance of equity by Fortress during the period, and
minority interest of $94,327, representing the minority interest's proportionate
share
47
of Fortress' loss for the period. In addition, the Company recorded a gain of
$585,133 for the recovery of future income taxes, which relates to 2.0 million
flow-through shares issued by the Company on November 30, 2003 and a foreign
exchange gain of $336,525. For the three months ended September 30, 2003,
results included mineral property write-downs of $118,081, a $579,926 gain on
the sale of short-term investments, a $127,510 gain on the sale of land and
equipment, and a $79,000 gain on the disposition of the "other asset" (see
Fiscal 2003 versus Fiscal 2002).
COST OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES SOLD
During fiscal 2004, cost of goods sold of $706,274 was recognized as a result of
the sale of the Company's vanadium black flake inventory.
Process milling expenditures during fiscal 2004 of $139,793 represent
expenditures incurred receiving alternate feed materials. The expenditures
decreased by $4,531,406 or 97% as compared to process milling expenditures of
$4,671,199 during fiscal 2003. The decrease is due to the fact that the Mill was
on stand-by during fiscal 2004. During fiscal 2004, the Company received 3,440
tons of alternate feed material from the Linde site and an additional 5,409 tons
of material from another commercial metals producer. As of September 30, 2004,
approximately 44,600 tons of material remained in stockpile waiting to be
processed during the next mill run. The next mill run is currently scheduled to
commence in the second or third quarter of fiscal 2005, at which time all
alternate feed materials currently stockpiled at the Mill are expected to be
processed.
MILL STAND-BY
Mill stand-by expenses consist primarily of payroll and related expenses for
personnel, parts and supplies, contract services and other overhead expenditures
required to maintain the Mill on stand-by status until a sufficient stockpile of
alternate feed material or other ores have been accumulated to justify an
efficient mill run. Mill stand-by expenditures were $2,330,554 for fiscal 2004
as compared to $738,730 for fiscal 2003. The increase of $1,591,824 was
primarily due to twelve months of stand-by in fiscal 2004 versus approximately
four months in fiscal 2003. At September 30, 2004 sixteen management and
maintenance personnel remained at the Mill. During the most recent mill run,
which was completed in fiscal 2003, the Mill maintained an average of 64
employees to process its stockpile of alternate feed material.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and
related expenses for personnel, legal, contract services and other overhead
expenditures. Selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2004 were
$3,218,295 as compared to $2,655,341 for fiscal 2003. This change, an increase
of $562,954, was the result of decreases in Urizon and other alternate feed
expenditures of $893,467, offset by increases of $1,454,798 in other selling,
general and administrative ("SGA") expenditures. These increases are
attributable to the engineering services that the Company provided, increased
audit/accounting fees, legal fees associated with the acquisition of the
Canadian uranium exploration properties, increased investor relation
expenditures and the Company's consolidation of Fortress' SGA. For fiscal 2004,
Fortress' SGA was $302,709.
EXPLORATION
Uranium Exploration
In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company acquired interests in uranium
exploration properties in the Athabasca Basin region of Saskatchewan, Canada and
commenced an exploration program on certain of those properties. During fiscal
2004, the Company continued to increase its land position in the Athabasca Basin
region through acquisition and land staking. Total gross program expenditures,
including capitalized exploration expenditures, for fiscal 2004 were $2,326,265.
Expenditures to date have primarily been on the Moore Lake project where the
Company has an extensive drilling program augmented by geophysical and
geological field programs. IUC has an option to earn up to a 75% interest in the
Moore Lake property from JNR Resources Inc. through aggregate expenditures and
investments of Cdn $4.4 million over a period of 4 years. Fiscal 2004
expenditures on the Moore Lake Project were $1,766,485. The remaining
expenditures were for geological field programs and airborne geophysical surveys
on a number of other projects in the Athabasca region.
48
The Company also has a 70% interest in the Gurvan-Saihan Joint Venture in
Mongolia. The other parties to the joint venture are the Mongolian government as
to 15% and Geologorazvedka, a Russian geological concern, as to 15%. With
continued upward pressure on world uranium prices throughout fiscal 2004, the
joint venture recommenced its uranium exploration program in Mongolia.
Additional exploration licenses were acquired by the joint venture in areas
known to be prospective based on past joint venture reconnaissance. In addition,
the Company formed a new Mongolian business entity in fiscal 2004 to conduct
uranium exploration, 100% for the Company's account, in frontier areas in
Mongolia. Total gross program expenditures for the joint venture and for the
Company's own account, including capitalized exploration expenditures, for
fiscal 2004 of $213,548 increased by $8,269 as compared to $205,279 spent in
fiscal 2003.
Precious and Base Metals Exploration
During the second quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company initiated a precious and
base metals exploration program in Mongolia. This program was funded 100% by the
Company until the second quarter of fiscal 2004. During the second quarter, the
Company entered into a Purchase Agreement with Fortress for the sale of 100% of
the exploration licenses held by the Company, in consideration for cash and a
majority equity interest in Fortress. The Company maintains a position on the
Board of Directors of Fortress but no longer manages the Mongolian precious and
base metals exploration program.
Fortress continued the active exploration program in 2004, including additional
drilling on the Shiveen Gol project in western Mongolia. A number of additional
projects were explored in detail in 2004 and are ready for initial drilling in
2005. Total gross program expenditures, including capitalized exploration
expenditures, for fiscal 2004 of $2,032,027 increased by $671,887 as compared to
$1,360,140 in fiscal 2003. Increased program expenditures in fiscal 2004 were
attributable to implementation of detailed geophysical and geochemical programs
on the Teltiin Gol prospect in the Erdenet area and a large regional gold
geochemical survey in the Huvsgol region. Based on the work in the Huvsgol
region, approximately 40 new exploration licenses were obtained, which also
contributed to the increase in program expenditures.
MINORITY INTEREST
The minority interest share of Fortress' post acquisition loss for fiscal 2004
was $134,219. On June 23, 2004 the Company completed the sale of its Mongolian
base and precious metals exploration properties held by its Bermuda subsidiary
to Fortress and began recording the minority interest's share of the losses. The
Company had expended $3,088,201 on these properties through June 23, 2004. In
consideration for transferring these properties to Fortress, the Company
received 28 million common shares of Fortress' capital stock, which gave the
Company a 63.14% interest in Fortress and cash of $656,580 for reimbursement of
costs incurred on the properties from the time of agreement to the transfer
date. No gain or loss has been recognized on the transaction. On September 1,
2004 Fortress completed a private placement of 4,987,500 common shares at Cdn
$0.40 per share. The Company purchased 732,500 of the common shares, which
resulted in the Company owning a 58.24% interest in Fortress as of September 30,
2004. The Company's percentage ownership in Fortress decreased from 63.14% to
58.24% as a result of this private placement and the Company recorded a gain on
dilution of $548,549.
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE
Net interest and other income (excluding gain on dilution and minority interest)
for fiscal 2004 was $796,101 as compared to $1,375,738 for fiscal 2003. The
decrease of $579,637 was primarily the result of a decrease in gains of $617,972
on the sale of short-term investments and a decrease in income from the sale of
land and equipment of $151,673. These decreases were offset by an increase in
foreign exchange gains of $230,233.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FISCAL 2003 VERSUS FISCAL 2002
IUC recorded net income of $5,533,152 ($0.08 per share) for the year ended
September 30, 2003, compared with net income of $184,990 (nil per share) for
2002. Results for 2003 included, mineral property write-downs of $118,081, a
$579,926 gain on the sale of short-term investments, a $210,603 gain on the sale
of land and equipment, and a $79,000 gain on the disposition of the "other
asset". For 2002, results included asset write-downs of $155,334, a $288,409
gain on the sale of short-term investments, a gain of $29,174 from a decrease in
Mill reclamation
49
obligations, and an increase in the carrying value of the "other asset" of
$261,000 to reflect then current uranium prices. The "other asset" and the
offsetting deferred credit represent a put option entered into in fiscal 1999,
which granted a third party the option to put up to 400,000 pounds of uranium
back to the Company at a price of $10.55 per pound, at any one time during the
period of October 1, 2001 to March 31, 2003. On December 20, 2002, the third
party exercised the put option. The Company negotiated a settlement and
termination of the put option agreement for a payment of $280,000, which was
equal to the value of the put option based on then current market conditions.
REVENUES
Revenues for fiscal 2003 of $12,550,018 consisted primarily of process milling
fees generated under the Company's alternate feed processing agreements.
Revenues for fiscal 2003 increased $5,719,881 or 84% as compared to $6,830,137
in fiscal 2002. The increase was primarily due to the alternate feed mill run,
which began during the third quarter of fiscal 2002, and was completed on May
23, 2003. Alternate feed processing activities in fiscal 2003 consisted of the
receipt, sampling, analysis and processing of Ashland 1, Linde, Heritage and
Molycorp materials.
COST OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES SOLD
Process milling expenditures for fiscal 2003 of $4,671,199, which represent
expenditures incurred receiving and processing alternate feed materials,
increased $2,623,408 as compared to process milling expenditures of $2,047,791
for fiscal 2002. The increase was due to approximately eight months of mill
processing during fiscal 2003 versus approximately four months during fiscal
2002.
Approximately 51,200 tons of material was received during the fiscal year
bringing the total received as of September 20, 2003 to over 302,400 tons from
the Ashland 1, Linde, Heritage and Molycorp sites. As of September 30, 2003,
approximately 35,700 tons of material remained in stockpile waiting to be
processed during the next mill run.
MILL STAND-BY
Mill stand-by expenses consist primarily of payroll and related expenses for
personnel, parts and supplies, contract services and other overhead expenditures
required to maintain the Mill on stand-by status until a sufficient stockpile of
alternate feed material has been accumulated to justify an efficient mill run.
Mill stand-by expenditures were $738,730 for fiscal 2003 as compared to
$2,136,389 for fiscal 2002. The decrease of $1,397,659 or 65% was primarily due
to approximately four months of stand-by in fiscal 2003 versus eight months in
fiscal 2002. Significant staff reductions at the end of the third quarter also
contributed to the decrease in mill stand-by costs.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and
related expenses for personnel, legal, contract services and other overhead
expenditures. Selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2003 were
$2,655,341 as compared to $3,449,651 for fiscal 2002. The decrease of $794,310
or 23% was the result of decreased expenditures of $878,218 for legal fees
associated with regulatory actions, and other related overhead cost decreases,
offset by increases in Urizon expenditures of $113,504.
EXPLORATION
During the second quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company initiated a precious and
base metals exploration effort in Mongolia. This program was funded 100% by the
Company. As of September 30, 2003, the Company controlled 68 exploration
licenses totaling 2.5 million hectares, 46 of these licenses are held 100% by
the Company and 22 licenses are under a purchase option. Detailed field programs
were initiated in the 2003 field season, including geologic mapping, geochemical
sampling, and geophysical surveys. In addition, the Company drilled
approximately 3,100 meters on its Shiveen Gol project area in western Mongolia.
Total gross program expenditures, including capitalized exploration
expenditures, for fiscal 2003 of $1,360,140 increased by $821,243 as compared to
$538,897 in fiscal 2002. The increase was due to extensive exploration,
including the drilling program on specific targets.
50
The Company also has a 70% interest in the Gurvan-Saihan Joint Venture in
Mongolia. The other parties to the joint venture are the Mongolian government as
to 15% and Geologorazvedka, a Russian geological concern, as to 15%. As of
September 30, 2003, the joint venture holds 5 exploration licenses totaling 1
million hectares. This in-situ leach uranium project remained on stand-by during
fiscal 2003. Total stand-by expenditures for fiscal 2003 of $205,279 increased
by $142,343 as compared to $62,936 in fiscal 2002.
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE
Net interest and other income for fiscal 2003 was $1,375,738 as compared to
$916,780 for fiscal 2002. The increase of $458,958 was primarily the result of
an increase in gains on the sale of short-term investments of $291,517 and an
increase in income from the sale of land and equipment of $206,017. In addition,
interest income decreased $99,154 due to a decrease in the average cash balances
available for investment.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At September 30, 2004, the Company had cash and short-term investments of
$13,134,915 and working capital of $15,467,462 as compared to cash and
short-term investments of $4,729,039 and working capital of $7,294,884 at
September 30, 2003. The increase of $8,172,578 in working capital was in part
due to the receipt of net proceeds of $12.4 million from private placements of
9.95 million common shares, offset by exploration expenditures of $4.2 million.
Net cash used in operating activities was $922,143 for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2004 and consisted primarily of the net loss from continuing
operations of $2,186,679, adjusted for non-cash items of depreciation and
amortization of $543,054, a gain of $583,133 for the recovery of future income
taxes, a gain on dilution of $548,549, and a decrease in working capital of
$181,375. Working capital changes primarily include increases in receivables of
$291,038 and a decrease in inventories of $571,977. The decrease in inventory is
the result of the sale of the Company's vanadium black flake inventory during
the second quarter of fiscal 2004. In addition, deferred revenue increased by
$1,397,654 primarily as the result of proceeds received or receivable on
delivery of alternate feed materials but in advance of the required processing
activity.
Net cash used in investment activities was $4,821,793 for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2004 and consisted primarily of capitalized exploration
expenditures of $4,186,908. Restricted investments increased by $380,119 as a
result of interest income, the Company invested $892,221 in marketable
securities, and the Company received cash of $977,094 on acquisition of
Fortress.
Net cash provided by financing activities during the fiscal year ended September
30, 2004 totaled $14,149,812 and consisted primarily of proceeds from the
issuance of 9.95 million common shares by the Company and proceeds from the
issuance of 4.99 million common shares by Fortress.
The Company believes that existing funds and cash flow from operations should be
sufficient to satisfy its working capital requirements, commitments under the
Urizon Joint Venture, and capital expenditures for the next twelve months.
Additional funding through issuance of common shares may be required to fund the
Company's exploration activities.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements in conformity
with accounting principles in Canada and the United States requires management
to make estimates and assumptions regarding future events. These estimates and
assumptions affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities, and
disclosure of contingent liabilities.
Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates include the
determination of impairment of intangibles and plant and equipment and mineral
property interests, reclamation obligations, rates for depreciation and
amortization, and variables used in determining stock based compensation. These
estimates are based on management's best judgment. Factors that could affect
these estimates include: changes in the price of uranium and other market
conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, changes in
reclamation requirements and other laws, changes in government policy and
changes in foreign exchange rates.
51
On an ongoing basis, management re-evaluates its estimates and assumptions.
However actual amounts could differ from those based on such estimates and
assumptions.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The Company has a reclamation obligation of $12,603,595, the timing of which
will depend upon the Company's business objectives. While this reclamation
obligation was valued on the assumption that the Company must be able to fund
reclamation of the White Mesa Mill and U.S. mining operations at any time, the
Company currently has no intention of placing the Mill or U.S. mines into
reclamation in the foreseeable future.
The Company also has operating lease obligations of $105,000 for fiscal 2005 and
$240,000 for the following two fiscal years.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Each year, the Company reviews the anticipated costs of decommissioning and
reclaiming its Mill and mine sites as part of its environmental planning
process. The Company also formally reviews the Mill's reclamation estimate
annually with applicable regulatory authorities. The Mill and mine reclamation
estimates at September 30, 2004 are $12,603,595, which are currently expected to
be sufficient to cover the projected future costs for reclamation of the Mill
and mine operations. However, there can be no assurance that the ultimate cost
of such reclamation obligations will not exceed the estimated liability
contained in the Company's financial statements.
The Company has posted bonds as security for these liabilities and has deposited
cash, cash equivalents, and fixed income securities as collateral against these
bonds. For fiscal 2004 and 2003, the amount of these restricted investments
collateralizing the Company's reclamation obligations was $12,487,066 and
$12,106,947, respectively. The increase of $380,119 was due to interest income
from these investments.
As mentioned in previous reports, the Company had detected some chloroform
contamination at the Mill site that appeared to have resulted from the operation
of a temporary laboratory facility that was located at the site prior to and
during the construction of the Mill facility, and from septic drain fields that
were used for laboratory and sanitary wastes prior to construction of the Mill's
tailings cells. In April 2003, the Company commenced an interim remedial program
of pumping the chloroform-contaminated water from the groundwater to the Mill's
tailings cells. This will enable the Company to begin clean up of the
contaminated areas and to take a further step towards resolution of this
outstanding issue. Although the investigations to date indicate that this
contamination appears to be contained in a manageable area, the scope and costs
of remediation have not yet been determined and could be significant.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Company does not have a research and development program per se. Process
development efforts expended in connection with processing alternate feeds are
included as a cost of processing. Process development efforts expended in the
evaluation of potential alternate feed materials that are not ultimately
processed at the Mill are included in Mill overhead costs. The Company does not
rely on patents or technological licenses in any significant way in the conduct
of its business.
TREND INFORMATION
During the period 1997 through 2000, the Company saw a deterioration in both
uranium and vanadium prices, from $11.00 per pound of U(3)O(8) and $4.10 per
pound of V(2)O(5) in October 1997 to $7.40 per pound of U(3)O(8) and $1.70 per
pound of V(2)O(5) at the end of September, 2000. As a result of these decreases
in commodity prices, the Company decided to cease its uranium and
uranium/vanadium mining and exploration activities in 1999, and shutdown all of
its uranium and uranium/vanadium mines and its Mongolian Gurvan-Saihan Joint
Venture, pending improvements in commodity prices. Also as a result of these
market events, the Company decided to marshal its resources and to concentrate
its operations primarily on the continuing development of the alternate feed,
uranium-bearing waste recycling business. Since then, commodity prices have
improved dramatically. During fiscal 2004, uranium prices increased 65%, from
$12.20 per pound on October 1, 2003, to $20.00 per pound by September 30, 2004.
As of January 31, 2005, the uranium spot price had increased to $21.00 per
pound. Vanadium prices have also increased throughout the past 18 months and are
currently trading in the range of $9.00 to $9.50 per pound V(2)O(5). As a result
52
of the increase in uranium price, the Company acquired and staked uranium
exploration properties in Canada in fiscal 2004 and has commenced an aggressive
exploration program on certain of those properties. In addition, the Company has
recommenced its uranium exploration program in Mongolia and is currently
evaluating the possibility of recommencing certain of its U.S. mining
activities.
Although the Mill's tailings system currently has capacity to process all of the
alternate feed materials under contract with the Company, this capacity is
expected to run out within the next one to three years, depending on the level
of success of the Company in entering into contracts for the processing of
additional feed materials or if the Company decides to recommence U.S. mining
operations. In order to provide additional tailings capacity, the Company will
have to repair existing tailings Cell No. 4A, at an estimated cost of $1.5-$3.0
million. In addition, if Cell No. 4A is put into use, the reclamation obligation
for the Mill would increase by approximately $1.0 million, which would require
an increase in the Mill's reclamation bond by that amount. The repair of Cell
No. 4A will provide the Company with approximately 2 million tons of additional
tailings capacity, which should be ample capacity for the foreseeable future.
OUTLOOK FOR 2005
The Company will be expanding its uranium exploration programs in both Canada
and Mongolia in 2005. In Canada, the Company along with its joint venture
partner, JNR Resources Inc. is planning a 15,000 meter winter drilling program,
as well as ground geophysics and a 3D seismic program at the Moore Lake project.
In addition to the program at Moore Lake, the Company will also have a winter
geophysical and drilling program at its 100% owned Key Lake South project.
During the summer, the Company will continue to expand its Moore Lake project
exploration program and will initiate additional programs on its 100% staked
land, as well as the Phelps-Dodge and JNR option properties. In Mongolia, the
Company is planning a 35,000-meter drill program and gamma surveys, which will
investigate a number of targets on its current land position. The Company will
continue to evaluate other potential exploration projects, as well as more
advanced project acquisitions.
At the beginning of fiscal 2005, the uranium spot price was $20.00 per pound and
the long-term price was $23.00 per pound. As of January 31, 2005, the spot price
had increased to $21.00 per pound and the long-term price had increased $3.00
per pound to $26.00 per pound. A number of market projections predict a
continued increase in both spot and long-term uranium prices; however, these
projections indicate that the rate of increase will likely be lower than that
seen in 2004.
With the forecasted continued improvement in commodity prices, the Company has
begun studying the viability of restarting certain U.S. mining operations. These
operations are higher cost than the current uranium producers due to the lower
grade of the ore bodies. Assuming that the price continues to rise and given
that a majority of the U.S. mines are fully permitted and can be put back into
production within a four to six month period, the Company is encouraged that a
production decision will be made in 2005.
In addition to the potential restart of the U.S. mining operations, the Company
will be restarting the White Mesa Mill late in the second quarter or early third
quarter of fiscal 2005 to process an alternate feed material that contains over
485,000 pounds of uranium. The processing of this material is anticipated to
take about twelve months to complete, at which time the Company will process the
remaining alternate feed materials at the Mill site. With respect to the Urizon
project, the Company and its joint venture partner, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc.,
are awaiting a decision by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on the path
forward for the handling of the Urizon feed stock. This decision was anticipated
in the first quarter of fiscal 2005, but has been delayed.
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
Exploration for and development of mineral properties involves significant
financial risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and
knowledge may not eliminate. While discovery of an ore body may result in
substantial rewards, few properties, which are explored, are ultimately
developed into producing mines. Major expenditures may be required to establish
reserves by drilling, constructing mining and process facilities at a site,
developing metallurgical processes and extracting uranium and other metals from
ore. It is impossible to ensure that the current exploration programs of the
Company will result in profitable commercial mining operations.
Under the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Alternate Feed Guidance,
the Mill is required to obtain a
53
specific license amendment allowing for the processing of each new alternate
feed material. Various third parties have challenged certain of the Mill's
license amendments, although none of such challenges have been successful to
date. The Company intends to continue to defend its positions and the validity
of its license amendments and proposed license amendments. If the Company does
not ultimately prevail in any such actions and any appeals therefrom, the
Company's ability to process certain types of alternate feeds, in certain
circumstances, may be adversely affected, which could have a significant impact
on the Company.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in the foregoing Management's Discussion and
Analysis and elsewhere in this Form 20-F constitute forward-looking statements.
Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance
or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements
were made, and readers are advised to consider such forward-looking statements
in light of the risks set forth below.
Risk factors that could affect the Company's future results include, but are not
limited to, risks inherent in mineral exploration activities and other operating
and development risks, competition, environmental regulations, reliance on
alternate feed income, the ability to develop the alternate feed business,
changes to reclamation requirements, dependence on a limited number of
customers, volatility and sensitivity to market prices for uranium and vanadium,
the impact of changes in foreign currencies' exchange rates, political risk
arising from operating in Mongolia, changes in government regulation and
policies including trade laws and policies, demand for nuclear power,
replacement of reserves and production, receipt of permits and approvals from
governmental authorities (including amendments for each alternate feed
transaction).
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A. DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
The names, municipalities of residence, positions with the Company, and
principal occupations of the directors and executive officers of the Company as
of February 14, 2005, are as follows:
54
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
COMMON SHARES OF
THE COMPANY
BENEFICIALLY OWNED,
DIRECTLY OR
PERIOD OF INDIRECTLY, OR
NAME AND MUNICIPALITY OF SERVICE AS A CONTROLLED OR PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND POSITION WITH THE
RESIDENCE DIRECTOR DIRECTED(1) COMPANY (3)
------------------------ ------------ ------------------ -----------------------------------------------------
JOHN H. CRAIG May 9, 1997 Lawyer, partner of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP;
Toronto, ON to 132,500 Director of a number of publicly-traded companies,
present including: Canadian Gold Hunter Corp. and Tenke
Mining Corp.
DAVID C. FRYDENLUND May 9, 1997 Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Financial
Denver, CO to 433,000 Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company.
present
RON F. HOCHSTEIN April 6, 2000 President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
Vancouver, BC to 343,000 since April 6, 2000; from January 31, 2000 to April
present 6, 2000, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
of the Company. Director of a number of
publicly-traded companies, including Atacama Minerals
Corp., Fortress Minerals Corp, JNR Resources Inc. and
Santoy Resources Ltd.
LUKAS H. LUNDIN May 9, 1997 Chairman of the Board of the Company; Director and/or
Vancouver, BC to officer of a number of publicly-traded natural
present 192,250 resource companies, including: Lundin Petroleum AB,
Atacama Minerals Corp., Valkyries Petroleum Corp.,
Canadian Gold Hunter Corp., Tenke Mining Corp.,
Tanganyika Oil Company Ltd. and Lundin Mining
Corporation
WILLIAM A. RAND May 9, 1997 Self-employed businessman; Director of a number of
Vancouver, BC to 25,000 publicly-traded companies, including: Lundin
present Petroleum AB, Valkyries Petroleum Corp., Canadian
Gold Hunter Corp., Tenke Mining Corp., Tanganyika Oil
Company Ltd. and Lundin Mining Corporation
(1) Each of the Directors and Officers of the Company owns less than one
percent of the outstanding shares of the Company,
(2) All persons listed are directors of the Company.
The information as to shares beneficially owned or over which the directors
exercise control or direction, not being within the knowledge of the Company,
has been furnished by the respective directors individually.
All of the above-named directors have held their present positions or other
executive positions with the same or associated firms or organizations during
the past five years, except Mr. Ron Hochstein who was Vice President, Corporate
Development of the Company from October 11, 1999 to January 30, 2000, and was an
engineering consultant with the AGRA-Simons Mining Group, an engineering and
consulting firm, from July 1995 to October 1999.
Please note Item 7 below for information relating to interests of Management in
certain related party transactions.
55
B. COMPENSATION
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
No remuneration has been paid to directors of the Company in their capacities as
directors since the date of incorporation, other than stock options described
under "Share Ownership" below. The directors are reimbursed for their expenses
incurred to attend meetings of the Company.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes the compensation of each of the executive
officers of the Company for the year ended September 30, 2004:
ANNUAL COMPENSATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
SECURITIES
UNDER
OPTIONS/
OTHER ANNUAL SARS GRANTED ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION SALARY(1) BONUS COMPENSATION (#) COMPENSATION
--------------------------- --------- ----- ------------ ------------ ------------
Ron F. Hochstein 163,000 Nil 58,980(3) 650,000
President and Chief Executive
Officer(2)
David C. Frydenlund, 158,400 Nil Nil 250,000 Nil
Vice President, General Counsel,
Chief Financial Officer, and
Corporate Secretary(2)
Harold R. Roberts(4), Vice 11,667 Nil Nil Nil 35,250(4)
President, Corporate Development
of the Company's subsidiary
International Uranium (USA)
Corporation
(1) The Company's currency for disclosure purposes is US dollars, which are
the functional currency of the Company's operations.
(2) Each of Messrs. Ron F. Hochstein and David C. Frydenlund currently have,
contracts of employment with the Company or its subsidiary, International
Uranium (USA) Corporation. There are no compensatory plans or arrangements
provided in such contracts in respect of resignation, retirement,
termination, change in control of the Company or responsibilities. The
expiry date of the employment contracts for Messrs Hochstein and
Frydenlund is September 30, 2005.
(3) Amount represents re-imbursement of expenditures associated with
re-locating Mr. Hochstein from the Company's Denver Office to its
Vancouver office, including $11,977, being amounts reimbursed for the
payment of taxes incurred by Mr. Hochstein in connection with relocation
expenses, and the remainder being relocation expenses paid by the Company
on behalf of Mr. Hochstein.
(4) Mr Roberts was Vice President, Corporate Development of the Company's
subsidiary International Uranium (USA) Corporation from May 14, 2001 until
October 31, 2003. As a result of a downsizing of the Company's head office
in October 2003, Mr. Roberts resigned from his position of Vice President
Corporate Development effective October 31, 2003, and was retained on a
consulting basis from November 1, 2003 until December 31, 2004. Mr.
Roberts received a severance payment of $35,000. Mr. Roberts recommenced
employment with the Company on January 1, 2005 as Vice President,
Corporate Development of International Uranium (USA) Corporation. Mr.
Roberts currently has a contract of employment with International Uranium
(USA) Corporation. There are no compensatory plans or arrangements
provided in such contract in respect of resignation, retirement,
termination, change in control of the Company or responsibilities. The
expiry date of Mr. Roberts' employment contract is December 31, 2006. In
addition, $250 represents 401K matching
56
contributions made to the named executive's retirement account per the
Company's 401K Benefit Plan available to all eligible employees.
There were no long-term incentive plan awards made to any of the named executive
officers of the Company during the most recently completed financial year. In
addition, there are no plans in place with respect to any of the named
individuals for termination of employment or change in responsibilities under
employment contracts, apart from those separately disclosed herein.
OPTION/SAR GRANTS TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS DURING THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED
FINANCIAL YEAR
MARKET VALUE
OF SECURITIES
SECURITIES % OF TOTAL EXERCISE UNDERLYING
UNDER OPTIONS/ OPTIONS/SARS OR OPTIONS/SARS
SARS GRANTED TO BASE PRICE ON THE DATE OF
GRANTED EMPLOYEES IN (CDN $/ GRANT (CDN $/ EXPIRATION
NAME (#) FINANCIAL YEAR SECURITY) SECURITY) DATE
---- ------------- -------------- ---------- -------------- -----------
David C. Frydenlund 250,000 12.6% $1.01 $1.01 November 26, 2006
Ron F. Hochstein 400,000 20.2% $1.01 $1.01 November 26, 2006
A summary of the Company's Stock Option Plan is provided under "Share Ownership"
below.
C. BOARD PRACTICES
Directors are elected annually to one year terms at the annual meeting of
shareholders and serve until the next annual meeting or until their successor is
duly elected. Executive Officers are appointed by the directors and serve until
replaced by the directors or their resignation. Each of the above directors was
elected to his present term of office at the annual meeting of shareholders of
the Company held on March 23, 2004.
Each of Messrs. Ron F. Hochstein and David C. Frydenlund have contracts of
employment with the Company or its subsidiary, International Uranium (USA)
Corporation. There is no compensatory plan or arrangement provided in such
contracts in respect of resignation, retirement, termination, change in control
of the Company or responsibilities. These employment contracts expire on
September 30, 2005. None of the other directors have service contracts with the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.
The board of directors does not have an Executive Committee. The board has
established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Corporate Governance
and Nominating Committee and an Environment, Health and Safety Committee. The
following table sets out the members of such Committees:
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND
AUDIT COMMITTEE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE SAFETY COMMITTEE
--------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
John H. Craig John H. Craig John H. Craig John H. Craig
Lukas H. Lundin Lukas H. Lundin Lukas H. Lundin Lukas H. Lundin
William A. Rand William A. Rand William A. Rand David C. Frydenlund
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Charter of the Audit Committee
57
The Audit Committee oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes of
the Company and its subsidiaries and all audits and external reviews of the
financial statements of the Company on behalf of the Board, and has general
responsibility for oversight of internal controls, accounting and auditing
activities of the Company and its subsidiaries. All auditing services and
non-audit services to be provided to the Company by the Company's auditors are
pre-approved by the audit committee. The Committee reviews, on a continuous
basis, any reports prepared by the Company's external auditors relating to the
Company's accounting policies and procedures, as well as internal control
procedures and systems. The Committee is also responsible for examining all
financial information, including annual and quarterly financial statements,
prepared for securities commissions and similar regulatory bodies prior to
filing or delivery of the same. The Audit Committee also oversees the annual
audit process, quarterly review engagements, the Company's internal accounting
controls, the Code of Ethics for senior officers, any complaints and concerns
regarding accounting, internal controls or auditing matters and the resolution
of issues identified by the Company's external auditors. The Audit Committee
recommends to the Board the firm of independent auditors to be nominated for
appointment by the shareholders and the compensation of the auditors. The Audit
Committee meets a minimum of four times per year. The Audit Committee's Charter
is attached as Exhibit 1.2.
Composition of the Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee are William A; Rand, John H. Craig and Lukas
H. Lundin. Of these members, Mr. Rand is considered to be "independent" within
the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities regulations.
Under Canadian securities regulations, effective at the Company's annual general
meeting to be held on March 22, 2005, all members of the Company's Audit
Committee must be independent. Management of the Company has nominated for
election at the meeting one additional director who is independent within the
meaning of applicable securities regulations and who will, if elected, be
appointed to the Audit Committee. The Board continues to search for another
candidate for director of the Company who would be independent and financially
literate within the meaning of applicable securities regulations.
Each of Messrs. Rand, Craig and Lundin are considered to be "financially
literate" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities regulations in
that they each have the ability to read and understand a set of financial
statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues
that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that
can reasonable be expected to be raised by the Company's financial statements.
Relevant Education and Experience of Audit Committee Members
Each member of the Audit Committee has extensive experience in dealing with
financial statements, accounting issues, internal control and other related
matters relating to public resource-based companies. Mr. Rand is a retired
corporate and securities lawyer and mining executive, with an accounting
educational background, who has sat on a number of boards and audit committees
of similar public resource-based companies for over 25 years. Mr. Craig is a
corporate and securities lawyer with over 25 years of experience, who has sat on
a number of Boards and Audit Committees of similar types of companies. Mr.
Lundin has a university degree in engineering, and is an executive officer and
director of a number of similar public resource-based companies.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Company's executive compensation program is administered by the Compensation
Committee, which is composed of three non-management directors who are
identified above. The Committee meets at least annually to receive information
on and determine matters regarding executive compensation, in accordance with
policies approved by the board of directors. Recommendations for changes to the
policies are also reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that they remain
current, competitive and consistent with the Company's overall goals.
The Committee's terms of reference include the responsibility to determine the
level of compensation paid to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company and other senior management and executive officers of the Company.
The Company's compensation philosophy for executives continues to follow three
underlying principles; namely,(i)
58
to provide a compensation package that encourages and motivates performance;
(ii) to be competitive with other companies of similar size and scope of
operations so as to attract and retain talented executives; and (iii) to align
the interests of its executive officers with the long-term interests of the
Company and its shareholders through stock-related programs.
When determining both compensation policies and programs and individual
compensation levels for executive officers, the Committee takes into
consideration a variety of factors. These factors include overall financial and
operating performance of the Company, the Committee and the Board's overall
assessment of each executive's individual performance and contribution towards
meeting corporate objectives, levels of responsibility, length of service, and
industry comparables.
Executive compensation is comprised primarily of a base salary and participation
in the Corporation's incentive stock option and 401K plans, and may also consist
of bonuses and other perquisites which are awarded on an occasional basis.
Compensation is generally reviewed in the early part of each year having regard
to the prior year's performance both at a corporate level and individually in
order to determine compensation adjustments for the following year.
The Compensation Committee has also been mandated to review the adequacy and
form of the compensation of directors and to ensure that the compensation
realistically reflects the responsibilities and risk involved in being an
effective director.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for developing
and monitoring the Company's approach to corporate governance issues. The
Committee overseas the effective functioning of the Board, overseas the
relationship between the Board and management, ensures that the Board can
function independently of management at such times as is desirable or necessary,
identifies possible nominees for the Board and, with the assistance of the Board
and where necessary, develops an orientation and education program for new
recruits to the Board. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also
annually reviews and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to: (i) the
size and composition of the Board; (ii) the appropriateness of the committees of
the Board; and (iii) the contribution of individual directors. In addition, the
Committee delivers an annual statement on corporate governance to the Board for
inclusion in either the Company's annual report or management proxy circular.
ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
The mining and milling industry, by its very nature, can have a significant
impact on the natural environment. As a result, environmental planning and
compliance must play an ever-increasing part in the operations of any company
engaged in these activities. The Company takes these issues very seriously and
has established an Environment, Health and Safety Committee to oversee the
Company's efforts to act in a responsible and concerned manner with respect to
matters affecting the environment, health and safety.
D. EMPLOYEES
The following table sets out the number of employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries at September 30, 2004 for each of the past three financial years,
and a breakdown of persons employed by main category of activity and geographic
location.
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES BY GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
LOCATION 2004 2003 2002
-------- ---- ---- ----
Vancouver, B.C. 2 - -
Denver 2 9 10
White Mesa Mill 16 15 66
59
Mongolia Office 2 4 2
-- -- --
Total 22 28 78
== == ==
None of the Company's employees are unionized. The Company's subsidiary,
Fortress, also has four employees in Vancouver, B.C.
E. SHARE OWNERSHIP
See the table above under the heading "Directors and Senior Management" for
information as to the share ownership in the Company held by Directors and
Officers of the Company.
The following table summarizes individual grants of options to purchase or
acquire securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to each of the
named executive officers and directors as of February 14, 2005.
STOCK OPTIONS HELD BY DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
NUMBER OF COMMON OPTION PRICE OPTION EXPIRY
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR SHARES UNDER OPTION DATE OF GRANT (CDN $) DATE
------------------------------ ------------------- ------------- ------------ --------------
John H. Craig 50,000 November 27, 2003 1.01 November 26, 2006
David C. Frydenlund 250,000 November 27, 2003 1.01 November 26, 2006
Ron F. Hochstein 400,000 November 27, 2003 1.01 November 26, 2006
250,000 October 11, 2002 0.31 October 10, 2005
Lukas H. Lundin 400,000 November 27, 2003 1.01 November 26, 2006
William A. Rand 100,000 November 27, 2003 1.01 November 26, 2006
Total 1,450,000
STOCK OPTION PLAN
The major features of the Company's stock option plan (the "Stock Option Plan")
can be summarized as follows:
Under the Stock Option Plan the board of directors, or a committee appointed for
such purposes, may from time to time grant to directors, officers, eligible
employees of, or consultants to, the Company or its subsidiaries, or to
employees of management companies providing services to the Company
(collectively, the "Eligible Personnel") options to acquire Common Shares in
such numbers, for such terms and at such exercise prices as may be determined by
the board or such committee. The purpose of the Stock Option Plan is to advance
the interests of the Company by providing Eligible Personnel with a financial
incentive for the continued improvement of the Company's performance and
encouragement to stay with the Company.
The maximum number of Common Shares that may be reserved for issuance for all
purposes under the Stock Option Plan is 6,700,000 Common Shares and the maximum
number of Common Shares which may be reserved for issuance to any one insider
pursuant to share options and under any other share compensation arrangement may
not exceed 5% of the Common Shares outstanding at the time of grant (on a
non-diluted basis). Any Common Shares subject to a share option which for any
reason is cancelled or terminated without having been exercised will again be
available for grant under the Stock Option Plan.
The maximum number of Common Shares that may be reserved for issuance to
insiders of the Company under the Stock Option Plan and under any other share
compensation arrangement is limited to 10% of the Common Shares outstanding at
the time of grant (on a non-diluted basis).
60
The board of directors of the Company has the authority under the Stock Option
Plan to establish the option price at the time each share option is granted. The
option price may not be lower than the market price of the Common Shares at the
time of grant.
Options granted under the Stock Option Plan must be exercised no later than 10
years after the date of grant and options are not transferable other than by
will or the laws of dissent and distribution. If an optionee ceases to be an
Eligible Person for any reason whatsoever other than death, each option held by
such optionee will cease to be exercisable 30 days following the termination
date (being the date on which such optionee ceases to be an Eligible Person). If
an optionee dies, the legal representative of the optionee may exercise the
optionee's options within one year after the date of the optionee's death but
only up to and including the original option expiry date.
At the 2005 Annual General Meeting to be held on March 22, 2005, the
shareholders of the Company will be asked to consider a resolution to approve an
amendment to the Company's Stock Option Plan to increase the maximum number of
common shares that may be reserved under the plan from 6,700,000 to 10,700,000,
as well as several other amendments required in order to bring the Plan into
alignment with the new rules of The Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") provided
for in section 613 of the revised TSX Manual.
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
Information is set forth below with respect to persons known to the Company to
be the owner of five percent or more of the Company's voting securities as of
February 14, 2005 and the total amount of these securities owned by the officers
and directors as a group.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
NUMBER OF COMMON
IDENTITY OF PERSON OR GROUP SHARES OWNED PERCENTAGE
--------------------------- ------------ ----------
Adolf H. Lundin 6,500,000 8.1%
Directors and Officers as a group (6 persons) 1,125,750 1.4%
None of the Company's major shareholders have different voting rights than other
holders of common shares of the Company.
As far as it is known to the Company, the Company is not directly or indirectly
owned or controlled by another corporation(s), any foreign government, or by any
other natural or legal person(s).
As of January 25, 2005, 14,494,125, or 18%, of the Company's outstanding common
stock were registered in the names of 62 residents of the United States, as
record holders. The Company's common stock is issued in registered form and the
number of shares reported to be held by U.S. shareholders of record is taken
from the records of Computershare Trust Company of Canada, the registrar and
transfer agent for the Common Stock.
There are no arrangements, known to the Company, the operation of which may at a
subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.
B. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Ron F. Hochstein, Lukas H. Lundin, John H. Craig, and William A. Rand are also
directors and officers of other natural resource companies and, consequently,
there exists the possibility for such directors and officers to be in a position
of conflict relating to any future transactions or relationships between the
Company or common third parties. However, the Company is unaware of any such
pending or existing conflicts between these parties. Any
61
decision made by any of such directors and officers involving the Company are
made in accordance with their duties and obligations to deal fairly and in good
faith with the Company and such other companies. In addition, each of the
directors of the Company, discloses and refrains from voting on, any matter in
which such director may have a conflict of interest.
None of the present directors, senior officers or principal shareholders of the
Company and no associate or affiliate of any of them has any material interest
in any transaction of the Company or in any proposed transaction which has
materially affected or will materially affect the Company except as described
herein.
During the year ended September 30, 2004, the Company incurred legal fees of
$169,026 with a law firm of which a partner is a director of the Company. Legal
fees incurred with this law firm were $45,847 for the year ended September 30,
2003 and $10,960 for the year ended September 30, 2002.
During the year ended September 30, 2004, the Company incurred management and
administrative service fees of $136,335 with a company owned by the Chairman of
the Company, which provides investor relations, office premises, secretarial and
other services in Vancouver. This amount is based on a fee of $7,500 per month
from October 2003 through January 2004 and Cdn$16,000 (approximately US$13,292)
per month from February through September 2004. The increase in monthly fees
from February through September 2004 resulted from the Company increasing the
size of its Vancouver office in February. Management and administrative service
fees incurred with this company were $90,000 for the years ended September 30,
2003 and 2002. Amounts due to this company were nil as of September 30, 2004 and
2003.
During the year ended September 30, 2004, the Company provided mine reclamation
management and engineering support services of $421,182 on a cost plus basis to
a company with common directors. Amounts due from this company were $64,801 as
of September 30, 2004.
C. INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Not Applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company are attached hereto as
pages F-1 through F-19 and incorporated herein by reference.
EXPORT SALES
The amount of export sales does not constitute a significant portion of the
Company's total sales volume.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Under the NRC's Alternate Feed Guidance, the Mill is required to obtain a
specific license amendment allowing for the processing of each new alternate
feed material. See "Item 4. Information on the Company Alternate Feed
Processing."
Some of the Company's alternate feed license amendments have been challenged in
the past by the State of Utah, a commercial disposal company and other parties.
As of February 14, 2005, the Company's White Mesa Mill has been granted fourteen
license amendments for processing alternate feeds out of fourteen requests, and
the Company has successfully defended all challenges before the NRC, to date. In
fact, in February, 2000 the NRC rendered a decision, upholding an amendment to
the Company's NRC license that allowed the Company to process the Ashland 2
FUSRAP materials. This decision by the five NRC Commissioners reaffirmed an
earlier ruling by the Atomic
62
Safety and Licensing Board, and resolved in the Company's favor the dispute at
that time with the State of Utah over the types of materials that can be
processed at the Mill. As a result of this ruling, it is clear that the uranium
bearing soils and materials located at former defense sites that are being
pursued by the Company can be processed at the Mill in accordance with NRC
health and safety regulations. This decision resolved the dispute with the State
of Utah in 2000.
The Company intends to continue to defend its positions and the validity of its
license amendments and proposed license amendments. If the Company does not
ultimately prevail in any such actions and any appeals therefrom, the Company's
ability to process certain alternate feeds, in certain circumstances, may be
adversely affected since license amendments are required for each alternate feed
transaction.
During a sampling event at the White Mesa Mill in May, 1999, the Company
discovered unusually high levels of chloroform in one monitoring well which
monitors the water in the perched zone, and is located cross-gradient from the
Mill's tailings impoundments. Investigations by independent experts retained by
the Company indicate that the source of the chloroform is not from Mill
operations or from the Mill's tailings cells. Rather the source appears to be
from a temporary laboratory facility that was located at the Mill site prior to
construction and operation of the Mill, and that disposed of laboratory wastes
into a State of Utah inspected and approved disposal leach field, and/or septic
tank drainfields that serviced both laboratory operations and sanitary sewage
prior to construction of the Mill's tailings cells. Further investigations are
ongoing. On August 23, 1999, while acknowledging that this contamination does
not threaten groundwater resources in the regional aquifer, because the aquifer
is separated from the perched zone by some 1,000 feet of low-permeability rocks,
the State of Utah issued a Corrective Action Order requiring the Company to
investigate the source and extent of chloroform contamination and, if necessary,
to develop a corrective action plan to address the chloroform contamination. The
Company is performing investigations and taking actions in accordance with the
Corrective Action Order. Interim measures have been instituted in order to
contain the contamination and to pump contaminated groundwater into the Mill's
tailings cells. A final corrective action plan has not yet been developed.
Although investigations to date indicate that this contamination appears to be
contained in a manageable area, the scope and costs of remediation have not yet
been determined and could be significant.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company received a demand and threat of
pursuit of litigation in respect of alleged preferential payments by a former
customer, in the amount of approximately $1.2 million, that were paid pursuant
to certain contracts with the Company. The former customer filed for bankruptcy
under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in January 2002. That company
subsequently sold substantially all of its assets to The Shaw Group, Inc.
("Shaw"), who was believed to have assumed the contracts in question and has
subsequently performed the contracts with the Company. In May 2004 the Company
received a formal Complaint in the bankruptcy proceeding seeking the recovery of
approximately $1.7 million as an alleged preferential payment. The Company has
answered the complaint, disputing the claim, asserting, among other defenses
that there is no liability on account that the Company's contract was assumed
and assigned to Shaw and as a result there is no preference liability. The
Company has sought summary judgment in its favor. The Court has not yet ruled on
the Company's request.
DIVIDEND POLICY
To date, the Company has not paid any dividends on its outstanding Common Shares
and has no current intention to declare dividends on its Common Shares in the
foreseeable future. Any decision to pay dividends on its Common Shares in the
future will be dependent upon the financial requirements of the Company to
finance future growth, the financial condition of the Company and other factors
which the board of directors of the Company may consider appropriate in the
circumstances.
B. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
There have been no significant changes in the business or affairs or financial
condition of the Company since September 30, 2004, the date of the annual
financial statements incorporated into this Form 20-F, except as otherwise
disclosed in this Form 20-F.
ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING
63
A. OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS
See "Markets" below.
B. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Not applicable.
C. MARKETS
The common shares of the Company are currently listed on The Toronto Stock
Exchange in Canada. The Company's common shares commenced trading on The Toronto
Stock Exchange on May 16, 1997. The following table sets forth the high and low
market prices and the volume of the common shares traded on The Toronto Stock
Exchange during the periods indicated:
TRADING INFORMATION
HIGH LOW
PERIOD (Cdn $) (Cdn $) VOLUME
------ ------- ------- ------
October 1, 1999-September 30, 2000 0.38 0.13 19,626,816
October 1, 2000-September 30, 2001 0.40 0.20 11,342,300
October 1, 2001-September 30, 2002 0.50 0.25 9,883,580
October 1, 2002-September 30, 2003 0.75 0.25 29,388,200
October 1, 2003-September 30, 2004 5.15 0.50 92,514,000
October-December 2002 0.35 0.25 1,117,600
January-March 2003 0.49 0.29 3,321,900
April-June 2003 0.35 0.28 3,371,600
July-September 2003 0.75 0.29 21,577,100
October-December 2003 1.76 0.50 28,288,600
January-March 2004 3.30 1.35 23,977,900
April-June 2004 2.94 1.51 11,762,000
July-September 2004 5.15 2.43 28,575,600
October-December 2004 4.80 3.34 22,735,600
August 2004 4.00 2.46 9,589,600
September 2004 5.15 3.68 15,803,300
October 2004 4.80 3.34 10,454,900
November 2004 4.70 3.55 7,476,900
December 2004 4.40 3.53 4,803,800
January 2005 4.88 3.81 6,791,300
February 1 to February 10, 2005 5.90 4.30 7,187,800
CURRENCY TRANSLATION
As the Company's stock is traded in Canadian dollars, the following table sets
forth the exchange rates for one Canadian dollar expressed in terms of one U.S.
dollar for the past five fiscal years and the calendar quarters ended 12/31/03,
3/31/04, 6/30/04, 9/30/04 and December 31, 2004:
EXCHANGE RATES-ANNUAL
YEAR AVERAGE LOW - HIGH SEPTEMBER 30
---- ------- ---------- ------------
2000 0.6735 0.6422 - 0.6970 0.6653
2001 0.6461 0.6227 - 0.6714 0.6341
64
2002 0.6361 0.6175 - 0.6656 0.6336
2003 0.6853 0.6252 - 0.7512 0.7391
2004 0.7551 0.7138 - 0.7856 0.7876
EXCHANGE RATES-QUARTERLY
CALENDAR QUARTER ENDED AVERAGE LOW-HIGH LAST DAY OF QUARTER
---------------------- ------- -------- -------------------
12/31/03 0.7601 0.7371 - 0.7747 0.7727
03/31/04 0.7594 0.7357 - 0.7883 0.7648
06/30/04 0.7363 0.7138 - 0.7685 0.7440
09/30/04 0.7644 0.7405 - 0.7886 0.7876
12/31/04 0.8200 0.7836 - 0.8532 0.8303
The rate of exchange for the conversion of United States dollars into Canadian
dollars average on February 10, 2005 was $0.8003 (Cdn.$1.00 = U.S.$0.8003).
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. SHARE CAPITAL
Not applicable.
B. MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF THE COMPANY
The Company was incorporated by Articles of Amalgamation under the Ontario
Business Corporations Act (the "OBCA") on May 9, 1997, under Incorporation
Number 1236943.
Section 15 of the OBCA provides that a corporation incorporated under the OBCA
has the capacity and the rights, powers and privileges of a natural person.
Neither the Articles of Amalgamation nor the By-Laws of the Company contain any
further objects or purposes or restrict the Company from carrying on any
business or from exercising any of its powers.
INTERESTED DIRECTORS
Section 3.18 of the Company's By-Laws provides that a director or officer who is
a party to, or who is a director or officer of or has a material interest in any
person who is a party to, a material contract or transaction or proposed
material contract or transaction with the Company shall disclose in writing to
the Company or request to have entered in the minutes of the meetings of the
directors the nature and extent of his interest at the time and in the manner
provided by the OBCA. Any such contract or transaction or proposed contract or
transaction shall be referred to the Board or shareholders for approval even if
such contract is one that in the ordinary course of the Company's business would
not require approval by the Board or shareholders, and a director interested in
a contract so referred to the Board shall not vote on any resolution to approve
the same except as permitted by the OBCA. Section 132(5) of the OBCA provides
that such a director shall not vote on any resolution to approve the contract or
transaction unless the contract or transaction is:
- An arrangement by way of security for money lent to or obligations
undertaken by the director for the benefit of the Company or an
affiliate;
- One relating primarily to his or her remuneration as a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Company or an affiliate;
- One for indemnity or insurance under Section 136 of the OBCA; or
65
- One with an affiliate.
There is no requirement in the OBCA or in the Company's Articles of Amalgamation
or By-Laws restricting the directors from voting compensation to themselves or
any members of their body, whether in the absence of an independent quorum or
otherwise.
BORROWING POWERS
Article 10 of the Articles of Amalgamation of the Company provides that the
Board may from time to time, without authorization of the shareholders, in such
amounts and on such terms as it deems expedient:
- Borrow money upon the credit of the Company;
- Issue, re-issue, sell or pledge debt obligations of the Company;
- Subject to the provisions of the OBCA, give a guarantee on behalf of
the Company to secure performance of an obligation of any person;
and
- Mortgage, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise create a security
interest in all or any property of the Company owned or subsequently
acquired, to secure any obligation of the Company.
Article 10 also provides that the Board may from time to time delegate to a
director, a committee of directors or an officer of the Company any or all of
the powers conferred on the Board as set out above, to such extent and in such
manner as the Board shall determine at the time of such delegation.
As these borrowing powers are contained in the Articles of Amalgamation, any
changes to the borrowing powers would require a special resolution of two-thirds
of the shareholders of the Company.
MANDATORY REQUIREMENT AND SHARE QUALIFICATION FOR DIRECTORS
There is no requirement for retirement of directors under an age limit
requirement, and there is no number of shares required for a director's
qualification.
ATTRIBUTES OF COMMON SHARES
The following is a summary of the principal attributes of the Company's Common
Shares:
- VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of the Common Shares are entitled to
receive notice of, attend and vote at any meeting of the
shareholders of the Company. The Common Shares carry one vote per
share. There are no cumulative voting rights, and directors do not
stand for re-election at staggered intervals.
- DIVIDENDS. The holders of common Shares are entitled to receive on a
pro-rata basis such dividends as may be declared by the Board, out
of funds legally available therefor. Any dividend unclaimed after a
period of six years from the date on which the same has been
declared to be payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the
Company.
- PROFITS. Each Common Share is entitled to share pro-rata in any
profits of the Company to the extent they are distributed either
through the declaration of dividends or otherwise distributed to
shareholders, or on a winding up or liquidation.
- RIGHTS ON DISSOLUTION. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Common Shares will
be entitled to receive on a pro-rata basis all of the assets of the
Company remaining after payment of all the Company's liabilities.
- PRE-EMPTIVE, CONVERSION AND OTHER RIGHTS. No pre-emptive,
redemption, sinking fund or conversion rights are attached to the
Common Shares, and the Common Shares, when fully paid, will
66
not be liable to further call or assessment. No other class of
shares may be created without the approval of the holders of Common
Shares. There are no provisions discriminating against any existing
or prospective holder of Common Shares as a result of such
shareholder owning a substantial number of shares.
The rights of holders of Common Shares may only be changed by a special
resolution of holders of two-thirds of the issued and outstanding Common Shares,
in accordance with the requirements of the OBCA.
ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held at such time in each year as
the Board, the Chairman of the Board (if any) or the President may from time to
time determine, for the purpose of considering the financial statements and
reports required by the OBCA to be placed before the annual meeting, electing
directors, appointing an auditor and for the transaction of such other business
as may properly be brought before the meeting. The Board, the Chairman of the
Board (if any) or the President shall have the power to call a special meeting
of shareholders at any time. In addition, Section 105 of the OBCA provides that
in certain circumstances the holders of not less than 5 percent of the issued
shares of a corporation that carry the right to vote at a meeting sought to be
held may requisition the directors to call a meeting of shareholders for the
purposes stated in the requisition.
The only persons entitled to be present at a meeting of shareholders are those
entitled to vote thereat, the directors and the auditor of the Company and
others who, although not entitled to vote are entitled or required under any
provision of the OBCA or the Articles of Amalgamation or By-Laws of the Company
to be present at the meeting. Any other person may be admitted only on the
invitation of the chairman of the meeting or with the consent of the meeting.
LIMITATIONS ON THE RIGHT TO OWN SECURITIES
There are no limitations on the rights to own securities, including the rights
of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on the
securities imposed by foreign law or by the charter or other constituent
document of the Company, except as discussed under "Exchange Controls" below.
CHANGES IN CONTROL
There are no provisions in the Company's Articles of Amalgamation or By-Laws
that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in
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).
DISCLOSURE OF OWNERSHIP
There are no provisions in the Company's Articles of Amalgamation or By-Laws
governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be
disclosed. However, as discussed under "Exchange Controls" below, non-Canadians
may be required in certain circumstances to report their ownership interests in
the Company. In addition, the Ontario Securities Act requires disclosure by any
person acquiring or holding 10 percent or more of the outstanding Common Shares
of the Company.
C. MATERIAL CONTRACTS
The Company has not entered into any material contracts, other than in the
ordinary course of business during the previous two years, other than the
following contracts:
- Agreement dated March 1, 2004 between Fortress and the Company
pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to Fortress the
Company's precious and base metals properties; and
- Underwriting Agreement dated December 16, 2003 between the
Corporation and a syndicate of underwriters led by Griffiths
McBurney & Partners and including Dundee Securities Inc. and Toll
Cross Securities Inc., pursuant to which the Company issued a total
of 6,700,000 common shares for gross proceeds of Cdn$10,050,000.
67
D. EXCHANGE CONTROLS
Canada has no system of exchange controls. There are no foreign exchange
restrictions on the export or import of capital, including the availability of
cash and cash equivalents for use by the Company group, or on the remittance of
dividends, interest, or other payments to non-resident holders of the Company's
securities, apart from usual withholding taxes payable at rates fixed by Treaty.
The Company is subject to the Investment Canada Act (the "ICA"). Under the ICA,
the acquisition of "control" of certain "businesses" by "non-Canadians" is
subject to either notification or review, by the Investment Review Division of
Industry Canada (or the Department of Canadian Heritage, with respect to
cultural businesses and businesses that relate to Canada's cultural heritage or
national identity), and where review is required, will not be allowed unless
they are found likely to be of "net benefit to Canada". The term "control" is
defined by the ICA as any one or more non-Canadian persons acquiring all or
substantially all of the assets used in the Canadian business, or acquisition of
the voting shares of a Canadian corporation carrying on the Canadian business or
the acquisition of the voting interests of an entity controlling the Canadian
corporation. The acquisition of the majority of the outstanding shares or the
acquisition of less than a majority but 1/3 or more of the voting shares unless
it can be shown in fact that the purchaser will not control the Canadian
company, shall be deemed to be "control" under the ICA.
Where an investor acquiring control of a Canadian business is resident of a
World Trade Organization ("WTO") country, including Americans, the investment is
generally reviewable only if it involves the direct acquisition of a Canadian
business with assets, and as of February 14, 2005, of Cdn $250 million or more
(this figure is adjusted annually to reflect inflation). Indirect acquisitions
by WTO investors are not reviewable, unless the Canadian business acquired is
engaged in activities in any of the sensitive areas discussed below, in which
case lower thresholds for review apply.
Special thresholds apply to acquisitions of Canadian businesses engaged in
certain sensitive areas, namely uranium production, financial services,
transportation or cultural businesses. Where the Canadian business participates
in any of these sensitive areas, the investment is subject to review where its
assets are valued at over Cdn $5 million (for direct acquisitions) and Cdn $50
million (for indirect acquisitions). In addition, where certain requirements of
ICA's regulations are met and a cabinet order is issued to the effect that the
Canadian business relates to Canada's cultural heritage or national identity,
review is possible, at the discretion of the Minister of Canadian Heritage,
regardless of asset values.
If an investment is reviewable, an application for review, in the form
prescribed by the ICA's regulations, is normally required to be filed with the
Investment Review Division of Industry Canada or the Department of Canadian
Heritage, as applicable, prior to the investment taking place and the investment
may not be consummated until the review has been completed. However, the ICA
provides for the Minister of Industry or of Canadian Heritage, as applicable, to
permit an investment to be consummated prior to completion of review if he is
satisfied that delay would cause undue hardship to the acquirer or jeopardize
the operation of the Canadian business that is being acquired. An application in
this regard is filed with the applicable Minister, together with any other
information or written undertakings given by the acquirer and any representation
submitted to the applicable department by a province that is likely to be
significantly affected by the investment.
The Minister determines whether the investment is likely to be of net benefit to
Canada, taking into account the information provided and having regard to
factors of assessment, as set out in the ICA, where they are relevant. Some of
the factors to be considered are the effect of the investment on the level and
nature of economic activity in Canada, including the effect on employment, on
resource processing on the utilization of parts, components and services
produced in Canada, and on exports from Canada. Additional factors of assessment
include: (i) the degree and significance of participation by Canadians in the
Canadian business and in any industry in Canada of which it forms a part; (ii)
the effect of the investment on productivity, industrial efficiency,
technological development, product innovation and product variety in Canada;
(iii) the effect of the investment on competition within any industry or
industries in Canada; (iv) the compatibility of the investment with national
industrial, economic and cultural policies taking into consideration industrial,
economic and cultural policy objectives enunciated by the government or
legislature of any province likely to be significantly affected by the
investment; and (v) the contribution of the investment to Canada's ability to
compete in world markets.
68
If an acquisition of control of a Canadian business by a non-Canadian is not
reviewable, the ICA requires that the non-Canadian investor provide notice of
the acquisition, in the form prescribed, within 30 days after its completion.
There are no limitations under Canadian law on the right of nonresident or
foreign owners to hold or vote the common stock of the Company.
E. TAXATION
The following paragraphs set forth United States and Canadian income tax
considerations about the ownership of shares of the Company, as of February 14,
2005. There may be relevant state, provincial or local income tax
considerations, which are not discussed.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a discussion of possible United States federal income tax
consequences, under current law as of February 14, 2005, applicable to a U.S.
Holder (as defined below) of shares of the Company. This discussion does not
address consequences peculiar to persons subject to special provisions of
federal income tax law, such as those described below as excluded from the
definition of a U.S. Holder. In addition, this discussion does not cover any
state, local or foreign tax consequences. (See "Taxation -- Certain Canadian
Federal Tax Considerations" below.)
The following discussion is based upon the sections of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rulings,
published administrative positions of the IRS and court decisions that are
applicable as of February 14, 2005, any or all of which could be materially and
adversely changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time. This discussion
does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any
recently proposed legislation which, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a
retroactive basis, at any time. Accordingly, holders and prospective holders of
shares of the Company are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the
state, and local tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of shares
of the Company.
U.S. HOLDERS
As used herein, a "U.S. Holder" means a holder of shares of the Company who is a
citizen or individual resident of the United States, a corporation or
partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of
any political subdivision thereof or a trust whose income is taxable in the
United States irrespective of source. This summary does not address the tax
consequences to, and U.S. Holder does not include persons subject to specific
provisions of federal income tax law, such as tax-exempt organizations,
qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and other
tax-deferred accounts, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate
investment trusts, regulated investment companies, broker-dealers, non-resident
alien individuals, persons or entities that have a "functional currency" other
than the U.S. dollar, shareholders who hold shares as part of a straddle,
hedging or a conversion transaction, and shareholders who acquired their stock
through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for
services. This summary is limited to U.S. Holders who own shares as capital
assets. This summary does not address the consequences to a person or entity
holding an interest in a shareholder or the consequences to a person of the
ownership exercise or disposition of any options, warrants or other rights to
acquire shares.
DISTRIBUTIONS ON SHARES OF THE COMPANY
U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive dividends)
with respect to 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 dividends 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. Holder's
United States federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in
computing the U.S. Holder's United States federal taxable income, but in the
case of an individual only applies to those who itemize deductions. (See
discussion that is more detailed at "Foreign Tax Credit" below.) To the extent
that distributions exceed current or accumulated earnings and profits of the
Company, they will be treated first as a return of capital up to the U.S.
Holders' adjusted basis in the shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or
exchange of the shares. Preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains are
applicable to a U.S. Holder which is an
69
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. Any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale or other
disposition of the foreign currency, including an exchange for U.S. dollars,
will be ordinary income or loss.
Dividends paid on the shares of the Company will not generally 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
may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to a 70% deduction of the United
States source portion of dividends received from the Company (unless the Company
qualifies as a "passive foreign investment company," as defined below) if such
U.S. Holder owns shares representing at least 10% of the voting power and value
of the Company. The availability of this deduction is subject to several complex
limitations, which are beyond the scope of this discussion.
FOREIGN TAX CREDIT
A U.S. Holder who pays (or has withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax
with respect to the ownership of shares of the Company may be entitled, at the
option of the U.S. Holder, to either 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 taxpayer's income
subject to tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and 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. Holder's United States income tax liability that the U.S. Holder's
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 based on two specific classes of income: "passive" and
"general." Dividends distributed by the Company will generally constitute
"passive income." The availability of the foreign tax credit and the application
of the limitations on the credit are fact specific, and holders and prospective
holders of shares of the Company should consult their own tax advisors regarding
their individual circumstances.
DISPOSITION OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY
A U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss upon the sale of 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, and (ii) the shareholder's tax basis in
the shares of the Company. This gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if the
shares are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder, which will be a
short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending upon the holding period
of the U.S. Holder. Gains and losses are netted and combined according to
special rules in arriving at the overall capital gain or loss for a particular
tax year. Deductions for net capital losses are subject to significant
limitations. For U.S. Holders who are individuals, any unused portion of such
net capital loss may be carried over to be used in later tax 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 from the loss year and carried
forward five years from the loss year to be offset against capital gains until
such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
In the following circumstances, the above sections of this discussion may not
describe the United States federal income tax consequences resulting from the
holding and disposition of shares:
PASSIVE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANY
As a foreign corporation with U.S. Holders, the Company could potentially be
treated as a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC"), as defined in section
1297 of the Code, depending upon the percentage of the Company's income which is
passive, or the percentage of the Company's assets which is producing passive
income.
70
U.S. Holders owning shares of a PFIC are subject to an additional tax and to an
interest charge based on the value of deferral of tax for the period during
which the shares of the PFIC are owned, in addition to treatment of gain
realized on the disposition of shares of the PFIC as ordinary income rather than
capital gain. However, if the U.S. Holder makes a timely election to treat a
PFIC as a qualified electing fund ("QEF") with respect to such shareholders
interest therein, the above-described rules generally will not apply. Instead,
the electing U.S. Holder would include annually in his gross income his pro rata
share of the PFIC's ordinary earnings and net capital gain regardless of whether
such income or gain was actually distributed. A U.S. Holder of a QEF can,
however, elect to defer the payment of United States federal income tax on such
income not currently received subject to an interest charge on the deferred tax.
Alternatively, a U.S. Holder may elect to "mark to market" his or her shares in
the Company at the end of each year as set forth in Section 1296 of the Code.
Special rules apply to U.S. Holders who own their interests in a PFIC through
intermediate entities or persons.
The Company believes that it was not a PFIC for its fiscal year ended September
30, 2004. If in a subsequent year the Company concludes that it is a PFIC, it
intends to make information available to enable an U.S. Holder to make a QEF
election in that year. There can be no assurance that the Company's
determination concerning its PFIC status will not be challenged by the IRS, or
that it will be able to satisfy record keeping requirements which will be
imposed on QEF's.
CONTROLLED FOREIGN CORPORATION
If more than 50% of the voting power of all classes of stock or the total value
of the stock of the Company is owned, directly or indirectly, by citizens or
residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships and
corporations or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts, each of
whom own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
of the Company ("United States shareholder"), the Company could be treated as a
"controlled foreign corporation" under Subpart F of the Code. This
classification would effect many complex results including the required
inclusion by such United States shareholders in income of their pro-rata shares
of "Subpart F income" (as specially defined by the Code) of the Company. In
addition, under Section 1248 of the Code, gain from the sale or exchange of
stock by a holder of shares of the Company who is or was a United States
shareholder at any time during the five year period ending with the sale or
exchange is treated as ordinary dividend income to the extent of earnings and
profits of the Company attributable to the stock sold or exchanged. Because of
the complexity of subpart F and because it is not clear that Subpart F would
apply to the holders of shares of the Company, a more detailed review of these
rules is outside of the scope of this discussion.
CERTAIN CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The summary below, as of February 14, 2005, is restricted to the case of a
holder (a "Holder") of one or more common shares who for the purposes of the
Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Act") is a non-resident of Canada, holds his
common shares as capital property and deals at arm's length with the Company.
DIVIDENDS
A Holder will be subject to Canadian withholding tax ("Part XIII Tax") equal to
25%, or such lower rate as may be available under an applicable tax treaty, of
the gross amount of any dividend paid or deemed to be paid on his common shares.
Under the Canada-U.S. Income Tax Convention (1980) (the "Treaty") the rate of
Part XIII Tax applicable to a dividend on common shares paid to a Holder who is
a resident of the United States is generally reduced to 15% of the gross amount
of the dividend or to 5% if the Holder is a company that beneficially owns at
least 10% of the voting stock of the Company. The Company will be required to
withhold the applicable amount of Part XIII Tax from each dividend so paid and
remit the withheld amount directly to the Receiver General for Canada for the
account of the Holder.
DISPOSITION OF COMMON SHARES
A Holder who disposes of a common share, including by deemed disposition on
death, will not be subject to Canadian tax on any capital gain (or capital loss)
thereby realized unless the common share constituted "taxable Canadian property"
as defined by the Act. Generally, a common share will not constitute taxable
Canadian property of a Holder unless he held the common share as capital
property used by him carrying on a business (other than an insurance business)
in Canada, or he or persons with whom he did not deal at arm's length alone or
together held or
71
held options to acquire, at any time within the five years preceding the
disposition, 25% or more of the shares of any class of the capital stock of the
Company.
A Holder who is a resident of the United States and who realizes a capital gain
on a disposition of a common share that was taxable Canadian property will
nevertheless, by virtue of the Treaty, generally be exempt from Canadian tax
thereon unless (a) more than 50% of the value of the common share is derived
from, or for an interest in, Canadian real property, including Canadian mineral
resource properties, (b) the common share formed part of the business property
of a permanent establishment that the Holder has or had in Canada within the 12
months preceding the disposition, or (c) the Holder (i) was a resident of Canada
at any time within the ten years immediately, and for a total of 120 months
during the 20 years, preceding the disposition, and (ii) owned the common share
when he ceased to be resident in Canada.
A Holder who is subject to Canadian tax in respect of a capital gain realized on
a disposition of a common share must include one half of the capital gain
(taxable capital gain) in computing his taxable income earned in Canada. The
Holder may, subject to certain limitations specified in the Act, deduct one half
of any capital loss (allowable capital loss), arising on disposition of taxable
Canadian property from taxable capital gains realized in the year of disposition
in respect to taxable Canadian property. To the extent the capital loss is not
deducted, it may be deducted from between one half and three quarters of taxable
capital gains realized in any of the three preceding years or any subsequent
year.
F. DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS
Not applicable.
G. STATEMENT BY EXPERTS
Not applicable.
H. DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
The documents concerning the Company which are referred to in this Form 20-F may
be inspected during regular business hours at the offices of the Company's
subsidiary, International Uranium (USA) Corporation, at Suite 950, 1050 17th
Street, Denver, Colorado, 80265.
I. SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
Not applicable.
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE SENSITIVITY
The Company's functional currency is the U.S. dollar, and its activities are
predominantly executed using the U.S. dollar. The Company incurs a portion of
its expenditures in Canadian and Mongolian currencies; however, it is not
subject to significant operational exposures due to fluctuations in those
currencies.
The Common shares of the Company are currently only listed on The Toronto Stock
Exchange in Canada and thus, the shares are purchased and sold in Canadian
dollars. Therefore, please refer to Item 9 for more information relating to the
Company's share price information and the tables relating to the U.S./Canadian
dollar currency translations.
The Company has not entered into any agreements or purchased any instruments to
hedge any possible currency risks at this time.
72
INTEREST RATE SENSITIVITY
The Company currently has no significant long-term or short-term debt requiring
interest payments. Thus, the Company has not entered into any agreement or
purchased any instrument to hedge against possible interest rate risks at this
time.
The Company's interest earning investments are primarily short-term, or can be
held to maturity, and thus, any reductions in carrying values due to future
interest rate declines are believed to be immaterial. However, as the Company
has a significant cash or near-cash position, which is invested in such
instruments, reductions in interest rates will reduce the interest income from
these investments.
COMMODITY PRICE SENSITIVITY
The Company can be subject to price risk due to changes in the market value of
uranium and vanadium regarding its future sales revenues and carrying values
relating to its finished goods, ore stockpiles and property holdings.
The Company has entered into future long-term contracts for uranium sales in the
past, thereby reducing its exposure to changes in uranium prices. However, the
Company has sold all of its uranium inventory and uranium supply contracts at
this time and has written off all of its uranium properties. As a result, only
future uranium production, which at this time is expected to be from alternate
feed materials, and, if commodity prices continue to rise, possibly from
production from uranium mining properties, will be subject to uranium price
fluctuations. To the extent that any such future uranium production is expected
to constitute a significant portion of the Company's revenues, the Company will
consider the possibility of entering into future sales contracts for all or some
of such future production.
The Company's finished goods inventories are recorded at the lower of cost or
net realizable value as of September 30, 2004. The Company currently has some
finished goods inventories of vanadium product.
The Company has not entered into any future vanadium sales contracts at this
time, and therefore its revenue and profits from vanadium sales are subject to
future price changes.
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
There have been no defaults, dividend arrearages or delinquencies.
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
There have been no modifications to securities of any class of the Company.
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) The President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
of the Company have reviewed the Company's disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in 17 CFR 240.13a-15(e), and the effectiveness
thereof, based on an evaluation conducted on February 10, 2005, and have
concluded that such controls and procedures are effective and are adequate
to support the certificates given by such officers in this document.
73
(b) Not Applicable.
(c) Not Applicable.
(d) There has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial
reporting that occurred during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004
that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 16. [RESERVED]
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The Company's Board of Directors has determined that Mr. William A. Rand, a
member of the Company's Audit Committee is an audit committee financial expert,
within the meaning of item 401(h) of SEC Regulation S-K.
Mr. Rand is a retired corporate and securities lawyer and mining executive, with
a university degree with an honors in economics and a major in accounting, who
has sat on a number of boards and audit committees of similar public
resource-based companies for over 25 years. Through this education and
experience, Mr. Rand has experience overseeing and assessing the performance of
companies and public accountants with respect to the preparation, auditing and
evaluation of financial statements, and has: (1) an understanding of generally
accepted accounting principles and financial statements; (2) the ability to
assess the general application of such principles in connection with the
accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves; (3) experience analyzing and
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 Company's
financial statements; (4) an understanding of internal controls over financial
reporting; and (5) an understanding of audit committee functions.
ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS
The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Company's principal
executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or
controller, persons performing similar functions and other officers of the
Company. This code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form 20-F and is
also available on the Company's website at www.intluranium.com.
The code of ethics was adopted on February 12, 2004.
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUDIT FEES AUDIT-RELATED FEES TAX FEES ALL OTHER FEES)
------------------ ---------- ------------------ -------- ---------------
9/30/04 $ 95,048 Nil $49,594(1) Nil
9/30/03 $ 57,000 Nil $24,450(2) Nil
9/30/02 $ 52,500 $2,500(4) $17,500(3) Nil
(1) Tax fees consist of fees of $36,522 for assisting the Company in
preparing U.S. and Canadian income tax returns and $13,072 for tax
planning services relating to the sale of the Company's precious and
base metals assets to Fortress Minerals Corp.
(2) Tax fees consist of fees of $19,500 for assisting the Company in
preparing U.S. and Canadian income tax returns and $4,950 for tax
planning services.
(3) Tax fees consist of fees for assisting the Company in preparing and
filing U.S. and Canadian income tax returns.
(4) Audit-related fees consist of fees for review and discussion of
accounting matters relating to the Urizon Joint Venture.
The Company's audit committee policy provides "All auditing services and
non-audit services provided to the Corporation by the Corporation's auditors
shall, to the extent and in the manner required by applicable law or regulation,
be pre-approved by the Audit Committee of the Corporation. In no circumstances
shall the Corporation's auditors provide any non-audit services to the
Corporation that are prohibited by applicable law or regulation."
74
The following sets forth the percentage of services described above that were
approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01
of Regulation S-X:
Audit Related Fees: 100%
Tax Fees: 100%
All Other Fees: not applicable
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTION FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
Not applicable.
ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PERSONS
There have been no purchases of the Company's common stock by the Company or
affiliated purchasers during the period covered by this report.
PART III
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
See Pages F-1 through F-19 incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 19. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
a) The following consolidated statements, together with the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP thereon, are filed as part of this 20-F:
Page
----
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.................................................. F-i
Auditors' Report to the Shareholders........................................................ F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2004 and 2003.................................. F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit
For the Years Ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002................................... F-3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002....................................................... F-4
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.............................................. F-5
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or because
the required information is contained in the Consolidated Financial
Statements or Notes thereto.
b) Documents filed as exhibits to this Annual Report:
Index to Exhibits F-21
Exhibit 1.1 Company's Corporate Structure Chart F-22
75
Exhibit 1.2 International Uranium Corporation Audit Committee Charter F-23
Exhibit 4.1 Agreement dated March 1, 2004 between the Company,
International Uranium (Bermuda) I Ltd. and Fortress IT Corp. F-33
Exhibit 4.2 Underwriting Agreement dated December 16, 2003 between GMP Securities
Ltd., Dundee Securities Corporation, TOLL Cross Securities Inc.,
and the Company F-42
Exhibit 14 Code of Ethics For the Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and Other Officers F-27
Exhibit 31 302 Certification F-29
Exhibit 32 906 Certification F-31
SIGNATURES
The Company hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form 20-F and has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual
Report on its behalf.
INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CORPORATION
By: /s/ David C. Frydenlund
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
David C. Frydenlund, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Dated: February 14, 2005
76
EXHIBIT 1.1- COMPANY'S CORPORATE STRUCTURE CHART
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Auditors' Report to the Shareholders............................................F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2004 and 2003......................F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit
For the Years Ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002......................F-3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002..........................................F-4
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements..................................F-5
F-i
AUDITORS' REPORT
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF
INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CORPORATION
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of INTERNATIONAL URANIUM
CORPORATION as at September 30, 2004 and 2003 and the consolidated statements of
loss and deficit, cash flows and shareholders' equity for the years ended
September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing
standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to
obtain reasonable assurance 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.
In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the company as at September 30,
2004 and 2003 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years
ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 in accordance with Canadian generally
accepted accounting principles.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
February 10, 2005
F-1
INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNITED STATES DOLLARS)
AT SEPTEMBER 30
2004 2003
------------- -------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 12,044,955 $ 3,639,079
Short-term investments 1,089,960 1,089,960
Trade and other receivables 1,630,591 833,038
Inventories (Note 3) 1,189,391 1,761,368
Prepaid expenses and other 408,038 382,488
Due from Urizon Joint Venture (Note 4) - 451,152
------------- -------------
16,362,935 8,157,085
Plant and equipment, net (Note 5) 2,786,570 2,825,238
Mineral properties (Note 6) 6,171,263 1,776,982
Marketable securities (Note 7) 892,221 -
Intangible assets, net (Note 4) 687,500 750,000
Restricted investments (Note 8) 12,487,066 12,106,947
------------- -------------
$ 39,387,555 $ 25,616,252
============= =============
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 879,994 $ 847,729
Notes payable 15,479 14,472
------------- -------------
895,473 862,201
Notes payable, net of current portion 35,573 51,052
Reclamation obligations (Note 9) 12,603,595 12,320,983
Deferred revenue 3,556,592 2,158,938
Other long-term liability (Note 4) 99,593 98,582
Minority interest (Note 10) 1,664,247 -
------------- -------------
18,855,073 15,491,756
------------- -------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Share capital (Note 11)
Issued and outstanding (79,635,066 and 68,970,066 shares) 50,305,480 37,935,533
Value assigned to stock options 224,718 -
Deficit (29,997,716) (27,811,037)
------------- -------------
20,532,482 10,124,496
------------- -------------
$ 39,387,555 $ 25,616,252
============= =============
Contingency (Note 15)
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
/s/ Ron F. Hochstein /s/ Lukas H. Lundin
Ron F. Hochstein, Director Lukas H. Lundin, Director
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-2
INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND (DEFICIT)
(UNITED STATES DOLLARS)
YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30
2004 2003 2002
---- ---- ----
OPERATIONS
Revenue
Vanadium $ 1,582,628 $ - $ -
Process milling 420,646 12,415,001 6,830,137
Engineering services (Note 14c.) 421,182 135,017 -
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total revenue 2,424,456 12,550,018 6,830,137
-------------- -------------- --------------
Costs and expenses
Vanadium cost of sales 706,274 - -
Process milling expenditures 139,793 4,671,199 2,047,791
Mill stand-by expenditures 2,330,554 738,730 2,136,389
Selling, general and administrative 3,218,295 2,655,341 3,449,651
Stock based compensation 224,718 - -
Exploration general 55,503 209,253 62,936
Write-down of inventories - - 155,334
Write-down of mineral properties - 118,081 -
Change in market value of other asset - - (261,000)
Change in reclamation obligations - - (29,174)
-------------- -------------- --------------
6,675,137 8,392,604 7,561,927
-------------- -------------- --------------
(Loss) income before the under noted items (4,250,681) 4,157,414 (731,790)
Gain on disposal of other asset - 79,000 -
Gain on sale of land and equipment 58,930 210,603 4,586
Gain (loss) on sale of short-term investments (38,046) 579,926 288,409
Foreign exchange gain 242,059 11,826 -
Net interest and other income 533,158 494,383 623,785
Dilution gain (Note 10) 548,549 - -
Minority interest 134,219 - -
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net (loss) income for the year before taxes (2,771,812) 5,533,152 184,990
Recovery of future income tax asset 585,133 - -
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net income (loss) for the year $ (2,186,679) $ 5,533,152 $ 184,990
============== ============== ==============
Basic and diluted (loss) income per share (Note 11) $ (0.03) $ 0.08 $ -
============== ============== ==============
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding 76,306,520 67,011,765 65,652,998
DEFICIT
Deficit, beginning of year (27,811,037) (33,344,189) (33,529,179)
Net (loss) income for the year (2,186,679) 5,533,152 184,990
-------------- -------------- --------------
DEFICIT, END OF YEAR $ (29,997,716) $ (27,811,037) $ (33,344,189)
============== ============== ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3
INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNITED STATES DOLLARS)
YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30
2004 2003 2002
------------ ------------ ------------
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net (loss) income for the period $ (2,186,679) $ 5,533,152 $ 184,990
Items not affecting cash
Depreciation 480,554 617,554 813,050
Amortization 62,500 - -
Gain on sale of land and equipment (58,930) (210,603) (4,586)
Gain on sale of short-term investments (38,046) (579,926) (288,409)
Write-down of inventories - - 155,334
Gain on disposition of other asset - (79,000) -
Gain in market value of other asset - - (261,000)
Decrease in reclamation obligations - - (29,174)
Write-down of mineral properties - 118,081 -
Forgiveness of note receivable - - 200,000
Recovery of future income tax asset (585,133) - -
Minority interest (134,219) - -
Stock based compensation 224,718 -
Dilution gain (548,549)
Changes in non-cash working capital items
(Increase) decrease in trade and other receivables (742,190) (733,188) 1,450,388
Decrease (increase) in due from Urizon Joint Venture 451,152 (451,152) -
Decrease (increase) in inventories 571,977 (40,416) 10,269
Increase in other current assets (25,550) (14,053) (162,525)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued
liabilities (74,014) 183,428 355,493
Increase in reclamation obligations 282,612
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue 1,397,654 (8,740,256) (4,166,921)
------------ ------------ ------------
NET CASH (USED IN) OPERATIONS (922,143) (4,396,379) (1,743,091)
------------ ------------ ------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase plant and equipment (441,824) (74,616) (215,554)
Cash received on acquisition of Fortress 977,094 - -
Mineral properties (4,186,908) (1,356,166) (538,897)
Purchase of intangible asset - (750,000) -
Proceeds from sale of surplus land and equipment 64,139 230,100 40,964
Purchase of marketable securities (892,221) (996,675) (752,626)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments 38,046 3,559,403 9,679,079
(Increase) decrease in restricted investments (380,119) 536,392 (2,141,864)
------------ ------------ ------------
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES (4,821,793) 1,148,438 6,071,102
------------ ------------ ------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
(Decrease) increase in notes payable (14,472) (12,686) 31
Settlement of other asset - (280,000) -
Issuance of common shares 12,408,969 - -
Fortress private placement 1,209,204 - -
Exercise of stock options 546,111 468,924 17,396
------------ ------------ ------------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES 14,149,812 176,238 17,427
------------ ------------ ------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 8,405,876 (3,071,703) 4,345,438
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 3,639,079 6,710,782 2,365,344
------------ ------------ ------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR $ 12,044,955 $ 3,639,079 $ 6,710,782
============ ============ ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(United States Dollars)
1. Organization and Nature of Operations
International Uranium Corporation ("IUC" or the "Company") is incorporated
under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). The Company is engaged
primarily in uranium exploration and is also in the business of recycling
uranium-bearing waste materials, referred to as "alternate feed
materials," for the recovery of uranium, alone or in combination with
other metals, as an environmentally preferable alternative to the direct
disposal of these waste materials. Alternate feed materials are generally
ores or residues from other processing facilities that contain uranium in
quantities or forms that can be recovered at the Company's White Mesa
uranium mill (the "Mill"). In addition, the Company sells uranium
recovered from conventional mine production and from alternate feed
processing, as well as vanadium and other metals that can be produced as a
co-product with uranium. The Company owns several uranium and
uranium/vanadium mines in the U.S. that have been shut down since 1999,
due to low commodity prices at the time, but which are currently being
evaluated for re-commencement of mining operations given recent increases
in the price of uranium and vanadium. The Company is engaged in uranium
exploration in the Athabasca Basin region of Saskatchewan, Canada and in
Mongolia. In addition, the Company is engaged in precious and base metals
exploration in Mongolia through its subsidiary, Fortress Minerals Corp.
In addition to the company's primary focus on uranium exploration and
mining, the Company intends to continue to devote significant resources to
the development of the alternate feed, uranium-bearing waste recycling
business. The Company expects that the recycling of uranium-bearing
materials can continue to help offset Mill and mine standby costs, and,
potentially, result in sustained profitable operations for the Company.
While the Company has had considerable success to date in this initiative,
the Company has not to date developed a sufficient backlog of alternate
feed business to result in sustained profitable operations for the Company
solely from this business. Developing this backlog will continue to be a
major focus of the Company.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company entered into a joint
venture with Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. ("NFS") for the pursuit of a
long-term alternate feed program for the Company's Mill. The joint venture
is carried out through Urizon Recovery Systems, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture
company.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company completed the sale of
its precious and base metals exploration properties in Mongolia to
Fortress Minerals Corp to concentrate on the Company's uranium activities.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada. Differences from
United States generally accepted accounting principles, which would have a
significant impact on these financial statements, are disclosed in Note
17.
a. Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the
Company's wholly owned subsidiaries, International Uranium (Sask)
Corporation, International Uranium Holdings Corporation, International
Uranium (Bermuda I) Ltd., International Uranium Company (Mongolia) Ltd.,
and International Uranium (USA) Corporation and it's majority owned
subsidiary Fortress Minerals Corp., and on a proportionate consolidation
F-5
basis, Urizon Recovery Systems, LLC. The Company's interest in the Gurvan
Saihan Joint Venture is accounted for on a consolidated basis, since the
Company exercises control.
b. Use of estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company's management
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in
these financial statements and notes thereto. Significant estimates
include the amount of the Company's reclamation obligations, the
recoverability of capitalized mineral property costs, the useful life of
intangibles and plant and equipment, and the variables used in determining
stock based compensation. Actual results could differ from those
estimated.
c. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on deposit and short term money
market instruments with maturities at the date of purchase of three months
or less.
d. Income taxes
The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes.
Under this method, future income taxes are recognized for the future
income tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial
statement carrying values and the respective income tax basis of assets
and liabilities (temporary differences). The resulting changes in the net
future tax asset or liability are included in income. Future tax assets
and liabilities are measured using enacted or substantively enacted tax
rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which temporary
differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on future
income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is included in
income in the period that includes the substantive enactment date. Future
income tax assets are evaluated and if realization is not considered to be
"more likely than not," a valuation allowance is provided.
e. Investments
The Company holds short term investments, marketable securities and
restricted investments. The short term investments and marketable
securities are carried at the lower of cost and market value. Restricted
investments are held to maturity and are recorded at amortized cost.
Investments in joint ventures, in which the Company does not exercise
control, are accounted for using the proportionate consolidation method.
Under this method, the Company's proportionate share of joint venture
revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities is included in the accounts.
f. Inventories
In-process inventories, which consist of partially processed uranium and
vanadium bearing ores, and uranium and vanadium concentrates are valued at
the lower of cost and net realizable value using the first-in, first-out
method. Consumable parts and supplies are valued at the lower of weighted
average cost and replacement cost.
g. Plant and equipment
Plant and equipment are recorded at the lower of cost and net recoverable
amount. Plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over
their estimated useful lives from three to fifteen years. Plant and
equipment placed on stand-by are depreciated over their remaining lives.
Plant and equipment held for resale
F-6
are recorded at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Gains or
losses from normal sales or retirements of assets are included in other
income or expense.
h. Exploration properties
Mineral exploration costs are capitalized as incurred, except for costs
that are not directly associated with a project. When it is determined
that a mineral property can be economically developed, the cost of the
property and the related exploration expenditures are amortized using the
unit-of-production method over the estimated life of the ore body. When a
project is determined to be unsuccessful, the mining property and the
related exploration expenditures are written down to their net recoverable
amount.
i. Asset impairment
Effective October 1, 2003, the Company adopted the new standard of the
Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants ("CICA") relating to
impairment of long lived assets. Prior to this adoption, impairment
charges were determined using non-discounted estimated net recoverable
amounts. There was no impact on the financial statements resulting from
the implementation of this new standard.
The Company reviews and evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment
when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying
amounts may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the
asset-carrying value exceeds net recoverable amount. Net recoverable
amount is generally determined using estimated undiscounted future cash
flows. An impairment is considered to exist if total estimated future cash
flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the
asset. An impairment loss is measured and recorded based on the estimated
fair value of the assets. Assumptions underlying future cash flow
estimates are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any differences between
significant assumptions used and actual market conditions and/or the
Company's performance could have a material effect on the Company's
financial position and results of operations.
j. Environmental protection and reclamation costs
Effective October 1, 2002, the Company adopted the new standard of the
CICA relating to asset retirement obligations. Under this new standard,
asset retirement obligations are recognized when incurred and recorded
as liabilities at fair value. Under the standard, the liability is
accreted over time through periodic charges to earnings.
The implementation of this standard was not material to the Company.
k. Foreign currency translation
These consolidated financial statements are denominated in United States
dollars, the Company's functional currency. A majority of the Company's
assets and operations are located in the United States, with the exception
of the mineral exploration properties in Canada and Mongolia. The majority
of its costs are denominated in United States dollars.
Amounts denominated in foreign currencies are translated into United
States dollars as follows:
i. monetary assets and liabilities at the rates of exchange in
effect at balance sheet dates;
ii. non-monetary assets at historical rates;
F-7
iii. revenue and expense items at the average rates for the period,
except for depreciation and amortization which are based on
historical rates.
The net effect of the foreign currency translation is included in the
statement of earnings.
l. Basic and diluted earnings per share
Earnings or loss per share are presented for basic and diluted net income
(loss). Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income or
loss by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares for the
year. The Company follows the "treasury stock" method in the calculation
of diluted earnings per share. Under this method, dilution is calculated
based upon the net number of common shares issued should "in the money"
options be exercised and the proceeds used to repurchase common shares at
the weighted average market price in the period.
m. Revenue recognition
Vanadium sales are recorded in the period that title passes to the
customer along with the risks and rewards of ownership.
Process milling fees are recognized as the applicable material is
processed, in accordance with the specifics of the applicable processing
agreement.
Engineering services are recognized as the services are provided in
accordance with customer agreements.
Revenues are recognized only to the extent they are reasonably considered
to be collectible.
Deferred revenues represent processing proceeds received or receivable on
delivery of materials but in advance of the required processing activity.
n. Stock options
The Company has a stock option plan, which is described in Note 11(c).
Effective October 1, 2002, the Company adopted the new CICA accounting
standard for stock-based compensation. The new standard covers the
recognition, measurement and disclosure of stock-based compensation and
other stock-based payments made in exchange for goods and services
provided by employees and non-employees. The standard sets out a fair
value-based method of accounting that is required for certain, but not
all, stock-based transactions. The fair value method must be applied to
all stock-based payments to non-employees. However, the new standard
permits the Company to continue its existing policy that no compensation
cost is recorded on the granting of stock options to employees and
directors as the exercise price is equal to or greater than the market
price at the date of the grant. Consideration paid on exercise of the
stock options is credited to capital stock. The standard also requires
additional disclosures for options granted to employees and directors,
including disclosure of pro forma earnings and pro forma earnings per
share as if the fair value-based accounting method had been used to
account for employee stock options (Note 11c).
o. Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of technological licenses held in the Urizon
Joint Venture (Note 4) and are being amortized over the estimated useful
life of the license of 12 years.
F-8
3. Inventories
2004 2003
---------- ----------
Vanadium concentrates $ 144,854 $ 838,474
In process 202,414 70,242
Parts and supplies 842,123 852,652
---------- ----------
$1,189,391 $1,761,368
========== ==========
4. Urizon Joint Venture
On October 18, 2002, the Company entered into a joint venture with Nuclear
Fuel Services, Inc ("NFS"). for the pursuit of an alternate feed program
for the Company's Mill. The joint venture is carried out through Urizon
Recovery Systems, LLC ("Urizon"), a 50/50 joint venture company. The
Company contributed $1,500,000 in cash together with its technology
license. NFS contributed its technology license.
Pursuant to the Urizon operating agreement, each member must provide
services as specified therein and charge Urizon for such services.
Depending upon the type of services provided by the members, Urizon
reimburses such services to the members either currently when charged or
in the future out of available distributable cash after certain profit and
funding conditions have been satisfied. The intangible asset is
intellectual property and represents the Company's 50% interest in
Urizon's technology.
The results of Urizon have been included in the consolidated accounts of
the Company on a proportionate basis from the date of formation.
Following are condensed balance sheet and income statements reflecting
IUC's interest in the Urizon joint venture.
2004 2003
--------- ---------
Current assets $ 20,588 $ 710,836
Intangible asset $ 687,500 $ 750,000
Current liabilities $ - $ 237,982
Long term debt $ 99,593 $ 98,582
Operating loss ($ 64,224) ($ 827,282)
Cash flows from operating activities $ - ($ 39,242)
The joint venture has no cash flows arising from investing or financing
activities.
Intangible asset
Accumulated 2004
Cost Amortization Net
--------- ------------ --------
Technology licenses $ 750,000 $ 62,500 $687,500
5. Plant and Equipment
F-9
Accumulated 2004
Cost Amortization Net
---------- ------------ ----------
Mill buildings and equipment $7,303,851 $4,938,585 $2,365,266
Other machinery and equipment 1,102,124 680,820 421,304
---------- ---------- ----------
$8,405,975 $5,619,405 $2,786,570
========== ========== ==========
Accumulated 2003
Cost Depreciation Net
---------- ---------- ----------
Mill buildings and equipment $6,965,816 $4,546,437 $2,419,379
Other machinery and equipment 1,072,879 667,020 405,859
---------- ---------- ----------
$8,038,695 $5,213,457 $2,825,238
========== ========== ==========
During fiscal 1999 the Company placed its mining operations on stand-by.
At September 30, 2004 and September 30, 2003, capital assets include other
machinery and equipment held for resale with an aggregate net book value
(being the estimated net realizable value) of $349,969 and $376,285,
respectively. These surplus assets are expected to be sold over time as
opportunities for sale arise, and the actual proceeds to be realized on
the sale of the surplus assets could vary from the carrying value.
6. Mineral Properties
a. Mongolia precious and base metal properties
The Company's Mongolian precious and base metals properties were
transferred to Fortress Minerals Corp. in June 2004 in exchange for cash
and a controlling interest in Fortress (Note 10). Amounts capitalized, by
project, include costs related to acquisition of land interests, recording
fees, geological field programs, geochemical surveys, ground geophysical
programs, drilling and lab analysis are shown below:
2003 2004 2004
Net Expenditures Net
---------- ------------ ----------
Shiveen Gol $ 991,438 $ 786,452 $1,777,890
Tsagaan Tologoi 213,232 384,549 597,781
Erdenet 222,207 498,276 720,483
Tsagaan Gozgor - 29,688 29,688
Huvsgol 151,106 188,358 339,464
Satyr Khudag 56,559 61,766 118,325
Davaa - 31,764 31,764
Burkheer Khar 88,742 21,703 110,445
Ulzit 53,698 29,471 83,169
---------- ---------- ----------
$1,776,982 $2,032,027 $3,809,009
========== ========== ==========
b. Canada uranium properties
In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company acquired interests in and
staked uranium exploration properties in the Athabasca Basin region of
Saskatchewan, Canada and commenced exploration on certain properties.
Amounts capitalized, by project, include costs related to acquisition of
land interests, staking costs, recording fees, geological field programs,
airborne and ground geophysical programs, drilling and lab analysis are
shown below:
F-10
2003 2004 2004
Net Expenditures Net
---------- ------------ ----------
Moore Lake $ - $1,766,485 $1,766,485
Lazy Edwards - 27,884 27,884
Pendleton Lake - 101,087 101,087
South Cigar Lake - 69,391 69,391
Crawford Lake - 54 54
Ford Lake - 3,157 3,157
Perpete Lake - 1,409 1,409
Key Lake South - 78,350 78,350
Johnstone Lake - 9,826 9,826
Other Exploration Costs - 251,535 251,535
---------- ---------- ----------
$ - $2,309,178 $2,309,178
========== ========== ==========
c. Mongolia uranium properties
Mongolian mineral properties are currently made up of the Company's
interest in the Gurvan-Saihan Joint Venture ("GSJV") as well as properties
held, solely for the account of the Company, through its subsidiary
International Uranium Mongolia, XXK. Amounts capitalized, by project,
include costs related to licensing of land interests, review of geological
data and satellite imagery, and geological field programs are shown below:
2003 2004 2004
Net Expenditures Net
---------- ------------ ----------
Huh Tologoi $ - $ 8,583 $ 8,583
Deren - 385 385
Ikh Hongor Uul - 1,588 1,588
Navtgar - 6,000 6,000
Oshinuur - 13,972 13,972
Ulaan Toiron - 162 162
Other Exploration Costs - 22,386 22,386
---------- ---------- ----------
$ - $ 53,076 $ 53,076
========== ========== ==========
7. Marketable securities
The Company has invested $723,226 in shares of JNR Resources Inc. and
$168,995 in shares of Goodfellow Resources Ltd., for a total investment of
$892,221. As of September 30, 2004, the market value of these securities
exceeded the cost by $3,204,347.
8. Restricted Investments
The Company has placed cash and fixed income securities on deposit to
secure its reclamation bonds and certain other obligations (Note 9).
2004 2003
----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,883,073 $ 2,177,688
Fixed income securities 10,603,993 9,929,259
----------- -----------
$12,487,066 $12,106,947
=========== ===========
F-11
9. Provisions for Reclamation
Estimated future decommissioning and reclamation costs of the Mill and
mining properties have been determined based on engineering estimates of
the costs of reclamation, in accordance with legal and regulatory
requirements. These cost estimates are reviewed periodically by applicable
regulatory authorities, and, in the case of the Mill, are reviewed and
adjusted annually by the State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality
as appropriate, to accurately reflect the estimated costs of reclamation.
The Company has posted bonds (collateralized by cash and fixed income
securities) in favor of the State of Utah and the applicable state
regulatory agencies in Colorado and Arizona as partial collateral for
these liabilities and has deposited fixed income securities on account of
these obligations (Note 8).
Since September 30, 2003, the Mill's reclamation estimate and bonding
requirement increased from $10,336,283 to $10,618,895. There have been no
changes to the reclamation cost estimate of $1,984,700 for the Company's
mining properties, or mine bonding requirement during the fiscal year.
Applicable regulations require the Company to estimate reclamation costs
on the assumption that the reclamation would be performed at any time by a
third party contractor and the reclamation cost estimate required by
regulatory authorities is calculated on an undiscounted basis. Management
estimates that, once a decision is made to commence reclamation
activities, substantially all the reclamation activities could be
completed in approximately 24 - 30 months.
Elements of uncertainty in estimating reclamation and decommissioning
costs include potential changes in regulatory requirements,
decommissioning and reclamation alternatives. Actual costs may differ from
those estimated and such differences may be material.
10. Acquisition of Fortress Minerals Corp.
On June 23, 2004, the Company sold its Mongolian precious and base metals
exploration properties to Fortress Minerals Corp. in exchange for
28,000,000 common shares or 63.14% of Fortress and $656,580 in cash for
reimbursement of costs incurred on the properties from the time of the
agreement to the transfer date. The net book value of the assets and
liabilities transferred was $3,088,201.
The transfer was accounted for as a non-monetary transaction that does not
represent the culmination of the earnings process. Accordingly, no gain or
loss has been recognized on the transaction. The assets and liabilities
assumed on June 23, 2004 consist of the following:
Cash received from Fortress $ 656,580
Cash and cash equivalents 320,514
Other current assets 55,363
Plant and equipment, net 5,271
Mineral Properties 3,295,574
----------
$4,333,302
----------
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 107,290
Minority interest 1,137,811
----------
1,245,101
----------
Net assets assumed $3,088,201
==========
F-12
On September 1, 2004, Fortress completed a private placement of 4,987,500
common shares of which the Company acquired 732,500 common shares. As a
result of this private placement, the Company's interest was diluted from
63.14% to 58.24%, while it's proportionate share of Fortress' net assets
increased by $548,549. This gain on dilution has been recognized in the
consolidated statements of operations and deficit in accordance with
Canadian GAAP.
11. Share Capital
a. Authorized - unlimited number of common shares.
b. Issued and outstanding
Shares
2004 2003 2002
---------- ---------- ----------
Beginning of year 68,970,066 65,735,066 65,600,066
Employee stock options exercised 715,000 3,235,000 135,000
Private placements 9,950,000 - -
---------- ---------- ----------
End of year 79,635,066 68,970,066 65,735,066
========== ========== ==========
Amount
2004 2003 2002
----------- ----------- -----------
Beginning of year $37,935,533 $37,466,609 $37,449,213
Employee stock options exercised 546,111 468,924 17,396
Private placements 12,408,969 - -
Renounced flow through share
expenditures (585,133) - -
=========== =========== ===========
End of year $50,305,480 $37,935,533 $37,466,609
=========== =========== ===========
c. Stock options
The Company has adopted a stock option plan under which the Board of
Directors may from time to time grant to directors, officers, key
employees and consultants of the Company, options to purchase shares of
the Company's common stock. These options are intended to advance the
interests of the Company by providing eligible persons with the
opportunity, through share options, to acquire an increased proprietary
interest in the Company. Options granted under the share option plan
have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of such shares on
the date of grant. All outstanding options granted to date vest
immediately and expire three years from the date of the grant of the
option.
Stock option transactions were as follows:
2004 2003 2002
---------- ---------- ----------
Beginning of year 670,000 4,055,000 4,370,000
Granted 1,985,000 250,000 495,000
Exercised (715,000) (3,235,000) (135,000)
Expired - (400,000) (675,000)
--------- ---------- ---------
End of year 1,940,000 670,000 4,055,000
========= ========== =========
F-13
Weighted average exercise prices per share were as follows:
2004 2003 2002
--------- --------- ---------
Beginning of year Cdn $0.32 Cdn $0.25 Cdn $0.32
Granted Cdn $1.08 Cdn $0.31 Cdn $0.32
Exercised Cdn $1.01 Cdn $0.20 Cdn $0.20
Expired - Cdn $0.57 Cdn $0.75
--------- --------- ---------
End of year Cdn $0.85 Cdn $0.32 Cdn $0.25
========= ========= =========
Stock options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2004 were as
follows:
Options Outstanding and Exercisable
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Remaining Contractual Weighted Average
Number Outstanding Life (Years) Exercise Price Per Share
------------------ ------------ ------------------------
200,000 0.29 Cdn $0.30
250,000 1.03 Cdn $0.31
1,490,000 2.16 Cdn $1.01
--------- ---- ---------
1,940,000 1.82 Cdn $0.85
========= ==== =========
Outstanding options expire between January 2005 and November 2006.
Effective October 1, 2002, the Company adopted the new CICA accounting
standard for stock based compensation. For income statement purposes, the
Company has elected not to follow the fair value method of accounting for
stock options granted to employees and directors. Accordingly, no
compensation expense is recorded on the grant of stock options to
employees and directors, as the exercise price is equal to the market
price at the date of grant. Had the Company followed the fair value method
of accounting, the Company would have recorded a compensation expense of
$737,904 in fiscal 2004 and $35,751 in fiscal 2003, with respect to its
employee and director stock options. Pro forma earnings information
determined under the fair value method of accounting for stock options is
as follows:
Year Ended Year Ended
September 30, 2004 September 30, 2003
------------------ ------------------
Net loss as reported ($2,186,679) $5,533,152
Compensation expense ($ 737,904) ($ 35,751)
Pro forma ($2,924,583) $5,497,401
Basic and diluted earnings per share:
As reported ($ 0.04) $ 0.08
Pro forma ($ 0.04) $ 0.08
The fair values of options included in the pro forma amounts presented
above, have been estimated using an option-pricing model. Assumptions used
in the pricing model are as follows:
2004 2003
---- ----
Dividend yield 0% 0%
Average risk free interest rate 2.81% 4.04%
Expected volatility 93% 65%
Expected life of options 3 years 3 years
F-14
Net income or loss per share was calculated on the basis of the weighted
average number of shares outstanding for the year. The weighted average
number of shares outstanding at September 30 for 2004, 2003 and 2002 was
76,305,520, 67,011,765 and 65,652,998, respectively.
Diluted net income per share reflects only the dilutive effect of the
exercise of stock options outstanding as of year-end. The number of shares
for the diluted net income or loss per share calculation at September 30,
2004, 2003 and 2002 was 76,305,520, 67,634,897 and 66,926,114,
respectively.
12. Income Taxes
2004 2003 2002
---------- --------- ----------
Reconciliation
Combined basic rate 40% 40% 40%
Income (loss) from operations (2,186,679) 5,533,152 184,990
---------- --------- ----------
Income tax recovery at basic rate (874,672) 2,213,261 73,996
Change in valuation allowance 28,793 (2,448,966) 6,228
Other 260,746 235,705 (80,224)
---------- --------- ----------
Tax recovery per consolidated
financial statements (585,133) - -
========== ========= ==========
Future income tax assets
Tax losses carried forward 5,412,595 5,283,133 4,667,921
Inventory 382,169 382,169 413,769
Mineral properties 1,224,421 1,124,872 1,472,807
Deferred revenue 1,442,637 863,575 3,149,145
---------- --------- ----------
8,461,822 7,653,749 9,703,642
Future income tax liability
Capital assets (1,994,567) (1,215,287) (881,176)
Valuation allowance (6,467,255) (6,438,462) (8,822,466)
---------- --------- ----------
Net future income taxes - - -
========== ========= ==========
Non-capital loss carry forwards for Canadian tax purposes of approximately
$2,665,000 began to expire in 2004. For U.S. income tax purposes, loss
carry forwards of approximately $11,212,000 expire between 2015 and 2024
unless utilized.
13. Segmented Information
a. Geographic information
2004 2003 2002
----------- ----------- -----------
Revenue
United States $ 2,424,456 $12,550,018 $ 6,830,137
----------- ----------- -----------
$ 2,424,456 $12,550,018 $ 6,830,137
=========== =========== ===========
F-15
Net loss
Canada ($ 105,756) ($ 174,372) ($ 192,922)
United States (2,446,602) 6,065,195 446,697
Mongolia 365,679 (357,671) (68,785)
----------- ----------- -----------
($ 2,186,679) $ 5,533,152 $ 184,990
=========== =========== ===========
Total assets
Canada $13,288,701 $ 465,510 $ 71,657
United States 20,769,794 23,047,594 31,656,351
Mongolia 5,329,060 2,103,148 651,262
----------- ----------- -----------
$39,387,555 $25,616,252 $32,379,270
=========== =========== ===========
b. Major Customers
The Company's business is such that, at any given time, it sells its
uranium and vanadium concentrates to and enters into process milling
arrangements with a relatively small number of customers. During
fiscal 2004, a vanadium customer accounted for approximately 65% of
total revenues. During fiscal 2003 and 2002, a process milling
customer accounted for approximately 89% and 100% of total revenues,
respectively. Accounts receivable from any individual customer will
exceed 10% of total accounts receivable on a regular basis.
14. Related Party Transactions
a. During the year ended September 30, 2004, the Company incurred legal
fees of $169,026 with a law firm of which a partner is a director of
the Company. Legal fees incurred with this law firm were $45,847 for
the year ended September 30, 2003 and $10,960 for the year ended
September 30, 2002.
b. During the year ended September 30, 2004, the Company incurred
management and administrative service fees of $136,335 with a
company owned by the Chairman of the Company, which provides
investor relations, office premises, secretarial and other services
in Vancouver. Management and administrative service fees incurred
with this company were $90,000 for each of the years ended September
30, 2003 and 2002. Amounts due to this company were nil as of
September 30, 2004 and 2003.
c. During the year ended September 30, 2004, the Company provided mine
reclamation management and engineering support services of $421,182
on a cost plus basis to a company with common directors. Amounts due
from this company were $64,801 as of September 30, 2004.
15. Contingency and Commitments
The Company has detected some chloroform contamination at the Mill site
that appeared to have resulted from the operation of a temporary
laboratory facility that was located at the site prior to and during the
construction of the Mill facility, and septic drain fields that were used
for laboratory and sanitary wastes prior to construction of the Mill's
tailings cells. In April 2003, the Company commenced an interim remedial
program of pumping the chloroform-contaminated water from the groundwater
to the Mill's tailings cells. This will enable the Company to begin clean
up of the contaminated areas and to take a further step towards resolution
of this
F-16
outstanding issue. Although the investigations to date indicate that this
contamination appears to be contained in a manageable area, the scope and
costs of final remediation have not yet been determined and could be
significant.
The Company is required to comply with environmental protection laws and
regulations and permitting requirements, and the Company anticipates that
it will be required to continue to do so in the future. Although the
Company believes that its operations are in compliance, in all material
respects, with all relevant permits, licenses and regulations involving
worker health and safety as well as the environment, the historical trend
toward stricter environmental regulation may continue. The uranium
industry is subject to not only the worker health and safety and
environmental risks associated with all mining businesses, but also to
additional risks uniquely associated with uranium mining and milling. The
possibility of more stringent regulations exists in the area of worker
health and safety, the disposition of wastes, the decommissioning and
reclamation of mining and milling sites, and other environmental matters,
each of which could have a material adverse effect on the costs of
reclamation or the viability of the operations.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company received a demand and
threat of pursuit of litigation in respect of alleged preferential
payments by a former customer, in the amount of approximately $1.2
million, that were paid pursuant to certain contracts with the Company.
The former customer filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code in January 2002. That company subsequently sold
substantially all of its assets to The Shaw Group, Inc. ("Shaw"), who was
believed to have assumed the contracts in question and has subsequently
performed the contracts with the Company. In May 2004 the Company received
a formal Complaint in the bankruptcy proceeding seeking the recovery of
approximately $1.7 million as an alleged preferential payment. The Company
has answered the complaint, disputing the claim, asserting, among other
defenses that there is no liability on account that the Company's contract
was assumed and assigned to Shaw and as a result there is no preference
liability. The Company has sought summary judgment in its favor. The Court
has not yet ruled on the Company's request.
The Company has committed to payments under operating leases for the
rental of office space and office equipment. The current lease at the
Denver office expires on May 31, 2008. The future minimum lease payments
are as follows:
Fiscal Year Ending
2005 $104,937
2006 $ 92,561
2007 $ 97,025
2008 $ 50,733
16. Financial Instruments
a. Credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a
concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents,
accounts receivable, amounts due from the Urizon Joint Venture, and
restricted fixed income securities. The Company deposits cash and
cash equivalents with financial institutions it believes to be
creditworthy, principally in money market funds, which may at
certain times, exceed federally insured levels. The Company's
restricted investments consist of investments in U.S. government
bonds, commercial paper and high-grade corporate bonds with
maturities extending beyond 90 days. The Company's accounts
receivable are derived from customers primarily located in the
United States. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluation of its
customers' financial condition and, in most cases, requires no
collateral from its customers. The Company will maintain an
allowance for doubtful accounts receivable in those cases where the
expected collectability of accounts receivable is in question.
F-17
At September 30, 2004, one processing milling customer accounted for
86% of accounts receivable. At September 30, 2003, a different
processing milling customer accounted for 44% of accounts
receivable.
b. Fair values
At September 30, 2004, the fair values of cash and cash equivalents
and trade and other receivables approximate their carrying values
because of the short-term nature of these instruments.
The fair value of the Company's short-term investments will
fluctuate with market prices. At September 30, 2004, market value of
these securities exceeded cost by $1,699,059.
The fair value of the Company's marketable securities will fluctuate
with market prices. At September 30, 2004, the market value of these
securities exceeded the cost by $3,204,347.
The fair values of the Company's restricted investments in cash and
cash equivalents, U.S. government bonds, commercial paper and
corporate bonds, approximate carrying values.
17. Differences Between Canadian and United States Accounting Principles
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada ("Canadian GAAP")
which differ in certain respects from those principles that the Company
would have followed had its consolidated financial statements been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). The tables below only address measurement
differences between Canadian and U.S. GAAP.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
2004 2003
----------- -----------
Short-term investments and marketable securities
Canadian basis $ 1,982,181 $ 1,089,960
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities (d) 4,903,406 929,275
----------- -----------
U.S. basis $ 6,885,587 $ 2,019,235
=========== ===========
Plant and equipment, net
Canadian basis $ 2,786,570 $ 2,825,238
Accumulated depreciation of assets held for resale (a) 332,482 432,775
----------- -----------
U.S. basis $ 3,119,052 $ 3,258,013
=========== ===========
Mineral properties
Canadian basis $ 6,171,263 $ 1,776,982
Exploration expenditures (b) (6,171,263) (1,776,982)
----------- -----------
U.S. basis - -
=========== ===========
Share capital
Canadian basis $50,305,480 $37,935,533
Flow through shares (g) 271,349 -
Amalgamation (c) (615,970) (615,970)
----------- -----------
U.S. basis $49,960,859 $37,319,563
=========== ===========
F-18
Deficit
Canadian basis ($29,997,716) ($27,811,037)
Amalgamation (c) 615,970 615,970
Exploration expenditures (b) (6,171,263) (1,776,982)
Dilution gain (f) (548,549) -
Flow through shares (g) (271,349) -
Accumulated depreciation of assets held for resale (a) 332,482 432,775
----------- -----------
U.S. basis ($36,040,425) ($28,539,274)
=========== ===========
Additional Paid-in Capital - U.S. basis
Dilution gain (f) 548,549 -
=========== ===========
Other Comprehensive Income - U.S. basis
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities (d) $ 4,903,406 $ 929,275
=========== ===========
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
2004 2003 2002
----------- ---------- ----------
Net income (loss) under Canadian
GAAP ($2,186,679) $5,533,152 $ 184,990
Exploration expenditures (b) (4,394,281) (1,238,085) (538,897)
Dilution gain (f) (548,549) - -
Flow through shares (g) (271,349) - -
---------- ---------- ----------
Net income (loss) under U.S. GAAP (7,400,858) 4,295,067 (353,907)
Unrealized gain on available for sale
securities (d) 3,974,131 929,275 -
========== ========== ==========
Comprehensive income (loss) under U.S. GAAP ($3,426,727) $5,224,342 ($ 353,907)
========== ========== ==========
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per
share, U.S. GAAP ($ 0.10) $ 0.06 ($ 0.01)
========== ========== ==========
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
2004 2003 2002
---------- ---------- ----------
Cash (used in) provided by operations
under Canadian GAAP ($ 922,143) ($4,396,379) ($1,743,091)
Exploration expenditures (b) (4,186,908) (1,238,085) (538,897)
---------- ---------- ----------
Cash (used in) provided by operations
under U.S. GAAP ($5,109,051) ($5,634,464) ($2,281,988)
========== ========== ==========
Cash (used in) provided by investing
activities under Canadian GAAP ($4,821,793) $1,148,438 $6,071,102
Exploration expenditures (b) 4,186,908 1,238,085 538,897
---------- ---------- ----------
Cash (used in) provided by investing
activities under U.S. GAAP ($ 634,885) $2,386,523 $6,609,999
========== ========== ==========
a. Under Canadian GAAP, the Company's surplus assets were depreciated
to an amount less than net realizable value. Under U.S. GAAP, assets
held for resale are recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable
value and are not depreciated.
F-19
b. Mineral property exploration expenditures are accounted for in
accordance with Canadian GAAP as disclosed in Note 2h. For U.S. GAAP
purposes the Company expenses, as incurred, exploration expenditures
relating to mineral properties that do not have proven and probable
reserves associated with the property. When proven and probable
reserves are determined for a property, subsequent development costs
of the property are capitalized. The capitalized costs of such
properties would then be assessed periodically to ensure that the
carrying value can be recovered on an undiscounted cash flow basis.
If the carrying value cannot be recovered on this basis, the mineral
properties would be written down to fair value.
c. Under Canadian GAAP, the amalgamation of the Company with Thornbury
Capital Corporation in 1997 has been accounted for as an acquisition
of Thornbury resulting in the recording of goodwill. Under U.S.
GAAP, the transaction has been accounted for as a recapitalization
whereby the net monetary assets of Thornbury would be recorded at
fair value, except that no goodwill or other intangibles would be
recorded. The goodwill recorded under Canadian GAAP has subsequently
been written off. As a result, the deficit and share capital of the
Company are both reduced under U.S. GAAP.
d. Under U.S. GAAP, securities that are available for sale are recorded
at fair value and unrealized gains or losses are excluded from
earnings and recorded as a separate component of shareholders'
equity. Under Canadian GAAP, investments in available for sale
securities are carried at the lower of cost and estimated fair
market value.
e. Canadian GAAP provides for investments in jointly controlled
entities to be accounted for using proportionate consolidation.
Under U.S. GAAP, investments in incorporated joint ventures are to
be accounted for using the equity method. Under an accommodation of
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the accounting
for joint ventures need not be reconciled from Canadian to U.S.
GAAP. The different accounting treatment affects only the display
and classification of financial statement items and not net income
or shareholders' equity.
f. Under Canadian GAAP gains on dilution of interests in a subsidiary
are recognized in income in the period in which they occur. Under
U.S. GAAP the gain on dilution is not recognized if it results from
the sale of securities by a subsidiary in the exploration stage and
instead is accounted for as a capital transaction.
g. Under U.S. GAAP, the sale of flow-through shares results in a
liability being recognized for the excess of the purchase price paid
by the investors over the fair value of common shares without the
flow-through feature. The fair value of the shares is recorded as
equity. When the tax deductibility of the expenditures is renounced,
the liability is reversed and a future income tax liability is
recorded for the amount of the benefits renounced to third parties,
resulting in an income tax expense.
F-20
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number Description
-------------- -----------
1.1 Company's Corporate Structure Chart
1.2 International Uranium Corporation Audit Committee Charter
4.1 Agreement dated March 1, 2004 between the Company,
International Uranium (Bermuda) I Ltd. and Fortress IT Corp.
4.2 Underwriting Agreement dated December 16, 2003 between GMP Securities
Ltd., Dundee Securities Corporation, TOLL Cross Securities Inc.,
and the Company
14 Code of Ethics For the Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and Other Officers
31 302 Certification
32 906 Certification
F-21